Chapter Twenty-Three
By nightfall, Haldir and Ilmare had caught up with the group. They could only tell when Haldir insisted they rest the horses for a minute. In that time, his elven ears were able to hear the distinct sound of splashing not so very far away.
"There must be water nearby. I can hear something splashing in it," he said.
"Do you think you can find it? The horses could use it," she said with a smile.
He nodded and fetched his horse. Together, the two led their horses through the trees for a couple minutes of companionable silence before they reached a clear pond. On the other side of the pond, a figure was silhouetted in the moonlight as they stood in the water.
"Who are you?" Haldir called, quickly knocking an arrow to the string of his bow.
"I am Gandalf," he returned. "Who are you to ask me thusly?"
"Im na si, Olorin," (It is I) she called, walking to the edge of the water.
"Ilmare? Unalye Imlad Sinalye?" (Why are you not at Helm's Deep?) he asked as he hurried toward them.
"Im na leparia si," (I am of more help here) she said simply, raising her skirt up above her knees so she could meet him sooner.
As soon as he could, he wrapped his arms around her to embrace her tightly. After several more seconds, it became clear that neither of them was interested in anything outside the two of them. The elf sighed as he watched them. He could only hope that someday he might share such love as theirs. He sighed and led his horse away from them quietly, listening intently to find the main camp.
"Im mellye," (I love you) he whispered, taking her hand and leading her to the water's edge.
"Ar im lye," (And I you) she replied, laying on the ground and pulling him with her.
As soon as they were lying side by side, their limbs were entwined so that none could tell where one ended and the other began.
"You have exposed yourself to him," he whispered in the silence of the night.
"If I had not, we would all have died."
"But now he knows you have not left. He knows you are moving closer. He will try to find you again, and-"
"And I know what would happen if he found me," she finished simply.
"What of Saruman?"
"What of him?"
"That must be at least part of why you came."
"I had to see him again."
"Why?"
"...We did not part well," she admitted.
"You still care for him."
"Friendships cannot be so lightly thrown aside."
"Nor can love. You know he will hate you as much as he loves you."
"I know, and it is eating at my soul."
Olorin looked compassionately at her. He gently kissed each of her cheeks before resting his head lightly against hers. "I could never love you any less," he said comfortingly.