The Edge of Night

The Lady of Light

Elvish
Dwarvish

They allow them a few hours of rest and Elfwyn's able to fall into a deep sleep rather quickly. In her dreams, she walks amongst the Golden Wood, behind a woman, elf by the points of her ears, with golden hair, almost ablaze in the light that trickles down through the trees. All around, life is in bloom. Flowers and animals of all sorts bound through the brush and a creek sings softly as it travels westward towards one of the great rivers. Laughter breaks through the trees behind them and when Elfwyn turns, she sees a small elfling come running towards them. This she-elf laughs and falls to her knees as the child jumps at her. And as she looks over the child's shoulder, Haldir comes into view, a smile gracing his lips. As he reaches her, and encircles them both in a hug, she can't help but notice the circlet that sits upon the she-elf's brow, the delicately cut simbelmyne flowers adorning it are familiar to her.

She jolts awake, unsure of what she just witnessed. None of that made any sense. The circlet was hers. She had left it at home, in a locked box under a loose floorboard in her rooms. How had this elf gotten it? And what did Haldir have to do with any of this? As she looks around, Elfwyn notices that the rest of the fellowship is still asleep, but the very elf she dreamt of is wide awake, watching not only her company, but the border as well. "You should be resting." He notes, sparing her a side glance.

She nods. "And yet, my dreams seem determined to keep me awake."

"I imagine they have turned dark since you have set out from Rivendell." When she looks at him with a confused look on her face, he continues. "To be in such close proximity to the One Ring, I would be more surprised if your thoughts had not been turned by it."

"The Ring is evil. It's promises empty. And my dreams have not turned dark, just confusing. A taste of the future, though it does not appear to be mine."

"My apologies. I did not mean to insinuate."

She shakes her head, trying to clear all thoughts of the ring and it's wickedness, along with the dream, from her mind. "You have nothing to apologize for. It is I who should apologize. I have not rested well since Rivendell."

"I hope you find peace in the Golden Wood. Darkness does not yet have a foothold here." Their conversation comes to a stop as the first rays of sunrise start peeking through the leaves to the east and the others begin to stir.

They make their way deeper into Lothlorien as the sun rises into the sky, flooding the wood with a golden glow. She looks around in amazement as they travel on, taking in the beauty around her. They approach a hill and the climb is steep. Haldir turns around, offering her his hand, which she accepts and he pulls her to the top and they continue on, coming to a stop at a lookout. There, in the distance, is a collection of humongous trees. "Caras Galadhon. The heart of Elvendom on Earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, Lady of Light." Haldir explains.

The group makes it to the city as the sun starts it's descent towards the horizon. Paths, carved into the forest floor go off in many directions. It would not be hard for someone to get lost in here. Still, Haldir leads them on, through the maze, towards the very center of the kingdom. Up they climb around a spiral staircase towards the very tops of the trees. By the time they've reached the top, night has fallen and the forest is aglow with lanterns that appear as though they've captured the stars, their pale white light causing everything around it to look ethereal. 

Haldir brings them to a stop at the bottom of a staircase and they all huddle together, waiting for the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood to arrive. The room itself glows brighter when they enter, as if they themselves glow with the light of the stars as well. Just as she was in Rivendell, she is struck by the beauty of the elves. Elfwyn bows her head in respect when they come to a stop at the bottom of the stairs before them. "The enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone." Lord Celeborn says in way of greeting. "Nine there are here, yet ten there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him. I can no longer see him from afar."

She turns and watches as Aragorn makes eye contact with the Lady Galadriel and her eyes flood with pain, a pain that they had all been feeling since Moria. "Gandalf the Gray did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into Shadow."

Elfwyn looks down, attempting to keep herself from crying once more. "He was taken by both Shadow and Flame. A Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria." Legolas explains when no one else steps up to do so.

"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his full purpose." Galadriel looks out over them, and Elfwyn notices Gimli looks down in guilt. "Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dûm fill your heart, Gimli, son of Glóin, for the world has grown full of peril and in all lands, love is now mingled with grief."

She thinks of her own home, of the suffering that her people are dealing with there, and she can't help but feel helpless. With her father lost to them, and her brother and cousin fighting off packs of orcs daily, no one is present to protect them. "Do not lose yourself to grief and worry, Elfwyn of Rohan. Your people's suffering is known to us. In time, you will become all you are destined to be." She hears Galadriel's voice in her head and when she looks up in shock, the Lady of Light is staring at her.

"Forgive me, my Lady, for I cannot find the hope in what you speak." She says back, also in her head, looking back down. She lets it go for now, turning her attention to Boromir, who begins to sweat, moans of pain mixed with the sound of his heavy breathing before she finally looks away. Whatever she has told him has shaken him to his core.

"What now becomes of this Fellowship?" Lord Celeborn asks. "Without Gandalf, hope is lost."

"The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all." Wonderful, no pressure at all. She sees Galadriel smirk and her eyes widen when she realizes that she must have heard her. "Yet hope remains while the Company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. You shall remain here until you are ready to travel again." Galadriel says before dismissing them. She has one of her ladies take Elfwyn towards the bath house.

Once the Fellowship has left, Celeborn and Galadriel turn to Haldir. "How fares the border?"

"The orcs grow bolder each day. While we have had no casualties and minimal injuries, there is hardly a day that passes where we are not skirmishing either orcs that come up from the south, or from the west."

They nod but before Celeborn can order him back to the border, Galadriel interrupts with her own plan. "I wish for you to stay here in the city, just until our guests recover and continue on their quest. They will need a familiar face to show them around, get them acquainted with Lorien."

"Of course, my Lady." Haldir bows before walking from the room.

"What purpose do you have, keeping him here when our borders need protecting?" Celeborn asks. "What have you seen?"

"Many things. But Haldir's purpose in the city has not yet come to a close." She says mysteriously.

"Keep your secrets." Celeborn says with a smile. "I, as always, will trust your judgement."