~ Sightseeing in Middle-Earth ~
~ Quote: ~
"Around every corner lurks monsters. I should know. I am one." - Doctor Smith, 'Lost in Space' (the movie) - to Will Robinson
~ Disclaimer: ~
See previous chapters.
~ Chapter XXII~
~ Moods, Galadriel AGAIN and Nighttime Revelations ~
Everybody walked on eggshells in Minas Tirith after Boromir recovered. He was moody, prone to going from laughing so hard he was crying to shooting looks that could kill with an eye blink. His brother, Faramir, tried many times to find out what was wrong with the man, but Boromir would not talk. The only clue as to the source of Boromir's moodiness was given when Faramir spotted his brother up in the Citadel, gazing East towards Mordor, a frown on his face.
Then one day a great Eagle flew out of the East, crying out that Sauron had fallen, and the Captains of the West were victorious. All thought that their Lords moodiness would disapear with this joyous news, and it did - but instead of Boromir's mood lightening, it fell. He now prowled about the city and Citadel, looking for all the world like a thundercloud about to burst forth with a great torrent of rain and thunder and lightning.
But still, despite his brothers angry moods, Faramir found his mind distracted by thoughts of another - the one who had stayed with him in the Healing Hall, the Lady Eowyn of Rohan. And soon he was forced to forget his troubled brother for awhile and go through his own feelings. The city, for it's part, livened up, even though it's Steward did not.
Tidings came by swift riders from Cair Andros of all that was done at the Black Gates and Ithilien, and the City made ready for the coming of their King. Merry was summoned and rode away with the wains that took store of goods to Osgiliath and thence by ship to Cair Andros. Faramir remained, unsummoned, especially glad for that when he learned that though Eowyn had been summoned by her brother, she was not going.
Then the City's joy rose as Faramir and Eowyn were spotted on the walls of the Healing Hall, kissing, not caring who saw. Boromir's mood lightened for awhile when his brother told him that he was intending to marry the Lady of Rohan, but it soon fell again, deeper into depression then before.
But life went on, as people poured into the City to make it ready for the coming of their King. The City was once more filled with women and fair children that returned to their homes laden with flowers; and from Dol Amroth came the harpers that harped most skillfully in all the land; and there were players upon viols and upon flutes and upon horns of silver, and clear-voiced singers from the vales of Lebennin.
Then one night a single messenger came riding into the City from the east, and said that he had a message for the Lord Steward, Boromir. He would tell it to no other, nor even hint at it's contents. And Boromir recieved the messenger alone, so that none but he were there to hear the messengers words.
When the messenger left the next morning, the City discovered that at last their Stewards mood had lightened. He was joyful and greeted those in the city cheerfully, and all was happy for several days. But after several days, Boromir's mood began to slip - to fall back into the depression that it had come up so quickly from - but this time, it seemed tinged with worry. And soon Boromir was once more a walking thundercloud. None dared approach him unless they had no other choice.
Soon rumblings began in the City, rumours that the Steward was resentful that the King was returning. It was said that he wanted to retain his office, and would refuse to give it up. The Lord Faramir, not knowing what was the matter with his brother, but knowing that resentment was not the cause, tried his best, along with the Lady Eowyn, to stop the rumours. The only thing that changed, however, was that the people of the City began to mumble that they would be much better off with Faramir as their Steward then Boromir.
And then came the King. Queen Galadriel, watching in her mirror, was quite relieved to see that the ceremony of welcoming the Lords of Gondor back remained much the same as it was supposed to. But there was really no worry of that - for Gondor was an ancient land, steeped in tradition, and even if the Steward of the City was deeply troubled, he would not go so far as to break that tradition. Still, all wondered why, almost directly after his coming to the City, the King and the Steward, along with their 7 other companions and the Captain of the Lothlorien Guard, locked themselves in a room and would allow no one to disturb them.
"She insisted I let her go without an escort, Boromir! It took me an entire day to convince her to let me send a messenger ahead of her!" Aragorn said, clearly annoyed at the man who was pacing around the room.
"You could have ordered her to take one with her!" Boromir retorted. "Or sent one secretly behind her!"
