Title:  When The Trees Sang  
by: Nicole 
Feedback: jupiterrain@charter.net 
Rating: PG-13/R

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Aragorn stood at the edge of Lothlorien, watching in the distance as the old wizard made his way 
towards him. He smiled, greeting his old friend.  
 
"Gandalf! So good it is to see you. Your assistance is much needed in these days of sorrow. I 
fear Legolas is nearly lost. I pray that you can help him."  
 
Gandalf shook his head at the Ranger.  
 
"I'm afraid there's nothing I can do. Only Garania can help in this matter."  
 
A confused statement swept across Aragorn's face. 
 
"Garania? But she is dead, how could she possibly help him now." 
 
The wizard shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips.  
 
"No, no Aragorn. Trust me in this matter. The Elf that lies there in that garden is not as you think 
she is. Only time will be able to tell if she proves my suspicions true, but I have faith that she will." 
 
"But time is something that we are lacking in. Legolas is weak, his will to live lost. He shall be 
gone with Garania soon, if we do not find a way to help him."  
 
Again, Gandalf shook his head. 
 
"My boy, do not question the ways of a wizard. I know much of what I speak, or else I would not 
speak it. Leave Legolas. Do nothing for him. Simply let him be. However, do not try to keep him 
away from Garania's body. Allow him to grieve, leave him there as long as he likes. It is best. In 
time, you will see that I am right."  
 
The old wizard walked towards the palace to speak with Galadriel and Celeborn, leaving Aragorn 
behind him confused and distraught. However much he may have questioned the wizards orders, 
he did as he was told, and allowed Legolas to return to the garden to stay with his wife. As he 
helped him there, the Elf leaning on him for support, he could hear the sound of the Elven voices 
carrying out over the trees. He recognized the words, and realized that they were singing songs 
of mourning for Garania. Her death had been a hard blow on the Elves of the kingdom, as she 
was their beloved princess Garania, granddaughter of Galadriel, and heir to her throne. She was 
much loved by the Elves, and when they had learned the news of her falling, many had come to 
the garden, weeping, to catch a brief glimpse of her as she lay. He helped Legolas to sit down 
beside her, and then turned to leave. A barely audible voice behind him made him stop. 
 
"Aragorn."  
 
He turned back around to face Legolas. 
 
"Yes, my friend?"  
 
He was clinging to the rock for support, his fingers gripping it tightly. He sat half-turned towards 
Aragorn, his eyes never meeting the Ranger's as he spoke. 
 
"Thank you." 
 
He stood a bit confused for a moment, and then it hit him what he was referring to. Images of the 
night that he had finally tricked him into eating flashed through his mind.  
 
"You're welcome, Legolas."  
 
"Had it not been for you, I may have been to weak to fight, and we may have lost the war. On the 
other hand, I might not have been there to slay my wife, either." 
 
Aragorn stood silent at these words, knowing how badly Legolas felt, and how much he blamed 
himself.  
 
"Do not think such thoughts. I will leave you now, with your wife. Stay as long as you like. We will 
no longer try to keep you from here."  
 
Legolas looked a bit relieved at this, and turned back around to face Garania, his hands lingering 
to touch her skin. 
 
Aragorn watched for several more moments, and then turned to head back to the palace. 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
Another week had passed, and Legolas grew weaker and weaker by the day. Gandalf forbid 
Aragorn to interfere, assuring him that it was for the best. Legolas remained in the garden for the 
remainder of the week, until one night, when Aragorn found him wandering near the woods, 
staring blankly ahead of him.  
 
He was leaning against the railing of a small bridge that was built over the river that ran through 
Lorien. His head was hanging low, his hair falling about his face as he stared into the water. The 
sounds of the Elves could still be heard, singing their sad songs to Garania. Aragorn walked 
closer to him, cautiosly, coming up beside him. Legolas did not move at his approach, but spoke, 
still staring into the water. 
 
"Do you think she still loves me?" 
 
Aragorn drew back a bit, shocked at his words. 
 
 
 
"When did she ever stop?" 
 
