Hello again my Loyal Readers, now is the the time for the fellowship to leave Lothlorien. There is going to be some major tension within the company, not that there wasn't before in the story, but even more so now, with the inclusion of the three new elves and the rest of the company's growing distrust in Arindil. So without further adieu.
As I finished strapping on my armor, summons came to my door, the lord and Lady were requesting my presence. I tied my hair up and strapped my new sword on as I nudged Demos awake. He quickly noticed my change of attire and was quick to ask about it.
"Not now Demos, We will talk after we speak with the Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, I expect that I will have to explain to Aragorn and Elladan as well." I say to him as I walk out of the door. I walked into the chamber of Celeborn, at first there was silence to my new look, the rest of the company was stunned, Elladan had his mouth hanging open, in his eyes though, I could see he liked my new look. Lady Galadriel nodded to me and I smiled back to her. Then Celeborn spoke of our departure from the golden wood.
"Now is the time," he said, "when those who wish to continue the Quest must harden their hearts to leave this land, joined by the several of the elves of Lothlorien. Those who no longer wish to go forward may remain here, for a while. But whether they stay or go, none can be sure of peace. For we are come now to the edge of doom. Here those who wish may await the oncoming of the hour till either the ways of the world lie open again, or we summon them to the last need of Lórien. Then they may return to their own lands, or else go to the long home of those that fall in battle."
There was a silence. "They all resolved to go forward," Galadriel tells him looking in the others eyes.
"As for me," Boromir says, "my way home lies onward and not back."
"That is true," Celeborn says, "but is all this Company going with you to Minas Tirith?"
"We have not decided our course," Aragorn admits. "Beyond Lothlórien I do not know what Gandalf intended to do. Indeed I do not think that even he had any clear purpose."
"All we knew of his plans was that when we passed the mountains we would head south, not the course or path he would choose."
"Maybe not," Celeborn says, eyeing me suspiciously, "yet when you leave this land, you can no longer forget the Great River. As some of you know well, it cannot be crossed by travellers with baggage between Lórien and Gondor, save by boat. And are not the bridges of Osgiliath broken down and all the landings held now by the Enemy? On which side will you journey? The way to Minas Tirith lies upon this side, upon the west; but the straight road of the Quest lies east of the River, upon the darker shore. Which shore will you now take?"
"If my advice is heeded, it will be the western shore, and the way to Minas Tirith, answers Boromir. "But I am not the leader of the Company." The others said nothing, and Aragorn looked doubtful and troubled, and I knew if I had it my way, I would not take the ring within a hundred leagues of Minas Tirith, at minimum. To many men with great physical strength, but poor mental strength.
"I see that you do not yet know what to do," Celeborn says. "It is not my part to choose for you; but I will help you as I may. There are some among you who can handle boats: Legolas, whose folk know the swift Forest River; and Boromir of Gondor; and Aragorn and Arindil the travellers; and of course our folk that we send with you."
"And one Hobbit!" Merry cries and I look at him with a new respect for interrupting the great Celeborn. "Not all of us look on boats as wild horses. My people live by the banks of the Brandywine."
"That is well," Celeborn says. "Then I will furnish your Company with boats. They must be small and light, for if you go far by water, there are places where you will be forced to carry them. You will come to the rapids of Sarn Gebir, and maybe at last to the great falls of Rauros where the River thunders down from Nen Hithoel; and there are other perils. Boats may make your journey less toilsome for a while. Yet they will not give you counsel: in the end you must leave them and the River, and turn west – or east."
Aragorn thanked Celeborn many times. The gift of boats comforted him much, not least because there would now be no need to decide his course for some days. The others, too, looked more hopeful. Whatever perils lay ahead, it seemed better to float down the broad tide of Anduin to meet them than to plod forward with bent backs. Only Sam was doubtful, he looked like he would rather face a cave troll again than ride in a boat.
"Don't worry Sam, you can ride with me, I can handle boats quite well." I tell him and smile kindly, and he looks slightly reassured at this. I look around to see Arzaroth staring at me again, with both suspicion and, once again I thought I saw a curiosity in her gaze, but as I blinked it was gone, and there was only suspicion once again.
"All shall be prepared for you and await you at the haven before noon tomorrow," Celeborn says. "I will send my people to you in the morning to help you make ready for the journey. Now we will wish you all a fair night and untroubled sleep."
"Good night, my friends!" Galadriel as she turns her gaze upon me. "Sleep in peace! Do not trouble your hearts overmuch with thought of the road tonight. Maybe the paths that you each shall tread are already laid before your feet, though you do not see them. Good night!"
The rest of the company return to their accommodations, except for Aragorn and Elladan, whom followed me back to my room, I let the two of them in, and as I closed the door, the two of them began asking a myriad of questions. I waited calmly for the two of them to stop asking questions so I could explain to them, and once the realized I was not answering the became quiet.
