Farewell to Lorien

           ThatnighttheCompanywasagainsummonedtothechamberofCeleborn,andtheretheLordandLadygreetedthemwithfairwords.AtlengthCelebornspokeoftheirdeparture.

           "Nowisthetime,"hesaid,"whenthosewhowishtocontinuetheQuestmusthardentheirheartstoleavethisland.Thosewhonolongerwishtogoforwardmayremainhere,forawhile.Butwhethertheystayorgo,nonecanbesureofpeace.Forwearecomenowtotheedgeofdoom.Herethosewhowishmayawaittheoncomingofthehourtilleitherthewaysoftheworldlieopenagain.orwesummonthemtothelastneedofLorien.Thentheymayreturntotheirownlands,orelsegotothelonghomeofthosethatfallinbattle."

           Therewasasilence."Theyallresolvedtogoforward,"saidGaladriellookingintheireyes.

           "Asforme,"saidBoromir,"mywayhomeliesonwardandnotback."

           "Thatistrue,"saidCeleborn,"butisallthisCompanygoingwithyoutoMinasTirith?"

           "Wehavenotdecidedourcourse,"saidAragorn."BeyondLothlorienIdonotknowwhatGandalfintendedtodo.IndeedIdonotthinkthatevenhehadanyclearpurpose."

           "Maybenot,"saidCeleborn,"yetwhenyouleavethisland,youcannolongerforgettheGreatRiver.Assomeofyouknowwell,itcannotbecrossedbytravellerswithbaggagebetweenLorienandGondor,savebyboat.