An hour passed and we finally came out into the stones of the mountains, the giant doorway leading us out into the mountains. Hobbits dropped to the ground, tears falling from their faces. Boromir held Gimli back as he kept trying, with a furious face, to get back into the Mines. Legolas stood on his own, his face holding the same sadness trying to be held back as mine. I stood, my eyebrows constricted violently as I tried not to cry, one of Aragorn's arms around me. I shook my head for a moment, having lost an amazing friend. Aragorn let go of me and wiped his sword clean of orc blood.
"Legolas, get them up." He said. I looked at Aragorn a moment pleadingly. Legolas, as if pained, turned and touched the shoulders of Merry and Pippin, helping them to their feet.
"Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" Boromir cried. I looked at him and shook my head.
"Aragorn is right." I said, "By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs looking for us. The woods of Lothlorien are our safest bet."
"Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli! Get them up." I reached down and pulled Sam to his feet. "On your feet, Sam." Aragorn said. I picked up a rock... my hand shaking.
Everyone's head turned as I threw the rock at the stones with a violent cry, hoarse and painful, fury coursing through my veins. Aragorn looked at me for a moment before turning back around.
"Frodo?" he called... there was no answer and I looked around to see Frodo walking away from us. "Frodo!" Aragorn called and the Hobbit turned around, tear stains on his face. I ran my hand through my hair and coughed again, this time something foul and slimy coming up my throat. I grimaced and spit it out.
"Come on, Rhasslairiel." Aragorn said, "Let's go." I looked at him and nodded, "The forest of Lothlorien isnt very far away." With that, the nine of us ran through the rocky mountain, making our way through them, and through small streams.
We only were traveling for less than two hours before we could see the edge of the Lothlorien forest.
All was quiet as we ran across the short grassy clearing toward the wall of the forest. We entered without a single word.
The forest of Lothlorien was beautiful. The sun shining through the gaps in the leaves like golden thread. I admired the trees and gentle fall of the leaves as we walked through it. Aragorn and I exchanged glances and I turned my bright, emerald green eyes to Legolas, who was looking at the trees with a glint in his eyes.
"It reminds me of home." He whispered and I looked at him as we walked.
Legolas puzzled me. He was graceful and caring as Elves were meant to be... but more still. I would never have shown this much love and caring towards people that I had met not but two weeks ago... mainly because of my untrusting nature toward strangers. He smiled at me, a dazzling and caring smile, and I couldnt help but return it.
"Stay close, young Hobbits!" Gimli whispered through the bright sunlight, beckoning them closer. I expected nothing less than distrust from a Dwarf in an Elvish forest. "They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods." He whispered, pulling them close as we walked, "An Elf-witch... of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell. And are never seen again." I looked at Gimli before back at Legolas, for I knew this "Elf-witch" that Gimli spoke of...
"Well," he said, "here's one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox." I could hear a rustling all around us and I pulled out an arrow, strapping it to my bow...
Suddenly we were surrounded by arrows, all nine of us shifting in alarm. Legolas and I held our loaded bows out at the on comers, our eyes wide.
"The Dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark." A voice said. I put down my bow, a smile on my lips at the familiarity.
"Haldir o Lorien." (Haldir of Lorien.) I said. Haldir looked at me, his suspicious face frowning with familiarity. "Henio aniron boe amen i dulu lin. Boe amen veriad lin." (We come here for help. We need your protection)
"Rhasslairiel, Aragorn, these woods are perilous. We should go back." Gimli said, stiff as a tree.
"You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back." Haldir told the Dwarf. I looked at him pleadingly before leaning over to cough, my hand grasping my chest.
"Please, Haldir." Aragorn said to the Elf with whom he had known for so long. "Rhasslairiel is sick and we need shelter."
"Very well. Come." Haldir said, "She is waiting." And turned around, leaving us to follow.
We walked through the city of Lorien, houses in the trees and stairs winding up their trunks. All seemed to be one with the forest. Night had fallen and we walked up the stairs and through the tree hung city. I cleared my throat.
We stood on the bottom of the stair in the home of the Lady of the Wood, watching as she walked down the steps. I saw the mouths of the men, particularly the Hobbit's fall open. I looked upon the fair and beautiful face of my grandmother... her long, blonde hair falling down to her knees. I bowed my head as Aragorn put his fingers to his forehead. The Lord of the Wood stood beside her.
"Nine there are here, yet ten there were set out from Rivendell." I met eyes with my grandmother, hearing her voice in my head as I had so many times before.
