Hi guys I'm back! I am so so so so sorry for not updating sooner! There was a power cut and everything was lost so I had to redo it. Then there were exams torturous exams! But here I am now and I'm sure you don't want to listen to my rambling so
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This chapter is dedicated to my faithful reader zimerman1407. Is the answer Glorfindel? I remember reading it somewhere…
Chapter 5: Remembering
Hermione watched silently as the Company discussed their next course of action. "There is a way we may attempt," said Gandalf, "I thought of it at the beginning of our journey but I have not spoken of it to the Company before, as Aragorn was against it until we had at least attempted Cahadras."
Merry spoke up, "If it worse than the Redhorn Gate then it must be evil indeed." Gandalf continued, "The road I speak of leads to the Mines of Moria," Only Gimli lifted his head, hope in his eyes. The others felt a sense of dread at the name; even the hobbits had heard terrifying legend about the Mines.
Aragorn reluctantly agreed to go that way, as did Gimli. But Boromir was stubborn in not going, unless the rest of the Fellowship was against him. Legolas too did not want to go but the hobbits were uncertain. "Let the Ringbearer decide." Gandalf said at last. Froddo hesitated but said "We shall go through the Mines."
Now Gimli took the lead with Gandalf until the Company reached a wide lake that was eerily still. They walked around the lake until they reached a flat expanse of wall. "Ah, this is where we must say good bye to our faithful beast of burden," said Gandalf; and they unpacked their bags and belongings. Sam was distressed about leaving Bill, their pony, in the wild. Hermione watched as Gandalf waved his staff and the clouds parted revealing a pale white moon; it shone upon the rock and silver inscriptions were revealed.
Hermione looked on in wonder as she saw a silver tree and stars under an arch of elvish. Gandalf said "The words say: The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter." "What does Speak, friend, and enter mean?" Merry asked. Gandalf replied "If you are a friend, you speak the password and enter." Gandalf thought for a moment, then said "Annon edhellen, edro hi amen! Fennas nogothrim, lasto beth lammen!"
And he tapped the wall with his staff. The silver lines faded slightly but the wall didn't budge. Gandalf tried a few more passwords with the same results. Hermione stood up suddenly and said "It's a riddle. Speak, friend, and enter. The elvish word for friend is mellon." And with that the wall opened outward and the Company looked at the dark passage that was revealed.
Suddenly there was a yelp of fear and they spun around to see Frodo struggling with a huge tentacle. Hermione whipped out her wand and cast a silent expelliarmus. The tentacle loosened before gripping onto Frodo tighter. "Immobulus, petrificus totalus, stupefy!" She shot three spells in a row giving Legolas time to shoot the other tentacles that had sprung out from the water.
Aragorn sliced of the tentacle holding Frodo and a tremendous jaw encircled with fangs appeared. Legolas shot three arrows into the mouth and the Fellowship rushed into the open doors, and into the Mines of Moria. There was a loud rumbling behind them and the door collapsed trapping them inside.
"It seems that the only way forward now is to go through the Mines." Gandalf said, and the tip of his staff lit up. Hermione quickly said "lumos," the tip of her wand showering everyone with a pale blue light. Gimli was talking excitedly to the hobbits, "You'll get a mighty welcome from my cousin Balin. Huge roaring fires, meat off the bone,"
"Um, Gimli, I think something is wrong, shouldn't there be some sort of noise apart from us?" Everyone quickly stoped to listen, and true enough nothing could be heard except their breathing. Gandalf and Gimli walked at the front of the Group leading them through the Mines.
After a few days they reached a large chasm, more than six feet across. It took Pippin several minutes of coaxing to be able to jump across. It was almost pitch black apart from the magical lights and the occasional fires.
One day the Company came to three arches, "I have no memory of this place." Gandalf said, and he sat down on a rock to think. The Hobbits were getting distressed and Hermione had the feeling that something was following them. She had once or twice heard the soft fall of bare feet after the Fellowship had stopped walking, and she had seen a dark shape with pale orb-like eyes in the distance.
