Chapter 16 The Golden Lady

Aragorn held tightly to Mariell as they were led into Lothlorien. He was scared. Mariell's breathing was very ragged and she was burning

with fever. As deep as the wound had been it was amazing she had lasted this long. Aragorn looked up and saw the Lady Galadriel and

her husband Lord Celeborn coming toward them. Galadriel glided forward quickly.

"Aragorn," she said urgently. "Bring her, follow me. The rest of you stay here." Aragorn asked no questions as he followed the lady. He

was rather surprised that she had been so quick to help. Most elves were untrusting of humans and yet he had not even had to ask the

Lady of Lothlorien to help. But as bad as Mariell was he was not going to question the lady. He followed her down a long hall, Galadriel

throwing orders to her handmaidens as they went. She opened the door to a small room with a large bed.

"Lay her down here," she said. Aragorn carried Mariell over to the bed and gently laid her down. He stepped back so the lady could

examine Mariell but he would not leave. Gandalf had passed leadership onto him in Moria and that made him responsible for all of them.

Galadriel pulled Mariell's torn tunic open and studied the wound. Her face was grim. Two handmaidens entered with hot water and

towels. Galadriel requested more things in elvish and the women hurried to fulfill their mistress's desires. "What did this?" she asked as

she cleaned the wound.

"An orc's arrow, in Moria." The lady looked up startled.

"An orc did this?" Aragorn nodded. Did the lady think one of the fellowship had shot her? The lady was now looking at Mariell's face.

"Where is her pendant? Why wasn't she wearing her pendant?" Aragorn was startled. How did Galadriel know Mariell was wearing a

pendant? And what did that have to do with her getting wounded? Now that he thought about it, where was the pendant? Mariell had not
taken it off since he'd met her. Galadriel was searching Mariell's unconscious body with a look of desperation on her face. She reached

into Mariell's pocket and smiled with relief as she pulled out the pendant. "The chain has been broken," she said.

"It must have been ripped off," Aragorn said. He watched in amazement as Galadriel placed the chain around Mariell's neck. Almost by

magic the wound closed leaving only a tight knotted scar.

"Elven magic," he breathed. That's what the inscription meant. That was why the wound she'd received from the Wraith had healed so

quickly. Her pendant was protecting her. The elves that created it must have blessed it with the power to heal. The ancient texts spoke of

such magic but described it as nearly impossible. How was the pendant able to heal wounds and how did Mariell come to possess such a
craft? Mariell was becoming more of a mystery to him everyday.

"She cannot be told of this. You must not tell her." Aragorn was puzzled. Why was everyone so determined to keep Mariell in the dark?

However, he knew that if the Lady of Lothlorien wished it, it had to be important. So he just nodded.

"Unfortunately, it cannot heal the fever," Galadriel said. "We must draw it out of her." The door opened again and a handmaiden handed

the lady a steaming cup of liquid.

"Aragorn, raise her up so she can drink." As though he were handling a small child Aragorn raised Mariell. Galadriel came forward and

placed the cup at Mariell's lips. Mariell did not stir as the liquid was poured down her throat.

"We must let the herbs work inside her," Galadriel said. "She needs rest now. You should rest as well"

"I'm not leaving her," he said stubbornly. Galadriel smiled knowingly. Aragorn had a feeling that the lady could see right through his mask

and see his feelings for Mariell.

"At least go and get something to eat, then you can come back and sit with her. We need to get her out of her wet clothes and I doubt

she would want you here for that." Aragorn had to admit the lady was right. The glimpse he'd had of Mariell's breasts when he'd ripped

her tunic had nearly sent him over the edge, he was afraid of what seeing her entirely unattired would do to him.

Mariell felt as though she were walking through a dark cloud, clawing her way to try and find the surface. She heard voices above her

and she struggled to get to them. A bright light shone in her eyes as she opened them.

"Welcome back," a soft voice said beside her. Mariell turned her head and saw a woman dressed in white with long flowing gold hair

sitting beside her.

"Who are you? Where am I?" were the first things that came to mind.

"You are in Lothlorien. I am Galadriel, lady of the golden wood." Mariell tilted her head as she looked at the woman. She knew they had
never met but she seemed familiar somehow. Mariell looked down and realized her clothes were missing and in their place she wore a

white nightgown.

