Chapter 4 – Lothlórien
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The vast meadows gave way to lush forests as the remaining members of the Fellowship entered the tree line. Their run had slowed to a cautious walk, their new surroundings putting them on edge with most of them not knowing this place well. Glyndwr could feel a very familiar power as he, Fili and Kili walked together.
"Stay close young Hobbits…" Gimli beckoned them closer. "They say there's a great sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell…"
"It seems old habits die hard…" Glyn chuckled softly.
"Well my uncle did say that it would take a while to deal with bad blood between our peoples." The fair-haired prince smiled. "Do you feel her power here, Glyn?"
"I do…a comfort…" The Welshman smiled softly.
'Glyndwr Magnus of the Unknown World…you come to my home…' Her gentle voice could be heard in his head. 'It is good to see you have made your choice, mellon nin…'
'You do me honour, my lady…'
"You look forward to seeing her again…" Kili noticed with a small smile.
"I do…" Was all he said with a gentle smile.
"Well! Here's one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily." Gimli, not having paid attention, was nothing short of surprised when he found an elegantly crafted arrow in his face. Glyn, Fili and Kili stopped in their tracks and looked at the Elves before them neutrally, arms kept at their sides.
"The Dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark…" A blonde Elf, obviously a leader to these archers said with amusement as Gimli growled at him.
"You're right, Glyn…old habits do die hard." Kili said cheerfully as they were lead into the forest. The sun had given way to the night then and they were speaking with the Elf captain known as Haldir.
"Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion." Haldir spoke in the Elven tongue.
"Govannas vîn gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien." Legolas responded as Haldir turned to Aragorn.
"A Aragorn in Dúnedain istannen le ammen."
"Haldir…" Aragorn responded respectfully before turning to Glyndwr, who smiled politely.
"Glyndwr Magnus -o Imladris. Im bui- i hir Elrond." He spoke, surprising Fili and Kili. "Although, for in the interest of civility, I'd prefer to speak in the common tongue…"
"You are the one of the Unknown World…just as Aragorn is known to us, so are you…" Haldir bowed slightly in respect and he returned it.
"So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can all understand!" Gimli said in irritation.
"We have not had dealings with Dwarves since the Dark Days…" Haldir responded.
"And do you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul!" Gimli said and both Fili and Kili cringed as Aragorn admonished him. Haldir then turned to Frodo and looked quite severe.
"You bring great evil with you. You may go no further…"
Aragorn had pulled aside Haldir and was quietly arguing with the Captain. Their words were in Elven as they all sat and waited for a final outcome. Fili, Kili and Glyn were sharpening their swords as they waited, the fair-haired prince glancing over in the direction of the arguing pair before going back to focusing on the task at hand.
"I do not think they will let us through…" Fili said softly as he examined his weapon.
"Would you blame them?" Glyndwr asked. "Galadriel bears a ring of power herself…to have the One in such close proximity…do we really know what would happen?"
"I think that question now applies to our whole journey…" Kili said sadly.
"It will grieve our people to know that Balin, Ori and Oin are no longer with us…" Fili added.
"They died with honour and with their kin. An end befitting our brave Dwarves…" Glyn said softly. "I wish there was more that could be said for them…"
"Dying with honour is what we all wish to achieve…you have said plenty, Glyn…" Fili kissed his hand softly. Haldir walked over to the rest of the group.
"You will follow me."
The winding pathways of the forest eventually gave way to a hill that provided Glyndwr with a view of a land fairer than anything he had seen before. Fili and Kili looked upon the forest and marvelled at how long it seemed to stretch.
"Caras Galadhon. The heart of Elvendom on earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, Lady of Light." Haldir said with some pride.
"It is every bit as beautiful as I imagined…" The Welshman said as they were led along more paths.
The size of the trees served not only an aesthetic purpose but also a practical one. Glyn could see a great many homes among the large trees connected by walkways whilst winding stairways provided other access to the various homes. Eventually they reached the grand court at the largest of the dwellings and they saw two Elves stood together.
As they descended, Glyn brought his hand to his heart and bowed respectfully, a move replicated by Fili and Kili. Aragorn touched his forehead reverently whilst the others looked at the Lady of Light in concealed awe.