"She would not have listened to an order, Boromir, and there was no way an escort could have followed her secretly through the land she was travelling in." Gandalf said calmly. Boromir opened his mouth to reply, but then shut it without saying anything, collapsed into one of the nearby chairs and glared at the wall.
"Perhaps we should go back and see if we can track her trail." Haldir suggested.
"It would be immpossible even for you to pick up, Haldir. We came the same way as she would have. All her tracks will be long gone, drowned in the armies." Aragorn said tiredly, and Haldir looked at him steadily.
"Erin's sense of direction is not the best. We do not know how long she stayed on the correct course. She could simply be lost." the Elf said calmly.
"That is very possible." Merry piped up. A few of the ten people in the room almost smiled, remembering Erin's sense of direction, but then returned to serious.
"Even if she is just lost, she will have long ago run out of food. It has been close to a month since she set out from Ithilien." Gandalf said.
"But if she left with weapons, she could have found more food in the wilds." Boromir put in, looking hopeful.
"Boromir, this is foolishness. Even if you do manage to pick up her tracks - which is very doubtful - Orcs are roaming all over the countryside, as are men who were loyal to Sauron. It will be dangerous to go anywhere without a large escort for quite awhile." Aragorn said calmly.
"And yet you let the lady Erin go without any type of escort." Boromir spat, momentarily forgetting that the man he was talking to was now his King.
"We have covered the reasons for that already." Aragorn replied, his voice hardening.
"What's the harm in looking?" Sam piped up. "I know if I was lost I wouldn't wander until I found my way home, but stay put until someone found me. Perhaps Lady Erin is waiting for us to come find her." Aragorn sighed, and dropped his head into his hands.
"Very well." he said tiredly after a moment. "But take only those with you that wish to go, and do not search overly long. If you have not found the lady Erin, or any trace of her, within a month, return to Minas Tirith." He fixed Boromir with a look that made it clear it was not a request, but an order. Boromir's face hardened, determined to find the woman he loved before he was forced to return to Minas Tirith.
"I will go with you." Haldir volunteered immediatly after Aragorn had given his permission to search for Erin. Merry, Pippin, Legolas and Gimli subsequently volunteered, but Merry and Pippin ended out staying behind, as they were both still recovering from wounds, and were knights of Gondor and Rohan and could not leave without their Lords permission.
Though Boromir would have set out that very day to search for Erin, he was forced to remain in the City for two more days as preparations were made, and more volunteers were found. Two elves, a dwarf, and a man would not be safe alone in the countryside, no matter how skilled with weapons they were. It was on the second night after the descision to search for Erin and Boromir had an encounter that Erin had had twice before - one with Galadriel in the realm of dreams.
"Your search is foolish." the elven queen said without preamble.
"It may be, but I shall not rest until I have at least tried to find her." Boromir said stubbornly.
"Even if your trying causes the death of the two that Erin fought so hard to keep alive?" Galadriel asked. "Without the child here to keep you and Haldir alive, it is very likely that you shall die." Boromir had a moment of surprise at the revelation of who the other being that Erin had saved the life of was, but quickly filed the piece of information away for later thought and concentrated on the current topic.
"Without Erin, I am already half dead. Haldir comes of his own free will - warn him if you wish, but I will not let Erin go without looking." Boromir said. Galadriel did not reply, but looked deep into Boromir's eyes, as if she was searching for something.
"You shall not find her, however hard you look, Boromir." Galadriel said finally, calmly. "She has gone home."
"The I shall go and find her home." Boromir said firmly.
"That you may do. But are you sure you shall be welcomed by her?" Galadriel said, and at that, Boromir paused. "If she returned home instead of to you, does that not say something about her feelings for you? You did not part on the best of terms." Boromir wavered now, as unsure of himself as Erin had been of herself when she spoke to Haldir on that hill in Ithilien a month ago.
"Think well on this." Galadriel said softly, her gaze piercing as she watched Boromir, and then she, and Lothlorien, faded away, leaving Boromir to his sleep.
But he did not sleep long. When one has troubled thoughts, they tend not to sleep well, and Boromir was no exception. Within minutes he awoke to the dark of his room, thoughts already scrambling through his brain. When he could stand the dark loneliness of his room no longer, he rose and dressed, then went out to the gardens of the Citadel, where he sat and looked out over the city.
