Chapter 2
Elrond, his children, and their escort arrive in Lothlorien after almost three weeks of travel. They dismount and the stable hands move to take their horses. They head to the centermost tree as Haldir heads towards them.
He bows, “Follow me my lords and lady, your charge is currently receiving a checkup in the healing wing,” with that he leads them in a different direction than the one they were heading in, with Elrond, his children, and Glorfindel following him as the others reunite with friends.
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Celebrian is smiling as Willow sits swinging her legs during her checkup, the healer is admonishing her for going barefoot again. Celeborn shares a grin with his daughter as they listen to the light banter that the two are having with each other. Celebrian moves over to join her sitting on the bed. Elrond can hear Willow and the healer as he gets closer to the healing rooms.
Haldir snorts, “Getting that child to wear shoes is almost impossible.”
Elrohir, “She doesn’t wear shoes?”
Haldir nods, “She likes to feel the grass on her feet. She also said its something she rarely indulged in as a child.”
Elrond looks at him curiously, “What does that mean?”
Haldir, “I do not know.”
Elrond nods, they enter the healing quarters, and walk to where they hear talking. They turn the corner and stop in their tracks. They see a young human girl that is practically Arwen’s double and sitting beside her is Celebrian.
Galadriel walks in, “Oh I forgot to mention that Celebrian has returned to us.”
Elrond rushes forward and scoops his wife up and twirls her around. They laugh happily at being together again. Elrohir and Elladan walk over to their mother and hug her tight whispering we’re sorry over and over while she assures them that it is okay, and they did what they could. The twins grab Arwen and pull her into the hug with them and their mother, Arwen pushes as close as possible, and Elrond joins into the hug. The others watch them smiling for the family at being reunited with each other. Willow has a small sad smile on her face as she watches their reunion, and she slips off the bed leaving the room on quiet feet, unnoticed by everyone. Once out she runs on silent feet into the forest and climbs into one of the trees, once on a sturdy wide branch she pulls her knees to her chest and silently sobs.
Back in the healing wing Elrond pulls back, “You are truly here, how is it possible?”
Celebrian, “I have asked to come back, I am like Glorfindel, in the service of Mandos and is linked with the request that came to you from Irmo. I would like you to meet our adopted daughter Willow Ceredwyn Potter,” turns to the bed just to find it empty, which causes her to look around, “did anyone see her leave?”
Celeborn, “I am sorry we were focused on the five of you.”
Galadriel, “Fear not we will find her.”
Haldir nods and sets off to find others to search for her. Celebrian follows and begins to search on her own. Soon everyone is searching for her.
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Legolas Greenleaf son of King Thranduil is walking through the woods of Lorien to visit his father’s cousin Celeborn, as he travels, he hears a soft sniffle and sob. Looking around and then up he sees a small, what appears to be a, child in the tree. He climbs the tree and sits close to the figure.
“Hello, I am Legolas. What is wrong little one?”, he asks.
“They will not want me now,” is what he barely hears from the young girl.
“Who will not want you?” he asks.
“My new family”, is the response he gets, “they are whole again.”
“Are you sure they will not want you?”
“No one has truly wanted me; I have only been taken in by others because it was a duty, or they were forced to do so, never out of love,” Willow yawns, “sometimes, I think I’m impossible to love or I’m not worthy of it.”
“Everyone is worthy of love little one, but rest, sleep will make it better.”
“Not tired,” yawns again and leans against the tree falling asleep.
Legolas gathers the small girl into his arms and jumps lightly from the tree not even jostling her awake. He continues to make his way to the city of Caras Galadhon taking the little one he found with him. Wondering who her new family is.
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While Legolas makes his way in Celebrian is becoming worried about her new daughter and is continually looking for her not answering any of Elrond’s questions. Galadriel is attempting to calm her daughter. Celeborn has his grandson’s out with him looking for Willow.
Elrohir, “Grandfather what is going on?”
