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The heart-rending melodies echoed around Aria as she walked slowly towards where the group had made their camp. The words echoed through her very mind, her sorrow weaving into the words that were spoken.
Mithrandir, Mithrandir O Pilgrim Grey.
No more will you wander the green fields of this earth.
Your journey has ended in darkness.
The bonds cut, the spirit broken,
The Flame of Anor has left this World.
A great light has gone out.
When Aria came into sight of the group that she had seen that morning, she stopped hesitantly. Aragorn sat on the ground, his back against one of the great boulders that rested in the green grass. He looked up at the Elf that stood above him and spoke. The Elf's face became slightly pained as he replied, only afterward looking up in Aria's direction. For a reason unknown to Aria, his gaze made the blood rush to her face, almost in embarrassment. His face was sorrowful and pained as he looked upon her. Aria took a deep breath and began to walk towards them. Aragorn followed the Elf's gaze and smiled slightly. He stood and slowly walked over to her, as she began to walk towards him. She smiled as he took her hand, kissing it gently.
"I would wish it that you would treat me as you once did. Not above or below you." She said as she rested her hand on his outstretched one. "But you are above us now and have been for many years. You are a queen, unless the messengers of Elrond are liars, which I know they are not." He said as they walked slowly towards the camp hand in hand. "I am a queen, but not here. Here I am Aria. In fact if the truth were known, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, you would be greater than all here, if you took your rightful place. You know this to be true." She pointed out. Aragorn eyed her and shrugged. "It makes no difference whose heir I am now, for I do not own my throne, merely the name." He said. "And that is the same with me. I have been sent here in almost an exile. Therefore, my crown does not necessarily rest on my head." She said with regret. Aragorn smiled. "I would show you our company my lady." He said, approaching the Dwarf, who stood from his sitting position on the grass.
"Gimli, son of Gloin, the Lady Aria of Nethrana." Aragorn said. The Dwarf bowed slightly. "It is a pleasure I am sure, to meet a lady of nobility." Aria smiled at his gruff tones and read the indifference that he felt in meeting her. She understood, for it was the same indifference that she had felt when she had merely glanced at other Dwarves. She bowed down so as to see him eye to eye. Gimli drew back only slightly as she did so, mistrust echoing in his gaze. "It is a pleasure to see and meet you Gimli, son of Gloin. For lucky are you to see this place. You are certainly one of the brave and noble of your race, for your fearlessness does you credit." Aria said gently. Gimli's eyes finally met hers, the indifference had gone to the back of his mind and instead the look in his eyes was that of gratitude and respect. He took her hand and smiled. "It is truly an honor to meet a noble Elf such as yourself." He said, his gruff tones echoing his respect. Aria smiled and straightened, taking Aragorn's hand once more as they walked further into the camp.
"You would know Borormir, from Gondor. The Lady Aria." Aragorn said, standing in front of the other man that was with him. The man straightened and after taking her hand, his eyes rested on her face. Aria stared at him, their eyes locked with the other. But a moment later, he dropped his eyes from her face. She looked at his lowered head a moment more before smiling gently and speaking to him softly. "It is the pleasure of the people of Lothlorien to have you here among us, noble member of the Fellowship." She whispered. Boromir's head raised slightly, and a smile played about his lips. "An honor it is for me as well my lady." He said softly. Aria smiled and released her hold on his hand, walking away with Aragorn. Boromir's smile faded as he watched her walk hand in hand with Aragorn. He shook his head, voicing his doubts in his head.
