Unsatisfied with the Wizards' work, the Valar send another Istar to Middle-earth, Nerwen the Green, with the specific task to find the Ents, apparently vanished form the face of the world. During her mission, Nerwen will meet old friends and acquain...
(This chapter has not yet been edited, pls forgive mistakes and oddities)
Chapter XX: In Galadriel's Garden
At night, after dinner – that again Nives had in the company of the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim and their grandsons and granddaughter, as they would do throughout her stay in Lothlórien – like in all the Elven courts there were entertainments: music, poetry, dances. Galadriel wanted Nerwen sitting by her side, and so the two old friends enjoyed the performances together.
At a certain point in the evening, Galadriel bent over to Nerwen and told her under her breath:
"Elrond sent word of your search: tomorrow morning, after breakfast, let's go in my garden and we'll talk about it."
"Excellent," Nerwen answered, "We have much to tell each other, too, besides my mission..." she added smiling.
"Indeed," Galadriel confirmed, returning her smile, "Two full eras of events..."
OOO
The following morning, after a large breakfast as was the habit of the Galadhrim, Nerwen followed Galadriel to her garden, which was located in the southeast section of the city of trees, close to the protective walls. To reach it, they crossed a high hedge and then descended a flight of stairs, beside which a water rivulet trickled merrily; at the centre of the small circular space harbouring the garden, a pedestal of white stone, exquisitely sculptured in the shape of a leafy tree, held a low basin of shiny silver. Leaning against the rocky wall at the end of the staircase, stood a small building in the shape of a tiny house, of the same stone as the pedestal and equally decorated
Galadriel took off her shoes – she had always liked walking barefoot on the grass – and sat down on the edge of a low and wide wooden step, relaxing into a rare informal pose; but she was too familiar with Nerwen to feel forced keeping, with no real need, her dignity as a High Elf and Lady of the Galadhrim; with her old friend, she felt free to be simply Galadriel.
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Nerwen sat beside her, equally relaxed and at ease, and imitated Galadriel taking off her shoes.
"Coming to Lórien," she began, "I stopped at Rhosgobel: I hoped I'd find there Radagast, but instead of him, we found werewolves: they attacked us, and I don't know how would've happened if a Bear-Man living nearby, Beorn, had not intervened."
"Beorn the Skin-changer? I thought he was a legend!"
"Also in Rivendell they thought it, but he isn't. His race goes back to the first Men; they have always been small in numbers, and very private. After the First Age, we lost track of them: no wonder they ended up being considered a myth. Beorn knows Radagast well and, knowing about his absence, he was keeping an eye on his house; when he saw us, he thought there was no need to show up, but when the goer attacked us, during the night, he mustered a good number of his animal friends and intervened, allowing us to survive the fight almost unscathed."
