I own NOTHING but my OC: Elizabeth. Anything in plain Bold with a ** on each end is a direct Book Quote. Elvish will be in Bold Italics. I also DO NOT own the 'Song of Nimrodel' nor the song 'Lothlórien' from the 'Lord of the Rings' Musical.
Chapter 13: Lothlórien
It was hours later before Aragorn realized Sam, Frodo and I were lagging far behind. Sam was rubbing a rather nasty cut an orc had given him, Frodo was gasping for breath a bit, as for me... where do I start? My head was light, a cut that the Balrog gave me that went from my cheek to my collarbone burned and the wound I received on the mountain had reopened.
Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas ran back to us as the others halted. *"I am sorry, Frodo!' he cried, full of concern. 'So much has happened this day and we have need of haste, that I have forgotten you were hurt; and Sam too. You should have spoken'* he then turned to me. 'Liz, why did you not speak up? Did you believe your fight with the Balrog did not exhaust you? *We have done nothing to ease you, as we ought, though all the orcs of Moria were after us. Come now! A little further on there is a place where we can rest for a little. There I will do what I can for you. Come, Boromir!* Come, Legolas! *We will carry them."*
I was then lifted into his arms as Legolas carried Frodo and Boromir, Sam. Soon, we came to a Stream whose water was cold as ice. By the placement of the sun, I guessed it was possibly three hours after noon. As Gimli and the two younger hobbits kindled a fire of brush- and fur-wood, and drew water, Aragorn sat me down on a large rock that sat between two trees and took my face in his hands.
"Bambina, dove stai male?" (Child, where are you hurt?) he asked.
"La mia testa è leggera, Papà. Il taglio del Balrog mi ha dato brucia, e penso che alcune delle ferrite Caradhras dato mi hanno riaperto." (My head is light, Daddy. The cut the Balrog gave me burns and I think the wound Caradhras gave me has reopened.) I replied softly.
His face became serious. He called over his shoulder and asked Legolas to bring the water Gimli heated and bandages. He then pulled off his cloak and hung it up between the two trees, blocking my view of the rest of the Fellowship. "Now undress behind here. I need to check on Frodo and Sam."
I nodded and did as he asked as he went to the other side. I took off my cloak and unbuttoned my vest. I hissed removing my shirt and knew then that indeed that large cut had reopened. As I pulled my cloak up to cover my front, Aragorn returned with Legolas. My Vero Compagno respectively had his eyes closed.
He came and sat in front of me and took my hands in his. Aragorn sat behind me and pulled out some withered leaves. *"They are dry, and some of their Virtue is gone,' he said. 'but here I have still some leaves of athelas that I gathered near Weathertop."* He crushed them and placed them into the bowl of hot water to let them steep.
Thus I had my first encounter with the healing fragrance of the athelas. In the book, the plant, when steeped , had a different fragrance each time. The fragrance that the three of us smelled was sweet campfire smoke, honeysuckles, dust after rain and, surprisingly, melting chocolate. I took a deep breath and relaxed.
"Le mani del re sono le mani di un guaritore, e così il re legittimo essere noti. (The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known.) Thus spoke Ioreth, wise-woman of Gondor."
Aragorn paused in soaking a cloth in the athelas soaked water and Legolas squeezed my hands. I looked over my shoulder and locked eyes with the Ranger. "You know you'll have to face your heritage one day. Let me tell you something: as a Gondoriania Dragon-Blood, I know being a king will not be easy but you will be a king praised for your Golden Heart and Great Rule."
His eyes still held hesitation but some acceptance. I gave a smile as I turned back to face Legolas. "However as your daughter in all but blood, I believe your Father, Arathorn, would be proud of the man you have become. I know I am." I could tell he had a small smile upon his face as he began to clean the reopened wound.
"Elizabeth ha ragione il mio vecchio amico. Non ho mai incontrato tuo padre, Arathron, ma so che in effetti sare fiero di te." (Elizabeth speaks reason my old friend. I have never met your father, Arathorn, but I know that in face he would be proud of you.) Legolas said, his eyes still closed.
The man said nothing but continued cleaning my wound.
When we had rested and our wounds were bandaged, we soon reach the Woods of Lothlórien.
*" Lothlórien!' cried Legolas. 'Lothlórien! We have come to the eaves of the Golden Wood. Alas that it is winter!"
