~0~0~0~

The next morning…

Gorluk waited patiently by the stream for Faroth. Faroth had left again the night before, but this time he promised that he would return in the morning. Gorluk was sitting on a rock and sharpening his sword with a rock, when he heard a muffled cry for help come up from beneath the ground. Vexed, he rushed towards the hole and found Faroth cramped inside with something else.

"Gorluk!" Faroth gasped, "Help me get this sack out!"

Gorluk couldn't help but smirk. This was probably the funniest thing he ever saw. But he still helped his friend by first pulling him out by his front paws, then reaching down to pull out the sack. But even with Faroth out, the sack could not fit through.

"Faroth help!" Gorluk puffed as he pulled in vain. Faroth tried to help by going behind Gorluk and yanking Gorluk's shirt with his fangs, but the sack would not move. But then, Gorluk gave one final heave, in which the sack popped out, and Gorluk and Faroth went flying through the air.

"Well that was easy!" Faroth muttered as they both lay in a crumpled heap. After they untangled themselves, they both stood over the sack that was lying on the grass.

"Where did you get THIS from?" Gorluk asked.

It was Faroth's turn to smirk. "You could say that someone told me to 'borrow' this… But I can't tell you who."

Gorluk scratched his head in confusion but decided to drop the matter. "Ok… But what's in it?"

Faroth shrugged. "My biggest guess would be traveling supplies, say food, canteens-

"FOOD!?" Gorluk gasped. In no time Gorluk had untied the sack and was rummaging through everything with a ravenous look in his eyes. "Foodfoodmustfindfood!" he muttered as he stuck his head into the bag.

Faroth stood by him grinning, when something crossed his mind. "Oh Gorluk I forgot! You can't-

"This must be it!" Gorluk cried out as he held up something wrapped in a leaf in triumph. Before Faroth could stop him, Gorluk had flung off the leaf-wrapping and had eaten everything that was inside without looking to see what it was. "Ok Faroth, what were you saying?" Gorluk asked after he was finished.

Faroth gave him a blank look. "If you had listened to me the first time," Faroth said with a huff, "I would have told you that Lembas bread cannot be eaten that quickly or else."

"Whaaaa….." Gorluk began, but the realization why hit his stomach (literally). "Ok I've learned my lesson. Sorry," he burped.

Faroth wasn't paying much attention to reply. He was busy thinking. "Something is supposed to be in that bag…" he said aloud, "that will help you cross through Lothlorien unnoticed. But what that is, I have no idea!" He poked his head into the bag and pulled out with his teeth the first thing that bumped his nose. When he took it out, it appeared to be some type of light cloth. "This can't be it," he said after looking closely at it. But Gorluk wasn't so sure. When Faroth had turned back towards the bag, Gorluk picked up the fabric from the ground to inspect it. To his delight, he found that it was a cape that seemed just his size, along with a green brooch that was shaped like a leaf. Eagerly he put it on. "What do you think of this?" he asked Faroth, who still had his back turned. Faroth turned around and widened his eyes. "Oh, so that's what it is? Well…" he stammered. "It looks…. Lovely" (which was a lie, for the Warg thought that the cape looked much too big for him)

Gorluk didn't seem to notice, and as he stooped over to pick up his sword from the ground, the hood fell over his head which covered him completely.

When Faroth turned around again, he jumped in surprise. "Gorluk where did you go?! And where did THAT boulder come from?!"

Gorluk lifted up his head and removed the hood from his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

Faroth's jaw dropped. "That cape made you look like a rock!"

Gorluk wasn't sure if that was a compliment or an insult. "No, no, not like that!" Faroth said, almost being able to read the Orc's mind. "I mean that when you were bending over, the cape covered you completely which made you look like you weren't there! Like a boulder was there instead!"

Gorluk's eyes widened. "So that means that THIS will help me come across Lothlorien unnoticed!"

Three minutes later…

"Now remember Gorluk… stay down and stay quiet," Faroth whispered in a low voice. Gorluk and Faroth had just crossed through the bridge and were now in Lothlorien. From beneath his new cape, Gorluk was on his hands and knees, and couldn't see a thing. "Ok," he whispered back to Faroth.

And so they moved forward at the same time. Gorluk had no idea where they were going; his only guide was the sound of Faroth's steps. Faroth had decided that they needed to go through a place where they were most likely to be unnoticed: the flower gardens.

