Note:
This section is a bit talk-y but the fellowship had to discuss what to do next. Then we leave Lothlorien and go paddling down the Anduin river to Amon Hen and the epic Uruk-hai showdown. Exciting!
After a few weeks of recuperating in Lothlorien, the fellowship gathered in Celeborn's study to plan the next leg of their journey. Fully healed and well rested (and adequately bathed, Nel noted with pleasure), they gathered around a large circular table with the lord and lady of the forest, and a few select elvish watchguards, to inspect the large map laid out in front of them. Discussions were lively. Annamir favoured following the Anduin Valley to the Eastfold and then travelling the Great West Road to Minas Tirith. The route was over easy ground, which meant that their progress would be swift, and the Great West Road was patrolled by soldiers of Gondor, which meant that aide would be close at hand should they come under attack. Gandalf and Aragorn were reluctant to go so close to the capital of Gondor, instead preferring to approach Mordor from the Dead Marshes. Nelwen said little; it had been many hundreds of years since she had last travelled so far south and she felt unable to contribute to the debate.
"Every league you travel south, the danger will increase," said Celeborn. "Mordor orcs now hold the eastern shore of the Anduin. Nor will you find safety on the western banks. Strange creatures bearing the white mark of Saruman have been seen on our borders. Seldom do orcs journey in the open under the sun, yet these creatures have done so. By following the river you have the chance of outrunning the enemy to the Falls of Rauros."
"You are being tracked," continued Haldir, "and not only by orcs. Since your arrival our patrols have spied a strange creature. Always evading capture, he skulks in the shadows under the roots of the mallorn trees."
"It is Gollum," said Gandalf matter-of-factly, "he's been following us since Caradhras."
"He escaped Barad Dur?" asked Nelwen. Elrond and Gandalf had explained the part Gollum had played in the Ring's history before the fellowship had left Rivendell. How he had once been a hobbit. How the Ring had twisted him into something cruel and starving. How he had been captured by the allies of Sauron and tortured until he'd given them the location of the Ring. The thought of this pitiable creature made Nel's skin crawl.
"Escaped, or was set loose," answered Gandalf. "Now the Ring has drawn him here. He will never be rid of his need for it. He hates and loves the Ring, as he hates and loves himself."
"If he is seen again within our borders, we will kill him," said Haldir.
"Kill him? It is not to us to pass judgement on his life. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or evil, before this is over."
The assembled group fell silent, whether contemplating the fate of poor Gollum, the orcs threatening the borders of Lorien, or the perilous journey awaiting the fellowship.
"So we're agreed," said Nel, interrupting the gloom that had taken hold of the study; "we follow the Anduin to Emyn Muil. Then east across Nindalf. Aragorn knows the marshes well so hopefully we will not lose our way." Nel could tell from the way Annamir was frowning that she disapproved of their route. Well tough. While it was common for Annamir and Aragorn to disagree, this time Gandalf was on Aragorn's side. "We will gather tomorrow morning at the docks. We leave at first daylight."
"Wait," said Gandalf as they were all preparing to leave. "You three will follow this path. I'm afraid I must take another."
Nelwen felt her stomach drop. So this was what Galadriel had meant when she said that the fellowship was about to break apart. This was why Gandalf and Celeborn had been having private meetings. She had felt so much bravado in the glade, telling Galadriel that no force could tear the fellowship asunder. Now she felt rather foolish.
"For many nights have Celeborn and I discussed the threat of Saruman. These creatures spied on the borders of Lothlorien, bearing the white hand, are no mere orc but something fiercer, the Uruk-hai. The fellowship cannot hope to succeed with Mordor attacking from the east and Isengard from the west. I must head to Fangorn Forest in the hope that I may still find some allies there. Then I can turn my attentions to Isengard and seek to crush Saruman's foul influence. If I can alleviate your burden even a little, then I have succeeded."
It was obvious that the fellowship felt uneasy at the departure of one of their number. They were already so few that the loss of one would be keenly felt. But Gandalf's words made sense and none made to argue with him. They had little hope of surmounting both the strength of Mordor and Isengard.
The fellowship returned to their clearing and gathered around the campfire, telling stories and laughing like old friends. Annamir regaled them all with tales of dragon hunting, complete with extravagant gesticulations. Nelwen eyed the human suspiciously, unsure of whether to believe the farfetched tales. Even with Gandalf acting as witness, it was not impossible that he was colluding with the human in her falsehood. Fallacy or not, the stories were entertaining and Nel decided that, for tonight, that was enough.