Under the night the trees stood tall before them, arched over the road and stream that ran suddenly beneath their spreading boughs. In the dim light of the stars their stems were grey, and their quivering leaves a hint of fallow gold.
"Lothlórien!' said Aragorn. 'Glad am I to hear again the wind in the trees! We are still a little more than five leagues from the Gates, but we can go no further. Here let us hope that the virtue of the Elves will keep us tonight from the peril that comes behind."
"If Elves indeed still dwell here in this darkening world." Said Gimli.*
"They're still here.' I said stepping forward. 'They just live deep in the woods, far from the northern border. We will have to fend for ourselves tonight. Lets go forward a bit, till the trees are all around us, and then we'll turn aside from the path to find a spot to rest. Papà, will you scout ahead?"
Aragorn nodded and stepped forward; *but Boromir stood irresolute and did not follow. "Is there no other way?" he said.
"What other fairer way would you desire?" said Aragorn.
"A plain road, though it led through a hedge of swords,' said Boromir. 'By strange paths has this Company been led, and so far to evil fortune. Against my will we passed under the shades of Maria, to our loss. And now we must enter the Golden Wood, you say. But of that perilous land we have heard in Gondor, and it is said that few come out who once go in; and of that few none have escaped unscathed."*
I shook my head placing a hand on his shoulder. "Escaped? Unscathed? You make it sound like we're walking strait into Black Bone the Betrayer's camp and not the woods of Laurelindórenan, which is now shortened to Lothlórien! But I don't blame you for being wary."
*"Say not unscathed, but if you say unchanged, then maybe you will speak the truth,' said Aragorn. 'But lore wanes in Gondor, Boromir, if in the city of those who once were wise they now speak evil of Lothlórien. Believe what you will, there is no other way for us-unless you would go back to Maria-gate, or scale the pathless mountains, or swim the Great River alone."
"Then lead on!' said Boromir. 'But it is perilous."
"Perilous indeed,' said Aragorn. 'fair and perilous; but only evil need fear it, or those who bring some evil with them. Follow me!"*
Slowly, we walk under the huge trees and reached the Silverlode. *"Here is the Nimrodel!' said Legolas. 'Of this stream the Silvan Elves made many songs long ago, and we sing them in the North, remembering the rainbow on its falls, and the golden flowers that floated in its foam. All is dark now and the Bridge of Nimrodel is broken down. I will bathe my feet, for it is said that the water is healing to the weary."*
As the others started wading across, he went forward, took off his boots and placed them in his bag. He the held his hand out to me. I smiled took off my boots and placed them in my bag before taking his hand. We climbed down the deep-cloven bank and stepped into the stream. The water was cold but clean and it indeed felt as if my weariness from travel was washed away. When we rested on the other side I kept my feet in the water and half listened to Legolas telling them tales of Lothlórien the Mirkwood Elves told, stories I've heard before. I was mostly listening and humming with the voices of the water.
*"Do you hear the voice of the Nimrodel?' asked Legolas.* I opened my eyes and turned to find everyone looking at me. "Yes. She has been singing to me since I stepped into its stream. Say mi amour, isn't there a song of the maiden who bore the same name as this stream?' he nodded. 'Can you sing it in the Westron Speech for us, please? At least as much as you remember?"
He smiled and nodded. *In a soft voice hardly to be heard amid the rustle of the leaves above them he began:
"~An Eleven-maid there was of old,
A shining star by day:
Her mantle white was hemmed with gold,
Her shoes of silver-grey.
A star was bound upon her brows,
A light was on her hair
As sun upon the golden boughs
In Lorién the fair.
Her hair was long, chef limbs were white,
And fair she was and free;
And in the wind she went as light
As leaf of linden-tree.
Beside the falls of Nimrodel,
By water clear and cool,
Her voice as falling silver fell
Into the shining pool.
Where now she wanders none can tell,
In sunlight or in shade;
For lost of yore was Nimrodel
And in the mountains strayed.
The eleven-ship in haven Grey
Beneath the mountain-lee
Awaited her for many a day
Beside the roaring sea.
A wind by night in Northern lands
Arose, and loud it cried,
And drove the ship from elven-stands
Across the streaming tide.
When dawn came dim the land was lost,
The mountains sinking Grey
Beyond the heaving waves that tossed
Their plumes of blinding spray.
