<The Fellowship comes streaming out into the stark brightness of the day, contrasting the blackness of Moria. Everyone is distraught. Sam sits on the ground, bows his head onto his hands, and begins to weep. Merry consoles Pippin, who lies crying. Boromir tries to restrain Gimli as the Dwarf vents out his rage and sorrow. Legolas wears a look of shock and disbelief. His eyes seem puzzled, unsure.>
<Aragorn wipes his sword clean, re-sheathes it, and turns to the others.>
<<Aragorn: Legolas, get them up.>>
<<Boromir (pleading): Give them a moment, for pity's sake!>>
<<Aragorn: By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlórien. Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up.>>
<<Aragorn: <he reaches down and lifts Sam up> On your feet Sam. <looks around> Frodo? Frodo!>>
<Frodo, grieving, stands alone upon the stark hillside. Weeping silently, he turns towards Aragorn, a single tear running down his chin.>
<Chortling, icy blue water gurgles across the dale. Aragorn runs up onto a rock. Framed against a deep blue sky, he looks past the mountains to the greengold woods beyond.>
<The Fellowship jogs across a grassy field, halting under the eaves of a forest of tall and shapely trees: lichen and moss cover them. Leaves twirl down to the earth.>
<<Gimli: Stay close, young Hobbits! They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods, an Elf-witch, of terrible power. All who look upon her, fall under her spell…>>
<<A Whispering, echoing voice: Frodo.…>>
<Frodo, startled, looks around.>
<<Gimli: ...and are never seen again.>>
<<Voice: …Your coming to us…<Frodo halts in his tracks: a pair of eyes flash through his head> …is as the footsteps of doom. You bring great evil here, Ring-bearer!>>
<<Sam: Mr. Frodo?>>
<<Gimli: Well, here is one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!>>
<An arrow, notched, appears before his face.>
<<Gimli: Oh…>>
<Other bows at the ready appear around the Fellowship. Legolas has his own bow out, pointing it at the owners of the other weapons. The Fellowship looks around, alarmed. A tall, golden-haired Elf appears.>
<<Elf: The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark.>>
<<Gimli: Grrr…>>
<Night is deepening amongst the windy trees. The Fellowship stands on a platform in the rustling foliage. The golden-haired Elf greets them.>
<<Elf: Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion. (Welcome Legolas, son of Thranduil.)>>
<<Legolas: Govannas vîn gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien. (Our Fellowship stands in your debt, Haldir of Lórien.)>>
<Haldir glances at Aragorn.>
<<Haldir: A, Aragorn in Dúnedain istannen le ammen. (Oh, Aragorn of the Dúnedain, you are known to us.)>>
<<Aragorn: Haldir.>>
<<Gimli: So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can also understand!>>
<<Haldir: We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days.>>
<<Gimli: And you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul!>>
<<Aragorn: That was not so courteous.>>
<Haldir glances at Frodo.>
<<Haldir: You bring great evil with you. <looking at Aragorn> You can go no further.>>
<He walks away. Sam and Pippin turn to look at Frodo. He looks slightly uncomfortable.>
<Aragorn argues with Haldir, angrily.>
<<Aragorn: Boe ammen veriad lîn. Andelu i ven! (We need your protection. The road is fell!)>>
<Haldir whispers back inaudibly.>
<<Aragorn: Merin le telim. (I wish we may come with you.)>>
<Haldir answers quietly, again so that only Aragorn can hear his words.>
<<Aragorn: Henio, aníron boe ammen i dulu lîn! (Please, understand, we need your support!)>>
<Legolas turns to look at Frodo, who looks uncomfortably away, and his eyes fall on Sam. Sam looks away, a hurt expression in his eyes. Merry and Pippin do likewise. Gimli glances at Frodo. Aragorn continues to argue loudly with Haldir. Frodo, looking at his friends, sees blame that does not truly exist anywhere but in his mind. He is alone, it seems. Aragorn is now pleading.>
<<Aragorn: Andelu i ven. (The road is very dangerous.)>>
<Frodo appears downcast. But through all of his worried, his loneliness, a voice of reason speaks.>
<<Boromir: Gandalf's death was not in vain...nor would he have you give up hope. You carry a heavy burden, Frodo...don't carry the weight of the dead.>>
<Frodo ponders this, but looks up suddenly. Haldir appears, looking less than happy.>
<<Haldir: You will follow me.>>
<A caravan of Elves leads the Fellowship along a ridge, through the golden woods. Boromir glances at Frodo behind him, as though concerned for the Hobbit. The group comes to the end of the high ridge and looks out. Below them, behind the mists, under sunset, a great glade of trees rises above the world, green and gold, rays of light drifting from the branches of trees.>
<<Haldir: Caras Galadhon...the heart of Elvendom on earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, Lady of Light.>>
|