The group was back on their feet/paws as they slowly made their way through a flat green area of the hill near a big lake filled with an icy blue water and shallow riverbed. Aragorn was leading the Fellowship , running onto a rock before staring past the mountains to the greengold woods beyond : they were close to their destination… The realm of Lothlórien… The Elvish Woods…
Some times later, the Fellowship jogged across a grassy field, halting under the leaves of a forest of tall trees covered in lichens and mosses. As the group made their way through the forest, Kopa and Vitani shared an uneasy look on their faces : they hated those kind of areas because its much more difficult to see if they were spied or followed. Because of this, their senses sharpened so they wouldn't got surprised by whatever hided in those forest.
"Stay close, young Hobbits!" Gimli quietly whispered , motioning for the four little men to hurry as he stopped them. Then the Red-Barbed Dwarf putted a hand on Frodo's shoulder saying "They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods, an Elf-witch..." then he lowered his hand before resuming walking , constantly holding on his battle-axe as if he was especting something to attack them at any second "...of terrible power. All who look upon her, fall under her spell…"
The Lions, who walked not too far from them, heard everything the Dwarf said and they instantly redoubled vigilance when Gimli added "...are never seen again !" Vitani then noticed the startled look on Frodo and frowned : he looked just like he had seen a ghost. She was about to ask him about it but someone beat her " Mr. Frodo ?" Sam said with concern which caught the attention of the Ring-Bearer as he was beginning to look around with a frightened look on his face.
" Well, here is one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" The second Gimli said those words, Kopa suddenly roared threateningly before pouncing on something as a yell of terror echoed at the same time. But before anyone could see why, bows with arrows popped out of nowhere , pointing toward them. Legolas had his own bow and arrow out pointing at one of the Archers before noticing that himself was aimed.
Vitani placed herself in front of the Hobbits in a protective manner , growling at the Archers while unsheathing her claws. As the rest of the Fellowship looked around with alarm, Aragorn raised his hand up a little as a tall, golden-haired Elf appeared . "He must be their Leader..." Vitani thought to herself as she glared at him.
The Elf glanced at her but quickly turned back to Aragorn " The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark..." he said calmly with a hint of amusement which earned a low growl from the Dwarf and a silent smirk from Vitani as she remembered Gimli's previous comment.
"Tell your friend to release my man..." The Elf inquired Isildur's heir with a frown as he looked toward Kopa who had pinned down a young Archer Elf under his paws. The Elf was a pale as a ghost as the Kopa's teeth were a few inches away from his face , growling. "Kopa… Let him go..." Aragorn inquired the Brown Maned Lion calmly who after a moment of stunned silence, nodded with a huff before stepping away from the Elf to stand next to his mate.
/
As the night fell, the Fellowship was taken onto some platform in the rustling foliage. There some others nearby filled with Elves on them. Then the Tall Elf from earlier looked at them " Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion (Welcome Legolas, son of Thranduil.)" He said to Legolas who responded " Govannas vîn gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien (Our Fellowship stands in your debt, Haldir of Lórien )". The Tall Elf , now known as Haldir, looked at Aragorn before saying "A, Aragorn in Dúnedain istannen le ammen (Oh, Aragorn of the Dúnedain, you are known to us )" Aragorn saluted him quietly.
"So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can also understand!" Gimli suddenly said in an annoyed tone which caused Haldir to look at the Dwarf with coldness before saying in an unpleasant tone " We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days..." to which Gimli responded by " And you know what this Dwarf says to that ? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul!" (I spit upon your grave!)" The Elves all tensed as some reached out for their arrows but were stopped by a feral growl coming from both Kopa and Vitani.
"That was not so courteous" Aragorn stated to the Dwarf as he putted a hand on Gimli's shoulder. Haldir seemed to ignore this as he took a few steps forward to glance at Frodo and Sam before saying to the Ring-Bearer " You bring great evil with you" the the tall Elf looked back at Aragorn " You can go no further !"
As the Elf walked away, Sam and Pippin looked at Frodo who seemed slightly uncomfortable. After that, the Fellowship as to wait as Aragorn was arguing with Haldir trying to allow them to pass through the Woods. As Kopa and Vitani were laying on the grasses, they noticed that each time someone looked at Frodo , he looked away.
