Disclaimer: I have no creative rights over the characters and places you can identify in this story and have no way profited from this work.
30/12/2012
This will probably be the last chapter for 2012 so Happy New Year to all of you.
My father and I saw the first part of The Hobbit last night. Yes, it wasn't the same as the book. But that did not detract it from being a very good film in my opinion. Any movie adaptation of literature invariably involves a compromise of remaining true to the source while still having to be entertaining. It's a bit like fan fiction crossovers I suppose.
Straight Edghe: I think Gimli in some way reminds Thor of Volstagg. Boromir connects with Rogers not just because he is a professional soldier. I also think Captain America's idealism would make him sound similar to Faramir.
VexMaster: As I am following movie-verse, I thought Gandalf's fall would have brought back a whole lot of painful memories for Cap.
CoCoVita: In answer to your question, probably not for the reasons I outlined in this story's introduction.
Cretha Loesing: Under normal circumstances you would be right about Thor. I think his recent visits to Midgard and hanging with the other Avengers may have expanded his vocabulary somewhat ;)
JannaKalderash: Thank you for your compliment. Don't worry about what is happening on Earth & Asgard – all shall be revealed in due course.
Chapter 10 – Reading Minds
The Fellowship eventually left the slopes of the Misty Mountains and reached a meadow by late afternoon. The meadow separated them from the forest known as Lothlorien hundreds of yards to the east.
At Aragorn's urging, the Fellowship ran across the meadow. Aragorn knew that many of the Fellowship were already near exhaustion. But it was imperative they reached the safety of Lothlorien before nightfall. 'Safety' was a relative term in this sense. The Elves that ruled Lothlorien or otherwise called 'Galadhrim' were not evil. But they jealously guarded their borders, treating with suspicion any of the Free Peoples that entered their realm without their leave. Servants of Sauron they simply killed on sight. Aragorn hoped the Fellowship would encounter a group of Galadhrim that would at least allow them to stay in the woods at least for tonight.
The Fellowship stopped running as soon as they crossed Lothlorien's borders. Banner remembered that Legolas called the forest they were now in as the 'Golden Wood'. Looking at the trees around him, he thought this was an apt description. The majority of Lothlorien's forest appeared to be tall trees with silver-grey trunks and branches on which grew bright gold leaves. These trees reminded Banner of birch trees. Given the colour of their leaves, maybe it was autumn in Middle-earth. As he ran his hand over one of their trunks, he was surprised at how smooth it felt.
Legolas interrupted his thoughts. "They are called 'Mallorn-trees', Bruce."
Banner looked at Legolas who was holding a green coloured cloak towards him.
"Wear my cloak as I currently don't need it," Legolas said with Banner gratefully accepting some additional attire. As Banner put it on, the Elf turned his eyes to the forest surrounding the Fellowship. "The leaves of Mallorn-trees remain on them during winter, only falling to the ground in spring when new leaves sprout."
What sort of photosynthesis do these 'Mallorn' trees have that allows them to do that? Banner thought in response.
For Gimli now was not the time to gaze at trees. Having lived underground most of his life, to him trees were trees. Lothlorien was a name that caused even the stoutest of Dwarves exchange nervous glances. It was an Elven realm that Dwarves should avoid given the animosity that existed between their two races. Lothlorien was rumoured was ruled by the most powerful Elven Queen in existence. Remembering what his forebears had said about the magic that she could supposedly wield, Gimli doubted even his trusted battle-axes would give him much protection from her.
"Stay close, Master Banner and young hobbits," Gimli urged as he hurriedly waved them to him.
When Banner and the Hobbits were close by him, Gimli began to quietly recall to them the stories he had heard of Lothlorien.
"They say there's a great sorceress that lives in these woods," Gimli told them. "An Elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell and are never seen again."
Banner thought if Gimli was trying to make him and the Hobbits nervous, he was doing a pretty good job. Having seen the Ring as well as Gandalf and the Balrog in action, he could not simply dismiss claims of 'magic' in Middle-earth as being unscientific. Banner wondered if the reason that Frodo had suddenly halted with eyes darting around was because of the threat this 'Elf-witch' appeared to present. The Avenger suddenly copied Frodo's reaction after hearing a warning in his head.
Beware of the Ring, Bruce Banner. It still seeks to unleash the Other's dark side.
