Chapter Ten~Down the River

They spent several days in Lothlorien, giving them all time to heal and rest. At the end of their stay, the Lady Galadriel asked them to meet her beside the river. Awaiting them were three boats, new packs and cloak pins were given to them. The pin was shaped into a delicate Lothlorien leaf, and a rich green that echoed that of the forest. As they waited for the Lord and Lady of the Woods to grace them with their presence, they went through the bags to see what was in them. Legolas pulled out leaf-packets, and unwrapped the bread that lay within.

"Lembas bread," he bit off a small piece. "One small bite is enough to fill a grown man's stomach."

"How many did you eat?" Merry asked his cousin.

"Four." Pippin said with a burp.

"How can you eat so much?" Rina lowered herself, keeping a sturdy grip on her walking stick.

"We Hobbits are well known for our large appetite. I don't suppose you know about second breakfast?"

"Hmm?" She hummed. "No, I can't say that I do. How many meals do Hobbits eat in a day?"

"Well, there's breakfast at 7 in the morning-"

"Second breakfast at 9 o'clock-"

"Elevenses at eleven, obviously. Then lunch at 1- "

"Afternoon tea at 3, dinner at 6, and supper at 9."

"Of course that doesn't count snacks throughout the day." Her head was spinning with trying to keep up with the alternating voices to her right.

"No wonder you lads are so broad around the belt," Gimli gruffed as he walked by.

"Oi!" Merry called after him.

"That's rich comin' from you, mister Gimli." Rina cringed at the jab, knowing that Pippin's big flapping mouth would get him into trouble.

"Oh, aye? Is that so, young master Hobbit?" The Dwarf stalked back to the group, clapping Pippin round the head. "I'll have you know, most of what you see is my armor, lads."

"Of course, Gimli. Dwarves don't eat much at all." Rina smirked with an eyebrow raised. "None of the great tales of old say anything about the great feasts of Erebor and Moria, where meat and ale flow freely through the halls."

"Well...we may eat...a bit more than Men, I grant you. But nowhere near as much as a Hobbit!"

"The Lady approaches." Aragorn's voice drew from their quarrel. Indeed, Galadriel made her way over the uneven ground with such grace. As her power washed over them, Rina was overcome with a sense of calm and contentment. With all the pain that she had suffered, and what she knew had not yet finished, she wished for nothing more than to stay in this glade forever. But, she couldn't. She had given her word that she would see this through to the end, and her word was her bond. The Fellowship lined up, each of them given a gift from the lady. Merry and Pippin were both given Elvish made daggers that had once belonged to a great warrior. To Sam, she gave a length of Elven rope. When asked what he wanted of the Elves, Gimli stumbled over himself for a moment, before asking for a single hair from the Lady's shining crown.

Galadriel stood before the blind woman and her familiar, studying them for a moment. She noted the way Rina's face turned in her direction, eyes looking slightly off to the side, the way she seemed to straighten up when she sensed the Elf-queen before her. "And what would you ask of me, naurelle?*"

Rina's eyes focused on the area where Galadriel's voice came from. "I have nothing to ask, but the protection of my companions, my lady."

"I see. Well, then I shall gift you with such power." Her hand came forward and took away the staff from the young woman's hand.

"What do you mean? My lady?"

One of her ladies in waiting took the old walking stick from her, trading it out with another, taller, with a large clear stone on the top of it. "Elea tel'Anor,**" she whispered. "May it be your guide through the darkness you inhabit. And, Agaru Wilwarin***, to become nim'ohtar****, you must be able to defend yourself, before you can defend others."

Taking the new staff in her left hand, Rina was filled with a sudden warmth, as if the late summer sun shone down on her directly. She felt a link with the wood, a kind of presence that crawled up her arm and settled in her mind. Suddenly, she was surrounded with a bright light. It was not one that the others could see, but inside her own head, expelling all shadows from every corner of it. She had a different perspective of the world than that she had had her whole life. Rina could see. Not the same way that the others did, but in such a way that she knew where everything was around her. Sound waves echoed off the objects around her, giving her a somewhat detailed visual. The sword that was placed in her right hand made her blood sing in her veins, bringing a new kind of hunger. One of carnage and blood. From what she could tell of the blade, the slightly curved saber had writing on it. Running her fingers over the lines of script, she could read the name engraved there. The pommel, as it happened, the vines and roses matched those that now hung around her neck. It had been made for her, fresh forged.

By the time all of this had run through her head, Lady Galadriel had already moved on. Rina could not believe the gifts that she had been given. These were thing that were only ever given to the most highly thought of Sha'Quessir*****. Outsiders were not given such gifts. But, then again, I suppose that's what is expected of one descended from Elf-kin. Rina was suddenly being steered towards the river, Aragorn helping her into the canoe that waited for them. She was seated in the middle, Gimli soon sat down hard in front of her, then Legolas in the back end. The others were set up similarly, with Boromir paddling the one with Merry and Pippin, and Aragorn with Frodo and Sam. They pushed off, beginning the long trip down the river.

A/N: Alrighty, so, I found a great site for word translation. Unfortunately, I can't find another to translate the phrases I want to translate, so I have to finagle it a bit so that the words actually work. Review please! I need the encouragement, because I'm hitting a writing block wall right now. Here are the translations.

*I forgot this one, but I think it means little sister, or something to that nature...

**Sight of the Sun

***Crimson Butterfly

****Paladin

*****Elf-friend (formal)