The sun cascaded throughout the land as the morning dew settled onto the green grass. It was early in the morning and everyone was already missing their warm beds from the night before. How wonderful it felt to sleep on something besides pine needles and tattered blankets. Merry and Pippin sat in a boat as they watched Legolas put some bags inside. He frowned and took out a piece of bread.
"Lembas. Elvish way bread. One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man!" He smiled happily as he took a small nibble out of the corner. He put it aside and grabbed a few more small bags and walked them over to another boat. Merry scooted to the right to look at the relaxed face of Pippin.
"How many did you eat?" Merry asked with curiosity. Pippin turned his head slowly to look at him.
"Four." He sighed and then frowned. His stomach grumbled and he let out some gas causing Merry to scoot away. "Ooh." Pippin looked over to the right to see Paddamill smiling with humor at Legolas as they both held their heads. Obviously from hitting them together when putting things into the boat.
Celeborn and Aragorn walked together towards the shore, talking about the journey.
"Every league you travel South, the danger will increase. Mordor orcs now hold the Eastern shore of the Anduin. Nor will you find safety on the Western bank. Strange creatures bearing the White Hand have been seen on our borders. Seldom do orcs journey in the open under the sun, yet these have done so." Celeborn stopped and handed Aragorn a dagger. Slowly, Aragorn looked at the silver clean blade. Celeborn spoke in Elvish tongue thick and pure. "You are being tracked. By river you have the chance of outrunning the enemy to the falls of Rauros."
"Come now!" Paddamill laughed as she held out her arms for Sam. He slowly walked to the boat and put his hand up.
"Now Miss Paddamill you have helped me far too many times for you to do it again. Allow me to help you get into the boat." Paddamill smiled and nodded. Sam grabbed her hand softly and stabilized her from shaking the boat too much. Paddamill leaned up and gave him a slight peck on the cheek. Once he was gone she realized she didn't get to see anything. Paddamill allowed her smile to fade as she watched Legolas stride towards the boat. Sam grabbed the sides of the boat once he sat down. It shook from side to side making him unsure of how safe it was.
The Fellowship all sat in different boats waiting in the waters for Frodo and Aragorn. Gimli sat in the same boat with Legolas and Paddamill while Boromir had the two little hobbits. Aragorn would stay with Frodo and Sam on their journey to The Great River. As Legolas rowed his could only remember what Galadriel gave to him.
"My gift for you Legolas, is a bow of the Galadhrim. Worthy of the skill of our woodland kin." Paddamill sighed out feeling her stomach twist in knots. The night before was so peaceful and so wonderful she could only wish to stay another night. Paddamill thought of the gifts Pippin, Merry, and Sam were granted.
"These are the daggers of the Noldarin. They have already seen the service in war. Do not fear, young Peregrin Took. You will find your courage. And for you Samwise Gamgee...Elven rope made of hithlain."
"Thank you, my lady." Paddamill smiled at what Sam had asked. He had looked over at Merry and Pippin then back to Galadriel. "Have you run out of those nice, shiny daggers?" Galadriel had smiled and looked over at Gimli.
"And what gift would a dwarf ask of the elves?"
"Nothing. Except to look upon the lady of the Galadhrim one last time...for she is more fair than all the jewels beneath the earth." Gimli had turned but then blushed. "Doh...Actually there was one thing. No, no, I couldn't. It's quite impossible. Stupid to ask." Aragorn sighed looking out into the water that rippled from the disturbance of the oars. He could only hear in his head what Galadriel had said to him.
"I have nothing greater to give...than the gift you already bare." She reached to his chest and touched the pendant Arwen had given him. She looked into his eyes and spoke in Elvish tongue. "For her love. I fear the grace of Arwen Evenstar will diminish." Aragorn quickly added.
I would have her leave these shores, and be with her people. I would have her take the ship to Valinor.
