They would not leave for a whole month yet, but the packing seemed to take almost that long. It was certainly something to see the entire household of Elrond packing for a long journey. For many days it seemed the cooks were all bustling about the kitchens preparing food for the trip, horses were being groomed and tack repaired in the stables and the shops, and servants were all over the house, packing this and that.

Lithorniel helped Katie to pack a day before the journey. It wasn't very difficult; Katie had very few possessions to begin with—some clothes, some personal items, and that was all. It was warm enough now that she wouldn't need the coat she had from home, and she certainly wouldn't need her backpack. It, and the psychology textbook inside, would remain in her room in Rivendell. The book of poetry, however, was another matter.

She went and rapped on Erestor's door one evening during a lull in the community packing. When he answered it and the usual greetings were over, Katie held the book out. "Here," she said.

Erestor took it. "What is this?"

"A book of poetry from my world. I thought you might like it for the library."

Erestor looked astonished. "Thank you very much!" he exclaimed, flipping reverently through the volume. "This was not hand-written," he observed.

"No; it was printed." He cocked his head at her quizzically. "I'll explain it some other time," she said with a laugh.

000

It was a crisp, beautiful morning when the household set out for their journey south. It was now the first of May, and flowers were out on every tree and bush. The whole valley was verdant and lovely. Katie's only disappointment lay in the fact that, while she had seen Imlothurin burst into bloom in April, she would not be there to see all its myriad changes through the spring and summer. But she had hopes that she would be in Rivendell for other springs.

There was an undercurrent of happiness this morning when Katie stepped out the door with her bag and into the courtyard. A number of horses were standing patiently while elves saddled and loaded them up, murmuring quietly to them the entire time. Half of the horses would be used only for supplies and belongings, and the others would be free for riders. Most of the train would walk for a great deal of the journey. Katie passed an elf hoisting a bag, which Katie recognized as containing some of Arwen's things, onto the back of a mare. Arwen would be living in Gondor after this, so everything she needed from her home would be traveling with her now. That was part of the reason the packing had taken so long: Rivendell was sending their lady off with many beautiful gifts.

Húnvel caught Katie's elbow. "Are you ready?" he asked her with an excited smile, and offered to take her bag. Katie handed it over and thanked him as he led her to one of the horses and strapped her things and his own behind the saddle.

"I don't know if I'm ready or not," Katie said, answering his earlier question, "but it seems it doesn't matter! Everyone else is ready to leave."

He patted her chummily on the shoulder. "You will be fine," he reassured her.

In no time at all, they began to move out. Katie was in the last third of the train, walking with Lithorniel's family. Lithorniel herself was riding first, so Katie walked between her and Húnvel, with Glawar nearby. Once out of the gate, they turned southwards—toward Lórien.

She knew that was where they were going first. She had asked Erestor about their route when she took the book of poetry to him, and he had showed her a map.

"We will follow the same path the Fellowship did down into Lothlórien," he had said, running his finger along their path. When Katie looked up at him in surprise, he added with a smile, "Yes, you will meet the twins' grandmother, Galadriel."

"I've heard them mention her," Katie said in awe. "The Lady of the Golden Wood. Have you ever met her?"

Erestor laughed. "Of course I have!"

"What is she like?"

"Beautiful and wise and pure," Erestor answered summarily. "You shall just have to wait and see her for yourself."

"And Lórien," Katie added. "I've heard stories about that, too. I can't wait to see it!" Erestor smiled at her enthusiasm, and Katie laughed. "Yes, yes. 'Impatient human child,' as Legolas would say!"

000

The twins had once told her that she would not have enjoyed the journey south, and Katie had replied that her enjoyment would depend upon the company she traveled with. It seemed she had been right. Elves made fantastic traveling companions. There was always a song to be sung or a story or poem to listen to, which made the miles run much more quickly. And Elves were merry folks, fond of jokes and good humor. So Katie really wasn't very bored at all. It was especially nice to be traveling in the spring, when the weather was so fine and the flowers appearing on every plain they crossed and along the ridges of the mountains to their left.

Katie was glad the elves were hardier than she; it meant she was able to ride more if she wished. The journey was a bit tough on her at first, unaccustomed to walking and riding all day as she was. The entire first week, standing up in the morning was a bit of a trial—she was so sore! And traveling medieval style wasn't exactly a piece of cake, although Katie knew it was much better with the Elves than it might have been with a party of Humans. It involved very few baths, and the ones that were available being taken in icy mountain streams. One had only room for a few outfits, and rarely had a chance to wash them. And of course, the way food became a tad monotonous sometimes. But they were all in it together, and Katie actually found herself rather enjoying some of it, as a new experience and an adventure. But then, everything was like that with the Elves. Everything was enjoyed as much as possible, and it made it very difficult to be annoyed or to complain.

One morning, Katie heard murmuring about her. "The Glanduin!" Glawar said. "They say they have spotted the river. Can you see it?"

Katie stood up in her saddle as best she could. "No," she answered with a chuckle, "I have no elf-eyes!"

But in an hour, even Katie could see it quite clearly before them, shimmering silver in the sunlight. When they met the river, they turned and traveled east along it, between the mountains.

The path grew quite narrow at times as they picked their way along the riverbank. Birds sang up above them, and gray rocks painted with dashes of green moss climbed slowly up into the mountains on either side. Katie's excitement grew, knowing they were coming to Lórien.

000

They camped in a wide, level place by the river that night, and continued eastward in the morning. Soon they passed by the end of the river, where it wound down from its source high up in the foothills of the mountains.

"How far is it to the Golden Wood?" Katie asked Glawar, using the term the elves did for Lórien.

