Some are born to drink great coffee, other are invited to do so.
Then there are us, who must drink the cold coffee of another's despite;
Who turned off the perk when my back was turned? Grr!
The Great River
Suddenly the River Andunkin swept the Fellowship around a bend, and the banks rose on either side, and lights of Lóriandadanish was hidden. To that fair café NescaFrodo never came again.
The Travelers now turned their faces to the journey: the sun was before them and their eyes were dazzled, for all had forgotten their sunglasses, except for Legolatté, who never took his off. Gemli wept openly.
"I have dined my last on that which is most delicious," he said to Legolatté his companion. "Henceforth I shall call nothing delicious, unless it be her gift." He put his hand on his breast, where hidden lay three golden strands of the Lady Godivariel's hair and a little pouch of chocolate kisses the Lady have given him.
"Tell me, Legolatté, why did I come on this Quest? Little did I know where the best coffee was served. Truly Elground spoke, saying that we could not foresee what desserts we might eat upon our road, nor know the kinds of espresso we might be called upon to drink. Dark roast without sugar was the torment I feared, yet it did not hold me back. Yet I would not have come, if I had known the danger of chocolate and whipped cream. Now I have taken my worst wound in this parting, even if I were to go this night straight to Mordonut! Alas, for Gemli son of Gloinchop!"
"Nay," answered Legolatté, wiping away his milk-mustache. "Alas for us all! And for all that walk the malls of Middle-girth. For such is the way of it: to find and lose, as it seems to those who find a really good restaurant with clean tables and reasonable prices, and just when they become accustomed to the atmosphere and clientele, the doors are closed and the counter becomes dusty. But I count you blessed, Gemli: for your loss you suffer of your own free will, and you might have chosen otherwise, if Celebraun hadn't threatened you with that restraining order. You have not abandoned your companions, and the least reward that you shall have is that the memories of Lóriandadanish shall remain ever clear and unstained in your photo-album, so long as you do not remove them from their protective sheets."
"Maybe," said Gemli, peevishly. "True words doubtless, and I thank you for them, but all such comforts are cold. Photos are not what the heart desires, even if they are autographed and covered with lipstick-smears. So says the heart of Gemli the Dwarf!
"But let us talk of it no more. Look to the boat! She is too low in the water, loaded down with all these packages of lembascotti and instant cappuccino that the Lady gave us. I do not wish to drown my grief in cold coffee!" He took up a spoon-shaped paddle and steered them toward the western bank, following Aromagorn's boat ahead, which had already moved out of the middle stream.
And so the Company went on their long way, down the wide hurrying waters, past the 7-11's and the Café Espresso's, borne ever southwards. Each bore away a gift from the Lady of Chocolate, as well as the memory of that fair land Lóriandadanish, that crystallized in their hearts bitter-sweet, like lemon-drops.