'…I've put my trust in you,
Pushed as far as I can go.
For all this there's only one thing you should know.
I tried so hard and got so far,
But in the end it doesn't even matter.
I had to fall to lose it all,
And in the end it doesn't even matter….'
In The End Linkin ParkChapter Twelve Farewells
It was impossible to determine when exactly it was that the Fellowship trudged into Lorien, Yuna trailing nonchalantly behind. Their blindfolds had been since removed, and the Hobbits in particular gazed around the vision that was Caras Galadhon. As they entered the city, gazing round at the overbearing mallorn trees littered around. Faint points of light glittered in the distance, a strange sort of misty haze hung about the place, the light coming down in tinted shifts through the canopy of leaves. Those fortunate enough to be allowed within the heavily protected boarders of the city would have noticed the distinct change in the air. It was misty, yet not entirely humid, thick with some kind of indiscernible magical presence. This was Lothlorien, home of the High Elves. Yunalesca absentmindedly remembered the first time she had visited the city, she had been slightly in awe of it all, but she was young then, and had long since got over the splendour and mystery the wood embodied.
In a way it was strange to see others admiring so vehemently something she had always taken for granted. To her the city seemed to have lost something of itself since those days long past. She remembered the years following Sauron's supposed demise. There was a sense of hope, hope that a time of peace had finally come after all the bloodshed that had taken place over the past few millennia and would never again come to so dire a stage. Hope that there was still some place for immortals in this rapidly changing world. Hope that their city would not so promptly fall to ruin. Now that constant splendour seemed tarnished. It was obvious if you looked into the eyes of any inhabitant that crossed the path of the party that it would only be a matter of months, maybe a year, before they would be forced to travel to the undying lands. Leaving their cherished home, their fantasia to wither and decay.
They carried along a path about a metre and a half wide that seemed to be winding up to the centre of the city where a group of lofty trees stood firmly placed. Yuna knew exactly where they were headed. She had been there before a lifetime ago; she had no desire to go back. Minutes later and the company were assembled at the foot of a staircase that spiralled gently up to what seemed only the top of an immense hulk of a tree but what she knew was far more.
Taking this as an unspoken queue to take her leave, Yunalesca discreetly wandered to one of the side paths as the Fellowship were being informed of the Lady's desire to see them. She stopped short as she felt a disturbingly familiar hand on her shoulder; she spun around to see Haldir looking at her with a strange intensity in his gaze.
"The Lady has requested that all in the Fellowship be taken to see her." She gave him a small taster of The Look™. The fact that he suggested she was part of the Fellowship when he should have know her better by now was just typical.
"Why my dear, sweet Haldie, I would have you know that it was merely by unfortunate circumstances that myself and this band of…fine folk were thrown together." She paused for a moment, noticing a few of the others, including the Ranger, looking in their direction. "So you see, I really have no place up there. Now, if you will excuse me." Yunalesca finished trying to make a move forward.
"Nonetheless you must come with us." He stopped her before she had any real chance to start. "If the Lady says there is no need for you to stay then you are free to leave. But until then you must remain with your companions." She sighed; it was ridiculous enough that she was being counted as one of them but the fact that she was being bossed round by some blond bimbo just helped to add insult to injury.
"As you wish, my Lord." She said with as much mock courtesy as she could muster. They left the lush patch of blossoming trees they had been stood under and started up the steps in single file. Yuna kept to the back, determined on making as little an entrance as possible. It wasn't that she feared Galadriel, no, nothing of the sort. She just didn't like her manner. To Yuna it seemed she tried and make everyone seem as small and insignificant as possible. Like they were nothing compared to the utter majesty of the Lady of Light. She knew every dark little secret the world had to hold and they were oblivious everything but the local town gossip, which mostly consisted of Godfrey and his unusual sheep. Celeborn was a different matter. He didn't exactly break the mould and always somehow seemed to be in his wife's overbearing shadow, but at least it was possible to hold a decent conversation without drifting onto the subject of 'immanent doom' and the elves 'untimely demise'. They did however keep to formalities; he was the Lord and therefor should hold more power then his wife. Though with the power Galadriel held on her finger, it was clear to most who really held steed over the other.
