Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings plots and characters are the properties
of J.R.R. Tolkien.
I appologised for the delay of this chapter.
There are certain similarities between this chapter and the first chapter. The similarities are purely intentional.
Farewell to the Fellowship
By: Young Storyteller
Chapter 4: Those Whom He Left Behind
Dawn came upon the lands to replace the long night as it always had since the beginning of the world ere elves sang and hammer rang. Sunlight spilt upon the lands, washing over the peaks of the frost covered mountains. The silvery thread of Anduin could be seen from afar though yet shrouded in mist of the early morning. But from afar, gentle winds were blowing, bringing with them rumour of rain. Nothing seemed to have changed during the night but dawn brought tidings upon the lands faster that the dark night could have done.
Thus, in the white city, all hearts turned but one way towards the gates that stood silent from the wall of the sixth of the seventh circled city. Seldom was that gate opened, and grief would often accompanied each time that it was. For thither lay Rath Dinen, The Silent Street, the place where ancient kings and princes, lords of old and the greats of Gondor slept in their final resting place. In that place also would pass the King Elessar, the last of the great kings of elder days and never again to return a living man.
Many feet walked thither now, yet silent hangs in the air as they moved as one to the place where their king had passed at dusk of yesterday. With them went also an elf and a dwarf, forgotten almost to all assembled amidst their sorrows. Silently, the two friends walked side by side as they had always done, joining the stream of people to their one destination. And they waited, for a sign that signals the end of the old and the beginning of a new reign. So it came, in the form of a single bell ringing, piercing the quiet air of the early morning. No heart of those present was not stirred by the sound that seemed to bring tidings of sorrow yet at the same time a promise of better days. Thus, it marked the passing of Aragorn son of Arathorn, giving up the ages he had been blessed with for eternal rest. Many who assembled wept now unashamed, be they ladies or men of the city for none now that lives remember the days ere the ruling of the king.
From The Silent Street, there came the lady Arwen and with her walked her son, the heir to the throne, Prince Eldarion and in the young man's hands he bore the White Crown which was wrought in the ancient days of pearl and silver and in the likeness of the wings of a sea-bird, for it was the emblem of kings who came over the sea. It was told by the loremasters that it was a custom of old that the new king should receive the crown from his father ere he passed. As they walked amidst the weeping crowd, the rain came down as if the heavens itself was grieving upon the passing of the great king.
If all that had happened yesterday evening had prepared the two friends for the play of emotions that were brought upon by the unspoken message of the token that Eldarion bore, then they were gravely mistaken. Gimli wept anew at the sight of the prince, for he knew then that his dearest friend is truly gone. His companion by his side, stood without faltering though the anguish he truly felt could not be concealed from his bright eyes. The elf turned to look over the horizon. Softly, he whispered:
'Namarie, gwaidornin. May you find your peace'.
They tarried in the city although it felt as a heavy burden upon their hearts. Yet, the love and bond that they had shared towards their late friend stilled them from leaving. The grieving was yet heavy in the city, yet at the same time, all was made ready for the crowning of the new king. The friends found themselves to be all but forgotten as they waited together in their lodging.
Gimli was asleep upon the couch, his frost covered beard almost reaching the length of the floor as he slumbered. He had fought valiantly to stay awake and keep his friend company but alas, old age had robbed him from most of his strength and he had fallen asleep in the middle of a conversation. Legolas looked upon his friend's sleeping visage and a sad smile came upon his face. He knew that one day-maybe soon- the dwarf would also have to answer the call of mortality. Even now Gimli's strength seemed to lessen with every passing year. Legolas would often jest about it with Gimli but deep in his heart he knew that with each coming day their time together draws to an end. He had just lost Aragorn, his close friend and brother in heart and the thoughts of losing another of his dearest companion brought an ache in his already grieving heart. And he knew in his heart that should that day come, he could never bear to say goodbye.
'I could never bid farewell to you, dear friend,' he said quietly to his sleeping friend. Gimli was now deep in sleep and he was snoring. Another smile graced his lips at the sound of the dwarf's snore.
'Often I would jest that the sound of your snoring would be the death of me, Gimli. But I know that it would break my heart if it ceases to sound', said the elf.
