After the Fall

As we walked out of the dark and gloomy Moria, the air felt slightly lighter, but we were still deeply affected by Gandalf's loss. His absence was like an unhealable wound, and the Fellowship was sad and quiet. Even the usually chatty and cheerful hobbits were moving in silence, with Frodo and Sam weighed down by the hardships of their journey. Frodo's hopeful eyes now showed the heavy burden he carried, and Sam, who was always optimistic, walked in grief. Not that I blamed them.

The terrain gradually began to change as we drew closer to the forest. The jagged rocks and harsh stone gave way to softer earth, patches of grass, and the beginnings of dense, towering trees. The air was thick with magicka, unlike the mines, almost as if the forest itself was alive and breathing. My senses, attuned to the natural world through my training in gathering magika.

It was then that I noticed something extraordinary. The trees ahead, their trunks, began to sway ever so slightly, their branches moving in a way that was not dictated by the wind. They seemed to part just enough to create a clear path for our group, guiding us deeper into the woods. It was as if the forest was making the walk easier for us.

 As a druid, training to be a Green Lady, my power came from the ancient magic of the Bosmer. I couldn't wrap my head around how it could be recognized in a place so different from my own. I decided to leave that mystery for later and just be grateful for the subtle guidance of the forest as we ventured further into its embrace.

 I wanted to comfort them, to say something that would ease their pain, but the words wouldn't come. I wasn't good at dealing with other's emotions, So I kept silent as we walked and the awkwardness only grew bigger. We were all grieving in our own way.

As we ventured deeper into the forest, the air thickened with the scent of leaves and earth, The forest seemed to close in around us, the trees growing denser, their branches intertwining overhead to create a canopy that filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns on the forest floor. 

It was then that the atmosphere shifted once more. A stillness fell over the forest, I felt it before I saw it, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. We weren't alone.

Before I could voice my concern, the Elves appeared, almost as if they had materialized from the very trees themselves. Their bows were drawn, arrows notched, each one aimed at us. The Elves were clad in shades of green and brown, blending seamlessly with the forest around them. And given we were upwind I couldn't even smell them.

The Fellowship halted immediately, surprise and tension palpable in the air. Aragorn stepped forward, his hands raised in a gesture of peace, and spoke softly in their tongue, the words flowing from his lips like water over stones.

"Mae govannen, mellyn nin. I vennyn aníron thlîn nef bâr."

(Well met, my friends. We seek passage through your land.)

One of the Elves, taller than the rest, stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over our group with a discerning eye. He said nothing at first, simply observing, as if weighing our worth. Then, with a slight nod, he lowered his bow. The others followed suit, though their watchful eyes never left us.

"You come bearing darkness, but The Lady knows you waits for you, come" He stated more like an order than a request.

Without another word, the Elves began to lead us deeper into the forest. The hobbits followed, their earlier sadness replaced by a mix of curiosity and worry. I trailed behind, my thoughts were on the looming encounter with the Lady of Light. The journey through the woods continued.

We moved in silence, the only sounds were the soft rustle of leaves and the occasional creak of a branch. The path wound deeper into the heart of the forest, and the light grew dimmer, filtered through the thick canopy above as night was coming. 

It was in this quiet I finally allowed myself to reflect on the journey so far. The weight of Gandalf's loss and How i had again failed at saving someone close to me. Not that Gandolf and I were that close but it still sucked that he was gone temporally.

As we ventured deeper, the Elves spoke quietly among themselves.

"Man mathach?" one Elf asked, his voice barely above a whisper. (What do you think?)

"Estelio ammen," another responded. (Trust in us.)

Their conversation was brief, They knew why we were here, what we sought, and the dangers that pursued us. There was a sense of urgency in their movements as they're steps quickened.

Finally, the lead Elf turned to Aragorn, his expression softening slightly. "I vennyn na thlîn nef bar," he said, his voice carrying a note of finality. (The Lady awaits your arrival.)

Aragorn nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He turned to us, his face set in determination. "Be at easy," he said simply.

 As we approached the heart of the Elven kingdom, the trees parted, revealing the ethereal beauty of Caras Galadhon, the city of trees. Damn, would this be, what the home of the Bosmer would be like? Luminous structures shimmered among the branches, a breathtaking sight as we climbed up the steps.

Upon reaching the great hall, we were greeted by the regal presence of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, who stood and welcomed us into it. Celeborn's gaze was penetrating yet kind. Beside him, Galadriel's beauty was otherworldly, it was kind of scary.

Celeborn first addressed the group, his voice resonant and clear. The enemy knows you have entered here, what hope you had in secrecy is now gone."

He looked us over before speaking again. "Nine there are here, yet Ten set from Rivendell ." His tone held no accusation, "Tell me where is Gandolf for I much desire to speak with him. I can no longer see him from afar."

"Gandolf they grey did not past the boards of this land. He has fallen to shadow" Lady Galadriel said causing me to look shamefully away.

