"The Fellowship are currently passing through the mines of Moria." Haldir said grimly.
"Moria! What devils snare possessed them to go that way?" Idrial cried.
"They could not conquer Cahadras, and the typical company of a dwarf convinced them to travel through Moria. Galadriel received news from her son Lord Elrond, and we were sent to meet them and lead them down the river of Glenduin."
"But Glenduin is treacherous, men I know have been lost on that forsaken river." Berethor added.
"You forget the power Galadriel holds over these regions. And you forget Nenya. Galadriel could stop all currents if she wished. Glenduin is simply used to keep the forces of evil around the plains from reaching Lothlorien. How many orcs would know the password to the gate of Moria so what other path could they take?"
"And you did not find them then?" Idrial said lowering her head.
"No, we reaching the Moria gate only to find it destroyed and simply rubble. The watcher was amok, but we killed it. We lost one of our men to its god-forsaken tentacles. But we have a hope. A dwarf, a wizard, A Dunedain ranger and an elf. We must keep our hopes up that they pass through Moria unscathed."
"And you forget to mention the captain of Gondor, Boromir, is he not honourable to receive a mention?" Berethor growled.
"How typical of a man of Gondor to be so arragant," Haldir sneered.
Berethor steeped forward quickly ready to aim a punch at Haldir, as he faced forward, but Idrial stopped him.
"This is not the time nor' place for this Gondorian," she hushed.
The small, choppy river of Glenduin came into site as morning rose on the East.
Haldir stepped into the edge of the water, muttering. "Sedho, hodo nuitho I' ruith!"
Two of the elves were pulling small wooden boats out of the undergrowth next to them.
"What did he say?" Berethor whispered to Idrial.
"Be still…lie still…hold your wrath," she answered as Haldir beckoned them over.
Three elves travelled behind in one boat, as Haldir, Idrial and Berethor continued ahead. A gushing noise roared behind them. A man's voice echoed overhead.
"Cuiva nwalca Carnirassë! Nai yarvaxëa rasselya taltuva ñotto-cárrinar!" "Its Saruman! Hurry we must escape this danger!" Haldir yelled. Idrial swung round in horror to see the full force of the river gushing after them in a tidal wave. Glenduin had been re-awoken. The waves were smacking off the boats, water pouring in. "The boats shall sink!" Berethor cried. "We must paddle!" As the boats were swept down the river by the wave, every second was dangerous as water began to weigh the boat down. A loud crash was heard and the sound of broken wood and yells. "No!" Haldir cried. The boat carrying the three other elves had been washed under the deathly rapids. Idrial, struggling to fight tears and the water whipped her face and the grief of death, fought twice as hard against the waves as the trees of Lothlorien came into sight. "Hurry!" Idrial sobbed. "We are close!" But a corner was nearing and the boat was being swept fast. "Row to the side! Row to the side!" Berethor hollered as the boat began to tip near the edge. Idrial screamed as one final wave crashed against the boat and threw it out of the water, onto the wet sand at the edge. The boat was massacred, as the three bodies lay gasping and spluttering. They lay for a while, Idrial sobbing quietly, Berethor entranced and Haldir in shock.Berethor got up. "Come, we must go," he said helping Idrial and Haldir up. "Lothlorien is not far.
They trodded slowly, and dripping with freezing water, past the East Emnet Gullies. The jagged rocks pierced the dim sunlight and far into the distance the exit of Moria could be seen. Idrial stared hoping to see a band of nine dots emerging, but none did.
The woods of Lothlorien welcomed Haldir. The sun shone brighter now, and the ground underfoot was gentle, covered with moss and small flowers. The silvery trees bore juicy fruits and small glittering leaves and everything shone with life as the sun glinted through the spaces.
An elf ran through the trees and met them. He bowed.
"Haldir, your presence has been noted. Lord Celeborn wishes to see you immediately. Come!"
As they quickly wound their way through the trees, after what felt like travelling to the heart of the woods, the trees cleared. A huge open space of giant trunks, shining with lights, and stairs, windows and elves. The heart of Lothlorien.