For a moment, Banner wondered if the Ring had re-commenced its temptation of him. Given the Ring's nature though, Banner doubted it would now warn him away from itself. Besides, the voice he had just heard was distinctly feminine that was both authoritative and caring. Assuming it was a lady who projected this voice, she could obviously read minds given her reference to the Other Guy. That she communicated in a way that Hulk did not seem to find threatening also indicated she was very wise. Banner gasped as an image of one of the most beautiful but probing pair of blue eyes he had ever seen popped in his mind before the lady spoke again.
Should it do so, there shall be no going back for any of you.
Given his Elven hearing, Legolas was not oblivious of Gimli's comments to other members of the Fellowship. Although the initial hostility between him and Gimli had greatly lessened, he could not stand for the Dwarf's defamation of the Lady of Lothlorien. The Lady was revered among all the Eldar in Middle-earth. As he was about to tell off Gimli, Banner spoke first.
"I think I just heard her voice in my head," a slightly nervous Banner informed the Fellowship.
The Avenger wasn't the only one subject to the Lady's attentions.
"So did I," Frodo quickly added.
Feeling that his forebears' suspicions had been justified, Gimli proudly proclaimed to the rest of the Fellowship, "Well here's one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the eyes of a fox!"
Gimli suddenly halted as soon as he said these words. He had not halted because he heard the same voice in his head that Frodo and Banner had. It was because he was taken by surprise by three bows each with arrows aimed only inches away from his face.
Each Fellowship member now had at least one arrow pointed at them by one of the two dozen Galadhrim sentries that had surrounded them. A number of the Fellowship's warriors cursed themselves for being taken so unaware. Aragorn looked over his shoulder to see Thor and Rogers were about to do battle.
"Hold!" he shouted at the pair somewhat in panic.
Fortunately both Avengers heard and obeyed before they could attack. The last thing Aragorn wanted was any provocation that would justify the sentries releasing their arrows. The sentries did not know that Aragorn was trying to protect them from harm also.
Galadhrim Warriors with their superb equipment and centuries of training and experience were considered among the elite of the militaries fielded by the Free Peoples. But having seen these Avengers in action, Aragorn thought the three of them could take down a number of these sentries without breaking sweat. If Hulk made an appearance, well…Aragorn doubted the whole Galadhrim Host would fare better against the green monster than Moria's goblins. Later he wondered what these Galadhrim would consider the bigger insult - being compared to goblins or being told there was a foe even they could not kill.
Seeing that Aragorn had taken over co-leadership of the Fellowship since Gandalf's fall, Thor had no hesitation obeying him. Especially as Aragorn was similar to him in the sense that he had royal blood in his veins. Nonetheless, Thor still kept a tight grip on Mjolnir. If any of these Elves so much as thought of releasing their arrows he would have no hesitation in sending all of them to Valhalla. Looking at their refined features and long blond hair, these elves reminded Thor of the Light Elves of Alfheim. Those Elves were said to be, according to Norse mythology, "fairer than the sun to look at". Thor wondered if the Galadhrim's grey cloaks allowed them to remain hidden until the moment they wanted to be seen.
The leader of these sentries, a tall blond male Elf stepped forward and remarked to Aragorn, "The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark."
Gimli grumbled at the leader's reference to him. Inwardly, Aragorn breathed a sigh of relief from immediately recognised the leader as Haldir, the Marchwarden of Lorien. He had met Haldir years before during his travels through Middle-earth. Aragorn gave the high ranking Galadhrim a short, respectful bow before conversing with him in Sindarin.
Rogers was standing next to Boromir while both Aragorn and Haldir spoke. While he could hear them, he was unfamiliar with the language they were speaking in. Maybe he was just hearing things, but the language sounded similar to the one that Gandalf used to open the Doors of Durin.
"Are they speaking in Elvish?" Rogers asked Boromir as a whisper.
"Yes," Boromir whispered back. "It's an Elvish tongue called 'Sindarin'. Although I'm am not as skilled in its use as Aragorn."
Gimli did not like how Haldir had spoken to him and liked the Galadhrim arrows being pointed at him even less. As a Dwarf, he did not want to be at the enigmatic mercies of powerful and well-armed Elves. At least he knew where he stood with the goblins.
"Aragorn," he blurted out. "These woods are perilous! We should go back!"
"You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood," Haldir responded to Gimli in a tone that would brook no argument. "You cannot go back."
Rogers noticed that Haldir next looked at Frodo before saying to the whole Fellowship, "Come. She is waiting."