Slowly, he lowered himself on the couch by his friend's side. And the elf began to sing softly to himself to ease the grief upon his heart although he was mindful to be wary as not to wake his companion. But as it was for elvish singing, the song only brought to the dwarf deeper dreams. Legolas himself was almost lost in his own reverie when a knocking on the door snapped him back to the present. He shook his head to shake away the remnants of sleep and looked over to his side. Gimli was still fast asleep, now with a smile upon his face to match. The scene brought a genuine smile to Legolas's lips.
The knocking did not cease. The elf rose to answer the door.
A man in the manner of the guards of the city stood at the door. He greeted Legolas gravely and honourably.
'My lord, the Lady Arwen wishes to see you and Lord Gimli at the palace,' said he and Legolas nodded. 'We will come there soon,' Legolas said. The man nodded, wished him good day and walked away.
Legolas sighed (he had been doing this a lot lately) and went to wake Gimli.
'Gimli, wake.'
The dwarf stirred but did not wake.
'Gimli, please wake up, my friend,' said Legolas again, now gently shaking the dwarf's shoulder.
The dwarf's snoring only grew louder. There was nothing else for it. Legolas kneeled down beside Gimli.
'Gimli, if you do not wake up now, I would cut off your beard and turn them into ropes!' he said loudly to the dwarf's ears.
That did it.
Gimli moved so fast that it was a marvel to behold at his age. Legolas watched his friend with a mixed feeling of exasperation and amusement.
The dwarf's first thoughts were to reach for his axe and cut down the head of the filthy creature that had dared threatened to cut his beloved beard. But he didn't find it and when he opened his eyes he found himself looking upon a pair of bright eyes that was filled with amusement. Yet strangely to the slightly disoriented dwarf, there was sorrow also etched in those blue eyes.
'What is the big idea elf?' Gimli growled to his friend. He was having a dream of walking in a woodland realm whose Queen to the dwarf's eyes, he deemed the fairest maiden in all of Arda. Such dreams are not to be disturbed.
'I was just trying to wake you up,' the elf answered innocently, trying and failing to hide his mirth.
'Well you could try another way than to threatened me,' said Gimli trying to sound angry though he felt rather relief that the elf was smiling. Legolas had been really quiet since their meeting with Aragorn and the smile was rare to grace his face lately.
'Well, you would not wake with gentle persuasions, so I was forced to take extreme measures,' Legolas replied, still smiling.
Gimli growled an unintelligible reply under his breath.
'Forgive me Gimli, I did not meant to disturb your rest. But we are called,' said Legolas and his expression was grave once more.
'Nay, I've been sleeping for too long anyway. Who called for us my friend?' Gimli asked though he could already guess it in his heart.
'The Lady Arwen,' answered Legolas confirming Gimli's guess.
Gimli stretched, for his body felt sore and the cracking of bones could be heard as he did.
'Ai, I'm getting too old for my own liking,' Gimli said baiting and waiting for his friend to respond to the comment. The elf never fails to tease him about the matter. What ever response the dwarf was waiting from his friend, the elf's reaction was certainly not it.
Legolas's face fell at the words. Distress marked itself clearly upon the elf's smooth brows as he realised all too well the truth in his friend's words.
'Legolas?' Gimli began, worried of his friend's response or rather, the lack of it.
'Come Gimli, we are expected,' Legolas said quietly, not looking at the dwarf's direction.
'But,' Gimli began again.
'This is not the time my friend. Come,' Legolas cuts in, opening the door.
'Very well then, elf. But we will speak of this matter, whatever it was that is bothering you now as soon as we saw the Lady,' said Gimli.
'As you wish my friend. Now let us make haste. We have tarried longer than we should,' Legolas answered.
Gimli let out a low grumble about strange elven behaviours as he tried to keep pace with his friend's graceful strides.
They arrived at the palace where a servant was waiting for their arrival. He led them through ancient passages of the stone paved palace to a place that neither of them had set foot before. There lay a single door adorned with carvings that were done by hands of the most gifted of Gondor long ago. The servant tapped on it, opened it slowly and bid them enter and silently slipped away.
Thus, they entered the chamber within. It was lavishly furnished as befitting for the noblest of blood of Gondor. It was dark inside for a velvet curtain obscured the sunlight from entering the chamber. The chamber was only lighted by candles that were casting a rather eerie red glow to the place. A figure sat upon a wooden chair at the other end of the chamber. Her dark hair framed her fair features. She was Arwen, lady of the elves and men, the daughter of Lord Elrond and beloved queen of the King. Yet, she was alone now as she never had been for all her life.
