They reached Lothlorien the next evening, and were lead to a peaceful
clearing. Silken tents housed warm bedrolls and food.
"Galadriel will be with you shortly," an elf told them.
Hermione was astounded by the beauty and calm of this place.
"Good thing we destroyed the Ring. I can't imagine a place like this destroyed."
They washed and ate, dressing in light silken tunics and breeches.
Galadriel appeared, seemingly out of nowhere as none of them but Mlarthrak had heard her come up.
"Welcome," she said softly, smiling. "It is good to see you."
Harry and Ron bowed and Hermione dropped a deep curtsy.
"My lady," they said in unison.
"There is no need for protocol," she said, her laughter sounding like tinkling bells. "After all, you are royalty from the Land Beyond The Sea."
Ron reddened, and a small blush stained Hermione's cheeks. Harry, on the other hand, felt perfectly calm and relaxed, though he knew not why.
Galadriel strongly reminded him of Alanna, not in feature, but in character.
As if reading his thoughts, Galadriel said, "I remind you of someone, Harry?"
"Yes," he replied, "Alanna, and somewhat her sister Meridelle."
Galadriel paled and gasped, "Alanna... and Meridelle? Alive?"
"As far as I know, they are alive and well," Harry said, confused.
Galadriel regained some of her composure and sat on a cushion, beckoning for the others to sit as well.
"How?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked. "They were rescued when their parents were killed by Legolas of Mirkwood."
Galadriel gasped again, "Rescued? I must see them!"
"I don't understand," Harry said.
"Well," Galadriel said, "the people killed weren't really Alanna and Meridelle's parents. I am their mother. They were born during the first war with Sauron. They both possess a great amount of power, even more than my own, and for that reason I had to send them away. Sauron was slowly picking off the powerful rulers of Middle Earth. As it so happens, my sister fell in love with a mortal, whom my father wouldn't grant Elven life and status because he felt he was unworthy. My sister gave up her Elven life to live with him, so I sent Meridelle and Alanna with her, putting a cloak over their power so Sauron coulnd't sense it. It was a perfect plan, I sent two of the most powerful beings in Middle Earth with a mortal; Sauron would never have thought to look for them with a mortal. My sister would send me regular reports of how my daughters were doing. It pained me not to be able to see my daughters grow up. Then, the reports stopped. After Sauron was defeated, I gathered information and was told of the ambush. I assumed that the girls were killed as well."
She paused as the trio took it in.
"Then," she continued, "I suppose Legolas found them and brought them to Thranduil. I remember him telling me he had found two orphans who were Elves, but thought they were human. I asked him if he could sense abundant power, but he replied no. He sensed their power, but it was still hidden, so he did not see its entirity. After that I gave up."
Harry looked at her, "Well, they are with Legolas at Minas Tirith right now."
"I will go to them immediately," Galadriel said firmly.
"Wait," Hermione said, "we need your help to locate the Elven Sand and we must do it quickly."
Galadriel thought for a moment, "Well, I suppose a few more days won't be that much compared to the years I have waited. Very well, Hermione, Ron, and Harry, I shall guide you to the lafrovsyn. Then I shall go directly to Minas Tirith."
**
The trio woke as the first rays of dawn hit the wood of Lothlorien. They ate and dressed quickly and quietly, with an excited, nervous air about them. Finally, they sat to wait in a small clearing for Galadriel.
Mlarthrak fluttered anxiously above their heads, also waiting.
Finally, Galadriel appeared, a vision in a white dress and white traveling cloak slung over her shoulders. Her hair waved in the wind, and her piercing eyes surveyed the group.
"It is time."
She spoke softly, her voice resounding in their heads.
Galadriel turned and beckoned for them to follow. The group traveled farther into the mysterious woods, farther away from the elven dwelling.
Two hours later, Galadriel stopped.
"We are almost there. Let us lunch here, then go for the sand," she said.
