The Fellowship of the Sword 16 - Nearing Lorien

Western Riverbank of the Upper Celebrant

You stand amidst a winter forest. The trees here are of mixed varieties - oaks and elms and even quite a few enormous mallyrn. To the northeast, the Celebrant river rushes by noisily, swift and cold. The underbrush here is fairly light, and you can easily make out a trail following along the river\'s edge. However, the brush gets really thick in the direction of the river, where more sunlight reaches down to the ground, at least during parts of the day. Across the river you can also see a golden forest, comprised almost exclusively of mighty mallyrn. You feel uncomfortable here, and have the distinct sensation that you are being watched.

Contents:

Foronwe

Faengor

Tamran

Thorondur

Bird

Obvious exits:

Southeast leads to Riverside Pathway along the Celebrant.

Northwest leads to Union of the Silverlode and Nimrodel.

As you arrive in this area, you sense a great spirit of Light beyond the bridge to the East. Indeed, you have arrived at the border of Lothlorien. You remember hearing that the inhabitants of these woods take unkindly to uninvited visitors -- you would be wise to tread carefully...

Tamran look at the silent woods, ordinary they seem to any eyes cast upon them, as he takes a few steps closer to the river. \"You seem to know a lot about this place my Lord.\" the guardsman says without glancing at the Knight, droplets of water spraying him at times.

Long is Foronwe silent, and for many minutes does he contemplate his words and feelings. Many thoughts pass through his head, and his usually-stern face grows even more so. He does as Thorondur, and sits besides the running water. \"The Golden Wood...long have I waited to see this place. And now, when I am but upon its outer borders, I do see that my expectations were not unjustified. The lore and amazing tales of this place do not lie, for I see it is all they claim it to be. I am content here now, yet I can not help but wonder, Lord, shall we be given the immeasurable gift of seeing these woods from within?\"

Faengor on the other hand does not move, gazing at the forest in silence, fruitlessly attempting to find his stalkers trough the trees and brushes of the Golden Wood. Several moments of searching pass and finally Faengor moves forward, silently stepping towards the knight, the squire and the Guard, sunken in thoughts.

Here the river flows swiftly, defiant of the winter cold. Several of the Men of Gondor are arrayed upon the western bank, about the Lord Thorondur who sits there, at peace despite the chilling spray that touches him now and again. An aura of serenity seems to have settled on this place.

It is to Tamran, who stands nearby, that Thorondur speaks first. \"I know little of Lothlorien, Tamran of Minas Tirith, and there are times when knowing little is worse than knowing nothing.\"

Then to Foronwe the Herald turns and says, \"It may well be beautiful within -- but how well do you know the pain of leaving such beauty behind forever?\"

And then, to all who have not yet done so, he gently beckons them, \"Please -- sit.\"

Drenlyn sits beside Foronwe, and gazes at the world about him silently. His eyes rove amoung the trees as if trying to piece together they\'re secrets, and yet he constantly finds sanctuary with the peaceful sight of the river. \"Indeed my lord, for if this golden wood becomes too tempting of a harbor, we may find too much reluctance amoung us when we must leave.\"

\"It is said that men enter those woods and never seen again. Maybe, they find a better life here and no wish do they have to leave it...\" Tamran\'s voice is soft yet clear, his eyes never drifting away from the woods. \"Imagine living in a place of light, no shadow to stalk you, no orcs to ambush you...no shadowspawn to run you down...\" the guardsman slowly begins to sit, for the first time his expression changes.

\"Even so,\" says Thorondur to Tamran, now wiping a tear of river-spray from where it has landed upon his brow. \"Who then would defend the West, if all her guardians slept in the waking dream? Who among you will tell me what the name of this wood does signify in the Elventongue?\"

Silently Faengor places himself on his knees near the river, still sunken in his thoughts as he complies idly to Thorondur\'s request, his gaze still set upon the Golden Wood. \"Let us first see if we are allowed entry,\" Faengor speaks softly, in silent reverence, his words meant for no one in particular. \"Would it not be premature to discuss leaving the forest, if we are not even sure of entry?\"

Foronwe is quiet and thoughtful, his answers spoken for him by those around him. He says nothing, and lets his senses take in all that they can of his surroundings. He contents himself with listening, for the time being..