And so Haldir found Boromir as he wandered the gardens, his thoughts troubled, as well, with thoughts of the lady Erin and how strange her demand to go without an escort or guide had been. Haldir had not spoken to Boromir alone since he had returned to Minas Tirith, and indeed, after what Erin had told him of her last talk with the man, he was not inclined to until Boromir apologised to Erin. He made to pass right by the man, as if he had not seen him, but then Boromir spoke.
"I had a strange dream tonight." Boromir said, stopping Haldir in his tracks. "I dreamt I was in Lothlorien, and talking to Galadriel." Haldir remained silent and still, unsure where the tale was going. "She told me that my search for Erin was foolish, and then asked me if I knew if Erin would welcome me even if I found her." Neither the elf or man had moved since Boromir began speaking, but now Boromir slowly turned his head to look at Haldir, and the elf saw the uncertainty in the man's eyes. The elf still did not reply, however, and Boromir continued after a pause, his voice halting. "She also told me that yours was the other life that Erin saved." That cause a reaction in the elf, even if it was only his eyebrows raising ever so slightly. Boromir turned back towards the city before continuing again. "I do not know if Erin told you of our last encounter -"
"She did." Haldir spoke for the first time, and Boromir nodded in the elfs direction.
"Then you know that we did not part on the best of terms. And for that I am eternally sorry. I tried to speak with her before she left, to apologize, but she would not come to me, and the healers would not let me leave the hall, let alone the city." Boromir said with a sigh. "And now she's gone home, and I do not know if I-"
"Did you say Erin has gone home?" Haldir interupted, and Boromir looked at the elf. He could have sworn there was a note of panic in the elfs voice.
"Yes, Queen Galadriel told me Erin had gone home." Boromir confirmed, eyeing the elf. Then his eyes widened as a string of swears worse then any sailors erupted from the elfs mouth.
"Lord Haldir, what -" Boromir began with a frown once the elf had stopped, only to be hauled roughly to his feet before he even knew Haldir had moved.
"Come, we must speak with Elessar." Haldir said by way of an explanation, and then set off towards the Citadel, dragging Boromir behind him. Boromir, thoroughly confused, was dragged for several steps before he decided he would get an explanation quicker if he co-operated, and picked up his pace to match the elfs. Haldir, as soon as Boromir had matched his pace, sped up, and Boromir was inclined to match the new pace. This contined until the two were running through the Citadel to Aragorn's chambers.
Paying no heed to the guards that tried to block his way, Haldir went into Aragorns chambers and pounded loudly on the bedroom door. A very cross looking Aragorn appeared after a short while, looking as if he'd very hastily dressed, but Haldir spared no time, instead grabbing Aragorn's arm, surprising the ex-ranger greatly, and dragging him along much as he'd started with Boromir.
"Now where are we going?" Boromir asked, more curious than annoyed. In the times he had seen around Elves, he had never seen one act the way Haldir was acting now.
"To Mithrandir." Haldir replied as they brushed passed the guards in front of Aragorn's rooms again. They started to follow, readying their weapons, but Aragorn waved them back, getting over his surprise at being hauled around bodily by Haldir.
"Haldir, Boromir, what is this about?" Aragorn asked crossly, shaking himself loose from Haldir's grip. Boromir shrugged.
"Erin." was Haldir's reply. Aragorn sighed, and seemed ready to go back to his rooms, but at that point, they came upon Gandalf's rooms, and Haldir stormed into them, as well, and was about to pound on the bedroom door when a very awake Gandalf opened it.
"For an Elf you make an awful lot of noise." The wizard said crossly.
"Erin's gone home." Haldir said flatly. Aragorn and Gandalf stared at the elf, and Boromir got the feeling that there was some special meaning behind those words that he was missing.
"Well, she has finally gone." Gandalf said thoughtfully, getting over his surprise first.
"I hardly see why that is a reason to drag us out of bed, Haldir." Aragorn said tiredly.
"She has not told you of her home, has she?" Haldir said, staring intensely at the Man and Wizard.
"She has told the entire Fellowship of her home." Boromir said crossly.
"I talk of her true home." Haldir snapped in reply.
"What do you mean, her true home?" Boromir asked, frowning slightly.