The Company made a fire and had a small meal, talking quietly. Hermione walked over to Gandalf, planning to ask him about the following shadow. "So you have spotted Gollum," Gandalf said, and Hermione nodded, and looked as if she were to ask something else, so he continued "We shall not do anything to him, for I feel that he has a large part to play in this war, whether good or bad I do not know."
Then he stood up, "I have made up my mind, I do not like the feel of the middle way; and I do not like the smell of the left hand way: there is foul air down there, or I am no guide. We shall take the right hand path. It is time we went upwards again.
For eight dark hours, not counting two brief halts, they marched on; and met no danger. Hermione and Legolas were uneasy; their elven ears picking up faint drum beats in the distance. They had reached large roads and travelled much faster. Gimli told the Company about the treasures of Moria.
"Moria did not hold gold or silver, but mithril. All folk desired it. It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder than tempered steel. It's beauty was like that of common silver, but mithril did not tarnish or grow dim. Frodo's dear uncle Bilbo had a corslet of mithril that Thorin gave him. I wonder what has become of it. For I did not tell him that it was worth more than the whole Shire and everything in it." Hermione looked at Frodo at that, and saw him look rather uncomfortable.
"Look there!" Hermione pointed out a stone door slightly ajar, light pouring through it. They walked into the large square chamber beyond it. The chamber was lit up by a high shaft, giving the barest glimpse of blue sky. In the middle of the room, there was a rectangle block with runes deeply engraved on it. Gandalf said "These are Daeron's Runes, such as were used of old in Moria. Here is written in the tongues of Men and Dwarves: Balin son of Fundin Lord of Moria." "He is dead then," said Frodo. "I feared it was so." Gimli cast hung his head with anguish.
Gandalf looked around and found a dusty book. He picked it up and tried to read it. Meanwhile Hermione and Legolas were uneasy, the drum beats were getting louder, so that everyone could hear it. "Come," said Gandalf, "We have lingered here too long."
They sprang to the door and there was and echoing blast: a horn was blown, and answering horns and harsh cries were heard further off. There was a hurrying sound of many feet. "Orcs are coming!" cried Legolas. "We cannot get out!" said Gimli. "Trapped," cried Gandalf, "Why did I delay?"
The walls shook from the drum beat. The Company drew their weapons. Arrows whistled through the door that they came through. Hermione put the strongest protego she could around them and shot an arrow through the door like Legolas. Orcs charged into the room and Hermione whipped her wand out, hexing the attacking onslaught.
"They have a cave troll!" Boromir shouted. Hermione spun around and saw a troll that looked just like the troll in the girls' bathroom at Hogwarts. The memory flashed through her mind and she shouted "Wingardium Leviosa!" An orc with heavy armour was lifted up and dropped onto the troll's head.
The troll was dazed, and started swinging a chain around. The chain got caught on a stone pillar and Legolas used it to run onto the troll's shoulders and he shot three arrows into the troll's head. It howled and swung it's spear at Frodo, pinning him against the wall. "Frodo!" Hermione screamed, she rushed over and started muttering every healing spell she knew. "Come, to the bridge of Khazad-dûm," Gandalf called out to them, Aragorn sped towards Frodo and hoisted him over his shoulder.
They ran as fast as they could and Frodo choked out "I am all right, I can walk. Put me down!" Aragorn nearly dropped him in amazement. "Go down the stairs and I will hold them off!" Gandalf shouted. "Swords are of no more use here!" "Then I will come with you!" Hermione cried out.
The pair ran back towards the door and Hermione poured out her magic towards it. A demonic shape burst through the door and they ran back to the group. They were jumping over the break in the bridge. "A Balrog!" Someone shouted out.
