Pov narrator

➳

The Fellowship climbs a winding way among the great trees. They ascend the path until night falls. In the blue glow of a moonlit night, the Fellowship climbs a spiral stair about the trunk of a tree, past glimmering lights of silver and blue. Far above, the silhouetted shapes of the shadowy tree branches loom. Passing numerous platforms, they come to a grand palace in the trees, lit with silvery lights. A curving walkway leads them, leading up a low stair to an archway.

They gather before the arch as Haldir steps to one side. A glowing couple, hand in hand, descend to meet the Fellowship. The Fellowship stares in awe. Aragorn touches his head in greeting, Silveria does the same. The light dims, and before the Fellowship, the Lord and Lady, Galadriel and Celeborn, halt. The Lady's eyes focus on Frodo, but Celeborn speaks.  "The Enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone." He begins.

"Nine there are here, yet Ten there were, set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf?" He continues. As he speaks, Galadriel's eyes flicker to Aragorn's, who looks up. "For I much desire to speak with him... I can no longer see him from afar." He ends.  "Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into shadow." She says. Aragorn nods slightly. Celeborn turns to Galadriel. "He was taken by both Shadow and Flame: a Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria." Legolas speaks up; a hand places itself on his shoulder.

He turns his head to see who it is. Silveria. Gimli bows his head, sadly. Silveria's hand is placed on his shoulder too. "Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his whole purpose." Galadriel says. "Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dûm fill your heart, Gimli, son of Glóin." He continues. The Dwarf looks up at her words. "For the world has grown full of peril. And in all lands, love is now mingled with grief." Galadriel continues. Boromir turns his pained face to the Lady, blinking and swallowing hard. The Lady stares back. Boromir looks away, weeping.

"What now becomes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf, hope is lost." Celeborn says. "The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail to the ruin of all." Galadriel says, and Boromir looks back up at her, unsure.  "Yet hope remains while the company is true." Galadriel looks at Sam, then at Silveria, and smiles. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace." Galadriel says. She whispers to Frodo in his mind, casting her eyes sideways at him.

"Welcome, Frodo of the Shire... one who has seen the Eye!" Galadriel's eyes, the same ones that Frodo saw upon entering Lothlórien, flash through his mind again.

➳

Back on the ground, the Hobbits are settling down to rest. Elf song can be heard.

"A Olórin i yaresse
Mentaner i Numeherui
Tírien i Rómenóri"

(Olórin, who once was
Sent by the Lords of the West
To guard the Lands of the East)

Other Elves:

"Melme nóren sina
núra ala
Eäro"

(Our love for this land
It is more profound than the deeps
Of the sea)

"A lament for Gandalf," Legolas says. Silveria stays quiet, looks at the elf, then aorund them. Aragorn sharpens his sword as Gimli sleeps beside him. "What do they say about him?" Merry ask. "I have not the heart to tell you. For me, the grief is still too near." Legolas says sadly. The song continues.

"Maiaron i Oiosaila,
Manan elye etevanne
Nórie i malanelye?"

(Wisest of all Maiar,
What drove you to leave
That which you loved?)

"Ilfirin nairelma
ullume nucuvalme.
Nauva i nauva."

(Yet we will cast all away
Rather than submit.
What should be shall be.)

Sam crouches down to make his bed. "I bet they don't mention his fireworks. There should be a verse about them." He says. Sam stands up, making Silveria look at him. "The finest rockets were ever seen,
They burst in stars of blue and green..." he tires. There's no answer from the fellowship; only Gimli snores loudly. "Or after thunder... silver showers..." Sam continues. Aragorn turns, annoyed, and swats the Dwarf's pillow, eliciting a grunt from Gimli. "Came falling like a... rain of flowers...." He squats down again.

"Oh, that doesn't do them justice by a long road," sam says sadly. "I think it was nice," Silveria says for the first time. Sam makes eye contact with her, and she smiles. Aragorn walks over to Boromir, seated alone on a great tree root.

"Ú-reniathach
i amar Galen
I reniad lín ne môr, nuithannen."

(No more will you wander
The green fields of this earth
Your journey has ended in darkness.) the elf sings.

"Take some rest. These borders are well protected." Aragorn says. "I will find no rest here. I heard her voice inside my head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Gondor. She said to me, 'Even now, there is hope left.' But I cannot see it. It is long since we had any hope." Boromir says as Aragorn sits beside him. "My father is a nobleman, but his rule is failing. And now our... our people lose faith. He looks to me to make things right, and I — I would do it. I would see the glory of Gondor restored." He continues. "Have you ever seen it, Aragorn? The White Tower of Ecthelion glimmerings like a spike of pearl and silver. Its banners caught high in the morning breeze. Have you ever been called home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets?" Boromir says and turns to face Aragorn.

"I have seen the White City long ago," Aragorn says. "One day, our paths will lead us there. And the tower guard shall take up the call: "'The Lords of Gondor have returned!'" Boromir says with a small smile. Aragorn smiles slightly, then looks away.

—————-
Chapter's up

-Saph