Hey there! Sorry about the delay, I was really busy this week. With any luck I'll still make tomorrow's update, but I can't promise anything. Anyways, enjoy this one, and as ever, please forgive any typos.
Chapter Forty-Two: Farewell to Lothlórien
The day after Frodo and Sam looked in the Mirror, the company left Lothlórien. Their hearts were heavy, but each member of the fellowship felt fortified by the time they had spent in the city. Determined, resolute – as though their fear could no longer drag them to despair. Soon after dawn, they rose, and as they began to pack their belongings Celeborn pulled Aragorn aside.
His gaze was as piercing as Galadriel's, and the wisdom in his eyes just as deep. He smiled slightly. "Many sorrows lie ahead of you, son of Arathorn, and many toils. Yet you ought not think of your last visit to our lands with such sorrow. It may yet bring you great joy."
Shock hit Aragorn in the chest, and stunned him into silence. Since the first moment he crossed into Lothlórien, he had been unable to banish memories of his past visit from his mind. He had been young, barely older than twenty, and only a year had passed since he learnt his true name, and his heritage. And, wandering through Lothlórien, he had first seen Arwen Undomiel. From that moment, his heart was no longer his own.
But to know that Celeborn was aware of Aragorn's dwelling on these thoughts was alarming. It felt almost as though he had been stripped naked, and thrust before a jeering crowd. After all, the woman he adored so deeply, the subject of all his most wonderful memories, was Celeborn's granddaughter.
Yet Celeborn had not doomed the couple, nor had he advised Aragorn to forsake his heart, as Elrond had. Celeborn had said it may bring joy…
Aragorn shook his head. "Lady Arwen belongs with your people, my Lord. I would have her go over the sea, and be free of this land."
"That choice is yet before her," said Celeborn sternly, though his eyes still smiled. "But it is her choice, and not yours. She was doomed to choose by her birth, and the bloodline of her father. Not by you."
Only a little hope dared rise in Aragorn's heart, and in a moment he had quieted it once more. It was not his choice, and he knew that. But as strongly as his heart yearned for Arwen, it also wished that she would choose to cross the sea. He had never rued Elrond's reluctance to see Arwen tie herself to him – it would mean that one day, death would sunder the Lord of Rivendell from his daughter.
And Aragorn would rather Arwen live, live long, and live happy. Even if that meant to live without him.
"Heed my words," said Celeborn, taking Aragorn's arm and regaining his attention. "Yet do not dwell on them now. We have more pressing things to discuss."
Aragorn was sure that he had never been so happy to change a subject, until all trace of a smile disappeared from the Lord's face, and his voice became sombre as the night.
"The road before you is more dangerous than ever before. Would that we could protect you further, but once you leave our lands you are beyond our care, and must trust to your own strengths. Yet you must be swift – you are being pursued."
The hair on the back of Aragorn's neck stood up, and he glanced at the others. They were laughing, and apparently enjoying Bróin's first exposure to lembas. He looked back at Celeborn. "Is it the Nine?"
A scowl darkened Celeborn's fair face, and for a moment he was so terrible to behold that even Aragorn was afraid of him. But then the elf shook his head, and the shadows vanished. In their place came a bitter look, one that was mirrored in his tone. "No. We have heard nothing of the Nine, as of yet. Pray it remains so. But orcs have been spied near our borders, larger and more hideous than any we have seen before. They have been clever – or at least have been instructed by someone wiser – for they have not passed into our land, and travel in groups so great that our scouts cannot annihilate them without the help of the guard, who of course must remain along the borders."
Aragorn nodded at once. Though he had no doubt that the power of Celeborn and Galadriel played a great role in the protection of Lothlórien, he shuddered at the thought of any part of the kingdom being left vulnerable to attack.
"But, the scouts do as their duty commands, and the news they bring is useful, if not comforting. They say that these orcs appear unafraid of daylight, and run beneath the sun without care. They are organised, and heavily armoured, and they bear the White Hand of Saruman."
Aragorn's lip curled at the very name of the wizard. What delivery had Saruman performed to engineer such strength in orcs? Without the cover of daylight, the fellowship lost what little advantage they had against their foes, especially if these orcs were heavily armoured.
"Are they trained?" he asked. "In combat?"
"It appears so, though we know not for certain," said Celeborn. "But we know that they are swift. These are, no doubt, the 'uruk-hai' of which Saruman spoke to Radagast. You no longer have wolves or horses, and at their current rate they will run you down before the sun sets tomorrow."
Aragorn grimaced, and looked back at the others. The laughter had died, and Frodo was gazing curiously towards them. "Then what do you suggest?"
"Go by river," said Celeborn at once. "We have prepared you boats, swift and strong, yet light enough to handle with ease. Between you, Legolas and Boromir, there is enough boat knowledge to carry you safely, and by river, you have a chance of outrunning the enemy to the falls of Rauros. What path you take then is up to you. Do you know which it is you will take?"