"That choice is yet before her. You have your own choice to make, Aragorn. To rise above the height of all your fathers since the days of Elendil...or to fall into darkness with all that is left of your kin." For a brief moment she paused and looked to his pendant. She smiled lightly and returned to look at him. "There is so much you have yet to do. We shall meet again...Elessar."
Frodo stood in front of Galadriel "Farewell, Frodo Baggins. I give you the light of Earendil, our most beloved star. Namarie." Frodo watched her speak as she bent down and gave him a kiss on the head. Aragorn slightly tapped him on the shoulder
"We must be going." He said glancing up at Galadriel. She watched him for a moment then let Frodo go. Frodo slowly stepped into the boat and everyone was on their way. Paddamill held an oar in her hands as she sat in the middle of the boat. She looked at Frodo as Aragorn rowed. He was glancing at Galadriel. Slowly she raised her right hand waving to either Frodo or the Fellowship. Frodo looked at her 'May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out' She had said to him as they rowed onward.
Through the winding river and beautiful trees the Great River was a site to see. With all the green trees and bright sun it was almost as if it were written out of a book.
"I have taken my worst wound at this partin...having looked my last upon that which is fairest. Ugh...henceforth I will call nothing fair unless it be her gift to me." Gimli sadly procalimed as he rowed with all his might. Paddamill grinned and lifted her chin.
"I think our little dwarf is in love." Legolas looked at the back of her head with a smile. He turned his attention to the water as he spoke.
"What was her gift?" Paddamill titled her head to the side waiting for a reply. It was obvious Gimli was becoming emotional.
"I asked her for one hair from her golden head." He paused. Paddamill frowned softly. "She gave me three." He choked back the tears.
Legolas smiled at Gimli's sudden change. Paddamill could only frown. Not with anger but with sadness. She realized that she might die on her journey and that her childlike dreams of falling in love would never come true. This only brought her down and made her think of her family, the only people she had ever truly loved. Paddamill raised her head and blinked her eyes welcoming herself back to reality. She pulled her oar up and continued to row.
Paddamill stopped rowing for a moment and rubbed her right shoulder. Everyone had been rowing down stream for almost three hours and the statues of Argornath were standing tall and brilliant a little ways off. Their perfectly shaped carvings could still be seen with great distance between them.
"Tired are we?" Legolas joked as he gave a slight grin. Paddamill looked over at him rowing in the back. She smiled at him turning to look forward.
"We are almost there. I can see the North shore from here." Gimli said glancing back. Paddamill sighed as she picked her oar back up and continued to row.
After a while they were now close enough to see the exact size of the statues. They were almost as tall as any mountain even bigger. It must've taken ages before they completed the great Kings. Paddamill frowned when she heard the cries of the Orcs. Her stomach twisted when she heard them become louder. She looked back at Legolas who frowned looking around on the shore lines.
"Is it?" Paddamill asked in a worried tone. He glanced at her
"Yes." She sighed looking forward continuing to row. She heard Aragorn speaking in the boat right next to them.
"Frodo. The Argornath. Long have I desired to look upon the Kings of old. My kin." He looked at Frodo then back up to the large hand carved statues. It would make you dizzy if you looked up at them long enough. Paddamill thought slightly grinning as they slowly passed.
Once they agreed to stop and sleep for the night, nobody could keep their eyes open. The thought of sleep would make them tired and realize how hard their day had begun. Paddamill had agreed to keep watch and sat on a rock sharpening her dagger. Boromir and Aragorn had yet to retire, their company was comforting since the threat of an attack was nearing.
Boromir frowned as he glanced over a larger rock to see something floating on the river alongside a broken tree branch.
"Gollum. He has tracked us since Moria. I had hoped we would lose him on the river," Paddamill looked at the water to see him move swiftly behind the branch. "he's too clever a waterman." Boromir turned to looked at Aragorn and Paddamill.
