The Serpent's Snare
Chapter Five
Estelon and I spend many hours into the night talking. I found myself growing used to the ways of this place or at least I no longer felt threatened by its surroundings. The march warden had felt at ease with taking a quick perimeter patrol and leaving us to our own company, but not without informing me that it would take less than ten minutes to return.
I shifted my gaze towards Potter and Granger, both still asleep. I envied their ability to find rest, I too was exhausted from this…other worldly experience, but my mind was forever spinning. My thoughts were occupied with conjuring a way to bring up the topic of my ring without raising any fears both our presence and the presence of the ring. I may be desperate but I was no fool. But as I reclined against the moss adorned root I realized that perhaps my plots would not be necessary for I saw in the near distance a figure cloaked in white gliding through the maze of paths and earthy platforms. Galadriel.
I sprang to my feet and began following in her path, my actions were anticipated. The angel like deity turned and revealed a smile I could only assume was a devious enjoyment in knowing I had taken the bait to follow.
It was not long before we reached a tranquil setting where golden leaves had fallen freshly upon the greenest of grass and dewy moss. The hues of morning light were shrouded by a faint mist that seemed to blanket this very spot. Galadriel stood before me, in her delicate grasp was a silver pitcher she held close. Then my eyes fell upon a pedestal with intricate designs that seemed to speak of its age and importance.
I was unsure as to what exactly was at hand but I forced my insistence on learning of the whereabouts of my ring at bay and I watched as she began pouring from the pitcher, the purest of water into the dish like surface of the pedestal. The water seemed to move so slowly, shimmering like starlight as it gracefully filled the dish until it created a still, glass like surface. Galadriel allowed her bare feet to take a few steps back, her eyes never once left my own.
"Will you look into the mirror?" She asked, speaking barely above a whisper. I raised an eyebrow; I was hardly in the mood for some sort of magic trick to sweep some sense of childlike wonder in my mind.
"I'm not a fan of the cloak and dagger style, I came here to talk with you." Her smile only widened at my response.
"And talk we shall, but I believe it would be wise to see what the mirror has to offer your eyes. You may find some answers to the questions you seek." Or I could find my own reflection and nothing more. I gave a loud sigh before taking the slight steps towards the pedestal.
"No tricks Lady." I muttered, half wondering if this was a ploy to distract me for some altered intentions. Her smile remained as her eyes fell upon the surface of the water indicating for me to do the same.
I allowed my eyes to follow; the glass like surface of the water was a darkened pool that reflected my own confused and aggravated expression before I looked back at Galadriel.
"What are you getting at here? I don't understand." But she kept silent, her eyes still insistent on remaining upon the mirror. I glanced down once again except much to my surprise the water began to move slightly. Ripples of the water seemed to pull my eyes further into it's depths until my reflection was replaced with the reflection of something else…or rather someone else.
There, looking right back at me with an expression that enticed me to my very core, was the face of a woman I have never seen before. Her features were flawless, never before had I seen such perfection before my eyes. I felt my lips part slightly as a smile graced her features before the woman began wandering further from me. Suddenly I felt as if I were watching some sort of memory, dream or scene conjured by Galadriel herself. There the woman stood in the arms of another. Their bodies swayed slightly, as if dancing to the tunes of their own hearts.
A pair of hands slid gently around the small of her waist and there it was, the very ring I desired so greatly. Its golden shimmer caught my attention until the figures turned slightly revealing the profile of the man holding the beautiful woman. What the hell?
"That's…me." I couldn't help but allow escape my lips still confused and becoming unsettled by the feeling of this mirror. I watched as I lifted my hand and tucked her golden locks behind her ear revealing yet another part of this…reflection I was not anticipating. Pointed ears? She was an elf? I was with an elf?
My brows furrowed as the scene continued to play out; I watched a smile fall upon my features in the reflection. That was no ordinary smile that was a smile of happiness. Pure happiness. I knew this smile well, although I had never once experienced it firsthand. It was the sort of smile that I had seen all around me throughout my years and drove me to a bitter hatred of its presence. Like when Potter was surrounded by his entire gaggle of Gryffindor rejects he called friends. Or when Granger was looking up at Weasley and listening to him go on about whatever nonsense that captured his pathetic attention at the time. Yes, that was happiness…and that was upon my face. But why? Was this elf the one to cause this?
The figures began to kiss, I felt my actual cheeks begin to flush with a warmth like never before as I watched my hands ensnare her waist, her slight fingers raising to my platinum locks to twirl the strands with such delicate passion.
The mirror continued to pull me towards it surface, closer and closer until I finally pulled myself from it's grip, sending me crashing backwards onto the ground. I quickly scrambled back to the surface to catch the moment of happiness that I swore would never befall my life, but the reflection was gone.
"Wh-what was that? Did you do this? What magic is this?" I was firing question after question.
"Now you understand why it is Celeborn dislikes you so." She said in a sweet tone.
