First light drew swiftly upon them as they set out once more upon their
perilous journey. The land of Lothlorien veering closer into the horizon
until they all, could see the golden trees before them as stately and
imposing as the men remembered two summers ago, yet there was a vast
difference for there was not a sound to be heard. Lorien a place of wonder
and enchantment was withered as the land which surrounded it. The passing
of the elves into the Grey Havens had transformed what was once beauty in
the elvish world, into a desolate place of ominous bodings. Aragorn and
Èowyn led the forefront of the group, hushed in silence and reverence for
the daunting place before them.
"We should dismount." Aragorn stated quietly and slid off Brego. "And leave the mounts here where it is safer. Èowyn, instruct Mafusa to lead the horses to a safe haven where they should await us." He said grimly to the woman beside him.
"Aragorn is correct dear friend." She said softly to the horse, which whinnied in annoyance at being left behind and snorted loudly at her.
"You are safer up here Mafusa. I need you and Brego to take the others to a safe place until we return. I know you wish to accompany me dear one, but this is one journey you cannot." She whispered stroking his black silky down. "I promise I shall return to you soon." She said to the animal that looked at her with such adoration and understanding in his wise brown eyes.
"Come Èowyn we must be off. Gandalf bade me to locate the entrance before nightfall, for what reason he did not state but we must trust in his judgement." Aragorn said touching her shoulders gently. "Fear not dear friend I shall return her to you." He said and smiled at the animal patting his head soothingly.
"Yes I am coming Aragorn." She replied and hugged the animal fiercely before leaving with the Gondorian King.
All four of the animals stood silently watching their comrades sorrowfully as they ventured deeper into the forest, afraid of being left alone and even more of the unknown fate which awaited their masters. Mafusa and Brego stood to the end heads high into the air, until they could not longer see or smell the scent of what comforted them the most, the sight of Aragorn and Èowyn. Finally they gave up and slowly made their way out to where they would remain until needed.
They made their way through the thinning forest Aragorn leading the way followed by the women and Legolas holding the rear, his bow drawn. The carpet of golden leaves crunching loudly beneath their feet as they pushed on quickly to the talan of Galadriel and Celebron; here the trees were not as imposing yet stately all the same. Legolas breathed uneasily and looked anxiously about. There was something different about the present Lorien and past. The birds, known for their overwhelming presence in Lorien and whose enthralling melodies infused the atmosphere in the days gone by, had disappeared. Something had happened to the enchanting ambience which was Lorien and his elvish instincts were in full force. "Meleth nín ( My love) what grieves you?" Matejé asked quietly as they stopped for the briefest of moments among a golden halo of trees shedding their leaves upon them.
"Nothing, my Lady it is simply strange to be here once more." He lied quickly hiding the fear from his eyes.
"As you say Legolas." She replied quietly but she knew Legolas better than he knew himself and knew she could not press him for an answer. He would divulge in time. Yet she felt the same disquiet like her love as they traversed deeper into the forest. The lack of any sort of life among the foliage was foreboding. It seemed the forest was as uneasy as the travellers among them. Nevertheless she had agreed to undergo this task and she would not choose to disappoint anyone if possible.
"Aragorn?" Èowyn said quietly in their respite. "There is something strange about the forest. I do not know at this moment but I feel chilled, it is as though the Black Breath is upon me once more." She whispered to him.
He looked at her and squeezed her hand in reassurance, a small smile upon his face, an attempt to lighten her mood. An assurance he needed himself. He thought with bemusement that his journey to the Paths of the Dead was not fraught with such anxiety as the one he felt at this moment. She was accurate something was wrong; the deathlike silence surrounding them was disquieting as if they were being watched by some invisible opponent. The sky had changed dramatically into a foreboding atmosphere as though they were once more battling in the War. Gone was the warm sunshine which bathed them, mere moments ago, replaced by heavy black clouds piling high above them in the sky, and suddenly out of the forest rose a repulsive fog which threatened to stifle them with its nauseating stench.
"Draw your weapons quickly; we must hurry before the storm begins." Aragorn ordered removing Andruil with one fluid movement, the sound of steel echoed through the still air as both swords were exposed, illuminating with a beautiful blue fire even in the growing darkness. He took Èowyn's hand formed a link as they ran through the forest like hunted deer.
"What is happening Aragorn?" Èowyn shouted as they ran, crashing wildly into the shrubbery in the blinding murkiness, wincing slightly as she felt skin sever and instantly a trail of dark red liquid ran down her cheek.
"Magic! Hurry we must reach the talan of Galadriel before the fog covers us." He cried breathlessly as they attempted to outrun the growing mist.
