Chapter Ten
In the morning, Luinmir announced me healthy, and to leave as soon it was best for me. While she was making some sort of breakfast for me, I changed into the travelling dress.
It was harder to get into than I thought. There were all sorts of ties and hooks in the most obscure places, but the fabric was soft, and had a strange quality of being thick, but light and thin at the same time.
I was lacing my new shoes up as Luinmir reappeared, bearing a bowl of some steaming thin liquid. I finished it off quickly, and, thanking Luinmir for her hospitality, grabbed my gowns, cloak, and shoes, and went off in search of the fellowship. Galadriel had also supplied me with a new pack in which to keep the clothes, and I rolled up the dresses and shoved them in the bag as I walked.
"El!" someone called. I turned to see Galawe approaching from another limb. He led me down the ground, and showed me where the eight had slept. Before he left, I caugh this sleeve, and asked, "Why did you call me El?" He grinned, "Legolas told me that was your nickname. We talked for a long time last night, and that came up."
"Ah." I replied, and let him go on his way.
"Excuse me, Lady." began a familiar voice from behind me. I turned around, and forced a smile at Boromir. He looked startled to see me, but then recovered, and demanded, "Pardon, I didn't recognize you. What are you doing around here?"
"Just making sure you hadn't left without me." I shot sarcastically.
"If only." I heard Boromir mutter, and he turned away. I glowered after him, and then sighed. So much for my hopes of the cliche that seemed to support all other cases except mine. For a brief time, I had the insane thought that if I changed into a dress, all feminine-like, and got cleaned up, I'd be treated with more respect.
Screw that notion.
"Eleanor!" came my third caller the morning. Pippin stopped, glanced curiously at my dress, then looked back up to my face, and grinned, saying, "You missed the feast last night."
"Luinmir held me captive." I replied, shrugging.
"It was a marvelous feast." Merry contributed, joining our number.
"With bread, and ale, and meats, and wine, and loveleh mushrooms." Pippin sighed. Merry turned to Pippin with a suspicious look.
"I didn't see any mushrooms, Pip."
Pippin's dreamy face snapped back to reality, and he adopted a guilty look, which looked right at home on his face.
"Well, there weren't tha' many. And- and, if I showed them to you, you would show them to Sam and Frodo, and then we'd have had to share them." Pippin said in his defense.
I smiled at the simple-mindedness of hobbits, and walked away as they continued bickering.
.
The day was suprisingly uneventful. You would think that in Lothlorien, there'd be something to do.
Well, there was. Walk around slowly, and look mysterious and ethereal. The Elves did that, at least. After I dropped off my new bag with the others, I wandered about; half-expecting Galadriel to pop out of somewhere, scare the crap out of me, and then give me the information about the Palantiri.
She didn't, however, and it wasn't until afternoon when an Elf woman approached me with an Elven-looking brush. I cowered at the sight, but she said that she had instructions from the Lady herself to tame my hair, and put it up and out of the way for the journey.
It made sense, but sense didn't make it hurt any less. I had had a bath that morning, but hadn't even attempted my hair, because frankly, the tangles and knots scared me to no end.
The whole process took about half an hour. When she was done, I felt it, and decided it must look something Legolas's style. Three tight braids; two above the ear, and the top part of my hair pulled into an incredibly tight braid. Then the woman turned to leave, but not before telling me to meet the others at the forest's edge.
My clueless face must have given her some idea of my knowledge concerning Lorien, and she led me to the said location.
There stood the eight, talking with each other, or the Elves, in low tones.
Haldir was there, as was Galawe, who was talking happily with Legolas. When the others noted my presence, Haldir began, "You have been supplied with three boats, loaded with all your bags, that are waiting on the Silverlode. Follow me, and I shall lead you there."
I approached Galawe, and thanked him for helping me. He nodded, smiling, and wished me a safe journey. I told him I hoped he won the heart of Arienfea. He reddened, I hugged him, and we parted.
Sam was very subdued. Since our path took us on the river, Bill was to be left in Lorien until our quest was over. I watched Frodo and Merry try to cheer him up by saying the pony would be happy with the Elves, but nothing helped.
We travelled for a good part of the afternoon, and I grew very hungry. Finally, we heard water, and then the Silverlode came into view.
In the middle of the river was Galadriel's swan-boat, where she, Celeborn, and two other Elves were standing.
The two Elves rowed to shore, and Galadriel disembarked with Celeborn behind, and showed us our boats. Aragorn thanked her profusely, and then we all sat down on the banks to enjoy a belated lunch.
