***On the edge of the knife***

        A dusk like promised, Haldir led the fellowship onwards. Along the path they were met by many elves who surrounded them, bearing lams, lighting the way. They soon came across a large green wall and Haldir stopped them at the walls of the gate on the southern that he led round to.

        "Welcome to Caras Galadhon! Here dwells Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel." He knocked upon the gates and spoke and they opened silently. They entered, following the deep path amongst the trees. Demi heard soft sad elvish singing floating through the air. They followed many paths and climbed many stairs until they came to a landing. The area was glowing with a certain 'magic' according to Sam. There were still stairs that lay before them.

        "Vaira, Legolas and Aure must follow me first." Haldir said. "Then you may follow in any order you like." He led them up the stairs before them, Demi following close at his heels. A horn was blown as they passed the next flet. They climbed on for a long while, finally coming to the highest flet. The area there seemed to glow brighter in a soft white aura.

        To the walls, Demi saw many elves and before them sitting side-by-side were Celeborn and Galadriel. They stood up as Haldir and the Fellowship stood in the centre of the flet.

        "Welcome and well met." Greeted Celeborn, gesturing for them all to wake up seats before him and his wife. "Ten there are here, yet 11 set out from Rivendell, so the messengers have said. Tell me, has there been a change of council or has Gandalf the Grey been called off to a greater errand?"

        "Alas! Gandalf fell in Moria. There he remains, never to escape." Aragorn said sorrowfully.

        "These are terrible and evil tidings indeed." Celeborn said. "Will you tell us the full tale?"

        Aragorn told everything, from the council of Elrond right up to Haldir bringing them before the Lord and Lady. He spoke of the Balrog and Gandalf's fall gravely and of Frodo and Demi's recovery joyfully. This news warmed the heart of the Lord well.

        "There is strength in you all. I have great hope that you will fulfil your paths." He said, and Galadriel smiled upon them.

        There was much other talk in which the Lord and Lady apologised to Gimli themselves. "Let Gimli son of Glóin forget my harsh words, for they were spoken through a troubled heart at ill tidings."

        Galadriel fixed her eyes on each of the fellowship members in turn. When her eyes moved to Demi, she looked the lady in the eyes.

        'You are troubled young one. Think not yet o Rúmil's affections, I shall have a word with him before you leave, for that is what you plan to do. But take this warning. Your path does not lie with Frodo. Follow your heart and the need of others. That will put you on track. You will be needed before the end. I am proud of what you are becoming. If you had a choice, would you follow them to the end?' Galadriel's voice said in Demi's mind. Demi smiled and nodded, feeling eased at her words. She would follow them to whatever end, she really didn't have anywhere else to go and she needed a purpose. The lady then turned to Rhia.

        'Would you rather stay here then follow the fellowship?' the lady asked Rhia.

'No, not really. Well, I would like a break, but I do not belong anywhere, so really it makes no difference.' Rhia thought.

'You must be careful of your actions! Take this warning, or it will consume you. It is not yours and never will be. Trust your friends, for you will have a long path with them and stay away from the shadow! You cannot stay here much longer.' Rhia just looked confused. She had no idea what that meant.

***

        The company were allowed to stay in Lorien until they were healed, refreshed and ready to go. They were led to a pavilion among the trees by a fountain Demi had seem before in her last stay. She sat under a tent amongst cushions and stretched out. "I will be content with a warm bath and a good nights rest for once." She said.

        "And I." Rhia nodded.

        The fellowship gathered around in a circle speaking of what the lady said to them if they would speak of it. Few would. Most were embarrassed by her words; this only made Demi more curious. She laughed out loud at the hobbits description of Galadriel's mind reading.

        "I did not like it, I felt like I was naked!" Sam said.

        "Me too, it was very queer." Merry agreed.

        They were all asked if they would stay with the fellowship or return home.

        "To me, I thought she was tempting us, like a test, offering what is not hers to give. I refused, men of Minas Tirith are true to their word." Boromir said proudly. "I am not to sure of this elvish lady and her purpose." This angered Demi greatly.

