KPOV:
It's dark. I can't see anything. Where am I?
"You are nowhere and everywhere"
Great, I can't see and the only thing I can hear is a voice speaking in riddles.
"It is not a riddle I is true"
Wait, they can hear my thoughts?"
"Yes, I can. They aren't the most timid either"
"Who are you? Show yourself!"
"I am the Galdriel, They Lady of Light. You are Kaydriella, daughter of Rivendell, the last mage in Middle Earth"
How could she know that? I haven't told anyone.
My dear, here there are no secrets to hide from me. I see all.
"Is this a dream?A nightmare?"
No. this is neither a dream, nor a nightmare. Something in between.
Suddenly a bright flash of light appears and only gets brighter. I shield my eyes with my arm to avoid getting blinded by the light.
Come here, Kaydriella
I see two arms unfold and open up to welcome me into the light. I bow down to the light, assuming that it was the Lady Galdriel
"Kaydriella, you hesitate to trust me"
"No, I just was always told to go away from the light"
"I see you have received your father's humor. There is nothing to fear from me. I promise. Just like there is nothing to fear from you"
"I'm not sure that is entirely true my lady."
The light travels closet to me
What you are should not be feared, especially by you
The light dims down until there is just me and the Lady Galdariel.
My dear Kaydriella, you fail to see that it is only in times when you fully accept yourself, that you can wield your powers. I see what your past was filled with. But if you continue to fear what you are, then you will never be able to control your gift. It will control you, and that road leads to a pitiful end.
"I try to be brave. I try to not be afraid but I fear that it will not be enough in the end"
It may or may not. But all we can ask of ourselves is to do the best with what we are given. Do you believe this is the best you can do?
She is right. I haven't been doing my best.
Kaydriella, I must go now but we will speak again. Your fellowship has arrived in my hall to which I must greet them. I feel the anticipation in many members on your state of health. What shall I tell them?
"I don't know. Will I wake up?"
That is entirely up to you
Lady Galadriel begins to fade into the blackness that surrounded us.
Aragorn's POV:
Boromir and I make it back to the fellowship. We all wait a little while longer for Legolas to return. When he did, he looked utterly distraught.
"Aragorn, is Kay going to be alright?"
"There is nothing to worry about, Merry. I have seen her survive much worse"
"Really?"
"Yes"
The hobbits looked unhinged after seeing Kaydriella injured. I tried to give them words of comfort because it is the only thing I can do. I only hope that Kaydriella doesn't make a liar out of me.
"Your friend has been taken to our medical wing. There she will receive our best healers. As for the rest of her Fellowship, you all will follow me once more. An audience with the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien awaits."
Haldir proceeded on. He led us up stairs that seemed never to end. Higher into the top of the trees, we followed Haldir. We passed by many other elves who gave us unfriendly eyes. Finally we reached the top. Haldir brought us a small platform which had stairs directly in front of us.
"Oh great more stairs"
"Shush Pippin"
The hobbits were bickering amongst themselves. The next sight we witnessed was a bright light ascending from the stairs. The closer it came to us, the more it looked like people, elves. The light faded and in front of us stood the Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel. I quickly bowed along with Legolas. The rest of the Fellowship followed. The lord Celebron was first to speak.
"Thank you Haldir, now you may leave us"
Haldir bowed to his Lord and Lady and then continued with a quick departure.
"The enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone. Eight there are here, yet ten there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me where is Gandalf? For I have much desire to speak with him. IU can no longer see him from afar"
"Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into Shadow"
The Lady Galadriel answers his question for us
"He was taken by both shadow and flame. A Balrog of Morgoth. For we were needlessly into the net of Moria"
Legolas speaks next for I do not have the strength to say what has come to pass.
"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his full purpose"
Lady Galadriel speaks for the absent Gandalf then turns her attention to Gimli.
"Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dum fill your heart, Gimli son of Gloin. For the world has grown full of peril and in all lands love is now mingled with grief"
Gimli tears away from the Lady's gaze and bows his head down, trying to hide his emotions.
"What now becomes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf all hope is lost"
Lord Celeborn spoke truth. Without Gandalf, are we even a Fellowship anymore?
"The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all. But hope remains while the company remains 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"
The Lady Galadriel still believed we could finish this quest. She believed in us. We all followed another guard, who would take us to a resting area.
