Title & Chapter Number: Hearts in Lothlórien 10/10
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They are the work of the Masterful Tolkien. Tolkien's the man! Also, I shamelessly stole, er, borrowed the series title from Stephen King's "Hearts in Atlantis." And the chapter title from Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence." This story, however, is all mine. I make no money off of this and probably should be working on something where I might actually make some money…but here ya' go.
Warnings: Slash, (DUH!)
Betas: Salina
Cast: Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Boromir, Sam, Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Galadriel.
Timeline: TA-AU
Spoilers: None
Summary: Galadriel watches the Fellowship at the parting feast and wonders about their futures.
Notes: I tried to get across all the changes that have occurred with the members of the Fellowship in a subtle way, instead of just using the easy way of having Galadriel go inside their heads. Hope it worked. This is the last chapter in this series. Love and Hugs to Salina and Rebecca for the Beta!!!
Matters of the Heart
~*~*~*~
"'You have not yet eaten with us, and we bid you, therefore, to a parting feast.'"
-- The Fellowship of the Ring, JRR Tolkien~*~*~*~
They have joined us for a parting feast this afternoon; the Fellowship. They leave Lothlorien this day. Most of them look rested and rejuvenated. When they came to us, their faces were grim and the air about them was heavy. Now there is a light all around them and more than a few eyes are sparkling with renewed Life. Though the road ahead of them is long and dark, the troubles of their hearts have been put to rest.
We sit on the grass, gathered around a low table. I notice the Elf and the Dwarf sit side by side. Legolas leans down and whispers something to Gimli and Gimli blushes. Then I presume he has kicked Legolas under the table for I see the Elf flinch and pull away, pain crossing his features very briefly, before he starts laughing under his breath.
Aragorn is taking counsel with my husband. Though the Ranger has received many opinions on the course for the group to take, my husband, as always, thinks that he has the best solution to the problem at hand. I know that Aragorn has given much thought to which path they shall go down and needs no further council, but he nods at my husband and listens carefully to the advice that Celeborn gives him. I smile, knowing that he has learned this trick from Elrond and that my son-in-law will most likely see it used on him once Aragorn and Arwen are married.
Boromir has placed himself next to Pippin. I expect that the Man will be getting an earful, but the Hobbit is quieter than usual, listening intently as Boromir speaks of his city with fondness and a touch of homesickness in his voice.
"I would have you and Merry clad in the armor of our people, Pippin, though I doubt that we have any that would fit you," Boromir tells his young friend.
Pippin smiles a grateful smile. "It's an honor just to hear you say it, Boromir."
I wonder at Pippin's new calmness. Could Boromir be having such an effect on him? Then I notice Pippin look across the table at Merry and smile at him. Merry is engaged in a conversation with Sam, but he sees Pippin looking at him and blushes. Merry tries to smile back at Pippin, looking at him out of the corner of his eyes, but he is blushing so hard that he cannot and Merry must look away. Pippin continues smiling as he turns his attention back to Boromir.
Sam doesn't seem to take notice of Merry's distraction. I cannot hear what they are talking about, but I can sense that both hobbits are glad to be getting back on the road once more. They talk with their heads together, quietly and out of the earshot of the others. They glance occasionally in Pippin's direction while Merry blushes and Sam has a look of pride on his face. I suspect their private conversation to be no more than simple matters of the heart.
Every now and again Sam will turn to Frodo and whisper something to him. Frodo will frown, then take another bite of the food he is picking at and chew it in an overdramatic sort of way, to which Sam just shakes his head and turns back to Merry. Sam also continues to reach over and pick up Frodo's glass, handing it to him with a stern look on his face. Frodo always responds with a scowl while he takes a drink.
For the rest of the meal, when he isn't being pestered by Sam to eat and drink properly, for which I am very thankful, Frodo sits in silence and barely touches his food. He is the only member of the Fellowship whose spirits have not been lifted by his stay here. I know what is troubling him. He has a tough decision to make and he must make it soon. It was confirmed for me during my talk with Legolas that the Ring is indeed speaking to members of the Fellowship. This concerns me greatly and I know that Frodo must put distance between himself and his friends, for his own good and the good of Middle-Earth. Yet I see that Frodo is not taking care of himself properly. He does not sleep well at night and seems to have lost more weight while he stayed here in my lands. And he is dying inside, the wound in his shoulder still holding great risk for him that he may pass into the Shadow world of the Ringwraiths. If he is to push away his companions or leave their side, I fear he will not be able to go on, for that will mean leaving Sam and his heart behind.
Now Celeborn and I must see them off.
My time is over and I have given all the counsel that I may.
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