Hello everyone! I hope that you enjoy this chapter! Thanks to all who have reviewed, favored, and followed this story! It means a whole lot that you take the time to read and sometimes review my story! :)
Disclaimer: I no own the LoTR, though it would be awesome if I did! I only own those you don't recognize.
OH, by the way I have decided to make this one long story, so I won't be cutting off after Amon Hen. It'll just keep going. And the title will remain, because basically this story is about both A father's pride and the fellowship.
Chapter 14
The Lord and Lady of Lothlorien came to a stop, their eyes sweeping over each of the Fellowship that stood before them. Weariness and a deep sadness shown on their faces, but of what they were not yet aware.
"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." Lord Celeborn spoke, his eyes piercing each of them. Tell me, where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him. I can no longer see him from afar" Lady Galadriel looked upon Aragorn's face and she knew what had happened.
"Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into shadow." She murmured and Haromir grew entranced by the sound of her voice.
"He was taken by both shadow and flame. A Balrog of Morgoth." Legolas murmured and the Elves looked dismayed and alarmed. "For we went needlessly into the net of Moria." Gimli lowered his head and Harry put a hand on his shoulder, startling the Dwarf, but Gimli was grateful for the support and patted the hand.
"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his full purpose." Galadriel spoke wisely and Legolas bowed his head in agreement. Gimli sighed and the Lady looked upon him. "Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dum fill your heart, Gimli son of Gloin. For the world has grown full of peril. And in all lands, love is now mingled with grief." Galadriel's eyes fixated on Boromir as she spoke and he gazed upon her in fear. She was in his mind. Boromir could not make himself look at her as she spoke to him. First she spoke of Denethor and Gondor and though he did not wish to listen to any more paid rapid attention now.
One of you stands on the very brink of destruction for this Company, Boromir. Boromir's eyes fell to the ground as she continued. There will come a time when young Haromir's strength will fail. The dream you had in Rivendell still lingers in your mind. You have a right to fear it. Boromir sucked in a breath shakily, but did not say anything his limbs shaking.
Haromir looked at him briefly as his brother looked away from her, trembling.
Tell me, son of Gondor, the melodious voice of Galadriel spoke in his head and Haromir refrained from gasping aloud as his eyes flickered to hers. Do you have courage to continue this quest?
I do not know. He answered back solemnly.
The path once known is spiraling; Haromir soon you will be put to the test. Will you persevere though it all? Or give up hope? She left his mind and he looked down from her gaze. He wasn't sure what she meant, but the meaning was all too clear.
"What now becomes of this Fellowship?" Celeborn asked. "Without Gandalf, hope is lost."
"The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all." Boromir seemed far worse than before and Haromir gazed at him when he felt eyes upon him. Boromir looked troubled and scared and the bottom of Haromir's stomach flopped. Was the Lady speaking of his brother then? Is Boromir the one to stray?
"Yet hope remains while the Company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled." The Lady spoke. "Go now and rest for you are weary with sorrow and much turmoil. Tonight you will sleep in peace. There is no need to fear while you are here." Haldir stepped forward to escort them down a flight of stairs and the group followed Aragorn, bowing their heads respectively to the Lord and Lady.
Haldir led them to a pavilion spread along the ground for them by the Elves. Soft couches for them to sleep upon spread along the pavilion and near the fountain. The elves that had setup the fair establishment bowed to them and whispered words of comfort and peace before leaving them with food and goblets for water from the fountain.
"This is just lovely." Pippin sighed, sinking into the nearest couch and they snickered lightly at the Hobbit. "Nice and soft. I'll have no trouble sleeping here."
"Everything is to your liking then?" Haldir asked, his eyes twinkling. "Shall I tell the Lady you appreciate her generosity?"
"Oh, yes!" Pippin said his voice muffled by a pillow or two and Haromir snorted. The Elf smirked and turned to the remaining Company.
"I bid you good night. I must get back to my post." They thanked him and then turned away from the stairs. The Hobbits had claimed their beds for the night and left the taller folk to do as they wished. Haromir followed Boromir setting his stuff down on the ground between their beds. Haromir felt more tired than he could even begin to describe and slipped off most of his garments for more comfortable wear. Lying barefoot in a simple white shirt and breeches, he stretched out on his back the couch-like cot and turned to look at Boromir.
