this chapter's kinda short, but the next one's longer, I promise!
Beneath the Stars
THIRTEEN
Tauriel reached Lothlórien a week and a half later. In that time she had slept only once, and she had not lit another fire since the night of the orc attack. She was exhausted.
When she arrived at Lothlórien's borders, she collapsed in front of the first patrol of elves that she found. She did not recognize any of them, but she was simply too tired to walk another step.
When she woke, she felt much better. She was in a structure high in the trees, much like the ones she had seen before during her previous stay in the Golden Wood. She sat up slowly, blinking as she took in her surroundings.
A healer sat next to her. She leaned forward and propped up her pillows, helping Tauriel to sit more comfortably.
"You are safe here," she said gently. "I am Nelwen."
"How long was I out?" she inquired rubbing her head.
"One day only," Nelwen told her. "You collapsed at the border. The patrol took you here. Lady Galadriel and Captain Haldir both recognized you."
"Yes, I met them both before," she said. Suddenly, she realized that she wore different clothes than the ones she had arrived in. Panic rose in her chest and she asked, "Where are my clothes? My weapons? My message?"
Nelwen pointed to a corner where each item had been cleaned and stacked neatly. The letter, unopened, sat atop the pile. "We cleaned them, but did not touch the message."
"I must see Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn immediately," she said, swinging her feet down off the bed. "That message is urgent, sent from Lord Elrond!"
Nelwen's eyebrows shot upward. "I will send for Captain Haldir. He can take you to her ladyship. Dress, quickly, and prepare!" She rushed from the room.
Tauriel stood up, wincing. She ached all over. She had exhausted herself too much, trying to make it out of the mountains and into the forest without much rest. She could not do that to herself again.
She dressed into her old clothes as quick as she could, strapping her weapons back on and putting Elrond's message into her pocket.
Soon Nelwen returned, Haldir by her side. He nodded to her, smiling. "Tauriel. Welcome back to Lothlórien. I did not think I would see you again."
"Nor did I," she said, nodding back. "But fate had other plans, I see."
"Nelwen says that you wish to see Lady Galadriel now that you are recovered," Haldir said.
"Yes," Tauriel confirmed. "It is very urgent. I bear a message from Lord Elrond, and ill tidings of my own."
Haldir's expression grew grave. "I see. I will bring you to her Ladyship."
He led her down to the forest floor and through the trees. Tauriel spoke little, lost in thought. At last, they stopped in front of a set of wide steps.
"Her Ladyship should be up there," Haldir said. "If she is not, come back down and I will help you find her elsewhere. I will wait for you here."
"Thank you, Haldir," she said, nodding to him. She took a deep breath, then walked up the steps.
The stairs led her to a large platform. On it sat Galadriel, speaking quietly with her husband, Lord Celeborn. Tauriel approached them slowly, not wishing to be disrespectful.
"My lord, my lady," she said, trying to get their attentions. When they turned to see her, she bowed to them.
"Tauriel," Lady Galadriel said, smiling. "I am glad to see you recovered."
"Yes, my lady," she said. "I am as well. But I have urgent news for you."
"What news?" Celeborn asked.
Tauriel took the letter from her pocket. It was crumpled and stained with blood from the orc attack, but hopefully it would still be legible.
"This message is from Lord Elrond," she said. She walked closer to them, handing Galadriel the envelope.
She took it, frowning as she opened it. Her eyes quickly scanned through the short paragraphs, her brows furrowing deeper after every line. When she had finished, she handed it to Celeborn.
"This is indeed news of great import," Galadriel said, her words slow and deliberate. "Thank you for your dedication, Tauriel."
"My lady, that is not all," Tauriel said.
Galadriel raised a golden eyebrow in interest. "Go on."
"While I was traveling over the Misty Mountains, I was attacked by orcs," Tauriel began. "I killed them all, but first I interrogated one of them to discover how they had found me. My captive revealed that an army of orcs from the depths of the mountains had been called forth and marched to attack the world of men."
"These are grave tidings," Celeborn said. He set the message down and looked at his wife with a frown. "Galadriel, we must send out our warriors at once."
"Yes," she agreed, nodding. "This matter is more urgent than even Elrond knew."
"Has Mithrandir woken?" Celeborn asked her.
Galadriel shook her head. "He has not. He has been under immense stress. I am not sure how he survived, but he is very fortunate that Gwaihir bore him to our lands, where our healers can tend to him."
"Mithrandir is here?" Tauriel said in surprise. "But he was travelling with the Fellowship!"
"The Fellowship has been broken, I fear," Galadriel explained. "Mithrandir fell in Moria, battling a Balrog, and was separated from the rest. The other eight arrived here two weeks ago, and passed through the next day."
Tauriel frowned. Legolas had been here not long ago. "Mithrandir will wish to know my news once he wakes."
"We can inform him," Celeborn said. "You may leave, if you wish to, although your prowess in battle would be very useful in aiding the realms of men."
Tauriel did not answer him right away. She yearned to return to the Greenwood, but he was right. "I will stay at least for a few days more. I must regain my strength and restock my supplies. I travel on to the Woodland Realm."
Galadriel smiled at her. "I am glad to see you have regained a purpose, Tauriel."
She nodded. "You helped me, my lady, as did Lord Elrond."
"You helped yourself," Galadriel said. "Now, if you could tell Captain Haldir to come up, we must begin preparations for war."