Chapter 17: A Song, A Departure, and A Decision

The days passed happily, and the Company quickly forgot the pain and toil of their task, contenting themselves with Lothlórien's beauty and peace.

Frodo and Aria passed many a pleasant hour together, delighting in the other's company. They were picking flowers and talking on a clear afternoon, unaware of Merry and Pippin looking on and giggling.

"Oh dear, Frodo has rather fallen for her, hasn't he?" Merry giggled quietly.

"You're one to talk," Pippin snorted.

Merry frowned. "What do you mean?"

Pippin grinned. "I saw you sneaking glances at Lady Elwing," he said, winking slyly.

Merry blushed. "So?" he said defensively. "She's pretty and nice yes, but that don't automatically mean I like her."

"Uh-huh," Pippin said, grinning broadly.

Merry was about to hurt Pippin, when Elwing appeared, accompanied by Sam.

"Hey you two!" she said cheerfully, a warm smile brightening her face.

Merry was grinning back, and Pippin elbowed him sharply in the ribs. Merry jumped, then gave Pippin a dark glance. Elwing has passed them and was watching Frodo and Aria with a big grin.

"Awww, how sweet," she giggled.

Sam was also smiling, a warm gently smile that fit his homely face nicely. "Frodo likes her, no doubt about that," he said, nodding sagely. "And she ain't actin' like she minds neither, if you get my meaning."

Elwing smiled at Sam. She enjoyed Sam's company, he was kind, gentle, and loyal. He was a great friend, and Elwing liked his homely observations.

Merry saw Elwing smile at Sam, and grumbled angrily to himself until another jab from Pippin shut him up.

Oblivious, Elwing smiled as Frodo handed Aria a small bouquet of elanors. 'That's a sure way to make her happy,' Elwing thought with a laugh. Aria's love of flowers had prompted the Elves to call her Alfirin*. The name fit her perfectly, and Frodo had also begun calling her by that name.

Elwing strode up to them innocently. "Why fancy meeting you two here!" she said in surprise.

Merry and Pippin stifled giggles and also came striding casually up. Sam was also with them, a smug smile on his face.

"What lovely flowers, Aria!" Elwing said emphatically. "Where did you get them?"

Aria was about to answer when a blushing Frodo cut her off. "Why Lady Elwing, you still have not sung for us," he chided. "We have heard Alfirin sing, but not you." (Aria had been coaxed into singing several times, but Elwing had always conveniently had something else to do.)

Elwing blushed. "Well, uh..."

"Yeah Miss Elwing, we want to hear you sing," Sam begged.

The others joined in, and Elwing was forced to give in. She decided to sing the song about the frog prince. Galareal had written it himself and was honored when she asked him to teach it to her.

"You had better sit down, it's rather long," Elwing warned. "Twenty minutes to be exact."

When the others were comfortably seated in a patch of soft grass, Elwing began. Her voice rose and fell, strong as a bell, now soft as a baby chick. Her voice carried well, and the nearby Elves followed it to the glade. By the time Elwing drew near the end, a large crowd had gathered silently behind her, so as not to disturb her. As the last note faded, cheers and applause broke out. Surprised to hear people behind her, Elwing spun around, cheeks red in embarrassment.

The Elves walked over to Elwing, praising her warmly and complimenting her profusely. Elwing grew redder with each compliment, and she swore she must have looked like an overripe tomato by the time the last Elf walked away.

One Elf in particular caught her attention. He looked young, but his green eyes seemed to hold great depths of knowledge from a long ago time. He had bowed gracefully, his brown hair moving slightly. "You sing like your ancestors," he had said quietly. Then just like that, he had left.

Elwing had pondered this, but she could ponder for long, for Gimli, Galareal, Legolas, and Erestor had now walked up to her. Gimli gave Elwing a hearty clap on the back, nearly knocking her over.

"You sang better than any Dwarf ever has or ever will!" he said proudly.

"What sort of a compliment is that?" Legolas cried, a slight tone of disgust in his voice.

Brushing past them, Galareal clasped Elwing's hand excitedly, his eyes shining happily and his lips parted over white teeth.

"That was wonderful!" he cried joyously. "I fear I shall never be able to sing my song again, for I shall never do it justice now that you have sung it!"

Elwing laughed, her smile wide and her eyes sparkling. Erestor watched uneasily, and felt a pang of jealousy twist his heart as Galareal held her hand. Suddenly, Elwing glanced at Erestor, and though it was quick, the look in her eyes told him he did not have to be jealous - she had chosen.

Innocently shoving his cousin out of the way, Legolas grabbed Elwing's hand with a charming smile. "I believe we have found competition for Lady Arwen at last!" he laughed happily.

Elwing laughed and blushed. "No, I do not think Lady Arwen will ever have a worthy opponent."

"You are absolutely right," Aragorn laughed. He had been standing unnoticed with his back against a tree for Valar knows how long. Grinning broadly, he winked at Elwing. "Competition? No. Equal? Perhaps."

Elwing blushed. Not knowing what else to say, she groaned, "Did all of Lothlórien hear me sing?

Erestor smiled. "I hope so. Everyone should get a chance to hear you sing."

Elwing smiled coyly back. "Thank you," she said simply, but Erestor's smile broadened.

