The water rippled, the picture faded and Galadriel moved away from
the mirror. The girl was getting to curious. Maybe it was time to bring
them back; they had been gone far longer than what was intended. The Ring
had been destroyed 200 years ago and Middle Earth was back to its peaceful
self. The Dwarves were back in their mines digging for treasures, the
Halflings were back in the Shire desiring for no more adventures, the Ents
were content in their forests, the Elves were at peace with the serenity of
their privacy, and the men were in their cities of stone rebuilding their
lives and all they had lost in the time of the Rings. They had learned
their lesson of what comes from power and greed for now perhaps.and
hopefully forever.
"Lady Galadriel, you look troubled. Is everything all right?"
Galadriel looked up into the eyes of one of the bravest elves she knew. "Yes Haldir, everything is fine. Send your two fastest messengers to Rivendell to give Elrond a message from me. Tell him.Tell him its time."
Haldir nodded and walked away. The elf wasn't as fast as he used to be. After the Battle at Helm's Deep he was presumed dead but as the men and elves searched through the bodies of the dead for survivors they found too few. Haldir was one of those few they had found. Even with all the elvish medicines and healers he could not be returned to his full health. He was slow for an elf however still faster than men, and could not use a bow and arrow like he once could. But surviving that battle just made him a hero to his fellow elves.
Galadriel smiled as she watched him fade into the trees. He was strong, maybe not physically, but very strong emotionally. If she remembered correctly Haldir had an interest in Avarcaliel, but that could be argued over later. She turned and receded into her chambers to contemplate the girls' return.
Reiya walked into the kitchen, the same time the sun was waking up, and found her sister already awake. She was sitting at the kitchen table sipping a cup of hot tea. She looked exhausted and thoughtful. "Did you have that dream again?"
Laya didn't take her eyes off the sunrise. "You mean the one where I overheard people deciding whether I live or die?" She stood and put the empty teacup in the sink and looked out the window over the sink. "Yes, that dream."
Reiya watched her sister's agitated movements around the kitchen. She had had that dream countless times and lately they were reoccurring almost three times a week. They would be going home soon; maybe she was sensing change. She looked up as Laya opened the sliding glass door. "Where are you going?"
Laya looked at her just before she shut the door. "I'm taking a walk."
Reiya watched her walk away wondering when the best time to tell her would be.
Elrond paced, waiting for Galadriel to return from her liquid mirror. She had been gone almost an hour. It had taken too long to get to Lothlorien, not fast enough for the Lord of Rivendell. It had been almost two hundred and fifty years since he had last seen his daughters. Had he done the right thing?
Elrond turned swiftly as the large silver doors opened, the Lady of the Wood gliding into the room. "They will return on the night of the silver moon. I have just contacted Avarcaliel in a dream. She sends her love." Galadriel smiled gently.
Elrond smiled in relief. "The silver moon, a perfect." The Silver Moon was a symbol of celebration to the elves. "But that's in a month, I don't know if I can wait that long."
Galadriel smiled. "It will give us time to send for the other guests and prepare for the occasion. I insist you stay here until then."
Elrond nodded. "I will. I'll go talk to Haldir for now.I think he would like to know their arrival date as well." He started for the door. However Galadriel put her hand on his shoulder to stop him. "Why don't we keep it secret, just between the two of us? I think it would be a pleasant surprise for Haldir and the others as well."
Elrond nodded. "I think that's a wonderful idea." He then turned and left.
Galadriel held back a laugh as she watched him exit the room but soon turned somber. It would be a joyous night for Elrond and Avarcaliel, but what about Lariel? The young elf would be confused and perhaps even slightly angry.
"Lady Galadriel, you look troubled. Is everything all right?"
Galadriel looked up into the eyes of one of the bravest elves she knew. "Yes Haldir, everything is fine. Send your two fastest messengers to Rivendell to give Elrond a message from me. Tell him.Tell him its time."
Haldir nodded and walked away. The elf wasn't as fast as he used to be. After the Battle at Helm's Deep he was presumed dead but as the men and elves searched through the bodies of the dead for survivors they found too few. Haldir was one of those few they had found. Even with all the elvish medicines and healers he could not be returned to his full health. He was slow for an elf however still faster than men, and could not use a bow and arrow like he once could. But surviving that battle just made him a hero to his fellow elves.
Galadriel smiled as she watched him fade into the trees. He was strong, maybe not physically, but very strong emotionally. If she remembered correctly Haldir had an interest in Avarcaliel, but that could be argued over later. She turned and receded into her chambers to contemplate the girls' return.
Reiya walked into the kitchen, the same time the sun was waking up, and found her sister already awake. She was sitting at the kitchen table sipping a cup of hot tea. She looked exhausted and thoughtful. "Did you have that dream again?"
Laya didn't take her eyes off the sunrise. "You mean the one where I overheard people deciding whether I live or die?" She stood and put the empty teacup in the sink and looked out the window over the sink. "Yes, that dream."
Reiya watched her sister's agitated movements around the kitchen. She had had that dream countless times and lately they were reoccurring almost three times a week. They would be going home soon; maybe she was sensing change. She looked up as Laya opened the sliding glass door. "Where are you going?"
Laya looked at her just before she shut the door. "I'm taking a walk."
Reiya watched her walk away wondering when the best time to tell her would be.
Elrond paced, waiting for Galadriel to return from her liquid mirror. She had been gone almost an hour. It had taken too long to get to Lothlorien, not fast enough for the Lord of Rivendell. It had been almost two hundred and fifty years since he had last seen his daughters. Had he done the right thing?
Elrond turned swiftly as the large silver doors opened, the Lady of the Wood gliding into the room. "They will return on the night of the silver moon. I have just contacted Avarcaliel in a dream. She sends her love." Galadriel smiled gently.
Elrond smiled in relief. "The silver moon, a perfect." The Silver Moon was a symbol of celebration to the elves. "But that's in a month, I don't know if I can wait that long."
Galadriel smiled. "It will give us time to send for the other guests and prepare for the occasion. I insist you stay here until then."
Elrond nodded. "I will. I'll go talk to Haldir for now.I think he would like to know their arrival date as well." He started for the door. However Galadriel put her hand on his shoulder to stop him. "Why don't we keep it secret, just between the two of us? I think it would be a pleasant surprise for Haldir and the others as well."
Elrond nodded. "I think that's a wonderful idea." He then turned and left.
Galadriel held back a laugh as she watched him exit the room but soon turned somber. It would be a joyous night for Elrond and Avarcaliel, but what about Lariel? The young elf would be confused and perhaps even slightly angry.
