~Chapter Six~

The Fall to A New Beginning

The Fellowship marched on towards the direction of the woods of Elves. It was the first time ever since the Pass of Caradhras, that Legolas and Medlinya had not been walking side by side. The company were all quiet as they followed Aragorn. The sun was approaching dusk on the Dimrill Dale Hillside of rolling meadows and trees. It was a pleasant feeling to be out in the sun and grassy world than the depths of Moria.

Aragorn scoured ahead of the company, as they stumble on in the fading light. In the distance the shimmer of a large forest can be seen... Lothlorien!

Hurriedly, they all run across a forest floor bestrewed with yellow flowers. Above is a roof of golden leaves, held up by silver pillars, the trunks of huge, grey trees. Medlinya strayed behind the Fellowship, by herself not wanting to speak to anyone. She watched the Dwarf nervously gaze around the forest.

"Stay close, young hobbits... they say a Sorceress lives in these woods. An elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell..." Gimli dragged on, glancing back to the hobbits.

Medlinya's eyes catch Frodo hysterically gazing around, looking for something, like the reactions when the she-elf first talked into Sam's mind. "And are never seen again!" Gimli finished his tale.

Sam, being a loyal and good friend towards Frodo, noticed the hobbit acting strange, "Mr. Frodo?"

"Well, here's one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" Gimli praised. Just as he finished, The Fellowship are suddenly surrounded by armed Elves.

Deadly arrows aimed at their heads. The Elvish captain steps forward, looking at Gimli, with disdain, "The Dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark." The captain commented, causing Gimli to growl.

"Haldir of Lorien, we come here for your help. We need your protection." Aragorn spoke in Elvish. Haldir gazed at Aragorn, seriously

"Aragorn! These woods are perilous. We should go back." Gimli unnervingly proposed as his eyes went to each arrow, pointed at him.

The Elvish captain glanced back at the Dwarf, "You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back." His blue eyes than lock with Frodo's. "Come, she is waiting."

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Haldir leads the Fellowship onto a hill top. They look with wonderment at the vista spread before them.

Several miles towards the South, a large hill rises out of the woods. Upon the hill rise many mighty Mallorn trees, taller than any others. Nestled high in the crown on the Mallorns is a beautiful city. It gleams in the low rays of the late afternoon sun... green, gold, and silver. To the East of Caras Galadhon, the Woods of Lorien run down the pale gleam of Anduin, the great river. Beyond the river, the land appears flat and empty, formless and vague, until far away, it rises again like a dark and dreary wall. The sun that lies on Lothlorien has not power to enlighten the shadows that lie beyond.

Haldir lead the company to Caras Galadhon into Celeborn's Chamber. The Fellowship step onto a wide fleet filled with a soft light. The walls are green and silver, the roof gold and in it's midst is the trunk of the might Mallorn tree, now tapering toward it's crown.

Celeborn steps forward to greet the guests. His hair is long and silver, his face grave and beautiful, with no sign of age upon it. Next to him stands Galadriel, the Lady of the Elves. She has hair of deep gold and timeless, unsurpassed beauty. Celeborn looks hard at Aragorn, "Ten there are, yet eleven there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him. "