"It is a complicated story, Boromir." Gandalf said, looking disturbed. "Let us sit while we tell it." The wizard motioned to the chairs in the room behind them, and they all took seats. Haldir sat still for a moment, then began glancing about restlessly as Gandalf started to talk.
"First of all, you should know that Erin is not of Middle-Earth." Gandalf said, and Boromir blinked increduously at the wizard. "Of that tale she told you about her home, the only parts that were true is that she came from a place called Canada, knows the future, and used that knowledge to save your and Haldir's lives." Now Boromir frowned, but did not say anything as Gandalf continued with the explanation of where Erin was truely from.
"And there is more that she has not told even you, Gandalf." Haldir spoke up when Gandalf was finished, and he proceeded to tell them what Erin had told him about her home. The four sat in silence when Haldir had finished, trying to work their minds around the fact that Erin had grown up in such a place as Haldir had described, and had now - apparently willingly - gone back to it.
"She told me once that she hated her home. And now I know why." Boromir said softly after awhile.
"Yes, but if she hates her home, then why has she returned to it?" Aragorn asked. Haldir's eyes turned to Boromir, and so Aragorn's gaze followed.
"The last time I saw her, I...accused...her of some things I should not have even thought of." Boromir said bitterly. "But I cannot see her returning to her...home simply because of that." Boromir had spat out the word home, but now his face turned to an expression of worry.
"There are many reasons other then you, Boromir, that could have caused her to return home." Gandalf said gravely. "How did you discover that she'd returned home, Haldir?"
"Lady Galadriel told me, and I told Haldir." Boromir said. Gandalf nodded.
"I shall go and talk with Galadriel, then." Gandalf said, rising. "In the mean time, you had best call off your search. We know where she is now." Boromir nodded, and rose to follow, along with Haldir and Aragorn, as Gandalf strode out of his room. Once outside, they said farewell to each other, and went their seperate ways - Gandalf to the stables and Shadowfax, Aragorn to bed, and Haldir and Boromir to see to the cancelling of the search. Out of the four of them, only Aragorn got any more sleep that night, and even his sleep was troubled.
~ Quote: ~
"Around every corner lurks monsters. I should know. I am one." - Doctor Smith, 'Lost in Space' (the movie) - to Will Robinson
~ Disclaimer: ~
See previous chapters.
~ Chapter XXII~
~ Moods, Galadriel AGAIN and Nighttime Revelations ~
Everybody walked on eggshells in Minas Tirith after Boromir recovered. He was moody, prone to going from laughing so hard he was crying to shooting looks that could kill with an eye blink. His brother, Faramir, tried many times to find out what was wrong with the man, but Boromir would not talk. The only clue as to the source of Boromir's moodiness was given when Faramir spotted his brother up in the Citadel, gazing East towards Mordor, a frown on his face.
Then one day a great Eagle flew out of the East, crying out that Sauron had fallen, and the Captains of the West were victorious. All thought that their Lords moodiness would disapear with this joyous news, and it did - but instead of Boromir's mood lightening, it fell. He now prowled about the city and Citadel, looking for all the world like a thundercloud about to burst forth with a great torrent of rain and thunder and lightning.
But still, despite his brothers angry moods, Faramir found his mind distracted by thoughts of another - the one who had stayed with him in the Healing Hall, the Lady Eowyn of Rohan. And soon he was forced to forget his troubled brother for awhile and go through his own feelings. The city, for it's part, livened up, even though it's Steward did not.
Tidings came by swift riders from Cair Andros of all that was done at the Black Gates and Ithilien, and the City made ready for the coming of their King. Merry was summoned and rode away with the wains that took store of goods to Osgiliath and thence by ship to Cair Andros. Faramir remained, unsummoned, especially glad for that when he learned that though Eowyn had been summoned by her brother, she was not going.
Then the City's joy rose as Faramir and Eowyn were spotted on the walls of the Healing Hall, kissing, not caring who saw. Boromir's mood lightened for awhile when his brother told him that he was intending to marry the Lady of Rohan, but it soon fell again, deeper into depression then before.