"No," said Aragorn, and the words tasted bitter in his mouth. ""I am not yet sure. I lean towards the Emyn Muil – treacherous as it may be. That was the path that Gandalf intended to take, so far as I know."
Celeborn nodded slowly. "I will not counsel you either way, but I do not think that the Emyn Muil is the worst of the choices you have before you. Come, the time of departure is close at hand."
When they were told of the plan to take boats, for the most part the fellowship was pleased. Merry, Legolas and Boromir were particularly pleased, having a proclivity for boating and swimming, and they joined Aragorn in thanking the Lord of Lórien many times. Sam, on the other hand, was less than impressed, and grumbled to Frodo beneath his breath, "Sleeping up trees and sitting in boats – they'll be asking us to leap up cliffs like billy goats next!"
An elf heard his words, and turned to Sam. "Calm your heart, Master Halfling. Our boats are unlike the boats of other folk, and they will not sink, no matter how you fill them. It is only if you mistreat them that they shall let harm befall you."
This did not seem to comfort Sam at all.
The elves helped the company to pack the boats, and Aragorn was relieved to see good supplies of food, blankets, medical supplies, and ropes among the luggage. Most of their own baggage had been abandoned before the gates of Moria. Within half an hour they were packed, and had practised boarding and disembarking from the boats. Bróin tried to convince Sam that the boats were no different from the barges and ferries of Lake-Town, but the hobbit was not having it. Before the pair could get into the argument, however, Haldir approached the company.
"The Lord and Lady wish to share a meal with you, before you depart," he said, holding out his arm. "If you will follow me."
No one hesitated, and Haldir led them away from the boats towards a large circle of soft, green grass. A ring of silver-barked mallorn trees grew around it, and their branches stretched overhead to form a canopy of delicate gold. Seated in the centre of the circle were Celeborn and Galadriel, and food and drink was set on crisp white cloths before them.
"Come," said Galadriel gesturing to the ground before her. "Let us sit, and eat, before our paths lead us apart."
So the Fellowship of the Ring sat before the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim, and ate, and drank, until even the hobbits were sated. Aragorn could not help but notice that while Bróin and Gimli's table manners were far from stellar on the road – or even in Rivendell – both dwarves appeared to be endeavouring to reach elven standards of cleanliness. He even saw Bróin dab the side of his mouth with a napkin.
When Pippin finally put down his knife and fork and pushed his plate away, the real talk began.
"Once again, I offer sanctuary to any who does not wish to proceed from here," said Celeborn. "The road ahead is dark indeed, and any of your company may stay here in peace, if he – or she – does not wish to continue."
A faint smile crossed Galadriel's lips. "They are all resolved to go on."
Though he could not be sure, Aragorn thought that he saw Celeborn smile a little. "Very well. As you go down the water, eventually the tress will fail, and you will come into a barren country where the river flows in a stony vale amidst high moors. After many leagues, you will come to Tol Brandir, and then to the falls of Rauros. Should you wish to travel via Gondor, you would do well to cross the Great River above these falls, and then cross the Entwash and journey into Rohan – though take care not to enter Fangorn. It is a strange land, and little known. But, forsaking the road to Minas Tirith, the more direct road to the black land is indeed through the Emyn Muil."
Boromir's face soured at this, and he glanced at Aragorn. The hobbits shuffled uncomfortably.
"The time has come," said Galadriel softly, rising to her feet with the grace of a swan. The others rose after her, with considerably less elegance. "I have brought with me gifts, so that you may remember your time in Lothlórien."
She signalled to attendants who slipped out of the shadows, and to each member of the company they gave a warm, silken cloak. Aragorn could not name the colour or hue of the fabric, though he thought it shimmered between green and grey.
"It has been long since we clad strangers in the garb of our own people," said Galadriel, as the elves fastened the new cloaks with leaf-shaped broaches. "May these cloaks serve you well in shielding you from unfriendly eyes." Then, she met Aragorn's eyes. "Come forward, son of Arathorn."
Aragorn walked forward, and Galadriel took out a sheath, wrought with flowers and leaves of silver and gold. Galadriel did not need to speak for Aragorn to know that it would fit one sword, and one sword only. Andúril. He bowed low, and took the sheath, and Galadriel smiled sadly. Her hand fell to his chest, above the pendant that hung beneath his clothes. The pendant that Arwen had given him.
"This I gave to my daughter, Celebrían, and she gave it unto hers. Now, it comes to you, as a token of hope," she said, and Aragorn felt his heart lift almost despite itself. "Let you now come into the name that was foretold for you – Elessar, the Elfstone, of the House of Elendil."
Aragorn bowed bow. "Thank you, my Lady."
Next, she called Legolas, to whom she gave a bow longer and stronger than the bows of Mirkwood – a bow such as Aragorn had never seen, and a bow that took Legolas' breath away. To Merry, she gave a sheath for the dagger he had gained in the Barrow Downs, and a silver belt on which to bear it. Its clasp was wrought like a golden flower, and matched that of the belt she gave to Pippin.
Yet also to Pippin, she gave a long elven knife, big enough for the youngest of the hobbits to use as a sword.
