"The Lord and Lady await you in their hall."
"And where is their hall?" asked Isildur, looking around, for no buildings could be seen.
"Right above you, my lord," said Brethilrond with a smile. "We make our homes in the mallorn trees. If you will follow me, my friends will attend to your horses." And he turned and climbed quickly up the broad ladder fastened to the massive trunk.
Somewhat more slowly and tentatively, Isildur and his men followed. When they reached the lower branches, already so high that they didn't like looking down, they found a vast platform. As large as some mansions in the cities of men, this one platform, or talan, as the Elves called it, contained living quarters for more than a dozen families. The mallorn's branches were so huge that they were quite wide enough for four men to walk abreast on the broad upper surface, and a laughing group of Elf children dashed along the branch to stare at the visitors as they passed.
But Brethilrond did not pause. Already he was high above them, still climbing up the main trunk. The men climbed on. The ladder was wide enough for many climbers on each rung, and now and again a group of Elves would pass them, carrying burdens in packs upon their backs. They called cheerful greetings to the Men as they easily passed them. They passed talan after talan, each slightly smaller as the immense tree's branches diminished with height. The men's shoulders and thighs began to ache and complain with the unaccustomed effort.
"By my sword," muttered Elendur, "how high are we to climb? I would swear we must be above the clouds by now."
"Above the sun, you mean, "gasped Ciryon. "We must be close to her now, for I am dripping with sweat."
"I know," agreed Ohtar, "but I am loath to complain, for these pretty young Elf-maidens pass us by as easily as if we were nailed to the trunk. I would not have them know how much I am aching."
"Perhaps you had better hold your breath, then," laughed Isildur. "You are wheezing like a strong wind in a pine forest."
At last they reached a large white talan built right around the massive trunk. They climbed through a square opening in its base and stood gasping, glad to be standing on a floor again. Brethilrond was waiting for them.
"I have already spoken to the Lords. They bid you attend them at once."
He led them into a lofty hall, oval in shape, with walls of green and silver and a roof of gold. The trunk of the mallorn, still a dozen feet across, formed the central column of the hall. Against this column and beneath a canopy of a leafy bough of the tree, stood two thrones side by side on a gilded platform. There sat the Lords of Lothlórien, dressed alike in white robes. Their hair, Celeborn's silver and Galadriel's gold, flowed from beneath golden crowns. They stood and came down to greet Isildur warmly.
"Welcome, Isildur Elendilson," said Celeborn, clasping his arm.
"Greetings to all your company," added Galadriel in her lovely musical voice. "You are well come to Caras Galadon."
Isildur bowed deeply, and the other men, struck by the beauty and majesty of the Lords, fell to their knees before them.
"May I present my sons?" Isildur said. "Elendur, Aratan, and Ciryon."
"Elendur I remember well, of course," said Galadriel with a smile to him. "And his brothers I should have known at once, for they have the look and bearing of your line. Ciryon especially I could have mistaken for his noble forefather Elros, so alike are they."
The brothers stared at Galadriel in wonder, for Elros Peredhil, the founder of their line, had died many thousands of years ago. This woman, so lovely and fair, had actually known the great Elros himself!
"They look like fine bold warriors, Isildur," said Celeborn. "You may rightly be proud of them. Did they serve in the war as well?"
"Aratan was captain of the guard at Annúminas," said Isildur, "and Ciryon commanded the garrison at Amon Sûl, a watchtower on the eastern borders of Arnor. They came to join me after the war was over and the ways safe again."
"Alas," said Galadriel, "the ways are still not as safe as we would like them. Only last month a party of our people travelling in the Misty Mountains was attacked by a band of orcs. Several were slain, for they were not heavily armed nor expecting attack."
"Orcs?" exclaimed Isildur. "But they were forbidden to travel into the westlands!"
"We know not whether they are come from Mordor or if they have remained in hiding in the mountains. They seemed not to have a leader. We supposed they were but a band of renegades, making their living by attacking travellers. We have sent out several search parties, but have been unable to locate them."
"We have heard tales from our Sindarin cousins," said Celeborn, "of similar attacks in the forests further north. Sauron may be no more, but his evil influence continues."
"The roads shall be made safe again," said Isildur with determination in his face. "When I have returned to Annúminas and put my own realm in order, I will establish outposts and send rangers out to root out these bands of renegades. We shall not rest until all are destroyed. The roads should be open and safe for all travellers."
"It would be a great boon to all," said Galadriel. "But again you set yourself a difficult task, my friend. As in Mordor, you want to cleanse the world of every trace of Sauron's work. It may not be possible."
"Nevertheless, I accomplished much in Mordor. The Barad-dûr no longer exists. Osgiliath and Minas Ithil are again as they were. I have many subjects and friends to aid me in my work." He looked pointedly at Galadriel. "And I have other help besides."
The Lady looked gravely at him. "Aye, when Cirdan passed through Lothlórien on his way home, he told us of your decision at the Sammath Naur."
Isildur nodded. "I assume he told you he did not approve. He and Elrond did their best to dissuade me. I hope you are not going to lecture me as well."
"We shared his concerns," said Celeborn. "You take upon yourself a perilous burden."
"Do you then think me unable to bear it?" asked Isildur in some irritation.
"It is not that, Isildur," said Galadriel soothingly. "It is that none of us know what its powers may be. And if it should somehow fall into lesser hands than your own, what should become of them? In hands with a propensity for evil or with a lust for power, might it not still be used for evil purpose? These are our fears."
Somewhat mollified, Isildur smiled and patted his chest. "I can assure you it shall never leave my person while I live. Never shall any hand touch it but mine. And when I die it shall go to my heirs, with all my advice and cautions in its use. I assure you it is quite safe."
"I would prefer the thing had been destroyed and was gone forever from the world," said Galadriel, "but I do not doubt your good will, your strength, or your wisdom. We shall rest easy knowing it is in Annúminas, safe in your care. But we urge you to use it as little as possible."
"I rarely wear it at all," replied Isildur. "Already I have learned the limits of its capabilities. In truth it seems but a poor thing compared with the wonders you have wrought with Nenya," he added, gesturing around at the hall around them, the city, and indeed all of the Golden Wood.
"The Three were forged to assist in good works and in building fair creations. The One was not. But perhaps you can yet wrest some good from it."
"It is not wholly evil, I assure you, Lords," said Isildur. "I find that it can be most useful when rebuilding that which Sauron spoiled."