They ran on for half a day, eventually ending up in a large, grassy field. After running across, they found themselves in a forest, where some of the trees had bright, golden leaves on their branches. Attempting to take her mind off of Gandalf, Lucy began to wonder if they were always like that, or if it was because it was fall.
"Stay close, little ones!" Gimli hissed to the hobbits and the Pevensies. "They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods." Hefting his axe, the dwarf looked around the forest suspiciously. "An elf-witch of terrible power."
"There are witches here?" Lucy said, mimicking his whisper.
"If there are wizards," Susan said in a low, toneless voice, "There are probably witches." Peter's eyes narrowed.
"Are you all right, Su?" He asked, putting a hand on her shoulder. Susan had been totally silent during the journey to the wood, and now her tone was flat, uncaring. Gandalf's death had obviously shaken the usually positive young woman. Even now, she ignored her older brother.
"All who look upon her fall under her spell." Gimli continued, eyes darting around nervously. "And are never seen again." Lucy nervously clutched Edmund's hand, also looking around timidly. Was Aragorn aware of this witch? And if so, then why was he leading them into her forest?
Lucy… Lucy gasped and stopped moving. Edmund was unceremoniously jerked back, and he turned. "Lu, come on," He muttered. Lucy blinked. Hadn't he heard that? No. Edmund had heard nothing. Neither had anyone else. Lucy Pevensie… You are not of our world… Nor are any of your siblings… Lucy was quaking now, pressing the side of her face into Edmund's arm.
"Well, this is one dwarf she will not ensnare so easily." Gimli chuckled dryly. "I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox." Lucy squeezed her eyes shut.
Go away… She thought.
"Oh!" Lucy's eyes shot open, and she found an arrow in front of her face. It was an elf. Several elves, actually, all with arrows pointed at members of the Fellowship. Legolas had his bow out as well, though he didn't appear willing to shoot.
"The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark." An elf said, stepping forward. Gimli growled at the elf, but Aragorn put his hands up.
"Haldir," He said quietly, nodding. Haldir nodded back.
"Aragorn, son of Arathorn." He said. "Long has it been since you trekked the woods of Lothlorien." His eyes flipped over the other members of the Fellowship. "And you brought friends." Suddenly, a motion caught both of their eyes. Susan had knocked an arrow away from her face, looking irritated.
"Get the arrow out of my face." She growled at the elf, not sounding at all like her usually polite self. Aragorn gave her a wary look.
"Susan," He said softly. "Relax." She glared at him.
"Then tell him to back off," She snapped. "This is the twentieth time I've had an arrow pointed at my face in a day, and I'm getting sick of it." Chuckling nervously, Peter walked over and put his hands on his sister's shoulders.
"You'll have to excuse her," He said. "She's grieving." Susan brushed his hands away, and Haldir walked over to them. Lucy was stunned- recall, in chapter eight, when it was said that she was expecting Susan to snap at any time, any day?
Well, that day was today, apparently.
Haldir looked the adolescent in the eyes, and then signaled for the archer to lower his arrow. "There are few that would speak so boldly when threatened with death." He remarked, studying her. Susan didn't respond. Haldir turned back to Aragorn, who let out a sigh of relief. "Tell me- what brings this company to Lothlorien?"
Hours later, they were found on a leaf-shaped platform high in the trees, where Haldir was formally addressing them. He said something in elvish to Legolas, who responded back in elvish. Then, Haldir addressed Aragorn.
"So much for the legendary courtesy of the elves," Gimli snarled. "Speak words we can all understand!" Haldir turned to the dwarf.
"We have not had dealings with the dwarves since the Dark Days," He said, his voice a little bitter. Gimli snorted.
"And you know what this dwarf says to that?" Gimli spat out something, presumably in dwarvish, and Aragorn shut his eyes again- the day's events were beginning to tax on his nerves. He felt a headache coming on. Gripping Gimli's shoulder, he hissed,
"That was not so courteous." Apparently, Haldir could understand every word of what Gimli had said, because he regarded the dwarf coldly. Haldir's eyes flipped around to the other members of the Fellowship, briefly lingering on Susan, who held a dozing Lucy on her lap. When she met his gaze, he looked away. Finally, his eyes settled on Frodo.
"You bring great evil with you." He stated, piercing eyes boring into Frodo's. He turned back to Aragorn. "You can go no further." Aragorn sighed, and then went after Haldir. For the next hour, the Fellowship sat around the platform while Aragorn and Haldir whispered in elvish nearby. Edmund took this time to speak with his older sister.
"Su," He whispered. "Susan." She turned.
"What?" She whispered.
"What happened back there?" Edmund whispered. "I've never seen you talk to a grown-up like that. Usually, you're little Miss prim and proper." Susan glared at him.
"We all have our days. You do too." She muttered. Edmund's eyes twinkled.
"Sis… You have a dark side… It speaks to me…" For the first time in a while, Susan cracked a smile.
"Don't get used to it. After I get some sleep and finish grieving, I'll be annoyingly positive again." She said softly.
