Of Futures Past (Legolas)

16

The next morning, Galadriel and Celeborn had already requested Alana's presence before she had even woken up, which was well past noon due to her exhaustion and injuries.

With help from the same maid as the previous day, Alana got dressed and made her way to her grandparents' throne room flet in the trees.

Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn were seated in their thrones, waiting with stern expressions on their faces. The maid left hurriedly after seeing Alana there.

"My child." Galadriel said in a softspoken, but powerful voice.

Alana hurried over to her, wrapping each of them in a swift hug. As Alana pulled away from the Lady of Light, Galadriel grabbed her hand and spread it, palm up.

For the first time, Alana noticed the white circular scar that remained from when she had grabbed the ring.

"You took the ring." Galadriel said.

Alana nodded. "It was unwise, but in the moment I had not thought."

"And it burned you. You feel no attraction to it?"

Alana shook her head. "It repulses me somehow, I have not thought of why."

"Even I feel the appeal of the One Ring. But then, you have never been fond of power, even to protect your loved ones. You see it only as a duty, not as a passion." Galadriel held her granddaughter's hand tenderly. "You have many flaws, but greed is not one of them."

Though it was a compliment, Alana felt no warmth from her words, just what felt like an acceptance of her fate.

"You have seen what will become of you should the Fellowship fail?" Galadriel wondered, her eyes grave.

Alana's face became equally somber. "Of course, many times. In many ways, I do not understand what he may want from me."

"Your gift is useful." Celeborn then pointed out. "And you have no ability to defeat him yourself, neither in your magical gifts nor your physical prowess. Especially due to your reactions to the ring, you could never wield it yourself and cast it into Mount Doom. It would burn through your skin long before you could reach it."

Any positivity that remained in Alana's face was quickly lost at her grandfather's words, the possibility of failure presenting a future that would destroy any sense of self she might have and any light in the world. She took a shaky breath, looking at her grandfather with tears in her eyes. "The future frightens me. He frightens me."

The leaders of Lothlorien each wrapped an arm around their grandchild, pain evident in their eyes.

"I am sorry, dear one. If I did not know it not to be your fate, I would send you West with our kin." Galadriel expressed with an uncharacteristic waver in her voice.

Alana's eyes flashed indignantly. "No! I could never run away when I know the role I may play yet! It is my duty to protect as many as I can."

Celeborn chuckled sadly, his wife's smile echoing the same sentiment. "We know that very well. It is as you have always been, and you have proven it once more when you arrived with two arrows piercing you."

Alana choked out a laugh. "Sometimes, I wish I did not have my gift. When I have foreseen something terrible, even knowing I cannot prevent it, it always feels as though I have been complacent in evil and it might hurt less had I not known."

Galadriel rubbed Alana's back soothingly. "I know, dear one. I wish I could take your pain."

Letting a tear fall, Alana wrapped her arms tighter around her grandmother. "I see deaths that I cannot prevent, and I see deaths that were avoided, and they all haunt me. I know if I were to be given the choice, I would never give it up for this responsibility has been given to me and I cannot abandon my duty, but it hurts me so!"

Alana sobbed into Galadriel's dress, staining it with tears. 

"Were it not such dark times, your gift would not be such a burden. But you are strong, and you must have hope in the Fellowship, for they have strength of will yet." Galadriel soothed, brushing her hand through Alana's golden locks, only slightly darker than her own.

For some time, Alana sobbed into Galadriel's lap, comforted by both her grandparents lovingly.

After she had calmed down, she and her grandparents retreated to her personal flet and shared some afternoon tea, talking about the news of Lothlorien since Alana's departure a century previous and of Alana's own adventures, though through it all, the occasional tear continued to slip down the half-elf's cheeks.

"In happier times, I would be congratulating you on finally opening yourself up to someone, but it is overshadowed by darker news." Galadriel commented between sips of tea.

Celeborn looked at her confusedly.

"She and the Prince Legolas share affections." Galadriel explained, before turning back to Alana, who was sitting in shock. "I am glad you have stopped your stubbornness and have grasped a chance at happiness after the war. I am only sad I will not attend your wedding."

Alana bowed her head. Though in another situation she might've blushed at the blunt admission of her affection for the elf prince, the mood was too somber for being flustered. "I know, you will return to Valinor."

A wave of loneliness then washed over Alana, for she realized after the war she would have no parents left, for her father had abandoned her mother before her birth, her mother was dead, Gandalf was gone, and her grandparents would soon part too. Alana was truly young for an elf, and did not feel prepared for the lack of support.

Galadriel smiled bittersweetly. "You will never be alone, my dear one. Your Fellowship will remain loyal to you, and you will have others too. Do not forget, I also possess the gift of foresight, even if not as specific as yours."

That reassured Alana more than she'd expected and she visualized the future after their success, witnessing Aragorn's crowning and wedding to Arwen, where she would be attending along with many friends, some of whom she did not yet recognize, but she was happy, and danced and laughed often. The vision disappeared with an alternate taking its place, her friends all dead on a battlefield and herself in chains, dressed in rags with bruises and cuts and a dangerous figure holding her chin roughly in his hand while she could do nothing to fight. 

Witnessing her granddaughter's look of horror, Galadriel took her hand. "Dear one, that future may not come to pass. Do not forget your faith in your company."

Celeborn then noted the darkness growing outside. "The hour is late. You should rest soon, my child, and return to the healers."

Alana nodded nervously, with Galadriel hugging her tightly once more. "I love you, Alana."

"I love you too, Grandmother."

Celeborn cradled Alana's face in his hands to make her look at him. "It would do you well to visit your Fellowship before you return, else you may worry for them. This is no time for fear, nor is it time for loneliness. You are safe here." With that, Celeborn tenderly kissed her forehead and said, "I love you."

"Thank you, Grandfather. I love you too." Alana smiled weakly at both of them. "Goodnight."

The Lord and Lady echoed her farewell and watched with tender, but worried, eyes as she limped down to the ground level.