Uruviel too was sad during the last few days before the Fellowship left. She had developed a friendship with Merry and Pippin, Frodo�s cheerful, good-natured cousins; their impending departure made her silent and sad for the last few days they stayed in Lorien. Many were the wonderful hours she had shared with them; talking, or talking a walk through Caras Galadhon; sometimes she would sing for them of the days of long ago, or they would tell her merry tales of the Shire. They too were sad at the prospect of leaving, but both they and Uruviel knew that it was what they needed to do. Frodo needed them; it was their task to go with him on this journey.
On the morning of the day of departure, Aldamir heard soft footsteps climbing the steps to his flet, where he stood binding a strip of leather around the hand-grip of the bow he had been making. A timid knock sounded on the mallorn�s bark; to his amusement, he found Merry and Pippin standing shyly on the top step.
�Welcome, halflings! What do you wish here?�
Merry looked at Pippin; Pippin nodded and nudged him. Merry cleared his throat. �Thank you....em......Is Uruviel here? We�d like to talk to her if that�s all right....�
Aldamir smiled. �Of course. She�s not here right now, but I�ll call her.� Motioning to a chair, he set down the bow and ran quickly down the flight of steps.
He found Uruviel returning from giving the finished cloak into Galadriel�s keeping until it would be bestowed upon Merry. A cluster of elanor was in her hand.
�What is it, Aldamir?� she asked as he approached.
Aldamir grinned. �There are a couple small visitors for you waiting on our flet.�
�Well, I mustn�t keep them waiting, then!� With a laugh, she went off to see to her visitors, having easily guessed who they were. Aldamir gazed after her, smiling at the memory of the two small hobbits knocking on the
tree.
When Uruviel sought him out again, there were tears in her eyes. �Aldamir, look,� shed said, opening her hand. On her palm lay a smooth stone, simple but beautiful. It was light grey with a deep tint of rose; little streaks of something silvery ran through it and glittered when they caught the light. �They gave me this as a farewell gift....aren�t they wonderful, dear little hobbits?�
�It�s beautiful,� said Aldamir, stroking the stone. �You are lucky to have such friends! They are indeed good-hearted little folk; they offer their friendship freely.�
Uruviel nodded. �I know I may never see them again, but oh! I hope I do.�
Aldamir drew her into his arms and hugged her tightly. �I do too.�
He had his own farewell to say as well. Before the Fellowship gathered to bid farewell to Galadriel and all the Elves, Aldamir sought out Frodo. He found him sitting quietly by the stream Aldamir loved, trailing his hand in the water. His eyes had a sad, dreamy look in them, as if he was reliving something beautiful that he would never experience again. Aldamir walked quietly to his side.
�Frodo,� he said softly. Frodo looked up quickly, and smiled wanly when he saw who it was.
�This is goodbye, isn�t it,� he said.
�Yes, I�m afraid it is,� answered Aldamir. �We have come to the parting
of our ways. But let us not give up hope of meeting sometime again!�
�I won�t give up all hope,� said Frodo sadly, �but I�m afraid there�s very little hope.�
�I know,� said Aldamir. Both of them were silent for a moment.
When Aldamir spoke, it was quietly but heartfelt. �I have no parting gift
to give you but my friendship,� he said, �but I ask you to accept it.�
�I do, with all my heart!� answered Frodo sincerely. �I think I�d rather have you as a friend then any other gift.� He smiled at Aldamir and held
out his hand.
Once again, as when they had first met, Aldamir clasped the hand tightly. �Goodbye, Frodo Baggins,� he said. *�Nai tiruvantel ar varyuvantel I Valar tielyanna nu vilya!�*
�Thank you!� said Frodo. �And goodbye, Aldamir. Even if we never meet again, I count you as a friend, and count myself blessed to have known
you.�
Aldamir smiled, and a tear crept down his cheek. Frodo stood up, and they hugged each other warmly. When they released each other, each smiled through his tears, and they parted without more words; no more were needed.
There was sadness on both sides as the Fellowship departed. Galadriel,
Celeborn, and her maidens gave each member of the Company the cloak made for him; Uruviel had the privilege of giving the one she had sewn to Merry and fastening the leaf-shaped clasp at the hobbit�s throat. As they drew apart again, they shared a last smile of friendship; and Pippin too gave her a bright, though sad smile. It brought a tear to the Elf-maiden�s eye.
�Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people,� said Celeborn as the Elves fastened the clasps. �May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes.�
After they had received their cloaks, Galadriel went to each one and gave him a special gift. When she came to Gimli, he stood with his head bowed. �And what gift would a Dwarf ask of the Elves?� she questioned.
�Nothing,� said Gimli, in a manner strangely gentle, which surprised Aldamir. Tentatively the Dwarf raised his head, and spoke lovingly. �Except to look upon the Lady of the Galadhrim one last time, for she is more beautiful than all the jewels beneath the earth.�
Aldamir was lost in wonder at this change in the Dwarf who had insulted Haldir upon his arrival. His first impressions of the small but valiant warrior were replaced a new impression of gentleness beneath whatever else he was on top. Lindir was right after all, he thought. Beneath the gruffness of the warrior, he carries a warm, loving heart. . . .I am sorry for my opinion on him. I see now that he is unlike any other Dwarf I have met or heard - I know now what he truly is like, and I am glad for that. May the Valar bless him on all his journeys, as well as his companions!
The Elves had also given the Company three Elven-boats for their journey; the boats lay at rest on the shore of the Anduin where it wound past Lothlorien. The water had a silvery glimmer to it in the early morning light; the sun lay low over the horizon but was hidden by soft mists which lay all around Lorien. A quiet, sad feeling lay over all of them; a feeling of farewell, which would be for many of them forever. Aldamir knew that to some extent each member of the Fellowship had developed a love for Lothlorien; it was as hard for them to leave as it was for Aldamir to see them go.
The boats rocked gently as Aldamir helped the Fellowship load them, packing their supplies carefully and making sure that each boat was balanced, and giving them bits of advice on how to handle them at the same time. When the boats were loaded, Aldamir bid farewell to the Company, and held the boats as the hobbits stepped in. Handing the paddles to Aragorn, Boromir, and Legolas, with a last word for each of them, he drew back as the boats slid away from the shore. He stood with Uruviel by the shore, watching them; their fingers were laced together and tears in their eyes.
Whether any of them would meet again, none of them knew.