The Fellowship had to spend the night on a platform that the Galadhrim had built high on a Mallorn-tree. Legolas told the Avengers that Galadhrim settlements were based around these platforms or 'Telains' on which they built all types of dwellings. Aragorn introduced the original Fellowship while he allowed Rogers to introduce the Avengers. Aside from an insult from Gimli to Haldir that nearly caused the eruption of hostilities, the night on the Telain passed uneventfully.
Haldir and the Galadhrim woke the Fellowship at dawn so they could reach their destination in Lothlorien by sunset. The Fellowship and their Galadhrim escort reached a high ridge by late afternoon where they were met by two other Galadhrim sentries. Looking east from the ridge, the Fellowship could see a misty valley that led to a great rising glade of trees. Banner thought it might be a trick of the dying daylight reflecting off the mist. But he was sure that rays of light appeared to radiate from the glade.
"Behold Caras Galadhon," Haldir announced to the Fellowship. "The heart of Elvendom in Middle-earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and Galadriel, Lady of Light."
One of the two Galadhrim spoke to Haldir before handing him what looked to be a leather sack tied with a brown cord of silk. Haldir handed the sack over to Banner.
"I suspect its no fault of your own, Master Banner," the Marchwarden politely explained. "But you must understand that you cannot stand in the presence of the Lord and Lady dressed as you are."
Banner did not have the energy to give Haldir the complex explanation of why his current state of underdress was at least partly 'his fault'. Instead, he thanked the Marchwarden and started dressing himself in the clothes that were in the sack. As Banner dressed, Haldir spoke with the two sentries further while the rest of the Fellowship members quickly conversed amongst themselves.
The Avengers had found that Pippin was always willing to have a friendly chat with his light heartedness keeping up the spirits of the Fellowship. Since leaving Moria though, the Took had come quite sullen and withdrawn. Gandalf's death was the main reason but Thor suspected another was still at play. He walked over to where Pippin was. The tallest member of the Fellowship crouched down and spoke to the shortest.
"Master Took," Thor quietly addressed him, "do not keep blaming yourself for what happened in Moria. Such a multitude of goblins to have found us so quickly shows they were shadowing us for some time. Certainly well before that skeleton fell down the well." He then put a hand on Pippin's shoulder. "I won't lie to you, Pippin, and say your actions had no role in drawing them to the Chamber. But those actions also spurred the goblins to openly attack us. You may well have saved us from walking into a ambush that could have killed us all."
Before Pippin could respond, the whole Fellowship was interrupted by Banner who asked them, "Well what does everyone think?"
Banner had finished dressing in the clothes Haldir had provided him. Banner was wearing a dark green tunic shirt with gold buttons at the collar. On the front of the shirt, was a pattern of swirling golden vines. He wore dark brown trousers and a pair of leather shoes similar to the ones worn by Legolas.
"The shirt looks real nice, Bruce," Rogers complimented him.
"And its really comfortable," a pleasantly surprised Banner added.
"That should be no surprise, Bruce," Legolas advised him. "The tunic is crafted from the finest threads of spider silk."
Banner was now also intrigued about the tunic. The silk produced by Earth spiders was well known to be incredibly strong and flexible with some being five times stronger than an equal mass of steel. But currently it was too hard to harvest silk from spiders like that of silkworms. Banner wondered what types of spiders existed in Middle-earth to allow the Elves to extract such a wonderful material.
Pippin then spoke for the first time since the Fellowship had left Moria.
"Given its colour, Bruce," the Took added with a twinkle in his eye. "I'm sure the Other Guy likes it as well."
Haldir and the rest of the Galadhrim present were at a loss to understand why the Halfling's strange remark would cause the rest of the Fellowship to laugh. Thor was simply glad that the real Pippin had returned to the Fellowship.
The Fellowship finally entered Caras Galadhon by early evening. Haldir led them up a wooden staircase that winded around the tallest and largest Mallorn tree within the glade. The procession eventually reached a Telain. Upon the Telain was a small flight of stairs that directly joined a grand wooden house illuminated by silvery lights. Haldir stood to the right of the Fellowship as Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel began descending the stairs. At first, the Lord and Lady's features were hard to discern due to the light cast around the pair. But the Avengers were just as opened mouthed as Pippin and Merry when the pair were finally revealed.
