I'm back! Sorry for not updating yesterday, things got hectic.
Anyway, here is the next chapter, thank you to those who gave their opinions about Amon Hen, they were extremely helpful!
Enjoy :)
...
Life continued in the same fashion as in the last few weeks. Get up, train, have lunch with the Fellowship plus a few Wardens, train once more, bathe (in an actual bath), free time after dinner and then bed. It may not be the most exciting line of events, but the constant pushing myself was really starting to help, both physically and mentally.
To be fair, who is against losing weight and being able to run for ages without dying?
Plus, it will now be so much easier when we have to do that three day long run...as long as we are with that particular party. I myself plan to be, as I have to be there for Helm's Depp. I think Kate does too, but it's not necessarily a conversation we want to have. I just can't help but wonder what we will do if something goes wrong or if one of us is injured...or worse. Let's face it, the odds are high.
Before we knew what hit us, it was the morning we were due to be leaving. We had somehow managed to spend a whole month in Lorien, yet it felt like barely a week. This place seems to do that to people.
"Don't leave anything behind" Kate warned me as she sat on her bag in a desperate attempt to get it shut.
"Yeah" I replied absently, too busy using up the last of my battery on my phone...sad times. I had kept it off for ages, preventing the battery from running down. I have no use for it anymore. I held it in front of me uselessly as the Logo flashed up for the last time, signalling the end of my phone's life forever. Just like the end of another chapter in a book. The objects from our old life are slowly diminishing, but I do not feel sad. Instead, I feel free.
"Naw, we should hold a burial for it!" Kate gushed
"Kate?"
"Yeah?"
"No, just no"
Kate looked a little put out about it...but it's a phone! There's going to be way too many upcoming burials for my liking.
"Emma, Kate?" Boromir's voice sounded. He has been a little off these past few days. I think the rings power is drawing him in. Kate and I have discussed briefly what to do about that too, and we are both on the same page as to what to do about Amon Hen. We just need to wait until the time is right.
"Yeah?" We called back in the same moment.
"We must make our way to the river bank; from there we will say our goodbyes and depart within the hour"
We looked at each other, sadness equal in our eyes.
"Thank you" I called back, my eyes never leaving Kate's. She smiled sadly and took my hand. Together, we said goodbye to the place we had called home in Middle Earth, and turned away from a safe sanctuary. Possibly for the last time ever.
It was a fifteen minute walk to the river bank, a walk we did in silence, each one of us too caught up in our own thoughts and feelings. Many people bid us goodbye and a safe journey as we passed. I wonder if they know how slim the chances of the latter happening are.
We were the last to arrive out of the eleven of us. We took our places silently at the end of the row, dropping our packs in the growing pile that was on the bank near to the boats. I took a deep breath and looked up, my eyes locking with Haldir's, who nodded at me, a sad smile on his face.
"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people. May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes" Lord Celeborn said. I smiled in thanks to Rumil, who secured the green-gray cloak around my shoulders, fastening it with a broach the shape of a leaf of Lorien.
"Hannon Le" I said to him. Being around elves the whole time has allowed me to pick up a few phrases, even if I haven't started my official lessons yet.
Rumil smiled at me, before he kissed my forehead and stepped back. I looked down the line of companions, watching as Lady Galadriel floated down it, coming to stop in front of Legolas, who was first in the queue.
"My gift for you, Legolas, is a bow of the Galadhrim. Worthy of the skill of our woodland kin" she said in her low, musical voice. Legolas took the beautifully carved bow in his hands with a huge amount of care, before running his hands over the wood, his face contorted in wonder. The Lady smiled at him as he said his thanks and walked away. I watched as he moved back to the boats, before facing back down the line, just as Galadriel had moved on to Merry and Pippin, the latter looking suitably terrified about what was to come. Galadriel smiled at them gently, before handing them two daggers in their sheaths. They took the gifts with slight trepidation.
"These are the daggers of the Noldorin. They have already seen service in war. Do not fear, young Peregrin Took. You will find your courage" was all she said, before she moved on silently, her footsteps not making a sound along the soft forest floor.
"And for you, Samwise Gamgee, Elven rope made of hithlain." She said as she came to a stop in front of the gardener Hobbit. Sam took the bundle of rope, his face showing awe but also disappointment.
"Thank you my lady. Have you run out of those nice, shiny daggers?" he asked.
He has no idea how useful that will be in the future. I just hope that should neither Kate nor I go with him and Frodo he will remember.
Galadriel did not reply, merely smiled and moved on. She probably knows when he will need it. She is ridiculously clever that way.
I held my breath as she approached Gimli. I always loved this scene in the movies, the first civil conversation an elf and dwarf have had in a long while, except maybe Legolas and Gimli, but then again, they argue with one another more than is healthy for them.
"And what gift would a dwarf ask of the elves?" Galadriel asked, coming to stop in front of him, looking extremely clean and beautiful compared to our dwarfish friend. Then again, she looks beautiful compared to anyone.
