Galadriel's Mirror

Title: Galadriel's Mirror
First story in the Child of Prophecy Series
Author: Haldirsbaby/Balrog
Fandom: LOTR
Type: FCHET
Characters: OFC/Haldir, Elves From Middle Earth
Rating: PG
Genres: Romance/Adventure/Supernatural/Mystery
Disclaimer: I do not any of the Tolkien characters, just borrowed them for a while. All OCs are mine. No monetary gain is being received. Strictly for enjoyment.
Timeline: AU-4th Age and Present
Setting: Lothlorien-Earth Modern day

( / / mind speaking)

After a few hours of flying, the group arrived at the airport. They all got into two cars with the same seating and arrived at the retreat.

Ana got out of the car first and looked around. Before her stood a one story dwelling but it was huge. A veranda encased the house that went around the front and down both sides. It was like looking at a ranch dwelling.

“Ana, let me show you around.”

A voice behind her made her jump at little. She turned to look into Hal’s eyes. She could feel herself pulled towards him. ‘Maybe it’s the atmosphere,’ she thought. Ana took the arm and they made their way into the house followed by the others.

Hal gave her the ‘grand tour’ as they called it. It was a marvelous house. There was a grand room on one side upon entering and beyond she saw a dinning room; on the other side stood a study that housed a large library. Besides the house Ana grew up in, she never imagined Uncle Gary had so many books.

Hal then escorted her to her bedroom at the back of the house. It was like a small apartment with a sitting room to one side and a very large bed on the other side. She had her own bathroom with a sunken tub.

“This place is marvelous,” Ana stated as she spun around. She was as giddy as a schoolchild. Then she stopped and looked at Hal when she realized what she was doing. He had a smile upon his face.

“I’m glad you like it.” It was good to see her happy. Hal wanted everything to go well for her here for time was short. “Come let me show you the back of the house outside.” He offered his hand and she took it without hesitation.

They made their way to the back of the house. When she exited the back door, Ana gasped. What stood before was unbelievable!

The forest in the backyard was fabulous; it came within fifty feet of the door. A large patio stood before her. Off to the left she could hear horses whinnying. She would try to visit the horses when she had time alone.

“This is so wonderful, Hal. It is so calm that it’s like it has stood here for many years.” She felt a tear slide down her face.

“You could say that.” Hal turned to her and watched as the tear descended her cheek. “Why the tears, my love?” Hal never realized that the endearment slipped past his lips until it was too late.

“My love? Why would you say that?” she asked, “Besides these are happy tears.” Ana stared at Hal and watched as a smile grew on his face.

“Because that is what you are to me.” Hal took her by the arms and held her there. “I told you we don’t lie. When I took your hand back in England before we got into the car, I felt a tingle in my soul. Do you believe in soul mates?”

“Yes I do. I had always wished to meet my knight in shining amour and for him to take me off into the night on his white horse to live happily ever after. I know it’s a fairy tale but it’s what I have wished all my life.” Ana felt a finger caress her arm. She could feel a tingle rise in her arms with Hal’s hands on her.

“That’s what we are. We’re soul mates, Ana. It is something my people have believed in all our lives.” Hal’s eyes got big when he realized what he had said.

Ana was shocked to hear what Hal was telling her. She never thought in a million years she would be standing in a back yard with her soul mate. This was all too much for her and her knees began to buckle until she felt someone trying to hold her up.

Hal watched as the news took effect and watched as she started to go down. He grabbed her and led her to a chair on the patio.

“Are you alright, Ana?” He poured her a glass of water from the table before them. A servant had placed everything for them before they arrived. “I shouldn’t have told you that right now. I’m sorry.”

“Yes, I’m fine.” Ana took the glass and swallowed the cool liquid. “Don’t be sorry. I’m glad we had this talk now. I want you to be open with me. I have had some feeling about this since I met you.” Ana didn’t want to lie to him either. “I just didn’t think we would be talking about this so soon. I want to get to know you and your brothers.”

“That is good news. I want to get to know you also. I love you, Ana.” Hal looked straight into her eyes when he said this as he took her hands. His heart was racing as he lifted his hand to caress her cheek. She searched his eyes and saw the truth in them.

“I don’t know what to say to that. I think I care for you.” She stared into his eyes and watched the love grow before her. “How about we go slowly for a while? I don’t want to leap into this without knowing what my heart tells me. Besides, I think my brain is on overload right now.”

“Yes, I can do that. I will wait for you. Let’s get to know one another first. How about we go see where the others are. I could do with some lunch and by the looks of you, you could too.” He pulled her up from the chair and they made their way to the great room, holding hands.

“Yes, I could do with some food.” Ana went with Hal to the great room where they came across the others.

Gary looked up from his tea and noticed something strange about Ana and Hal as they entered the room. His ancient eyes saw the love growing between them.

“Where have you two been?” Gary watched as a look passed between them and the clasped hands.

“I was showing Ana around. She told me that she loves the place.” Hal gazed at Gary and watched a question rise in his eyes.

