Howdy people, I have just been to see ROTK (again) and OH MY LORD! I didn't
stop crying the whole way through (again)! What did all of you think?
Anyway, moving on, here is the next chapter of my story, which I have been working on, being stuck at home with an awful flu. You may now 'ahhhhhh'- that's right, pity me lol
I won't be updating until the New Year probably, due to exam revision, but I should have another chapter up by mid- Jan
Disclaimer- Don't own them. never did!
Enjoy
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Realisation-Things aren't easy ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*Elenya's POV*
Sleep took me easily that night, although I was still troubled, now considering what the Lady had told me. I did want to stay and think, of what she could know about my parents, and how I could possibly open my mind so that I could see, and help us on our way. My last thought as I drifted off was of trying to accept that bad things would happen and that I could see them.
Not knowing at first whether it had worked or not I fell asleep, and awoke with the moon still high above me. I didn't know why, but I knew I had dreamt something, though I didn't know what. My first thought was of finding Boromir.
I stumbled over the others as they slept and walked out past the roots, to where a stretch of grass lay on the edge of a ridge. Below, I could see the trunks of more trees illuminated by lanterns, with dim figures moving about. I didn't care nevertheless; Boromir was sitting with his back to me on a log. I pried my eyes away from the beauty of my surroundings and looked at him, tense and nervous where he sat.
I sat down next to him, startling him. He looked at me in shock for a second, obviously at my attire and manner. I said nothing for a while, searching his face to see what he may be thinking. I could think of nothing important to say, so I started simply. I spoke quietly; not thinking anything would come out properly.
"You should take some rest. You will find no peace spending the night awake, thinking. You should be asleep"
He looked at me, and he looked hopeless, but there was something there, which told me there may be a part in him that wanted to believe what I did; that things would work themselves out. His voice was weary;
"You should be asleep too, not awake thinking with me, Lady Elenya." I smiled at him; he would want me to go back and rest; that was his way.
"Well better for me to be here than for you to be alone." He continued to look down.
"And why are you calling me Lady Elenya again?" The thought had just struck me.
"Well, it seems wrong to call by any other, when you are attired so." He mused. I leant against him, there was a breeze blowing, and my dress was not too thick. I couldn't do it, but I had to talk to him about what I knew was on his mind.
"You have to be strong." At this sudden statement, his head snapped up, and his answer was immediate.
"I don't know if I can be; it calls, louder and louder." He looked ashamed and went to move away. I grabbed onto his arm stopping him in his stride.
"You have to! There has to be something in this world you value more than whatever the Ring wants you to think is important!" I exclaimed, "What could you possibly want?" I thought out loud, knowing at once I had gone too far; this wasn't my business. However, he pulled away, answering without a pause.
"My father, he looks to me. He wants me to make things right. Perhaps, if I had this, we could use it against the enemy, make our kingdom right again. It is all we have wanted, to defeat the dark power and restore our house to the days of old"
"It doesn't sound like it is what you want. It sounds you are doing what another person desires, what you think must be right." He looked at me, clearly shocked.
"You wouldn't comprehend." He said bluntly, recovering and moving to look into a trickling stone basin nearby with his back to me. I knew this was risky, but I was going to set him straight. If it would help rid him of his temptation, then it was worth it. I knew at once what I had to say.
"Your father places your homeland's future on your shoulders. He told you this was the one thing you needed, that everything would be right. That if you delivered it to Gondor, everything would be solved, that Gondor would have the majesty possessed in ages passed and then your life would be fine..."
I stopped at the look on his face. It was creased into folds of anger and resentment. I didn't know where this knowledge about his motives had come from, when I had awoken it had been there, stuck firmly in my mind, like something I had been taught unquestionably.
"You don't understand, that's the problem." He said again, his voice quivering with rage. I stood up from the log and spoke again, with more conviction.
"Perhaps that's the problem. I do understand, and you don't want me to, because-" I couldn't think of a way to finish the sentence without offending him.
"You can't make me do what you want me to, I am my own master." Boromir hissed, his voice now transformed beyond anything I had seen.
"Boromir?" I didn't want to believe what was happening; this was the Ring talking.
