Disclaimer: I, TrekQueen, will not receive anything in return for this work and I give all credit of Star Trek and Lord of the Rings to The Great Bird of the Galaxy and The Great Wizard of Middle Earth.
Author's Note: Congrats to my future sister- and brother-in-law on their new baby, Jacob, born June 16, 2005 at 6:20pm PST weighing in at 9lbs and 9oz! Auntie TrekQueen wishes you the best.
Chapter Four: Lórien
Further searches revealed very little else and time was beginning to run out for the Enterprise's search of the transport's passengers. Riker was rounding up most of the crew who were on the surface as away teams so that they could return to the Enterprise and discuss what measures to take to further their search outside of the immediate vicinity. Dusk was upon them when Riker was heading back to the Last Homely House to speak to Lord Elrond before departure. He found the Elda in his study with his captain; though his dark-haired councilor was not present.
"Lord Elrond, I wanted to come thank you for your help and hospitality but we must be continuing our search elsewhere for our people," he told him upon entering the room.
The elf nodded, "You are welcome, Commander Riker. However, I have some information that you may take to your Captain."
"What is it?" Riker asked as he sat at the chair in front of Elrond's desk.
It was then that he noticed the falcon sitting on the window ledge behind the desk, Lord Glorfindel feeding the hungry bird. It had a small rope and capsule attached to one leg that appeared to be empty. Lord Elrond then produced a scroll of paper in front of him as he began to explain.
"I received this communiqué within the hour from Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel of Lórien," he said. "It appears they have come in contact with your friends you are searching for."
Riker sighed with relief, "That is great news. Perhaps you could direct us to where this Lothlórien is?"
"Lord Glorfindel will assist you," Elrond said, motioning toward the golden-haired warrior. "He will be able to help you in any way."
"Of course," Riker said with a polite nod as he stood. "Thank you, once again."
At that moment, Lord Erestor appeared at the open doorway of the study.
"Meanwhile, I have more pressing matters to attend to with my councilor," Elrond said as he walked them to the door. "Your fortune is good today that you have found your answers."
"Yes, it has been," Riker said as he turned to go.
As they were heading out the door, Riker overheard the lord and councilor speak.
"Where are my sons?" Elrond queried. "I requested their presence over an hour ago and they must hear of their call to arms with the Dúnedain."
"They are coming hither, my lord," Erestor informed him. "They were a little… preoccupied."
Riker turned to look down the hall and nearly ran into Glorfindel as the latter stopped suddenly in his tracks.
"Your sire has long been waiting for your presence," Glorfindel said with a little annoyance at the twins that were present in the hallway.
"We apologize but we had a little distraction," Elladan pointed out as they passed by to their father's study.
Riker looked back and found a somewhat disheveled Deanna Troi just behind them in the corridor.
"Oh, Will, where are you off to?" she asked him.
Riker raised an eyebrow in surprise, wondering what she may have been up to with the Peredhil twins.
"Lord Elrond has found information on where to find the other escape pod," he told her. "I'm going to get the coordinates right now with Lord Glorfindel."
"Wonderful!" she said, her cheeks a little red from some sort of excitement. "I will return to the Enterprise to update the Captain."
Riker turned back to Glorfindel, who had a funny grin on his usually stoic face.
"Come, let us get what you need so you may be on your way," the elf managed to say after a moment and continued down the corridor with a thoroughly confused Riker wondering why everyone was acting so strange.
An hour later the crew had prepared another shuttle and set out to check the new coordinates they were given. This time Worf was left behind as to not confuse the elves they were to come in contact with. Along with the locations Glorfindel gave, he also instructed Riker as to a protocol he should follow upon entering the woods of Lothlorien so they would not inadvertently get hurt or killed. Three security personnel were assigned to Riker's search crew as well as Dr. Crusher, Data, and Counselor Deanna Troi.
"We are approaching the forest, Commander," Data informed him. "I'm searching for a clearing within the forest that will get us closer to the coordinates given to us rather than landing outside and taking a day or two of traveling by foot."
"That is very considerate of you, Data," Riker commented as they looked out the main view port.
On the horizon dark shadows of tall mountains reached up toward the stars that were now present in the sky. Below them trees were visible under the running lights and glow of the nacelles. After a few minutes of searching, Data began to bring them to the surface.
"Commander, I am receiving similar readings to the dampening field we saw in the vicinity of our last search area," Data said as he powered down. "Our tricorders and phasers are useless here as well. However, our lights should work."
"Predictable," Dr. Crusher said with a shake of her head then turned to Riker. "You should have asked them about that before we left so we could have functional equipment."
