Chapter Seven: Nighttime in Lothlórien
Seven days later we came to the edge of Lothlórien under the cover of night. As we approached the wood we were met by a seasoned, well-armed Elf. Surely as well there were Elven Archers hidden just out of sight in the blackness.
"Galdor!" Celebrían exclaimed, coming to the front of the company.
"Fair evening my Lady." Galdor replied bowing, "I trust your journey from Rivendell was a light one?"
"It was." She said, "May I introduce to you my escort?" This she did, and each of the Elven lords bowed in turn.
"And this is the Lady Lhunrothien of the Havens." She finished, turning to see me bowing low.
"Lhunrothien has long been expected by the Lady of the Dark." Galdor replied, looking me up and down, "She shall be taken there now if she is not overburdened by sleep."
"It is not sleep that encumbers me." I replied squinting to make out the figures of the hidden elves in the dark. They were tense, I could feel their anxiety, but they were far from weary. At my words, a young, fair- haired elf dropped from the trees and walked slowly to join our group.
"Please then, follow Niltor. He will take you forward."
I nodded and followed the Elf into the shadowy depths of the Golden Wood. The path held many twists and turns but soon we arrived at a great tree, wide around and stretching up into the night. I climbed the tree easily and came to a platform lighted by tiny blue lamps round the edge. Standing at the far end was a Lady dressed in a long black dress. She was looking out into the forest but turned when I stood up on the platform.
"Fair is the hour of our meeting Child." She said, her voice was silver in the moonlight, "My name is Ariadiel, I am the Lady of the Night."
"I am privileged to meet you." I said, kneeling. "I am correct to say that you are a Ring-Bearer?" Ariadiel asked
"I am." I replied, I sensed no emotions from her and it scared me.
"Do you know your Ring's purpose?" She asked
"The Lord Elrond was unable to tell me such." I responded, "or he refused."
"Lord Elrond is wise. But I will tarry no longer with petty conversation." She said, and with that she walked over to a tall silver pedestal on the platform. "There will come a time when you shall fulfill a great purpose in this world. Until then however, it is very important that you learn to control yourself and Arawing. For that purpose, I present to you these."
She lifted two deep blue daggers from base and walked over to me. The hilts were set with silver stars, one of which glowed faintly as she carried it.
"I present to you the dagger of Night's Retreating." She said, handing that which did not shine to me. As I took it, the emotions I felt from the hundred of Elves became dim, "It will curb your power until you have strength enough to control it yourself.
"I also present the dagger of Night's Calling." She continued, handing the shining knife to me, "It will bring protection from your enemies and the peering minds of strangers."
I took the knives and bowed. "I am honoured that you consider me worthy of these gifts." I said, "I ask that you teach me in the control of my Empathic abilities, and of the purpose of the Daughter Ring. For I know not either."
The hint of a smile passed across Ariadiel's face, "Very well, you may stay."
With that I left the Lady's platform in search of my friends. Celebrían had returned to the company of Galadriel her mother but Luinrhos, Haedo, Vanaweth and Glorfindel were being housed on an open dais high above the ground. Climbing to join them, I kindly refused an attendant's offer of my own private platform and pulled myself onto the ledge.
My companions who had not yet lain down for sleep greeted me. I made myself comfortable beside Glorfindel my friend and listened briefly to the conversations of the Lord. Luinrhos, the youngest of the band, was the first to sleep, followed closely by Glorfindel and Vanaweth. Haedo, who was older then I, curled up in his cloaks shortly thereafter, though I knew he did not sleep. Finally, I was the last awake on the shelf and sat beside Glorfindel's sleeping figure listening to the majestic songs of Lothlorien.
When I finally did sleep, I did so with the dagger of Night's Retreating beside me and Arawing on my finger. For the first time since I had left my tower in the Havens I slept peacefully, oblivious to the sentiments of others around me.
Seven days later we came to the edge of Lothlórien under the cover of night. As we approached the wood we were met by a seasoned, well-armed Elf. Surely as well there were Elven Archers hidden just out of sight in the blackness.
"Galdor!" Celebrían exclaimed, coming to the front of the company.
"Fair evening my Lady." Galdor replied bowing, "I trust your journey from Rivendell was a light one?"
"It was." She said, "May I introduce to you my escort?" This she did, and each of the Elven lords bowed in turn.
"And this is the Lady Lhunrothien of the Havens." She finished, turning to see me bowing low.
"Lhunrothien has long been expected by the Lady of the Dark." Galdor replied, looking me up and down, "She shall be taken there now if she is not overburdened by sleep."
"It is not sleep that encumbers me." I replied squinting to make out the figures of the hidden elves in the dark. They were tense, I could feel their anxiety, but they were far from weary. At my words, a young, fair- haired elf dropped from the trees and walked slowly to join our group.
"Please then, follow Niltor. He will take you forward."
I nodded and followed the Elf into the shadowy depths of the Golden Wood. The path held many twists and turns but soon we arrived at a great tree, wide around and stretching up into the night. I climbed the tree easily and came to a platform lighted by tiny blue lamps round the edge. Standing at the far end was a Lady dressed in a long black dress. She was looking out into the forest but turned when I stood up on the platform.
"Fair is the hour of our meeting Child." She said, her voice was silver in the moonlight, "My name is Ariadiel, I am the Lady of the Night."
"I am privileged to meet you." I said, kneeling. "I am correct to say that you are a Ring-Bearer?" Ariadiel asked
"I am." I replied, I sensed no emotions from her and it scared me.
"Do you know your Ring's purpose?" She asked
"The Lord Elrond was unable to tell me such." I responded, "or he refused."
"Lord Elrond is wise. But I will tarry no longer with petty conversation." She said, and with that she walked over to a tall silver pedestal on the platform. "There will come a time when you shall fulfill a great purpose in this world. Until then however, it is very important that you learn to control yourself and Arawing. For that purpose, I present to you these."
She lifted two deep blue daggers from base and walked over to me. The hilts were set with silver stars, one of which glowed faintly as she carried it.
"I present to you the dagger of Night's Retreating." She said, handing that which did not shine to me. As I took it, the emotions I felt from the hundred of Elves became dim, "It will curb your power until you have strength enough to control it yourself.
"I also present the dagger of Night's Calling." She continued, handing the shining knife to me, "It will bring protection from your enemies and the peering minds of strangers."
I took the knives and bowed. "I am honoured that you consider me worthy of these gifts." I said, "I ask that you teach me in the control of my Empathic abilities, and of the purpose of the Daughter Ring. For I know not either."
The hint of a smile passed across Ariadiel's face, "Very well, you may stay."
With that I left the Lady's platform in search of my friends. Celebrían had returned to the company of Galadriel her mother but Luinrhos, Haedo, Vanaweth and Glorfindel were being housed on an open dais high above the ground. Climbing to join them, I kindly refused an attendant's offer of my own private platform and pulled myself onto the ledge.
My companions who had not yet lain down for sleep greeted me. I made myself comfortable beside Glorfindel my friend and listened briefly to the conversations of the Lord. Luinrhos, the youngest of the band, was the first to sleep, followed closely by Glorfindel and Vanaweth. Haedo, who was older then I, curled up in his cloaks shortly thereafter, though I knew he did not sleep. Finally, I was the last awake on the shelf and sat beside Glorfindel's sleeping figure listening to the majestic songs of Lothlorien.
When I finally did sleep, I did so with the dagger of Night's Retreating beside me and Arawing on my finger. For the first time since I had left my tower in the Havens I slept peacefully, oblivious to the sentiments of others around me.