Disclaimer: AU Story. My second large fic because it gave me so much
pleasure writing the last. I do not own any of the characters or places in
this story- both belong to the genius, Tolkien. I know; I torture the
characters but I will do my very best to save them. Hope you enjoy!
Jay of Lasgalen: Yes, I loved writing Lost in Moria and lots of people were encouraging me to do a sequel so I did!
Shirebound: Hehe. I couldn't resist writing about the Fellowship again. Oh, as for Bilbo, it was just a sort of connection to his storytelling. He is friends with the elves, so maybe he would have heard about Lórien. I'm sorry, it was just a thought. I'm trying to make this story accurate as possible!
JaimeyKay: So glad you loved Lost in Moria! It's people like you who make this so worthwhile! Thank you.
Silver Dreamer: Well, at least I didn't end it on a cliffhanger! I do that way too often. Happy you're liking it!
The Fellowship of the Nuts: Yours is the family I always dreamed of having! LOTR nuts the lot of you. Glad you're enjoying Trials of Lórien.
~ Chapter Two ~
They went on, deep into the trees. Sam kept tight hold on Frodo's arm, determined not to let him wander off. The hobbit had fallen silent again, head hung, staring at the ground. Aragorn pushed aside some thick ferns and walked into a small glade. Legolas came to his side.
"I can climb that tree and see what lies around," he said to his companion. The ranger nodded, beckoning the Fellowship to follow. They all came through to see the elf start climbing but he suddenly stopped, falling back with a cry of alarm. There were voices above him and all around. In the trees. Aragorn took a step back, looking round in fright. Legolas was speaking in quick elvish to someone in the branches over him. There was laughter too and Legolas scowled. But he turned to the company, saying,
"These are Elves. They said we breathe so loud they could have shot us in the dark. So stand still, all of you."
"Ask them if we are to be given safe passage," said Aragorn sharply, ignoring the growls coming from the dwarf beside him. Legolas looked up the grey bark and asked something. They waited- holding their breath. Then a chorus of answers flowed down into the glade.
"They have been aware of us for sometime. And say that we need not fear them but that they need to speak with Frodo. They ask that he goes alone," Legolas said. Aragorn shook his head.
"No. Frodo will not go alone."
The elf repeated this to his comrades and the answer was slow in coming. The Fellowship waited again, feeling many eyes on them, from all around. Frodo was tense under Sam's hold and he patted his master for comfort. But Frodo did not react. It was as if he was lost in his own world. The few frightened words he had spoken had not eased Sam's worrying. And now the elves were asking for him to go somewhere all on his own. Though, to be honest, it would not have made a difference. He did not appear to feel the presence of any around him.
"They say that I may accompany him," Legolas translated. "You all must stay here at the foot of the tree and keep watch. They say that neither of us will come to any harm."
"Go on, Frodo," Aragorn encouraged, turning to look at him. Samwise was digging his fingers into his friend's arm, knowing that this was not what Frodo wanted. He felt Frodo's hand on his own and he looked up to meet the sparkling blue eyes.
"It's alright, Sam," he said quietly and gave him a small smile. He walked towards the tree to be at Legolas' side. For a time they stood there but soon, a ladder was let down, the grey, silky rope soft under their hands. Legolas went first, jumping up nimbly to stand on the talan. Frodo hesitated, and then he too climbed up to stand on the platform. He still felt slightly disorientated after speaking with Nimrodel. As if this world was no longer real and that he was somewhere else. He faltered in his step, closing his eyes briefly to try and clear his mind.
Sam saw his master stop near the top of the tree. He wrung his hands in frustration.
"Oh, please, Strider, please let me go with him. He isn't up to this. He's still too scared after Moria and what with the river and all, he's just not ready to be told that something else has gone wrong. Please!"
Boromir was standing behind him and glanced down at the hobbit's pleading expression.
"Let him go, Aragorn. He is right. He will need someone there for him."
Aragorn looked up to where Frodo had resumed climbing again. He nodded and Sam darted across and followed his companions as quickly as he could.
Frodo found Legolas sitting with three other elves. They all looked tall and powerful, their beautiful faces shadowed in the darkness of the trees. One stood, holding a lantern from which a golden light streamed out. He saw Frodo and examined him for a long, quiet time. He frowned and then his face broke into a smile.
"I see your companion did not trust us enough to take you out of his sight!" he cried. Frodo span round to see Sam, blushing a little, in the light of the flame. He was most grateful for him being there. He was not ready for this- everything seemed so faded somehow.
