I know what you all must be thinking, another story yet she hasnt finished her others..lol I sorry, I will I promise, been moving around a lot lately and planning a wedding so havent had much free time, but now that i am settled, I have returned and I am updating my new story as well as my prequel to Who I Am. As always I hope you enjoy my work, and please review and forgive me for my absence. I promise I will try my hardest to get caught up in entertaining all of you. I have missed you all :) I hope you have missed my stories, just as much as I have missed writing them.
Quickly she rose from her bed dagger in hand. Sweat beaded her forehead as her stark blue eyes surveyed her surrounding, piercing the dark corners of her room. Breathing deeply she lowered her guard and rested her head in her hands. Taking a moment she concentrated on slowing her breathing and letting the images fade from her mind.
The pale light from the outside cast rays in upon her, hitting the silver trinket she bore around her neck. Throwing her blanket aside she shoved the necklace beneath her nightshirt and got dressed.
The night was cool and peaceful just as it always was. Making her way down the staircase she passed several of her kin, each bowing their head to her as she went. Softly her feet touched the ground as she walked the lands she had called home for so long. All around she could hear others, several not far off, the sound of a soft hymn filled the air. So tranquil. So free it felt within the borders of this land but, still a small part of her was in turmoil. Always drawing her away, separating her from the others.
"Could you not sleep child?" her voice whispered in her high elven tongue. The words rang clear in her mind though the woman was not near.
"Just needed some fresh air Milady." She responded using the same tongue, having learned the more common tongue before moving to the more sacred higher elven speech.
"Just like the other night and so many more before?" the voice stated. Emotion weighing in her words, caring and taunting all the same. "So many nights have you wandered my woods alone Celebriel."
"I am fine. Really." She answered back, the wind blowing her hair around her before allowing the strands to settle once more upon her dark blue silken robes. On the air the smell of elanor filled her lungs. She had hoped the woman would believe her words, but she knew that the woman wouldn't. Not her. Not Galadriel of the wood.
"We must talk Celebriel. Come to my mirror." Galadriel spoke, the authority in her voice leaving no room for argument or question.
"Yes Milady." Celebriel responded, knowing better then to deny the request of the high queen, and her guardian.
Silently she made her way through the woods of Lorien to the Lady of Light and to her all seeing mirror. So many times had that mirror helped Galadriel and others in their decision making. She laughed to herself silently as moments of her childhood in this land filled her mind. How she had loved to play in the water the lady used to fill her mirror, struggled to see into the future as she grew tall enough but she had not the power to control the visions or the patience. She did not dwell much on the magic's that her kin loved so. Though she could still accomplish them all, her passions lay more with the sword and skills of battle.
Angelically the she stood there. Tall and radiant, her long golden strands cascading down her back shined with the pale glow from the light around them. So unlike her Celebriel was. A dark beauty, rare for her elvish kin. Golden locks had never donned her crown, instead a long, deep brown mane did she carry. Almost black it seemed as it fell down to her waist. Her fathers hair. So much she had gained from her father, but not her eyes. Eyes of sky blue. Eyes that could stare deep into the soul if they wished. Her mothers eyes.
"You summoned me Milady?" she spoke, bowing low out of respect for the being before her.
Smiling lovingly Galadriel spoke. "We have been over this young one. You are an honored guest among our people. It is not necessary for you to do such formalities."
"I perform such formalities out of respect for you milady. For you and your home." She replied returning to her standing position. Standing straight she was still shorter then her kin. Another trait from her fathers line.
"So like your Grandfather you are. So quiet." The lady spoke taking a momentary silence to remember that of who she spoke. Sadness welled in her eyes but she bore the pain bravely. "In your eyes I see the same fire that burned in the eyes of my brother, Finrod. Fire he passed onto your mother."
Lowering her gaze momentarily Celebriel remembered the face of her mother. She had known nothing of her grandfather, of her elvish line until her arrival here. All she learned, she learned from the lady of light. From the texts she carried in her grand libraries and the memories she held.
"Let us hope that that same fire will not lead you to the same fate." Galadriel added silently, her eyes searching Celebriel's as she looked to her.
"You dreamt of them again didn't you young one, that is why you wander my woods at dark." The golden lady spoke, her voice still soft as she uttered the words.
Celebriel had always hated the way her great Aunt always knew what she was thinking and yet she would still taunt her with questions.
"Elves do not dream milady." Celebriel replied, her voice just as soft, just as taunting.
Smiling Galadriel turned and walked away. Retrieving a silver plated pitcher before she turned.
"True Celebriel, but you are no ordinary elf are you?" She replied sinking the long silver neck beneath the surface of a nearby small pool. "You may have chosen an elf's path but part of you will always walk along the path of men. So you may dream, and although you do not require it, you make take comfort in the simple pleasures of sleep whereas I cannot." Galadriel responded.
