As they walked through Caras Galadon the green ways were empty; but in the trees above them many voices were murmuring and singing. They themselves went silently; it seemed to Rhian, as she looked about at their company, that each was trying to absorb the peace and beauty of Lorien, to soak it in as a guard against the perils that lay ahead. They went at last down a path that passed through the rolling woodlands of silver shadow, going down towards the shores of the River.
It was noon by the time they reached it- Rhian looked across the water to the further shore, and the woodlands there seemed bleak and desolate, for no mallorn grew beyond the Land of Lorien. Haldir took the down the bank of the Silverlode, where there was a hythe of white stones and white wood. There were many boats moored there, and four grey boats had been made ready for them. As the elves took their gear and stowed it, the hobbits eyed the small craft warily.
"'Tisn't right," Sam muttered. "Messing around on the water- not natural."
"I've nothing against boats," Merry said. "I've even been known to go out on them, occasionally. Comes of being a Brandybuck- we're just naturally braver than you Hobbiton folk."
There were several loud snorts from the other hobbits at that, and Pippin went forward, muttering to himself. The elves looked on in good humor as he edged out on the landing, eased one leg into the boat, then followed it with the rest of him in an ungraceful tumble. It rocked back and forth as he sat up shakily. "Only a little wobbly!" he called. Merry snorted.
It took the encouragement of both Aria and Frodo to get Sam into one of the boats, and he nearly tipped himself in more than once. Still, he faired better than Merry and Pippin, who overturned their boat almost immediately once they were both in it.
The boats were at last launched some time later- Aragorn in the first with Frodo, Aria, and Sam, Erin and Rhian together- Rhian, laughing, finally had to admit she most certainly could not row- then Boromir with Merry and Pippin, Legolas and Gimli behind. The last boat was laden with most of the packs and goods. They turned into the current, moving on up the Silverlode. There was a deep silence as they passed under the trees, where their branches stretched over the water- as Rhian watched, a golden leave swirled down gently, to float for a moment and then sink. She sighed and lifted her face to look ahead, around the bend in the river, and cried out with pleasure when she saw the craft that awaited them.
It was a great white boat, shaped with exquisite beauty into the likeness of a swan, its wings half lifted from the water. In it sat Celeborn, and beside him stood Galadriel, shining like a star with golden flowers on her brow. She held a harp in her hands, and she sang. Rhian closed her eyes and let the sound wash over her. It held in it the sadness of elms and cedars when they relinquish their leaves in autumn. Spring had come before, but this year it would be diminished for them and altered to a different land.
Then they were turned back to the hythe, where they ate and drank upon the grass in farewell to the Lord and Lady. When all was finished, and the cup of farewell had been brought to each of the company, the Lady bade them stand before her and receive her gifts.
To Aragorn she gave a sheath of great beauty for Anduril, the sword that was broken and reforged. She spoke to him at length in a soft voice, and gave him also a green stone, set in a silver brooch like an eagle with its wings spread.
To Boromir she gave a belt of gold, and to Merry and Pippin belts of silver, clasped with flowers of wrought gold.
To Legolas she gave a bow of the Galadrim, and a quiver of arrows.
To Sam, a box of earth from her orchard, and to Gimli three strands of golden hair.
To the Ring-bearer, she gave a phial of starlight.
To Aria she spoke at length, and then touched her head in blessing before taking Frodo aside to speak with him.
To Erin she gave a belt of silver, and a small white knife traced with silver flowers. "May you have peace, my child," the Lady said. "I can not give you what it is that you wish, but I send my blessings with you, and a wish that you take some of the peace of Lorien away in your heart." Erin bowed her head and did not speak.
To Rhian, she gave a leather case, with a strap to be worn across the chest, and when the golden leaf of the buckle was undone and the case opened, she drew out a beautiful harp.
Rhian took the instrument with reverent hands, automatically resting it against her shoulder, fingers tracing lightly over the delicate work that twined over the curved frame. Interlacing vines in patterns that were both simple and complex covered it, but there was no other ornamentation but the fine sheen of the dark, glowing wood. The strings glinted in the sunlight, and Rhian stroked her fingers across them lightly. The sound was such that caused hearts to be broken and made whole again, all at once. The company seemed to catch its breath all at once, and Aria made a small sound- her lovely eyes sparkled with tears. Rhian looked to Galadriel as if for permission, then sank down on the grass, so that the harp could sit on her knee, and free both hands for playing. Cradling it to her shoulder like a baby, she began to play, drifting through chords, then slowly starting a simple melody. She began to sing softly, in little more than a whisper, as though she were unaware of what she was doing.
Oh Bonny Portmore, you shine where you stand
And the more I think on you the more I think long
If I had you now as I had once before
All the Lords in Old England would not purchase Portmore.
Oh Bonny Portmore I am sorry to see
Such a woeful destruction of your ornament tree
For it stood on your shore for many's the long day
Till the long boats of Antrim came to float it away.
All the birds in the forest they bitterly weep
Saying, "Where will we shelter, where will we sleep?"
For the oak and the ash they are all cutten down
And the walls of Bonny Portmore are all down to the ground.
Oh Bonny Portmore, you shine where you stand
And the more I think on you the more I think long
If I had you now as I had once before
All the Lords in Old England would not purchase Portmore.
She stopped, her hands stilling the strings, but the final mournful notes echoed across the sward.
"What is this place that you sing of?" Galadriel asked finally.
"In Ireland, on the shore of Lough Beg, there was a great oak once...but the forests there were cut down, long ago. Long ago..." Rhian lifted her head, looking out and away, to where the golden forests of Lorien shone in the sunlight, but her eyes were blurred with tears and she could not see. The elven queen cupped her chin, gazing into her face; she kissed her forehead and released her.
"Farewell, my child."
Now they were gone in truth from Lorien, and sadly Rhian watched as the golden land seemed to slip away behind them.
A/N: And there you are. I finally got them out of Lorien (not that I didn't want to hang out there forever, but you know how it is. Hanging out in peace and harmony doesn't make for much of an adventure story, and besides, Bryan and Jonathan and Lianne all got left hanging. So on to the exciting stuff! *bells and whistles and horns and drums and wot-not* Also, it occurred to me that for those who would like to hear some of this music I have been gleefully tossing about, I would be happy to record a verse or so and email it to you so you can get an idea of how it sounds. Mind you, they'll be bad recordings, and of my voice, and will take up lots of space in your inbox because sound files are, by nature, massive, but at least you'll get to hear the tune. Just review or email me (big_sissie@hotmail.com or the_eldest_princess@hotmail.com) with the song you'd like to hear, and I'll see what I can do for you. Anyway, I'm going to start writing the next chapter right now, so we'll see how soon I get that out. Exciting stuff should start happening soon, so watch this space! And please review. I love reviews. Reviewers get cookies. And gift-baskets. And I'll make you my minions when I take over the world. What fun, neh?