The Safehaven of Lothloriel

Elbereth Elentari turned her path away from the lone Marauder and his dark intentions, mindful of her errand and bound in her inability to either forewarn or aid the Elder and Younger Children of Iluvatar in their battle against evil.
Ere she was aware of the route she took, she arrived once again in the desolate, abandoned realm of Lothloriel. Its trees long since a shadow of their former golden glory and the woods devoid of living creatures, but for the few nocturnal beasts she had previously observed, who had fled the poisonous, deadly forest of Mirkwood.
The gilded glory of Lothloriel remained thus veiled and dim, slowly fading after the War of the Rings at the end of the Fourth Age and the ensuing departure of the Lord and Lady of Lothloriel, Celeborn and Galadriel, across the seas and into the West towards Valinor.

Before the Awakening

Elbereth paused and her bright eyes became clouded with tears. That glorious journey of the Ringbearers and their companions to the hallowed plains of the Blessed Realm of Valinor, had also seen the return of Gandalf to her homeland. Once again free to roam in the rainments of Olorin, as he was known to the Valar and Maiar, he had captured her heart and was thence the cause of her grief and fading.
To ease her heartbreak, Manwë, High King of the Valar, who gleaned the Will of Eru (Iluvatar) most easily among the Ainur, and upon the urging of his Queen, Varda, tasked her to journey to Arda (or Middle Earth as it was also known), and rekindle the flame of patronage and protection between the remaining Elven, Men and Dwarven folk and the Valar, the rightful Powers of Arda (the World that is).

She was aware of the importance of her assignment. She had seen the reemerging Darkness and Malice threatening the peace-loving races of the River Lands.

A few stars kindled the sky, but dawn was approaching and soon she would stand alone within this retreat as the animals of the night went to their slumber.
Elbereth moved with light steps up towards the once wondrous dwelling of Galadriel and her gaze swept across Lothloriel, her vision reaching from one border to the other. She hesitated as her eyes rested on the mountainous path hiding Mirkwood from the sight of ordinary Elves and Men. Elbereth was able to gaze further abroad, despite the twilight, past the monstrous spiders, those fell arachnids who had supplanted the Woodland Elves, making the forest their murk-filled abode and pushing the borders of the Woodland Realm back until directly before the hidden entrance to the vast, majestic Halls of Thranduil.

And as she pondered the awakening dangers and her inability to hinder them, she was suddenly overtaken with weakness, her hand reaching out to a pillar to steady herself.
Elbereth slid soundlessly to the ground, all consciousness departing her as her spirit was beckoned to another plain...

~ End of Part One ~

~ Part Two ~

Elbereth's Spirit soared among her beloved stars. Her whole being was filled with Light and Understanding as the mellifluous voice of Irmo Lorien swelled within her, guiding her thoughts and directing her actions with visions of what is to come. The Stars embraced her, yet she soon felt herself drawn back towards Laurenandë (The Valley of Gold).

Ulmo and Elbereth

Emerging from her reverie and instantly perceiving her course, Elbereth softly exclaimed, 'Auta i lómë! Utúlie'n aurë!'
(The Night is passing! The Day has come!).
She glowed with the joy of this communication from her beloved Valar forefather and her spirit was strengthened with the foresight of her undertaking.

'I shall awaken Lothloriel once again. It shall provide sanctuary and shelter to all those who seek respite from the woes of the world or are fleeing from evil,' Elbereth whispered to the surrounding trees. 'I shall encircle its borders with such enchantments as I know, so that only those of courage, honour or true need may enter.'
She observed the last star disappear from above and waited patiently for the triumphant return of Arien, guiding the Chariot of the Sun. As her eyes drifted along the great river Anduin, she beamed at further inspiration from Ilmo and hastily made her way down to the opening of Anduin into the Seas separating Lothloriel, Taibreamh and the River Lands. Here she raised her voice in song, praising the neverending wisdom of Ulmo, Lord of the Waters and King of the Seas.
The Songs of Elbereth were renowned in Valinor and the Valar had often called upon her to soothe their cares with her silvery verses. Her melodious declaration was sweeter than a choir of nightingales and the music swelled as the tumbling waters echoed her appeal.
She knelt at the water's edge, letting her fingers dance within the shallows to the flow of the clear liquid as she sang.
The song ended as the first rays of sunshine kissed the few remaining leaves of the withering Mallorns, and as she withdrew her hand, a shadow fell upon her.
Elbereth raised her eyes in astonishment as a giant figure broke the water's surface.
'Ai, Beleger,' she bowed her head in reverence. 'Cormamin lindua ele lle!' (Oh, Might One! My heart sings to see thee!).
Her voice faltered as she realised that she had spoken to the Ancient One in the elvish tongue, but before she could correct herself, she saw Ulmo smile broadly, his twinkling eyes merry as he replied with his deep voice in kind, 'Oio naa elealla alasse', Arwenamin.' (Ever is thy sight a joy, my Lady).
Elbereth remained on her knees as the water caressed the head and shoulders of Ulmo. Each wave bought tidings from across Arda and Ulmo was the one Ainur who had never foresaken the dwellers of Middle Earth.
He watched her fondly, divining her wishes and seeing the purity of her intention.
'My brothers and sisters have waited for this moment. It was woven into the Ainulindalë at the beginning of Time and my assistance to its success was simply a matter of invocation,' Ulmo's cavernous speech reverberated across Lothloriel. He continued as Elbereth trembled at his greatness, 'By my Power shall no enemy, no being of malevolent intent, cross the waterways encircling Lothloriel. This Realm will become an isle of safety and respite so long as the Maia Elbereth remains as Guardian here!'

The echoes of his Force of Will placed an enchantment around the Golden Wood and the air shimmered with his power.
Ulmo bade Elbereth stand and as a token of acknowledgement of their pact, he bid her sing once again, her voice a delight to the Valar King of the Seas, he who replicated the Music of the Ainur in all waters and along with Manwë most faithfully served the Purpose of Eru.

Elbereth smiled in thanks and took up her song again, its richness and innocence weaving magic through the thence forth protected realm and every living being harkened to the beauteous melody of the new Guardian of Lothloriel, renewing life and hope to all who heard it.

***

Eru: The Supreme Being. Called Iluvatar by the Elves. 
Ainur: Divine Spirits first created by Eru.
Ainulindalë: The Music of the Ainur, sung before Time began and from whence Eä was created.
Eä: the Universe.
Valar: 14 Spirits of Eru who shaped and are bound to Arda/Middle Earth.
Manwë and Varda: High King and Queen of the Valar.
Ilmo: also called Lorien is the Valar King of Dreams and Visions.
Ulmo: Valar King of all Waters.
Maiar: spirit beings of lesser power than the Valar.
Gandalf: a Maia called Olorin, who was sent in wizard form to Middle Earth to assist in the resistance against Morgoth (Ainur), Sauron (Maia) and Saruman (Maia-Wizard).
Arien: Maia who guided the Sun.
Valinor: hidden Realm of the Valar to the West. Also home to the remainder of the First Elven Kindred and the place Elves enter when they sail West, foresaking Middle Earth.
Elder Children of Iluvatar: refers to the Elven race. Also called the First Born.
Younger Children of Iluvatar: Men, who were the Second Born. Hobbits are classed among the races of men.
Dwarves: were formed by the Valar Aulë, the Smith. He was impatient for the Coming of the First Born to populate Arda, but Eru put the First Dwarves to sleep until the Elves were awakened.