It was only the second day of the fellowship lingering in Lórien and for most, it had been a bliss. The fellowship mostly stayed together at the bottoms of the trees and did not associate a lot with the Elven-folk since Míriel's people did not know Westron very well. She felt torn the first night since she knew that she should spend time with those she had grown up with such as Haldir - but her heart belonged with the rest of the Fellowship. Therefore she stayed with the fellowship at all times which did not gain approval from her Elven friends.

Míriel listened to the lament for Gandalf as the fellowship got ready for another night of rest. The night sky was filled with stars which shone their light on the small camp they sat by together.

"What are they saying?" Merry asked Legolas who had just explained that the Elves were singing for Gandalf's sake.

"I have not the heart to tell you," Legolas said sadly to Merry and shook his head. He had been listening carefully of course, but their words were so sad filled with memories that saddened him greatly. "For me, the grief is still too near."

And it was the same for Míriel, and she almost wished that they wouldnät sing to remind them of the fallen hero of Middle-earth. Míriel leant against the tree next to the Hobbits and closed her eyes to listen to the beautiful lament, to accept that Gandalf was indeed gone and that there was nothing she could do about it.

Olórin, who once was...

Sent by the Lords of the West

To guard the lands of the East

Wisest of all Maiar

What drove you to leave

That which you loved?

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 extinguished

"I bet they don't mention his fireworks," Sam said while making his bed. Míriel opened her eyes and glanced at him curiously. Míriel had never seen Gandalf's fireworks, but people had told her about them of course. "There should be a verse about them."

He suddenly stood from the ground almost as if he was ready to sing himself. "The finest rockets ever seen, they burst in star and blue and green. Or after thunder, silver showers came falling like a rain of flowers... Oh, that doesn't do them justice."

"I think it was beautiful, Sam," Míriel said with a faint smile. It was and she almost preferred Sam's version better than the Elves'. He had known another kind of Gandalf, one that amused children with his fireworks and made people laugh with his stories. To most Elves, he had been a wise old Wizard that always gave them advice, they had not really known him as he was.

"You resemble your grandmother much," said Frodo to Míriel with a smile.

Míriem smiled a flattered smile for she had never considered herself similar to her grandmother in looks, more in spirit. Galadriel was tall and graceful with wavy golden hair that travelled down all the way to her ankles and eyes as blue as the waters. Caladwen had been much the same, even in her personality. Míriel, however, had been different since the day she was born. Instead of golden locks, she had received hair that resembled the bark on the darkest trees in Lothlórien, just as her father. His green eyes she had inherited too, as well as his feisty temper and eager spirit.

Galadriel was always so wise which anyone who gazed into her eyes could see for they were filled with knowledge that she had gathered after thousands of years alive. Míriel was quite certain that the same could not be said for herself. Despite being the very opposite to her grandmother now, Galadriel had assured that she had once been a young, wild Elf-maiden. The only difference was that Galadriel matured, while Míriel did not seem to do so.

"I take that as a compliment," Míriel said and beamed at Frodo.

"You should, she is the most beautiful creature I ever saw," said Pippin and smiled longingly into the mid-air. Míriel chuckled and sat down next to him, agreeing with him fully.

The night soon fell and one by one the fellowship members fell asleep. Míriel and Legolas were awake of course, but Legolas wanted to explore so he disappeared when everyone had dozed off.

Míriel still sat by the trees as the lament had stopped, but in the corner of her eye she saw Boromir anxiously moving around. She stood and walked toward the place he sat, leaning against one of the large trees and staring out across Lórien. Míriel took a seat next to her companion and met his smile with hers.

"You're not resting?" she said quietly so none of the others would wake up. "You can feel safe here."

"No, I cannot sleep," he said and sighed. His hand twitched and he seemed as if he could not be still. "As fair and kind as your grandmother is, she made me uneasy. She spoke in my head about my father and about Gondor."

"That is what she does," Míriel said and smiled faintly. "You should not fear her - not much at least." This made Boromir laugh quietly and he nodded. "She hurts no one if you don't hurt her kin first. Galadriel has been kind enough to let us all stay here, and I'm sure that if she said something about Gondor it was because she wanted to help."

Boromir sighed and Míriel wasn't sure he agreed with her. Either way, he sent her a smile.

"Thank you, Míriel," Boromir said. "You're much nicer than Legolas gives you credit for."

Míriel rolled her eyes but could not help but laugh.

"What has he been saying now?" Míriel questioned and nudged Boromir in the side. "Go on, tell me."

"Nothing, nothing at all," Boromir said and laughed. "I'm sure it's all harmless teasing. He cares for you, just as we all do."

Míriel smiled and glanced down at her hands. If Boromir said so, she hoped it was true and that Legolas had seen her nicer sides as well. It made her glad that she had managed to befriend Boromir as well, for she had doubted him much at the start of the journey. She knew now that he was a loyal friend, and she was grateful to call him her ally.