Celeborn, “I do not know exactly, but what I do know is that the young one that we are looking for is a replica of Arwen, your mother has adopted her into your family, and she has an uncanny ability to disappear.”
Elladan, “We have a new sister then?”
Celeborn nods, “Yes, there is more to it, but Willow will tell us in time. You need to be ready to support her, both of you.”
Elrohir nods, “We will.”
Celeborn nods, “Good.”
The group continues to travel deeper into the woods. Elrohir notices someone walking in the distance and points it out to his twin and grandfather. The three rush closer to the figure and see that it is Legolas and that he is carrying a small figure with black hair.
Celeborn sighs in relief, “Hail Prince Legolas of the Woodland Realm! Do you know the name of the girl you carry?”
Legolas, “Hail Lord Celeborn of Caras Galadhon, nay I do not, I found her crying in a tree.”
The two groups reach each other and Celeborn looks upon the girl brushing her hair from her face, “Willow wake up child.”
Willow shifts slightly and green eyes open to see Celeborn, “Grandfather?”
Celeborn smiles, “Yes granddaughter,” takes her from Legolas, “where did you go, why did you disappear?"
Willow sniffs and buries herself closer and only Celeborn can hear her, “I don’t want to be a duty to anyone anymore, they are whole and happy, I will only be a burden.”
Celeborn rubs her back, “You are not a burden child, Celebrian chose to return with you. She even told us that she asked Mandos and got the permission of your deceased parents to care for you in their stead.”
Willow sniffles again only Celeborn can hear, “What about her husband and children?”
Celeborn, “Why not ask your two brothers about it they came with me to help look for you,” He turns her towards them and waves in their direction.
Elrohir kneels down to her level, “Hello Willow, I am Elrohir, and this is my twin Elladan, we have heard that you are to be our new sister. I am also hearing that you are worried about belonging to our family. I would like to assure you that you are very welcome in our family, before our mother’s return was known the Valar Irmo sent a vision of you to our father, he could have accepted taking you in as a duty of the Valar and just seen to it that he does what was asked of him, but after receiving some information, which he has not shared with us, he began preparations for a new daughter and that was his choice.”
Elladan nods and kneels by his brother, “You will have a handmaiden, a room next to our sister Arwen and across the hall from us, it is also between Arwen and father because you are the youngest. He also had fabrics brought in to make you all new clothing. He has been like a giant child he is so happy to be getting another daughter. Arwen is excited and has already been looking for things to teach you. Then there is the two of us, we have been thinking about what kind of weapons we can teach you to use. So, what do you say will you give us a chance?”, he opens his arms waiting.
Willow fidgets not sure what to do. The four males wait for her reaction. Willow looks up and at the twins. Its like time stands still as she weighs their words to her. Soon she throws herself into Elladan’s arms with a sob. He wraps his arms around her and stands picking her up, Elrohir joins their hug.
Celeborn smiles, “As happy as this makes me your mother is worried about you. We should head home.”
“I’m sorry, I’m acting like a child,” she says.
Celeborn looks at her, “Do not worry about it, you have been through many changes, you are allowed to have a break down.”
Elladan starts walking, “Okay let’s get back.”
Willow, “I can walk you know.”
Elladan nods and hugs her, “Of course you can, but walking is overrated. Also, I get to brag about cuddling you before Arwen.”
Willow giggles as they all start heading back. Haldir and his brothers see them coming, and Rumil runs back to let them know she’s been found. Haldir and Orophin wait for them to offer an escort back. Elladan and Elrohir are happily talking about their family as they join up with the others.
Haldir smiles, “I am glad to see that you are okay little one.”
Willow blushes, “I’m not little, and I am an adult.”
Haldir, “Compared to many races here you would be seen as a child because of the way they age.”
Willow sighs, “Elladan do you think you can outrun Haldir?”
