“Min, tad, neled, canad… good!” The young female exclaimed as she wiped her brow. Before her was a young elf, who appeared to be no more than twelve or thirteen years of age if he was of the Race of Man. They were practicing sword wielding, a quality that many young elves needed to master before they joined the regiments of Lórien. (One, two, three, four…)

“My skill is still too weak for that of a warrior, my Lady Gilraen,” the young boy said, examining his blade.

“I wouldn’t say that, Galion. You possess greater skill than what I had when I was your age,” she said, sheathing her blade. “You are dismissed for today.”

The elven boy bowed his head slightly and walked off, leaving Gilraen alone in a small clearing of the forest. Suddenly, a Lórien guard was walking toward her. After bowing his head, he addressed her. “Lady Gilraen, Haldir wishes to speak with you.”

“Thank you. Where is he?”

“At the platform guarding the city.”

“Again, you have my thanks,” she nodded at him and began to walk out of the clearing and towards the outer gates of the city. As she walked down a small path, Gilraen looked up to find that the sun would soon be setting.

She quickened her pace until she stopped at a ladder which was planted at the foot of a mallorn. As Gilraen climbed up the ladder, she heard the familiar voices of Aragorn son of Arathorn and her dear friend, Haldir. When she reached the top, she pulled herself onto the platform.

In front of her were the two men who possessed the voices that she had just her, but they were not alone. Off to the side were at least half a dozen other companions. The one that struck her as the most strange was an unfamiliar elf who stood against a pillar with his arms crossed. Glancing at him, she walked up to Haldir and Aragorn.

“Suilad, Aragorn in Dúnedain,” Gilraen greeted the Ranger. She then turned to her friend. “Haldir, anírach i dulu nín?” (Hello, Aragorn of the Dúnedain.//Haldir, do you need my assistance?)

“Nay, I do not. He acquires it, though,” Haldir motioned to the Ranger standing beside him.

Aragorn bowed his head. In a light whisper, he explained. “My Lady Gilraen, I am sorry to trouble you, but we must take a brief refuge in Lórien. We are being hunted.” He glanced over at the company behind him, all of which had barely even noticed Gilraen’s presence.

“I see. Haldir, my standing on the situation is to take them to the Lady Galadriel. She has the better judgment.”

Haldir remained silent for a few moments. Then, he turned toward the company of strangers.

“You will follow me.”

They all descended down the latter at once. Aragorn walked beside Gilraen. “That was a noble thing you did back there. And for that, you have my eternal thanks, my lady.”

“Aragorn, please cease the usage of formalities. We are friends, after all.”

He smiled at her, though she did not smile back. “Who are your companions? They are all a mystery to me.”

“Not much can be said now, but we are on a quest. With me are four hobbits, the small ones; a dwarf by the name of Gimli; a son of the Steward of Gondor; and Legolas son of Thranduil of the Woodland Realm.”

She looked at him for a moment. “Legolas Thranduilion? I have not laid eyes on him in over a millennium.” (Legolas son of Thranduil?)

“Really? I had no idea that you both are acquainted,” Aragorn said, eyeing the elf’s turned back.

“We were acquainted. There is doubt in my mind that he remains the same as he did many a century ago.”

“I wouldn’t lean onto my doubts if I were you, Gilraen. You may be pleasantly surprised,” he assured her. But something was lingering in his voice that told Gilraen something was bothering him.

By this time, they had reached the place where the Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel usually met visitors. In front of them was a wide stairway. Then, two radiant figures descended down the stairs, hand-in-hand. A cool breeze had made its presence known.

When the couple stopped at the foot of the stairs to address the company, the Lord Celeborn spoke. “The enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone. Eight there are here, yet nine there were that set out from Imladris. Tell me, where is Gandalf? For I have much desire to speak with him.” His eyes rested on the company in wonder. “I can no longer see him from afar.”

“Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into shadow…” Galadriel murmured in a tone of despair.

It had worried Gilraen.

Suddenly, a voice from behind Aragorn and Gilraen spoke. “He was taken by both shadow and flame — a Balrog of Morgoth; for we went needlessly into the net of Moria.” The voice was full of despair and sadness.

“No…” Gilraen whispered from under her breath. Mithrandir could not be gone.

“Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life; we do not yet know his full purpose,” Galadriel said, her eyes resting on Gilraen. She continued to address the eight companions. When the Lady had dismissed them, Haldir took lead of the company and led them to where they would stay for the night.

Only Gilraen remained. For a minute or two, she stood very still. When she looked up, she saw that the Lady Galadriel was still standing before her.

“Something troubles you.” The Lady had an eerie talent of reading many other’s minds.

“Mithrandir… he’s really… gone,” was all that Gilraen managed to say.

Galadriel took a step toward her. “Gilraen, there is something that I wish to ask of you. It would indeed make Gandalf proud.”

Gilraen looked up into her sparkling eyes. “Yes, my Lady?”

“Tomorrow, the Fellowship will be leaving these shores. They will pursue the Gap of Rohan and from there, they will venture into Mordor. I wish for you to accompany them.”

Gilraen did not know what to say. “My Lady… I–I can’t do that. I’m not a warrior or a hero. I am sorry. All I do is train young elves for regiments. Why do you ask me of this?”

For a moment, the Lady remained silent. It seemed like hours before she spoke again. “You are a skilled fighter, Gilraen. From the moment I laid eyes upon you when you were a small child, I knew that you were special. You always seemed to have a special air about you. Please just take my word for it. Please go with Aragorn and his companions.”

The pleading in her eyes were boring into Gilraen’s own.

“When do you wish me to wake in the morning?”

———————-
Go here for a cast list/pictures for the story – http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1064812/SlytherinTears