<The Fellowship arrive at Caras Galadhon, climbing a winding way among the great trees as the last rays of evening sun stream through their trunks. They ascend the path until night falls. In the blue glow of a moonlit night, the Fellowship climbs a twisting stair about the trunk of a tree, past glimmering lights of silver and blue. Far above, the silhouetted shapes of the shadowy tree-branches loom. Passing numerous platforms, they come to a great palace in the trees, lit with silvery lights. A curving walkway lies before them, leading up a low stair to an archway. Three-pronged, golden leaves are scattered about. Slowly, they gather before the arch as Haldir steps to one side, and look up. With a glow issuing forth from them, a Lord and Lady, descend to meet the Fellowship, hand in hand. The Fellowship stares in awe. Aragorn touches his head reverently in greeting.>
<The light dims, and before the Fellowship the Lord and Lady, Galadriel and Celeborn, halt. The Lady’s eyes focus on Frodo, but Celeborn speaks.>
<<Lord Celeborn: The Enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone. Eight there are here, yet nine there were, set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf?>>
<As he speaks, Lady Galadriel’s eyes flicker to Aragorn’s, who looks up.>
<<Celeborn: For I much desire to speak with him...I can no longer see him from afar.>>
<<Galadriel: <reading the answer in Aragorn’s eyes> Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. <in sorrow> He has fallen into shadow.>>
<Aragorn nods slightly. Celeborn turns to Galadriel.>
<<Legolas: He was taken by both Shadow and Flame: a Balrog of Morgoth.>>
<Celeborn’s sorrow and surprise is evident.>
<<Legolas: For we went needlessly into the net of Moria.>>
<Gimli bows his head, sadly.>
<<Galadriel: Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his whole purpose. Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dûm fill your heart, Gimli, son of Glóin.>>
<The Dwarf looks up as her words.>
<<Galadriel: For the world has grown full of peril. And in all lands, love is now mingled with grief.>>
<Boromir turns his pained face to the Lady, blinking and swallowing hard. The Lady stares back, starlight glimmering in her eyes. Boromir looks away, weeping.>
<<Celeborn: What now becomes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf, hope is lost.>>
<A moment passes. Aragorn seeks in his head for an answer.>
<<Galadriel: The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all.>>
<Boromir looks back up at her, unsure.>
<<Galadriel: Yet hope remains while the company is true.>>
<Galadriel looks at Sam and smiles. Sam continues to gaze at her, unlike Boromir.>
<<Galadriel: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace.>>
<She whispers to Frodo in his mind, casting her eyes sideways at him.>
<<Galadriel: Welcome, Frodo of the Shire…one who has seen the Eye!>>
<Galadriel‘s eyes, the same ones that Frodo saw upon entering Lothlórien, flash through his mind again.>
<Later, back on the ground, an area is provided for the Fellowship to rest in. The Hobbits are settling down to rest. In the trees, the Elves’ singing can be heard, and one female voice rising above the others, who sing softly in the background.>
<<Female Elf:
A Olórin i yaresse… (Olórin who once was…)
Mentaner i Numeherui (Sent by the Lords of the West)
Tírien i Rómenóri… (To guard the Lands of the East…)
<<Other Elves:
Melme nóren sina (Our love for this land)
núra ala (Is deeper than the deeps)
Eäro… (Of the sea…)
<<Legolas (pensive): A lament for Gandalf.>>
<Aragorn sharpens his sword as Gimli sleeps beside him, beneath a lily-shaped lamp glowing in the dark.>
<<Merry: <setting up his bed> What do they say about him?>>
<<Legolas: I have not the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near.>>
…Maiaron i Oiosaila, (Wisest of all Maiar,)
Manan elye etevanne (What drove you to leave)
Nórie i malanelye? (That which you loved?)>>
…Ilfirin nairelma (Yet we will cast all away)
ullume nucuvalme. (Rather that submit.)
Nauva i nauva... (What should be shall be...)
<Sam crouches down to make his bed.>
<<Sam (to Merry): I bet they don't mention his fireworks. There should be a verse about them.>>
<Frodo watches them from a distance in the shadows. After a moment, Sam stands up.>
<<Sam: The finest rockets ever seen,
They burst in stars of blue and green…
<Gimli snores loudly>
Or after thunder...silver showers…>>
<Aragorn turns, annoyed, and swats the Dwarf’s pillow, eliciting a grunt from Gimli.>
<<Sam: Came falling like a...rain of flowers…>>
<He squats down again.>
<<Sam (muttering): Oh, that doesn't do they justice by a long road.>>
<Aragorn looks out from his resting place beside Gimli’s bed. He gets up, moving past a small table with silver chalices glinting upon it. He walks over to Boromir, who is seated alone on a great tree root. A fountain gurgles, statues dance in solemn stone, and lights twinkle beyond, invitingly. The lament continues.>
…Ú-reniathach (No more will you wander)
i amar galen (The green fields of this earth)
I reniad lín ne môr, nuithannen. (Your journey has ended in darkness.)>>
<<Aragorn: Take some rest. These borders are well protected.>>
<<Boromir: I will find no rest here. I heard her voice inside my head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Gondor. She said to me, "Even now, there is hope left." But I cannot see it. It is long since we had any hope.>>
<Aragorn comes and sits beside Boromir.>
<<Boromir: My father is a noble man, but his rule is failing. And now our…our people lose faith. He looks to me to make things right and I— I would do it. I would see the glory of Gondor restored. <sigh> Have you ever seen it Aragorn? The White Tower of Ecthelion, glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver. Its banners caught high in the morning breeze. Have you ever been called home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets?>>
<<Aragorn: I have seen the White City, long ago.>>
<<Boromir: One day, our paths will lead us there. And the tower guard shall take up the call: "The Lords of Gondor have returned!">>
<Aragorn smiles slightly, then looks away, in deep thought.>
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