The next morning the Company and Haldir walked through the forest to the waters of the Celebrant. Orophin had gone to Lothlorien last night to warn them of orcs. Rumil was still acting as lookout in the talan.

Upon reaching the Celebrant, named so for its silver waters, Haldir threw a rope to the other bank where another elf caught it. 'This is how we cross,' Haldir said. He jumped onto the rope and used it as a bridge.

'Must the others swim? Having this skill they do not,' shouted Legolas, across the water. Haldir turned around and landed on the soft earth.

'No. We have two other ropes.' He flung them out and the other elf caught them. 'By holding onto the other ropes, the rest of the Fellowship can follow.'

They crossed slowly. When everyone was finally on the other side, Haldir began to blindfold everyone. Gimli had not liked the idea of being blinded so Aragorn declared that the whole Comapany should join in his woe. Before slipping the blindfold around Legolas, Haldir brushed his lips against Legolas's cheek lighlty.

They walked for a while, Haldir in front, guiding them through Lothlorien. At twilight they stopped and rested under a large tree. 'We will be there tomorrow morning,' he said. They ate some food that Haldir had called "lembas".

Soundlessly, the two elves slipped into each other's embrace. Legolas was underneath Haldir, using touch to determine the positioning of the other elf. No one noticed this because their sight was cut off.

* * *

Morning came. When the fellowship woke up, they found that their blinds had been removed. 'I have gotten word from Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel that you should walk free, even the dwarf. Look upon Lothlorien with friendly eyes, Gimli! You are the first dwarf to see it since Durin's time.'

Reaching the city of Lothlorien, they saw great, green trees of old. The bark was white with a slighlty bluish tinge to it. Haldir led them up to the Lord and Lady's tree where they were seated on a "talan". There held the Fellowship, Haldir, many other elves, and the Rulers of Lorien. Celeborn had silver hair and was very tall. Lady Galadriel matched him in height but her hair was of a rich, golden color which reflected in the sun of Middle Earth.

They both looked young, around the same age as all the other elves the hobbits have seen. The only thing old was their eyes which were deep wells of memory.

Galadriel stayed silent most of the time; her husband greeted each member of the Company. But after, he asked, 'Nine were sent out. Where is he? Where is Mithrandir, Gandalf the Grey?'

'Alas! Gandalf has fallen into the darkness. His wisdom died in Khazard-dum. Moria! Fighting a balrog,' answered Aragorn.

'A balrog! Long have I suspected there to be an evil in Moria,' said Celeborn.

'It was a very great evil,' continued Legolas, 'most terrible save the Dark Lord in Mordor. It was of a huge size, as they come.'

Celeborn turned to Legolas, memory whirling through his great mind. 'Seldom do our Northern kin come here. Prince Legolas Greenleaf of Eryn Lasgalen, Mirkwood, how are your people doing? Is my great friend Thranduil holding up fine? The Mirror still shows an evil in Eryn Lasgalen!'

'We're doing well. The realm of my father, Thranduil, can hold back the darkness for long to come, but not so long after if the Lord of Mordor rises again. If you have heard our quest from Elrond and Celebrain, Lord and Lady of Imladris..'

'Not in detail. Come, Master Frodo! Tell me of your journey,' said Celeborn. As Frodo talked, with Aragorn and Sam helping here and there, Lady Galadriel looked at each of them in turn. The Fellowship could not withstand her intense stare save Aragorn and Legolas.

'Who is Celebrian and what is Imladris?' asked Pippin to Haldir.

'Lady Celebrian is the daughter of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. She is Elrond's wife. Imladris is another name for Rivendell. It is of the elven language "Sindarin",' answered Haldir.


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More to come! I've tried to stick to Tolkien's style as much as possible!

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