"And if he alerts the enemy to our whereabouts...it will make the crossing even more dangerous." Both Aragorn and Paddamill knew what was going to happen.
Sam looked over at Frodo as he cooked a small bite to eat for the rest of the hobbits. He stood up and bent over next to the restless hobbit.
"Have some food, Mr. Frodo." He offered a skillet with sausage and pigs ear. Frodo glanced at it once and quickly declined.
"No Sam."
"You haven't eaten anything all day. You're not sleeping neither. Don't think I haven't noticed, Mr. Frodo."
"I'm all right." Frodo declared as he looked at him.
"But you're not. I'm here to help you. I promised Gandalf that I would."
"You can't help me Sam. Not this time. Get some sleep." Frodo slid under the covers as Sam stood feeling shot down. He slowly turned and walked over to his own sleeping bed.
Paddamill frowned as she listened to Boromir and Aragorn continue with their forever lasting argument.
"Minas Tirith is the safer road. You know that. From there we can regroup. Strike out for Mordor from a place of strength." Aragorn looked Boromir straight into the eyes and continued to disagree like many times before.
"There is no strength in Gondor that can avail us."
"You were quick enough to trust the elves. Have you so little faith in your own people? Yes there is weakness. There is frailty. But there is courage also, and honor to be found in men. But you will not see that!" Boromir began to raise his voice. Paddamill had to say something. She sat down her dagger and walked over to the men.
"Boromir..." She lowly said touching his arm. He jerked it away and grabbed Aragorn's shoulder as he turned.
"You are afraid!"
"Boromir stop it!" Paddamill frowned feeling the pain of her popped wrist.
"All your life, you have hidden in the shadows scared of who you are, of what you are." Strider saw Paddamill's frightened face. She hated arguments it was clear to see. Aragorn grabbed Boromir's shoulder in return.
"I will not lead the ring within a hundred leagues of your city." He said in a low husky voice that was filled with anger. He then turned and walked away leaving Paddamill alone with Boromir.
"He's making a mistake." With that he turned the other way and left Paddamill. She frowned seeing the two walk their separate ways. Once again she was alone and frightened like she had been so many times before when staying on guard.
"Lembas. Elvish way bread. One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man!" He smiled happily as he took a small nibble out of the corner. He put it aside and grabbed a few more small bags and walked them over to another boat. Merry scooted to the right to look at the relaxed face of Pippin.
"How many did you eat?" Merry asked with curiosity. Pippin turned his head slowly to look at him.
"Four." He sighed and then frowned. His stomach grumbled and he let out some gas causing Merry to scoot away. "Ooh." Pippin looked over to the right to see Paddamill smiling with humor at Legolas as they both held their heads. Obviously from hitting them together when putting things into the boat.
Celeborn and Aragorn walked together towards the shore, talking about the journey.
"Every league you travel South, the danger will increase. Mordor orcs now hold the Eastern shore of the Anduin. Nor will you find safety on the Western bank. Strange creatures bearing the White Hand have been seen on our borders. Seldom do orcs journey in the open under the sun, yet these have done so." Celeborn stopped and handed Aragorn a dagger. Slowly, Aragorn looked at the silver clean blade. Celeborn spoke in Elvish tongue thick and pure. "You are being tracked. By river you have the chance of outrunning the enemy to the falls of Rauros."
"Come now!" Paddamill laughed as she held out her arms for Sam. He slowly walked to the boat and put his hand up.
"Now Miss Paddamill you have helped me far too many times for you to do it again. Allow me to help you get into the boat." Paddamill smiled and nodded. Sam grabbed her hand softly and stabilized her from shaking the boat too much. Paddamill leaned up and gave him a slight peck on the cheek. Once he was gone she realized she didn't get to see anything. Paddamill allowed her smile to fade as she watched Legolas stride towards the boat. Sam grabbed the sides of the boat once he sat down. It shook from side to side making him unsure of how safe it was.
