Dangerous had been the journey from Mirkwood to the Golden Wood, yet Haldir knew it was worth it when he saw the beautiful mallorn trees appear on the horizon. They were almost home.
From the back of the procession, Haldir could hear Orophin crooning to the wee babe in his arms. Haldir had not approved the relationship, but there was not much he could do, for the child would begin to cry the second it was taken from Orophin. But on the other hand it had helped Orophin to get over his loss of Lady Lindwen and Dorwinion.
As they passed the guards at the entry to Caras Galadhon, Haldir began to feel the first strains of panic and wondered what the Lady would think! After all, no evil thing had ever resided in Lothlorien.
To their great surprise the small company was met by the Lord Celeborn, who nodded at Haldir and turned toward the company of wood-elves.
"You have traveled far yet you will be wanting to return soon." The elves nodded.
"Very well, but stay for several days for there are matters which include you and your folk. Orophin, Haldir, and Hanath; come with me for I and the Lady Galadriel know what you bring."
Hanath was amazed at the wisdom and foresight of the Lord and Lady of Lorien. He had heard many stories of the Great Wood, so he had volunteered for this mission with five others of his kinsmen. Now he stared open-mouthed at the great trees of Caras Galadhon with amazement and wonder at this place of light and purity. He could see now why Haldir thought Thranduil had been asking quite a lot of the High-elves.
Lady Galadriel waited at the throne room of the tallest mallorn tree and waited for the company. She clasped her hands together, for it had been long since she had held a child in her arms and her precious daughter had sailed over to the West, never to return and Arwen had long ago grown up into the most beautiful elf in Middle-Earth.
Dark-elf the child may be, but there was no reason it should be evil as many thought it was. For Galadriel could sense some great destiny for the wee one, but one could never tell for sure till the thing itself had been put before the naked eye.
The light, barely perceptible steps of a wood-elf sounded among the heavier steps of the High-elves arrived at the waiting Lady's ears.
"Bring Lady Arwen here immediately!" she whispered to one of her maidens, who disappeared down the stairs behind the thrones.
Lord Celeborn appeared and behind him, Galadriel glimpsed Orophin carrying a bundle that wiggled and then Haldir and Hanath appeared, still dusty from their travels.
Galadriel motioned with her hand toward the seats facing the throne, never taking her eyes of the bundle.
"Please be seated my lords. Would you like refreshments?" They all shook their heads, and sat down, Orophin still clutching his precious bundle.
Seating himself as well, Celeborn put his hands together and waited for his wife to begin. Nothing was said for what seemed ages, as Galadriel stared at the bundle. Finally, Galadriel spoke, "Bring the child to me Orophin for I wish to hold him. It has been long since I held a baby in my arms."
Orophin stood up and crossed to the dais, but stopped at the foot of Galadriel's throne and seemed suddenly unwilling to give up the baby. Everyone, including Arwen who had just arrived, watched the elf, as he seemed to be going through a struggle in his mind. All were shocked when a brown hand poked out of the coverlets and brushed a tiny hand against Orophin's jaw. This seemed to settle the matter in the elf's mind and he handed the child to Galadriel and rushed back to his seat, breathing hard.
The second the babe was in Galadriel's arms, her face shone and she was transported back to memories of two other infants who had filled her days with laughter and innocence, especially Arwen, who had been born after Sauron had been defeated in Mordor.
Arwen bent over her grandmother's shoulder and peered at the baby and wondered if she would ever have anything so ugly. She sincerely hoped not, for she had heard stories about dark-elves skin, and she had heard they turned black as ebony as they got older.
Galadriel seemed to know what was going on in Arwen's mind for she turned around and said, "Do not judge by color my love, for this is a sweet and lovely child, untainted by the rumors and myths that surround it's kind. I remember meeting one long ago in the second age, while I was yet in the forests of Doriath in the fortress of Menegroth. He was with a band of dwarves, full of life and cheer as were all dark-elves, for they found laughter in life that many do not find, and so make their immortality easier to bare than all others. When he spied me among the many maidens of court, called out, 'Oh that I had gone to Valinor and seen such light and beauty!' for alas, like many of his kind he stayed east of the mountains and ne'er saw the Trees of Valinor."
Arwen laid a finger on the child's forehead and rubbed. He grinned and she could not help but grin back. Then she took his little hand and put her thumb into its palm and jiggled the baby's hand. All were watching and jumped when the infant suddenly laughed. Laughter of such innocence and cheer had never been heard in Calas Galadhon, quiet it was yet it danced and skipped and played over the mallorn trees in gamboled into the ears of the many elves going about their duties. It stopped them and they listened as some strange happiness welled up in their hearts and many smiled and a few even laughed, for there was nothing but pure, unbridled joy in Middle-Earth.
But in the throne-room all sat with smiles on their faces and if the Lady's face had shone it now blazed with joy and wonderment at the tiny infant who laughed in her face and then reached up and brushed her pure white chin with his own tiny, brown hand. With this touch, a bond was laid between the tiny dark-elf and the Lady of the Golden Wood that would last for all eternity and there and then he was adopted like a son into the heart of Galadriel, daughter of Fingolfin.
The babe's chuckles had ended, yet all were merry and light of heart and were so for many a day afterwards. Celeborn broke the silence with a hint of a chuckle in his voice, "I see now that all my fears were for naught. Truly, we have acquired a precious and dangerous weapon. True happiness that does not and will not be quenched is a powerful tool to those who use it willingly and wisely yet not for foolishness. He will stay with us for a while then I think he should be sent back to Mirkwood when it is time. He should also have a name." He looked to his wife, "what do you think?"
She looked into the child's bright and merry face and replied, "Rilien, for he has a brilliant light in him."
"Nay, but he should be name Morohtar, for he is dark and will be a warrior no doubt!" laughed Haldir.
Hanath, who had said nothing until now, exclaimed, "Randir! For doubtless he will have to wander all over Middle-Earth, for he will not be able to stay in one place very long."
Celeborn looked to Orophin, "You have been in close contact with him for many days. What do you say his name should be?"
Orophin looked at the dark face of the babe, and then said, "Rhovanion, for he has a wild laugh and I dare say, he will have the heart of dark-elves that are wild by nature." He stole a quick glance at Galadriel, and then added, "Yet it is a wild beauty, like the crags of the Misty Mountains."
"We all have a different opinion! Lady Arwen should name the little tyke as she it was who made him laugh!" proclaimed Hanath.
Arwen gazed at the small tyke and nodded her head as a decision came. "Let us call him Rhovanion, for I see what Orophin sees as well. Dark he is, and no doubt a great warrior he will become."
All agreed, but Galadriel knew that this Dark-Elf would always be Rilien to her, for he reminded her so of another dark-elf long ago who had told her beautiful and terrible stories of Middle-Earth before she had arrived in Menegroth.