Legolas looked up at him, seeming to accept this as an answer, and once again fell silent. He 
watched his reflection in the water, dancing about with the ripples that the breeze brought about 
in it. He felt that he could cry no more, his tears run dry from the days of endless sobbing. He had 
barely mustered up enough strength to walk out here, but he was glad that he had done so. The 
gentle breeze comforted him, although he knew that his grief would soon surpass him. Aragorn 
watched him still, debating what his next words would be. 
 
"Legolas, come back to the palace and eat with the rest of us. It may do you some good. Gandalf 
is here, he arrived a few days ago. You were so in grief that I doubt you noticed him." 
 
He shook his head. 
 
"I was not aware that he had arrived. Why did he come?"  
 
"To comfort you, and to see the princess."  
 
He turned a bit on the bridge, looking Aragorn in the eye, but saying nothing. He turned his gaze 
back to the water, and continued to stare at his reflection. He grew weaker as the minutes went 
by, and he knew that he had little time left. 
 
Aragorn sighed lightly, listening to the songs of the Elves. Their slow, sad melodies were beauty 
to his ears, and he closed his eyes to take them in.  
 
Suddenly, the mood of the songs changed. He opened his eyes, a bit taken aback. Instead of the 
sad laments, a new, more joyful tune was being sung. Legolas seemed to notice this too, and 
raised his head in confusion. As he listened to the words, a strange statement suddenly crossed 
his face. Aragorn watched him, understanding himself. The Elf began to walk over the bridge, his 
pace quickening with every step, until he was sprinting through the forest towards the palace. 
Aragorn followed close behind him as well as he could, his pace unable to match the swift Elf's. 
They ran up the path to the palace and saw that Galadriel and Celeborn were no where to be 
found, nor were any of the rest. Legolas ran back to the path that led up to the garden in which 
Garania lay. As he approached the small cove, he saw a gently light emitting from through the 
trees. He ran to the archway opening and stood in shock. Garania's body was surrounded in a 
gentle glow, and around her stood Galadriel, Celeborn, Haldir, and the rest. He stepped slowly 
forward, his breathing labored. He walked up beside where she lay, and gazed down at her. To 
his great shock, her eyes suddenly fluttered open, revealing a sea of green beneath the long-
lashed lids. She gave Legolas a blank, confused look, and gazed around at the people 
surrounding her. Galadriel beamed with joy, and walked over to stand beside her granddaughter, 
as she and Legolas helped her gently up from the bed.  
 
"My darling, you have come back to us. By how and by what means I do not know, but that 
matters not. All that deserves any reason is that you're here with us now," said Galadriel, her 
eyes shining at her granddaughter.  
 
Garania looked around, her face still blank. 
 
"Grandmother....where am I? And why do you speak as though I have been away? What has 
become of me these past few days?"  
 
She could not remember a moment past the time when....when she had been stabbed. She 
closed her eyes in pain for a moment, remembering the look of Legolas' face as he plunged the 
sword through her. Tears sprang to her eyes, but she held them back. 
 
"You have been away from us, my love. We thought you to be dead, but I see now that you were 
not. And never more happy have I been to be wrong," said her grandmother, leaning down to kiss 
the top of her head. 
 
Garania looked over at Legolas, unsure of what to say to him. She decided against anything kind, 
and muttered the first harsh thoughts that came to her mind. 
 
"Why do you stand here? I wish not to see your face," she said with a quiet, cold edge to her 
voice.  
 
Legolas felt as though a giant blow had been struck against him as the words flew from her 
mouth.  
 
"I....I....My love, I have been with you since the day you arrived. I brought you here." 
 
"You brought me the wound that nearly took my life. And do not call me your love. If you had truly 
loved me you would not have driven your sword through my middle." Legolas stood in shock until 
she uttered her next words. "Did I not say before that I did not wish to see your face? GO! Be 
gone with you! I have no desire to look upon you again!" 
 
Legolas stepped back a few steps, hurt reflecting in his eyes. Never could he have dreamed that 
she would react to him like this. He turned, pushing past the others, and ran back down the path 
and towards the edge of the awaiting forest. Gandalf watched him go. There was much explaining 
to be done.  

