"The Lord of the Ring: A Slightly Different Adventure"

[Flame of Anor]

As Iaurcalion walked in darkness behind Aragorn upon the woodland path, his heart was grieving and yet it held a mysterious joy that came from being in the Golden Wood. The sound of the soft breezes in the trees and the smell of growing things was enough to lift his spirits and make them soar. He wondered if this was at all like the delight that Ariana must have held when she was growing up in Lothlorien, free to fly to the highest branches of the malorn trees and feel the wind caress her face. He wondered what she was feeling now in the cold dark of Moria. Could she possibly have escaped that terrible place? Suddenly, a pain shot through his heart as his mind dwelled upon her. He wondered what could be its cause.

[Ariana Undomiel]

All that day the Company marched on, until they felt the cool of evening come and heard the early night-wind whispering among many leaves. Then they rested and slept withoutfear upon the ground; for their guides would not permit them to unbind their eyes, and they could not climb. In the morning they went on again, walking without haste. At noon they halted, and Frodo was awayre that they had passed out under the shining Sun. Suddenly he heard thes ound of many voices all around him.

A marching host of Elves had come up silently: they were hastening toward the northern borders to guard against any attack from Moria; and they brought news, some of which Haldir reported. The maurauding orcs had been waylaid and almost all destroyed; the remnant had fled westward towards the mountains and were being pursued. A strange creature had been seen, running with bent back and with hands near the ground, like a beast and yet not of beast-shape. It had eluded capture, and they had not shot it, not knowing whether it was good or ill, and it had vanished down the Silverlode southward.

'Also,' said Haldir, 'they bring me a message from the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim. You are all to walk free, even the dwarf Gimli. It seems that the Lady knows who and what is each member of your company. New messages have come from Rivendell perhaps.' * J.R.R. Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring

Iaurcalion at once wondered if this perhaps was not entirely true. It might be that Galdor had reached the Lord and Lady ahead of them by the way of Sureatsa. Whether this boded well or not he did not know.

[Ariana Undomiel]

When his eyes were in turn uncovovered, Frodo looked up and cuaght his breath. They were standing in an open space. To the left stood a great mound, covered in a sward of grass as green as Spring-time in the Elder Days. Upon it, as a double crown, grew two circles of trees: the outer had bark of snowy white, and were leafless but beautiful in their shapely nakedness; the inner were mallorn trees of great height, still arrayed in pale gold. High amid the branches of a towering tree that stood in the centre of all gleamed a white flet. At the foot of the trees, and all about the green hillsides the grass was studded with small golden flowers shaped like stars. Among them, nodding on slender stalks, were other flowers, white and palest green: they glimmered as a mist amid the rich hue of the grass. Over all the sky was blue, and the sun of afternoon glowed upon the hill and cast long shadows beneath the trees.

'Behold! You are come to Cerin Amroth,' said Haldir. 'For this is the heart of the ancient realm as it was long ago, and here is the mound of Amroth, where in happier days his high house was built. Here ever bloom the winter flowers in the unfading grass: the yellow ellanor, and the pale niphrendil. Here we will stay awhile, and come to the city of the Galadhrim at dusk.' - J.R.R. Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring

[Flame of Anor]

A truely beautiful place. This was the first thought that entered Iaurcalion's mind. Though it had been several hundred years since he had first seen the Cerin Amroth, he was still struck by its beauty.

As the Fellowship started walking down the pathway to the center of the grove of mallorn trees, a memory of Ariana had entered his mind followed by feelings of sadness and loss. He did not know what to make of this so he continued down the pathway with the rest of group, but this thought would not leave his mind and he was very troubled by it.

[Galdor]

By the time Galadriel and Galdor stopped singing, Ariana was already little less pale and breathing easier, but she was still far from being out of danger. Galadriel sat back down in her chair, a little weary from the power she had put forth in the song. She looked up when Galdor began speaking, “Death, I would gladly receive you, to die would be bliss. But I cannot die, rather, I should live forever on this earth, baring the pain of my betrayal, for there is no greater punishment for me then to live.” “Galdor!” Galadriel said, looking at him with a worried expression. Galdor turned to look at her, and though his eyes were on her, it seemed to Galadriel that they did not perceive her. “My fault, it was my fault she died. If there was a greater punishment then to live, I should then have it.” Suddenly he turned back to Ariana, “Lótë, Lótë, do not leave me, this earth would hold no more joy for me if you are not in it. I have not the skill to heal you, I am sorry, I am sorry. Not again, not again, Ariana, why could I not heal you? It was my fault you died. I have dammed myself, to destroy what I held dear.

Galadriel wanted to say something, but she could think of nothing to say. He seemed delirious, and still he was mumbling “Lótë” over and over again. The name sounded vaguely familiar to her, but she could not place it. And why had he said that Ariana had died, and calling Ariana “Lótë?” Now she not only had to worry about Ariana, but Galdor also. She watched him for almost half an hour, every so often he would call out the name of either Lótë or Ariana. Finally he closed his eyes and began searching Ariana’s wound with his hands. Galadriel stood up, she knew that she had to talk to Celeborn before the rest of the company reached the city. She cast one last worried look at Galdor, even though he seemed delirious, it didn’t seem to impair his healing abilities, she thought, sighing she turned and left the room.

A sort time later Galdor sat with his eyes still closed, and memories began flowing through his mind.

[Galdor]

****** Flashback ******

Galdor stood with his sister Airelótë in the halls of Thranduil in Mirkwood.

“Come, we will be leaving for the Havens soon, and we have not yet explored the woods out side of these halls.” Said Galdor,
“Yes.” Said Airelótë, “But they say that the watchful peace has ended and fell things once again wander openly in the woods.”
“But they have only been seen much farther towards Dol Guldur then we would wander. And even if we did come across some orcs, they would be little trouble for me. There are none at the Havens who better me with the sword, and you are not so bad with those daggers of your either.” He said pointing to the two daggers strapped to Airelótë’s back.

After a few more minutes of arguing Galdor finally managed to get Airelótë to agree to go out of wander in the woods for a night. All had gone well, and they had finally decided on a place to camp for the rest of the night.... Galdor woke suddenly; the morning sun was just begining to show through the trees, he looked around and wondered what had woken him. And then he felt it, the sense that evil was near by, very near. Airelótë heard him steering and started to stand, but even as he began to stand up, an arrow flew through the under brush and struck her in the chest. “Airelótë!!” Galdor cried as he saw her fall to the ground. Drawing Aicanáro he charged the orcs, there were about twenty of them, eight fell quickly before his great wrath, and the others fled before him, but didn’t get far, for greater was his speed then them, and his wrath was great. It wasn’t long before all the orcs were laying dead on the ground, and Galdor ran back to Airelótë and knelt by her side. Quickly he ripped away the blood stained shirt and pulled the arrow out of her chest. It took only one look at the arrow for him to decide that it was poisoned, and by the look of Airelótë, it was a very strong and fast working poison. “Airelótë” he called, “Do not leave me, the world will hold no more joy without you. Do not leave me hear only.” He put forth all of his under developed power into healing her, but it was not enough. For though he had been told many times that he had great power in healing, he not put any effort into developing it, and instead training in the art of war. And now he rue it bitterly, for about an two hours after she had been hit with the arrow, Airelótë died. Two days later an Elf who had been sent out to find them, found Galdor sitting beside Airelótë, tears streaming down his face as he had been since she died. Galdor picked her up and followed the Elf back to Thranduil’s halls, saying nothing, for it was many months before any words left Galdor’s mouth.

Airelótë’s body was taken back to the Havens and buried there beside the graves of her father and mother. And as the months went by Círdan began to fear for Galdor’s life, he had not spoken a word since Airelótë had died, he ate very little, and he was looking worse and worse every day. Círdan feared greatly that Galdor would soon waste away if grief and die, and so he went to talk to him for the last time. As soon as he entered Galdor’s room, he looked up and said, “You fear that I will waste away in my grief, but you are not to worry, for I will not die. Though I do indeed wish to leave this cruel earth, death would be to great a gift for one like me. It was my fault that Airelótë died, my inability to heal her, my pride that thought I could protect her from anything. There is no greater punishment then to simply live with the knowledge that it was my fault she died.”
None could persuade him that it was not his fault, but from that day on he began to heal, and it wasn’t long before he almost seemed to be just as he was before Airelótë had died, but he was never so care free as before, and the love of life seemed to leave him at times. But though he seemed to have healed on the outside, he had done anything but that on the inside, Airelótë’s death became like a infected wound that would not go away, and continually ripped himself apart because of her death, and the guilt and pain had never left him And he promised himself that he would develop his power in healing until he was one of the greatest healers in all of Middle Earth. And so he trained under those at the Havens who had power in healing, when he surpassed the skill of the healers at the Havens, he left for Rivendell where he trained under Elrond until his powers were fully developed.

****** End flashback ******

[Galdor]

Galadriel opened the door to where Galdor and Ariana were, and gasped, Galdor was sitting beside the bed, tears streaming openly down his face. Fearing the worst she ran quickly to Ariana’s side, and let out a sigh of relief when she saw that Airana was still alive and looking better then when she had left. But then why was Galdor crying, she thought as she turned to look at him. He was still sitting just as he was when she entered and still crying, a thing which he seemed to have been doing for quite some time judging by the small puddle of water on the floor below him. “Galdor!” she said. But he still didn’t look up. “Galdor!” she said again and this time grabbed his shoulder. Finally he looked up at her, and when his eyes met hers, she almost took a step back, for in his eyes was a deep well of raw pain. Shaken she said “Come, the rest of your company will soon be here, and you should be there when they are brought to me. You have done all you can for now.” She said pointing at Ariana. “She will be fine.” And with that she led Galdor to her flet to wait for the others. By the time they got there Galdor seemed to have gotten control of himself, and the pain she had seen in his eyes before she could now only barely detect.

[Ariana Undomiel]

The sun was sinking behind the mountains, and the shadows were deepening in the woods, when they went on again. Their paths now went into thickets where the dusk had already gathered. Night came beheath the trees as they walked, and the Elves uncovered their silver lamps.

Suddenly they came into the open again and found themselves under a pale evening sky pricked by a few early stars. There was a wide treeless space before them, running in a great circle and bending away on either hand. Beyond it was a deep fosse lost in soft shadow, but the grass upon its brink was gree, as if it glowed still in memory of the sun that had gone. Upon the further side there rose to a great height a green wall encircling a green hill thronged with mallorn - trees taller than any they had yet seen in the land. Their height could not be guessed, but they stood up on the twilight like living towers. In their many-tiered branches and amid their ever-moving leaves countless lights were gleaming, green and gold and silver. Haldir turned to the Company.

'Welcome to Caras Galadhon!' he said. 'Here is the city of the Galadhrim where dwell the Lord Celeborn and Galadriel the Lady of Lorien. But we cannot enter here, for the gates do not look northward. We must go round to the southern side, and the way is not short, for the city is great.'

There was a roade paved with white stone running on the outer brink of the fosse. Along this they went westward, witht eh city ever climbing up like a green cloud upon their left; and as the night deepened more lighst sprang forth, until all the hill seemed afire with stars. They came at last to a white bridge, and crossing found the great gates of the city: they faced south-west, set between the ends of the encircling wall that here overlapped, and they were tall and stong, and hung with many lamps.

Haldir knocked and spke, and the gates opened soundlesslyl but of guards Frodo could see no sign. The travellers passed within, and the gates shut behind them. They were in a deep lane between the ends of the wall, and passing quickly through it they entered the City of the Trees. No folk could the see, nor hear any feet upon the paths; but there were many voices, about them, and in the air above. Far away up on the fill they could hear the sound of singing falling from on high like soft rain upon the leaves.

