Haldir kept constant vigil over Alexa for the next several days. He sat by her and held her hand, waiting for her to awaken. On the third day after her arrival in Lothlorien, Alexa roused. Her eyes scanned the room in confusion. Where was she? She started slightly when she felt someone take her hand. Turning her head, she saw Haldir sitting beside her.
“Welcome back,” he said, smiling at her. “You gave us quite a scare.”
She looked at him and was surprised. For some strange reason, she felt somewhat comforted by his being here. “What happened, Haldir? I do not remember much.”
“I brought you here to the healers in Lothlorien. They took you from me, and worked to heal you. I have been watching over you for the past three days.” He helped her sit up.
She looked into his blue eyes. “Thank you, Haldir. I would not have survived long without you. You never gave up on me.” She stared at him in confusion. Why had he remained with her? It would have been easier for him to leave her, yet he stayed with her and saved her life. ~Why?~ She looked at him, and he smiled.
“No, my lady. I always knew you were too stubborn to die,” he gently teased.
She smiled. “True.”
Haldir looked at her then, a faint smile on his face. She shifted uncomfortably under his perusal. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.
“That is the first time I have ever seen you smile. You should do it more often,” he said, softly touching her cheek.
Her look grew serious. “How can I ever repay you for all you have done for me, Haldir?”
“Stay awhile. At least give your people a chance.”
She looked him in the eye. “I make no promises, Haldir.”
“Fair enough.” At least she had not said no. He handed her a bowl of broth. “You need to try and eat something.”
She accepted the bowl from him and took a small sip of the warm broth. He smiled at her. She was going to be all right.
* * *
The following day, Alexa heard a soft knock at her door. “Come in,” she called.
A lovely Elven woman entered her room. Alexa stared at her in surprise. She had never seen another Elven woman before. This “elleth”, as Haldir called them, was very beautiful, with long, golden hair and gentle green eyes. The Elf maid smiled warmly at her.
“Good day, my lady. I am Lalaith. I have brought you some clothes.” She laid the clothing on the bed.
“Where are my clothes?” Alexa asked.
“My lady, they are blood-soaked and torn. I have brought you some new clothing.”
“Oh. Thank you.” Alexa walked over and picked up the clothing. Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked at the light blue gown. “It is a dress.”
Lalaith looked at her in surprise. “Yes, my lady. Is it not to your liking?”
“It is lovely, but I do not wear dresses. Could you please bring me a shirt and a pair of pants, and see if you can find my boots?”
“Yes, my lady,” Lalaith said and left the room. She returned shortly with a pair of black pants and a silvery-gray shirt. She also had Alexa’s boots. “Here you are, my lady,” Lalaith said, and handed her the clothes. “I hope these are more to your liking.”
“They are perfect. Thank you,” Alexa replied.
Lalaith nodded and left the room. Alexa removed the nightclothes she had been wearing and put on the new clothing. She fingered the silky fabric. She had never worn anything so fine before. She frowned slightly. Something about this clothing felt familiar. But how could that be? She shrugged and brushed the thoughts away.
Alexa walked over to the window and looked out over Lothlorien. It was beautiful, she had to admit. Those magnificent golden trees comprised the majority of the forest. The feet of the trees were studded with golden, white, and pale green flowers. Several crystalline streams flowed throughout the land, and the city itself glowed with a radiant light. She continued in her reverie until she heard a voice behind her.
“How do you fare, my dear?”
Alexa spun around and saw a golden-haired Elven woman, clad in white, standing before her. She stared at the Elven woman in confusion. This strange Elf had just called her “my dear”! ~Do I know this Elven woman?~ Alexa studied her, searching for anything familiar, but found nothing. “Who are you?” she asked the Elven lady.
“I am Galadriel, Lady of Lothlorien. Are you faring better this morn?”
“Yes,” she told her.
“That is well. We were concerned about you. Haldir has been in almost constant vigil by your side, since he brought you here.”
“I know. I owe him much for all he has done for me. I do not know how I will ever repay him for his kindness to me.”
