The following morning, just after sunrise, Lord Celeborn gave all eleven of them hooded cloaks and small silvery leaf-pins to wear. Hermione graciously accepted the gift, testing it a little with the gentle sway of fabric. It reminded her of the Hogwarts uniforms with the way it elegantly flowed. She glanced at her companions, then back at Lord Celeborn. She could understand his words, but she did not feel like a stranger here. She felt like she belonged, at least a little. Maybe it had something to do with what Lady Galadriel had said to her only fifteen minutes previously.

"As my granddaughters, you and Arwen bear many similarities in many ways. One example is your appearances. Another is how closely bound you are in your spirits. If she is ever in distress, you will know it. If her strength declines, so will yours." The Lady placed a hand upon her shoulder. "You can also communicate with each other across vast distances."

After they had received their cloaks, Hermione and Legolas found themselves pulled aside by Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. They held out a pair of identical, smooth, shimmering rings, crafted of mithril and unadorned.

"These rings are not like any of the Great Rings, but they are great in their own respect. They mimic each other in many ways. Should one ring be twisted, the wearer of the other will feel it move in tandem," Celeborn said.

"In addition," Galadriel began, "if one ring should have anything scratch over its surface, the lines will appear in the other ring. Take care of them."

The two younger Elves took the mithril rings and settled them onto their right-hand ring fingers, testing them slightly before turning to grin at one another. Hermione had finally accepted that she was Elf-kind by birthright and would learn all she could. The two rejoined the line of the Fellowship as Lady Galadriel began handing out gifts. To Boromir, she gave a golden belt. To Legolas, she offered a new bow, the Bow of the Galadhirrim. Hermione was next in the line.

"To you, Hísiven, I give the Bow of Macaranel," the Lady said, handing to the brunette a white bow with a delicately carved wing pattern, "a bow worthy of a warrior maiden in the current time."

Hermione, smiling lightly, lifted the bow and tested it slowly, pulling back. A moment later, a young Elf-woman came over and handed her a quiver filled with red-fletched arrows. "These are better with this bow," the girl said. Hermione nodded and accepted the quiver, which matched the bow in carvings and color.

"For you, Lothrendis, I have this," the Lady said from a ways down in the line. Sam was frowning over his gift of rope, casting slightly jealous glances toward Merry and Pippin's daggers of the Noldori, their gifts from the Lady. But the Lady drew Hermione's gaze the most, holding up a small, crystalline orb. "This is the Orb of Iswamande. Whisper the name of the one you wish to see into it, and you will see their current situation, but if you should whisper to it their name and the word hlussë, you will be able to speak to the one in question."

The Lady continued, now asking Gimli what he wanted. Legolas and Hermione started comparing their bows. Sam and Luna started discussing the pros and cons of their own gifts.

"Rosmir," the Lady said, drawing Hermione's attention once again. "For you, I have the Eye of Lúnirë. Hold it up to your eyes and gaze in any direction. You will be able to see for one-thousand leagues in whatever direction you should choose."

The Lady continued down the line of the Fellowship, and then the group began to fill their four boats with their possessions. Hermione, Luna, and Ginny would have a boat to themselves; Hermione would row for them.

When Aragorn joined the company in loading the boats, the Lady motioned for the trio of girls to come near her.

"Your names are no longer suited to you. I ambaruva anta Lóven, Nartaurë, ar Losírë," the Lady said, placing a hand upon the shoulder of each girl as she said her new name. Hermione, Ginny, and Luna nodded in turn. "Trust in each other, for you will find that, sooner than later, you will need to separate." And she sent them to the boats.

Hermione rowed slowly from the banks, ahead of Boromir boat and behind Legolas and Aragorn. She had never gone for a long trip by river before and found it quite calming.

"Hermione?" Ginny said, adjusting her position.

"What is it, Ginny?"

"Why are you wearing that silver ring?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and grinned. "It was another gift from Lady Galadriel. She gave one just like it to Legolas." She looked ahead at the Elf's back, smiling gently as she watched him rowing. He was a strong man. For a moment, she imagined something that would likely never happen. Legolas in dress robes, waiting for her beneath an altar, his face glowing with triumph and joy as he watched her walking down the aisle. She shook her head slightly, trying to get the image out of her head. She'd been in the other realm for far too long.

"I ambaruva anta Lóven, Nartaurë, ar Losírë" translates to "The world will face the Night Maiden, the Flame of the Forest, and the Flower of Desire." Or thereabouts; I was working with two different lists of translations.

- xHx