They went along many paths and climbed many stairs, until they came to the high places and saw before them amid a wide lawn a fountain shimmering. It was lit by silver lamps that swung from the boughs of trees, and it fell into a basin of silver, from which a white stream spilled. Upon the south side of the lawn there stood the mightiest of all the trees; its great smooth bole gleamed softly like grey silk, and up it towered, until its first branches, far above, opened their huge limbs under shadowy clouds of leaves. Beside it a broad white ladder stood, and at its foot three Elves were seated. They sprang up as the travellers approached, and Frodo saw that they were tall and clad in grey mail, and from their choulders hung long white cloaks.

'Here dwell Celeborn and Galdriel,' said Haldir. 'It is their wish that you should ascened and speak with them.'

One of the Elf-wardens theb blew a clear note on a small horn, and it was answered three times far above. 'I will go first,' said Haldir. 'Let Frodo come next and with him Legolas, Iaurcalion and Glorfindel. The others may follow as they wish. It is a long climb for those that are not accustomed to such stairs, but you may rest upon the way.

- JRR Tolkien The Fellowship of the Ring

[Ariana Undomiel]

At a great height above the ground they came to a wide talan, like the deck of a great ship. On it was built a house, so large that almost it would have served for a hall of Men upon the earth. They entered behind, and found that he was in a chamber of oval shape, in the midst of which grew the trucnk of the great mallorn, now tapering towards its crown, and yet making still a pillar of wide girth.

The chamber was filled with soft light; its walls were green and silver and its roof of gold. Many Elves were seated there. On two shairs beneath the bole of the tree and canopied by a living bough there sat, side by side, Celborn and Galdriel. Standing at the right of Galadriel's chair and slightly hidden by the shadows was Galdor. The company was surprised by the sight of him for not only had he made it to the wood before him, he also had a look of extreme grief and weariness upon his face. They stood up to greet their guests, after the manner of Elves, even those who were accounted mighty kings. Very tall they were, and the Lady no less tall than the Lord; and they were grave and beautiful. They were clad wholly in white; and the hair of the Lady was of deep gold and the hair of the Lord Celeborn was of silver long and bright; but no sign of age was upon them, unless it were in the depths of their eyesl for these were keen as lances in the starlight, and yet profound, the wells of deep memory. - JRR Tolkien The Fellowship of the Ring

[Anamatar IV]

Haldir led Frodo before them, and the Lord welcomed him in his own
tongue. The Lady Galadriel said no word but looked long upon his face.
'
Sit now beside my chair, Frodo of the Shire! ' said Celeborn.

'When
all have come we will speak together.'

Each of the companions he greeted courteously by name as they entered.

'Welcome Aragorn son of Arathorn! ' he said. `It is eight and thirty years
of the world outside since you came to this land; and those years lie heavy
on you. But the end is near, for good or ill. Here lay aside your burden for
a while! '

'Welcome son of Thranduil! Too seldom do my kindred journey hither from
the North.'

'Welcome Gimli son of Gloin! It is long indeed since we saw one of
Durin's folk in Caras Galadhon. But today we have broken our long law. May
it be a sign that though the world is now dark better days are at hand, and
that friendship shall be renewed between our peoples.' Gimli bowed low.

"Welcome Anamatar of Amroth. Long has it been since the last lord of Lorien left here and never has a man of Dol Amroth come here. Lord of Amroth, lay aside all worries and dream of the shores you love so dearly."

When all the guests were seated before his chair the Lord looked at
them again.

'Here there are twelve,' he said. 'Fourteen were to set out: so said
the messages. But maybe there has been some change of counsel that we have not heard. Elrond is far away, and darkness gathers between us, and all this year the shadows have grown longer.'

[Rasec]

Legolas perceived that Galdor had been in great pain. But he did not say
anything. He only approached his friend and looked gravely at him, knowing that Galdor would understand what he wanted. He wanted to comfort Galdor's heart, and for a little instant he could, for Galdor gave Legolas a smile, and Greenleaf smiled back. Nobody knew what had happened with Ariana and nobody knew she was there. Legolas stood beside Galdor for a long time, indirectly supporting him, and Galdor felt it.
Meanwhile, he was also paying attention to Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. They were very old and therefore powerful. Though their faces did not show their age, for their beauty was over any expectance - even Legolas, who were used to see many beautiful elves, was much impressed by their splendor.

[Flame of Anor]

'Alas!' said Aragorn. `Gandalf the Grey fell into shadow. He remained in Moria and did not escape.'

At these words all the Elves in the hall cried aloud in grief and amazement. `These are evil tidings,' said Celeborn, `the most evil that have been spoken here in long years full of grievous deeds.' He turned to Haldir. `Why has nothing of this been told to me before?' he asked in the Elven-tongue.

'We have not spoken to Haldir of our deeds or our purpose,' said Legolas. `At first we were weary and danger was too close behind and afterwards we almost forgot our grief for a time, as we walked in gladness on the fair paths of Lórien.'

`Yet our grief is great and our loss cannot be mended,' said Frodo. 'Gandalf was our guide, and he led us through Moria; and when our escape seemed beyond hope he saved us, and he fell.'

'Tell us now the full tale!' said Celeborn:

Then Aragorn recounted all that had happened upon the pass of Caradhras, and in the days that followed; and he spoke of Balin and his book, and the fight in the Chamber of Mazarbul, and the fire, and the narrow bridge, and the coming of the Terror. 'An evil of the Ancient World it seemed, such as I have never seen before,' said Aragorn. `It was both a shadow and a flame, strong and terrible.'

'It was a Balrog of Morgoth,' said Legolas; `of all elf-banes the most deadly, save the One who sits in the Dark Tower.'

`Indeed I saw upon the bridge that which haunts our darkest dreams l saw Durin's Bane,' said Gimli in a low voice, and dread was in his eyes.

'Alas! ' said Celeborn. `We long have feared that under Caradhras a terror slept. But had I known that the Dwarves had stirred up this evil in Moria again, l would have forbidden you to pass the northern borders, you and all that went with you. And if it were possible, one would say that at the last Gandalf fell from wisdom into folly, going needlessly into the net of Moria.' ........

'I it was who first summoned the White Council. And if my designs had not gone amiss, it would have been governed by Gandalf the Grey, and then mayhap things would have gone otherwise. But even now there is hope left. I will not give you counsel, saying do this, or do that. For not in doing or contriving, nor in choosing between this course and another, can I avail; but only in knowing what was and is, and in part also what shall be. But this I will say to you: your 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 all the Company is true.'

And with that word she held them with her eyes, and in silence looked searchingly at each of them in turn. None save Legolas, Iaurcalion, Galdor, and Aragorn could long endure her glance. Sam quickly blushed and hung his head.

At length the Lady Galadriel released them from her eyes, and she smiled. `Do not let your hearts be troubled,' she said. 'Tonight you shall sleep in peace.' Then they sighed and felt suddenly weary, as those who have been questioned long and deeply, though no words had been spoken openly.

`Go now! ' said Celeborn. `You are worn with sorrow and much toil. Even if your Quest did not concern us closely, you should have refuge in this City, until you were healed and refreshed. Now you shall rest, and we will not speak of your further road for a while.' ~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

[Nenya Evenstar]

Then two elves clad in a white raiment of light came and led the company out of the presence of the Lord and Lady of the Galadrim. The company was taken to a green lawn at the foot of many tall Mallorn trees. Here there were set couches of comfort, and the air was a pleasing aroma to breath. "Rest now, and find comfort and hope in your slumber!" the elves bade the company as they left. Thus the first night of the company's stay in Lothlorien, the land of the Golden Wood, began. And all around them they heard a song, a sad and slow song, sung in the shimmering voices of the elven kindred. Legolas sat as one in a dream, and the others hearkened to the music though they could not understand what was being said.

[Ariana Undomiel]

Late that night while the company slept, Aragorn lay awake his mind full of thoughts that could not allow him rest. Tired but restless he arose and strode out into the night. For an hour he walked under the moonlight that streamed through the trees but he found no peace. Something was troubling his heart and it was not the grief that had come upon him at the loss of Gandalf. It was something different.

He was standing still in the darkness gazing up into the branches when suddenly the Lady Galadriel came upon him. Under the light of the moon she shimmered silver and white. Aragorn bowed as she approached him.

'Aragorn, I must speak with thee. There is something that concerns you that you should know about.' She turned and he followed as she led him up a winding stair that took them high up into the branches of the trees until they came upon a flet that was ringed round by posts from which hung silken curtains of pale blues, greens, silver, and white. As they entered they were approached by Galdor who had not lost his troubled countenance.

'Aragorn,' spoke the Lady first, 'I have brought you here to discuss the matter of the Lady Ariana. She managed to escape from the mines with the aid of Galdor, but she did not escape harm. A hurt has come upon her that even Galdor is struggling with to heal. We do not know if she will live for her foolish courage as harmed her in more ways then one. The creature that Gandalf fell with was not one that she was prepared to encounter and if I deem rightly, she meet it face to face if only for a moment.'

'How know you this?' asked Aragorn wondering why this was being made known to him.

'She cries out in her sleep often and she is ever in a fitful nightmare. Once she awoke when Galdor had brought her back for just a moment and we discovered that she is blind. The fire of the Balrog has burned her eyes and she may never see again.' The Lady was strong to all who saw her but Aragorn saw that she was suffering mightly for she loved Ariana as her own flesh and blood.

'This is indeed unfortunate,' spoke Aragorn, 'By I must ask, why is this being made known to me alone? Surely it would concern all of Ariana's companions for they have become her friends.'

Galdor glanced at Galadriel questioningly. She did not answer at first, but when she did her voice was soft. 'I tell you these things first Aragorn, because Ariana is your sister.' She looked straight into his eyes and he knew that unbelievable as it seemed, Galadriel never lied.

*********
Long into the wee hours of the morning Aragorn, Galdor, and Galadriel sat by the beside of Ariana. Galadriel spoke long and explained how all had come to pass in the history of the woman Aragorn now knew as sister. It was a sad and long tale threaded with mystery. But when she was finished, Aragorn knew all he needed and he finally understood the grief that was in his heart. He had felt the pain and the struggle of his sister. It would be a long time before he would be able to fully understand and know the Lady Ariana of Lothlorien if she ever lived for him to speak with her. For now, he would have to be content to watch her as she lay at the door of death and struggled to grasp hold of the life that was attempting to elude her. He did not leave her side until the first rays of dawn touched her cold face and when Galadriel insisted that he take rest and then speak with his company. For it was his task to lead them now.

[Ariana Undomiel]

When Aragorn returned to the camp he found that the elves, Legolas and Iaurcalion were all ready awake and were sitting quietly away from the camp sipping wine in the rays of the dawing sun. The rest of the fellowship continued to sleep soundly so Aragorn joined his elven companions. He seemed troubled in spirit and both the elves deemed that perhaps he had many burdens on his heart that he needed to share.

[Flame of Anor]

"Aragorn, your heart is troubled. Come and share your burden with us. We are your friends let us help you with this burden." said Iaurcalion.

[Ariana Undomiel]

Aragorn gazed straight ahead and remained silent for a long moment. Then he spoke softly and with a voice full of anxiety, "I have a sister whom I never knew and now she lies dying in the branches of the Golden Wood. I perhaps may never get to know her."

Iaurcalion and Legolas looked at eachother startled.

"Who might his maiden be, mellonamin? Who could it be that you would not know her until now?"

Aragorn said nothing for another long silent moment, but when he spoke it startled both of his companions. "Ariana," was all he said.

[Flame of Anor]

Iaurcalion and Legolas looked at each other some what startled at the new information.

"Ariana is your sister, Aragorn?" asked Iaurcalion.