"What are you even talking about?" I regret the harshness and growing volume of my words but I had just witnessed what appeared to be the most beautiful moment in all of my life and yet I had never experienced it before. Wait! The mirror of Erised! This must be just like the mirror Dumbledore coveted so dearly. I had never caught glimpse of the prized possession of the wizard but I knew enough to know it would show you the very thing your heart desired most. Was this…elf what I desired most? How could that be when I had never before met this person?
"My dear Draco, even the wisest of men cannot say what it is you see in this mirror. Things that were, things that are…and some things, that have not yet come to pass. But you Draco, you have seen something I know in my heart to be true."
"And what would that be?"
I watched as Galadriel approached the pedestal, her dainty fingers traced its very outline, her eyes falling upon the surface with both pleasure…and sadness.
"My daughter…" She hesitated until glancing back at me with eyes filled with such intensity and pleas that I had not seen in her before.
"Your arrival sets into motion not only your destiny, but the destiny of my only daughter." She took a breath, there was much she was not saying and it was evident that it pained her to even speak of the subject.
"Lothuialil…that is what we named her. For she shined like that of a blossom blooming in the midst of the twilight hours. A beacon of light of which I was blessed enough to bring into an age where the magic of elves are all but fading."
"Forgive me…but you speak as if she…" I couldn't bear to say it in the present state of the great elven figure; she seemed so fragile, so close to tears.
"You will find her and you will find all that it is you have been searching for Draco. You and my beloved daughter will come to rule this land together with both strength and compassion." I rubbed my eyes before replacing my fingertips to my temples, this was all so much to take in. I mean it's one thing to be thrown into an alternate universe but to be told you are to save some long lost princess…fall in love with her, marry her and become ruler of an elven city?
"This is the future that must come to pass. I have spent many nights searching for the fragments of the future I have been allowed to see but what you have seen only confirms the future I have been shown." Suddenly I realized that the poised and stoic leader was but a mere disguise hiding a very emotionally unstable woman who has had to endure the loss of her daughter. She was looking to me to become a savior, to be a hero…a champion of both her and her daughter.
"I…I think you have me confused with someone else." I struggled to force out of my lips given the circumstances.
"Did you see another holding my precious Lothuialil in the mirror's reflection?"
"No but-" Before I could continue her hands slammed onto the mirror's surface, sending water flying all around in a fury of rage that I was not expecting.
"YOU ARE THE ONE!" She screamed. I was at a complete loss for words. I sensed a storm of energy surging from within her; she was radiating a power that even my inexperienced senses in this world could feel. I slowly began to back away, this was far from the conversation I had intended on having with her. I felt guilt swelling inside but how could I stand her and agree with her statement when I hadn't the slightest clue as to what was happening? How the hell was I meant to find someone I never met? I wasn't some knight here; I was just as screwed up as this lady was proving to be.
I couldn't deny the happiness I was shown, but what if that was far from my future and simply a hope Galadriel had wished to plant in my mind to get me to do her biding? I wasn't about to fall into a hopeful, love stricken stupor without knowing the facts and I had a feeling, facts was not what Galadriel was able to provide given her current breakdown.
"I think…I should go." I offered.
"Do not leave my sight." Her voice plummeted to depths that sent every hair upon my spine on edge.
"Leave us." Spoke a voice behind me. I turned to see Celeborn standing sternly behind me.
"Do not stand between me and our only hope to find our daughter! DO NOT!" Galadriel was pointing her finger towards Celeborn who seemed rather unaffected by the evil alter ego that was rearing itself before my very eyes.
"I said…leave us." Celeborn demanded. A request I was all too gladly to oblige. I took off running without obeying my desire to look back.
Author's Note: Well I hope this chapter was enough to bring a bit of fun twists into the plotline! I know many of you will linger on the idea that the ring was NOT destroyed in the future Draco has been shown, hmmm what twisted plans do I have for the ring *evil laugh* we will see! And please indulge me in my portrayal of Galadriel, you'll learn more as to what prompted her unstable nature. Please take a moment to review! It's always a great motivator to update faster when there are those wanting to see what happens next! Thanks so much!
SmileSimplify: Thanks again for your in depth review, let me try to answer/address all that you have presented!
I do apologize for the short chapters, sometimes I simply wish to get an update out quickly rather than forcing myself to increase the length and I must admit I simply end these chapters at the moment I feel it is time, makes no sense I know but hopefully you come to enjoy the updates nonetheless.
Yes, forgive me for the grammatical error, it happens, I am only human lol.
I like your thoughts on the mirrored character roles in the story, we will have to see how close you are as the story unfolds.
I don't want to give away too much, but to ease your curiosity about the spell casting I will say that they do work in Middle Earth; however, you will find that they do not work in the exact same way! *evil grin* don't ya hate it when you get an answer but other questions come up haha, you'll enjoy what I have in store to reveal this though I'm certain!
And you probably have already figured out that Draco's love interest is not a male lol. I'm not against slash fics, to each his own. But I do not tend to write them personally.
I am so hopeful you enjoyed this update! So far your're my only in depth reviewer, that's enough for me to get back to work even harder on a great story thanks my friend! Feel free to ask any questions I'm here to answer!