"There was that so hard, so the reason for this is rather long and complex. I guess I shall begin with the Mirror." I say, and begin upon my story, of what the mirror showed to me, of mine, and my brothers births, of the two paths that were shown, the one of me doing exactly what I had been fearing to do for some time, or the path, where I took the ring. As I recounted the horrible vision, I shuddered, as my heart started racing, and my mouth dried. Elladan saw my distress, and came over to me, embracing me in a warm and comforting hug. As he let go of me I told them of everything else that Lady Galadriel told me, and the story behind my new blade. As I spoke of it, I drew it from its sheath, and its faint glow illuminated the room. After my explanation finished, Aragorn stood and turned to me.
"It seems we are both putting aside the ranger, and becoming who we were born to be." He tells me, and I nod as he walks out.
Elladan moves to follow him, but I grabbed his hand.
"Stay with me, my love?"I ask him.
"Of course, my light." He tells me
As we fell asleep, I smiled in his arms, Demos keeping a very close Eye on the two of us.
That night I had no dreams, when I awoke, I felt far better rested than I had felt in a long time. As I moved to get up, Elladan's Strong arms pulled me back down.
"Elladan, we must go, the others will be waiting for us." I tell him, as I disentangle myself from his arms, and put the armor of my mother on.
"You look absolutely radiant Arindil," Elladan says, as he heaves himself out of bed, and kisses me on the forehead, then leaves the room to pack his things. I look around for Demos, and find him under the bed. When I awoke him, he looks around, and said he wasn't sleeping, that he'd been keeping an eye on Elladan all night.
"Demos you don't need to keep an eye on him I trust him completely." I tell him, "Now come along, we must get going."
I grab my pack, knives, bow, and quiver, and head out to the docks, where the rest of the company was waiting for me.
Elves came to us and brought us many a gift of food and clothing for the journey. The food was mostly in the form of Lembas. Gimli took up one of the cakes and looks at it with a doubtful eye.
"Cram," he says under his breath, and I inwardly laughed at him, for as he broke off a crisp corner and nibbled at it. His expression quickly changed, and he ate all the rest of the cake with relish.
"No more, no more!" Elves cry laughing. "You have eaten enough already for a long day's march."
"I thought it was only a kind of cram, such as the Dale-men make for journeys in the wild," Gimli says confused.
"Nay Gimli, this is the food of the elves, it is somewhat like Cram, but this is Lembas, Elvish waybread, far more strengthening than any food made by Men, and it is more pleasant than cram, by all accounts." I tell him, taking a small bite of the bread myself, "I could see it in your eyes that you agree with me."
The Elves next unwrapped and gave to each of the Company the clothes they had brought. For each they had provided a hood and cloak, made according to our size, of the light but warm silken stuff that the Galadhrim wove. It was hard to say of what colour they were: grey with the hue of twilight under the trees they seemed to be; and yet if they were moved, or set in another light, they were green as shadowed leaves, or brown as fallow fields by night, dusk-silver as water under the stars. Each cloak was fastened about the neck with a brooch like a green leaf veined with silver.
I gave my thanks to the elf whom gave me mine and fastened the cloak over my shoulders, but left the hood down. My days of hiding who I am are behind me.
"Are these magic cloaks?" Pippin asks, looking at them with wonder.
"I do not know what you mean by that," answers the leader of the Elves. "They are fair garments, and the web is good, for it was made in this land. They are Elvish robes certainly, if that is what you mean. Leaf and branch, water and stone: they have the hue and beauty of all these things under the twilight of Lórien that we love; for we put the thought of all that we love into all that we make. Yet they are garments, not armour, and they will not turn shaft or blade. But they should serve you well: they are light to wear, and warm enough or cool enough at need. And you will find them a great aid in keeping out of the sight of unfriendly eyes, whether you walk among the stones or the trees. You are indeed high in the favour of the Lady! For she herself and her maidens wove this stuff; and never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people."
The elves lead us to the docks, where the boats that we were to take were moored, waiting for us at the docks were the lord and Lady of the wood and the ladies handmaidens. To each of the company she gave a gift. When she came to me, she took me off to the side.
"I gazed into the mirror last night, and saw your brother, he is hunting you, and using magic to do it. You will need this," She says, and into my hand she puts a breathtaking necklace, with a crystalline amulet on it, with a black backdrop.
"This is the light Nenar, one of our brightest stars, it will sheild you far better from the unfriendly gaze of the enemy. Arindil, he is looking for you." She tells me with a dire warning and goes to give gifts to the rest of the company. Arindil and Demos both went to the boats ahead of the rest of the company, when he gazed upon the boats, Demos froze.
"We are taking those death traps?" He asks, and begins backing up.
"Yes Demos, and you will like it, now get into that boat before I lift you up by the scruff of your neck like a pup." I say to him exasperated
He looks at me with disbelief, "You Wouldn't."