"Boromir" I said again, more firmly. "You have to fight it!"
"Why!? It should be mine to take; it is Gondor's, not the Halfling's."
"You have to choose!" How could it be doing this to him?
"And what would you say? What can you do, you weak little brat?" He spat. Taken aback I answered, hating what I was saying, and what Boromir was doing at the power of the Ring.
"You have to choose, because I know if you do not you will try to take it! As much as I love you, I cannot fight on your side this time. I swore to look after the Ring and Frodo as best I could. My alliances lie elsewhere, as do yours. I don't want to have to fight you. I don't want to have to hurt you. You don't want to do this, you couldn't. You wouldn't win." I couldn't speak anymore, all hope was gone.
Burying my head in my hands and fighting back a sob I sat again, knowing what I said was true. I would have to fight Boromir if the Ring took a hold of him. I knew he wouldn't win because all of us would have to be against him, and only death would break his corrupted will. Suddenly he spoke again, and his voice was back to normal.
"Elenya.." He was breathing deeply and trying to compose himself again. I didn't look up, and then he was at my side, sitting beside me.
"I cannot do it. I am too weak." He whispered gravely.
"You can," I looked up at him, "There has to be something in this world you can think of, that will make you stop thinking of the Ring" I moved his hair away from his face to see his eyes properly, to try and see him more clearly.
"You have to" He looked at me, and took hold of my hand.
"I will do it. I will try. But you have to understand, it is so hard."
"I know."
"You have been tempted?"
"Yes." I looked down in shame.
"How, when?" He seemed unable to believe.
"On Carhdras, and in Moria."
"But how? What were you offered? How did you refuse?" I didn't want to answer him, and it was my turn to move and look into the bubbling waters of the fountain.
"The only thing I want is my father. I know the ring cannot bring back the dead. It has nothing else to tempt me with. I would ask for nothing more." The way he looked at me was odd, almost awe.
"What?" I didn't understand him.
"You are remarkable." He said simply, making me more confused. "You want nothing more? You can resist it? How can you be so strong? You carry your burdens in silence. Any other woman would have fallen in Moria.. They could not cope. How can you do this?"
I didn't know what to say to this. I wasn't strong, he didn't know how hard I had been fighting against the utter hopelessness that had taken over me.
"I.." I had no answer, but found Boromir was looking at me with pity. He seemed to be seeing me in a different way. He gently put his arm about me and said quietly.
"You fight so hard, but sometimes, you have to give in. You have shed almost no tears, said nothing of your pain."
"I can't." I whispered back.
"Why not? You cannot be strong all the time."
"I can't" I said again, more hoarsely. He didn't understand. If I gave in, wept for Gandalf, for all I had not I would never be done. I didn't want to give in, because I knew it was too much, and it was my own doing.
"Too many times have you seen death and misfortune. I will never know how one like you came to where you are now."
"Boromir, I grew up alone. Anything I have now is a bonus, and I still count myself lucky. I could be left alone inside Moria-" He cut me off;
"Don't speak of such-" I carried on, he needed to hear this, to understand.
"But I am here, in this fair land, and you are still with me. We are doing what we need to and I am alive, I am fine."
"You are not well." He said, "There are problems, but they cannot all be solved." I looked up at him, wondering what he meant.
"One day you will find what you need, but it is not this day. We should rest." He said firmly. I nodded and followed him back to where the beds were.
We ignored the sleeping forms and tread over them, careful to make as little noise as possible, and not to disturb the soft snoring.
"At least the bedding is good" He said, as though trying desperately to justify our situation as he looked around. I nodded, giving a humph of acknowledgement and began piling my blankets and pillows onto the pile which was to be his. I turned to see him looking questioningly at me.
"I will not sleep alone, not now." I said, knowing I was being childish, but I didn't want to be alone any more. It was worse now than it had been before. He lay down first as I pulled over the last of my pillows. Curling myself up next him I tried to turn my mind off, but it didn't work.
"Try to sleep well," He whispered to me. I smiled and returned;
"Only if you do." There was a small snort of faint amusement, and then we both fell silent. We said nothing more, and I made no movement until Boromir was breathing heavily behind me, asleep at last.
