We ran out of the Mines and into bright sunlight where we all collapsed on the rocky ground. Merry, Pippin and Sam were sobbing great heart wrenching sobs and had I been able to feel anything I would have gone over to console them. Aragorn pulled me off his back and sat me on one of the rocks and knelt in front of me.
"Cainmar?" He asked. I didn't answer him. I was locked inside my thoughts. To me it was impossible that Gandalf could be dead. He was there when I had been born and as I grew up. He had been there when my mother had died and faded back into the earth. He was the one to help me put the broken pieces of my life back together. He was like the father I had never had, but always wanted. He stood by me when I refused the Crown of my people and when I decided to wander through the land.
"Cain!" Aragorn yelled and slapped me hard across the face. I was jolted out of my thoughts and was looking into his frightened eyes. I reeled back from him and he sighed in relief.
"We cannot stop here to mourn, we must make for the safety of Lothlorien." He told me gently. I nodded. He was right, this was not the place to mourn. He looked down and I saw his eyes widen at the blood soaked sleeve of his shirt. I could see the question in his eyes and I shook my head at him and stood to look around at the others. Boromir had tears falling down his face as he held back an angry Gimli who was demanding to go back into the Mines and exact revenge for Gandalf and his fallen kin. Legolas was wandering around looking so forlorn that it hurt to look at him. Aragorn stood to the side and wiped his sword clean before sheathing it. I had a small moment of panic as I looked around and could not see Frodo. I located him standing away from everyone with his back facing us, I could see his shoulders shaking and I knew he was crying.
"Legolas. Get them up!" Aragorn called. Boromir released Gimli who was no longer trying to get back into the Mines and was instead weeping. He turned to glare at Aragorn who stood his ground.
"Give them a moment! For pity's sake!" He snapped.
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Come Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, Cain, get them up!" He ordered as he reached for a tearful Sam and lifted him up. "On your feet Sam." Aragorn said and gently patted Sam's shoulder. Boromir, Legolas, Gimli and I got Merry and Pippin up with much shoulder patting and stroking of hair, but finally they were upright. I could see the haunted look in both Pippin and Gimli's eyes and I knew that they blamed themselves for Gandalf's death, Pippin because he had caused the skeleton to fall and Gimli because he had insisted on going to Moria in the first place. I was still numb inside and couldn't find it in me to tell them not to blame themselves.
"Frodo?" Aragorn asked as he looked around and did not immediately see him. I followed his line of sight and saw that Frodo was walking away. "Frodo!" He called to the hobbit. He stopped and turned to face Aragorn. The sight of his utterly heartbroken face caused my heart to clench in my chest.
Aragorn led us at a run away from Moira and no one spoke. As we ran I could see him glance back at me every now and then in concern. The sword wound I had gotten earlier was now also bleeding freely as well as the arrow graze. I kept my left arm as tight to my side as I could to try and staunch the bleeding, but it wasn't doing as much good as I had hoped it would. We paused for a rest after a little and I ripped a long strip off the bottom of my cloak to bind the wounds a little to try and stop some of the bleeding. It would hold until we reached Lothlorien and I could be tended to by one of the healers there. We started off again and Aragorn ran ahead across a stream and stopped to look down below. I knew he was seeing the woods of Lothlorien and I was glad for it. All the strength I had gotten back from Legolas was dwindling alarmingly low and I knew I would not last much longer. We ran down the hill and across the meadow into the woods of Lothlorien. Once inside we slowed to a walk and all talk ceased as the Fellowship looked around the woods. The silver trees towered over us with their gold leaves glinting in the sunlight that was able to filter through. Aragorn reached back to where I was and wrapped an arm around me to help me stagger along. I tensed at the contact and Aragorn ignored it as he moved us along. Behind us Gimli was gesturing the hobbits to his side with quiet words.
"Stay close young hobbits." Gimli said and grabbed Frodo's arm. "They say there is a great sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell...and are never seen again." If I was not in so much pain, nor so weak I would have laughed, but as it was it was taking all my willpower to keep upright and put one foot in front of the other. I saw Frodo look around wildly, as though someone had called his name. Galadriel was calling to him in his thoughts and I very nearly reached out to sooth him when I tripped over my feet and Aragorn had to tighten his hold so I did not fall.
"Mr. Frodo?" I heard Sam ask quietly having noticed Frodo's distress.
