~DISCLAIMER~ I don't own Tolkien's characters (you chould know who those are by now) and I'm probably not the first to write this idea either!
I sat along the river for hours after they had left. The boats were long gone on the horizon, but I couldn't turn away.
I couldn't help feeling that if I left or looked away from the last place I saw him, I would really lose him forever. I guess it's silly to think that I'd truly ever see Legolas again, but I've always been told (by Shamiel mostly) that humans are known for being naïve. I guess I'm not different.
"Child, they are gone."
I turned to see Lady Galadriel behind me. Tears gathered in my eyes as I turned silently back to the river.
"Do not despair. You are now ready to fulfill your destiny."
"But my Lady…I thought Legolas was my destiny?" I knew that she knew what had happened. The Lady knew all and it was useless to try to keep anything from her.
But all she did as extend her hand. "Follow me."
I stood up and followed her. To my surprise, she led me down to the Mirror.
"Child, you must look in the Mirror once more."
I nodded, unsure of whether I should feel afraid or just uncertain. I stepped up and gazed sadly into the water.
At first I didn't see anything but my own tear-stricken face. Slowly though, the water began rippling and an image formed.
I could see Legolas in the water. It was the same vision that I had seen all those years ago. I couldn't look away as tears flowed freely and fell in to the bowl, mixing with the water.
"Lady, I don't understand."
But Galadriel only lifted my chin. "Child, close your eyes."
I did as I was told. After a moment, I felt water being poured over my head and heard Galadriel speaking softly in an ancient form of Elvish that I did not understand. The water slowed and I opened my eyes. Lady Galadriel was watching me expectantly.
My senses suddenly went numb, as if everything had exploded. I couldn't see, hear, talk, feel, or acknowledge anything around me. My body felt like it was falling away and being pulled in all directions, leaving my consciousness floating alone.
Before I could register anything, I found myself lying on the ground by the Mirror. I looked up at Galadriel and saw a strange look of pride in her eyes.
It was then that my head was filled with noise. I could hear everything going on around me and the noise was deafening. I covered my ears to try to screen out the noise and gasped.
My ears were pointed.
**********
I was in complete shock. "What…? I…?" I leapt to my feet with a speed and lightness I had never known. The water in the Mirror reflected my image.
I looked the same. My hair was still dark and long and braided, as most Elves wore their hair. My face was the same and for a moment I thought I was going crazy.
But as I looked closer, I noticed that my deep brown eyes looked much lighter. They had become the same color blue as the sky as dusk. And I could scarcely breathe as I pushed back my hair and gazed dumbfoundedly at my pointed elven ears.
I stepped back from the Mirror and gazed up at the trees around me. With my new eyesight, I could see the bark of the topmost branches. And I was already learning to screen out the unwanted noise.
My body felt light and I felt as though my feet barely touched the ground. I felt strong and new. It was like a whole new world.
I finally turned back to Galadriel. She just smiled at me. "Mae govannen, Raélowen o Lórien."
* Mae govannen, Raélowen o Lórien = Welcome, Raélowen of Lórien (Sindarin)
~AUTHOR'S NOTE~ Ok, BEFORE anyone flames me or starts yelling, "MARY SUE ALERT!" let me say that I know that this could probably never happen in Middle Earth. And just because Rae is an elf now DEFINITELY doesn't mean that her life is going to be all flowers and singing birdies. Trust me, there is hardship and confusion to come in future installments. But thank you for getting this far and not closing the browser as soon as you saw "My ears were pointed." I love my readers!
