4. The Journey
The fellowship would only set out at the end of December. Garthel recalled from the book it was on the 25th of the month. How ironic for it to fall on Christmas day. During the time before they set out, she had called it the honeymoon period. The hobbits definitely agreed with her for there were feasts every fortnight.
While the other members of the fellowship took their time to rest and replenish their energy, she was more focused on training. Aragorn and Boromir would duel with her on swords when her elder twin brother could not. That in fact gave Elladan more time to train her to master the dagger. Legolas had partnered with Elrohir on her bow training. No doubt her accuracy was better than when she first started but she tended to miss her targets when under pressured. She hoped all the trainings she had been working so hard on would be enough for their journey for she did not want to be a burden to them.
During the feasts, she was usually seated between Gimli and Legolas. It would seem they had formed an odd triangle friendship where she was always stuck being their mediator. She had not seen much of Gandalf as he was mostly occupied with Lord Elrond. However, she did catch him staring at her a few times. He looked like he was trying to figure her out. She shrugged it off, not wanting to worry about it until he came to talk to her.
The hobbits were sort of like her children. Frodo, like a child who carried too much burden, which she tried to soothe his fears from time to time by encouraging him to be confident of himself. "Just because you're small and one person, or hobbit, does not mean you can't change the world," she had told him when she found him at the veranda one night. Both of them couldn't sleep for their own reason.
Sam was like a brother to Frodo, which she admired his loyalty and had advise him to always stay with Frodo regardless what happened. Of course, Sam agreed whole-heartedly. Merry and Pippin were really like children, always bickering among themselves. She had told them to keep true to themselves as the journey ahead will need more jolly memories than ever. She was pretty sure it wasn't their short statures that make her view them like her children. Well, I definitely do not think Gimli is like my child.
She didn't realize she had chuckle out loud at her own thought.
"What's so funny?" asked Legolas from her left.
They were at the veranda watching the night sky.
"Just thinking if short is a factor for me to treat the hobbits like my children," she replied.
"But that would mean…" Both of them laughed before Legolas could finish his sentence.
"That was why I came to the conclusion short is not the factor," she finished.
Right at that moment, Gimli showed up behind them.
"What's so funny?" asked Gimli gruffly.
They both couldn't help it and burst into laughter. Gimli never found out about the joke.
She was expecting Gandalf to pay her a visit before they set off their journey. Therefore, it did not come as a surprise when he caught her alone one night at the veranda. It was one of those nights she thought about her children.
"What troubles you, my lady?" asked Gandalf as he appeared next to her.
"Just thinking of my children back home," replied Garthel sadly.
"There is no greater burden in this life than for a mother without her children," said Gandalf while smoking his pipe.
"No, there is not. Now come on, I know there's something you want to ask me," she said looking at Gandalf.
"It seems I am unable to hide my curiosity that well from you," replied Gandalf in mirth.
"My intuition works pretty well mostly," she replied and smiled softly at him.
"Well then, are you sure you have not come across… a wizard before?" asked Gandalf with an eyebrow raised.
She gave him a confused look.
"Well, that will give me the answer I needed," responded Gandalf before leaving Garthel even more confused.
~ *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** ~
Time does not wait for anyone. Even as she knew this, it did not help that she was not as ready as she should be for this journey. From the looks of it, neither were her siblings. Arwen was remorse that not only she was losing the love of her life, but she was also losing a sister.
"Don't cry, Arwen," said Garthel.
Arwen took a deep breath and held her tears. Then she tucked a silver leaf pin on Garthel's right hair which was done in a long braid the night before by Elanil and her.
"I cannot promise not to lose it but I'll try not to," whispered Garthel as she embraced Arwen.
"Make sure you get it back to me, Min," whispered Arwen in return.
Garthel tightened the embrace before releasing Arwen as Elladan and Elrohir both approached her. She turned around to face them and was presented with their gifts.
"I had them crafted you a light sword," said Elladan.
"Hopefully you will shoot better with this bow," grinned Elrohir as he passed it to her.
She swatted his arm playfully.
"Great, I can feel your immense love for me," she said, trying to sound sarcastic but her voice was thick with emotions.
She hid a few drops of tears by giving both of them a tight embrace.
"I will treasure these," she said.
Lord Elrond was the last to approach her.
"I do not have anything to give you that they haven't. You have my prayers, best wishes and my heart with you always, iell nín," said Lord Elrond.
"Ada, you gave me more than I can ever hope. It is I, who needs to give you something in return. Regardless of where I may be and will be, my heart lies here in Imladris with my siblings and you," she said with tears in her eyes.
Her father gave her a heartfelt smile. She turned around and followed the fellowship out the gate after Gandalf said they await the ring bearer.
~ *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** ~
Even with her stamina increased since she started training nine months ago, nothing could have prepared her for this journey. At times like these, she wished she was an elf. They had hidden themselves when the Crebain from Dunland were scouting near the South Road. Gandalf suggested taking the Pass of Caradhas since the South Road had been watched. She wanted to tell them so badly that they should just go through the mines of Moria instead of wasting more energy and time. But she knew Frodo had to make that decision, not her. And so, she bit her cheeks to refrain herself from saying anything as they hike up the snow mountain. True enough, they encountered an avalanche crisis below the Pass of Caradhas.