It seemed all to soon that they were nearing the end of their upward assent. Yuna tried to clear her head, already well accustomed to the Lady's special gifts. She only wished she had some of her own to give Galadriel a little taste of her own medicine and see what it was like to be stripped bare. The stairway was opening out now, onto a platform that was held high above the ground below and tangled in the thick branches of a mallorn tree. As each set foot onto the platform they seemed to be cleansed by a wave of tranquillity that transcend both time and space and yet was held there now. Waiting attendants motioned to where they should stand in readiness for the Lord and Lady and assured them that they would not be long. Yuna decided to stand slightly off to the side. It was obvious she wouldn't get out of this completely unscathed but she wanted as little attention drawn to her as was possible. Within moments of their arrival to the world high above, the only set of doors leading out onto the platform slowly crept open. Light spilled out from the room beyond but more importantly two figures slowly started to appear in the space between. The Hobbits stared awed at the unfolding scene, mouths hanging slightly agape. Yuna studied each member of the Fellowship and in doing so caught a fleeting look from Boromir who looked less then pleased with the situation. She was slightly surprised, what did the Gondorian have to fear? It wasn't like she was that naïve, she had noticed the effect the Ring was having over him but was it to such an extent that he should be in fear of the Lady of Light?
The couple had now entered with enough grace as was required and proceeded down few steps that led from the doors. Yuna sighed inwardly. There she was, as remarkable and delicately beautiful as ever and of course being lightly led by her loving husband who stood steadfast by her side. It was a perfect picture of Elven grandeur to put on display to the outside world. Celeborn spoke first, something about Gandalf and only eight of the Fellowship making it to Lorien. It might not be much of a surprise to find that Yuna did not pay much heed to the rather one-sided conversation that was going on. In truth, she didn't really think it her business to get involved with. As far as she was concerned she'd done the rather loose job that had been assigned to her. It wasn't that she had any great deal more faith in the Fellowship then before, but what could she do? Going any further with them would just be a waste of any kind of time she still held.
Time seemed to slip by. Something about the quest being on a knife-edge and it's ruin. Yuna slipped in and out of blissful ignorance until the audience was over. The Fellowship slowly filed out, seeming slightly dazed and once again sorrowful with the remembrance of Gandalf's fall into darkness. The half-elf let them pass respectfully and then proceeded along after.
'Why are you so quick to leave? You have said nothing throughout the time you have been here. One would think you have been struck dumb, for one with so much to say…' The Lady's hollow voice echoed about the crowded causeways of her mind. She stopped instantly and turned on her heel, matching Galadriel's penetrating gaze.
"What have I to say that you do not already know?" She retorted out loud, drawing short glances from those around her. "That the Fellowship will fail? That not just the Elves, but the entirety of the Free Races are doomed? That this entire quest is folly–"
"In your eyes, perhaps. Yet many prefer to take a far less pessimistic view." The Lady's voice was, as usual, perfectly level, not a hint of any emotion that might betray her true intentions. A weary sigh escaped Yuna's lips.
"But this isn't just about the Fellowship, is it?" It was a statement, not a question.
"Tell me, my Lady Yunalesca, why are you here? Why was it that you chose to become an accessory to something so…trivial, at least in your opinion."
"It was a favour. To one of the only people in this God-forsaken land that might possibly understand me." A single golden eyebrow was raised about half a centimetre. "Besides, unfortunately for me, I'm not heartless enough to stand by and watch while the entirety of Middle-Earth is overrun by a some madman with a passion for tacky gold jewellery." A perfectly formed rosy lip curved upwards at the uncouth remark. Galadriel gave a quick glance to her smiling counterpart, whose lips immediately formed a tight line across his irritatingly flawless skin.