They spread out blankets, and ate a peaceful lunch. Hermione shifted uncomfortably, she could feel a great source of power near her. It seemed to call to her, beckoning for her to discover it.
Finally, Galadriel stood. She said nothing, but inclined her head in a stately nod, and gestured for them to set out again.
They walked for a quarter of an hour, each engrossed in their own thoughts. They came to a giant tree, but no ordinary tree was it.
A towering silver tree, with delicate silver leaves and blue blossoms, which also covered the ground in a grand carpet.
Galadriel stepped up to the trunk and held up her right hand, on which the Elven ring shone like a star.
"Onpe," she whispered, "Onpe, orf teh meti ahs ocme. Teh icamgl trbehnre vahe ocme ot lciam teh ansd."
Suddenly, a door was illuminated in the tree's giant trunk in silver light. A single star of silver light shone in the center. Galadriel touched her hand to it, and the door slid open.
The group stepped inside, following Galadriel. Hermione's skin prickled with anticipation, the feeling of great power was stronger, much stronger now.
Hermione stifled a gasp. As she stepped into the tree, she saw she was not inside a tree at all. She was in a huge chamber with a stone floor and a roof of interwoven branches.
"Enchanted," she breathed. "Of course. The perfect hiding spot for such a valuable thing, a place where no one would think to look at all: a tree."
In the center of the cavernous chamber was a stone pedestal with Elven engravings all around the edges.
On the center of the pedestal sat a small glass vial edged with silver and diamonds. Inside was a tiny amount of sparkling dark green sand.
Galadriel stated what everyone was thinking, " The lafrovsyn."
Ron stood dumbfounded with wonder as Harry slowly approached the pedestal. He was about to pick up the vial when Galadriel intervened.
"Do not touch it Harry!" she cried. "Do you not remember what Gandalf said about the different parts of the Sand of White Light?"
Harry strained his memory for some important fact he might have missed, some key information he might not have heard.
Remembering nothing, Harry asked, "What?"
"Each part of the sand, the lafrovsyn, the drognufk, the hopblimn, and the different parts of the grahpanhserd, has one keeper. Only one. Each part of the sand can only be handled by one person, the one person who is most like its kind."
Harry took a moment to digest the information, then asked, "So only the person who is most like the Elves will be able to pick up the lafrovsyn?"
Galadriel nodded, smiling serenely.
Hermion had started when Galadriel had told them this new idea. Suddenly, the feeling of power intensified almost to a bursting point.
Hermione knew it was her.
She walked toward the pedestal, ignoring Harry's protests to wait for moment. In front of it, she stopped and looked at the small vial that held one of the key ingredients of getting back to their time.
Taking a deep breath, she reached down and picked up the vial.
She gasped, her arm holding the vial raised into the air of its own accord. The vial of lafrovsyn filled with a shining silver light like a star. The light filled Hermione as well, calming the feeling of power and making it part of her.
Slowly, the light faded and Hermione's hand dropped to her side.
She walked back to Harry and Ron, who were standing amazing at the spectacle they had just seen.
Hermione looked at Galadriel, who was still smiling serenely.
"Yes, even though you are all now Elves, Princess Hermione is the most like our kind."
As she finished her sentence out loud, her voice cut into Hermione's head.
"Being a powerful Elf comes with much responsibility, as will being the wife and Queen of Legolas of Mirkwood. Do not look so frightened, Princess. You will be able to bear the burden. In fact, you will more than bear it, you will turn it to your advantage."
Hearing that, Hermione felt confident of what was to come, and smiled back at Galadriel.
"Thank you," she spoke back, though not out loud, "your words have instilled in me more hope than you know."
Hermione slid the vial of lafrovsyn into a little pouch hanging from her belt and motioned to Harry and Ron.
"We must go," she said. "Our time is in this splendid place is over."
With that, she followed Galadriel out of the tree's door back into the forest.
Galadriel smiled. Unnoticed by Hermione herself, a thin silver band, much like the one Galadriel herself wore, had appeared on Hermione's head. She now bore the mark of an Elven Queen.
