Galadriel surveyed the Elves gathered before her, and her eyes were full of mixed love, pride and fear for them. She raised her hand in blessing. �Galadhrim! May you go forth to victory against the Dark One; may Eru bless you and may the Valar protect you. I cannot see the future, but I know that you will not all return.� She paused, and great sorrow was in her eyes. �My heart is grieved to know that... We can only trust to hope.�
Haldir bowed, and she placed her hand on his shoulder, speaking words which only he could hear. Then she turned to the Elves, and raised her hand once more; again the star glimmered between her fingers, and its light fell like a blessing on the Elves. "Namarie!"
The Elves lifted their bows high and called out in return, four hundred silver voices bidding their forest and their queen farewell. Haldir bowed, and turning, led them away.
Aldamir lingered for barely a moment, gazing about. Then he turned, and followed Haldir; not once did he gaze back again.
The Elves were silent as they walked through the Golden Wood for perhaps the last time. Each listened intently to the sounds about them; small birds pouring out song, clear silver streams tinkling in quiet merriment, mallorn leaves rustling softly in the breeze. Aldamir almost couldn�t face the fact that he might never return.
Never return...
The words echoed in his mind with a dark echo and he shook his head to clear them away. I will not think of such things! Yet the thought would not recede completely. For just a moment he stopped, and closing his eyes, drew in a deep breath, savoring the air and burying it deep inside himself as one would hide a treasure of great value.
When he opened his eyes again, Lindir was looking at him. The Elf tried to speak, but no words would come and he shook his head. Falling into step beside him, Aldamir grasped his friend�s shoulder and each took comfort from the gesture.
At length they reached S�rment�, and stood on the banks of the Anduin. In another moment they would embark, and Lothl�rien would be left behind. Haldir turned and gazed back into the wood for a long moment.
Aldamir bent his head and said a silent prayer to the Valar. Even if I never return, protect L�rien from evil for as long as it stands...
At his feet lay a mallorn-leaf, silver-green with delicate, faintly golden veins. Bending down, he took it into his hands and studied it silently. It lay quiet in his hand, almost like a living thing. Tracing its delicate veins with his finger, he sighed and looked up into the sky. The sun had dropped below the circles of the world and stars were beginning to twinkle faintly; soon, he knew, the sky would be jet-black and the stars would shine brilliantly in its vaults.
Haldir bowed his head and sighed. Turning to his company, he said quietly, �Come, Galadhrim. The moon is rising and we must put as many miles as we can behind us this night.� He said no more; Aldamir sensed he did not have the heart to speak further.
Aldamir slipped the leaf inside his tunic, near to his heart. One by the one, the Elven army embarked, sailing across the river in slim, grey boats. Once they were all on the other side, Haldir bade farewell to the Elves who had sailed them across, and led the company away into the dusk.
Aldamir lingered for a last moment, gazing at the wood lying behind him in the protective, deepening shadows of the night. The tall mallorns could be glimpsed deep in the woods, and here and there an elanor was visible through the darkness, petals folding up in sleep. In his heart he bade L�rien a silent farewell, and turned to follow Haldir and the Company.
He did not look back as Lothl�rien faded into the shadowy night.