Frodo silently looks at Galadriel, standing silently beside Celeborn. "... He has fallen into shadow." The beautiful Elf looked to Aragorn, "The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all... Yet hope remains while the company is true." Her eyes move onto Sam, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest for you are weary with sorrow and much toil." Finally her eyes go to Frodo, "Tonight you will sleep in peace."

~~~~~~~

On the lawn of Caras Galadhon, The Fellowship sat near a pavilion set among the trees near the fountain. They lie on soft couches as Elves leave food and wine for them. Mournful singing drifts down from the trees above.

"A lament for Gandalf..." Legolas sadly observed.

"What do they say about him?" Merry asked the Elf.

Legolas met the hobbit's eyes. "I have not the heart to tell you. For me, the grief is still too near."

Medlinya agreed with the Elf silently. Instead of sitting on the couches like everyone else, she sat on the ground beside the campfire staring at the flames. She heard Aragorn comfort Boromir behind her, how Lady Galadiel had told him the fall of Gondor and such. Medlinya did not want to listen to anything besides her own thoughts.

Sam peered over to the cloaked elf, realizing that he have not heard a word from her in so long, "Are you okay, My Lady?"

Her head flicked up towards him, briefly before returning her gaze back to the fire. Her head slightly shook side to side for a no. The Fellowship turned their eyes on the silent elf, Gwiliweth was the only one who knew how much Gandalf meant to her friend. The red headed elf sat beside Medlinya and rubbed her back gently.

Gwiliweth opened her mouth to speak, when the cloaked elf beat her to it, "Gandalf was my father."

"Your father?!" The naive Pippin questioned bewildered.

Gwiliweth sighed with a smile, "Figuratively, Pip. Gandalf was like a father figure to her."

Merry suddenly looked curious, "What happened to your real father?"

Silence settled around the campfire, waiting for the she-elf to answer. "I do not know. Our last meeting I saw him was in Mirkwood, before he tried to slay me. That was 2,870 years ago." The eyes of the Fellowship grew in size, except for Legolas and Gwiliweth. The only ones that knew. Medlinya began to tell her story, from being in the Elven-king's palace to her in a hole in a tree. Where the other part of her story began,

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The small elf-ling cried into her knees when suddenly she heard a voice.

"Yah!" A male voice echoed in her hole. A loud whack and sizzling noise, like fire. The growl-makers pattered away before a soft gasp of words suddenly it was all silent. Medlinya stayed quiet, following her mother's instructions.

A few seconds later, something intruded into her sanctuary. Immediately following her mother's instructions, she grabbed a sword and stabbed at it. "Ow!" a male voice yelped.

"Wh-h-h-ho goes there?" the little child demanded, her voice shaking in fear.

"I'm a friend. Come out, little one." the same male voice answered.

"Nana, told me to stay!" the child retorted.

"I know she did, but she also wants you to stay alive. Come out and I'll get you home, little one." the voice remarked.

Hesitantly, the elf-ling held her mother's swords tightly to her chest with one arm as she uses her other to climb out of the hole. Crawling out of her hole, her eyes gazed up to see a white bearded Man clothed in grey cloak with grey pointed hat.

Medlinya glanced to the spot where her mother was laying to see she wasn't there, "Where's Nana?"

The Man visibly frowned, "Your mother has passed on to the Halls of Mandos."

Her eyes lowered avoiding the Man's face, knowing what she had feared. Her mother was dead.

"Come with me, little one. I'll get you out of the forest." The wizard calmly said to the child.

The child glanced up at the kind face of the Man with no point in his ears and nodded softly. Silently she walked beside the Man clutching her swords to her chest. Along the way, the child grew curious and asked for his name.

The grey clad Man smiled warmly at her, "Gandalf The Grey. What may yours be?"

"Medlinya."

From that point on, the elf-ling clung close to the wizard, never leaving his side. Traveling to the Old Forest, near the Shire, Gandalf the brilliant wizard had helped the child control her powers. Praising her when she did something good; Pushing her on with encouragement when she messed up. For twenty years in the Old Forest with the child, that child who couldn't control her powers turned into a full grown Elf maiden with a astounhsihing control that never failed to amaze the wizard. He taught her all he knew and gifted her books and built a hut with her. Gandalf gave her a choice to go with him out into the world or staying here. Overwhelmed by the fear of other people, she choose the forest. The parting weighed heavily on both beings... That was the last time she saw the wizard until current year when he came to her asking for her.

