Nightstar: a Tenth Walker story

Traveling to another Elven City

Same.point of view latter

The morning was still young and cold when we set out again, guided now by Haldir and his brother Rúmil.

"Farewell, sweet Nimrodel! " cried Legolas. Frodo looked back and caught a gleam of white foam among the grey tree-stems.

"Farewell," he said.

"Goodbye Nimrodel, thank you for making it harder for those foul creatures to track us", I whispered to it as we left. We went back to the path that still went on along the west side of the Silverlode, and for some way we followed it southward. But soon Haldir turned aside into the trees and halted on the bank of the river under their shadows.

"There is one of my people yonder across the stream," he said "though you may not see him." He gave a call like the low whistle of a bird, and out of a thicket of young trees an Elf stepped, clad in grey, but with his hood thrown back; his hair glinted like gold in the morning sun. Haldir skilfully cast over the stream a coil of grey rope, and he caught it and bound the end about a tree near the bank. "Celebrant is already a strong stream here, as you see," said Haldir "and it runs both swift and deep, and is very cold. We do not set foot in it so far north, unless we must. But in these days of watchfulness we do not make bridges. This is how we cross! Follow me!" He made his end of the rope fast about another tree, and then ran lightly along it, over the river and back again, as if he were on a road.

"I can walk this path, and perhaps Tempest' said Legolas; "but she is wounded and the others have not this skill. Must they swim?"

"No" said Haldir. "We have two more ropes. We will fasten them above the other, one shoulder-high, and another half-high, and holding these the strangers should be able to cross with care." When this slender bridge had been made, we passed over, some cautiously and slowly, others more easily. Of the hobbits Pippin proved the best as he was sure-footed, and he walked over quickly, holding only with one hand; but he kept his eyes on the bank ahead and did not look down. Sam shuffled along, clutching hard, and looking down into the pale eddying water as if it was a chasm in the mountains.
He breathed with relief when he was safely across.

"Live and learn! as my gaffer used to say. Though he was thinking of gardening, not of roosting like a bird, nor of trying to walk like a spider. Not even my uncle Andy ever did a trick like that! " When at last we were all gathered on the east bank of the Silverlode, the Elves untied the ropes and coiled two of them. Rúmil, who had remained on the other side, drew back the last one, slung it on his shoulder, and with a wave of his hand went away, back to Nimrodel to keep watch.

"Now, friends," said Haldir, "you have entered the Naith of Lórien or the Gore, as you would say, for it is the land that lies like a spear-head between the arms of Silverlode and Anduin the Great. We allow no strangers to spy out the secrets of the Naith. Few indeed are permitted even to set foot there. As was agreed, I shall here blindfold the eyes of Gimli the Dwarf. The other may walk free for a while, until we come nearer to our dwellings, down in Egladil, in the Angle between the waters."

This was not at all to the liking of Gimli. 'The agreement was made withou", he started but I put my hand over his mouth, then whispered to him.

"It is a law here, and though I do not like it either it was this or leave you behind and I liked that less. But don't worry I will be the one to guide you, not by a rope but by my hand on your shoulder, or if you prefer in your hand."

"No, upon my shoulder is fine, less these elves make anymore assumptions", he answered.

"Okay", I said happy glad that I had prevented a fight. Taking the piece of cloth from Haldir I said," I'm going to blindfold you now, tell me if I get it to tight on your head."