*

The night was filled with stars, but they were only visible if one stood at the very tops of the trees of Lothlórien. Míriel had done so countless times before and this night was no exception. Míriel was planning on taking advantage of her sleeping companions to get some time for herself to think. She was finally back in her home but it had not calmed her in the same way it usually did. The threat of the outside seemed closer than ever and without Gandalf it all felt so hopeless. Míriel thought to herself that there was only one thing that calmed her in situations like these; to visit her father's memorial.

As Míriel was making her way through the forest she heard some twings snap behind her. She turned around and saw that it was Legolas, climbing down from one of the trees and landing softly a few metres away from her.

"You've been doing some climbing I see," Míriel said with a soft smile.

"It is where I like it the best," Legolas said. "You should see the stars tonight, I have never seen them in this way. Lothlórien is one of the most beautiful places on earth - I don't understand why my father objected so harshly for me to go here."

Míriel gulped and looked away from his gaze, she knew very well why Thranduíl did not want his son coming there. Legolas visiting Lórien meant a large chance of him seeing her which was unthinkable for Thranduíl. Míriel wondered what Thranduíl's reaction would be when he found out what fellowship his son had joined and with whom.

"I suppose your realm is beautiful too," Míriel said to make conversation.

"In its own sense," Legolas said and shrugged. "The Woodland Realm is built mostly underground in caves. The Mirkwood forest is so dense that the very air you breathe will make you delusional. Walking there untrained would lead you astray for all eternity."

Míriel knew that better than anyone - she had been in that situation herself.

They looked each other in the eye for a moment without speaking, until Legolas stepped a little closer. They hadn't been this close since they were still in Rivendell, when for a moment it had felt like old times once more.

"The death of Gandalf hurt you deeply," Legolas said, almost like a statement. "I am very sorry, I liked him a lot. It will never be the same without him."

"I just knew him for so long," Míriel said sadly. "Without him my life would have been very different... In a way I owe him most of what is good in my life." Legolas seemed very confused at this and Míriel realised she had spoken too much.

It was true though, that if Gandalf had not pushed for the Dwarves of Erebor to reclaim their homeland and led them to Rivendell, Míriel would have never joined their company. She would have never met her friends, discovered how powerful she could be and most importantly never met Legolas.

"You seem to have a much deeper history with Gandalf that I first thought," Legolas said, almost suspiciously.

"Oh, you know how he was," Míriel said with a sad smile. "Meddling in everything including my life. Either way, I thought I would comfort myself by visiting my father's memorial."

Legolas widened his eyes as he had not known that her father was dead. "I am so sorry, I didn't know..."

"It was a long time ago," Míriel said and smiled reassuringly. "I was very young when he died and now that I'm home I can visit his grave."

Legolas hesitated before opening his mouth again.

"I could keep you company if you wish?" he suggested.

Míriel raised her eyebrows in surprise; she had not expected Legolas to want to go with her. In fact, they hadn't spoken this civilly during the entire journey and it almost felt as though Legolas was warming up to her a little. Therefore she was not about to miss an opportunity to spend time with him and nodded as a confirmation that she was fine with him coming along.

They walked together to Lothlórien's memorial where they remembered Elves that had fallen in battle. Veryan had been dead for over a thousand years, but his memorial was ever filled with flowers. He was missed by everyone, and especially by his only child and daughter. Before she left Lothlórien, she used to come almost every day and lay flowers by his memorial stone, think about him and at times even speak to him.

"I used to speak to him, even if it sounds strange," Míriel said to Legolas with a small smile. She sighed a little and then smiled again. "I wished he would have been able to meet you all. He would have liked you, I know he would. He was not very strict, my mother was but he was always the one who told people to be calm. He would have come on this adventure if he was alive, he loved adventures."

"You are here instead of him," Legolas said. Míriel smiled at him, feeling grateful for his words. "Your father would have been very proud of you Míriel."

"Thank you, Legolas," Míriel said and smiled. "So would your mother have been."

Legolas frowned, confused and Míriel's face fell. Legolas had shared much of his life with the fellowship, including Míriel, but he had never spoken of his mother to her. She had died long ago in a war in Gundabad and Míriel knew that Legolas rarely mentioned it to anyone since it was such a sensitive topic to Thranduíl.

"How do you know about my mother?" Legolas asked.

"You're the Prince of the Woodland Realm," Míriel said and turned her gaze in the other direction, hoping that he would believe her excuse. "Everyone knows her death was a tragedy even though I don't know what happened to her. I'm sorry if I spoke out of terms."

"No, it's all right," Legolas said quickly. "It's kind of you to say. My mother died in battle in Gundabad. I don't know much about her to be honest for I was very young."

Míriel tried to look as though it was the first time she had heard of this. Then she did something she knew was rather inappropriate - she placed her hand on his shoulder carefully before embracing him. Legolas seemed shocked as his body stiffened, but before Míriel could move away he had let his arms wrap around her gently. Míriel closed her eyes and enjoyed being in his arms, even if it were for just a moment. As they broke away from the embrace and gazed into each other's eyes Legolas seemed utterly confused. Míriel would have said something if it were not for someone clearing their throat.

