The Edge of Night

Entering the Golden Wood

She stands there, frozen. Her brain was having a hard time making sense of what just happened. This was Gandalf the Gray. He wasn't supposed to die. If he was not with them, surely they would not be able to make it to Mount Doom. She feels Legolas grab her arm and begin pulling her along the path, out into the daylight. She squints, her eyes not used to the sudden onslaught of light having been in the dark for days.

She looks around to the other members of the party. The Hobbits are all in varying states of distress. Merry is holding Pippin while he cries. Sam is sitting with his head in his hands. She finds Aragorn, observing him as he wipes the Orc blood from his sword. With Gandalf gone, the others would look to him to lead on. "Legolas, Elfwyn, get them up."

She nods, needing directions, needing a distraction. She makes her way over to Merry and Pippin, gently pulling them up so that they're standing. "Come on, little ones. We cannot stay here for long. It isn't safe." She whispers to them.

"Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" Boromir yells, grief making its way into his voice too.

"By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with Orcs. We must reach the woods of Lothlórien." Lothlórien? They were close to her home at this point. Not within a day's journey, but closer than she had been in weeks, though it felt like a lifetime since she had last seen her family. Her father frequently did trade with the lord and lady of the Golden Wood, the horses of Rohan were a favorite among the Galadhrim. "Frodo?" Aragorn calls out and she looks about in panic.  There he is, a couple yards away, although he might as well have been gone entirely, the defeated look on his face had her wanting to reach out to him. But no words she could offer in this moment would help ease this pain.

They make their way down the mountain, and as she runs forward with Aragorn, it's impossible to miss the large forest just ahead. "It is beautiful." She says in awe, speaking for the first time in hours.

"Wait until you see the city." Aragorn tells her.

They run for the tree line and once again she's awestruck. This forest is beautiful, with trees reaching up towards the heavens. "Stay close, young Hobbits!" Gimli says as they continue to look around. "They say a great sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf-witch, of terrible power. All who look upon her, fall under her spell. And are never seen again."

Her stomach churns and a lingering feeling that something is coming sets in, though she could not see or hear anything aside from the wind in the leaves and Gimli's heavy breathing. "Well, here's one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox." He says before several arrows are pointed in his face.

Elfwyn stops short and puts her hands up to show she is no threat, but still the feeling in her stomach grows. "You must be one old fox then." She deadpans to Gimli as they are surrounded.

One of the elves steps forward. "The Dwarf breathes so loud; we could have shot him in the dark." They are led through the forest a ways before stopping at the base of one of the massive trees. The leader, who's name is still not known to her, whistles and soon a ladder falls from a great height. Carefully, they climb up and are met by more elves.

"Mae g'ovannen, Legolas Thranduilion." The leader greets Legolas. (Well met, Legolas son of Thranduil)

"Govannas vîn gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien." She does not know much Elvish, beyond a general greeting, but she was able to pick up that this man, elf, was named Haldir. (Our company stands in your debt, Haldir of Lorien)

"A Aragorn in Dúnedain istannen le ammen." He says, turning next to Aragorn. (Aragorn of the Dunedain, you are known to us)

"Haldir." Aragorn replies, confirming her assumption that Haldir was his name.

"So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can all understand!" Elfwyn rolls her eyes as Gimli spouts off, having witnessed his distaste for the elves firsthand at the council.

Haldir does not look offended, only mildly disgusted. "We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days." He replies in the common tongue.

"And you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul." He growls out. Judging by the look on Aragorn and Haldir's faces, it was safe to assume that it was as rude as it sounded. (I spit on your grave)

"That was not so courteous." Aragorn says, turning around to face him.

Haldir's eyes land on her next and she bows her head slightly, in respect. "Daughter of Rohan, it has been long since we have seen a member of the royal family."

Elfwyn nods. "Yes my lord. Rohan is in a precarious position of late. I fear we have much to worry about within our own borders that trade with our neighbors has fallen by the wayside."

"Tis a pity. The horses of your land are magnificent creatures."

"Thank you, my lord." She turns her face to hide the blush rising in her cheeks at the compliment this handsome elf just paid to her country. He walks pass and she stiffens at their closeness, and the feeling that runs through her as a result. She watches as his eyes land on Frodo, and his whole posture changes, fear creeping into his very being.

"You bring great evil with you." He shudders out and turns back to Aragorn. "You can go no further."

Finding a spot where the flet meets the tree and sitting down, leaning her back against it, she attempts to relax. The days without sleep are catching up to her and the effect the forest has on them is enough to lull anyone to sleep. Just as she's about to close her eyes, Haldir stops in front of her, his face set in a stony line as he addresses them. "You will follow me."

A.N: From here on out, elvish of any kind will be in italics. If it's movie dialogue, I will have the translation in parentheses at the end of the sentence.