CHAPTER XIII – Lothlorien Frost
High in the trees there was a faint candlelight. It's always there; just in case that night was the night her ada came home. She really should be sleeping, but the stars were too bright to ignore. Her ada loved the stars. The winter wind caught her curly hair and blew it over her shoulder as she sat on her chair, leaning against the windowsill. This was not the first night she had fallen asleep there waiting for him to come home.
The next morning, her naneth found her, frost gently painted on her hair, and tucked her back into bed. A familiar chickadee was sitting on the window with a tiny piece of rolled parchment tied to its ankle. Quietly and cautiously, she took the parchment off and read it. Teli bar, Ada Come home, father.
"Come home, Legolas," she said sorrowfully, dropping the parchment out the window.
8p classMsoNormal style'text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;punctuation-wrap:simple;text-autospace:none'>In mournful silence, the Fellowship followed Aragorn through the weaving paths of the forest. The wind was refreshing, but bit where tears still marked their presence. The hobbits were still crying despite the day's journey away from the mountain. Even though they had stopped last night, no one had slept. Boromir occasionally grabbed Gimli's shoulder when he felt himself beginning to falter. And, not for the first time, Aragorn wanted everyone to talk; the silence was pushing him down. Legolas was awake, but so pale and cold that it seemed as though he lay dead in Aragorn's arms.They halted again at midday for none had the strength to continue for more than a few hours at a time. Sam made something warm for lunch even though not even he ate all of his. Afterwards, they waited for Aragorn to stand and lead them through the wood, but he did not. He could not.
"Aragorn, I can carry Legolas the rest of the way. You need no more weight," Boromir insisted in such a small voice that he did not sound at all like the son of the Steward of Gondor, a captain of the armies.
Aragorn nodded mechanically. He was so detached that he hardly recalled allowing it until they had walked for another two hours. It would only be a few more until they reached Caras Galadhon, then he would have solitude. "The Nimrodel," he said, waking himself out of a waking dream as he did so. "This river is said to have healing powers. We have now entered the realm of Galadriel."
"Galadriel?" Gimli asked sharply. He turned back to the hobbits and waited momentarily for them. "Stay close, young hobbits. They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell and are never seen again." His Dwarven pride shone through the darkness of his grief. "Here's one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox- oh."
An Elven archer aimed an arrow at his forehead. Others that seemed to have appeared from nowhere, surrounded the Fellowship and drew their bows.
"The Dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark," said a voice that weaved its way through the other Elves. He looked very much like Legolas, but seemed slightly more arrogant.
"Haldir, please," Aragorn asked. "Legolas does not have time." He took a step to the left, revealing the now unconscious Elf in Boromir's arms.
"Follow me," Haldir said urgently.
He led them to a wooden platform high in the trees that made the hobbits very nervous. It was here that they finally paused. The hobbits heaved their packs off their shoulders and sat down. Frodo had an uncomfortable feeling that he was being watched and that he was not alone in his mind. They were stopping for the night, thankfully, but would have continued until dawn had Legolas not woken up.
"Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion, Welcome Legolas, son of Thranduil," Haldir said in a much softer voice.
"Govannas vîn …gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien. Our Fellowship is in your debt, Haldir of Lorien." Legolas said tiredly.
He was going to ask about Eryn and Êlanna, but was interrupted by a very agitated Dwarf.
"So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves. Speak words we can all understand."
Haldir's icy tone had returned. "We have not had dealing with the Dwarves since the Dark Days."
"And do you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul." He had said it with such disdain that it was guessed to be highly rude. The fact that Aragorn hit him afterwards confirmed it.
"Haldir, man od Eryn? Haldir, what of Eryn?" Legolas asked weakly, on the verge of being taken by unconsciousness.
"He na mae, She is well," Haldir replied. "Legolas-" He felt guilt sink into his chest when he found it pointless to continue as Legolas had fallen into darkness once again. "You will follow me," Haldir said bluntly to the Fellowship.
"Naneth! Naneth! Aragorn is here!" Eryn cried excitedly, pointing so frantically out the window that she bounced. "Look, Naneth!" And she jumped up and ran out to the stairs.
Êlanna placed her book down in time to watch her six-year-old daughter scamper out of the room. She had been so engaged in her thoughts that the only word to catch her ears was "Aragorn". That could not be right…could it? "Eryn!" she cried after her child, running to the doorway to see her running carefully down each step in her white nightgown. "Eryn, come back!" But Eryn was already down two flights of stairs. As she followed, Êlanna muttered to herself, "That child is so alike with her father…" Please, let him be there.
"Bring him up to the flet. Galadriel will tend to him," Haldir beckoned to the Company. "Quickly."
Aragorn looked back at the hobbits, who looked so exhausted that sleeping even that far above ground would be sleep much welcomed. He then turned back and stared at Boromir for a long moment. Boromir smiled weakly, fatigue weighing in his eyes. Returning the gesture, Aragorn turned to Haldir. "I will take Legolas, our Company is tired.""
"As are you, mellon nîn-"
"Aragorn!" Eryn called, nearly tripping on the hem of her nightgown. "Aragorn, you're here! Galadriel said you were coming!" She stumbled down the last few stairs and ran towards him, curly hair springing around on her shoulders.