"Galadriel will be with you shortly," an elf told them.
Hermione was astounded by the beauty and calm of this place.
"Good thing we destroyed the Ring. I can't imagine a place like this destroyed."
They washed and ate, dressing in light silken tunics and breeches.
Galadriel appeared, seemingly out of nowhere as none of them but Mlarthrak had heard her come up.
"Welcome," she said softly, smiling. "It is good to see you."
Harry and Ron bowed and Hermione dropped a deep curtsy.
"My lady," they said in unison.
"There is no need for protocol," she said, her laughter sounding like tinkling bells. "After all, you are royalty from the Land Beyond The Sea."
Ron reddened, and a small blush stained Hermione's cheeks. Harry, on the other hand, felt perfectly calm and relaxed, though he knew not why.
Galadriel strongly reminded him of Alanna, not in feature, but in character.
As if reading his thoughts, Galadriel said, "I remind you of someone, Harry?"
"Yes," he replied, "Alanna, and somewhat her sister Meridelle."
Galadriel paled and gasped, "Alanna... and Meridelle? Alive?"
"As far as I know, they are alive and well," Harry said, confused.
Galadriel regained some of her composure and sat on a cushion, beckoning for the others to sit as well.
"How?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked. "They were rescued when their parents were killed by Legolas of Mirkwood."
Galadriel gasped again, "Rescued? I must see them!"
"I don't understand," Harry said.
"Well," Galadriel said, "the people killed weren't really Alanna and Meridelle's parents. I am their mother. They were born during the first war with Sauron. They both possess a great amount of power, even more than my own, and for that reason I had to send them away. Sauron was slowly picking off the powerful rulers of Middle Earth. As it so happens, my sister fell in love with a mortal, whom my father wouldn't grant Elven life and status because he felt he was unworthy. My sister gave up her Elven life to live with him, so I sent Meridelle and Alanna with her, putting a cloak over their power so Sauron coulnd't sense it. It was a perfect plan, I sent two of the most powerful beings in Middle Earth with a mortal; Sauron would never have thought to look for them with a mortal. My sister would send me regular reports of how my daughters were doing. It pained me not to be able to see my daughters grow up. Then, the reports stopped. After Sauron was defeated, I gathered information and was told of the ambush. I assumed that the girls were killed as well."
She paused as the trio took it in.
"Then," she continued, "I suppose Legolas found them and brought them to Thranduil. I remember him telling me he had found two orphans who were Elves, but thought they were human. I asked him if he could sense abundant power, but he replied no. He sensed their power, but it was still hidden, so he did not see its entirity. After that I gave up."
Harry looked at her, "Well, they are with Legolas at Minas Tirith right now."
"I will go to them immediately," Galadriel said firmly.
"Wait," Hermione said, "we need your help to locate the Elven Sand and we must do it quickly."
Galadriel thought for a moment, "Well, I suppose a few more days won't be that much compared to the years I have waited. Very well, Hermione, Ron, and Harry, I shall guide you to the lafrovsyn. Then I shall go directly to Minas Tirith."
**
The trio woke as the first rays of dawn hit the wood of Lothlorien. They ate and dressed quickly and quietly, with an excited, nervous air about them. Finally, they sat to wait in a small clearing for Galadriel.
Mlarthrak fluttered anxiously above their heads, also waiting.
Finally, Galadriel appeared, a vision in a white dress and white traveling cloak slung over her shoulders. Her hair waved in the wind, and her piercing eyes surveyed the group.
"It is time."
She spoke softly, her voice resounding in their heads.
Galadriel turned and beckoned for them to follow. The group traveled farther into the mysterious woods, farther away from the elven dwelling.
Two hours later, Galadriel stopped.
"We are almost there. Let us lunch here, then go for the sand," she said.
They spread out blankets, and ate a peaceful lunch. Hermione shifted uncomfortably, she could feel a great source of power near her. It seemed to call to her, beckoning for her to discover it.
