This chapter is a wee bit shorter than normal but.. oh well. Ohmymelkor, it's going down now. 0_0 If you will excuse me, I have to go. *runs and hides for fear of Glorfindel* Enjoy reading! *hides in Mithril box*
I own nothing but Erunana. And her flute. Although, if Glorfy had his way, I wouldn't own anything at all. Maybe just her flute. How gracious. *snorts*
Chapter 18
The Fellowship was leaving. It was finally decided what path they would take with the absence of Gandalf, and they had been gifted with boats to travel down the river.
Even at that very moment, Eruanna, Glorfindel, Celeborn, Galadriel, and Celébrian were in the swan boat on the river, waiting to meet the fellowship to say their last farewells.
Galadriel played on her harp as Eruanna accompanied her on the flute, nearing the boats that the fellowship used. Aragorn led them to draw alongside the swan boat. Galadriel finished her song and they greeted the fellowship warmly.
"We have come to say our final farewells- for many of us shall not meet again, unless it be on a path from which there is no return." Galadriel said softly. Then she took up a cup, and handed it to Celeborn, who drank, and it was passed around among them all to drink as the cup of parting.
"And as a token of your stay here, and in remembrance of your task, we bring you gifts, to help you on your way." Celeborn then said, and each elf pulled out a cloak, beginning to fasten them onto each member of the fellowship. Eruanna clasped it onto Boromir, giving him a small smile as she reached up and patted his cheek. He bowed briefly to her in thanks, grey eyes uncommonly soft.
"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our people." Celébrian stated softly. "The weave is fine, and was made by the hands of the lady herself and her maidens."
"May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes." Celeborn said gravely, and then made sure that each boat had its share of lembas, the way-bread of the elves.
Then Galadriel turned to Aragorn. "And what would you ask of me, Aragorn of the Dunedaìn?" She asked, giving him a keen look. "For there is no gift that I can give you that is greater than the one you already bear."
He looked at the lady. "Lady, you know my thoughts and my heart, and long have you held in your keeping that which I hold most, though you cannot give it to me." His eyes flicked to Celébrian, who had nothing but acceptance and love in her eyes for the young man in front of her. "And only through darkness may I come to it." He finished. "And indeed, I would have her sail with the rest of her people." He added.
Galadriel straightened sharply and gave him a piercing look. "That choice is yet before her." She said sharply, and then her face softened as Celébrian stepped forwards.
"I have raised you, Aragorn son of Arathorn, Isildurchil, descendant of Beren One-Hand, and I have loved you as my own. I see that the strings of fate have bound you to my daughter, and little though I like it, I am not one to stand in the way of the fate that was set before her from the beginning of time." She said, then gave him a thin smile. "Unfortunately, my husband has not learned such a lesson yet, I am afraid, and but for that I would declare to the world with pride that you are part of our family in more ways than one."
Aragorn stifled a smile at his adopted mother's dry tone as Glorfindel snickered knowingly and Eruanna giggled silently.
"But know that you have my acceptance, and maybe yet I may be able to give you this to lighten your heart." She smiled, and lifted a large green stone in her hands set in a silver brooch in the likeness of an eagle with its wings outstretched. "This was given to me by mine mother, and I to my daughter- and now it comes to you as a token of hope. Now take it up, and the name that was foretold to you from the beginning, Elassar, the Elfstone of the House of Elendil!" She said, and handed it to him.
Aragorn took it and pinned it upon his breast and stood straight, and the elves nodded in approval as many burdens seemed to fall off of his shoulders and his visage became more like that of a king's, wise and fair.
"For your gifts, I thank you." He bowed, and Celeborn smiled.
"And there is one more for you, Aragorn Elassar." He said, and Glorfindel drew from underneath his flowing cloak the sheath which Eruanna had helped to finish. Aragorn took it with wonder upon his face.
"This sheath was made by Celeborn and I as a gift for you, and was finished by Eruanna." He smiled at the surprised looks the fellowship threw at the elfling, who merely shuffled behind his robe shyly, eliciting smiles. Then he went on. "It is light and will serve you well, able to be concealed beneath your cloak- and as a gift from Eruanna, she has endowed upon it the power of the gemstones. Just as they will last long and do not stain nor break, so the sword that is placed in this sheath shall not be stained or broken, even in defeat." He finished, and Aragorn bowed to them all.
"For you, Boromir son of Gondor, I give you this belt of gold- may it serve you well." Celébrian presented it to him, which he took with a bow and clasped about his waist.