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"That wizard had been the father I never truly had. He stayed true to my safety and taught me all I know. I have been hiding under such a cloak because of my past and hiding my name to some of you, afraid you have heard of me. My name is not Magaga as Gwiliweth had said." The cloaked elf shot a hidden death glare towards the red head. " My true name is Medlinya."

With that said, she stood up from the ground. Her head bowed to her companions respectfully, before heading for her bag against the tree. Grabbing her bag, the she-elf strolled away to a different tree far away from the Fellowship. Legolas made a step to go after Medlinya, when he was stopped by Gwiliweth. "She needs to be left alone tonight. Telling her story is not an easy one to do as you heard."

The Fellowship all hearing this command, softly nod their heads. It was their turn to stare at the fire in thought. Gwiliweth smiled at them, "It is alright to feel unenlightened by her past. Though do not stress your thoughts on her. She will be fine by tomorrow."

Legolas quietly laid out his sleeping bag and gazed over to Medlinya as she laid hers out as well. 'Medlinya?'

He watched as her head flicked over to him. 'Yes?'

'I now know your strength in battle. From where I stood, it seemed as if you were dancing. It was beautiful.'

A smile formed on the she-elf's face. 'It warms my heart to hear that from one who has seen more than I.' His smile grew as the two stared at each other, 'You are a mighty warrior, yourself. Although your archery stands out the most. Back in Moria, your arrow hit the Goblin through the forehead, to a pillar sixty feet away. I could not stop watching you and see how it hit the Goblins every time.'

'Your complements make my heart sing, Medlinya.' A grin grew on his face, causing the she-elf to rethink her settlement near a different tree. As if she was an open book, 'Do you want to come back over here?'

With a sigh in her head, Legolas' chuckle resounded in her head. She gathered her stuff and quietly made her way back to the Fellowship. The rest were snuggled in their sleeping bags, most of them past out. Laying her bed next to Legolas' bed. The two Elves slipped into their beds, quietly. Resting her head down with a tug of her hood over her face more. They both fell asleep soundly.

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In the morning, The Lady of the Elves granted each person with a green Elven cloak and their own gift. A bow of Galadhrim was given to Legolas, Mallorn seed to Sam, a scabbard for Aragorn, a belt to Boromir, Merry, and Pippin, daggers to the two hobbits as well, Frodo received a magical phial, Gimli received three strands of Galadiel's hair, and Medlinya received only a riddle from the Lady, 'Humble in it's bud, though a dark will overcome before it blooms, the beauty is shown. A frail heart blackened with grief, the maker of life... Wrong will be right. The heart shall die... The fall to a new beginning.'

The Fellowship boarded into small four elven boats. Merry, Boromir, and Pippin was in one, Aragorn and Frodo, Gwiliweth and Sam, than finally Medlinya, Legolas, and Gimli.

They all rowed away from the Lothlorien Shore into the Silverlode River. Elves quietly watch them depart. The boats pass into the great river, Anduin. The four Elven boats carry the Fellowship steadily southward. Green trees slowly give way to a brown and withered land.

A flock of birds circle high above, black against the pale sky. Aragorn watches them with concern. The four Elves boats drift away slowly through the steep rocky gorge in the pre-dawn light. Aragorn slowly paddling in the stern, "Frodo." he said quietly.

Frodo slowly looks up, his eyes widening with amazement.

Two enormous rock statues, towering like three hundred foot pinnacles on either side of the river, carved images of Gondorian kings of old. They loom over the boats with power and majesty.

"The Argonath..." Aragorn softy whispered. The Ranger strangely moved by the beauty of the silent sentinels. He speaks, almost as if to himself. "Long have I desired to look upon the kings of old... my kin."

The Fellowship stare in stunned silence as the current takes them through the narrow gap between the Statues' feet. Up past the statues revealed a large lake only a mile down river.

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Reaching the shore of Nen Hithoel, they leap out from their boats and clamber onto the wooded shore.

"We cross the lake at nightfall, hide the boats and continue on foot... we approach Mordor from the North." Aragorn announced.

