Chapter 21: In Which Gifts are Granted

Sleep found Luna as soon as her head hit the pillow. Sometime in the morning, she stirred as her companions each began to wake and make morning noise, but she fell quickly back to slumber. Aragorn had been right; it was the best sleep she had gotten since Rivendell. When she finally woke, the cots around her were all bundled back up, save hers, and only Boromir remained in the clearing. "The Halflings made breakfast," he said, handing her a small bundle wrapped in cloth. "They insisted I save this for when you woke up."

He didn't seem as troubled as he had the night before, especially after a good night's sleep, but there was still something off about him. "Thank you," Luna said, taking the bundle. "Where has everyone else gone?"

"Oh, they're all about. Resting, walking, taking in the mallorn-trees. Legolas and Gimli went with Haldir back to the borders to help rid the Orcs that trailed us." There was a pause as Luna brought a sausage to her mouth and chewed. "Where did you go last night?"

"I thought you had gone right to sleep."

"Legolas mentioned he had advised you to take a walk late last night. We all assumed that is why you slept so late."

"Aye, just a walk." He waited for more, but Luna found the words would not come to her mouth. Her secret that she had kept to all but a few her whole life was no longer a secret. Everyone knew, it seemed. And now, she had a piece of it back to herself. The Lady Galadriel knew, but who would she tell? Luna sensed it hardly even mattered to the Lady, for she seemed completely non-pulsed by the mirror's reveal. For now, she would change the subject and only bring it up again if she chose. "You seem more calm in the light of the morning than you have these past few days."

"Being alone with one's thoughts can be comforting after weeks without solitude."

"Is that what you wish for?" Luna asked. "Solitude?"

"Aye, but not from you," he said with a small grin. "Somehow, when it be just the two of us, my mind grows from cloudy to clear."

"And it's been so long since it has been just the two of us." She set her now empty napkin down after wiping crumbs from her lips. She wanted to tell him how worried she was for him. That she knew it wasn't their solitude that cleared his mind, but his distance from the Ring. But seeing him here, his dark hair shining in the glow of the mallorn-leaves, she couldn't bring herself to mention it. When he grinned, it seemed as genuine as it had been back in Rivendell. The corners of his gray eyes crinkled and she found herself basking in the warmth of his gaze. She almost wanted to tell him of her night in Galadriel's mirror, but not quite. So rather than confront through words, she moved herself closer to him and rested her body against his. "Hold me," she whispered, closing her eyes as his arms wrapped around her. "Before any of them return."

He placed a gentle kiss on her temple, holding her close. "We have nothing to hide, Luna. In fact, I never told you this, but Aragorn and I spoke of us the day you marched into Elrond's study and demanded a place in the Fellowship."

"He did?"

"Aye. He is a wise man. As wise and caring as any man I could hope for the heir of Gondor's throne to be. His words are the reason I do not push you away now. For in times of war, how could it be unreasonable to want to cling to love and heart?"

Her own heart leapt at his words, for she couldn't have anticipated them coming. They had promised each other to wait for the end of the war. At the same time, there was a sadness inside her that she couldn't quite pinpoint. As if she were putting a piece of herself inside a drawer, locking its contents behind a key. "Boromir, you know we-"

"Yes." He said, simply. "Yes, I know."

And they didn't speak of it again for a month.

The company did little more than eat, rest, and walk during their time in the Golden Wood. The days blurred into weeks and Luna found herself losing track of the time. Aragorn spent much time deliberating their next path. Their options were slim this close to the Anduin, for without boats, there wasn't a clear footpath south from Lothlorien. Legolas spent most of his days with the Galadhrim, scouting and patrolling the borders. Often, he brought Gimli with him, much to everyone's surprise. Boromir continued to spar with the Hobbits and they were each improving slowly.

Luna on the other hand, spent much of her time facing down a target, her quiver strapped to her back, bow in hand. She would practice knocking, drawing, and aiming as fast as she could, with as much repetition as she could muster before her arms fell to her sides in protest. After a week of these three simple moves, she started releasing her arrows to the target. At first, her aim was terrible, she hardly ever hit the target. In the evenings when he returned from partoling, Legolas would come and help her evaluate her progress, giving tips and lessons as he deemed necessary. Slowly, though as their time in the Golden Wood drew to a close, her aim improved. The movements became memory in her muscles. And while her aim was not as true as if she took the time to calculate it, she could not deny her skills were growing. Not only in the bow, but with a sword as well, for she spent her off days with Boromir and the Hobbits, much as she had in those days before the Fellowship had departed.