I walk over to him and pick up up by the scruff of his neck, and he begins whining as the rest of the company comes over to the amusing sight. Demos was asking how could I do this to him as I tossed him on one of the boats, and went on it myself. I looked over to Aragorn whom was well aware of Demos' fear of being in small boats thanks to something that happened while were were hunting, and noticed upon his breast, a broach, the elfstone, Aragorn was taking upon the name Elessar.
As the others came over, Tauriel and Durhil both came over and put themselves into my boat filling it up. Elladan looked over at me with concern in his eyes, but I shook my head, telling him that I was fine. Demos was curled up in a ball with the packs in the back, cursing me.
I watch as Sam gets in a boat with Aragorn, looking at me, then something in the boat catches his eye, Rope.
"Ropes indeed!" answers an Elf nearby. "Never travel far without a rope! And one that is long and strong and light. Such are these. They may be a help in many needs."
"You don't need to tell me that!" Sam says delighted. "I came without any, and I've been worried ever since. But I was wondering what these were made of, knowing a bit about rope-making: it's in the family as you might say."
"They are made of hithlain," Elf tells him, "but there is no time now to instruct you in the art of their making. Had we known that this craft delighted you, we could have taught you much. But now alas! unless you should at some time return hither, you must be content with our gift. May it serve you well!"
Aragorn, Frodo, and Sam were in one boat; Boromir, Merry, and Pippin in another; and in the third was Elladan, Elrohir and Arzaroth; and in the fourth boat Legolas and Gimli, who had now become fast friends, with most of the baggage. As our boats began moving I breathe a sigh, Arindil the ranger had come into Lothlorien, but Arindil the Noldor was coming out.
I was looking through the golden wood as it passed by, and saw for the briefest of seconds The lady Galadriel with her arm raised in farewell.
As we made our way down the river I could literally feel the tension of the two elves in front of me. I sighed, this was going to be a long journey.
"Well, I didn't get to know much about the two of you in Lothlorien, tell me about yourselves." I say to them, and they practically jump they were that tense, neither of them speaks, so I shrug, "Ok so I will go first, I was born in Mordor, and when Sauron was defeated, my father Elrond took me in. When I was twenty four gandalf came and took me traveling around middle earth, learning magic and helping people. After about a thousand years of this, I returned to rivendell, and spent many a year learning the healing arts, and exploring magic. I left rivendell about seventy five years ago to live in the wild a bit, then joined Aragorn's rangers 15 years ago, and have been his close right hand ever since."
They look at each other and continue remaining silent, and I sigh, then tell them, "Trust goes both ways, if we are to make it through this alive, we need to trust each other, I have told you about me, now please, I wish to know about the two of you."
The other girl, Durhil Half-Elven, sighed, and with a little glare towards me began speaking.
"Well, the first thing you should know about me is that I was born because my mother was raped by a servant of your father-" She began but I interrupted her.
"My father is Elrond Half elven, not Sauron, Sauron might be my blood father, but I have no ties to him, save the single eye of mine that has his coloring, please continue though," I say, and both of the elves in front of me looked surprised at me, like I had suddenly broken into Black Speech, Durhil cleared her throat, then continued.
"My mother died birthing me, I then spent my days training in the golden wood, going out with the other border guards to slay orcs. Other than that there is nothing much about me that is of note."She finishes, looking at me in a guarded way, like she was debating whether or not to believe what I said.
The other woman, Tauriel, stayed silent, continuing to stair forward, her auburn hair concealing her face.
I shake my head, and look back at Demos, whom is shaking and giving be looks of utter betrayal.
"How, How could you do this to me, you remember what happened last time." He whines and I laugh as I look forward, remembering that day.
*Flashback Two years ago*
Aragorn and I are trying to find several of our rangers on the river, we had to take a boat, and Demos was putting his head over the water in fascination as he looked at the water beneath us, yiping whenever he had seen a fish. Aragorn and I found it amusing, and whenever he did we would both laugh silently.
Suddenly the woods became very quiet, and I quickly drew my bow looking around for any signs of danger. Demos moved to the center of the boat, as Aragorn drew his own bow.
"What is it, what do you see?" he questions as I look around alert to my surroundings. I see, in the underbrush, several Orcs drawing bows.
"Orcs Get down."I say to him as I jump off the side of the boat into the water, to try to get to the opposite shore. Aragorn follows me, leaving Demos alone in the boat. He goes to the side of the boat and puts all of his weight on the edge of the boat, causing it to flip over, trapping him inside. Turning Direction back to the boat, I swam as fast as I could. Arrows began flying around me as I dove under the water, and went up underneath the overturned boat. Demos was inside it and clearly panicking, yelping and barking while scratching on the inside of the boat. I grabbed him and swam to the other shore with him next to me. Aragorn covering the two of us from the other bank.
*End Flashback*
The memory of that day kept a small smile on my face for the remainder of the day as we sailed down the Great River.
Woah, Two chapters for two different ficts. In the same day. I hope all of you enjoyed this chapter and had a few laughs, Signing off for now, Nuin Griffondor.