Chapter Thirty-Three

Haehithien awoke, and remembered everything in a haze, as if from a dream. She opened her eyes and found herself in a glade along a river. Wonder filled her senses at the vibrant colors she saw, she could not remember seeing with such clarity before, yet she could not clearly remember seeing any other way before either, so it must have always been so. She wandered over to the riverbank and looked at her reflection. In awe she ran her fingers over her ears. Still, she must have always had them for she could not remember any other before.

She wandered North along the river for several days enjoying everything she saw and heard. When she was tired, she stopped to rest. She had been searching for any signs of people like herself. She began to despair after days of travel with nothing.

One afternoon her hunger was great and with nothing to eat, she stopped to rest and fell asleep. She did not realize just how close she was to her goal. Rúmil, Orophin and Haldir stood watch on the borders of Lothlorien, not but two miles away.

"Haldir?" Orophin called to his brother, the March warden of Lothlorien. Haldir joined Orophin on at his post and Orophin pointed out to the South and Haldir looked out on the land in the direction Orophin indicated. "What is that?"

Haldir's gaze fell on a human form that lay motionless in the glade. "I am not sure, brother," He answered. "Stay here, and I will go find out." Orophin and Rúmil started to protest, but Haldir silenced them with a look. "I do not fear it my brothers," he said. "Besides, I am well armed and will take care." With that, Haldir jumped gracefully to the ground and ran off in the direction of the figure he had seen.

As he neared, he slowed his advance and drew his knife silently. He crept closer in silence and found the form was an elf maiden, yet he had not seen an elf like her before. She had hair the color of flame, which he had not known existed among their kind. He tried to rouse her from sleep, but she moaned softly and seemed very weak. Slowly, he sheathed his knife and carefully lifted her in his arms. He knew he must take her to Galadriel. He returned to the border where Orophin jumped down to meet him. "What are you doing brother!" he asked urgently.

"It is a maiden of our kind," Haldir said calmly. "I am taking her to see the Lady. She is very weak, and needs help."

"But she could be dangerous!" Orophin said. "It could be a trap!"

"Hardly, brother," Haldir chided. "Return to your watch, I'll return shortly." Orophin nodded in defeat and returned to his watch while Haldir headed to Caras Galadhon, the home of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel.

A messenger went up to Lady Galadriel with news of Haldir's approach when a guard saw him from afar and Galadriel went down to see him. "My Lady," Haldir said and bowed his head when he saw her. "Orophin and I found this maiden two miles from our Southern borders. She appears to be our kind though I have never seen an elf with hair of flame. She is very weak, and in need of help."

Galadriel reached out to the maiden in Haldir's arms. "Nor have I seen such an elf," she said. After careful examination, Galadriel spoke again. "She is weak from hunger and requires medicine. Please take her to a nosse to rest. I will tend to her soon." Haldir nodded and left to perform his appointed task.

Legolas and Gimli were headed back to Mirkwood. They had become great friends and Legolas had promised to show Gimli his woodland home when the quest was over. Yet Legolas' heart was saddened for he felt like he was riding to his death. He had not forgotten Eletharanna and his father's promise that Legolas would marry her upon their return to Valinor. Dread was growing in his heart though since lately he had been having visions of his betrothed and in the visions he saw her crossing the sea to Middle Earth. He could only hope that she had not reached Mirkwood yet. Another vision had been haunting him as well. A vision of an elf unlike he had ever laid eyes upon, a beautiful creature with hair of flame. In his visions of her, he had known her and loved her but he dared not hope that she was real.

"Would you like to stop in Lothlorien, Gimli?" Legolas asked coyly and Gimli sighed heavily in response.

"What for?" he grunted. "She that is fairest has long since left this earth. Why do you torment me so?"

"Lady Galadriel knows I am returning to Mirkwood to join my father before the journey to Valinor," Legolas said. "Mayhap some of her people delayed their departure to ensure us rest and supplies. I believe I will stop just the same." Gimli grunted as Legolas guided Snowmane forward. Though Gimli did not like riding, he was glad Lady Éowyn had given them the strong steed that had once belonged to her uncle, King Theoden who had fallen in the battle on Pelennor Fields.

Two days later, Legolas and Gimli were in sight of the Southern boarders of Lothlorien. "Look Gimli!" Legolas said excitedly. "The trees still bare the golden leaf. Lady Galadriel still abides in these woods!"

Gimli was shocked. He thought that she had left Middle Earth shortly after the they had departed. "Hurry boy!" he commanded when he found his voice again. Snowmane broke into a gallop and Gimli clung to the grinning Elf to keep from falling off.

" Tampa!" yelled a familiar voice and Legolas pulled the reins on Snowmane so that he slowed and stopped. Then, he and Gimli looked up and saw Orophin was stationed on watch. "Aaye, Legolas utinu en' Thranduil. Lady Galadriel wishes to see you. She is waiting for you at the mirror." Legolas nodded. "Creoso Gimli utinu en' Gloin. You find yourself in the Lady's graces once more."

"Diola lle, Orophin," Legolas said. "We will go to her immediately." Orophin nodded and watched as Legolas and Gimli who was now smiling happily headed off on the white steed toward the mirror's glade.

Haldir was in the nosse where the elf maiden he found two days before was resting. He had given her medicine, but she had yet to wake and his concern for her grew as the days passed. He left the nosse and went to the glade where the mirror was kept, to speak with Lady Galadriel about the girl. "How is she?" Galadriel asked when Haldir entered the glade and bowed to her.

"Not well, my Lady," Haldir replied. "Though from what I can tell she is not worse either, so the medicine has helped some."

"Thank you Haldir," Galadriel said. "Please return to her, I will be there later today to see her." Haldir bowed to her once more then left the glade.