The Lions looked at each other with pain in their eyes as they understood why the Hobbit was acting like this. Frodo had never lost someone dear to him until now… He might be thinking that he could have done something to help Gandalf at Khazam-Dum. Suddenly, they returned back to reality when the two heard Boromir's voice " Gandalf's death was not in vain… nor would he have you give up hope...You carry a heavy burden, Frodo… don't carry the weight of the dead"
The two Lions noticed that the Gondorian was talking to Frodo who seemed to thought about the Man's words when Haldir approached. The Fellowship looked at him expectantly and after a moment , which looked like an eternity, the tall Elf said gravely "You will follow me" Some members breathed silently in relief at those words. Kopa and Vitani among them.
/
As the sun started to rise, a caravan of Elves lead the Fellowship along a ridge, through the golden woods. The group came to the end of the high ridge before looking out as a great glade of trees rose above them "Caras Galadhon… the heart of Elvendom on earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, Lady of Light" Haldir announced proudly as they looked at where the Elves were leading them.
Eventually, the Fellowship arrived a Caras Galadhon climbed a winding way among the great trees as the last rays of evening sun streamed through the leaves and trunks. The group, just like back in the Moria, was completely in awe at the magnificent place they were currently in.
"This place is so… beautiful. Even more that Moria..." Vitani muttered in awe as she looked around with wide eyes "Not as big but less dangerous… No offense Gimli" Kopa said the last part, glancing at the Dwarf , walking near the Hobbits "None taken lad" Gimli replied with an annoyed tone and a gruff.
Soon the group arrived at a tall and massive tree with a staircase-like spiral going around its truck. It wasn't long before night came as the Fellowship was still making their way up higher and higher into the trees under the blue glow of a moonlit night past.
Far above, the silhouetted shaped of the shadowy tree-branches loom. Passing numerous platforms, they came to a great palace in the trees, filled with silvery lights. A curving walkway laid before them, leading up a low stair to an archway. Haldir , who had lead them here, stepped aside as they gathered before the arch.
A glowing couple, hand in hand, descended to meet the Fellowship who stared at them in awe while Aragorn touched his head in a reverently greeting. All members of the group seemed mesmerized by the female Elf , as the men and even Vitani, had to agree that her beauty was incomparable.
The light then dimmed, and before the Fellowship, the couple, which they assumed were none other that Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel stopped in their tracks. The Lady's eyes were focused on Frodo as Celeborn spoke " The Enemy knows you have entered here...What hope you had in secrecy is now gone… Ten there are here, yet eleven there were, set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf ? For I much desire to speak with him ! I can no longer see him for afar..."
At the name of their fallen comrade, some members of the Fellowship looked down in sadness and sorrow. Galadriel's eyes flickered to Aragorn's, who looked up sadly " Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into shadow" The Lady Elf stated , saying this despise no one told her , as she looked at Isildur's heir who nodded slightly. "She can read in the eyes or what ?!" Vitani asked silently to herself as she watched.
Then Legolas spoke up "He was taken by both Shadow and Flame: a Balrog of Morgoth..." Galadriel lowered her head down in sadness as Celeborn had a distressed look in his eyes at hearing "For we went needlessly into the net of Moria..." The Blonde Elf finished and Gimli lowered his head down in sadness. Kopa understood that the Dwarf appeared to be blaming himself for what happened because he was the one who suggested to go there in the first place. The Brown Maned Lion then approached the saddened Dwarf before putting a comforting paw on his shoulder which caused Gimli to look up at him gratefully.
"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life... We do not yet know his whole purpose…" Galadriel began to say calmly before looking at the Dwarf "Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dûm fill your heart, Gimli, son of Glóin… For the world has grown full of peril. And in all lands, love is now mingled with grief..." As she talked , everyone had their heads bowed with respect but also with sadness as they remembered the Grey Wizard's death.
Galadriel then looked at Boromir who had turned his pained face to the Lady, blinking and swallowing hard. The She-Elf stared back as starlight glimmered in her eyes and ,as for another reason, Boromir looked away from her , weeping "What now becomes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf, hope is lost… " Celeborn remarked with gravity.
But Galadriel then stared at Kopa and Vitani before smiling "So long since Lions walked in Lothlórien… But once again your kind helped Free People against the Dark Forces of Sauron..." At those words, Kopa and Vitani looked at each other with surprise before the Brown Maned Lion stepped forward " Are you talking about my father ?"
