I was floating in the thick air of nothingness. I heard nothing, saw nothing, sensed nothing. I only knew that I exist. My existence was the only certain thing in this space of uncertainty. But no question reached my mind. I was just floating.

Then I heard the Voice. It was in some manner familiar to me, as if similar to something I heard before. But only similar, for I knew I was hearing it for the first time. It was deep, demanding, overwhelming, but also, in some way, soothing.

"Come, child. Thou can leave now. Come to my Halls... I summon thee..."

I felt obliged to obey the Voice, but some part of me didn`t want to go, didn`t want to listen. I understood it would be wrong to refuse, but I still wasn`t certain what to do. Should I accept the summon of the Voice or should I reject it and stay? One choice felt wrong and the other ... uncertain, like the space in which I was floating.

Suddenly the new voice came and brought me a new choice.

~ Talia, lasto beth nîn! Toro had, Rovalhen! Toro had nan galadh!"*

It was beautiful female voice, pure and clear like a crystal, but deep as the bottom of a forest pool. It was fainter than the first voice, but in some way closer and much warmer. I felt this light she was talking about and her words were refreshing like the sweet breeze after all night spent in the cave. The first Voice was silent now and I knew it wouldn`t speak again. But the second one was offering me the option I could take, without any guilt. So I took it. I reached for the light and its sounds.

I took the deep breath of life, giving my withered lungs some air. I lifted my eyelids, but the strong light blinded me and I had to shield my eyes with my hand. At first I felt great relief, but then I coughed when the pain, radiating from my back, reached me. It was sharp and overwhelming and I cried loudly. I heard a voice telling me to lay still and felt some hands holding me. After several minutes the pain dulled and I finally could examine my surroundings.

I was lying on the bed in some unknown room. Its walls were made from white, gleaming marble, carved in curious, intricate shapes. The cellar and the floor were made from some light wood, its elements connected together without any mark. Here and there the planks, cut from the same wood, were hanging on the walls. Each of them was showing a different picture, every one strikingly beautiful, made with the heart and hand of true artist. Here was the glade in the forest, which leaves were young and green, as if they knew only spring. On the other side was gleaming the white town of high walls and tall towers, standing in the middle of the passage from the deep valley, leading outside it, to a green plains. There was also the image of the extremely high mountain with snowy top, circled by eagles, of amazing gardens with trees of golden leaves and silver trunks. But the image of the sea captured my eyes, the sea of great waves, splashing angrily, dark and threatening, when the reddish glow was spreading on the horizon - the most disturbing one in the room.

"I see my murals are to your liking. I`m glad of it, but you must lie still, for your wounds were nearly mortal, even for one of the Eldar."

That voice, I knew it! I looked in the corner of the room and widened my eyes with shock. She was the most beautiful maiden I ever saw. She was tall, clad in white gown with silvered-grey cloak. Her hair was golden, bright like the rays of sun or the shine of purest gold and was falling in locks around her fair face. Her deep blue eyes were full of hidden knowledge and ancient lore with trace of great sadness. But then she smiled to me and almost all of it disappeared, as if sun had just brighten her already so bright features. Almost all. Some of her sorrow remained and I had a feeling that some trace of it was always there.

"Be welcome, Talia, back in the land of the living. Your fëar was almost lost to Mandos, but I managed to reach you and to recall you just in time." She looked at me with concern. "Tell me, how are you feeling now?"

I was still in pain and little confused about all of this, but I felt quite fine. So, she was that second voice...?

"I`m good, I think, my back just aches a little. But... I don`t understand... You were that voice, which saved me? And where I am? And who are you... my lady?" I realized, that maybe I should be more polite.

"You are in my home, on the western side of Ost-in-Edhil, the capital city of Eregion. And yes, that was my voice that you heard" she said gently, pouring the water from the vase to the silver mug. Then she pulled some herbs out of the bag that was lying on the table. She rubbed the leaves and dropped them into the mug. "Drink" she directed, handing me the mug. "It will ease the pain and soothe your spirit." She sat on the chair before my bed and observed me as I was sipping the drought. It had sweet and refreshing taste. "I have been called by many names in the past, but my husband prefer to call me Galadriel."

I nearly choked on my drink and had to put it down. I coughed violently and Galadriel was looking at me with half-bemused, half-puzzled face. "I presume that you have heard of me, then. But you really must not choke yourself to death because of it."

"I`m sorry" I gasped, embarrassed. "You just were always one of my favourite cha... I mean, I`ve heard a lots of amazing things about you, my lady! It`s quite unexpected to meet you like this." I was babbling like some idiot! Yes, before me stood Galadriel, daughter of Finarfin, one of the eldest, wisest and most powerful of all elves in Middle Earth, and yes, I still had problems in digesting this information. But either way I must be careful! I don`t want everyone to know who I am. It would be just way too complicated.

A spark of doubt flashed in her eyes and I remembered that Galadriel always had extraordinary insight in one`s soul. But then it disappeared and she smiled again, filling me with relief.

"I see. I can only hope that the rumors have been good. But let us not discuss that. Tell me, what is the last thing you remember?"

I tore my gaze from her and focused my mind. How did I got here? I did not come here by foot, I... Yes! I remembered! There was that forest and the group of Elves ambushed by Orcs. I helped them, we won, all the Orcs were killed or were running to the forest and then... nothing. And Alcar...

I sat upright looking around me frantically. "Where is Alcar? Please, tell me everything is alright with him! I asked him to attack those Orcs and then..."

