(A/N-the dialogue in italics is where Elvish is being spoken)

Chapter Thirty-What The Future May Hold

Upon waking after our second night in the woods of Lothlórien, I noticed the trees around us were a lot older than the ones we had encountered at the edge of the tree line. These trees were quite large, at least the size of the old-growth we had back in British Columbia. I remember seeing some trees that were almost a thousand years old up on Moresby Island, and these dwarfed those. They were the circumference of the small swimming pools found in the backyards of people back home. The underbrush had almost completely disappeared and the light from the sun shone down in mottled spots placed erratically on the forest floor. These giant trees were widely spaced apart; no doubt an evolutionary trait, as their canopies spread out widely for photosynthesis. We rode for a while, breaking only for a light lunch, before we came to the gates of Caras Galadhon. A wall several metres high surrounded the city and guards were placed at the gates. A large stable was just outside the wall, protected by a little smaller wall and guards were situated at regular intervals along the big wall. We had to cross a moat, which I found interesting as it hearkened back to medieval defence systems. We had our horses stabled and I was glad to be able to rest for a while. While the countryside was beautiful, it is hard on the body to ride so long everyday. My butt was thankful for the break.

Glorfindel took my hand as we crossed into Caras Galadhon. The trees here were even larger than what I had seen outside the city. Staircases wound up the trunks and above my head were walkways and what looked like tree forts suspended next to the trees. Glorfindel told me they were telain, and the Galadhrim, or inhabitants of Lórien, lived in them. We walked for some time before we came to a rather grand staircase and began the climb into the canopy.

After what seemed an eternity, we finally reached the summit. A platform hugged the giant tree and led us to an open floor, adorned with foliage and low couches along the sides. The floor was an intricate inlay of beautiful woods, laid in a pattern of a woodland scene. There was a low rail all around the platform floor and a large set of what I'd call french doors, off to our left.

Haldir stood in front of our group, with his brothers flanking our sides. The doors were opened and a moment later a couple came out. The ellon was tall, silver-haired and quite statuesque. The ellith was a little smaller, but her features were finely chiselled. Her eyes were a light, almost a pale turquoise blue. Her skin was pale, close to translucent, and her hair was the colour of warm moonlight. Quite an amazing sight. I didn't know hair that colour could occur in nature. Our party bowed and curtseyed to the couple, which I figured must be the Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel. They looked barely older than me, but Glorfindel told me Galadriel had come over from Aman in the first year of the first age and before that, she had lived in Aman for thousands of years. I didn't do the math, but I figured she was quite old. Celeborn was pretty old himself, younger than Galadriel, but still, no spring chicken.

I felt a gentle brush in my mind and realized that Galadriel was doing it. I looked at her keeping my barriers in place. She smiled and I heard her say 'I will speak to you later.' It wasn't verbal, but kinda like when I have spirits talk to me in my dreams or when I wrote my final exams in high school. The words were just there in my mind. I nodded as I heard Glorfindel introduce me. Celeborn took my hand to his lips and I curtseyed as Glorfindel asked me to. Then Galadriel took my hand and I curtseyed again.

After our meeting, we were dismissed so we could go to our telain and get cleaned up. I was amazed as Haldir and his brothers led us through the canopy, at the types of telain there were. Small ones with cloth walls and larger multi-storied ones with solid walls, and all of them blended into the canopy. There were several guest telain available, but Arwen, as she had spent so much time here, had her own. Elrond was led away to another, and it was just me and Glorfindel left walking with Haldir. His brothers had left to attend to other matters and I wondered where the rest of our party were staying. I supposed there were telain in which our security contingent and Arwen's attendants stayed, but as they had left us before we went up the grand stairwell, I had no idea where they were. Glorfindel and I walked along the suspended pathway, and Haldir kept throwing glances back at us, not like he was seeing if we kept up, but like he had an itch that needed scratching. I decided to help him out.

"Lord Haldir, what is plaguing you so?" No point in skirting the issue.

Haldir looked at me, surprised at my question, "Please, I am no lord. You may call me Haldir."

"All right Haldir. What is on your mind?" I repeated.

He stopped in his tracks and looked at me, as if he was deciding on what to say. "I am curious to your union. It is obvious that you and Lord Glorfindel are bonded, however, you are mortal. It is very unusual for a mortal to bond with one of the Eldar."

Glorfindel opened his mouth but I silenced him with a look, "We are fëa mates and as such, we could not ignore the strength of our bond. We have already endured discrimination on this subject, so I ask you, do you find this abhorrent or can you deal with our union?"

Glorfindel grinned at my blunt question, but said nothing and held my hand tightly.

Haldir looked taken aback, "No my lady. I do not find it abhorrent, just unusual. So, you are fëa mates, hmmm? The Valar have seen fit to allow your joining."

Glorfindel decided to answer this one, "Eru himself, saw fit to bless our union, for it was he that gave Lady Karyn to me. He brought her across a great distance and gave her into my hands, and for that I will always be thankful."

Haldir seemed to accept that answer and smiling he led us to our doorway. With a word of goodbye, he left us to enter the talan that was to be ours for the next seven days. Glorfindel opened the door and led me in. The talan was one floor, and the entrance led directly into the sitting room. An open door led to a kitchenette, but no fire source was available, just food storage for light repasts and dishware. A closed door led to the bedroom, which was quite airy, with a large window which was opened to let the air run through the room. The bed was large and there was an armoire to store clothing in. A table was on the left side of the bed and it held a lantern. There were lanterns hanging from the ceiling of each room for convenience. The kitchenette had a small window over by the table and chairs, and the sitting area had a small window too, placed over the low couch.

