Chapter 11

Legolas glanced at the body in his arms. Elizabeth's breathing had become very ragged and her face was sweaty and pale. The Prince of Mirkwood put a hand to the girl's forehead and allowed a worried expression to come upon his face.

"Aragorn." He called. "She has taken fever."

Aragorn put a hand to Elizabeth's forehead.

"We must quicken pace. The Lady of the Wood has healers that may assist us."

Legolas carried Elizabeth's now unconscious form through Lothlorien, following Aragorn.

Suddenly, arrows were in their faces and had Elizabeth been walking, Legolas could have loaded his bow for defense.

"The dwarf breathed so loud, we could have shot him in the dark." A blonde elf said, stepping forward.

The blonde elf took the Fellowship to a watch station where he spoke to them.

"Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion. (Welcome, Legolas son of Thranduil.)" The blonde elf said.

"Govannas vîn gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien. (Our Fellowship stands in your debt.)" Legolas answered.

"You have wounded." Haldir stated, looking steadily at the child in Legolas' arms.

"She was stabbed by a poison orc blade and has taken a high fever." Legolas answered.

Haldir nodded gravely, and then turned to Aragorn.

"A Aragorn in Dunedain istannen le ammen. (Aragorn of Dunedain, you are known to us.)" Haldir greeted. He turned to Frodo and frowned.

"You bring great evil with you." Haldir continued darkly. "You can go no further."

The Fellowship gave disappointed sighs. But Aragorn tried to reason with Haldir. He spoke with Haldir in elvish, arguing that the Fellowship should be taken before the Lady of the Wood.

"Look at the child!" Aragorn said harshly in a hushed whisper. "The fever has taken her, her wound is not yet healed and her face grows paler by the moment. Would you have her die? Would you continue living knowing that you allowed an innocent child to die?"

Haldir looked hesitant, but he sighed. "You will follow me."

Haldir led the Fellowship through the woods on foot, keeping an eye on Legolas and the small girl in his arms. Haldir stopped at a small perch overlooking the heart of elvendom.

"Caras Galadhon. The heart of elvendom on earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, Lady of Light." Haldir explained. A low moan escaped the lips of the small girl and Haldir watched her curiously.

Her face was indeed pale, as well as the rest of her skin and her breathing had become very ragged. Other than that, her black curls were beginning to straighten and she looked rather parched at the lips.

Haldir led the Fellowship up the many flights of stairs encircling the large trees until they finally reached the top of where they'd see the Lord and Lady.

Once they had descended, Lord Celeborn spoke first.

"The enemy knows you have entered here." He said. "What hope you had in secrecy is now gone. Nine there are here, yet nine there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him. I can no longer see him from afar."

Galadriel's eyes glanced at Aragorn, then to Elizabeth's limp body in Legolas' arms.

"Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into shadow," Galadriel said softly.

"He was taken by both shadow and flame. A Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria." Legolas spoke up.

"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his full purpose." Galadriel said. "Do not the great emptiness of Khazâd-Dum fill your heart, Gimli, son of Gloin, for the world has grown full of peril and in all lands, and love is now mingled with grief."

"What now becomes of this fellowship?" Celeborn asked. "Without Gandalf hope is lost."

"The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray, but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight, you will sleep with peace." Galadriel finished.

"The child that you bring," Celeborn started. "She is ill. Bring her, Haldir."

Haldir looked slightly surprised. "My lord?"

"Take the child from Prince Legolas and bring her, Haldir." Celeborn repeated.

Haldir bowed. "Yes my lord."

He took the child from a reluctant Legolas and began to walk away from the fellowship and up the stairs with the Lord and Lady.

"Where are you taking her?" Aragorn asked.

When he received no answer, Aragorn sighed. "Come, friends. Tonight, we rest."

Darkness. Darkness and shadow mixed with flame and the ability of sight. What came from that? The Eye of Sauron. It was in her mind. It spoke to her, asking her questions and hurting her if she would not answer.

Finally, she could take no more. Putting up a mind barrier in her mind and blocking out his presence, she was released from his evil and the fever began to disappear. But not for long.

The Eye broke her mind barrier and she held her head in her hands, screaming. The Eye looked pleased.

'Why do you align yourself with the filthy elves when you could be so much more powerful with me?' the Eye asked. 'Why waste your time with weaklings like the elves and wizards?'

She didn't answer; she wouldn't answer.

Suddenly a white light appeared and she could hear a faint voice calling to her.