"My gift to you, Legolas, is a bow of the Galadhrim, worthy of the skill of our woodland kin." She said gently, handing it to him. Legolas took it with a bow and immediately filled the quiver with his own arrows, slinging it on his back in place of the old one, and then stroking the bow with wonder on his face.
"I thank you, my lady. This bow is indeed incredible, and the string strong and sure." He marveled.
Galadriel smiled. "Indeed, for it is elven hair, young prince." She laughed softly. Legolas looked up, startled, curiosity dawning on his face.
"May I ask whose, my lady?" He asked.
"Why is that so special?" Pippin whispered loudly to Merry, and then blushed as the elves laughed.
"Because, Pippin, a piece of elven hair is a rare and high gift. It is strong and the surest bow string there is, and shall not break. It is a sign of most high favor." Frodo explained, and the elves nodded in approval.
"And it is from our Eruanna." Glorfindel added with a wink. Legolas looked stunned, and turned back to the bowstring, caressing it reverently. Gimli also looked upon it with admiration. Eruanna smiled at Legolas, who bowed to her.
"To you, I give you these." And Glorfindel handed Merry and Pippin the belts. "And the flower clasp was Eruanna's idea." He added nonchalantly, and Eruanna proceeded to poke his side as he yelped and jumped away from her finger. She poked out her tongue at him, causing them all to laugh.
Then Galadriel turned to Sam. "For you, little gardener and lover of trees, I have only a small gift." And she gave him a small, plain box of grayish wood save a single silver G rune on the cover. "Here is set the G for Galadriel, but it may also stand for garden in your tongue. In it is earth from my gardens, and such blessing as I may bestow is on it. Though it may not protect you, perhaps if you return to your home it may serve you well. There shall be few gardens that will bloom as the one that has this earth upon it. Then shall you remember me, and see a part of Lothlòrien that shall be no more." She told him. He clutched it and turned red, mumbling his thanks gratefully.
"And Eruanna suggested it." Glorfindel added in a stage-whisper, as Eruanna groaned and buried her head into her hands as they muffled laughter and Sam looked at her gratefully.
Then finally she turned to Gimli. "And what gift would a dwarf ask of elves?" She asked gently.
"None, my lady, save to look upon the lady of the Galadhrim one last time and to hear her fair voice, for she is fairer than all the gems of the earth." He replied gruffly.
"Hear all ye elves!" Galadriel cried to all of them. "Let none say that dwarves are grasping and ungracious! Yet surely, Gimli son of Glòin, there is something that you desire that I could give? Name it! You shall not be the only guest without a gift." She declared.
"There is nothing, lady Galadriel-" Gimli stuttered, bowing, "unless it be- unless I may be permitted to have, nay, to name, a single strand of your hair, which surpasses the gold of the earth as the stars surpass the gems of the mines. I do not ask for such a gift, but you commanded me to name my desire." He finished.
The elves stared at him in astonishment, and Celeborn looked on in wonder, but Galadriel merely smiled. "It is said that the skill of dwarves is in their hands rather than in speech, but such is not true for this one. For none before have ever made such a bold request so politely. And how shall I refuse, when indeed it was I who asked? But tell me this, what would you do with such a gift?" She asked.
"Treasure it, my lady." He replied promptly. "In memory of your words to me at our first meeting. And if ever I return to my home, I shall set it in imperishable crystal as an heirloom of my house and a pledge of goodwill between the mountain and wood to the end of days." He answered.
And at that, Galadriel took three strands of her hair and plucked them off, handing them to Gimli. "I shall tell you these words, also, Gimli son of Gloin. If hope still remains and does not fail, may they come to pass. Indeed, I say to you, your hands shall flow with gold, and yet over you shall it have no dominion." She declared, and then turned at last to Frodo.
"As for you, ring bearer, I come to you who is not last in my thoughts. For you I give this." She held up the crystal phial that Eruanna had given her from Eärendil. "This is my gift to you, which Eruanna has received from her lord, Eärendil himself. In this phial is the light of Eärendil, our most beloved star. It will shine brighter still when night is about you. May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out." She said, and placed it in his palm. "And indeed, time and time again has this light repelled the darkness." She glanced to Eruanna, who gave a strained smile.
Frodo bowed low, though he said nothing and glanced to Eruanna, who moved in front of him, though still a good distance away. Then she lifted her hand, and he saw that she had a blue ring on her finger. She smiled, and suddenly her voice echoed softly in the air, though her mouth did not move and the ring glowed brightly. Glorfindel started slightly.