Elladan shifts her around, “Hold on and let’s find out,” Willow wraps her arms around his neck, and they take off running.
Haldir grins and follows after them. The others watch in shock at a laid back Haldir laughing and running behind the two siblings.
Legolas, “I have never seen Haldir so laid-back and laughing. Cousin what is going on?”
Celeborn, “That would be the magic that is my newest granddaughter Willow Ceredwyn Potter, come and you will learn more about her and we will learn more about what is going on,” with that the others walk back to Caras Galadhon listening to the laughter of child.
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Rumil runs to where his lady and her family are waiting for news, “She has been found, my Lords Celeborn, Elrohir and Elladan found her with Prince Legolas, and they are heading back this way.”
Celebrian leans into Elrond sighing in relief, “Thank the Valar, she didn’t leave the woods, did she?”
Rumil shook his head, “No she was well within the woods when she stopped.”
Celebrian, “Thank you Rumil.”
Rumil bows and leaves to get a drink and wait on his brothers to return. The others wait for the return of the rest of their family.
Arwen, “Mother we already picked out a room for Willow, it’s between my room and the room you and father share, we’ve made plans but nothing final,” looks at Celebrian and throws herself into her mothers arms with a sob, “you’re really back?!”
Celebrian wraps her arms around Arwen, “Yes I am back, and this is real.”
Elrond and Galadriel smile at the reunion between mother and daughter. They wait in the families private rooms as food is brought in and sat down. Soon they hear the arrival of the others with Elladan’s shout of we won along with laughter from Willow and Haldir. They separate with Haldir going to Rumil while they wait for Orophin, and Elladan along with Willow enters the room. Elladan sets Willow down, Celeborn, Elrohir, and Legolas walk in, Celebrian rushes forward opening her arms to pull her into a hug, Willow misunderstands her intentions as fear takes over making her make herself small as possible and pushes into Elladan’s body thinking, ‘please don’t hit me I’m sorry’, and this stops Celebrian in her tracks.
She drops to her knees, “Oh dearest one I would never strike you; I would cut off my own hands before I would do so.”
Willow looks at her unsure still pressed against Elladan who looks down at her, “Little sister has someone hit you before? You can tell us, and we will not judge you.”
Willow, “I was forced to live with my mother’s sister and her family, and they didn’t want me, and they hated magic.”
Elladan squeezes her shoulder in support, “Take your time.”
Willow takes a deep breath, “I,” she is cut off as a steamer trunk appears in front of them causing her to sigh in relief, “thank goodness, showing you will be easier,” with that she opens the trunk and digs into it pulling out a large sliver bowl with emeralds inlaid and runes etched into it. She sits it upon the table and pulls every memory forward, places the tip of her wand to her forehead, withdraws the memory, and sends it to the bowl. She looks at her family, “This is a pensive, we can put our memories in it and view them it would be easier to show you,” holds on to Elladan’s hand, “we should all hold hands I am unsure if the magic you have will activate it,” they all hold hands, “now just lean forward,” they all follow her example then they feel weightless, “no one will hear or see us,” and with that the memories begin.
They see a few happy memories from when Willow was a child with her parents. They see the night Voldemort attacked the small family, and then that same child being left on a doorstep. They watch as she’s locked away in a storage room and mistreated by those that should care for her. Her new family sees everything that she went through, the expectations, the fame, the weight of it all. Finally, the memories end with her waking in Mandos’ halls and they are pulled back into themselves. They are all quiet not sure where to start.
Elladan sits and pulls her into his lap and cuddles her close, “You will never want for anything as long as I’m here.”
Elrohir nods, “Same with me,” squeezes her hand, “and we will make sure you are never alone.”
Elrond kneels before her and takes her hands, “You are a treasure to be cherished always, I will always make sure that you…”
He is cut of by a shout from his wife, “Find me his soul in the after life and find me a Dwarf so I can tell them what happened, and they can shave him!”
