Without waiting for Haldir to object, she took the crossbow he had tied to his sack and aimed it behind her. She knew her arrow had met its target as a figure fell to the ground. There were at least five left, though, and they were drawing near. Kate fired again. The leader ducked his head letting one of the lesser guards take the arrow. Haldir allowed Kate to take the reigns. He took the bow he had received from Galadriel and fixed two arrows within them. He let them fly and they met their marks in another guard's chest. There were three left. But Kate knew they had a bigger problem.

"Haldir!" she cried.

He saw it. The cliff loomed out before them as the waves crashed onto the rocks below. Haldir grasped the reigns and turned to the left suddenly. He could already smell the scent of the Sea, but knew they must not surrender themselves to it. The guards pursued them further and further as they rode their horses on through the Easterling lands. Then Kate felt hopeless as she saw the river vastly approaching. It was too wide to jump. She saw its rushing falls pouring forth over the cliff. Haldir looked behind him and saw the horse continuing to follow them.

"Kate! Halt him!"

"Are you crazy? They'll catch us!"

"Do it!" he ordered.

"Whoah!" she suddenly cried pulling back the reigns as the horse came to a halt just inches from the rivers edge. Haldir climbed off with Kate close beside him. He gripped his curved sword tightly. Kate took the crossbow and stood beside him as the horses drew near. But the guards did not speed up. They slowed their horses as well and stopped before Haldir and Kate.

"Surrender," the leader said.

"Never," Haldir replied venom within his voice. "You may surrender to us, but I shall not surrender to some thick headed fool of a repulsive Easterling set out to abduct an elf maiden."

"Do not be a fool. We are trained within the deadly arts of fighting. Your skill cannot match ours."

"Listen to me disgusting vermin. I am Haldir Captain of the Lady of the Lorien Wood's forces. You will turn back now or be forced to discover the smell of your blood upon my elven sword."

The leader raised his sword. Before he could bring it down, Kate fired her crossbow into the horse's chest. The leader fell to the ground but quickly regained his footing and met his blade with Haldir's. They dueled together and gave each other bad blows. The second one eyed Kate hungrily. He suddenly squeezed his heels into the horse's flanks, and it took off aiming for her. She fired an arrow into the horse and it met its mark. The second one fell to the ground at her feet. She placed her foot upon his back and smiled triumphantly down at him. In one swift move, she struck her foot into his jaw. He fell back against the ground stunned at her strength. Haldir looked and saw Kate swinging her fists into the second one's body. He wondered how this elf maiden learned to fight this well. The second one finally fell back against the ground mortally wounded. The third one then concentrated on her. Their eyes met and he grinned and squeezed his heals into the horse's flanks. She picked up her crossbow and fired an arrow into the guard. It met its mark, but she did not have time to evade the horse. The side of its body crashed into her as she lost her balance and plunged into the icy water of the river. She let out a cry and Haldir turned to see her.

"She can't swim!" he yelled.

Haldir brought his head to the leader's face stunning him and plunged his sword into his abdomen. The lord of Lorien dropped his sword and dove into the water grasping Kate's hand.

"Haldir!" she cried as she saw the edge of the falls the current pulling her forward.

Haldir reached out his other hand and grasped a vine upon the bank. Kate screamed as her feet touched the edge of the falls. But Haldir was strong. He gripped her slippery wrist for dear life and pulled her forward as he eased himself onto the bank. Her feet drew away from the edge as his stomach met the soft grass. Haldir pressed himself onto the shore and took her other wrist. Haldir pulled her onto the shore as she held onto his vest. Haldir welcomed the cheek pressed against his chest as she cried from her fear.

"Don't let me go," she cried her tears falling on him. "Please don't let me go."

"I will never let you go, Kate. I am here. I will not leave you."

Haldir rustled Kates hair as she pulled the green cloak around her tighter. She brought the cup to her face once again and sipped the warm tea Haldir had made her. She watched the crackling fire then looked up at Haldir. His eyes sparked at her as he smiled. He felt her curly hair and decided she had never looked more beautiful.

"Thank you Haldir," Kate said to him and placed her head once again on his lap.

"I could not have let you die so easily," he grinned placing a thumb upon her head and stroking it affectionately.