Míriel turned her eyes in the direction of the sound and saw that Galadriel was standing there, radiant and beautiful - watching them with a small smile playing on her lips. Legolas hurried to turn toward Galadriel and bowed his head.

"May I steal my granddaughter for a moment?" Galadriel said, almost teasingly.

"Of course, my lady," Legolas said.

Míriel followed her grandmother up the trees to her own quarters. There they would be able to speak undisturbed just the two of them as they had not done in so long. Galadriel gestured for Míriel to sit down and then took a seat next to her. All Galadriel had to do was give her a little smile before Míriel embraced her dearly.

"My beautiful granddaughter," Galadriel mumbled into her hair. "My jewel... The horrors you have been through do not seem to end, do they?" Míriel glanced into Galadriel's eyes as her eyes filled up with tears.

"Gandalf was not supposed to die," Míriel sobbed.

"We do not decide what is supposed to happen and not, dear," Galadriel said gently. "Know that Gandalf was more than meets the eye and that his wisdom has not left us."

"What do you mean?" Míriel asked with a sad chuckle. Her grandmother had a tendency to speak in riddles, much like Gandalf in fact.

"One day perhaps you will see," Galadriel said, not a hint of what she meant in sight. "Now, at least things with Prince Legolas seem to have brightened. I knew that you would have to face him again one day, but not in this way."

"I thought I would see him once more and be done with it," Míriel lamented. "But now we are in the same Fellowship and I love him as much as I did when we parted. The only issue is that we have not gotten along very well. Until now, this evening it seems."

Míriel continued to spill her heart out to her grandmother all throughout the night until the sun began rising by the horizon. It wasn't until then that she realised that her companions must have been up, and so she left; grateful to have eased her chest of the recent events of the journey.

*

Once Míriel returned to the camp, the fellowship were up and had set up a picnic on the ground with the breakfast the Elves had brought them. Merry and Pippin were stuffing their faces as usual while Gimli was smoking his pipe. Legolas was in a conversation with Boromir and Aragorn, while Frodo and Sam were talking as well.

Looking at her companions warmed Míriel's heart greatly for she knew this would probably be the last time they could relax in this way, with no threat of violence in sight.

Míriel flinched at the sound of branches snapping and soon Haldir approached the camp, his brothers not far behind. Míriel turned toward him with a smile and he bowed his head in respect as he always did.

"My lady," Haldir said. "I come to you with an offer you've never refused before. Will you come out riding with us to the border, and bring whomever of your companions shall wish to see Lothlórien further?"

"You know I can't refuse that request," Míriel said and grinned. She turned toward the fellowship who glanced at the guards curiously. "Who would like to come riding with us?"

"I've seen this realm before, let someone else have their turn," Aragorn said politely.

"I wouldn't turn down the offer," Legolas said. "Anyone else?"

The Hobbits weren't all that comfortable in a saddle, nor was Gimli and Boromir did not want to come if Aragorn didn't. Therefore it was only Legolas and Míriel who followed the Galadhrim to the stables to get their horses ready.

They rode out, far from the camp, and now Legolas was finally able to see the realm he had longed to visit for so long. He engaged in a very deep conversation with one of Haldir's brothers, questioning him about everything there was to know about Lórien. Meanwhile, Míriel rode in the lead next to Haldir.

"You and your strange travelling companions," Haldir teased Míriel and chuckled. "Hobbits, Dwarves, Men..."

"You know me, Haldir," Míriel said and chuckled.

She glanced back at Legolas and Haldir probably noticed her longing gaze for he cleared his throat slightly uncomfortably.

"Forgive me, but it seems the prince and yourself are getting along rather well," Haldir said in a rather teasing manner. Míriel couldn't help but let a smile escape her lips and she glanced at her hands bashfully.

Haldir didn't know anything about the curse or much of what Míriel had been doing with Thorin Oakenshield's company since she had only told her family about the adventures. Therefore, Haldir must have thought that this was the first encounter Legolas and Míriel had with each other.

"Yes, he's my companion, just as the rest," Míriel said in an effort to sound unaffected by his teasing tone.

Haldir let out a chuckle but he soon silenced as Legolas rode up to the two. Haldir bowed his head before riding ahead, allowing Legolas and Míriel a moment alone.

"Wonderful place this is," Legolas said and let his gaze grace every tree and flower in the meadow. "I'm starting to regret inviting you to my home. I'm afraid it's not much compared to Lórien."

"Don't say that, I'm sure it is," Míriel said with a laugh, although it really wasn't. The Woodland Realm was impressive in its own way, though. "I almost thought I'd been disinvited after our rocky start in the beginning of the journey."

"I did consider disinviting you," Legolas teased which made them both chuckle. "But I changed my mind."

"How come?" Míriel asked, holding his gaze.

"You've made an impression on me, Míriel," Legolas said with a kind smile. "A rather good impression, I think."