Galdrion looked around him in disbelief, having come to at the base of a large tree, in the dim light of Lorien. He was tightly bound, to save him escaping or harming others, but his eyes were left bare. He looked around him. He had never seen so many trees in the one place before! He thought back to the events that had led him to be there, and felt himself become consumed with rage. How dare she! A female! An unworthy one! And yet, the males all stood up for her and followed her, as thought she was worth something, and then she defied his ruling! Perhaps the old legends about the heathens belief in 'equality' were true, though he found the concept to be alien. If she had been among his people, then she would have been soundly lashed for not covering her face at a males gaze, let alone dressing like a male, living with males, acting like a warrior, and, the worst offence among there culture, striking a male! He was determined that, despite their obvious cultural differences, she would pay in blood for such insolence. Suddenly, a pair of feet came in to his line of sight, and he was hauled roughly to his feet.

"The Lady will see you now." His guard said roughly, before leading him up a long staircase.

He found it impossible to comprehend that a nation could possibly be so weak that they needed a female to lead them, or that the males were that ignorant. Perhaps there was something he could teach these heathens about his obviously superior culture. They obviously had difficulty keeping their females in line.

"A female?" he sneered at the guard, thinking that perhaps the stolid warrior would (without doubt) share his opinion about the jumped up females of this nation.

He was shocked to suddenly find a blade at his throat by his guard.

"Hear this, Dark-skinned One. I held my anger in check when you struck my commander, but if you speak ill of her, our Lady, or any other woman, or should you dare seek to harm them during your visit to Lorien, the price would be worth more blood than you have flowing in your dark veins."

Galdrion continued up the large tree in silence, before his curiosity got the better of him.

"Are you saying you let unworthy ones become warriors? Surely you do not lack so much in males to defend your borders? And why should it be such a costly mistake to reprimand them for such insolence as I did on the border?"

The guard turned to face him again, his patience waring thin.

"The 'unworthy one' you struck on the border was our commander, Lady Ardenia of Lorien, one of the finest and skilled warriors Middle Earth has ever seen, and worth a hundred fold of your dark hide. We do not lack in males, but if a female is more skilled then a male, then surely you agree that they deserve their place amongst the ranks more then a lesser skilled male?"

Galdrion shook his head at the alien concept, these people had a lot to learn.

The guard shook his head to himself. "You, Dark one, had best keep your abusive foreign customs to yourself. Your skin colour and presence already set you apart. Do not give anyone another reason. I will leave you here. I am Rumil of Lorien, and should I hear of any more of your abusive behaviour upon any being, you will answer to my blade, no matter how far from Lorien you are. Now go. The Lady is waiting."

He came to the top of the stair, and stepped through the door and into the presence of a being so beautiful, terrible, abrasive and great that he fell to his knees, his hand thrown over his eyes to protect them from the great light radiating from the being. He felt power, heavy in the air, pressing on his skin, making him shrink further to the ground. The creature was gentle and firm at the same time, was strength and grace, was light and darkness. It was then, he heard a voice in his head, so beautiful and fearsome that he felt tears spring to his eyes at the sound.

You will not find what you seek here Galdrion of Cahras Galadron. What you seek is no males right to give. You will not find Lorasar here. Return to the sands of your homelands.

He trembled. How did this powerful creature know him? His motives, his name, his origin? The light beating upon him slowly began to dim, enough so that he could uncover his eyes, and look upon the face of power. He had never felt so powerless in all his life, and the source of it was…a female!

Elladan and Elrohir laughed at their oncoming success. Their father had told them, with a twinkle in his eye, just what it was that every female wanted, and they had collected the said item, and placed it at Allarahs door, knocked hurriedly, then run off down the corridor, laughing and congratulating each other on their success. They went to wait in their rooms, confident that Allarah would be so delighted that she would surely rush to them immediately and thank them, and swear to stay beside them for all their days. Allarah opened the door, and looked down, hearing the twins echoing laughter in the hallway, at the beautiful bunch of rare flowers on the step. Miraya, and they only grew in the far reaches of Imladris. She shook her head and laughed. She had just come from a chat with Elrond, and it would seem that he was better at playing tricks on his sons then she was! She picked up the flowers, and went back in to her room. The twins, it would seem, had a lot to learn!

Glorfindel opened his eyes slowly, basking in the warmth of the sunlight that streamed in from one of the windows in their rooms. He turned to face Lorasar, in which to see in what way he could possibly torment her in to waking this morning, but was disappointed to find her gone from their bed. He got out of the wide bed, and began to dress. Just as he was belting on his tunic, he heard foot steps in the next room. He opened the door between the two rooms, and stealthily crept in, determined to catch Lorasar unaware. She had her back to him, and was brushing her hair. Strange. She hardly ever groomed the tangled raven mass that was kept so tightly bound to stay out of her way during her training. He resolved to ask her afterwards. He crept closer. However, just inches from her lithe frame, her back still turned on him, he heard her sigh, and say "You'll have to do better than that Glorfindel. That Balrog must have been deaf. Did you creep up on him this way? It's a wonder you survived."

Glorfindel sighed in exasperation, rolling his eyes, lowering his arms from where they had been poised to grab her, and instead drew her back against him within the circle of his arms. She was forever teasing him about the accursed balrog. By the Valar, he was considerably younger then! She leant back against him, and he forgot to formulate a crafty reply, as he held her too him with hands that spoke of nothing but tenderness. His caresses however, were but a pleasant distraction from the problem at hand. She continued to fight with the comb in order to tame her hair. Glorfindel took the comb from her stubborn fingers, and proceeded to tame the mass for her, enjoying running his fingers through the thick fall, every bit as stubborn as she was. She sighed, she hated having to coiffeur her hair, but the situation called for it. Glorfindel, sensing something wasn't as it seemed, leant next to her ear and murmured "What troubles you?"

She sighed. "I have been called to an audience with Lord Elrond. About a visitor in Lorien."

"Why should a visitor to Lorien concern you in Imladris?"

"That's what I am afraid of. Who would visit Lorien? I know no one out of Lorien. Bar few. And they are all people I have no wish to ever see again."

"Well, I'll go with you then. Besides, nothing can harm you here, not while I have you."

She smiled at him, but her eyes were still troubled, before a wicked grin replaced it, as they walked up the corridor.

"What makes you think you have me!

A/N: I know I know. It took forever. I'm trying. Sorry. Hopefully will be able to keep up, but there will be no updates for a few days in a week, as I'm going on a retreat to the middle of God only knows where. And thanks for the advice Anck su Namun. Originally, I was using lines between changes of narration, but for some reason, the computer wouldn't load them properly. Grrrrr. I hope these ones work. Enjoy. Review. I had to write this chapter twice, because the power went out half way through and I didn't save it. Gggrrrrrrrrr! Alright. Review and let me know what your thinking.