[Ariana Undomiel]

Aragorn nodded mutely with his eyes on the green grass beneath their feet. Legolas and Iaurcalion said nothing for a flood of thoughts at once entered their minds that needed to be pondered and sorted out. The three companions sat in the quiet of the early morning for a very long time. Finally Legolas spoke.

"Aragorn, you said your sister is dying. What happened to her? Know you what befell her in the mines? How did she escape?"

"No one save the invalid know what truly happened but the White Lady has read much of her mind and Ariana cries out much in her fevor."

"Tell us what you can, mellonamin, if you have the strength now to do so," spoke Iaurcalion encouragingly. The pain he had been feeling in his heart was now stronger and his mind burned with questions about the Lady Ariana. She had become his friend and companion and now he knew not wheather there friendship was soon to come to an abrupt end.

"Lady Ariana is a brave woman and she cares not for her own safety, rather her heart is always concerned for those who are around her. Thus she did not think carefully about what she was doing when she plunged into the depths, or rather should I say flew?

You were right, Iaurcalion, the Lady Ariana did fly into the depths. According to the Lady Galadriel about eighty years ago my father wed for the second time after he found peace from the grief of losing my mother. But they creature he wed was not of the human race. She bore the blood of both elf and Faye within her veins. They were travelling together with their young child, Ariana, who was at that time but an infant, when they were attacked by a scouting party of orcs near the border of Lothlorien. My father and his companions stayed to fight off the orcs as the mother sought shelter for her and her child in the forest. Unfortunately one orc escaped through the barrier that the men had formed and pursued the lady and attacked her. The Lady, like her daughter, had wings and flew up into one of the trees but not until the orc had losed several arrows. One struck her and fell her to the ground apparently and he would have slain her right there if it had not been that a company of border guards had been arroused by the comotion and found them there in the woods. They slew the creature and sought to save the lady, but it was too late. She lay dead with her child in her arms. The arrow had pierced her heart and so swift was its flight that it went straight through her and its point pierced the child. Fortunately it was not poison and the wound was not too deep for the elves to heal. Yet even now Ariana bears the scar of the arrow that slew her mother. My father and his company were grieved at the loss of the lady and with a broken heart Arathorn requested of Galadriel that she would care for his child for he could not raise her well without a woman at his side and this final grief could not be healed. Galadriel agreed for the child was her kin and therefore all her life the Lady Ariana has grown up in the land of Lothlorien still bearing the mark of her mother's kin but having within her also the blood of her fathers. She has long known about me, but some deemed it was not right for her to be made known to me until now. Perhaps I will never understand why." He fell silent.

"That is indeed a curious story," spoke Legolas, "but you have not yet told all. What befell the Lady in Moria?"

"Ariana's flight must have indeed been swift for she caught up to the falling creature. Wheather she saw Gandalf and attempted to rescue him from the Balrog, we do not know. What we do know as that when she encountered that demon his fury and flame burned her terribly. Even her eyes were damaged by the heat of him. She may never see the light of stars again. She would have fell with him but she must have come to her senses and flew back up the crevace. Somehow or another she made her way to the entrance of the mine flying high up above the orcs that did not see her in the darkness. But they did eventually see her and even as she made a break for freedom a poisoned orc dart struck her. Only by the skill of Sureatsa and Galdor was she spared and brought back to Lothlorien. Now she fights for her life. Galdor is a great healer as is Galadriel but this may be beyond their aid." Aragorn choked out those last words and a several tears trickled down his cheek.

[Galdor]

A little over a week had gone by since Galadriel had revealed to Aragorn that Ariana was his sister. Galdor had spent most of that time with Ariana, and when he wasn’t with Ariana he could be seen wandering alone in the forest, often crying, or talking quietly to himself. The fire that used to be in his eyes was gone, and they were now cold and empty, since reaching Lothorien he had smiled only once, it was only to acknowledge Legolas’s effort to comfort him, and he spoke rarely. Aragorn on the other hand was continually torn between sitting for hours on end watching Ariana, and spending time with the rest of the company. He knew that they should soon be leaving Lothlorien, but he waited still, hoping that Ariana would be well enough for him to talk to before they left, and that way Galdor would also be able to continue on with them. The night was late, Aragorn was sitting quietly with the rest of the company, the hobbits were already asleep, and the others sat in small groups talking. He heard something and looked up, Galdor was walking towards him, when Galdor saw that he had seen him he stopped and beckoned him. Aragorn’s brow creased with worry as he started towards him, noticing it, Galdor smiled slightly, but, Aragorn noted, it didn’t touch his eyes. When he reached him Galdor spoke.
“I have good news.” He said. “Your sister will live, and I believe that her eyesight will also return to her. But I think that it will be a long time still before she no longer needs my aid, she responds strangely to my healing, it is the Faye in her, they are strange creatures, so I can not say when for sure she will be healed, but you no longer have time to wait. I know why you tarry here, but as you and I both know, with every passing minute the enemy is growing stronger, and our chances of victory grow smaller. For that reason you and the others must leave without me.”
“Yes.” Replied Aragorn. “Our time is running out. Your council is wise Galdor, but still it pains me to leave you behind, and I am fearful of what might happen to my sister, but she could be in no safer hands then you. I will speak to Galadriel and the others of this.”
“I thank you for your confidence in me, I will stay here and heal your sister, and when she is healed we will seek you and the others out once more.”
“But how will you find us?”
For a moment a far off look come into Galdor’s eyes, and he seemed to be fighting with himself. Finally he breathed deeply and looked back at Aragorn. To Aragorn it seemed as if he had made the final choice of something he had been planning to do for some time, but was loathe to do. Reaching under his shirt he drew forth a chain, on the chain were the figures of two beautifully crafted swans, made out of some rare and precious stone. One seemed to be a great male swan, and its neck was arched in battle. But the other seemed to be a smaller female swan, peacefully gliding in the water. Pulling the fighting swan off the chain he held it out to Aragorn.
“These were given to my sister and I when we were very young, they allowed us to see each other from afar, much in the same way the keepers of the Three can see each others mind. This one was mine, the other was my sisters, since she died I have kept them always, but they no longer have any real use to me, only precious things that I could not part with. But I give one now to you and the other I will give to Ariana, when she is well enough to receive it.” Aragorn took the swan figure in his hand and turned it over many times, gazing in wonder at its beauty. “I can not accept this.” He said handing it back to Galdor. “It is the only thing you have left of your sister.”
“No, not the last, I still have these.” He said pushing the jewel back into Aragorn hand, and pointing to the daggers on his back. “These daggers were once my sisters, she was quite good with them. Please, keep this gift which I give to you. It would give me joy to know that you and Ariana keep them.” With that Galdor turned and left, walking back into the night.

[Flame of Anor]

Aragorn watched as Galdor vanished into the darkness and then turning he found that Iaurcalion, who had been sitting by himself deep in thought, had his eyes fixed upon him. Aragorn motioned to him and the elf swiftly joined him. Together they walked out into the night to speak privately.

"There is great joy in your eyes, mellonamin," spoke Iaurcalion. "Tell me, what has happened." His voice was almost eager.

"Galdor has just brought me word. Ariana will live and she now at this moment awake although not fully healed. Her sight is not yet restored but Galdor believes that she will recover fully in time. He believes that the time has come that fellowship should soon depart, although I wish to council with the lord and lady about this. For I do not know which road we should yet take. But my joy is full at this moment for I now can speak to my sister. I go to her now." His smile was broad and he his heart was lighter than it had been.

"Aragorn," spoke Iaurcalion hestitantly, "Might I accompany you? I too wish to see Ariana if only for a moment. I will not intrude upon your time, but we have become friends over the course of this journey and the news of her healing brings great joy to me as well."

Aragorn glanced quietly at his friend. The elf lord stood tall and straight with the moonlight shining in his brilliant blue eyes. But there was something there that Aragorn had not seen before. It shown only for a moment and then was hidden. He smiled. "Come. We shall go together. At the least you can stand at the door and see her face. But be warned, she is not the same fair maiden who walked in the sunlit gardens with you in Rivendell."

Iaurcalion nodded and the two friends went together.

[Ariana Undomiel]

"He knows? How? Who told him?" Ariana's voice was trembling with excitment.

"Don't excite yourself too much, my daughter," came the golden voice of Galadriel through the darkness. "When the company arrived in Lothlorien he was brought her and the full tale of you was made known to him through me. We were not sure if you were going to live and your father and I felt that at the least he should see you as who you really are, his sister. He was deeply surprised and grieved, but now his joy is great at knowing you will live. Thanks to the skill of Galdor."

"But my sight?" Ariana questioned.

There was a pause as if the Lady was unsure how to answer her daughter. Galdor spoke in her stead.

"The ways of the eyes are a marvelous thing. They can tell us the flight of an eagle in the sky and show us the wonders of a sunset, but they can swiftly be put out with the smallest hurt and yours was great. I cannot promise you anything, Ariana, but I hope that in time you will recover your sight." There was doubt in his voice even though he tried to mask it. Ariana said nothing.

"You have a visitor," whispered Galadriel softly in her daughter's ear. "Your brother has come. Shall we leave you alone?" Ariana nodded mutely. She heard the soft rustle of her mother's gown and the footfall of Galdor as the two departed. For many moments all was silent and then Aragorn's voice came to her from the entrance to her bower.

"May I come in, Lady?" he asked courteously.

"Of course, please," Ariana answered with a smile as turned her head at the sound of his voice.

He approached her quietly and took a seat upon the edge of her bed taking her hand in his and gazing down upon her face. Her ashen skin was beginning to regain some of its color but her lips were yet pale as ice and the star that once shown brightly upon her brow was but a faint mark. Her bare arms and shoulders were nearly was white as the silken sheets upon which she lay and the scar upon her chest was nearly black from the poison that had infested her body. Her eyes were bound and wrapped with a bandage to protect them while they were healing and the only color that lay about her was in the tresses of her flowing hair that spread out around her on the pillow. Her wings that Iaurcalian had claimed were like bright glass in the sun lay grey as if like ashes left after the fire has died.

"It is good to see you awake and in control of your senses, sister," Aragorn spoke the title lovingly and Ariana's smile brightened.

"Not all of them I fear," she murmered quietly. "Perhaps in time."

They spoke for only a short time together but their words were full of love as they got to know one another. Ariana was strong emotionally and she was able to build her brother up and encourage him in his new role of leader of the company. All the while Iaurcalion watched from the doorway listening to all that was said and smiling quietly to himself. A half an hour passed and soon Aragorn arose remembering the command of the Lady to not keep the invalid long awake. Her healing rested greatly upon sleep.

"I must leave you now for a while for you need sleep as do I. There are many decisions to be made and I must council tomorrow with Celeborn. Good night, beloved sister," he leaned over and kissed her brow tenderly.

"Good night, brother," Ariana murmered. Aragorn left her and came upon Iaurcalion standing silently in the door. They would have turned and left together but the voice of Ariana stayed them. "Who is there with you, Aragorn?"

They stopped in surprise. "Lord Iaurcalion is here, Ariana. But he comes away with me to rejoin the company."

"You needn't have remained alone at the door all this time, mellonamin," Ariana addressed Iaurcalion. "You are welcome to me at all times."

"My thanks, Lady," Iaurcalion said with a smile, "but I would not provoke thy healers by keeping you from your rest."

Ariana frowned slightly but did not protest. "Well then will you come and see me at a later time before you depart from Lothlorien? I wish to speak with my friends before they leave me."

Something stirred in Iaurcalion's heart and he suddenly wished that he could stay with her but he simply bowed and answered, "I shall return at a time when your healers permit. I promise. Sleep well ... Ariana." He then turned and left with Aragorn and some unseen hand exstinguished the lights in Ariana's bower so that only the light of moon and star shown down upon the maiden who yet walked in the shadows.