Now the Herald looks to the young Nimothan with a sad, secret smile. \"Peace, Faengor,\" he says softly, lifting a hand to placate the youth\'s question. \"We will speak soon of that very thing. Yet first, who will answer my query?\"

\"Yet none of that shall happen to one amongst us... I concur with Drenlyn, we must be aware of the quest at hand. The Golden Woods happened to be alongside the way we seem to follow. Let us leave it at that..\" So speaks Rowaen, his words clear, walking towards the gathering, finding a place near his fellow-squires. Then as the Lord Girithlin speaks, Rowaen listens silently, a thoughtful gaze coming upon his features.

Mathollor glances around himself his attention obviously wandering as he half listens to their conversation.

\"Ahh, Drenlyn. Rowaen. Mathollor. Join us, and be at peace beneath the Light that guards the Wood,\" Thorondur tells the late-come squires. As he motions for them to join those already gathered -- sitting, upon the near bank -- he awaits an answer to his question.

Mathollor inclines his head in a graceful nod as he strolls over to join the party. His eyes drawn towards the Wood before he drags them back towards the Herald.

Drenlyn nods, \"I for one wish not to hide in blessed peace yet, but I hope that we do not lose many stout hearts to the beauty of this blossoming wood.\"

Now turning to the Herald Drenlyn remarks as he makes himself comfortable by the edge of the river, \"Sadly Sir Thorondur, I know not why this wood is named so, though I\'ve heard that its trees do blossom beautifully in the spring.\"

Faengor holds his speech, gazing forth after being silenced by Thorondur, unknowing of the answer. Silent eyes dart forward at the tree and the river in silent revery, while Faengor\'s ears wait for the answer.

Tamran looks at Thorondur and smiles, as he nods in agreement. At length he also speaks to the Knight\'s other question, \"Not versed in the old Lore am I, just stories that I heard as a boy...I am afraid I do not recall hearing of what the name signifies, for only as the Golden wood have I heard it mention aside from it\'s name. Maybe one of the quires, know the answer to your query...\"

As the question becomes fully aware to the young Nimothan, he sits straight, eyes silently watching Drenlyn as he speaks. A faint smile appears on his face, a dreamy gaze wandering into his eyes. The words Tamran speaks then, seem to find recognition with Rowaen.

\"My Lord, I too would only know the name as to mean the Golden Wood. Books I have read, and no other name have I come across then that of the Golden Wood...\"

Lothlorien,\" says Thorondur then, and gravely.

\"Lothlorien, that in the speech of the Grey Elves means the dream-flower,\" he softly intones. Now examining each of his companions at length, the Herald -- long rumoured an Elf-Friend, as they must now -- smiles once more, though a deep, deep sorrow lies within it.

\"There is beauty there, verily, more beauty than you have ever seen. And yet in beauty lies peril. Some of you speak of entering Faengor asks if we must consider it others would leave it entirely. And yet I say to you, do not hope that we will enter here, for I think it unlikely. And I think it best if things stand, thusly.\"

Faengor sighs softly, a soft hiss even as if a sudden burden fell of his shoulders. Silently he brings up his hands, clasping them together as he rips his gaze away from the Golden forest and places it upon the Knight-Herald.

\"Peril in beauty, Lord Thorondur?\" he questions in a sudden raising of his voice. \"How can there lie peril in Beauty?\"

Before answering Faengor himself, Thorondur gazes once more about the party -- perhaps seeing if any will demonstrate their wisdom, and answer the question in his place.

Mathollor shakes his head a rueful grin on his face as he looks over the rest of the party. At Faengor\'s words he laughs loudly and almost scornfully.

