A Quiet Stroll {Galadriel}

[kirsten]

The sun above the tree tops trickling down the warm rays through the leaves and branches gently scattering out across the floors green floors of Lothlorien, a realm beautiful on its own, her home and the only home she had known and though she had travelled many times before Lothlorien was the one place that made her smile from its beauty and the welcoming aura that was grasped around it. The air so thin and fresh, the songs that filled the forest, the animals that would scamper across, not only was it home to many, nor beautiful but it was safe and possibly the safest place in middle earth. It pained her to know one day this beautiful city would be abandoned and would fall to ruins leaving nothing but the trees which in turn would eventually die before being reborn unless their lands were destroyed which brought fear to her heart to think such destruction to such beauty would happen, thoughts alone that made her want to remain even after everyone was long gone to protect what still needed to be protected.

Her feet moved swiftly under her, brushing over the leaves beneath her, her dress dragging across the ground did not seem to move a single thing though glowed but a little under the light from above. Her silver hair falling down her back, wavy as ever, the sides brought up weaving in and out of her silver crown before the strands of hair joined at the back and circled one another gracefully falling with the rest of her hair. The golden dress hugged her form gentle and soft. The light almost clear sleeves shaded her shoulders and though tight at first around her upper arms it started to flow out by the elbow and soon fell down meeting the rest of the dress beneath while the dress itself hugged at her chest in a delicate way the fabric slightly layered over one another past the hips to fall down across her legs and trail out behind her. A leaf of Lothlorien not only carved into her silver grown but gently rested on her dress seeming to act as a pendant keeping the layers of fabric in place.

It was only when she stopped at the top stairs of the silver tree taller than the rest did she wait ever so patiently admiring the view and the flowers that bound it’s way around the pillars and the tree itself and only when the slightest change in the wind happened did she turn around and smile at the woman by the stairs before her. Her head bowed ever so slightly in respect for the woman before her, she was older and far wiser than Tári was “The flowers are blooming beautifully this time of year” she spoke as her eyes flickered to the flowers and back to the woman before her, a family member from afar but not via blood. “I thought we might take the rivers path today, the trail is much calmer than the rest” of course she loved the river’s trail, the blue water, the way the light trailed across its surface and the small ripples that would break the surface from the silver fish that laid beneath it’s cool top.

[galadriel]

The day was lovely as Galadriel prepared herself for her walk. She loved her small, safe, beautiful kingdom of Lothlorien. Especially here, at its heart, her city, the Galadhrim. But it was her magic that kept it safe. or to be more precise the magic of her Ring. Nenya was invisible to anyone but a Ringbearer. Not many elves could see it. Some would catch glimpses, but rarely was it seen in full view. A Ring of Power was a heavy burden. And not one she could share. But years of practice made it seem as if she hardly noticed. But that was not true. Its weight was not physical, it was mental, emotional. She hid a darkness deep in herself, a darkness she worked hard to keep concealed.

But enough of those thoughts. She shook her head slightly and ran her gilded hairbrush through her long golden locks. She ran the fingers of her other hand through the silky strands and sighed softly. Many admired her hair. Even she was vain enough to admire it. She loved taking care of it. Washing and brushing and styling, or simply running her fingers through it. She set her simplest silver tiara upon her head and smoothed down her intricately embroidered white dress. It was a warm day so she left off her silvery white cloak and hood. She put the brush back on her ornately carved vanity table, and checked her appearance in her mirror one last time. Then she stood, readjusted her dress once more and headed out.

Once outside she smiled as she saw the young elf she considered her niece. The girl was her husband Celeborn's great-niece, and a high-ranking lady of Lothlorien. She was also one of Galadriel's closest friends. The two shared a love of the forest and often went walking together. Galadriel had provided the girl advice on many occasions and was glad the girl looked up to her and felt comfortable talking to her. She smiled kindly at the girl and nodded her regal head.

"Yes, they are indeed beautiful," She replied, looking out at the flowers mentioned by Tari, then looked back at the girl, "I do like the river path," She continued. She then held her hand out to the younger elf.

