Disclaimer: I do not own any of J.R.R. Tolkien's original characters. I do however, own Julia so please do not steal her.
Author's Note: As I said previously, I'm new to writing LOTR fan fiction and I'm always looking for new sources of information concerning the storyline. I would especially appreciate it if anyone knows of a good website that has an elvish dictionary. If you know of any please let me know by reviewing or emailing me at jadedrose01@yahoo.com . Now, on with the show.
Chapter 2It was exactly as she remembered it. Everything was lush and vibrant. The greens were true green. The pinks, purples, and vivid hues were bright enough to scortch their colors into her memory forever.
And the scents. She closed her eyes, inhaling the overwhelming fragrances of all the fresh flowers and pure untouched earth. Even the trees gave off a distinctive smell that was familiar and something that she remembered valuing as a child. Everything in Middle Earth was richer and more effervescent than anything back home.
As if thinking that there could be nothing better, her pleasure at the different spells and colors multiplied the moment she passed onto her Grandmother's land. Lothlorien was a wonder in itself. Of all beautiful places she'd traveled and been awed by, the most wondrous by far was Lothlorien. The place of her birth.
As if sensing her need to bask in the moment, Gandalf stopped Shadowfax, her horse immediately stopping as well, but Julia did not even notice. She was home. For the first time in over a decade, she was home.
"Is it as you remember it?" Gandalf asked taking in the scenery that he was more familiar with than she.
She smiled and her eyes glistened. "It's even better than I remember, Gandalf. It's the most amazing place I've ever seen." She took a deep breath to keep her emotions in check, but her feelings still flowed freely through her words. "If ever there was a place that I belong this is it. I've never felt that way about any other place I've ever visited."
"I would hope that you are here for more than just a visit, milady."
Julia's eyes searched out the owner of the voice and immediately after finding him standing not far off their path, she immediately descended off of her horse and walked gracefully towards him. As she grew nearer, he smiled and stepped forward, placing his hand on her shoulder as soon as she was within reach.
"It has been a long time."
Her bottom lip quivered as the tears she'd been fighting threatened to spill over. "Haldir, it has been too long." Her words came out as more of a whisper, but lost none of their effect.
"Ceri al-nallo neth min. (Do not cry young one)" He spoke as he wrapped his arms around her, with words she'd nearly forgotten, but with a sudden comfort her reply came easy.
"Cormamin lindua ele lle (My heart sings to see thee.)." She brought her hands up to his face and placed her forehead against his.
It had been such a pleasant shock to see Julia, sitting astride her horse that Haldir hadn't yet had the chance to allow his feelings for the girl to catch up with the moment. His thoughts of her were similar to Gandalf's. She was most precious to him and had been since the moment he'd laid eyes upon her as tiny baby laying snuggled in her mother's arms.
He found himself on the verge of becoming emotional and that was not often done by elves. They took pride in maintaining their elegant way of living. After thousands of years, it was sometimes hard to express emotions for Haldir. Not because he didn't often feel them, but because, sadly enough he didn't always feel like there were as important as they had been in the past.
Now he remembered what it felt like to love and to cherish something so completely that it engulfed every part of his being. Julia was the first to make him feel so in many a millennia.
He pulled away and looked into her sapphire eyes. "Your mother would be proud of the woman you have become. You are absolutely a wonder, Julia."
She grinned and lifted her brow. "And surprisingly enough an elf. I hadn't expected that." She said, lifting up her hand and softly touching her now pointed ear. "Why don't I remember being an elf when I last visited?"
He sighed and turned her, leading her in a walk heading deeper into the forest. "The last time you visited, I don't remember you looking into a mirror very often. In fact if I remember correctly, and I'm rather sure I do, you refused to. You felt that it wouldn't do any good to look at your reflection when all you would do is compare it to the exquisite beauty of your grandmother and those who surround her."
She remembered it immediately after her started to speak. It had been difficult for her to come to Lothlorien as a child. The elves and their beauty intimidated her. She felt as if she wasn't worthy to be in their presence, let alone live as a princess. Especially when her beauty was nothing, but average.
"Grandfather found it quite amusing. It's one of the only memories I really have of him showing any sort of interest in me." Her voice held a slight tinge of sadness, but she continued on with a smile. "He knelt before me and tugged on my hair and told me that I would be the most beautiful girl in Middle Earth and that I was already lovely."
"Well, if what my eyes see before me is true, your grandfather holds great wisdom. You have the look of your mother and none could compare to her." He held her hand and softly squeezed it. "Except for you."
A slight blush crept onto her cheeks. "It's nice of you to say so, Haldir. But, I know that isn't true."
His face told of his shock. "Are you listening to this, Gandalf? She believes me to be a liar."
Gandalf Smiled in amusement. "Indeed." He understood that there was no need for him to say more. It was obvious to him that Julia and Haldir needed a little space and he was more than willing to give them that.
"I don't think you're a liar!" She exclaimed in a rush to correct him. "I just think that when it comes you me your opinion might be just a bit biased."
He laughed loudly. "Nonsense. Even a fool could see what beauty you possess. But, if you have need for an outside opinion, I'm sure that can be arranged."
They continued on their way through the forest leaving behind the sorrow of long absenses and enjoying the amusing company of one another. They spent a good portion of their journey discussing Julia's life. Her career in music and the quality of her lifestyle. It was hard for Haldir to grasp the concept of making enough money from singing to live comfortably for the rest of your life, but Julia assured him it was entirely possibly. In fact she had a decent amount of money saved, not that it would do her much good here.
"You would be surprised how one can make a living back on regular Earth." She said thinking of how shocked her would be at some women's choice of careers.