"We will not reach it today," Glawar answered. "We shall travel easy, and camp one more night within sight of its borders." Katie was disappointed, but settled in for the day's journey.

Húnvel was as excited to see Lórien as Katie. He had heard stories of it, but never seen it. Glawar had been there once to join Arwen's escort when she returned to Rivendell to stay, but Lithorniel had stayed at home with Húnvel, who had been but thirty years old at the time. Lithorniel was excited as well, but hid it better.

As they came out from between the mountains at last, Húnvel pointed into the distance. "The Nimrodel!" he exclaimed, referring to the river that Katie could not yet see. "It meets the Celebrant and flows down into Lothlórien. They say," he said, turning to Katie with wonder in his face, "they say that the leaves of the mallorn-trees do not fall in the autumn, but in the spring when the new buds open. And then the floor of the wood is carpeted in gold, and the roof is golden with flowers, as well, and the pillars are silver, from the smooth, grey bark of the trees. How I wish it were in view already!"

Glawar smiled at his son's enthusiasm. "It is the nineteenth of May," he reminded Húnvel. "Most of the flowers will be off the trees by now." When Katie's face fell, he quickly added, "But the golden leaves will still cover the floor of the forest, only the roof will be green, instead! Green, gold, and silver will be the Wood of Galadriel."

At last, the edge of the forest came into Katie's view as the sun sank down behind them into the Misty Mountains, which stretched north to south, as far as the eye could see. Their road ran beneath the trees, which arched over it and the Nimrodel. The elves, who had as usual been singing snatches of music all day, broke together into a lovely song. Katie was too swept away by the beauty of the music to even understand the words.

They halted and set camp there that night. Katie had just finished tying off the cord of a tent she was helping to raise when she heard shouts and laughter from nearby and turned to look for their source. A few elves were standing in the shallow water of the Nimrodel, splashing one another delightedly.

"Katie!" Húnvel called, pulling off his shoes and jumping into the water. "Come on; come join us!"

She couldn't resist. In a trice she was wading barefooted into the lovely cool water of the river, hiking the skirt of her dress up to keep it dry.

It was a futile gesture. Húnvel and a few of the other elves embroiled her in a water-fight, at the end of which every one of them was soaked.

But none of them minded. All their travel-weariness fell away in the soothing water, and Katie slept deeply that night, the mingled sounds of the wind in the leaves and the gurgling of the Nimrodel soothing her dreams.

TBC

AN: I bet that probably seemed short, but it's the requisite three pages as usual! You'll have to wait for next chapter to see Lórien!

FallenTruth: I would be freaked out by the kissing thing too. Everybody around here is Scotch-German, and we're all like, "This is my bubble. Do not invade my bubble." It really shocked me when one of my girl friends at college smacked another girl friend on the butt as a joke. But neither of them were bothered by it, as the first was not from around here (she was from Georgia) and the other grew up with five siblings. :) What, may I ask, is "the lurgy"? I've heard (and loved) the British phrase, "He might be septic!" but I've never heard the term "lurgy" before. Thanks! I hope the passage of time was as smooth in this chapter, although I rather doubt it. It could probably have used a bit more work before I posted, but it was taking long enough already. :) Go ahead and pout! I'll just sit back and smile smugly and mysteriously. lol

Laer4572: Just realized, I might need Haldir back for the next chapter… I'll exchange! Here's Orophin; you may have him while I borrow his brother!

Contia: lol I would love to hear your theory on her epiphany! Not that I'll tell you if it's right or anything…

Madd Hatter: Luckily for us fanfic writers, Tolkien didn't do much description on the wedding (typical male! No, I'm kidding. He gave us too much clothing description to be called that), so I can play with it when the time comes!

Ravens Destiny: —grins mysteriously and hums infuriatingly— Yes, I'm afraid I should probably have been working the overhanging Shadow into the story chapters ago, but I totally forgot! So it was a bit last minute. Bad form. Ah, well. If I ever go back and edit everything up properly, I shall have to remember to do that. Oh, dear. I wonder if Elrond has any Dorwinion?...

theycallmemary: —continues to smile mysteriously and hum infuriatingly— Nope, Arwen wasn't there for the coronation; in fact, took place on May first, which is when Arwen et al left Rivendell! But it's quite understandable that they put it together in the movie—it was so long already! And that would be another "ending" for people to complain about. I was personally disappointed at the lack of Éowyn-Faramir love story, the Scouring of the Shire, and the real demise of Saruman. But I understand why they did what they did. Yep, we're getting toward the end, now! But there's at least two chapters to go, by my reckoning, possibly more.

The special very non MS: Welcome to the insanity! Thanks!

Alabrith Gaiamoon: lol I'm glad to see I have such an effect on my readers!

IwishChan: lol Quite understandable. Crazy Elvish names are hard to keep straight! I personally get confused over whether it's "Caras Galadhon" or "Caras Galadon", and I swear I've seen it both ways in print!

Featherbird: Yeah, ff dot net does that sometimes. It's just a system error, and doesn't appear for everybody. But it's really annoying, I know. Well, I personally thought the chivalric ideal thing was fascinating, but I would never have even thought about it if not for women's college!

Megara: Thank you! I'm flattered. :) I swear, writing fanfiction is going to give me a big head yet… And I can't afford that! My cranium is large enough already! I have trouble buying hats!

Erasuithiel: I recall that Lindir was a lot of fun in "Don't Panic". Did you know he's canon?

Princess Siara: Well, Katie's not a fabulous singer, but she ain't bad. She's good enough the elves don't wince, anyway. :) Le hannon, mellon vuin!

Thanks also to ElvenRyder, lds-sunshinegrl, Fk306, and qwertyqwert the hiccup gal. I love you all!

Please review!