        "You do not know of what you speak Boromir. Her purpose if for good, she took Rhia and I in as children and brought us back here! Under her ruling is the only place I feel safe! How dare you!" she said, standing up and walking off.

        She didn't really know where she was going but she grabbed her cloak and just kept going, not bothering to heed the words of Aragorn, calling her back. How dare he! Galadriel may have odd ways, but her ways are pure of purpose and one you could trust if ever you needed to.

        She walked past trees and many elves as she followed a path from the fountain, further and further from camp away from all others. A long time seemed to pass. Demi did not stop until she fell down onto the ground in a soft heap onto the grass, amongst the nephredil. Boromir infuriated her. He was rash and impolite at the best of times. Slowly, Demi fell asleep, wrapped in her cloak, flowers around her head and golden leaves in her hair.

***

        Demi woke late the next morning at hearing happy elvish laughs somewhere before her. She kept low to the ground, hidden by her cloak, when she recognised one as the lady's own laugh and another as Rúmil's.

        Demi got up and ran behind a tree, hoping that she was not noticed.

        "My lady, it is true though, I do care for Vaira, but if it is not time, then I will wait." Rúmil said.

        "Very well, though it may be in vain." Galadriel said. " I can not yet see her future, only that she will face a terrible evil in the days to come." Their voices faded away and Demi stayed where she was, stunned. It was too much to take in. Rúmil did like her but…she would face terrible evil? What did that mean?

***

        Demi made her way back to the pavilion, the conversation she had heard still running over and over in her mind like a broken record. Her companions looked at her, not daring to say a word. Boromir then spoke.

        "I am sorry Vaira. I did not know what I was saying." He said.

        "And you never seem to, for you seem to have a go at things you do not understand you xenophobic loser." Demi replied. She still wasn't too happy with him. Gimli stifled a snigger and the others stared in shock.

        Boromir looked as though he was about to raise a fist, though thought the better of it. Men do not raise a hand to women. It is considered a crime. He just turned on his heal and marched off.

        "Go Demi! Woot woot!" Rhia chanted. "You go girl!"

        "I didn't say that I was happy with what I just did Rhia. I'm sorry, but he has got to extinguish his ego. It's the size of Gondor itself!" Demi replied. The whole fellowship present howled with laughter. Even Aragorn seemed to find this funny.

***

The fellowship remained in Lórien for many days, each day, clearer and brighter. The winter it seemed did not fall in this forest and time seemed to stand still. Demi and Legolas would regularly visit their other kin, taking Gimli with them at times. Rhia vouched to stay with Aragorn and pestered him til he taught her more sword skills. Merry and Pippin got in on the act, picking up what the two were doing and copying them.  Neither hide nor hair was seen of 'all mighty big headed manly man of Gondor' (aka Boromor), unless it was at night. Apparently he found out what Demi had said about him and refused to be near "That coward of an elf witch. She gives elves a bad name! And she did not have the will to say it to my face!"

        This kind of interaction raged on between the pair until finally, Aragorn had had enough of it and made them both apologise.

        "I don't think so buddy!" Demi shouted, sending death glares at Boromir.

        "You expect me to apologise to her!" Boromir said as though it was a new invention that was most unlikely to work.

        "Yes I do. Now face each other." Aragorn said, and slowly, the arguing pair did, "Now shake hands and finish this mess you are in." they slowly extended their hands and gripped each others so tightly, that it looked as though they were trying to break each others hands. Demi feigned a smile whilst Boromir grimaced. Demi then under her breath made a tiny fireball that sparked and burnt Boromir's hand (not badly, just giving him a shock) so he let go quickly and held his hand in the other.

Demi gave a smile of victory. "Llie n'vanima ar' lle atara lanneina." She said as she turned away. You're ugly and your mother dresses you funny. Boromir had no idea what she said. Aragorn wasn't listening as he spoke with Rhia.

***

        That night Demi was lying on her couch when she heard Frodo and Sam get up and leave. She sat up and stared after them, wondering what they were doing. She then saw Galadriel and her thoughts were eased.

        When the two hobbits returned they were all summoned to Celeborn, who sat in his chamber, Galadriel by his side.

