The fellowship stayed in Lothlorien for another week. They gathered provisions, slept for decent hours, and had baths. The patrolling elves that watched Lorien's borders kindly asked the wookiees to accompany them for several days, seeing how the larger beings wanted to get out and roam. Chewbacca happily went along, and Lowie as well. They intended to find trees they were allowed to climb and wanted to be able to see as much of the land as possible.
The Jedi spent most of their time relaxing, in ways only Jedi find relaxing. They sparred with their lightsabers, meditated amongst the trees, took walks to oversee the land, and had long talks with Galadriel about the Jedi way. The elf queen told of her past and the lectures she had heard of the otherworldly 'Jedi'. In fact, one of the first dark lords, Melkor, had been, in part, a Dark Jedi. There had been other Jedi in Middle Earth, but they had not been very public about their powers. Luthien had had a small amount of Force-power, and had been able to cloud her appearance and manipulate her surroundings. She had corralled Beren by such tactics, making herself seem more beautiful then she really was, and causing the man to fall for her. (Legend has it, that Luthien was really a dwarf. A very ugly dwarf.)
Jacen took to spending his time with Talon, perusing the forest's animal and plant life with great interest. Tenel Ka often went with him, trying to convince the black bird that she was just as good a perch as Jacen. Leia meditated as well, taking time to sit and relax with her children and their friends. She talked often with Aragorn and Han, sometimes including Celeborn and Galadriel in their talks. They were trying to find the safest route to Mordor, without passing too close to the evil Wizard Sarumon's territory, as well as sidetracking any number of other dangers.
The hobbits found ways to spend their time. Merry and Pippin, one night, challenged several elves and Boromir to a drinking contest that escalated to a full-out brawl and singing fest. The participants had been all but tied down by Aragorn and Han, but their drunken singing could be heard for many a league around. Frodo and Sam spent much of their time taking walks about the forests, often running into Jacen and Tenel Ka. Sam enjoyed Jacen's company, teaching him of the native plants that grew about, and hearing of the Jedi's many previous adventures.
Legolas took most of the time in Lothlorien to try and make friends with Gimli. He took the dwarf to elf friends he knew, had long talks... Whatever the means, by the end of the week, Legolas was laughing and chatting with Gimli like they had grown up together.
The group was summoned to the river's edge early one morning, and they packed their things, knowing it was time to move on. Galadriel was waiting for them in her swan boat, standing beside a pile of something. The fellowship dropped their bags, and as instructed by Celeborn, they lined up on the shore. Galadriel stood and walked off a ramp in front of the waiting fellowship.
"I hope your rest in my lands has been restorative. Your quest must again be taken up; the urgency of destroying the ring is now more than ever. I have here a few gifts to speed you on your way. First, woven cloaks. Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people. May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes." A group of elves strode forth and pinned cloaks on each of the fellowship members; each tailored to his or her size. Chewie was most impressed at the wookiee-sized garment. The cloaks were pinned with shining pins in the shape of mallorn leaves wrought in silver. Next, Galadriel waved forward two elves that had her pile of goods in their arms. She went first to Aragorn.
"I have nothing greater to give, than the gift you already bear. For her love, I fear the grace of Arwen Evenstar will diminish." She touched the necklace of silver Aragorn always wore, and had never explained about to anyone. He bowed. She then handed him a leather scabbard.
"But since all the others are getting gifts, I had this made for you. It shall keep the blade of Anduril clean and keen for however long you live." He bowed again, accepting the deep-brown leather. Galadriel then moved on.
"My gift for you, Legolas, is a bow of the Galadhrim. Worthy of the skill of our woodland kin." She handed him a gleaming wooden bow-stave and bowstring. He strung the bow with ease and reveled at the levelness and apparent quality of the make.
" These are the daggers of the Noldorin. They have already seen service in war." She handed two daggers, sword length in hobbit size, to Merry and Pippin. They gaped, then Pippin looked down, believing the dagger pointed to some weakness of his. Galadriel smiled softly and raised his chin.
"Do not fear, young Peregrin Took. You will find your courage." He grinned weakly and bowed. She moved along down the line.
"For you Samwise, I give you the soil of my gardens, may your skills keep the beauty of the elves present in all of Middle Earth." He looked awed, and opening the box, he found a shining silver seed in the middle of the earth. Galadriel winked, moving on.