They all blink looking at Celebrian in shock at her words. The twins snicker and start to laugh because they have never seen their mother so violent before. Legolas slumps in a chair still surprised that the Lady Celebrian is back. Galadriel smiles and nods in approval while Celeborn sputters out that she can’t be serious. Arwen stops her pacing to stare at her mother.
Elrond sighs, “As I was saying I will always make sure that you have everything you need and want.”
Willow looks at them all, “Are you all this distressed over me?”
As one they all respond, “Yes!”
“That’s going to take some getting used to, especially because you are all adults.”
Celebrian steals her away from Elladan and hugs her close, “Oh my sweet child we will help you every step of the way.”
Willow looks at her new father and older siblings, “And you are not mad at me because I was the reason your wife and mother came back to Middle Earth?”
Elrohir, “Having mother come with you is an added bonus.”
Arwen, “Never will we be mad at you for that.”
Willow sniffs as Arwen hugs her, “You all are too good to be true.”
Elladan claps his hands, “Okay I am hardly ever the voice of reason, but we should eat, and my new little sister cannot afford to miss any meals.”
Elrohir, “You have out done yourself today by being the voice of reason.”
Elladan, “Hey that’s not nice.”
Willow giggles at them and their actions. They smile knowing that their plan to lighten the mood worked. They also head over to the table that the food is on shoving and nudging each other out of the way. Willow giggles more as she is guided to the table to sit and eat. She is joined by her new family, which leaves her smiling happily. They all talk and eat late into the evening, Willow leans against her new father and drifts off to sleep.
Lord Elrond smiles down at her, “Where is her room and I will take her to bed.”
Celebrian smiles, “Between our room and Arwen’s, we had similar ideas.”
Elrond stands and gather’s her in his arms and frowns, “She is still too light, I will return shortly,” leaves to put her to bed.
He walks down the hall to where the bedrooms are and walks into the opening that is between the room, he shares with Celebrian and Arwen’s room. He lays her in her bed and covers her with a sheet, kisses her brow and wishes her a goodnight. She smiles and snuggles into her bed; he smiles and quietly heads back to the room where his family is at. They all look up when he walks in to see if she woke back up.
Elrond smiles, “She sleeps, but we do have much to talk about, I knew she would need help, but I didn’t know the extent of it.”
Celeborn looks at his daughter, “And her task here?”
Celebrian, “I cannot reveal it, it is her task and hers alone to reveal.”
Galadriel nods, “While both are true, the bigger concern is to help her through what has happened to her during her childhood. She has begun some lessons here which will need to be continued in Rivendell.”
Legolas pipes in first, “I would be honored to teacher her to wield dual knives.”
Elrond smiles, “Thank you Prince Legolas.”
Elladan, “I will instruct her in the bow.”
Elrohir, “I will take sword practice.”
Elrond and Celebrian beam happily at their twins for their offer, “That is good, we will continue her education that she began here.”
Arwen, “I will give her etiquette lessons.”
Galadriel nods, “Yes those are very good, I would advise riding lessons from Glorfindel.”
Elrond nods, “That is a wise choice.”
Celeborn, “We must be vigilant in helping her find her true self though, she will more than likely back slide on this path. What happened today will only be the first of many until she is sure that her spot in our family is secure and that she is loved.”
Galadriel, “We also have to look at who caused you to land here and not in Rivendell, from what the two of you told us, I fear that the orcs were waiting for her.”
Elladan, “Orcs?! No one mentioned that you two met Orcs,” worry for his mother and new sister in his voice.
Celebrian, “We didn’t I ended up closer to the boarders of Lorien, Willow landed closer to Moria and defeated 7 orcs on her own. She was still on high alert from the war she had just won and from what Haldir, Rumil, Orophin, and I saw was very impressive. Though she was exhausted by the time we got here Rumil was carrying her because she passed out.”
