No one talked on the way to the woods of Lothlorien.
Even the usually talkative Pippin was silent. Everyone was left to their individual thoughts.
The air was thick with grief as the Fellowship silently mourned.
Gimli's gruff voice broke through the silence.
"Stay close, young hobbits!" Gimli urged the hobbits towards himself. "They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf witch... of terrible power."
Gimli looking around cautiously, tightening the grip on his axe as he continued his spiel.
"All who look upon her... fall under her spell..."
The hobbits exchanged worried glances.
"...and are never seen again," Gimli finished.
Korra saw Frodo look around nervously as if he heard a voice. Korra bopped Gimli on the head.
"Stop taunting them Gimli. They're getting scared," Korra reprimanded lightly.
Suddenly, Korra heard a voice in her head that wasn't hers.
((Avatar.))
Korra tensed at the clearly female voice.
((Don't be afraid, I mean you no harm.))
She relaxed slightly at those words, though not fully.
((I have many things to discuss with you. Including the reason why you are here. I will be seeing you soon, Avatar Korra...))
The melodious voice trailed off, leaving Korra very confused.
She was so distracted by the voice that she didn't notice the soft rustling sounds around her.
Korra vaguely heard Gimli mention something about foxes and before anyone knew what was happening, they were surrounded by twelve elves who had arrows pointed directly at their faces.
Korra didn't even let the leading elf talk as she immediately went onto the offensive bringing her arms upwards encasing the elves in rocks right up to their necks. Their bows were left on the floor beside them.
Korra brought up their arrows and aimed it at their faces.
"Who are you and why are you trying to hurt my friends? I'm not in a good mood right now so I'd answer quickly if I were you," Korra growled.
Aragorn was quick to stand between her and the Elf, holding up his hands in a reassuring way.
"Korra please let them go. They are the Elves of Lothlorien," Aragorn said urgently, not wanting to offend the Elves.
Korra looked doubtful.
"But they attacked us," she argued.
"They were just doing their jobs, Korra," Aragorn said calmly.
Korra huffed and with a wave of her hand the Elves were free.
"Haldir of Lorien..." and the rest was lost on everyone except for Legolas as they spoke Elvish.
"Aragorn, these woods are perilous. We should go back," Gimli said with an uncomfortable tone.
The other elves were going to point their arrows at the dwarf but one look at Korra's angry face dissuaded them from doing so. The leader of the Elves, who now regarded Korra with caution, cleared his throat.
"You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back," Haldir said. "Come. She is waiting."
They all followed Haldir and the other elves for an hour.
When they arrived at their destination Korra's jaw hit the floor.
Staircases wove around enormous thick trees and the buildings blended perfectly with the nature.
Korra hadn't been in a town of any sort since before she entered the portal so the sight was welcome.
From there Haldir led her and the others up a staircase and onto a platform where they were then greeted by two of the most beautiful beings Korra had seen.
These had to be the lord and lady of Lothlorien; Celeborn and Galadriel. Haldir had mentioned them on the trip there... though Korra couldn't tell which was which... they both looked like ladies to her.
"The enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone," Celeborn said.
'Oh, so that's the guy,' Korra thought, grateful that he at least sounded male so that she didn't make the mistake of calling her - oops, sorry - him, a Lady.
She could've sworn she saw Lady Galadriel smile.
"Nine there are here, yet nine set out from Rivendell. However, not the original nine," the, so called lord of Lothlorien, continued.
"Tell me, where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him," Galadriel said with a far off look.
Korra's eyes widened in shock, recognising the voice.
"You're her!" Korra yelled a bit louder than she meant to.
The Fellowship looked confused while Galadriel smiled and nodded.
"Indeed, young Avatar, I am," the Elven Lady stated gently. "Now, where is Gandalf?"
She took turned, gazing at everyone before a sad expression crossed her face.
"...He has fallen into shadow."
Legolas slowly nodded.
"He was taken by both shadow and flame," he said softly. "A Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into Moria."
Galadriel shook her head.
"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in his life." Galadriel spoke. "We do not yet know his full purpose."
"What now becomes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf, hope is lost," Celeborn stated blunted.
'Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence,' Korra thought sarcastically.
Galadriel smiled at Korra, as if she had heard her thoughts.
"The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail to the ruin of all," she said sagely.