Now, they stood in front of the walls of Moria. Finally! She cheered and made a little dance in her head but frowned when she realized the fate of Gandalf. There was an illuminated door on the walls of Moria where Gandalf tried to solve the riddle to open the door. She was very tempted to say 'mellon' but kept her lips shut. Vaguely, she remembered Merry and Pippin would be trying to disturb the water with pebbles. She went to them and held them close to her.
"Keep your idle hands from picking up rocks," she told them.
Gandalf said 'mellon' after Frodo asked what was the elvish word for friend and the door opened. When they walked inside the mine, they were being greeted by the sight of dwarves' carcasses littering all over the place. Garthel stayed behind the hobbits ensuring if anything was to come from the water, she would be more prepared than them. In fact, she was facing the water and not looking at the sight in the mine. She wasn't sure if she could stomach the sight.
"No!" wailed Gimli loudly as he ran to the corpse near him.
"Goblins!" said Legolas after looking at the arrow he removed from one of the corpses.
Everyone drew their weapons.
"We should have taken the Gaps of Rohan. Now get out! Get out!" shouted Boromir.
As it was, even without disturbing the water, a tentacle sprang out from it. She had already taken her sword out when the door opened, so she sliced the tentacle off with ease, dreading what was to come next. They heard the movement of her sword and turned around to look at the hobbits and her. Without turning around, she pushed the hobbits backwards with her weight.
"Get inside!" she shouted to the hobbits.
Just as she finished, a bunch of tentacles sprang out from the water and knocked her off her feet into the hobbits. One of the tentacles wrapped around Frodo's right leg as if it knew he was the ring bearer. Aragorn and Boromir ran out to help while she got on her feet to slice the tentacles away as well. Legolas took a shot at the tentacle that had Frodo making it release him. Boromir caught Frodo as they ran into the mine. The creature tried to follow them but had caved the door instead due to its weight.
"Fucking giant octopus," muttered Garthel as she tried to catch her breath.
She couldn't even see in the dark.
"Well, well, I didn't know our lady has a foul mouth," said Gimli pretending to be astonished.
Truth was he would have curse too in this situation.
"Time to get to know me under these circumstances, Gimli," retorted Garthel dryly.
Gandalf chuckled slightly at their banter but hurried them to move along by lighting up his staff. They walked through a hall with huge and tall pillars with arches. Gimli saw an opened door littered with corpses inside and out. He ran inside and saw Balin's tomb. He fell on his knees as Garthel and Legolas each put a hand on his shoulders to comfort him. When she heard the sound of something crashing and falling into the well, she cursed under her breath and turned around to see Pippin cringe.
"Close the door! Orcs!" she shouted to them.
The sound of drums started and she equipped her bow. Boromir and Aragorn ran to close the door.
"They have a cave troll," muttered Boromir sarcastically.
When the orcs broke the first hole, Legolas shot his first arrow through it. Knowing her good for nothing accuracy, she gave up on the bow and pulled out her sword as the orcs rushed in. They fought with the orcs relentlessly until the troll barged in. Boromir got hit as he flew to the wall. There was another orc behind him. Garthel took her bow out and prayed her shitty accuracy would work. Releasing the arrow from the string, the arrow hit the orc's forehead sending it tumbling down to the floor.
"Good to know, my shit accuracy is not so shitty right now," she huffed and shouted to Boromir. "Get up, Boromir! Unless you want to be salad!"
"Oh, I see our lady is working her wits now," chuckled Gimli as he threw a sword at the troll before it smashed the tomb causing him to jump away and rolled to the floor.
"That wouldn't have happen if you had focused more on the fight," scoffed Garthel.
Legolas' lips lifted slightly in a smirk as he concentrated on the fight. He shot two arrows at the troll trying to save Gimli as his axe had been knocked away. That caused the troll to focus on Legolas as it hurled his metal ball at him. He dodged the metal ball twice. When the chain wrapped around the pillar next to him, he ran across it and shot an arrow into the troll's head causing it to be distracted for a while. Or maybe not…
The troll randomly hurled its chain around them until Frodo stabbed its foot with Sting. The troll retreated in agony.
"To the bridge of Khazad-dum," said Gandalf as he heard more orcs and goblins coming.
They tried to run to the bridge but were surrounded. Suddenly, there was a roar and a bright red light coming from one of the corridors. All the orcs and goblins fled. Garthel's mind raced as she knew Gandalf's end was near.
"What is this new devilry?" asked Boromir.
"A Balrog, a demon of the ancient world," replied Gandalf hesitantly.
"It is about time to run now!" rushed Garthel not even letting Gandalf finish his line and they ran.
They reached the stairs and Boromir almost tumbled down. Legolas grabbed him in time. Aragorn and Garthel were the last before Gandalf. As Gandalf held himself against the wall, he said to Aragorn "Lead them on Aragorn. The bridge is near. Do as I say!"
Gandalf turned to Garthel and she stared at him in tears before whispering so softly that only Gandalf and probably an elf could hear "See you soon."
