The day came for the Fellowship to depart from the elven city. The hobbits
were sad at the parting, for they came to love the Lady Galadriel and her
golden wood. Legolas was especially grieved because Anarrima was staying
behind to aid Haldir and the Galadhrim. He felt his heart plunge to the
ground when Galadriel told him the news.
"She will not come? Is there any reason behind your decision?" Legolas asked Galadriel, his eyes pleading for her to change her mind.
"I know your heart lies with her, young prince," the Lady spoke, her eyes soft with understanding, "but her duties are here, and yours are with the Fellowship."
"Then this is the only way," Legolas admitted in defeat, then turned to begin readying the boats but Galadriel's voice still held on to his mind.
"Cin tatheren govanneth Anarrima, Legolas.[You will see Anarrima again, Legolas.]" When Legolas turned around Galadriel was gone.
"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people," Lord Celeborn said as their brooches were pinned and their cloaks wrapped around them. "May they shield you from unfriendly eyes."
It was hard to say what color they truly were; grey with the twilight under the trees but in another light, green like shadowed leaves, or brown like the fields at night. Each cloak was fastened about the neck with a brooch like a green leaf veined with silver.
Legolas, Boromir and Gimli aided the elves in preparing their boats for their journey down the Anduin while Aragorn spoke with Celeborn.
"Every league you travel south the danger will increase. Mordor orcs now hold the eastern shore of Anduin, nor will you find safety on the western bank. Strange creatures bearing the mark of the white hand have been seen on our borders. Seldom do orcs journey in the open and under the sun yet these have done so." The elf held out before him a dagger of ancient Belegrost. Aragorn took the dagger and studied it's shape and design. "Le aphadar aen." [You are being tracked.]
Anarrima, now in her brown and green tunic, stood with Haldir and the other elves on the bank beside the boats. She had asked the Lady if she could bid them farewell before their departure down the Great River, since she could not join the Fellowship in their journey. She gave her blessing to each of the Fellowship in turn.
The hobbits each gave her a hug and a kiss on the hand, and a vow they would return again to hear the rest of her tale of her days in Mirkwood. "Remember Anarrima," Pippin said to her, "you left off where you hid Legolas' bow and quiver and made him cry."
"I too would like to hear that tale in full," Gimli jested.
"That never happened," Legolas argued as everyone chuckled.
"Of course Master Peregrin," she smiled and kissed the top of his curly- haired head.
"I take no joy in this parting," Gimli said as he came to her. "You, my lady, have been a nice break from the stubborness of Legolas."
Another outbreak of laughter came and Legolas just rolled his eyes.
"Well I think I should let you in on a little secret. Legolas is not that bed an elf you get to know him," she gave a quick look toward the prince, her eyes glinted in the afternoon sun.
Boromir glared at Anarrima coldly. He thought her to be nothing but evil veiled in the deceit of virtue. She was a Moriquendi; their hearts were black and wanted only one thing; power. The others might be blinded in this fact but he was not.
"May your sword be strong, son of Gondor," Anarrima said to the human who refused to look her way. Legolas noticed this also. Each time she would try to speak with Boromir he would ignore her attempts of friendship. This struck the elf as extremely odd.
"It has been a pleasure in your company once again," Aragorn held her hand and bowed. Indeed he looked like the true king of Men. "May we meet again, Anarrima of the Dunedain."
"Glorious will be the day when the king returns. We eagerly await that day, Estel," she returned his gesture and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, "Your time has finally come. May all who stand against you fear the sword of Elessar."
Now came the hardest goodbye she would ever have to make. When she looked upon Legolas, she finally understood where her heart belonged. It was with him. It always had been and his words from the other night showed just how much her cared for her.
"This is ironic, isn't it?" Anarrima laughed, the only thing that would keep her from crying. "This time you're the one that is leaving."
"I would spend all eternity be your side if I could," Legolas pulled her into his arms and held her tight. Everyone around them, even the Lady Galadriel herself, could see the heartache the two elves shared for each other. She too felt pain in her heart to see the two life-long friends parted from each other once again.
Haldir watched silently at their goodbye, then left to return to the guards and the Galadhrim. He cursed himself for being so blind. Anarrima loved Legolas. His mistake was thinking Ana would ever give her heart to him. Well he wouldn't make that mistake again.
Anarrima could hear Legolas' heartbeat, it was like music to her ears. She smiled as the tears fell from her eyes. It would be so hard to let go. She even loved his scent; it was like a fresh forest rain. All her memories of him, from when they lived in Mirkwood to that very moment, all those memories came flooding back. She loved him, she loved him with all her heart and swore that no matter what happened, she would spend forever by his side.
Ana pulled away and looked into his soft blue eyes, completely captivated by them. Then with a smile on his face he gently kissed her lips, caressing her cheek.