"Legolas?"
Lady Galadriel called for him right before we left
"My lady"
"Will you stay a moment?"
"Of course"
Legolas POV:
I was asked to stay, I guess to answer some more inquiries from Lady Galadriel. Lord Celeborn returns the way he came as well. It is now just me and the Lady Galadriel.
"Tell me Legolas, how fairs your father?"
"He is quite well my lady"
"Is he in good health?"
"Yes my lady. I left him in good health. May I ask a question of you my lady?"
"You may"
"How is my friend Kaydriella? We rushed her to your medical wing due to a battle wound sustained at Moria"
"You show great interest in her. Are you sure you want to title her as Mellon?"
How could she possibly know about my interest for Kaydriella?
"Legolas, there is no need to feel so ashamed. There is nothing wrong with what you feel for her"
"My lady, I am confused"
"And what is wrong with that?"
"She confuses me. I can never tell with her"
"What do you mean?"
"She is so ready to put her life on the line at a moment's notice. She does not care for herself as an elf would. She does not think like an elf. She puts others above her own self because she believes them to be of more importance than herself. It terrifies me that she isn't afraid of anything!"
Lady Galadriel gets a huge smile on her face and lets out a small laugh.
"I apologize, my lady. I did not intend for all of that to be heard"
"Legolas, there is nothing anyone could hide from me here. You spoke your mind freely and I am glad you did. How you speak of her, what you think of her, it makes me smile with joy. For you are in love with her; and from what you say it seems you have been for a while"
"But how could it be love? I hardly know her and yet it is absolute torture"
"Legolas, the way you care for her as you do, and the feeling of torture only proves my point. You must see that. Don't deny your feelings, they will always steer you to happiness"
"But she does not care for me in that way. She is more attached to Boromir and the hobbits than me"
"I would not be so sure. She travels with those who are like the people she grew up with. Legolas, you must remember that she is not entirely elf. She was also not raised in elvish society like you were; she was raised outside of it. Her mind set, you say, does not match her race, but my dear Legolas, she has no race. It is just her now. "
"What do you mean by that my lady?"
"It is not my story to tell Legolas. Let you heart guide you in this matter"
Is this what she wanted to discuss the whole time? My feelings for Kaydriella?
No. But since we were getting off topic anyway, I thought we might see the conversation through
Her voice was in my head. Now I see how there is truly nothing I could hide.
Go now Legolas, rejoin your friends. We will speak before you part from my realm
"But my question, you still did not answer it"
Ah yes you "Mellon" Kaydriella. It is up to her now. We have done all we can.
"So you have spoken with her?"
Not in the form you are thinking of. No. but she now needs to decide if she wants to wake up or not. Go now Legolas, rest.
I left without another word or thought. What did she mean by that? Does Kaydriella really not want to come back? Why wouldn't she?
I walk down the steps and catch up with the Fellowship right before they reach the bottom. I see the hobbits are in better spirits. Gimli, however, is still distraught over the horrible sight of Moria. Boromir has not picked up his head since carrying Kaydriella. Aragorn was sitting down smoking his pipe, trying to keep composure. I sit down by the fountain and fill a pitcher of water. It has been too long since the last time I bathed. I walk a little further from everyone else and run right into Haldir.
"Forgive me Haldir, I did not see you"
"Sneaking away from your fellowship is a nasty business I see"
"I was just looking for some privacy. It has been too long since I was able to clean myself"
"Here we have a falls you can bathe at. I can show you"
"Oh no, I would not wish to inconvenience you"
"No trouble at all. The path to the falls is very simple and not far from here"
"Still I would not want to distract you from your duties"
"I do not return back to my post until the next sun up. May I also add that the path I speak of passes by the medical hall"
"Well, I believe you have made this bathing spot sound very influential. So much that I will take you up on it"
"Good then follow me"
We passed by many different rooms. Each one beautifully decorated. Lorien brought back memories of my home in Mirkwood. It has been sometime since I've been there.
