Neder

[inafadingcrown]

[Room 304 has undergone quite a few changes. Most noticeably, it’s not really so much of a room anymore, as it is its own little world.

Anyone who enters will find themselves in a beautiful old forest, surrounded by Mallorn trees, their golden leaves shining as the starlight hits them. And starlight it is, for there is no moon. But it should not be

Comments

[materialblade]

[There's a boy drawn in by the scent of the forest, the faint rustling of leaves. To him, the near-wilderness has always been home. He feels bad snooping around like this, but he can't help it, especially when he sees for himself just how beautiful this place is.]

Wow... I've never seen anything like this.

[He twists to dodge a misty figure, surprised.]

Okay, that's a little creepy-- a beach?! [He runs past the ghosts and gets knee deep into the water, shading his eyes from the starlight with his hand.]

Why aren't there any boats?

[He always did want to make a boat and explore the world. He's a little sad that no one would set sail for a place like what he's seeing.]

[inafadingcrown]

[Suddenly there's a figure on the beach behind him. She had approached quietly, making so little noise that Lloyd may not have noticed her until she spoke.]

I may not yet return to the land beyond the Seas. My time will come and the ships with it.

[materialblade]

[Lloyd didn't hear her at all. When she speaks, he spins around quickly and... falls on his butt with a cry. Very graceful. He picks himself up out of the water, dripping everywhere, his red-brown eyes never quite leaving hers.

This place is just full of surprises. He wrings out his gloves.]

You're... an elf.

[More grace. He's used to elves hating people, so the fact that she even answered him is amazing. She's beautiful and ageless, and she even seems to glow in a way. He's not quite sure what to do.]

Uh, I'm Lloyd.

[inafadingcrown]

That I am.

[Her expression changes very little, but there's a twinkle in her eyes and a slight twitching at her lips, a barely restrained smile.]

Well met, Lloyd. I am Galadriel.

[exanimatus]

[the first thing he's inclined to do is leave his shoes at the door (which is kind of a silly inclination, all things considered, but he's not one to judge himself like that). so he does.

that out of the way, he'll take to wandering around and just... looking at things. partly for comprehension, but largely just to see what's going on. eerily calm and attentive as always.]

[inafadingcrown]

[You remember when she said he reminded her of her uncle at times? That might explain the figure that's solidifying in front of him. A dark haired man with fierce, piercing eyes, dressed in royal robes. But the vision flickers and, for a moment, those robes are covered in blood. He's just standing there watching.

A slightly less solid figure of a younger Galadriel (almost as if the real Galadriel doesn't entirely want to remember) is standing back, glaring daggers at both of them.]

[exanimatus]

[well... hey there, covered-in-blood guy. he will stop and watch them both back, trying to put this into some sort of context. he's got a hunch, but... there's a lot in here.

he doesn't make any more noise than a thoughtful hum, though.]

[inafadingcrown]

[There is a lot in here. 8,000+ years of memory, in fact.

But they will provide context for themselves, for the most part. The surroundings gradually fade into a meadow. It might once have been beautiful, but now it's littered with the aftermath of battle- blood, bodies, and steel. The dark haired man turns his attention to Galadriel, who has begun to approach him in anger. He is able to do what few can- silence her- with two short sentences.]

Look to your own hands, Artanis. You desire the ships as much as I.

[She does look at her hands, literally, and now her figure is stained with blood as well.]

[jamesholmes]

[Somewhere between learning of Helen's mind being on display to the world at large, and doing a casual look into his own room to see it, James had vowed not to go into other people's heads. It was just rude after all. But that idea...was proving to be a failure as he heard that music coming from the room. He had heard it before, and well, he couldn't resist it.

So there he was taking a step into the room, ears sharp, when he noticed the rest of the room, and he couldn't help the slight, sharp intake of breath. There was just, a feel to this place, and he couldn't help but take a few more steps into it and stare at what he was seeing. Really just...what...but then of course, because the language of the singing he recognized and he knew at least whose room he was in. So he's stopping just about in the middle of nowhere to close his eyes and listen, that's not prying or digging around is it?]

[inafadingcrown]

[How good are his ears? Can he hear the near-silent sound of an elf-Queen walking through her own forest? Because she's going to come up and place a hand on his shoulder.]

[jamesholmes]

[His ears are sharp but not that sharp but with his deductive reasoning he at least knows whose forest he's standing in. But it's with a small smile and the ducking of his head that he responds but he doesn't turn to face her, nor does he open his eyes.]

I am sorry for the intrusion Lady Galadriel.

[inafadingcrown]

And yet you entered. [She chuckles a little bit.] I have more control of my mind than you may think. This is not the first I have had to guard my mind; my secrets are not so easily found. You may look, if you wish.

[beyondimagining]

[Late in the day Will knocks politely on the door. He'd spent most of the day in his room, merely thinking. His own experience with the mind was limited, and he was uncertain about about many of the conclusions that had come to him. But for now he thought it would be helpful to speak to some of the others he had come to know here.]

[inafadingcrown]

[Galadriel eventual emerges from the forest. She pauses at the doorway and upon seeing who it is, she smiles. Yes, it's fitting that he should be here.]

Will Stanton. You are welcome here.

[beyondimagining]

I thank you for that.

[Will dips his head and steps inside, looking about himself with bright curiosity.]

So it has changed for you as well.

[inafadingcrown]

It has. This both is and is not Lórien.

[She gently places a hand on a tree and grows quiet for a moment, as if she is listening to it.]

But it is, perhaps, even more my realm than those Golden Woods.

[justcharles]

[When Charles enters Galadriel's room, he experiences a curious sensation in his legs. I've regained my legs! he thinks, immediately getting up out of his chair. He begins to walk quietly among the trees in the forest, his eyes close, allowing his intuition to guide him. He can sense the ghostly figures from Galadriel's past as the flit about their business around him. When he reaches the beach, he simply stands at the shore, allowing the peace in Galadriel's mind to wash over him, as the waves lap at his shoes.]

[inafadingcrown]

[She approaches quietly and stands beside him for a moment before speaking.]

I did not think to see you stand here before me.

[justcharles]

[He smiles, turning to get a look at Galadriel. She's still taller than he is, but at least he's not conversing with her navel.]

Truth be told, neither did I. I think it may have something to do with the unique nature of sharing in another's mind. When I'm here, my body acts as my mind would will it to. I must confess...it almost makes me wish for whatever this is to continue indefinitely.

[inafadingcrown]

[She laughs suddenly.]

For your sake, I will hope it lasts some time. But for my own, I will hope it is not indefinitely. I would not have guarding my mind become so literal a task.