But life went on, as people poured into the City to make it ready for the coming of their King. The City was once more filled with women and fair children that returned to their homes laden with flowers; and from Dol Amroth came the harpers that harped most skillfully in all the land; and there were players upon viols and upon flutes and upon horns of silver, and clear-voiced singers from the vales of Lebennin.
Then one night a single messenger came riding into the City from the east, and said that he had a message for the Lord Steward, Boromir. He would tell it to no other, nor even hint at it's contents. And Boromir recieved the messenger alone, so that none but he were there to hear the messengers words.
When the messenger left the next morning, the City discovered that at last their Stewards mood had lightened. He was joyful and greeted those in the city cheerfully, and all was happy for several days. But after several days, Boromir's mood began to slip - to fall back into the depression that it had come up so quickly from - but this time, it seemed tinged with worry. And soon Boromir was once more a walking thundercloud. None dared approach him unless they had no other choice.
Soon rumblings began in the City, rumours that the Steward was resentful that the King was returning. It was said that he wanted to retain his office, and would refuse to give it up. The Lord Faramir, not knowing what was the matter with his brother, but knowing that resentment was not the cause, tried his best, along with the Lady Eowyn, to stop the rumours. The only thing that changed, however, was that the people of the City began to mumble that they would be much better off with Faramir as their Steward then Boromir.
And then came the King. Queen Galadriel, watching in her mirror, was quite relieved to see that the ceremony of welcoming the Lords of Gondor back remained much the same as it was supposed to. But there was really no worry of that - for Gondor was an ancient land, steeped in tradition, and even if the Steward of the City was deeply troubled, he would not go so far as to break that tradition. Still, all wondered why, almost directly after his coming to the City, the King and the Steward, along with their 7 other companions and the Captain of the Lothlorien Guard, locked themselves in a room and would allow no one to disturb them.
"She insisted I let her go without an escort, Boromir! It took me an entire day to convince her to let me send a messenger ahead of her!" Aragorn said, clearly annoyed at the man who was pacing around the room.
"You could have ordered her to take one with her!" Boromir retorted. "Or sent one secretly behind her!"
"She would not have listened to an order, Boromir, and there was no way an escort could have followed her secretly through the land she was travelling in." Gandalf said calmly. Boromir opened his mouth to reply, but then shut it without saying anything, collapsed into one of the nearby chairs and glared at the wall.
"Perhaps we should go back and see if we can track her trail." Haldir suggested.
"It would be immpossible even for you to pick up, Haldir. We came the same way as she would have. All her tracks will be long gone, drowned in the armies." Aragorn said tiredly, and Haldir looked at him steadily.
"Erin's sense of direction is not the best. We do not know how long she stayed on the correct course. She could simply be lost." the Elf said calmly.
"That is very possible." Merry piped up. A few of the ten people in the room almost smiled, remembering Erin's sense of direction, but then returned to serious.
"Even if she is just lost, she will have long ago run out of food. It has been close to a month since she set out from Ithilien." Gandalf said.
"But if she left with weapons, she could have found more food in the wilds." Boromir put in, looking hopeful.
"Boromir, this is foolishness. Even if you do manage to pick up her tracks - which is very doubtful - Orcs are roaming all over the countryside, as are men who were loyal to Sauron. It will be dangerous to go anywhere without a large escort for quite awhile." Aragorn said calmly.
"And yet you let the lady Erin go without any type of escort." Boromir spat, momentarily forgetting that the man he was talking to was now his King.
"We have covered the reasons for that already." Aragorn replied, his voice hardening.
"What's the harm in looking?" Sam piped up. "I know if I was lost I wouldn't wander until I found my way home, but stay put until someone found me. Perhaps Lady Erin is waiting for us to come find her." Aragorn sighed, and dropped his head into his hands.
"Very well." he said tiredly after a moment. "But take only those with you that wish to go, and do not search overly long. If you have not found the lady Erin, or any trace of her, within a month, return to Minas Tirith." He fixed Boromir with a look that made it clear it was not a request, but an order. Boromir's face hardened, determined to find the woman he loved before he was forced to return to Minas Tirith.
"I will go with you." Haldir volunteered immediatly after Aragorn had given his permission to search for Erin. Merry, Pippin, Legolas and Gimli subsequently volunteered, but Merry and Pippin ended out staying behind, as they were both still recovering from wounds, and were knights of Gondor and Rohan and could not leave without their Lords permission.