"May I inquire as to why you have summoned me here?" Celebriel asked, hoping for a change in subject matter. True, she was born half-elven but she had chosen the fate of elves. To journey overseas to lands of beauty beyond knowing.. To live until the ending of days. To forget her mortal life.
"Look into my mirror my child and tell me what you see." Galadriel replied seeing the discomfort in the woman's eyes. A smile no longer donned the golden haired woman's face. Her eyes ever watchful as the younger elf approached the mirror.
"It's the eye!" Celebriel spoke in alarm as the shroud of smoke parted, revealing the eye of Sauron the deceiver. Behind that orcs, armies and armies of orcs and the ring of power. "Why do you show me this?"
"You have heard the rumors child. Yes the ring has been recovered and so Sauron grows stronger everyday. As we speak his armies grow." Galadriel answered, the sadness in her eyes not evident in her voice. "Already a group travels with the ring to Mordor. They have already passed through these lands. They have already been met with loss and are now separated, each now following their own path to save middle earth."
Bringing her eyes from the water Celebriel looked to her. "What reason is there for me to know of this?"
"Funny isn't it my child. That only in times of darkness and shadow do we remember the ties that bind us all." Galadriel spoke up, avoiding a direct answer. "We should never forget who we were, who we are." She added her eyes locked with Celebriel's, a small smile donning her face.
Confusion hung in her mind as Celebriel tried to decipher the woman's meaning.
"Saruman has joined forces with Sauron and has created an army unlike any the enemy has ever conjured. I wish for you to travel with Haldir to Helms Deep. Saruman's army is about to wage war. War… upon the people of Rohan." Galadriel added, her voice soft and eyes still searching.
"Rohan." Celebriel spoke softly to herself, the timeline of those people, of generations beyond count raced through her mind. Pushing it aside she stood tall and spoke clearly. "You wish for me and the others to die for the world of men? Why?"
"Sauron evil will spread until the whole of the world is covered in darkness. None shall escape his poisoning." Galadriel answered knowing the thoughts that filled the woman's mind moments before at the name of the Rohirrim.
"Then we should journey west over the seas where his evil cannot reach." Celebriel offered. "Surely Sauron cannot face down all of the Ainur on their own lands."
"So you wish to run from evil child? You would run where Folcwyn would have fought as would her mother." Galadriel spoke knowing the name would strike a cord in the young elf maid's heart.
"Folcwyn is gone!" Celebriel replied harshly, her own angelic features momentarily caving as her anger came. Taking a moment she calmed herself, eyes looking to the proud golden haired woman before her. "I am Celebriel now. I choose my fate with the elves long ago milady. That life and name are….."
"Your fate is not yet set Folcwyn. You must go. It is the will of powers greater then mine that will you to this battle. You must go." Galadriel responded. Such directness in her voice that the beauty of the elvish tongue she used was deceiving.
Lowering her eyes she silently accepted her elders request.
"You shall leave at first light." Galadriel added, walking over to the younger elf she laid a loving hand on her chin. Her voice filled with the warmth and the wisdom that years of life had given her. "Long have you stayed here child. Long have I watched you grow as though you were my own, I have tried to heal the wounds that plague your spirit but perhaps I cannot…..I know you heart is troubled, that this is not your wish Celebriel, but it must be done. Lest darkness overtake the world and more experience loss like yours."
The paleness of the trees dimmed to a golden hue as the sun pierced their limbs.
Marching on the group neared the border of their land, heading for their ominous future.
In the trees and on the ground others could be seen. Those who would journey over seas in the coming days. Elves who came to bid farewell to those who they may not see again in the waking earth.
Not far off she saw her hair shimmer in the early morning dawn. Just as tall he stood beside her. Eyes just as wise, demeanor just as strong, hair of silver as the leaves of the great wood. His presence as demanding as that of Galadriel Lady of Light. Celeborn, Lord of Lothlorien he was. Spouse of Galadriel, and her great Uncle.
"Do not yet your heart be heavy Celebriel Vorvanya. Fates are not always set child. Your mothers wasn't, and neither was your fathers. You cannot run from your past until the ending of the world." Galadriel's voice rung in her head, her eyes locked with hers. "Do not forget who you are, your kin. For before Celebriel was given, Folcwyn once stood in its stead. Names change with time child, but the blood in your veins will always remain the same. Draw on the strengths of both your kin only then can you find your way. May the light of the Eldar shine on your path, and may the strength of men see you through to the end." Her voice whispered through un-parted lips.
Silently Celebriel continued on, Galadriel's words in her head, hundreds of soldiers behind her. How beautiful, and yet how deadly they could be. Soon they would meet with others, the elves of Rivendell and soon blood would be spilt and war would reign.