"Your clothes are being washed and mended," the lady answered her unspoken question.

"How long have I been asleep"

"About two days," Galadriel answered. "The wound has healed but you are still very weak from the fever." Mariell's mind swirled

around the ladies words and remembered Moria. She winced as she remembered the arrow in her flesh. Her hand slid down to where

her wound had been. She found it had closed but the skin had knotted. Another scar.

"The scar will never fully heal, but in time it will fade." Mariell swallowed hard.

"Where are my companions?" she asked. Frodo must be worried sick about her. The Lady smiled.

"Aragorn watched over you till day break, and then we forced him to get some rest. My husband nearly had to threaten his life to pull him
from your bedside." The door opened at that moment and Aragorn came into the room. His tense expression turned to joy when he saw

her.

"Mariell," he exclaimed dropping at her side, "thank Valar you are awake." Mariell grinned as she embraced the ranger. His woodsy

scent filled her senses and soothed her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Galadriel wink at her and quietly leave the room.

"We've been so worried about you," Aragorn said. "How did this happen?" Mariell's grin faded as she remembered.

"There were so many orcs and they just seemed to keep coming. This orc came up from behind me and I almost didn't hear him. At the

last second I realized I was in danger and I turned and stabbed him. He fell into me and pulled my pendant off." With a start she felt at

her neck and realized someone must have replaced it.

"Anyway, I pulled it out its hand and put it in my pocket. I looked up and saw Frodo backed against the wall. I threw my dagger at it and
killed it." She thought about her dagger which was now lost in Moria. She was sad that she had lost it.

"Legolas picked it up," Aragorn said, picking up on her thoughts.

"He did, that's good. So I saw Frodo getting outnumbered again and I went to help him. But before I could get to him I felt this horrible

pain in my side. I looked down and saw an arrow sticking out of my side"

"Why didn't you tell us you were wounded"

"You were occupied at the time by that beast. If you knew I was hurt it would have distracted you from killing it. And then everything just
happened so fast. The bridge, the Balrog, Gandalf…" she broke off as she realized Gandalf was gone. The wizard who had been her

friend her entire life was gone. Tears filled her eyes as she realized he was gone. Aragorn embraced her as tears fell from her eyes. "Shh,"
he whispered. "We do not know Gandalf's purpose. You mustn't let yourself get worked up." Mariell forced herself to be calm though

she felt that her world was crashing down on her head.

"Where is Frodo?" she asked when her tears had subsided.

"Resting, he has had much grief. He will be relieved to hear you are awake"

"I would think he would be here. I can't imagine the Lothlorien elves would be able to keep him away." Aragorn would not meet her

eyes.

"Aragorn," she said.

"Frodo has not been to see you since we have been here. I think he feels too guilty"

"Because I was injured," she said. Oh, Frodo, she thought. You carry such a heavy burden and this will not help I imagine.

After four days in bed Mariell began to grow restless. Her fever had gone down but she was still very weak. Aragorn had come to see

her many times as had Legolas and Merry, Pippin and Sam even Gimli had dropped by to say hello. Mariell was getting to like the dwarf.
Though he pretended to be gruff she could tell that he had a sweet side to him. The only one who did not come to see her was Frodo.

She knew that her brother blamed himself for her being injured. She felt as though he had gone away from her and she missed him

terribly. Finally, after much begging Galadriel allowed her to walk around in the gardens as long as she did not over exert herself.

Lothlorien was nothing to Rivendell but it was beautiful nonetheless. She had come to the garden this night to seek the Lady Galadriel. In

her talks with Aragorn and Legolas she had discovered many things about the lady. Aragorn had mentioned that Galadriel might be able

to tell her something about her pendant. She'd sensed that the ranger had wanted to tell her something else but he hadn't. Now she was

determined to find her and speak to her. She did not have to search long. She found the lady sitting on a bench in the middle of the

garden. She looked up and smiled as Mariell approached.

"You come seeking answers," Galadriel said before Mariell could open her mouth. Mariell nodded. It was slightly unnerving that she

knew before Mariell had said anything even though Legolas had told her about the ladies power of foresight. Galadriel smiled and

gestured for Mariell to sit beside her. Mariell sat on the bench; one hand trying to keep her blue robe closed the other reaching for her

pendant.