“He seeks not payment, other than to know that you are well.” She watched the young elleth nod in understanding. “Come walk with me.”
Alexa looked at Galadriel. What did she want? “All right.”
The two of them walked a short distance from Alexa’s room and sat on a bench in an enclosed garden. Alexa noticed that no trees grew in this garden. It lay open to the sky. ~How odd,~ she mused. ~What is this place?~
“I know your heart is heavy with burden, child,” Galadriel said.
Alexa glanced at her sharply. “How could you possibly know that?”
“I know many things. Tell me of yourself, Alexa.”
She looked at Galadriel. For some reason, unbeknownst to her, she felt comfortable with this Elven lady. “How could my heart not be heavy with burden? My father sold me into slavery when I was a child. I was brutally beaten by my captor, who also killed the only mother I had ever known because she tried to protect me. So that is my life, such as it is.” She wrung her hands in anguish, for these memories were deep wounds that had never healed.
Galadriel looked at her with intense, clear eyes. “These things have haunted you for many years. Sometimes they consume you.”
“Yes.”
“And sometimes you wish for death to rid yourself of the pain they bring.”
“Yes. Sometimes it seems the only way I will ever be truly free.”
“Come with me, Alexa.” Galadriel led her over to a low pedestal that had a silver basin resting on top. Galadriel filled the basin with water from the stream, and looked at Alexa. “This is the Mirror of Galadriel. It will reveal things you do and do not want to see. Will you look into it?”
Alexa eyed the basin warily. What secrets did this “mirror” contain, and more importantly, did she desire to know them? She glanced at Galadriel, who was watching her expectantly. Alexa nodded hesitantly and walked over to the pedestal. She took a deep breath and looked into the basin. At first, all she saw was the sky, but then the water changed and images began to appear. Alexa saw a dark-haired Elf carrying a baby to a doorway. He knocked on the door and was admitted by a butler. Another man entered the room, and Alexa recognized Dargon as a young man. Her eyes widened as she saw Dargon give the Elf a bag of money, and call for someone. A young Alora entered the room. Dargon gave the baby to her and as she left, the Elf departed.
“That is him! That is my father, the man that sold me to Dargon!”
The images changed. She saw herself leaning over Alora’s body, and then rising and picking up a knife from the table. Her heart began to beat faster as the images changed again, and she saw herself in a room alone with Dargon, who was sitting at a table. She watched as he reached for his whip, and saw herself come up behind him and slit his throat with the knife she had taken earlier. She watched as she took his house keys and ran out of the room. The images faded then, and the mirror reflected nothing more than the sky.
She looked up at Galadriel, who was watching her intently. “Why did you show me all of this?” she rasped. “I already know these things.” Alexa numbly stared at her trembling hands, and then back at the Mirror. How was this small pool of water able to show her all these images from her past?
Galadriel walked over to her. “Things are not always what they seem, Alexa. Do not forget all that you saw, for it is important.” Galadriel studied Alexa. “My child, have you ever wondered about your medallion?”
Alexa glanced at her sharply in surprise. How could she possibly know about her medallion? She always kept it hidden beneath her clothes! She stared at Galadriel in astonishment, but Galadriel merely smiled at her. She was thoroughly confused, but something within her compelled her to answer Galadriel.
“Yes,” Alexa replied as she fingered the medallion. “The only reason I have kept it all these years, is that I hoped it would one day lead me to my father.”
“And what will you do once you find him?”
Alexa looked into Galadriel’s eyes. “Kill him.”
“I can tell you of this medallion, Alexa. It is a symbol of a house of Rivendell.”
“How can you tell? So much of it is missing.”
“I know many things, my child. Perhaps your true freedom lies in Rivendell.”
Alexa’s hand tightened around the medallion. ~Perhaps Rivendell is where my answers lie. Perhaps it will lead me to my father.~ Her heart began to pound, and she could feel the hatred begin to course through her veins like wildfire. ~Rivendell.~
