Chapter 9: Reflection of the Soul

They stayed many days in the shelter of Lorien. For the first few days, they went into a state of mourning for Gandalf the Grey. The Elves sang a tearful ballad for Mithrandir but eventually they found that as the days went by, the heart ache lessened. Instead, they were overcame by a renewed sense of hope.

For the most part, the Hobbits were together and felt at ease in their surroundings. Aragorn, Boromir and Gimli set to replenish their supplies while Serena and Legolas were out of sight. When they were spotted, they were either in each other's arms upon the soft earth or among the trees. Often, one of them would be pointing towards the sky. Words exchanged were only heard by them alone. Those who saw them could not help but to smile at the serene sight that the couple conveyed.

--oo--

When the night came before the day of their departure, Frodo was awakened in the middle of the night. When he opened his young eyes, he saw Lady of the Golden Wood beckoning to him. He soundlessly got up to follow her.

She led him upon an opened area where the moonlight poured forth her radiance and at the end of the rays was a well. Lady Galadriel picked up an intricate vase and began to pour water into the well.

"I have brought you such that you may look into the Mirror of Galadriel. Would you look into it, Frodo?"

"What will I see?"

"Many things for I may command the Mirror to reveal for you to see, but it also has a mind of its own and reveal things that were, that are, that may come to be."

"Do you advice me to look then?"

"No, I do not advise for I will not force nor would I suggest. It is in your own will if you should look. You may learn some things either by looking and not."

Frodo edged himself toward the well. At first, he could only see the glittering of the stars overhead. Then as the waters began to part, he saw a figure with a similar stature to that of Gandalf. As Frodo leaned forward and squinted his eyes for a better look, the vision changed and revealed Uncle Bilbo who was in deep thought. Before Frodo had a change to wonder what he was thinking about, the apparition changed to Hobbiton. He saw flashes of his friends, Pippin, Merry and of course Sam all laughing and dancing. Then just as quickly as the visions that appear, their smiles were replaced with that of fear. Frodo saw the capture of his friends by Orcs and the dark void that spread across all of Middle Earth. Everything including Hobbiton was veiled by darkness.

Then he saw a bright light. It felt familiar but he was not sure where he had felt the energy before but then his eyes widened as the Dark Eye of the One appeared in the midst of the light. The Ring which was previously tucked under his shirt grew heavier as Frodo felt himself lurched forward but he heard the voice called him back.

"You must not touch the water."

As the voice of Lady Galadriel came over, Frodo snapped from his trance, out of breath. He felt the chain which held the Ring and let out a sigh of relief.

"I know of what you saw for that last vision was also in my mind."

"Sometimes I wish that the Ring never come to me."

"Yet it did."

"Yes, but I would gladly give it to you if you ask for it." Frodo held out the Ring and offered it the great tempest Galadriel.

"It has come to the point where I should be given the one Ring..." she said in a voice that sounded foreign.

As her hand drew closer, an eerie pale green light surrounded the Lady until she quickly snatched her hand away. Then everything was back to normal. Lady Galadriel let out a sad smile. "I have passed the test and I shall go to the West and remained as Galadriel."

Frodo remained silent but he seemed to understand. "Rest young one for a great path lies before you."

As Frodo retreated and disappeared into the night, the Lady of the Golden Woods turned around and addressed the shadow before her. "You may come out from within the shadow, Princess Serenity."

Serena knew that Lady Galadriel had summoned her for she felt a calling in her dreams. The Crystal has reacted and now she was in her Cosmetic Princess incarnation.

"You have witnessed Frodo and now do you wished to look into the Mirror?"

Serena contemplated before choosing her words carefully, "My friend, she too possessed a mirror, the Submarine Reflection of Neptune. I have learned that nothing too good or too bad come from mirrors. On the other hand, experiences have taught me that visions can prepare for the best and worst of situations. I shall look into the Mirror."

Lady Galadriel nodded and pointed towards the well. She uttered the same warning as she did to Frodo. As Serena stared at the ripples of the water, she wondered what she would see. Then the ripples began to churn and she saw herself as the Princess of the Moon with her mother by her side. Then each flash was quicker than the last, until she saw images from both of her lifetimes. Each brought a wave of emotion through her, some tears and others were fond remembrances. Then she saw the Fellowship and the last two revelations that she had made to them.

She saw each of the nine original companions but she lingered upon Legolas and the last couple of days that she had spent with him. Then finally, the Ring appeared before her. She felt the urge to reach towards it but then she stopped herself when she saw that all of Middle Earth was plagued by a blanket of darkness.

She remembered when she travelled into the future to the 30th century Crystal Tokyo. Wisemen and the Dark Moon family had invaded and destroyed the utopian city. All was bleak and destruction was prominent. Finally the last image was replaced by the Dark Lord and his great Eye. Serena recalled the wave of dark energy whenever the Ring drew too close to the Crystal and now once more her broach was activated and replenished her with its pure energy.

When Serena emerged from the vision, she felt the Crystal pulsating in front of her. Lady Galadriel lifted her hand and the great Elven ring Nenya was flashing synchronizing with the Crystal. Serena unconsciously touched the shoulder blade where the orc arrow had targeted.

"The mirror has revealed much but the things that you saw may or may not happen. It is up to you whether they become reality or not. Sometimes, they are meant as a reflection of your soul and all your intentions."

Serena did not say a word for a moment but when she did, she met the eyes of the Lady of Lorien, "My destiny is intertwined with the fate of Middle Earth. I just hope that when the time comes, I'll be able to save it and all my friends will be spared."

End of Chapter 9