"Why are you so unwilling to trust others to take care of what has been asked of them?" There was a pause.
"I come to Rivendell fully aware of the problem at hand. I speak to Lord Elrond, who somehow convinces me to attend this council of his. When I get there, all I see are fully-grown men who cannot seem to agree with each other on anything, much less the fate of Middle-Earth. Not only are they letting issues so insignificant as race getting between their decisions, but even those of the same heritage are fighting. And then, amidst all of this, a hairy-footed creature barely reaching my waist offers to take the pure, unadulterated incarnation of evil to the Mountain of Fire. With him goes three of his little Hobbit companions and an arrogant Dwarf whom is only participating to show up a certain princely Elf who is also accompanying them. Then, along go the heir to the throne of Gondor, and the son of the Steward, to tell the truth I was surprised they haven't been at each others throats all through the journey." She paused again in her miniature speech, getting a strange feeling of de ja vu. "I'm sure you can excuse me for being a little untrusting."
"And to quell your doubt, you decide to stalk them in hope of convincing yourself that they are trustworthy?"
"In short, yes."
"And? What is it you have found?"
"They might have been able to accomplish the task set before them, with the Valar's blessing." Sparing the Lady from voicing her next question, she continued. "Though, without Gandalf, I am loath to say the same."
"His falling into shadow does not seem to trouble you as much…"
"As cold-blooded as it may seem, I cannot mourn for one I did not know." She was starting to feel slightly uneasy at the sudden change in topic. There was yet another pregnant pause.
"And what will you do now?" The Lady asked after a while. Yuna hoped this was her way of dragging the conversation to an end at last.
"Return to Fangorn. I came to deliver a simple message to Lord Elrond with every intention of returning to the only place I can call home afterward. I was merely…delayed."
"You will not continue with them?" She already knew the answer, but Yuna replied anyway.
"No, I have no need to. I am not, and never was, a member of the Fellowship. Nor do I wish to continue any further than is necessary." A monosyllabic 'hm' was the only answer given. And with that, she nodded and turned to leave.
"Namaarie, Yunalesca, we shall not meet again." And it was on this solemn note that their brief discussion ended, and Yuna descended the Great Mallorn to the ground bellow.
Not ready to leave the borders of Lorien just yet, Yuna found her way to where the various members of the Fellowship had settled for the night. She noticed a slight hint of Rosemary clinging to the air. 'Remembrance' she thought to herself. Songs of lament for Mithrandir accompanied the fragrance, serving to make the setting seem all the more morbid. They were soft, sung in fair Elvish voices that hit every note and pitch with perfect precision. The current one was a song sang for those who have fallen valiantly in battle and entered into the halls of Mandos. It didn't seem to quite fit Gandalf somehow. To her knowledge he did posses most if not all the attributes it mentioned and yet it just wasn't his…style. She noted most of the members of the party somewhere inside the slight enclosure that had been leant to them. Most of the Hobbits where lying in an alcove, waiting for sleep that they so desperately desired. Anything to take their minds of the wizards passing. Without him the world seemed all the more formidable, even in such a peaceful place such as the Golden Wood.
Gimli had already drifted off and thundering snores racked the placid air with every breath he took. Yuna considered asking the Halfling's if they wanted her to cut off his air supply so as to make it easier for them to get some sleep, but she decided that now was not the time. She walked down the gentle slope that led to the enclosure. Walking slowly up to where the Hobbits were she knelt down just in front of them.
"Are you okay?" She asked, to the group in general, noting the rather red and puffy looking eyes. None managed a verbal response but after a few weak nods, she decided they would be best left on their own. She wondered a few metres away from them to a tiny stream that she assumed somewhere down its course inevitably wound to the Nimrodel. Seconds later and a solemn looking Elven prince in a rather fitting silver outfit came to join them, jug held firmly in his hands.
