Chapter 9:

Amon Hen and the Gifts of Galadriel

The morning came swiftly to the woods of Lothlorien these days. Darsul woke at cock-crow to find Legolas gone. ''He must have left during the night.''thought Darsul. She dressed quickly and grabbed her traveling gear. Darsul sped down to the boating dock. They were to leave Lothlorien today. It was a sad occasion for Darsul, she had just returned...maybe Legolas would come back with her later. She would have to ask him. She arrived just as Celeborn and Galadriel did. The rest of the fellowship was already there. Just a little out of breath, she squished in between Legolas and Boromir. After assuring Legolas last night about Boromir being just a very good friend, he no longer minded when Boromir smiled at Darsul and said a friendly hello. Celeborn stepped up to them and arranged them in a row.

''My wife has gifts to aid you in your quest!''He proclaimed. At his signal, Galadriel rose and walked first to Pippin and Merry.

''To you...brave little Hobbits, I grant thee the daggers of Allida. They have already seen use in war.''She handed them two small daggers with intricately woven, cloth scabbards. She then went to Aragorn.

''To you, Aragorn...I can give you no greater gift than the one you already have...''She gestured to the jewel given to him by his love, Arwen daughter of Elrond.

Galadriel then went to Gimli.

''And what gift would a dwarf ask of the elves?''She said sweetly. Gimli blushed and muttered under his breath. He whispered something into her ear. She smiled and handed him a small leather pouch. Next she stood in front of Frodo,

''To you Frodo, I give you the light of Earendil the elves most precious star. To Sam she gave a coil of elven rope. She next stopped in front of Boromir.

''A belt of gold I give to thee!''And she handed him just that. He could only stutter his thanks in shock. Finally she came to Legolas and Darsul. She smiled at them and seemed to know what had partaken in Darsuls room the previous night.

''Legolas...I gift you with a bow of the Galadhrim, a bow worthy of the skill of our Woodland kin!''Legolas' new bow was white and covered with delicate drawings, etched lightly into the wood. He gazed at it in wonder and gently tested the string. Holding it like he would a newborn babe. Galadriel then turned to Darsul. Her expression sombre.

''Daughter of my brother...Dirion left you something more than Naldgrim, your sword. He also left you this...At her command an elf came down and knelt before her. He carried a leather sling. There was a seal at the end, she took it gently in her hands and looked up at Galadriel. She nodded and Darsul ripped the seal. A small bundle fell into her hands. At first glance, it appeared to be a golden box. At closer inspection it turned out to be...her mothers fighting armor! It was extremely light, plated with gold and inlaid with mithril etchings! She gaped for a moment then smiled and placed the bundle in her saddle bags. She hugged Galadriel and whispered a quiet thank-you.

The fellowship then found out they were to be traveling in boats. Sam immediately got queasy and went to throw up behind a bush, but Darsul it meant something much more urgent. Haleth. How was he supposed to get on one of the tiny boats? To her surprise she saw Legolas smiling at her.

''What is it?''She asked. He just kept smiling at her.

''Haleth! He will be left behind!''

''Can you speak elvish or not?''He demanded.

Darsul gasped. She threw her arms around Legolas' neck and hugged him. He smiled and hugged her back. She then ran over to Haleth and whispered him orders in Elvish. He whinnied and took off down the riverside. Darsul watched him go, then turned back to the boats. Her and Legolas took a boat with Gimli. They sat in their boat and watched as Aragorn helped Sam and Frodo into his boat. Boromir smiled at Merry and Pippin and gently lifted them into his own boat. After crying their farewells to Celeborn, Galadriel and Darsul brothers, they began paddling down the Entwash.

Along the banks, Darsul occasionally caught glimpses of Haleth as he galloped along. Though he tried his best to remain out of sight, such was his training. They paddled for most of the day. Just as it neared mid-day they stopped to make camp near the old Numenorean look-out that Aragorn named as Amon-Hen. Aragorn insisted that they make camp but Darsul and Legolas both sensed an impending danger. They were imploring Aragorn to continue but he was firm and said they must stop for a while. Just then, Sam blurted out

''Where are Merry,Pip and Frodo?''

They looked around but couldn't see the little hobbits anywhere. Darsul jumped up quickly.

''Boromir went to gather wood...It isn't safe to wander alone...we must find them now!''Just as she finished saying this, the company heard Boromir blow his horn in distress.

''Orcs!''Darsul shouted they left Sam at the camp and rushed into the woods. They passed Frodo running quickly in the opposite direction.

