A/N: A big mix of book/movie canon in this chapter. Scene with lembas and
Gimli comes directly from the book. Also, for the next few chapters, the
story line will be broken up and focusing on the things you did not see in
the movie or read in the books. You already know these so, I find it
unnecessary to rehash everything that has already been wonderfully written
by the Incomparable One. I could never say them better than he did.
Chapter 9- Departure
16 Nénimë 3019- Banks of the Anduin
Yet another fortnight passed, and Legolas found himself standing on the banks of the Anduin, looking out over the calm waters, a fine mist of grey encircling the trees on either side and settling atop the oddly placid surface. No matter how much he tried to calm his mind, he could not help but have a horribly ominous feeling that things were not going to get any better from here on out. Of course he had experienced this feeling the entire journey, but now here and facing the wilds and evils of the land, with no extremely friendly realm in between them and Mordor, it began to worry him more. He was almost sure their situation would come to dire straits before it could recover. If it would ever recover once they had reached that state.
Legolas sighed heavily to himself and moved away from the bank, walking over to help load the canoes that would help them navigate the ebb and tide of the Great River. Many elves had come to see them off, including the Lord and Lady, but not even the loveliness of this sight could make him feel any better about their state situation. With a resigned sigh, Legolas started placing bundles of leaf-wrapped lembas into the nearest boat, explaining to the hobbits what it was, but that did not help to move his mind to happier things either. It made him think of the friends he would leave behind- the friends he now counted as an extended family in Lórien. Family that he would never see again. Like his father...
It was strange to him that he had not really though of these things when he accepted his position in the Fellowship in Imladris, but now it was all he could think about. He would miss his friends and laughing at their jests. He would miss the quiet comfort of his chambers in the great cave, the warm fire in front of him, warming his skin. Elbereth, he would even miss the spiders and the evil elf maid Nindë! Those things at least made him think he was safe and in a world where there was not greater evil abound. But leaving Lórien and these elves drove into like a spear that he may not live to see these things restored and maintained.
Oh what a place it was to be... between a rock and a hard spot.
At least he could still call the March Warden a friend. Once he had apologized to Haldir for his less than chivalrous behavior, he had spent time with him out scouting, and even more time in Haldir's home, enjoying the comforts of a warm and love-filled talan. If he had gone down to his companions in the Fellowship, he would have received much of the same welcome, but never in the exact same way that Indilisse and Emlin welcomed him, and the way Thoron sat for hours while he told him stories of Mirkwood. And never could Pippin or Merry, while quite full of gaiety all of the time, have such an interesting time baking as did the ladies of the House of the March Warden or make him laugh so much.
Taking a corner form one of the lembas cakes, Legolas placed it on his tongue and sighed. He smiled to himself for the first time on this unpromising morning, remembering the day when he walked into the talan to find Indilisse and Emlin carefully mixing the concoction that would be formed into lembas cakes the following day. However, he quickly found out that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he noticed Indilisse grasp a small handful of flour and throw it teasingly at Emlin's face. Emlin was quite surprised when her mother did this, but soon it was reciprocated with laughter and another handful of flour. Haldir had come from the side room, completely bypassing the flinging of the white substance, pushing Legolas out the door, muttering something about it being better if he just stayed out of it.
He noticed Indilisse and Emlin make their way out from the trees and onto the open banks of the river, carrying with them their own lembas-filled leaves. Gimli stopped in front of them, offering to take the gift, and they smiled at him. Emlin said a few things to him and chuckled at what Gimli then said. Haldir had not been too happy when Emlin had gone with him to meet his other companions, especially when she came back from the meeting saying how wonderful the dwarf was. But even Legolas, who had hated Dwarves for so long, found himself warming up to the fact that he was sharing his space with one. It would take time and patience if he would ever call Gimli mellon, but it was becoming apparent to him that even Dwarves were not so bad and were not so greedy. At least Gimli was not.
"Cram," Legolas heard Gimli say curiously under his breath, taking and breaking a corner off one of the breads. Obviously surprised at its taste, he quickly downed the rest of the cake.
Emlin laughed at him, "No more, no more! You have eaten enough for an entire army to march for a day!"
"I thought it was only a kind of cram, my ladies," said the dwarf.
"So it is," Indilisse answered. "But we call it lembas, or whey bread, and it is more strengthening than any food made by Men, and it is more pleasant than cram."
