Chapter 20: In Which Luna Looks into the Mirror
After a short rest until dusk had fallen, Haldir led the Company further into the Golden Wood. As they walked deeper and deeper into the forest, the mallorn-trees seemed to grow taller and thicker. Luna could not recall ever seeing trees of a greater height before. The golden leaves continued to shine with their soft glow, even though the sun was gone from their eyes. Soon, they reached a white stone path lit by silver lamps to guide their way and eventually a long and tall case of stone stairs, leading up to a great house that blended into the bark of the mallorn-trees. "Welcome to Caras Galadhon," Haldir called to them once they had reached another clearing, the stars glittering down upon them. "Here is the city of the Galadhrim where dwell the Lord Celeborn and Galadriel, the Lady of Lorien. It is their wish that you should ascend and speak with them. I will go first. Let Frodo come next and with him Legolas. The others may follow as they wish."
One of the Elven sentries that guarded the path brought a horn to his lips and blew a clear tone. An answer of three more tones came from the house at the top. Luna waited for Haldir, Frodo, and Legolas to ascend before she took a step forward. But Boromir grabbed her arm, pulling her to the back of their party. "Uneasy, I feel here," he said, his voice quivering slightly. "Not lightly do I make this request, but I know you will heed no command. Heed my pleas, instead. Luna, we must leave these woods as soon as possible. Speak little to these Elves. Do not trust them. When we have done what they bid of us, our company must part with haste. We cannot linger here."
"What has you frightened, so?" she asked, reaching to his face and moving a strand of his hair out of his gaze. "Why can you not trust me when I say no harm will come to us here?"
"You venture out from Gondor one time and suddenly you are so wise in the ways of the world? You trust your feelings and I must trust mine. This place will bring us no solitude. No rest. We must get Frodo out of here."
"We must get Frodo out?" Luna asked slowly. "Or do you mean the Ring he carries?"
With those words he dropped her arm and his gaze sunk to the ground, as if defeated by her words and she knew she guessed right. Boromir did not fear for their safety. He feared his plans for the Ring were unraveling before him. She saw beads of sweat drip down his face and the whites of his eyes were red and glassy. Something had to be done and she would speak of it to Aragorn as soon as their audience with Lothlorien's masters was finished.
She followed the rest of her party up the stairs, not looking back to see if Boromir followed her. When they neared the top, she heard a quiet but strong voice begin to welcome her companions by name. When they came into view, she found herself in a large, oval-shaped hall, which was canopied by the largest mallorn-tree she had yet encountered in the forest. All through the hall sat Elves clad in white, still and silent, taking in their new guests. Two stood from their chairs, greeting her party as they broke the tip of the staircase. Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. Celeborn stood tall over the companions, greeting them all with a small smile on his timeless face. Galadriel stood just a bit behind him, even taller and more striking. Her blue eyes surveyed them all as her husband greeted them. Luna noticed the Lady's eyes connect with all of her companions, taking them in one at a time. And when her eyes reached Luna's, they lingered there longer than the others.
"Luna of Dol Amroth," Celeborn greeted. "Long has it been since I welcomed a Man of the Sea into my home. Never before have I welcomed one as fair as you, child. You are welcome indeed, for you bring Ulmo's presence under our roof. A strong and mighty presence at that."
Luna wore no skirts, so she couldn't curtsy as her traditions would have demanded of her. Instead, she followed Gimli with a bow, though hers she gave more willingly than the Dwarf.
"Boromir, Son of Denathor," Celeborn greeted. Boromir was the last of their party to break the stairs and Luna noticed he did not meet Celeborn's eyes. But they did flash straight to Galadriel, who's gaze bore down on Boromir something fierce. Luna wondered if the rest of their party noticed the tension as Celeborn led him to a chair, but it didn't seem as if they had.
"Here there are nine," Celeborn continued, reaching his hand out to Galadriel and leading her to her seat before taking his own beside her. "Yet ten set out, or so said the messages. Maybe there has been some change in counsel since we last heard from Elrond, who is so far away."