"Lady Aria, these are three of the hobbits who have accompanied us. This is Sam Gamgee and," Before Aragorn could continue to speak, the two other hobbits jumped to their feet, grins spread over their small faces. "He's Merry and I'm Pippin. Pleased to meet you lady. Mighty pretty you are." The hobbit who called himself Pippin said quickly. "Yes, it's not every day one sees an Elf like you, or an Elf for that matter." The one called Merry countered. A slow smile that turned into a grin spread over Aria's face as she watched the little creatures. As Merry and Pippin stepped forward, the other hobbit called Sam stepped in front of them. "Would you suffocate the lady? Goodness, give her some room for pity's sake! She's a noble lady!" He protested. Merry and Pippin eyed each other and took a step back. "We're awfully sorry, didn't mean to intrude." Came the mumbled explanations from the two, now dismal hobbits. Aria smiled and stretched out her hands, placing them on Merry and Pippin's shoulders. "It is an honor to meet such noble hobbits." She said, anticipating their reaction. Slow grins spread over Pippin and Merry's faces as they looked at each other. "She called us noble! She called us noble!" They whispered excitedly.
Aria shook her head, then turned to Sam, who had stepped out of the way shyly when she had bent down towards Pippin and Merry. She walked over to where he stood alone, standing up against the boulder. His eyes darted from her eyes then down to the ground. He shuffled his feet nervously as she approached. He stared as she placed her hand in front of him. He finally ventured to look into her face. In the moment that he had looked, his troubles seemed to vanish as he saw the utter kindness streaming from her face. He tentatively placed his small hand in her smooth palm, his small fingers intertwining with her long fingers. She smiled as she withdrew her hand. "It is truly an honor to meet you Sam Gamgee." The hobbit almost blushed as red as his hair, and mumbled his thanks under his breath.
Aria's gaze traveled from Sam's face to the hobbit that sat alone a little ways away, watching her. His blue eyes were fixed on her tall figure, his lips slightly trembling. She walked over to him, but placed a hand on his shoulder as he attempted to stand. He sat back down as she kneeled before him so as to see him better. He sat up and stared, his eyes echoing his awe and sorrow at the Elf before him. "Why do you do this?" He whispered, his tone soft. "I feel your pain and sorrow hobbit." She whispered. And Aria did feel it. She had felt it constantly ever since the Fellowship had arrived in Lothlorien. Images besieged her vision, images that the Ringbearer had been forced to bear, the result of Aria's 'gift'. His eyes widened, but did not move from her gaze. Time seemed to stand still as the two stared at each other, till, quietly, Aragorn's voice echoed to Aria's ears. "Aria, this is the Ringbearer, Frodo Baggins." Aria's hand slowly made her way to the hobbit's small hand, and she grasped it gently. "Frodo Baggins, you have been forced to bear so many things in so little time, but you have borne it with more patience and bravery than any other. You do these things for our world you know. For all of Middle Earth." She whispered, her tone gentle, but urgent.
Frodo nodded, his eyes still locked with the Elf queen's gaze. "I know, but why must it be so hard?" He whispered. Aria shook her head and clasped his hand tighter. "We do not know why burdens are placed upon us. We only know that we must carry the burden that is given to us to the best of our ability. We cannot shirk, cannot take shortcuts and cannot drop it from our shoulders, lest it become even heavier than before." She whispered. Frodo blinked hard and swallowed. "I know. I know. It's just that, I don't know if I am brave enough or strong enough to carry this burden. It is so great." He answered, his voice a mere whisper. "I know this hobbit. I have seen the Eye of Sauron in my worst nightmares, but it is you his eye is fixed upon. I know, but cannot fully grasp the pain or the burden you must carry. But you must carry it Frodo Baggins. You must! Everyone depends on you. Everyone." She whispered urgently. As she stared into the hobbit's gaze, her sister's eyes flashed in her face.
Aria sat back slightly, then looked at Frodo. His hand was on his head, his eyes tightly shut. "What has my sister told you?" She whispered. Tentatively, Frodo's eyes opened. "I cannot say." He whispered. "You must Frodo. Please." She replied urgently. Frodo shook his head. "I cannot." He repeated. Aria sighed and sat back on her heels. "Then allow me to hear for myself." She said quietly, stretching out her fingers towards his head. Frodo's eyes widened and he shook his head fiercely. "Believe me when I say that I would never hurt you Ringbearer. Please." Aria pleaded. Frodo stared at her in fear, but glanced up at Aragorn as he spoke gently but firmly, "Believe the lady when she says this. She would never hurt you Frodo. She only wishes to help." Frodo looked at him, then looked back at Aria. He nodded, then shut his eyes tightly. Aria's face softened as she tentatively reached out her hand, placing her fingers on the hobbit's wild curls.
