AN: I'm baaack, just in time for the farewell chapter! Thank you JaminJellyBean, Loopy Lu, Branwen-of-Emrys, and Lonely Elven Gurl for the reviews. Also, be sure to check out my new LotR/SM fic "The Gathering Starlight" if you haven't already.

Branwen-of-Emrys: Mwhaha!!! Aaaand if I stick with certain parts of the movie, even that second pairing won't work out. MWHAHAHA!!! Don't worry, there will be one eventually (which I believe certain people will like a lot and others will be satisfied with), but until then... ::evil laughter::

And onto chapter 12 (movin' right along!). "..." is talking, '...' is thought, [...] is AN, (...) is extra info but part of the fic, ... means trailed off, -- means interrupted. Enjoy and *please* review! Thanks minna-chan!

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None could have said the exact day, but all knew in their hearts that soon they must leave the elvish haven. So it came as no surprise that Frodo returned from some strange visit with the Lady Galadriel to announce that they would be leaving the next day.

In the morning, they paddled downstream in boats provided by the elves. Boromir was in the middle boat with Merry and Pippin. Yet his strokes were half-hearted. They had left Lothlorien, and she was gone. He had not even gotten to see her one last time to say farewell.

They turned a bend in the river, and music reached their ears. The hearts of the Fellowship rose as they recognized the golden voice of Galadriel singing a bittersweet song of parting.

"I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and of leaves of gold there grew:

Of wind I sang, a wind there came and in the branches blew.

Beyond the Sun, beyond the moon, the foam was on the Sea,

And by the Strand of Ilmarin there grew a golden tree.

Beneath the stars of Ever-eve in Eldamar it shone,

In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion.

There long the golden leaves have grown upon the branching years,

While here beyond the Sundering Seas now fall the Elven-tears.

O Lorien! The Winter comes, the bare and leafless Days;

The leaves are falling in the stream, the River flows awar.

O Lorien! To long have I dwelt upon this Hither shore

And in a fading crown have twined the golden elanor.

But if of ships I now should sing, what ship would come to me,

What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a sea?"

The boats drew along side the swan ship. Celeborn sat in the center of the boat, while Galadriel held a harp and stood at his side. Boromir's heart lifted as he noticed the golden-haired she-elf standing silently behind her grandmother, as if simply one of her attendants. She caught his eye and smiled.

"We have come to bid you our last farewell," Galadriel was saying, "and to speed you with blessings from our land."

"Though you have been our guests," said Celeborn, "you have not yet eaten with us, and we bid you, therefore, to a parting feast, here between the flowing waters that will bear you far from Lorien."

The Swan went to land, and the boats followed. The elves laid out a splendid feast upon the grass, and the Fellowship enjoyed their parting taste of Lorien. Boromir savored every bite while staring only at Celebithil, willing himself to remember everything about her as he traveled towards the darkness.

Boromir was not very aware of what was happening around him. Celeborn had discussed possible routes while they ate, and Galadriel had passed them each the cup of parting. Then began the Gift-Giving.

"Here is the gift of Celeborn and Galadriel to the leader of your Company," Galadriel said to Aragon. She gave him the sheath made specially to fit his sword. It was wrought of silver and gold and on it were elven runes forming its name, Andunil, and the sword's lineage. Tracery of flowers and leaves decorated it.

"The blade drawn from this sheath shall not be stained or broken even in defeat," she said. "But is there aught else that you desire of me at our parting? For darkness will flow between us, and it may be that we shall not meet again unless it be far hence upon a road that has no returning."

"Lady, you know all my desire, and long held in keeping the only treasure that I seek. Yet it is not yours to give me, even if you would; and only through darkness shall I come to it."

Celebithil stepped forward, speaking for the first time. "Yet maybe this will lighten your heart, Aragon-Estel." She reached into a small pouch hidden at her side and clutched something in her fist.

"This was left in my care by my sister as I was bidden to give it to you." She opened her hand to reveal a silver eagle broach. In its center sat a great stone of clear green that flashed like the sun shining through the leaves of spring.

"This stone I gave to Celebrian my daughter, and she to hers," said Galadriel, "and now it comes to you as a token of hope. In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the house of Elendil!"

Aragon took the broach and pinned it on; the onlookers stared in wonderment-- when had he become so tall and kingly?