"Aye, it certainly is." Gimli said. "You surely are kind hosts!"
"All the same, we bid you spare the food," Indilisse said. "Eat a little at a time and only at need, for these things are given to serve you when all else fails. One will keep a traveler on his feet for a day of long labor, even if he is one of the tall Men of Minas Tirith."
Gimli nodded his head and hurried away with the leaf wrappings, to place them in the canoes already filled with everything else that they would need for the rest of their journey. Haldir joined his wife and daughter, speaking with them quietly until he was called away to help Aragorn with the fixing of some device he carried. Indilisse and Emlin were quiet and looked around at the sight before them, Emlin excusing herself to speak with her cousin who had come with Rúmil and his wife Narië.
He would miss Indilisse's ever witty humor and her wise words, but he found that he would miss Emlin even more so than Haldir and Indilisse together, even though he had known for far longer than their daughter. It was odd when he realized this, because they really only had but a blink of an eye to spend together, but he found her quite refreshing in the ways she experienced things in such a carefree way. He could not even recall if he had ever seen things in such a youthful way as a youngling, but it did not matter because he could live through her reactions. Her eyes were always so full of emotion when she learned something, or bright and cheerful when she met new people. When they had taken a walk through the gardens together, he loved watching her move about, smelling the flowers and speaking to the birds amidst their baths in the fountains.
That day had been a pleasant day, and not long before this one. He had found Emlin sitting amongst the elanor with a book in her lap, bathed in the midday sunlight and seemingly glowing. She had made no indication that she knew he was near, so he stayed back for a while, watching her as she read. In her eyes there was excitement and splendor, but on her brow there was misunderstanding as she turned a thick page of parchment. Then she let out a light peal of laughter that sounded as though it were the delicate and melodious song of a beautiful bird, sending a shiver up his spine. Oh yes, she had earned her name Aiwamin. Legolas was about to interrupt at that point in her study of the text, but she shifted and lay down on the bright green grass upon her stomach. The honeyed brown hair of hers glistened in the sunlight, falling over her shoulders and hiding her face from him. As if he had asked her himself, she then brushed back her hair behind a pointed ear, and at that moment, he realized how youthful she was. She still had so much to learn, and yet he could see that she was not one to be slow learning these things.
He had been so entranced with her, as she read the story and cared about nothing else in the world but the words leaping from the page, that he had not heard her speak to him. He had been quite embarrassed when she had said that she knew he had been standing there the entire time...
Legolas sighed as he wondered what it would be like to have no care in the world but the ones immediately affecting you. Maybe he would once again be able to feel that if all evil things were vanquished from the land. But then again, that was an almost impossible hope, as there would almost always be evil. He closed his eyes briefly, telling himself that such a despairing attitude would not do well on this quest.
"You have had a month to rest, mellon, I do not think you should be doing that now."
Legolas opened his eyes slowly, finding Indilisse standing before him with a soft smile on her features. "I am not resting, I am only thinking how hard it is to leave Lórien behind once more."
"Lórien or a certain elleth?" Indilisse questioned, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
"I know not what you mean, Indilisse." Legolas said.
She smiled warmly and placed a hand on his cheek, "Legolas, do not play a fool with me. I know that you will miss my daughter greatly in the coming months or possibly years."
"Only as a friend, though, Indilisse." He replied. "I feel almost as if she is a young sibling. One that I never had."
Indilisse sighed and remained quiet for some time, gazing into his eyes. "The next you see her, she shall be fifty, and we will then see what happens."
"I do not understand." Legolas cocked his head to the side, "I would never again pursue anything with Emlin, for the sake of Haldir and you."
"I do not mind if the loyal and honorable prince of Mirkwood courts my daughter. What I do care about, though, is you only using her to take your mind off of other things... like your betrothal." Indilisse said, "Haldir is another problem, but if you have gone through this war and spent a few years of peace with your own people, and you still feel as if no maiden is befitting of your attentions except Emlin, then you will do what you have to do. War changes people, though, and you may find what naïveté was once appealing to you, may no longer be."
Legolas tried to make sense of what she was saying. There had never been a thought in his head that he would ever fall in love with Emlin, or even wish to court her, he had simply wanted a diversion. But the way Indilisse spoke it seemed she thought something entirely different was the reason for his actions since first meeting her. "Indilisse, what are you saying to me? It is almost an approval to court her, but all in the same breath you are telling me that she is not right for me."
