41. Farewell to Lórien
[An elegant ship, carved in the likeness of a swan, flows through a river.
Galadriel stands in it.]
[On shore, cloaks are fastened around the Fellowship with green,
silver-veined leaf-brooches.]
Celeborn: "Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people.
May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes."
[Elves prepare for the departure of the Fellowship. Legolas is among them,
shifting parcels into a set of boats provided by the Galadhrim. He holds up a
thin wafer for Merry and Pippin to see, as they sit in a boat.]
Legolas: "Lembas! Elvish Way-bread. One small bite is enough to fill the
stomach of a grown man."
[He walks up onto shore, leaving the Hobbits by themselves.]
Merry: "How many did you eat?"
Pippin: "Four." [burps]
Celeborn: "Every league you travel south, the danger will increase. Mordor
Orcs now hold the eastern shore of the Anduin."
[As the Elf Lord speaks, the Fellowship climb into the boats.]
[Legolas helps Gimli onboard.]
[Sam tries to steady himself.]
[Meanwhile, Aragorn and Celeborn wander through the heavy mist and
sunlight.]
Celeborn: "Nor will you find safety on the western bank. Strange creatures
bearing the mark of the White Hand have been seen on our borders. Seldom do Orcs
journey in the open, under the sun, yet these have done so!"
[The two pause, and Aragorn looks down. Celeborn holds an ornate dagger
before him. Aragorn takes it, and unsheathes it; its blade glints.]
Celeborn: "Le aphadar aen." (You are being tracked.)
[Aragorn sheathes the dagger.]
Celeborn: "By river you have the chance of outrunning the enemy to the Falls
of Rauros."
[A paddle splashes into the water. The Fellowship rows through the river,
past the Elves onshore.]
[The sun is reaching its rosy fingers over the hills; Caras Galadhon rises
far away, in the mists. Voices sing with the rising dawn:
Elves:
"Ai! laurië lantar lassi súrien, Yéni úntimë ve rámar aldaron! yéni ve
lintë yuldar avánier mi oromardi lisse-miruvóreva Andúnë pella Vardo
tellumar nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni…"
(Alas! Like gold fall the leaves in the wind, long years numberless as the
wings of the trees! The long years have passed like swift draughts of the
sweet mead in lofty halls beyond the West, beneath the vaults of Varda
wherein the stars tremble in the song of her voice…)
[The voices continue. A song of the sorrow of the Elves, of Lothló rien. As
the boats move further downstream, Legolas's eyes stare distantly. He smiles,
remembering.]
Galadriel: "My gift for you, Legolas, is a bow of the Galadhrim, worthy of
the skill of our woodland kin."
[Galadriel smiles, and turns to Merry and Pippin.]
Galadriel: "These are the daggers of the Noldorin. They have already seen
service in war."
Galadriel: "Do not fear, young Peregrin Took. You will find your
courage."
[The Hobbits remember the meeting as they sail downriver. Sam also recalls
the Lady's gift to him.]
Galadriel: "And for you, Samwise Gamgee: Elven rope, made of hithlain."
Sam: "Thank you, my lady." [He looks sidelong at the blades held by Merry and
Pippin, then looks up hopefully.] "Have you run out of those nice, shiny
daggers?"
[The Lady of the Galadhrim smiles, and turns to the next Fellowship member in
line.]
[It is Gimli, who diverts his eyes downwards. Galadriel speaks, her golden
hair shining beneath the poignant blues and whites and greens of the
forest.]
Galadriel: "And what gift would a Dwarf ask of the Elves?"
Gimli (grunting): "Nothing." [a change comes over him; he looks up] "Except
to look upon the Lady of the Galadhrim one last time, for she is more fair than
all the jewels beneath the earth."
[Galadriel giggles, smiling at the Dwarf. He turns to walk away, then halts
and turns back.]
Gimli: "Actually, there was one thing — ah, agh, that's quite impossible.
Stupid to ask."
[Gimli sits in his boat with Legolas, a far away look in his eyes, a faint
smile upon his face.]
[From another boat, Aragorn glances towards them, then away. He too is
remembering the farewell on the shores of Lothlorien.]
[Galadriel stands before Aragorn and places her hand on Arwen's Evenstar
pendant.]
Galadriel: "I have nothing greater to give, than the gift you already bear.
Am meleth dîn. I ant e-guil Arwen Undómiel…pelitha." (For her love, I fear the
grace of Arwen Evenstar… will diminish.)
[The two share a sorrow in their eyes.]
Aragorn: "Aníron i e broniatha ar periatham amar hen. Aníron e ciratha a
Valannor." (I would have her leave these shores, and be with her people. I would
have her take the ship to Valinor.)
Galadriel: "That choice is yet before her. You have your own choice to make,
Aragorn… to rise above the height of all your fathers since the days of Elendil,
or to fall into darkness… with all that is left of your kin."
[There is silence for a moment. Branches shake, a spider web's glimmering
strands sway in the wind. Galadriel glances at the pendant, and smiles.]
Galadriel: "Namárië." (Farewell.) "Nadath nâ i moe cerich." (There is much
you have yet to do.)"
Galadriel: "Dan…ú-'eveditham, Elessar. (We shall not meet again,
Elessar.)
[Frodo sits in his boat with Sam and Aragorn. He hears the echo of her voice
in his mind.]
[Galadriel hands him a crystalline vessel shaped like a teardrop, filling
with a clear water and a shining light.]
Galadriel: "Farewell, Frodo Baggins. I give you the light of Eärendil, our
most beloved star."
[She kisses him on the forehead.]
[Back in the boat, Frodo looks at the glass in his hand, and glances up at
the shore. Galadriel stands there, her right arm upraised. She speaks to him,
silently, as he passes by.]
Galadriel: "May it be a light for you, in dark places, when all other lights
go out."
[The Fellowship sails out onto the river and leaves Lórien behind. White
mountains rise starkly beneath blue skies and green trees. In the boats, Gimli
talks to Legolas.]
Gimli: "I have taken my worst wound at this parting, having looked my last
upon that which is fairest. Haugh, henceforth I will call nothing fair unless it
be her gift to me."
Legolas: "What was it?"
Gimli: "I asked her for one hair from her golden head. She gave me
three."
[Legolas smiles.]
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