I ate off to the side, and watched Aragorn, Legolas, Galadriel, and Celeborn speak in Elvish. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin sat discussing the Shire, and Boromir and Gimli were arguing lightly over the road.
When we finished, Galadriel stood, and beckoned us to follow suit. One of the Elf attendants handed her a large basket, and she smiled gently.
"All of you shall recieve cloaks woven by myself and my ladies. They can protect you from cold and heat, but they are not armor, and can not stop a blade or shaft." So saying, she withdrew from the immense basket a bundle of wrapped fabric, and handed the cloaks to all but me; I was already wearing the one she had given me.
Celeborn handed Galadriel one of two long wrapped objects, which she unfolded, revealing a sheath, and handed it to Aragorn. Explaining the power it possessed, she also handed him a brooch with a large green stone on it. Aragorn exchanged a few words to her in Elvish, and bowed.
To Boromir she gave a gold belt, and Merry and Pippin each recieved a belt of silver with gold clasps. Sam was given a box I recognized as the container of dirt from the book. She advanced to Frodo, and gave him the phial of Earendil, instructing him of its uses and origin.
When Gimli requested a hair off her head, she smiled, and gave him three. She handed Legolas a delicate, but strong bow, and a quiver of arrows. Finally, she reached me. From the basket she revealed a thin leather book, written in the Elven script.
"Here is all my knowledge, and those I converse with, concerning the Palantiri." she said, handing it to me. I leafed through it, looking at the maps, and pages of foreign symbols. I didn't tell her I couldn't read her language.
Celeborn handed her the other thin bundle, which showed itself as another sheath, but also containing a sword.
Galadriel pulled the sword out of the former, letting the sun glint off the shining steel
"This is Celebril," she began. I made a mental note to remember the name of the sword, supposing it would ever be needed. She continued, "it was forged in the heart of Beleriand, in the First Age, and it has seen many battles."
I inwardly hoped it wouldn't see anymore. At least as long as I had it. I thanked her, and then she led us to the boats.
She displayed the lembas, and showed us the supplies in each of the boats. Finally, wishing our journey successful, we all clambored into the boats.
Boromir, myself, and Merry were in the first, while Aragorn, Frodo, and Sam were in the second. Legolas, Pippin, and Gimli were in the last.
Celeborn gave us brief directions on where to head, and then we paddled out to the middle of the river, and headed away from Lorien.
In the morning, Luinmir announced me healthy, and to leave as soon it was best for me. While she was making some sort of breakfast for me, I changed into the travelling dress.
It was harder to get into than I thought. There were all sorts of ties and hooks in the most obscure places, but the fabric was soft, and had a strange quality of being thick, but light and thin at the same time.
I was lacing my new shoes up as Luinmir reappeared, bearing a bowl of some steaming thin liquid. I finished it off quickly, and, thanking Luinmir for her hospitality, grabbed my gowns, cloak, and shoes, and went off in search of the fellowship. Galadriel had also supplied me with a new pack in which to keep the clothes, and I rolled up the dresses and shoved them in the bag as I walked.
"El!" someone called. I turned to see Galawe approaching from another limb. He led me down the ground, and showed me where the eight had slept. Before he left, I caugh this sleeve, and asked, "Why did you call me El?" He grinned, "Legolas told me that was your nickname. We talked for a long time last night, and that came up."
"Ah." I replied, and let him go on his way.
"Excuse me, Lady." began a familiar voice from behind me. I turned around, and forced a smile at Boromir. He looked startled to see me, but then recovered, and demanded, "Pardon, I didn't recognize you. What are you doing around here?"
"Just making sure you hadn't left without me." I shot sarcastically.
"If only." I heard Boromir mutter, and he turned away. I glowered after him, and then sighed. So much for my hopes of the cliche that seemed to support all other cases except mine. For a brief time, I had the insane thought that if I changed into a dress, all feminine-like, and got cleaned up, I'd be treated with more respect.
Screw that notion.
"Eleanor!" came my third caller the morning. Pippin stopped, glanced curiously at my dress, then looked back up to my face, and grinned, saying, "You missed the feast last night."
"Luinmir held me captive." I replied, shrugging.
"It was a marvelous feast." Merry contributed, joining our number.
"With bread, and ale, and meats, and wine, and loveleh mushrooms." Pippin sighed. Merry turned to Pippin with a suspicious look.
"I didn't see any mushrooms, Pip."
Pippin's dreamy face snapped back to reality, and he adopted a guilty look, which looked right at home on his face.
"Well, there weren't tha' many. And- and, if I showed them to you, you would show them to Sam and Frodo, and then we'd have had to share them." Pippin said in his defense.
