Chapter Eight~Lady of Lothlorien
Rina was numb to everything around her. Even Samora's incesent prodding with her wet nose in uncomfortable places was not enough to stir her to do anymore than keep on the right path. No one spoke until they were actually in the tree line of the forest. The air immediately changed as they slowed to a walk, with Gimli and the Hobbits bringing up the rear of the group. Rina's pain eased as the magic of the Elf-wood seeped into her pores. She knew the feeling well, having lived amongst the Elves most of her life. But...this was different. This was the only Elf haven she had never visited, as Elrond had not seen fit to bring her when he traveled to meet the oldest of the Elves. Gimli hearded the Hobbits along.
"Stay close, young Hobbits," he whispered loudly. "They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf-witch, of terrible power." He sounded frightened for such a fearless warrior. "All who look upon her fall under her spell. And they are never seen again." Marina was well versed in these tales, since Arwen saw fit to tell her who her father was visiting when he went away for so long without her. In the back of her mind, she could feel something. It had been growing since they stepped foot in Lothlorien. A voice, soft and magical, echoed in her head. Marina, it whispered to her. Sweet Marina. You walk the path of such danger. The words bounced around in her brain, giving her a headache. Suddenly, she was seeing something. Eyes, blue as the sea on a sunny day, fringed with thick, pale lashes. Evil is near. "Well," Gimli continued. "Here is one Dwarf she will not snare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk, and the ears of a fox. Oh!" The last word was made in surprise as the sound of bows being drawn surrounded them. Not again, Rina mentally whined.
"The Dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark." A haughty voice just in front of her stated.
Aragorn stepped between them, "Haldir, please. We come for shelter."
"We know why you are here. And what you carry." That did not sound promising. "Come. She is waiting."
They followed him through the wood, the air cooling slightly as night fell. Before long, they made their way up a curling stair. Round and round the great tree they went, until they apparently came to rest on a platform high above the ground. Though she could not see it, Rina could feel the gravity pushing down on her to be back on the ground. It frightened her greatly, no being on solid earth. There they were stripped of any armor they wore, all their weapons and their packs. For Rina, this meant she was in nothing but her boots, trousers, and thin white shirt. Suffice to say, her arms were crossed tightly over her breasts.
"Welcome, Legolas son of Thranduil." Haldir said in Elvish, greeting him in the customary way.
"Our Fellowship stands in your debt." Legolas responded.
"Aragorn of Dunedain. You are known to us."
"So much for the courtesy of the Elves. Speak in words we can all understand!"
He turned to Gimli. "We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the dark days."
"And do you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ish kuaqin I donor org!" He spat in Dwarvish.
Aragorn, very put out with his attitude, grabbed his shoulder. "That was not so courteous."
Rina could feel Haldir moving, the air stirring right in front of her. He bent forward, his sweet breath brushing her face. "This one, we do not know." He grabbed her face and tilted it up. "Such beauty. A shame it is battered beyond repair."
She yanked her face away. "There is beauty in flaws. Some things are more perfect when they are broken." She snapped at him. Damn the Elves and their perfectionism. "I am Marina of Harad, daughter of High Lord Ralous and Lady Moira, ward of Lord Elrond of Rivendell."
Aragorn held her back, Haldir made a noise in his throat. "Ah, so you are the one they speak of. " Perhaps her Ladyship will deem us worthy of her song." He bowed to her, continuing on. He stopped when he spotted Frodo. "You bring great evil with you. You can go no further." All of them were astounded. What the hell did they come all this way for, anyway. He and Aragorn moved away, arguing for a while. Boromir spoke to Frodo as they waited, telling him that Gandalf's death was not his fault.
"You carry a great burden. Do not carry the weight of the dead as well." It was good advice, one that he obviously didn't follow. Movement to her right, Haldir spoke.
"Follow me." On and on they walked, in a long, single file line. The sun was already rising when they stopped, supposedly to take in the scenery. "Caras Galadhon. The heart of Elvendom on earth. Realm of Celeborn and Galadriel, Lady of Light." He spoke with such reverence, such passion. Rina reached down to use Samora as a vessel for a moment, long enough to see what it was that caused such a stir. It was beautiful. Probably not as beautiful as it would have been if she had true sight. When she used Samora like this, she saw things the way the canine did. In varying shades of black and white and grey, and slightly distorted. It was much the same as with the orb. Whatever she saw was not as clear as it should have been, just enough for her to aim correctly. Saddened, she withdrew into herself once again.
Up and up they went. It was maddening. To be in the most beautiful place in Middle Earth, and not be able to see it. Yes, she could breathe in the intoxicating scent that permeated the air. Yes, she could run her fingers over the trees, the grass, and the buildings as they went. But, to not experience it fully? Rina was more upset about the thought than she ever had been about anything in her life. It seemed that this adventure did nothing more so far than cause her pain, with no promise of anything different. Her heart felt as if it were being constantly beaten with a large mallet, smashing and breaking it to pieces. Not realizing they had come to their destination, Boromir ended up having to grab her away from the edge, as she had almost walked straight off of it in her self-pity. He righted her, standing her alongside him and Legolas.
Power washed over them. A new voice, dripping with majesty, addressed them. "The enemy knows you have entered here. Any hopes you had of secrecy are now gone. Nine there are...yet ten there were that set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him. We can no longer see him from afar." The Lord Celeborn questioned them with each word.
There was silence throughout the group. Once again, Marina felt the prodding in her brain, like someone was trying to find something. Her memory brought up the fuzzy sight of Gandalf falling off the Bridge of Khazad Dum.
"Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land." It was the voice from before. "he has fallen into shadow."
Legolas, feeling her discomfort, took her hand when he spoke. "He was taken by both shadow and flame. A Balrog of Morgoth. For we went, needlessly, into the net of Moria." All around her, the sadness of the Fellowship pressed down on her.
"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his full power." She seemed to be trying to reassure them. "Do not the dark pit of Khazad Dum fill your heart, Gimli son of Gloin. The world is now full of peril, and in all lands, love is now mingled with grief." Her eyes swept over the group, landing on Boromir. Rina could feel him start to tremble, and the usually stoick captain began to weep.
"What is to become of this Fellowship now? Without Gandalf, hope is lost." Celeborn told them.
Rina stopped him, "No it's not. There is always hope, as long as there are people to fight for it." She stepped forward and swept her arms out, motioning to her and her companions. "Do you not see us here, still fighting? We came here in the hope of sanctuary and council so that we may know what we must do. And yet, we are nearly turned away at the gate?"
"Silence, woman." Celeborn snapped at her, and she felt her throat close up, her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. "Why Lord Elrond saw fit to allow you to join this company, I do not know." She fell to her knees, trying to drag air into her lungs. Whatever he was doing, it was restricting her from breathing. "You are a burden on the others, with no way to defend yourself, without even sight to guide you out of harms way." The others were frantic, not understanding what was going on. And as suddenly as it came...it stopped. She collapsed on the platform, gasping for air like a dying woman. Her lungs burned.
Galadriel continued as if nothing had happened. "The fate of this quest balences on the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it shall fail. To the ruin of all." Again, she looked over the Fellowship. To Legolas helping Rina stand, and Samora circling her like a mother, and to the Hobbits. "Yet, hope remains, while company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight, you will sleep in peace."
A/N: Another beautiful chapter done. But...seven already and no reviews? You sadden me, friends. I need some inspiration, a reason to keep writing. Sure, I can see how many people "read" the story, but how do I know that you are actually reading it? How do I know how much you love it and want some more. I would threaten to stop posting until you review...but then I'd surely go mad myself.
Anyway, go ahead and drop me a line. Ta-ta for now.