The couple appeared to be of equal height, each being about six feet tall. Seemingly like all male Galadhrim, Celeborn had long blond hair and wore a robe of silver and grey. He possessed a regal look and demeanour fitting for his position as the Lord of Lothlorien. But it was Galadriel that truly captured the attention of the Avengers. She wore a long white dress that reached her ankles and a golden circlet was on her head. Her long golden tresses that fell all the way to her lower back complemented her flawless white-skinned complexion. Seeing Galadriel's blue eyes confirmed to Banner that it was indeed her who telepathically spoke to him yesterday. Rogers was simply staggered that Galadriel was over 8,000 years old like Legolas and Aragorn had told the rest of the Fellowship.
She certainly puts my 70 years under ice to shame, he thought.
The Lord of Lothlorien commenced the Fellowship's audience.
"Eleven there are here, yet nine there were, set out from Rivendell," Celeborn observed to the Fellowship. "Tell me, where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak to him."
The Lady of the Golden Wood saw the answer in Aragorn's eyes.
"He has fallen into shadow," Galadriel sorrowfully remarked before turning her gaze to Gimli who was staring face down. "Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dum fill your heart, Gimli, son of Gloin. For the world has grown full of peril."
Gimli looked up, aghast that the first words the Elf Queen chose to speak to him offered comfort.
"What now becomes of this Fellowship?" Celeborn asked as a result of his consort's revelation. "Without Gandalf, hope is lost."
"Mithrandir's loss is a grievous one, milord," Galadriel confirmed before looking at each of the Avengers. "But we are indeed fortunate that three strangers from worlds unheard have come to the aid of the Free Peoples."
Thor locked eyes with Galadriel and heard her voice in his head.
Your greatest service to the Free Peoples will not come through any of your weapon's powers, Thor Odinson.
Thor was puzzled by what Galadriel had just told him but he still respectfully acknowledged her advice with a subtle nod.
Galadriel then spoke to the whole Fellowship. "The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all."
Rogers noticed Galadriel exchanging glances with Boromir who stood to the left of him. After a short while, his friend quietly gasped and turned his gaze away. Before Rogers could ask what was wrong, Galadriel resumed speaking to the whole Fellowship.
"But hope remains while the company is true," she qualified her previous remark to the group. After a pause, she gently advised the Fellowship, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace."
The Galadhrim had set up a pavilion festooned with many different sized cushions and mattresses for the Fellowship to rest on. They had also supplied quite a nourishing banquet for them to eat as well. Many of the Fellowship accepted the gracious offer of the Galadhrim to do their laundry. The Elves also supplied them with silk tunics to wear while this was done.
Thor was now just outfitted with the black shirt and trousers he wore under his armour and cloak. He had politely declined the Galadhrim's offer to wash both these items, telling them they were self-cleaning. From what they understood Thor had told them, the Elves who did the Fellowship's laundry discussed among themselves what could be the properties of the dye that allowed his clothing to perform such a miracle. None of them had heard of this dye that was apparently called 'Nanobots'.
The still and clear evening in Caras Galadhon was pierced by the sound of an Elven choral ensemble. The vast majority of the Fellowship could not understand the verses of what was being sung. Only that it sounded both beautiful and melancholic. Holding a wine pitcher, Legolas looked up to see what Telain the ensemble was on.
"A lament for Gandalf," he pensively told the Fellowship members around him.
As he set up his bed Merry asked, "What do they say about him?"
Legolas turned his gaze to Merry before sorrowfully replying, "I have not the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near."
Banner noted the Elf's remark and returned to reading the small, leather-bound book in his hands. If he had even the tiniest doubt that Galadriel was a powerful telepath, it was erased by the content of the book that had been loaned to him from Celeborn's library. It described the various types of metals found within Middle-earth. The Elf who gave him the book said it was written in the 'Common Tongue' which, in Middle-earth, would appear to be what they called English. Thor now sat on a cushion next Banner.
"Bruce," Thor promptly began. "Have you had any more thought on the vortex's affect on our powers?"
Looking up from his book, Banner said with self-deprecation, "Well, let's assume for the sake of argument that neither of us are still blaming ourselves over Gandalf." Thor gave a wry half grin in response before Banner continued. "It's pretty obvious that I can't bring out the Other Guy like normal and a lot Mjolnir's powers are still locked down. Having said that, in Moria I also to felt the Other Guy grow in strength." After a moment, Banner theorised, "I'm willing to go on a limb and say the vortex's impact on our powers isn't permanent."