***************************************************
Part 11

Legolas walked along the edge of one of the many small streams that ran through Lothlorien. He 
knelt down by the edge of the water and dipped his hand in, allowing the coolness to rush over 
his fingers. His thoughts began to wander. 'Why does she feel this way? Does she remember 
nothing of the love that we have shared for so long? What makes her act so? And what miracle 
brought her out of the death-like sleep that she was in for so long?' His thoughts were interrupted 
by the sounds of footsteps moving behind him. He turned quickly to see Gandalf standing close 
behind him, peering down at him with an undefinable look on his face.  
 
"You always were fond of water. I thought I might be able to find you here." He sat down on a 
nearby rock and laid his cane on the ground beside him. "Ahh, that's better. Well, I suppose you 
have a great deal of questions for me. We might as well have out with them so that we may begin 
to correct whatever wrongs may have been done." 
 
Legolas looked at him, his eyes sad.  
 
"Of course I have questions, but I don't know where to begin." 
 
Gandalf shrugged, picking his staff back up.  
 
"Well, perhaps you should start from the beginning. Tell me what it is that you desire to know that 
most, and we will get that out of the way first." 
 
Legolas looked back down at his rippling reflection in the water.  
 
"How did she come to awaken? We all thought she was dead, how could that have come to be?" 
 
Gandalf chuckled, his eyes smiling.  
 
"Ahh, my boy, love can heal many wounds." 
 
"What do you mean by that?"  
 
"I mean exactly what I say. Your love for Garania awakened her. When she felt the grief that you 
were experiencing from her falling, she feared for your own well-being. Your love healed the 
wounds in which you yourself inflicted, and she came back to us once again. How that came to 
be, I do not know. You see, my good Elf, there are some things that even a wizard can not 
explain. Especially those dealing in the matters of the heart."  
 
Legolas looked confused at this, but continued. 
 
"But how could that be? When she opened her eyes, she wished nothing more than to see me 
gone, away from her and out of her sight." 
 
Gandalf again chuckled, his eyes bright. 
 
"That one is much simpler to answer. You see, when Garania was awoke, and her eyes fell upon 
you, the first thing she remembered was the last moments that the two of you had spent together. 
The princess is a very prideful she-Elf, and she values her dignity nearly all else. When you 
fought her, she thought that you no longer loved her. Instead of risking her pride and allowing her 
broken heart to show, she made it appear as if she felt deep hatred for you, which we both know 
could not be farther from the truth." 
 
Legolas looked up at the wizard, his eyes beginning to show a glimpse of their former light. 
 
"So you mean, she still loves me? She only says these things to conceal her own hurt?"  
 
Gandalf nodded. Legolas turned back towards the water and a look of confusion once again 
swept across his face.  
 
"But there is one other thing, one that I have not been able to understand since I arrived here at 
Lothlorien." 
 
"And what is that?" 
 
"When I stabbed her, why....why did she say....why did she seem so confused, and hurt? Why did 
she ask me why I had done it? If the evil still coursed through her, then why would it pain her to 
fall to my sword? Why did she ask me this?" 
 
Gandalf drew a deep breath, knowing that this question would come, but dreading giving the 
answer, knowing that the Elf may no longer be able to live with himself after learning the truth.  
 
"I fear that the answer may pain you more than the question." 
 
Legolas shook his head.  
 
"No, I want to know. Tell me, please." 
 
Gandalf sighed, looking him directly in the eye.  
 
"When your battle with Garania began, she was still empowered by the force of evil instilled upon 
her by her father. As I'm sure you already knew by the force of her blows. However, when her 
father was stabbed, he did not die right away, and was left instead to bleed on the ground. When 
she saw her father taken down, she cried out, a new strength being found within her. This was 
only temporary, however, as only moments later, her father fell, causing whatever evil left in her 
body to suddenly fade away. It was at this moment that she weakened, and you were able to 
overpower her. When you pierced her with your sword, she was in a state of shock, unaware of 
what was happening around her. While you thought she was still fighting against you, she had 
instead returned to the light that had been instilled upon her at her birth, and was unknowing of 
what had just happened between the two of you. She thought that you were against her, or that 
you no longer cared for her. This also explains why she reacted to you so when she awakened." 
 
Legolas looked down at the water, horrified. She had not been fighting against him, she had 
simply been in shock, from the intensity that had just taken her over. He had nearly killed her, and 
she had in fact meant no harm to her. He held his head in his hands, guilt sweeping over him.  
 