"Celebithil, ve'ithil lle kalya fuinamin" he murmured. "Amin harmuva hi'ona e'cormamin, seleramin." [Silvermoon, like the moon you brighten my darkness. I shall treasure this gift in my heart, my sister.]

Merry and Pippin were given small silver belts with a clasp wrought like a golden flower, while Legolas was presented with a bow and arrows such as the Galadrim used-- longer and stouter than the bows of Mirkwood and strung with a strand of elven hair.

Celebithil walked over to Boromir, who stood slightly apart from the group and placed a belt of gold in his hands. She could feel Galadriel's eyes upon her, but she didn't care. "Take this, mela en coiamin," she whispered. [love of my life] "That you may remember Lorien and all who wait for you here."

She rested her hands on his for a moment, feeling his warmth, and then pulled away.

"Coramin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au'," she said, with a pained look on her face. [My heart shall weep until it sees thee again.]

Boromir kissed her lightly, while the others were occupied with their gifts. "I will return, amin vesta. Amin mela lle." [I promise. I love you.]

"I will never forget you," she said softly, her voice shaking. "A-Amin mela lle."

Celebithil moved away quickly before she could shed any tears. But Aragon had heard a bit of the short whispered conversation. He made a mental note to ask Boromir about it later.

"For you little gardener and lover of trees," Galadriel was saying to Sam, "I have only a small gift." She put his hand into a box of plain grey wood, only decorated with a rune on the lid. "Here is set G for Galadriel," she said, "but it also may stand for garden in your tongue. In the box there is earth from my orchard, and such blessing as Galadriel still to bestow upon it. It will not keep you on your road, nor defend you against any peril; but if you keep it and see your home again at last, then perhaps it may reward you. Though you should find all barren and laid waste, there will be few gardens in Middle-earth that will bloom like your garden, if you sprinkle this earth there. Then you may remember Galadriel, and catch a glimpse of faroff Lorien, that you have seen only in our winter. For our spring and summer are gone by, and they will never be seen on this earth again save in memory."

Sam turned red and muttered something inaudible and couldn't stop bowing as he clutched the box."

"And you, Ring-bearer," she said, turning to Frodo. "I come to you last who are not last in my thoughts. For you I have prepared this." She held up a crystal phial that glittered as she moved it. Rays of white light sprang from her hand. "In this phial," she said, "is caught the light of Earendil's star, set amid the waters of m fountain. It will shine brighter when the night is about you. May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out. Remember Galadriel and her Mirror!"

Frodo took the phial and bowed, finding no words to say.

~o~o~

It was high noon as the Fellowship climbed back to their boats. The Elves of Lorien pushed them off, and the waters bore them away.

"Lissen ar' maska a'lalaith tenna' lye omentuva!" cried Celebithil, calling the Elvish farewell. [Sweet water and light laughter till next we meet.]

Galadriel stood queenly and silent. As the Fellowship rounded a bend and Lorien was forever lost to their sight, she raised her arm in farewell and began to sing in the ancient tongue of the Elves. [Quenya]

The Fellowship listened in awe as she sang the sad song which few understood. Though he could not understand any of the words, Boromir knew it to be a song of Valinor, the Blessed Realm that she left so long ago. But it was another voice that caught his attention, a quieter voice of silver that seemed to be calling a promise to his heart.

"When the cold of Winter comes

Starless night will cover day

In the veiling of the sun

We will walk in bitter rain

But in dreams

I still hear your name

And in dreams

We will meet again

When the seas and mountains fall

And we come to end of days

In the dark I hear a call

Calling me there

I will go there

And back again."

Never again did they see Lorien.

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AN: If you want Galadriel's song, email me or check out "Farewell to Lorien" in FotR. It's beautiful, but it's in Quenya and I had a feeling everyone would just skip over it since they don't know Quenya if I put it here. Oh well. And "In Dreams" is from the movie, on Track 17 of the CD ("The Breaking of the Fellowship"). Very beautiful song. Edward Ross did an amazing job singing it. I thought the words were rather fitting for Celebithil and Boromir, considering . . . well, we all know. I'd also like to get "May it Be" in here somehow, just because it's a beautiful song that really fits into this fic. We shall see...

Domo arigato for reading and please review! Thank you minna-chan! Ja ne!

~Calli-chan