Hermione hated her size right now, but she summoned the last of her strength and leaped over. Legolas caught her and pushed her in the direction of the exit but she screamed out "Gandalf!" He was still in the centre of the bridge warding off the Balrog. "You shall not pass!" He was saying. The bridge under the Balrog's feet collapsed sending it into the chasm below; but not before a fiery whip came up and took Gandalf by the leg. "Fly you fools!" He said and he plummeted after the Balrog.
A collective cry of "No!" could be heard. Aragorn led the stricken Company out of the Mine. Hermione breathed in the clean air and sat down on the grass. The hobbits were crying openly. "Legolas, get them up." Aragorn ordered.
Legolas walked towards Hermione and when she looked up, he saw that her eyes were blank and hollow; for once her hair was limp and lifeless. "Everyone is gone." She whispered. Legolas tried to sooth her, "We'll get through this. Gandalf would have wanted us to go on if he died." Hermione turned to face him, her eyes blazing and hair whipping around like a full force hurricane, "He's not dead," She snapped, "It might seem like it, but he's still alive." Hermione sighed, "I'm sorry Legolas, but Gandalf isn't dead, I can feel it."
Aragorn led the Fellowship now on a rough and broken road. They passed many Dwarfish ruins but stopped at a tall column of stone. "That is Durin's Stone. It marks the place where Durin first looked upon the Mirrormere. Let us look too, before we go on." The clear water showed nothing at first but then the white tipped peaks came into view, giving a most marvellous sight.
The road now turned south and went quickly downwards. They came upon a deep well of water, which ran down a steep rocky channel. "Here is the spring from which the Silverlode rises," said Gimli, "Do not drink it! It is icy cold." Lower down the green was lost in a haze of gold.
"There lie the woods of Lothlorien!" said Legolas. "That is the fairest of all the dwellings of the elves. There are no trees like the trees of that land. For in the autumn their leaves do not fall, but turn to gold. Not till the spring comes and the new green opens do they fall, and then the boughs are laden with yellow flowers; and the floor of the wood is golden, and golden is the roof, and its pillars are of silver, for the bark of the trees are smooth and grey. My heart would be glad if I were beneath the eaves of that wood and it were springtime!" "My heart will be glad, even in the winter," said Aragorn. "But it lies many miles away. Let us hasten!"
For some time Hermione and Frodo managed to keep up with the others; but Aragorn was leading them at a great pace, and after a while they lagged behind. They had eaten nothing since early in the morning. Hermione was suffering from magical exhaustion and her hair was dull and still. Froddo felt every step more painful and he gasped for breath.
Hermione performed some healing spells on him; though only adding to her fatigue. At last Legolas turned, and seeing them now far behind, he spoke to Aragorn. The others halted, and Aragorn ran back, calling Legolas to come with him. "I am sorry, Frodo!" he cried, full of concern. "So much has happened today and we have such need of haste that I have forgotten that you were hurt; and Hermione, you must be exhausted, fighting against a Balrog. You should have spoken. Come now! A little further on there is a place where we can rest for a little. There I will do what I can for you. Come Legolas, we will carry them."
Soon afterwards they came upon another stream that ran down and joined the Silverlode. Here they rested. Gimli and the two younger hobbits kindled a fire and collected water. Hermione instantly fell asleep on the grass and Aragorn tended Frodo.
He gently stripped off Frodo's jacket and worn tunic, and gave a gasp of wonder. Then he laughed. The silver corslet shimmered before his eyes like the light upon a rippling sea. "Look here is the coat that Gandalf spoke of," Aragorn said, holding it up, "It was certainly well given." Aragorn bathed Frodo's bruises with diluted Athelas water. The fragrant odour filled the clearing calming and refreshing the Fellowship.
Hermione woke up rejuvenated and the Company quickly ate and set off again. They marched for three hours and night had fallen. The night wind blew up the valley to meet them. Before them a wide grey shadow loomed, and they heard the endless rustle of leaves.