"Well! Here's one Dwarf she wont ensnare so easily! I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" Gimli said proudly only to be halted by two arrows in his face. All around us the Elves of Lothlorien appeared, all pointing arrows at us. Legolas had already drawn his bow and notched an arrow and had it pointing at one of the Elves. Aragorn held his hands up as best he could while still keeping me upright. Haldir stepped forward and glanced at me with concern before he glared at Gimli. I knew that Aragorn had not missed the look that Haldir had given me and I was sure that he would ask me about it soon enough.
"The Dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark." He said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Gimli growled at him but said nothing as the Elves led us further into the woods. Evening fell and we climbed high up into the trees. It took both Aragorn and Legolas to help me climb the stairs and I was breathing hard by the time we stopped on one of the branches of the Mellon trees. Haldir turned to us and spoke.
"Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion." (Welcome Legolas, Son of Thranduil.) Haldir spoke first to Legolas since he was royalty and then turned to me and bowed low. This time Aragorn was not the only one who was confused by the Elf's actions, Legolas was as well, but chose to say nothing.
"Govannas vin gwennen le, Haldir o Lorien." (Our Fellowship stands in your debt, Haldir of Lorien.) Legolas responded. Haldir turned next to Aragorn.
"A, Aragorn in Dunedain istannen le ammen." (Oh, Aragorn of the Duendain, you are known to us.) Aragorn bowed his head in acknowledgment of Haldir.
"So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can also understand!" Gimli snapped at Haldir.
"We have not had dealings with the Dwarves, since the dark days." Haldir responded.
"And do you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnu!" (I spit on your grave!) I closed my eyes at that. I was so tired and Gimli insulting the Marchwarden of Lorien was not not the best way to get him to allow us in.
No! Elseath, you must not close your eyes. I know you are tired and hurt, stay strong for a while longer. The pleading voice of Galadriel echoed in my head. I was so relived to hear her voice after so many months that I obeyed her order and forced my eyes open. Aragorn moved us to slap his hand on Gimli's shoulder in reproach. Haldir looked as offended as he possibly could at Gimli's words.
"That! Was not so courteous." Aragorn said sharply. Haldir turned to look at Frodo and Sam with a look of fear and anger in his eyes.
"You bring great evil with you." He paused for a moment before continuing. "You can go no further!" Everyone but me and Aragorn turned to look at Frodo who was looking uncomfortable at all the attention.
"Boe ammen veriad lin. Andelu i ven!" (We need your protection. The road is fell!) Aragorn pleaded. Haldir responded in the negative to Aragorn's pleading, though he did shoot me another concerned glance and looked at my feet. I looked down and saw that blood was now dripping off me and staining the branch we were standing on. "Meerin le telim." (I wish that we may come with you.) Aragorn tried again and once again Haldir told him no. "Henio, aniron boe ammen i dulu lin!" (Please, understand, we need your support.) He spoke before switching to the Common Tongue. "Some of us are greatly injured and are in desperate need of medical aid." All of us were injured in some way, though I knew he was speaking more of me than the others. Legolas turned to look at Frodo who glanced at Sam. Sam looked away sadly and Merry and Pippin also looked at Frodo before they too turned away. Gimli looked at Aragorn and bowed his head. It was now becoming a constant battle to keep my eyes open and I felt myself sagging against Aragorn's side. Aragorn used his fingers to put pressure on part of my sword wound causing me to gasp loudly and bolt upright. The pain brought me out of my fading thoughts and I turned an unseen glare on Aragorn.
"Aragorn, these Elves will not help us. Let us take our injured and leave here." Gimli said.
"We cannot, Cain needs more healing than I can give him." Aragorn replied sharply.
"Aragorn!" Haldir said and pulled us away from the others to speak softly. He was telling us how he could not allow such evil into the woods of Lothlorien, no matter how injured we were. I very nearly snapped at Haldir before I remembered that I was unable to call forth frost to disguise my voice.
"Andelu i ven." (The road is very dangerous.) Aragorn said pleading once again. I looked back and saw that Frodo once again was looking uncomfortable and very much alone.
"Gandalf's death was not in vain. Nor would he have you give up hope. You carry a heavy burden Frodo. Do not carry the weight of the dead." Boromir told Frodo quietly. Haldir paused mid word as though he was listening to something that only he could hear. He sighed heavily and walked up to Frodo.
"You will follow me." He said and walked back to me and Aragorn before sweeping me out of Aragorn's arm and up into his own. I flinched as the movement pulled my wounds and Haldir tightened his hold on me. A caravan of Elves led us out of the woods with Haldir and me at the front. We stopped on a high ridge and looked out at a great glade of trees rising above us.
"Caras Gladhon...the heart of Elvendom on earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, Lady of Light." I smiled as I looked at the trees. To see them felt like coming home.