[This is a conceptual and hypothetical text. A train of thought I sought to pursue outside the boundaries of what is deemed lore-wise and acceptable. By no means do I wish this text to be considered part of Tinnurion's actual story.]
Sometime before the year 2941 T.A., when Tinnurion moved eastward across the Hithaeglir after a long time of lone wandering, he came upon a large wood of mallorn trees. He had passed here in earlier times, when here lay the realm of Lindórinand and it was ruled by the Sinda Amdír who had let him and his handful of companions pass through his realm into the Greenwood of Old before the ending of the War of the Elves and Sauron and the subsequent ruin of Eriador. But now he could not recognise it, for it seemed filled with a brilliant radiance similar to that of the realm of Doriath from whence he came so many years ago. Lothlorien it was now called, and little did he know of it than that Amroth ruled here after the Great War, before his tragic death at sea. As he had by now come to expect, the border-wardens apprehended him ere he could come closer and they brought him blindfolded to their captain further in the wood near Nimrodel.
The captain of the border-wardens surprisingly told Tinnurion that he was expected in Carad Galadhon for an audience with Celeborn and Galadriel, Lord and Lady of light. He tried to tell them he was not interested in speaking with the Lord and Lady, but that he simply wanted to cross the river into the Greenwood to join his companions, the Fuinedhil, the remnants of Eöl's house. 'I am not here to exchange in formalities, nor do I care for the secrecy of your realm. Lead me blindfolded or otherwise out of these woods and I will not set foot in it again, for much has changed since last I was here, and I wish not to be a part of it', he said. The guard did not acknowledge his request, instead signing his Maledhrim to strip him off his weapons and blindfold him and escort him into Caras Galadhon and bring him before its rulers.
It was the third time now that he lay eyes upon them, but they seemed fairer and wiser than he remembered them. His hands were unbound but it made the guards only more wary. A long silence followed in which much was left unspoken. Eventually the silence was broken by Celeborn, who said: 'Here again you stand before me Dwarf-friend. Last time we spoke you declined my offer and instead asked me leave to enter and exit the city of Ost-in-Edhil by your own free will and at my behest it was done. There were some who spoke against my ruling, deeming you beyond trustworthy. And I have heard some unfavourable things about you when I left that land. Tell me, Tinnurion, was I wrong to lend you the hospitality of my kin?'
Tinnurion stared at Celeborn with an angry frown. 'The hospitality of your kin diminished quickly Celeborn Lord of Lorien with the coming of Celebrimbor, and it seems not to have improved since. For what reason am I stripped of my belongings, bound and blindfolded. Am I your prisoner?'
Celeborn's complexion did not betray his intentions nor did it seem to hint at any measure of discontent, he simply answered: 'Measures necessary to keep these lands safe [pause] and uncorrupted'. Tinnurion took his words as an insult but chose to ignore them.
'You are wise and powerful Celeborn, like your forebears to who too I may claim heritage, you know there is much that needs fearing, but a humble elf who wanders without home? I would expect such treatment from the Noldor, arrogant and daring, their "hospitality" is nothing short of legendary'.
'Do not flaunt your heritage before me, Tinnurion, that may have granted you what you wanted so far, it will be to no avail this time. For though you were once of the Sindar, 'tis true you have long since broken with your kin and declined any invitation to return to your people of old, with whom indeed you share little anymore. Thus I would advise you not to try and mislead me.
Tinnurion fell silent. Galadriel now turned her gaze onto him. He suddenly heard a heavenly voice in his head. 'Twas that of Galadriel, and she spoke to him.
'Your thoughts betray you dwarf-friend. They are of vengeance and despair.'
Tinnurion remained silent but seemed to be displeased.
'You need not heed them, yet you do? Are you not weary of resentment?'
Tinnurion still remains silent.
'Have you never wondered why you cannot shake the weight of the past? Has it not dawned upon you why you are haunted by it? A time will come when you will understand.'
Tinnurion turned his eyes to Celeborn again who now said: 'Why did my border-wardens catch you lurking under the eaves of Lothlorien?'
'I was not aware it was named thus. Not long ago this forest went by the name of Lorinand and it was ruled by Amroth son of Amdír, not Celeborn, and I was welcome to pass through and cross the river into the Greenwood whenever I desired'.
'Amroth has long since passed, but in his memory we have built a realm fairer than it ever was, a place where evil finds no bearing. It is for that reason that we keep a strong watch for any who wish to enter. Now tell me, what is your purpose in Mirkwood?'