The company almost always shared meals together. Even Legolas took leave from his kinsmen to join them. And they all took turns sharing tales. The tales were usually of Gandalf; stories of his journeys and legends they had all come to know from their own corners of Middle-earth.

Soon enough a month had passed them by and Luna and Boromir had sought no further solitude between the two of them. Luna was not dismissive of the fact he had admitted his feelings out loud for her for the first time, yet she did her best not to dwell on them for while she longed for the peace to finally be able to accept his love, she couldn't pinpoint quite what the tiny twinge of sadness was each time she thought of his words that morning.

Aragorn was summoned to Celeborn's house just after the company had shared an evening supper. Though no one had begun preparing for a departure, Luna knew, and had sensed for some time, that their time in Lothlorien was drawing to an end. They could not stay here forever in this peaceful haven. The Ring needed to move again, and this was Celeborn and Galadriel bidding them to part. When he returned, Aragorn announced that the Lord and Lady had gifted them three boats to ford the Anduin south, which would surely be quicker than on foot. When he returned to camp, he pulled Boromir and Luna both aside.

"What of after we clear the Anduin?" Boromir asked. "What path had Gandalf intended for us next?"

"I must admit, I know not," Aragron said. "For my intention had been to follow you to Minas Tirith before we reached the borders of Mordor."

"You hadn't intended to follow Frodo to the Mountain?" Luna asked.

Aragorn shook his head. "Alas, the more bodies that accompanied him beyond the Black Gate, the more difficult the journey would have been. Gandalf would have led him there true enough. I would have been free to return Anduril to the White City in my grasp."

"You mean…" Luna started, noticing Boromir's breath had stopped. "You meant to return as our king? After all these years?"

"Aye, but with the fall of Gandalf, I fear my aid is now needed more with Frodo. I must continue to guide him, as Gandalf had intended to."

"I…I've been considering a thought that has entered my mind of late," Boromir said.

"What thought?"

"I mean to follow the Fellowship until we reach a fork in the road. When that fork leads one direction to Mordor and the other to Gondor, I will take the path home."

"You're…you're giving up?" Luna asked

Boromir shook his head. "That…that thing Frodo carries. When it is near me, I cannot think, I cannot breathe. How do the both of you stand it?"

"I…" Luna hesitated before speaking. "I suppose my thoughts have been more consumed by your reaction to it. When I notice you staring at Frodo, I've tried my best to distract you. Bring your mind to other things because I knew that's where your mind dwelt. Forever on the Ring and how to bring it back to Gondor."

He shook his head again. "There is no fooling you, is there?"

"You're not exactly subtle, Boromir."

"And that is why I cannot continue to the end. How do I know that, even if we do make it to Mount Doom's fire, I can just let Frodo destroy it? My constitution was not built for this quest, Luna. Besides, Faramir needs me. Minas Tirith needs me. Perhaps more than this Fellowship, which is already breaking with the loss of Gandalf."

"I understand," Luna said. "After all, no oaths bind you to this journey. If it is what you feel is best, Gondor must heed your return."

"Our return." Luna's eyes jumped up to Boromir's as he continued. "Luna, I want you to come with me."

She shook her head this time. "No."

"But you must-"

"No, Boromir. Do not ask me again."

For a moment, he looked at her like he wanted to protest, but he held his tongue.

Aragorn nodded. "I should have known you would not be so easily swayed back to your home. So there we have it. Come, Luna. You and I shall consult the maps on our footings beyond the Anduin."

The next morning, the Fellowship began to pack their belongings for the next phase of their journey. Elves of Galadriel's household met with them, bringing gifts of provisions to aid them on the road. Lembas bread, they called the strange food that was wrapped in leaves. Gimli had already finished a loaf and was reaching for another when they stopped him. It was only for moments of great need, they warned. Luna found some comfort in that her hunting abilities would still be needed as she took a small bite. Indeed, it was delightful. Sweet and filling, the single bite sat atop the breakfast she had already consumed and she thought another meal would make her sick with fullness, even after a few hours.