And so Rowaen sees and hears his brother speak, and swiftly comes his answer in return. \"Indeed peril in beauty, or perhaps peril in dreams. What use would we have of men, half awake, dreading to leave such a place of legends. Losing eye of the quest itself, to realize of what we are here in the first place, to seek a way to relieve the lost son!\"

Drenlyn nods, as his eyes are lost on the trees across the river, and speaks, as though in a dream himself, \"An good name it is, for entering the wood, even staring at it so, can bring one into an inescapable trance.\"

Shaking his head lightly, and turns to Faengor, \"Dear guard, beauty is the greatest peril, for it can drive men mad if it is too great, or make the tasks a head appear too difficult and dark, and so corrupt the stoutest of warriors.\"

Finally does Foronwe break his silence. Having listened to all that is said, he lets his feelings burst loose, in the form of a question to Thorondur. His words he speaks quickly and loudly, with great passion. \"Do we not risk madness and peril greater if we avoid the wood? Are not the alternate paths equally dangerous?\" He stares forth at the Wood, as he says this, and not at any person in particular.

Mathollor speaks slowly and carefully \"I am glad that my fellow squires display such courage and stout hearts before a wood, pray Valar that we need confront nothing more fierce.\"

\"Is Lothlorien truly that enchanting that one would forget and set aside his loyalty?\" Faengor frowns, arching his eyebrows at both Rowaen and Drenlyn. \"Never have I witnessed such beauty beauty that would make me forget my oath to the Steward. Yet perhaps, ..\" his voice halts and slowly the Errand Rider\'s eyes drift to the Golden Wood. \"Perhaps indeed yes, there can lie peril in beauty.\"

\"Where our path leads we shall go. Whether it is within those woods or not...\" Tamran says, as he glances at Foronwe, \"The decision is not ours to take. I shall not enter those woods unless invited in.\" and then turning to Mathollor, he adds \"Something I must have missed? Tell me good squire what is so funny, so I may laugh also.\"

And now more than satisfied with the sudden eruption of conversation and queries amidst the squires and the guardsmen, the Knight of Dol Amroth among them raises his voice -- and moves to quell all with a simple sentence:

\"I have spoken yestermorn with an Elf of this Wood.\"

And now he looks sharply upon Mathollor, whose rash speech speaks of the shadow, and not the light.

\"Tamran speaks wisely.\" concurs the young Nimothan with the man of guard, \"What would we discuss, if we are not even sure whether entrance to the Woods will be permitted.\"

More Rowaen seems willing to speak, lips already parted. Yet how swiftly his they are pressed again, as the Lord Girithlin speaks. Twice the young squire blinks, eyeing the Knight-Herald with astonishment. Also a glance is casted to Mathollor, a brow raised in wondering, though his gaze returns swiftly to the figure of Thorondur.

Raising a questioning eyebrow to Mathollor, Drenlyn retorts, \"And what makes you think fellow squire, that this may be our greatest challenge? For some would find the temptation here to be very great, and sometimes our most difficult foe may wear a mask of great beauty, and still be fierce. But I speak no ill of this wood, for if Thorondur has spoken with an elf but yestermorn, then I do not doubt that they watch and listen to us now, and pass judgement.\"

Mathollor says, \"We spend our time discussing entering the wood yet before the knight spoke we had no knowledge that entry would be possible. Would it not be better to consider this matter with logic and strategy ?\"\"

Standing, the Lord Thorondur waits for the squires to fall silent ere speaking further on this wonder he has revealed. And though he seems patient, none know better than they that he is not one to be lightly defied.

Curious eyes glance up at the Knight-Herald and swiftly Faengor seals his lips, waiting patiently for the Lord\'s voice.

Tamran looks at the Knight-Herald, almost ignoring the squires answering him. Yet no word does he speak, no questions asked. Silently he awaits Thorondur to continue.

Falling silent upon looking at the Herald, Drenlyn falls silent, attentively waiting for what may come.

Foronwe looks about himself with frustration. From face to face, he sees shouting and endless conversation. He looks between them all, and then to the Lord Thorondur. At once, he shouts \"Silence, men! Silence! Can you not see that our Lord Thorondur here wishes to speak of matters of great import to all of us. Little is our knowledge compared to his! \" Finishing his words, and seeing the silence fall around him, he awaits Thorondur\'s words as well..

Mathollor turns quickly and bows to Lord Thorondur. His face showing curiosity and a though forced down a trace of wonder.