"Nay, there was no change of counsel," Galadriel said, her voice much deeper than Luna had expected, yet clear and strong. "Gandalf the Grey set out with this company, yet he did not pass our borders. A grey mist is about him and the ways of his feet and mind are missing from me. Tell us where he is, for I much desire to speak with him again."
"Alas," Aragorn said, bowing his head. "Gandalf the Grey fell into shadow. He remained in Moria and did not escape."
At his words, the Elves in the hall all began to cry out. Most in grief for the news of this loss, but others in amazement, for how could Gandalf be gone?
"These are evil tidings," Celeborn said. "The most evil that has been spoken here in long years full of grievous deeds."
"It is clear by your path that Gandalf meant to lead you to our woods for aid and solitude." Galadriel said. "We will grant this to you all, for as long as your quest will allow it. We know of your mission, but we will not speak of it so openly here. I will not give you counsel, other than to say only this: Your quest stands on the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the company is true."
She paused, her deep blue eyes circling them all again. Luna noticed each of her companions could not hold the Lady's gaze for more than a few seconds. When her eyes met Luna's for a second time, they lingered and Luna held the gaze. Those eyes were like the ocean Luna knew so well, blue and deep and ancient, holding many secrets and legends. Memories that spanned hundreds, perhaps thousands of years, all seen through these eyes that seemed to pierce Luna's mind. And though she tried to hold the Lady's gaze, she found she couldn't and her eyes fell to the floor.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled," the Lady said, after a time and Luna brought her head back up. "Tonight you shall sleep in peace. We will not speak of your further road for a while. Go now. You are worn with sorrow and much toil."
It was their first night since leaving Rivendell they could all sleep at the same time without someone taking watch. Soft cushions had been laid out for them in a clearing beneath the mallorn-trees. As Luna began to unload her possessions, she noticed Boromir moving slowly, his back facing her, taking time to unbuckle his sword from his belt. He placed it gently on the ground beside his claimed cot and moved to his horn, pulling it from his back. Next, his shield, then his coat. He turned around and sat on the cot, removing his boots as slowly as the rest of his gear.
The Hobbits were chatting quietly beside her, but she couldn't pay them any mind. She was focused entirely on Boromir, whose face, now that she could see it, was somber, frustrated, and…sad. She desperately wanted to speak to him. Figure out how he had gone from weary, determined, and guarded, to this. Something had happened to him when he laid eyes on the Lady Galadriel.
"It was as if something in my mind told me I could go back," she heard Sam say. "Right back to my hole and my Old Gaffer and my garden. Like she was asking me what I would do, if she gave me the chance."
"That's funny," Merry said. "For similar thoughts came to my mind, except…well, never mind…" the Hobbits all looked startled, though not nearly as much as Eomer. Legolas seemed his usual self and Gimli was looking back at the staircase where they had left the Lord and Lady of the Wood longingly. Aragorn, for his part, insisted that this would be the best rest the company would have since Rivendell, which was enough encouragement for the Hobbits to curl into their cots. Boromir followed them, but Luna sat on hers upright, unsure of how sleep would find her.
"He will be alright," Legolas whispered, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You should worry more about yourself and get the rest you need."
"Rest will not find me while my friends are in these states. Why is everyone acting so strange?" she asked. "The Lady Galadriel was…intimidating, yes. But she offered us shelter and kindness. Yet half of our party seems as if bad omens have overtaken them."
Legolas reached to his back and pulled off his cloak, draping it over her shoulders. "If sleep will not find you while your thoughts are so muddled, then take a walk. No one here will stop you, but mind your path. If you lose your way, I don't think many here speak the common tongue to guide you back."
She nodded in thanks and stood, walking past the Elves that guarded them still. One nodded his head at her as she passed, but did not stop her. She left her gear behind, including her bow and arrows, but she did not feel unsafe here as Boromir did. Indeed, like Aragorn, she felt more at ease here than she had in weeks. Yet, she could not sway the feeling that something was amiss and she wouldn't find sleep until she could solve the mystery.
