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The Fellowship exits Moria. Boromir tries to restrain Gimli as the Dwarf vents out his rage and sorrow. Merry consoles Pippin, who lies crying. Legolas wears a look of shock and disbelief; the immortal elf's eyes show puzzlement as he holds Maristela in his arms, the Elleth weeps softly as the skies seem to darken. Sam sits on the ground, bows his head onto his hands, and begins to weep. Aragorn wipes his sword clean, sheathes it, and turns to the others. "Legolas, get them up!" Aragorn orders. Boromir looks up at Aragorn in shock, "Give them a moment for pity's sake!" His eyes trailed over to Maristela who was staring off into the distance.
"By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with Orcs. We must reach the woods of Lothlórien," Aragorn replied to him with urgency. "Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up," Aragorn ordered before turning to Sam, "On your feet, Sam. Frodo? Frodo!" Boromir glances towards Frodo then back at Aragorn who follows his gaze, Frodo stands alone upon the hillside. Weeping silently, he turns towards Aragorn, a single tear running down his chin. "Maristela..." Aragorn spoke softly as he approached his adoptive mother, "We need to move." She numbly nodded before allowing him to grab her hand and lead her away.
The Fellowship jogs across a grassy field, halting under the leaves of a forest of tall trees. "Stay close, young Hobbits! They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods, an Elf-witch, of terrible power. All who look upon her, fall under her spell... and are never seen again," Gimli rambled to the Hobbits while Legolas glanced back at Maristela who had been trailing slowly behind them, her face blank but her hand heavy on the hilt of her blade. "Mister Frodo?" Sam called noticing Frodo wince painfully. "Well, here is one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" Gimli finished off before an arrow, notched, appears before his face.
"The Dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark," The familiar voice of Haldir pulled Maristela from her numb state. "Haldir..." Maristela breathed out before moving through the others. Once she reaches the familiar Elf, she embraces him, Haldir was quick to hug the familiar Elleth back. "Marisol," Haldir muttered with a fond smile while Legolas watched in jealously. Haldir led the Fellowship further into the woods of Lothlórien with Maristela's arm linked in his, her silence worried the Elf greatly and he knew she needed to see Galadriel.
"Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion (Welcome Legolas, son of Thranduil)," Haldir greets Legolas after he had stopped them at a safer point then they were previous at. "Govannas vîn gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien (Our Fellowship stands in your debt, Haldir of Lórien)," Legolas responds to the Elf of Lórien. "A, Aragorn in Dúnedain istannen le ammen (Oh, Aragorn of the Dúnedain, you are known to us)," Haldir speaks as he glances at Aragorn. "Haldir," Aragorn greets, bowing his head formally before looking back at the Elf.
"So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can also understand," Gimli demanded after watching the three speak. "We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days," Haldir informs Gimli. "And you what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul! (I spit upon your grave!)" Gimli replies to him before Aragorn grabbed him and looked him in the eyes as he spoke, "That was not so courteous." Aragorn's words were a warning to the Dwarf as Haldir turned to Frodo. "You bring great evil with you," Haldir speaks before turning to Aragorn, "You can go no further." Haldir walks away as Sam and Pippin turn to look at Frodo.
"Boe ammen veriad lîn. Andelu i ven! (We need your protection. The road is fell!)" Aragorn argues with Haldir angrily, Haldir whispers back inaudibly. "Merin le telim (I wish we may come with you)," Aragorn responds to him, Haldir answers quietly again so that only Aragorn can hear his words. "Henio, aníron boe ammen i dulu lîn! (Please, understand, we need your support!)" Aragorn pleads as Maristela leans back against the tree. "I know you hear me. Hear my plea... we need help," Maristela whispers through the wind, Haldir turns to her and frowns at the pain in her eyes.
"Gandalf's death was not in vain... nor would he have you give up hope," Boromir told Frodo as Maristela winced at the man's words, "You carry a heavy burden, Frodo. Don't carry the weight of the dead." A caravan of Elves leads the Fellowship along a ridge through the golden woods. The group comes to the end of the high ridge and looks out, a great glade of trees rises above them. "Caras Galadhon, the heart of Elvendom on Earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, Lady of Light," Haldir informed the Fellowship.