/Did you tell her, Hal, that you love her? / Gary’s thoughts went to Hal.

/Yes I did. / Hal thought.

/Good. Get to know her before you do anything. She is to be pure when she stands before her destiny. /

/I understand. I promise she will be. I don’t want to hurt her. / Hal thought.

Ana watched as the look between Hal and Gary lasted longer than what it should. ‘Can they read minds?’ she thought. She heard a chuckle from Hal.

Hal chuckled when he heard Ana’s question. He looked to her and smiled. Ana looked at him and smiled nervously. ‘Oh my, he does read minds,’ she thought. Again, Hal looked at her and smiled a knowing smile.

“How about some lunch? Everything is set up in the dinning room.” Gary rose from his chair and made his way to the table with everyone following.

The next few weeks, Hal and Ana were seen together everyday. They went on picnics, went horseback riding, and spent time together alone as well as with the others. She especially spent time with Hal's brothers and Lee. She grew very fond of them and them of her.

One day Hal found Ana soaking up the sun in the back on the deck. He walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. He noticed her eyes closed and didn’t want to scare her.

“Ana, can we talk?” Hal took a chair beside her.

Ana opened her eyes and saw Hal. “Yes, what do you want to talk about?”

“I was wondering.” Hal got shy all of a sudden and played with his fingers in his lap. ‘Why am I going shy all of a sudden?’ he asked himself. “I wanted to take you on a picnic tonight. I know that people just don’t have picnics in the dark but I wanted to show you something. Would you come?”

“Yes, I would love to come,” she said. “What’s the matter Hal? Why did you get shy all of a sudden?” She wanted to be open with her relationship to Hal. She placed her hand on his to reassure him of their link.

“I don’t know. I’ve never been like this before. We’ve done picnics before…I don’t know.” Hal couldn’t figure it out either.

“It’s ok. I like a man when he turns shy. Makes him vulnerable to the outside world and shows that he has feelings inside as well as outside. When do you want to leave?” Ana had a smile on her face.

“We could leave in a few hours. Wear some comfortable clothes because we might stay the night. It will be dark when we’re there. We will be taking the horses with us. It’s a little ways from here.”

“Good, then I will get ready. I need to shower and change before we go.” She rose from her chair when he did.

“I will meet you in the stable in a few hours then.” Hal kissed her cheek and left.

Ana’s hand rose and felt the tingle left on her cheek. Hal had kissed her before and she never felt the tingles. ‘Why now?’ she asked herself. Ana shrugged her shoulders and went to get ready.

~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Gary was sitting in his study with Brian and Eric. They were talking about the upcoming event when Gary heard a knock.

“Come in Hal,” Gary called out not looking at the door.

Hal opened the door and entered, closing it behind him. “I can never get over how you know who’s at your door. I came here to tell you that Ana and I are going to go on a picnic tonight. I want to show her. I feel it’s time she knew.” Hal stood there watching the old man before him waiting for his reaction.

“I agree with you,” Gary replied. “It is growing close. It will last only a short while but the time has come. By this time tomorrow, we all should be in the glade where we will await you and Ana. Are you prepared, Hal?”

“Yes, I am Mith…Gary. I almost said your other name. I’m sorry.” Hal bowed his head.

“That’s alright. It won’t be long before we all go by other names. At least your’s is a shortened version of your real name. We others have gone by other names for so long, even I forget who I am. Now, go before she gets angry at you not showing up.” Gary smiled at him. Hal smiled back knowing that Ana would never truly be angry with him or any of them.

"Hal, guard her well. She is most important to all of us." Gary said giving him a fatherly glance.

