((Voila! Nice new chapter.))
((I don't own Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings.))
The Stormclouds Gather
Saruman the White smiled cruelly. His plans were going perfectly. Rohan was caught under his thumb and ready to fall, Fangorn Forest was burning without a peep out of the Ents, and now, his first battalion of Fighting Uruk-Hai was ready. To test them out, he had a simple mission which he was currently giving to them.
"Hunt them down! Do not stop until they are found!" he shouted. "You do not know pain, you do not know fear. You will taste man-flesh!"
The army roared in approval.
Saruman turned to his lieutenant, Lurtz, the largest, foulest, and most evil of the Uruk-Hai.
"One of the Halflings carries something of great value. Bring them to me alive...and unspoiled. Also, bring to me the child with dark hair. Kill the others."
The week which the Fellowship spent in Lorien was one of the best of the entire quest.
Draco and Boromir finally seemed to let their guards down around the Elves and it was a much happier time for it.
Harry was busy learning a lot more about swordplay and archery in his spare time while Aragorn discussed the path ahead with Celeborn. Galadriel had not shown herself again. When Harry asked Haldir one day where the Lady was, the Elf simply smiled and said, "She and her handmaidens are preparing for your departure."
The Elves were also very keen on hearing about Hogwarts and the adventures he had there. He and Draco also amazed them with various spells. Harry's Patronus, especially, was very popular.
Their final day dawned bright and clear, but it could do nothing to cheer their heavy hearts. Haldir led them out of Caras Galadhon and down to the banks of the Silverlode. There waiting were five white boats.
A group of Elves, including Haldir and Celeborn approached them. Each carried a folded bundle of cloth.
"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people," said Celeborn, "but never before has there been a quest as grave as the one you all set upon." He held out the bundle to reveal that it was a cloak made of a grey material which the eye couldn't quite seem to catch properly. The Elves fastened them around the necks of the Fellowship. "These cloaks were made by the Lady Galadriel and her handmaidens. May they help shield you from unfriendly eyes."
As they packed the boats, Haldir again summoned them up a short ways into te woods. There, they found Galadriel and her handmaidens. Each maiden carried something in their hands. One at a time, Galadriel took an item and turned to a member of the Fellowship. First was Legolas.
"My gift for you, Legolas, is a bow of the Galadrim, worthy of the skill of our woodland kin." she handed him an elegantly carved bow which was clearly made of Mallorn wood.
Second, she turned to Boromir. "For you, Boromir, Son of Denethor, a belt of gold. Wear it with pride and may the White City live on and grow to its splendor and might as in the days of old."
She came to Merry and Pippin then and handed them short knives elaborate sheaths. "These are the daggers of the Noldorin. They have already seen service in war. Do not fear, young Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck. You will both find your courage."
"And for you, Samwise Gamgee, little gardener and lover of trees, here is a box of earth from my own garden and such a blessing as I have still to bestow upon it. It will not protect you from peril, but should you return to your home, there, it may reward you. If you sprinkle this earth in your garden, few in the world will flower like yours."
Sam's ears went red like Ron's always did and he bowed so low that he nearly fell over.
She next came to Draco. "For you, Draco Malfoy, to replace the one which was lost to you." she held out a gilded box. Draco opened it to find, to his shock, a new wand. "Made of Mallorn Wood with the light of ancient Silmarils at its core." she explained. "This wand will not break, and if you should lose it, it will never fail find its way back into your hand."
"And for you, Harry Potter, I have but a small gift which will nonetheless, serve you well. Remove your glasses." Harry obeyed her and took them off. She placed one hand over his eyes and began speaking in Elvish. A few moments later, she removed her hand, and Harry instinctively put his Glasses back on. But something was wrong. Everything was blurry. He wondered if they had fogged up, but he found that when he removed them again, his vision was clear.
"Th-Thank you, m'lady." He gasped.
She smiled and moved on to Gimli. "And what gift would a Dwarf ask of the Elves?"
"Nothing." he muttered, his face down. He cleared his throat a few times before adding, "Except to look upon the Lady of the Galadrim one last time. For she is more fair than all the jewels beneath the earth." She laughed warmly at this and actually seemed to blush slightly. Gimli, on the other hand, turned beet-red and cleared his throat once more.
"Actually, there was one thing...But no...It's quite impossible...Stupid to even ask."
He wouldn't tell Galadriel what it was until she allowed him to whisper it in her ear. She laughed and turned away for a moment and when she turned back, she handed him something that none of the others could see.