I was trying to concentrate on clearing my mind, opening it so I could see. I knew now, more than ever, it was important. We were missing our leader, and although I knew that Aragorn was more than capable of guiding us, I wanted to be able to help as best I could. I looked to the future, wondering what it may hold, where my path may lead me.
I could never be sure whether I dropped off into sleep, but I remembered seeing Frodo and Galadriel, and hearing a conversation between them, and a looking glass. In the looking glass, I saw dark things. Death, pain, and destruction were rampant.
Then, there were shuffling footsteps on the path, and as I watched groggily, Frodo appeared, glancing nervously around at the lumped blankets. He made his was forwards, and as he stepped into the moonlight, I could see from the look on his face I had not imagined what I had just seen.
"Frodo," I said, propping myself up. He paused, recoiled and took a step back.
"Frodo," I said again, making him move back quickly.
"Keep your distance." He said retreating further. With a glance at Boromir I pulled myself up, careful not to disturb him. Quickly I took light steps towards Frodo, who wasn't moving now, looking up at me with wide, sad eyes.
"What did she speak of?" I asked quietly. He didn't hesitate, so he must have known I knew. He also knew what I meant.
"It is him, he is the one. She knows it." Frodo said shortly. With dread in my heart I looked back at the camp, I knew who he meant.
Boromir's face seemed younger in sleep, his breathing more relaxed than I had known in a while. However, as I watched, his face was crossed by a frown and he muttered and tossed a little. I sighed, turning back to Frodo.
"He is trying."
"I know, but the Lady, she said he will try to take it" Frodo's breath was little more than a whisper now, but to me it had the same impact as though he had screamed it. I pulled him out, back to where Boromir and I had sat such a little time ago.
"She knows for certain?" I didn't want to believe this. I knew Boromir was tempted, but to have the Lady herself confirm it made it so much more real. Frodo looked down, so I saw no more of his face than his curly hair.
"Please, tell me." Frodo looked up and his eyes were filled with sadness, his face aged with worry and fretting.
----------*--------------
Frodo didn't want to have to tell Elenya; he knew she loved Boromir, but it was the truth, he knew it, and so did Galadriel. It would break Elenya's heart.
"Frodo-" Her voice, generally so well controlled, was close to breaking totally.
"She said he will try to take the Ring. She knows for certain, she said, that one by one, it will take you all-" Again Frodo withdrew away from Elenya, the fear in his heart growing that she too would be tempted. But this was not the time for temptation; Elenya threw her self down onto the floor and seemed to see nothing.
"But he can be strong; he said he would try." She whimpered to herself as she knelt. Frodo knew she had admired Boromir greatly all this time, even the hobbits were fully aware of it. He stood next to her, avoiding standing on her wide dress and softly saying;
"I'm sorry" There seemed to be nothing else he could say to this stricken form. She looked up at him, waiting for him to say something. Her face was so pale, and looked as though it was made of china. Frodo knew Elenya wanted him to try to make things easier for her, but there was nothing he could say.
Elenya sensed this and began to weep openly; for everything. For the fate of Boromir, already foreseen and known in full.
For the fall of their guide, one of the few people Elenya had ever seen as unshakable.
For the plight of Frodo, for the answers she would never know, the home she would never find.
Everything she had ever borne upon her small shoulders came out now, in tears and fitful sobs, until it seemed she could barely breathe.
And only Frodo was there to bear the full grunt of her sorrows. He stood there, and there faces at almost level height, leant forward, hugging her, not knowing what to say or what to do.
Elenya wrapped her arms about him, and they said nothing, simply mourning. And, as it had been before, Elenya's distress was passed onto the others about her, and soon
Frodo was crying too, for the hopelessness of the world as it stood. He forgot being strong, and all about the ring, and thought only of how much darkness there was in the world, burying himself in Elenya's hair and not caring whether or not she did the same.
----------*------------------
The next morning, Elenya wasn't to be found in the camp. Frodo had left her after a while as she had asked him and settled into a restless sleep, ever conscious of what he bore.
