Chapter Seventeen

Two blonde Elves stood by him where he lay on the stone. I rushed to his side, "Galawe, what happened?" I asked, looking fearfully at a large bandage covering half his side.

"El." He greeted, looking up at me and smiling. Then he grimaced, "I was fighting an orc, and another caught me from behind."

"Will you be alright?" I whispered. He moved his head to look away from the rising run. He was silent, then turned back to me.

"No."

The word stung me. The familiar pain began to grow again in my heart.

"Do not worry about my fate." Galawe ordered weakly, smiling, "I can no longer live in this land. Mithroch, my old friend, had agreed to take me to the Grey Havens, and then I will go into the West. To the sea!

'To the sea will I go, where the white gulls cry, and a joy I never thought I'd know will greet me by and by. To the sea I shall ride And from there will I row Against the waves and the tide. To the West I shall go. To Eressea, to Elven Home away from mortal gaze and there I shall roam until the end of days.' "

I held back the tears, but knew Galawe sensed them. His smile softened, and he said, "This is exactly what I wanted, El. I have fought, I have loved, I have lived, lived knowing this day would come. I am ready to go."

"I'll miss you." My voice cracked into a sob, and I held his hand. He turned to one of the Elves, "Mithroch, are you ready to leave?" the Elf nodded solemnly. Galawe turned back to me, a look of immense joy on his face.

Mithroch helped him to his feet, supporting him as Galawe had once helped me. I hugged my friend gently, and took a step back.

"May your journey be successful." Galawe bade. I nodded, "And yours."

I turned, and began walking slowly away. The Elves moved out of my way in their own respect, and I left the crowd.

Eomer stood by the edge of the wall, looking at the horizon. His gaze changed as I walked by him.

"What is it, Lady?" he asked, joining my side.

"My friend must go into the West." I answered, shuddering a sob. Eomer placed his hand on my back, and said nothing. Aragorn met us outside the main room, and looked worriedly at me. I told him the news, and left their company.

I wandered aimlessly until I found myself at the Hornburg, the tallest tower in Helm's Deep. I looked down, where the forest raged, at people milling around below me. I turned my gaze to as much as I could see of the horizon.

Thoughts overwhelmed my already filled head. My heart grieved for Galawe, but I knew that he was happy. He was fulfilling his dream; going into the West.

As the sun reached its zenith, I realized I was hungry, and made my way back down to the others.

.

"I must go to Isengard." Mithrandir declared that evening, "Alone or with company."

"For what purpose?" Aragorn asked.

"I have things to discuss with Saruman." he replied. Theoden sat up straighter, "I will join you, Mithrandir. That wizard has done me great injury, and it should be fitting that I be there."

Mithrandir nodded, and it looked as if he was smiling, "Also I have to collect two members of our company. Aragorn, will you come?"

The latter nodded once, "Yea, as will Legolas, Gimli, and Orthalion, if it be your will." Mithrandir looked long and hard at me, then said, "Her help in aiding the others in the return to Edoras would be more needed."

"And what of her friends?" Legolas asked softly. "There comes a time when priorities and sacrifices must be established. We shall return to Edoras after the council."

"Do I have no say in this?" I demanded finally.

Mithrandir turned to me, "Would you rather help the people of Rohan back to their rightful home, or follow us to Isengard to see your friends?"

I opened my mouth in protest, but realized the wizard had already won. By requesting to go with them, I would appear to the others as inconsiderate fool. I raised my head high, and answered, "I shall go back to Edoras, and wait for your return."

"She is one of us!" Aragorn exclaimed, looking hard at Mithrandir, "You cannot ask her to help those who don't need it, and deny her of seeing her dearest friends. I implore you to let her come."

"No, Aragorn," I countered, glaring at Mithrandir, "I will do what is expected of me, and go with the women and older men back to Edoras."

And that was that. I watched Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli ready themselves for departure, and sighed. Eowyn and I saw the large company to the gates, but from there, my three friends, Theoden King, Eomer, and a dozen men, continued down the bridge, and headed north from the setting sun.

"Ready for a long walk?" I asked Eowyn grimly. She smiled sadly, nodding.

.

Early the next day we set out, heading for Edoras. The trip took three uneventful days. The palantir, which was safe at the bottom of my pack, seemed heavier every day, but finally the knoll on which the Golden Hall sat loomed in the horizon.

The people of Edoras cheered among themselves, and we reached the town by nightfall. I went to the familiar room I had slept in previously, and collapsed on it, falling into a deep sleep.

The next day, Eowyn invited me to go riding with her. I agreed, despite the chill weather. We led our horses around all of Meduseld, talking the whole time.

"When will we be accepted?" Eowyn asked wistfully.

"Exactly what is your definition of being accepted?" I inquired.

"Being able to fight, and be treated equally among men."

I was tempted to tell it wouldn't be for a good long while, at least not until the Suffragists, but I didn't want to dash her hopes. Instead, I remained silent, deep in thought.

.

Days past. On the sixth day since we had arrived at Edoras, I stared dutifully out my window, but I was tired of waiting.