"The Enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone. Eight that are here yet nine there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him. I can no longer see him from afar." Celeborn said and Galadriel looked directly at Aragorn as though reading his inner-most thoughts.
"Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into Shadow." She said, and for though she did not show it, sadness was clear in her voice.
"He was taken by both Shadow and flame. A Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria." Legolas explained sadly to her.
"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his full purpose." She turned her gaze to Gimli. "Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dûm fill your heart, Gimli, son of Glóin. For the world has grown full of peril. And in all lands love is now mingled with grief." She said soothingly before turning to Fili and Kili. "The loss of family often leaves one with a void in their soul but their memory lives on with you, Fili and Kili, sons of Dis." She comforted and they smiled sadly at her, before she turned to Boromir. Unable to withstand her piercing gaze, he looked downward with his body shaking.
"What now becomes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf, hope is lost." Celeborn said grimly.
"The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true." Galadriel said with some hope before smiling at Sam. "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…"
Glyn allowed himself an opportunity to breathe out in relief, preparing to join the others. He felt a gentle hand on his arm and he turned to see the Lady of Light smiling gently at him and he gave one of his own.
"We will see you there…" Fili smiled slightly before turning to Celeborn and Galadriel. "My lady and lord…" He said respectfully, leading his brother away.
"It is good to see you, mellon nin…" She said in that same soothing voice, gently brushing the hair that hid his ears away. "I welcome you here as one of the Noldor…as one of my kinsmen…"
"You honour me…" He bowed respectfully and she raised his chin with her finger.
"I have something that I would like to show you…please…follow me."
Galadriel led him to her garden and he noticed a plinth of stone with a silver basin laid within. She gathered some water in a container and poured it into the basin before stepping away and turning to him.
"This mirror allows the user to see things that are, things that were and things that have yet to pass. Yet you have wondered how events would have turned out had you not been present in time to join Mithrandir in his quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain…"
"Lord Elrond has often theorised that Eru himself brought me to Middle-Earth…the reason is still not known to me…"
"Gaze into the mirror…"
He stepped up to the basin and looked at her for a moment. With a small encouraging nod, he took a look into the mirror and soon the water formed an image. The image showed Ravenhill and he could see that he was not in the spot where he was meant to be keeping watch. With barely concealed horror, he watched as the events of Fili's capture played out only for Azog to impale the prince from behind and just drop him from their high point.
He watched as Kili fought Bolg to defend Tauriel and ended up captured only to end up stabbed through the stomach. Tears prickled at his eyes but he continued to watch as Thorin was wounded in his successful killing of Azog and watched as he died in Bilbo's arms after making amends. A tear fell into the water, making the image disappear and he stepped back, supporting himself on a tree.
"The purpose of Eru is seldom known…but his intervention has saved the lives of Durin's Line…" She walked to him and brought his gaze to hers. "You have saved the lives of Durin's Line…" The Lady of Light said softly. "Do not dwell on what could have been…take heart in the fact that you are the very reason that they are here…"
"I will…" He said shakily as she kissed his forehead softly.
"Go to the Fellowship…go to him…" She smiled with a glint in her bright eyes. "He will live a long life and will share that with you…I do not need the mirror to see this…"
Dressed in a sleeveless dark blue robe with silver vine detailing, Glyn sat beneath a white tarp near some large roots and made himself comfortable. Fili walked over, his hair no longer in braids and in a fine deep red tunic. He sat beside Glyn and took his hand as they looked up into the trees and took in the beautiful song of the Elves.
"Do you know what they sing?" Fili broke the silence.
'Olorin, who once was...
Send by the Lords of the West
To guard the lands of the East
Wisest of all Maiar
What drove you to leave
That which you loved?
Mithrandir, Mithrandir O Pilgrim Grey
No more will you wander the green fields of this earth
Your journey has ended in darkness.
The bonds cut, the spirit broken
The Flame of Anor has left this World
A great light, blown out…'
"They honour him…" Fili said softly when Glyn finished his translation. "It is beautiful…haunting…but very beautiful…" He said, listening for a while before turning to him. "Tell me…" He said and Glyn rose a brow. "We have been together for the better part of six decades…something is on your mind, mui mel…"
"You learned Sindarin…" Glyn smiled softly.