Gandalf pushed himself up from the rock and walked over to where Legolas sat kneeled, putting 
his hand on his shoulder.  
 
"Come along, my dear boy. We must go talk to your wife. I feel this can all be resolved with some 
explanation." 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
 
Garania sat at a large table in yet another large garden in Lothlorien. On either side of her sat 
Galadriel and Celeborn, across from them Legolas, Gandalf, and the rest.  
 
"I believe we have much explaining to do, Gandalf," replied Celeborn, casting a sideways glance 
at Garania. 
 
The wizard nodded, looking over at Legolas, who was watching Garania intently.  
 
"Well, let us begin," Celeborn continued.  
 
Gandalf glanced up at him. 
 
"No, this is something that can be done only by the two involved. We cannot interfere." 
 
Legolas looked at Garania, who refused to meet his gaze. She glanced up at Gandalf when he 
said this, her eyes revealing the feelings she kept pent up inside.  
 
"I would rather we talk about it here, if that would be alright."  
 
Gandalf shook his head.  
 
"No, no alone would be best. I suggest a nice long walk in the woods perhaps. It will give you 
some time to clear things up between the two of you." 
 
Garania cast her eyes down, her heart beating rapidly. 
 
"No." 
 
Legolas fought back the words that were fighting to escape from his mouth. He lost the battle, his 
frustration taking over. 
 
"Are you so pent up with your precious pride that you cannot even fathom for the slightest 
moment that you might be wrong!?!?" 
 
She shot her eyes up at him, speaking to him in his mind, softly, but harshly.  
 
"How dare you say such a thing?! Pride has nothing to do with this matter....it's my heart that 
suffers."  
 
Legolas was taken aback by this. He looked at her intently, his eyes never leaving hers. Galadriel 
and Celeborn cast nervous glances at Gandalf, who responded with a reassuring look to ease 
their fears. Galadriel had heard every word that her granddaughter spoke to Legolas, while the 
others may have not. She knew that she would never bend before their eyes. She stood and 
signaled the rest to do the same.  
 
"I believe that this is a private matter, Garania. You have the choice of either speaking to Legolas 
alone, or returning back to the palace with me to have a private conversation of our own. The 
choice is yours." 
 
Garania shrank back from her grandmother, the first time that any of them had ever seen her do 
so. She was the one person in the world that she feared. 
 
"I am sorry grandmother, I did not mean to disobey you. I will speak to Legolas if you wish, alone 
if I must."  
 
Galadriel gave a small smile at her granddaughter and turned to walk back towards the palace, 
the rest of the group following her. Gandalf paused for a moment by Garania's side to whisper 
something in her ear. He uttered it low, so as even the sensitive hearing of Legolas could not 
decipher his words.  
 
"My child, pride and dignity are fine for the palace, but they have no place in matters of the heart."  
 
He walked away, leaving her alone with Legolas, to face the fears that had been pent up inside 
for so long.

***************************************************
Part 12
Legolas stood across the table from Garania for several moments, as if waiting for her to make 
the first move, not daring to say or do anything that could put worsen his condition with her. She 
watched him, and then turned to walk towards the woods, not caring whether he stayed or 
followed. He fell into step behind her, staying as close to her as he thought safe. He feared her 
right now, and what she could do to him if angered. Although he knew that she would never 
intentionally hurt him, that is he he once knew that, now he was not so sure. She was capable of 
unbelievable power, enough to remove any trace of him from Middle Earth all together. He 
watched her back as she walked gracefully in front of him. Suddenly, she stopped, but kept her 
back to him. 
 
"You wish to speak with me, yet you do not talk. You continue to confuse me, Legolas."  
 
He caught his breath, the sound of her voice suprising him. He had not thought that she would 
speak a word to him throughout their entire walk.  
 
"I....Talk to me, Garania. What pains you so that you cannot bear to see the sight of my face?"  
 
She turned her head slightly, so as only her gently pointed ears were visible to him. 
 
"Why is there need for me to speak? I know that Gandalf has told you everything. What is left to 
be said?" 
 
He walked closer to her, getting a sudden burst of courage. 
 
"He has told my your thoughts, yes, but I wish to hear them from you. I will not allow you to let 
your pride destroy our love, just because you fear your own heart."  
 
She turned again, now fully facing him. 
 