A knock at the door startled me out of my thoughts, and Glorfindel opened it to see four of our sentries bring in our trunks. We thanked them after they had put the trunks in our room, and they left in silence. I stood in the middle of the sitting room, unsure what to do next. Galadriel had said she wanted to talk to me, but she hadn't held me back after our greetings. Glorfindel went to our room and opened our trunks, pulling out clean clothing for us to change into. I went into the room and we got cleaned up and changed.

Glorfindel pulled me across to the bed, and had me sit down. "How do you feel melamin? Do you want to make love or do you wish to rest?"

"I think Lady Galadriel wants to see me soon, so I don't think I have time for anything right now. Will you take a rain-check for making love?" I asked.

"Rain-check. All right," Glorfindel sounded unsure.

"I mean can we do this later," I amended.

"Yes a'maelamin. We can make love later. I must remember that saying, rain-check," he mused.

"I'll give you a glossary," I joked.

Another knock at the door made me aware that the Lady wished to see me. I kissed Glorfindel and left the talan, walking with one of Galadriel's attendants back to their palatial talan. The attendant led me to a small garden at the bottom of their massive tree, and I idly wondered if I had the strength to make that climb again. The riding had tired me out. I walked between a couple of shrubs, and saw Galadriel sitting on a small stone bench. She stood up and smiled at me warmly.

"Karyn, it is so good to meet you at last. I felt the shift as you entered Arda and I wondered when I would receive the pleasure of meeting you," she said graciously.

"The pleasure is all mine my lady. However, I am curious, how did you know it was me that came to Arda?" I asked.

"My power felt the shift and I knew you had come to bring change in a time of change," she answered.

"I apologize, but what exactly do you mean 'bring change in a time of change'?" I had an idea, but I wanted to know what she knew.

"You are Lord Glorfindel's fëa mate. I was happy that you could connect with him as he has been alone for so long. He was alone in Aman, and he remained alone here in Arda. I am sure he knew his fëa mate would come to him. As well, you have experience in diplomatic affairs and will help stabilise Arda in this new time of peace. Eru brought you to complete this task, and give Lord Glorfindel his mate. It is written in the fabric of creation," Galadriel said solemnly.

I was a wee bit flummoxed. I was written into the fabric of creation here? I knew I had a big job back home, but this was almost unreal.

Galadriel noticed my discomposure and took my hand, "All who live have been written into the fabric of creation. Your story just crosses between worlds and began at the time of creation. You have been destined to be with Lord Glorfindel since the very beginning and Eru has seen fit to bring you to him now, so you may not only be with him, but complete the tasks he has given."

"My lady, forgive me, but I am mortal. Did Eru plan to rip me away from Glorfindel at my death, or sooner when he sends me back to Earth?" I was still worrying about the whole mortal/immortal thing.

Galadriel smiled gently at me, "Come, look in my mirror. I know you have the gift of sight and understanding, but you need to see what my mirror holds."

I walked with her to a small stone bath, and she poured water from a nearby spring into it. The water rippled for a moment before the scene changed and I was no longer looking at the bottom of the bath, but at a scene. My eyes took a moment to focus on it. It was of Glorfindel, on his knees back in Imladris. He was sobbing and tearing at his clothing. I saw Elrond step into the picture and pull Glorfindel up. He dragged him out of the scene, which then changed. I then saw Glorfindel step into a bluish light and disappear. He had a determined look upon his face as he said goodbye to Elrond, the twins and oddly enough Gandalf. The scene vanished and was replaced with the bottom of the stone bath. I looked up at Galadriel.

"Have you seen this?" I asked.

"Only what you saw just now. Do not worry little one. Eru does not tear apart what he has worked so hard to bring together," she assured me.

I nodded, "I just worry, you know? I do not want him to fade. I want him to stay alive and be happy."

Galadriel smiled, "This is why you are bonded now. You are his missing piece and with you, he is a stronger and better elf. The same for you. You are stronger and better with him, than without. He will not fade, not when he has you."

I nodded, getting a bit teary, and Galadriel hugged me.

"Go to him. You have seven days before we must leave and if I were newly bonded, I would not leave my bed!" she laughed. Now I knew where Arwen got her laugh. It was the same light tinkly sound. "Now, get going. You have a handsome ellon waiting for your attention. I will see you at the welcome feast tonight."

Galadriel shooed me out of the garden and I hiked back up the grand staircase to get back onto the walkway. I picked my way back to our talan, and entered only to find Glorfindel in bed waiting for me.

"That was too long," he frowned, "How are we to 'make hay while the sun shines' if you spend such a long time away from me?"

"Is that a joke? Are you joking?" I stripped off my dress and climbed into the bed, "Well, I know what to do with the class clown." I kissed Glorfindel deeply and stroked his penis, feeling it harden under my ministrations.

"If that is the greeting I receive when I complain, I shall endeavour to do it more often," he grinned and kissed me all over.

Our lovemaking was slow and languorous, before we became too tired to continue and fell asleep in each others arms.

Melamin-my love (informal)

A'maelamin-my beloved