Frodo was one of the last to awake; the others were already up and eating some elvish food which they had been given. Joining them, he noticed who was missing.
"Where is Elenya?" He asked, with a quick glance at Boromir, who seemed reluctant to meet his gaze. Suddenly his question was answered, without word form the others.
From out of the hollow there was a small voice.
"Think of the world without any flowers, Think of the sky with deep pouring rain. Think of a life without any friendship, Think of a world filled naught with pain."
Frodo listened and the dark smooth tune began again; "Think of a world.."
He looked at the others, who all ate, looking worried.
"She has been there for hours, singing that same song; since before sunrise" Said Legolas solemnly, glancing about the company. Frodo didn't voice his surprise.
"What can we do?" asked Merry between mouthfuls of his breakfast.
"We are doing as much as she wishes; she asked us to stay here," Said Aragorn, who was again cleaning his sword. Ignoring his untouched food Frodo went out of the hollow and out into the sunlight.
With her back to him sat Elenya in the grass (still in her elvish attire) next to the brook where it flowed out of the gurgling stone basin, then ran off down the hill to join other waters. She was continuing to sing, but it was almost a constant noise, rising and falling like wind through trees, almost there sometimes.
"She looks so forlorn.." Said Sam from his side, "Almost like something out of a story, like." Sam stopped talking as words failed him. Turning Frodo noticed that the rest of the company stood behind him, watching her.
"That may because she knows we are looking at her." Said Gimli gruffly.
They stood in silence for a while, watching her, and then Legolas went forwards, kneeling down next to her and looking at the water.
Up close she looked unshaken, but that light (now so familiar) in her eyes was dimmed. Elenya was running her hand through the water as it cooled her whole body.
She had been sat here since she had asked Frodo to leave her. She had sat in silence, her thoughts swirling faster than she could control, but eventually, her mouth had begun to speak without her consent, without her even noticing.
That song had been repeated countless times, almost like a mantra. Elenya looked up at Legolas as he sat down next to her and looked him straight in the eye.
"Elenya-" He began slowly, trying to find something to say to her but she cut him off.
"Please, I am fine" She said, turning her attention back to the clear waters which were glittering as the sun caught their rays. Legolas watched her and then muttered something to himself in Elvish, which none but himself could hear.
Turning, he moved past his companions with an air of purpose. Following his suit, the others let Elenya be and sat down to finish their breakfast.
Before they were finished however, Legolas had returned with Haldir at his side.
"Elenya!" Barked Haldir, ignoring the others but for a nod of his head.
There came a faint mumble from out of the hollow. Haldir strode past them out into the hollow.
He sat next to Elenya and said swiftly;
"It is time to leave, you had best hurry; there is a lot to be seen today." Elenya looked up at him, confusion on her tired face.
"You will not be able to see all of Lothlorien in one day if you do not hurry. The sun has been up for almost 3 hours and the day is wasting!" said Haldir shortly.
"What do you mean? I'm seeing Lothlorien?"
"Yes, and you had best hurry! I have been informed it has always been a wish of yours has it not?" He asked sarcastically.
"Yes, but-" Elenya went to reply, this wasn't a time she felt like hiking around, no matter how beautiful the surroundings. Haldir waited for no reply;
"Well then," he said, pulling Elenya up and leading her back to the hollow.
..............
The others had been listening and wondering what was going on, aside from Legolas. When Haldir lead Elenya into the hollow, they were unsure what to think. She was going easily, deep in thought, suddenly, as they had almost exited the hollow; she stopped, causing Haldir to turn.
"Hold on," She said, then coming back to them, she said quickly to Legolas; "This was your doing, wasn't it?" Legolas merely 'hmphed' in reply, trying to be mysterious, though a small trace of what may been a smile was playing about his lips.
"Thank you," stuttered Elenya, reaching forwards and hugging him quickly. Then she stepped back again, going red and saying to the ground;
"I'm sorry, I will see you all later on." Then without a glance back, she ran to Haldir, who seemed to be growing impatient, waiting for him to guide her.
Following him out of the hollow, she didn't realise the mystified friends she had left behind.