"I love you. Namaarie Anarrima."
The Fellowship entered the boats and set down the Great Anduin. Ana stood on the soft bank and watched as they disappeared against the horizon.
"She will not come? Is there any reason behind your decision?" Legolas asked Galadriel, his eyes pleading for her to change her mind.
"I know your heart lies with her, young prince," the Lady spoke, her eyes soft with understanding, "but her duties are here, and yours are with the Fellowship."
"Then this is the only way," Legolas admitted in defeat, then turned to begin readying the boats but Galadriel's voice still held on to his mind.
"Cin tatheren govanneth Anarrima, Legolas.[You will see Anarrima again, Legolas.]" When Legolas turned around Galadriel was gone.
"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people," Lord Celeborn said as their brooches were pinned and their cloaks wrapped around them. "May they shield you from unfriendly eyes."
It was hard to say what color they truly were; grey with the twilight under the trees but in another light, green like shadowed leaves, or brown like the fields at night. Each cloak was fastened about the neck with a brooch like a green leaf veined with silver.
Legolas, Boromir and Gimli aided the elves in preparing their boats for their journey down the Anduin while Aragorn spoke with Celeborn.
"Every league you travel south the danger will increase. Mordor orcs now hold the eastern shore of Anduin, nor will you find safety on the western bank. Strange creatures bearing the mark of the white hand have been seen on our borders. Seldom do orcs journey in the open and under the sun yet these have done so." The elf held out before him a dagger of ancient Belegrost. Aragorn took the dagger and studied it's shape and design. "Le aphadar aen." [You are being tracked.]
Anarrima, now in her brown and green tunic, stood with Haldir and the other elves on the bank beside the boats. She had asked the Lady if she could bid them farewell before their departure down the Great River, since she could not join the Fellowship in their journey. She gave her blessing to each of the Fellowship in turn.
The hobbits each gave her a hug and a kiss on the hand, and a vow they would return again to hear the rest of her tale of her days in Mirkwood. "Remember Anarrima," Pippin said to her, "you left off where you hid Legolas' bow and quiver and made him cry."
"I too would like to hear that tale in full," Gimli jested.
"That never happened," Legolas argued as everyone chuckled.
"Of course Master Peregrin," she smiled and kissed the top of his curly- haired head.
"I take no joy in this parting," Gimli said as he came to her. "You, my lady, have been a nice break from the stubborness of Legolas."
Another outbreak of laughter came and Legolas just rolled his eyes.
"Well I think I should let you in on a little secret. Legolas is not that bed an elf you get to know him," she gave a quick look toward the prince, her eyes glinted in the afternoon sun.
Boromir glared at Anarrima coldly. He thought her to be nothing but evil veiled in the deceit of virtue. She was a Moriquendi; their hearts were black and wanted only one thing; power. The others might be blinded in this fact but he was not.
"May your sword be strong, son of Gondor," Anarrima said to the human who refused to look her way. Legolas noticed this also. Each time she would try to speak with Boromir he would ignore her attempts of friendship. This struck the elf as extremely odd.
"It has been a pleasure in your company once again," Aragorn held her hand and bowed. Indeed he looked like the true king of Men. "May we meet again, Anarrima of the Dunedain."
"Glorious will be the day when the king returns. We eagerly await that day, Estel," she returned his gesture and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, "Your time has finally come. May all who stand against you fear the sword of Elessar."
Now came the hardest goodbye she would ever have to make. When she looked upon Legolas, she finally understood where her heart belonged. It was with him. It always had been and his words from the other night showed just how much her cared for her.
"This is ironic, isn't it?" Anarrima laughed, the only thing that would keep her from crying. "This time you're the one that is leaving."
"I would spend all eternity be your side if I could," Legolas pulled her into his arms and held her tight. Everyone around them, even the Lady Galadriel herself, could see the heartache the two elves shared for each other. She too felt pain in her heart to see the two life-long friends parted from each other once again.
Haldir watched silently at their goodbye, then left to return to the guards and the Galadhrim. He cursed himself for being so blind. Anarrima loved Legolas. His mistake was thinking Ana would ever give her heart to him. Well he wouldn't make that mistake again.
Anarrima could hear Legolas' heartbeat, it was like music to her ears. She smiled as the tears fell from her eyes. It would be so hard to let go. She even loved his scent; it was like a fresh forest rain. All her memories of him, from when they lived in Mirkwood to that very moment, all those memories came flooding back. She loved him, she loved him with all her heart and swore that no matter what happened, she would spend forever by his side.
Ana pulled away and looked into his soft blue eyes, completely captivated by them. Then with a smile on his face he gently kissed her lips, caressing her cheek.
"I love you. Namaarie Anarrima."
The Fellowship entered the boats and set down the Great Anduin. Ana stood on the soft bank and watched as they disappeared against the horizon.
