"Lorien." Gandalf gasped as they crested the final hilltop and saw the
leafy haven below them that was Lothlorien. The early evening sunlight
reflected off the leaves, making the forest look as if it were shining.
"Too long has it been since I looked on this fair forest."
The others stood beside him on the hillside, taking in the view. The Anduin would its way calmly southwards to their right, and the misty mountains only seemed slightly foreboding in the warmth of the spring light. Their eyes were drawn to Lothlorien, lying so still nestled near the mountains.
"It seems to sleep in the very shadow of the mountains." Legolas murmured. "Be proud that you will see Lothlorien in its finest beauty, the spring."
They trotted onwards, and as they neared the trees loomed up in front of them. They slowed their horses to a walk as they entered the forest. Dismounting, Gandalf lead the way. The others followed suit and soon the trees seemed to close around them and fence them in. The last time Frodo had visited, he had been petrified, but now he looked forward to being welcomed into the family of Lothlorien again, although the images he had seen when he had last been there and looked into Galadriel's mirror still haunted him.
(AN – to indicate that a character is speaking in another language, normally elven, I will use these marks, ' ', whereas for speech I will use "".)
'Halt, who goes there?' Came a voice from above them.
The all looked up, but the sun pouring through the foliage blinded them.
'Friends.' Gandalf called. 'We are from Gondor, the Lord and Lady are expecting us.'
An elf descended from a tree above them and landed neatly on his feet. Two others landed softly behind him. All around them elves were suddenly appearing from out of treetops. The seven travellers were soon greeted by a score of elves.
"Mithrandir." Haldir stepped forward and spoke to them in common tongue. "We were indeed expecting you, dear friend."
He nodded to the others in the party. Legolas, who appeared to be great friends with one of the soldiers in their welcome party, was talking quickly in elven.
"Indeed we have much talking to do, and it is in slightly better circumstances that we visit on this occasion." Gandalf smiled, but his eyes flickered to where Aragorn was standing sullenly behind him. Haldir took no notice.
"I'm afraid you know the rules Gandalf." Haldir said. "You and your friends must be blindfolded to enter Lothlorien."
"I know the rules Haldir, and I understand." Gandalf said. He and the others allowed themselves to be blindfolded. Then seven elves assigned themselves to one of the group and guided them over the rough forest floor. Nine of the elves took a horse each and lead them, Shadowfax only allowing Rumil to lead him when Gandalf whispered a few words into the horse's ear.
The made slow but steady progress onwards, and Frodo lost track of all time. When they stopped he could sense that they were in a large clearing, and were not alone. When his blindfold wad removed such was the brilliance of the Lord and Lady that he had to shut his eyes and get used to the light slowly.
The sun was now setting in the west, casting a red haze over the clearing. The Lord and Lady stood; ready to welcome their guests, with several followers with them. Celeborn smiled as they all automatically proud before the majestic elves. Then he embraced Gandalf warmly.
"My dear friend, returned at last." He said, looking Gandalf in the eye. Galadriel allowed Gandalf to kiss her hand in welcome, and smiled at them all misty-eyed.
"So long it has been since last you visited!" She marvelled. "And in such feared times. Yet now you return, it would be joyous indeed if you were not travelling in mourning." She looked at Aragorn intensely, her eyes boring into him. "You mourn, yet you do not let go." She said. 'She would not want you to grieve so.'
Aragorn said nothing. Gandalf was appalled at the rudeness Aragorn seemed to be showing. He was about to make apologies for Aragorn when Celeborn spoke.
"People grieve in many different ways." He said simply. Then he smiled and turned to the reformed fellowship. "No introductions are needed this time." He said. "We have all met before. Let us waste no time however. Come with us to hold council about your proposed expedition to the Iron Mountains. The sooner we have talked, the sooner you may eat, rest and sleep." He led them through the forest, and after a while Gimli noted that the soldiers and followers were dropping back and leaving them, until only Haldir, Celeborn and Galadriel led them to the base of one particularly high oak tree.
Here a platform seemed to magically descend on ropes that shone with mirthril strands. They climbed onto the platform and began to move upwards, leaving the forest floor far behind them. They alighted onto a platform in the leafy boughs of the tree. Already a long table and chairs were arranged on the platform, which was as large as any room in Aragorn's palace, save the grand ballroom.