"Do you know anything about this?" The lady met her eyes.

"I know everything about it. I created it." If the Lady had told her that Gimli was her birth father, Mariell could not have been more

stunned.

"You did? "

"Yes, with the help of many others including my son, Lord Elrond"

"Lord Elrond is your son?" Mariell did not think she could take many more surprises.

"Yes," Galadriel said. "To create that pendant took the skill of the Rivendell elves and Lothlorien combined"

"You created it for my mother?" The lady shook her head.

"No, not only your mother. For your entire line going back three thousand years"

"Why?" The lady looked sad.

"That I cannot tell you." Mariell sighed in frustration.

"Why is it that every time I think I'm finally getting answers I get a door slammed in my face?" The lady touched her shoulder lightly.

"I know that is hard. Believe me I would tell you if I could but I cannot." Mariell ran a hand through her hair. More secrets.

"Did you know my mother?" she asked.

"Yes I did. Very well. You are her very image." Well that was something she'd not heard before.

"She was an elf"

"Yes"

"Her name was Lindela"

"Yes"

"What was she like"

"She was kind. She had a heart of gold. Brave. A good fighter though she hated violence. There was nothing she wouldn't do for the

ones she loved. She was beautiful as well. Many elves desired her for their mate, but she chose a mortal man forsaking the immortal life"

"Did you know my father"

"Only a little. I remember he was very tall with golden hair."

"They are dead aren't they"

"Yes, I'm sorry"

"I have no memories of my father. The memories I have of my mother come to me in my dreams but I can't hold on to them." Galadriel

was silent a long time.

"Come with me," she said finally. Confused, Mariell followed her. They came to a small waterfall with a large silver basin in front of it.

Galadriel took a pitcher and filled it from the waterfall. Then she poured the water into the basin.

"Look into the mirror," she directed. Mariell looked into the mirror but saw nothing.

"Concentrate your thoughts on your mother and father." Mariell pressed her lips together and reached hard for the memories. Then like

magic she saw her mother in the water smiling back at her.

"Mother," Mariell whispered. Her mother's image pulled back and was joined by a man with long blonde hair. He was very handsome

with a beard and friendly blue eyes. He wrapped his arm around her mother's waist and pulled her close. Mariell could feel their love for

each other washing over her. Tears fell from her eyes as she gazed at them. All too soon their image faded from the water. Their image

was gone but Mariell could still picture their faces in her mind and feel the love that they had for her and each other. She looked up at

Galadriel who was smiling.

"Thank you."

Once Galadriel had proclaimed her well enough to travel, Aragorn wanted to leave. The elves gave them elven cloaks that would shield

them from their enemies. They gave Aragorn a dagger that looked very similar to hers. Legolas received a bow, Merry and Pippin belts

with daggers. Sam was given an elven made rope. Mariell did not hear what Gimli requested. The dwarf was quite smitten with the

Golden lady. Galadriel stood in front of her.

"I'm afraid I have no gift for you my dear," the lady said. Mariell recalled the memory of her mother and father from the pool.

"You have already given me the greatest gift I could ever hope to receive." The lady smiled and leaned forward to place a light kiss on

Mariell's cheek. They climbed into long boats and set off down the river Anduin. She rode in the center of her boat. Gimli sat in front of

her while Legolas paddled. She glanced over where Frodo rode with Sam and Aragorn. He looked more downcast than ever. He'd

come to her last night in a disheartened state. She knew that he'd looked in Galadriel's mirror and not seen something he liked. Her gaze

drifted up to Aragorn's face. When she'd looked into the mirror she'd felt warm all over. She had felt her parents love for each other and
it had been all too familiar. For they were the exact same feelings that she felt whenever she was with Aragorn. She was in love with him.

She was certain of it. She had wanted to run to him and tell him but she couldn't. There was too much at stake right now. She only

prayed that she would have a chance to tell him when this was all over.

"I shall never again call anything fair after seeing the face of the Golden lady," Gimli said. " Nothing will be precious to me as the gift she

bestowed on me"

"What was it?" Legolas asked.

"I asked for one hair from her golden head. She gave me three." Mariell grinned at the look on Gimli's face as he described Galadriel's

gift to him.