The Asgardian momentarily considered this against all that had happened since the Avengers arrival in Middle-earth.
"I concur." Thor simply agreed before asking, "Why then would Steve's abilities remain unaffected?"
"Look, this is weak supposition at best," Banner qualified his theory. "From my research, Project Rebirth entailed a lot of genetic engineering that no-one's been able to replicate. From what you tell me, a lot of your powers are drawn from energies stored within Mjolnir. And while the Other Guy's part of my genetic code, he's still the result of an accident involving gamma radiation.
"Unlike Cap, both of us have powers based on various types of energy. My guess is that the vortex somehow disrupts energy and temporarily diminishes powers based on it."
Thor and Banner paused for a moment to listen to the singing of the unseen Elven choir.
"Let's hope you are right about loss of powers being temporary," Thor remarked. "With the loss of the Grey Wizard, I suspect we might be needing them more urgently than I'd thought."
Rogers and Boromir were together separate from the rest of the Fellowship.
Rogers sat on a Mallorn root looking into a small mirror the Galadhrim provided him. The mirror was resting on the ground at an angle to his face. He dipped his pocketknife in a copper bowl full of soapy water before looking into the mirror as he applied it to his facial stubble. The rest in Lothlorien allowed him to have his first wash and proper shave since coming to Middle-earth. He still had to be careful as he used his knife as a razor though. Unfortunately, the Galadhrim did not have any razors of their own as unwanted facial hair did not seem to be a problem for its male population. Satisfied he had done the best job he could under the circumstances; Rogers began drying his face with a provided towel. While doing so, he looked to his right at Boromir. The Gondorian appeared downcast as he sat on the grass resting his right arm resting on bent knee.
"Are you alright, Boromir?" Rogers quietly asked him.
Boromir looked up before looking over his shoulder if there were any other members of Fellowship close by. Sensing Boromir wanted a private discussion; Rogers got up and sat close to him. Boromir resumed to stare at the ground before speaking to Rogers.
"Before, I heard the Lady's voice in my head," he explained softly. "She spoke to me of my father and the fall of Gondor. She said to me, 'Even now there is hope left'. I know what you told me earlier, Steve. But it's a long time since Gondor has had any hope."
Rogers did not know what to say in response to his friend's heartfelt monologue. He thought it best to just continue to listen.
"My father is a noble man," Boromir explained, "but his rule is failing and…and our people lose faith. He looks to me to make things right and I would do it. I would see the glory of Gondor restored."
Rogers was about to reply that Boromir was being very unfair to himself. No man could carry the whole burden of his country's fortunes in a war. During World War Two, US military leaders did not expect Captain America to win the War by himself. Nor did Rogers place that burden on himself. Before he could tell this to Boromir, the Gondorian turned to Rogers with a surprising bright-eyed gleam in his eyes.
"Steve, I very much hope the opportunity arises for me to take you to my city of Minas Tirith," Boromir said with quiet enthusiasm. "If only so you can see if its splendour is equal to what you've told me of your New York."
"I lost bet with Director Fury when I told him that nothing could surprise me any more," Rogers recalled in good humour. "I'll just take your word for it, Boromir."
Boromir smiled before continuing. "You should see the White Tower of Ecthelion, Steve! It glimmers like a spike of pearl and silver with its banners caught high in the morning breeze."
Unbeknown to Boromir and Rogers, Aragorn stood a few paces behind them. He had gone to check on the pair but stopped upon hearing all their conversation from when Boromir spoke about his father's heath.
Boromir firmly but friendlily grasped Rogers's shoulder before stating, "I hope, no believe, our path will lead us there. Then, Steve, you will hear the Tower Guard take up the call: The Lords of Gondor have returned!"
Aragorn cast a quick downward glance as he pondered Boromir's overheard words. He then turned to rejoin the rest of the Fellowship, leaving Rogers and Boromir undisturbed.
Essentially this chapter has been about the Fellowship catching its breath and its members separately confiding their current thoughts, hopes and fear.
In the next chapter, one Avenger will have the magnitude of Galadriel's power and wisdom confirmed when he looks into her Mirror. As Galadriel is pretty selective who looks into her Mirror I'm still figuring out which Avenger she will choose. More importantly, what they will see in the Mirror when they look into it.
[RD: Given my earlier remarks about doppelgangers, I suspect Thor might be in for a bit of a shock when he crosses paths with Hela in Ragnarok.]