They ran to the bridge and Frodo turned around to see Gandalf stopped at the middle shouting to the Balrog. "You cannot pass!"
The whole ordeal was heart breaking. She knew he would survive, but the others did not and their grief affected her as much.
"Fly, you fools!" was all she heard before she turned her back to the bridge and started running up the stairs and out of the mine.
They came out of the other side of the mountain and caught their breaths. Boromir strode up to Garthel and pulled at her collars.
"You knew, didn't you?" shouted Boromir at her but she didn't have the energy to respond, still slightly shaken by Gandalf's fall.
Aragorn and Legolas rushed up to pry Boromir away from her.
"We could have saved him if you told us!" insisted Boromir.
She was angry because she too went through the pain. Even though she knew Gandalf's fate, it didn't make her feel any less than the others.
"How sure are you that we could have saved him? What if we perished along with him? Where does that leave Middle Earth? Valar has decided his fate before I even knew of it. I am not God and should not attempt to be one," she huffed and turned away from Boromir, closed her eyes to control her emotions.
No one said anything else. Aragorn hurried everyone that they should reach the forest before nightfall as orcs would be swarming the place by then. Legolas approached her as she deliberately strayed behind everyone else.
"Are you alright?" asked Legolas concerned.
"I will be," replied Garthel emotionlessly.
"Why don't you tell them? I heard what you said to Gandalf at the stairs." asked Legolas.
"What good would it have done, Legolas? You were able to hear because you're an elf. You were not supposed to know either. But I trust you to keep it silent for the sake of this war. He has to fall for the outcome we want. That's all I can say," explained Garthel as they trudged on.
He never brought up the subject again.
~ *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** ~
It was strange. Garthel felt slightly lighter as soon as they entered the forest of Lorien. Gimli started talking about an elf witch, no doubt referring to Lady Galadriel. Her eyes trained on Frodo knowing Lady Galadriel would be reaching out to his mind. It did not come as a surprise when she heard Lady Galadriel as well.
Your fate is still undecided, my child. Worry not, by Valar's faith, you are here for a reason.
That was all said to her and she kept quiet, hid her dagger in her right sleeve, waiting for the elves to show up. She had nothing against Haldir personally but felt the grudges between elves and dwarves being ridiculous. If she wouldn't allow Gimli to disrespect other elves, no elves should be allowed to disrespect Gimli as well. When Gimli started to ramble, she hushed him.
"Gimli, quiet. Don't disrespect others if you do not want the same treatment," said Garthel.
The dwarf shut up, slightly unhappy. She slowly unsheathed her dagger and positioned herself next to Aragorn where she expected Haldir to appear. Suddenly, arrows were being point at them.
"The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark," said Haldir as he appeared.
Garthel twirled behind Haldir and shove her dagger near his throat surprising the elf.
"What was that you were saying, Haldir, Marchwarden of Lothlórien?" asked Garthel feeling smug that she managed what she wanted to do.
Then she had to hit herself mentally for calling Haldir as if she knew him very well. She would have some explaining to do later on. Some of the elves pointed their arrows at her. In fact, the fellowship were quite surprise of her swift movement which was not shown previously. Even shocked, Haldir did no falter as he spoke.
"If I were you, I would remove the dagger as you can see you are outnumbered," said Haldir.
She smiled and Haldir could see it from the corner of his eyes.
"Even outnumbered as I am, you'd bleed before I am being put out. Show my friend some respect next time," said Garthel as she released Haldir and stepped away as if nothing had happened.
Haldir stared at her, expression unreadable but his eyes shone with interest. They were taken to the platform before crossing to Lothlórien, introductions were made and Gimli was not happy that they were conversing in Sindarin. Before Gimli could start his curses in dwarven language for being uncourteous, Garthel stopped him.
"Gimli, don't," said Garthel.
"And who may I know this mortal lady that travels with the fellowship?" asked Haldir with mirth.
"Garthel i eneth nín, iell o Elrond," she replied and Haldir was very surprised that she could speak Sindarin but also the fact that a mortal was a daughter to the Lord of Rivendell.
"We should start speaking in the common tongue to be respectful. Lord Elrond claimed me as kin after my arrival in his home. That's all you should know," said Garthel as she cleared the question in Haldir's mind.
Haldir nodded respectfully and turned his gaze away from her to speak with Frodo about the evil he brought as such he could go no further. She wasn't worried as the fellowship was because she knew the Lady of Light will grant them an audience. True enough, Haldir returned and asked them to follow him.
"Caras Galadhon the heart of Elvendom on earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, Lady of Light," announced Haldir proudly when they reach the gate of Lothlórien.
Garthel tried not to look like she was awestruck but it did not escape the eyes of a certain elf.
"It is normal for mortal to be mesmerized by elven homes," said Haldir obviously trying to make a conversation with her.
"Thanks for reminding me my short life span, but I believe if you don't watch your back, I might have live longer than you," she smirked and walked away.
Haldir was no doubt very interested in her as he stared at her in a different light.
TBC
Garthel i eneth nín, *iell o Elrond - Garthel is my name, daughter of Elrond