"All I say is that even though she shall be fifty, she will still be young and her mind may not be ready for your attentions." Indilisse said, and began to say something else, but their attentions were pulled to two lines forming beside them. Celeborn stood with seven others, holding garments of soft grey in their hands as the Fellowship lined up facing them. Emlin found herself in front of Legolas, he did not know if it was by chance or planning, but he was glad to once again look in her eyes. He smiled broadly, a feeling of complacence washing over him as he gazed at her. Though, as soon as she smiled back, she was moved out of the way so Haldir could stand before him.
Emlin shot Haldir a disgusted look when he handed her the garment for Frodo, whom she was now standing in front of, and he then took the longer one in her arms. An argument could have erupted, Legolas supposed, but it was forgotten when Celeborn started speaking to them. Each of the elves stepped forward and placed the grey cloaks on their shoulders and secured the bright green leaf brooch of Lórien each cloak was adorned with. He watched from the corner of his eyes as Emlin bent over and did this to Frodo. She smiled warmly at the hobbit before standing back. Anyone who was near the ring that hung around Frodo's neck would feel the power of it. Even he felt the power of it when he was in any distance of the hobbit, but oddly enough, Emlin did not seem to change at all as her hands surely grazed the golden band with her fingers.
Again, his attention of Emlin was taken by the elves now moving away from them and Galadriel stepping in front of them, bearing gifts to each of the members of the Fellowship. Aragorn was gifted first with a clear green jewel from the Lady, and Legolas sighed heavily, thinking of Arwen now in Rivendell, and probably worrying for the sake of Aragorn because her father would not allow her go to fight this war herself. Had she gone on to Valinor?
Next, Boromir was given a golden belt, and to Merry and Pippin belts of silver and a dagger each.
The Lady finally glanced up at him and smiled, handing him a long bow of finely carven wood, encircled with golden leafs, and a string of elf-hair tied tightly to both ends. "To you Legolas, I give a bow of the Galadhrim. It is worthy of the skill of our Woodland kin."
She moved on to Sam as he admired the bow and a fine quiver was then also placed in his hands. While admiring the fine craftsmanship of the quiver, his attention was diverted by a flash of blue. Legolas glanced up and saw Indilisse and Emlin heading back for the line of trees and the city. The need to run to them and say his final farewells was nearly overwhelming, especially to Emlin since he had yet to speak with her, but with Galadriel now standing before them, he was unsure if he should or not.
Emlin smiled at him, giving him a wave of her hand before disappearing behind the dense foliage. Legolas felt himself sigh heavily and look back at the rest of his friends, still admiring their precious gifts from the Lady. His thoughts, though, were interrupted once again by Aragorn calling their attention to start loading the canoes. With a shrug of his shoulders, Legolas turned on his toes to walk towards the large roots of a mallorn reaching out into the river that served as docking places for these light elven boats. He helped the hobbits and Gimli into the boats before a final blessing from the Lady.
Soon their journey was once again underway, with the swift current of the river sweeping their boats along with little need for paddling with the leaf-shaped oars. Legolas found himself watching the scenery as it passed by, ever changing with each little bit, the types of trees slowly changing. They reached the outermost borders of Lórien, and reality overtook him as he realized the protection of the Lady and the Wood was no longer around them. He had the opportunity to stay in Lórien to wait out these evil times, or until they called upon him for help. He had that chance to leave his companions, but he knew this was what he must do. He must do it for his home, for the fair earth he shared and for everything else that he loved in this world.
"I have looked the last upon which is fairest," Gimli spoke to him. "Henceforward I will call nothing fair, unless it be her gift."
"What did she give you?" Legolas asked quietly.
"I asked for one hair from her golden head." He said softly, placing a hand to his breast. "She gave me three."
Legolas smiled slightly and gazed down at the back of Gimli's head. "I count you blessed, Gimli son of Glóin: for your loss you suffer of your own free will. You could have chosen otherwise. The least reward you shall have for not forsaking your companions is the memory of Lothlórien clear and unstained in your heart, and will never fade or grow stale."
Gimli sighed and nodded his head.