She turned to look at them and they could plainly see the grief in her glance.
'Welcome my friends. Forgive me for not turning my thoughts to you sooner,' she began as she motioned for them to sit down.
'Nay, my lady. We understand that you have many cares to think about. After all, the kindness of your people had kept us well,' said Legolas.
'True words indeed, but I should not have taken your friendships for granted,' she said.
Neither Legolas nor Gimli had any answer to her words so they remained silent as they waited for her to continue. They could see that she had changed much. Although her elven beauty remained unchanged and untouched by frost, yet in her eyes they could see the difference. Where there were once bright lights shining within the blue orbs, they were now dimmed as a sky of a starless night. It was as if a candle had been blown out by the storm. Lifeless her eyes seemed now, as if she was without hope.
'I have tidings which might bring you some comfort. My beloved had asked for the beds of Peregrin and Meriadoc to be placed beside his in the Rath Dinen,' she said.
'That is well, for they are much beloved by us all. And none other deserved more honour than they do,' said Gimli.
A small smile crept upon her lovely visage. 'There is something else that I would like to ask of you,' she said.
'Name it lady. If it is within our powers, then we will see it done,' said Legolas.
Arwen rise and went to a nearby table and pulled out one of the drawers. She took out a small box from within and turned again to face them.
'My choice is the choice of Luthien and as her so have I chosen, though the parting I had to endure was no less grievous, even if it was a doom long expected,' she said. She opened the box and in it a ring rested. And the two companions recognised it straight away. The ring was adorned with the carvings of two serpents with a fiery green gem sat in the middle of them.
It was the Ring of Barahir, the heirloom from the house of the Numenor. Aragorn had always carried it as a symbol of his birthright and he was still wearing it when he met his friends for the last time.
Both friends were now looking at Arwen with questioning eyes. Suddenly, she turned her glance upon Legolas and said:
'Legolas Greenleaf, dearest friend of Estel and myself, I ask you only this kindness,'
'Say it lady,' said Legolas but felt silent by the keen sadness in her eyes.'
'I bid you take this, and keep it with you as a memory of Elfstone and Evenstar in the lands where the memories would always be evergreen,' said she as she put the precious thing in his hands.
'But lady, does not the ring belonged to your children?' said Legolas bewildered as he held the ring.
'Nay it does not. It belonged to the ages long gone,' Arwen answered softly.
'But what of you, my lady? Do you not want to keep it with you?' Gimli chimed in.
She shook her head. 'I do not belong here any longer. I am leaving my friends. I will leave this very night.'
'Whither do you wish to go my lady?' asked Legolas.
'To Cerin Amroth in Lothlorien,' she answered.
'But none live there now my lady. Whatever shall you do there?' said Gimli.
'Nevertheless, thither I will still go,' she said undeterred.
'All right then. When do we leave?' asked Gimli.
'I go alone my dear Gimli,' she said.
'Alone? But lady-,' Gimli did not have the chance to finish his sentence.
'Peace my friend. Contest me not in this matter. I know my beloved spoke to you ere he leaves and he bid you to find your peace. It is the only way for me to seek mine,' she said and Gimli said no more. He understood.
Then she turned her glance upon Legolas once more. She looked him in the eye even as her husband had done before and she laid soft fingers upon his arm. Here is one of her closest friend, a kin of hers and she knew that he would pass away into the West where she would never set foot. Softly, in the Elven tongue she spoke;
'Will you remember us in the blessed shores of the Undying lands, my friend?' she said.
'I will my lady. I will sing for you my lady and for Elessar so that none will forget all the deeds before the breaking of the world,' he answered amidst the ache he felt in his heart as he clutched the ring in his hand
And she smile then, the most true smile they had seen from her since they had arrived.
'I thank you Legolas. I hope you find your happiness my friend,' she said.
To Gimli, she had laid her arm upon his bowed head and then she went from there silently as a shadow in a dark night.
They had lost another friend.
To be continued...
Thank you to all the readers and reviewers: Frodo3791, Gozilla and Tinkerbell033
The conclusion will be posted on Friday.
