Lothlórien was many miles away from Minas Tirith but the long journey went faster with her horse. In fact, it was a beautiful one that was given to her by Elrond in hopes of a safer passage. Actually, it was one of the few gifts she received from Elrond and she took great pride in it.

Even from a distance, Lothlórien was extraordinary. It was the home of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel of the Noldor elves. Its name meant the Dream flower and it suited it well. Arriving from the southern end of Lothlórien, she was not surrounded by soldiers as she had been in Gondor but knowing that she would soon encounter wood elves, she took her time walking through the forest. Most of it was very much like Rivendell except for one plant that caught her eye.

"Mallorns," Erin said to herself as she admired the tree she came upon. Erin found its silver bark to be smooth as she brushed her hand against it. Its long leaves reminded her of the willow tree that had stood in front of her home, that is her old home back in the other world. She had very few memories of her other home but brief moments such as this brought them back to her. Touching one of its leaves she noticed a large flower that was waiting to bloom. At the moment she touched it, the bud immediately bloomed into a golden flower.

"How beautiful," Erin remarked in awe.

"The Lady Galadriel planted them many years ago," a voice said behind her startling Erin. Jumping around with her sword drawn, her eyes fell upon the elf that had spoken to her.

As the elf raised his hand to signal he did not want to risk conflict, Erin slowly lowered her weapon. He was very tall and had traits that Erin had never seen in elves before. His eyes were slightly sunken in and he was clothed in a forest green cloak. Concluding he must be a descendant of the Dark elves and therefore a member of the Wood Elves, Erin relaxed and placed her sword back in its scabbard.

"There are very few mallorns left," the elf continued pointing out a few others surrounding them. Looking at Erin, he said, "I am Haldir of the Woodland elves and I am a guard of the borders of Lothlórien."

"I am Elendil of Rivendell," Erin said nodding her head in respect, "I have been sent by Gandalf the Grey."

"You mean your name is Erin," Haldir corrected her.

"Yes, indeed. How did you know my human name?"

"Gandalf has already past through here alerting all of your arrival. You arrived earlier than we expected but Gandalf wishes for you to remain here until one called Strider calls for you."

Still unsure of the elf's truthfulness, Erin asked for permission to see the Lady Galadriel herself. Haldir gave permission and asked her to follow him. Before setting out, Haldir plucked the golden flower from the mallorn and said,

"You are fortunate to see the golden flowers bloom. For they only do so when surrounded by true beauty."

Surprised and shocked by the forward comment, Erin remained silent as Haldir guided her through different parts of the forest. Finally they reached Caras Galadon, the heart of Lothlórien. Meeting the Lady Galadriel was much more brief than she expected but was gladdened to meet such a wise and fair being. Learning Haldir was to be trusted, she was put in his care until her stay ended.
As time went by, Haldir and Erin became very close friends. Erin would awake everyday and join Haldir during his morning scouting of the borders. Erin learned to shoot arrows like the elves and was to soon learn the sword during that time. The years went by quickly and year 3017 approached. Erin had spent over seven years with the woodland elves and she had a feeling that Aragorn (Strider) would call for her to assist him.
During one of Haldir's scouting, Erin and Haldir began to discuss the world of men.

"I find them quite foolish and thoughtless in Minas Tirith," Erin said with a mocking voice.

"How kind of you to insult your own people," Haldir responded knowing this conversation would go nowhere.

"My OWN people! I have no relation to them and I am glad of it," Erin sneered with a hint of pride in her voice

"But I must agree with you that men are not as wise as the elves," Haldir continued on, "I do find the race of men to be weak."

"Weak?" Erin questioned, "In what sense?"

"Well, they are no faster than the elves when they run. Truly, the elves are must faster"

"Really? I bet I could overcome you in any pursuit."

"You are daring indeed," Haldir retorted hoping to avoid the competition at hand, "You boast a great deal."

"I bet you're disturbed with the fact you would be defeated," Erin continued attempting to force him in accepting the challenge.

"Not at all," Haldir responded.