Their going was slow, in which no Elves passed by, but eventually Faroth saw in the distance the tall flowers. He started on a path that seemed to cut through the gardens, and turned to Gorluk. "Elves don't usually come here, so I think that we're safe for now. But I'll warn you if I hear an Elf coming."

Gorluk threw back his hood and gazed at his surroundings. "Flowers…." He said in a dream-like state. He slowly started to reach for a yellow flower when Faroth stopped him. "We don't have time for that!" Faroth said. But suddenly his ear twitched. "Someone's coming!" He whispered. "Get down!"

Gorluk quickly ducked beneath his cloak as he also started to hear clumsy footsteps. They seemed to be coming towards them, but to his surprise he heard Faroth sigh with relief. "What are you doing here all by yourself, Laurianna?" he asked.

Faroth was talking to an Elfling, one of Rumil's nieces, who was too young to talk, but loved to play with him all the time. He smiled as she stumbled forward and plopped herself down beside him, but he was worried. Usually her mother, her father Orophin, or Rumil was with her at all times, but no other Elf seemed to be in sight at the moment. He knew that if she was lost, someone would be looking for her close by.

Faroth glanced over at Gorluk and saw him staring at her from beneath his hood. "Laurianna is nothing to worry about, but still stay low," he said, "Her family may be looking for her."

While Faroth had his back turned, Laurianna started to crawl over to Gorluk. By the time Faroth looked back, it was too late; Laurianna had stood up, pulled away Gorluk's hood, and was staring at his face.

"Uuuum…. Peek-a-boo?" Gorluk said nervously. Faroth held his breath and expected the worse to happen.

Laurianna blinked, but didn't seem impressed. After she pinched Gorluk's nose with her stubby fingers, she plopped down beside him, took his hand, and started to chew on his thumb.

"Laurianna!" Faroth gasped, "You stop that right now!"

Gorluk shrugged. "I don't mind," he said. This was actually the first time an Elf had ever tried to NOT attack him, so he happily allowed the Elfling to continue.

Off in the distance, they suddenly heard someone cry out something in Elvish. "Laurianna! Laurianna, where are you!"

Faroth spun around. "Quick! Hide! Her father is coming!" Laurianna squealed with protest as Gorluk pulled his hand away and jumped into the shrubbery. Right on time too, for as soon as he disapeared Faroth saw Orophin, her father, and Rumil approach. Faroth couldn't understand what they were saying, for they were speaking in their own language.

"Laurianna! There you are!" Orophin sighed with relief as he rushed past Faroth and scooped her up into his arms. "You shouldn't wander off like that, you evil little sprout," he scolded affectionately.

He kissed her on the cheek, and then turned toward Rumil and glared him down. "This is the last time I tell you to look after my daughter! Do you realize how close she was to the secret passage out of Lothlorien?"

"I placed her on the ground for three seconds! I had no idea she already knew how to walk!" Rumil objected. "You should have warned me that she would be able to wonder off like that!"

"Well YOU should have warned me that you would be a terrible babysitter!" Orophin shot back. "That wolf makes a much better job at watching her!" he added, pointing at Faroth (who was sitting uncomfortably between the quarreling Elves).

As the Elves continued to fight, Laureanna stared up at Orophin and suddenly said, "Atar!"

The other two Elves froze. "What did you say…?" Orophin asked in a shaky voice. Laurianna gave him a toothy grin. "Atar! Atar!" she repeated.

Orophin's eyes began to water. "She just said…" he stuttered to Rumil, "She just said father…"

He quickly shoved Laureanna to Rumil. "Hold on to her for a few minutes while I go find her mother!" he exclaimed. He ran off crying out "Edhelwen! Edhelwen! Our daughter just said…" until his voice faded in the distance.

Rumil stood there for a while and laughed. "Sorry Laureanna, Rumil is being a very bad uncle today. But it seems that my brother is being a very slow-witted father too!" Laureanna didn't seem to care and continued to chew on one of her uncle's braids as he walked off with her in his arms.

Faroth cautiously waited until they were gone, and then walked over to where Gorluk was hiding. He was underneath the bushes, but was lying on his back and was trying to make a chain with five yellow flowers. "Gorluk, they're gone. And I told you not to pick any flowers!" Faroth said. Gorluk crawled out and shoved the flowers into his pocket. "Alright. What happened out there anyway? Gorluk asked. Faroth paused. "I… I don't know."