A wry smile turns Thorondur\'s lips, briefly, at the words of the squire Foronwe. Too kind, maybe, yet he remains patient, awaiting the blessed silence that must settle on the Wood once more ere he speaks again.

When at last that moment comes, and all the sound to pass their ears is the rush of the water, the rustle of the leaves above, he draws a deep breath to him. And now the Herald explains.

From the camp, Indilzar finally comes up to the edge of the river. He joins the company here but is silent, listening.

\"I have spoken with an Elf of the Wood,\" he repeats, \"and I have told her of our plight.\" Gravely now Thorondur eyes each and every man about him, ere going on:

\"She has carried word of our errand to her Lord and Lady. More than this we cannot ask. What the Elves decide, they come to of their own counsels. Yet I have a question for each of you: are any of us worthy or their wisdom, let alone entry?\"

\"Look within your hearts,\" Thorondur urges them, his voice gentle and yet riven through with bands of strength like steel. \"I see Men of Gondor here, aye. Yet also I see among them men who feud with their brothers, men who scorn the simple questions of their fellows, and men who laugh at fairly-spoken words. I see men who think with their swords and with their minds, but not their hearts. Look deep within yourselves, children of the West that is no more -- and think for yourselves if you can stand beneath the gaze of the Golden Lady, and not quail in fear when all your pride is stripped away.\"

\"Only then,\" says Thorondur at last, \"will you know yourselves. For in the end that will mean more to our quest than whether we stay, or tarry.\" Then he is done, and all falls quiet.

\"Truly Girithlin you speak wisdom,\" says Indilzar at length as he leans on a tree by the river, \"for it is perilous I deem for us to be among that of a later age lest we become enamoured of it. It may be our doom to journey thither and then who knows? Yet our errand and our quest is before us, and if that is to be the case, so be it. Yet I will say this much as well. Long are the leagues to Erebor and there are no folk we know of save the Elves until we reach the lands nigh the Carrock where Numandil found the people known as the Beornings. It would do us well to remember that we will have need of food and stores in our journey. Horses may thrive on grass, but Men need other things.\"

\"Too long have we stood against the shadow, that our hearts have become hard. Yet, if not most, at least some of us still remember our friendship with the First-Born. But indeed, we do not show it often, for we have been trying to remain strong for so long that we have forgotten to tear down the walls around our hearts when we could do so.\" Tamran says to the Knight.

\"Speaking for myself, I still hold the old friendship with elves close to my heart, yet if I am worthy for their council is another matter. I am no lord...only a soldier of Gondor.\" the guardsman continues.

Drenlyn nods, and draws within himself, his eyes closing gently. He sits so, an image of thought and peace and silence. Opening his eyes, Drenlyn begins to speak, and yet remains silent, staring at the flowing waters nearby. Startling awake at the voice of the knight, Drenlyn nods at the words, and yet speaks not.

\"And will you force your way in, if no Elf comes to lead you thither, Lord Bragollach?\" wonders the Lord Girithlin, though he nods in approval of Tamran\'s words that come after.

Mathollor shifts his balance slightly, as he does so his face becomes thoughtful as he looks over the assembled company. His eyes are distant for a moment and the he moves again this time to stand beside Lord Indilzar. \"We must consider how best to serve our Prince best.\"

Listening to Tamran Indilzar then says, \"Yes, it may be so. I hope it is so.\"

Yet now he pauses and wonders at the words of Thorondur Girithlin, reknowned herald of Gondor and he says, \"Truly if you think of me suchly then I marvel. For many times I have been true to our quest and to our errand. I do not seek to do such, for to what profit would it gain, save perhaps to gain an arrow in our sleep. Yet I for one would look upon that land beyond the river and see what I may. For of old I heard tales told of the eldest kindred and I have not seen one yet among moon or sun. Indeed, I had thought it but a myth of old but then again, in many songs things are said that are true.\"

He then looks to the company as a whole and says, \"Bragollach I may be, but I am also a Man of Gondor. If the Elven kindred gives us aid, then we shall be fortunate - if not - then we must do what seems good to us.\"