"Then verify it!" Erin shouted as she took off running through the outskirts of Lothlórien. She drove through branches and cut through streams never once looking back to see how close Haldir was to her. This was a typical occurrence between Haldir and Erin: contests. There never was a winner because somehow they would accuse the other of cheating. Although Erin knew the same thing would happen in this case, it gave her something to smile about throughout the day.

"Haldir, I am going to outdo you if you don't hasten your steps," Erin yelled behind her, sure that Haldir was close behind.

"It's a even finish Erin!" the voice responded, "Turn back."

"I don't think so," Erin thought, "I am going to confirm the fact that I am naturally faster than him," as she picked up her pace.

"Erin, return back," Haldir shouted but Erin continued on.

Running a few feet out of Lothlórien, Erin stopped to rest and catch her breath. Smiling, she knew she had beaten Haldir and there was no possible way of her being accused of cheating. As she looked back into the forest, she didn't even see Haldir. Assuming she ran too fast for him, she smiled again and slightly laughed. Her laughter stopped when an arrow shot across her face barely missing her and implanted itself into the tree beside her.
Spinning around, Erin drew her sword and faced four orcs. They were hideous creatures, uglier than she had ever seen. They had black, wrinkled faces that glared at Erin with malice in their eyes. They had long black hair and pointed ears like the elves but did not possess grace like them. All of them had piercings throughout their faces perhaps to prove their strength and bravery.

Erin took too long to react and one of the orcs grabbed the grips of her sword. Before Erin realized what the orc was doing, he pulled the grips downward allowing her tightly gripped hands to run through the long blade of her sword, forming deep wounds in her hands. Pulling both her hands back in pain, Erin attempted to escape by running back into Lothlórien. She was unsuccessful when the orcs took hold of her arms and restrained her down onto the ground. Pulling a knife out and placing it to her neck, one of the orcs said to her, "Go ahead and scream. No one will save you now."

"HALDIR!" Erin cried in a piercing scream.

"Shut her up," one of the orcs commanded as Erin was gagged and her arms bond.

"Well, aren't you a pretty thing," the orc said cruelly seeing Erin trembling and shaking, "We will take good care of you."

"Once she's dead!" another said as he ripped out a sword. Erin struggled to free herself but the weight of several orcs upon her was too much for her. Hoping and praying that Haldir would appear out of the woods, Erin attempted to delay them from doing anything more to her.

The orc who pulled out the sword pushed the other three aside and knelt by Erin. She tried to sit up during that brief moment but she was forced back down. The orc pulled her neck back and raised the sword high above his head. Bracing for the worst, Erin shut her eyes not expecting never to reopen them.

She did reopen them when she heard the orc above her cry in pain, and fall beside her. An arrow had shot him. Haldir's arrow had shot him. Erin froze from where she was and watched Haldir slaughter every member of the orcs. He fought with great courage and strength that Erin could do nothing but watch in awe. When the last was slew, Haldir carried Erin back to safety alerting the other elves of an orc attack. Placing Erin on the bed in her chamber, he tended to the wounds on her hands before joining the other elves to fight.

Looking at her hands, Erin expected herself to feel fright from the experience. Instead she became angry and frustrated. She had been trained for years to fight by elves, rangers, and wizards but was not able to defend herself against four little orcs. Was she as weak as her race of men? Was she no stronger than them?

Haldir returned from the battle reporting that there was a small encampment of orcs on the western side and that they were defeated. Erin did not acknowledge his presence but kept her eyes on the ground.

"Elendil," Haldir said tenderly, "Do not worry yourself. You are safe."

Erin remained silent until Haldir turned to leave,
"You were right."

"What do you mean?" Haldir questioned.

"I am weak," she said softly.

Haldir walked over to her bedside and knelt in front of her. When she did not raise her head, he placed a finger underneath her chin and lifted her head. Brushing her hair aside Haldir said with comforting words,

"Truly you are human but you are nothing like them. You are strong and sometimes one cannot always defend themselves."
Taking leave from Erin's chamber, she heard him whisper under his breath,

"And I love you."