"Its name is Tintallë, and it has already seen service in battle," she said, placing the sheathed sword into his hands. Pippin's eyes widened, and he gave a little gasp. His hands closed slowly around the hilt and the sheathed blade, and then he looked down at his toes.
Galadriel smiled warmly. "Do not fear, young Peregrin Took. You will find your courage."
Pippin glanced up, and his mouth dropped open ever so slightly. Aragorn could see hope and adoration and awe kindled in the young hobbit's eyes, and he smiled as Pippin bowed low.
"For you, Samwise Gamgee, I give a most precious gift," she said, pulling out a small, wooden box as the hobbit hurried over. "It seems not much, especially to those who fight and build, but this is soil from my orchard. If your path leads you home, you may sprinkle this earth over any garden, be it barren and bare, and it will bloom like no other on this earth."
Eyes wider than Pippin's, Sam took the little box, and ran his finger over the symbol on the front. "Thank you," he murmured, looking up and smiling shyly at the lady. "Thank you ever so much, my Lady. I'll look after it always, thank you. Thank you." He bowed twice, three times, and then hurried back to stand by Frodo, unable to prevent himself from beaming ear to ear.
"Next, for Miss Pimpernel Took," she said, and Nelly stepped forward. She raised her eyes to the lady, and gave a curtsey. Galadriel smiled. "I give you this…" She handed Nelly something that looked to Aragorn very much like a leather corset with shoulders, embroidered with silver flowers. "This bodice was made by my maidens and I. As an armour, it is effective as the finest mail, but it is lighter, and allows more room for movement. It should be more than sufficient to cover your shoulders."
Nelly touched at her shoulder, and then took the bodice with awe in her eyes. "Thank you," she murmured. "Thank you…"
Next, the lady called Boromir forward, and presented him with a golden belt. It had many pockets, and loops and ties, and could be used to store or hold a great many things. For a long moment, she held him in her gaze, and then bowed her head, and he strode back to take his place beside Aragorn, running his fingers over his new belt.
"Bróin, son of Bombur," said Galadriel, and the young dwarf swallowed, and then stepped forwards. "To you, I give two gifts. First, I give you the news that your brother, Bofin, is doing well, and Lord Glorfindel is certain that he will survive. Second, I give you this," She passed over a small, silver whistle on a thin chain, "that you may call for help, if ever you need it."
Bróin bowed, and thanked her, and returned to his place.
"Yet I know not what to grant you, Gimli, son of Glóin," said Galadriel. "What gift would you ask of the elves?"
"Nothing, my lady," said Gimli, raising his eyes slowly to meet hers. "For me it is enough that I've seen the Lady of the Galadhrim, and looked upon she who is fairer than the gems of the earth and the stars of the sky."
A few of the elves stirred, but Galadriel smiled. "Let none again say that dwarves are greedy and ungracious," she said. "But there must be something you desire that I might give to you, and I bid you to name it. You should not be the only guest without a gift."
"There is nothing, Lady Galadriel," said Gimli, and then his face grew very red. "Except, perhaps, if you truly wish for me to ask, I might say that I would wish for a single strand of your hair, for it has a beauty that nothing on this here earth could rival. But I do not ask for such a gift – I name it only as you commanded me to."
Aragorn thought he saw wonder even in the eyes of Celeborn, and the stirring of the elves broke into free murmurs of astonishment. But Galadriel's smile grew, and she cut three golden hairs from her head, and lay them in Gimli's hand.
"With this gift will go these words," she said gently. "Should hope not fail, your hands shall flow with gold, and yet gold shall have no dominion over you."
Gimli bowed so low that his beard stroked the ground.
"Finally, I come to you, Ring-bearer," the lady said, turning to Frodo. Aragorn's breath caught in his throat as she drew out a crystal phial that gave out rays of white light. "To you, Frodo Baggins, I give the light of Eärendil, our most beloved star, caught with the waters of my mirror. May it be a light for you in dark places, where all other lights go out."
Frodo's mouth dropped open, and he slowly took the phial from her hands. "Thank you, my Lady. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."
She smiled, and tucked Frodo's hair behind his ear. The hobbit went bright red, and bowed low. Then, Galadriel straightened, and Frodo retreated back to the line.
"The time has come," she said sadly, gesturing to the boats.
Aragorn thanked Celeborn and Galadriel several more times, and then joined the others in boarding the boats. There were three boats in total, so they split up as best they could. Aragorn took Frodo and Sam in the front of his boat, Legolas took Gimli and Bróin, and Boromir rode with Merry, Pippin and Nelly in the third, a boat that was slightly larger than the others.
Celeborn and Galadriel stood upon the bank as the boats pushed off.
"May the light of the Valar guide and protect you," said Celeborn, and he bowed his head.
Galadriel held up her hand. "Farewell."
And within minutes, the Lord and Lady of Lothlórien were out of sight.
I hope you enjoyed that chapter! I'm really, really excited about the next few, and I hope that they'll be up fairly soon. Please let me know what you think.