[Nenya Evenstar]

***************************

During the days in Lothlorien Gimli lived as though in a dream. At first he had been uncomfortable and wary about all the elves around him, but gradually and with the passage of time he gotten used to the elven folk. It could have been that he finally accepted them for who they were and did not single them out as elven kind, and perhaps in his good heart he found room to forgive the grievances that sundered his kin from this ancient race. But whatever the cause, Gimli son of Gloin began to find himself enjoying the great Mallorn Trees of Caras Galadon. He found himself taking long walks simply to be out in the fresh air and to enjoy the beauty of the lands surrounding him. Never before and never hence has the like been seen of a dwarf walking the paths of Lothlorien the fair. Gimli was touched not only by the magnificence of the trees and the beauty of his surroundings but also by the elven folk that lived there, the Firstborn of Middle-earth. Perhaps he sensed the light of Aman from afar and could see within a love for things crafted by hand, or perhaps there was a different reason, but it has to be said that Gimli began to enjoy seeing the fair folk pass him by. Soon he began to hope that he would meet some of the elven kindred, and he even began to converse with them and speak of things long forgotten to the world of men. He questioned them about their craft and learned from them many things that had not yet been told to anyone else, for the elves, too, sensed a kinship with this dwarf and were not overly protective of what secrets they shared with him. Thus it was that Gimli would at times wander away from his friends and walk the paths of Caras Galadon, speaking with the elves of that realm of things unheard of. And his companions wondered about this change in the manner of the dwarf, but none of them questioned it. Legolas, however, took to heart what he saw in Gimli and was touched by the manner in which the dwarf had adopted his elven kin. Legolas desired to converse now with Gimli himself and see what exactly lay inside the small dwarf's head. The elf began to respect Gimli for more than just a dwarf, and the bonds of a long and true friendship began to be laid there in the very heart of Lothlorien the fair.

And, on these long walks, Gimli at times would espy from afar the lady of the land. It was always only a momentary picture, but he could tell that it was indeed the fair Galadriel, and it seemed to him that she would pause and see him looking upon her. Then she would smile, and slowly turn away, the light of her eyes piercing the heart of the dwarf like so many rays of wonder. Then she would be gone, and Gimli would look forward to the time when he would see her from afar yet again.

And thus a strange bond was laid upon the heart of Gimli son of Gloin.

********************************

[Rasec]

The company would soon have to leave the lands of Lothlórien, but Legolas was deeply feeling in his heart that he still had things to do there, within the fair Mallorn trees. He indeed could now respect and like Gimli as a good friend, for the dwarf no longer feared and disrepected the folk of his kindred. But besides this, there was something stronger shining in Legolas's heart. And he was quite sure that he should climb the tree where Ariana was lying, for she was calling up to her friends, and Legolas was one who could feel it.

No longer he waited. That same day, he went up alone to Ariana's flat, and found her lying awake with the rays of the Sun shining upon her face. She looked at him instantly when he entered the room. Though she could not see him, she could feel his presence.

- Who is there? - asked she. - Who of the elf kind desires to see me and speak with me?

- Thy eyesight is not yet healed, but thy sense of perception is still keen, Lady - answered Legolas.

- Legolas? - said she, smiling. - My brother came to me, and Iaurcalion came with him, but he did not speak with me at all. You are the only friend who has come alone since I called up to them, and I am glad to see you.

- I am much delighted to be able to speak with thee, Lady. I did not forget our friendship and I shall never forget the first day we met, when thou suddenly appeared during the Council of Elrond. Thy long hair was floating with the wind and thy sparkling eyes were full of joy and knowledge.

- And now my eyes cannot even let me see the faces of my friends - said she sadly.

- Do not worry, my fair Lady. When thy time comes, thou shall be able to see again, for Galdor is a great healer.

- Thank you, Legolas. May your words be true futurely.

- We shall see each other under the fair trees of Lothlórien again when thy eyesight is back. I am glad to finally know that Aragorn is thy brother, for I can come to see thou with him when our goal is achieved. Now I must go, and leave with my companions on our path. Elen síla lúmienn' omentielvo'. And this star shall ever shine in our hearts. Farewell, Lady.

- Farewell, dear friend.

[Ol'gaffer]

The time of departure was close, the night before the fellowship was to leave, Frodo could not sleep. He walked with heavy steps around their camp with fear in his heart, for Lothlorien had all been too god to be true. He pulled out from his backpack his pipe and decided to smoke quickly some of the old'tobie that sam had brought along from Rivendell.

The night grew late and Frodo still could not sleep, he wondered at the beauty of Lothlorien and even though he could hear singing he could not see who it was. Frodo sighed heavily, for now he would have needed a person to talk to, he wished to fall asleep and not to think of leaving the land.

"To have this fallen upon us." Frodo said to himself with a sigh, "to see a land as beatiful as this only to know that if I should succeed it would perish, how i wish this ring would not have come to me." He hung his head low and quietly began singing an old song that he had learned from Bilbo as a child.

Very soon he was asleep and thought no more.

[ILLOTRTM]

Sam's eyes opened sleepily from a dream he was having about The Shire to see they were still in Lothlorien and all of his other compaions were asleep. He quickly saw that Frodo was missing/ He stood up and walked around in search of Frodo, only to find him asleep not far away. He watched him sleeping for a moment, admiring his master. Then, Frodo began to stirr, and opened his eyes.
"Hullo there, Mr. Frodo!" Sam said in a cheerful but soft voice, "I'm sorry if I woke you, but if you're not in the sleepin' mood, perhaps we could go for a bit of a walk?"
Frodo agreed happily to this offer, and the two set off for a little stroll through the area. They spoke lightly of elves, and sadly of Gandalf's passing. Frodo spoke of the sadness that would come after they left, how much worse the greif would be, once they left Lothlorien, Sam agreeing whole-heartedly.
'I hope very much that before we leave we shall see the Lady of the Elves again.' Frodo said with a heavy heart.

[Ariana Undomiel]

Even as he spoke, they saw, as if she came in answer to their words the Lady Galadriel approaching. Tall and white and fair she walked beneath the trees. She spoke no word, but beckoned to them.

Turning aside, she led them toward the southern slopes of the hil of Caras Galadhon, and passing through a high green hedge they came into an enclosed garden. No trees grew there, and it lay open to the sky. The evening star had risen and was shining with white fire above the western woods. Down a long flight of steps the Lady went into a deep green hollow, through which ran murmuring the silver stream that issued from the fountian on the hill. At the bottom, upon a low pedestal carved like a branching tree, stood a basin of silver, wide and shallow, and beside it stood a silver ewer.

With water from the stream Galadriel filled the basin to the brim, and breathed on it, and when the water was still again she spoke. 'Here is the mirror of Galadriel,' she said. 'I have brought you here that you may look in it, if you will."

The air was very still, and the dell was dark, and the Elf-lady beside him was tall and pale. "What shall we look for, and what shall we see?" asked Frodo, filled with awe.

"Many things I can command the Mirror to reveal," she asnwered, "and to some I can show things unbidden, and those are often stranger and more profitabel than things which we wish to behold. What you will see, if you leave the Mirror free to work, I cannot tell. For it shows things that were, and things that are, and things that yet may be. But which it is that he sees, even the wisest cannot always tell. Do you wish to look?"

Frodo did not answer.

"And you?" she said, turning to Sam. "For this is what your folk would call magic, I believe; though I do not understand clearly what they mean; and they seem also to use the same word of the deceits of the Enemy. But this, if you will, is the magic of Galadriel. Did you not say that you wish to see Elf-magic?"

"I did," said Sam, trembling a little between fear and curiosity. "I'll have a peep, Lady, if you're willing."

"And I'd not minda glimpse of what's going on at home," he said in an aside to Frodo. "It seems a terrible long time that I've been away. But there, like as not I'll only see the stars, or something I won't understand."

"Like as not," said the Lady with a gentle laugh. "But come, you shall look and see waht you may. Do no touch the water!"

Sam climbed up on the foot of the pedestal and leaned over the basin. The water looked hard and dark. Stars were reflected in its surface.

"There's only stars, as I though," he said. Then he gavea low gasp, for the stars went out. As if a dark veil had been withdrawn, the Mirror grew grey, and then clear. There was sun shinging, and the branches of trees were waving and tossing in the wind. But before Sam could make up his mind waht it was that he saw, the light faded; and now he though he saw Frodo with a pale face lying fast asleep under a great dark cliff. Then he seemed to see himself goinga long a dim passage, and climbing an endless winding stair. It came to him suddenl that he was looking urgently for something, bu what it was he did not know. Like a dream the vision shifted and went back, and he saw the trees again. But this time they were not so close, and he could see what was going on: they were not waving in the wind, they were falling, crashing to the ground.

"There's some devilry at work in the Sire," he said. "Elrond knew what he was about when he wanted to send Mr. Merry back." Then suddenly Sam gave a cry and sprang away. "I can't stay here," he said wildly. "I must go home. They've dug up bagshot Row, and there's the poor old gaffer going down the Hill with his bits of things in a barrow. I must go home!"

"You cannot go home alone," said the Lady. "you did not wish to go home without your master before you looked in the Mirror, and you knew that evil things might well be happening in the Shire. Remember that Mirror showes many things, and not all have yet come to pass. Some never come to be, unless thouse that behold the visions turn aside from their path to prevent them. The Mirror is dangerous as a guide of deeds."

Sam sat on the ground and put his head in his hands. "I wish I had never come here, and I don't want to see no more magic," he said and fell silent. After a moment he spoke again thickly, as if struggling with tears. "No, I will go home by the long road with Mr. Frodo, or not at all," he said. "But I hope I do get back some day. If what I've seen turns out true, somebody's going to catch it hot." - J.R.R. Tolkien The Fellowship of the Ring

[Ariana Undomiel]

"Do you now wish to look, Frodo?" Said the Lady Galadriel. "You did not wish to see Elf-magic and were content."

"Do you advise me to look?" asked Frodo.

"No," she said. "I do not counsel you one way or the other. I am not a counsellor. You may learn something, and whether what you see be fair or evil, that my be profitable, and yet it may not. seeing is both good and perilous. Yet I think, Frodo, that you have courage and wisdom enough for the venture, or I would not have brought you here. Do as you will!"

"I will look," said Frodo, and he clibed on the pedestal and bent over the dark water. At once the Mirror cleared and he saw at twilit land. Mountains loomed dark in the distance against a pale sky. A long grey road wound back out of sight. Far away a figure came slowly down the road, faint and small at first, but growing larger and clearer as it approached. Suddenly Frodo realized that it reminded him of Gandalf. He almost called aloud the wizard's name, and then he saw the the figure was clothed on in grey but in white, in a white that shown faintly in the dusk, and in its hand there was a white staff. The head was so bowed that he could see no face, and presently the figure turned aside round a bend in the road and went out of the Mirror's view. Doubt came into Frodo's mindL was this a vison of Gandalf on one of his many lonely journeys long ago, or was it Saruman?

The vision now changed. Brief and small but very vivid he caught a glimpse of Bilbo walking restlessly about his room. The table was littered with disordered papers; rain was beating on the windows.

Then there was a pause, and after it many swift scenes followed that Frodo in some way knew to be parts of a great history in which he had become involved. The mist cleared and he saw a sight which he had never seen before but knew at once: the Sea. Darkness fell. The sea rose and raged in a great storm. Then he saw against the Sun, sinking blood-red into a wrack of clouds, the black outline of a tall ship with torn sails riding up out of the West. Then a wide river flowing through a populous city. Then a white fortress with seven towers. And then again a ship with black sails, but now it was morning again, and the water rippled with light, and a banner bearing the emblem of a white tree shone in the sun. A smoke as of fire and battle arose, and again the sun went down in a burning red that faded into a grey mist; and into the mist a small ship passed away, twinkling with lights. It vanished, and Frodo sighed and prepared to draw away.