"Yes, I am also ringbearer; this is Lûth, ring of manipulation, and I am its keeper. Would that I could give you a hug, Frodo, but as long as your burden stands between us, I cannot approach you for the pain that plagues my arm." She said with a small smile, and Frodo's small smile turned apologetic, but she shook her head.
"Do not feel sad. May the phial serve you well, and remember, whenever your heart is heavy- look up and see the stars, for no amount of darkness can ever snuff them out." She smiled at him, and he bowed in reply.
Then Eruanna moved to Gimli, who blinked, startled. "As the lady says, I would not have you be the only one that has not received a gift with my touch upon it, however small, Gimli son of Glòin, for I have known your father from before time, and I would repay his gift to me with one to his son." Her voice was soft and whispery, and she smiled as her fingers brushed the flower necklace on her throat.
Gimli hesitated. "Much have I heard of you, my lady, and of the goodwill between our families." Then he paused. "I would not have you feel me greedy, but my only request, since you have asked, would also be a single strand of your hair. For it is second only to the lady Galadriel's- it is fairer than Mithril and shot with the purest of gold. I shall put it in the same crystal as I would these, and ever shall I remember the lord and lady of the House of the Golden Flower." He said gruffly, looking down.
For a moment Eruanna paused, and then her laugh sounded in their ears, childish and sweet, a laugh that would cause any human maiden to envy the parent of such a voice. Glorfindel smiled broadly and the rest smiled as well at the endearing sound. Gimli shuffled.
"Never shall I say that a dwarf does not know what is precious above measure! For though others may say that they envy gold above all things, not so are you. But if that is your wish, I give it you with free will- indeed, in a futile attempt to exceed the lady's generosity, I insist that you choose the very strand you would have." She giggled, and sat at his feet so that he might choose. Laughter accompanied her statement, and Gimli looked highly embarrassed, but with skillful eyes he looked, and held up one lock of her hair.
Eruanna took it from his fingers and swiftly plucked it, and Legolas laughed. "A fine eye he has for fine things- even for hair." He chuckled, and there was much amused agreement. Gimli took the strand with a bow. He had chosen one that alternated between the gold and Mithril in pleasant contrast. Glorfindel chuckled, and Galadriel smiled at the elfling, who grinned back innocently, to their amusement.
Then Celeborn again sat, as did the rest, and the fellowship pushed their boats away once more, waving to the elves who lifted their hands in farewell. Eruanna, thumb stuck in her mouth, waved back, sending a last smile to Legolas and Aragorn, who held up their gemstones she had given them as they glittered in the light of day.
Then they faded away, and Galadriel sang a final song of farewell that was carried along the wind and amplified thanks to Eruanna. Then Eruanna sighed.
*I cannot but feel that I have looked my last upon one of them, though I cannot tell who...* She mourned. The rest said nothing in reply, though Galadriel frowned.
LOTRLOTRLOTR
"Gwaihir is here!" Glorfindel's cry made Eruanna leap up from her perch and run, heading for the healing chamber in the main talan. She ran in to see Galadriel and Celeborn bent over a prone figure on the bed, blankets covering him. She crept quietly to the edge of the bed, seeing the face of the figure. Celeborn picked her up, and she quietly studied Mithrandir.
The first thing she noticed was his hair. His beard and hair were grey no longer. They were a pure white, almost blinding in its brightness. She blinked, seeing a little more of the Maia than before. Glorfindel also came in quietly, looking at the prone wizard, and a small smile crossed his face.
"And now he is Gandalf the White, head of the order of the Istari." Galadriel spoke softly. "He has come back to finish what he has started." She smiled. The wizard's eyes were closed, and the bushy white eyebrows scrunched over the shut eyelids. His chest rose and fell with breath, the only sign of any life in him.
"I have been making his new robes." Galadriel said, standing and moving to the door. "When he wakes, we shall see what his next task is." She declared, and they followed, leaving the Istari behind them to rest and awake in due time.
Eruanna took one last peep at him over Celeborn's shoulder before the door closed, and Celeborn glided after his fair wife. She thought, eyebrows crinkled and a thoughtful scowl on her face. She wondered what his new color meant, and why he had come back. Oh, not to say that she wasn't happy, far from it, but she just had to wonder, with the natural curiosity of a child.