Faengor\'s pupils grow large, his nostrils flare and his lips grow grim as stern eyes muster Thorondur\'s words with hurt pride. His lips remain sealed, though with trouble as the Errand Rider searches inside him for the answer to another query of the Girithlin Lord, yet only after several moments Faengor can find his serenity and calm that this place brings anew and he speaks with a clear voice,

\"Perhaps we are not worthy of their judgement, yet is our quest not worthy? Maybe we do struggle between ourselves and perhaps we do scorn each other for their words. Perhaps the first-born live forever while man is doomed to die of age. We do not carry the wisdom that only age can bring, but our quest is of relevance and any should understand such for Amrothos is the child of the prince and carries blood of the elves.\"

\"You speak strong words, Lord Thorondur, as do you, Lord Indilzar. Yet the arguments are strong both ways, and only one true path lies ahead of us. It does indeed seem that many of us, if not all, are not deserving of entrance to this place. Yet is not the beauty of the Wood that it can also heal and mend spirits full of pride, rather than only overwhelm them. For if the wood is truly as great as is told, it should be open to many, not only those of the highest degree.\" Foronwe looks between those in front of him. \"It seems a doom-filled choice is upon us all, yet this talk is of no import if we still do not know whether or not we CAN enter...\"

Tamran looks at Indilzar and Mathollor, now standing besides him. \"Follow you to the gates of Minas Morgul I will without hesitation, that I have told you before...yet I shall not enter those woods without the blessing of the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien.\" he says, pausing for a moment, \"I admit that I wish to see the woods, for only one with no love of our old friends will not want to, yet willingly should I await here if I am not deemed worthy of this honor, until the ones that are, if any, return with council.\"

\"Yet do not let the rightness of your quest blind you to the error of pride, Faengor Nimothan,\" Thorondur says to Faengor, and then looks to Indilzar at length, silent a while. When Foronwe speaks, and Tamran, the Herald nods his approval once again.

\"There is no debate,\" he says simply. \"The Eldar will decide if they will succour us, or not. Until then, we must enjoy what we may of our time, though the quest lies heavily upon us.\"

\"We may not need to enter,\" says Indilzar, \"to receive their aid. For since the peril at the Fords of Isen I have watched our stock of supplies dwindle. Indeed, that is why I was a-hunting with Huan for this past day as best as we might. Yet such labour is slow, even for Huan. But Huan knows this land, better by far than any here. He can smell the fragrance far keener than we, and he hears the birds from afar singing their songs in the breeze. For did he not come here with Numandil? Yet I ask the company now to lay aside their thoughts of doom. For now let us enjoy the sight of the wood, even if we do not pass within those boughs.\"

\"Lord Thorondur,\" says Indilzar again, \"I agree, but we must not let our time be idle. For if the elves do not help us, there is still the long road up the Anduin. Let us send forth the company into parties south of here. We must hunt and gather what store we may.\" Then a glance is given to Tamran, \"Tamran, you are knowledgeable in these things as a soldier would. There are some hundred or more leagues as the crow flies from here to the Carrock where men are friendly to our kindred. By horse, how long do you deem that shall take us?\"

Mathollor nods his head his face showing his approval at the words, as he turns his thoughts to the matter at hand.

Tamran ponders the question of Indilzar for a moment, before he speaks \"It will take us a few weeks at best my lord, that is if we do not have to go back on our tracks...\"

With nothing to say of such mundane affairs, the Lord Thorondur -- fey of late, and of some strange mood not given to the warp and woof of daily life -- moves away from the gathering, back toward the camp.

Indilzar nods, \"I have pondered our road. I considered also the peril of Mirkwood. It might be we can escape it by skirting the southern edges. Yet it is said there are evil things there: Dol Guldor where the enemy is strong. Also, it might be best to follow the path of Numandil of which we have his map and Naerdil\'s journal. What concerns me most is getting there obviously. I do not take lightly the land of Lothlorien, but there are also many perils beyond. And then we shall see.\"

Slowly Faengor raises from his knelt position, inclining his head respectfully to those present before following Thorondur to the Southeast.

Standing, Drenlyn smiles, and gazes at the gathering, and then follows the Herald back towards the camp.

"