Instantly, she began to see things that the hobbit had seen. She saw snow whirling about the group, saw them buried under snow. Then darkness clouded her vision as she saw bodies littering a cave floor, their mouths and face frozen for eternity. She saw Mithrandir, Gandalf, clinging to a cliff, his face shrouded in darkness, whispering, dropping. Then her sister's face arose before her eyes, and even as she spoke words of comfort, she hissed, "Welcome Frodo Baggins, one who has seen the Eye." But before her sister finished her sentence, her piercing eyes faded away to reveal a flaming eye. It stared, searching, roving, looking about. It fixed on her, it's iris of flame burning towards her. She felt the suffocating heat, felt the penetration of it's gaze, then it moved closer to her as if to swallow her inside him. She could not breath. Aria cried out, then opened her eyes. She sat back fully, withdrawing her trembling hand from Frodo's head. She placed her hand on her head and as she did, she glanced at Frodo. His eyes were staring, blue and knowing. Aria barely felt Aragorn's touch on her shoulder, but what she did feel was the gentle touch of the hobbit's hand on her own. She looked down, then looked into his face. "Never let it be said Frodo Baggins, that the Ringbearer has no reason to abandon his cause. But let it be said that he has great bravery. Noble hobbit." She whispered earnestly.
Aria got to her feet unsteadily, her hand reaching out for stability. Aragorn grasped it, and led her into the sunshine of Lothlorien. She shook her head and looked to Aragorn questioning gaze. "Her lady was harsh with Frodo?" He asked quietly. "Yes and no. She is worried for our people and Middle Earth, but she had no right to challenge him in his present state." Aria murmured. Aragorn placed his hand protectively over her hand. "Come, there is one more person in this company that you have not greeted as of yet." He said gently. The Elf who had formerly been leaning against the rock, looking in on the proceedings between Aria and Frodo, straightened and walked slowly towards them. He bowed, a smile on his face. As his eyes fixed on her, Aria knew it was true. Legolas Greenleaf had kept his promise.
"Legolas, you will take care of Aria? I must see to Frodo." Aragorn said knowingly, taking his hand from Aria, bowing and walking away. Legolas watched him walk away, then turned to Aria. He extended his hand and Aria gently took it. As he walked, Legolas chuckled softly under his breath. Aria eyed him. "What is the reason for your laughter, prince of Mirkwood?" She challenged, a smile on her lips. Legolas smiled and breathed in the air. "I know not how to address you, my lady. It is so unusual to call you Lady Aria, yet I tremble at your ineveitable wrath should I call you simply Aria. What is one to do?" He asked. Aria sighed and looked up at the trees above them. "You may call me Aria as you always did. I have explained this many a time." She said. "Not to me." Legolas said. "Oh but I have. You had this same dilemma in Rivendell, even though I wasn't even queen yet. You recited the same speech to me." Aria pointed out.
"Yes, but now you truly are a queen, and my dilemma is real." Legolas said quietly. Aria shook her head. "I am Aria." She whispered. Legolas looked at her as her tone changed. Aria smiled slightly as they stopped beneath the tree called Mellyrn, its yellow blossoms drooping around them, weighing down their branches with their blooms. Aria smiled and cocked her head, speaking in softly in low tones. Legolas started a moment, then smiled with gratitude as he heard his native tongue. He answered her, and they conversed, their voices swooping and diving in melodic tones, very much like the stream in good weather as the wind blows upon it, causing little ripples upon it's surface. "I am glad that you have come. Even though it will be for but a short time. I have long desired the company of an old friend." Aria said, slipping back into the Common Tongue.