The Fellowship all sat in different boats waiting in the waters for Frodo and Aragorn. Gimli sat in the same boat with Legolas and Paddamill while Boromir had the two little hobbits. Aragorn would stay with Frodo and Sam on their journey to The Great River. As Legolas rowed his could only remember what Galadriel gave to him.
"My gift for you Legolas, is a bow of the Galadhrim. Worthy of the skill of our woodland kin." Paddamill sighed out feeling her stomach twist in knots. The night before was so peaceful and so wonderful she could only wish to stay another night. Paddamill thought of the gifts Pippin, Merry, and Sam were granted.
"These are the daggers of the Noldarin. They have already seen the service in war. Do not fear, young Peregrin Took. You will find your courage. And for you Samwise Gamgee...Elven rope made of hithlain."
"Thank you, my lady." Paddamill smiled at what Sam had asked. He had looked over at Merry and Pippin then back to Galadriel. "Have you run out of those nice, shiny daggers?" Galadriel had smiled and looked over at Gimli.
"And what gift would a dwarf ask of the elves?"
"Nothing. Except to look upon the lady of the Galadhrim one last time...for she is more fair than all the jewels beneath the earth." Gimli had turned but then blushed. "Doh...Actually there was one thing. No, no, I couldn't. It's quite impossible. Stupid to ask." Aragorn sighed looking out into the water that rippled from the disturbance of the oars. He could only hear in his head what Galadriel had said to him.
"I have nothing greater to give...than the gift you already bare." She reached to his chest and touched the pendant Arwen had given him. She looked into his eyes and spoke in Elvish tongue. "For her love. I fear the grace of Arwen Evenstar will diminish." Aragorn quickly added.
I would have her leave these shores, and be with her people. I would have her take the ship to Valinor.
"That choice is yet before her. You have your own choice to make, Aragorn. To rise above the height of all your fathers since the days of Elendil...or to fall into darkness with all that is left of your kin." For a brief moment she paused and looked to his pendant. She smiled lightly and returned to look at him. "There is so much you have yet to do. We shall meet again...Elessar."
Frodo stood in front of Galadriel "Farewell, Frodo Baggins. I give you the light of Earendil, our most beloved star. Namarie." Frodo watched her speak as she bent down and gave him a kiss on the head. Aragorn slightly tapped him on the shoulder
"We must be going." He said glancing up at Galadriel. She watched him for a moment then let Frodo go. Frodo slowly stepped into the boat and everyone was on their way. Paddamill held an oar in her hands as she sat in the middle of the boat. She looked at Frodo as Aragorn rowed. He was glancing at Galadriel. Slowly she raised her right hand waving to either Frodo or the Fellowship. Frodo looked at her 'May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out' She had said to him as they rowed onward.
Through the winding river and beautiful trees the Great River was a site to see. With all the green trees and bright sun it was almost as if it were written out of a book.
"I have taken my worst wound at this partin...having looked my last upon that which is fairest. Ugh...henceforth I will call nothing fair unless it be her gift to me." Gimli sadly procalimed as he rowed with all his might. Paddamill grinned and lifted her chin.
"I think our little dwarf is in love." Legolas looked at the back of her head with a smile. He turned his attention to the water as he spoke.
"What was her gift?" Paddamill titled her head to the side waiting for a reply. It was obvious Gimli was becoming emotional.
"I asked her for one hair from her golden head." He paused. Paddamill frowned softly. "She gave me three." He choked back the tears.
Legolas smiled at Gimli's sudden change. Paddamill could only frown. Not with anger but with sadness. She realized that she might die on her journey and that her childlike dreams of falling in love would never come true. This only brought her down and made her think of her family, the only people she had ever truly loved. Paddamill raised her head and blinked her eyes welcoming herself back to reality. She pulled her oar up and continued to row.
