Disclaimer: I know I haven't written on this fic in a while, but I still don't own it. That's enough of a disclaimer because this is a long chapter and I don't want to wear out my fingers on this.
MorniëGalad
Chapter Four: Lòthlòrien
Haldir woke the company early the next morning and they set off after a hurried breakfast. To Caitlin, Frodo appeared exhausted, as if he'd not slept all night. She stayed close to his side, Pippin never straying far from her. The journey was silent and solemn for the most part. Every now and again, Boromir would say a few words in an attempt to start a conversation, but he may as well have been silent for the response he got. They seldom stopped for any reason, but around midday, Haldir paused atop a high hill. There was a great expanse with only ropes to cross it. Haldir made it evident that this was the only way to enter the realm. Legolas and Aragorn easily passed over, but the others were quite hesitant. At last, Boromir took the incentive and began to cross, foot after foot. Caitlin couldn't imagine it would be an easy task in armor, but the Gondorian was doing quite well. Then, about halfway across, he slipped and it appeared as if he would plummet to his death. Horror was mirrored in the eyes of each member of the fellowship, but, lo, Boromir did not fall. To their astonishment, he rose ulp again and continued across until he landed safely on the other side. From across the crevice, Legolas met Caitlin's eyes. She just smiled at him. Beside her, Frodo stepped forward and ventured slowly across, the remainder of the company eventually following him until they had all passed over unharmed. Lastly, Haldir followed them, removing the ropes after him so no Goblins could use the passage should they enter this far into the Golden realm.
"Now we must bind the eyes of the Dwarf," Haldir said. This sparked another argument between himself, Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn, which resulted in the entire company being blindfolded. This made the journey quite different for each of the, Caitlin not excepted. Though she knew she needed her eyes not, she had become quite accustomed to the luxury of their use. The journey without them seemed quite long and tedious, but not one member of the fellowship fell into any misfortune under Haldir's expert guidance. At last, they halted and Haldir explained that he had received new orders from Caras Galadhon stating that the eyes of the whole company should be unbound, for their purpose was known to the lord and lady. Caitlin felt the bonds being removed from her eyes and she beheld a city, high atop a tree, shining in the sunlight of late afternoon. A few feet away from her, Legolas nearly smiled, but his joy at the sight of the heart of the Elven kingdom was kept in check by the overwhelming grief that never left his mind. Pippin, Merry, and Sam were each staring at the sight open mouthed and wide eyed. Frodo's expression was blank and serious, much like Boromir's and Gimli's, while Aragorn looked as if he were greeting a long lost friend under grave circumstances. Caitlin studied each of them for a few moments as they began walking. Now that they could see their destination, the journey seemed to be given new meaning. Before they knew it, they were climbing the stairs just as Tess and Monica had the day before. They assembled in a nice formation on the platform, high above the trees. Caitlin wasn't sure if she fit in less conspicuously alongside the Hobbits or elsewhere, so she positioned herself behind Pippin and beside Legolas. Then a great light filled the place and Celeborn and Galadriel descended the stairs. They spoke of the quest, which Caitlin knew now to be the fate of the ring, as well as Gandalf's fate and hope. Then Caitlin could feel the lady's eyes resting on her and she could hear Galadriel's thoughts in her mind, as if she was speaking so only Caitlin could hear her. For a moment, there was confusion in the lady's thoughts, as if she could not understand Caitlin, but then she smiled and it passed.
"Your friends have been waiting for you here," the lady told her mentally. "I am glad you have come, for your help will be desperately needed in days to come. I have many questions for you, but one will suffice for now. Did Eru send you?"
"Yes," Caitlin silently replied, "though I usually know him by other names and he does not oft send my kind here. I suppose you could say I am similar to your Istari."
"Then I am very glad you have come, indeed. We will speak more later, Caitlin." Galadriel finished their unspoken conversation and turned her attention to Frodo. Caitlin saw Legolas looking at her quite admiringly, but, though she wondered what he believed she had done, said nothing. After looking over each member of the company, Galadriel spoke.
"Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil." Haldir led them back down the stairs into a glade. Immediately, a sweet, lamentful melody met their ears and Legolas froze.
