Lothaelin paced the chamber wondering what Galadriel had been talking about. She did not know what was different about her physically or mentally. She had changed out of her disguise and into the Elven dress that Celeborn and Galadriel had given her, it seemed to glow in the pale moonlight. A slit down the right leg, a belt of green metal Elven leaves were around her waist that also left a sheath for her Elvish sword, the light material flowed with every graceful movement. It was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen before, her other one had been the one that Elrond had given her when he had been training her; which had been thousands of years before.

Nightfall had come and Lothaelin's heart beat quickened, she descended down the stairs of her tree and could see the Fellowship arriving at the Gates, she quickly walked over to the next tree and ascended the stairs until she reached the second set of stairs. She sat down folding her hands in her lap; waiting patiently trying to slow her heart beat down.

A few minutes later she could see Haldir climbing the stairs, she smiled as he saw her sitting on the stairs. She could see that Frodo was next, and she felt as though she had ran moments before. She watched as he looked around the chamber not knowing what to expect. Legolas followed after Frodo, and the rest of the Fellowship arrived shortly after in no specific order; but where was Mithrandir?

Celeborn and Galadriel descended the stairs and approached the Fellowship; Lothaelin could see all of them from the top of the stairs. Aragorn looked away as Galadriel came closer, and the others stared at her in shock while Frodo looked at her as though he had seen her a hundred times before.

"Eight there are here but yet nine there were sent out from Rivendell, tell me where is Gandalf for I much desire to speak with him." Celeborn asked, looking at everyone. Galadriel looked into Aragorn's eyes and spoke quietly.
"He has fallen into shadow." Lothaelin averted her gaze from Frodo to Aragorn; she could not believe what she had just heard. She looked at everyone, and stared at Legolas for a moment until he looked up at her and his gaze fell back to the floor.

She knew that it was true, she knew why someone was shouting from inside Moria and knew that she must keep watch over them after they left Lórien, now that he was gone...She felt her eyes start to sting and she blinked rapidly, trying to think of happier thoughts, but found herself wondering how it all happened.

The Fellowship were led to the spot that she had rested the first time she had entered Lórien. She did not feel the need or desire to follow them but tried to let Legolas know that she very much wanted to speak with him. Legolas parted with the Fellowship after he changed and after they were shown where they would stay. He found Lothaelin by the Mirror, standing by a pool of water looking into it as if she were waiting to see something. Legolas put his hand on her shoulder and gently pulled her back, she turned around and looked at him, he was now wearing a beautiful long sleeved silver shirt. She blinked a few times before looking into his blue eyes.

"How?" She asked, the pain in her voice evident.
"A Balrog, we were crossing the bridge and he stopped it from coming across. The Bridge broke and it fell, but used the whip to grab Gandalf. He held on for a few moments to tell us to run before he let go." Legolas looked away from her eyes and looked down at the ground. Lothaelin pulled him closer towards her and hugged him as the tears streamed down her face. Legolas held her tightly as she cried, he wished he could have said something comforting to her but he could not find anything to say.

Lothaelin and Legolas took a short walk in silence; they did not know what to say to one another for a moment until Lothaelin remembered what she had promised to do.
"I will follow the Fellowship after you leave, I will not let you go alone." She told him as they neared a small silver stream.
"We are not alone," Legolas spoke softly, he looked at the ground when he first spoke but then looked at her. "But it would be helpful to have another." They both gave a little smile before they returned to the Mirror. Legolas walked towards the slender silver ewer and dipped it into the pool of water; he gave Lothaelin a hug before walking back towards the Fellowship.

Lothaelin's heart felt heavy, she wanted to follow Legolas and speak to the rest of the Fellowship to see how they were doing but knew that it would not be the best idea at the moment. Though her heart did ache to see Frodo before she went up to rest, she wandered around before finding three other maidens that were sitting on the grass talking about Mithrandir. She walked over to them and sat down beside them listening to what they were saying about him, with what they were saying Lothaelin started to sing a lament and the other maidens joined it.

*"Mithrandir, Mithrandir, A Randir Vithren
ú-reniathach i amar galen
I reniad lín ne mór, nuithannen
In gwidh ristennin, i fae narchannen
I lach Anor ed ardhon gwannen
Caled veleg, ethuiannen." Lothaelin stood up and walked towards where the Fellowship was staying. She could see a tent set up to her left, Boromir and Aragorn were sitting across the small pool talking. She turned around and went back towards the Mirror; she climbed up behind the pool of water and lay down behind the tree and fell asleep.