"A lament for Gandalf." He said softly, looking far beyond what any normal eyes could ever hope to see.
"What do they say?" Merry broke in sheepishly. Legolas turned to face the young one, remorse present on his comely features. After a slight pause he spoke.
"I have not the heart to tell, for me the grief is still too near." The Hobbit gave a fleeting look in Yuna's direction but decided not to push the question. Nothing but grim tunes and the Dwarfs plentiful snoring filled the air for the next couple of minutes. The half-elf noticed the distinct lack of human in the vicinity of the camp. She scanned the area around for a few moments, having nothing else substantially better to do. It was at the roots of a mallorn tree that she spotted the two talking casually. They didn't seem to be in any sort of hurry to get back and so she assumed that her minuscule hope of a conversation was well and truly dead. The Halflings were in no state to talk and the elf seemed to have been taken into a world entirely of his own. There was really only one thing to do, and with that, she brought a hand up to the rather disgustingly matted bun that hung loose at the back of her head. It was going to be a long night.
Legolas sat on the plush green grass that carpeted the area they inhabited. He was in a half dream like state, various colours melding into images that might have been real or merely part of a world far beyond his own. How long he had been sat there was irrelevant, all he knew were the images dancing mesmerising before his eyes. His keen ears picked up movement off a little to his right. The Hobbits had fallen to sleep or were dozing when last he checked and Gimli was so deep into his dreams that not even The Dark Lord himself would have achieved the task of waking him. Whoever it was, was drawing closer. Legolas listened intently, light footfalls placed over a fair amount of ground, Hobbit. He doubted that whatever the reason the Halfling had got up for was serious and so casually returned to his previous state. Yet, there was something else, minuscule upon his conscience. Another set of feet a little further away. These were lighter still, moving rapidly and with intent purpose, elf. He opened his eyes slightly, scanning for the figures that had before only been present to his ears. It was Frodo, walking to a staircase that lined the sides of a large hollow in the landscape. He couldn't see what he had made his mind up to be an elf however and this stirred his curiosity to such a level that he decided to leave his trance like state and venture to the edge of the hollow. He picked himself up off the ground and started in the direction the young Hobbit had wondered.
As he went on more and more of the area bellow was revealed and he could soon make out a figure in the centre of the configuration's floor. It was Galadriel, the Lady of Light. Her golden hair rippled gently over her shoulders as she waited patiently for Frodo to make his way down. What was going on? Why did the Lady of light seek to talk to the ring-bearer now and not when they had had their audience with her and Celeborn? He noticed other things on the floor of the hollow. A pedestal with a large ornate bowl and a plain silver jug, much like the one he had not so long ago held. Behind it a small fountain sprouted out from the rock ending in a small pool at the bottom.
Legolas spun round startled, someone had called his name. He looked to where the other members of the Fellowship present had been left resting. None stirred. Keen eyes darted from one place to another. Of course, how could he be so foolish? He thought as he spotted the half-elf a little off to the side. Why was it that he seemed to be ignoring her, even mentally? Slight flashes of what had had happened by the moon lit lagoon pranced around his head. He attempted to clear his thoughts, shaking his head slightly before deciding to question her actions.
"May I be of assistance, Lady Yunalesca?" He asked courteously but felt somewhat others wise, rather eager to return the scene down bellow. She didn't move a muscle in his direction and instead kept to her monotone task of combing thick shimmering silver sections of hair.
"You have no right to watch what is going to take place." She returned firmly. "It is for the Halfling alone, his destiny alone." A pause and then. "If the Lady wanted you as an spectator have no doubt that she would not hesitate to ask. But as it is, I can assure you that your eyes are unwelcome at such a time." The prince felt like a dog after having been told off by his master. He stepped away from the edge with some reluctance and decided to join the she-elf by the stream. She did nothing to acknowledge his presence as he came to sit beside her and instead merely carried on with the task she seemed set on finishing.
