As the sun probed its warm, searching fingers over Gondor, the fellowship
of seven rode through the open countryside. They had left before dawn, and
now were following the Anduin northwards. The rode the finest horses
Gondor had, a present from Rohan to commemorate the marriage of Aragorn and
Arwen. Two of the black horses had been given by Rohan to pull the funeral
carriage of Lady Arwen.
Gandalf rode silently ahead on Shadowfax, for now he would rife no other horse. Indeed, Shadowfax would now accept no other rider. Frodo and Sam rode one of the black horses, and Merry and Pippin shared the other. Aragorn rode his own beautiful horse, a shining bay by the name or Haluvin. Legolas rode his own horse, Arod, whom he had kept after he had been given to him by the riders or Rohan. Gimli clung onto Legolas and they rode together, as they had done many a time before.
They also brought with them four horses that carried their provisions. They expected the journey to be long, but not hazardous, so did not worry about taking so many horses with them. These horses varied in appearance, among them was a glistening chestnut gelding and a fine palomino mare, and two strangely coloured horses that were often likened in appearance to a chess board, such were the black and white markings which adorned their bodies.
They journeyed slowly upriver, taking breaks whenever they wanted and sleeping well at night with only one person on guard at a time. Spring had blossomed early and summer seemed to be following hot on its heels. This journey was far different from the one they had last made, in sleet, rain, hail, snow and wind of winter. No one stopped them. No one met them. In fact, the hobbits certainly began to enjoy the little outing. They all would have enjoyed it immensely, if Aragorn's mood had not dampened their spirits. He rode with a frown and barely a word. They had not seen him truly smile for so long, they began to forget what he looked like when he was happy. Even when they sat around a campfire at night, he said nothing.
For the most part, they followed the river, this being the shortest route north that did not lad them through the unyielding Misty Mountains. However, when they came to the falls of Rauros they were forced to leave the river and find a way round the steep hills and rock faces.
"How long shall this journey be, Master Frodo?" Sam asked as they dismounted and lead their horses over a patch of rather loose rocks.
"I do not know Sam." Frodo replied. "I just wish that Aragorn could smile, because then the journey would seem far shorter."
"There must be some way to make this journey seem shorter." Merry said from behind. "Legolas could tell us one of those stories about the elves."
From in front Legolas turned and smiled at the four hobbits that looked at him eagerly. "When we get onto level ground my friends." He said, grinning. "And then I shall tell you a story that will make you laugh and cry at once. It is often told in the spring, because it is a story of death and hope. As the winter dies hope of warm summers comes along."
Cheered by this promise, the hobbits quickened their pace, and in no time it seemed they were mounting their horses and riding alongside Legolas and Gimli, listening as the elf prince sang a beautiful poem.
"Elenviel was a beautiful elf, Of fair skin and farer breed. And all around the princes came To win her heart indeed.
But to each her answer came a firm no, And to each her blessing was made. For she told them all that they could never know How fast her beauty would fade.
A curse upon her family cast By magic made long years ago Meant that the life of Elenviel would not long last But would die at the hands of her foe.
Until, one day, a poor man walked by Begging for food and rest Elenviel loved as soon as met his eye For her heart fluttered in her chest.
The man promised to love and protect her well And Elenviel forgot her curse. Over the hills rang the wedding bell But things were about to get worse.
Over the hills came an evil unseen And through the dark palace crept And whilst Elenviel was lost in dreams They killed her as she slept.
Her husband awoke the next day Finding her cold body beside him He swore revenge through tears of dismay The future of her murderer was dim.
Through hail and fog her sort out the foe And tore his heart from his chest. And the magic cast long years ago Was finally laid to rest.
Elenviel's family were cursed no more The news spread quickly afar, And through his sorrow the prince was glad for, Elenviel became a star."
Legolas finished and looked at the others. He saw that Merry was trying his hardest not to cry. "So, Elenviel died, but then she became a star?" He asked.
"Indeed." Legolas nodded. "And she watched over her husband for all his life. And it is also said that she watches over those bereft because their love has been taken away from them." Legolas cast a furtive glance towards Aragorn, who had ridden further ahead. "I pray that she is watching over Aragorn now."
Aragorn had heard the story, and it had moved him to tears. Now he rode on ahead to stop the others from seeing that he was crying. Eventually, when he had control of himself, he slowed down and allowed the others to catch up with him. They galloped across flat land, having now found the river at the top of the falls and following it north.
"We shall rest here for tonight, and strike on at dawn." Gandalf said, coming to a stop at a clearing near the river. "I believe we shall reach Lothlorien tomorrow evening, if we continue at this speed. Then we can hopefully persuade Celeborn and Galadriel to let us have the child so he may form part of the riddle."
"We also have to find a relative of Arwen's in Lorien." Gimli reminded them. "One whom she has not met."
"The Lord and Lady will help us with that." Legolas said, tying his horse to a nearby tree and joining them by the fire.
They sat down and ate some stew, kindly cooked by Sam. Merry sidled up to Legolas. "Can you point out the star of Elenviel to me?"
"Of course." Legolas replied. "You see that bright star there, near the moon?"
Merry nodded.
"Well, just left a bit and down from that are a cluster of stars." Legolas said. "If you squint and look for long enough you may be lucky enough to see the form of an elven maid there. That is Elenviel. Although it is said that only people who are cheerless after the loss of their soul mate can see her."
They looked at Aragorn, who was pretending to be asleep. Long after the others had settled down to sleep, with Gimli on watch, Aragorn opened his eyes and looked for Elenviel. Sure enough he saw her. A fair elven maid standing in the heavens and looking down at him. As he closed his eyes, he was sure he could hear a whisper in elven.
