The twilight found Aurë to be restless. Despite the merriment she had participated in, her heart soon became troubled. She found her thoughts moving to Frodo and she recalled she had not seen him nor Sam around the fountain that evening. While that was not uncommon, this night Aurë grew weary at the thought and she soon found her feet leading her away from her Talon. She moved through the starlit woods, greeting others who watched the night until she found herself lingering near the woods that held the Mirror of Galadriel.
Aurë did not wait long before the small figures of Sam and Frodo left the glade and moved towards her. The weight of the world seemed to fall far too heavily on the shoulders of Frodo but Aurë could see Sam shouldering that burden with a simple touch of his hand. The two hobbits faltered in their steps as they beheld Aurë before them. "Master Hobbits, your hearts are troubled."
"We have looked into the Mirror of Galadriel," Sam said, his fingers clutching tighter onto Frodo. Aurë granted them with a small, gentle smile, understanding the conflict the mirror created. "I saw home."
"You long to return to the Shire," Aurë observed, tilting her head up to the silver canopy, "I understand the longing for home. Fear not, Sam. You shall return again." In her heart, she knew her words to be true. Her attention then fell to Frodo and said nothing, for she could not.
"I saw the Enemy," he said after a moment's pause, "he searched–for me, for this place." His hand slipped into his pocket after his words and seemed to clutch something within. Aurë's heart broke for Frodo. She knelt before him and brought a hand to his cheek, catching a tear that fell. "Galadriel said–that Lothlórien–"
Aurë pondered the words he could not bring himself to say and understanding swept over her, "you worry for the fate of these woods."
"It matters not what I do. If I fail or succeed, it will eventually be no more. Either through the enemy's destruction or through the ring Galadriel–" he stopped himself before he spoke too much, "-or time takes it away."
"Oh Frodo, nothing is built to last," Aurë spoke softly, "time eventually fells the tallest of mountains and it is not on your shoulders to fight that. Change always follows time and that is okay. It is us who must make a place for it, not to fight it. Lothlórien's fate is not your burden and you already carry too much," Aurë let out a broken sigh, "I wish I could take this burden from you, Frodo."
Desperation flooded the hobbit's blue eyes and he clutched at the ring around his chest, freeing the One Ring from under his shirt. Aurë's grew wide as she beheld the small gold band. "Then take it! Please! You are far more capable than me! Your heart is pure and your intentions noble!"
The world seemed to fade, Frodo's pleas a distant echo, as the Ring took hold her attention. It spoke to her in seductive whispers, promising her that her deepest desires could come true. She knew that if the Ring were to be hers, she would return home. All she had to do was grasp it in her palm, place it on her finger, and the stairway would be built—the path simple and steady. The power would be hers to guide and create a world where no one needed to hurt. It would be her's to build a world where families would never need part, where loved ones remained forever, where the dead could return once more, and broken hearts be mended. Aurë would be a mighty beacon of hope that would fill the sky with her glorious light. She would burn as bright as her Arien and her love would be as fierce as Tilion.
Aurë pulled away from Frodo in fear of herself and she wept as her shoulder burned cold. She had long thought herself as one with a strong will that could withstand the Ring's temptation as she had once withstood Melkor's. She now understood that she was not above that, that perhaps no one was. Temptation prayed on the weakest moments and deepest desires that everyone held in their hearts. Everyone faltered sometimes and Aurë feared how easy it would be.
"I cannot, Frodo," Aurë wept into the soil, prostrating before the night sky in hopes of forgiveness, "I would take the Ring with good intentions and the world would turn toy to the whims of a mighty stranger."
"My Lady–" Frodo began, his voice unsure and sad.
"Morgoth sought me out once as he did Mairon and Ungoliant and all those who now cloak themselves in smoke and flame," Aurë brought her gaze up to meet that of Frodo's. "I thought it because he could not possess Arien, but I now understand my error. I would take the Ring with intents to change the world for better. It is not up to me–to anyone–to decide the Tides of Change, but something we must bear together. I would be named tyrant and Morgoth's wrath would consume me."
Frodo hurried to hide the One Ring once more beneath his shirt. Aurë brought a shaky hand to grasp her shoulder and found it ice cold to the touch. Even then her hands trembled with the need to take the Ring into her grasp. "My Lady, I am sorry," Frodo said in remorse as he and Sam worked to help her to her feet.
"No, Frodo, I am sorry, and I thank you," silver tears streamed down her cheeks, "for you have taught me a valuable lesson, one I have needed to learn. I wish I could shoulder your burdens, but I cannot." Frodo granted her with a small smile and Aurë returned it best she could. "You should rest, dear hobbits, I sense that you must depart soon."