*
*
Happy Holidays, and enjoy! Please review. you can make it my present, and I will love you forever (or not if you'd prefer!) --------x------x-------x------x------
Anyway, moving on, here is the next chapter of my story, which I have been working on, being stuck at home with an awful flu. You may now 'ahhhhhh'- that's right, pity me lol
I won't be updating until the New Year probably, due to exam revision, but I should have another chapter up by mid- Jan
Disclaimer- Don't own them. never did!
Enjoy
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Realisation-Things aren't easy ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*Elenya's POV*
Sleep took me easily that night, although I was still troubled, now considering what the Lady had told me. I did want to stay and think, of what she could know about my parents, and how I could possibly open my mind so that I could see, and help us on our way. My last thought as I drifted off was of trying to accept that bad things would happen and that I could see them.
Not knowing at first whether it had worked or not I fell asleep, and awoke with the moon still high above me. I didn't know why, but I knew I had dreamt something, though I didn't know what. My first thought was of finding Boromir.
I stumbled over the others as they slept and walked out past the roots, to where a stretch of grass lay on the edge of a ridge. Below, I could see the trunks of more trees illuminated by lanterns, with dim figures moving about. I didn't care nevertheless; Boromir was sitting with his back to me on a log. I pried my eyes away from the beauty of my surroundings and looked at him, tense and nervous where he sat.
I sat down next to him, startling him. He looked at me in shock for a second, obviously at my attire and manner. I said nothing for a while, searching his face to see what he may be thinking. I could think of nothing important to say, so I started simply. I spoke quietly; not thinking anything would come out properly.
"You should take some rest. You will find no peace spending the night awake, thinking. You should be asleep"
He looked at me, and he looked hopeless, but there was something there, which told me there may be a part in him that wanted to believe what I did; that things would work themselves out. His voice was weary;
"You should be asleep too, not awake thinking with me, Lady Elenya." I smiled at him; he would want me to go back and rest; that was his way.
"Well better for me to be here than for you to be alone." He continued to look down.
"And why are you calling me Lady Elenya again?" The thought had just struck me.
"Well, it seems wrong to call by any other, when you are attired so." He mused. I leant against him, there was a breeze blowing, and my dress was not too thick. I couldn't do it, but I had to talk to him about what I knew was on his mind.
"You have to be strong." At this sudden statement, his head snapped up, and his answer was immediate.
"I don't know if I can be; it calls, louder and louder." He looked ashamed and went to move away. I grabbed onto his arm stopping him in his stride.
"You have to! There has to be something in this world you value more than whatever the Ring wants you to think is important!" I exclaimed, "What could you possibly want?" I thought out loud, knowing at once I had gone too far; this wasn't my business. However, he pulled away, answering without a pause.
"My father, he looks to me. He wants me to make things right. Perhaps, if I had this, we could use it against the enemy, make our kingdom right again. It is all we have wanted, to defeat the dark power and restore our house to the days of old"
"It doesn't sound like it is what you want. It sounds you are doing what another person desires, what you think must be right." He looked at me, clearly shocked.
"You wouldn't comprehend." He said bluntly, recovering and moving to look into a trickling stone basin nearby with his back to me. I knew this was risky, but I was going to set him straight. If it would help rid him of his temptation, then it was worth it. I knew at once what I had to say.
"Your father places your homeland's future on your shoulders. He told you this was the one thing you needed, that everything would be right. That if you delivered it to Gondor, everything would be solved, that Gondor would have the majesty possessed in ages passed and then your life would be fine..."
I stopped at the look on his face. It was creased into folds of anger and resentment. I didn't know where this knowledge about his motives had come from, when I had awoken it had been there, stuck firmly in my mind, like something I had been taught unquestionably.
"You don't understand, that's the problem." He said again, his voice quivering with rage. I stood up from the log and spoke again, with more conviction.
"Perhaps that's the problem. I do understand, and you don't want me to, because-" I couldn't think of a way to finish the sentence without offending him.
"You can't make me do what you want me to, I am my own master." Boromir hissed, his voice now transformed beyond anything I had seen.