''Frodo!''Aragorn yelled.''Take Sam and a boat! You must leave!''Frodo looked scared,but nodded an ran off in the direction of the camp. They heard Boromirs horn again. Darsul, Legolas and Aragorn jumped through the bushes just in time to see large Orcs(commonly known as Uruk-Hai)running away through the trees with Merry and Pippin tied up! They looked around and saw Boromir lying against a tree. Still. Darsul yelled his name and ran over to him. She grabbed him and shook him. Legolas came up behind her, he saw two arrows in his leg. Darsul began to cry and grabbed his shoulders and cried into them. Suddenly Boromir grunted. Darsul screamed in shock and let him fall back against the tree.

''You'll kill me yet...''He grunted. Darsul cried out his name again and sobbed into his shoulder once more. He managed to smile at Legolas and Aragorn, then growled in pain as they began to remove the arrows. He nearly crushed Darsul against him, using her as a distraction from the pain. Darsul didn't complain, just sobbed harder.

Darsul and Boromir both rode on Haleth. Boromir steered the horse as Darsul slept against his chest. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli ran beside them. Legolas didn't mind that Darsul rode with Boromir so long as Boromir was concerned as a friend only. Boromir had completely reassured Legolas when he confronted him. He sometimes glanced at her but tried to keep his mind on the task at hand. They were pursuing the Uruks that had kidnapped Merry and Pippin. After returning to the camp to find Frodo and Sam gone, they decided there was no other course to take. Haleth had met up with them just as they finished dressing Boromirs wounds.

Soon the reasonably smaller group came upon the borders of the kingdom of Rohan. Darsul woke up and allowed Gimli, who was huffing and puffing, to ride upon Haleth. She sprinted along quickly with boundless energy and they began to cover more ground now that they didn't have too wait for Gimli to catch up. Legolas and Darsul began to notice a rumbling sound. They looked up at the sky, but there were no clouds. Soon even Gimli could hear it quite plainly. Not long after, an Eored(group of 120 Rohan warriors on horseback)came over the hill. They noticed the group of travelers and began to circle them in a well practiced military maneuver. Darsul cautiously drew her sword and assumed her usual fighting stance.

''What business do you have in the Riddermark?''Asked the leader loudly. Nobody really wanted to say anything so Boromir stepped forward on Haleth.

''Do you remember me Lord Eomer?''He asked tentatively.

''Boromir!?''The man said incredulously. He dismounted his magnificent horse and took of his helm as did Boromir. They embraced like old old friends and smiled at one another. Boromir introduced the fellowship to Eomer. He bowed politely to them all. Eomer ordered his men to set up camp. He led the fellowship to his tent and told them of Rohan.

''The kingdom of Rohan is falling into ruin...Our mighty king Theoden has fallen under the spell of Saruman the deceiver! The has turned old and decrepit. His own son died and he did not blink an eye! I know that his ''Counsellor'' Grima Wormtongue was responsible for this treachery so I confronted him. The king unknowingly signed a form for my immediate banishment! My company are those loyal still to Rohan...''He broke off there and didn't seem to want to talk about anything else and Aragorn did not press him. Aragorn then proceeded to tell them about the Uruks and Merry and Pippins capture. Eomer looked sad than said

''The Uruks are dead, we slaughtered them last night...We left none alive.''There was a horrible silence in which Darsul began to weep silently. Eomer than stood up and whistled. He led them outside. Two beautiful horses stood there. He turned back to the company.

''May these horses serve you better than their former masters.''He said solemnly. He then told his men to pack up camp. With extraordinary swiftness they farewelled the company and departed. Boromir walked over to one of the horses and grabbed it's reins he swung aboard without a word. Darsul quickly realized what he was doing.

''No!''She cried out.''Boromir...please stay!''He looked at her sadly but shook his head. He looked over at Aragorn,who looked sad but smiled all the same.

''My duty is to Gondor...''He nearly whispered.''I am sorry...Darsul, Legolas, Gimli...Aragorn. Goodbye''Without another word, the stern lord of Gondor rode away. Darsul did not weep but screamed after him

''You self-righteous BASTARD!''

Legolas mounted Haleth, while Aragorn took Gimli onto the other horse. Legolas cantered up behind Darsul and picked her up onto Haleth. She continued to scream after him,

''You...You...Prat...Princeling on a Pony!...I HATE YOU! YOU SHALL PAY FOR THIS! DAMN YOU...YOU COWARD!''

Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli laughed uproariously at this unceremonious farewell from the company. In his mind however, Aragorn worried...the fellowship was breaking.

As Boromir cantered away he heard Darsul screaming after him. He smiled inwardly. She was back. The same outspoken, proud, loyal woman he had befriended in Rivendell!