Aragorn has them continue their travels quickly. Night is approaching and with it comes more peril. He makes them run, right towards the fast woods that lie ahead: Lothlorien.
The hobbits stick close by Ithilae, knowing they are approaching her home and the lightness in her step makes it easier for them to set aside their sorrow for a moment as they flee from the oncoming darkness towards the safety of the woods. They quickly rush across the last open field before the shadows of the trees submerge them.
They slow down their pace to a walk, their feet crunching the dry leaves and distance themselves from the border. The atmosphere is rather tense. Even Ithilae feels slightly uncomfortable. Weariness seems to have grown over the forest since she last came here.
Gimli beckons the hobbits closer. "Stay close young hobbits. They say there's a great sorceress that lives in these woods; an Elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell… and are never seen again." he warns.
Boromir throws Ithilae a meaningful glance, slightly humorous. She raises a brow in reply, recalling what he once questioned her to be. It was all rather silly now that they think back on it. Somewhere along the way they have reached an understanding and have forgiven each other.
Her silent conversation with the man is interrupted when a voice calls to her in her head, "Iston i nîf gîn. Gi nathlam hí. (I know your face. You are welcome here)."
"Well! Here's one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily! I have the eyes of a hawk, and ears of a fox!" Gimli exclaims, only to be met with an arrow pointing at his face. "Oh."
Legolas strings his own arrow as they are now surrounded, but Ithilae doesn't bother as a familiar Elf steps forward. "The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark." he states.
"Haldir." she breathes, making him nod at her, a smile playing at the corner of his lips.
"Gi suilon, Ithilae. Tolo ar nin (I greet you. Come with me). " he orders, turning around as the elves put away their bows. Legolas puts his away hesitantly, looking to Ithilae questioningly as she follows after Haldir.
Pippin looks around confused before being the first to follow, Aragorn right behind him. Soon they all file after the elves.
"Where are we going?" Pippin doesn't hesitate to ask.
Haldir glances at him over his shoulder. "For shelter." he merely answers, guiding them towards a place near the borders and up to a flet on a Mallorn tree, a post for guarding.
Darkness has fallen and Haldir turns to the weary travelers, greeting Legolas next, "Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion (Welcome Legolas, son of Thranduil)." He bows his head slightly towards the Prince.
Legolas returns the gesture. "Govannas vn gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien (Our Fellowship stands in your debt, Haldir of Lórien)."
Next, Haldir turns to Aragorn, "A, Aragorn in Dûnedain istannen le amen (Oh, Aragorn of the Dûnedain, you are known to us)."
"Haldir." Aragorn greets with a respectful bow.
Gimli huffs. "So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can also understand!" he complains gruffly.
Haldir eyes him scathingly. "We have not had dealings with the Dwarves, since the dark days." he tells Gimli with a raised brow.
Gimli huffs once more indignantly. "And do you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul (I spit upon your grave)!" she cusses, causing Aragorn to smack his shoulder in reprimand.
"That was not so courteous!" he scolds.
Haldir turns to gaze upon the dark-haired hobbit standing behind them. "You bring great evil with you. You can go no further!" he says resolutely.
Ithilae looks to him with hard eyes. "Haldir, a word my friend." she urges, putting a hand to his shoulder and taking him aside. He lets her do so willingly and Aragorn and Legolas share a glance before turning away, letting their companion speak with the Marchwarden. Though Legolas keeps a keen ear trained on their conversation, curious to where it will lead, or so he tells himself. The familiarity between the two elves has piqued his interest for some reason.
"Haldir, I ask you to let us pass through the woods. Andelu i ven (The road is fell!)!" she asks of him to which he shakes his head.
"I cannot allow such an evil to pass by our inner borders Ithilae. Surely you must understand. It could bring great peril upon our people." he replies in a hushed tone.
"Peril is already upon you and all folk of Middle-Earth." she counters with conviction. "Aid us and let us cut short the time for us to fight back." she tries to convince him.
Haldir still looks upon her with hesitance. "My friend. How long have you known me? This is our last stand. Can you not see that I speak the truth? We need your help to see this through. There is no other way. Outside the woods lies only our doom." Ithilae whispers hurriedly, stepping closer to the elf.
Haldir sighs in reply, closing his eyes for a moment as he thinks. Finally he opens them and raises a hand to rest it on the elleth's shoulder. "I shall bring you before the Lady." he tells her, pausing. "You always had strength in persuasion, even when we were the mere height of saplings." he tells her, ending with a smile.
She returns the gesture in kind, surprising those watching them talk from the corner of their eyes. They have never seen her smile as such.
"Le fael mellon (Thank you my friend)." she says, gripping his opposite shoulder for a moment before they release each other.
Haldir steps away, turning to Frodo. "You will follow me."
Frodo looks to Ithilae, his eyes questioning if it is all right. She nods in confirmation and they once again are on the move.
They travel through the night, mostly in silence; for their hearts are still heavy and they bodies weary. When morning comes, they reach an opening in the woods, overlooking the tallest of Mallorn trees further ahead.
They gaze upon them in wonder. "Caras Galadon. The heart of Elvendom on Earth. This is the city of Galadhrim where dwell the Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, Lady of Light." Haldir explains.
By the time they reach that inner sanctum, the skies turn dark again. Many fires light their way and, as Ithilae spoke of before, the very bark seems to shine with a pale light, similar of that of the moon.
They climb a long and winding staircase up the tallest tree of them all, until Haldir halts them before a magnificent structure.
Only moments later, the Lord and Lady of the land appear, stepping down the steps to meet them. The Lady's magnificent beauty seems to take their breath away.
Lord Celeborn turns his gaze to Aragorn. "The enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone. Nine there are here, yet ten there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him. I can no longer see him from afar."
Lady Galadriel lets her eyes cross over the company to meet Frodo's pained ones. Seeking the truth in them. "Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into Shadow." she speaks, her voice like a whisper in the wind.
Legolas speaks up then, "He was taken by both Shadow and flame: A Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria." he says before casting his eyes down in grief.
Celeborn takes on a look of surprise, but Galadriel assures them, "Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his full purpose."
She takes a moment to survey the down cast look before her, before turning to Gimli. He has taken things hard, as he found he lost many of his kin. "Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dûm fill your heart Gimli, son of Glóin. For the world has grown full of peril, and in all lands, love is now mingled with grief." she comforts him, making him gaze upon her with awe.
Her eyes then dwell to Boromir in all their intensity until he seems to snap. He starts to sob softly, turning away.
"What now becomes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf, hope is lost." Celeborn states.
"The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all... Yet hope remains while the company is true." Galadriel tells them, smiling lightly down on Sam who looks up shyly.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace." she assures them.
Haldir motions for the to follow him and one by one they take off down the steps again. Ithilae takes a final look over her shoulder, finding eyes on her. "We will meet in the morn. For now, rest."