"It is a lament for Gandalf," he said, not meeting the eyes of anyone in the fellowship. Tears filled Pippin's eyes and he went to lay down on one of the beds that had been prepared for them.
"What do they say about him?" Merry asked after making sure Pippin was out of earshot.
"I have not the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near," the Elf whispered. He slowly walked away from the rest of the company. Caitlin wanted to follow him, but knew she should find Tess, Monica, and Andrew first. She strode a ways away from the rest of the company and soon found the rest of the angels. Andrew was staring, entranced, at the stars, probably deep in prayer. He didn't seem to hear Caitlin approach, but Tess and Monica both turned.
"I don't know what to do," Caitlin whispered.
"Neither do we. We haven't been clued in at all as to why were here," Tess answered.
"There seem to be a few people over there who could use an angel," Caitlin sighed.
"Well, since you've got the inside track, why don't you introduce us," Tess suggested, rising. Monica followed her lead, but andrew didn't seem to have heard a word they had said. "Angel boy," Tess walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder."Come on."
"Oh, right," Andrew said, startled as if he'd been suddenly awoken from a deep sleep. He got up and followed Caitlin and the others, walking slowly. As soon as they came into sight of the fellowship, Boromir, the nearest to them, resheathed his sword. Apparently he had drawn it when he heard them approach. Frodo was leaning against a tall mallorn tree, listening to the Elven chorus. Sam lay asleep on the ground near his master, while Gimli, Pippin, and Merry were fast asleep in their beds. Aragorn was sharpening his sword, but Legolas was nowhere to be seen.
"Who are these people with you, Caitlin?" Aragorn asked, not even looking up at her.
"These are friends of mine, Tess, Monica, and Andrew. They were granted entrance into Lòthlòrien a day before us."
"I'm glad to hear it," the Ranger replied, looking them over almost as Galadriel had done. Boromir stepped in and introduced the Fellowship.
"We have lost one of our number and another has wandered off on his own for now," the Gondorian explained. Andrew nodded, but said nothing.
"Maybe I should go look for Legolas," Caitlin suggested. Aragorn shrugged, indicating his opinion that there could be little harm in the proposition. Just as she set off, another figure, clothed in white, came from the other direction.
"Milady," Aragorn greeting Galadriel, bowing slightly to her. Boromir stepped back, allowing her to pass.
"I did not wish to disturb you, but I wanted to speak with Andrew." Both Tess and Monica seemed surprised to hear this, but Andrew appeared to have been expecting it. Nodding to the others, he set off with the lady.
"So now it's just us," Tess observed once the two white clothed figures had faded into the night. Monica didn't reply, nor did anyone else. Monica's attention was drawn to Frodo and, after a quizzical glance at Tess, she approached the Hobbit. He had scarcely moved, so intent was he on the song that filled the night.
"It's a lovely tune," Monica whispered. "Does it do him justice?"
"I know only a little of the Elven tongue, but I'm sure it couldn't. Not a soul in this world could capture Gandalf's spirit. I've known him . . . I knew him all of my life and I never understood him entirely."
"How old are you?" Monica asked out of sheer curiosity.
"Fifty," Frodo replied, his voice sounding distant. "It's strange. The whole quest was brought about by him, in as way. He's the one who discovered that . . . never mind."
"Get some rest now, Frodo," Aragorn ordered, strolling over to the Hobbit.
"Goodnight, then," Monica said hastily. She returned to Tess, who was now leaning against a large tree. "I don't think they're going to be very open with us right now."
"So we just wait some more," Tess grumbled impatiently.
Caitlin had gone quite a ways before sighting Legolas perched high in a mallorn tree. He seemed to be paying no attention to his surroundings, lost in thought. The angel beneath him investigated the tree, searching for footholds, but found none. The solution to the problem, was obvious since she was indeed an angel, and soon she stood on the high branch behind the Elf.
"Mae govanem, Legolas," she whispered, placing her hand on his shoulder lest he startle and fall from the tree. The Elf didn't jump, but he didn't turn to look at her either.
"What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to make sure you were all right."