"Lothlorien!" cried Legolas. "We have come the eaves of the Golden Wood." Under the night, the trees stood tall. Hermione could hear each tree sigh around her, as if welcoming them. "Let us hope that the virtue of the Elves will keep us tonight from the peril that comes behind." Boromir was reluctant to travel through the woods, but eventually consented.
They had gone little more than a mile into the forest when they came upon another stream flowing swiftly and joining the Silverlode. "Here is Nimrodel!" said Legolas, "The water is said to be healing to the weary." And he stepped into the stream. "Follow me!" He cried. "The water is not deep. Let us wad across. On the further bank we can rest, and the sound of the falling water may bring us sleep and forgetfulness of grief." One by one they climbed down and followed Legolas. Hermione felt the cool water rush over her feet, soothing them as she crossed.
When they had rested and eaten, Legolas told them tales of Lothlorien that the Elves of Mirkwood still kept in their hearts, of sunlight and starlight upon meadows. Hermione listened most attentively, and learned much about her kin. "Do you hear the voice of Nimrodel?" asked Legolas. "I will sing you a song of the maiden Nimrodel. It is a fair song in our woodland tongue; but this is how it runs in the Common Speech."
In a soft voice hardly to be heard amid the rustle of the leaves above them he began. His voice rose and descended like the fair waters beside them. Hermione was ensnared by the words and melody. Legolas stopped singing and said "Next comes a part which is much forgotten. It is long and sad and tells how sorrow came upon Lothlorien."
"We should seek shelter in the tree tops, if we can," said Aragorn, "For we have lingered by the road much longer than wise. The Company now turned aside from the path, and went deeper into the woods. They reached a cluster of trees; their grey trunks were of mighty girth, but their height could not be guessed.
"I will climb up." said Legolas. "No," said Hermione, and she pointed her wand to the shadowy branches. A commanding voice sounded in the shadows. "Daro!" (Stop) it said. Hermione lowered her wand and soft laughter could be heard above them. Then another clear voice spoke in an elven tongue. Hermione could understand what was being said and Legolas looked up and answered in the same tongue.
The Hobbits were talking among themselves. "Who are they, and what do they say?" asked Merry. "They're Elves," said Sam, "Can't you hear their voices?" "Yes, they are Elves," said Legolas, "And they say that you breathe so loud that they could shoot you in the dark." Sam hastily covered his mouth with his hand. "Now they bid me climb up with Frodo; for they seem to have had some tidings of him and of our journey." Out of the grey shadows a rope ladder was let down.
Hermione made out a round wooden platform in the branches, called a talan. She listened to their conversation and when she heard that Gimli was to go blindfolded she called out to them, "He won't consent to that."
The elf called Haldir looked at her strangely and said "We must not debate any longer; your companions must not remain on the ground. The four Hobbits and your young female companion shall rest in this talan and the rest shall go to the talan in the next tree. Call us if anything is amiss and have an eye on that dwarf!"
Legolas went down at once to take Haldir's message; and soon afterwards Merry and Pippin clambered up on to the high flet. They were out of breath and seemed rather scared. Hermione quickly followed with the hobbit's blankets. "Here you are," She said handing them to their respective owners. She seemed totally calm on the high platform. One by one the hobbits fell asleep and Hermione looked at the leaf silhouetted sky and fell asleep, the song Legolas sang running through her head.
She woke up when Frodo stirred, and she heard the sound of orcs marching through the forest. "What's happening?" He said. "Orcs," Hermione whispered. They stayed still and listened until the forest was silent. Suddenly there was a sniffing sound; Hermione and Frodo looked over the edge of the talan and saw something climbing the trunk of a nearby tree.
Hermione put a slender finger against her mouth and shook her head, telling Frodo to do nothing. When they looked back at the creature, it was gone. Haldir came climbing swiftly up through the branches. "There was something in this tree that I have never seen before," he said, "It was not an orc. It fled as soon as I touched the tree. It seemed to be wary, and seemed to have some skill in trees, or I might have thought that it was one of you hobbits."