When she came to Aragorn, she said, "I have nothing greater to give than the gift you already bear." They spoke in Elvish for a while after that. Harry saw her touch Arwen's pendant which still hung about Aragorn's neck and he guessed that they were talking about her. Finally, she moved on to the last in the line.
"Farewell, Frodo Baggins." she said. "I give you the light of Earendil, our most beloved star." she handed him a glass phial of shimmering liquid. "May it be a light for you in dark places, wen all other lights go out."
Frodo took the gift in awe and looked up at her. The words of thanks would not form in his throat, but he knew she understood. She bent down and kissed his forehead.
She then smiled at the whole Fellowship.
"Limaira. I give you all my blessing of hope and good fortune."
The boats were nearly ready to launch. The Elves were loading in the last of the provisions.
Legolas was showing Harry the Bow of the Galadhrim.
"Feel how light it is. I have never seen such craftsmanship." the Elf said.
They suddenly caught sight of Gimli sitting on a stump with an extremely gloomy expression on his face.
"What's wrong, Gimli?" asked Harry. "Someone die?"
The Dwarf sighed. "No, unless it be my heart. I have taken my worst wound at this parting. For I have looked my last on that which I deem fairest of all the things in this world. Henceforth, I will call nothing fair unless it be her gift to me."
"And what was her gift?" asked Legolas curiously.
Gimli got a faraway look in his eyes. "I asked her for one hair from her golden head. She gave me three. Should I survive this quest to return home, I will encase them in a diamond from the heart of the Mountain."
Harry and Legolas had to fight not to burst into laughter. It wasn't that they thought Gimli to be foolish. But hearing this gruff Dwarf speaking like a true romantic was very funny.
They came to the boats and found Merry and Pippin looking very contented for some reason.
"What's with you two?" asked Harry.
They just shrugged and tried to look innocent.
Harry and Legolas exchanged looks but said nothing. Legolas began loading parcels into the boats. He stopped and unwrapped one. Inside was some kind of cake wrapped in a mallorn leaf.
"Lembas!" the Elf exclaimed. He bit off a tiny corner. "Elvish waybred! One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man."
Merry and Pippin nodded, attempting to look interested.
Making sure Legolas was out of earshot, Harry asked, "Alright, let's have it. How many have you two eaten?"
"Four." said Pippin. Merry nodded. "Me too."
Harry laughed and shook his head.
The journey by river turned out to be even more arduous than the journey on foot. The boats were set up thus: In Aragorn's boat was Frodo. Boromir was with Merry, Draco was with Pippin, Harry was with Sam and Legolas was with Gimli. The constant rowing was making Harry feel as if his arms were ready to fall off. And having the heaviest load (a.k.a., Samwise Gamgee) on his boat made it all the more difficult. But he wasn't about to complain. Besides, he thought, You could use the exercise All the good food at Hogwarts has made you soft.
One night, as they made camp on a rocky riverbank, Boromir beckoned him over behind a rock.
"I overheard you and Gandalf in Moria talking about someone following us. Tell me, do you see something out there?"
Harry peered out into the river. He was about to tell Boromir that it was just a log, but then, it abruptly switched directions and made for the opposite bank.
"Gollum." said Harry. "I'm sure of it."
Aragorn was walking by. "So, you have noticed our friend. He has tracked us since Moria. I had hoped we would lose him on the river, but he's too clever a waterman."
"And if he alerts the Enemy to our whereabouts," answered Boromir, "it will make the crossing even more dangerous."
"He won't." said Harry. "He wants the Ring for himself. He's not about to let the Orcs get ahold of it."
"Even so," said Boromir. "Minas Tirith is the safer road. From there, we can regroup, strike out for Mordor from a place of strength."
"There is no strength in Gondor that can avail us." said Aragorn with a slight sneer.
Boromir flushed in anger, but he kept his voice steady. "You were quick enough to trust the Elves." he said. "Have you so little faith in your own people? Yes, there is weakness, there is frailty, but there is courage and honor to be found in Men also. But you will not see that!" at this point, he voice was beginning to raise. Aragorn gave him a dark look and tried to walk away, but Boromir grabbed his sleeve roughly. "All your life, living in the shadows, you have been afraid of who you are, of what you are!"
Harry stepped between them. "Break it up, you two. This isn't helping anything."
Aragorn, however, could not resist one last jab. "I would not lead the Ring within a hundred leagues of your city!" He stomped off to the other end of the camp and perched himself atop a rock with his pipe lit, just like Gandalf always had.
Boromir sighed. "I'm sorry you had to see that, Harry." he said.
"It's alright. What was that all about?"