Galadriel nodded in response "Indeed… Your father could have chosen to stay in the Jungle instead of helping Thorin and his Company but he did regardless of the risks. Before him Mufasa, when he was still a young Lion, had helped us when we needed it… " "You… You knew Mufasa ?!" Vitani asked in disbelief "Yes...Vitani, daughter of Zira… Mufasa was my friend along with Sarabi… I was saddened to hear about his death..."
The two Pridelanders bowed their heads in agreement and respect. "Like your father , Prince Kopa, you chose to help instead of ignoring… and you , young Vitani , I can sense a good heart in your chest… Your help might change the fate of Middle-Earth...or not… only time will tell..."
Then the Lady Elf looked at the rest of the Fellowship before saying " The quest stands upon the edge of a knife... Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all…Yet hope remains while the company is true " Galadriel glanced at Sam and unlike Boromir before him, he kept staring at her as she looked away " 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"
/
Later, back on the ground, an area was provided for the Fellowship to rest in. As the Hobbits were settling down to rest, an Elf song could be heard echoing in the air : one feminine voice rose above the others who were singing softy in the back.
"A Olórin i yaresse
Mentaner i Numeherui
Tírien i Rómenóri
(Olórin who once was
Sent by the Lords of the West
To guard the Lands of the East)"
"Melme nóren sina
núra ala
Eäro"
(Our love for this land
Is deeper than the deeps
Of the sea)
Kopa and Vitani were listening with great interest when Legolas showed up , holding a small thing silver cup in his hands "What are they singing ?" Vitani asked the Elf who looked up at the singers. "A lament for Gandalf..." He responded while Aragorn who was not too far from them was sharpening his sword while Gimli was already fast asleep. Quickly, Isildur's heir stopped to look up at them , listening.
"Maiaron i Oiosaila,
Manan elye etevanne
Nórie i malanelye?"
(Wisest of all Maiar,
What drove you to leave
That which you loved?)
"Ilfirin nairelma
ullume nucuvalme.
Nauva i nauva."
(Yet we will cast all away
Rather that submit.
What should be shall be.)
"It sounds so beautiful..." The Beige Lioness muttered as she looked up at the trees as she was laying against her mate. "What do they say about him ?" Merry asked from his place with curiosity. "I have not the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near..." Legolas responded with a saddened look on his face.
"Maiaron i Oiosaila,
Manan elye etevanne
Nórie i malanelye?"
(Wisest of all Maiar,
What drove you to leave
That which you loved?)
"Ilfirin nairelma
ullume nucuvalme.
Nauva i nauva."
(Yet we will cast all away
Rather that submit.
What should be shall be.)
Sam and Merry were fixing their beds on the ground when the former said to the latter " I bet they don't mention his fireworks. There should be a verse about them !" Then Samwise got up before starting to sing which caught the attention of Kopa and Vitani as they listened.
" The finest rockets ever seen,
They burst in stars of blue and green…"
Gimli snored loudly which an annoyed Aragorn to swats the Dwarf's pillow, eliciting a grunt from him.
"Or after thunder…
silver showers…
Came falling like a… rain of flowers…"
Then he squatted before before saying s he sat down on his cot " Oh, that doesn't do them justice by a long road ! " After hearing this, Vitani pressed her head against Kopa's brown mane whispering "I miss him..." "I miss him too love..." The young Male Lion said back as he looked at his beloved with sadness while the Elves were still singing.
"Ú-reniathach
i amar galen
I reniad lín ne môr, nuithannen."
(No more will you wander
The green fields of this earth
Your journey has ended in darkness.)
As the Elves kept singing , Aragorn walked over to Boromir, who sat alone on a great tree root, before inquiring in a soft tone " Take some rest. These borders are well protected..." but then the Gondorian objected by saying " I will find no rest here... I heard her voice inside my head... 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"
As Boromir spoke , Aragorn had taken a seat beside him " My father is a noble man, but his rule is failing... And now our… our people lose faith... He looks to me to make things right and I...I would do it. I would see the glory of Gondor restored !"
Then he looked at Isildur's heir with a smile " 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 ?"
Aragorn said silent for a moment before responding "I have seen the White City, long ago..." The Gondorian soldier then putted a friendly hand on Aragorn's shoulder as he said " One day, our paths will lead us there...And the tower guard shall take up the call: 'The Lords of Gondor have returned!' " At this, Isildur's heir smiled slightly before looking away.