Celeborn set her down on the cradle in the center of the main room, and she picked up her journal again as Glorfindel sat next to her, both thinking. Galadriel was sewing along with Celébrian. Celeborn had resumed his duties. They were waiting, now, for the Istari to awaken.
Eruanna picked up her journal, the quill poised over the pages as she thought carefully, eyes landing on the unfinished past entry. But she couldn't bring herself to finish it. Let it remain blank, so that she could remember what had happened that day. The quill slipped slightly in her fingers, unintentionally blotting ink beside the discontinued sentence.
She stared at the splotch of misplaced color and her eyebrows furrowed as she began to write again.
I don't know why, but I don't feel too well. Not sick or ill, but rather inside: a feeling of foreboding or premonition. It is uncomfortable, and I do not like it. It has started ever since lady Galadriel said that Mithrandir was back once more. I don't understand. Maybe I shall know better once he wakes once more.
It's funny, I don't feel as sad now as I did the first time at the departure of the fellowship. I wonder why. Maybe it's because I have more faith in them since they have made it this far already? That their path is a little clearer now?
I will still worry about them, of course, but now I find myself thinking mainly of Ciaran and those still in Imladris- especially 'Dan and 'Ro and 'Restor. I miss them all so. But I suppose I shall just have to wait until I can see them again.
But I don't want to wait.
She slapped the book shut with a huff of frustration and slouched into Glorfindel's lap, tossing the quill down in annoyance. He looked down at her, surprised at her uncommon dourness. She said nothing, but her eyebrows were scrunched, and a frown was etched on her lips. Knowing better than to attempt to speak to her, he merely drew his hand through her hair soothingly, falling back into his own haze of contemplation.
About an hour later, Galadriel stood and swept off. No one attempted to follow her. It was quiet, everyone doing their best not to wonder about how Mithrandir was doing and all miserably failing. Glorfindel fidgeted. It was as bad as sitting in on another boring council session. Eruanna whined in protest at his stirrings, and he stilled, murmuring an apology.
She merely sighed and grasped his hair, eyes glazing over as she dozed to pass the time. Would that he could, but at the moment his mind was too busy to even try the futile attempt.
Another hour passed. Glorfindel's fingers tapped the arm of his chair as his lips thinned and his eyes narrowed. Eruanna's eyes unglazed and blinked, saying nothing and merely sighing. The minutes ticked away with agonizing slowness.
"A fine sight you are for old eyes." An amused, familiar voice issued from the entrance to the room. Glorfindel leaped up, sending Eruanna tumbling to the floor with a yelp. Of course, she never hit the ground before Glorfindel had caught her with a chagrined grimace that she ignored, reaching out for the wizard.
Mithrandir chuckled, gathering both Glorfindel and Eruanna into his embrace. "My apologies, Glorfindel, Eruanna. It is good to see you both again." He said with a smile.
Glorfindel hugged the wizard back with a fierceness that surprised the others who watched with smiles. "I never thought you to be one to scare me like that." Glorfindel glared at the wizard, who held Eruanna comfortingly as she squeezed him tightly.
Gandalf sighed. "As I said, my apologies... I never expected to go through such a thing." He kissed the top of Eruanna's head, who sighed and pulled back, sniffing at the wizard with an air of disappointment.
"What?" He asked her, raising a bushy white eyebrow. She jabbed an accusing finger at him and crossed her arms, sulking. Glorfindel joined in her indignation.
"I would have thought that you wouldn't make such a stupid mistake, Mithrandir!" Glorfindel began to rage, and everyone paled at such audacity. But Mithrandir had a suspicious look on his face, instead of offense.
"Oh?" His voice was intrigued.
"Yes 'oh'! How could you forget all that I taught you! You cannot expect to defeat a Balrog that way when in mirroanwë! Remember, torso stab, cliff, hair tied up, all that!?" Glorfindel ranted on, and Eruanna buried her face into Gandalf's shoulder, shaking with laughter. Mithrandir contrived an abashed air as everyone else stared, open-mouthed.
"My apologies, Glorfindel... I'm afraid I forgot." Sighed the wizard meekly, albeit a smile twitching at the corners of his lips as his eyes sparkled. Glorfindel stopped, sighing.
"Next time you determine to attempt such a thing..." He glared at the wizard like one would at an errant child. "... I expect you to have invited me." He growled.
Mithrandir threw back his white head and began to laugh heartily as Eruanna shook, tears pouring down her cheeks from laughter. Glorfindel glared at them balefully, crossing his arms.