"On the morrow," confirmed Frodo in a small voice, "good night, Lady Tindómiel."
"Sleep well, dear friends," Aurë smiled through her tears.
Frogo and Sam lingered a moment before departing to rejoin the Fellowship. Aurë watched them go, a sob lingering in her throat and her heart heavy. She composed herself and moved towards the glade that held the Mirror. Galadriel stood near the silver basin, the ewer in her hand.
"Will you look?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle.
Aurë moved closer but did not turn her eyes to the basin, unsure of herself. Her heart was heavy and she feared what she might see but she knew she must. Something told her that this moment was pivitol in her journey. Aurë stepped forward and looked into the waters.
The water reflected the stars held in the night sky as was usual when Aurë looked into the waters. The vision shifted but the image stayed as it reflected Aurë truly looking up into the night. Many times Aurë had looked into the Mirror and she often saw herself as she was looking up into the stars.
The vision then changed as for the first time Aurë looked down, away from the night sky. She stood alone in a dark forest, trees surrounding and made her feel small. Before her were two paths that lead deep into the trees. Both were the same save for the stars that shone above them. Both were thick and tangled with vines and branches, neither path easy. The paths were the same but Aurë's heart knew their destination differed. She searched for a trees for a clue in which path to take but received no answers. The choice was her's and her's alone. Aurë knew she needed to move, to pick a path and follow but her heart was undecided and she found herself stuck in the glade, unable to make a decision. Aurë was alone and the night grew deep around her as she could not make a choice until she could no longer see at all.
Until she was well and truly alone.
"Come back to me, Aurë," Galdriel called and light flooded back to Aurë's vision and she was once more in the woods of Lothlórien, no longer alone. Galadriel watched her with soft blue eyes that sparkled in the starlight of the evening star. "What did you see?"
"I have a choice to make," said Aurë with a conflicted heart. A silver tear escaped once more down her cheek. "Frodo offered me the ring."
"Then you have passed the test," Galadriel noted, "I have as well."
The two shared a sad smile as their hearts shared their sorrow. "I fear I may never find home," Aurë admitted, voicing what she feared most in her vision. She feared she would forever be alone in the woods. Galadriel listened and moved closer to Aurë.
"Aurë, my dear friend, you do not see your own light," Galadriel spoke, her hand cupping Aurë's cheek in a soft embrace. "You no longer shine in the sky, yet you have brought so much light and hope to those who know you. You are not in the sky, this is true, but you hold home in your heart. You burn bright and have brought light into the hearts of many."
Silver tears filled Aurë's eyes at Galadriel's words. The Lady was firm and wise, her words bringing comfort to the insecurities Aurë kept hidden.
"You have brought joy to the Fellowship, you reminded Frodo of the good in the world, you have reminded Legolas of what he fights for. My dear, you are enough as you are." Galadriel grasped Aurë's hands in her own. "I am scared too. I fear to leave my home."
Aurë looked to Galadriel and saw the pain and fear she hid deep in her heart. She moved and took Galadriel into her arms and the two embraced under the light of the moon. "Change is always hard to accept, is it not? You have carried your burden for too long, Artanis. The fate of Lothlórien is not yours to possess."
"That is what the Ring offered to me," Galadriel confessed, "I could have taken Fate into my possession."
"I could have built a path home."
The two were silent as they knew that their words were false, for wishes often got twisted in their fruition–the outcome different from the desire. That which the Ring promised would have never come to pass, not as they would have wished.
"The West beckons me. I must heed its call."
"And I have a choice to make," Aurë's gaze found the now empty basin as her heart grew conflicted. Change indeed brought fear to her heart and she feared she would not be able to make her choice, whatever that might be. "I must thank you for sharing the burden of my heart, Artanis."
"And I, you."
The two stood in the silence of their thoughts before Aurë let out a strong breath. "I will stand by you as we make room for the Tides of Fate and the change that follows," Aurë promised, "you are strong of body and mind, Nerwen, but you do not stand alone."
Galadriel smiled, "how bright you shine, Aurë."
Extra info
Aurë calls Galadriel "Artanis" which is her father-name and means "Noble-woman". She also calls her "Nerwen" (man-maiden), which Eärwan (her mommy) called her because of her height and great strength of body and mind.
And wow! Two chapters after six years of silence!? Yeah, my bad. I've actually had bits of these chapters for a while now, but I was stuck. I was actually reading old reviews and motivation hit me with a stick. So thanks for taking the time to leave a note-not just speaking for me, here-it's always nice to hear that my writing is having an impact. To viewers like you; thank you. Thanks to anyone reading, actually, and to those who stuck around during my absence.
I've always been fond of this story and have wanted to continue it, so I'll do my best.
With all of my heart, thank you
Delaney