"Boromir?" I didn't want to believe what was happening; this was the Ring talking.
"Boromir" I said again, more firmly. "You have to fight it!"
"Why!? It should be mine to take; it is Gondor's, not the Halfling's."
"You have to choose!" How could it be doing this to him?
"And what would you say? What can you do, you weak little brat?" He spat. Taken aback I answered, hating what I was saying, and what Boromir was doing at the power of the Ring.
"You have to choose, because I know if you do not you will try to take it! As much as I love you, I cannot fight on your side this time. I swore to look after the Ring and Frodo as best I could. My alliances lie elsewhere, as do yours. I don't want to have to fight you. I don't want to have to hurt you. You don't want to do this, you couldn't. You wouldn't win." I couldn't speak anymore, all hope was gone.
Burying my head in my hands and fighting back a sob I sat again, knowing what I said was true. I would have to fight Boromir if the Ring took a hold of him. I knew he wouldn't win because all of us would have to be against him, and only death would break his corrupted will. Suddenly he spoke again, and his voice was back to normal.
"Elenya.." He was breathing deeply and trying to compose himself again. I didn't look up, and then he was at my side, sitting beside me.
"I cannot do it. I am too weak." He whispered gravely.
"You can," I looked up at him, "There has to be something in this world you can think of, that will make you stop thinking of the Ring" I moved his hair away from his face to see his eyes properly, to try and see him more clearly.
"You have to" He looked at me, and took hold of my hand.
"I will do it. I will try. But you have to understand, it is so hard."
"I know."
"You have been tempted?"
"Yes." I looked down in shame.
"How, when?" He seemed unable to believe.
"On Carhdras, and in Moria."
"But how? What were you offered? How did you refuse?" I didn't want to answer him, and it was my turn to move and look into the bubbling waters of the fountain.
"The only thing I want is my father. I know the ring cannot bring back the dead. It has nothing else to tempt me with. I would ask for nothing more." The way he looked at me was odd, almost awe.
"What?" I didn't understand him.
"You are remarkable." He said simply, making me more confused. "You want nothing more? You can resist it? How can you be so strong? You carry your burdens in silence. Any other woman would have fallen in Moria.. They could not cope. How can you do this?"
I didn't know what to say to this. I wasn't strong, he didn't know how hard I had been fighting against the utter hopelessness that had taken over me.
"I.." I had no answer, but found Boromir was looking at me with pity. He seemed to be seeing me in a different way. He gently put his arm about me and said quietly.
"You fight so hard, but sometimes, you have to give in. You have shed almost no tears, said nothing of your pain."
"I can't." I whispered back.
"Why not? You cannot be strong all the time."
"I can't" I said again, more hoarsely. He didn't understand. If I gave in, wept for Gandalf, for all I had not I would never be done. I didn't want to give in, because I knew it was too much, and it was my own doing.
"Too many times have you seen death and misfortune. I will never know how one like you came to where you are now."
"Boromir, I grew up alone. Anything I have now is a bonus, and I still count myself lucky. I could be left alone inside Moria-" He cut me off;
"Don't speak of such-" I carried on, he needed to hear this, to understand.
"But I am here, in this fair land, and you are still with me. We are doing what we need to and I am alive, I am fine."
"You are not well." He said, "There are problems, but they cannot all be solved." I looked up at him, wondering what he meant.
"One day you will find what you need, but it is not this day. We should rest." He said firmly. I nodded and followed him back to where the beds were.
We ignored the sleeping forms and tread over them, careful to make as little noise as possible, and not to disturb the soft snoring.
"At least the bedding is good" He said, as though trying desperately to justify our situation as he looked around. I nodded, giving a humph of acknowledgement and began piling my blankets and pillows onto the pile which was to be his. I turned to see him looking questioningly at me.
"I will not sleep alone, not now." I said, knowing I was being childish, but I didn't want to be alone any more. It was worse now than it had been before. He lay down first as I pulled over the last of my pillows. Curling myself up next him I tried to turn my mind off, but it didn't work.