Next the Elves unwrapped packages of garments. Fair cloaks akin to those worn by the Galadhrim, her's was placed over her shoulders and fastened at the neck, its broach a striking green and gold leaf that reminded her of the mallorn-leaves she was certain to miss the most once she left. The cloak was light, yet sturdy and she knew if she wrapped it around herself, it would shield her from the harsh cold of the winter weather that was thankfully leaving them behind. "Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people," one of the Elves said. "For you are all most blessed by the Lady Galadriel, who wove these cloaks herself with her handmaidens. They are not armor and will not tarry weapons thrust your way, but will shield you from unfriendly eyes."

When they were all packed and ready to leave, Luna could sense that her companions were not eager to depart and she had to admit, neither was she. The thought of trading the peace and solitude she had found in this land for the harsh and dangerous roads that lie before them left her nowhere near as sure footed as she had been when she first departed Rivendell. Even perhaps, when she had departed Minas Tirith.

Their elven party bid the Fellowship to follow them from the glen, but as Luna took her steps to follow them, Boromir grabbed her arm. "Wait with me a moment?"

Luna looked back at their party, unsure of how to navigate to their ferry along the Anduin should they fall behind. "Aragorn knows. He bid me to talk with you alone before we depart."

"He did?"

"Aye. Said he knew all too well what unspoken words in uncertain times felt like. He did not wish that on us."

"Boromir," she started, her gaze falling to the ground. "I told you not to ask me again-"

"And I haven't yet, so please hold your tongue for once."

She looked back up, expecting to see frustration in his eyes, but to her surprise, he held a sort of hopefulness as he looked straight into hers. "If we are to part ways before our paths in this journey will end, I'll not part without apologizing."

"Apologizing?" Luna said, pulling back in surprise. "Apologizing for what, exactly?"

"There were countless times on our journey where I made choices on both our behalves that made it very clear I saw you as a burden more than my savior. Luna, that couldn't be further from the truth, and I see that now. Any time I spoke for you without knowing your input at all or held you back based on my own fears without consulting yours, for that I am so sorry. It is because of you I've made it this far."

"That's not fair," she countered. "You underestimate yourself."

He tightened his grip on her arm and pulled her closer to him. "There you go, interrupting me again."

"I mean it, Boromir. You didn't need me to-" but she could not finish her words as Boromir laid his mouth on hers. Instinctively, Luna initially thought to recoil, but she felt his protective grip on her arm and the fierce taste of his lips and his apology to her began to sink in. It really was exactly what she needed to hear before they set out again, before she and Boromir would eventually be parted. And once the thought of leaving him entered her mind, she felt her arms reach up over his shoulders, pulling them both deeper into the kiss.

Boromir pulled back from the kiss in surprise, but only for a moment as he let go of her arm and brought it to her face instead, holding her there, savoring their kiss a moment more before breaking it. Luna's breath came out ragged as Boromir's lips moved to her neck and she gasped, the touch of lips on this skin making her lightheaded. She closed her eyes and fell deeper into him, which only made Boromir hold her tighter. Her lightheadedness turned to dizziness as she felt his tongue run back up the trail of kisses he had left on her neck and a soft moan escaped her mouth as his lips reached her ear. "You can't know how badly I've wanted to do that since we left Rivendell," he said in a whisper so low, it was nearly a growl. "How much I've wanted to stop being a gentleman. How much I've wanted to ignore any implications. To taste you."

Her knees buckled at his words and she instinctively gripped him tighter to steady herself, but his grip on her was like iron and he would not let her fall. He chuckled softly as he pulled back, his whiskers skimming her cheek on the way as Luna began to process everything he had said. "What implications?" she asked, opening her eyes and blinking through her vertigo.

He reached up to her face and tucked a strand of hair gently behind her ear. "We did make ourselves a promise before we left Rivendell."

"A promise I think we can both agree we made because we each thought it would hurt the other less."