Finally, Galadriel stood. She said nothing, but inclined her head in a stately nod, and gestured for them to set out again.
They walked for a quarter of an hour, each engrossed in their own thoughts. They came to a giant tree, but no ordinary tree was it.
A towering silver tree, with delicate silver leaves and blue blossoms, which also covered the ground in a grand carpet.
Galadriel stepped up to the trunk and held up her right hand, on which the Elven ring shone like a star.
"Onpe," she whispered, "Onpe, orf teh meti ahs ocme. Teh icamgl trbehnre vahe ocme ot lciam teh ansd."
Suddenly, a door was illuminated in the tree's giant trunk in silver light. A single star of silver light shone in the center. Galadriel touched her hand to it, and the door slid open.
The group stepped inside, following Galadriel. Hermione's skin prickled with anticipation, the feeling of great power was stronger, much stronger now.
Hermione stifled a gasp. As she stepped into the tree, she saw she was not inside a tree at all. She was in a huge chamber with a stone floor and a roof of interwoven branches.
"Enchanted," she breathed. "Of course. The perfect hiding spot for such a valuable thing, a place where no one would think to look at all: a tree."
In the center of the cavernous chamber was a stone pedestal with Elven engravings all around the edges.
On the center of the pedestal sat a small glass vial edged with silver and diamonds. Inside was a tiny amount of sparkling dark green sand.
Galadriel stated what everyone was thinking, " The lafrovsyn."
Ron stood dumbfounded with wonder as Harry slowly approached the pedestal. He was about to pick up the vial when Galadriel intervened.
"Do not touch it Harry!" she cried. "Do you not remember what Gandalf said about the different parts of the Sand of White Light?"
Harry strained his memory for some important fact he might have missed, some key information he might not have heard.
Remembering nothing, Harry asked, "What?"
"Each part of the sand, the lafrovsyn, the drognufk, the hopblimn, and the different parts of the grahpanhserd, has one keeper. Only one. Each part of the sand can only be handled by one person, the one person who is most like its kind."
Harry took a moment to digest the information, then asked, "So only the person who is most like the Elves will be able to pick up the lafrovsyn?"
Galadriel nodded, smiling serenely.
Hermion had started when Galadriel had told them this new idea. Suddenly, the feeling of power intensified almost to a bursting point.
Hermione knew it was her.
She walked toward the pedestal, ignoring Harry's protests to wait for moment. In front of it, she stopped and looked at the small vial that held one of the key ingredients of getting back to their time.
Taking a deep breath, she reached down and picked up the vial.
She gasped, her arm holding the vial raised into the air of its own accord. The vial of lafrovsyn filled with a shining silver light like a star. The light filled Hermione as well, calming the feeling of power and making it part of her.
Slowly, the light faded and Hermione's hand dropped to her side.
She walked back to Harry and Ron, who were standing amazing at the spectacle they had just seen.
Hermione looked at Galadriel, who was still smiling serenely.
"Yes, even though you are all now Elves, Princess Hermione is the most like our kind."
As she finished her sentence out loud, her voice cut into Hermione's head.
"Being a powerful Elf comes with much responsibility, as will being the wife and Queen of Legolas of Mirkwood. Do not look so frightened, Princess. You will be able to bear the burden. In fact, you will more than bear it, you will turn it to your advantage."
Hearing that, Hermione felt confident of what was to come, and smiled back at Galadriel.
"Thank you," she spoke back, though not out loud, "your words have instilled in me more hope than you know."
Hermione slid the vial of lafrovsyn into a little pouch hanging from her belt and motioned to Harry and Ron.
"We must go," she said. "Our time is in this splendid place is over."
With that, she followed Galadriel out of the tree's door back into the forest.
Galadriel smiled. Unnoticed by Hermione herself, a thin silver band, much like the one Galadriel herself wore, had appeared on Hermione's head. She now bore the mark of an Elven Queen.