"He was taken by both shadow and flame" Legolas confirmed. " A balrog of Margoth."

"needless were none of the deeds Gandolf did in life, we do not yet know his full reason for being." lady Galadriel turned to look at Gimli. Like in the movie she addressed each member.

"What now becomes of this Fellowship without Gandolf is lost"

"The quest stands upon the edge of a knife, stray but a little and it will fail to ruin of all." Her eyes lingered on Boromir and then me, "Yet hope remains while the company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest" 

Then, Galadriel's gaze finally fell upon me, it lingered longer than it had on the others. I felt a strange sensation, as though she were not merely looking at me but into me, searching for something. And then, without warning, her voice echoed in my mind.

"You are not as you seem, Ellehish of Tamriel. There is a power within you, a duality that is unfamiliar to this world. What is it that you hide?"

As I was about to think of something to say, I felt a sudden, forceful push from within my mind. Aruzhan, With a strength that surprised even me, she forcibly expelled Lady Galadriel from our shared mind.

In that moment, Lady Galadriel's composed expression faltered, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. It was a brief, almost imperceptible change, but I caught it.

"It is not your place to intrude upon our thoughts, Lady Galadriel," Aruzhan's voice echoed within the confines of our mind, though I knew Galadriel could hear it as well. Her tone was regal, and controlled, yet edged with a subtle warning. "You are a queen of your people, and I respect that. But you would do well to remember that some doors should remain closed, even to you."

Lady Galadriel's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. A moment of silence passed between us, She nodded, almost imperceptibly, acknowledging the boundaries that had been set.

"You are stronger than you appear, Ellehish. And so is the one who shares your soul. Guard your heart carefully, for even in this fair realm, shadows may lurk."

With that, Lady Galadriel withdrew from my mind, her expression returning to its serene composure. She then addressed the Fellowship as a whole, her voice once again gentle but firm.

"Rest now, and take comfort in Lothlórien. For the night draws near, and the road ahead will be long and perilous."

As the Elves led us away to the quarters prepared for us, I couldn't help but glance back at Lady Galadriel. Her eyes met mine briefly. I could sense that, while she might have been surprised, she was not offended. Rather, it seemed she was intrigued, perhaps even cautious, of what lay within me.

Aruzhan's presence lingered in my mind, more active than usual, this had only happened once before. "So finally becoming more of a team player " I joked as I thought in my mind.

"I have always been one, I just don't like people snooping around in our mind, unless it's me" She replied and I couldn't help but chuckle gaining me a few looks from those around.

As night truly fell over Lothlórien, the gentle light of the stars filtered through the leaves of the great mallorn trees, casting a serene glow over the Elven city. The air was cool and still, the kind of quiet that felt both comforting and somber. 

After being shown to our quarters, I found myself restless, unable to sleep. The events of the day had left my mind spinning, and the encounter with Lady Galadriel was still fresh in my thoughts. Needing some space to clear my head, I quietly slipped away from the others and found a place to sit high on a sturdy branch of one of the towering trees. From here, I had a good view of the city, its glowing lights interspersed with the darkness of the forest beyond.

I settled against the trunk of the tree, crossing my legs and closing my eyes. The rich magicka of the forest was more potent here, and I focused on drawing it into myself, replenishing the reserves I had nearly depleted in Moria. The energy flowed slowly but steadily, a subtle hum that resonated with the life around me. It was a small comfort, a reminder that I was still connected to something larger, something powerful.

As I gathered magicka, the soft, mournful notes of Elven voices drifted through the air, a hauntingly beautiful song that seemed to weave through the branches of the trees. The Elves were singing for Gandalf, their voices a tribute to the wizard who had given so much in his life and, ultimately, his life itself. The song was in their native tongue, filled with beautiful words that I could feel deep in my heart.

The melody was bittersweet, a mix of sorrow and reverence that brought a lump to my throat. The Elves sang of Gandalf's wisdom, his courage, and the light he had brought into the world, even in its darkest moments. The song seemed to wrap around me like a gentle embrace, pulling me into its depths.

But unlike the others, I knew something they didn't, Gandalf's story wasn't over. He had fallen into shadow, but he would return, not as Gandalf the Grey, but as Gandalf the White. This knowledge should have brought me comfort, but instead, it filled me with a different kind of sorrow. The Gandalf we knew, the one who had led us, would be gone. His return would mark a transformation, a new beginning, but also an ending.

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The song eventually faded into the night, the last notes lingering in the air before dissolving into the stillness of the forest. I opened my eyes, the world around me coming back into focus. The stars above twinkled through the canopy, and the lights of Lothlórien glowed softly in the distance.

As I sat there, high in the tree, I felt a sense of calm settle over me. I knew that, come morning, we would have to continue our journey, but for now, I allowed myself this brief moment of peace, of connection with the world around me.

With a deep breath, I leaned back against the trunk, letting the tranquility of the night wash over me. As I slowly fell asleep.