Ch 3 is here!

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-ChoupetteLagerfeld

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Haldir dismissed the rest of the guard for the night, uneasy with his brother's bright gaze lingering on the mortal. He led her through the paths of his city and up winding flights of stairs until he came upon the private, quiet quarters of his Lord and Lady. There he paused as he turned towards Kerrianne, motioning for her stop. She looked expectantly up at him and Haldir was caught in her deep brown eyes for a moment. It was unusual to see eyes so dark; all of the elves he knew had bright eyes. Hers were so dark they were nearly unsettling. Haldir quietly shook his head to himself and collected his wandering thoughts.

"Wait here while I get my Lord and Lady. Do not speak until spoken to," Haldir's voice was stern as he turned and entered the arched doorway ahead of them. Kerrianne took his absence as an opportunity to observe her surroundings. The city was gorgeous, like something out of a fairy-tale. Every where she looked, nature blended seamlessly into the structures and homes of the elves. They were very clever in how they harnessed the forest for their home. Just as she was examining a water fountain that was carved out of the wall nearest her, she noticed she was being watched. As she straightened, she was met with the sight of two beautiful, ethereal elves.

They were each the most amazing beings she'd ever laid eyes on but the Lady was truly a sight to behold. Her pale skin glowed as if lit from within and her long hair hung in waves of spun gold. She was dressed in a beautifully draped gown and wore a crown of sorts on her head. Most amazing and perhaps unsettling of all, though, were the eyes studying her. Kerrianne stared back as the Lady smiled softly at her and extended an arm in a gesture of welcome.

"Welcome to Lothlorien, child," the beautiful elven lady said, her voice washing over Kerrianne in such a sweet caress that she didn't even mind being called a child. "Haldir says you are a lost traveler but you are not dressed for a quest," The Lady stated, as if she knew much more than she let on.

"Um, no, your…. highness," Kerrianne answered, unsure of how to address the elves in front of her. Haldir's lips tightened in a barely perceptible smirk and Kerrianne found herself blushing yet again.

"You may call me Lady Galadriel and this is my husband Lord Celeborn," Lady Galadriel offered in a kind voice. "Please come tell us your story," Galadriel motioned for Kerrianne to follow her inside the doorway. Lord Celeborn nodded and waited for the women to enter before following behind with Haldir. Kerrianne nervously took the seat Galadriel offered her, sitting on the edge of the beautifully carved wooden chair, as if afraid to truly relax.

At Galadriel's insistence, she told the elves what she'd told Haldir: that she didn't know how she'd come to be in their forest and that her memory was hazy. She explained that she'd never met or seen an elf before and that where she was from, such beings were only in story books. This was met with great surprise from all three elves. Kerrianne wasn't sure what to make of them. So far they had been nothing but polite but she suspected they were wiser and more powerful than they let on. They seemed supernatural, completely unlike anyone she'd ever met before. It made her incredibly nervous.

"My Lady, what do you make of this mortal's tale?" Lord Celeborn finally asked, his eyes leaving Kerrianne's to land on his wife's beautiful face. Lady Galadriel took a moment to reply, letting her gaze bore into Kerrianne's.

"I sense no dishonestly from Lady Kerrianne, though I find I do not sense much at all," Galadriel replied, in such a manner that unsettled Kerrianne. Both Celeborn and Haldir swiftly looked back at Kerrianne, twin expressions of puzzlement on their handsome faces.

"I don't know what you mean," Kerrianne stated nervously. What did she mean when she used the word "sense"? Was it possible that this Lady Galadriel also had psychic abilities? Kerrianne had never met another like herself and she felt a shiver of excitement at the prospect.

"I have been gifted with the ability of sight. Usually I can determine immediately the heart of a man, or woman," Galadriel offered, a curious look on her face. "With you however, my sight is hazy and clouded," Kerrianne let out her breath in a harsh whoosh as she tried to school her expression.

"Lady Galadriel, I have waited my whole life to meet someone like you!" Kerrianne said, her voice coming out a bit louder than she'd intended. Celeborn and Haldir stared at her, slightly alarmed. "I have psychic abilities too!" Kerrianne tempered her voice before going on. "My grandmother told me that one day I'd come across another person like me. Do you think this is why I'm here? Because I'm like you?" At this, Haldir scoffed, bringing everyone's attention to him.

"You are nothing like the Lady," Haldir stated haughtily. Kerrianne blushed deeply at his proclamation.

"Of course not! I don't mean to compare myself to… I just meant, maybe Lady Galadriel and I have this in common," Kerrianne glared at the elf, her dark eyes burning with embarrassment and annoyance as she stumbled over her words to explain herself. He returned her glare.

"Do not be unkind, March Warden," Lady Galadriel scolded mildly before turning back to Kerrianne. "It is possible, child, though I doubt that the only reason you are here is because of these abilities you say you have," Galadriel stated, not unkindly.

"I can't think of any other reason that I'd just appear here, of all places," Kerrianne was puzzled and suddenly very tired. She sighed, feeling frustrated and worn out.

"Do not despair. All answers will reveal themselves in time. You are weary. Haldir will show you to a guest talon. Take your rest and we will speak tomorrow," Galadriel stood from the table, prompting Celeborn and Haldir to also immediately stand. Kerrianne was the last to rise and she avoided everyone's gaze as Haldir led her to the door. She paused before exiting and turned back around.

"Thank you. I really appreciate your understanding and hospitality," Kerrianne said sincerely, directing this remark to the Lord and Lady. Celeborn merely smiled while Galadriel bid her goodnight with a kind smile and wave of her graceful hand.

Kerrianne hurried out the door to find Haldir waiting for her, a neutral expression on his face. He began the descent down the winding stairs, this time not slowing his pace for Kerrianne to keep up. Instead of giving him the satisfaction of asking him to slow down, she sped her pace and resigned herself to the fact that she'd have to follow him like a child rather than walk at his side. Eventually after walking down a winding path and climbing yet another winding staircase, they came to a modest looking home situated in the strong branches of an old tree.

"You may stay here. Someone should be by in the morning to assist you, should you need anything. Otherwise most of what you'll need can be found within," Haldir stated, looking quite bored with the conversation. Kerrianne glanced over the railing of the platform, noting they were some sixty feet up from the ground.

"Don't you ever get nervous of the height?" Kerrianne questioned, taking a few steps away from the railing and back towards the center of the platform. Haldir gave her blank look.

"No. We are elves," He answered, as if her question was the most moronic inquiry he'd ever heard. Kerrianne's cheeks colored once more.

"I don't know what I did to offend you, but there's no need for you to be such a jerk," Kerrianne responded hotly. Haldir's eyes flashed as he took several steps closer to Kerrianne, causing her to retreat until her back touched the door of her guest home. His hands landed on either side of her face as he leaned in.

"Your very presence here offends me," Haldir stated quietly, his breath flowing lightly over Kerrianne's lips. He whirled around and briskly walked back to the stairs and was out of sight before she could form a response.

Kerrianne tried to shrug off the hurt that pinched at her chest from Haldir's words as she opened the door to the guest talon. It had been a long afternoon and as the sky began to darken, so did her thoughts. She had no idea why she was here or even really what "here" was. She felt utterly alone and could only hope that tomorrow would dawn brighter. And that maybe she'd get a chance to have the last word with Haldir.