I appologised for the delay of this chapter.
There are certain similarities between this chapter and the first chapter. The similarities are purely intentional.
Farewell to the Fellowship
By: Young Storyteller
Chapter 4: Those Whom He Left Behind
Dawn came upon the lands to replace the long night as it always had since the beginning of the world ere elves sang and hammer rang. Sunlight spilt upon the lands, washing over the peaks of the frost covered mountains. The silvery thread of Anduin could be seen from afar though yet shrouded in mist of the early morning. But from afar, gentle winds were blowing, bringing with them rumour of rain. Nothing seemed to have changed during the night but dawn brought tidings upon the lands faster that the dark night could have done.
Thus, in the white city, all hearts turned but one way towards the gates that stood silent from the wall of the sixth of the seventh circled city. Seldom was that gate opened, and grief would often accompanied each time that it was. For thither lay Rath Dinen, The Silent Street, the place where ancient kings and princes, lords of old and the greats of Gondor slept in their final resting place. In that place also would pass the King Elessar, the last of the great kings of elder days and never again to return a living man.
Many feet walked thither now, yet silent hangs in the air as they moved as one to the place where their king had passed at dusk of yesterday. With them went also an elf and a dwarf, forgotten almost to all assembled amidst their sorrows. Silently, the two friends walked side by side as they had always done, joining the stream of people to their one destination. And they waited, for a sign that signals the end of the old and the beginning of a new reign. So it came, in the form of a single bell ringing, piercing the quiet air of the early morning. No heart of those present was not stirred by the sound that seemed to bring tidings of sorrow yet at the same time a promise of better days. Thus, it marked the passing of Aragorn son of Arathorn, giving up the ages he had been blessed with for eternal rest. Many who assembled wept now unashamed, be they ladies or men of the city for none now that lives remember the days ere the ruling of the king.
From The Silent Street, there came the lady Arwen and with her walked her son, the heir to the throne, Prince Eldarion and in the young man's hands he bore the White Crown which was wrought in the ancient days of pearl and silver and in the likeness of the wings of a sea-bird, for it was the emblem of kings who came over the sea. It was told by the loremasters that it was a custom of old that the new king should receive the crown from his father ere he passed. As they walked amidst the weeping crowd, the rain came down as if the heavens itself was grieving upon the passing of the great king.
If all that had happened yesterday evening had prepared the two friends for the play of emotions that were brought upon by the unspoken message of the token that Eldarion bore, then they were gravely mistaken. Gimli wept anew at the sight of the prince, for he knew then that his dearest friend is truly gone. His companion by his side, stood without faltering though the anguish he truly felt could not be concealed from his bright eyes. The elf turned to look over the horizon. Softly, he whispered:
'Namarie, gwaidornin. May you find your peace'.
They tarried in the city although it felt as a heavy burden upon their hearts. Yet, the love and bond that they had shared towards their late friend stilled them from leaving. The grieving was yet heavy in the city, yet at the same time, all was made ready for the crowning of the new king. The friends found themselves to be all but forgotten as they waited together in their lodging.
Gimli was asleep upon the couch, his frost covered beard almost reaching the length of the floor as he slumbered. He had fought valiantly to stay awake and keep his friend company but alas, old age had robbed him from most of his strength and he had fallen asleep in the middle of a conversation. Legolas looked upon his friend's sleeping visage and a sad smile came upon his face. He knew that one day-maybe soon- the dwarf would also have to answer the call of mortality. Even now Gimli's strength seemed to lessen with every passing year. Legolas would often jest about it with Gimli but deep in his heart he knew that with each coming day their time together draws to an end. He had just lost Aragorn, his close friend and brother in heart and the thoughts of losing another of his dearest companion brought an ache in his already grieving heart. And he knew in his heart that should that day come, he could never bear to say goodbye.
'I could never bid farewell to you, dear friend,' he said quietly to his sleeping friend. Gimli was now deep in sleep and he was snoring. Another smile graced his lips at the sound of the dwarf's snore.
'Often I would jest that the sound of your snoring would be the death of me, Gimli. But I know that it would break my heart if it ceases to sound', said the elf.