"Eryn!" Aragorn caught her up in his arms and hugged her tightly. Such an angel… Tears stung in his eyes for he knew he would have to let go and when he did… she would see Legolas. How could he explain; the blood, the burns, the trembling, the tears? What do you say to a little girl who can barely remember her father and when you bring him back, he's dying?
She let go and asked, "Where is Ada?"
Boromir stepped back into the shadow of the trees with the hobbits.
Aragorn closed his eyes and a tear fell down his cheek. With a tiny hand, Eryn brushed the tear away. "Why are you crying?"
"Eryn, do not run off like that," Êlanna scolded, taking Eryn of the Man's arms.
"See, Naneth! I told you Aragorn was here!"
"So you did," she replied, staring deeply into Aragorn's eyes. He knew what she was asking and nodded towards Eryn. "Haldir, could you…?"
"Of course, Êlanna," he said as he took Eryn and lifted her close to his chest to obstruct her view as much as possible. "Let's get you home."
Eryn's mood changed from excited to extremely crest-fallen. "Where's Ada?"
"He's home, Eryn," Haldir replied. "You'll be able to see him later."
Even this seemed to lift her spirits and she hugged the archer's neck tightly all the way up the steps.
Êlanna waited until she could no longer hear the innocent and hopeful things her daughter was saying then embraced Aragorn, who readily held her and allowed her to weep into his shoulder. "Please tell me you brought him home! Please!"
"Êlanna, I need to warn you…" he could not even think the words let alone say them. "He's…Gandalf… Legolas is far from all right."
"Where is he?"
Aragorn held her elbows and stepped out of the way. Boromir stepped forward, revealing her very pale, very still, very cold husband. Êlanna lost the ability to stand and Aragorn caught her. "Legolas!"
Boromir took a few more steps forward. Êlanna put her hands on Legolas' chest. She did not cry, blink, or move. Silently she watched his chest rise and fall.
"We must get him to Galadriel," Aragorn said. Boromir nodded and crossed to the stairs, Êlanna's hands falling limply to her sides. "Êlanna, will you be all right?"
"He's bleeding…"
"I know, Êlanna."
"Eryn is waiting for him…"
"I will stay with her. Legolas needs you." Aragorn took her hand and kissed her on the cheek. "Go."
For a brief moment she stood still then turned and ran to catch up with her husband.
Aragorn went slowly to Êlanna's home, searching for an explanation in his mind. Even then he did not have enough time. He found Haldir just leaving Eryn's room. "She wants to know when she can see her father."
"I know. Êlanna's with Legolas, so I'll stay with Eryn."
"You need sleep-"
"I need to look after Eryn. Legolas will want to see you, I'm sure."
Haldir nodded and grasped Aragorn's shoulder before he left.
"Eryn," Aragorn said when he entered. She was standing by the window with something in her palm. Aragorn knelt beside her. "Who's this?" he asked, regarding the chickadee.
"His name is Herald," she replied, holding the tiny bird very close to Aragorn. "He's been taking my messages to Ada, that's why Ada has come home." She set Herald on the windowsill and ran to her bed, jumping so that she could land on the mattress. Aragorn sat down beside her and pulled the blankets up to her chest. As she squirmed to get comfortable, she asked, "Where is he? When can I see him?"
"He's in the infirmary, honey."
"I missed you calling me that. Naneth doesn't like honey, so she only ever calls me 'Eryn' or 'baby', even though I'm six now. Ada called me 'honey' too, but he hasn't been home for a long time. Sometimes, Naneth says that I should not be afraid because you'll always love me and protect me."
"Why does she say that?"
"She tells me so after she yells at the Valar for taking Ada away. She only ever yells at them anymore. They took away his smile, she said, and his song. When I pray, I apologize for her. I know that the Valar did not take away his smile and his song."
"How?" Aragorn found it disbelieving how optimistic Eryn still naturally was considering that she was just disallowed to see her own father. Her happiness was slowly starting to bring back memories of happier days, shining through the darkness that Aragorn felt like he had been dropped into.
"Because Ada told me that I was his smile and he always sang to me. He loved to sing, and play his violin. But Naneth doesn't seem to remember that and she yells and that's when I have to explain to the Valar that she just gets upset because she cannot remember, she doesn't mean it. Did Ada smile and sing for you?"
"He used to."
"Why doesn't he anymore?"
"Eryn, what has your mother told you?"
"Naneth said that Ada was robbed when he went away. I was only a baby, then. Ada's brother can't visit me because he can't see, so it's just Naneth and me. Haldir comes sometimes. He makes good chocolate tea and I like him, but he does not sing like Ada does."
"What did you Ada sing for you?"
"Many things, but there's one song that he sang the most. Naneth cries because I don't remember the words," she admitted sadly. "I try, but no matter what… I just can't remember."
They both sat silently for a long moment. "Can we go see Ada now?" Eryn asked.
"Your Ada is resting now. We can go see him tomorrow, though."
"Why is Ada tired?"
"Something really bad happened… bad things that should not have happened-" things I could've stopped- "Now that he can be with you, I'm sure he'll be happier. You are his smile, after all," he said, smiling- truly smiling- himself.
"You're tired, too," she observed, moving to the other side of the bed. "If you don't sleep, you might get sick." With much effort, Eryn folded the thick covers over. "This bed is the comfiest. If you sleep here, you'll be happy tomorrow."
Aragorn smiled and lay down beside her. He blew out the candle and rested his head on the pillows, closed his eyes. He felt Eryn cuddle close to him and quickly fell asleep…