=My own experience with Lord Of The Rings=

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Chapter 41:

Blindfolds!

The next day came too quickly, and I did not get nearly as much rest as I had hoped. Legolas and the others watched Nimrodel disappear from sight with sadness. It was a really pretty river, after all. We walked along for quite some time before reaching another river.

"I don't suppose that we can just wade across this one too?" I asked, staring at the rushing river of water.

"No. Celebrant is already a strong stream, as you see, and it runs both swift and deep, and is very cold." Haldir said, "You may not see it, but there is one of my people on the other side of the river already. This is how we cross. Follow me!" He tossed a rope to the other side of the bank, then tied his end of the rope to another tree. Then, to my amazement, he ran lightly along it, over the river and back again, as if it were a road.

"You have so got to be kidding." Chi said, "That's not even funny."

"I hope so." Ki said, looking at the river, doubtfully.

"I can walk this path," said Legolas, "But the others have not the skill. Must they swim?"

"I ain't swimming across that." I stated, "You can carry us, but we aren't swimming across that."

"No!" Haldir said, "We have two more ropes. We will fasten them above the other, one shoulder height, and another half high, and holding these the strangers should be able to cross with care."

"You have so got to be kidding." Chi repeated, almost threateningly.

"I hope so." Ki repeated.

"You're still carrying us." I told Legolas, sternly. He sighed, but eventually gave in.

When we had made it all across, thankfully un-wet, Haldir started to say how strangers were never allowed to set foot here before.

"As was agreed I shall here blindfold the eyes of Gimli the Dwarf. The others may walk free for a while, until we come nearer to our dwellings, down Egladil, in the Angle between waters." Haldir said.

"This was not at all to the liking of Gimli." I quoted, as Gimli turned red in the face from anger.

"This agreement was made without my consent. I will not walk blindfolded, like a beggar or a prisoner. I am no spy. My folk have never had dealings with any servants of the Enemy. Neither have we done any harm to the Elves. I am no more likely to betray you than Legolas, or any other of my companions." He said, trying to keep his cool.

"I don't remember this part." Chi whispered to me.

"It wasn't in the movie." Ki said, "I'm sure."

"It was in the book. I'm glad that we get to see this part. I liked it." We turned our attention back to what was going on.

"I do not doubt you, yet this is our law. I am not the master of the law and cannot set it aside. I have done much in letting you set foot over Celebrant." Haldir said.

"Rules, rules, rules! Is your boss gonna kill you if you let him in? Come on! Just this once!" I said, trying my best. I thought it might work, though I really doubted it.

"I will go foreword free, or I will go back and seek my own land, where I am known to be true of word, though I perish alone in the wilderness." Gimli said obnoxiously.

"You cannot go back," Haldir said, "Now you have come so far, you must be brought before the Lord and the Lady. They shall judge you, to hold you or to give you leave, as they will. You cannot cross the rivers again, and behind you there are now secret sentinels that you cannot pass. You would be slain before you saw them."

"Why didn't you say that in the first place, instead of letting him come so far without telling him! You stupid Elf!" I nearly shrieked as Gimli drew his axe from his belt. Haldir's companions bent their bows.

"A plague on Dwarves and their stiff necks!" Legolas said, getting annoyed with the whole deal.

"Sure, blame the Dwarf." Chi said, rolling her eyes, "It's both of your faults, you know, so get over it!"

"Come!" Aragorn said, weary of the arguing as well, "If I am to lead this Fellowship, you must do as I bid. It is hard upon the Dwarf to be thus singled out. We will all be blindfolded, even Legolas. That will be best, though it will make the journey slow and dull."

"What?" Ki asked.

"Are you crazy? I'm clumsy enough as it is!" Chi protested. Gimli suddenly laughed.

"A merry troop of fools we shall look. Will Haldir lead us on a string, like many blind beggars with one dog? No, but I will be content, if only Legolas shares my blindness."

"That's telling them, Dwarf." I said, nodding. Both Chi and Ki nodded as well. Nobody wanted to be blindfolded, least of all, us.

"I am an Elf and a kinsman here!" said Legolas, getting angry as well.

"Get him, Elf!" I cheered.

"Whose side are you on anyway?" Boromir asked me.

"Whoever looks like they need my help." I shrugged.

"Now let us all cry: 'a plague on the stiff necks of Elves!'" Aragorn said, amused, "But the Fellowship shall all fare alike. Come, bind our eyes, Haldir."

"I shall claim full amends for every fall and stubbed toe, if you do not lead us well." said Gimli as they bound the cloth around his eyes.

"You will have no claim." said Haldir, "I shall lead you all and the paths are smooth and straight."

"Alas for the folly of these days!" said Legolas, "Here all are enemies of the one Enemy, and yet I must walk blind, while the sun is merry in the woodland under the leaves of gold."

"For crying out loud!" I said to him, "Quit your whining, you temperamental, flowery, long-winded…"

"Get away from me…" Chi said as an Elf tried to tie a piece of cloth about her eyes.

"Back off!" Ki was saying.

"That goes triple for me." I said, standing my ground, "It will go much easier if you have more people to lead them, and much MUCH easier if those people were us."

"Yeah, so back off, Elf-face." Chi said, "We ain't wearing no bandana's."

"For the sake of Gandalf!" Aragorn shouted, "Wear them!"

"For the sake of Gandalf, I will do such a task." I said, nodding subjectively. Chi and Ki both did the same, and allowed ourselves to be tied.

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References:

Nothing that I can see…

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Gandalf! It's because of him… Oh well. Those un-stiff-necked Man-type persons. (Glares darkly at Aragon)