Though Boromir would have set out that very day to search for Erin, he was forced to remain in the City for two more days as preparations were made, and more volunteers were found. Two elves, a dwarf, and a man would not be safe alone in the countryside, no matter how skilled with weapons they were. It was on the second night after the descision to search for Erin and Boromir had an encounter that Erin had had twice before - one with Galadriel in the realm of dreams.
"Your search is foolish." the elven queen said without preamble.
"It may be, but I shall not rest until I have at least tried to find her." Boromir said stubbornly.
"Even if your trying causes the death of the two that Erin fought so hard to keep alive?" Galadriel asked. "Without the child here to keep you and Haldir alive, it is very likely that you shall die." Boromir had a moment of surprise at the revelation of who the other being that Erin had saved the life of was, but quickly filed the piece of information away for later thought and concentrated on the current topic.
"Without Erin, I am already half dead. Haldir comes of his own free will - warn him if you wish, but I will not let Erin go without looking." Boromir said. Galadriel did not reply, but looked deep into Boromir's eyes, as if she was searching for something.
"You shall not find her, however hard you look, Boromir." Galadriel said finally, calmly. "She has gone home."
"The I shall go and find her home." Boromir said firmly.
"That you may do. But are you sure you shall be welcomed by her?" Galadriel said, and at that, Boromir paused. "If she returned home instead of to you, does that not say something about her feelings for you? You did not part on the best of terms." Boromir wavered now, as unsure of himself as Erin had been of herself when she spoke to Haldir on that hill in Ithilien a month ago.
"Think well on this." Galadriel said softly, her gaze piercing as she watched Boromir, and then she, and Lothlorien, faded away, leaving Boromir to his sleep.
But he did not sleep long. When one has troubled thoughts, they tend not to sleep well, and Boromir was no exception. Within minutes he awoke to the dark of his room, thoughts already scrambling through his brain. When he could stand the dark loneliness of his room no longer, he rose and dressed, then went out to the gardens of the Citadel, where he sat and looked out over the city.
And so Haldir found Boromir as he wandered the gardens, his thoughts troubled, as well, with thoughts of the lady Erin and how strange her demand to go without an escort or guide had been. Haldir had not spoken to Boromir alone since he had returned to Minas Tirith, and indeed, after what Erin had told him of her last talk with the man, he was not inclined to until Boromir apologised to Erin. He made to pass right by the man, as if he had not seen him, but then Boromir spoke.
"I had a strange dream tonight." Boromir said, stopping Haldir in his tracks. "I dreamt I was in Lothlorien, and talking to Galadriel." Haldir remained silent and still, unsure where the tale was going. "She told me that my search for Erin was foolish, and then asked me if I knew if Erin would welcome me even if I found her." Neither the elf or man had moved since Boromir began speaking, but now Boromir slowly turned his head to look at Haldir, and the elf saw the uncertainty in the man's eyes. The elf still did not reply, however, and Boromir continued after a pause, his voice halting. "She also told me that yours was the other life that Erin saved." That cause a reaction in the elf, even if it was only his eyebrows raising ever so slightly. Boromir turned back towards the city before continuing again. "I do not know if Erin told you of our last encounter -"
"She did." Haldir spoke for the first time, and Boromir nodded in the elfs direction.
"Then you know that we did not part on the best of terms. And for that I am eternally sorry. I tried to speak with her before she left, to apologize, but she would not come to me, and the healers would not let me leave the hall, let alone the city." Boromir said with a sigh. "And now she's gone home, and I do not know if I-"
"Did you say Erin has gone home?" Haldir interupted, and Boromir looked at the elf. He could have sworn there was a note of panic in the elfs voice.
"Yes, Queen Galadriel told me Erin had gone home." Boromir confirmed, eyeing the elf. Then his eyes widened as a string of swears worse then any sailors erupted from the elfs mouth.
"Lord Haldir, what -" Boromir began with a frown once the elf had stopped, only to be hauled roughly to his feet before he even knew Haldir had moved.