Amroth beheld the fading shore
Now low beyond the swell,
And cursed the faithless ship that bore
Him far from Nimrodel.
Of old he was an Elven-king,
A lord of tree and glen,
When golden were the boughs of spring
In fair Lothlórien.
From helm to sea they saw him leap,
As arrow from the string,
And dive into the water deep,
As mew upon the wing.
The wind was in his flowing hair,
The foam about him shone;
Afar they saw him strong and fair
Go riding like a swan.
But from the West has come no word,
And on the Hither Shore
No tidings Elven-folk have heard
Of Amroth evermore.~"*
I laughed as others clapped or, in Merry and Pippin's case, shouted 'Bravo!'. "That was a pretty song mi amour! But I can do you one better." I sighed, going into my True Form. I let my aura pulse through the Golden Wood and let it and all who dwells within it hear me sing.
"~From the West She appeared
Sunlight and stars in Her hair.
In her eyes an undying Memory of home,
A land that is magical and fair.
When Her feet came to rest
Deep in a canopied glade,
She lifted Her face and there She Danced
The realm of Lothlórien She made.
Gaze on me, Lady of Gold,
Reawaken my slumbering soul.
Beacon of Courage summon me home
To your haven of Wonders untold!~"
Suddenly, the voices of the Trees and the River Nimrodel joined me. The others gasped in shock and awe as I smiled and closed my eyes, singing with my heart.
"~Lorién laurë
A laiqa alcar
O ehtele lisse Nimrodel
A nyére auta!
A lorién laurë!
A lorién laurë!
Lorién laurë
A laiqa alcar
Orë áro
Lothlórien!~"
(Golden dream,
Oh green glory.
Sweet springs of the Nimrodel,
Oh, grief passes.
Oh golden dream!
Oh golden dream!
Golden Dream,
Oh, green glory,
Heart of the dawn,
Lothlórien!)
I then lifted my head and sang to the forest itself.
"~Oh Child of Her Heart
Born of a never-ending Dream,
You are cradled in Light
Bathed in an ever-flowing stream.
Flourish and grow
Oh Mystical world
Here you will ever belong.
Son of Her Yearning
Daughter of Hope,
Beautiful Child of Her Song!
Although storms may descend,
Mountain and valley may quake
For the days that remain
This was the Promise we make-
No Shadow fall across this land!
Before the Wind and Fire we stand!
And you, Dear Child, will know no harm
Enfolded in Her arm-
Lothlórien!~"
The voice of the Forest joined me again.
"~Garden of Wonder!
Haven of Sunlight!
Forest of Life!
Lothlórien!
Garden of Light! Garden of Wonder!
Haven of Sun! Haven of Sunlight!
Forest of Life! Forest of Life!
Child of Her Heart! Lothlórien!~"
After we rested for a while, we found ourselves walking under the trees at twilight. I had my hood up on my cloak and listened to Gimli speaking to the Hobbits. "Stay close young Hobbits! They say there's 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."
I rolled my eyes at Gimli. The Lady was indeed an Elf-witch of terrible power. But just because she was cold doesn't mean she was cruel! Suddenly a voice entered my mind. 'Dragon-Blood Fire-Starheart, you are welcome here.'
'It's an honor to hear your voice Lady Galadriel. All I ask is that you not be so hard on my Anima Gemella. For my sake if not for his.' I replied mentality bowing.
I heard her laugh softly. 'The Border Guards shall escort you and your Company to us. Do not give Haldir a hard time.'
"Well, here's one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!"
I looked over my shoulder, frowning and shaking my head at Gimli before turning back around and coming face to face with and arrow pointed towards me. The others were alarmed as Lorién elves appeared from behind the trees aiming their bows at us and Legolas had stood in front of me with his own bow out, arrow notched, ready to fire.
Aragorn raised his hands in peace as a tall, fair-haired elf stepped forward. "The dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark."
Gimli growled and I placed a hand on his shoulder.
Haldir turned first to my Verso Compagno and inclined his head in greeting. "Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion." *Welcome Legolas, son of Thranduil.*
Legolas returned the greeting, still standing in front of me and lowered his bow. "Govannas vîn gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien." *Our Fellowship stands in your debt, Haldir of Lórien.*
Haldir turned next to Aragorn. "A Aragorn in Dúnedain istannen le ammen." *And Aragorn of the Dúnedain, you are known to us.*
"Haldir." Aragorn inclined his head.