"Turn right Aragorn I can see it up ahead!" Legolas cried from the rear.
"I see the trees before me. Come quickly let us make haste from this accursed smog!" he replied anxiously and led them into another clearing.
"There is Lady Galadriel's talan." Legolas shouted pointing to the largest tree before them, with numerous curving stairs leading the way high above the other foliage. "Hurry we must be above the fog before it arrives here. There is something evil about it. I can sense it." The elf cried hastily and began his ascent, taking two steps at a time.
"Lead the women to safety Legolas." Aragorn stated and slowed his momentum, leaving the others far ahead of him.
"What are you thinking Aragorn?" Èowyn replied hotly. "Are you going to battle this fog alone?" she demanded.
"Do not fear Èowyn, I have a strategy. Please do not argue at the moment time is if essence. I know you wish to help but not this time. Go with the others, where I know you will be safe." He pleaded desperately to her hoping she would accept his decision for once.
"Though I do not admire this plan Aragorn I shall abide to your wishes." She replied gently.
He smiled gaily and took her into his arms, kissing her passionately before the others. Her heart surged with happiness and they clung to each other unwilling to part, absorbing the love infused within their hearts for each other and drawing strength from it.
"I shall return soon meleth nín wait for me." He whispered tenderly, stroking her golden locks and gently removed the dried blood upon her cheek.
"Valar protect you." She replied and watched briefly as he disappeared into the rising mist before hurrying to meet the others as they continued their journey upward.
Aragorn ran blindly into the grey mist, his eyes were no good but his mind was as clear as the river Anduin. He remembered vaguely of Elrond speaking of the Mists of Lorien as a child but had never experienced them himself until now. Elrond had always been elusive in relating to him the origin of the mists until he was a young man of twenty four summers. The Mists were a weapon used to dissuade those who wished to access Lorine for weapons of power. It was strange that he had not remembered those words earlier, he thought as he made his way blindly into the overwhelming fog. Andruil's light slicing the thick stench of murkiness.
"What weapons Ada?" he had asked quizzically and received nothing more than a slight frown from Elrond.
"It does not concern you Estel." Elrond had replied.
"Is there any way to conquer it Ada?" he had asked finally
"Only the Lady Galadriel knows my child, for she knows all that is, that was and what is meant to be." Elrond had replied mysteriously. "There is a jewel which has the power to end the mist but only Galadriel knows. Be warned, when exposed to the mists, one can go blind for there is a curse upon their shadows or worse... even perish." He had said ominously and ended the conversation.
Elrond's words were coming to pass for Aragorn had not gone far when he felt as though his sight was now failing before the swirling grey mass of air before him, growing thicker with every passing moment. His breath became haggard as he struggled to draw breath, the overwhelming stench filling his body with its poison. Staggering he continued blindly into the dark light, knowing not where his direction lay and then he kneeled, as it became more difficult to breathe, leaning on Andruil for support.
His eyes closed slowly as he fought to survive, he head bent in frustration and eyes were totally blind in the light. Then with every last ounce of strength within his body he rose valiantly and continued his perilous passage into the murky air. Then it struck him, the jewel was none other than the Elfstone, given to him by Galadriel, summoning the courage he was renowned for, he delved into his armour, with numb fingers and exposed the famed jewel of the elves bestowed upon him.
A brilliant path of green light severed the grey- black fog surrounding him and the jewel illuminated the quiet air around him, leading him down the pathway to Galadriel's famed Seeing Mirror and allowing him to partake of clean air. He breathed deeply and with the Elfstone raised high above his head in one hand and Andruil with its deadly blue fire in his other, he tentatively made his way past the moss covered steps to the fountain which supported the Mirror.
Water, amazingly was still flowing from the marble fountain, though its white walls were entwined with dark green creepers and moss from years of misuse. He felt the jewel drawing him to the mirror with a power of its own. He moved slowly to the silver dish and saw burrowed into the side was a niche shaped exactly as the Elfstone. Fingers trembling, he placed the tiny jewel into the crack and stepped away, watching with fascination as the water from the dish, began to flow in the opposite direction, swirling faster and faster causing a tiny whirlpool before his eyes. Then, amazingly the mists began to be drawn into the dish absorbing the putrid scent which had engulfed the forest only moments ago.
Aragorn stood frozen to the ground, eyes bulging in incredulity and fear, and soon the earth began to vibrate violently as the final speck of mist disappeared into the whirling dish. He attempted to flee but to no avail, green lights shot through the spaces between the fountain illuminating the darkening sky, and swiftly like a monstrous tide, there was a loud explosion and the famed Mirror and its pedestal erupted. Pieces of marble and granite; flew across the green grass surrounding it, exposing steps leading into the earth's bowels.