Slowly, he lowered himself on the couch by his friend's side. And the elf began to sing softly to himself to ease the grief upon his heart although he was mindful to be wary as not to wake his companion. But as it was for elvish singing, the song only brought to the dwarf deeper dreams. Legolas himself was almost lost in his own reverie when a knocking on the door snapped him back to the present. He shook his head to shake away the remnants of sleep and looked over to his side. Gimli was still fast asleep, now with a smile upon his face to match. The scene brought a genuine smile to Legolas's lips.
The knocking did not cease. The elf rose to answer the door.
A man in the manner of the guards of the city stood at the door. He greeted Legolas gravely and honourably.
'My lord, the Lady Arwen wishes to see you and Lord Gimli at the palace,' said he and Legolas nodded. 'We will come there soon,' Legolas said. The man nodded, wished him good day and walked away.
Legolas sighed (he had been doing this a lot lately) and went to wake Gimli.
'Gimli, wake.'
The dwarf stirred but did not wake.
'Gimli, please wake up, my friend,' said Legolas again, now gently shaking the dwarf's shoulder.
The dwarf's snoring only grew louder. There was nothing else for it. Legolas kneeled down beside Gimli.
'Gimli, if you do not wake up now, I would cut off your beard and turn them into ropes!' he said loudly to the dwarf's ears.
That did it.
Gimli moved so fast that it was a marvel to behold at his age. Legolas watched his friend with a mixed feeling of exasperation and amusement.
The dwarf's first thoughts were to reach for his axe and cut down the head of the filthy creature that had dared threatened to cut his beloved beard. But he didn't find it and when he opened his eyes he found himself looking upon a pair of bright eyes that was filled with amusement. Yet strangely to the slightly disoriented dwarf, there was sorrow also etched in those blue eyes.
'What is the big idea elf?' Gimli growled to his friend. He was having a dream of walking in a woodland realm whose Queen to the dwarf's eyes, he deemed the fairest maiden in all of Arda. Such dreams are not to be disturbed.
'I was just trying to wake you up,' the elf answered innocently, trying and failing to hide his mirth.
'Well you could try another way than to threatened me,' said Gimli trying to sound angry though he felt rather relief that the elf was smiling. Legolas had been really quiet since their meeting with Aragorn and the smile was rare to grace his face lately.
'Well, you would not wake with gentle persuasions, so I was forced to take extreme measures,' Legolas replied, still smiling.
Gimli growled an unintelligible reply under his breath.
'Forgive me Gimli, I did not meant to disturb your rest. But we are called,' said Legolas and his expression was grave once more.
'Nay, I've been sleeping for too long anyway. Who called for us my friend?' Gimli asked though he could already guess it in his heart.
'The Lady Arwen,' answered Legolas confirming Gimli's guess.
Gimli stretched, for his body felt sore and the cracking of bones could be heard as he did.
'Ai, I'm getting too old for my own liking,' Gimli said baiting and waiting for his friend to respond to the comment. The elf never fails to tease him about the matter. What ever response the dwarf was waiting from his friend, the elf's reaction was certainly not it.
Legolas's face fell at the words. Distress marked itself clearly upon the elf's smooth brows as he realised all too well the truth in his friend's words.
'Legolas?' Gimli began, worried of his friend's response or rather, the lack of it.
'Come Gimli, we are expected,' Legolas said quietly, not looking at the dwarf's direction.
'But,' Gimli began again.
'This is not the time my friend. Come,' Legolas cuts in, opening the door.
'Very well then, elf. But we will speak of this matter, whatever it was that is bothering you now as soon as we saw the Lady,' said Gimli.
'As you wish my friend. Now let us make haste. We have tarried longer than we should,' Legolas answered.
Gimli let out a low grumble about strange elven behaviours as he tried to keep pace with his friend's graceful strides.
They arrived at the palace where a servant was waiting for their arrival. He led them through ancient passages of the stone paved palace to a place that neither of them had set foot before. There lay a single door adorned with carvings that were done by hands of the most gifted of Gondor long ago. The servant tapped on it, opened it slowly and bid them enter and silently slipped away.
Thus, they entered the chamber within. It was lavishly furnished as befitting for the noblest of blood of Gondor. It was dark inside for a velvet curtain obscured the sunlight from entering the chamber. The chamber was only lighted by candles that were casting a rather eerie red glow to the place. A figure sat upon a wooden chair at the other end of the chamber. Her dark hair framed her fair features. She was Arwen, lady of the elves and men, the daughter of Lord Elrond and beloved queen of the King. Yet, she was alone now as she never had been for all her life.
