▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 ━︎━︎ 𝐋𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 pace. Nightfall would be upon them soon which meant Orcs would began to swarm the lands. They entered the forests of Lothlorien and Ellaria couldn't help the small smile that graced her face at the familiar woods. She'd visited them more times than she could count. She could hear Gimli mumbling to the Hobbits about the dangers of the woods, how there was a great elf-witch that lived her. But he wouldn't fall under her spell, no he wouldn't. He was sure of it.

     "I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox." Gimli claimed only to stop when he came face to face with an arrow pointing at him. "Oh!"

     They were surrounded by Elves pointing arrows at them. Aragorn held up a hand, telling them to not panic. "The Dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark." Haldir stepped forwards.

     Ellaria smiled, raising a brow as she moved to make herself known. "Is this how you treat all your guest, Haldir?"

     Haldir instantly held up a hand and his men lowered their bows. He bowed. "Princess Ellaria." She bowed her head in return. He led them deeper into Lothlorien, bringing them upon a stone walk away and stopping them. He turned to Legolas. "Welcome Legolas, son of Thranduil."

     "Our fellowship stands in your debt," Legolas replied.

     Haldir turned his head to Aragorn. "Ah, Aragorn of the Dunedain. . . you are known to us." Aragorn nodded his head.

     "So much for the legendary courtesy of Elves!" Gimli scoffed. "Speak words we can all understand!"

     Haldir turned to him. "We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days."

     "And you know what this Dwarf says to that?" He began speaking in Dwarvish, his words all rude.

     Aragorn closed his eyes before turning and placing a hand on Gimli's chest. "That was not so courteous."

     Haldir walked past them, stopping when he saw Frodo, his face falling. "You bring great evil with you. You can go no further."

     "Haldir." Ellaria quickly called, moving forwards and following the general. He turned to her, the two of them standing off to the side. "Please. You must let us through. Galadriel will understand. She knows what we've been set out to do. Bring her to us. I can prove it."

     "I cannot let that evil any further into these lands and you know it, Ellaria."

     "Please," Ellaria begged. "If I call for her, she will come. You know this. We both do. Galadriel has never been one to turn away from family. We will not stay long. Only for a night. We need to clean ourselves up. We have. . . we have faced a great loss. Please. I do not want to pull authority here, but I will if I have to."

     Haldir stared at her for a moment before he finally sighed. "Fine." She grabbed his hand in thanks before he walked over to the others. "You will follow me." He led them through the woods before coming to a stop on top of a hill. He had a smile on his face as he stared at the sight before him. "Caras Galadhon. The heart of Elvendom on Earth. Realm of the Lord Celebron and of Galadriel, Lady of Light." The entered the forest the Kingdom was hidden in, walking up a spiral staircase that was circling a tree before they came to a stop. They were led to the main castle, stopping in front of the stairs.

     Galadriel and Celebron appeared, making their way down the stairs hand in hand. When they came to a stop, Celebron talked first. "The enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is gone. Nine there are here, yet ten there were set out of Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him. I can no longer see him from afar."

     "Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land." Galadriel said, her voice as soft and smooth as silk. "He has fallen into shadow."

     "He was taken by both shadow and flame." Legolas answered. "A Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria."

     "Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We not yet know his full purpose." Galadriel looked at Gimli, sensing the grief hanging in the air. "Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dum fill your heart, Gimli, son of Gloin, for the world has grown full of peril. . . and in all lands, love is now mingled with grief." She looked at Boromir, watching him as he tried to hold back his tears but failed.

     "What now becomes of this Fellowship?" Celebron asked. "Without Gandalf, hope is lost."

     "The quest stands upon the edge of a knife." Galadriel answered. "Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. 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." Her eyes turned to Ellaria. "Ellaria, come."

     As the others were led to their sleeping area, Ellaria sat in the castle with Galadriel and Celebron. She had a glass of wine in her hands, but she did not touch it. Galadriel looked at her. "How are you, my child?"

     Ellaria looked at her. "I just saw my oldest friend die, how do you think I am?"

      "Ellaria," Celebron warned.

     "I'm sorry. It's just hard to cope. I hadn't expected to face grief again so soon."

