Shay lay limply in someone's arm, her eyes glazed over with grief.
Gandalf was everything to her, he had taught Elix and her everything they knew when they came here.
It hurts, by Valar, it hurts, her heart feels like it's slowly being ripped apart.
"Legolas, get them up!" she heard Aragorn shouted.
"Give them a moment for pity's sake!" Boromir cried.
Aragorn replied, his face under iron control, "By nightfall this hills will be swarming with orcs, we must reach Lothlorien!"
Shay blinked her tears back, Aragorn's right, there's no use weeping and whining now, they have a job to do. Pushing back all the pain and grief Shay pried the arms around her open and slowly stood up.
Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Legolas looked at her worrily, oh it was him, he stopped her...
Than she turned to look for her brother, and found him staring into space.
Slowly she walked towards her sibling, "Come on Elix, we have a job to do, don't be a crybaby," she said roughly.
Elix turned to looked at her blankly, but finally he nodded.
They turned toward the direction of Lothlorien and started walking.
On the way they passed Merry and Pippin, Shay stopped and with her arms she pulled the two crying hobbits up and dragged them with her.
They looked at her with confusion, Shay looked back coldly and said nothing.
They lumbered toward the Golden Woods, each one of them heavy with unshed tears and grief, finally after crossing Nimrodel they had at last stepped into the lands of Lothlorien.
"Don't fall behind, little ones," Gimli said gruffly to the hobbits, "They say a powerful elf-witch lives here, and all who meets her were never seen again," than he added proudly, "But here is one dwarf she won't catch so easily, I have the eyes of hawk..." he suddenly broke off when Shay raised her hand. She had been walking with the hobbits and she could hear something, something that's not part of the trees.
Shay leaned against one of the trees warily, than raising her voice she said, "Come out, come out whereever you are!" than getting no response except for the Fellowship who had stopped to stare at her she added louder, "Haldir of Lothlorien, if you don't get your arse out here I am seriously going to go beserk on you!"
This time a voice spoke suddenly from the tree-shadows in Elvish and to the Company's surprise Shay replied back in the same Silvan tongue with ease.
Than a soft laughter sounded and elves emerged out of the shadows of the trees. They were clad in shadowy-grey, and could not be seen among the tree-stems, unless they moved suddenly.
"Welcome!" the Elf then said in Common Language, speaking slowly, "I see you have brought company with you, Shay."
He looked at them slowly and his eyes stopped on Gimli, "And a dwarf, that is not well, we have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days."
"And you know what this dwarf says to..." before Gimli could finish his insult Shay raised her hand again, this time her wariness was apparent, "Shut up you two, Gimli is my friend, I would vouch for him with my life, so Haldir if you think there is any problem you can shoot me without me complaining."
Haldir raised his eyebrows, "You brought great evil with you."
Shay closed her eyes and said, "I thought Lady Galadriel knew we were coming."
"Yes, but you can go no further, if they be with you." Haldir said.
"Oh, no f way!" Elix exclaimed, "Shay!"
Shay opened her eyes, and Legolas who stood by her looked at them in surprise, for they had deepened into a dark velvety brown that's almost dark enough to be black, "I know you fear for Lothlorien if you let us in, but may I remind you we are weary, and if Frodo gets caught with the Ring you won't have a Lothlorien to fear for."
Aragorn came over too and said something along the lines of that too, Shay was too tired to care, she could see black dots in front of her eyes.
Finally Haldir replied, "Very well, he turned to Shay, I am sorry to delay you my good friend."
Shay cracked an eye open and gave him a smile, "You're just doing your job, no harm done Haldir."
From the back of the Fellowship Shay heard Elix muttered, "Yeah right, I'm bleeding dying here."
Haldir ignored the comment and bowed he turned to the rest of the Company, "Come,you will follow me."
They walked for two days into the forest of Lothlorien, and arrived at last to find themselves standing in an open space. To the left stood a great mound covered with a sward of grass as green as Springtime in the Elder Days. Upon it, as a double crown, grew two circles of trees: the outer had bark of snowy white, and were leafless but beautiful in their shapely nakedness; the inner were mallorn-trees of great height, still arrayed in pale gold. Among the many trees were flets built to correlate with the trees themselves and elves were walking up or down the stairs that spans the trees length. High amid the branches of a towering tree that stood in the centre of all there gleamed a white flet. At the feet of the trees, and all about the green hillsides the grass was studded with small golden flowers shaped like stars. Among them, nodding on slender stalks, were other hue of the grass. Over all the sky was silvery dark, and stars shone upon the trees giving them an unearthly hue of light.
"Behold,Caras Galadhonhome of Galadhrims where dwell the Lord Celeborn and Galadriel the Lady of Lorien."said Haldir proudly.
There was a road paved with white stone running on the outer brink of the fosse. Along this they went westward, with the city ever climbing up like a green cloud upon their left; and as the night deepened more lights sprang forth, until all the hill seemed afire with stars. They came at last to a white bridge, and crossing found the great gates of teh city: they face southwest, set between the ends of the encircling wall that here over lapped, and theywere tall and strong, and hung with many lamps.
Haldir knocked and spoke, and the gates opened soundlessly; but of guards Frodo could see no sign. The travellers passed within, and the gates shut behind them. They were in a deep lane between the ends of the wall, and passing quickly through it they entered the City of the Trees. Far away up on the hill they could hear the sound of singing fall from on high like soft rain upon leaves.