"Try to sleep well," He whispered to me. I smiled and returned;
"Only if you do." There was a small snort of faint amusement, and then we both fell silent. We said nothing more, and I made no movement until Boromir was breathing heavily behind me, asleep at last.
I was trying to concentrate on clearing my mind, opening it so I could see. I knew now, more than ever, it was important. We were missing our leader, and although I knew that Aragorn was more than capable of guiding us, I wanted to be able to help as best I could. I looked to the future, wondering what it may hold, where my path may lead me.
I could never be sure whether I dropped off into sleep, but I remembered seeing Frodo and Galadriel, and hearing a conversation between them, and a looking glass. In the looking glass, I saw dark things. Death, pain, and destruction were rampant.
Then, there were shuffling footsteps on the path, and as I watched groggily, Frodo appeared, glancing nervously around at the lumped blankets. He made his was forwards, and as he stepped into the moonlight, I could see from the look on his face I had not imagined what I had just seen.
"Frodo," I said, propping myself up. He paused, recoiled and took a step back.
"Frodo," I said again, making him move back quickly.
"Keep your distance." He said retreating further. With a glance at Boromir I pulled myself up, careful not to disturb him. Quickly I took light steps towards Frodo, who wasn't moving now, looking up at me with wide, sad eyes.
"What did she speak of?" I asked quietly. He didn't hesitate, so he must have known I knew. He also knew what I meant.
"It is him, he is the one. She knows it." Frodo said shortly. With dread in my heart I looked back at the camp, I knew who he meant.
Boromir's face seemed younger in sleep, his breathing more relaxed than I had known in a while. However, as I watched, his face was crossed by a frown and he muttered and tossed a little. I sighed, turning back to Frodo.
"He is trying."
"I know, but the Lady, she said he will try to take it" Frodo's breath was little more than a whisper now, but to me it had the same impact as though he had screamed it. I pulled him out, back to where Boromir and I had sat such a little time ago.
"She knows for certain?" I didn't want to believe this. I knew Boromir was tempted, but to have the Lady herself confirm it made it so much more real. Frodo looked down, so I saw no more of his face than his curly hair.
"Please, tell me." Frodo looked up and his eyes were filled with sadness, his face aged with worry and fretting.
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Frodo didn't want to have to tell Elenya; he knew she loved Boromir, but it was the truth, he knew it, and so did Galadriel. It would break Elenya's heart.
"Frodo-" Her voice, generally so well controlled, was close to breaking totally.
"She said he will try to take the Ring. She knows for certain, she said, that one by one, it will take you all-" Again Frodo withdrew away from Elenya, the fear in his heart growing that she too would be tempted. But this was not the time for temptation; Elenya threw her self down onto the floor and seemed to see nothing.
"But he can be strong; he said he would try." She whimpered to herself as she knelt. Frodo knew she had admired Boromir greatly all this time, even the hobbits were fully aware of it. He stood next to her, avoiding standing on her wide dress and softly saying;
"I'm sorry" There seemed to be nothing else he could say to this stricken form. She looked up at him, waiting for him to say something. Her face was so pale, and looked as though it was made of china. Frodo knew Elenya wanted him to try to make things easier for her, but there was nothing he could say.
Elenya sensed this and began to weep openly; for everything. For the fate of Boromir, already foreseen and known in full.
For the fall of their guide, one of the few people Elenya had ever seen as unshakable.
For the plight of Frodo, for the answers she would never know, the home she would never find.
Everything she had ever borne upon her small shoulders came out now, in tears and fitful sobs, until it seemed she could barely breathe.
And only Frodo was there to bear the full grunt of her sorrows. He stood there, and there faces at almost level height, leant forward, hugging her, not knowing what to say or what to do.
Elenya wrapped her arms about him, and they said nothing, simply mourning. And, as it had been before, Elenya's distress was passed onto the others about her, and soon
Frodo was crying too, for the hopelessness of the world as it stood. He forgot being strong, and all about the ring, and thought only of how much darkness there was in the world, burying himself in Elenya's hair and not caring whether or not she did the same.
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The next morning, Elenya wasn't to be found in the camp. Frodo had left her after a while as she had asked him and settled into a restless sleep, ever conscious of what he bore.
