Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 9 of Easterling Princess. Thank you to all who have left reviews. It does mean a lot to me and they keep me going for writing-wise. I hope that you guys enjoy this next chapter. Without further ado Chapter 9.

Chapter 9

They continued their journey without Gandalf. Aragorn ran ahead of them. They crossed Dimrill Dale and entered the Woods of Lothlorien. Slowly the group walked under the huge trees.

Asta looked around in awe, her violet eyes scanning the beauty of the woods.

"Stay close young Hobbits! They say there's a great sorceress who lives in these woods. An Elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell and are never seen again."

Asta let out a scoff rolling her eyes. "Is that the story you have heard, Gimli?" She questioned looking over at the dwarf her brows furrowed some. It wasn't what she had heard from her people, but then again she hadn't heard much of the other creatures of the world knowing that her people thought that it was best to destroy them all.

Sam looked over at Frodo who had fallen silent. "Mr. Frodo?"

Frodo began to walk again knowing that he had worried his friend.

"Well, here's one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!"

Suddenly, Gimli had an arrow pointed towards him. Lorien elves appeared from behind the trees, aiming at the others as well. The fellowship stopped and looked around alarmed.

"Oh.."

"The dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark," Haldir said, looking at the dwarf in distaste.

Gimli mumbled looking at the elf in distaste.

The evening began to set in and Haldir stood with the Fellowship in one of the great trees. "Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion."

"Govannas vîn gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien." Legolas replied.

"A Aragorn in Dúnedain istannen le ammen."

"Haldir," Aragorn said, nodding his head in greeting.

Asta bit her lip knowing that the elves wouldn't trust her too much.

"So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can all understand!"

"We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days," Haldir said, looking over at Gimli.

"And do you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul!"

"That was not so courteous," Aragorn said, looking over at Gimli.

Asta let out a breath shaking her head.

Haldir walked up and stopped in front of Frodo. "You bring great evil with you. You can go no further."

Sam and Pippin looked accusingly at Frodo.

Aragorn quickly moved to argue with Haldir.

"Gandalf's death was not in vain. Nor would he have you give up hope. You carry a heavy burden, Frodo. Don't carry the weight of the dead." Boromir said softly to the young hobbit.

Haldir and Aragorn have stopped arguing with one another.

"You will follow me." Haldir leads them through a set of paths in the woods until they are all on a hill overlooking Caras Galadhon. "Caras Galadhon. The heart of Elvendom on earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and Galadriel, Lady of Light."

The Fellowship walked up a winding stairway amongst the trees, towards the grand court of Galadriel and Celeborn. With a glow issuing forth from them, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien descended to meet the fellowship, hand and hand.

Aragorn touched his head reverently in greeting as the rest of the fellowship stared in awe.

"The Enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone. 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. I can no longer see him from afar."

Galadriel looked at Aragorn reading the answer in his eyes. "Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into Shadow."

Celeborn looked at her in wonder.

"He was taken by both Shadow and Flame. A Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria."

"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his full purpose." She turned her gaze to Gimli. "Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dûm fill your heart, Gimli, son of Glóin. For the world has grown full of peril. And in all lands love is now mingled with grief." She then looked at Boromir with a piercing gaze that he couldn't stand.

He started to shake and cast his eyes downward.

"What now becomes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf, hope is lost." Celeborn asked his wife.

"The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true." She looked at Sam and smiled as Sam continued to gaze at her. "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…"

FTRFTR

The Hobbits finally settled into the area that was provided to them to rest in.

Asta closed her eyes as she heard the Elves singing in the trees.

"A lament for Gandalf," Legolas said softly.

Merry looked up towards the trees. "What do they say about him?"

"I have not the heart to tell you. For me, the grief is still too near."

"I bet they don't mention his fireworks. There should be a verse about them."The finest rockets ever seen. They burst in stars of blue and green Or after thunder, silver showers…"

Aragorn shoved Gimli who pretended to snore.

"…Came falling like a…rain of flowers" Oh, that doesn't do them justice by a long road."

Asta closed her eyes before slowly moving away from the group as Aragorn walked over to Boromir.

"Take some rest. These borders are well-protected."

"I will find no rest here. I heard her voice inside my head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Gondor. She said to me "Even now there is hope left." But I cannot see it. It has been a long time since we had any hope. My father is a nobleman, but his rule is failing. And now our people have lost faith. He looks to me to make things right and I would do it. I would see the glory of Gondor restored. Have you ever seen Aragorn? The White tower of Ecthelion glimmered like a spike of pearl and silver. Its banners caught high in the morning breeze. Have you ever been called home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets?"

"I have seen the White City, long ago."

"One day, our paths will lead us there. And the tower guards shall take up the call: "The Lords of Gondor have returned!"

Asta moved towards a little area so she could be alone. She took a soft breath and rubbed her face softly, scowling a little as her hand went to the scar that was on her face. She brought her knees up to her chest hearing some movement to the corner. She turned her head and saw Boromir walking near where she was. "Looking for me?" She questioned her voice coming out fairly softly.

"You had disappeared." He said softly as he joined her on the ground. He looked over at her biting his lower lip wondering what she wanted to be alone? "You wanted to be alone?"

Asta looked over at him out of the corner of her eyes. "Yes." She said softly as she looked away for a moment. She took a soft breath. "Without Gandalf… I don't think that you will want to trust me any more…"

Boromir cleared his throat a little bit.

Asta looked over at Boromir, her brows raising a little. "What?"

"You think we won't trust you?"

Asta let out a soft breath. "You've stated countless times that you didn't trust me… due to who I am…"

Boromir rubbed the back of his neck. "That isn't…"

"What isn't? Are you saying that you trust me Boromir?" She questioned her brow raising a little. "After everything that we had gone through the last time we saw one another in war?"

Boromir cleared his throat again. "I didn't think I was fighting a woman at the time…"

"And…"

"I do apologize for giving you such a mark… we're sworn to protect our women…"

"I was raised as a warrior Boromir… just like the women of Rohan… we're raised to fight… all foes no matter what is under the armor."

Boromir let out a dry chuckle thinking about it. "You have an odd way of thinking…"

Asta let out a soft chuckle. "That's the first time that my way is deemed odd." She shrugged her shoulders a little. "So you are trusting me?"

"Frodo seems to trust you."

Asta nodded her head softly. "And you think that the Lady of the woods is correct? That there is still hope?"

"We have to have hope… or we're all doomed."

Asta took a soft breath. "Yes… and it is a doom that I don't want to have to think of…" She said softly, shaking her head again. She leaned back against the tree thinking some.

"You're exhausted…"

Asta let out a soft chuckle looking over at Boromir. "We all are…"

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This is the end of Chapter 9. Please leave a review and let me know what you think… I'm still debating on if I should save Boromir. I'm leaning towards yes, but also no… which way do you guys want it to go? Boromir to live or die? Reviews keep me going. Until next time guys.