She turned to look at them and they could plainly see the grief in her glance.
'Welcome my friends. Forgive me for not turning my thoughts to you sooner,' she began as she motioned for them to sit down.
'Nay, my lady. We understand that you have many cares to think about. After all, the kindness of your people had kept us well,' said Legolas.
'True words indeed, but I should not have taken your friendships for granted,' she said.
Neither Legolas nor Gimli had any answer to her words so they remained silent as they waited for her to continue. They could see that she had changed much. Although her elven beauty remained unchanged and untouched by frost, yet in her eyes they could see the difference. Where there were once bright lights shining within the blue orbs, they were now dimmed as a sky of a starless night. It was as if a candle had been blown out by the storm. Lifeless her eyes seemed now, as if she was without hope.
'I have tidings which might bring you some comfort. My beloved had asked for the beds of Peregrin and Meriadoc to be placed beside his in the Rath Dinen,' she said.
'That is well, for they are much beloved by us all. And none other deserved more honour than they do,' said Gimli.
A small smile crept upon her lovely visage. 'There is something else that I would like to ask of you,' she said.
'Name it lady. If it is within our powers, then we will see it done,' said Legolas.
Arwen rise and went to a nearby table and pulled out one of the drawers. She took out a small box from within and turned again to face them.
'My choice is the choice of Luthien and as her so have I chosen, though the parting I had to endure was no less grievous, even if it was a doom long expected,' she said. She opened the box and in it a ring rested. And the two companions recognised it straight away. The ring was adorned with the carvings of two serpents with a fiery green gem sat in the middle of them.
It was the Ring of Barahir, the heirloom from the house of the Numenor. Aragorn had always carried it as a symbol of his birthright and he was still wearing it when he met his friends for the last time.
Both friends were now looking at Arwen with questioning eyes. Suddenly, she turned her glance upon Legolas and said:
'Legolas Greenleaf, dearest friend of Estel and myself, I ask you only this kindness,'
'Say it lady,' said Legolas but felt silent by the keen sadness in her eyes.'
'I bid you take this, and keep it with you as a memory of Elfstone and Evenstar in the lands where the memories would always be evergreen,' said she as she put the precious thing in his hands.
'But lady, does not the ring belonged to your children?' said Legolas bewildered as he held the ring.
'Nay it does not. It belonged to the ages long gone,' Arwen answered softly.
'But what of you, my lady? Do you not want to keep it with you?' Gimli chimed in.
She shook her head. 'I do not belong here any longer. I am leaving my friends. I will leave this very night.'
'Whither do you wish to go my lady?' asked Legolas.
'To Cerin Amroth in Lothlorien,' she answered.
'But none live there now my lady. Whatever shall you do there?' said Gimli.
'Nevertheless, thither I will still go,' she said undeterred.
'All right then. When do we leave?' asked Gimli.
'I go alone my dear Gimli,' she said.
'Alone? But lady-,' Gimli did not have the chance to finish his sentence.
'Peace my friend. Contest me not in this matter. I know my beloved spoke to you ere he leaves and he bid you to find your peace. It is the only way for me to seek mine,' she said and Gimli said no more. He understood.
Then she turned her glance upon Legolas once more. She looked him in the eye even as her husband had done before and she laid soft fingers upon his arm. Here is one of her closest friend, a kin of hers and she knew that he would pass away into the West where she would never set foot. Softly, in the Elven tongue she spoke;
'Will you remember us in the blessed shores of the Undying lands, my friend?' she said.
'I will my lady. I will sing for you my lady and for Elessar so that none will forget all the deeds before the breaking of the world,' he answered amidst the ache he felt in his heart as he clutched the ring in his hand
And she smile then, the most true smile they had seen from her since they had arrived.
'I thank you Legolas. I hope you find your happiness my friend,' she said.
To Gimli, she had laid her arm upon his bowed head and then she went from there silently as a shadow in a dark night.
They had lost another friend.
To be continued...
Thank you to all the readers and reviewers: Frodo3791, Gozilla and Tinkerbell033
The conclusion will be posted on Friday.