        "It is now your choice to choose if you will complete your quest or stay behind. The land of Lórien will have you here until you wish to leave for your own lands. But whether you stay or go, we cannot give peace or safety to you, for these are dark days." Celeborn said, then silence filled the halls. Each member was in deep thought of his or her next move. Demi had made her choice long ago. She would continue on the quest, for she had one of her own that would start soon.  Though she did not wish to leave Lórien, her home, she knew her path lay ahead of her.

        "They all resolved to go forward and complete the quest. Galadriel said after some time. "Yet the corse has not been decided."

        "If I can give you any advice, it id this. Take the great river. Choose the side you will take carefully. To the western side lies Minas Tirith; to the eastern, the straight road of the quest and the darker shore. To you I give four boats. Legolas, Boromir and Aragorn can handle boats and the hobbit Meriadoc's people have for long years. Small and light they shall be, but they will not fail you." Celeborn said, and received many thanks from Aragorn. "They will be prepared for your departure by noon tomorrow. We wish you all now a fair night and untroubled sleep."

        That night they spoke of the path they would follow and all agreed with Celeborn's idea of taking the eastern bank, save Boromir naturally.

        "Then I shall return to Minas Tirith alone if my actions will not be rewarded with a friend and companion to share the road with!" he said, shooting a look at Aragorn, who had resolved to follow Frodo, no matter what.

***

Demi savoured her last bath for a long while the next morning, making an effort to sit in the warm water much longer than needed. It was ten o'clock when she reappeared at the pavilion the next morning.

        "Oh! Here she is." Boromir said loudly. "About time." He grumbled.

        "Bite me." Demi snapped, waltzing over to gather up her gear. She felt a light tap at her shoulder. She spun around and spotted Haldir, Orophin and Rúmil standing behind her. "Hey!" she said loudly. "It seems an age since I saw you lot."

        "That for me it has too." Rúmil said softly, his glance fixed on Demi, she looked from him to the other brothers, expecting an explanation as to why they were here (not that she minded in the least).

        "It is time for you to leave unfortunately." Orophin said, his eyes downcast. "We are here to escort the fellowship to the dock."

        "If you hold on a second, I'll just fix my bag up and I'll be with you." Demi said, struggling to do her bag's straps up.

        "Here." Haldir said, frustrated at her struggling form. With the elven ease he possessed, he swiftly tied it up and handed it to her with a faint smile. He was at least trying to be nice. It wasn't in his daily habit to be friendly to the weaker beings, but he made an exception for her.

        "Thanks." She said smiling as the fellowship was now gathered around. They were then given cloaks woven by Galadriel and her maidens, which had a silver and green leaf broach. The cloaks were of an odd colour, that seemed to change from silver, to green to brown to grey, depending on the environment. They were also given each and bounty of the elvish bread lembas.

        "Cram." Muttered Gimli, sampling the bread. His disappointed look then turned to delight as he scoffed down a slice of the stuff before the elves could stop him.

        "No more! No more! You have eaten enough to last you a days march!" they said.

        "Come now." Haldir said. "I am now to lead you all onwards to your boats." He said, leading them off, followed by Aragorn, Pippin, Merry, Sam, Frodo, Gimli, Legolas, Boromir, Rhia, Demi (who was trying to trip Boromir) and the two brothers by her side. Demi managed to swipe Boromir's feet out from underneath him and he fell to the ground in an "oof!" He then scrambled back up and walked ahead by Gimli. Demi, Rhia, Orophin and Rúmil just laughed. The proud man of Gondor flat on his face was quite a sight!

        They walked on at least ten miles and by noon had come to a green wall. Demi wondered if this was an outer boundary or just another wall in the city as there were many. She had never come this far before. A gate opened for them and they passed through.

***

alas! Another chapter to leave you wondering what will happen next. (Or maybe you won't, depends if you can read my mind and have read the book). Anyways:

dulaithlossword: Well, here's the next chapter, and I hope it gives you a little bit more insight to the story. I'm glad you liked it.

The stern mystic: I can't say, but you will see. *wink wink*

CountessMeliara: Um, I'm still trying to find the web address. I'll post it a soon as I get it. Thank you!

Ta ta!

AE*