He paused then continued, "A strong company of Orcs has passed. They crossed the Nimrodel- curse their foul feet in its clean water! - And went down the old path by the river. They shall not return out of Lothlorien."
When day came Haldir led the Company along the Silverlode, but soon he turned aside into the trees and halted on the bank of the river under their shadows. "There is one of my people across the stream," Haldir said, "Though you may not see him."
He gave a call like the low whistle of a bird, and an Elf, clad in grey, stepped out of a thicket of young trees. Haldir skilfully cast over the stream a coil of grey rope, and he caught it and tied the end around a tree near the bank. "Celebrant runs both swift and deep, and is very cold. We do not set foot in it so far north, unless we must. But in these days of watchfulness we do not make bridges. This is how we cross. Follow me!"
He tied his end of the rope around another tree, and then ran lightly along it, over the river and back again. "Some of our Company can walk this path," said Legolas, "But the others do not have this skill. Must they swim?" "No!" said Haldir. "We have two more ropes. We will fasten them above the other, one shoulder high and another half high, and holding these the strangers should be able to cross with care."
When the slender bridge was made, the Company passed over, some cautiously and slowly, others more easily. First went Haldir, quickly followed by Legolas, Aragorn and Boromir went next with Gimli slowly following, the Hobbits went next with Hermione last. Halfway Sam looked down and stumbled, Hermione caught him and he regained his balance. "Don't look down." Hermione advised him with a smile.
When they were all gathered on the other bank, the elves untied the ropes and brought them to the far side. "Now, friends," said Haldir, "You have entered the Naith of Lorien. We allow no strangers to spy on the secrets of the Naith. As was agreed, I shall here blindfold the eyes of Gimli the Dwarf." As Hermione predicted, Gimli was most unpleased about the arrangements.
"I will not walk blindfolded like a prisoner. I am no spy." "I do not doubt you," said Haldir, "Yet this is our law." Gimli was stubborn "I will go forward free, or not at all." "You cannot go back now," said Haldir sternly, "Now that you have crossed the Celebrant, you must be presented to the Lord and Lady of this land."
"Gimli," said Hermione soothingly, "I will go blindfolded with you if it makes you feel better." Gimli was shocked. "Why would you do such a thing?" asked Legolas. "Gimli is my friend, as are you." She answered earnestly. "You have a true friend Master Dwarf." Haldir said.
"I cannot allow you to walk blind around your kindred Lady Hermione. I shall be blindfolded but I don't like it." Gimli said staunchly. Just then Hermione's hair flared around showing Haldir her delicately pointed ears. Haldir's eyes nearly bugged out of his head; he stared at her and softly said "An elfling," Hermione blushed furiously but met his gaze.
The Company followed Haldir through the Golden Woods; in awe at the beauty surrounding them. Hermione walked with Gimli, steering him away from rocks and trees. All that day they marched on. They rested on the ground without fear, and at noon the next day a host of Elves approached them and talked with Haldir.
Eventually Haldir spoke to the Company, "They bring a message from the Lord and Lady of Galadhrim. The dwarf Gimli can walk free. It seems that the Lady knows who and what each of your Company is." He untied the cloth from Gimli's eyes "Your pardon Master Gimli." He said, bowing low, "Look on us now with friendly eyes. Look and be glad, for you are the first dwarf to behold the trees of the Naith of Lorien since Durin's Day."
Hermione observed her surroundings properly; there was a mound of green grass. Upon it two rings of trees encircled a large flet. The ground around them was studded with golden yellow flowers on pale green stalks.
"Behold! You have arrived at Cerin Amroth," said Haldir. "For this is the heart of the ancient realm as it was long ago, and here is the mound of Amroth, where in happier days his high house was built. Here ever bloom the winter flowers in the unfading grass: the yellow elanor, and the pale niphredil. Here we will stay awhile, and come to the city of the Galadhrim at dusk."