"I do not fear my heart, I fear yours. Why did you do what you did Legolas? I can scarcely 
remember a thing. Tell me this, and ease my fears."  
 
He reached down tentatively and took her hand in his, looking deep into her eyes.  
 
"Melamin, believe me, I was not aware of what I was doing. I thought you still to be held by your 
father's blood. I fought you only to keep the santity of Middle Earth. Do you not remember the 
words I spoke to you only weeks ago?" 
 
She nodded, looking down. 
 
"Yes, I remember them."  
 
"Then speak them."  
 
She gazed up at his eyes, her own now filled with tears. This shocked him.  
 
"You told me that you would not turn your back on me, and that you would stay with me still, not 
matter what was to come."  
 
"Then why would you think that I no longer felt love for you?" 
 
She shook her head, lacking an answer. 
 
"I fear my pride will one day get the best of me. If it has not already done so." She looked up at 
him, the tears now pouring freely down her face. "Can you forgive me?"  
 
He smiled, the light now fully returned to his eyes. He answered her with a gentle kiss to her lips. 
When they pulled away, the smile had once again returned to her own face.  
 
"Shall we take advantage of the opportunity that we have to endulge in some privacy, or shall we 
return to the palace?" asked Legolas with a mischievious grin. 
 
She cast a sideways glance at him, and then sprinted off into the forest, leaving him to follow her, 
laughing.  
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
Hours later, the two returned, the happiness once again restored to them. Aragorn saw them 
coming down the path towards the palace and smiled. Instead of greeting them, however, he 
walked quietly back into the castle to leave them to themselves, and to inform Galadriel of their 
return.  
 
Moonlight was beginning to cast its spell over the wood, and the starlight reflected off of 
Garania's hair, leaving it glimmering like thousands of crystals in the sunlight. Legolas looked 
down at her, his eyes taking her in fully. The gown she wore was of a gentle blue, like the color of 
the morning sky when it was not yet tarnished by clouds. It fell over her like water, fitting to her 
form perfectly. The back of it trailed behind her when she walked, sweeping the ground with her 
movement. Around her neck hung a golden chain, adorned with a single diamond, given to her by 
Elrond on her first visit to Rivendell. Her hair was hanging loosely down her back in gentle waves, 
held back from her face with a few flowers that had been made into a rope and elegantly weaved 
throughout it. Her eyes glowed their brightest in the starlight, each one shining like emeralds in 
the night. He let out a gentle sigh, amazed at her beauty. He often wondered how he came to be 
so lucky as to win such a wonderous creature as his wife. She noticed his sigh and looked up at 
him. 
 
"What is it?" 
 
He shrugged his shoulders, and smiled at her. 
 
"Nothing, I was just admiring you." 
 
A slight pink spread across her cheeks, and she lowered her eyes from his, smiling. 
 
"One would think after so many years you would have grown quite used to my reflection by now." 
 
He smiled again. She had never been one to accept compliments well. 
 
"How could I grow used to it, when your beauty grows more with every passing day? I never have 
the chance to tire of it in one day, for it always surpasses itself by the next."  
 
She turned a deeper shade of crimson, and looked at the ground before her.  
 
"Legolas, please stop, before my cheeks turn the color of the flower on that tree over there."  
 
He laughed, and he felt relieved, as it had been to long since he had last done so. He sighed 
again, this one one of unwillingness. 
 
"I suppose we must go back to the rest of them now. They will be wondering what has become of 
us."  
 
Garania smiled, her eyes again meeting his.  
 
"No, I think that they will not question our whereabouts too much." 
 
He returned her smile, and then led her up the path and into the palace.
**********************************************
Part 13

Garania and Legolas returned to the palace several moments later, to find Galadriel awaiting 
them in the main hall. She wore a solumn statement on her face, and her gaze was fixed upon 
Legolas. Garania knew instantly that something was not right. 
 
"Grandmother, what is it? Is something wrong?" 
 
She did not answer, but continued to look at Legolas. He squirmed a bit under her intense 
scrutiny. Finally, she spoke 
 
"I have just recieved word by messenger from Rivendell. He was sent by Elrond to inform me of a 
matter that has occured at Mirkwood. A large band of roaming orcs attacked just days ago. Your 
father was killed."  
 