"Oh, yes, just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil, an impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks And after that gets even better... A festering, stinking marshland, far as the eye can see." the dwarf gloomily commented.

"That is our road... I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf."

Gimli who had sat on a log, suddenly stood up angrily, "Recover my...!" the dwarf replied indigently.

Legolas turns to Aragorn with urgently. "We should leave now."

"No. Orcs patrol the Eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness."

"It is not the Eastern shore that worried me." Legolas casts a glance around into the Parth Galen forest with Medlinya close beside him following in pursuit. "A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near, I can feel it."

Aragorn looks at Legolas, knowing full well what he means. Sam has slumped asleep. Merry dumps a small pile of kindling at Gimli's feet. "Where's Frodo?"

Sam sits up in a start. Aragorn snapped his head round, his eyes fly to Boromir's shield which lies abandoned by his camp bed. Medlinya softly gasped, "Frodo with Boromir out there! It's too dangerous."

Aragorn takes off, looking for Frodo. Medlinya turns to the hobbits, "Stay here and keep your weapons close." Her eyes met with silver, "Gwiliweth will you stay here?"

Gwiliweth smiled with a nod. "Of course!"

With that, Legolas, Medlinya, and Gimli set out after Aragorn. Running through the forest ahead of her, the Elf grabbed his bow. "Get ready for battle!" Legolas hollered to the she-elf and Dwarf.

Immediately, Medlinya unsheathed her swords. Rushing out of the forest, the three are met with a massive horde of stronger Orcs. Glowing brightly, her sword slashed through a solid bodies of the creatures Gandalf had informed her about. Ducking from a swing of an blade, she stabs the Uruk-Hai in the chest. Looking around, she than noticed she was surrounded. Gimli was far away, hacking and blocking his own mini horde of the Orcs. Legolas and Aragorn were close, at least together, fighting off the Orcs.

Grinding her teeth, she twirled her swords around fighting her way to Gimli. SLASH. Her swords blazing with fire, slashed along the air creating a wave of fire. The wave consumed, the Orc in her way. Her eyes caught the sight of a Orc lifting his sword for the kill above Gimli as the Dwarf fights off another. Medlinya hurled her flaming sword into the air, piercing the Orc in the back. Gimli turned to see the Orc fall and Medlinya rip her sword out of the dead Orc. With a bow of his head in gratitude, the two fight side by side. Fighting and helping each other.

As they fought, an echo of an horn reaches the four. "The horn of Gondor!" Legolas answered.

"Boromir!" Aragorn whispered. The Ranger desperately slashes his own way towards, Boromir, killing Uruk-Hai in his path. While Legolas, Medlinya, and Gimli fight a rear guard action. Aragorn takes off leaving the three to battle off other Orcs streaming down to the lake.

As the Orcs began to retreat away no longer fighting a voice rang out, "Medlinya!!!"

Her ears pricked up hearing her name, "Aragorn!" She whispered, recognizing the voice. Medlinya took off running, with the Elf and Dwarf close behind.

Sprinting down into the forest, she was met with a miserable sight, "Boromir!" she cried, sprinting to his side. His chest was bombarded with three pitch black arrows. Aragorn sadly, sits at the dying Man's side. All around him lay twenty dead Uruk-hai by Boromir's sword. "I can heal you!" Medlinya pointed out, setting her hands over him.

A gasping Boromir shook his head at the she-elf. "No, you would strain yourself, Lady Medlinya. It is my time to pass on. I rather die a hero, than be revived at the brink of death. What honor would there be?"

The she-elf stared at the Man's face, in shock. "You have to be the most honorable Man I have ever known, Boromir, Proud Protector of His Country and Company." Her soft hand set itself on his cheek, "You will live on in my memory as such."

"Than will you do one favor for me before my eyes darken?" Boromir gasped.

"Anything for a dear friend." she responded softly.

"I want to see you. The mystery under the cloak." Boromir muttered, coughing.

Medlinya's head bowed heavily to the dying man. Her hands move to her strings binding the cloak together. All eyes of the four men watch this, intently. Her fingers quickly untie her cloak, grabbing fabric weighing on her shoulders she lifted the cloak away revealing her face. Her sapphire blue eyes locked onto the fading hazel eyes of Boromir. Her almond brown hair, a little messy from being under a cloak for so long, still framed her gentle face. The men look on in awe.

Boromir's weak hand gently touched her smooth cheek, "You are far more beautiful than I imagined." he whispered.

