Chapter25

Aragorn, obeying Gandalf's last wish, marshaled us out of the caves. Legolas carried me, while the others stumbled on in their grief.

Once we got outside, Legolas put me down, and with numb fingers, I searched in my pack, for things to clean up my face. I would worry about my shoulder later.

Frodo had collapsed in a heap sobbing and Pippin and Merry wept holding onto one another. Sam sank down and covered his face. Boromir did likewise, while Legolas moved away seeking solitude. Gimli was consumed, and Aragorn stood facing the mines silently.

I pressed my lips together and didn't utter a sound. The flute produced a plant for me that when I crushed between my fingers and applied to the wound, stopped the bleeding. Next it produced a thin knife like blade.

Tears were pricking my eyes as I made my way over to Aragorn. "I...I need your help." I said. And pulled the fabric back from my shoulder, exposing the splintered shaft.

"An arrow too? Why, weren't we busy." Aragron said with a tight smile. I handed him the blade and sat down. Then I ripped the hem off my skirt, and used it to silence myself as he cut.

When he was finished, he bandaged me, and said to the rest, "We must keep moving. I fear we can't linger here."

The others looked up, tear-streaked. "Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" Shouted Boromir.

"By nightfall these hill will be swarming with orcs! Legolas, help me get them up." Answered Aragron, and with that started pulling hobbits to their feet...

XXX

We headed down the road to the gates, and soon reached the Silverode. Which, though far too cold to drink, was a wondrous sight.

We traveled all of that day. The next we went only half, before we came upon Lothlorien.

Legolas rejoiced, Gimli scowled, and the rest of the company felt lightened. Later on, only after an hour or so, we came to the Nimrodel

Legolas, in his clear elf voice sang us a tale of the maiden with a name twin to the stream's. It was beautiful, and I decided to write some poetry down, in the blank pages of the book Arwen had given me. I had had quite a knack for it before.

We carried on after a bit, and Gimli shared with us his points on Lothlorien. "They say that an elf witch abides in this wood. And all those who look upon her are took under her spell. They are never seen again."

Another nightfall approached swiftly, and Legolas presented the idea of sleeping in the trees. "I am at home in them," he pronounced, "I will climb up and find what I may for us." He said.

"That is all well for YOU Legolas, but I cannot sleep on a perch like a bird." Protested Pippin ruefully, as Merry and Sam nodded. Frodo and I grinned at each other.

"Nor can I elf. I will not succumb to sleeping in a tree. I will take my chances on the ground if it comes to that. I have the eyes of a hawk, and the ears of a fox." Said Gimli.

Legolas laughed, and sprang up swiftly to grab a branch high above his head. "Then dig a hole for yourself, master hobbit, if that is more the fashion of your kind." He said with a smile, ignoring Gimli completely. But as he swung there momentarily, a commanding voice from above shouted, "DARO!"

Legolas dropped back to the earth in surprise, and I covered my mouth to stifle the laughter that had been caused by the look on his face. "Be still!" Hissed Legolas, "Do not move or speak." He said to us.

Soft laughter could be heard above us in the trees, and I smiled. Two silver-haired elves dropped to the foot of the tree, and looked sternly at us.

One of them turned to Gimli, and smiling smugly, pronounced, "A dwarf BREATHES so loud, we could have shot him in the dark."

Gimli paled slightly, and turned to Aragorn, "Aragorn, these woods are perilous, we should go back."

But Aragorn, seemingly, had recognized one of the elves. "Haldir, of Lorien, we come seeking your help." He said pleadingly.

The elf he had spoken too, nodded curtly. "She has been expecting you. We were sent to look for your company. But I had heard that there were nine and one..." He said.

Aragorn spat out a word in elvish, and shook his head sadly.

"Very well," said Haldir, "Follow me." And with that he began to lead us on...

OOO

"Now Friends," He started, (throwing an evil look at Gimli,) "You have entered the Naith of Lorien, or the Gore, as you would say. We allow no strangers to spy out the secrets of the Naith. Few indeed are permitted even to set foot here."

My companions nodded, but couldn't see where Haldir was going with this, except for Legolas. Who looked both pleased, and a bit smug. A small smile on his mouth.

"As was agreed," Haldir continued, looking briefly at The Prince of Mirkwood, "We shall bind the eyes of Gimli the dwarf. The others may walk freely for a time, until we come nearer to our dwelling." Haldir nodded, and an elf approached Gimli.

"WHAT!" Roared Gloin's son, "That agreement was made without my consent; I will not walk blindfolded like a beggar or a prisoner. I am no spy, and I am no more likely to betray you than Legolas, here." He spat, elbowing him.

"Gimli, please..." I started. But he shook his head, obstinate.

"I do not doubt you, but it is our law..."Continued Haldir.

"I will go freely or I will go back."

"You cannot not go back. You have entered their realm, and so you must be brought before the Lord and Lady." Said Haldir sternly. Gimli drew his axe from his belt, and the elven companions bent their bows.

"A plague on Dwarves, and their stiff necks!" Cried Legolas.

"Come!" Said Aragorn, "If I am still to lead this company, you must do as I bid...It is hard for the dwarf, to be thus singled out. We will all be blindfolded, even Legolas. That will be best. Though the way will be slow."

I turned to Gimli, as he laughed. "A merry troop of fools we shall look! Will Haldir lead us all on a string? Like many blind beggars with one dog?" He shook his head. "But I will be content, if only Legolas here shares my blindness."

"I am an elf, and kinsman here," said Legolas, becoming angry in turn.

I sighed. "Now let us cry, a plague on the stiff necks of elves!" Aragorn and I said simultaneously. He looked at me with a smile. I looked at the others, both Boromir, and the hobbits watched the unfolding scene with delight, and confusion on their faces.

"The company shall all fare alike." Said Aragorn. "Come Haldir, bind our eyes."

XXX

And walk blind we did. I think I would have been grateful for a trip and fall on the way. But the paths were very straight and smooth. And if not for the feel of dirt under my toes, I would have thought I was not walking on the ground anymore.

Pippin and Merry were having a grand old time otherwise. I could hear the commotion they were making. Apparently they had thought it would be amusing to kick their companions in the legs, albeit softly, then try to guess the target.

With a laugh I exclaimed, "If you kick me one more time, Peregrin, future Thain of Tuckborough, you shall land on your bottom, so harshly in the dirt, you will feel it for weeks."

I heard peals of laughter. "Hey!" Exclaimed Pippin, "That last one was Merry!" I burst into laughter myself.

"Both of you just wait until I get my blindfold taken off...", I said menacingly.

We continued to walk, and I recalled some of the verse that Legolas had sung. Having nothing better to do, and glad I couldn't see the faces of my companions, I began to sing it myself, "An elven maid there was of old, a shining star by day; her mantle white and hemmed with gold, her shoes of silver-grey..."

I heard good natured chuckles, and after I took a deep breath and continued, I was joined by the voices of Aragorn and Legolas...

"A star was bound upon her brows, a light was on her hair, as sun upon the golden boughs in Lorien the fair..." We sang.

By the third verse Haldir and his companions sang too, and later Sam and Frodo sang along, softly. The tweens were silent, as were Gimli and Boromir...

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Author: Hope you all liked it. Ha ha ha. Next chapter coming soon!

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To Scottiechick2004: Ha ha ha! 'Hurry! Run to the computer quick' you said, and run I did. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thanx 4 the reviews.

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