"Regular Earth? How is it Regular when Middle Earth is not?"
She laughed softly at how literal he took everything that she said. "Well considering both worlds have the word Earth in them, I figured if this world is Middle Earth than the world where I came from is just plain old Regular Earth."
"I see." He replied, even though Julia was pretty sure he didn't.
They came to an open space where the grace laid like green carpet at their feet. Julia took the opportunity to slip her simple yet feminine sandals off her feet so that she could fully take in the different textures of her surroundings.
"I'm afraid this is where I shalle leave you." Gandalf spoke making Julia pause in midstride.
"Leave? Where are you going?" She asked.
"I have urgent business to tend to in Rivendale. We will meet again soon." He said giving her a small smile before turning Shadowfax in another direction.
Julia watched him galloping away and a frown appeared on her face. "I never quite know what you expect from Gandalf."
"Nor I, and I have known him for far longer a time. Come, let us not linger here, your grandmother is waiting for your arrival."
She sighed and gave him a weak smile. "I have been waiting for my arrival for over ten years. I am anxious to see her." Not another word was spoken as she fell into step beside him and they began to travel yet again. This time they would not stop until they had reached their ending point. They'd taken up enough time as it was.
Yet, as they walked further, Julia realized they had actually made it father than she'd originally realized. Already they were at the start of the heart of Lothlorien. She looked up into the trees and saw the intricately built structures that seemed to mold right into the tops of the magnificent glowing trees.
They walked still further until they came to a spot where there was no where to go but up. Their feet soundless as they padded up the jeweled spiraling staircase. Having taken off her shoes to enjoy the feeling of soft grass between her delicate toes, she now felt the coolness of the metal beneath her feet and couldn't help but think it reminded her of something.
Considering the number of stairs, they reached the top rather quickly, the top floor opened into, what would almost have been considered, a thrown room. Several wide stairs led upwards a shor distance revealing at the top, two elegantly dressed elves. At first glance one would think he or she was looking up at two finely sculpted statues, only the graceful movement of their bodies could shatter that initial assumption.
Haldir stepped to the side after nodding his head respectfully giving Julia space to greet her family. Julia stood in her place watching as her grandparents decended towards her. Her grandfather's face held no emotion, but truly she had not expected it to be any different. Her grandmother however, was a different matter entirely. Her face was almost completely opposite. She held nothing, but love and pure acceptance upon her face and that too was what Julia had expected.
"Nessa Linwe, my young one. Come forward and let me see you in a better light."
Julia was surprised to hear her elven name spoken aloud. It sounded strange to her as if it were the name of another person all together. She had been Julia Matthews for so long. How was she to step back into the role she was born to play?
Galadriel gave her an apologetic smile. "Julia. Of course you would like to be known by that name instead. I apologize."
"No, grandmother. You may call me anything you wish. I am just pleased to hear you call me anything at all." Julia replied, it had been far too long since their last meeting for her to be upset over something so small as a name.
"Gladriel embraced her affectionately and closed off her mind to Julia's thoughts. They belonged to her and her alone for that moment. Besides she had already had a taste of them when the young girl had taken her first step into their forest. There were things in her mind, yet to be spoken until the time was right for her to speak and Galadriel knew that that time was not this night.
Julia chanced a brief look at her grandfather and struggled to keep her eyes locked with his as he looked her straight in the eyes. She could plainly see that he wasn't as pleased to see her. His eyes seemed cold and unfeeling, but nonetheless he was her grandfather and she would treat him a such.
She pulled away gently from Galadriel's embrace and stepped infront of her grandfather. She bowed her head before looking straight up at him and giving him a loving smile. "Hello, grandfather." Her voice was soft yet it drifted effortlessly to his ears.
"Hello, granddaughter. Welcome to Lothlorien, I hope you will find comfort and peace." His words though kind to the unknowing observer, were to Julia like a knife through the heart. They held no feeling. As if that weren't enough, he quickly turned and walked away leaving her wilted in his absence.
"Do not concern yourself with his words, Julia. He has emotions he is not yet ready to face. Give him time, my child." Galadrials words flowed smoothly delivering to Julia the precise amount of comfort that was desired. "You must rest. Allow Haldir to show you to your room. Well will speak again on the morrow."
Julia smiled and leaned forward to touch her lips against the porcelin skin of her grandmother's cheek. "On the morrow, Grandmother." She said, making her way to Haldir once more and allowing him to lead her to yet another set of stairs leading towards the living quarters.
When they were out of the throne room Haldir stopped her. "He does love you, Julia. He just can't face everything that has happened. Even after so much time has passed."
She sighed, her eyes saddened by the thought of her grandfather's unwillingness to accept her. "To an Elf twenty-one years is a mere blink of any eye. He has not had enough time to sort through his troubled thoughts. I cannot fault him for how he feels."
"You have a kind heart like your mother. She always saw the best in ever being."
"Yes, I know. And that just might have
been her downfall." Julia spoke, resting her hand on the railing and staring
out into the trees. "I just hope it won't be mine as well."
"Julia…" Haldir began only to be
interrupted.
"You know I'm really tired. Why don't you show me to my room. I could use some sleep."
Knowing that was her way of ending the discussion, Haldir nodded his head and lead her to her room. The last thought on his mind as she shut the door behind her was, perhaps Julia had more in common with her grandfather than she realized. It seemed to him that bother were unwilling to face hidden emotions buried by hurt. Both would never be truly happy until they were faced.
I promise the rest of the fellowship will be arriving shortly. I'm trying to get a foundation built before I introduce too many characters. I hope you're enjoying it so far and I'd really appreciate your reviews.