"I know it is not my place to ask." He spoke. "But what is taking place down there?" Nothing but silence greeted his question. He tried again, determined to get an answer. "I understand if you do not feel right to answer but I would merely like some assurance that Frodo will not be in any sort of danger." It wasn't exactly a lie. He definitely didn't want to see the Hobbit come to any harm, but in truth the greatest need to know was out of curiosity. It was a good few minutes of placid serenity until Yuna finally saw fit to give him an answer.
"The only person the Halfling has to fear is the Lady." She replied solemnly. "Do you believe he is in any jeopardy with her?" The elf shook his head lightly. "Well then there you are." Legolas knew it wasn't a full answer but he supposed it was the best he was going to get out of her. However, something still puzzled him. Though it was a few minutes before he brought it up.
"Why is it that you are so protective of what is going on down there?" He questioned. "I may be wrong but you and the Lady hardly appeared close. Though I know little about your ways, I would believe it safe to assume that you would care less if one saw." He paused, not seeming to be able to get out what he really wanted to say. "What I mean is, how do you even know what is to happen unless…" He trailed off, it was clear that he had answered his own question.
"Unless I have been down there myself?"
"Frankly, yes."
"I will not lie to you, I was once in Frodo's position." A hint of remorse clung to her voice. She stopped short with the ebony comb that was pushing through one particularly tangled section near to the right side of her face "She will show him things he may or may not want to see but are there all the same. It is up to him what he will do with the information given. Whether use it to further his course or be discouraged by it and turn away from his true path." Legolas stared perplexed at the water surface in front of him. It was the one thing that truly bothered him about Yuna; she always left him with more questions than answers. His attention was drawn back to her as she cursed softly, glaring at a persistent knot. "I swear, sometimes I'm tempted just to cut this bloody mane of mine off."
Legolas regarded the so-called mane for a moment. It was now an interesting shade of light silver, and, free from any bindings, just folded slightly as the tips touched the forest floor. He hadn't noticed just how long it was when he saw her in the cove previously, he had been…slightly distracted. Now that he saw it, he couldn't help but wonder. She seemed to be a contradiction of herself. He voiced this fact a moment later.
"Forgive me if I offend you, but somehow you fail to strike me as the kind of person that would bother with growing hair as long as yours is now." She Looked™ at him for a long, profound moment.
"What exactly is that supposed to mean?" Panic flashed through the archer's eyes for a fleeting moment, before Yuna continued. "No, I suppose you're right. But what about you? You manage to keep your hair looking as silky and blonde as ever, why can't I? Maybe the only reason why I bother is because most people think of me as nothing more than a man with breasts, maybe this is my way of staying remotely feminine. However annoying it may be." There was another brief silence. "I'm not the only female warrior out there, but I think I'm one of the only ones that actually likes to keep themselves presentable, on most occasions in an case." She examined her nails. They were neatly trimmed to ensure they didn't get in the way, but a good millimetre of white enamel was still visible. Another pause. They were becoming quite frequent now. "Anyway, I had better get some rest before I depart tomorrow." She rose slowly.
"You're leaving so soon?" The surprise was cleverly masked.
"I have no reason to stay." He remembered her saying that she would leave as soon as she got to Lorien, but now that he was here, he couldn't picture leaving the Golden Wood unless he had to.
"If I could, I would remain here for as long as I could, unfortunately that will not be for long."
"I have been here many times before, it is nothing special to me anymore. I wish nothing more than to return to Fangorn. I have been gone too long already." Internally, Legolas wondered how anyone could ever tire of the Wood's beauty, but he kept that to himself.
"Fangorn…I have heard many tales of the place. They say it is enchanted, full of magic and age old memories." She raised an eyebrow at that.