“Thank you all. I will meet you all in the glade.” With that said Hal bowed before his superiors and left the study.

~~~~~~~~

Hal entered the stables with a basket and a backpack. He draped the items on either side of a packhorse that contained other items. He went over to his horse, which by the way was white, whispered to his horse in another language and it bowed his head. Hal did not notice that Ana had entered the stable.

Ana entered the stables and noticed Hal talking to a white horse. She couldn’t hear what he said. She had seen this at the riding stables where she had taken private lessons. Her instructors said this was a way of showing a kinship between rider and horse. Besides, she had done it to hers before they took off. She noticed that when Hal mounted the horse he had left off the bridle and the saddle.

They took off into the forest. After riding for a time, they came to a glade that stood on a little hill. There were a few trees around and Hal set up the two tents that were on the packhorse. He wanted to get this done before nightfall.

Ana couldn’t believe the scenery. It was beautiful! For miles, all you could see were the trees. The sun had gone down and twilight came. The trees in the valley below looked like a deep blue and the sky was a ray of red, blue and purple. It was like a setting in Tolkien’s book of Lothlorien. Here and there, she could make out golden flowers amongst the trees.

As Hal set out the food, she made herself comfortable beside a fire that he made. She soaked up the warmth as Hal passed her a plate with food on it. There was fruit, cheese, nuts and meat. It was delicious. The wine tasted of sweet strawberries kissed with honey. The setting was romantic.

Ana had brought herself a sweater thinking it would get cold in the forest. Hal had placed the dishes back into the basket and made his way to a tree to sit down. He set up a blanket at the base of the tree and sat. He looked up to see her putting a sweater on. He could see her shiver and opened his arms for her.

Ana saw the open arms and sat beside Hal with his arms around her. They had grown close these past few weeks with just kisses and cuddling. It was wonderful to have someone in her life and she grew to love him but never told him. Feeling safe and warm in his arms Ana looked up at him and smiled. She turned in his arms and kissed him. Hal froze at her actions and hesitated.

When Hal felt the kiss on his lips, he hesitated and drew her close. It was wonderful to have her in his arms again. He missed her kisses and nibbled on her bottom lip gently. Ana snaked her arms around his neck and entwined her hands in his long silvery blond hair. This drove him wild with need. He slowly ran his tongue across her bottom lip begging for entrance, she granted it. His tongue slipped in and began a dance with hers. His hands roamed down her side and rested on her hips. His jeans got tight in the front when his tongue searched inside her mouth. He loved the taste of her, but knew if he did not stop now, there would be no stopping himself so he broke off the kiss. She looked at him breathless and a little confused.

She felt the kiss end and missed the feeling of pure heaven. She felt the loss of that heaven immediately. She looked up at him with love in her eyes. She could see his feelings for her shining down on her. She brought her hand up to his face and he leaned into her touch.

“I love you, Hal,” Ana stated. Haldir looked down at her as she said it. Her words took him aback a little.

“I love you, too,” he replied, smiling. This was the first time she said it and it made him ecstatic. He kissed her mouth again gently and quickly pulled back. “I want to go further but I can’t. I made a promise.” Hal stroked the spot at the bottom of her throat above her clavicles.

“I’m not ready anyways. We’ve only known each other a short time and it’s too early. I want to enjoy life and besides I’m young yet.” Ana was grateful that Hal wanted to wait. The dates she went out on after her adoption, all they wanted was sex. She was glad that she waited for Hal. She sat up. She placed a quick kiss on his lips before she placed her head on his shoulders.

“That is good to hear. I want our first time to be special and not in the outdoors. Besides, you get pine needles in places where you don’t want them.” Hal snickered at the vision going through his mind. He placed his head against hers.

They sat for a few more hours until it got dark then it happened.

“Look, my love. This is what I wanted to show you.” They both rose to get a clearer view of the sky.

There in the sky the shower started. Stars twinkled and amongst them was a shower of falling rocks. There were so many of them that it was hard to count them all.

“This is beautiful, Hal. How did you know about this?” Ana was overjoyed at the spectacle. There were so many objects that fell it was unbelievable.

“I caught this online when I was searching for something. I read there would be a shower of rocks falling from the tail of a small asteroid that was to pass over. I thought you would enjoy this.” While he was standing behind her, Hal ran his hands up and down her arms to keep her warm. There was another reason for this event but he didn’t tell her.

“I love this. It’s beautiful.” Ana turned in his arms and then looked up at him. “Thank you, this is wonderful.” She rose up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss then turned back to look at the spectacular show.

After the shower ended, they turned in. It was too late to go back to the retreat so they were going to sleep here, and then leave in the morning. So she thought. Hal gave her a passionate kiss that would make her swoon. He released her and they headed for bed.

Sometime after midnight, Ana woke with a fright. She never screamed out but something was wrong. She put her sweater on and her jeans then exited the tent. She went to the clearing where she stood watching the shower. Something pulled at her soul to the north of where they were. Ana felt arms come around her and light kisses placed on her neck. She was startled. Apparently, he heard her rise and came to see if she was all right. He pulled her into his arms closer. After feeling her jump, he wanted to make her feel safe.

“It’s only me, love,” Hal stated, comforting her. He looked up following her gaze and that was when he saw it.

“What’s that, Hal?” as Ana pointed to the north. A pale blue light shot up in the distance straight from the ground.

“I don’t know.” Hal didn’t want to lie to her but he did. It was something he couldn’t believe himself but there it was. “How about in the morning we go explore that area? I don’t want to be going into the trees this late at night.” This was the sign he was waiting for.

“I agree. Let’s do that in the morning.” Ana could feel the light pulling her towards the area. She was curious and scared at the same time.

They both went back to bed but Ana had a restless night. She couldn’t find a comfortable spot so she stayed awake. The light had disturbed her inside and she didn’t know why. She heard Hal enter her tent and lay beside her. He looked down at her with love in his eyes and shushed her telling her that all was well. She felt him caress her forehead with his thumb, feeling safe as she fell asleep.

“Everything will be alright, my love,” he whispered when he knew that she was sleeping.

In the morning, they had a light breakfast and grabbing their backpacks, they made their way to the spot where they had seen the light. He knew that this day would be the biggest most important day in their lives: the City awaited for its rediscovery and awakening.