As I walked through the trees joining in the lament for Mithrandir, I could hear behind me the near silent scuttling of thick soled feet following me. Allowing my voice to carry I turned my head slightly in order to see, noticing Merry and Pippin were the culprits of my being followed. They whispered to one another in quick witted flusters of sound, doing their utmost to remain unnoticed but urging the other to be the first one to approach me. "You do it Pip."
"Why me? You go ask her."
"What, me? I can't go."
"Why not?"
"Because you wanted to talks to her first!" As they continued to follow I cut behind a cluster of trees then smartly moved around them, listening to their continued bickering until they turned the corner and suddenly stopped. "Where did she go?" Appearing behind them as if materialising from mist, I took a moment before speaking, an amused smile painting my lips.
"Is there something you wish of me, little Halflings?" I asked them with all the affection in the world. They both whirled around with a yelp of surprise, lunging to clutch hold of one another before then clearing their throats and recovering from the surprise, dusting their hands off on their waistcoats.
"Well…uh…you see…" Merry began bravely but soon faltered, uncertain of what to say so pushed Merry forward instead. "Pippin here wanted to ask you something."
"What?!" Glaring at his closest friend, Pippin began to fidget and shift uncomfortably in place as he too struggled to form the words upon his tongue. "It's just that, Merry and I have been wondering some time now…more of a curiosity really…since you seem to be so well acquainted with everyone else…and we heard mention of Bilbo and the Lonely Mountain…we were wondering if you would perhaps…tell us exactly what happened there and how you came to be involved?" Further amused by the Hobbits and their antics. Stepping forwards with my shoulders drawn back, my fingers rose to touch the valuable gems at my throat, whilst my other hand raised to extend the sleeve of my gown which trailed like folded wings behind me.
"If it is a tale you wish to hear, then by all means, come and I shall tell it to you. We shall make a grand affair of it, and I expect that Master Gimli will also like to tell of the greatness of his kin, who bravely took back their home against the mightiest of foe." Leading them back to where the company were camped, Gimli was more than happy to partake in the story telling from the very beginning, starting with the unexpected party who took over Bilbo Baggins' pantry. Soon enough all were listening as I played upon a harp for a little ambiance. Beside me sat Legolas and Aragorn, however after a while once Gimli was fully invested into his storytelling, I noticed that Boromir had walked away from the others to seek solitude. Putting aside my harp I followed after a brief touch of my hand to my husband's shoulder, wanting to see why such darkness seemed to plague the mortal man's heart. He seemed wretched, hanging his head into his hand as he removed himself further and further until finally collapsing onto the twisted root of one of the foundation trees, choking back a sob of anguish. "Many tears have been shed by those who see nothing but darkness and ruin. Yours are no less potent, Boromir son of Denethor." Hearing my voice Boromir immediately looked to me, hand still partially resting upon his palm. "The last time I saw you, you were but a child. Everywhere you went your brother was in your shadow, inseparable from one another as you laughed and ran through the halls of Minas Tirith." Reaching him I came to a halt before him, lifting a finger to delicately catch a tear and draw it away. "Such burdens you now carry compared to then."
"It is my duty to obey my father's will, and for the sake of Gondor's glory, I will make any sacrifice that I must." Boromir said to me determinedly, though his voice trembled as he did so, mind still overcome by the words of Galadriel who had delved deep into his mind upon his arrival, seeing his fears and weaknesses. "But there is not strength left in Men to overcome this evil. I know this to be true. The city will soon fall, it is a matter of time, unless we are able to use the weapon of our enemy against them." Seeing the dark despair and knowing there were no words I could utter to turn him away from such treacherous thoughts as what plagued him, so instead I turned my hand to rest upon his brow, meeting his eyes as they rose to meet mine.
"Boromir of Gondor, son of Denethor, son of Ecthelion. I bless you with courage for the days yet to come. I bless you with the strength to be able to raise your sword and lift your shield, to know your own valour and the worth of loyalty, friendship and honour above all else." Speaking the same blessing again in the language of my own people, my finger curled underneath Boromir's chin as he became focused upon my words which brought a slim glimmer of light into eyes that had long since lost their lustre. "Take heart, Boromir." I counselled him, speaking with the timeless wisdom of my foresight. "No darkness is perpetual. Eventually a light shall spring forth with the promise of a swift dawn that will shatter the night and bring such a shudder to the shadows that will break their sway over to all that they cling."
Stroking his hair back with a look of stern courage, I then pulled myself away from Boromir and suggested that he returned to his companions for fear of missing a grand story unlike any he had ever heard before. I guided him back, silent as the falling leaves as they drifted from the high boughs above, watching over our guests before retreating back to give them their peace, whereby I was soon joined by Haldir who had returned from scouting the borders where orcs and goblins from Moria had stretched past the boundaries of their caverns in pursuit of the evil that had been brought into our home. "They cannot linger for much longer, Eleniel mîr el. Before long the orc war parties will turn to armies. We cannot keep them at bay forever."
"Nor will we have to, dearest Haldir." I promised him, eyes growing milky as my foresight took hold. Haldir's hand naturally rose to take my arm, steadying me should I fall. "The hunt grows fiercer…and our foes increase in number day by day. They shall take the river…to the falls of Rauros, in a bid to outrun those who hunt them." Sighing wearily I touched a hand to my brow where the clear jewel shone, feeling weak and strained from the effort to see into a future so overwrought with darkness that not even my own light could break its shadowy veils.
"Long has it been since you were able to see beyond the present. It grows evermore a burden with each passing day that you tempt." Haldir murmured softly, taking my hand in his as an arm wound around my back. "Come. You must rest." Agreeing with a slight nod of my head, Haldir graciously led me away to where I might rest, settling me upon a comfortable lounger with soft pillows under my head. Without a word Haldir pulled a pale cover like threads of cloud, light to the touch but instantly warming as I suffered the lingering chill. "Sleep, precious star, sleep and be well." With his soft words to guide me, I fell into a deep slumber where dreams faded in and out of focus, awash with diminishing colours which became lost to a vision of utter blackness.