Frodo was one of the last to awake; the others were already up and eating some elvish food which they had been given. Joining them, he noticed who was missing.
"Where is Elenya?" He asked, with a quick glance at Boromir, who seemed reluctant to meet his gaze. Suddenly his question was answered, without word form the others.
From out of the hollow there was a small voice.
"Think of the world without any flowers, Think of the sky with deep pouring rain. Think of a life without any friendship, Think of a world filled naught with pain."
Frodo listened and the dark smooth tune began again; "Think of a world.."
He looked at the others, who all ate, looking worried.
"She has been there for hours, singing that same song; since before sunrise" Said Legolas solemnly, glancing about the company. Frodo didn't voice his surprise.
"What can we do?" asked Merry between mouthfuls of his breakfast.
"We are doing as much as she wishes; she asked us to stay here," Said Aragorn, who was again cleaning his sword. Ignoring his untouched food Frodo went out of the hollow and out into the sunlight.
With her back to him sat Elenya in the grass (still in her elvish attire) next to the brook where it flowed out of the gurgling stone basin, then ran off down the hill to join other waters. She was continuing to sing, but it was almost a constant noise, rising and falling like wind through trees, almost there sometimes.
"She looks so forlorn.." Said Sam from his side, "Almost like something out of a story, like." Sam stopped talking as words failed him. Turning Frodo noticed that the rest of the company stood behind him, watching her.
"That may because she knows we are looking at her." Said Gimli gruffly.
They stood in silence for a while, watching her, and then Legolas went forwards, kneeling down next to her and looking at the water.
Up close she looked unshaken, but that light (now so familiar) in her eyes was dimmed. Elenya was running her hand through the water as it cooled her whole body.
She had been sat here since she had asked Frodo to leave her. She had sat in silence, her thoughts swirling faster than she could control, but eventually, her mouth had begun to speak without her consent, without her even noticing.
That song had been repeated countless times, almost like a mantra. Elenya looked up at Legolas as he sat down next to her and looked him straight in the eye.
"Elenya-" He began slowly, trying to find something to say to her but she cut him off.
"Please, I am fine" She said, turning her attention back to the clear waters which were glittering as the sun caught their rays. Legolas watched her and then muttered something to himself in Elvish, which none but himself could hear.
Turning, he moved past his companions with an air of purpose. Following his suit, the others let Elenya be and sat down to finish their breakfast.
Before they were finished however, Legolas had returned with Haldir at his side.
"Elenya!" Barked Haldir, ignoring the others but for a nod of his head.
There came a faint mumble from out of the hollow. Haldir strode past them out into the hollow.
He sat next to Elenya and said swiftly;
"It is time to leave, you had best hurry; there is a lot to be seen today." Elenya looked up at him, confusion on her tired face.
"You will not be able to see all of Lothlorien in one day if you do not hurry. The sun has been up for almost 3 hours and the day is wasting!" said Haldir shortly.
"What do you mean? I'm seeing Lothlorien?"
"Yes, and you had best hurry! I have been informed it has always been a wish of yours has it not?" He asked sarcastically.
"Yes, but-" Elenya went to reply, this wasn't a time she felt like hiking around, no matter how beautiful the surroundings. Haldir waited for no reply;
"Well then," he said, pulling Elenya up and leading her back to the hollow.
..............
The others had been listening and wondering what was going on, aside from Legolas. When Haldir lead Elenya into the hollow, they were unsure what to think. She was going easily, deep in thought, suddenly, as they had almost exited the hollow; she stopped, causing Haldir to turn.
"Hold on," She said, then coming back to them, she said quickly to Legolas; "This was your doing, wasn't it?" Legolas merely 'hmphed' in reply, trying to be mysterious, though a small trace of what may been a smile was playing about his lips.
"Thank you," stuttered Elenya, reaching forwards and hugging him quickly. Then she stepped back again, going red and saying to the ground;
"I'm sorry, I will see you all later on." Then without a glance back, she ran to Haldir, who seemed to be growing impatient, waiting for him to guide her.
Following him out of the hollow, she didn't realise the mystified friends she had left behind.
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