[kirsten]

There was an air about Galadriel that made everything seem ok, like all problems in the world were a thousand miles away and no harm could come to you when you were in her presence. She was both beautiful and powerful and one day Tári hope she would have such an effect on people also though she had much still to learn despite her age. To see the flowers bloom and glow brought a smile to Tári’s face, her eyes lit up in their beauty as she turned her gaze once more to the wise elf before her. “Yes I know and it’s sure to be lovely today” she added they might even be lucky enough to see some wild horses and other animals pondering their way through the forest.

Tári walked over towards Galadriel with grace in her step, what elf did not have such an affect when they walked. Her hand moved out from under her sleeve, the fabric falling down and out of the way as she took a hold of Galadriel’s hand, larger than her own, even standing beside the woman she felt small though she knew she was no small elf Galadriel was a tall woman compared to everyone else. “How is Celeborn, I have not heard word from him in many days?” she questioned Galadriel as she had not heard from her Great Uncle in what seemed like many days indeed. She was worried, not for his health, no there was no need to worry about such things like that with elves, she was concerned about what war was doing to him and what could bring. She hoped that he had caught word of the Fellowship of their wear a bout’s as she had not heard anything about their location in such a long time and was deeply worried for them. The fate of the world rested on their shoulders, if they failed everything was lost.

Her thoughts drifted to Mithrandir, the oldest person she had ever met and though he was wise she could not help but wonder how far he would go to protect the ring bearer and the rest of the party. She was also concerned for Legolas, a fellow elf and a dear friend of hers despite his somewhat childish nature at times. To hear of their loss would pain her greatly. But she could not let such thoughts get in her way, not today. Today she was in the company of Galadriel, a woman she admired, someone she would follow and listen to, someone who she learnt from and was one of her dearest friends in this world, when the day would come for Galadriel to leave these lands she would mourn the loss of one so great but only to celebrate in the joy of seeing her once again.

As they made their way to the path she smiled a little at her thoughts, for now she had much to celebrate, those around her and the safety of her people, while she would help the others when needed and though still saddened by her father’s leave from this realm already she had many friends here to celebrate life with and had cause to fight. She had fought in wars before and she would gladly step forwards to do so again if it would help but one person in the world. “Have you heard word on the Fellowship?” she asked. Galadriel was someone she knew, she had unique powers and amazing abilities, if anyone was to know about the Fellowship when no other did, she’d assume it was Galadriel.

[galadriel]

Galadriel watched the younger elf as they spoke. She could see that this beautiful elven girl would one day become a wise elven lady, whether she chose to stay in Middle Earth or went to Valinor. She could see that Tari was curious, and inquistitive. Galadriel hoped these traits wouldn't get her into too much trouble later in life. She watched the young elf's face light up at the beauty around her and couldn't help being reminded of her own daughter, Celebrian, who had long since left Middle Earth to return to the Valinor. And she was even reminded of her granddaughter, Arwen, who's beauty threatened to rival even her own.

"My husband is worried," Galadriel told her niece with a sigh, "The Ring is approaching Lothlorien, and he does not want such a thing within our borders." She continued. Galadriel had seen in her Mirror that the Ring would indeed pass into Lothlorien, and as much as Celeborn was against it, she could not turn away a fellow ringbearer, especially when he was in need of her assistance. She did not mention this part to Tari, not wanting to worry the younger elf too much. Tari had no need to be part of this war, and Galadriel wanted to shield her from the pain any further knowledge might cause her.

A wary smile lit her face as Tari asked of the Fellowship anyway. Perhaps she could not shield the young from everything. She sighed once more, bowing her golden head.

"The Fellowship is on its way. I have seen it in my Mirror. They have traveled long and far and are in desperate need of our aid." Galadriel also guessed that Tari was concerned for Legolas, the Elven Prince of the Woodland Realms, and known to be a friend of hers. She gave Tari a soft smile. "Our kinsman, Legolas, is still with them, and you will see him soon, though you may find him different than you remember him, loss and the hardship of accompanying the ringbearer have been hard on him." The journey of the Fellowship would leave each of its members changed, even this early in the journey. Galadriel was very concerned for them all, and would provide whatever assistance they might require.