"I do not die easily."

"I noticed. Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"What do you mean?"

"You so easily broke that guard's bones. How did you do that?"

"I do not know Haldir," she replied. "It is like everything else. I just did it. Just like I could read books in Lorien and speak a little of your elvish. It was just like how I could brush my hair and wash my face. I just did it."

He raised his eyes to the stars.

"Varda must have released the floodgates of the stars. Look."

Kate looked up into the sky. There were so many stars out that she could not even see the constellations. Some stars were so close together that they even touched each other. Kate listened to the sounds of the waves of the ocean and saw a shooting star crash behind the sea. This was a perfect night. She was glad Haldir had taken her down onto the beach to rest. The sand was soft and tickled her feet. The waves crashing upon the shore left a peaceful sound in her ears. She sighed contentedly.

"Will we return to Lorien?" she asked Haldir.

"I do not think so."

"Why not? Isn't that where you belong?"

"Of course it is, but we must do something first."

"What?"

"I do not know. Galadriel told me we would be confronted."

A voice rang out from the darkness. "And that you shall, Haldir of Lorien."

The voice was beautiful and melodic like the sound of a whispering wind. Haldir stood up suddenly as Kate remained on her knees. A woman stood in front of them. She was clothed in pure white and carried a lantern in her hand. Her hair was silver like the light of the stars. She smiled in a friendly manner toward the couple.

"Varda," Haldir knew who she was.

"Correct Haldir. I have come to confront you as you say."

"Where are we to go?" Haldir asked.

"All in good time," she said sweetly.

Varda approached Kate and looked long on the girl. She slowly raised Kate to her feet. "My child. You do not fully know of whom you are and you know nothing of your past."

"That is true."

Varda smiled. "You have a choice, Katelyn. You may either remain here in Middle Earth never to know of who you rightly are or you may search for answers."

"I want to know who I am."

"Then you must go. You must leave depart over the sea to the lands of men. You must be cautious though and do not trust anyone who is not to be trusted. And you must be strong if you truly wish to know who you are."

"Do you know who I am?"

"I am one of the Valar. I am a messenger sent from Eru and yes I do know who you are."

"Cant you just tell me?" Kate asked.

Varda smiled and touched Kate's chin sweetly bending down to look into her eyes. "That would be taking the easy way out, Kate. Sail across to our world's end and cross the gate into your own. You shall discover that you will change as you come into your own world. Not greatly though. Your ears shall diminish though my child. I am sorry."

Varda turned to Haldir. "And Haldir of Lorien, do you wish to return to your homeland. Or shall you take Kate's path?"

"Amin khiluva Kate a' gurtha ar' thar." I will follow Kate to death and beyond.

"I hope your words are spoken with sincerity Haldir. For you may find that choice hard to make."

Haldir finally understood her words. He looked at Kate and though he saw an elf before him, he knew she was mortal. This did not change the way he felt about her though. It made him love her even more.

"Remember my words Kate, Haldir.

Walk through the fire

But do not despair

Pass through shadow and flame

And even then shall you fair

May a shining star light your way

May the darkness not overpower you

May the star forever your path stay

May your journey ever be new

Beyond the reaches of this world

There lies more than a memory

Seek not the shadow but the light

Only then will you truly see."

"What does that mean, Varda?" Kate asked.

"This is what you must discover for yourself. Look to the Sea," she pointed.

Kate and Haldir turned. There Kate saw the fairest ship of white sails and ebony. It moved with grace and ease through the waves. The ship met its land upon the sand beside them.

"And before you leave, take these as well."

Varda raised her hand and there appeared a necklace within the air. It shined with a silver light that nearly blinded Kate. Upon it was fixed a crystal ball filled with a blue liquid. Surrounding the crystal were two silver swans their heads making the sign of a near perfect heart. The necklace found its way to Kate's neck resting on her chest beside the one given to Haldir.

"Use it within your time of need. And to you Haldir I give you this."

She withdrew from her cloak a satchel of leather. Inside there lay small golden flowers, which seemed to glow with a secret radiance.

"Take them and use them to heal not hurt. Remember my words. Naamarie. May the grace of the Valar protect you."