Hermione looked around in wonder. Legolas walked up to her, he saw that her eyes were shining with excitement. "How do you like the fairest of our dwellings Hermione?" She looked at him, "It's amazing! Lothlorien is so beautiful." She sighed contentedly and lay down on the fragrant green carpet. Her young face was devoid of any sorrow or worry and for the first time on Middle Earth, Hermione was pure happiness.
At dusk, Haldir took them to the huge flet. They entered the circle of trees and Hermione heard the whispering of the trees around her. As Hermione climbed up to the first flet, she delighted in the feel of the tree under her fingers.
She was the first to step upon the platform; Haldir took her hand and said "You are the first elfling to stand here in more than a century. Look this way first." And Haldir pointed towards the north. Hermione looked and saw a hill with many mighty trees; light shining from it like a million fireflies.
Haldir pointed south, "There lies Southern Mirkwood; your companion Legolas resides there." The rest of the Company had joined her. "Welcome to Caras Galadhon!" Haldir said, "Here is the city of the Galadhrim where dwell the Lord Celeborn and Galadriel the Lady of Lorien." They climbed the stairs and passed more talans; some on the left, some on the right and some around the trunk of the tree. On the second highest platform Haldir stopped. "I will go first, then Frodo, after comes Legolas with Hermione. The rest of you may come in oldest to youngest." And he led them to the last flet.
It was filled with a soft golden light. Hermione had never seen anyone so fair as the Lord and Lady of Lorien. Celeborn greeted her in Elvish and gestured for her to sit; Galadriel said nothing but looked at Hermione with her deep blue eyes.
She seemed to be asking: You are the youngest of the Company are you not? But you have faced much more than most. And Hermione found herself answering; I wish that they could be here with me. Galadriel smiled at her and seemed satisfied with her response. One by one the rest of the Company appeared and was greeted the same way as Hermione.
When all the guests were seated before his chair, the Lord looked at them again. "Here there are nine," He said, "But ten set out; unless there was a change in council." "Nay," Galadriel spoke for the first time, "There was no change in Council; Gandalf the Grey set out with the Fellowship."
Hermione spoke up, her voice cracking slightly, "Gandalf fell in Moria," There was a collective gasp at this, "But he is not dead." Galadriel pierced Hermione with her gaze; which Hermione met evenly. "I believe that your words are true, and that though Gandalf may have fallen, he is still with us." Celeborn spoke again, "Tell us your full tale now." Aragorn recounted what happened at Cahadras and in the Mines.
There was a silence. At length Celeborn spoke again, "I did not know that your plight was so evil; I will do what I can to aid you, each according to his or her wish and need, but especially that one of the little folk who bears the burden." "Your quest is known to us," said Galadriel, "But we will not here speak of it more openly."
She held them with her eyes, and in silence looked searchingly at each of them in turn. None save Aragorn, Legolas and Hermione could long endure her glance.
At length the Lady Galadriel released them from her gaze, and she smiled. "Do not let your hearts be troubled," she said, "Tonight you shall sleep in peace." Then they sighed and felt suddenly weary, as those who have been questioned long and deeply, though no word were spoken openly. "Go now!" said Celeborn, "You are worn with sorrow and much toil. Now you shall rest, and we will not speak of your further road for a while."
That night the Company slept on the ground, much to the satisfaction of the hobbits. The Elves spread for them a pavilion among the trees near a fountain; they laid soft couches out and with soft words of peace they left them. They soon fell asleep and no dream or sound, except the rustling of leaves, disturbed their slumber.
Well this is a long chapter so I hope it makes up for the delay. Please review! Digital cookies to those who do!
If you are following my other story Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings, I have not abandoned it! It is currently under minor changes so I will update in the somewhat near future…
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