Her face slightly lit up from the complement. Softly she laid her cloak over the dying man's body, "I give you the cloak of lavender silk, My cloak to protect you and embrace you if you ever feel alone. Keep it for I no longer need such a thing." Medlinya declared gently leaning down, kissing his forehead.

Boromir smiled brightly, before his light wanes from his eyes. Aragorn also kisses Boromir's forehead, "Be at peace, son of Gondor."

Aragorn stands, facing Legolas and Gimli, "They will look for his coming from the white tower... but he will not return."

Medlinya stares at the body of Boromir and silently covers his body up more with her cloak. A voice behind her, "Are you coming, lass?"

Her sapphire eyes glance back meeting the Dwarf's. His face turned in awe-struck seeing her face fully. A sad smile etched on her smooth face. "I am."

Getting to her feet, the men notice her light Elvish-made green armor, almost similar to Legolas' only more feminine. Her swords in their scabbards closely attached to her leather belt on each hip. Her fingers go to her brown hair, braiding her long hair to keep out of her face. Legolas and Gimli gaped at the she-elf.

Finishing her braid with a leather strap keeping it in place, her sapphire eyes flickered to the gawking two. Legolas avoided looking into her beautiful eyes, a eyebrow rose, "What?"

Recomposing themselves, the Elf and Dwarf straightened and gazed back at the she-elf. "Nothing, lass."

Eyeing the two suspiciously for a moment, her eyes flicker around looking for the others. Panic set in, "Aragorn, Where are the hobbits!?" Gasping, she noticed her longtime friend not there as well, "And Gwiliweth!"

Aragorn set his hand on the shoulder of the frantic she-elf, "Merry and Pippin were captured." the Ranger informed his voice worried and concerned for the hobbits, his eyes were downcast in sadness, "Gwiliweth joined them not wanting the hobbits be left alone."

Medlinya's sorrowful sapphire eye stared into the ones of the Man.

Aragorn's ice blue eyes gazed back as he held her shoulder tightly.

Walking off with a bow of her head, she headed to their camp, leaving the men behind her, astounded of her actual appearance.

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The fallen Boromir laid in one of the Elven boats, his arms across his chest holding his long sword with his lifeless hands. His broken horn at his side. The four grief-stricken member of the Fellowship watch as the Honorable Man of Gondor disappeared, plunging over the massive falls of Rauros.

Legolas quickly sprints over to their other Elven boats, "If we are quick, we will catch Frodo and Sam before nightfall." the Elf estimated starting to push the boat into the lake.

Medlinya glanced over to the Ranger, who was looking over at the far shore. Frodo and Sam's small boat could be seen lying on the distant riverbank as the two hobbits make off into the forest beyond. Motionless, Aragorn quietly stared at the hobbits.

Legolas turned to the Ranger, "You mean not to follow them."

Aragorn's head nodded slowly, "Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands."

"Then it has all been in vain... the Fellowship has failed." Gimli responded despondent.

The Ranger turned to the Dwarf with a smile, "Not if we hold true to each other. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin and Gwiliweth to torment and death, not while we have strength left." Aragorn pulled out a hunting knife out of his pack and straps it on. "Leave all that can be spared behind..." Medlinya saw a steely light in his eyes. "We travel light... Let's hunt some Orc."

"Yes!" The Dwarf shouted beaming bright, "Ha!"

The four's faces grew rapturous. Following after Aragorn, they disappear into the woods, tracking a Uruk-hai trail. Medlinya racing along, suddenly perceived the warning of The Lady of the Wood.

Humble in it's bud...

Her cloak hiding keeping her hidden from all eyes.

Though a dark will overcome before it blooms... the beauty is shown.

The Uruk-hai attacking, before she took off her cloak revealing her true self.

The fall to a new beginning.

Boromir's death to sprang a new beginning for the she-elf. A life of no hiding under her cloak exposed to all eyes.

Yes, that was the answer of the riddle, Medlinya thought with a smile. Although doubt crept into her mind, how do the other verses fit with such conclusion? Her heart was no frail. Or is it? Galadriel is known to see deep into the sands of time. Her riddle cannot just end simply so soon after hearing such a riddle. Was this the answer? Or is there another event happening in the future that Galadriel had foreseen?

The sands of time started to tick.

(End of Chapter Six)

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: First movie done! WOOT! Next is the Two Towers! Awh yah! Hope you enjoyed the first chapters. I wonder what's gonna happen? :o

See yah!