'My purpose is my own to keep and I won't have you pry it from me like I am guilty of some crime. It was mere curiosity that brought me hither and now that I am here, I wish to depart as soon as I can'.
'You share the secrecy and stubbornness of dwarves Tinnurion, that you need not, but I know that some things time does not alter.'
'No it does not indeed, hence Celeborn of Doriath still mingles with those who brought doom upon his people'.
[Looks at Galadriel]
Celeborn turned angry.
'I will not have you speak to me in such manner any longer, and I pray you cease this foolish behaviour of yours at once lest it should end you like it ended your master!'
Tinnurion looked beaten.
'Your personal grudges have gone on far too long and they have started to fester, whether by doing of yourself or some other, darker influence. You will not spew bile in my realm for your own good. Now I will ask you once more what your purpose is in Mirkwood and you will answer me for the sake of all who live here.'
Tinnurion knew he may have gone too far, and though he felt embarrassed to be silenced so easily, he realised he was doing himself no favours with his stubbornness.
'I am keeping no secrets from you, when I tell thee I do not know what my purpose is there. I am simply looking for my companions of old whom last I saw in Mirkwood. I have wandered in solitude for longer than I had planned and I have come to miss the company of my friends who I hope will forgive me for my absence, that is all.'
Celeborn and Galadriel looked upon Tinnurion and they saw a different elf standing before them now; broken, lost and lonely. Galadriel grew compassion for the creature before her and she bade her husband to speak with Tinnurion alone and he granted her request. She invited Tinnurion into her garden where she spoke to him.
'We will allow your passage into Mirkwood, Tinnurion, but I wish for you to see the things as I have seen them so that you may come closer to understanding of things that were, things that are and things that yet may be.'
Galadriel moved towards a silver basin and she poured water in it. Tinnurion looked confused but he remained silent. Now he heard her voice in his head again.
'Will you look into the mirror?'
Tinnurion looked at the basin of water, glistening like a morning star. Galadriel watched him move closer until he bowed his head over the basin and gazed in her mirror. At first he saw only his reflection, and he thought nothing of it. He expected something more to happen but it didn't. He looked over to Galadriel and she told him to look closer and so he did. Now he saw that the figure looking back at him was not his reflection at all, it was Eöl. He could hardly recognise him anymore, as if all this time he had treasured memories of someone else than the person now gazing at him. Then the image faded and a new one appeared. He saw a ruin on a hill with a shadow emanating from it, and then a dead tree. Then the mirror showed him more trees, but these turned to ash and all that was left standing was him, there in the middle of it all he walked amongst the dead. Then he saw himself with a knife and a body before him and a fleeting image of sharp rocks covered in silver lines, and all these images gave him a sense of dread. He could not take it and he turned away from the mirror. Galadriel was still looking at him.
'I have seen what you just saw, and though not all things the mirror shows come to pass, there is a warning in my heart Tinnurion. You will need to take great care, for evil will come looking for you'.
Tinnurion was out of breath. He knew not the meaning of the images he saw, but he knew what he had felt while watching them and it left him with a sense of horror.
'There is some evil at work within the forest of Mirkwood. It has only now come to our attention. Lothlorien is a beacon of light, but it has blinded us for the shadows that lie around it'.
'Why are you telling me this?', Tinnurion asked.
'Because this evil is bigger than the hatred you carry. It threatens all the free peoples of Middle-Earth. I know it is an evil you are more than familiar with, for you have spent quite some time in its presence.'
Tinnurion wondered whether Galadriel was referring to his time spent in the prison of Angband.
'What is it that you want from me?'
'Only that you don't forget what you saw here today.'
Tinnurion knew he wouldn't, but he still did not understand the meaning of it.
'Remember Tinnurion, you cannot change the course of the future with conjecture about the past. Linger too long in the dark of your mind and you risk losing the difference between the darkness of night and the darkness of the enemy. If that were to happen, a great many terrible things could follow.'
Tinnurion felt awkwardly at ease with Galadriel at this point, as if her voice had emptied his mind. Yet at the same time her counsel worried him, for it seemed even she seemed alarmed.
'Now rest here from your journey, for you must have grown weary of travel and solitude, and when you are rested you are free to leave with all of your possessions. Farewell.'
Galadriel walked off and there Tinnurion stood in Galadriel's garden, still flustered about it all.
'Perhaps one night will not make the difference', he thought, and he lay down on a bench and dreamed for the first time in a long time.