And so they continued on their slow journey, past gardens, statues, and streams, until Faroth finally stopped. "I think that we're supposed to wait here," he said, "Just stay where you are and don't move!"

Gorluk lifted up his hood just a little and peeked out to see his surroundings. They were in front of a river, on a bank that had many boulders which made Gorluk blend in nicely. He scanned around to see if there were any flowers, but his heart sank as he realized that there were none within reach.

He heard Faroth gasped. "Gorluk look! It's them!" Gorluk looked up and felt his heart leap up at what he saw; the fellowship were floating by on three boats in the river. But just then, Gorluk heard footsteps behind him, and a soft voice say, "Faroth. Is your friend with you?"

"Yes my lady! We did exactly what you said and have been waiting for you here!" he could hear Faroth exclaim. Faroth pawed Gorluk on his side. "This is Galadriel!" he said. "We can trust her!"

Gorluk hesitantly turned around, and saw standing before him the first Elf-maiden he ever laid eyes on. The lady laughed as he widened his eyes in stunned silence. "Is this the first time that you have seen a lady among Elves?" I have seen your future, and I tell you now that I will not be the last that you will see!" Gorluk blinked, not understanding what she meant.

She gazed at each of them and said, "I see that you are set to continue on your quest to follow the Fellowship. You may not understand this now, but both of you are now part of something that you cannot turn away from. You will be faced with many dangers, many battles, and many enemies, but if you face these things with bravery and a willing heart you will avoid peril and meet victory. You will meet many people that will be eager to help you along the way, so do not turn them down."

"Now Faroth," she said, turning towards him, "There is something I must give you." From within her sleeve she took out a golden collar that was shaped like golden leaves, and fastened it around his neck. "This will help other free people know that you are not an enemy, and that you bear my blessing," she said. Faroth sat up proudly with the thing shining about his neck and thanked her.

Then she turned towards Gorluk. "I have a gift for you too," she said with a smile. Out of her other sleeve, she took out a small and round bottle made out of green glass with a silver lid. "In this bottle is a liquid that has many healing powers," she said, "One with a serious battle wound would need to drink only a few drops, and their wound would heal at a surprising speed. I fear that you will need to use this many times before your journey ends." Gorluk took it, but was too afraid to ask why he would need it.

Galadriel turned, and from behind a large boulder she dragged out a small boat. "This is how you will follow the fellowship for a few days," she said. "When they stop, you must stop with them… but only on the opposite side of the river. It will be quite a long while before it will be safe for you to show yourselves to them."

They took the boat gladly and began to drag it towards the water. Gorluk shoved his gift into the sack and placed it on the boat as he dragged the boat into the water and tied it to a tree.

"And another thing," she said before they got onto the boat, "There is something that the both of you must do in the end that ONLY YOU can achieve. You will be able to figure out eventually what it is." She then disapeared into the trees.

Gorluk and Faroth stood there for a while in deep thought at what she just said. Finally Gorluk said, "Elves are so strange. So far every Elf I have seen say things that I just can't understand!" Faroth frowned but nodded. "You're right," he said, "and she left without saying goodbye too!"

Gorluk and Faroth both shrugged and climbed onto the boat. "Ready Faroth?" Gorluk asked? Faroth nodded, and with that Gorluk untied the boat and they floated off down the river.

Meanwhile…

"Did I miss it!?" Rumil panted as he came running up towards the docks. Orophin, Haldir, and Thalion both turned their heads and nodded. "The Fellowship left five minutes ago," Haldir said, "Looks like you didn't say goodbye to them."

Rumil slumped his shoulders and stood next to Thalion. "I've been so busy lately that I don't have time for anything anymore!" he pouted.

"Wait…." Orophin said as he stared suspiciously at Rumil. "Where's Laureanna?"

Rumil slapped his hand on his forehead and gasped. "I was supposed to look after Laueanna?!"

"YOU IMBUSLE!" Orophin roared as he pushed Rumil into the river. Rumil swam up to the surface with his hair covered with reeds and mud, but he grinned.

"I'm just kidding. She's with her Mother."

~0~0~0~

*sigh* and that's the last time that you'll see those Elves in this story… I'm going to miss writing about them.

~Tatharwen

(P.s., has anyone seen the new trailer for the next Hobbit movie? The line that Thranduil said to Tauriel about Legolas stabbed me in the heart like a Goblin sword…)