Paddamill stopped rowing for a moment and rubbed her right shoulder. Everyone had been rowing down stream for almost three hours and the statues of Argornath were standing tall and brilliant a little ways off. Their perfectly shaped carvings could still be seen with great distance between them.
"Tired are we?" Legolas joked as he gave a slight grin. Paddamill looked over at him rowing in the back. She smiled at him turning to look forward.
"We are almost there. I can see the North shore from here." Gimli said glancing back. Paddamill sighed as she picked her oar back up and continued to row.
After a while they were now close enough to see the exact size of the statues. They were almost as tall as any mountain even bigger. It must've taken ages before they completed the great Kings. Paddamill frowned when she heard the cries of the Orcs. Her stomach twisted when she heard them become louder. She looked back at Legolas who frowned looking around on the shore lines.
"Is it?" Paddamill asked in a worried tone. He glanced at her
"Yes." She sighed looking forward continuing to row. She heard Aragorn speaking in the boat right next to them.
"Frodo. The Argornath. Long have I desired to look upon the Kings of old. My kin." He looked at Frodo then back up to the large hand carved statues. It would make you dizzy if you looked up at them long enough. Paddamill thought slightly grinning as they slowly passed.
Once they agreed to stop and sleep for the night, nobody could keep their eyes open. The thought of sleep would make them tired and realize how hard their day had begun. Paddamill had agreed to keep watch and sat on a rock sharpening her dagger. Boromir and Aragorn had yet to retire, their company was comforting since the threat of an attack was nearing.
Boromir frowned as he glanced over a larger rock to see something floating on the river alongside a broken tree branch.
"Gollum. He has tracked us since Moria. I had hoped we would lose him on the river," Paddamill looked at the water to see him move swiftly behind the branch. "he's too clever a waterman." Boromir turned to looked at Aragorn and Paddamill.
"And if he alerts the enemy to our whereabouts...it will make the crossing even more dangerous." Both Aragorn and Paddamill knew what was going to happen.
Sam looked over at Frodo as he cooked a small bite to eat for the rest of the hobbits. He stood up and bent over next to the restless hobbit.
"Have some food, Mr. Frodo." He offered a skillet with sausage and pigs ear. Frodo glanced at it once and quickly declined.
"No Sam."
"You haven't eaten anything all day. You're not sleeping neither. Don't think I haven't noticed, Mr. Frodo."
"I'm all right." Frodo declared as he looked at him.
"But you're not. I'm here to help you. I promised Gandalf that I would."
"You can't help me Sam. Not this time. Get some sleep." Frodo slid under the covers as Sam stood feeling shot down. He slowly turned and walked over to his own sleeping bed.
Paddamill frowned as she listened to Boromir and Aragorn continue with their forever lasting argument.
"Minas Tirith is the safer road. You know that. From there we can regroup. Strike out for Mordor from a place of strength." Aragorn looked Boromir straight into the eyes and continued to disagree like many times before.
"There is no strength in Gondor that can avail us."
"You were quick enough to trust the elves. Have you so little faith in your own people? Yes there is weakness. There is frailty. But there is courage also, and honor to be found in men. But you will not see that!" Boromir began to raise his voice. Paddamill had to say something. She sat down her dagger and walked over to the men.
"Boromir..." She lowly said touching his arm. He jerked it away and grabbed Aragorn's shoulder as he turned.
"You are afraid!"
"Boromir stop it!" Paddamill frowned feeling the pain of her popped wrist.
"All your life, you have hidden in the shadows scared of who you are, of what you are." Strider saw Paddamill's frightened face. She hated arguments it was clear to see. Aragorn grabbed Boromir's shoulder in return.
"I will not lead the ring within a hundred leagues of your city." He said in a low husky voice that was filled with anger. He then turned and walked away leaving Paddamill alone with Boromir.
"He's making a mistake." With that he turned the other way and left Paddamill. She frowned seeing the two walk their separate ways. Once again she was alone and frightened like she had been so many times before when staying on guard.