She passed many Elves as she walked through the Wood, taking care to remember the path she had taken to get her here, as Legolas had said. The Elves paid her no mind, either, even as she looked upon their fair faces. And she recognized none until she laid eyes on the tallest Elf in the Wood once more. Galadriel's golden hair was now covered by a lace veil and she walked amongst her kinsfolk, earning a small bow of the head from all she passed, with a purpose and Luna felt she had to follow.
If Galadriel knew Luna was following her, she put up no protest or complaint. She never looked back at the human girl as she weaved her way through the trees and the clearings, down a path deeper and deeper into Lothlorien. Soon enough, the number of Elves around them dwindled until it was just the two of them on this path through the Lady's forest. Eventually, they reached a hedge Galadriel swiftly walked around and into a clearing. Luna followed until she could peek around the edge of the shrubbery. The clearing opened completely into the night sky, the moon shining down its silver light, casting long shadows all around.
The lady stood above a small basin in the center of the clearing, her eyes closed and her hand hovering above it. When she opened her eyes, she saw Luna, but did not seem surprised by her presence."What is it?" Luna asked as Galadriel walked over to a gentle fall of water. A pitcher sat there, which she began to fill.
"A mirror," she said simply.
"And what does it do?"
"One looks into it."
"It can't be that simple."
Galadriel gave a small grin. "The mirror shows many things. Things that were, things that are, and some things that have not yet come to pass." She took her filled jug and poured the water into the basin.
"A…a magic mirror?" Luna said. She had a small memory leap into her head. A large, ornate mirror hanging from a wall, a face looking out from it, but it was not a reflection. It was just a face, no body, floating in the center of the glass. She shook her head and focused back on Galadriel and the basin.
Galadriel's grin continued. "Magic, yes, in a pure form. Do you wish to look into the mirror?"
Luna took a step forward, then stopped. "No. No thank you."
"May I ask why?"
"I don't think I'll like whatever I might see."
"How pessimistic. For one who seeks answers of their past, this is the perfect tool. I cannot see the lands from where you hail. They are too far away. This could help you gain those answers."
Luna took several steps back this time. "How do you know about that?"
"The minds of your companions, like most others who cross through my realm, are not so hard to read. Boromir told me of it, though he is not aware of this."
Luna paused briefly, considering her harsh thoughts, but she decided to say them anyway. "You frighten him."
"He has frightening thoughts."
They stood for a minute, looking straight into each other's eyes. The longer they looked, the more Luna noticed Galadriel's eyes starting to squint at her, as if she were deep in concentration.
"You said the minds of my companions were open to you," Luna said, breaking Galadriel's focus. "But you had to learn of my past from Boromir and not me?"
"As I said, most minds tell me their secrets. Yours however…" she squinted at Luna again but she did not continue for long. "It is rare I meet a being whose mind is so closed to me. I needed to know why that was."
"And? Did you figure it out?"
She gestured at the basin and took a step back, leaving Luna's question unanswered. Luna did not intend to move, but the lady gestured again and she found herself pulled towards the mirror, her curiosity finally outweighing her cautiousness.
She leaned over the basin and was met with her own reflection. Her blue eyes shone bright in the moonlight as she looked deep into the water. Then, the image began to change. Luna saw gentle waves on a grainy, dirty beach. A steep and sandy ridge led down to the water and pieces of colorful, yet dirty paper littered here and there all around. The sky was clear, but for the occasional flock of birds, but not seagulls she had grown to expect near water. Hawks, pigeons, and ospreys were what flew through these skies. A rusted metal sign labeled the location as Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. There were only a few people scattered here and there, all dressed in strange clothing. But Luna's eyes were immediately drawn to a little girl with long, silver hair.
