Chapter Four—Journey to Lórien
The rest of the hours of darkness proceeded without incident, though Haldir had felt an unusual sense of apprehension after observing the bizarre gangly creature skulking about. He had suspicions about what the thing could have possibly been doing, but determined that the most feasible was that it had been pursuing the Company of the Ring, and had just caught up to them there in the mallyrn of the Golden Wood. The creature troubled something deep inside of him. Perhaps it was that fact that the thing was after the Ring that disturbed him so. He was a hazard to the Quest, and needed to be dealt with, if possible.
Soon, Haldir saw pale sky peering through the gaps in the leaves, and Legolas was up shortly afterward. He crept down from the talan like a ghost, and joined Haldir in his watch, where they spoke in whispers for a time. Haldir told Legolas about the odd creature and the elf's eyes narrowed.
"Gollum," Legolas whispered vehemently. "I could kill the filth myself."
So Legolas had seen the creature before!
"Why is it pursuing you?" asked Haldir.
"The Ring of Power," replied Legolas in a slightly lower whisper. "He carried it himself once and wishes more than anything to reclaim it for his own. He will stop at nothing to get it. But he is no spy for Sauron, all the same. His worst fear is that either the Dark Lord will regain it, or it will be destroyed. He will not risk Sauron getting it, but he is still dangerous, even so. He creeps in the night, throttling from behind like a wretched beast. He is altogether a miserable thing, a perfect example of the Ring's power to corrupt. Gandalf told me once, and I could scarcely believe it, that he was once a Halfling like Frodo and Sam."
Haldir's eyes widened in disbelief. "In truth?" he asked.
Legolas nodded.
"That aside," said Haldir, "today we will embark on our way to Lórien. Perhaps the Lady can lend her aid in some way. I am certain she knows of the Quest, although she will likely lament the loss of Mithrandir."
Legolas glanced down in silence. Haldir sensed that the elf was concealing a great sorrow of his own, and was still endeavoring to contend with it. It wasn't every day that a Maiar came to grief. Haldir felt a small sense of loss, though not overmuch. He hadn't known Mithrandir as well as most, for the wizard didn't often journey to the woods of Lórien. Legolas finally looked up and regarded him. Haldir saw the pain in his eyes, and he desired to comfort him.
"I—I wanted to save him," whispered Legolas in a voice that betrayed his hurt. "I wanted to. I tried to. But there wasn't anything I could do."
"He went before his time," said Haldir. "It is regrettable. But, all the same, you mustn't blame yourself. As you have made plain, there was naught you could have done. There was nothing anyone could have done. And I wouldn't be surprised if everyone in your company blamed himself in some small way for Gandalf's death. But, Legolas, you must let him go, because you cannot go back." He put a consoling hand on Legolas' shoulder and smiled.
The elf nodded. He understood.
Presently, the sun was up, along with all the other members of the company, some having had much sleep, others, not so much.
"Oh, my aching back!" grumbled the hobbit called Sam. He massaged his shoulder gingerly. "I don't suppose you elf-folk ever sleep on mattresses?"
Haldir smiled in reply, remembering that Hobbits were not great warriors, but rather, common people who prefer the comfortable life to adventure. Frodo had slept moderately well, but Haldir had to laugh when he saw the hobbit's curly brown hair, which was sticking up at all ends, much like the quills of a porcupine. Frodo didn't seem to notice.
Aragorn and Boromir were surprised to hear of the nightly events, having unfortunately slept through all of the fun.
"I should have liked to have been there," sighed Boromir. "I would have given those Orcs a healthy fear of Gondor."
Haldir smiled and nodded at Boromir's boast. He didn't reveal his true thought: Fool! You would have given them a good laugh at Gondor for its lack of cunning, being skewered on a thousand Orc arrows ere the night was through. Aragorn also thought foolishness ofBoromir's idea.
"'Tis better that you were not there," he said. "The night's occurrences were not of battle, but of the skill of the Woodland folk. If you went out to fight them, displaying yourself a plain target, you would not have lasted a minute."
Boromir glowered and turned away, feeling ill-used. He was trying to think of a retort, but none worth saying came to mind. In the end, he simply nodded and said: "Perhaps you are right."
Haldir went into action soon after. He made certain that all of the Company's belongings were packed and standing by, saw to it that breakfast was had, and communicated his itinerary to Aragorn and Legolas.
"About the dwarf—" Legolas put in.
"Not at the moment," interjected Haldir, feeling that they were far to busy to concern themselves with that minor detail at present. "We must depart."
After everyone had shouldered their packs and weapons, Haldir and Rúmil led them on through the wood at a slightly quicker pace than they were used to going.
"Be wary and silent," Haldir advised. "Peril could be lurking anywhere: Orcs and other things I will not mention here."
Sam found himself holding his breath, for fear the sound of it would alert sharp-eared Orcs. When Haldir noticed this, he scolded Sam: "No need for that, young hobbit!" But he was inwardly laughing.
Sam flushed, abashed. Frodo patted his friend on the back genially.
"But it was a good effort, Sam," he chuckled.
By then, the sky was a pale blue, at least, what they could see peeping through the swaying branches was. The rich morning light sifted past each leaf, tinting them many flickering shades of gold. The birds chirped merry songs. It seemed almost a normal morning.
But Haldir didn't give much interest to these things. He had other, more pressing, things on his mind. First and foremost of his concerns was the Orc company. He hadn't any word from Orophin, as of yet, of their whereabouts, but he assumed they were a good pace away. Still, he couldn't be certain, and that troubled him.
