The wood was unlike any I had ever seen . The bark on the trees shone a pale silver and the leaves were bright gold. The fallen leaves crunched underneath my big heavy boots. A small brook flowed through the wood, called the Nimrodel. It was named after a fair maiden of elven lore. Legolas sang a song that was written of her.
We continued on our journey, until suddenly, figures dropped from the trees all around. I turned my head to the right and came face to face with the point of an arrow. Then, in the common tongue, a voice said, "your dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark." I would have turned to see it's owner, but I was concerned with the arrow in my face. I kept my hand on the hilt of my sword. I heard Legolas begin to talk to him in his own language, and then the arrow pointing at me went down. The elves surrounding us backed up.
From what I could gather, the leader's name was Haldir, and knew who we were and what our task was. He asked where Gandalf was and Aragorn informed him of Gandalf's fall. Haldir looked deeply saddened. "Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel wished to speak with him. For the night, you all will stay up here, in the trees with us. Then I will take you to Caras Galadhon in the morning," he spoke in the common tongue.
"Thank you, Master Haldir. Your kindness s greatly appreciated," Aragorn spoke.
"But before I go, there is one thing we must request. Before we depart in the morning, the dwarf has to put on a blindfold."
"Excuse me?" Gimli snorted, suddenly becoming interested in the conversation taking place.
"You must, we cannot let you even glimpse our fair city. You must be blindfolded, by orders of Lord Celeborn," Haldir continued.
"I will not! Never!" Gimli exclaimed in shock.
"Well, Master dwarf, you will not be permitted in Caras Galadhon. Think about it over night, and we will see what you say in the morning. Goodnight. Follow these ladders up and there are your shelters for the night." With that, Haldir and his men turned and left.
Legolas walked over to me. "Oh wait, just wait. You will see the beauty of Caras Galadhon and the Lady of the Wood. I have heard many stories and songs of her, and her beauty."
I looked up and answered, "this place is so stunning. It's like I'm in a dream." I then looked down and examined all the golden leaves that had dropped from above. We walked up to two of the thickest trees I had seen so far in the forest. As Haldir had said, there was a ladder hanging down from each. The hobbits and Aragorn stayed in the bigger of the two, and Boromir, Legolas and I stayed in the other. Gimli opted to stay by himself on the ground because "trees are not a respectable place for a dwarf." It seemed as if it might be little cramped, but it was rather spacious once we got up. Blankets and pillows were waiting for us. Welcoming sleep, we all talked for a bit, and then went to bed. I slept soundly the whole night, because I hadn't had a bit of sleep since the day before we entered Moria.
I awoke to a tapping on my shoulder. It was Legolas. He was peering in from outside. "What?" I whispered, trying not to wake Boromir from his slumber. "Come down and walk with me. It is beautiful outside," he said quietly.
"I'd really like to, but I am tired. Can I come later?" I asked.
"Yes, that would be nice. I forgot, your kind needs many hours of sleep. Come find me later, when we you are rested. We are not leaving for Caras Galadhon for a while." And with that, his head disappeared from view. I rolled over, away from the light and went back to sleep.
Twenty minutes later, I was awoken again, but this time, by Boromir. He had rolled over and hit me by accident. I looked at him and could see he was troubled. He had sweat on his face and his eyes were moving back and forth under his eyelids. He had been tossing and turning for some time now, and was muttering things under his breath. I sat up and looked at him, and after heavy consideration, decided to wake him up. "Boromir?" I whispered into his ear, "Boromir? Wake up." He continued to stay in his dream, so I shook his shoulder and spoke his name again. He jumped up and started mumbling some more. "Boromir? What troubles you?" I asked placing my hand on his shoulder.
He rubbed his eyes and said "I don't know if I should. I do not want to trouble you," he answered. He wiped his face with his hand.
"Please tell me? I am your sister, your flesh and blood. Tell me." I started to worry.
"Alright," he said after a long silence, "this is the reason father sent me on this quest. Father didn't want you to go, but I insisted. Faramir and I have shared a dream, about the fall of Gondor. I see it so clear, every time. I see the men going into battle, so brave, so valiant. I am their leader and Faramir is beside me. You are not there, I know, but I do not recall where you are. But one by one, the men fall to the hands of evil. They are slain by orcs, hundred of orcs. The orcs get as far as the white tower and most of our men are dead. After that, the dream ends. It scares me, because it seems as if it's all my fault. I do not want to shame father." After finishing his story, he put his head in his hands.
"Surely this could not be a prophecy of the future. You would be victorious in battle. I know it," I patted his head, then gave him a hug.
"But what if it is? What if we return to Gondor and fail to save it? And, if you were not there, what does that mean? That's why I went to Rivendell, to seek answers. I did not tell you because I did not want to trouble you." He sighed and laid back down.