He chuckled again, "Fair enough. But that doesn't change the fact that you are a commoner and I am the heir to Gondor's stewardship."

"Does that really matter to you so much?"

"Not to me, no!" he said, stroking his thumb along her cheek. "But to the people…to my father…"

"My own father warned me of this my whole life. 'Remember your place,' he would say. So I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by your worry."

"I fear most of my worry lies in the vow you made to him before we left."

"And that's why I must help Frodo destroy the Ring, don't you see?" Luna said. "Then we can be together, no broken promises of waiting for the end of a war. Nothing to slow us down or keep us apart."

"The fate of the Ring only keeps us apart because you let it."

"No, you said it yourself. I made a vow to your father that I wouldn't return to Gondor without the Ring. And you're right. Until there is no longer a Ring to bring him, I cannot return."

"You fear my father's retribution, yes?"

"Among other things, but Boromir-"

"You needn't fear him. Whatever vows you made to him before we left are moot. He knew not what he was asking for. I know you said not to ask you again, but I must. Please come with me to Gondor, Luna and I will protect you from my father."

"You know I can't. And I won't come between you and your father."

"I will reunite you with your father!" he said, his voice rising with sudden desperation. "You and your mother. I'll bring the three of you back together again."

Luna caught her breath, surprised at his offer. "How?" she asked. "He can't leave Dol Amroth, he can offer no further aid to Minas Tirith and there is no one in Belfalas to take his place. And if you send me and my mother back to Dol Amroth, you lose valuable aid in the White City and you certainly wouldn't be able to come with me, which separates us before the end of the war and we're right back to where we started."

"I would find a way. Luna, I love y-"

She reached up and placed her fingers gently on his lips. "Don't," she begged, looking away from him to try and blink away her tears. "This is why we made the promises we did in Rivendell. We were just wrong about the reasons why."

He let out a sigh and dropped his arms to her shoulders, pulling her into a tight hug. She felt him bury his face in her hair as he placed a kiss there, his breath warming the top of her head. "That Ring is strong," he whispered. "I fear it will play more games with us before the end."

"Then perhaps, that is what I will keep you safe from," she teased, pulling away from him and grabbing his hand. Come, we should catch up with the others.

Boromir led them both back to the group with directions from Aragorn. When they arrived at the base of the Anduin, they found Haldir amongst their party, which had begun loading their wears into the boats resting at a dock near the river's edge, readying to depart. He had come to guide them out of Lothlorien, as he had guided them into her all those weeks prior.

Three bodies to each boat were assigned. Luna rode with Legolas and Gimli, Boromir with Merry and Pippin, and Aragorn with Frodo and Sam. As they loaded the boats, Boromir and Luna both tried to join the group without being noticed, but Merry and Pippin both chuckled at Boromir when he reached their boat. "Are we allowed to talk about the two of you now?" Merry teased.

"Or do you think none of us have noticed?" Pippin joked.

Boromir shushed them and watched Luna make her way to Legolas and Gimli's boat and let out a sigh of relief she had not heard the Halfling's teasings.

Their laughter was soon hushed, however, as a sharp and clear voice rang out from the distance. Strong and beautiful the voice was and though the words were in the common tongue, Luna found that she could not recall them moments later. Soon, Galadriel emerged from the trees closely followed by Celeborn, a harp in her hand to aid her song. And when she finished, she reached out to her husband, who handed her a silver goblet. "And now, we drink from the cup of farewell," she said, handing it to each of them. Luna took her sip of cool, sweet wine and Celeborn bid her to sit back down with the rest of her party. "Before you go," Galadriel said once everyone had drunk. "I have brought in my ship gifts which the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim now offer you in memory of Lothlorien. Come, Aragorn Istel." One of her maidens brought forth a sheath for his sword, which up until now, he had worn bare at his side. "The blade that is drawn from this sheath shall not be stained or broken even in defeat. But is there aught else you desire of me at our parting?"

"Lady, you know all my desire and long held in keeping the only treasure that I seek. Yet it is not yours to give me, even if you would and only thought darkness shall I come to it."

"Perhaps this will lighten your heart, for it was left in my care to be given to you should you pass through this land" Galadriel said, pulling from her breast a green stone that she handed to him gently. "This stone comes to you as a tike of hope. In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the house of Elendil."