"According to Lord Elrond they seem to be expecting us so I don't think we'll be needing anything," Riker explained as the door to the shuttle opened up.
The team carefully piled out, gathering together before Data closed up the shuttle again. He then started leading them in the general direction of where to find the survivors. After a few minutes walk a call came out from above them, high in the treetops.
"Stop! State your purpose."
The away team stood around, looking up into the darkness of the trees, pointing their lights in the direction they thought they heard the voice come from but found nothing.
"We came for the survivors of a crashed pod," Riker called out. "Lord Elrond sent us here."
A silent, dark shadow was then seen in the coming down a tree quickly. He landed a short distance from them and approached. As their lights alighted near him, it was apparent they would be seeing more elves. The man stood tall and proud though with a broader shoulder breadth than the Rivendell elves. His hair was as if spun with silver and gold as it shone like pale sunlight on a winter day as his light blue eyes flashed like sapphires. Though, like the elves of Rivendell, he was granted a comely, yet unique facial features.
"I am Haldir, Marchwarden of Lórien," he said. "The Lord and Lady have been expecting you. Follow me."
The away team watched in amazement as he effortlessly climbed up into the tree next to them and moments later a roped ladder dropped down for them to ascend. A few minutes later the entire team was on a wooden platform in the canopy of the great trees. It was then that they noticed several other elves balancing and sitting on branches that had been above them, their bows readied with arrows until their Marchwarden had returned. Haldir led them across several bridges and walkways deeper into the forest. Eventually they came upon an open platform where Haldir stepped to the side, leaving them in the center.
Another elf appeared from another entrance, lightly dressed in robes and his silvery hair shone with a strange aura. He stopped in front of the group and addressed them.
"I am Lord Celeborn and you are welcomed to Lórien," he said then turned to Riker. "Commander, if you would join me you shall find the one whom you seek. Haldir can lead your healer and team to the injured."
"Thank you," Riker acknowledged him with a nod then motioned for the others to follow the Marchwarden.
A flight of stairs led Riker and Celeborn to what appeared to be living quarters. After a brief walk down the short hallway they stopped at a room, which Celeborn opened and led him inside. A sitting room opened up before them with a bay window at the far wall, a table, sofa, and an oversized, cushioned chair. Both the sofa and chair were taken; one who was a female elf whom Riker determined had to be Lady Galadriel and the other was none other than Ambassador Spock himself.
The lovely lady was leaning forward on the sofa intently listening to whatever Spock was in the middle of talking about when they entered. They both looked up to their new visitors a few moments later.
"I see Starfleet has found us," he said turning to Riker. "Commander, I see Captain Picard has been efficient in his organizing and planning to find us."
"I am glad to see you were unharmed, Ambassador," Riker said as he approached. "Though we must be leaving within the next few hours due to the distortion fields around the planet."
"Understood," Spock said as he stood then turned to Galadriel. "I apologize, my lady, but it appears our time together will be shorter than expected."
"I know," she said in a soft wispy but proud voice. "Perhaps we may finish our conversation after what you need to say to Commander Riker."
"Of course," Spock said as he turned to leave the room with Riker. Once they were outside, the ambassador spoke again. "How are the people in the other escape pod and how was it you found them through the distortions?"
"There was a distress beacon activated that we were able to find. If not for their signal we would not have been able to scan for the debris field," Riker told him. "No one survived the crash but there was a Romulan, L'Etar, who survived long enough to tell us somewhat of the events concerning the abandoning of the ship."
"L'Etar was a promising student of the political movement on Romulus, as were many onboard the ship," Spock commented. "This is not the best news but at least you came into the company of those able to help you find us here."
"Yes, I agree," Riker said as they continued on walking, though now out into the forest once they reached the bottom of the stairs. "They were very considerate though hesitant at first."
"Do not fault them at their caution," Spock informed him. "They are in the midst of a great war against a power we cannot exactly understand since it has not been near anything we have encountered before."
"It does explain much more," Riker said. "Though, I have one question. How did you know we were here and searching for you?"
"It appears that some of these elves have a range of empathic and telepathic abilities," Spock said. "The Lady Galadriel is one, if not the most, powerful of her people in this sense. She knows much of what happens in this world and little escapes her consciousness. Thus, the reason for her interest in the worlds outside of her own."
Riker looked at him skeptically, "Sir, isn't that crossing the line too much on the information we're giving to them? Even if they allegedly are warp capable?"
Spock shook his head, "After speaking with her concerning my Vulcan heritage and the roots of her civilization with the wandering creators, it appears our people may be distant relatives."
Riker laughed a little, "That is an odd discovery."
"Indeed," Spock responded. "Now, I must return to speak with her before we depart. I will show you to where the injured members are resting."