"Welcome, Granddaughter," she told me, "Fear pierces your heart and a sick plagues your body... you are not in much better shape in your mind than when I last saw you..." I looked at her, nodding slightly, wanting to remember not the last time we met.
"Tell me where is Gandalf?" the Lord continued, "For I much desire to speak with him."
"He has fallen into Shadow." She said in her voice, deep yet still fair, her face sad. Her eyes met mine and I nodded. "The quest stands upon the edge of a knife." She said, "Stray but a little and it will fail to the tuin of all." I saw her look at Boromir and moved my eyes slowly in his direction, trying to hold back another cough. Boromir looked at her pleadingly for a moment but looked down, trying hard not to cry. I wondered what she told him. There was a long pause. "Yet hope remains... while the Company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest for you are weary with sorry and much toil. Tonight you will sleep well." She stopped then, looking over at Frodo. Must she invade everyone's heads?
We were led back down to the bottom of the trees, were small tents were made and we took shelter in the roots. Song, sad but lovely, rang out through the air... almost eerily.
"A lament for Gandalf." Legolas said.
"What do they say about him?" Merry asked.
"I have not the heart to tell you. For me, the grief is still too near." I put my hand on his shoulder, his hand clasping over mine. I nodded almost reassuringly to him.
"Rhasslairiel Analas." A voice rang through the silence, other than the slight mumbling of the Hobbits to one another. I turned to see an elf coming to me.
"Haldir." I said, letting go of Legolas. "Greetings." He smiled and held out his hand.
"Come." He said, "Lady Galadriel has asked me to give something to you." I frowned and followed him through the entwining paths of the forest.
We came to a stream, the moonlight glinting off of the water beautifully as it ran over a tiny waterfall, stones large enough to sit upon all around the bank of it. I followed him, watching as he sat down, beckoning me to sit beside him.
"Come. Sit." He said. I looked down for a moment before silently sitting beside him, my long legs hanging off the rock. He reached over and picked up a long pitcher, tipping clear liquid into a glass and handing it to me. I looked down at it curiously.
"What is it?" I asked. Haldir smiled.
"It will rid you of the sickness." He said, grasping my hands over the cup and bringing it to my lips. I drank deeply, feeling the liquid run down my throat, ridding it of the soreness. Little by little the aching joints in my body went away and my head no longer felt light. I closed my eyes and smiled, breathing from my nose as if I had never done it before. I smiled at him.
"Hannon le, Haldir." I said. He smiled and took the cup from my hands and reached down behind the rock again.
"I have something else for you, Rhasslairiel." He said, "Something that is from me..." I frowned at him as he held out an oddly shaped object. At first I thought it was a belt... but nobody's waist is that small... with a raise of my eyebrows I realized that it was a helm. I took the silver ornament of protection and held it in my hands. "I fear you will need it." I stood up and backed away from the Elf. "Why do you fear me?" Haldir whispered, standing up and walking towards me.
"Why are you giving me these things?" I asked him.
"I worry for you." He said truthfully. "You seem fragile, even behind that tough hide of yours." I looked down, but was forced to look back up as my chin was tilted upwards.
"You know what your brother did." I whispered. "You know why I live my life in fear, wallowing in my sadness, seeking adventure." Haldir put one hand on my back.
"I am not him." Haldir said, "Do you really think me cruel enough to do what he did to you?" I looked down.
"How do I know?" I asked quietly. He looked at me.
"For years we have been old friends "
"And for years I loved him. Yet he slipped past me!"
"Let me finish." Haldir interrupted, "For years we have been old friends and I have never hurt you once. I have trusted you with my darkest secrets ever since we were too young to have dark secrets." He paused, "If you would just kiss me once more," He said, "you would know." I looked at him, my eyes doubtful.
"I-" but his lips were already on mine, rough and caring. I gasped. "Stop!" I cried and pushed him away from me. Haldir stumbled back, his eyes wide but apologetic.
"Rhasslairiel-"
"Dont you understand?" I nearly shouted at him, "I dont love you! I never have loved you and I will never love anyone else!" Haldir wrinkled his brow. He was hurt. I hung my head but felt his arms around me, laying his cheek on my shoulder. I looked into his eyes. "You will find a wonderful young maiden Elf one day," I told him "And she will love you more than you've ever dreamed... but it cannot be me." A single tear ran down my face and I looked at my helm. "I will wear this in thanks of our friendship... but nothing further." Haldir frowned slightly and moved to grasp me again. I snapped, "Let me be!" I cried and turned and fled off into the forest, brushing past Aragorn as he walked through the forest, tears on my face until I came to a part of the forest where there were none of my companions...
and here I cried myself to sleep.