Aragorn had left his tree, and now stood with the rest of the group around Elwing. "Sorry to break up the fun, but Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel wish to speak with the Company."

Amid grumblings and compliments, the hobbits, Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn took their leave. Aria smiled as Frodo waved to her. As she waved back, Aria heard giggling behind her. When she turned around, the other three were looking around innocently.

"And what is so funny?" Aria demanded with her hands on her hips.

"Funny? What do you mean? Was someone laughing?" Elwing asked, the epitome of innocence.

Aria sighed and rolled her eyes. Straightening the skirt of the Elf dress she was wearing, Aria casually remarked to Elwing in Sindarin, "So, how fair things with Erestor?"

Galareal understood, and bit his lip angrily. Elwing blushed and pretended she had not heard. Erestor looked at all of them quizzically, for he did not speak Sindarin.

Aria grinned at Elwing. "See? Two can play that game."

Elwing laughed, and seeing his chance, Galareal quickly changed the subject.

* * * * * * * * * *

The day for the Company to leave came all to soon. Elwing, Aria, Erestor, and Galareal stood by the river bank, saying goodbye to the Company. Elwing stood with her head down, some unseen foreboding lying heavily on her. Walking up to her, Legolas put his hand under her chin and lifted her downcast face until he could see her eyes.

"Do not fear, we will be safe," he said gently. "Namarië** little Aurlach."

Elwing smiled faintly at his pet name for her. Aurlach means morning flame in Sindarin, and he called her that because he said she was a flame of hope in the darkness around them, much like how the first rays of Sun are embraced more gratefully after a long, dark night.

Hugging her gently, Legolas went to say his other goodbyes. Aragorn came and put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Goodbye Sunstar," he said quietly. "May you choose wisely."

Elwing looked at him, then turned her eyes away. Aragorn looked at her thoughtfully, then moved on.

Elwing had been doing well. She had managed to stay somewhat cheerful and not cry through the other goodbyes, and she only had one more to go. Boromir walked up to her, smiling to lift her spirits.

"Well little sister, this is where we say goodbye," he said with a sigh. "But only for a little while. I promise, when this is all over, I will see you again."

Elwing felt as if a knife had been driven through her heart. Promise or no promise, she would never see him again. He was going to die, and there was nothing she could do. She began to cry, and Boromir hugged her comfortingly.

"Do not cry, it will be okay," Boromir said gently.

Elwing just hugged him tighter, then pulled back. "Farewell my brother, I will never forget you," she forced the words out, then turned and fled into the woods.

Boromir watched her go with a mixture of pain and confusion on his face. Shaking his head sadly, Boromir walked away. The only other person who saw Elwing's flight was Erestor. Quickly finishing his goodbyes, Erestor ran into the woods. Finding Elwing proved easy, for she had not gone far, and Erestor could her crying. Entering a tiny clearing, Erestor found Elwing sitting under a tree, crying. Sitting next to her, he put his arm around her.

"What's wrong this time?" he asked gently.

"He's leaving, he's leaving and he's not coming back," Elwing said in between sobs.

Erestor was confused. "Who? Who's leaving?"

"Boromir," she sobbed.

Before Erestor could reply, Aria entered the clearing. She quickly sat next to Elwing and put her arm around her as well.

"Elwing, what's wrong?" she asked earnestly.

"She's upset that Boromir's leaving," Erestor said quietly.

"Oh Elwing, I'm so sorry," Aria said sadly. "I know he was like a brother to you, but there's nothing you can do. We have to let them go. I don't want Frodo to leave."

"At least Frodo shall live," Elwing said bitterly.

Realization dawned on Erestor and Aria. 'Oh no, how could we have forgotten Boromir's death?' Erestor thought with a groan.

Aria sighed and looked at Elwing sadly. "I'm sorry, there's nothing you can do," she said matter-of-factly. "You know the story."

Elwing stood up, angrily shaking off their hands. She stood with her back to them for a minute, then turned around, a hurt expression on her face.

"Is that all this is to you? A story?" Elwing asked, the hurt in her face evident in her voice. "Do you still think it is a story, after all this, after everything that has happened? I'm telling you, this is real, this is really happening. Do you think we came here by accident? Or that this a dream all three of us happen to be having at the same time? It is no mistake that we are here."

Erestor and Aria glanced at each other uneasily, then looked at Elwing.

"What are you saying?" Erestor asked slowly.

Elwing smiled, finally she had their attention. As best she could, Elwing related to them everything Galadriel and Aragorn had told her. Erestor and Aria listened intently, shocked expressions on their faces. When Elwing finished, she waited for the others to grasp what she had told them.

Finally, Erestor spoke. "Well, we're here, and we know what we were brought here to do," he said solemnly. "Therefore, I say we do it. We can not let our ancestors and friends down."

Aria nodded. "I hate fighting, but I will do what I must to protect our friends. I never really believed this wasn't real, I just didn't know how else to explain it. Now I see that this really is happening, and I'm not going to stand by while our friends suffer."

Elwing smiled. "Very well, it is settled then. First thing tomorrow, we tell Lord Celeborn of our decision."

End Chapter 17
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*Alfirin means a small, bell-shaped flower in Sindarin (Grey-Elven speech).
**Namarië is farewell in Sindarin.