Where the Spirit Meets the Bones

In rememberance of Gandalf

I crept back into that camp so I could conceal the gown Estel had given me - I wanted it to be a surprise when I went to Gandalf's Banquet. Luckily the fellowship hadn't noticed that I had come back and I made my way over to my bag. My weapons were there and we had been provided with elvish pillows and new bed sheets. I opened it and placed the dress in.
"What are you up to?" Legolas asked from behind me suspiciously. Nothing gets past him. He had a cheeky grin on his face knowing that he caught me out.
"Nothing... why do you ask?" I replied smiling, sitting in front of my bag trying to draw him away from what I was doing. He squinted, trying to read me, but instead he sat down next to me cross-legged, his head resting on a tree root. I relaxed and did the same, hugging knees. There was a moment of silence as we both looked at the rest of the fellowship, however it wasn't an awkward silence and I felt completely comfortable seated by him. Gimli was fast asleep in the corner happily snoring and Aragorn was smoking his pipe. The hobbits were further from us in their own corner of the camp eating together, laughing and joking. It made me smile. Boromir was sat by the fire, with a small dagger in his hand. He seemed to be carving as piece of wood. Curious. I wondered what it was.

Legolas and I made comfortable small talk for a few minutes when he questioned my love of reading.
"What is your favourite tome of all?" He said like he was eager to understand me.
"I could no sooner pick a favourite star in the heavens. I love them all equally." I said and Legolas watched me in admiration, like what I was telling him was a perfect performance of dancers.
"I suppose, when I was very young both my mother and father were addicted to the written word. They used to take turns reading to me at night and I would drift asleep to the sound of their voices. Books of lore, philosophy..." I explained, "I keep reading, gaining knowledge... I guess it reminds me of them both..."
"Can I ask you something?" Legolas asked all of a sudden. I nodded, intrigued as to what his question might be. He hesitated, frowned slightly, and then took a deep breath.
"May I ask... how your mother and father died?" I saw Aragorn shuffle uncomfortably, and I could tell Boromir was listening, but I didn't mind. We were definitely all a lot closer now through our shared experiences, from attempting the Pass of Caradhras, journeying through Moria, and unforgettably seeing Gandalf pass into the darkness...
I smiled sadly as an image of my mother spawned in my head. A beautiful woman with long flaming red hair and leafy green eyes just like mine, a kind temperament and caring smile that enclosed a brave and worrier-like spirit.
I didn't look at Legolas, I just stared into the fire of the camp, a warm golden light radiated from it and onto my face. I took a deep breath and sighed before answering.
"Yes of course... she was fighting with my father and a band of elves in the Misty Mountains... she was shot by an arrow to the heart..." I told him.
"Not long after, she passed in my fathers arms, surrounded by the other surviving elves... my father passed away not a month later of heartbreak, consumed by grief and bitterness... I was placed under the care of Lord Elrond, my uncle and god father..." I concluded. Legolas put his arm around me, and I put my head on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry." He said genuinely and from the heart. I smiled and my glassy eyes twinkled in the firelight. Tears descended over my cheeks.
"Thank-you..." I whispered in appreciation of his kindness.

We stayed like that for a few minutes, when my stomach rumbled. Legolas and I chuckled and I blushed in embarrassment. We both got up and got something to eat for dinner by the fire. Boromir stopped whatever he was doing as I approached and put what he was holding away. I could tell by his body language, he didn't want to talk about it and I didn't question that. The mood changed and we chatted happily together on a log next to the fire. Aragorn and Boromir joined in too. As we laughed and joked I looked around at all the camp. Legolas, Aragorn, Boromir, Gimli, Sam, Merry, Pippin and Frodo. I relished in that I had such amazing friends, so valiant and steadfast. The only thing that could have made this scene any better would have been Gandalf, talking with us while smoking his pipe as was his custom.