Secondly, the dwarf. He seemed harmless enough. But would the other Elves see it so? 'Twas no secret that each race harbored animosity toward the other based on untrue opinions they had formed, on account of nearly forgotten events, at which both were at fault, that occurred a millennia before. It was simply common knowledge that Elves and Dwarves generally kept to themselves, and so the troubles were never resolved. Haldir didn't care a fig about this thousand-year old rubbish that each race enjoyed continually dredging up. To him, it was old news. But, then again, many Elves did care. Bringing a despised dwarf to Lórien, of all places? Why, that was almost inconceivable! He didn't know what the Lady would say, but, on the rare occasion that such an imperative Quest was in the balance, he realized he would do well not to hinder its progress, no matter what the consequence.
They went on a hidden path due south, through innumerable trees of golden leaves, and the hearts of the Company were light for a change. Haldir noted that there were many an orc track along the path from the night before and glanced up at Aragorn. The ranger halted a moment and studied the tracks cautiously himself. He seemed puzzled.
"They have exceptionally large feet," he finally stated. "They are larger than most. These are not normal Orcs."
"I observed as much," responded Haldir. "They were a good deal taller than any man, and stronger I might add."
Boromir seemed shaken. "From whence have they come?" he asked. "Not from Mordor?"
"Who can say?" said Haldir. "But come, let us be going."
"There seems to be a river nearby," commented one of the younger Hobbits, one of the two that Haldir remembered only for their incessant chattering and giggling. Yes, there was the distinctive sound of rushing water filling the air. It was then that the others realized that they had heard this noise at the edge of their thoughts all along, but had been unable to make out what it was. Now, they could. Haldir soon turned aside a ways from the path and into the thick, green undergrowth of the trees. The Fellowship followed. They were met by the sight of a great river running along a shadowed bank, pristine water glinting in the sunlight. The broad expanse mirrored the sky in the hue of a pale blue. The company stared in tacit amazement at the wondrous fair sight.
Haldir squinted across into the trees at the opposite bank, and then smiling, gave a call like a bird, a sound that wouldn't seem out of place to any Orcish ears that might be listening. And to the surprise of the Fellowship, they saw another elf emerge from the trees, eyes sparkling like stars, hair glistening like gold. He was dressed much like Haldir, in a simple grey cloak with a hood, and he carried the same armaments.
Haldir took the coil of rope he had been carrying from his shoulder and, holding only one end, tossed it forcefully over the water to the other side. The elf took the other end and tied it fast to the base of nearby tree, pulling the knot tight and strong. Then, Haldir pulled it taut and tied his end to another tree, tight as the string of a drawn bow. Then, as if to test it, he stepped onto the rope, running lightly across and back again, to the obvious amazement of the Hobbits.
"This is a path I can traverse," commented Legolas, "but I am not certain of the others."
"'Tis no problem," replied Haldir. "We have two more ropes." He attached them one above the other waist-high, and the next shoulder-high. But even with these, Sam still seemed dubious. Everyone else had gone over already, having taken so long, the other elf was smiling in wonder of their clumsiness. The Hobbits clung to the ropes for dear life, moving inch by inch across the expanse. Gimli did about as well. Boromir lost his balance once, and had to flap like a bird to regain it, much to the other's amusement. Out of them all, Aragorn and Legolas did the finest. But, as for Sam, he was still pondering the possibilities.
"Um…well…" he tried. "I—uh—is there another way to cross?"
"You can swim," offered Haldir, in good mirth. The response was not what he expected and it made him laugh.
"Swim?!" cried Sam in horror, as if the very word was a profanity. "Swim! Swim, indeed! I'd rather try to tunnel under the river!" In the end, Sam tried the rope bridge. It took him a painfully long amount of time, and he was panting like a running dog, but he made it eventually and gave a long sigh of relief.
"Live and learn, as me ol' Gaffer used to say!"
After this, the other elf ran deftly across to the opposite bank of the swirling river and untied the ropes. Then, Haldir speedily tossed the other ends back to him. Rúmil and he remained behind to guard the river Celebrant and the stream of Nimrodel, respectively. As planned, Haldir would lead the rest on alone. The other two Elves vanished into the shadowy trees without a trace, and Haldir apprised all of his intentions.
"Friends," said he, "you have entered the Naith of Lórien, a place where few are allowed to set foot. We do not permit strangers to spy out our secrets. And, as was agreed, here we will blindfold the eyes of Gimli the dwarf."
The look that Gimli gave then was typical of a bewildered Dwarf. He was livid with anger! Legolas appeared remorseful.
"I failed to inform the dwarf of our arrangement," he said regretfully. "He had no foreknowledge." This did not mollify the anger of Gimli in the least bit. If anything, it only added fuel to the flames.
"You made this agreement without my consent!" he roared. "Do you think I will go as a prisoner? I will not, I tell you! I am no spy!"
"I do not doubt you," said Haldir carefully. "But nonetheless, that is our law, and I am powerless to change it. In truth, I have done great deeds already in securing your safe passage over Celebrant. Simply comply, and all will be well."
Instead, Gimli planted his feet adamantly, and his brawny hand went to the haft of his axe. Legolas shut his eyes at Gimli's stupidity.
"I go as a free dwarf," he said, "or I will return to my own kind, where I am respected as someone of true word."
"Having come thus far," responded Haldir, "you cannot go back. If any of my kind saw you wandering alone through the woods of Lórien, you would die before your eyes fell upon them."
Gimli grunted angrily and drew out his finely honed axe in a convincing manner. Haldir had an arrow on the twine in the blink of an eye.