Knowing that her next step would take her over the border and into her homeland of Lothlorien, Adhara closed her eyes as she put her foot forward. With the slightest tip to the ground with her toes, instantly she felt the love of the Galadhrim touch her. With each step she tread upon this old pathway, brought her closer to the heart of what she had missed for a very long time.
Leaving here so long ago had been an easy decision for her to take, for where she would go, brought her joy, love, friends, but more importantly, family. An adoptive family that she idolised in every way possible. Here though, held for her a different family. Lothlorien was home to an older family and though she adored them too, they let her go to be with those she had fallen in love with.
Now, she had returned, so many conflicting emotions would course through her, love, pain, joy, loss, fulfilment and an incurable emptiness. The only way for her to heal, would be to return to her roots and hope that with time, her heart would find peace.
Quietly passing the mighty Mallorn trees, home to her kin, they watched her in silence, already alerted to her presence from that first footfall at the border. They knew that she needed to be alone, but songs of lamenting they did sing, in welcome of their daughter and sister who had returned from afar.
With head bowed she made her way into the secret healing garden of the Lady of the Woods, the Golden Queen of Lothlorien, the Lady Galadriel. Though not present, she could feel the love of Galadriel in everything around her. Stepping up to the revered mirror of Galadriel, Adhara paused, scared and so afraid, she felt more a weak child than a woman of many ages.
Closing her eyes, Adhara inhaled deeply and silently placed her feet upon the surrounding stone. Both hands she placed on either side of the mirror but kept her eyes closed, not yet ready to peer into the waters, not yet ready to see what her destiny held. She had never wanted change, she had never wanted to lose all that she once had, but now that all she loved and adored was no longer hers, a new path she must take, and she knew that by opening her eyes to peer in, all that she knew would be changed forever…