"But let us not talk more about it. Look at our boat! She is too low in the water with our baggage and the Anduin is swift." Legolas took a paddle and placed it in the water, steering the boat to the western bank to follow Aragorn's boat now leading them. "I do not wish to drown my grief in cold water this day."
---
Nenime- February
Mellon- friend
Chapter 9- Departure
16 Nénimë 3019- Banks of the Anduin
Yet another fortnight passed, and Legolas found himself standing on the banks of the Anduin, looking out over the calm waters, a fine mist of grey encircling the trees on either side and settling atop the oddly placid surface. No matter how much he tried to calm his mind, he could not help but have a horribly ominous feeling that things were not going to get any better from here on out. Of course he had experienced this feeling the entire journey, but now here and facing the wilds and evils of the land, with no extremely friendly realm in between them and Mordor, it began to worry him more. He was almost sure their situation would come to dire straits before it could recover. If it would ever recover once they had reached that state.
Legolas sighed heavily to himself and moved away from the bank, walking over to help load the canoes that would help them navigate the ebb and tide of the Great River. Many elves had come to see them off, including the Lord and Lady, but not even the loveliness of this sight could make him feel any better about their state situation. With a resigned sigh, Legolas started placing bundles of leaf-wrapped lembas into the nearest boat, explaining to the hobbits what it was, but that did not help to move his mind to happier things either. It made him think of the friends he would leave behind- the friends he now counted as an extended family in Lórien. Family that he would never see again. Like his father...
It was strange to him that he had not really though of these things when he accepted his position in the Fellowship in Imladris, but now it was all he could think about. He would miss his friends and laughing at their jests. He would miss the quiet comfort of his chambers in the great cave, the warm fire in front of him, warming his skin. Elbereth, he would even miss the spiders and the evil elf maid Nindë! Those things at least made him think he was safe and in a world where there was not greater evil abound. But leaving Lórien and these elves drove into like a spear that he may not live to see these things restored and maintained.
Oh what a place it was to be... between a rock and a hard spot.
At least he could still call the March Warden a friend. Once he had apologized to Haldir for his less than chivalrous behavior, he had spent time with him out scouting, and even more time in Haldir's home, enjoying the comforts of a warm and love-filled talan. If he had gone down to his companions in the Fellowship, he would have received much of the same welcome, but never in the exact same way that Indilisse and Emlin welcomed him, and the way Thoron sat for hours while he told him stories of Mirkwood. And never could Pippin or Merry, while quite full of gaiety all of the time, have such an interesting time baking as did the ladies of the House of the March Warden or make him laugh so much.
Taking a corner form one of the lembas cakes, Legolas placed it on his tongue and sighed. He smiled to himself for the first time on this unpromising morning, remembering the day when he walked into the talan to find Indilisse and Emlin carefully mixing the concoction that would be formed into lembas cakes the following day. However, he quickly found out that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he noticed Indilisse grasp a small handful of flour and throw it teasingly at Emlin's face. Emlin was quite surprised when her mother did this, but soon it was reciprocated with laughter and another handful of flour. Haldir had come from the side room, completely bypassing the flinging of the white substance, pushing Legolas out the door, muttering something about it being better if he just stayed out of it.
He noticed Indilisse and Emlin make their way out from the trees and onto the open banks of the river, carrying with them their own lembas-filled leaves. Gimli stopped in front of them, offering to take the gift, and they smiled at him. Emlin said a few things to him and chuckled at what Gimli then said. Haldir had not been too happy when Emlin had gone with him to meet his other companions, especially when she came back from the meeting saying how wonderful the dwarf was. But even Legolas, who had hated Dwarves for so long, found himself warming up to the fact that he was sharing his space with one. It would take time and patience if he would ever call Gimli mellon, but it was becoming apparent to him that even Dwarves were not so bad and were not so greedy. At least Gimli was not.
"Cram," Legolas heard Gimli say curiously under his breath, taking and breaking a corner off one of the breads. Obviously surprised at its taste, he quickly downed the rest of the cake.
Emlin laughed at him, "No more, no more! You have eaten enough for an entire army to march for a day!"
"I thought it was only a kind of cram, my ladies," said the dwarf.
"So it is," Indilisse answered. "But we call it lembas, or whey bread, and it is more strengthening than any food made by Men, and it is more pleasant than cram."
"Aye, it certainly is." Gimli said. "You surely are kind hosts!"
