Adessa made her way up the stairs to Galadriel's library and took a deep breath righting her clothes before following an attendant to Lady Galadriel's private library again. Her heartbeat rapidly in her chest and she couldn't get it to stop or even to slow down as they made their way up the stairs, Adessa took another breath before the doors opened and she was allowed to enter, the attendant shut the doors behind her. She stood in the middle of the floor, bowed and waited for Lady Galadriel to speak.
"You wished to see me my Lady?"
Galadriel smiled and motioned to the chairs by the Hearth. "Hello Adessa, please sit down."
She did as she was bidden and took a seat, fluttering her wings a bit so she didn't sit on them and watched Lady Galadriel seat herself gracefully in the seat next to her.
"Artemis said that you might have found a way to restore my memories my Lady." She started, giving Galadriel her undivided attention. "How did you come to your theories?"
Galadriel smiled softly. "I believe it is an injury of the mind. And like any injury it can be healed with the proper energies and herbs. But I need to know if you really want to be healed. I have sensed a reluctance in you, as though you do not truly wish to regain your memories."
Adessa half nodded and sighed tiredly.
"At first I felt that there must have been a pressing reason for me to suppress my memories to the point that I didn't want to recall any of them, I thought that by knowing who I was and where I came from would give me peace of mind, but my reasons for wanting changed... They changed when I met Legolas and we started to travel together."
She smiled as she remembered all those weeks of adventures and miles she spent with him seeing the different places in Middle Earth, the songs that he taught her, the knowledge he shared with her, and the many laughs and smiles they shared together. It brought a smile to her lips now and then she blinked and looked back at Lady Galadriel.
"I found it didn't matter, that I could be happy starting a new life here with Legolas and nothing would have to change. But then Artemis was dropped into our path and things changed again... I needed to know who I was again, but I was in conflict with my happiness and I couldn't sort it out. I'm still conflicted, but my nightmare last night made me realize that I have to go with her, despite what my heart is telling me to do. To whatever ends that we might behold, the dangers and uncertainties, the world depends on us to fix it. No easy task there if the worlds that Artemis described are as vast and strange as she has led me to believe."
Looking down at her shaking hands, which she had clasped in her lap, Adessa felt the tears welling up in her eyes and an overwhelming want to shed them overcame her but she bit it back. That she would do later in the privacy of her own chambers and she took a deep breath to calm herself again and waited for Lady Galadriel's reply.
Galadriel poured a cup of tea from a delicate porcelain pot an attendant had left and handed her the cup with its warm amber liquid. She poured a cup for herself and sat running her finger along the rim of the cup. "I have had the chance to speak with Gandalf about Artemis and his observation of her. He believes her when she speaks of other worlds and he related to me the story she told in the fire. He also relayed her conviction to accept you as you are with whatever memories or lack therein. I think you have a friend close to kin in that one. I have also asked Gandalf what might have brought you two to Middle Earth and for what reason, and as usual he is irritatingly vague about his thoughts." She seemed to be half talking to herself.
She looked back at Adessa her eyes sharp and a little unnerving. "I can heal your mind but you must be wholly convicted to heal it as well, lingering doubts, stray desires to remain as you are now will prevent the healing and could very likely cause further damage. You might find that you do not even remember being Adessa or the events that have transpired since your arrival."
Adessa felt herself shiver at the intensity of Lady Galadriel's eyes and look down at her tea, handling it in such a way that her cup would warm her hands. She took a sip of the sweet liquid and let it trickle down her throat before meeting Lady Galadriel's eyes again.
"Would there be much a point to delay the inevitable?" She questioned more to herself than of the Lady of the Golden Wood. "It has to be done for all... in all the Worlds."
Getting up from her chair and placing her teacup on the table in between them, Adessa walked to the window and looked out at all the sunlight touched in the forests. Movement below her caught her attention and drew her eyes to Legolas who was speaking to Artemis about things she couldn't hear. Her heart ached and she shook head, tears being forced back again and she turned around to face Lady Galadriel again.
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one." She answered deliberately and nodded. "Then let us begin... Lady Galadriel I, Adessa misplaced Faery in Middle Earth, open my mind to your healing touch and implore you to make haste before my resolve falters to the ruin of all."
Galadriel set her cup aside and rang her tiny bell. Attendants came in bearing trays of bottles and bowls. She deftly mixed herbs and liquids murmuring over the potion in the small silver bowl then handed the mixture to Adessa. "Drink this. She dabbed her fingers in an ointment and smeared it over Adessa's forehead.
When Adessa had finished the bitter potion Galadriel moved behind her and cupped her temples. Power filled Adessa pouring in through Galadriel's hands and she felt the world around her lurching and spinning. Thoughts, memories and images whirled through Adessas mind tearing apart and coalescing until the memories of Tracey and her life moved to the fore an integrated with the memories of Adessa. It all seemed to take an eternity, as quickly done as a blink of an eye but when Galadriel took her hands away the sun had moved several spans to the west and both were shuddering with the strain. Tracey became aware of herself after a few minutes while her heart hammered in her chest.
Her head swam and throbbed painfully and her breathing was slow and shallow. She felt that time seemed to slow as she fell to her knees and there she remained, swaying a little until she sat back on her heels and tried to put things in order. Looking down at her hands, Tracey slowly drew them up until her eyes could focus on them and a slow smile crossed over her lips as she flexed them, making sure they were indeed her. She touched her own cheeks and then ran her fingers to her ear, feeling their points and making a huffing noise that sounded like a dry laugh. The fluttering noise over her shoulders caught her attention and she turned to see her wings.
"It worked..." She said softly, glancing up to Lady Galadriel and smiling wider. "I remember everything, my Lady... Thank you. Without your help I wouldn't be able to do what needs to be done, so I thank you."
She picked herself up from the floor and slowly found her balance again, her wings shifting a little to help her with the balance issue. Bowing respectfully she rubbed her head a little, trying to relieve herself of a throbbing headache but that was to be expected and she wouldn't hold it against Lady Galadriel. Tracey felt her heart give a painful jolt, almost bringing her back to her knees, and clutched the fabric of her shirt just over her heart and let out a painful gasp.
"Legolas?" She whispered, looking from Lady Galadriel to the window. "I must go to him... and Artemis... A thousand thanks again my Lady. If you require anything of me, please name it."
Galadriel inclined her head and gave her a dismissive wave while she shakily poured a cup of tea.