Legolas felt his breath escape him, as if he had just taken a swift blow to the stomach. He 
stumbled back a few steps, shock overtaking him. Garania looked from him to Galadriel, unsure 
of what to say or do.  
 
"You have been summoned to return to Mirkwood immediately, to take your place as king." 
 
He looked up at her, still unable to speak. Garania could see his obvious state, and voiced his 
words for him.  
 
"We will leave at first light tommorrow. We will be needing a travelling party, to take us at least as 
far as Rivendell, as there may still be wandering orcs in the woods." 
 
Galadriel nodded, and Garania noticed the shadow of a figure standing behind her.  
 
"Aragorn, where is Haldir?" 
 
The Ranger stepped forward, the light bringing him into view. 
 
"He is in council with your grandfather, my lady. Do you wish for me to summon him?"  
 
She shook her head.  
 
"No, I will go to him myself. Please, stay here with Legolas. He is in need of some comfort right 
now, and I need you to do this for me until I return." 
 
Aragorn nodded, and walked towards Legolas, gently leading him into a smaller room off of the 
hall. 
 
When they had disappeared, Garania turned to Galadriel.  
 
"I fear he is in no condition to rule a kingdom. The stress of the past few weeks is weighing 
heavily upon him, and he is in need of rest." 
 
Galadriel stepped towards her granddaughter, her eyes shining.  
 
"Then it will be you who must take over his duties as king, until he is better able to handle them 
himself. I have a great deal of faith in you, Garania. I believe you will do fine, as well as any male 
would. Have strength and courage, and you will prevail."  
 
Garania smiled at these words, and slipped up the long winding staircase to Celeborn's throne 
room.  
 
When she entered, she saw her grandfather, Haldir, and several other Elves gathered there 
discussing some matter. When they saw her approach, they bowed to her, and Celeborn 
stretched his arms out to greet her. 
 
"My child, come, has Galadriel informed you of the sad news?"  
 
She nodded.  
 
Yes, she has. Which is why I have come to speak with you." She turned to the blonde Elf beside 
her grandfather. "Haldir, we will be leaving immediatly to return to Mirkwood, and we will be in 
need of a travelling party. I fear that there are more orcs roaming the land, and we will not be safe 
with just our weapons alone. I need you to organize one for us by the morning." 
 
Haldir bowed slightly to her, a smile on his face.  
 
"My lady, I will escort you myself. Along with my finest archers. You will be well protected by our 
arrows." 
 
Garania smiled at him, glad to know he would be occompanying them.  
 
She nodded to them and turned to go see to Legolas. She found him in the small room off the 
main hall, with Aragorn, Gimli, and the Hobbits. They were trying to calm his fears, but were not 
succeeding in helping him very much. Garania walked over beside him and took the seat to his 
right which Gimli gladly offered to her. She reached for Legolas' shaking hand and took it in her 
own. He looked up at her, his eyes filled with fear. She gave him a reassuring smile and looked 
deeply into his eyes. 
 
"Legolas, listen to me." He gazed into her eyes. "You have no need to fear, for I am here by your 
side, to help you in whatever way I can. I will rule the kingdom myself if I must, if you feel yourself 
unable. Do not fear for the santity of our kingdom. You will be a fine king, I know you will be. Do 
not be too proud to be weak, and do not fear your own strength. More courage lies within you 
than you could ever have thought possible, and you need only to find it. You may think now that it 
does not exist, but this is because you look with only your eyes, when you should be searching 
with your heart. Find it, and you will excell. Believe me, melamin, for I know your heart is true." 
 
He looked at her, finding his strength renewed at her words. He stood from his chair, and walked 
towards the hall, pulling close behind him. He stopped when he reached the opening, turning 
back to the group. 
 
"Come, friends, let us rest, for we have a long journey ahead of us in the morning." 
 
With that, he walked from the room, and walked with Garania to their flet.  
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
 
The sun was barely making its presence known when the party set out on their journey. The rest 
were already mounted upon their horses, but Garania stood before Galadriel and Celeborn, 
bidding them goodbye. Galadriel grasped her hands in hers.  
 
"Have strength, my daughter, and to your path stay true. Send word to me when you have 
arrived, and inform me of the happenings there, for I will worry much until you do."  
 