"It is complicated. Aragorn is the one and only heir to the Throne of Gondor. He alone can reclaim the Throne of his forefathers, but he does not want it. He would rather live in exile than trust his own people. It is only natural. The Elves do not trust us, and he was raised by Elves."
He lapsed into silence and stared off in the direction of the opposite bank, but his thoughts were clearly not on Gollum, lurking around somewhere over there.
"You should see it, Harry."
"See what?"
"My city, Minas Tirith." said Boromir, speaking as Harry had never heard him speak before. "There is nowhere like it in all of middle earth. As you ride up over the hill, you see the White Tower of Echthelion gleams like a spike of pearl and silver in the sun, it's banners caught high in the morning breeze. And then, you are beckoned home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets."
Harry nodded. "It sounds amazing. I hope I get to see it."
Boromir clasped his shoulder. "One day, our paths will lead us there. You, me, Aragorn, Draco, even Legolas and Gimli and the Hobbits. And the Tower Guard will take up the call, 'The Lords of Gondor have returned!'"
Softly, he bagan to sing.
"Gondor!
Gondor, between the Mountains and the Sea!
West
Wind blew there; the light upon the Silver Tree
Fell
like bright rain in gardens of the Kings of old.
O
proud walls! White towers! O winged crown and throne of gold!
O
Gondor, Gondor! Shall Men behold the Silver Tree,
Or
West Wind blow again between the Mountains and the Sea?"
Harry smiled genuinely. This was such a different man from the one he had told to shut up at the Council of Elrond. He wondered what had happened to so drastically change him.
Suddenly, a biting chill filled the air.
Harry shuddered. He knew that feeling.
A great black shape suddenly filled the sky.
"Elbereth Gilthoniel" whispered Legolas.
The creature was like a bird, but with no feathers and great leathery wings like a bat. It's hide was black as night and an even blacker shape sat atop it.
A cry went up exactly like what Harry, Draco and the Hobbits had heard from the Shire all the way to the edges of Rivendell.
Harry pointed his wand. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
The silver stag flleapt out and charged across the river.
At the same time, the great bow of Lorien sang. An arrow flew like a lightning bolt.
The creature gave a croaking scream and fell out of sight over on the eastern shore.
"Praise be the Bow of Galadriel." said Gimli. "And the hand and eye of Legolas. That was a mighty shot in the dark."
"But who can say what I hit?" said Legolas.
"I cannot." said Gimli. "But it reminded me of the shadow in Moria...of the Balrog."
Harry shook his head. "It wasn't a Balrog. It was-"
"No!" cried Frodo. "Do not speak it's name." Harry saw him clutching his shoulder and noticed that he had gone very white.
The light of day revealed nothing on the Easter Shore, but all the same, they set sail with great caution the next day. Fortunately, nothing attacked them and the Great Shadow did not reappear.
Around midday, they rounded a bend in the river and Harry beheld a sight which made the Dwarrowdelf seem about as impressive as Privet Drive.
Looming on either side of the river were statues. But not any normal statues. These would have dwarfed skyscrapers.
Both were men in crowns. One held a sword and the other a great axe. Both had their arms extended out in a gesture of warning.
"Behold." said Aragorn. "The Pillars of the Argonath. Long have I desired to look upon the likenesses of Isildur and Anarion, my kin. Of old, this was the northernmost border of Gondor. Up ahead is the bank of Amon Hen. There, we make camp."
They rowed their boats onto the shore and unloaded their packs. Merry and Pippin set about making a fire.
"So," said Harry to Aragorn. "Do we have a plan?"
Aragorn sighed. "I discussed the path ahead long with Celeborn. Neither of us knew Gandalf's plan past Lothlorien, if even he had one, but here is what I have decided. We will cross the river at nightfall. From there, we will hide the boats and continue on foot. We will approach Mordor from the north."
"Oh yes?" said Gimli. "Just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil? An impassible labyrinth of razor sharp rocks. And after that, it gets even better. A festering, stinking marshland as far as the eye can see."
Aragorn's face hardened. "That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf."
Gimli was livid. "Recover my...Grrrr...Pay no heed to that, young Hobbits."
Legolas ran up to Aragorn. "We must go now. We cannot wait."
"No." said Aragorn. "Orcs patrol the Eastern Shore. We must wait for cover of darkness"
Legolas sighed. "It is not the Eastern Shore which worries me. A shadow and a threat has been growing on my mind. Something draws near. I can feel it."
Harry opened his mouth to question him, but suddenly Merry said, "Where's Frodo?"
Everyone looked around for the Ringbearer, but he wasn't there.
"I believe I have a better question." said Boromir. "Where is Draco?"