Elrond, “I worry about other things, I know she is Valar sent but, I am concerned about her being used by them. She has been used by many people, and we didn’t see the memories of what happened after she woke.”
Celebrian held up her hand, “I know you are concerned and when you get concerned you forget things, but Mandos has made her aware of the situation, and she is more than a Maiar, she is the descendant of Mandos and a witch named Elswyth Peverell from another realm called Earth, Vaire told him of someone from his line that would save the world of her birth and this world. More than that I cannot say, you will have to gain her trust in order to reveal it, Mandos did tell her that she will have to be wary of who knows because there will be those that will work to stop her.”
Elrond sighs, “She holds up well for one so young, she will not take easy to accept being treated as a child, for that is what she truly is, a child of man that has gained immortality.”
Arwen, “It will be hard on her, but she may surprise us and adapt. Will she be like an elfling certainly not, but she may act like a child until she adjusts to her new life.”
Elrohir, “She was quick to accept an embrace and didn’t protest much when Elladan picked her up.”
Elladan nods, “That is true, though this does bring one thing up for a child of man her age, she should be taller and weigh more.”
Celeborn, “I am afraid that the inconsistency of food is the cause, she will never gain her true height, but we can help her put weight on.”
Celebrian nods, “Her birth parents were tall close to the heights of Gandalf and Saruman.”
Elrohir, “She is more along the size of a Dwarf or Hobbit.”
Legolas gives him a scandalized look, and Elrohir looks at him, “Belladonna and Gandalf mentioned that she had an uncle that was tall enough to ride a horse, and if I remember correctly the 5th rebirth of Durin was around 4 and a half ft tall.”
Elrond nods, “You are correct on both. We also need to be patient if she wants to change things that we have done already for her. She has had little to control in her life so giving her options would be a good gesture towards making her feel welcome.”
Celebrian smiles, “She favors the colors silver and green, red and gold, blue and bronze, and yellow and black to be used together for clothing and after seeing her school years I can see why , has found a joy for reading, her favorite dessert is something she calls treacle tart, she likes pumpkin juice, shepherd’s pie is her favorite meal, she enjoys cooking but doesn't liked to be forced to do so, and she would be happy with anything you give her as long as it’s given out of love and it’s truly for her.”
Arwen, “Green does bring out her eyes.”
Elladan, “At first I thought she was a younger version of Arwen.”
Galadriel smiles, “So did your grandfather.”
Celeborn, “It was an interesting day, it’s not every day that your daughter comes back from the west.”
Legolas, “Speaking of coming back, Lady Celebrian and Lady Willow should speak with Lord Glorfindel if they have issues with adjusting especially the young lady because she has died and comeback twice now.”
Elrond begins to speak when a scream reverberates the air around them. Celebrian is the first to jump up and run to where the scream has come from. The others follow quickly behind her and see her dress disappear into Willow’s room. Celebrian gathers Willow into her arms rocking her and gently speaking to her calling her out of her nightmare. Elrond makes his way in and joins them calling for her like Celebrian is doing. The others watch in silence when Galadriel speaks to the others in their minds letting them know that this is a nightly occurrence because of her life. They all watch and wait for their youngest family member to calm and awaken under the care of her new parents.
Willow slowly comes out of her nightmare and looks at her new mother and notices another voice and pair of arms around her as well. She looks between both parents unsure until her mother gives her a nod and Willow practically launches herself into her father’s arms and presses her face into his chest as she sobs out about her nightmare. Elrond holds her close and rubs her back listening to her spill her heart out to him. He and Celebrian whisper reassurances to her. The twins and Arwen are the only ones standing and watching the three on the bed. Elrohir is the first one to move and joins their father in rubbing Willow’s back. Elladan and Arwen soon follow and climb onto the bed as well whispering like their parents are. Willow drifts back to sleep to the voices and the feeling of being surrounded by family. Elrond lays down with her because she has a death grip on his shirt. Celebrian on her other side with Arwen at her back and the twins beside Arwen. Elrond looks at them with a grin.
