Perhaps the best of tales are the ones that might have been.
The ones that delve into the depths of lore and grasp something unexpected, something that should've remained hidden for all time.
Perhaps the tales left unexplored are the ones that need...
An elfling, wrapped in a silken blanket, stared up at him with very much awake and pitiful eyes.
Radillion could not believe it. This was impossible. How did the orc filth miss such a thing? How did this baby survive for two days in the sultry conditions of the summer heat? There were so many mysteries to this. Perhaps the Valar had intervened in this case...though he hardly gave thought to such a notion.
He abruptly turned around. "We carry the elfling back with us."
"Yes my Lord." The soldier who spoke was a young herald by the name of Haldir. His kind eyes followed his lord out the door, then turned to gaze at the babe now squalling in his brother Haldor's arms. Haldir beckoned to his brother, then turned to leave.
<> The ancient city of Caras Galadhon loomed out of the peaceful forest around. The beautiful singing in the city could be heard from miles around. Flowers decorated the green-silver grass and water trickled from numerous springs and fountains. The weary group of returning soldiers stood at the foot of the wall before the gate.
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"Haldir!" A small voice cut through the air. Haldir turned and smiled at the tiny elleth who came rushing out to him. Arwen, for that was her name, giggled and jumped into his arms. "I have missed you!" She patted his face a little too aggressively, then reaching to tug on his long pale hair.
"Nîdh, Arwen, stop your pulling! I have only been gone three days and you are pulling on my hair like I have been gone a twelve-month!" Haldir grimaced and put the pouting elfling down. But then he laughed. "As stubborn as always, little one. I have missed you too."
Arwen was suddenly distracted by the bundle in Haldor's arms. It had let out a loud wail at that moment. Arwen jumped up and down trying to glimpse it. "Let me see Haldor! Let me see! Please?"
"Careful! Careful! All in due time. We must wait for The Lady. She will show you if it pleases her," Haldor smiled at the elfling before him.
"Haruni! Hurry up! Nana come quickly! You must see the thing in Haldor's collo. Hurry tolo ar nin!"
A silvery voice laughed and replied, "Coming iellig! You must wait on your elders, they are not as impulsive as you!" Haldir turned around and bowed low with all the other soldiers around him.
Two elleth stood before them. One was tall and willowy, with long blonde hair and a silver circlet. Her eyes were solemn, like one who had seen the end of the world. The other was equally as fair, and matched the other in almost everything except height and depth of sight. Her eyes were peaceful, but twinkling with merriment.
Radillion, who had been standing respectfully behind the two ladies, came forth and bowed. He gestured for Haldor to bring the bundle forth. "My Lady Galadriel, this is the elfling I spoke of. We found her unharmed in one of the houses of the noble families. She had been protected to the last. It is a wonder that she was not found and murdered. A maid was clutching her tightly under her cloak."
Galadriel stepped forward, her eyes now full of pity. She gently took the crying henig out of Haldor's arms. She gazed long into the infant's eyes. When she looked up her face was stunned, as if she saw something she was not expecting. "Iellig..." She drifted off. Celebrian glided forward, concerned. "What is it, naneth? What is this child?" Celebrian then whispered softly into her mother's ear. "Is it the one you saw in the mirror, the one you said was coming to comfort you?"
Galadriel nodded and a single tear fell from her cheek. "The vision had said she would be a lost gem, a silver star, a descendent of the noble and simple. Little did I know she would come from a Silvan noble family. Why? Why is she here? The vision did not tell me that." Galadriel sighed softly and, straightening, turned back around to the soldiers and Arwen, who now appeared quite uneasy from the long silence there had been after Radillion spoke. "Thanks be to the Valar you all returned safely. Go back to your families, rest. You have had a long journey." She graciously nodded to each of them and turned back into the city. Come, Arwen. We must go to your haru. "
Arwen curiously stared at her grandmother as she squirmed from Haldir's arms. "Aren't you going to give the bundle back to Haldor, haruni? I think it must be his present." She tried again to peek into her grandmother's arms. Galadriel stifled a smile. The little elleth did not listen closely to conversations around her, a result of many years around solemn voices with too much to say.
" No iellig, the bundle belongs to us for now. Come love, follow me," Celebrian took her daughter's hand and the group started walking back into the city. So Rîniel entered Caras Galadhon, in the company of Galadriel herself.