During the middle of the night, she had a dream that Frodo had somehow dreamt of her. She was walking by the Mirror and Frodo had walked up behind her watching her closely. She turned around to find Frodo watching her and she spoke gently to him.

"Mithrandir was the greatest Wizard I ever met, I will miss him greatly. I cannot take his place amongst you, but I will try my best to protect you." Frodo still stared at her in the glowing white gown; her brown hair fell past her shoulders framing her face. Her bright green eyes sparkled in the pale light.

"I do not know who you are." Frodo spoke quietly.
"Amin Lothaelin, I am here to watch over you." She answered him. She started walking towards him and he remained in the same spot.
"Why do you want to protect me?" Frodo asked, wondering why she wanted to protect him. "Amin Mela lle. Cormamin lindua ele lle, Frodo."

Lothaelin awoke with a start; she bolted upright and looked around. She was sleeping outside behind a tree! She stood up and was about to jump down when she saw Galadriel walking down the steps towards the Mirror; Frodo was walking behind her. He watched her as she turned around with the ewer filled with water.

Galadriel asked him to look into the mirror as she poured the water into the silver basin. Frodo cautiously walked towards it and stood up on the cement so that he could look into it. He looked back up at Galadriel for he did not see anything at first; he looked back down into the Mirror and saw Legolas, Sam, Merry and Pippin.

He then saw the most horrid things ever imaginable before he saw the Eye. Lothaelin could hear its voice; the Ring came out from his shirt and started pulling him toward the Mirror. He looked frightened and tried to pull away, he clamped his hand over the Ring and fell backwards.

Lothaelin saw Frodo hold out the Ring to Galadriel, he watched her as she reached out and walked towards him. A change came over Galadriel and she spoke about herself as the new leader, she regained control of herself and pulled away from the Ring. Lothaelin crouched down behind the tree peaking out from behind it, watching Frodo closely.

"Then I know what I must do, it's just... I'm afraid to do it."
Galadriel leaned forward and looked Frodo in the eye.
"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." Lothaelin smiled at the advice Galadriel gave Frodo before she walked off towards her tree.

That night Lothaelin held the small vile in her hand looking at it, turning it around wondering if she should show herself to Frodo.
She felt that it would not be wise to show herself at the moment but knew that she would eventually have to show herself sometime.
She made her decision and returned the vile to Galadriel before she prepared some more lembas for her long journey.

She cleaned her disguise and her Elven cloak in the stream and hung them up to dry. Lothaelin finished packing everything into her bag, but could not decide whether to take her bow and quiver or just her sword. She decided that she would take both in case she needed it for anything and packed them along with her as well. She ran to her desk and took out her parchment in which she wrote another entry in her journal. February 15, 3019

The other night I dreamt that Frodo had a dream about me and I told him that I loved him. I do not know why I had dreamt that, but when I saw Frodo this morning I felt different about him than I had in previous years. I do not know when the Fellowship is leaving, but I am going to follow them after they leave since Mithrandir...
I do not know why I have the feeling that I should not be here at the moment, but in Mirkwood. I am leaving today to travel to Mirkwood though it would take three days without rest to reach the old ford, I fear that I will not be able to see the Fellowship leave...but I am certain that I will be able to make it to the Fall of Rauros before they do.

Lothaelin kissed Pip goodbye and told him not to follow her, or find her unless it was absolutely necessary. She ran out to grab her disguise, it had dried rather quickly, and she slipped out of her dress and pulled on her disguise before running back to get her bag. She slung it on her arm and ran down the stairs, out into the field and whistled for Argo.
A few moments later Argo arrived galloping, she stopped and allowed Lothaelin to put her bag around Argo's neck before Lothaelin mounted Argo and they both took off towards the Old Ford.

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*This was taken from Howard Shore's "Lothlorien" from the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack. The translation is:
"Mithrandir, Mithrandir, O Pilgrim Grey
No more will you wander the green fields of this earth
Your journey has ended in darkness.
The bonds cut, the spirit broken
The flame of Anor has left this World
A great light has gone out."