In a bough of the tree sat a figure dressed in dark green and cream. She sat with her back to them, singing softly in elven. As they all stood on the platform they caught a few of the words that she softly sang.
'Sleep my soft and innocent child Though the night may be harsh and wild Baby dear, oh babe so mild I will protect you, tiny child.'
"Anánia." Celeborn said softly. The woman started and jumped off her branch. They now saw that in her arms she held a bundle of white blankets, and she clutched them to her slim frame as though they were woven of the most precious gold in all the land.
"Gandalf, I would like you to meet Anánia." Galadriel said, beckoning the girl forward. She walked forward nervously and curtseyed coyly. "This elf was chosen to take care of Eldarion."
"Eldarion?" Aragorn asked.
"Your son, my Lord." Anánia said. "Your son Eldarion." She walked towards Aragorn and moved one of the blankets to reveal the softly sleeping face of Eldarion, his son.
"Keep him away from me." Aragorn said stiffly, not looking at the babe in her arms. "I do not wish to see it."
Anánia was about to argue back when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Gandalf gently pulled her away, whispering, 'Some things are best not pushed, Aragorn will come around in his own time.'
"Let us be seated." Celeborn said, sitting at the head of the table and beckoning his guests to be seated. "I asked Anánia to be present because she is the nominated carer of Eldarion, and anything concerning him concerns her."
"I agree." Gandalf said. "And I have sent letters to The Lord and Lady regarding what I propose, have you told Anánia about this?"
Galadriel shook her head. "No. Indeed, we felt that it would be best for you to talk to her about Eldarion, and lay to rest any fears she may have."
"Fears?" Anánia asked, looking at Gandalf and clutching the sleeping child closer to her protectively. "Why should I have fears? What do you want with Eldarion?"
"Nothing to worry about." Gandalf said soothingly. He began to explain about the legend of old that could be used to return Arwen to the world of the living, and how her son was needed to help to release her. "So you see," He finished. "Eldarion must come on this quest with us."
Anánia was looking at Eldarion with unreadable emotion in her eyes. They watched her closely. "How do I know that he will be safe?" She asked finally.
"We shall take good care of him." Frodo promised. "Besides, some one else from Lothlorien will be going with us on this quest. We need a relative of Arwen's whom she has never met before, have you been able to find someone?" He asked the Lord and Lady.
Lord Celeborn shook his head sadly. "Alas, most of the blood relations of Arwen live in Rivendell." He sighed. "And those who are related to her have met her before. I fear we have drawn a blank on this part of the quest."
"We shall deal with that later." Gandalf said grimly. "The point now is to make sure that Anánia agrees to letting us take Eldarion with us. By Elven law she is his legal guardian, and has the final say on whether he goes or not."
They all looked at her expectantly, Aragorn with a pleading look in his eye.
"He may go." She said finally, and with much effort. "On one condition. That I may be allowed to go too, as his carer."
They said nothing. She looked at them hopefully. Haldir finally spoke up. "The journey is long." He said. "You are young and have never left the protect of your home before. You would not cope living in the perils of the outside world."
"I must go!" She pleaded, and Eldarion stirred in her arms as she tightened her grip on him desperately. "You don't understand. I love Eldarion. I love him more than I ever could lover anyone, I believe. I know I have only been his mother for a few short days, but I feel as if I am bound to him somehow."
"I see." Gandalf said. "But yet I think..."
"Bound." Frodo whispered thoughtfully. "Bound?"
"Bound." Legolas explained. "It attached to tied to."
"I know what it means!" Frodo said hotly. "But I was just thinking back to the riddle, you know, the part about the relative. How did it go?"
"One whom the dead has not met, yet has ties you could never forget." Gimli recited, Gandalf looked to Anánia quickly.
"Did you ever meet Arwen?" He asked calculatingly. "Ever?"
"No." Anánia replied.
"Did you ever even speak one word to her?" He pushed.
"Never." She said.
"I believe we have found the eighth part of the riddle." Gandalf smiled broadly. "Anánia here has looked after Arwen's child, and formed a bond with him. If that does not count as ties you could never forget then I don't believe I know what does!"
They all looked at each other, but no one was in disagreement.