Korra felt the urge to roll her eyes. Is everyone around here this pessimistic?
"Yet hope remains while the company is true... Avatar. Do you wish to know how you got here?" Korra looked at the Elven lady apprehensively.
"Yeah?" Korra said lamely. It sounded more like a question than a statement.
"Very well... I sent for you," Galadriel stated. The Fellowship and Korra looked shocked.
"What!" Korra exclaimed. "But, but how..." Korra started but was interrupted by Galadriel.
"I asked for Valar for aid. That's when the spirits of all the previous Avatars came to me in a dream and told me that they were requested to help Middle Earth by the Valar. They also said that they would join their power to create a portal to this world. Hence why you are here," she explained.
"But why would the Valar send for me. How do they even know me when I'm not from this world," Korra questioned.
"Well child, the Valar know of your world because, in a way, they are a part of it but at the same time, they are not," Galadriel said cryptically.
Korra felt a slight migraine coming on. This was starting to seriously confuse her.
"You see, the spirit Raava which is merged with your soul is known by another name in these lands..." Galadriel paused.
Everyone who was present listened attentively, especially the Fellowship.
"She is known as Varda Elentari, the Star-Queen and the Queen of the Valar."
All present stared at Korra in complete and utter shock. Some even bowed.
"Yes indeed, your soul is merged with that of the Queen of the Valar. The evil spirit, Vaatu, which you had defeated is also known by another name... Morgoth," Galadriel said.
Everyone gasped. No one quite believed that the woman present had defeated the Morgoth.
All of those who had heard, including the Fellowship, looked upon Korra with even more respect and awe than before.
Hope shone in the eyes of many of the elves. Perhaps their saviour had come after all.
Korra bowed to the Elven Lady.
"Thank you for making that clear," Korra said gratefully.
Galadriel bowed back.
"Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight, you will sleep in peace," she said addressing the whole Fellowship now.
As Korra was about to follow the rest of the Fellowship down the stairs Galadriel called for her.
"Wait Korra, I wish to speak with you tonight. Meet me here at midnight."
Korra nodded hesitantly before walking after the Fellowship.
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Korra walked up the flight of stairs which she had climbed earlier that morning.
It was now midnight and Korra was going to see Lady Galadriel. She didn't know what to expect, but she hoped the Elf wouldn't drop another bombshell on her like that morning. She's had enough surprises for one day.
Korra reached the small platform and saw a shaken Frodo walking away from a pleased looking Galadriel. He obviously hadn't noticed Korra as he brushed pass her shoulder and mumbled an apology.
"What did you do to him?" Korra asked, concerned for her little friend.
Galadriel didn't answer. Instead she grabbed a silver jug, filled it up with water from a mini waterfall and poured it inside what looked like a basin.
"I did nothing. Now, will you look into the mirror?" Galadriel gestured to the basin. Korra gave her a weird look but complied.
"Er, okay?" was all Korra said before she leant over and stared into the basin.
All of a sudden images invaded Korra's mind.
|START OF VISION|
Korra looked at her surroundings only to see everything destroyed. Building were up in flames and entire landscapes and black.
Korra saw the hobbits were in slavery.
Legolas lay dead on the floor with multiple arrows sticking out of him while Gimli rested dead beside him, axe in hand.
Korra saw Aragorn impaled on a spear which was held up by a troll.
The scene zoomed out and Korra sees herself, bloodied and beaten.
A dark figure was seen hovering above her. The thing looks directly at her and speaks.
"DID YOU REALLY THINK I WAS GONE FOR GOOD, LITTLE AVATAR? YOU HAVE FAILED YOUR PATHETIC LITTLE FRIENDS. AFTER I HELP MY OLD SERVANT DESTROY THIS WORLD, WE SHALL JOIN FORCES AND GO AFTER YOURS! MWHAHAHAHA! NOW, DISAPPEAR!"
The creature menacing voice boomed and a giant purple beam hit Korra square in the chest.
|END OF VISION|
Korra jerked backwards violently, landing on her butt. Korra shook her head in terror and disbelief.
'No, it's impossible,' she thought.
However, Korra knew that voice anywhere.
...It was unmistakeable.
"Vaatu."
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I know this clashes with the Silmarillion but please just roll with it. Thanks.