"Sort of, picture this: Lorien, overgrown, without light, without the pleasant misty air, without the faint sounds of haunting Elvish voices, and certainly without any of the beauty of the Golden Wood. There are no animals – I doubt many would willingly get within a mile of the forest – and no birds. The only living things are the trees themselves." She paused yet again. "Rather like southern Mirkwood without the spiders. They wouldn't dare try and take over Fangorn."
"And you…live there?"
"Well, you live in Mirkwood, do you not?"
"Yes, but, that is…different…In Mirkwood there is a Palace, and…"
"Well in Fangorn we have trees, lots and lots of trees. And I know about Mirkwood's stony halls, I've been there a couple of times. They're nothing special." Legolas took this as her own way of ending the conversation.
"Will you still be here tomorrow morning?" He asked out of curiosity, which seemed to have taken over the young prince.
"I probably won't leave until the evening, so you needn't worry your little blonde head about it. I bid you goodnight." He nodded in response as she strode away through the trees.
It was early the following morning, though you could hardly tell night from day in a place such as this.
If you really had to pick out details there might have been a slight increase of light and the songs of lament had died down to slight flitters of music made by any host of foreign instruments. Next to that, it was the same glorious spectre that had greeted them the day before.
The slumbering members of the Fellowship awoke to an infinite spread of dishes that had been laid out on the ground. Silver platters with every item of food prepared to perfection. Scents wafted to them from various fruits and cakes, all faultlessly garnished. The mood had been improved upon since the following night and now the party sat round in an untidy semicircle.
"The irony of the elves." The dwarfs gruff voice shattered the pleasant atmosphere. "Where is all the meat? You'd think they had some sort of intolerance to the stuff." It wouldn't have been hard to imagine that he was aiming this comment at the sole elf in the vicinity. Already, he had been muttering about the untrustworthiness of the elves and how it was unsafe to eat the items set out in front of them. Subsequently he would only eat things that at least one member of the company had tried first. And even this was preceded by plenty of inspecting and prodding.
"Do you not think, Gimli." Aragorn intervened. "That if the elves had indeed some notion to see you dead, that they would have done it when we first entered into the Golden Wood?" The dwarf flailed for a moment starting but never finishing several different retorts. In the end he did the smart thing and just settled for keeping his mouth shut.
"Besides, my dear dwarf, I for one have never know any elf to have any particular liking for red raw meat still clinging to the bone. As you appear to love so." Yuna added her own musings in as she paced over to where the others were seated. One or two heads turned to greet her but most were to engrossed in the feast in front of them. She took up a place between Boromir and Sam, but didn't touch the food, not feeling particularly hungry. Boromir eyed her with a slightly blurry gaze. He hadn't got much if any rest the night before and was feeling worse for ware. Frodo looked similar, he stared hard at the items on his plate, but had too much on his mind to be troubled with eating.
"Well, aren't we just a cheerful bed of roses." She said, sarcasm oozing from every sailable. "It is so unfortunate that I will have to be leaving you merry folk so swiftly. How ever will I cope without all the excitement, I just do not know." Silence. This would be the time where any comedian on stage would mutter 'yeesh…tough crowd'. It wasn't her best crack, but she wasn't really bothered in any case.
"You are leaving?" Said Boromir after a few awkward minutes. His mind was working with all the efficiency of a goldfish attempting to rebuild Gondolin.
"Yes, I plan on leaving for Fangorn before the day is out. I have no reason to stay." He simply nodded in response. Something was troubling him, she could tell, but decided not to pry. She noticed him feeling strangely uncomfortable as the Lady's eyes bored into his.
"'Tis unfortunate. I had hoped you would have decided to accompany us further, you seem to be one of the few sane people left." She smiled at that.
