A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed. I really appreciate all your feedback, it keeps me going . Thank you Lady of Light for reminding me about my commas. I will try to do better with that (forgetting them has always been a problem of mine.) As far as Melenia is concerned, I am trying very hard to work on her and mold her. I've barely tried creating a character before so I am a bit new at this. For now she is the way she is because, although she is mostly elven, she is still part human and she has been raised as one. As the chapters progress she will be transforming in a sense. I will try harder at making her a better character. Thanks again to everyone and keep the input coming it is really helpful.

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"No, please don't! Not again! Please stop… I beg of you to stop!!!" she shrieked. She continued to scream, but he only covered her mouth. Instantly she felt a sharp pain on the side of her head. Darkness engulfed her quickly.

"AH!" Melenia jerked up in her bed; she was soaked in a cold sweat. She looked around her room frantically and listened carefully. Nothing was amiss. In contrast to her dream, it was a gorgeous, sunny day outside. At that moment she realized that she had been holding her breathe. She fell back onto her bed as she took in a huge breath of air, and with that she let out a sigh of relief.

The door to the room opened with a creak, and the person that had opened it made their way over to her bed. "Melenia, are you okay?" She opened her eyes to see Addela's face floating over her.

"Just dandy, Addela," she replied sarcastically.

"I am serious girl," the woman gave her a nudge. "What did you dream about this time?"

"Just orcs," she lied easily. The princess usually had very good composure, which allowed her to hide her feelings and thoughts very well. She had not had much control lately because life had truly thrown her several curveballs, but nevertheless, she was slowly recovering her shattered mask. "It was just a dream Melenia; nothing but a faded memory." she thought to herself, "Pull yourself together." She now scanned her room again, her eyes stopping at her empty closet.

"Addela, where are all my clothes?"

The woman sighed, "They are packed in your trunks my lady."

"I'm leaving so soon?" her voice devoid of emotion, but her eyes spoke books. Addela embraced the princess warmly.

"I will miss you so much my little girl. Now you promise to be good, mind your manners, don't get hurt, stay out of trouble, have fun, and most of all come home safely little one." Tears were falling from Addela's eyes. Melenia hugged her back tearing up a little as well.

"I will count the hours until I return to you my dear Addela," she said sincerely. She placed a kiss on old woman's forehead and moved out of her bed. "So where are my clothes for today?"

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She emerged from the palace wearing dark blue breeches and a light blue tunic embroidered with silver. The fresh air wrapped around her like sheets of silk. She had spent her morning saying good-bye to all things she held dear in her land. She visited the palace library, and retrieved two books for her journey; and had one final slice of cake from the kitchen. She indulged in the beauty of the palace gardens, and finally, she climbed her tree one last time. Now she was just lost in her thoughts as she stood on the stairs.

"Melenia honey, you will not be gone forever," Cassia sounded melodiously from behind her. "You will be back before you know it." Melenia turned to face her and Telodan who was standing next to her.

"I know, I have just never left alone like this before." She replied quietly. Telodan approached her and gave her a hug and kiss.

"Do not worry Aiwe, you will have an incredible time. I only fear that you might not want to come back." He smiled down at her as she embraced him tightly. "I will be right here waiting for you," he whispered softly. She finished her good-byes as the small traveling party assembled in front of the palace. Lord Anaran was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs.

She smiled at him warmly, "Ready to go grandfather?" she loved saying that word.

"Yes my lady," he bowed to her. They both mounted their horses and waved a final goodbye to Telodan and Cassia who were still standing on the palace steps.

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The journey went by quite peacefully; there were no surprise orc attacks or anything else of that nature. Melenia slowly got to know her grandfather, and he in turn got to know her. It was their last day of traveling, and they expected to reach the woods of Lothlórien by nightfall. The day was bright and traveling felt refreshing to Melenia; she was truly beginning to enjoy it.

"Grandfather," she started, "tell me of my grandmother."

A smile settled over his face. "Your grandmother was an incredible woman. Everyone thought that it was absurd for us to fall in love, but we could not fight or deny it." He looked over at Melenia now.

"What did she look like grandfather?"

"She was a breathtaking sight. Your mother and you have taken after her very well. You have her same dark ringlets and mysterious, brown eyes." He sighed, "She was something of another world." Melenia just smiled at him. "She had this fire within her that burned so brightly; it was seen and felt by many. The same fire burns in your mother; it transferred into her making her as strong and powerful as she is now." Melenia looked back at him in awe, so he continued. "That very same flame lives within you as well little one. It seems to flow from one generation of women to the next. It changes in form and shape, but nevertheless, it is still the same flame. You are very lucky to have been born to such an amazing line of women."

"I think this flame you speak of has skipped me entirely," she said quietly.

"You are strong, but lost Melenia. You have character, but it is not yet directed toward anything. I can see the confusion in your eyes, but you will find yourself in time."

"I hope so, I truly do." She did not understand how he understood so much of her, no has before. He found out all too quickly that her eyes revealed things that her words and actions would never show. What had taken him days to discover was still unknown by some who had known her for a lifetime. His yes locked with hers and they penetrated her soul and her thoughts.

"You have the spirit of an elf, and the fire of an exceptional mortal woman. Do not worry, the flame will burn within you brightest of all." She smiled at him. He and Gandalf were so much alike; maybe that is why she took to him so quickly. Gandalf had said the exact same thing to her when she was younger. Things had started to weigh her spirit down, and he told her that her fire would not allow it, but she must first harness it.

The day passed on, and a long, serene silence settled over the group as they rode on. The sounds of the forest comforted and soothed her as she turned around in her thoughts. She finally decided to give the matter a rest, and another question she had wanted to ask popped into her head.

"Grandfather?"

"Yes, Melenia."

"What is Lady Galadriel like?"

"You will find out soon enough little one," he said chuckling, "the Lady is awaiting your arrival. And we are very close." He pointed ahead. The forest of Lothlórien was only meters away.