But suddenly the Mirror went altogether dark, as dark as if a hole had opened in the world of sight, and Frodo looked into emptiness. In the black abyss there appeared a single Eye that slowly grew. until it filled nearly all the Mirror. So terrible was it that Frodo stood rooted, unable to cry out or to withdraw his gaze. The Eye was rimmed with fire, but was itself glazed, yellow as a cat's, watchful and intent, and the black slit of its pupil opened on a pit, a window into nothing.

Then the Eye began to rove, searching this way and that; and Frodo knew with certainty and horror that among the many things that it sought he himself was one. But he also knew that it could not see him-not yet, not unless he willed it. The Ring that hung upon its chain about his neck grew heavy, heavier than a great stone, and his head was dragged downwards. The Mirror seemed to be growing hot and curls of steam were rising from the water. He was slipping forward.

`Do not touch the water!' said the Lady Galadriel softly. The vision faded, and Frodo found that he was looking at the cool stars twinkling in the silver basin. He stepped back shaking all over and looked at the Lady.

`I know what it was that you last saw,' she said; `for that is also in my mind. Do not be afraid! But do not think that only by singing amid the trees, nor even by the slender arrows of elven-bows, is this land of Lothlórien maintained and defended against its Enemy. I say to you, Frodo, that even as I speak to you, I perceive the Dark Lord and know his mind, or all of his mind that concerns the Elves. And he gropes ever to see me and my thought. But still the door is closed! '

She lifted up her white arms, and spread out her hands towards the East in a gesture of rejection and denial. Eärendil, the Evening Star, most beloved of the Elves, shone clear above. So bright was it that the figure of the Elven-lady cast a dim shadow on the ground. Its rays glanced upon a ring about her finger; it glittered like polished gold overlaid with silver light, and a white stone in it twinkled as if the Even-star had come down to rest upon her hand. Frodo gazed at the ring with awe; for suddenly it seemed to him that he understood.

`Yes,' she said, divining his thought, `it is not permitted to speak of it, and Elrond could not do so. But it cannot be hidden from the Ring-bearer, and one who has seen the Eye. Verily it is in the land of Lórien upon the finger of Galadriel that one of the Three remains. This is Nenya, the Ring of Adamant, and I am its keeper.

`He suspects, but he does not know – not yet. Do you not see now wherefore your coming is to us as the footstep of Doom? For if you fail, then we are laid bare to the Enemy. Yet if you succeed, then our power is diminished, and Lothlórien will fade, and the tides of Time will sweep it away. We must depart into the West, or dwindle to a rustic folk of dell and cave, slowly to forget and to be forgotten.'

Frodo bent his head. `And what do you wish? ' he said at last.

`That what should be shall be,' she answered. `The love of the Elves for their land and their works is deeper than the deeps of the Sea, and their regret is undying and cannot ever wholly be assuaged. Yet they will cast all away rather than submit to Sauron: for they know him now. For the fate of Lothlórien you are not answerable but only for the doing of your own task. Yet I could wish, were it of any avail, that the One Ring had never been wrought, or had remained for ever lost.'

'You are wise and fearless and fair, Lady Galadriel,' said Frodo. `I will give you the One Ring, if you ask for it. It is too great a matter for me.'

Galadriel laughed with a sudden clear laugh. `Wise the Lady Galadriel may be,' she said, `yet here she has met her match in courtesy. Gently are you revenged for my testing of your heart at our first meeting. You begin to see with a keen eye. I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired to ask what you offer. For many long years I had pondered what I might do, should the Great Ring come into my hands, and behold! it was brought within my grasp. The evil that was devised long ago works on in many ways, whether Sauron himself stands or falls. Would not that have been a noble deed to set to the credit of his Ring, if I had taken it by force or fear from my guest?

`And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow upon the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair! '

She lifted up her hand and from the ring that she wore there issued a great light that illuminated her alone and left all else dark. She stood before Frodo seeming now tall beyond measurement, and beautiful beyond enduring, terrible and worshipful. Then she let her hand fall, and the light faded, and suddenly she laughed again, and lo! she was shrunken: a slender elf-woman, clad in simple white, whose gentle voice was soft and sad.

'I pass the test,' she said. `I will diminish, and go into the West and remain Galadriel.'

[Ariana Undomiel]

They stood for a long while in silence. At length the Lady spoke again. `Let us return! ' she said. `In the morning you must depart for now we have chosen, and the tides of fate are flowing.'

`I would ask one thing before we go,' said Frodo, `a thing which I often meant to ask Gandalf in Rivendell. I am permitted to wear the One Ring: why cannot I see all the others and know the thoughts of those that wear them? '

`You have not tried,' she said. `Only thrice have you set the Ring upon your finger since you knew what you possessed. Do not try! It would destroy you. Did not Gandalf tell you that the rings give power according to the measure of each possessor? Before you could use that power you would need to become far stronger, and to train your will to the domination of others. Yet even so, as Ring-bearer and as one that has borne it on finger and seen that which is hidden, your sight is grown keener. You have perceived my thought more clearly than many that are accounted wise. You saw the Eye of him that holds the Seven and the Nine. And did you not see and recognize the ring upon my finger? Did you see my ring? ' she asked turning again to Sam.

'No, Lady,' he answered. `To tell you the truth, I wondered what you were talking about. I saw a star through your finger. But if you'll pardon my speaking out, I think my master was right. I wish you'd take his Ring. You'd put things to rights. You'd stop them digging up the gaffer and turning him adrift. You'd make some folk pay for their dirty work.'

`I would,' she said. `That is how it would begin. But it would not stop with that, alas! We will not speak more of it. Let us go!'

[Ariana Undomiel]

High in the waving bows of silver, the bower of Ariana lay in darkness and silence save for the sound of the wind dancing in the moonlight that seeped in through the curtains surrounding her chamber. A pool of moonlight lay rippling upon the floor near the edge of the chamber where a curtain had been drawn aside. Ariana's healers and nurses had left her for it was late and they thought her asleep. But sleep would not come to her that night. Galadriel had spoken to her and she knew that the following day the Fellowship would leave the Golden Wood to continue on the journey, leaving her behind. Galdor was also remaining to continue aiding in Ariana's healing. He had hoped that he would have been able to set her eyesite to rights but still all that Ariana could see was sheer darkness, unless she lay in dreams. Yet her dreams rarely showed her anything save for tongues of flame and the terrible eyes that she had gotten a glimpse of.

Ariana sat quietly at the opening in the chamber where she had drawn the curtain aside so that she could feel the breeze unhindered. Her night gown of soft white silk fell about her like waves of water that shimmered in the moonlihg as she sat upon the bench which she had pulled over to the edge. It had taken her a long time to find her way around her room for she was hesitant to go too far too fast for fear of coming suddenly to the edge of the flet and falling. Her wings would have normally been able to save her, but she felt that she would never again have the strength or heart to use them. Quietly she had hidden them from sight and now she would seem to all who saw her nothing more than a simple elf maiden who's brow glowed now only with the faintest light.

As she sat quietly upon the bench, she reached up and felt her long hair falling loose over her bare shoulders and then found that the necklace she always wore was no longer there. Her fingers gently brushed the scar upon her chest and they trembled. Galdor had assured her that the terrible burns she had suffered had almost healed and now her skin was only a snow white that was marred by the black scar that she had received as a child.

Her eyes turned upward as if searching desperately for the light of the moon and the stars. Nothing came to her save the darkness and slowly a crystal tear rolled down her white cheek as for the first time in her life, Ariana wept. She felt so useless, so weak, and so trapped in the darkness that surrounded her. Suddenly upon the wind came dancing a bloom of the fragrant Elenor and reaching out the wind delivered into Ariana's lap. She felt it brush her hand and smelt it's fragrance. She smiled slightly and sighed as she sat alone with only the wind watching over her and brushing the tears from her cheeks.

***

Far down below Ariana's bower, the company spent its last night in peaceful slumber. Frodo and Sam had gone off with Galadriel and had not returned, but the rest were sleeping peacefully without dreams. All save for Iaurcalion. His dreams were haunted by a mourning figure dressed in white who he was trying to comfort. He could not reach her as hard as he tryed and he wished he could help her for she seemed all alone and suffering pain.

Suddenly he jerked from sleep and found that he was under the white canopy with the rest of his companions who were sleeping upon the couches provided by the Galadrim. He lay back down and gazed up at the sky, but he could not find rest. Then he remembered his promise to visit Ariana before they left the Golden Wood. He realized that she was probably sleeping, but he could not stay away. Some unheard voice was calling to him and rising silently he left the shelter of the canopy and made his way into the tree tops. As he climbed on staircase after another, he wondered why of all the flets in Lothlorien, Ariana's was one of the very highest. Then he remembered that its height would never have bothered her. She had only to spread her silvery wings and soar quickly to her room and then ascend to the ground in a matter of seconds. He smiled quietly to himself as he pondered this. He wondered what it felt like to ride upon the back of the wind and dance with her over the tops of the trees.

[Ariana Undomiel]

Ariana's tears shimmered softly under the stars, but quietly she wiped them away and tried to regain her composer. She had never shed a tear in her life and now that she had she felt even more confused and vulnerable. Her blindness had already made her weak, she would not stoop lower by crying now like a child.

Reaching down her fingers grasped the silken shawl that had fallen from her shoulders and taking it up she wrapped it round her. She felt as if she were exposed to unseen eyes and the feeling made her uncomfortable.

Suddenly from not very far away Ariana heard the sound of approaching steps. They were light but not silent to her ears for now more than ever was her sense of hearing sharpened.

She waited as they approached her door and listened to the sound of someone drawing back the silken curtain.

[Flame of Anor]

Iaurcalion approached the silken curtain that separated the room from the narrow flet outside. As he pulled the curtain aside, he saw a pale figure of a lady sitting on a bench looking out toward the night sky.

As he entered, Ariana turned her head and asked, "Who is there?"

Iaurcalion smiled and said, "It is I, Iaurcalion. I apologize for troubling you, lady. I thought that you would be asleep and that I would not be disturbing you if I came and sat by your side for a while." He walked over to her side. "But what are you doing out of bed? Should you not be resting?" His voice was one of concern.

[Ariana Undomiel]

Her sightless eyes turned to him and he was startled to see that she had been weeping. She struggled now to hide it, but she could not hide the pain that he say in her upturned face. Her eyes were windows into her soul and the moonlight had entered in to reveal what was hiding there.

"I find no rest in sleep any more, Iaurcalion. Nor do I find it in waking. But at the least in waking I am faced with those terrible eyes." He looked at her confused and it was almost as if she could sense it. "I saw him, Iaurcalion. I looked him straight in the eye as I reached out my hand to save our friend. But his fire and his darkness were too much for me and his eyes burned mine. They are forever engraved in my mind. Perhaps someday I will forget, but not now. Not yet." Ariana turned her head away from him and her body quivered with sobs. He took a seat next turn to her unsure of what to do. Where had she gone? Where was the blue flame that had fought fiercly by his side in the darkness of Moria? Where was fiery warrior who had screamed at the mountain side? Where was the strong healer who had sought him out in the wilderness? What was she now? To him she seemed now to be a simple elf maiden dressed in silver white. Even her wings which he had gotten such a small glimpse of where hidden from his eyes.

[Flame of Anor]

"Ariana, you are grieved and in pain," Iaurcalion said kindly taking her hand. "Please talk to me. I would that I could do something to relieve your suffering."

Ariana jerked away from him and stood upon the edge of the flet. Iaurcalion rose fearful lest she should fall. But she stood as straight and still as a tree.

"Lady? What is it? Please, I am your friend. You can confide in me." Then to his surprise she burst into tears.

