AN: Chapter 37 was the end of the 'Dark Years' section, even though parts of it were written about in Tolkien's literature. If you are in the dark right now, the 'Dark Years' section began in Chapter 23 and the chapters in between were mostly of my own imagination. That's it. Oh yeah, I did shorten this chapter a bit for you guys. Enjoy this chapter…
Chapter 38
Leaving the Golden Wood
" Well, what are we to do?" Samwise asked, an anxious expression his face. " Lord Celeborn and the lady Galadriel's words did not aid us very much."
" I'll say." Boromir grumbled, shifting a bit. " I thought they were wise."
Aragorn just contained an irritated sigh, tapping his fingers against his lips as he pondered the maps before them. They all sat in their small cove, sitting against trees or on their pallets, discussing what to do.
" Take the West road." Boromir urged.
Aragorn glanced up, his gaze as sharp as the knife Legolas was whetting against a stone. Legolas paused a moment, his uneasy dark gaze shifting between the two men for a split second before he returned to his whetting.
" If you would give me some peace, maybe I could deliberate which road to take."
Legolas leaned over, once the others were occupied in another conversation.
" Ammen revian Anduin an Rauros; Athradam Emyn Muil an…(We sail the Anduin to Rauros; traverse Emyn Muil to…)."
Aragorn rubbed his face abruptly, casing Legolas to trail off. Aragorn finally just shook his head.
" I do not know."
" Some king of men." Boromir muttered.
Gimli laid a hand on Aragorn's shoulder, sensing the discord.
" You were headed to Minas Tirith. I could not understand the Elf, but I think we should decide what is the safest for Frodo."
Legolas leaned back, gazing up over his bone-handled knife suddenly looking a bit impish as he replied.
" I could not agree more, Master Dwarf; though I did speak in the Common tongue."
Frodo sat up with a conspiring smile, sending Legolas a slight nod.
" Aye, he did, Gimli. We all heard Legolas clearly. Perhaps you were not listening."
Gimli just shrugged, sensing the joke.
" Elf witchcraft." He replied gruffly, light in his eyes also.
Legolas sat up with an offended expression, though his eyes remained glimmering with laughter.
" Now wait just a moment!"
Aragorn ignored them as the bantering continued, attracting the Fellowship's attention for a time.
*When Gandalf was here, I was to go to Minas Tirith, but I cannot abandon Frodo now. Yet, what help can we really give him? Is it folly to follow him into Mordor? Should we start from Minas Tirith or even Osgiliath, as Boromir suggests?
" I shall go to Minas Tirith, alone if need be, for it is my duty." Boromir said suddenly.
Silence fell like a final curtain. Aragorn's eyes drifted to the man as Boromir stared intently at Frodo, as if trying to perceive his thoughts. Boromir said something else, rather softly and it caused Frodo to start and stare at Boromir as if the man was accursed. Aragorn turned his head, hearing the loud snore of a hobbit. Merry and Pippin had both dozed off and even faithful Sam was beginning to drift off. Aragorn rubbed his bearded chin, fighting his own weariness.
*One night and one night only to decide what path the future of Middle Earth takes. This was not in the requirements of being a ranger.
~*~
Aragorn played a bit with the food set before him. Legolas nudged him.
" Eat." He urged.
Aragorn just shook his head.
" I know the food is to your liking, Estel." Galadriel said softly, looking over at the two intently.
Aragorn glanced down at his Lórien favorites they had prepared. Galadriel smiled softly, leaning over.
" The cook will be offended if you do not eat her food again."
Aragorn managed a bit through his anxious nausea. He smiled slightly, setting down his fork.
" I am not hungry, my lady. I will send my apologies to the cook."
Galadriel shrugged.
" You will be hungry."
She then turned her head towards her frowning husband. The Elf had been staring off at two speaking march wardens, as if he was trying to figure out what they spoke so softly of. She laid a gentle hand on his arm. Celeborn turned his head with raised eyebrows as if she had called his name; and it seemed as if to the Fellowship, the couple needed no words to express what they wished to say to each other. The very air sizzled with their innermost thoughts. Celeborn gave an assenting nod, leaning back in his chair as if relinquishing all control to his wife.
It was when the Silmaril-color haired she-Elf rose that the Fellowship noted that each of her maidens bore something in their arms. Galadriel bid the maids forward; and then motioned for the Company to keep their seats. Her eyes traveled along the line of seats until they fell on Aragorn.
" Estel." She called, her voice ringing clearly. " I shall give to you my gift first."
