Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OC's and the plot, everything else belongs to Tolkien and those who currently own the rights to his work.

Chapter 29 – The Mirror

Third Age 2804

Galadriel walked alone and with a purpose. Her light step made no noise. She did not hurry, for the one she sought was drawing near. They would meet soon enough.

It would be the second time the Lady attempted to influence Eruanna's fate, only this time, there was more at stake than wounded pride and a broken nose. The future hung in the balance and even the great Lady of the Golden Wood could not see where that future might lead.

She heard laughter, the laughter of a young couple, blissfully unaware of anything but each other. The Lady's thoughts flitted briefly to a time long ago, when she and Celeborn found such bliss in the woods of Doriath. A smile curled her lips at the memory of those days and the long years of peace that followed. Celeborn was her light, her strength...the foundation she'd built her life on.

Part of her wished to turn away, to break from the path and let the happy couple pass, but she could not. She had no doubt the Valar called upon her to intervene. The mirror told her this and she would heed their will. In the end, the course of Eruanna's future would be set by her alone, but Galadriel would see that it was a path well chosen.

"My Lady," two voices chimed in surprise. Rumil offered his Lady a bow while Eruanna curtsied.

Galadriel smiled kindly upon the two edhil who appeared in her path. They looked so happy together that it took much effort for the Lady to keep her guilt at bay. "Eruanna, Rumil…so good to see you both on this fine day. Where are you off to?" She knew, of course. Haldir's meeting was about to begin.

"Just returning, my Lady," Eruanna answered, "from the falls."

"Ah, yes," the Lady responded, "the perfect place to spend a quiet day."

"Yes, my Lady," Rumil agreed wholeheartedly but his thoughts turned to more serious matters. A responsible Lórien warden shouldn't be tardy, "but I'm afraid I have a meeting with Haldir and the other wardens this afternoon. It will begin shortly." He would not be rude to the Lady, but nor did he look forward to arriving late at his brother's meeting.

Galadriel did not need to read Rumil's thoughts to know them. Haldir did not tolerate laggards. "We would not want you to be late. Haldir would be most displeased."

Rumil smiled, he knew the Lady would understand. He took Eruanna's arm in his once more, but before they could bid the Lady farewell, Galadriel raised her hand.

"Would you mind terribly, Rumil, if Eruanna walked with me?"

Rumil and Eruanna shared a brief look of surprise but Rumil nodded his assent. The warden lifted Eruanna's hand to his lips before releasing her, "Of course, my Lady." He smiled at Eruanna, "I'll see you tonight."

"Enjoy your meeting," she bid him playfully, before turning full attention on the Lady. Galadriel was still a great and somewhat intimidating figure to Eruanna's mind. Galadriel was the Lady of Light to the people of Lórien, but Eruanna knew her, also, as a loving grandmother to Arwen. She tried to keep that image of the Lady in mind when she took Galadriel's arm.

"Shall we walk?" Galadriel could see the trust in Eruanna's eyes but also a small sliver of worry. This was the first and only time that Galadriel sought the child out alone. That fact had certainly not been missed by Eruanna.

They walked without a word towards the center of the city, Galadriel leading the way. The late summer sun shone down upon them but the mallorn kept the woodland air cool as in spring. Spring. "Arwen wishes to return to Imladris next spring," Galadriel watched for the young one's response.

"I know…she and Erestor spoke to me of their plans last night." Eruanna's voice held a hint of sadness at the thought of leaving. She would miss her new friends, some more than others… but she missed Imladris as well.

Galadriel knew well enough the young elleth's thoughts. She wished to ease them, if only for a short while. "You are welcome in this land, Eruanna. You may remain as long as you wish or visit whenever you desire."

Eruanna smiled thankfully, Lady Galadriel's kindness was greater than any elf she'd ever known, save Lord Elrond. "Thank you, my Lady."

They were walking along a new path now; one Eruanna did not recognize. It amazed her that she'd managed not to find this place in the century she spent roaming these woods. She took in the expanse of the glade, the water trickling through the roots of the trees into a small pool, a shining metal bowl resting upon an elegantly carved stone pedestal. "I have not been to this place before," she whispered.

"Most have not," the Lady replied as they descended the stairs.

Eruanna's eyes strayed once more to the bowl. "Is that…?"

Galadriel released her arm, leaving her alone at the center of the glade. She took up a silver carafe resting by the pool and filled it with water.

Galadriel turned, holding Eruanna with ancient, fathomless eyes. "Will you look into the mirror?" Say yes, child… you have to look. I need you to look.

Eruanna's eyes opened wide, "Am I not too young?" she glanced nervously from the Lady to the mirror.

The question was unexpected; Galadriel did not know from whence it came. "Why should age make a difference?"

Eruanna thought back to a conversation she had with Arwen. They spoke of fate and of destiny, they spoke of the mirror. Eruanna knew Arwen had never set foot in this glade. "Lady Arwen is much older than I and you have never brought her here."

Galadriel's face softened in understanding. "It is not her time yet."

"So it is my time?" disbelief rang through in her voice.