"Lasto beth nîn. Tolo dan nan galad. (Hear my voice. Come back to the light.)" The voice said.

She took a step towards the light and put a hand through it. Quickly, she pulled her hand out and looked at it. It seemed healthier. Smiling to herself, she stepped through the white light and her eyes opened.

"Gandalf?" she asked.

"He is gone, my child." A voice came. That voice! It was the voice of Galadriel, the lady in her dream!

"Galadriel?"

"I am here, Elizabeth."

"Who are those people? Where am I? Where're my friends?" Elizabeth asked.

"Those 'people' are Celeborn and Haldir. You are in Lórien and your friends are below us, resting." Galadriel answered.

"I wanna see them."

"You are not well enough, child." Celeborn said, speaking for the first time. "You must rest."

"Then tell them to come and see me." Elizabeth countered.

Celeborn sighed softly. This child was very demanding. He exited the room and spoke briefly with an elvish guard and then reentered the room.

"I have sent a guard to fetch your friends." Celeborn answered before seating himself in a chair.

Haldir remained silent as he watched Elizabeth curiously.

"Why aren't you talking?" Elizabeth asked.

Haldir was slightly startled. This child was speaking to him?

"I keep my silence because I choose to." Haldir said calmly. "I was enjoying listening to you."

Elizabeth blinked at the elf and then turned to Galadriel.

"Elizabeth! You're all right!" a voice cried. It was Sam and the other hobbits. They all came forward and hugged Elizabeth tightly.

"Gentlemen, give the young lady some area to breath." Another voice came. Elizabeth looked up to see Legolas and Aragorn standing next to the bed. She leapt from her position and stood on the bed hugging Aragorn.

"Aragorn!" she squealed. "Legolas!"

Elizabeth then hugged Legolas and he at first wasn't exactly sure how to react. Eventually he hugged back, but only briefly.

"I had the scariest dream." Elizabeth announced. "I dreamed that we were in this mine and Gandalf died." (Emphasis on the word 'died')

Everyone save the elves looked around uneasily.

"That wasn't a dream Elizabeth." Frodo said quietly. Aragorn shut his eyes tightly and sighed, then reopened them.

Elizabeth frowned, taking in what Frodo had told her.

"What do you mean, Fwodo?" Elizabeth asked, tears welling up in her eyes. She mispronounced her 'Rs' and 'Ls' when she got emotional. "Gandawf's here in Wofwowien, isn't he?"

When no one answered, Elizabeth's eye widened and the tears began to fall.

"Gandawf! I know you're there! Where awe you hiding? Stop pwaying Gandawf and come out!" Elizabeth was practically shouting the words as the tears fell. She stood on her bed looking around the room frantically and cried.

Her knees buckled and she collapsed on her bed, but was caught cautiously by Aragorn, who'd been worried that she'd fall off the bed.

"He's gone, child." Galadriel said quietly.

"So it wasn't a dweam?" she asked.

Galadriel shook her head sadly. Elizabeth willed herself to stop crying and tried to speak properly again.

"When is-is he coming back?" Elizabeth asked.

Galadriel smiled. "Soon, my child, soon."

"Oh. So where are we going after here?" Elizabeth asked quietly.

Aragorn glanced at Galadriel nervously.

"What?" Elizabeth asked, catching the nervous look that Aragorn portrayed. "What is it?"

"You will not be continuing on with the Fellowship, Elizabeth." Galadriel said.

"What?!" the Hobbits and Elizabeth exclaimed. Legolas, too, looked surprised but didn't press it.

"Lord Elrond and Gandalf arranged for Elizabeth to be trained by myself and in battle by Haldir, our High Marchwarden. They believed that if she is to endure the pains of battle, she should at least know how to fight well." Galadriel answered.

All in the room were silent for a while as they watched Elizabeth ponder this.

"So I hafta stay in Loflorien until you say so?" Elizabeth asked after a few moments.

"Lothlorien, dear and not necessarily until I say so. There is a set time when you will leave and rejoin your friends." Galadriel answered.

"Well if I get to see them again, then it's ok with me if I stay here." Elizabeth said maturely. It wasn't as if she had a choice.

Galadriel smiled warmly. "Good. Now rest, child for you are weary with sorrow. Your friends will be below the talan and if you wish to be with them later, Haldir will take you."

Galadriel bowed her head modestly in respect for the child and exited with her husband. The Fellowship soon followed them.

((next chappie: The interrogation of Haldir!))