"Boromir, my soldiers tell me you fight with a weapon not of your people. I give to you, then, your sword." She passed on a scabbard, from which the hilt of Boromir's previously broken sword protruded. He looked skeptical, then drew it. The sword was whole again, gleaming in the daylight. Boromir's face lit up, and he bowed deeply.
"Many thanks, Milady!" Galadriel nodded, looking pleased. She came to Gimli, who fidgeted.
"And what would a dwarf ask of the elves?" He grunted, mumbling something. Galadriel bent, and he whispered. Grinning, the elf queen stood again, and grasping three hairs on her head, she pulled them cleanly out and handed them to the amazed dwarf. Gimli stood, thunderstruck, and cradled the hairs as if his life depended on them. She grinned again, moving on to the next people.
"Han, Leia. We have spoken much over these past days, and I respect you greatly. With the differences in our cultures I found it difficult to choose gifts for your people, and most difficult was your gifts. I present to you, rings of my people." An elf came forward with two small boxes and handed them to the couple.
They cracked them open to reveal matched rings; both in wrought silver and fitted perfectly to their fingers. Both rings had the image of a coiled bird, with faceted diamond eyes. Galadriel smiled at their perplexity over the bird's image.
"They are falcons. You told me of your ship, the Millennium Falcon, and they way you spoke of it relayed your true love for it. Yes, Leia, even your love for it. My best jewelers made these for you, if ever should anything happen to the Falcon or each other, that you may have a image to keep with you." Han looked as if a bantha had just stepped on his chest. He stepped forward and hugged the elf queen fiercely, then hugged Leia. Galadriel hugged Han back, then moved on.
"Chewbacca. Your people love them trees, and care for the life of the forests. My patrol-elves have told me that you prefer to fight with a bowcaster. Therefore, I have made for you new bolts for the weapon, from the wood of the great mallorns. They will fly fast and true. Lowbacca, a wookiee as well as Jedi. For you I have a dagger, much like those of Merry and Pippin. For close combat, where swords of light may only give away your presence." Both wookiees howled their gratitude, to which Galadriel nodded.
"Zekk. For you, a bag. It can carry all that you wish to fill it with, expanding to great volume without compromising the visible size. I hope it comes in handy on your journey." Zekk bowed.
"Jaina. For you, jewelry. We have made this necklace out things you may recognize, as well as things of our world." She handed the Jedi a necklace that shined brightly, and Jaina gasped as she recognized shards of transparasteel, and bits of other metallics she was used to working with. Also prevalent was woven mallorn bark, mithril, and diamond. She clutched the necklace to her chest and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Galadriel!" Zekk helped her put on the necklace while Galadriel moved on.
"Tahiri. To you I give this elven balm, for healing those who may need it. It can heal most wounds, from cuts and punctures to broken bones. Your friends may need your help in the future, and I foresee you being the most help of all." She handed Tahiri a jar stoppered with wood. Tahiri smiled and gave her thanks.
"Anakin. You revel in puzzles and problems, working them out with quick thought and logic. To you I give these bottles. Each has a different use. Some for dissolving metal, some for dissolving the will of the enemy. Use them cautiously." She gave Anakin a box, which he opened to show an array of seven bottles, each labeled and stoppered. Smiling, she moved on yet again.
"Tenel Ka. A great warrior, working with ease around a seemingly insurmountable problem." She nodded to Tenel Ka's arm-stump. "I have great respect for your courage and determination. To you I give this tunic. Light and skin-tight it may seem, but you will find that it moves as easily as the lizard hide you currently wear. I had it made of Mithril rings, each as hard as dragon scales, or to put it in your frame of being, durasteel. It will repel most all attacks, including your swords of light. You may wear it beneath your lizard hide, as it will not impede your movement." She handed Tenel Ka a shining garment that weighed next to nothing, and seemed fragile. She took it with a courtly bow, thanks and awe shining in hergrey eyes.Galadriel moved on with her last two gifts.
"Jacen. You talk with ease to the life of our world. To you I give this." She handed him a satchel. Inside was a large egg. "When it hatches, you will have the greatest creature my world possesses. Care for it gently." She at last came to Frodo.
"To you, Ringbearer, I give the Light of Earendil, our most beloved star. May it be a light you in dark places, when all other lights go out." He took the proffered vial and bowed. All the gifts having been given, Galadriel returned to her swan-boat. "May your journey be safe and quick, and may the Force be with you. Namarie."
As one the Fellowship of the Rings bowed, and separated into the boats given to them, outfitted with food and supplies. They entered the river as a group, waving to the elves on the banks.