Boromir was busying himself with fixing his bed and when he felt eyes on him, looked up. He didn't say anything, but went back to digging through his bag.
"Bor." Haromir murmured. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, little brother." Boromir said quietly and made himself look at Harry once. "Get some rest. You are tired." He left his brother's side before any questions could be asked. Harry frowned at Boromir's getaway before sighing up at the tree tops.
A while later, Haromir turned on his stomach and faced his companions. Pippin was lying down too and waved at Haromir lazily making the young man chuckle in response. Merry and Sam were sitting up, listening to the beginnings of the song, while Frodo leaned against the tree behind him, a saddened look on his face that broke Haromir's heart. He hated to see his friend in such pain. Frodo, as if reading his thoughts, gave him a faint smile telling him he would be okay.
Boromir sat alone his back to them all, hunched over like he was afraid of something. Haromir frowned at him and then heard the tell-tale sound of Gimli snoring. A clinking sound in the air, indicated Aragorn, lazily sharpening his blade, his back against a tree as well. Haromir looked around for their Elf and found him walking back from his talk with his kin.
Soft singing rose up from the trees filling the air with a beautifully melancholy song in Elvish. Legolas paused, looking quite sad. "A lament for Gandalf." He murmured, and Haromir turned his head to hear the words better.
"What do they say about him?" Merry asked, curiously.
"I have not the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near." Legolas looked away from the Hobbits. Harry's eyes watered and he turned his back to the group determined to not let them see him in such a state.
"Bet they don't mention his fireworks." Sam spoke up and the young man looked over at him. "Should be a verse about them." He looked thoughtful for a moment and then stood up.
"The finest rockets ever seen,
They burst in stars of blue and green,
And after thunder, silver showers…"
Loud snores suddenly came from the back of the pavilions. Aragorn, who was trying to hear, turned and smacked Gimli who snorted, but did not awaken, momentarily stopping his snoring and earned giggles from Pippin and Merry. Haromir snorted and Aragorn rolled his eyes as Legolas chuckled.
"Came falling down like raining flowers…"
Sam finished and scowled. "That doesn't do them justice…"He trailed off in low mutterings, settling back down and Haromir smiled.
"It was nice, Sam. I think he would have like it." Samwise blushed red and said no more. Before long the Hobbits and Haromir was deep asleep.
Aragorn looked over to see Boromir sitting alone and stood walking over to him and being careful not to awaken Haromir, who was for once sleeping peacefully, as he walked past.
"Take some rest." He told the Gondorian, who never flinched at the sudden voice. "These borders are well protected."
"I will find no rest here." Boromir said and Aragorn looked at him sharply. "I heard her voice inside my head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Gondor. She says, "Even now there is hope left", but I cannot see it. It has been so long since we've had any hope." Aragorn came to sit beside him, realizing that this issue was very close to the Gondorian's heart and that he meant no offense to the fair Lady.
"My father is a noble man." Boromir began again. "But his rule is failing. And our-our people lose faith." Boromir's voice shook with suppressed emotion. "He looks to me to make it right. Not to Faramir, not to Harry. To me. And I would do it. I would see the glory of Gondor restored. If only to keep my family and people safe." He looked to Aragorn then. "Have you ever seen it, Aragorn? The White Tower of Ecthelion, glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver, its banners caught high in the morning breeze. Have you ever been called home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets?"
"I have seen the White City. Long ago." Aragorn said quietly and Boromir turned to him.
"One day, our paths will lead us there and the tower guard will take up the call: The Lords of Gondor have returned." Aragorn wasn't sure how to respond, but only gave him a smile that he hoped was good enough. He still was unsure of his destiny. Boromir glanced at Haromir for a moment, his eyes glittering with something that caught Aragorn's attention.
"He will be fine, Boromir. As I said, we are protected here."
"Yes. I only worry for him." Boromir stated and hesitantly spoke again. "She spoke to me of my brother." Aragorn froze. The Lady would never say anything unless she thought that it was necessary.
"What did she say?"
"That one day his strength will fail him. This worries me for such a cryptic sentence makes one fearful of its true meaning."
"Perhaps it is only a caution." Aragorn murmured and Boromir suppressed a shiver. The Man saw this, but made no comment, though he wondered what it was that Boromir was hiding.