The child was running in and out of the water, her purple shirt and blue trousers speckled with water and her face full of laughter. She was carrying a red, flimsy looking shovel. A woman stood with her. She was blonde like the girl, but her hair was cut short and tapered. She was tall and wore dark spectacles over her eyes and trousers that had no legs, but Luna focused immediately on her hands. Her long nails were painted light blue, matching the clear sky around her. Her bare feet exposed her painted toe nails, but these were yellow like daffodils.
It was her mother.
The woman gave a sharp turn towards the ridge up the beachline. She waved to a man who was calling out to the two of them. He held a small black box of some kind and was poking at it with his finger, but he soon stopped and pulled the black box up to his ear and began talking to it. It didn't take Luna long to realize that this was her father.
Her mother began jogging up the ridge to Luna's father, who continued to speak into the little box, leaving the little girl alone at the edge of the water. Luna's father turned around as he spoke, his back now to the water, just as her mother's was as she climbed the ridge. The little girl walked into the water, this time to her knees, getting the hem of her trousers wet. She splashed at the water with her red shovel, but soon, her tiny fingers lost their grip and the shovel floated out with the small yet strong waves. The little girl went deeper into the water after her shovel, but soon lost her footing in a rip current. She was pulled further out and could no longer reach the bottom. She flailed in the water as it pulled her further and further out. She tried to scream, but her mouth was full of water. Luna looked back at her parents. Her father's back was still turned, her mother still climbed the ridge. None of the strangers on the beach noticed. Her mother finally reached the top of the ridge and looked back at the little girl, but it was too late.
Luna registered the look of horror on her mother's face as she took off, running at full speed back down the ridge, but the woman tripped and grabbed at her ankle in pain. Her father dropped his small box and pulled his shirt off as he too ran towards the water. The rip current had now pulled the little girl deep into the water and her body soon went limp as it was carried further and further out, the waves growing in strength.
Luna pulled her eyes from the mirror and fell to the ground, her fingers clutching at her hair. She barely registered that tears were streaming down her face as her body shook uncontrollably.
"What did you see, child?" Galadriel said, kneeling down to her and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"I-I died," Luna gasped. "Drowned in the water."
"And Ulmo saved you," Galadriel said. "It is rare to find Men blessed by the Valar, but not unheard of. For reasons that will likely never be clear to you or I, Ulmo chose to save you and bring you here."
Luna continued to shake and shiver after what she saw and Galadriel sat with her until she caught her breath and steadied herself. She noticed the moon was not so high now. Dawn would approach soon. "Your Guardsman said something to me as we passed over the Celebrant," she said, slowly. "That I was sure-footed above the rough water. He could sense Ulmo in my spirit."
"Aye, he sensed correctly. Haldir is wise, beyond that of even his age." The Lady stood and offered a hand to Luna, helping her rise as well. "Walk with me, child. I will take you back to your companions."
Their path back to the campsite was no longer littered with Elves going about their evening, for it seemed all had gone to bed. In some distance, however, Luna could hear the soft melody of singing over the Golden Wood. Though she knew not the tongue of the Elves, she knew it was meant as a lament for her fallen companion and thoughts of the old Wizard entered her mind. "Before we departed Rivendell, I asked Gandalf about destiny. Whether he believed someone's path…my path…could be pre-determined, somehow."
"And what did he tell you?" Galadriel asked.
Luna grinned, despite herself. "Not much, or so I thought at the time. Now I'm starting to think he wanted me to forge my own path, not the paths others have tried to force me down my whole life."
"Ulmo forges no paths for you, child. He is the Ruler of the Tides. King of the Sea. Lord of the Waters. To bear His blessing does not mean you are expected to wield power or change the course of fate. It simply means He found a life worth saving. Repay him by living that life, however you decide."
They reached the campsite and Luna's companions were all asleep, even Boromir. "This is where I leave you. Our paths will not cross again until your departure. Rest, as your companions have. I hope I have helped you, Luna, Daughter of Callum, in whatever way I could."