Gimli snorted. "So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can all understand!"
Haldir turned his sharp eyes to the Dwarf. "We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days."
Before Gimli could say or do anything foolish and/or stupid I squeezed his shoulder making him wince. "Speak not so rudely to one who has us at a disadvantage." I scolded.
Haldir looked at me. "Who might you be?"
I took off my hood, glad that I was still in my True Form. The Lórien elves around us gasped and got down on their knees muttering 'Hail Dragon-Blood!'. Haldir, who also was on blended knee, took my hand in his and kissed it. "It's an honor to be in the presence of the last Female Dragon-Blood in Middle Earth. You are most welcome here!" I smiled at him before lifting him from the ground and kissed his forehead. "I am honored to meet the warden of the Golden Wood. Maggio la pace ci la sono nel suo cuore in questi giorni bui, Giovane." (May peace live in your heart in these dark days, Young One.)
Haldir smiled before he walks up to and stops in front of Frodo. He says plainly, "You bring great evil with you. You can go no further."
I growled and most of the elves around me take a step away from me, especially when I let my aura flare. Legolas came over to me and pulled me into his arms, allowing me to calm down. Aragorn began arguing with Haldir, attempting to get him to let us pass through.
Haldir and Aragorn soon stopped arguing and Haldir says with a small sigh, "You will follow me."
He leads us through a set of paths in the woods until we are all on a hill overlooking the Elven City.
"Caras Galadhon. The heart of Elvendom on earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, Lady of Light."
Our Fellowship arrived at Caras Galadhon and we walk up a winding stairway amongst the trees, towards the grand court of Galadriel and Celeborn. Reaching the top, we watched as two golden-white haired elves descended the stairs of the upper platform to greet us, hand in hand. Both held neither smile nor frown and a glow surrounded them. Aragorn touched his head reverently in greeting while I lifted my wings high placing my hand, middle and pointer finger bent, over my heart as the others stare in awe.
"The Enemy knows you have entered here.' Celeborn said. 'What hope you had in secrecy is now gone.' He then seemed to be silently counting before raising an eyebrow. '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 turned to her in wonder. For a moment none spoke.
"He was taken by both Shadow and flame. A Balrog of Morgoth. I fought it Tooth to Nail yet still I failed to stop it from taking him." I said, my wings drooping.
"We went needlessly into the net of Moria." Legolas said.
Galadriel shook her head. "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."
Galadriel then looked at Boromir with a piercing gaze that he couldn't stand. He started shaking and cast his eyes downwards.
"What now becomes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf, hope is lost." Celeborn lamented.
I snapped my head up. "Not while I live and breath Lord Celeborn! I'm sworn to see this quest to the end and I shall do so with or without the help of the Istari!" All those who stood around looked at me in shock. Some in shock that I disrespected the Golden Lady and her Lord and some in shock at the powerful promise in my words.
Galadriel laughed. "Indeed! Without you young Fire-Starheart the quest would be standing 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 smiles. 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…"
"However...' Celeborn stated looking at me. 'We have some guest who have been waiting for you." Both he and his wife turned to the stairs they had descended and the Fellowship and I also looked towards it. My eyes widened and I place my hands over my mouth in shock. Arm in arm was a man and a woman and behind them a young man just out of boyhood.
The young boy was wearing a brown tunic, boots, and pants. He had wavy brown hair, brown eyes and a look on his face that seemed to show he didn't want to be there but in his eyes you could tell differently. The man wore a dark blue shirt and vest with silver trimmings. His pants were blue as well as his boots. He had kind, brown eyes and grey hair, beard and mustache. Finally the woman was a bit on the heavy side but she wore her silver and dark blue dress like a queen. She had black hair that fell to her shoulders curled a bit, a kind smile and eyes blue as the sea. Upon her head was a circlet with a charm lying in the middle of her forehead. The Crest of the Rohaniana Dragon-Blood Clan.
Galadriel smiled. "Allow me to introduce Lady Joanna Rose, Lord Steven Michael and their son, Adrian Genesis."
I slowly stepped forward, tears in my eyes. Joanna the opened her arms to me and I ran into them crying out, "Mamma!"
She held me close, rubbing my back. "Sono qui mica figlia. Tutto Andre been oral. (I'm here my Daughter. Everything will be alright now.)