Chapter 30: Lothlorien
After a long, stressing journey, the Fellowship jogged across a grassy field, towards the mystical woods of Lothlorien, halting under the eaves of the forest of tall, gold and silver-lined, and shapely trees. Lichen and moss covered the ancient trees. Leaves slowly twirled down to the earth.
As the Fellowship wandered deeper into Lothlorien, Max went nervous, so nervous that he was uneasy enough to tell the hobbits who were behind him.
"Stay close, young Hobbits! he said.
"They say," Max answered as everyone else listened intently, "that a great sorceress lives in these woods, an elf-witch… of terrible power. All who look upon her… fall under her spell…"
Suddenly…
Ethan heard a voice that echoed in his head, 'Ethan… '
The voice froze him solid. He looked around in shock, trying to find out where that voice was coming from. The voice was soft and feminine.
"…And are never seen again…" Max finished.
The echoing female voice continued to speak to Ethan… as a flash of feminine eyes appeared in his mind, 'your coming to us… is as the footsteps of doom. You bring great evil here, Ringbearer…'
Ethan froze again. Apparently, he was the only one who heard the voice…
"Ethan?" inquired Conner, wondering what was wrong with him.
Ethan nodded at Sam and kept moving.
Max continued his determination to avoid being… enchanted by the Elf-witch.
"Well," he said, "here's one Dwarf she won't ensnared so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox… oh!"
Max immediately found himself at the mercy of a bow and arrow, after that boastful remark…
Then… Elves, with drawn bows, began to surround the Fellowship, surprising them one by one. Dustin drew his bow as well, pointing at his kin.
Ethan held his hands in the air, gesturing that he means no harm.
A voice came from the Elf archers, "the Dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark."
The Elf who spoke came out of the woods, facing the Fellowship. He had blonde hair, the same as the rest of his Elf archers, and was also armed with a bow.
Max growled at the insult.
Trent spoke to the lead Elf, "Ryan Mitchell o Lórien. Henion aníron, boe ammen i dulu lîn. Boe ammen veriad lîn (Ryan Mitchell of Lorien. We have come for help. We need your protection)."
"Trent," interjected Max, still at bowpoint, "these woods are perilous… we should go back."
"You have entered the realm of the Lord and Lady of the Wood," announced Ryan, "you cannot go back."
Ryan looked down at Ethan closely… yet warily. Ethan stared back at Ryan. The Fellowship wondered what the lead Elf was going to do with them…
"You will follow me," Ryan said to the Fellowship. The Fellowship followed Ryan, accompanied by the Elf archers.
The caravan of Elves led the Fellowship along a ridge, trekking even deeper throughout the golden woods. Shane glances at Ethan behind him, as though concerned for the Hobbit.
"Ethan," Shane spoke to Ethan, "Tommy's death was not in vain... nor would he have you give up hope. You carry a heavy burden, Ethan... don't carry the weight of the dead."
The group came up to the end of the high ridge and looked out. Below them, behind the mists, under sunset, a great glade of trees rose above the world, green and gold, with rays of light drifting from the branches of trees. The very sight of the glade Greatly.
"Caras Galadhon," proclaimed Ryan brightly, "the heart of Elvendom on earth, realm of the Lord Captain Mitchell… and of Hayley Ziktor, Lady of Light."
"…Come," said Haldir, "they are waiting."
The Fellowship entered Caras Galadhon as night fell. The trees inside the city were very enormous, perhaps even taller than the towering pillars of Dwarrowdelf. In the blue glow of a moonlit night, the Fellowship climbed a twisting stair about the trunk of a tree, past glimmering lights of silver and blue.
Far above… the silhouetted shapes of the shadowy tree-branches loomed. Passing numerous platforms, they came to a great palace in the trees, lit with silvery lights. A curving walkway lies before them, leading up a low stair to an archway. Three-pronged, golden leaves were scattered about. Slowly, they gathered before the arch as Haldir stepped to one side, and looked up.