Kopa had heard this conversation from where he was. Beside him, Vitani had already fell asleep and he gave her a gentle lick on the forehead before slowly getting up and approaching the two men. Aragorn saw him coming and greeted the young Lion who nodded back at him "I heard what you said about your home Boromir… and It sound interesting to visit..." The Gondorian smiled at the Lion's words before asking "How is it in this 'Pridelands' place ?"
At this question, Kopa smiled fondly "Its a place where any kind of animals lived together in harmony… a place filled with sun
, rivers, open fields, and large lakes…" "It seems to be a beautiful place to live ..." Aragorn stated with interest. Kopa nodded still smiling "Its my home… even if its not where I grew up..." "What do you mean ?" Boromir asked him with confusion
"Its a long story… Everything began when the former King of the Pridelands, Mufasa died in a stampede..." Kopa began to say in a pained look on his face before being interrupted by Legolas who had joined them " What happened ?" "He was trying to save my father from being crushed under-hooves..." The Elf nodded in understanding and all three listened when Kopa went on with his story " As you have guessed, he succeeded in saving his son but he died in the process. But then the King's brother, a lion named 'Scar' arrived and brainwashed my father into believing it was his fault if Mufasa died… because of him, Dad left our kingdom and Scar told the Pride that he was dead along with Mufasa... Of course, he became King and he allowed our biggest enemies , Hyenas, to roam free into our territory..." disgust could be hear when he mentioned Hyenas.
Boromir then asked " What happened next ?" Kopa sighed deeply before resuming his story " My father ran into Timon and Pumbaa , a meerkat and a Warthog who raised him in their home : a luxurious Jungle, where he grew up..." "and later, he met Thorin Oakenshield, Gandalf and the Dwarves..." Aragorn stated with realization which earned a nod from Simba's son.
"Yes… and later, Nala, my mother came in the jungle and bumped into my father who she believed to be dead… She told him about Scar's reign and he went back home to challenge his Uncle. From what I heard, the Pridelands became dry and empty after Scar took the throne… My father confronted his Uncle who revealed to everyone he was the one who killed Mufasa..."
Boromir had a look of disgust on his face : he had a brother and the two adored each other. For him, the though of a brother killing another was despicable. "A battle took place for the Pridelands and My father defeated Scar in single combat before reclaiming his place as King...While many were happy that Scar was no more, some Lionesses still thought HE was the rightful ruler..."
"Who ?" Legolas asked with a raise-brow of confusion. After all, who would want a tyran as ruler ? Kopa sighed as he glanced at his sleeping mate "Vitani's mother, Zira" At those words, the three had their eyes wide in shock "Vitani is NOT Scar's daughter… Sure Zira was his mate but she was ready to do ANYTHING to provide Scar a heir after the birth of their son , Nuka… Sadly, he was not fit to be King so Scar neglected him… Later, she gave birth to Vitani and Kovu but everyone knew they weren't Scar's as they were far too healthy ! "
"Who are their father then ?" Aragorn asked with a frown "No one know… Scar chose Kovu as his heir but it became impossible when my father reclaimed his throne… She hated my father for this so she plotted secretly against him… then I was born… I grew up and I became friend with Vitani..." a fond smile appeared on Kopa's muzzle as he remembered this time.
" I don't know why but I have a feeling that something bad happened..." Boromir stated with gravity and Kopa nodded in approval. "Indeed, one day I went out to play with Vitani but I bumped into her mother instead… She attacked me as revenge for Scar's death... I was badly injured so I had no choice but to faint… She let me go and I heard her leaving with a sinister laugh..."
He shivered at the memory but kept talking " I ran away from the Pridelands while Zira and her followers along with Kovu, Nuka and Vitani were exiled… I lived on my own for years… but I came back when I heard Zira was dead...When I returned home, I was welcomed by my father and mother… I discovered that I had a younger sister named Kiara… and above all, I found Vitani again..." he send a loving look toward the sleeping form of his mate.
His comrades staid silent for a moment " Like father like son… Both of you had to live on your own away from your home and family… but in the end, you became strong and noble Lions..." Aragorn said wisely and Kopa thanked him by bowing his head in gratitude. Then the four of them talked for a few more minutes before separating each other to enjoy a peaceful night rest unaware that Saruman was creating a new breed of Orcs which were stronger , smarter and faster than normal Orcs. There were called Uruk-Hai.
(To be continued…)