The Glowing Wood which we Resided and Got Presents, but no Gandalf

Dark times lie ahead of us…when we must choose between what is right, and what is easy.

-Albus Dumbledore

17 January 3019, of the Third Age

26 Afteryule 1419, Shire-Reckoning Time...

"Legolas, get them up," Aragorn said, without a glance in our direction.

"Give them a moment," Boromir cried. "For pity's sake!"

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs!" Aragorn shot back. "We must reach the Woods of Lothlórien. Come Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up." He reached down and pulled Sam up. "On your feet, Sam."

Sam wiped his eyes and offered his hand. "It ain't over yet," he said softly.

"Frodo?" Aragorn called. "Frodo!" I turned, wiping tears, to see him walking off all alone. Hearing Aragorn's voice, he turned back, weeping silently, tears dripping down his face, and we walked on.

We entered the woods called Lothlórien in utter silence, except Gimli, who ushered us forward, for our steps were getting slower by the moment.

After Gandalf's death, no one wanted to continue on anywhere.

"Stay close young hobbits!" He pleaded after a gentle prod to keep strong. "They say a great sorceress lives in these woods, an elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell…"

Frodo immediately jumped and looked around.

"…and are never seen again."

Frodo's shocked expression did not go away. Sam sensed his fear.

"Mister Frodo?" He asked, placing a kind hand on his shoulder.

Gimli continued talking, to ease our spirits. "Well, here is one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!"

Lórien elves surrounded us on all sides, arrows notched and aimed straight at us. Everyone froze with surprised expressions on their faces, including Frodo and me. I clutched the hilt of my sword instinctively.

"Oh…" Gimli said.

I could have laughed in some other world, another not-quite-so solemn world, as a blond elf stepped out from the rest and stared Gimli in the eye. "The dwarf breathes so loud I could have shot him in the dark," he said arrogantly. From Gimli's returning growl I feared that the elves and dwarf would not last the night in peace.

Aragorn stepped forward and began speaking in elvish with him. "Haldir o Lórien."

"Aragorn! These woods are perilous! We should go back!" Gimli said fearfully. I agreed. My eyes were still puffy and red and I was not willing to fight any more battles.

"You have entered the Realm of the Lady of the Wood," Haldir said suddenly. "You cannot go back. Come, she is waiting." He gestured for us to follow.

We arrived at Caras Galadhon, the Lórien city if you will, high in the trees reached by glowing white, winding staircases, which we ascended to greet Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn of Lothlórien, who arrived to meet us, hand in hand. Celeborn looked us over, and I felt uneasy as he spoke.

"Nine that are here yet ten there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him."

We were still and silent. Galadriel's eyes averted to meet Aragorn's, and in a moment she spoke, as though she had read the answer there.

"He has fallen into shadow." Then, she spoke to us all. "The quest stands on the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all."

If she meant it as a warning, as I had assumed, it was the idea she presented which made my blood cold and I shivered slightly. She turned to look upon Boromir, who trembled and finally looked away. "Yet," she added, "Hope remains while the company is true." As she continued to gaze upon us each in turn, she spoke once more. "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."

We turned to go find somewhere to sleep, when Galadriel's gaze caught my own, and I heard her gentle voice in my head, comforting my sorrows and easing the toils that had once been.

A wanderer, lost in the woods of peril, once a fine young lady of the Shire and tilted, upon your father's death, into the fates of the company are you now; traversing the lands, unsure of why except for the undying loyalty to the Ringbearer and his kin. Gandalf has proved more than friend to you, and now he has gone as swiftly as your mother and father before he. Do not shake with fear when you so badly wish to stand bravely. Your loyalty and love to your company has proved far greater than you feel in your heart. It is this bond which will defeat the evil in the end. Go now, sleep, and dream a little dream. Do not be afraid of silence, nor of fear at all, but dream...

I felt greatly reassured, not afraid, once she had spoken to me, and I followed the others in much higher spirits.

Merry, Pippin, Sam, Frodo, and I set up a tent under the trees while Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, and Gimli set up a few of their own. As we hobbits settled down to sleep, we heard the Lórien elves singing.

"A lament for Gandalf," Legolas told us softly. "Listen…"

"What do they say about him?" Merry asked, resting close to me.

"I have not the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near," Legolas replied kindly, and patted Merry's head. "Go to sleep, now, listen to the voices of the stars."

It was sorrowful and beautiful, but I could not cry any more than I already had. Suddenly I felt very tired, and drifted off to sleep with Merry's soft snores and Pippin's soft humming as my lullaby.

16 February 3019, of the Third Age

26 Solmath 1419, Shire-Reckoning Time...

After staying, for little more than a month, we prepared to leave the fair wood of Lothlórien. It was another sorrowful time, for it was another place which was kind and where we were not driven by fear or forced to fight off unfriendly foes. We stood in a line before Celeborn, who one by one garbed us in lovely elven cloaks, fastened with a green leaf brooch.

"May these cloaks shield you from unfriendly eyes," Celeborn said after all of us were cloaked.

Next, he handed Legolas packets of leaves, and under our confused stare, Legolas smiled. "Lembas, the elvish waybread. One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man."

"I already ate four," Pippin whispered with a snigger, and I pushed him playfully.

Next, Galadriel stood in front of us and presented us with gifts, beginning with Legolas, who received a bow of the Galadhrim. She gave Merry, Pippin, and I small silver daggers, and also her parting words.

"These are the daggers of the Noldorin. They have already seen service in war. Do not fear, young Adamanta and Peregrin. You will find your courage."

Sam received elven rope (he was greatly disappointed) and Gimli received three glittering, golden hairs from the head of Galadriel, who was surprised to see such kindness from a dwarf to an elf.

"Never again shall a dwarf be refused into our wood. Our time runs short, but you have shown more generosity than you know." Galadriel bowed her head to Gimli, who fell to his knees. She was taken aback by his graciousness toward her. Such another small thing that made the Company ease.

Aragorn received nothing, though he did speak in elvish with Galadriel some more. Frodo's gift was last.

"Farewell, Frodo Baggins. I give you the light of Earendil, our most beloved star. Namarie." Galadriel bent down then and kissed Frodo's head. "May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out."

We boarded the final gift from the elves; boats and paddles for a journey down the great Anduin River. There were three; Merry, Pippin, Boromir and I had one to ourselves, Frodo, Sam, and Aragorn another, and Legolas and Gimli another. The trek on the long river took us nearly ten days, during which we passed through a canyon in which giant figures had been carved from the cliffs at least 300 feet high. Their arms were raised in a gesture of warning which, I feared, was all too true. Majestically the statues, called the Argonanth, eyed us and allowed us passage through the canyon, and soon, to my comforts, we landed ashore.