Galadriel filled the mirror with water and retreating a few paces, met the elleth's eyes. "Only you know the answer to that question, Eruanna." She gestured for Eruanna to step forward, if she would. Please look, Eruanna. There are things I need you to see.

Eruanna stepped forward, her hands alighting on the mirror's edge. The waters held within swirled beneath her gaze. She thought she saw something beneath the rippling waves. The images came into focus…one after another, she saw them.

…herself as a small child, lifted into Haldor's strong arms…

…Feredir…

…lessons with Erestor and Glorfindel…

…Rumil's smiling face…

Her heart skipped a beat at the promise held in his eyes, at the love she saw reflected there. The image was short lived. His face vanished and in its place, darker visions emerged.

…Erestor shouting her name… his face twisted in horror…

…the broken bodies of elves, their blood staining the ground red …

…Arwen lying ill, a shadow cast upon her face…

And before the mirror went dark one final image formed.

… sitting on her knees, her arms wrapped around a weeping ellon…an ellon with long dark hair…

The water stilled and she saw no more.

Eruanna's voice caught in her throat. Tears formed in her eyes, threatening to fall. She wiped them forcefully away. "What is it I have just seen?" her voice trembled, a mixture of fear and confusion.

Galadriel's expression darkened. Her voice rang clear in the small glade and it seemed even the leaves trembled at her words. "The time of the elves is almost over. The Shadow will soon be upon us. You have seen what his return may bring."

Eruanna backed away from the mirror. Her mind swam with the memory of those visions...ones that would haunt her for years to come. "Why did you show me these things?" she cried.

Eruanna's question echoed in the silence. It demanded an answer but Galadriel was not certain the child would understand. "He will need you," was the lady's reply.

Who?

It was the first and most obvious question that sprung to Eruanna's mind.

You know...came the echo of an answer.

Only then did Eruanna recall the final image she beheld in the mirror; the dark haired ellon whose face she had not seen.

She did not see him, but she knew him well.

She knew him by the hands that rose to cradle his face, by the unique hue of his hair, and she knew the room. It was his study.

Elrond. It was Elrond the mirror showed her comforting; it was him she'd seen, weeping on his knees. "I don't understand."

The sadness that pooled in Galadriel's eyes threatened to spill over. Only long years of practice kept her emotions at bay. This was about Elrond, not Galadriel. "With each passing year his hold on this world weakens. It has been so, ever since my daughter departed. He needs something, someone to hold him here."

Eruanna did not understand what the Lady was saying, or perhaps she did not wish to. "What about Arwen and his sons?" Do they not hold him here?

"Elladan and Elrohir have already abandoned him. Their guilt drives them away from those they love. And Arwen," the Lady paused. It was not her place to reveal Arwen's future to another, but perhaps, this once, "Arwen, too, may choose a different path. One that will take her away from those she loves."

Galadriel saw many things, and Elrond, too, possessed the gift of foresight. They were both weighted down beneath the burden of knowledge and many years. "He knows this as I do, he has foreseen it, and it weighs heavily upon his heart."

He has lost so many… so many, just as I have.

Only one difference separated the Lady of Light from Elrond Peredhel.

Celeborn.

Celeborn remained steadfastly at her side as he had for more than 6,000 years…he was her center, the rock she rested her weary head upon. Galadriel's voice came out as a whisper, or perhaps she did not speak at all. "Even the greatest of elves and men, need a rock to lean upon."

"I am no rock," a hint of anger colored Eruanna's voice.

Galadriel's eyes widened at the emotion that came with those words. Few in Arda would have strength or courage enough to speak that way to the Lady of Light. "No," Galadriel paused, the smallest smile curling her lips, "you are stronger."

Eruanna lifted a hand to her head to stop it from spinning. This was all so very confusing. She did not understand why the Lady allowed her these visions. It was not as though Eruanna would desert her family, her loved ones. She would not abandon Elrond if he was in pain or Arwen in her hour of need.

But there was something more, something the Lady left unspoken that forced her hand, forced these terrible visions upon her.

But what?

Eruanna fixed the great Lady of the Golden Wood with a firm, unyielding gaze. It was the same question she asked before, but this time, it was nothing short of a demand.

"Why did you show me?"

Galadriel found herself unable to meet the child's eyes, a feat few elves could boast.

A rock, indeed.

Perhaps it was the guilt Galadriel felt rising that forced the answer from her lips. "Rumil will ask you to stay," she said simply, and when her gaze returned to Eruanna, a stunned expression graced the young one's face.

He will ask me to stay…here, in Lothlórien? Eruanna's thoughts swam in confusion.

Galadriel glided to Eruanna's side. She lifted a hand to Eruanna's cheek and the touch brought her eyes immediately to Galadriel's. The Lady saw within their depths the turmoil her words ignited. In that moment, Galadriel wished she could take them back. I should have let the happy couple pass.

It mattered not. There was only one truth that bound all of existence… you can not go back.

Only forward.

"You must decide, Eruanna…who will need you more in the years to come, the House of Elrond or the ellon who holds your heart in his hands."