Legolas smiled gently, leaning back against the tree, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. Aria watched him, and as she did, she smiled. As if he felt her gaze, Legolas opened his eyes, but his hands still grasped the tree trunk, almost protectively, longingly. "It has been so long since I have been in the forests. I thought I'd never see them again, especially after we entered the darkness of Moria. Eternal darkness. It has been so long since we left Rivendell, and we have been through so much." He said earnestly. Aria nodded, leaning back against the tree. "I know." She said softly. Legolas eyed her, then smiled, leaning his head back to rest on the tree's trunk. "Its been so long since we did this sort of thing together. It was a pity you had to leave Rivendell." Legolas murmured. "Yes, but it was for the best I suppose. But you're right. The last we did this, we were, well, we were only children." Aria said in surprise. "We were only about a thousand years old, maybe a little under." Legolas said with a smile. "It seems so long ago, yet is fresh in my memory." Aria said, smiling.
Then the two leaned back against the tree, closing their minds to all thoughts of the world around them, speaking only to the tree that lay beneath them. Aria smiled wistfully, feeling the vibration of the tree's life beneath her fingertips as it rejoiced in her company. She whispered sweet words to it in her own tongue, urging it to grow, to flourish, to be greater than before. The tree's boughs shivered with excitement and its leaves rustled, causing a great commotion among the other trees around them. As if envious of their kin's company, their boughs rustled, their voices whispering on the gust of wind that blew through the wood. We long to hear your voice, feel your touch, be with you as one. They whispered, each stretching out their branches eagerly to any Elf or creature that passed. A little ways away, Boromir looked up in shock as the branches stirred violently above him. He jumped to his feet, drawing his sword, his eyes frightened. But before he could strike, Aragorn's hand came down on the hilt. Boromir looked to Aragorn frightfully. "They're going to kill us!" He hissed urgently. Aragorn frowned, but did not move his hand. "The Elves are one with the trees. The trees are one of the things that truly understand them. The tree's life is connected to their own. They are one." Aragorn said, his voice patient. Boromir sheathed his sword, but his hands remained clenched. "I don't like this. Its black magic I tell you." He whispered. Aragorn shrugged as he seated himself on the grass, but kept his keen eyes on the man's figure.
Gimli stared in awe as a branch waved in front of him, only a few feet away. He reached out his stout hand, his fingers just barely touching one of the leaves that brushed towards him. The leaf seemed to recoil at his touch, but a moment later, the branch had dropped in front of him, waving soothingly. He tentatively lifted his hand and stroked the branch, and upon feeling it quiver, he murmured, "What trickery is this? That trees think, speak and feel? What trickery and what gift is this?" Pippin stopped what he was doing to fix his green eyes on the trees. His small mouth fell open and he sat backwards. Merry looked up at him, then shoved him. "What? What are you lookin' at? What," But before he could finish, his eyes caught the movement of the trees, heard the voices on the wind. His mouth hung open in surprise as he gazed around him. Sam looked up from his place beside Frodo, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly agape. "Did you never hear or see such things Mister Frodo? I always knew that trees had minds of their own, but to hear them speak. I'm just overwhelmed Mister Frodo." He whispered reverently. Frodo nodded his reply, his bright blue eyes taking in the movement that the trees made. He closed his eyes, listening to the haunting voices that entered his mind. Let us be one with you, feel your thoughts. Let us share your joys, your pains, your sorrows. Let us be part of the dance that we once began so long ago. This is the dance we do, let us in.