'Sleep Son of Arathorn.' The voice seemed to lull him in Sindarin. 'Rest, and mend your broken heart.'
Gandalf rode silently ahead on Shadowfax, for now he would rife no other horse. Indeed, Shadowfax would now accept no other rider. Frodo and Sam rode one of the black horses, and Merry and Pippin shared the other. Aragorn rode his own beautiful horse, a shining bay by the name or Haluvin. Legolas rode his own horse, Arod, whom he had kept after he had been given to him by the riders or Rohan. Gimli clung onto Legolas and they rode together, as they had done many a time before.
They also brought with them four horses that carried their provisions. They expected the journey to be long, but not hazardous, so did not worry about taking so many horses with them. These horses varied in appearance, among them was a glistening chestnut gelding and a fine palomino mare, and two strangely coloured horses that were often likened in appearance to a chess board, such were the black and white markings which adorned their bodies.
They journeyed slowly upriver, taking breaks whenever they wanted and sleeping well at night with only one person on guard at a time. Spring had blossomed early and summer seemed to be following hot on its heels. This journey was far different from the one they had last made, in sleet, rain, hail, snow and wind of winter. No one stopped them. No one met them. In fact, the hobbits certainly began to enjoy the little outing. They all would have enjoyed it immensely, if Aragorn's mood had not dampened their spirits. He rode with a frown and barely a word. They had not seen him truly smile for so long, they began to forget what he looked like when he was happy. Even when they sat around a campfire at night, he said nothing.
For the most part, they followed the river, this being the shortest route north that did not lad them through the unyielding Misty Mountains. However, when they came to the falls of Rauros they were forced to leave the river and find a way round the steep hills and rock faces.
"How long shall this journey be, Master Frodo?" Sam asked as they dismounted and lead their horses over a patch of rather loose rocks.
"I do not know Sam." Frodo replied. "I just wish that Aragorn could smile, because then the journey would seem far shorter."
"There must be some way to make this journey seem shorter." Merry said from behind. "Legolas could tell us one of those stories about the elves."
From in front Legolas turned and smiled at the four hobbits that looked at him eagerly. "When we get onto level ground my friends." He said, grinning. "And then I shall tell you a story that will make you laugh and cry at once. It is often told in the spring, because it is a story of death and hope. As the winter dies hope of warm summers comes along."
Cheered by this promise, the hobbits quickened their pace, and in no time it seemed they were mounting their horses and riding alongside Legolas and Gimli, listening as the elf prince sang a beautiful poem.
"Elenviel was a beautiful elf, Of fair skin and farer breed. And all around the princes came To win her heart indeed.
But to each her answer came a firm no, And to each her blessing was made. For she told them all that they could never know How fast her beauty would fade.
A curse upon her family cast By magic made long years ago Meant that the life of Elenviel would not long last But would die at the hands of her foe.
Until, one day, a poor man walked by Begging for food and rest Elenviel loved as soon as met his eye For her heart fluttered in her chest.
The man promised to love and protect her well And Elenviel forgot her curse. Over the hills rang the wedding bell But things were about to get worse.
Over the hills came an evil unseen And through the dark palace crept And whilst Elenviel was lost in dreams They killed her as she slept.
Her husband awoke the next day Finding her cold body beside him He swore revenge through tears of dismay The future of her murderer was dim.
Through hail and fog her sort out the foe And tore his heart from his chest. And the magic cast long years ago Was finally laid to rest.
Elenviel's family were cursed no more The news spread quickly afar, And through his sorrow the prince was glad for, Elenviel became a star."
Legolas finished and looked at the others. He saw that Merry was trying his hardest not to cry. "So, Elenviel died, but then she became a star?" He asked.
"Indeed." Legolas nodded. "And she watched over her husband for all his life. And it is also said that she watches over those bereft because their love has been taken away from them." Legolas cast a furtive glance towards Aragorn, who had ridden further ahead. "I pray that she is watching over Aragorn now."
Aragorn had heard the story, and it had moved him to tears. Now he rode on ahead to stop the others from seeing that he was crying. Eventually, when he had control of himself, he slowed down and allowed the others to catch up with him. They galloped across flat land, having now found the river at the top of the falls and following it north.
"We shall rest here for tonight, and strike on at dawn." Gandalf said, coming to a stop at a clearing near the river. "I believe we shall reach Lothlorien tomorrow evening, if we continue at this speed. Then we can hopefully persuade Celeborn and Galadriel to let us have the child so he may form part of the riddle."
"We also have to find a relative of Arwen's in Lorien." Gimli reminded them. "One whom she has not met."
"The Lord and Lady will help us with that." Legolas said, tying his horse to a nearby tree and joining them by the fire.
They sat down and ate some stew, kindly cooked by Sam. Merry sidled up to Legolas. "Can you point out the star of Elenviel to me?"
"Of course." Legolas replied. "You see that bright star there, near the moon?"
Merry nodded.
"Well, just left a bit and down from that are a cluster of stars." Legolas said. "If you squint and look for long enough you may be lucky enough to see the form of an elven maid there. That is Elenviel. Although it is said that only people who are cheerless after the loss of their soul mate can see her."
They looked at Aragorn, who was pretending to be asleep. Long after the others had settled down to sleep, with Gimli on watch, Aragorn opened his eyes and looked for Elenviel. Sure enough he saw her. A fair elven maid standing in the heavens and looking down at him. As he closed his eyes, he was sure he could hear a whisper in elven.
'Sleep Son of Arathorn.' The voice seemed to lull him in Sindarin. 'Rest, and mend your broken heart.'