I smiled at the simple-mindedness of hobbits, and walked away as they continued bickering.
.
The day was suprisingly uneventful. You would think that in Lothlorien, there'd be something to do.
Well, there was. Walk around slowly, and look mysterious and ethereal. The Elves did that, at least. After I dropped off my new bag with the others, I wandered about; half-expecting Galadriel to pop out of somewhere, scare the crap out of me, and then give me the information about the Palantiri.
She didn't, however, and it wasn't until afternoon when an Elf woman approached me with an Elven-looking brush. I cowered at the sight, but she said that she had instructions from the Lady herself to tame my hair, and put it up and out of the way for the journey.
It made sense, but sense didn't make it hurt any less. I had had a bath that morning, but hadn't even attempted my hair, because frankly, the tangles and knots scared me to no end.
The whole process took about half an hour. When she was done, I felt it, and decided it must look something Legolas's style. Three tight braids; two above the ear, and the top part of my hair pulled into an incredibly tight braid. Then the woman turned to leave, but not before telling me to meet the others at the forest's edge.
My clueless face must have given her some idea of my knowledge concerning Lorien, and she led me to the said location.
There stood the eight, talking with each other, or the Elves, in low tones.
Haldir was there, as was Galawe, who was talking happily with Legolas. When the others noted my presence, Haldir began, "You have been supplied with three boats, loaded with all your bags, that are waiting on the Silverlode. Follow me, and I shall lead you there."
I approached Galawe, and thanked him for helping me. He nodded, smiling, and wished me a safe journey. I told him I hoped he won the heart of Arienfea. He reddened, I hugged him, and we parted.
Sam was very subdued. Since our path took us on the river, Bill was to be left in Lorien until our quest was over. I watched Frodo and Merry try to cheer him up by saying the pony would be happy with the Elves, but nothing helped.
We travelled for a good part of the afternoon, and I grew very hungry. Finally, we heard water, and then the Silverlode came into view.
In the middle of the river was Galadriel's swan-boat, where she, Celeborn, and two other Elves were standing.
The two Elves rowed to shore, and Galadriel disembarked with Celeborn behind, and showed us our boats. Aragorn thanked her profusely, and then we all sat down on the banks to enjoy a belated lunch.
I ate off to the side, and watched Aragorn, Legolas, Galadriel, and Celeborn speak in Elvish. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin sat discussing the Shire, and Boromir and Gimli were arguing lightly over the road.
When we finished, Galadriel stood, and beckoned us to follow suit. One of the Elf attendants handed her a large basket, and she smiled gently.
"All of you shall recieve cloaks woven by myself and my ladies. They can protect you from cold and heat, but they are not armor, and can not stop a blade or shaft." So saying, she withdrew from the immense basket a bundle of wrapped fabric, and handed the cloaks to all but me; I was already wearing the one she had given me.
Celeborn handed Galadriel one of two long wrapped objects, which she unfolded, revealing a sheath, and handed it to Aragorn. Explaining the power it possessed, she also handed him a brooch with a large green stone on it. Aragorn exchanged a few words to her in Elvish, and bowed.
To Boromir she gave a gold belt, and Merry and Pippin each recieved a belt of silver with gold clasps. Sam was given a box I recognized as the container of dirt from the book. She advanced to Frodo, and gave him the phial of Earendil, instructing him of its uses and origin.
When Gimli requested a hair off her head, she smiled, and gave him three. She handed Legolas a delicate, but strong bow, and a quiver of arrows. Finally, she reached me. From the basket she revealed a thin leather book, written in the Elven script.
"Here is all my knowledge, and those I converse with, concerning the Palantiri." she said, handing it to me. I leafed through it, looking at the maps, and pages of foreign symbols. I didn't tell her I couldn't read her language.
Celeborn handed her the other thin bundle, which showed itself as another sheath, but also containing a sword.
Galadriel pulled the sword out of the former, letting the sun glint off the shining steel
"This is Celebril," she began. I made a mental note to remember the name of the sword, supposing it would ever be needed. She continued, "it was forged in the heart of Beleriand, in the First Age, and it has seen many battles."
I inwardly hoped it wouldn't see anymore. At least as long as I had it. I thanked her, and then she led us to the boats.
She displayed the lembas, and showed us the supplies in each of the boats. Finally, wishing our journey successful, we all clambored into the boats.
Boromir, myself, and Merry were in the first, while Aragorn, Frodo, and Sam were in the second. Legolas, Pippin, and Gimli were in the last.
Celeborn gave us brief directions on where to head, and then we paddled out to the middle of the river, and headed away from Lorien.