"I can hardly blame them, though. They all have something or another weighing heavily on their minds. The Hobbits in particular." Sam didn't either didn't hear her, or was too busy talking quietly to his master to notice. "Do not be troubled, I shall visit Minas Tirth at the next possible interval if this War comes to an end." Boromir mentally noticed her casual use of 'if,' but decided not to question it He simply nodded once more and smiled as his own farewell. She excused herself quickly as Aragorn got up from the heavily adorned spread and glided away. She needed to speak with him before she left, knowing full well it could be the last time she would be able to.
"Aragorn." The Ranger stopped, turning around to see Yunalesca a few metres behind him, staring with an unreadable expression. He joined the growing group of individuals choosing to simply nod rather than waste their breath on some insane Half-Elf. "Where are you going?"
"I simply wish to think for a while, by myself." She outright ignored the last part of the sentence, and carried on.
"Why do you think it's easier to run away from the inevitable?"
"…Excuse me?"
"How does that go? Ah yes, 'Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.' Which one are you, hmm?" He was silent. He knew very well what she was speaking of, and it was the one topic he did not wish to discuss. "Why do you refuse to carry out what the Valar have in store for you? You know very well that you cannot avoid it, so why do you seem to put it off at every possible opportunity? You must be nearing 80 now, that's getting rather old for a human…"
"Well, how would you feel?" He shot back, anger gripping him slightly. "I do not want to be King, I have never wanted it. Just like Frodo never wished for the ring to come to him."
"Yet it did, and yet you are." She interrupted. "And, just like him, it is your destiny, and you cannot avoid it."
"You seem to know so much of my 'destiny,' so tell me, Yuna, what about yours?"
"Simple, I don't have one. I'm one of the luckier inhabitants of this dying Earth. My sole purpose in life is to be born, live, and then die. If I had some kind of destiny, perhaps I would be just as adverse to fulfilling it as you are, but at least I have tried to do something with my life. At least I have attempted to do what I could to make my otherwise pathetic existence worthwhile."
"Do not think you can lecture me. I have enough people to do that without you telling me how wrong I am. But of course, you can do no wrong, tell me of all the glorious deeds you have done throughout your life, then."
"I have done a lot of things in my time. I'm not exactly proud of all of them, not all of my decisions were good ones, and there are a lot of things I regret doing. But at least I can say I tried, at least I never gave up, and at least I've been able to pick myself up and start over whenever I stumbled." With her miniature rant over, she fixed him with a steely glare and waited for a response.
"I have tried my hardest to please so many different people, I'm not sure what I am supposed to do any more. The last thing I want to do is to take my place as the King of Gondor, but I will. The only reason I am even thinking of doing so is so I can be with Arwen. I love her enough to endure anything, even following this 'destiny' of mine. But, of course, you wouldn't know anything about love, now, would you?" He knew his words would sting, and they were harsher than he had intended, but he wouldn't take them back now.
"No, you're right, I wouldn't." And with that, she turned, and was gone. In truth, she hated to leave things standing as they were between them, but she was far too proud to admit that to anyone, especially him.
On her way back to the makeshift camp to collect her various pieces of armour she had left scattered about, she spotted an inanimate lawn ornament, before realising that it was, in fact, a very faraway looking Frodo. He was sat, eyes staring downwards at nothing in particular, a strange lost expression on his face. His feet dangled off the ground as he perched on the bench that was more of an extension of the tree it was against than anything else. Feeling oddly maternal, she sat down next to him. He glanced up briefly after a few seconds, his mind obviously elsewhere.
"Yes?" He asked innocently, she regarded his glazed over blue eyes for a moment.
"It is troubling you, even the most undiscerning individual can see that. You do not have to suffer alone."
"What…what do you mean?"
"They are worried about you, you know. Your fellow Shire-folk care for you more than you know. They would be more than happy to let you share the burden with them."
"I…I do not wish to trouble them with the weight on my mind. And I would not endanger them by asking them to help me with the ring. It is my burden alone to bear."
"If that is your wish, so be it. But I can tell the darkness distresses you more than you let on. Why do you not share this with them?"