" I understand fully. Yet, you should have told me sooner. I'm you sister, you can tell me. I will leave you be for now. I'm going to go find Legolas. I'll come and get you when we are ready to depart." I climbed out of the opening and down the ladder. The sun was barely coming up over the trees. The light was peeking in between. The air was fresh and cool. I took off my coat and laid it on the ground. Then I put my hair back and continued my search. I walked a bit through the woods and looked around;. I saw Aragorn sitting with his back against a tree and his hood over his head, smoking a pipe. I strolled up to him and then kicked his foot softly. He looked up from his pipe and smiled.
"Yes little one?" he asked.
"Good morning. Have you seen Legolas?" I asked.
"Yes, he just went that way," he said and pointed to his left, "he might be with a group of elves. They're searching for Gollum, or at least that's what they were doing last night."
"Gollum?!? He is here?" I said in astonishment.
"Yes, Frodo saw him last night. He followed us through Moria, and out to here. Frodo thought it was an orc. Be careful, every sound they hear, they draw their bows out." With that, he returned his hood to his head and rekindled his pipe.
"Thank you, Aragorn," I answered back and then walked away. I searched and searched for Legolas. I wanted to tell him about Boromir's dream, but I wasn't sure if I should. Boromir had reluctantly told me, and I didn't know if he wanted anyone else to know. Just then, I stopped and glanced around. Right in front of me, there was a patch of purple flowers. They were small, and dainty. I reached down and picked one. I brought it to my nose and smelled it. It had a wonderful relaxing smell. I twirled it around in my fingers.
"That is called Elanor, in my tongue," a familiar voice into my ear. "Oh really? They are beautiful," I answered. I turned to find Legolas standing right behind me.
"When I return home, I'm going to have a big garden. And these are going to be in it." I continued, "It's going to have every kind of flower and plant you could have in a garden. Everyone will want to come and see it. Everyone…." I trailed off.
"Can I come and visit it?" Legolas asked.
"Of course!" I exclaimed. "When this is all over, you can come to visit me in Minas Tirith and you can stay there, and be a guest of the Steward of Gondor, which maybe, by then, would be Boromir."
"I would like that. Does anyone else know of these plans you have?" he asked.
"No," I shook my head. "Oh, wait, I did tell Boromir and Faramir when I was younger. They both laughed." We walked on, through the woods, side by side, between the massive trees. "When are we leaving? I really want to see the Lady Galadriel," I added.
"When Haldir returns," he answered. At that moment, we heard footsteps behind us. We turned to see a rather flustered Boromir.
"It's time to go. Haldir is here. Hurry back you two." He turned and headed off in the opposite direction. I turned to Legolas and placed my finger in front of my mouth.
"Shhhh…." He nodded his head in agreement.
We continued on our journey, until suddenly, figures dropped from the trees all around. I turned my head to the right and came face to face with the point of an arrow. Then, in the common tongue, a voice said, "your dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark." I would have turned to see it's owner, but I was concerned with the arrow in my face. I kept my hand on the hilt of my sword. I heard Legolas begin to talk to him in his own language, and then the arrow pointing at me went down. The elves surrounding us backed up.
From what I could gather, the leader's name was Haldir, and knew who we were and what our task was. He asked where Gandalf was and Aragorn informed him of Gandalf's fall. Haldir looked deeply saddened. "Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel wished to speak with him. For the night, you all will stay up here, in the trees with us. Then I will take you to Caras Galadhon in the morning," he spoke in the common tongue.
"Thank you, Master Haldir. Your kindness s greatly appreciated," Aragorn spoke.
"But before I go, there is one thing we must request. Before we depart in the morning, the dwarf has to put on a blindfold."
"Excuse me?" Gimli snorted, suddenly becoming interested in the conversation taking place.
"You must, we cannot let you even glimpse our fair city. You must be blindfolded, by orders of Lord Celeborn," Haldir continued.
"I will not! Never!" Gimli exclaimed in shock.
"Well, Master dwarf, you will not be permitted in Caras Galadhon. Think about it over night, and we will see what you say in the morning. Goodnight. Follow these ladders up and there are your shelters for the night." With that, Haldir and his men turned and left.
Legolas walked over to me. "Oh wait, just wait. You will see the beauty of Caras Galadhon and the Lady of the Wood. I have heard many stories and songs of her, and her beauty."
I looked up and answered, "this place is so stunning. It's like I'm in a dream." I then looked down and examined all the golden leaves that had dropped from above. We walked up to two of the thickest trees I had seen so far in the forest. As Haldir had said, there was a ladder hanging down from each. The hobbits and Aragorn stayed in the bigger of the two, and Boromir, Legolas and I stayed in the other. Gimli opted to stay by himself on the ground because "trees are not a respectable place for a dwarf." It seemed as if it might be little cramped, but it was rather spacious once we got up. Blankets and pillows were waiting for us. Welcoming sleep, we all talked for a bit, and then went to bed. I slept soundly the whole night, because I hadn't had a bit of sleep since the day before we entered Moria.