Waiting to be accepted, waiting for the others to complete their task, waiting for for the clouds to roll away to reveal the moon. I sighed, and turned my gaze to the west. I hoped Galawe was near the sea. I hoped he didn't hurt from his wound.

I went to my unmade bed, and pulled my bag close to me. I dug out the palantir, and held it tightly in my hands.

I had to find out where the others were, and the book Galadriel had given me wasn't any help without Legolas. Red and gold flickered in the depths of the sphere. I shut my eyes, concentrating on the lost palantiri, and the fire again faded.

Out of the darkness grew a faint light. Again, I was in the small room. The ground shuddered under me, and roars and shrieks wailed above me. I looked around hastily to see where I was. My source of light came from a small hole in the ceiling. Through it, I could see ruinous remains of a room above. I strained my mind to know where I was, but the knowledge didn't come. Then the world disintegrated to the next location.

Again, I was in a golden wood, but when I turned to look elsewhere, I saw darkness. All I could see was straight ahead. I began to feel fatigued, but I willed myself to see the last place.

As the world began to change again, I was jerked into darkness, where the red fire grew larger. I tried to make it vanish, but I was too exhausted. Fear flooded me. I couldn't remove my hands from the palantir, and still the flame grew; into a massive eye of fire.

I tried desperately to let go of the sphere, but I couldn't, nor could I open my eyes. The eye stared right into me, and a foreign pain raced through my body. It spoke, though I don't know how. The words burned in my mind, and the pain was excruciating.

Then I felt my hands being forced from the sphere, and then I clutched at the air. My eyes snapped open, but I couldn't see.

I felt a warm hand on my forehead, and heard in the distance mutterings of an ancient tongue. Then, slowly, my sight returned. I looked up, and saw Aragorn standing over me, with a look of deep concern.

"What did you see?" he asked softly. I stared at him, suprised to see him, and still trying to recover. I struggled to sit up, and answered, "I was looking for the lost palantiri, and then he took over my thoughts."

It was silent for awhile. I sat still, trying to remember what it was Sauron had said, but I couldn't.

"He found Master Peregrin also." Aragorn said slowly. I started, and looked worriedly at him, "Is he alright?"

"He will recover, but Mithrandir has taken him to Minas Tirith with him."

"And Merry?" Aragorn smiled, "He is eating his dinner."

Remembering the palantir, I looked around for it, and saw a wrapped bundle by Aragorn where he sat. I glanced at my bag, and then had a spasm when I saw another piece of cloth covering a sperical shape. Aragorn saw my gaze, and began, "At Orthanc, one of the palantiri was found. That is how Pippin saw him. I told Mithrandir what you were, he didn't believe me at first, but I convinced him that you should take care of it." Without another word, he handed the bundle to me, and walked out of my room.

I sat on my bed for awhile, thinking about my encounter, and then stood up, and went to find Merry.

He was finishing his supper, but when I entered, he looked up, and smiled. I returned the smile, and, restraining myself from hugging him, I sat down across from him.

We sat in silence for a long while, until Merry finally raised his head, and asked, "What have you done, then?"

"Less then you, I'm sure. Tell me of your adventures." I replied. He launched into a story of Ents, and Entmoots, and a flooded castle, and a storehouse of every food imaginable. Then we were silent again.

"Did Boromir tell you?" Merry asked suddenly, looking staright into my eyes. I was taken aback. My mind had been on Treebeard, and to have such a thing asked, bringing back so painful memories shocked me.

"Tell me what?" I almost whispered.

"That he wanted to marry you." Merry replied, reddening a bit.

"How did you know?"

"He liked to talk to myself and Pip-" Merry paused, and sadness flashed across his face, but then he continued, "-and he talked about you constantly. He told us after awhile that he wanted to ask for your hand."

I felt a lump rising in my throat, so I didn't answer. A few silent minutes later, Legolas and Gimli joined us, talking of Fangorn.

"El, how I wish you could have seen the wood!" Legolas exclaimed, sitting down. Gimli muttered something about it not being as good as a cave, and sat down too.

The two continued animatedly about the forest, and whether it was an wonderous as Legolas was making it out to be.

I looked at Merry, who looked right back at me. I stood up, and went to my room. As I opened the door, I realized Merry was behind me, and I was glad.

"Something you want to talk about?" I asked, entering the room. Merry's eyes fell to the floor, and he looked around the room. His gaze locked on the two wrapped palantiri.

"Is that-" he began. I nodded. He was silent for awhile, then mumbled something that I couldn't distinguish.

"Why did he have to look?" Merry demanded bitterly, flopping on my bed. I, sitting perched on the footboard, sighed, and answered, "Curiousity and ignorance, most likely."

The Hobbit plucked at the cloth of one of the bundles apathetically. Then he looked back at me, "Do you know what he saw?"

I paused, thinking of what I too had seen."Yes."

We sat in silence again, until there was a knocking on the door. Eowyn entered, smiling slightly at Merry, and said, "Master Meriodoc, Theoden King wishes to speak to you."

Merry got up, and left, leaving me alone in my thoughts. I found I was exhausted, cleared off my bed, and went to sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ . Laureline: She needs to find....3 more, I believe. There were seven in all (I did my research)

AAAclub: Alright, you win.