Aragorn took the stone which was set as a broach and pinned it to his collar. As he set the stone, Luna noted how tall he stood. How, what seemed to be years of toil seemed to fall from his shoulders as he began to buckle the clasps of his blade's sheath across his waist. She felt some of her fear slip away, for how could their party be so doomed with a leader such as Aragorn? How could all in Gondor be lost if Elessar made his way home to rescue her?

Galadriel made her way down the line, gifting Boromir a golden belt and silver belts to Merry and Pippin. To Legolas, she gifted a bow of the Galadhrim and a full quiver to accompany it. To Sam, a box containing soil from her own gardens. Sam muttered his thanks as Galadriel moved to face Luna.

"Luna of Dol Amroth," she said slowly. "Long and hard I thought of what to gift you, for you already carry a mighty blessing within your soul. And then, I pondered, what comes with blessings but the hardship to bear them, for the path is often lonely." One of Galadriel's maids stepped forward with a gift upon a pillow and presented it to her mistress. Galadriel took the gift and held it out for Luna's taking. "Here I gift you a rare magic. Carved by Faenor, the Lord of Light, from the same obsidian from which he also crafted the palantiri, these paired stones, when separated, will allow you to project to the other, no matter the distance. Use these not as a way to communicate words, but rather in matters of the heart. But be wary, for the mind is a maze of many paths, and not all roads lead where you wish."

Luna bowed deeply and accepted Galadriel's gift of two small stones and the riddle that accompanied them, each cold as ice to the touch. She held one in each hand and tried to warm them as Galadriel moved onto Gimli, but to no avail. Luna inspected them more closely. They were each pitch black and fit comfortably in the palm of her hand. Despite their frigid chill, they were easy to grasp. Luna sighed gently as she stuck them in her pocket and watched as Gimli requested his gift of a golden strand of hair from Galadriel's head. The Lady laughed as she cut three strands from atop her head and handed them to the Dwarf, who looked like he might cry as he placed them gently and securely in his belt-bag. Galadriel pulled Frodo to the side then, and Luna could not hear what gift the Lady offered him, as Boromir was behind her as soon as Galadriel moved to the side.

"That is not a mere trinket the Lady has gifted you. My father houses one of the seven seeing-stones fashioned in this style."

"And yet, she spoke nothing on how to use them."

Boromir grinned and reached out for the one in her left hand, taking it in his own. Instantly, the one that remained in her right hand began to grow warm and Luna's fingers tightened around it. The warmth began to spread through her arm and into her whole body, engulfing her entire body in heat. She looked up into Boromir's eyes, which held a look akin to what she was feeling inside her now. Protectiveness, amity, and…something else. She pondered what that last thing could be. It wasn't full of comfort like everything else. Whatever it was, it was deep inside the other feelings. As soon as she found herself pinpointing that coldness, however, the stone in her hand grew cold again and the warmth left her body. Boromir was placing the other stone back in her left hand. "I suppose we know how it works now," he muttered, turning away from her and moving back to his boat.

Luna looked back on him with confusion as he tightened his new belt and reached to help Merry and Pippin into their shared boat. He did not look back on her once and her staring was interrupted by Gimli, who shuffled over to her side. "Never again will I call something fair unless I speak of the Lady of the Golden Wood or the gift she has given me." The Dwarf sighed and moved to the side of their boat. "Come now, lass. I'll help ye onto the unsteady ground."

There was a light chuckle from Legolas behind her. "You are of stout and caring heart, mellon, but of all the Fellowship, Luna may need your help least in a boat."

Luna's attention was still on Boromir, but as the voice of Galadriel filled the river's edge, her gaze was pulled back to the Lady. She now stood in the trees, her voice aided by a lute, and she sang out in her language as one last gift before they parted. Luna nodded toward the trees in one last goodbye before she stepped onto the boat. Gimli faltered and bit behind her and she smiled, reaching out for the Dwarf's gloved hand and helping him to steady. Legolas was last and he kicked off from the river's edge, the other two boats following suit as the Fellowship floated down the Anduin into the next phase of their journey.