"We must begin," the elf said, placing the lantern down beside him. "Frodo, we have heard many rumours and received many messages of you and your quest. At Elrond's word, we will befriend you, but how large is your company? How many are there?"
Frodo felt a pang of remorse. How many? There were not enough of them! There was not a complete Fellowship. Legolas and Sam were gazing sorrowfully at him, knowing what he felt, feeling it themselves. That emptiness. That space that Gandalf had left.
"Eight," the hobbit croaked, swallowing back tears. This was not the time; "There are eight of us. Myself, three other hobbits, two men, Legolas who sits beside you and a dwarf."
"A dwarf! We cannot allow a dwarf to pass through Lothlórien! No, the dwarf may not go further," the elf cried. Frodo clenched his fists. What did it matter?
"Sir," he said, taking in a shuddering breath, "Gimli has been a loyal, faithful companion on our dangerous journey. He has been true to us and Elrond himself chose him."
"Nevertheless, we have not had dealings with the dwarves since the Dark Days. I cannot allow him passage, friend, Frodo."
"But that was then! What about now? You would leave him there, in the cold, facing the elements? What sort of hospitality is that!" Frodo cried. He felt so angry! Why couldn't people see what was happening outside their own world? Why couldn't they just drop their grudges? It was so childish!
"It is against our ways," the elf went on, "They released evil onto this earth."
"The dwarves did not create it!"
"But it still came.."
"Can you not understand? Can you not see what is happening outside? You cannot hold onto old ways any longer! We are a Fellowship. We cannot lose each other!" Frodo felt hot. Everything hurt. His heart ached for his losses. He could not bear to lose another. Gandalf had been his friend. So wise. Someone who always understood him. Could the elves not see that? Were they too blind to see the approaching darkness?
The elves drew away to confer for a time, speaking among themselves. Legolas was looking very alarmed and Frodo could sense Sam's disbelief at the way he had spoken. At last, the three faced him again.
"Very well," came the reply, "The dwarf will pass through these woods- blindfolded. But you can go no further tonight. Call for the hobbits to climb up to this talan. The others may sleep in the next tree. Frodo, I hope this pleases you."
He fixed him with a cold stare and Frodo knew he had lost a valuable friendship. But at least he had been able to speak like that. At least he had been to able to let Gimli through. It would be far too much for him to see the Fellowship diminish yet more.
Jay of Lasgalen: Yes, I loved writing Lost in Moria and lots of people were encouraging me to do a sequel so I did!
Shirebound: Hehe. I couldn't resist writing about the Fellowship again. Oh, as for Bilbo, it was just a sort of connection to his storytelling. He is friends with the elves, so maybe he would have heard about Lórien. I'm sorry, it was just a thought. I'm trying to make this story accurate as possible!
JaimeyKay: So glad you loved Lost in Moria! It's people like you who make this so worthwhile! Thank you.
Silver Dreamer: Well, at least I didn't end it on a cliffhanger! I do that way too often. Happy you're liking it!
The Fellowship of the Nuts: Yours is the family I always dreamed of having! LOTR nuts the lot of you. Glad you're enjoying Trials of Lórien.
~ Chapter Two ~
They went on, deep into the trees. Sam kept tight hold on Frodo's arm, determined not to let him wander off. The hobbit had fallen silent again, head hung, staring at the ground. Aragorn pushed aside some thick ferns and walked into a small glade. Legolas came to his side.
"I can climb that tree and see what lies around," he said to his companion. The ranger nodded, beckoning the Fellowship to follow. They all came through to see the elf start climbing but he suddenly stopped, falling back with a cry of alarm. There were voices above him and all around. In the trees. Aragorn took a step back, looking round in fright. Legolas was speaking in quick elvish to someone in the branches over him. There was laughter too and Legolas scowled. But he turned to the company, saying,
"These are Elves. They said we breathe so loud they could have shot us in the dark. So stand still, all of you."
"Ask them if we are to be given safe passage," said Aragorn sharply, ignoring the growls coming from the dwarf beside him. Legolas looked up the grey bark and asked something. They waited- holding their breath. Then a chorus of answers flowed down into the glade.
"They have been aware of us for sometime. And say that we need not fear them but that they need to speak with Frodo. They ask that he goes alone," Legolas said. Aragorn shook his head.
"No. Frodo will not go alone."