They went along many paths and climbed many stairs, until they came to the high places and saw before them amid a wide lawn a fountain shimmering. It was lit by silver lamps that swung from the boughs of trees, and it fell into a basin of silver, from which a white sttream spilled. Upon the south side of the lawn there stood the mightiest of all the trees; its great branches, far above, opened their huge limbs under shadowy clouds of leaves.
"Here dwell Celeborn and Galadriel," said Haldir, "It is their wish that you should ascend and speak with them."
So up they climbed.
Welcome, Shay, once again, we meet. Galadriel's voice echoed in Shay's mind as she walked up to the platform like center. And slowly Galadriel emerged with her husband, to the Company they seemed to shine an inner light that's so pure and bright, it seemed as if they were the stars themselves.
Hello. Shay said faintly.
"Nine were to set out from Rivendell, not including the Children from Distant Lands, tell me where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him." Celeborn said.
"He has fallen into the shadow, a grey mist is about him, and the ways of his mind are hidden from me." Galadriel said in a ghostly voice.
"It was the Balrog of Morgoth," said Legolas.
"And Gandalf fell from wisdom into folly, going needlessly into the net of Moria." Celeborn said.
"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. THose that followed him knew not of his mind and cannot report his full purpose. Do not blame yourself Gimli, for none of this is your own fault." Galadriel smiled.
Gimli who sat glowering and saw looked up and met her eyes, and it seemed to him that he looked suddenly into the heart of an former enemy and saw there love and understanding. Wonder came into his face and then he smiled.
"I will say this to you , Fellowship of the Ring, your Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all," she said watching Boromir, than moving her eyes to Sam she added, "Yet hope remians while all the Company is true."
She held them each with her eyes, and in silence looked searchingly at each of them in turn.
At length the Lady Galadriel smiled, "Do not let your hearts be troubled," she said, "Tonight you shall sleep in peace." Then they sighed and felt suddenly wweary, as those who have been wuestioned long and deeply, though no words had been spoken openly.
"Go now!" said Celeborn. "You are worn with sorrow and much toil, now you shall rest, and we will not speak of your further road for a while."
Shay, stay, for I wish to talk with you. Galadriel said into her mind.
Legolas looked at Shay worridly but Shay sent him a reassuring smile and he followed the rest of the Comapny down the stairs. The elves led them to a pavilion among the trees and their they laid soft couches; then speaking words of peace with fair elvish voices they left them.
While Shay alone had followed Galadriel into a flet.
"How are you, Shay?" Galadriel asked
Shay smiled back wryly, "Well enough."
Galadriel shook her head and sighed, "Go wash yourself, a bath had been prepared, I shall wait out here to speak with you again after you had refreshed yourself."
Shay nodded and went into another door, soon she came out again, clean and dressed in loose silvery shirt and breeches with soft boots.
Galadriel had remained silent, but soon Shay begin to talk, and it seemed like she was talking more to herself than to Galadriel, "Gandalf was like a grandfather to me, he taught me everything about everything. It's like loosing part of me, I guess. And what's worse is that I hate myself for taking him to Moria. I hate myself so much."
"My dear child, as I have said to Gimli, it's not anyone's fault," said Galadriel.
Shay shook her head and flung herself on the bed while Galadriel remained sitting on the end of the bed.
"I don't know, it just hurts."
"You will feel better if you cry."
Shay gave a dry chuckle, "That's okay, I'm afraid it's too late for that now."
A silence stretched for a moment than Galadriel said, "Sing for him. I'm sure he would like that."
Than she got up and walked over and gave Shay a kiss on her forehead, "Sleep well, my dear."
And she left.
Shay looked around and unknowingly she begin to sing,
When the sea falls from the shore
As the light sinks low, will I see you any more?
As the rain falls from the sky
Can I bring you back, from a distant lullaby?
Show me your vision, the story begun
Two lights are rising and burning as one
In the deep blue of the night
Shine the millions of stars and my spirit burning bright
Spinning on, into the sun, flying higher
Now my journey's begun... And the...
Cold, cold wind, it blows me away
The feeling all over is a black, black day
But I know that I'll see you again
And I know that you're near me
There's a star, calling my name
It's echo is true and the song is not the same
Take my hand and lead me away
Bring me back to you in your arms I'm going to stay...
Tell me your vision, the story begun
Two lights are rising and burning as one
All those years drifting in space
I have known you well, yet I've never seen your face
You turn around, looking at me, laughter in your eyes
And now I can see
And the cold, cold wind, it blows me away
The feeling all over is a black, black day
But I know that I'll see you again
And I know that you're near me
Her voice drifted out of the talan's window and down to Lothlorien, the pain and the sadness in her heart went pouring out through the song.
Down near the pavilion the Fellowship and Elix looked up to hear the music, tears glistened in their eyes as the remember their fallen leader.
Artist: Hayley Westenra
Album: Pure
Title: Across The Universe Of Time
Thanks OverthoughT for your review, I hope you won't be disappointed in me with this chap. It's not that good, but I promis I'll make them better. Need coffee...Of course LegolasOC is coming up soon, some fluff, not a lot. I welcome any suggestion thatyou maymake, you can always send it with the review. REVIEW! Okay, I won't be a prat about it, but really, I want to know how you guys feel.