[Ariana Undomiel]

“I have never been afraid of the dark in my life, Iaurcalion, because in the dark of night there were always the stars and the light of the moon above me. In the dark of a room a candle would glow. In the darkness of battle, my own light would shine. I did not fear the dark," her hands reached up and passed over her eyes. "Now I can see nothing at all. Now I am trapped in nothing but darkness. Even my dreams do not avail the pleasure of light and joy. I feel so trapped, and so very alone in this dark world.”

[Flame of Anor]

Iaurcalion lowered his head in grief at his friend's pain and loss. Then he thought of a way that he could try and lessen her pain.

"Well, if you are not going to rest, shall we go and take a walk out among the trees and stars?"

[Ariana Undomiel]

Ariana turned to him and smiled through her tears. "How I long to walk among the trees and feel the breeze and smell the fragrance of the land. But I fear I have not yet found the courage to .... to ...." she struggled to say it. "I fear that I cannot yet move around without falling or knocking into things." She blushed in shame.

[Flame of Anor]

"Do not fear, for I shall guide you. And if you stumble, I shall be there to steady you. Let us go." He then reached for her hand to guide her.

[Ariana Undomiel]

"Very well, mellonamin. One of my favorite places to walk is a narrow platform that was built for the purpose of watching the stars and very few are allowed to stride upon it. But one of the entrances is from my room."

Reaching out Iaurcalion took her arm gently in his and led her to a silver curtain she had gestured towards. Drawing it aside he found a staircase leading up to a walkway just wide enough for two people to journey comfortably upon. Up to this he led Ariana and they found themselves above the golden wood walking under the bare stars that blazed brightly along side the silven moon that waned in the sky.

[Flame of Anor]

They stood their and faced the night sky. Iaurcalion turned and looked at Ariana who was facing the night sky and breathing in the rich and fragrant air. She looked peaceful, but at the same time still in great pain.

Iaurcalion turned and faced Ariana and said, "Ariana, I believe that I can restore you eyesight for a few moments but it would not be long. I will not do this if you are not willing though."

[Ariana Undomiel]

Ariana stared blankly at him in amazment. "I would do anything to just have one glimpse of something, anything. I have never before been in such darkness." Her eyes were trusting as they searched his face.

[Flame of Anor]

"Very well then," said Iaurcalion, as he placed his hands on her eyes so that his palms covered them. He started to speak quietly in an ancient form of Elvish that had not been heard for many hundreds of years. As he spoke, Ariana could feel a warm sensation come from Iaurcalion's hands. This heat moved from him to her. Her skin began to shimmer and produce a faint but steady light. Her eyes began to tingle and then Iaurcalion removed his hands from her face, then said, "Remember, the sight that I have restored is temporary, and will last only a few moments. Now go ahead and open your eyes."

[Ariana Undomiel]

Slowly Ariana's soft mossy eyes opened. At first all was dark but then she could see the blurry outline of Iaurcalion and soon it sharpened until she could see his beautiful blue eyes shining in the moon light and he was smiling at her. His eyes gazed back into hers and she smiled and he knew that she could see him. Together they stood gazing into the sky and even as it darkened once again Ariana did not take her eyes from it. Just as the light faded she turned her gaze back to Iaurcalion and thought about how handsome he looked in the moonlight and then he was gone.

Her smile began to fade but quickly Iaurcalion took her hands in his so that she could still feel that he was there with her.

"Thank-you," she breathed quietly. "Thank you for giving me hope."

[Flame of Anor]

"Your smile is thanks enough lady." He responded. Iaurcalion then kissed her hand and lead her back to her bower and bid her good night.

[Ariana Undomiel]

As Iaurcalion turned to go Ariana reached out and caught his arm. He turned back to her questiongly.

"Please," she murmered quietly. "I made a promise to someone that upon this quest I would guard and watch my brother with my very life. I cannot keep that promise now. Please, promise me that will let no harm come him."

"Lady ... Ariana. I cannot see what lies upon this road ahead. But if the power is in me to defend those who I call friends, I will do so until the last breath escapes from my body. But I have a feeling that your brother has many deeds to accomplish before death will take him. Do not be afraid for him." He gently touched her cheek with his finger as she smiled.

"Lissenen ar' maska'lalaith tenna' lye omentuva , mellonamin," she whispered.

"Namaarie, Ariana," with that he turned and went swiftly and silently down the stairs. In a few hours the dawn would creep into the forest and wake those who slept from dreams. The time had come for them to depart, but it seemed to Iaurcalion that a piece of his heart would forever remain in Lothlorien. And when the many years had passed and the elves had left the world, Iaurcalion the star gazer and the white maiden of Lothlorien would forever wander the forest even though they had left the world.

[Galdor]

When Galdor returned from walking in the woods with his falcon as he always did when not with Ariana, he heard voices coming from her room. After a moment he recognized one of them as Iarcalion, and so he sat down on a bench near by to wait until they were done. As Iaurcalion come down the stairs from her room Galdor stood from where he had been sitting nearby and called to him.

"Iaurcalion, I am grieved that I can not continue on with the rest of you, but my place is here with Ariana. And I will have no greater joy than to see her sight restored once again. I wish you well on your journey, Lótessë Elen cala or lelyalya.”


“I thank you for your kind words Galdor, it greaves me also that you will not continue on with us. But will you not seek us out once more with Ariana when she is healed?”

“I know naught what the future will hold, but I will do so if I am able.”

“Namárië Galdor, tend Ariana well.”

“Remember when times grow dark on your journey, aurë entuluva. Namárië Iaurcalion.”

Galdor stood and watched Iaurcalion disappear into the night and then went up to Ariana’s room. He stopped before the silk curtain and called to her.

“Ariana?”

There was a moment’s pause before Ariana answered him. And when Galdor entered it seemed to him that Ariana had been crying, maybe grief over not following with her brother and friends he thought.

“I have brought Sureatsa for you.” Ariana smiled and held out her arm for the falcon to hop on to, and began to stroke her feathers.

“Thank you Galdor, she is a lovely bird.”

Galdor stayed in Ariana’s room for a while to talk and so he could place some rare herbs under bandages on her eyes. Once he was done he left the room that she could sleep, leaving Sureatsa behind as she seemed to give Ariana comfort. And he headed out into the woods once singing quietly.

[Ariana Undomiel]

In the morning, as they were beginning to pack their slender goods, Elves that could speak their tongue came to them and brought them many gifts of food and clothing for the journey. The food was mostly in the form of very thin cakes, made of a meal that was baked a light brown on the outside, and inside was the colour of cream. Gimli took up one of the cakes and looked at it with a doubtful eye.

`Cram,' he said under his breath, as he broke off a crisp corner and nibbled at it. His expression quickly changed, and he ate all the rest of the cake with relish.

`No more, no more!' cried the Elves laughing. `You have eaten enough already for a long day's march.'

`I thought it was only a kind of cram, such as the Dale-men make for journeys in the wild,' said the Dwarf.

`So it is,' they answered. `But we call it lembas or waybread, and it is more strengthening than any food made by Men, and it is more pleasant than cram, by all accounts.'

`Indeed it is,' said Gimli. 'Why it is better than the honey-cakes of the Beornings, and that is great praise, for the Beornings are the best bakers that I know of; but they are none too willing to deal out their cakes to travellers in these days. You are kindly hosts! '
'All the same, we bid you spare the food,' they said. 'Eat little at a time, and only at need. For these things are given to serve you when all else fails. The cakes will keep sweet for many many days, if they are unbroken and left in their leaf-wrappings, as we have brought them. One will keep a traveller on his feet for a day of long labour, even if he be one of the tall Men of Minas Tirith.'
The Elves next unwrapped and gave to each of the Company the clothes they had brought. For each they had provided a hood and cloak, made according to his size, of the light but warm silken stuff that the Galadhrim wove. It was hard to say of what colour they were: grey with the hue of twilight under the trees they seemed to be; and yet if they were moved, or set in another light, they were green as shadowed leaves, or brown as fallow fields by night, dusk-silver as water under the stars. Each cloak was fastened about the neck with a brooch like a green leaf veined with silver.

`Are these magic cloaks? ' asked Pippin, looking at them with wonder. He thought he had seen something of the like before. And then he remembered that the Lady Ariana had wore such a cloak and that unless she moved suddenly, she would be almost invisible to his eyes.

`I do not know what you mean by that,' answered the leader of the Elves. `They are fair garments, and the web is good, for it was made in this land. They are elvish robes certainly, if that is what you mean. Leaf and branch, water and stone: they have the hue and beauty of all these things under the twilight of Lórien that we love; for we put the thought of all that we love into all that we make. Yet they are garments, not armour, and they will not turn shaft or blade. But they should serve you well: they are light to wear, and warm enough or cool enough at need. And you will find them a great aid in keeping out of the sight of unfriendly eyes, whether you walk among the stones or the trees. You are indeed high in the favour of the Lady! For she herself and her maidens wove this stuff; and never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people.'

After their morning meal the Company said farewell to the lawn by the fountain. Their hearts were heavy; for it was a fair place, and it had become like home to them, though they could not count the days and nights that they had passed there. As they stood for a moment looking at the white water in the sunlight, Haldir came walking towards them over the green grass of the glade. Frodo greeted him with delight.

'I have returned from the Northern Fences,' said the Elf, `and I am sent now to be your guide again. The Dimrill Dale is full of vapour and clouds of smoke, and the mountains are troubled. There are noises in the deeps of the earth. If any of you had thought of returning northwards to your homes, you would not have been able to pass that way. But come! Your path now goes south.'

As they walked through Caras Galadhon the green ways were empty; but in the trees above them many voices were murmuring and singing. They themselves went silently. At last Haldir led them down the southward slopes of the hill, and they came again to the great gate hung with lamps, and to the white bridge; and so they passed out and left the city of the Elves. Then they turned away from the paved road and took a path that went off into a deep thicket of mallorn-trees, and passed on, winding through rolling woodlands of silver shadow, leading them ever down, southwards and eastwards, towards the shores of the River.

They had gone some ten miles and noon was at hand when they came on a high green wall. Passing through an opening they came suddenly out of the trees. Before them lay a long lawn of shining grass, studded with golden elanor that glinted in the sun. The lawn ran out into a narrow tongue between bright margins: on the right and west the Silverlode flowed glittering; on the left and east the Great River rolled its broad waters, deep and dark. On the further shores the woodlands still marched on southwards as far as the eye could see, but all the banks were bleak and bare. No mallorn lifted its gold-hung boughs beyond the Land of Lórien.

On the bank of the Silverlode, at some distance up from the meeting of the streams, there was a hythe of white stones and white wood. By it were moored many boats and barges. Some were brightly painted, and shone with silver and gold and green, but most were either white or grey. Four small grey boats had been made ready for the travellers, and in these the Elves stowed their goods. And they added also coils of rope, three to each boat. Slender they looked, but strong, silken to the touch, grey of hue like the elven-cloaks.

`What are these? ' asked Sam, handling one that lay upon the greensward.

`Ropes indeed! ' answered an Elf from the boats. 'Never travel far without a rope! And one that is long and strong and light. Such are these. They may be a help in many needs.'
'You don't need to tell me that! ' said Sam. `I came without any and I've been worried ever since. But I was wondering what these were made of, knowing a bit about rope-making: it's in the family as you might say.'

`They are made of hithlain,' said the Elf, `but there is no time now to instruct you in the art of their making. Had we known that this craft delighted you, we could have taught you much. But now alas! unless you should at some time return hither, you must be content with our gift. May it serve you well! '

`Come! ' said Haldir. `All is now ready for you. Enter the boats! But take care at first! '

'Heed the words! ' said the other Elves. 'These boats are light-built, and they are crafty and unlike the boats of other folk. They will not sink, lade them as you will; but they are wayward if mishandled. It would be wise if you accustomed yourselves to stepping in and out, here where there is a landing-place, before you set off downstream.'