"I fail to see what is so amusing." He said darkly, but there was a twinkle in his eyes that belied the words. Then he did a double take.
"Since when did you become white, oh old one? In my annoyance I didn't notice. That's not fair, you always get all the fun." Glorfindel whined, throwing them all an arch look. At that, Celébrian and Celeborn began to laugh as Galadriel smiled.
"It's good to be back to hear you rail at me again, Glorfindel." Mithrandir chuckled, sitting down in his white robes. "Like the time you decided that the notion that I couldn't allow you to go out without clothes was all 'puí-en-orch.'" He raised an eyebrow at Glorfindel who sighed.
"I was newly reborn." He groused, making them snicker at him.
"Or the time you decided that lord Nàmo was- what was it- an 'orc-brained ninny' I believe you said?" Mithrandir went on innocently, and Glorfindel had the grace to blush as Eruanna veritably screamed with laughter, doubling over as Celébrian placed a hand over her mouth and Celeborn stared at him in mingled awe and amusement.
"Oh hush, seler." He grumbled, to no avail.
"To answer your question, I have been sent back to finish my mission." Mithrandir went on, smiling faintly at Eruanna, who sighed and wiped away her tears. Then she gave his head a mournful look and pat. He rolled his eyes at her.
"Oh pooh, that hat was a bother anyway, but I had to keep it or else no one would know me any more." The wizard grumbled, sending Glorfindel into stitches. Eruanna grinned at him innocently, and he chuckled.
"Well. At least now I have better robes." He patted them with a condescending air that amused the spectators very much. Then his mien sobered.
"Tell me what has happened while I was- away." He said, and exchanging looks, they began to tell him of the doings of the fellowship. After the tale was told, he sat back, eyebrows settling over his eyes as he stroked his beard, muttering to himself.
"I feel that Boromir is in danger, though how or in what manner I cannot tell." Galadriel spoke gravely. "His heart is shadowed by the ring, for all that he is noble." She added, a bit sadly. Eruanna immediately frowned sadly, for in truth she had admired the man for his bearing and obvious nobility. He was honorable, so much she could tell.
Mithrandir sighed. "I have no cause to not believe you, my lady." He said thoughtfully, and then lifted his head with a troubled air. "Tell me again what path they have taken." He urged.
Glorfindel shook his head. "It is not decided." He frowned. "They decided to go down the river, and then decide where to go from the falls of Rauros. Their choices were either all go through Emyn Muil or to part ways and Aragorn go with Boromir to Gondor. But I feel that their path is already decided for them." He finished darkly, and Mithrandir nodded in agreement.
"As do I. But I cannot yet see where my path lies." He murmured, and then stirred with a sigh. "I must think; yes, I must spend this night thinking, for I chafe at this waste of time in determining my path." He stood and went to one of the many openings that led out to the fresh air.
The waning sunlight seemed to almost filter through the wizard, glowing white in the remaining ribbons of brightness. Glorfindel smiled briefly, thinking of him as the Maia that he was. Eruanna remembered the brief glimpse of the Maia she had seen long ago and drew a comparison between that form and this one.
She could see a little more of the brightness of the Maia in this form than she could in the grey one. The blue fire that burned deep inside him was a little more obvious now, and the white hair only magnified it. She suddenly shivered, feeling so very young.
Of course, she had always felt young around others, but not compared to the way she did now. For a moment, she felt unutterably small, like a tiny grain of sand among the whole world. Glorfindel picked her up, stroking her hair in sympathy as he smiled at her. She gave him a bright smile that he returned, kissing the tip of her nose as she giggled and attempted to push him away.
Then suddenly, Gandalf stiffened with a harsh intake of breath. Everyone snapped to attention as the wizard's face darkened, and then turned to strain, breathing harshly as though he fought against an unseen enemy- which, as Eruanna suddenly realized, might actually be the case.
But it finally passed, and Mithrandir sank down onto a chair with a gasp as Glorfindel hurriedly poured him a glass of water which he accepted gratefully. Color returned to his wan face, and exhaustion was etched on every care-worn line.
"I know now what I must do. For as my mind wandered across the lands, seeking and learning, I felt the power of the one just as the enemy did. I strove against him for a while, and I have succeeded for a time. And now, my path is clear to me." He said laboriously.
Then he looked up with a sigh. "But I am afraid I have very unwelcome news for you, Glorfindel." He said. Glorfindel frowned.
"Eruanna must go with me."
mirroanwë: beings that have physical forms and cannot shed them.