"Do you think that just because I nearly cried when one of my best friends died in a preventable incident that I need to be looked after? I'm fine. Check on the Hobbits. They're the ones who will be in the most pain. They're innocent and not used to this."
"They're being taken care of," Caitlin paused, knowing every word she spoke was important. "I just want to help."
"You can't help me. No one can."
"Does sitting here alone help?"
"Not really," Legolas admitted. "It calms my mind a bit, though when I see the stars."
"Things are going to be hard, Legolas. This is a sanctuary here, safe from all evil except that which enters with a person. Imagine how hard the outside world will be. Sometimes, I guess, you just have to accept what happens, somehow. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
"What?" Legolas asked.
Whoops, thought Caitlin. Obviously this wasn't a common saying in this world. "I meant, take whatever life gives you and make the best of it. I know it doesn't sound like much, but sometimes it's the best a person can do." Beneath her hand, Legolas tensed up as if a blow had hit him. "I didn't mean to be rude, forgive me. I don't know what I can do to help, but I do want to help you. Would it help if you told me about him?"
For the first time, Legolas turned around to face Caitlin, his blue eyes red from tears. "I first met Mithrandir when I was a very small Elf. He would pass. through Mirkwood every so often, usually on some sort of quest. When I was born, though, he came just to see me, the newborn prince of Mirkwood. Over the years we got to know each other quite well. The last time he came, he and Aragorn brought Gollum and requested that we watch him, but that trickster escaped. I . . . I can't believe he's gone. He just stood there against Morgoth's demon, saving the rest of us." the Elf paused. "There had to be another way."
Caitlin could have responded in so many ways to this statement, but decided silence was the best course.
"There wasn't," Legolas whispered, almost to himself, after a while. "There was no other way. He knew that some things were more important than his life."
Caitlin remembered back to the sight that had met her eyes when she first entered Middle Earth: Gandalf standing against the Balrog. What an eye opener and a first impression, she though. She shook her head in awe. "He was amazing," she said. The Elf nodded.
In the silence between them, Caitlin noticed that the lament for Gandalf continued. She asked Legolas about it.
"There is always song in Lòthlòrien, but rarely is it so sad." For a while they sat there, still, just listening to the melody. "Where did you get your name?" Legolas asked softly.
"My father gave it to me," Caitlin answered, a bit surprised at the question. "Why do you ask?"
"In our tongue, caita lin' means in the song'. Are you a singer?"
"Yes. I sang in a choir for quite some time."
"Would you sing a lament for Gandalf tomorrow?"
"I barely knew him."
"But you did know him," Legolas pressed, slightly surprised at her response.
"I met him briefly, once. To answer your question, I would be honored. May my friend Tess sing with me?"
"Certainly." There was another long pause.
"Mithrandir," Legolas whispered, as if in a dream. "the grey pilgrim. Olorin who once was . . ." he broke off and spoke once more to Caitlin. "I keep thinking that I'll wake up and all this will be a nightmare, but in my heart I know it isn't. What shall be shall be.'" The last sentence, Caitlin could tell was interpreted from the song. Tears began to trickle down the Elf's cheeks and Caitlin took him in her arms. She didn't say it was all right. She just held him tight as he wept.
"Are you a herald of death, Andrew?" Galadriel asked. They were in a glade surrounded by tall mallorn trees and Elven statues.
"I sometimes have the pleasure of escorting individuals home." He paused. "I had this pleasure with Gandalf."
"Did he feel any pain?" the Lady asked, her blue eyes glistening slightly in the starlight.
"I wish I could say he didn't, but he did. Now his is in no pain, though, and nothing will ever harm him again." Galadriel nodded. "He did destroy his enemy, though."
The Lady said nothing, but led Andrew toward the center of the glade where an elegant sculpture stood. The stars overhead were mirrored in the water that it held in its basin.
"This is the mirror of Galadriel. It shows things that were, things that are and some things that yet may be. Will you look into the mirror?"
Author's note:
Alright, just to clarify, Caitlin knows about the quest and, as of the moment, the other angels know nothing about the ring. Thank you for your patience in waiting for this update,
Sincerely,
MorniëGalad