"Come, we must speak with Elessar." Haldir said by way of an explanation, and then set off towards the Citadel, dragging Boromir behind him. Boromir, thoroughly confused, was dragged for several steps before he decided he would get an explanation quicker if he co-operated, and picked up his pace to match the elfs. Haldir, as soon as Boromir had matched his pace, sped up, and Boromir was inclined to match the new pace. This contined until the two were running through the Citadel to Aragorn's chambers.
Paying no heed to the guards that tried to block his way, Haldir went into Aragorns chambers and pounded loudly on the bedroom door. A very cross looking Aragorn appeared after a short while, looking as if he'd very hastily dressed, but Haldir spared no time, instead grabbing Aragorn's arm, surprising the ex-ranger greatly, and dragging him along much as he'd started with Boromir.
"Now where are we going?" Boromir asked, more curious than annoyed. In the times he had seen around Elves, he had never seen one act the way Haldir was acting now.
"To Mithrandir." Haldir replied as they brushed passed the guards in front of Aragorn's rooms again. They started to follow, readying their weapons, but Aragorn waved them back, getting over his surprise at being hauled around bodily by Haldir.
"Haldir, Boromir, what is this about?" Aragorn asked crossly, shaking himself loose from Haldir's grip. Boromir shrugged.
"Erin." was Haldir's reply. Aragorn sighed, and seemed ready to go back to his rooms, but at that point, they came upon Gandalf's rooms, and Haldir stormed into them, as well, and was about to pound on the bedroom door when a very awake Gandalf opened it.
"For an Elf you make an awful lot of noise." The wizard said crossly.
"Erin's gone home." Haldir said flatly. Aragorn and Gandalf stared at the elf, and Boromir got the feeling that there was some special meaning behind those words that he was missing.
"Well, she has finally gone." Gandalf said thoughtfully, getting over his surprise first.
"I hardly see why that is a reason to drag us out of bed, Haldir." Aragorn said tiredly.
"She has not told you of her home, has she?" Haldir said, staring intensely at the Man and Wizard.
"She has told the entire Fellowship of her home." Boromir said crossly.
"I talk of her true home." Haldir snapped in reply.
"What do you mean, her true home?" Boromir asked, frowning slightly.
"It is a complicated story, Boromir." Gandalf said, looking disturbed. "Let us sit while we tell it." The wizard motioned to the chairs in the room behind them, and they all took seats. Haldir sat still for a moment, then began glancing about restlessly as Gandalf started to talk.
"First of all, you should know that Erin is not of Middle-Earth." Gandalf said, and Boromir blinked increduously at the wizard. "Of that tale she told you about her home, the only parts that were true is that she came from a place called Canada, knows the future, and used that knowledge to save your and Haldir's lives." Now Boromir frowned, but did not say anything as Gandalf continued with the explanation of where Erin was truely from.
"And there is more that she has not told even you, Gandalf." Haldir spoke up when Gandalf was finished, and he proceeded to tell them what Erin had told him about her home. The four sat in silence when Haldir had finished, trying to work their minds around the fact that Erin had grown up in such a place as Haldir had described, and had now - apparently willingly - gone back to it.
"She told me once that she hated her home. And now I know why." Boromir said softly after awhile.
"Yes, but if she hates her home, then why has she returned to it?" Aragorn asked. Haldir's eyes turned to Boromir, and so Aragorn's gaze followed.
"The last time I saw her, I...accused...her of some things I should not have even thought of." Boromir said bitterly. "But I cannot see her returning to her...home simply because of that." Boromir had spat out the word home, but now his face turned to an expression of worry.
"There are many reasons other then you, Boromir, that could have caused her to return home." Gandalf said gravely. "How did you discover that she'd returned home, Haldir?"
"Lady Galadriel told me, and I told Haldir." Boromir said. Gandalf nodded.
"I shall go and talk with Galadriel, then." Gandalf said, rising. "In the mean time, you had best call off your search. We know where she is now." Boromir nodded, and rose to follow, along with Haldir and Aragorn, as Gandalf strode out of his room. Once outside, they said farewell to each other, and went their seperate ways - Gandalf to the stables and Shadowfax, Aragorn to bed, and Haldir and Boromir to see to the cancelling of the search. Out of the four of them, only Aragorn got any more sleep that night, and even his sleep was troubled.