The wind blew hard against Aria and Legolas as they lay pressed against the tree, sharing their innermost thoughts, giving it their life and mind for a small point in time. Their hair flew wildly about them, the branches flowing about them, practically shadowing them from the rest of Lothlorien. But finally, Aria lifted her fingers from the trunk, opened her eyes and simply stared ahead of her, watching the surrounding trees' actions die down and eventually ceased to move, ceased to speak. She looked to Legolas and to her surprise, a tear slipped down his cheek from his closed eyes. Aria lifted herself from the tree and stood in front of him hesitantly. His eyes opened gradually and he smiled. "I do not cry in pain my friend. But in joy." He whispered simply. Aria's worried face broke into a smile. Before she could speak, a voice entered her mind. She turned to face Galadriel a few feet away with her attendings, watching her. Aria nodded and turned back to Legolas. "I must leave, but I will be back to show you and your friends the sights of Lothlorien if you wish it." She said quietly. Legolas smiled, sat down on the grass and leaned his head back against the tree. "I would enjoy that. I think if you should look for me, you would best try here, for I believe that I will be conversing with my new found friend." He said, smiling up at her. Aria smiled and took his hand as he extended it, squeezing it voluntarily. "It is good to see you again Legolas." He smiled wistfully as he squeezed her hand before letting it go. "And it is good to once more be in the company of Aria of the Elves." Legolas murmured with a flourish as he closed his eyes once more. Aria smiled reminicently before turning to meet her sister as she began to walk away.
There was silence between the two before Galadriel spoke. "You called me?" She said quietly. "Yes I did. I need to speak with you on the behalf of the hobbit they call Frodo Baggins." Aria replied. Galadriel's fair eyebrow arched. "The Ringbearer." She said. Aria paused a moment as they entered Galadriel's chamber. Galadriel walked slowly over to the small table, upon which rested a large mirror. Galadriel sat down at it, gazing at her reflection and that of her sister standing behind her. "I cannot help but feel that you were too harsh in your testing of the hobbit's will." Aria said quietly. Galadriel raised an eyebrow as she lithly picked up a brush and began to brush her long blonde hair gently. "The hobbit must learn to face such things. Even my tests. He is alone on this task." She said. "He has the Fellowship." Aria protested.
"He has the Fellowship to protect him and accompany him alone. They cannot do anything for him. The hobbit is totally and completely alone in his task." Galadriel said, turning around to face her sister, her voice becoming tight and strained. Aria drew up her head defiantly, but said nothing. "Did he tell you himself?" Galadriel asked quietly, turning back to the mirror and brushing her hair once more. "He allowed me to hear for myself." Aria said quietly. Galadriel nodded, setting her mouth. "He let you do this of his own free will?" Galadriel looked up and saw Aria's swift nod in the reflection of the mirror. "I understand your concern, but you must understand my concerns." Galadriel said, standing. "He must learn to take this task to himself though it will be hard. He must learn to depend on himself, must learn that this task is even harder than what he has already endured. He does not know this. Even you know this to be true." Galadriel said, her tone growing soft and gentle.
Aria nodded, looking into her sister's face as she walked towards the door. Galadriel paused and turned back towards her sister. "You know that I must confront him?" She said quietly. "Yes I do. And though I know that there is not a chance that you would heed my request, I only ask that you are not so harsh with him as you were at your first meeting." Galadriel smiled wistfully. "Sister, I too must be tested. It is not only Frodo Baggins that is being challenged. I too will be challenged by the ring itself. If I do not pass," Galadriel did not continue, her lips set firmly against each other. "I know. I wish you all the luck that I can give, for I do not want to see my sister overshadowed by darkness. But I pray you, consider my request." Aria pleaded. A smile crossed the sorceress' face as she slowly lifted her hand to touch her sister's rosy cheek. "The messengers from Nethrana were accurate. You are a good and loving ruler, always thinking of the lowest of creatures. It does you credit." She said softly. Aria's eyes met with her sister's hypnotic gaze. The sisters stared, then Galadriel gave a parting, grim smile before withdrawing her tender fingers and exiting swiftly. Aria sat down at the mirror, stared at her reflection, Frodo's face taking over her own reflection, his pleading, sorrowful gaze echoing out from the mirror. Aria covered her eyes and turned from the mirror, her mind's thoughts coming out of her in a torrent.
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