She nodded, and turned to Celeborn. 
 
"My child, what a sight you are to behold. You will make a wondrous queen, as you have always 
possessed the qualities of the great kings. I do not doubt that you will suprise even yourself with 
what you find yourself capable of. Do not forget who you are, and what you have become, for 
there will be days to come when you will need these things the most." 
 
She bowed her head before him, and he gently kissed the top of it. 
 
"Goodbye grandmother, grandfather." 
 
She gave them each a quick hug, and walked to her horse, mounting it in one graceful move. She 
gave one last look back at them, and beckoned her horse to move, falling in step closely behind 
the rest of the group. 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
 
They had been travelling for nearly two days with no stop, when Aragorn suggested that they 
make camp for the night to rest. The rest of the group eagerly agreed, and they tied their horses, 
finding a secluded spot surrounded by trees. Legolas, Aragorn, and the rest of the group sat 
around the fire talking late into the night, but Garania and Haldir managed to sneak away to a tree 
a short distance away from them where they leaned their backs against it, glad to be able to rest 
themselves for the first time in the past few days. Haldir turned his face to hers, looking at her 
closely. She noticed this, and gazed back at him.  
 
"What is it?"  
 
He shook his head, smiling.  
 
"It has been to long since we have last had the time to speak, in private that is." 
 
She returned his smile and nodded, trying to recall the last time they had talked.  
 
"I often miss the long walks we used to take in the woods when I was young. I sometimes wish 
that I could return to Lorien, and leave Mirkwood behind me altogether, but I know that Legolas 
has duties to his kingdom, and there is no way for it to ever be." 
 
Haldir looked at her, sadly.  
 
"Why did you make the choice to go to Rivendell those many years ago? We could have been 
happy in Lothlorien together. We both know that you love the wood, and that you grow homesick 
for it. Why did you leave it, and me, when you hold the both of us so dear to your heart?"  
 
She tore her eyes from his, gazing down at the leaves covering the ground.  
 
"I often wonder that myself. I suppose I just longed for new sights to behold. I also hold Rivendell 
very dear to my heart. When I left, I wished to learn more about the ways of our people, to be 
taught the ways of a princess and of royalty. It pained me more than you know to have left you, 
but I could not have stayed. Elrond is like a father to me, he wished me only the best." 
 
The Elf beside her took her chin in his hand, raising her face to his. 
 
"You could have refused the marriage, and returned to Lothlorien....and to me." 
 
She shook her head, pulling her face away from him. 
 
"You know that I could not. Besides, I do love Legolas, more than I believed in my heart to ever 
be possible."  
 
"That was not always so. As I remember, when I arrived for your wedding, you wished nothing 
more than to return to Lorien, and be free from the marriage. You despised him, as he did you, 
and yet you still allowed yourself to be wed." 
 
"I did not care for him as much at the time, yes, but he cared deeply for me. Enough to take me 
as his wife despite the fact that I could not bear him children." 
 
"Garania, answer me something, and answer me truthfully."  
 
She returned her gaze to his.  
 
"Yes?" 
 
 
 
"Do you still love me?"  
 
She brought her eyes back down to the ground, refusing his gaze. 
 
"I fear that my marriage could be in peril by my answering, when we know that what you wish can 
never be, but I will answer you all the same....yes, I do. But not in the way that I once did. My love 
for Legolas surpasses any that I have ever known, and to him my heart will remain true. You will 
remain a dear friend to me, but never more than this."  
 
He nodded, not wanting to hear this answer, but knowing that he had to accept it.  
 
"Then that is all I need to know. I will always love you, know this, and you will always be my 
dearest friend." He looked back towards the group, who were now beginning to spread out to 
claim some much needed sleep. He stood, and offered her his hand. 
 
"Come, we must rest. We have still a long journey yet ahead of us, and you will be needing your 
strength. Go to Legolas, he waits for you." 
 
She smiled at him, and gently leaned up to him and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.  
 
"Get some rest yourself, Haldir. You are much needing of it." 
 
With that, she left him there, and walked back towards the camp, to take her place beside 
Legolas, beneath the large tree under which he lay. Haldir watched her leave, sighing softly to 
himself as she returned to her husband, leaving him behind her alone.