Then, Haldir approached the company.
"You will come with me."
They were still walking into the early evening of the next day; hobbits and children in the back, along with Gimli, and Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas up front with Haldir. Several elves accompanied them, for reasons unknown to the Fellowship. Finally, they reached a high hill, from which a large gathering of enormous trees could be seen. Haldir smiled.
"Caras Galadhon," He said. "The heart of Elvendom on Middle Earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, Lady of Light." The trekked onwards into Caras Galadhon, where the trees were as thick as fire engines, and glowing crystals illuminated their path. Spiraling, amazingly crafted staircases wound around the trees, leading to platforms and other things.
Night fell, and the wood was illuminated with white and blue light, creating an ethereal scene as the company hiked up a long, spiraling flight of stairs. This was truly the most beautiful place any of the Pevensies had ever seen in their lives. There was no place in their world that was like this. Haldir led them to a platform before a small flight of stairs, and they waited there for something.
Then, two elves descended the stairs, hand in hand. A man and a woman- Peter suspected right off the bat that these people were Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. They both seemed to glow with a pure sort of light, like their home. Lord Celeborn was tall and regal, with long, silver hair and bright blue-gray eyes. Lady Galadriel was dressed in all white, with long blonde hair and clear blue eyes.
Many of the Fellowship, with the exception of Legolas, felt the need to cast their eyes away when the two elves approached. But they found themselves looking up again when Celeborn and Galadriel reached the bottom of the stairs. Celeborn, a somber look on his face, spoke first, in a clear, deep voice. "The enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now lost." He looked around at them all. "Twelve there are here, yet thirteen there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him."
As he spoke, Galadriel turned and looked to Aragorn. She didn't turn, really- just moved her eyes a little. But with that one glance, she seemed to understand. "Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into shadow." Celeborn looked to her in slight surprise.
"He was taken by both Shadow and Flame." Legolas said quietly. The Lord and Lady looked to the Prince. "A Balrog of Morgoth." Lucy, clutching Susan's hand, shuddered at the memory of the Balrog. "For we went needlessly into the net of Moria."
"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life." Galadriel said. "We do not yet know his full purpose." She turned and looked at Gimli, who had averted his eyes. "Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dum fill your heart, Gimli, son of Glòin. For the world has gone full of peril, and in all lands, love is now mingled with grief." She turned and glanced at Boromir. After a moment, he made a little noise and looked away.
Then, Galadriel looked to little Lucy, still holding her older sister's hands. Lucy… It was Galadriel- only she was speaking to Lucy using her mind! That was the voice she had heard when they had first entered the forest! Do not despair, little one, Galadriel said, visibly smiling at the child. For those we love never truly leave us. They watch us, and protect us. Even in death, Gandalf will guide you and your friends. Lucy managed a small smile at the elf queen.
"What now becomes of this Fellowship?" Celeborn asked. "Without Gandalf, hope is lost."
"The quest stands upon the edge of a knife," Galadriel said. "Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all." Again, she looked to Boromir, who continued to look uncomfortable. "Yet hope remains while the company is true." She now glanced to Edmund. And like his sister, Edmund also heard the Lady of Light's voice in his head.
Edmund Pevensie… Do not fear. You will have your chance to show your quality and find your place. Do not burden yourself with such worries. It will happen in due course. Shocked at this, all Edmund could do was nod a little.
Now Galadriel spoke aloud again. "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."
That night, they slept on the ground under the shelter of a tent and some very large roots. Susan and Edmund shuddered upon seeing the tree, remembering hiding under a similar one when they were attacked by the Nazgul. While unpacking, Legolas had tilted his head up, listening. The elves were singing something in their own tongue, and he could obviously understand it.
"A lament for Gandalf," Said Legolas. Merry listened for a moment.
"What do they say about him?" He asked quietly. Legolas paused.
"I have not the heart to tell you. For me, the grief is still too near." He said.
"Join the club." Edmund grunted, already flopped into his bedroll with his back to the others. Gimli was asleep by now, having unpacked before the others. Aragorn was sharpening his sword, while the hobbits unrolled their blankets.
"I bet they don't mention his fireworks," Sam said. "There should be a verse about them." He paused, and then stood up.
"The finest rockets ever seen,
They burst in stars of blue and green,"
Lucy, who was sitting next to Frodo, smiled. "Gold and red, too. Remember the dragon, Frodo? Did I tell you what happened? When the dragon flew down, it Gandalf and I fell over, and Gandalf's mug overturned on his head." She giggled. "He looked so funny." Frodo cracked what was probably the smallest smile known to any race.
"Or after thunder, silver showers,
Came falling like a rain of flowers,"
At the third line, Gimli had given a particularly loud snore, and Aragorn whacked him. Edmund and Lucy giggled. Sam sighed and sat down again. "That doesn't do them justice by a long road." He muttered. Susan went over and put her hands on his shoulders, smiling sweetly at him.
"It was touching, Sam, really. I wish we could have seen them." She said.
"And whose fault is that?"
"Lucy!"