He managed to evade most of the stone which rained upon his head but not even the famed Elessar was able to avoid another explosion which flung him clear of the former fountain of Lorien, into the trunk of a hard poplar tree, knocking him unconscious instantly.
"We should dismount." Aragorn stated quietly and slid off Brego. "And leave the mounts here where it is safer. Èowyn, instruct Mafusa to lead the horses to a safe haven where they should await us." He said grimly to the woman beside him.
"Aragorn is correct dear friend." She said softly to the horse, which whinnied in annoyance at being left behind and snorted loudly at her.
"You are safer up here Mafusa. I need you and Brego to take the others to a safe place until we return. I know you wish to accompany me dear one, but this is one journey you cannot." She whispered stroking his black silky down. "I promise I shall return to you soon." She said to the animal that looked at her with such adoration and understanding in his wise brown eyes.
"Come Èowyn we must be off. Gandalf bade me to locate the entrance before nightfall, for what reason he did not state but we must trust in his judgement." Aragorn said touching her shoulders gently. "Fear not dear friend I shall return her to you." He said and smiled at the animal patting his head soothingly.
"Yes I am coming Aragorn." She replied and hugged the animal fiercely before leaving with the Gondorian King.
All four of the animals stood silently watching their comrades sorrowfully as they ventured deeper into the forest, afraid of being left alone and even more of the unknown fate which awaited their masters. Mafusa and Brego stood to the end heads high into the air, until they could not longer see or smell the scent of what comforted them the most, the sight of Aragorn and Èowyn. Finally they gave up and slowly made their way out to where they would remain until needed.
They made their way through the thinning forest Aragorn leading the way followed by the women and Legolas holding the rear, his bow drawn. The carpet of golden leaves crunching loudly beneath their feet as they pushed on quickly to the talan of Galadriel and Celebron; here the trees were not as imposing yet stately all the same. Legolas breathed uneasily and looked anxiously about. There was something different about the present Lorien and past. The birds, known for their overwhelming presence in Lorien and whose enthralling melodies infused the atmosphere in the days gone by, had disappeared. Something had happened to the enchanting ambience which was Lorien and his elvish instincts were in full force. "Meleth nín ( My love) what grieves you?" Matejé asked quietly as they stopped for the briefest of moments among a golden halo of trees shedding their leaves upon them.
"Nothing, my Lady it is simply strange to be here once more." He lied quickly hiding the fear from his eyes.
"As you say Legolas." She replied quietly but she knew Legolas better than he knew himself and knew she could not press him for an answer. He would divulge in time. Yet she felt the same disquiet like her love as they traversed deeper into the forest. The lack of any sort of life among the foliage was foreboding. It seemed the forest was as uneasy as the travellers among them. Nevertheless she had agreed to undergo this task and she would not choose to disappoint anyone if possible.
"Aragorn?" Èowyn said quietly in their respite. "There is something strange about the forest. I do not know at this moment but I feel chilled, it is as though the Black Breath is upon me once more." She whispered to him.
He looked at her and squeezed her hand in reassurance, a small smile upon his face, an attempt to lighten her mood. An assurance he needed himself. He thought with bemusement that his journey to the Paths of the Dead was not fraught with such anxiety as the one he felt at this moment. She was accurate something was wrong; the deathlike silence surrounding them was disquieting as if they were being watched by some invisible opponent. The sky had changed dramatically into a foreboding atmosphere as though they were once more battling in the War. Gone was the warm sunshine which bathed them, mere moments ago, replaced by heavy black clouds piling high above them in the sky, and suddenly out of the forest rose a repulsive fog which threatened to stifle them with its nauseating stench.
"Draw your weapons quickly; we must hurry before the storm begins." Aragorn ordered removing Andruil with one fluid movement, the sound of steel echoed through the still air as both swords were exposed, illuminating with a beautiful blue fire even in the growing darkness. He took Èowyn's hand formed a link as they ran through the forest like hunted deer.
"What is happening Aragorn?" Èowyn shouted as they ran, crashing wildly into the shrubbery in the blinding murkiness, wincing slightly as she felt skin sever and instantly a trail of dark red liquid ran down her cheek.
"Magic! Hurry we must reach the talan of Galadriel before the fog covers us." He cried breathlessly as they attempted to outrun the growing mist.
"Turn right Aragorn I can see it up ahead!" Legolas cried from the rear.
"I see the trees before me. Come quickly let us make haste from this accursed smog!" he replied anxiously and led them into another clearing.