The elf repeated this to his comrades and the answer was slow in coming. The Fellowship waited again, feeling many eyes on them, from all around. Frodo was tense under Sam's hold and he patted his master for comfort. But Frodo did not react. It was as if he was lost in his own world. The few frightened words he had spoken had not eased Sam's worrying. And now the elves were asking for him to go somewhere all on his own. Though, to be honest, it would not have made a difference. He did not appear to feel the presence of any around him.
"They say that I may accompany him," Legolas translated. "You all must stay here at the foot of the tree and keep watch. They say that neither of us will come to any harm."
"Go on, Frodo," Aragorn encouraged, turning to look at him. Samwise was digging his fingers into his friend's arm, knowing that this was not what Frodo wanted. He felt Frodo's hand on his own and he looked up to meet the sparkling blue eyes.
"It's alright, Sam," he said quietly and gave him a small smile. He walked towards the tree to be at Legolas' side. For a time they stood there but soon, a ladder was let down, the grey, silky rope soft under their hands. Legolas went first, jumping up nimbly to stand on the talan. Frodo hesitated, and then he too climbed up to stand on the platform. He still felt slightly disorientated after speaking with Nimrodel. As if this world was no longer real and that he was somewhere else. He faltered in his step, closing his eyes briefly to try and clear his mind.
Sam saw his master stop near the top of the tree. He wrung his hands in frustration.
"Oh, please, Strider, please let me go with him. He isn't up to this. He's still too scared after Moria and what with the river and all, he's just not ready to be told that something else has gone wrong. Please!"
Boromir was standing behind him and glanced down at the hobbit's pleading expression.
"Let him go, Aragorn. He is right. He will need someone there for him."
Aragorn looked up to where Frodo had resumed climbing again. He nodded and Sam darted across and followed his companions as quickly as he could.
Frodo found Legolas sitting with three other elves. They all looked tall and powerful, their beautiful faces shadowed in the darkness of the trees. One stood, holding a lantern from which a golden light streamed out. He saw Frodo and examined him for a long, quiet time. He frowned and then his face broke into a smile.
"I see your companion did not trust us enough to take you out of his sight!" he cried. Frodo span round to see Sam, blushing a little, in the light of the flame. He was most grateful for him being there. He was not ready for this- everything seemed so faded somehow.
"We must begin," the elf said, placing the lantern down beside him. "Frodo, we have heard many rumours and received many messages of you and your quest. At Elrond's word, we will befriend you, but how large is your company? How many are there?"
Frodo felt a pang of remorse. How many? There were not enough of them! There was not a complete Fellowship. Legolas and Sam were gazing sorrowfully at him, knowing what he felt, feeling it themselves. That emptiness. That space that Gandalf had left.
"Eight," the hobbit croaked, swallowing back tears. This was not the time; "There are eight of us. Myself, three other hobbits, two men, Legolas who sits beside you and a dwarf."
"A dwarf! We cannot allow a dwarf to pass through Lothlórien! No, the dwarf may not go further," the elf cried. Frodo clenched his fists. What did it matter?
"Sir," he said, taking in a shuddering breath, "Gimli has been a loyal, faithful companion on our dangerous journey. He has been true to us and Elrond himself chose him."
"Nevertheless, we have not had dealings with the dwarves since the Dark Days. I cannot allow him passage, friend, Frodo."
"But that was then! What about now? You would leave him there, in the cold, facing the elements? What sort of hospitality is that!" Frodo cried. He felt so angry! Why couldn't people see what was happening outside their own world? Why couldn't they just drop their grudges? It was so childish!
"It is against our ways," the elf went on, "They released evil onto this earth."
"The dwarves did not create it!"
"But it still came.."
"Can you not understand? Can you not see what is happening outside? You cannot hold onto old ways any longer! We are a Fellowship. We cannot lose each other!" Frodo felt hot. Everything hurt. His heart ached for his losses. He could not bear to lose another. Gandalf had been his friend. So wise. Someone who always understood him. Could the elves not see that? Were they too blind to see the approaching darkness?
The elves drew away to confer for a time, speaking among themselves. Legolas was looking very alarmed and Frodo could sense Sam's disbelief at the way he had spoken. At last, the three faced him again.
"Very well," came the reply, "The dwarf will pass through these woods- blindfolded. But you can go no further tonight. Call for the hobbits to climb up to this talan. The others may sleep in the next tree. Frodo, I hope this pleases you."
He fixed him with a cold stare and Frodo knew he had lost a valuable friendship. But at least he had been able to speak like that. At least he had been to able to let Gimli through. It would be far too much for him to see the Fellowship diminish yet more.