"We have no choice." Aragorn sighed. "If that thing must come with us, at least let his nursemaid come too, to keep it out of my way!"
The others stood beside him on the hillside, taking in the view. The Anduin would its way calmly southwards to their right, and the misty mountains only seemed slightly foreboding in the warmth of the spring light. Their eyes were drawn to Lothlorien, lying so still nestled near the mountains.
"It seems to sleep in the very shadow of the mountains." Legolas murmured. "Be proud that you will see Lothlorien in its finest beauty, the spring."
They trotted onwards, and as they neared the trees loomed up in front of them. They slowed their horses to a walk as they entered the forest. Dismounting, Gandalf lead the way. The others followed suit and soon the trees seemed to close around them and fence them in. The last time Frodo had visited, he had been petrified, but now he looked forward to being welcomed into the family of Lothlorien again, although the images he had seen when he had last been there and looked into Galadriel's mirror still haunted him.
(AN – to indicate that a character is speaking in another language, normally elven, I will use these marks, ' ', whereas for speech I will use "".)
'Halt, who goes there?' Came a voice from above them.
The all looked up, but the sun pouring through the foliage blinded them.
'Friends.' Gandalf called. 'We are from Gondor, the Lord and Lady are expecting us.'
An elf descended from a tree above them and landed neatly on his feet. Two others landed softly behind him. All around them elves were suddenly appearing from out of treetops. The seven travellers were soon greeted by a score of elves.
"Mithrandir." Haldir stepped forward and spoke to them in common tongue. "We were indeed expecting you, dear friend."
He nodded to the others in the party. Legolas, who appeared to be great friends with one of the soldiers in their welcome party, was talking quickly in elven.
"Indeed we have much talking to do, and it is in slightly better circumstances that we visit on this occasion." Gandalf smiled, but his eyes flickered to where Aragorn was standing sullenly behind him. Haldir took no notice.
"I'm afraid you know the rules Gandalf." Haldir said. "You and your friends must be blindfolded to enter Lothlorien."
"I know the rules Haldir, and I understand." Gandalf said. He and the others allowed themselves to be blindfolded. Then seven elves assigned themselves to one of the group and guided them over the rough forest floor. Nine of the elves took a horse each and lead them, Shadowfax only allowing Rumil to lead him when Gandalf whispered a few words into the horse's ear.
The made slow but steady progress onwards, and Frodo lost track of all time. When they stopped he could sense that they were in a large clearing, and were not alone. When his blindfold wad removed such was the brilliance of the Lord and Lady that he had to shut his eyes and get used to the light slowly.
The sun was now setting in the west, casting a red haze over the clearing. The Lord and Lady stood; ready to welcome their guests, with several followers with them. Celeborn smiled as they all automatically proud before the majestic elves. Then he embraced Gandalf warmly.
"My dear friend, returned at last." He said, looking Gandalf in the eye. Galadriel allowed Gandalf to kiss her hand in welcome, and smiled at them all misty-eyed.
"So long it has been since last you visited!" She marvelled. "And in such feared times. Yet now you return, it would be joyous indeed if you were not travelling in mourning." She looked at Aragorn intensely, her eyes boring into him. "You mourn, yet you do not let go." She said. 'She would not want you to grieve so.'
Aragorn said nothing. Gandalf was appalled at the rudeness Aragorn seemed to be showing. He was about to make apologies for Aragorn when Celeborn spoke.
"People grieve in many different ways." He said simply. Then he smiled and turned to the reformed fellowship. "No introductions are needed this time." He said. "We have all met before. Let us waste no time however. Come with us to hold council about your proposed expedition to the Iron Mountains. The sooner we have talked, the sooner you may eat, rest and sleep." He led them through the forest, and after a while Gimli noted that the soldiers and followers were dropping back and leaving them, until only Haldir, Celeborn and Galadriel led them to the base of one particularly high oak tree.
Here a platform seemed to magically descend on ropes that shone with mirthril strands. They climbed onto the platform and began to move upwards, leaving the forest floor far behind them. They alighted onto a platform in the leafy boughs of the tree. Already a long table and chairs were arranged on the platform, which was as large as any room in Aragorn's palace, save the grand ballroom.