"Nothing." Gimli replied quickly "Except to look upon the lady of the Galadhrim one last time, for she is fairer than all the jewels beneath the earth" he said, turning red at his own words. I love that dwarf. Galadriel chuckled slightly and Gimli went to turn away, only to catch the look on Kate and I was giving him. He turned back, sighing.
"Actually, there was one thing." He muttered, before raising his voice, scolding himself. The poor dwarf, my heart goes out to him right now! "No, no, I couldn't. It's quite impossible. Stupid to ask"
"Nothing is impossible, Gimli son of Gloin" Galadriel said evenly.
"Could...could a dwarf possibly ask for one strand of hair from your golden head, to act as a beacon of light on this quest?" he asked, his voice gruff and catching.
Galadriel smiled a truly breathtaking smile, before reaching up and plucking out three strands. The surrounding elves gasped in surprise and wonder as she passed them to Gimli, who clutched them with an amazed look on his face.
"Thank you, my lady" he said, before bowing and half running away to the boats, were everyone bar Aragorn, Kate and I were sitting. I swear I saw tears in his eyes.
She turned to the Ranger, her eyes soft and caring.
"I have nothing greater to give than the gift you already bear." She said. Wait, what? This is exactly the same speech as before! Agh!
I relaxed as she glanced meaningfully at Kate, who was meaningfully staring in the other directing. Hum hum.
Aragorn blushed and nodded, touching something I couldn't quite see around his neck.
"But for now, you have your own choice to make, Aragorn. To rise above the height of all your fathers since the days of Elendil, or to fall into darkness with all that is left of your kin." She continued gravely. Namárië. Nadath nâ i moe cerich. Dan, ú-'eveditham, Elessar."
What?
I have no idea what she just said. It better be something nice though. If not, I shall not be happy. In fact, I shall-
Oh crap, she's coming to me.
"And for you, a brave young elleth, I give these long daggers, and this bow. I have heard of your progression and hard work in your training. These were crafted specifically for you by the Marchwarden himself. He has asked it of me to gift these to you, and to let you know that you are ready. He wishes you well and shall miss you, but he is sure he will see his little sister again someday" she said, her eyes sparkling.
That did it.
I bowed to the lady and said thank you, before I ignored all that was proper and ran past her and up the hill, into the trees and to the last place I saw Haldir. Luckily for me, he was still there. I launched myself at his surprised form, throwing my arms around his neck, sobbing like a baby.
"Why do you cry?" he asked gently.
'Oh, I wonder' I thought to myself sarcastically, but all that came out of my mouth was a strange whale like sound. Well, that's embarrassing.
"T-t-thank you" I cried eventually, staining his tunic with tears. He will probably complain to me about it, but I really couldn't care any less.
I felt his cheeks lift in a smile, before he stepped back and placed his hands on my shoulders, assessing me.
"We shall meet again, my little warrior" he said simply, before he wiped my tears away and wrapped an arm around my shoulders as he walked me back down to the boats.
Now, that is what a proper big brother does. I have been missing out.
Then again, if I had a big brother back on Earth, he would probably steal the remote to the TV, eat all my food and embarrass me in front of my friends.
Yup, that sounds about right.
Everyone watched as we descended onto the jetty type thing that was by the boats. I felt my cheeks heat up my tear-tracked skin. They seriously need to stop staring! Surely this isn't the first time something like this has happened. Get over it.
Please?
Haldir helped me into the boat with Legolas and Gimli, who nodded to him, looking at me sympathetically.
I guess Kate told them what happened then. Speaking of which, where is my best friend?
I almost jumped out of my skin as she suddenly appeared in front of me, answering my silent question. She shook slightly, wrapping her arms around my neck. I hugged her around the waist, sobbing silently into her shoulder.
"It will be fine" she whispered into my ear. I nodded and let her go. She climbed back to her boat, where Aragorn helped her to sit in front of him, before we pushed off, the elves watching silently from all sides.
Legolas paddled the boat with an oar in the shape of a leaf, as we all looked around in silence.
I saw the Lady wave Frodo goodbye, and I knew she was speaking to him through his mind. The startled look on his face gave it away anyway. I guess it takes a long time to get over that fact.
We shall never see her again.
None of us spoke for a long while, the weight we each had to bear pressing down on us, Frodo especially.
I took a deep breath as the river began to widen, a great expanse of trees leering over us from either side, sheltering us in the shade they provided. Every cell in my body screamed for s to turn back, back to the sanctuary of Lorien.
But we must not.
It is here our adventure begins.
...
Translations:
Hannon Le- Thank you
Namárië- Farewell
Nadath nâ i moe cerich. Dan, ú-'eveditham, Elessar.- There is much you have left to do. We shall not meet again, Elessar.
Awww, so they left Lorien! And on with the quest!
What do you think? Review and let me know!