[Ariana Undomiel]

The Company was arranged in this way: Aragorn, Frodo, and Sam were in one boat; Hamman, Merry, and Pippin in another; and in the third were Legolas and Gimli, who had now become fast friends. A fourth boat was given to Anamatar and Iaurcalion to stear and in this last boat most of the goods and packs were stowed. The boats were moved and steered with short-handled paddles that had broad leaf-shaped blades. When all was ready Aragorn led them on a trial up the Silverlode. The current was swift and they went forward slowly. Sam sat in the bows, clutching the sides, and looking back wistfully to the shore. The sunlight glittering on the water dazzled his eyes. As they passed beyond the green field of the Tongue, the trees drew down to the river's brink. Here and there golden leaves tossed and floated on the rippling stream. The air was very bright and still, and there was a silence, except for the high distant song of larks.

They turned a sharp bend in the river, and there, sailing proudly down the stream toward them, they saw a swan of great size. The water rippled on either side of the white breast beneath its curving neck. Its beak shone like burnished gold, and its eyes glinted like jet set in yellow stones; its huge white wings were half lifted. A music came down the river as it drew nearer; and suddenly they perceived that it was a ship, wrought and carved with elven-skill in the likeness of a bird. Two elves clad in white steered it with black paddles. In the midst of the vessel sat Celeborn, and behind him stood Galadriel, tall and white; a circlet of golden flowers was in her hair, and in her hand she held a harp, and she sang. Sad and sweet was the sound of her voice in the cool clear air:

I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew:
Of wind I sang, a wind there came and in the branches blew.
Beyond the Sun, beyond the Moon, the foam was on the Sea,
And by the strand of Ilmarin there grew a golden Tree.
Beneath the stars of Ever-eve in Eldamar it shone,
In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion.
There long the golden leaves have grown upon the branching years,
While here beyond the Sundering Seas now fall the Elven-tears.
O Lórien! The Winter comes, the bare and leafless Day;
The leaves are falling in the stream, the River flows away.
O Lórien! Too long I have dwelt upon this Hither Shore
And in a fading crown have twined the golden elanor.
But if of ships I now should sing, what ship would come to me,
What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea?

Aragorn stayed his boat as the Swan-ship drew alongside. The Lady ended her song and greeted them. `We have come to bid you our last farewell,' she said, `and to speed you with blessings from our land.'

`Though you have been our guests,' said Celeborn, `you have not yet eaten with us, and we bid you, therefore, to a parting feast, here between the flowing waters that will bear you far from Lórien.'

The Swan passed on slowly to the hythe, and they turned their boats and followed it. There in the last end of Egladil upon the green grass the parting feast was held; but Frodo ate and drank little, heeding only the beauty of the Lady and her voice. She seemed no longer perilous or terrible, nor filled with hidden power. Already she seemed to him, as by men of later days Elves still at times are seen: present and yet remote, a living vision of that which has already been left far behind by the flowing streams of Time.

After they had eaten and drunk, sitting upon the grass, Celeborn spoke to them again of their journey, and lifting his hand he pointed south to the woods beyond the Tongue.

`As you go down the water,' he said, `you will find that the trees will fail, and you will come to a barren country. There the River flows in stony vale amid high moors, until at last after many leagues it comes to the tall island of the Tindrock, that we call Tol Brandir. There it casts its arms about the steep shores of the isle, and falls then with a great noise and smoke over the cataracts of Rauros down into the Nindalf, the Wetwang as it is called in your tongue. That is a wide region of sluggish fen where the stream becomes tortuous and much divided. There the Entwash flows in by many mouths from the Forest of Fangorn in the west. About that stream, on this side of the Great River, lies Rohan. On the further side are the bleak hills of the Emyn Muil. The wind blows from the East there, for they look out over the Dead Marshes and the Noman-lands to Cirith Gorgor and the black gates of Mordor.
'Boromir, and any that go with him seeking Minas Tirith, will do well to leave the Great River above Rauros and cross the Entwash before it finds the marshes. Yet they should not go too far up that stream, nor risk becoming entangled in the Forest of Fangorn. That is a strange land, and is now little known. But Hamman, Aragorn, and Anamatar doubtless do not need this warning.'
'Indeed we have heard of Fangorn in Minas Tirith,' said Hamman. `But what I have heard seems to me for the most part old wives' tales, such as we tell to our children. All that lies north of Rohan is now to us so far away that fancy can wander freely there. Of old Fangorn lay upon the borders of our realm; but it is now many lives of men since any of us visited it, to prove or disprove the legends that have come down from distant years.

`I have myself been at whiles in Rohan, but I have never crossed it northwards. When I was sent out as a messenger, I passed through the Gap by the skirts of the White Mountains, and crossed the Isen and the Greyflood into Northerland. A long and wearisome journey. Four hundred leagues I reckoned it, and it took me many months; for I lost my horse at Tharbad, at the fording of the Greyflood. After that journey, and the road I have trodden with this Company, I do not much doubt that I shall find a way through Rohan, and Fangorn too, if need be.'

`Then I need say no more,' said Celeborn. 'But do not despise the lore that has come down from distant years; for oft it may chance that old wives keep in memory word of things that once were needful for the wise to know.'

Now Galadriel rose from the grass, and taking a cup from one of her maidens she filled it with white mead and gave it to Celeborn.
'Now it is time to drink the cup of farewell,' she said. `Drink, Lord of the Galadhrim! And let not your heart be sad though night must follow noon, and already our evening draweth nigh.'
Then she brought the cup to each of the Company, and bade them drink and farewell. But when they had drunk she commanded them to sit again on the grass, and chairs were set for her and for Celeborn. Her maidens stood silent about her, and a while she looked upon her guests. At last she spoke again.

'We have drunk the cup of parting,' she said, `and the shadows fall between us. But before you go, I have brought in my ship gifts which the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim now offer you in memory of Lothlórien.' Then she called to each in turn.

[Ariana Undomiel]

`Here is the gift of Celeborn and Galadriel to the leader of your Company,' she said to Aragorn, and she gave him a sheath that had been made to fit his sword. It was overlaid with a tracery of flowers and leaves wrought of silver and gold, and on it were set in elven runes formed of many gems the name Andúril and the lineage of the sword.
`The blade that is drawn from this sheath shall not be stained or broken even in defeat,' she said. `But is there aught else that you desire of me at our parting? For darkness will flow between us, and it may be that we shall not meet again, unless it be far hence upon a road that has no returning.'
And Aragorn answered: '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 through darkness shall I come to it.'
`Yet maybe this will lighten your heart,' said Galadriel; `for it was given to me to bestow upon you.' Then she lifted from her lap a great stone of a clear green, set in a silver brooch that was wrought in the likeness of an eagle with outspread wings; and as she held it up the gem flashed like the sun shining through the leaves of spring. `This stone I gave to Celebrían my daughter, and she to hers; and now it comes to you as a token of hope. It was born here as a gift to be given at the hour of need and I believe your sister chose wisely in sending it hither today. It was entrusted to her by she who she calls sister and friend. In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the house of Elendil! '

Then Aragorn took the stone and pinned the brooch upon his breast, and those who saw him wondered; for they had not marked before how tall and kingly he stood, and it seemed to them that many years of toil had fallen from his shoulders. `For the gifts that you have given me I thank you,' he said, 'O Lady of Lórien of whom were sprung Celebrían and Arwen Evenstar. What praise could I say more? '

'Please, send my sister again to me whole. To only know her now and then to leave her behind, is sore indeed.'

'Ariana may or may not be made whole, but only time will tell. But this I promise, that if I know her as well as I think I do, she will come to you in time, whole or no.'

[Ariana Undomiel]

The Lady bowed her head and Aragorn stepped back. Next she gave gifts to Merry and Pippin. To them she bestowed small silver belts intriciately fashioned and clasped each with a flower wrought of gold. Then she gave to Hamman a belt fashioned of golden leaves that shone brightly under the light of the sun.

[Anamatar IV]

Galadriel turned to Anamatar.

"What would a Man of such nobility and wealth and of the high blood request of me? Surely, anything I could give you could be found in Amroth? But some things the fathers of your line did not pass down." With that Galadriel brought forth a great bow, shining in the light with silver.

"This is a bow of hollowed steel for which the warriors of Numenor were feared. Your arrows will fall like serpants or bring showers tipped with black ice."

And Anamatar beheld this gift as if it were greater than all the stores of Gondor. His eyes were wide as he took the great bow into his hand.

"Thank you, Lady!" he said bowing low. "Whenever I loose arrow I will give praise to your name. And maybe, with your blessing, each arrow fired from this weapon will hit its mark." Anamatar bowed low again and ever though of Galadriel when he loosed arrow. And ever the arrow fired from this bow hit its target.

[Ariana Undomiel]

Next Galadriel turned to Legolas the elf and his companion Iaurcalion. To them she also gave bows such as were used by the Galadrim. They were carved of malor wood and were light and supple and each was fashioned as if with leaves upon the wood. They were strung with the hair of elf maidens who had taken part in their fashioning. To Iaurcalion she spoke quietly so that none save he could hear her.

"These bows are worthy of our woodlin kin and Ariana it was who requested these be given to you. She herself gave hairs for thine whom she deems a special friend. Bear it well and may it aid thee in this quest."

Then she also gave to them each a quiver with long arrows tipped with silver and each was crafted with white feathers. They bowed low in thanks.

`For you little gardener and lover of trees,' she said to Sam, `I have only a small gift.' She put into his hand a little box of plain grey wood, unadorned save for a single silver rune upon the lid.

`Here is set G for Galadriel,' she said; `but also it may stand for garden in your tongue. In this box there is earth from my orchard, and such blessing as Galadriel has still to bestow is upon it. It will not keep you on your road, nor defend you against any peril; but if you keep it and see your home again at last, then perhaps it may reward you. Though you should find all barren and laid waste, there will be few gardens in Middle-earth that will bloom like your garden, if you sprinkle this earth there. Then you may remember Galadriel, and catch a glimpse far off of Lórien, that you have seen only in our winter. For our spring and our summer are gone by, and they will never be seen on earth again save in memory.'

Sam went red to the ears and muttered something inaudible, as he clutched the box and bowed as well as he could.

`And what gift would a Dwarf ask of the Elves? ' said Galadriel turning to Gimli.

`None, Lady,' answered Gimli. `It is enough for me to have seen the Lady of the Galadhrim, and to have heard her gentle words.'

`Hear all ye Elves! ' she cried to those about her. `Let none say again that Dwarves are grasping and ungracious! Yet surely, Gimli son of Glóin, you desire something that I could give? Name it, I bid you! You shall not be the only guest without a gift.'

`There is nothing, Lady Galadriel,' said Gimli, bowing low and stammering. `Nothing, unless it might be – unless it is permitted to ask, nay, to name a single strand of your hair, which surpasses the gold of the earth as the stars surpass the gems of the mine. I do not ask for such a gift. But you commanded me to name my desire.'

The Elves stirred and murmured with astonishment, and Celeborn gazed at the Dwarf in wonder, but the Lady smiled. 'It is said that the skill of the Dwarves is in their hands rather than in their tongues ' she said; `yet that is not true of Gimli. For none have ever made to me a request so bold and yet so courteous. And how shall I refuse, since I commanded him to speak? But tell me, what would you do with such a gift? '

`Treasure it, Lady,' he answered, `in memory of your words to me at our first meeting. And if ever I return to the smithies of my home, it shall be set in imperishable crystal to be an heirloom of my house, and a pledge of good will between the Mountain and the Wood until the end of days.'

