Note: Excerpts are taken from the book.
Chapter 9 - Caras Galadon.
Shysa rolled her eyes at her friend. Pippin was always hungry, but then it was in the nature of a hobbit to eat a lot.
Rúmil laughed and getting up he said I shall get the visitors some food before we set off. And he went back down the ladder as Pippin followed him...leaving Shysa and Haldir alone again.
"And you didn't wake me up?" Shysa continued.
"You hate being woke up." Haldir pointed out, "You would have probably just mumbled something and turned away."
"Just say the word 'fight' and I'm up remember?"
Haldir sighed. Some things never change.
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.
It was dusk when the Fellowship and their guides came to the city of the Galadrim.
"Welcome to Caras Galadon!" Haldir said. "Here is the city of the Galadrim where dwell the Lord Celeborn and Galadriel the Lady of Lórien. But we cannot enter here, for the gates do not look northward. We must go round to the southern side and the way is not short, for the city is great."
Shysa groaned in despair. "More walking?" she whined.
Haldir looked at her in shock. "Did you just whine?"
"Yeah."
"Horror of Horrors!" He exclaimed mockingly. "The impervious Sith Lady is complaining!"
"Yeah and she's complaining of walking. And I'm not a Sith any more. I can admit to weaknesses now."
So after, to Shysa's dismay, more walking the Fellowship reached the gates and entered in only to be brought before the Elf Lord and Lady of Lórien to speak with them.
When all the guests were seated Lord Celeborn spoke. "Here there are nine and nine set out from Rivendell. But where is Gandalf the Grey?"
"Gandalf the Grey set out with the company, but he did not pass the borders of this land. Now tell us where he is; for I much desired to speak with him again. But I cannot see him from afar unless he comes from the fences of Lothlórien: a grey mist is about him, and the ways of his feet and of his mind are hidden from." The Lady Galadriel spoke to the fellowship.
As Aragorn related the tale of what happened to Gandalf, Shysa seemed to recognize the Elf Lady before her.
When Shysa brought herself up out of the depths of her mind she heard the voice of Lady Galadriel speaking. "But even now there is still hope left. (This is what brought Shysa back to the present) I will not give you counsel, saying do this, or do that. For not in doing or contriving, nor in choosing between this course and another, can I avail; but only in knowing what was and is, and in part also what shall be. But this I will say to you: your Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while all the company is true."
And with that word she held them with her eyes, and in silence looked searchingly at each of them in turn. None save Legolas and Aragorn could long endure her glance. Sam quickly blushed and hung his head. And Shysa? Well…Shysa wasn't even looking at Galadriel. She was gazing longingly at Haldir. Galadriel turned away from Shysa with a sad smile and continued. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Tonight you shall sleep in peace."
"Go now!" said Celeborn. You are worn with sorrow and much toil. Even if your Quest did not concern us closely, you should have refuge in this City, until you were healed and refreshed. Now you will rest, and we will not speak of your further road for a while."
The Fellowship slept on the ground much to the satisfaction of the Hobbits. For a little while the travelers talked of their night before in the tree-tops, and of their days journey, and of the Lord and Lady; for they had not yet the heart to look further back.
"What did you blush for Sam?" said Pippin. "You soon broke down. Anyone would have thought you had a guilty conscience."
"I felt as if I hadn't got nothing on, and I didn't like it. She seemed to be looking inside me and asking me what I would do if I had a chance of flying back home to the Shire to a nice little hole with—with a bit of garden of my own."
"That's funny," said Merry. "Almost exactly what I felt myself; only, only well, I don't think I'll say any more," he finished lamely.
All of them, it seemed, had fared alike: each had felt that he was offered a choice between a shadow full of fear that lay ahead, and something that he greatly desired: clear before his mind it lay, and to get it he had to turn aside from the roads and leave the Quest and the war against Sauron to others.
Gimli and Boromir also spoke their thoughts on the matter.
And as for Frodo, he would not speak, though Boromir pressed him with questions. "Sge held you long in her gaze Ring-bearer," he said.
"Yes," said Frodo; "but whatever came into my mind then I will keep there."
"Well have a care!" said Boromir. "I do not feel too sure of this Elvish Lady and her purposes."
"Speak no evil of the Lady Galadriel!" exclaimed Shysa and Aragorn sternly. "You know not what you say." Aragorn continued at Boromir. "There is in her and in this land and no evil, unless a man bring it hither himself. Then let him beware! But tonight I shall sleep without fear for the first time since I left Rivendell. And may I sleep deep, and forget a while my grief! I am weary in body and in heart." He cast himself down upon his couch and fell at once into a long sleep.
Boromir then rounded on Shysa. "And she held your gaze not at all Miss Fett. Why is this so?"
Shysa mumbled and looked down at her feet.
"I didn't hear what you said Miss Fett."
"I said," Shysa replied a little louder, glaring at him, "that I wasn't looking at her at all."
"Were you paying attention to what was said earlier?" Boromir demanded.
"Yes I was. Though my attention was focused elsewhere I was listening to all that was said by the Lady. Unlike you, though I have never been here, do know when to respect authority and to trust it."
"And I am not authority to you?" Boromir demanded.
"No," said Shysa simply before wandering off to find a more secluded spot to sleep in.
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.
A/N: Review me please.