"All the same, we bid you spare the food," Indilisse said. "Eat a little at a time and only at need, for these things are given to serve you when all else fails. One will keep a traveler on his feet for a day of long labor, even if he is one of the tall Men of Minas Tirith."
Gimli nodded his head and hurried away with the leaf wrappings, to place them in the canoes already filled with everything else that they would need for the rest of their journey. Haldir joined his wife and daughter, speaking with them quietly until he was called away to help Aragorn with the fixing of some device he carried. Indilisse and Emlin were quiet and looked around at the sight before them, Emlin excusing herself to speak with her cousin who had come with Rúmil and his wife Narië.
He would miss Indilisse's ever witty humor and her wise words, but he found that he would miss Emlin even more so than Haldir and Indilisse together, even though he had known for far longer than their daughter. It was odd when he realized this, because they really only had but a blink of an eye to spend together, but he found her quite refreshing in the ways she experienced things in such a carefree way. He could not even recall if he had ever seen things in such a youthful way as a youngling, but it did not matter because he could live through her reactions. Her eyes were always so full of emotion when she learned something, or bright and cheerful when she met new people. When they had taken a walk through the gardens together, he loved watching her move about, smelling the flowers and speaking to the birds amidst their baths in the fountains.
That day had been a pleasant day, and not long before this one. He had found Emlin sitting amongst the elanor with a book in her lap, bathed in the midday sunlight and seemingly glowing. She had made no indication that she knew he was near, so he stayed back for a while, watching her as she read. In her eyes there was excitement and splendor, but on her brow there was misunderstanding as she turned a thick page of parchment. Then she let out a light peal of laughter that sounded as though it were the delicate and melodious song of a beautiful bird, sending a shiver up his spine. Oh yes, she had earned her name Aiwamin. Legolas was about to interrupt at that point in her study of the text, but she shifted and lay down on the bright green grass upon her stomach. The honeyed brown hair of hers glistened in the sunlight, falling over her shoulders and hiding her face from him. As if he had asked her himself, she then brushed back her hair behind a pointed ear, and at that moment, he realized how youthful she was. She still had so much to learn, and yet he could see that she was not one to be slow learning these things.
He had been so entranced with her, as she read the story and cared about nothing else in the world but the words leaping from the page, that he had not heard her speak to him. He had been quite embarrassed when she had said that she knew he had been standing there the entire time...
Legolas sighed as he wondered what it would be like to have no care in the world but the ones immediately affecting you. Maybe he would once again be able to feel that if all evil things were vanquished from the land. But then again, that was an almost impossible hope, as there would almost always be evil. He closed his eyes briefly, telling himself that such a despairing attitude would not do well on this quest.
"You have had a month to rest, mellon, I do not think you should be doing that now."
Legolas opened his eyes slowly, finding Indilisse standing before him with a soft smile on her features. "I am not resting, I am only thinking how hard it is to leave Lórien behind once more."
"Lórien or a certain elleth?" Indilisse questioned, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
"I know not what you mean, Indilisse." Legolas said.
She smiled warmly and placed a hand on his cheek, "Legolas, do not play a fool with me. I know that you will miss my daughter greatly in the coming months or possibly years."
"Only as a friend, though, Indilisse." He replied. "I feel almost as if she is a young sibling. One that I never had."
Indilisse sighed and remained quiet for some time, gazing into his eyes. "The next you see her, she shall be fifty, and we will then see what happens."
"I do not understand." Legolas cocked his head to the side, "I would never again pursue anything with Emlin, for the sake of Haldir and you."
"I do not mind if the loyal and honorable prince of Mirkwood courts my daughter. What I do care about, though, is you only using her to take your mind off of other things... like your betrothal." Indilisse said, "Haldir is another problem, but if you have gone through this war and spent a few years of peace with your own people, and you still feel as if no maiden is befitting of your attentions except Emlin, then you will do what you have to do. War changes people, though, and you may find what naïveté was once appealing to you, may no longer be."
Legolas tried to make sense of what she was saying. There had never been a thought in his head that he would ever fall in love with Emlin, or even wish to court her, he had simply wanted a diversion. But the way Indilisse spoke it seemed she thought something entirely different was the reason for his actions since first meeting her. "Indilisse, what are you saying to me? It is almost an approval to court her, but all in the same breath you are telling me that she is not right for me."