I awoke to a tapping on my shoulder. It was Legolas. He was peering in from outside. "What?" I whispered, trying not to wake Boromir from his slumber. "Come down and walk with me. It is beautiful outside," he said quietly.
"I'd really like to, but I am tired. Can I come later?" I asked.
"Yes, that would be nice. I forgot, your kind needs many hours of sleep. Come find me later, when we you are rested. We are not leaving for Caras Galadhon for a while." And with that, his head disappeared from view. I rolled over, away from the light and went back to sleep.
Twenty minutes later, I was awoken again, but this time, by Boromir. He had rolled over and hit me by accident. I looked at him and could see he was troubled. He had sweat on his face and his eyes were moving back and forth under his eyelids. He had been tossing and turning for some time now, and was muttering things under his breath. I sat up and looked at him, and after heavy consideration, decided to wake him up. "Boromir?" I whispered into his ear, "Boromir? Wake up." He continued to stay in his dream, so I shook his shoulder and spoke his name again. He jumped up and started mumbling some more. "Boromir? What troubles you?" I asked placing my hand on his shoulder.
He rubbed his eyes and said "I don't know if I should. I do not want to trouble you," he answered. He wiped his face with his hand.
"Please tell me? I am your sister, your flesh and blood. Tell me." I started to worry.
"Alright," he said after a long silence, "this is the reason father sent me on this quest. Father didn't want you to go, but I insisted. Faramir and I have shared a dream, about the fall of Gondor. I see it so clear, every time. I see the men going into battle, so brave, so valiant. I am their leader and Faramir is beside me. You are not there, I know, but I do not recall where you are. But one by one, the men fall to the hands of evil. They are slain by orcs, hundred of orcs. The orcs get as far as the white tower and most of our men are dead. After that, the dream ends. It scares me, because it seems as if it's all my fault. I do not want to shame father." After finishing his story, he put his head in his hands.
"Surely this could not be a prophecy of the future. You would be victorious in battle. I know it," I patted his head, then gave him a hug.
"But what if it is? What if we return to Gondor and fail to save it? And, if you were not there, what does that mean? That's why I went to Rivendell, to seek answers. I did not tell you because I did not want to trouble you." He sighed and laid back down.
" I understand fully. Yet, you should have told me sooner. I'm you sister, you can tell me. I will leave you be for now. I'm going to go find Legolas. I'll come and get you when we are ready to depart." I climbed out of the opening and down the ladder. The sun was barely coming up over the trees. The light was peeking in between. The air was fresh and cool. I took off my coat and laid it on the ground. Then I put my hair back and continued my search. I walked a bit through the woods and looked around;. I saw Aragorn sitting with his back against a tree and his hood over his head, smoking a pipe. I strolled up to him and then kicked his foot softly. He looked up from his pipe and smiled.
"Yes little one?" he asked.
"Good morning. Have you seen Legolas?" I asked.
"Yes, he just went that way," he said and pointed to his left, "he might be with a group of elves. They're searching for Gollum, or at least that's what they were doing last night."
"Gollum?!? He is here?" I said in astonishment.
"Yes, Frodo saw him last night. He followed us through Moria, and out to here. Frodo thought it was an orc. Be careful, every sound they hear, they draw their bows out." With that, he returned his hood to his head and rekindled his pipe.
"Thank you, Aragorn," I answered back and then walked away. I searched and searched for Legolas. I wanted to tell him about Boromir's dream, but I wasn't sure if I should. Boromir had reluctantly told me, and I didn't know if he wanted anyone else to know. Just then, I stopped and glanced around. Right in front of me, there was a patch of purple flowers. They were small, and dainty. I reached down and picked one. I brought it to my nose and smelled it. It had a wonderful relaxing smell. I twirled it around in my fingers.
"That is called Elanor, in my tongue," a familiar voice into my ear. "Oh really? They are beautiful," I answered. I turned to find Legolas standing right behind me.
"When I return home, I'm going to have a big garden. And these are going to be in it." I continued, "It's going to have every kind of flower and plant you could have in a garden. Everyone will want to come and see it. Everyone…." I trailed off.
"Can I come and visit it?" Legolas asked.
"Of course!" I exclaimed. "When this is all over, you can come to visit me in Minas Tirith and you can stay there, and be a guest of the Steward of Gondor, which maybe, by then, would be Boromir."
"I would like that. Does anyone else know of these plans you have?" he asked.
"No," I shook my head. "Oh, wait, I did tell Boromir and Faramir when I was younger. They both laughed." We walked on, through the woods, side by side, between the massive trees. "When are we leaving? I really want to see the Lady Galadriel," I added.
"When Haldir returns," he answered. At that moment, we heard footsteps behind us. We turned to see a rather flustered Boromir.
"It's time to go. Haldir is here. Hurry back you two." He turned and headed off in the opposite direction. I turned to Legolas and placed my finger in front of my mouth.
"Shhhh…." He nodded his head in agreement.