In a bough of the tree sat a figure dressed in dark green and cream. She sat with her back to them, singing softly in elven. As they all stood on the platform they caught a few of the words that she softly sang.
'Sleep my soft and innocent child Though the night may be harsh and wild Baby dear, oh babe so mild I will protect you, tiny child.'
"Anánia." Celeborn said softly. The woman started and jumped off her branch. They now saw that in her arms she held a bundle of white blankets, and she clutched them to her slim frame as though they were woven of the most precious gold in all the land.
"Gandalf, I would like you to meet Anánia." Galadriel said, beckoning the girl forward. She walked forward nervously and curtseyed coyly. "This elf was chosen to take care of Eldarion."
"Eldarion?" Aragorn asked.
"Your son, my Lord." Anánia said. "Your son Eldarion." She walked towards Aragorn and moved one of the blankets to reveal the softly sleeping face of Eldarion, his son.
"Keep him away from me." Aragorn said stiffly, not looking at the babe in her arms. "I do not wish to see it."
Anánia was about to argue back when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Gandalf gently pulled her away, whispering, 'Some things are best not pushed, Aragorn will come around in his own time.'
"Let us be seated." Celeborn said, sitting at the head of the table and beckoning his guests to be seated. "I asked Anánia to be present because she is the nominated carer of Eldarion, and anything concerning him concerns her."
"I agree." Gandalf said. "And I have sent letters to The Lord and Lady regarding what I propose, have you told Anánia about this?"
Galadriel shook her head. "No. Indeed, we felt that it would be best for you to talk to her about Eldarion, and lay to rest any fears she may have."
"Fears?" Anánia asked, looking at Gandalf and clutching the sleeping child closer to her protectively. "Why should I have fears? What do you want with Eldarion?"
"Nothing to worry about." Gandalf said soothingly. He began to explain about the legend of old that could be used to return Arwen to the world of the living, and how her son was needed to help to release her. "So you see," He finished. "Eldarion must come on this quest with us."
Anánia was looking at Eldarion with unreadable emotion in her eyes. They watched her closely. "How do I know that he will be safe?" She asked finally.
"We shall take good care of him." Frodo promised. "Besides, some one else from Lothlorien will be going with us on this quest. We need a relative of Arwen's whom she has never met before, have you been able to find someone?" He asked the Lord and Lady.
Lord Celeborn shook his head sadly. "Alas, most of the blood relations of Arwen live in Rivendell." He sighed. "And those who are related to her have met her before. I fear we have drawn a blank on this part of the quest."
"We shall deal with that later." Gandalf said grimly. "The point now is to make sure that Anánia agrees to letting us take Eldarion with us. By Elven law she is his legal guardian, and has the final say on whether he goes or not."
They all looked at her expectantly, Aragorn with a pleading look in his eye.
"He may go." She said finally, and with much effort. "On one condition. That I may be allowed to go too, as his carer."
They said nothing. She looked at them hopefully. Haldir finally spoke up. "The journey is long." He said. "You are young and have never left the protect of your home before. You would not cope living in the perils of the outside world."
"I must go!" She pleaded, and Eldarion stirred in her arms as she tightened her grip on him desperately. "You don't understand. I love Eldarion. I love him more than I ever could lover anyone, I believe. I know I have only been his mother for a few short days, but I feel as if I am bound to him somehow."
"I see." Gandalf said. "But yet I think..."
"Bound." Frodo whispered thoughtfully. "Bound?"
"Bound." Legolas explained. "It attached to tied to."
"I know what it means!" Frodo said hotly. "But I was just thinking back to the riddle, you know, the part about the relative. How did it go?"
"One whom the dead has not met, yet has ties you could never forget." Gimli recited, Gandalf looked to Anánia quickly.
"Did you ever meet Arwen?" He asked calculatingly. "Ever?"
"No." Anánia replied.
"Did you ever even speak one word to her?" He pushed.
"Never." She said.
"I believe we have found the eighth part of the riddle." Gandalf smiled broadly. "Anánia here has looked after Arwen's child, and formed a bond with him. If that does not count as ties you could never forget then I don't believe I know what does!"
They all looked at each other, but no one was in disagreement.
"We have no choice." Aragorn sighed. "If that thing must come with us, at least let his nursemaid come too, to keep it out of my way!"