"I did…now…tell me…"
"Lady Galadriel showed me her mirror…it allows the user to see any kind of event. Past, present, and future…it even allowed me to see what could have been…"
"A useful thing…" Fili said and urged him on.
"I saw what could have happened had I not been on Ravenhill…" Glyn said softly. "Azog forced Kili as well as Thorin to watch as he killed you…and Kili died defending Tauriel…" He said, a tear falling. "And Thorin died after making amends with Bilbo…from his wounds…"
"Hey…hey…we are here…" He took Glyn's hand and put to his own heart. "Feel this and know that I am here…"
"I know…I know…" He said, leaning forward and gently kissing him on his lips. "I know you're here…"
"Good…"
"Live in the here and now…not in what could have been. I have no intention of leaving you and you have no intentions of leaving me…right?"
"Right…" He smiled as Fili's rough lips were pressed to his forehead.
"Gentlemen…" Aragorn walked over with a beautifully crafted jug of fresh water, placing it before them and handing them a whetstone. "We will rest here for a few days before we set out once more…"
"How is everyone?" Glyn asked and Aragorn looked sorrowful.
"They mourn…just as you do…" He said softly. "Get some rest when you can…it will be some time before we can rest in comfort again…"
"Thank you for bringing the water to us Aragorn…"
"You are most welcome…feel your grief…but take joy in the fact you are travelling together…"
Aragorn walked away and Glyn took out his nameless blade that he received from Elrond when he'd begun his travels. Taking the whetstone, he began to sharpen the blade slowly, listening to the Elves continuing their lament. Fili watched him work as he drank some water before Kili walked over and sat beside them.
"I made arrangements for word to be sent to Erebor…they should know of Balin, Ori and Oin…"
"I wish we had the opportunity to recover their remains…" Fili said sadly.
"We may yet be able to when this journey is over. They will be buried amongst their brothers in the Lonely Mountain…songs will be sung of their deeds and their lives will be celebrated…" Glyn said as he looked up from his sword. "No matter how long it may take, we will make sure they get back to their home…"
"Promise?" Kili asked and Glyn smiled sadly and squeezed his shoulder gently.
"I promise…"
Kili set up camp beside them and made himself comfortable whilst Glyn and Fili made sure all of the weapons they had were sharpened. Glyn settled down as darkness descended, broken only by the gentle white light of lamps through their city. Fili was sat up, gently stroking Glyn's hair as his head rested in the Dwarf's lap.
"You should sleep as well Fili…and not sat up like that…"
"I shall…in a little while though…" He smiled down at Glyn before looking at his brother, now fast asleep and curled into Fili's side. "You do not mind?"
"He is family…of course I don't mind." Glyn smiled at the sleeping raven-haired prince. "Given what could have been, I will never mind…"
"I'm glad…" He slowly settled down between them. "Glyn…did you sing for your family when they had passed?"
"It's not a custom to sing a lament…some funerals utilise hymns…my parents did not. They wanted their ceremonies to not be about mourning their deaths but rather celebrating their lives. There was no lament…only joy as our extended family and friends recalled our favourite memories. I mourned nevertheless when I was alone…I kept my tears in until I returned home and then I cried for them…"
"I like that…trying to make such an upsetting affair joyful I mean…focusing on their memory instead of the fact that they are gone…"
"Regardless…this lament is befitting of Gandalf…ever the wanderer he was…and how much he loved the simple things in life. He seemed to be particularly fond of the Shire." Glyn smiled slightly. "I think that is what drove him to do what he did…to preserve peace and bring about an existence for all that was like that of the Shire…where the thing that people loved most was the comforts of home. I think he wanted others to no longer have to live in fear…"
"Regardless of some of his riddles, he always meant well for Middle-Earth…" Fili smiled. "Even if he'd bend the truth a bit to ensure a good outcome."
"Indeed…" Glyn chuckled before shutting his eyes. "Goodnight, Fili…"
"Goodnight, Glyndwr…"
So this was a smaller chapter. According to a timeline from the wiki, the Fellowship spent almost a month at Lothlorien (I'm merging a couple of book details into this). Bearing this in mind, I may do another chapter set in Lorien before we move on to Amon Hen.