"All I say is that even though she shall be fifty, she will still be young and her mind may not be ready for your attentions." Indilisse said, and began to say something else, but their attentions were pulled to two lines forming beside them. Celeborn stood with seven others, holding garments of soft grey in their hands as the Fellowship lined up facing them. Emlin found herself in front of Legolas, he did not know if it was by chance or planning, but he was glad to once again look in her eyes. He smiled broadly, a feeling of complacence washing over him as he gazed at her. Though, as soon as she smiled back, she was moved out of the way so Haldir could stand before him.
Emlin shot Haldir a disgusted look when he handed her the garment for Frodo, whom she was now standing in front of, and he then took the longer one in her arms. An argument could have erupted, Legolas supposed, but it was forgotten when Celeborn started speaking to them. Each of the elves stepped forward and placed the grey cloaks on their shoulders and secured the bright green leaf brooch of Lórien each cloak was adorned with. He watched from the corner of his eyes as Emlin bent over and did this to Frodo. She smiled warmly at the hobbit before standing back. Anyone who was near the ring that hung around Frodo's neck would feel the power of it. Even he felt the power of it when he was in any distance of the hobbit, but oddly enough, Emlin did not seem to change at all as her hands surely grazed the golden band with her fingers.
Again, his attention of Emlin was taken by the elves now moving away from them and Galadriel stepping in front of them, bearing gifts to each of the members of the Fellowship. Aragorn was gifted first with a clear green jewel from the Lady, and Legolas sighed heavily, thinking of Arwen now in Rivendell, and probably worrying for the sake of Aragorn because her father would not allow her go to fight this war herself. Had she gone on to Valinor?
Next, Boromir was given a golden belt, and to Merry and Pippin belts of silver and a dagger each.
The Lady finally glanced up at him and smiled, handing him a long bow of finely carven wood, encircled with golden leafs, and a string of elf-hair tied tightly to both ends. "To you Legolas, I give a bow of the Galadhrim. It is worthy of the skill of our Woodland kin."
She moved on to Sam as he admired the bow and a fine quiver was then also placed in his hands. While admiring the fine craftsmanship of the quiver, his attention was diverted by a flash of blue. Legolas glanced up and saw Indilisse and Emlin heading back for the line of trees and the city. The need to run to them and say his final farewells was nearly overwhelming, especially to Emlin since he had yet to speak with her, but with Galadriel now standing before them, he was unsure if he should or not.
Emlin smiled at him, giving him a wave of her hand before disappearing behind the dense foliage. Legolas felt himself sigh heavily and look back at the rest of his friends, still admiring their precious gifts from the Lady. His thoughts, though, were interrupted once again by Aragorn calling their attention to start loading the canoes. With a shrug of his shoulders, Legolas turned on his toes to walk towards the large roots of a mallorn reaching out into the river that served as docking places for these light elven boats. He helped the hobbits and Gimli into the boats before a final blessing from the Lady.
Soon their journey was once again underway, with the swift current of the river sweeping their boats along with little need for paddling with the leaf-shaped oars. Legolas found himself watching the scenery as it passed by, ever changing with each little bit, the types of trees slowly changing. They reached the outermost borders of Lórien, and reality overtook him as he realized the protection of the Lady and the Wood was no longer around them. He had the opportunity to stay in Lórien to wait out these evil times, or until they called upon him for help. He had that chance to leave his companions, but he knew this was what he must do. He must do it for his home, for the fair earth he shared and for everything else that he loved in this world.
"I have looked the last upon which is fairest," Gimli spoke to him. "Henceforward I will call nothing fair, unless it be her gift."
"What did she give you?" Legolas asked quietly.
"I asked for one hair from her golden head." He said softly, placing a hand to his breast. "She gave me three."
Legolas smiled slightly and gazed down at the back of Gimli's head. "I count you blessed, Gimli son of Glóin: for your loss you suffer of your own free will. You could have chosen otherwise. The least reward you shall have for not forsaking your companions is the memory of Lothlórien clear and unstained in your heart, and will never fade or grow stale."
Gimli sighed and nodded his head.
"But let us not talk more about it. Look at our boat! She is too low in the water with our baggage and the Anduin is swift." Legolas took a paddle and placed it in the water, steering the boat to the western bank to follow Aragorn's boat now leading them. "I do not wish to drown my grief in cold water this day."
---
Nenime- February
Mellon- friend