"Worry not, he is well!" She assured me, putting her hand on my shoulder. I looked at her, puzzled. "Aye, I know whom you mean: he told us his name, as well as your name and some other things. His leg was slightly injured, but no further harm came to him. He is an extraordinary creature - I have not seen his ilk even in Valinor." She looked at me, curious. "Tell me, how did you come to met him?"

Another lie, I thought sadly. "I found an abandoned nest in the mountains." I said after a moment, trying to sound genuine. "He was just a starved nestling back then. I took him home and took care of him. I gave him his name and my love. We created an amazing bond between us, and from that moment he has never left my side. If he is an offspring of some winged creature of the Valar, which died in some unfortunate accident, or just ordinary bird, who has grown greater thanks to his bond with me, I`ve never learned..."

Galadriel nodded, accepting my story. Still, I wasn`t sure if she believed it.

"Could you tell me how I got there, my lady?" I asked, trying to break the sudden silence.

She looked as if torn from her thoughts, but she smiled slightly and answered. "My apologies, I almost forgot to thank you for all that you have done. Such a deed requires not a small amount of courage. Your bravery, and your companion`s caused dissention in the horde of the enemy and aided my people to win the battle. You have saved many lives, and I thank you in the name of us all." Her eyes were full of light and comfort and I felt much better. I smiled back to her. "As for your coming here, after you fell to that arrow of that filthy Orc..." I looked at her, surprised. She sighed unhappily. "Even the best archer should guard her back, Talia. After you fell, the Elves you saved brought you here as quickly as they could. But your wound was fatal and you were on the edge of death. The tip of the accursed arrow was poisoned. I tended to you myself, but it was a difficult fight, for I am better healer of mind and soul than of the body. But I managed to defeat the poison and restore your body with the help of my dear husband. Your fëar was hardest to bring back, for you have already heard the Call of Mandos, but, thanks to Elbereth, I succeeded."

She then got up, smoothing the folds of her long dress. "You must rest now. By morning you should feel better, well enough to walk." She waved her hand towards the drink. "Please, finish the draught, it will help you to fall asleep. Tomorrow you may tour the town and you to meet its people. They are eager to meet you and thank you themselves." She smiled to me one last time and left the room. I exhaled and let all the tension to leave me. That was quite a meeting. Who would have thought... I was saved by Galadriel herself. I really liked her and I felt sad that I could not tell her whole truth, especially when I knew she must suspect something. But that is the burden of this knowledge.

~So, how was your day?` I heard an amused voice in my head.

~ Alcar! I`m so glad to hear you! I heard your leg was injured. Are you feeling all right now?` I answered, happy, but concerned.

~ One of those awful Orcs bit me in the leg, when I was bearing him in the air. It wasn`t a serious wound, but the orc`s teeth were not very clean, so it got infected. Fortunately the Elves helped me, so it will heal in a few days.` He sounded genuine, so I breathed a sigh of relief.

~ I`m sorry I dragged you into this.` I whispered mentally.

~ Don`t be. It was the right thing to do. Besides those Orcs deserved it. Filthy worms. But how are you feeling? Can you walk?`

~ No, but I think I will manage tomorrow` I sighed. `I wish I could breathe the night air and see the stars. I feel I had been lying in this bed long enough.`

~ I can help you, just close your eyes.' He exclaimed suddenly.

~ Why? What do you mean?'

~ Trust me, close your eyes and reach for me with your mind.`

I did as he told me. At first nothing happened, but then I felt as if something was pulling my mind to him. I tried to resist and broke the contact.

~ Talia, don`t fight, you know I mean you no harm. Just reach for me again and then relax.`

I tried again and this time didn`t resist. Then I got blinded and senseless. But before I could panic, the senses came back, but different.

I was soaring through the night air on the white, strong wings. The wind was blowing through my feathers, but they covered me well and kept me warm. With my keen eyes I could see many things, though blurred by the lack of light. The rustling leaves of trees far below me, the shimmering forest pools and waters of the two rivers, like silver tresses spread through the dark-green womb of the earth. Between the rivers there stood a beautiful town with high walls and slender towers, glimmering like pure silver and light blue, as if made with flowing marble. Above all myriads of stars were shining, bright and strong, every one as small moon, and the moon itself was greater than anything I ever seen. It was magnificent. My ears could hear the sounds of the night, the singing, calling, rustling, fluttering, even the music of the crickets. Wait... my ears?

~ I told you that you would like it' said Alcar in his/my head.

~ This is amazing, how have you done it?' I cried, amazed.

~ I just realized the form our bond has taken. We can not only share our thoughts, but senses as well. But it means also, that I have taken most of your fëar into my body, so you shouldn`t stay like this too long, lest someone will think you`re dead. Just break the connection and you will return to your body.`

I enjoyed the night and was flying with him a little longer and it was the most amazing thing I`ve ever experienced, save the meeting with Eru. But then I did as he advised me and I returned to my body. The passing was similar as before – I lost my senses and then I got them back. I was still lying in my bed in the empty room. I drunk the whole potion and lay down comfortably, closing my eyes. I sent my mind to Alcar for the last time today.

~ Good night, my friend. Thank you for showing me this.`

~ You`re welcome. Sleep well, Talia. We will see each other tomorrow.'

I smiled and fall in the arms of dreams. The last thing I thought was that no matter what will happen, I will always have my gyrfalcon and he will never leave me. That was a very comforting thought.

* Talia, hear me! Come back, Winged-eye! Come back to the light!