Aragorn pushed a stray grape into his mouth before standing. The Fellowship watched intently as the man approached the beautiful lady. Aragorn's new Lórien cloak fluttered in the gentle wind in an array of silvers and greens.
" Here is the gift of Celeborn and Galadriel to the leader of this Company." She said to him softly, so that the others could just barely make out her words.
*Leader of the Company? Bah! What a farce!
Aragorn turned his eyes downward before a glistening caught his golden eyes.
A beautiful scabbard overlaid with a tracery of flowers and leaves wrought in silver and gold was placed in Galadriel's hands to give to him. Aragorn took it with wide eyes, staring at the gems and then her as if he could not believe this was his to keep. He examined the Elf-runes that told of his sword's, Narsil or Andúril, as it is called now, name and lineage. Galadriel touched his shoulder, bringing him from his inspecting.
" The blade drawn from this sheath shall not be stained or broken, even in defeat."
Galadriel sought his wandering eyes out intently, finally grasping eye contact with the stubborn man.
" Is there aught else that you desire at our parting?"
*Is your granddaughter an option?
Aragorn's cheeks flushed a bit and dipped his head to hide his cheeks. Galadriel perceived his thoughts and sent him a small smile, while Celeborn simply raised his eyes in a warning gesture. Aragorn tilted his head after a moment's silence.
" Lady, you know all my desire and have long held in keeping my treasure." In a soft voice, inaudible to the others, save the Lady of the Wood. " My Undómiel." His voice regained its strength. " Yet it is not yours to give me, even if you would; and through," His voice darkened noticeably, "Darkness shall I come to it."
Galadriel placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, as if she were his caring mother.
" Yet I have another gift, one that may lighten your heavy heart." She lifted a great stone of clear green set in a brooch in the likeness of an eagle with outspread wings.
The Elves and Fellowship froze, bathing in the gentle silvery green light. Even Celeborn seemed a bit taken aback at seeing her giving the precious stone away. Aragorn looked at it, fingering the grooves before looking up inquiringly. Galadriel touched it with eyes that spoke memories.
" To me it was given after being crafted by Celebrimbor; and so I gave it when the time was right to my daughter, Celebrían; and she to hers." Galadriel paused, her eyes fixed on the stone, before flicking up to his face fleetingly. " And now it comes to you as a token of hope." Her voice began to rise with a deep passion. " In this hour, take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elf-stone of the House of Elendil."
As his name and heritage was declared, it seemed as if the years fell from Aragorn. He stood tall and straight; his face was clear of any grief or sorrow. He clasped the brooch to his cloak, the air about him alive with the magic of the Elves, for the Elessar, the stone gifted to him, had the power of life. Aragorn glanced down at it as silence reigned.
*She seems so sure I will be king.
Galadriel touched a fist to her chest. Aragorn followed suit before then extending his hand to gently touch her jaw. Galadriel mirrored his actions, bowing when he did. Aragorn turned to face his Company, slowly passing them.
" Boromir, son of Denethor."
Celeborn's eyes bid Aragorn to kneel beside him as the gift giving continued.
" Galadriel sees much in her Mirror, more than Elrond at times." Celeborn searched Aragorn's eyes. " Do not trust to fate. Trust to your instincts, your heart. Evil deeds await; and the road will be long; but I can see glory, if we overcome, for you."
Aragorn shook his head.
" I was lax to even take Andúril with me. I do not want this power."
Celeborn leaned down, over his chair.
" Just because you have seen Isildur's failures, do not let them rule your perception of power. Isildur is of the same blood as Elrond, though it may be thinned. Elrond withstood the Ring while it was within his abode; and so has Galadriel. You have not even been tempted yet." Celeborn lowered his voice glancing about. " And there is another, more deadly problem."
Aragorn groaned with a smile, but it faded, seeing Celeborn's serious look.
" What?" Aragorn asked softly.
Celeborn glanced up, his eyes following Boromir as the man brushed by.
" Hebch heneb erin ion ned Denethor (Keep an eye on Denethor's son)." Celeborn glanced back at Aragorn. " The Ring calls to him."
Aragorn's eyes slid over to Boromir and then back to Celeborn. His eyes lit with a strange light.
" I will guard Frodo with my life."
AN: Again, I used my artistic license in some parts. A little warning to readers: I will be including some movie verse, as long as it does not contradict the LOTR books. That's it. Next up: Some surprises and Parth Galen where someone is bound to fall.