Life in Death

8. The lady of the forest

Once we made it out of the mines we almost collapsed on the rocky plains of the surrounding area. I held a sobbing Merry and Pippin close to me, I myself was still in shock. How could I forget that we would lose Gandalf? I should have known... When I look at Boromir, I know something will happen. But with Gandalf I didn't suspect anything like this... Was this supposed to happen? Was it my fault?

"Legolas, get them up." I looked up, tears clouding my vision. Both Aragorn and Legolas were starting to pull the Hobbits to their feet. I didn't understand the rush, since we had made it out of the mines. Doesn't he see they are in pain and need a moment to collect themselves?

"Give them a moment for pity's sake!" Boromir stopped trying to calm down Gimli and shook his head in disapproval. The Hobbits had taken it the hardest it seemed, most of them had known the wizard since they were children.

"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlórien." He stopped in front of me and held out his hand.

"We need to go. We can mourn him when we make it into the safety of the woods." I took his hand and let him pull me to my feet. He was right. It wouldn't do us any good to stay here. And Gandalf would have died for nothing if we gave up now. I helped Merry and Pippin to get ready again. Looking up I noticed Frodo had already wandered a few feet ahead, turning back towards us with tears streaming down his face. We were ready to leave within minutes and Aragorn guided us off the rocky hills. Further down behind the sea of grass covering the foot of the mountain, I could see the treelines emerging. Soon we had crossed the open space and made it through the first row of trees. We stopped for the briefest of moments before Aragorn ushered us forward and deeper between the ever growing trees again.
"Can't we rest for just a moment? The Hobbits won't make it much further at this rate..." The ranger shot me a look over his shoulder, while he helped Frodo climb a massive tree that had fallen over and now blocked the way.
"We can't risk it. We need to get deeper and into the safety of the inner forest. And fast." His words were marked by a dull thud and some curses from Gimli, who had just fallen off the top of the tree onto the other side.
"Still in one piece... Still in one piece... Damn trees..." Despite the situation we were in I almost had to laugh upon hearing the dwarf's muffled voice. With an ease that surprised me, I pulled myself up the wood and jumped down, landing safely on my feet.
"At least someone made it over without landing on their nose..." I ignored Gimli's mood swings and helped Boromir get the remaining Hobbits down. Before looking back up at the Gondorian, to help him with our equipment, I told Pippin to stay close before his curiosity could get the best of him again.
"I am surprised the little one lets you keep him on the short leash."
"I wouldn't count on it for long. I am just trying to keep him from endangering himself before he does something stupid again." Boromir nodded while watching the Hobbit stare off between the trees. I feared something had caught his interest already and therefore was glad that all of our group had made it over the fallen tree by now.
We continued to walk in relative silence for a while. At least Aragorn had agreed that there was no more need to keep running at this point. I overheard Gimli telling the Halflings that there was an evil elven witch roaming these woods, making those who fell under her spell disappear. I almost snorted. I highly doubted that those stories were true when there were people actually left to talk about it.

"Well, here is one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily! I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" I stopped dead in my tracks when I caught a glimpse of something moving in the corner of my eye, right before there was suddenly an arrow pointed at my face. We were surrounded by elves, all pointing their arrows at our group. The only one moving was Legolas, who had his bow up as well. Hesitantly I reached for my sword, unsure what was going to happen.
"The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark." An elf with long white blonde hair stepped forward. Like his companions he was dressed in mostly grey and brown, but it was more than obvious that he held command over the small party surrounding us. With a short movement of his hand all bows were lowered and next to me Legolas relaxed as well, which was my clue to take my hand off the handle of my sword. The elven commander took a look at our group before his eyes landed on me. His face gave no emotion away though his eyes remained fixed on me as he spoke again.
"Give up your weapons. You have my word no harm will come to you." I hesitated. I didn't like the idea of giving up my weapons.
"Never trust the word of an elf!"
"Gimli!" Aragorn gave him a sharp glare before slowly reaching for his sword and handing it over to the elf next to him.
Still feeling warry, I unbuckled the belt holding my sword and knives and handed them over to an elf with chestnut brown hair. I felt uncomfortable as he kept staring at me while passing on my belongings. Boromir lost his cool the second the elf put his hands on me. Faster than I could have reacted, he had stepped forward and pushed me behind him, standing tall and threatening in front of the elf.
"I need to check for hidden weapons..."
"No, you don't. You want to touch her, you have to go through me first." His voice was harsh and there was a deadly glimmer in his eyes. Uncertain what to do the elf looked at his commander. They exchanged a few quick words in Sindarin. Too quick for me to understand everything, just that he should trust me to have given up all of my weapons.
"I think it will be alright." I lightly touched Boromir's arm and he seemed to relax a little. After all of my companions had given up on their weapons, of course Gimli loudly expressed his discontent, Aragorn took a step forward, only to be stopped by the blonde elf.
"Before we take you into the heart of Lothlórien, the dwarf shall be blindfolded. Never has one of his kind laid eyes on our treasured home. And I do not intend to show him the way." My eyes shot back towards Gimli, who had turned a deep crimson red and was obviously not far from throwing a tantrum. To my surprise it was Legolas laying a calming hand on his shoulder.
"If one of us is to be blindfolded, so shall the rest of us." The elf watched him for a second and then slightly bowed his head.
"As you wish. Cover their eyes." One by one my companions let themselves be blindfolded by the elves. Boromir gave me a soft smile and promised to stay by my side. However the elf tasked to blindfold me seemed a little uncertain. He asked something I didn't understand but had his commander come over. They started discussing in Sindarin and with low voices.
"I can blindfold myself..." The blonde elf turned his head towards me and looked at me with surprise. I hadn't even realised I spoke in the elven tongue until the words had left me. He now turned towards me fully, taking the blindfold from his subordinate in the process. He didn't say anything when he got behind me and put the dark fabric over my eyes and secured it.
"No more surprises." His grip on my arm was tight as he pushed me forward towards someone else and gave some commands.