      "But you knew it would come." Galadriel softly said, placing a hand over top of Ellaria's. Ellaria nodded. "Bathe yourself and then rest. You will need it." She smiled at Ellaria, placing a gentle hand on her cheek. Ellaria placed her hand over Galadriel's before standing and leaving the table. She washed herself, changing into a soft light blue night gown. She was not to sleep in the same quarters as the others, her grandparents simply wouldn't allow it, Celebron claiming there were too many Men. Ellaria had chuckled at that.

Once she was cleaned and dressed, she made her way outside, pausing to listen to the lament that was being sung for Gandalf. Her heart grew heavy and she descended the stairs, coming across a small bridge and stopping. She laid her hands on the railing, staring up at the stars. A presence joined her, but she didn't turn her head. A tear trickled down her cheek as she listened to the lament and stared at the stars.

     "How are you, Princess?" Haldir's voice filled her ears. He was her closest friend in Lothlorien. They'd shared many stories and adventures together.

     "I wish people would stop asking me that." Ellaria softly whispered.

     "Would you like to go for a walk, get your mind off of it?" Haldir asked.

Ellaria pulled her gaze to him and nodded. He held out his arm and she took it, letting him lead her. She wiped away her tears and listened to him as he quietly talked, reminding her of memories from their time a young Elves. He'd even mentioned the one time she had pushed him into the lake because she was mad at him and that made her laugh.

     Her laugh was contagious, Legolas could hear it from miles away. He turned his head, spotting her as she walked arm in arm with Haldir. His eyes narrowed and an amused chuckle came from behind him. He turned his head to look at Aragorn who had watched him with amusement. "Is that jealousy on your face, Legolas?"

     "I do not know the meaning of the word." Legolas replied.

     Aragorn placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ellaria and the general are simply friends, Legolas. They have been since she was young."

     "How would you know?"

     "Because she told me." Aragorn smiled. "Though, he did take a liking to her." Legolas looked at him. "Nothing to worry about, my friend." He gave him a pat on the shoulder before walking away.

     Haldir led Ellaria back to the castle, stopping at the front entrance. "This is where I leave you."

     Ellaria smiled at him before wrapping her arms around him. "You are a true friend, Haldir."

     Haldir hugged her back. "Always. Whenever you need me, I'll be there."

     Ellaria pulled away, smiling and nodding her head. "I'll hold you to that." She turned and made her way into her grandparents home, going to the room she'd stayed in whenever she came to visit. She laid down, forcing the grief from her mind and closing her eyes as she let herself fall asleep.

     When she awoke the next morning, she found her clothes sitting on a chair, freshly cleaned. Her weapons were laying right beside them. Quickly she changed, strapping her weapons to her body for making her way outside. She found the others, greeting them with a nod. They all stood there, Lotlorien Elves each giving them a cloak of green with a leaf as the glasp. Celebron stood there amongst them. "Never before have we glad strangers in the garb of our own people. May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes."

     They were given boats and supplies. Ellaria turned her head, watching as her grandfather quietly talked to Aragorn. When he was done, Aragorn walked over and helped put the supplies on the boats. Ellaria stepped towards her grandfather and he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Be safe, Ellaria." He pressed a kiss to her forehead and she gave him a small smile to which he returned. She would not promise him that she would stay safe, they both knew there was no way to avoid the dangers heading straight for them, so instead she nodded silently.

     She turned, walking over to the boats. Legolas held out a hand for her and she grabbed it, stepping onto the boat and situating herself before they were off. Before they had left, Galadriel had given them all gifts. Ellaria held the hilt of her grandmother's sword, a sad smile pulling to her lips with the promise of seeing it returned. She glanced around her second home, wishing they could stay longer, but she knew they couldn't. There were greater dealings at hand than the wish to be home.

     "I have taken my worst wound at this parting, having looked my last upon that which is fairest." Gimli said, bringing Ellaria from her thoughts. Gimli, Legolas, and Ellaria accompanied one boat. Frodo, Aragorn, and Sam on another, with Boromir, Pippin, and Merry on the last. "Henceforth I will call nothing fair unless it be her gift to me."

     Legolas smiled, amused. "What was her gift?"

     "I asked for one hair from her golden hair. She gave me three."

      "Having her own flesh and blood accompanying you was not enough to satisfy?" Ellaria joked. "Gimli, have you a crush on my grandmother?" Gimli instantly began spluttering nonsense and Ellaria softly chuckled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Relax, it was only a joke." Gimli glared at her and Ellaria only smiled in response.