"Here is the Medical Wing but it looks like they are not finished cleaning her wound. Why don't you wash and then come back"
"Alright then"
"If you would just go down those steps and make a right, there is a small private bathing pool on the left. I trust you can find your way back"
"Diola lle Haldir" (Thank You)
KPOV:
I open my eyes slowly and see light. My first thought was that lady Galadriel was here again. I really thought I was getting up. Once both eyes are open I look around me and notice I'm in a bed. Well that is a good sign. I see my clothes were changed, that's not a good sign. I sit myself up but then recognize a sharp pain in my lower side. I go to see my side but it is all bandaged up. Slowly I move to the side of my bed and just sit and think.
"Kaydriella?"
I look over to see a familiar face. Legolas is, what it looks like, dashing over to my bedside. I stand up to greet him and he embraces me.
"It is so good to see you Kaydriella"
"You to Legolas"
I notice how gentle he is not to hurt me during our embrace.
"You should not be up. You are still recovering"
"It was an arrow Legolas not a ten foot sword. I do not need to be in a sick bed anymore. I see you have bathed. Finally!"
We both laugh at her comment
"Was it really that bad?"
"No you were no match for Boromir and Gimli. Their odious smells made yours look like a puff of smoke"
We laugh again because it was absolutely true.
"I am just glad to see you well again. Please-"
Legolas hugs me again. This time more tightly.
"-never do that to me again"
"Legolas I had no idea it would turn into what it did"
"I know. And I applaud your strength because I know why you did it. But please never do it again"
Wow I've never heard Legolas' voice sound so desperate. He sounded completely sincere. I really did worry him and no doubt the rest of the Fellowship. I push away from his hug this time because the memories come flooding back, the memories of Gandalf and the Balrog.
"Legolas, Gandalf is gone"
Tears form in my eyes. I hold them back for I do not wish Legolas to see me cry
"Yes. He is"
"And you stopped me from helping him"
"Yes. I did"
"Why? Why did you do it? I could have saved him"
"At the cost of your own life, perhaps"
"But that would be my choice"
"A choice that I would have to live with if you were to fall with Gandalf. Would you condemn me to such a fate of despair?"
"Legolas that is not fair. I owe Gandalf more than my life"
We just stood in silence for what seemed like a long time.
"Kaydriella, I did not mean that Gandalf was unworthy of your help I just-"
"- I know what you meant. You know I hate it when you make sense"
I look up into his eyes and see that his are locked on mine. He smiles and giggles at my comment.
"Kaydriella, I must tell you something"
"Legolas, maybe you should wait to say it"
"If I do not say it now, I fear there will never be a time for me to say it"
"Legolas I think you should-"
"- I have been fighting these feelings I have for you. Thinking that maybe they were brought on just because of us being of the same kin"
"Legolas-"
"-but I would be lying to myself if I were to suppress my feelings anymore. You should know that I hold you at the upmost respect and that my need to protect you isn't from our similarities in kin, but because I care about you. I think I am falling in love with you"
Another giant moment of silence between us
"Legolas that is a lot to say. I don't know how to respond to this. I cannot deny that you have treated me nicely but that doesn't mean you're in love with me. We barely know each other."
" I know you are strong and brave; that your life is more than just what you make it out to seem. I know how you love the hobbits so, because they remind you of what we are fighting for. I know you are something extraordinary and I know I love you"
Wow. I never knew how observant he was.
"Listen to me Legolas, I am flattered that you think I am all these things. It makes me tear with joy to know you think so highly of me. But we can't start something, especially something like this now"
"Are you rejecting my feelings?"
"I don't know Legolas. There are just so many reasons not to accept them"
"But are you rejecting them?"
"Legolas, I would also be lying to myself if I denied my feelings for you. I just don't know if they are what you feel for me and the last thing I want is to hurt you"
"Please, Kaydriella-"
"Why don't we hold off, postpone this conversation? Why don't we see how things will play out before declaring profound feelings?"
"I see your meaning"
"Do not look so sad Legolas. We may still care for each other. Let us just see how farther we may grow as time goes on. Alright?"
"Agreed"
Author's Notes:
So this chapter has a lot that happened. Please be sure to let me know what you think. I plan on going back and revising this chapter but I still want to hear what you have to say. Thanks to all my new followers. It means a lot to me to know what my audience is thinking. If anyone has further plot suggestions you can leave a comment or PM me! Thank you soooo soooo much for sticking with the story!