Elladan, “What this is a first good step, she knows that we will be here.”
Elrohir and Arwen nod in agreement with him, both smiling.
Celebrian grins, “Our eldest are agreeing with each other, Arda has finally come to an end.”
Elrond chuckles, “I believe you are right dearest.”
Arwen giggles while her brothers chuckle, Elrond hushes them telling them to get some rest while they can. Celebrian smiles at him as the other three quiet down to rest while the youngest sleeps. Soon they are all sleeping.
Legolas looks at Celeborn, “Should I inform my father of these events cousin?”
Celeborn looks thoughtful for a few moments, “I am uncertain, it would hurt him deeply to see Celebrian returned when your own mother cannot.”
Legolas nods at that, “You are correct it may be too soon to announce these changes.”
Galadriel looks wistful, “Maybe we can have a new celebration this winter, like observing Christmas that is from Earth.”
Celeborn nods, “That is a wonderful idea, also introduce her to Elven society at that time.”
Legolas, “I admit I am intrigued by their holidays.”
Galadriel smiles, “A masked ball does seem like it would be delightful.”
Celeborn nods, “I believe our new granddaughter will enjoy it as well, considering what those animals did to her.”
Legolas coughs in surprise at Celeborn’s words, Celeborn looks at him, “I will not consider them humans, I have never seen anyone treat a child like that.”
Galadriel nods, “I would happily give them to the Dwarrow with a detailed report of what they did.”
Legolas, “Why though, they are Dwarves and beneath us?”
Celeborn sighs, “That is your father talking not you. Dwarves do not tolerate child abuse, and they do not immediately put to death those that do so, they will give what the abuser gave to the child and do so tenfold.”
Legolas gulps as they continue to walk away from the room that their family is sleeping in. The three of them head to where the people of Lorien will be waiting to hear from their Lord and Lady about how their new princess is doing. Legolas moves to stand with Haldir, Rumil, Orophin, Glorfindel and the others from Rivendell. They wait until all eyes are on them before speaking.
Celeborn smiles, “Lady Willow was found by my cousin Prince Legolas when he was coming to visit us. She is with our daughter and her family resting for the night. Tomorrow they will take the day to begin to bond as a family,” grins more, “but with knowing how the young lady is she will be welcoming if you do approach them to speak with her. As of now I do not know how long Lord Elrond is planning to stay before heading back home. Thank you all for helping to look for her earlier today, and now you all can prepare for the feast we have been planning due to the return of Lady Celebrian and having a young one amongst us again.”
With that everyone cheered and set off to work for the feast that would be held tomorrow. The few that stayed behind includes the elves from Rivendell, Legolas, and Haldir with his brothers and when they were gestured to, they took the seats that were offered. They waited for the Lord and Lady of Lorien to settle, Celeborn in his chair and Galadriel goes to a window and looks out.
Celeborn looks at Glorfindel, “My Lord Glorfindel a point was brought up when we as a family were discussing my granddaughter’s past, it was mentioned that it would be a good idea if you were willing to have you lend an ear to Celebrian about returning to Middle Earth and Willow may need one about dying and coming back to life.”
Glorfindel looks outraged not at Celeborn but because one so young has died, “Of course Lord Celeborn I will be happy to offer what aid I can for them both.”
Celeborn nods, “Thank you. Now the new member of Imladris will need special care until she is settled. Be prepared for days like this where she may run and hide, because of this you must be on alert. She is quiet you wouldn’t hear her run even in shoes.”
Lachon, “I will get to know her before I leave, it may be a good idea to have handmaidens that can double as guards so there will be one or two Elleths with her at all times.”
Galadriel, “That is a wise plan, especially considering that we do not know what powers knocked the two of them off course on their way to Imladris,” with that the group turns from the topic of the new addition to their city and onto the celebrations that will take place tomorrow.