"There is Lady Galadriel's talan." Legolas shouted pointing to the largest tree before them, with numerous curving stairs leading the way high above the other foliage. "Hurry we must be above the fog before it arrives here. There is something evil about it. I can sense it." The elf cried hastily and began his ascent, taking two steps at a time.
"Lead the women to safety Legolas." Aragorn stated and slowed his momentum, leaving the others far ahead of him.
"What are you thinking Aragorn?" Èowyn replied hotly. "Are you going to battle this fog alone?" she demanded.
"Do not fear Èowyn, I have a strategy. Please do not argue at the moment time is if essence. I know you wish to help but not this time. Go with the others, where I know you will be safe." He pleaded desperately to her hoping she would accept his decision for once.
"Though I do not admire this plan Aragorn I shall abide to your wishes." She replied gently.
He smiled gaily and took her into his arms, kissing her passionately before the others. Her heart surged with happiness and they clung to each other unwilling to part, absorbing the love infused within their hearts for each other and drawing strength from it.
"I shall return soon meleth nín wait for me." He whispered tenderly, stroking her golden locks and gently removed the dried blood upon her cheek.
"Valar protect you." She replied and watched briefly as he disappeared into the rising mist before hurrying to meet the others as they continued their journey upward.
Aragorn ran blindly into the grey mist, his eyes were no good but his mind was as clear as the river Anduin. He remembered vaguely of Elrond speaking of the Mists of Lorien as a child but had never experienced them himself until now. Elrond had always been elusive in relating to him the origin of the mists until he was a young man of twenty four summers. The Mists were a weapon used to dissuade those who wished to access Lorine for weapons of power. It was strange that he had not remembered those words earlier, he thought as he made his way blindly into the overwhelming fog. Andruil's light slicing the thick stench of murkiness.
"What weapons Ada?" he had asked quizzically and received nothing more than a slight frown from Elrond.
"It does not concern you Estel." Elrond had replied.
"Is there any way to conquer it Ada?" he had asked finally
"Only the Lady Galadriel knows my child, for she knows all that is, that was and what is meant to be." Elrond had replied mysteriously. "There is a jewel which has the power to end the mist but only Galadriel knows. Be warned, when exposed to the mists, one can go blind for there is a curse upon their shadows or worse... even perish." He had said ominously and ended the conversation.
Elrond's words were coming to pass for Aragorn had not gone far when he felt as though his sight was now failing before the swirling grey mass of air before him, growing thicker with every passing moment. His breath became haggard as he struggled to draw breath, the overwhelming stench filling his body with its poison. Staggering he continued blindly into the dark light, knowing not where his direction lay and then he kneeled, as it became more difficult to breathe, leaning on Andruil for support.
His eyes closed slowly as he fought to survive, he head bent in frustration and eyes were totally blind in the light. Then with every last ounce of strength within his body he rose valiantly and continued his perilous passage into the murky air. Then it struck him, the jewel was none other than the Elfstone, given to him by Galadriel, summoning the courage he was renowned for, he delved into his armour, with numb fingers and exposed the famed jewel of the elves bestowed upon him.
A brilliant path of green light severed the grey- black fog surrounding him and the jewel illuminated the quiet air around him, leading him down the pathway to Galadriel's famed Seeing Mirror and allowing him to partake of clean air. He breathed deeply and with the Elfstone raised high above his head in one hand and Andruil with its deadly blue fire in his other, he tentatively made his way past the moss covered steps to the fountain which supported the Mirror.
Water, amazingly was still flowing from the marble fountain, though its white walls were entwined with dark green creepers and moss from years of misuse. He felt the jewel drawing him to the mirror with a power of its own. He moved slowly to the silver dish and saw burrowed into the side was a niche shaped exactly as the Elfstone. Fingers trembling, he placed the tiny jewel into the crack and stepped away, watching with fascination as the water from the dish, began to flow in the opposite direction, swirling faster and faster causing a tiny whirlpool before his eyes. Then, amazingly the mists began to be drawn into the dish absorbing the putrid scent which had engulfed the forest only moments ago.
Aragorn stood frozen to the ground, eyes bulging in incredulity and fear, and soon the earth began to vibrate violently as the final speck of mist disappeared into the whirling dish. He attempted to flee but to no avail, green lights shot through the spaces between the fountain illuminating the darkening sky, and swiftly like a monstrous tide, there was a loud explosion and the famed Mirror and its pedestal erupted. Pieces of marble and granite; flew across the green grass surrounding it, exposing steps leading into the earth's bowels.
He managed to evade most of the stone which rained upon his head but not even the famed Elessar was able to avoid another explosion which flung him clear of the former fountain of Lorien, into the trunk of a hard poplar tree, knocking him unconscious instantly.