Harry's eyes flashed open and he felt the foreign tug on his mind again unable to stop it. His gaze found Frodo, sleeping peacefully on his couch. The silver chain around his neck seemed to glow ethereally and Haromir rose from his bed. Keeping silent as he had so often done before, he came across the grass to loom over the sleeping Hobbit, eyes glued to the silver chain. He reached a hand out to touch it, a whispering in his head telling him to take it as his own.
Something made a noise behind him and he jumped, instantly being released from whatever was holding onto his mind. Haromir blinked several times, before looking at Frodo. Oh no, he groaned internally. Feeling extremely sorry for what he had tried to do and fearful too, Harry backed away from the sleeping Hobbit and back to his bed, gazing around to see if anyone had noticed him.
What he didn't notice as he lay back down was Aragorn re-sheathing his sword, the cool eyes of the Ranger smoldering with apprehension as they stayed trained on Harry. Perhaps Boromir and Lady Galadriel had good reason to be cautious of the young man. It seemed the Ring had finally gotten to him and it made Aragorn nervous that this newest development would mean that now two Gondorians were trying to take the Ring to their land. But who, Aragorn pondered, would be the first to crack?
Haromir woke up the next morning, feeling utterly awful and unworthy to stay in the same spot as his companions, so gathering his things he quickly and quietly left them.
"Where's Harry?" Sam asked, stirring the Fellowship's breakfast slowly. "He's going to miss eating."
"I don't know." Merry murmured as he and Pippin came to get their share of food. "He was gone before I got up."
"He was gone before Legolas got up and he's always up before everyone else." Pippin murmured, shoving bread into his mouth. Frodo looked at Boromir to see if the older man had noticed his brother's absence. He had for he was talking Haldir, who had come to speak to them, a frown on his face as he said something to the Elf, beside him stood, Gimli and Legolas. The Dwarf was interrogated by the Hobbits as he walked back over to them.
"He's at the archery fields." Gimli grunted, taking the offered bowl to him. "More food for the rest of us then." Sam looked worried.
"He'll come to eat won't he?"
"I'm sure he will when he gets hungry." Boromir stated, coming to sit next to Gimli. "He must have waked up in a mood this morning."
Aragorn watched as Haromir pulled back on the bow, sending the last of his arrows towards the target, only to miss the middle by a ring. Haromir frowned and went to retrieve the arrows, not seeing the Ranger, leaning against a tree.
"Something troubling you?" Aragorn called softly and Haromir spun around, startled. When Haromir lowered his eyes and turned back to picking up his arrows, the Ranger walked up to him. "You had the Hobbits and your brother worried when you weren't in your bed this morning."
"I…did not mean to cause worry." Haromir said after a moment, eyeing each arrow, checking them for cracks and breaks, before sticking it back into his quiver. "I only wanted to be alone for a moment."
Aragorn sighed. "Is there something you wish to say?" Haromir looked at him and saw the meaning in his question. Haromir's hands trembled.
"I….I didn't know what I was doing. It had never been that strong before…" He murmured and Aragorn stepped up to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"We all feel a pull on the Ring." He said gently and then more firmly. "But what's important is that we don't give in to it."
"It was harder to pull away this time." Harry admitted and Aragorn frowned. "It was like I couldn't." The Ranger wasn't sure what to say but he only let go of the young man's shoulders. "I am sorry though."
"I believe you. I know you would never harm Frodo on purpose." Haromir smiled gratefully and Aragorn started to walk back to their camp site. "Won't you come and join us now?"
"I think I need some more time alone."
"I have not told anyone else, Haromir. This will remain between the two of us."
"I thank you for that. I only wish that it had been an awful dream only."
"Shall we see you at noon then?"
"Yes." Haromir murmured and Aragorn stopped him again.
"If you need someone else to talk to, don't hesitate to ask the Lady Galadriel. She gives good council to those who need it."
"I'll do that." He smiled at the Ranger and Aragorn left. As soon as the Man was out of sight, Haromir through his things to the ground and sat on the grass.
You will unite or you will fall.
The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all.
"Am I the one who will break us?" Haromir muttered to himself as Elrond and Galadriel's words rang in his head.
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