"The darkness…I can feel it growing, threatening to take over me more and more every day. I can't let them know just how much I feel it. If only I was strong enough to escape it…" His voice had lowered to a whisper.
"It is not your fault. The Ring is evil itself, and wherever it goes, it will follow." She paused slightly, before chanting softly: "It cannot be seen, Cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, Cannot be smelt. It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills. It comes first and follows after, Ends life, Kills laughter…" She noticed Frodo staring at her, surprise clearly written on his face.
"Bilbo…"
"Yes, Bilbo, it is an interesting riddle. Remember, Frodo, wherever there is darkness, there is light, and wherever there is light, it casts a shadow. Do not blame yourself for your thoughts, many a lesser being would have fallen into shadow by now, you are an extraordinary creature. As are all Hobbits."
"I would have fallen already had it not been for Sam…I am not strong enough to do this on my own."
"What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." And it was with that parting thought that she left the Hobbit to his musings, continuing back to the camp.
It was reaching late afternoon when Yuna decided that it was time for her to make her exit. She had spent most of the day talking to Haldir, discussing the happenings in the area since she had been away. Movement by Orcs had significantly increased in the past few months, though few still ventured beyond the borders of either Lorien or, for what he knew Fangorn. She also said her goodbyes to him. For all their outward hatred for each other they still held a bond that was not easily broken. For indeed it was that Haldir had not always been so solemn as he was in his older years. And so it was that she left him, knowing that it was subsequently doubtful they would ever again see or for that matter speak to each other again. Unless it be in the undying lands. She had no great amount of possessions to collect and decided to take only enough provisions to comfortably last her the week's journey to Entwood. It somewhat surprised her to find most of the company assembled in readiness for her departure. She did not think that they would really care if she left as their dominant relationship had been as captive and keeper. Nonetheless there were Gimli, Boromir, Pippin, Legolas and Merry stood to attention as she entered the camp. She smiled somewhat.
"We have come to bid you fair well, Lady Yuna." The Gondorian announced as she drew close.
"I am truly blessed." She returned. For once it lacked the usual sarcasm that was mostly tagged along to statements of the kind. She noted the absence of Aragorn as well as both Sam and Frodo but did not think to inquire. "I suppose this is the last time I will meet any of you unless fate deems it necessary." It might have been rather grim but it was really the only thing she could think of to say. It was one of those rare occasions where she was lost for words.
"We'll miss you, Lady Yuna." Said Pippin, who proceeded to elbow Merry.
"Yeah, I don't think I'll ever meet another woman quite like you." He said dreamily. A resounding nod passed through the group. The half-elf wrinkled her brow.
"Well, I had no idea that I'd made such a big impact. Let me say that however unpleasant the journey may have seemed, I thoroughly enjoyed your company." She gifted them with one of her rare sincere smiles as she pulled on the light grey cloak she had been given to replace her old one.
She approached the two Hobbits, and knelt down to be at eye level. "I'll miss you two little scoundrels. Don't be too much trouble to the others. Keep your wits about you and show them what Hobbits are made of." To Boromir, she smiled sadly. "I suppose we have already said our farewells. But none the less, for a human, I was glad to fight alongside you." To Legolas, she grinned. "Well, Princey, I guess this is it. Enjoy your time here. As for the questions I'm sure you hold, perhaps if we meet at the Grey Havens or beyond I shall find time to answer them." And as an afterthought, she added: "And no more spying on young, defenceless maidens, okay?" His eyes widened at her remark, as did those of the Fellowship around him. As she turned to walk away, a throat cleared rather raspily. "Oh, Gimli, do forgive me. I took you to be no more than a rather odd coloured piece of shrubbery, perhaps if you weren't so covered with hair and lived but a little higher off the ground, I would not be so quick to make the same mistake." He glared. She grinned cutely. And that was that. Yunalesca departed the Golden Wood of Lorien, and left the Fellowship to their fate.