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The Fellowship climb a winding way among the great trees. They ascend the path until night falls. In the blue glow of a moonlit night, the Fellowship climbs a twisting stair about the trunk of a tree, past glimmering lights of silver and blue. Far above, the silhouetted shapes of the shadowy tree-branches loom. Passing numerous platforms, they come to a great palace in the trees, lit with silvery lights. A curving walkway lies before them, leading up a low stair to an archway. They gather before the arch as Haldir steps to one side. A glowing couple, hand in hand, descend to meet the Fellowship. The Fellowship stares in awe as Aragorn touches his head in greeting.
The light dims, and before the Fellowship the Lord and Lady, Galadriel and Celeborn, halt. The Lady's eyes focus on Frodo, but Celeborn speaks, "The enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone." He took a moment to take in the presence of everyone before frowning, "Nine there 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." As he speaks, Galadriel's eyes flicker from Aragorn's, who looks up, to Maristela who held a stoic face. "Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into shadow," Lady Galadriel spoke.
"He was taken by both Shadow and Flame; a Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria," Legolas informed the Lady, Gimli bows his head in sadness. "Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his whole purpose. Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dûm fill your heart, Gimli, son of Glóin," Lady Galadriel spoke kindly, the Dwarf looks up at her words, "For the world has grown full of peril. And in all lands, love is now mingled with grief." Lady Galadriel looked towards Legolas before glancing at Maristela, the Woodland Elf lowered his eyes from her realisation. Boromir turns his pained face to the Lady, blinking and swallowing hard. The Lady stares back. Boromir looks away, weeping.
"What now becomes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf, hope is lost," Lord Celeborn speaks out bluntly. "The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all," Lady Galadriel forewarned the Fellowship. Boromir looks back up at her, unsure. "Yet hope remains while the company is true," Lady Galadriel adds as she looks at Sam and smiles. "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," Lady Galadriel informed them before she casted her eyes towards Frodo. Maristela turned away from the others and walked away ignoring their watchful gazes.
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Back on the ground, the Hobbits are settling down to rest as an Elvish song can be heard echoing in the wind, "A Olórin i yaresse Mentaner i Numeherui Tírien i Rómenóri. Melme nóren sina núra ala Eäro (Olórin who once was sent by the Lords of the West to guard the lands of the East. Our love for this land is deeper than the deeps of the sea)." Legolas raises his head as the song rings like a soft melody, "A lament for Gandalf." Aragorn sharpens his sword as Gimli sleeps beside him. "What do they say about him?" Merry asked the Woodland Elf. "I have no the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near," Legolas answers him.
"Maiaron i Oiosaila, Manan elye etevanne Nórie i malanelye? Ilfirin nairelma ullume nucuvalme. Nauva i nauva. (Wisest of all Maiar, what drove you to leave that which you loved? Yet we will cast all away rather that submit. What should be shall be.)," The Elves continued to sing. Sam crouches down to make his bed, "I bet they don't mention his fireworks. There should be a verse about them." Sam stands up, "The finest rockets ever seen, They burst in stars of blue and green..." -- Gimli snores loudly interrupting Sam who continues -- "Or after thunder... silver showers..."
Aragorn turns, annoyed, and swats the Dwarf's pillow, eliciting a grunt from Gimli as Sam continues, "Came falling like a... rain of flowers..." -- Sam squats down again -- "Oh, that doesn't do them justice by a long road." Aragorn walks over to Boromir, who is seated alone on a great tree root. "Ú-reniathach i amar galen I reniad lín ne môr, nuithannen. (No more will you wander the green fields of this earth, your journey has ended in darkness)," The soft lament continued as Maristela walked towards the group, her eyes set on the ground rather than anyone else as she settled against a tree root a small distance from the others.
"Take some rest. These borders are well protected," Aragorn instructed Boromir after sparing a glance at Maristela. "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 is long since we had any hope," Boromir expressed to Aragorn catching Maristela's attention, she turned to listen as Boromir continued, "My father is a noble man, but his rule is failing. And now our... our people lose faith. He looks to me to make things right and I — I would do it. I would see the glory of Gondor restored." Maristela frowned at the pressure Boromir faced.
"Have you ever seen it Aragorn? The White Tower of Ecthelion, glimmering 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?" Boromir asked Aragorn while Maristela looked away from the two men, she could remember seeing the White Tower a few times in her lifetime. "I have seen the White City, long ago," Aragorn answered Boromir who responds, "One day, our paths will lead us there. And the tower guard shall take up the call: 'The Lords of Gondor have returned!'" Aragorn smiles slightly, then looks away as Maristela smiled softly.
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Rosemary Speaks
Almost onto the next movie...
And we had some Legolas jealousy?!
Thoughts?
See you in the next chapter!