Then the Lady unbraided one of her long tresses, and cut off three golden hairs, and laid them in Gimli's hand. `These words shall go with the gift,' she said. `I do not foretell, for all foretelling is now vain: on the one hand lies darkness, and on the other only hope. But if hope should not fail, then I say to you, Gimli son of Glóin, that your hands shall flow with gold, and yet over you gold shall have no dominion.

`And you, Ring-bearer,' she said, turning to Frodo. `I come to you last who are not last in my thoughts. For you I have prepared this.' She held up a small crystal phial: it glittered as she moved it, and rays of white light sprang from her hand. 'In this phial,' she said, `is caught the light of Eärendil's star, set amid the waters of my fountain. It will shine still brighter when night is about you. May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out. Remember Galadriel and her Mirror! '

Frodo took the phial, and for a moment as it shone between them, he saw her again standing like a queen, great and beautiful, but no longer terrible. He bowed, but found no words to say.

[Ariana Undomiel]

Now the Lady arose, and Celeborn led them back to the hythe. A yellow noon lay on the green land of the Tongue, and the water glittered with silver. All at last was made ready. The Company took their places in the boats as before. Crying farewell, the Elves of Lórien with long grey poles thrust them out into the flowing stream, and the rippling waters bore them slowly away. The travellers sat still without moving or speaking. On the green bank near to the very point of the Tongue the Lady Galadriel stood alone and silent. As they passed her they turned and their eyes watched her slowly floating away from them. For so it seemed to them: Lórien was slipping backward, like a bright ship masted with enchanted trees, sailing on to forgotten shores, while they sat helpless upon the margin of the grey and leafless world.

Even as they gazed, the Silverlode passed out into the currents of the Great River, and their boats turned and began to speed southwards. Soon the white form of the Lady was small and distant. She shone like a window of glass upon a far hill in the westering sun, or as a remote lake seen from a mountain: a crystal fallen in the lap of the land. Then it seemed to Frodo that she lifted her arms in a final farewell, and far but piercing-clear on the following wind came the sound of her voice singing. But now she sang in the ancient tongue of the Elves beyond the Sea, and he did not understand the words: fair was the music, but it did not comfort him.

Yet as is the way of Elvish words, they remained graven in his memory, and long afterwards he interpreted them, as well as he could: the language was that of Elven-song and spoke of things little known on Middle-earth.

Ai! laurië lantar lassi súrinen,
Yéni únótimë ve rámar aldaron!
Yéni ve lintë yuldar avánier
mi oromardi lisse-miruvóreva
Andúnë pella, Vardo tellumar
nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni
ómaryo airetári-lírinen.

Sí man i yulma nin enquantuva?

An sí Tintallë Varda Oiolossëo
ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortanë
ar ilyë tier undulávë lumbulë;
ar sindanóriello caita mornië
i falmalinnar imbë met, ar hísië
untúpa Calaciryo míri oialë.
Si vanwa ná, Rómello vanwa, Valimar!
Namárië! Nai hiruvalyë Valimar.
Nai elyë hiruva. Namárië!

`Ah! like gold fall the leaves in the wind, long years numberless as the wings of trees! The long years have passed like swift draughts of the sweet mead in lofty halls beyond the West, beneath the blue vaults of Varda wherein the stars tremble in the song of her voice, holy and queenly. Who now shall refill the cup for me? For now the Kindler, Varda, the Queen of the Stars, from Mount Everwhite has uplifted her hands like clouds, and all paths are drowned deep in shadow; and out of a grey country darkness lies on the foaming waves between us, and mist covers the jewels of Calacirya for ever. Now lost, lost to those from the East is Valimar! Farewell! Maybe thou shalt find Valimar. Maybe even thou shalt find it. Farewell! ' Varda is the name of that Lady whom the Elves in these lands of exile name Elbereth.

And it seemed to Iaurcalion, whose boat came last, that as he looked back one last time his eyes swept from the white Lady to the tops of the Golden Wood where the tallest tree stood high in the distance and it seemed to him that shining in the sunlight was another also robed in white. But as he watched it raised its arms and on either side of it to bars of silver shot forth and suddenly the River swept round a bend, and the banks rose upon either side, and the light of Lórien was hidden. But he knew that his friend, Ariana, had bidden them fairwell with only the wind telling her what was passing in the land that her eyes could not see.

The travellers now turned their faces to the journey; the sun was before them, and their eyes were dazzled, for all were filled with tears. Gimli wept openly.

`I have looked the last upon that which was fairest,' he said to Legolas his companion. `Henceforward I will call nothing fair, unless it be her gift.' He put his hand to his breast.

`Tell me, Legolas, why did I come on this Quest? Little did I know where the chief peril lay! Truly Elrond spoke, saying that we could not foresee what we might meet upon our road. Torment in the dark was the danger that I feared, and it did not hold me back. But I would not have come, had I known the danger of light and joy. Now I have taken my worst wound in this parting, even if I were to go this night straight to the Dark Lord. Alas for Gimli son of Glóin! '

`Nay! ' said Legolas. `Alas for us all! And for all that walk the world in these after-days. For such is the way of it: to find and lose, as it seems to those whose boat is on the running stream. But I count you blessed, Gimli son of Glóin: for your loss you suffer of your own free will, and you might have chosen otherwise. But you have not forsaken your companions, and the least reward that you shall have is that the memory of Lothlórien shall remain ever clear and unstained in your heart, and shall neither fade nor grow stale.'

`Maybe,' said Gimli; `and I thank you for your words. True words doubtless; yet all such comfort is cold. Memory is not what the heart desires. That is only a mirror, be it clear as Kheled-zâram. Or so says the heart of Gimli the Dwarf. Elves may see things otherwise. Indeed I have heard that for them memory is more like to the waking world than to a dream. Not so for Dwarves.
'But let us talk no more of it. Look to the boat! She is too low in the water with all this baggage, and the Great River is swift. I do not wish to drown my grief in cold water.' He took up a paddle, and steered towards the western bank, following Aragorn's boat ahead, which had already moved out of the middle stream.


So the Company went on their long way, down the wide hurrying waters, borne ever southwards. Bare woods stalked along either bank, and they could not see any glimpse of the lands behind. The breeze died away and the River flowed without a sound. No voice of bird broke the silence. The sun grew misty as the day grew old, until it gleamed in a pale sky like a high white pearl. Then it faded into the West, and dusk came early, followed by a grey and starless night. Far into the dark quiet hours they floated on, guiding their boats under the overhanging shadows of the western woods. Great trees passed by like ghosts, thrusting their twisted thirsty roots through the mist down into the water. It was dreary and cold. Frodo sat and listened to the faint lap and gurgle of the River fretting among the tree-roots and driftwood near the shore, until his head nodded and he fell into an uneasy sleep.

[Ol'gaffer]

When Frodo woke from his sleep, he found that the small elven boats still were drifting slowly down the river towards ánduin.
His hands were clasped around the vile that Galadriel had given him and only now did he realize the beauty of it as they had left the lovely woods of Lothlorien. His heart sank ashe thought of the loss of Ariana who had stayed behind in Lothlorien. He tried to see the others from the boats at their side, all hung their heads and no one spoke, Aragorn was quiet as well but Frodo thought that he missed Lothlorien as well. He clasped the vile thighter and turned to his side and tried to sleep.

[Nenya Evenstar]

Thus it was that the boats were all swiftly swept into the the great River Anduin for the river that the boats had been riding in was simply a tributary of that great river. Down the Anduin the boats went, as fast indeed as all the company could have wished. They had need of speed, and they were getting it.

Gimli sat still and gazed into the swiftly passing water. His eyes had a far-away look in them as though he was recalling things of great wonder and fair form.

"Gimli," Legolas asked, "what makes you so thoughtful?"

"How can one not be thoughtful after such a passing dream?" Gimli asked.

Legolas smiled. "It is indeed a great dwarf that can truly appreciate the woods of Lothlorien for what they really are!"

Gimli bowed his head. "Nay, Legolas!" he cried, "It was not the woods which touched my heart so but the great Lady that lives in them. She has forever laid a hold upon my heart -- a hold that I have never felt before. For she is more fair than all the jewels of the world combined, and none can surpass her wisdom. She has forever sealed the gaps between your kind and mine in my mind! I will never doubt the Elven Race again for I know that the Lady Galadriel is of that Race and is the fairest and wisest lady I have ever met." Gimli's face flushed and he bowed his head.

"You do yourself credit, Gimli," Legolas said quietly, "and you do not know with how much respect I hold you! Indeed, it is as much your own heart that has changed and sealed any gaps between our races as it is the heart of the Lady of the Galadrim." Gimli said no more but sat in deep thought with his hand to his chest pocket wherein he had stowed the Lady Galadriel's gift.

[Anamatar IV]

The creature dove quickly and silently into the water with a log. He came up ontop of the log sputtering.

"Nasssty hobbitses! They stole precious! We'll get them! Throttle them in their sleep! Cruel Elves chasing us into the water! We hate them forever! When we have the precious we'll be king, king, king Gollum, Great Gollum! The nassty Elves will kiss our foot and then we will throttle them!" Gollum paddled silently far behind the fellowship, even in the broad daylight. His keen eyes could always see the Elven boat.

After several hours the sun got bright.

"The yellow face in the sky is come! We hate it! When we are king we will kill it!" The creature muttered quietly in this fashion for a time.

[Ol'gaffer]

Frodo felt something nudgin him gently and opened his eyes.
"Look Frodo" Aragorn said in awe, "the Argonath" Frodo looked up to see two gigantic stone statues climbing high above them into the sky both holding their hands out as if trying to stop something, the tiny elvish boats seemed so insignificant compared to these astounding statues. "Long have I hoped to see the statues of my forfathers again, soon we shall be at the falls of Rauros and Henneth Aun. We shall rest there." Frodo looked at the other boats, all were still looking at the two mighty statues that the boats where now passing. Frodo said nothing..

[Ariana Undomiel]

"My Lord," exclaimed Haldir in haste as he rushed silently into the high chamber of the Galadrim, "A great bird has been seen flying over the wood. The eyes of our scouts say that it is a mightly eagle from the Misty Mountains and that it is bearing some strange burden. We have archers poised to shoot but we wait for your command. What is your will, Lord?"

Celeborn rose swiftly with Galadriel at his side. Together they went swifly up a high flight of stairs until they came to a flet that stood upon the upermost crown of the great Malorn Tree. Haldir was close behind them.

"It is not the way of our people to be hostile to the wind lords, but nor is it the way of the eagles to fly this close to our land."

"The windlords are wise, and mighty and have ever been the enemy of the Dark Lord," spoke Galadriel. "One would not come this close now if it were not for good purpose." Celeborn nodded in agreement.

"Allow the creature to land where it will and we will see what shall follow," commanded the Lord of the Galadrim. Haldir bowed and vanished swiftly down the stair. For a time the Lord and Lady watched with keen eyes the circling flight of Gwahir, Lord of the Eagles, but suddenly he dropped down and gently landed in the meadow outside the forest. Many elven scouts appeared from the woods on all sides. But their weapons were lowered. Haldir approached the great bird.

"My Lord Gwahir, what brings you to our dominion?"

"I come bearing a burden and one which I think you will be glad of." With that the mighty eagle lifted his great wing and behold, beneath was revealed the naked body of Mithrandir and those who were near cried out in astonishment in their own tongue. Haldir himself rushed forward and taking his own cloak laid it over the naked man and several of his companions lifted him and bore him straight away into the city and into the waiting hands of Galadriel and Galdor who began at once to work to heal him. For his strength and life seemed to have been drained from him and they knew not measure of perils he had escaped from. Celeborn himself went to speak with Gwahir and the eagle promised to return in a few days time.

[Ol'gaffer]

The fellowship had reached Amon Hen.
Frodo got off the small elvish boat and to a few uneasy steps on shore. Boromir and Aragorn were pulling the boats a