With a glow issuing forth from them, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien descend to meet the Fellowship, hand in hand. Hayley was very beautiful. Her hair was Golden blond. She was dressed completely in white. Frodo, Sam, and the others were astounded by Galadriel's beauty, with wide, overwhelmed expressions in their eyes. Trent touched his head reverently in greeting…
Captain Mitchelle was the first to speak, "Nine there are here, yet Eight there were, set out from Rivendell. Tell me where is Tommy…for I much desire to speak with him."
The Fellowship put on sad faces to Captain Mitchell's question.
Hayley answered for them, " Tommy the Grey did not pass the borders of this land… he has fallen into shadow." Hayley looked upon Trent, reading the answer in his eyes.
He was taken," interjected Dustin, "by both Shadow and Flame… a Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria."
Hayley looked down upon Max's expressions
of sadness by the mention of Tommy.
The lady of Light said to them, "do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dûm fill your heart, Max Cooper, son of Glóin…
Max looked up at her in response to Galadriel's sympathy.
Hayley went on, "for the world has grown full of peril. And in all lands… love is now mingled with grief."
"What now becomes of this Fellowship?" inquired Captain Mitchell, "without Tommy… hope is lost."
"The quest," Hayley announced, "stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all..."
She then looked at Shane, who can't stand her gaze.
He starts shaking and crying and casts his eyes downwards.
Hayley looked down at Conner who, in turn, continued to gaze at Hayley, as well. She smiled at him also…
"Yet," she said, "hope remains… while the company is true."
Hayley faced the rest of the Fellowship, as she continued, "…do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are wearied with sorrow, and much toil. Tonight, you will sleep in peace…"
'Welcome, Ethan of the Shire,' Hayley said, communicating with her thoughts to Ethan, as she widened her eyes at him, '…one who has seen the EYE!'
In that instant… Ethan remembered those eyes. They were the same eyes he saw in his mind.
Later, the Fellowship was provided with an area them to rest in, on the ground. The Fellowship began to set up their beds for their time of peaceful sleep, flourished by the soft, sweet singing of Elves within the trees…
A Olorin i yaresse…
Mentaner i Numeherui…
"…It's a lament for Tommy, Dustin said softly.
Tirien i Romenori…
Maiarion i Oiosaila…
Mana elye etevanne…
"What do they say about him?" Hunter asked Dustin.
"I have not the heart to tell you," replied Dustin, "…for me, the grief is still too near."
The Elves continued to sing their beautiful, enchanting song, in honor of Tommy…
Norie i melanelye?
Ilfirin nairelma…
ullume nucuvalme…
Nauva i nauva...
Ú-reniathach…
i amar galen…
I reniad lín ne môr, nuithannen.
Trent spot Shane, seated on a great tree root. He appeared to be restless. Trent assured him, "take some rest. These borders are well-protected."
"…Rest?" Shane queried incredulously, "…what rest? I will find no rest here,
Trent concern to Shane's restlessness grew greatly.
"I heard her voice inside my head," Shane continued, "she spoke of my father and the fall of Gondor. She said to me, even now, there is hope left, but I cannot see it. It is long since we had any hope."
Trent sat next to Shane, hoping to give him some comfort. After a long pause… Shane began to tell his reasons for his lack of hope.
"…My father is a noble man," Shane explained, "but his rule is failing, and now our... our people lose faith. He looks to me to make things right, and I would do it, I would see the glory of Gondor restored."
"Shane asked Trent. "Have you seen it Trent? 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," said Trent, "…long ago."
as Shane laid his hand on Trent, "because one day, I and Trent's paths shall lead us there… and the tower guard shall take up the call… 'The lords of Gondor have returned!'"
Trent smiled slightly, then he looked away in deep thought. He may not have been too happy with Shane's remark because he still had to deal with his personal demons,
