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Sunset came upon them at what felt like far too soon and yet not soon enough. And still without any other souls in sight.
They’d spent the previous hours in near silence after their initial bickering. Sitting on opposite sides of their tiny craft. So small was it that there wasn’t even enough room for her to pace away the very real fear that they may both yet die here. So they were left with little choice but to simply sit quietly waiting for any sign of rescue.
It was strange how the two of them were together in this ordeal all the while at the same time entirely apart.
Her and this man. Halbrand.
Halbrand who hadn’t hesitated to abandon his companions, but just as quickly pulled her out of the sea.
What a confusing man.
The whole situation was bizarre and unlikely it hurt too much to try to make sense of. And without anything else to do Galadriel went about trying to tighten the ropes one that held the shambles of a raft together, one last time before they lost the light. All the while becoming aware of the feeling of her companions eyes on her back as he sat on the opposite end of the boards.
When she chanced a glance back at him their eyes met, and for a moment neither one was willing to look away. Till Galadriel forced herself to turn back to her task and away from her new companion.
It occurred to her that he might not know what to make of her as well.
An elf stranded in the middle of the ocean alone. Yes she had no doubt she had thrown this man for a loop.
All the same it seemed they were stuck with one another for the foreseeable future.
(Maybe even for the rest of their possibly short lives. Even elves perish without water)
Soon after she sat back down, their world was plunged into darkness.
-
With the second sunrise beating down their backs Galadriel began to contemplate what madness it was that had overtaken her before, prompting her to jump ship. Valinor had been so close, it’s light kissing her skin, promising an end to all this suffering.
Instead she forsake it for an oath she may yet be unable to fulfill.
She gave up going home for this.
“I wouldn’t do that if I was you.”
Halbrand’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts with a sudden jolt that rocked their dingy precariously. Not that he seemed to take note.
His weary sun burnt face, it seemed she wasn’t the only one who barely slept, was turned to the side calmly staring off into the sea. For a moment Galadriel wondered if she hadn’t just imagined his voice. But no, she was sure he had spoken.
“Excuse me?”
“I said I wouldn’t do that if I was you.”
“Wouldn’t do what exactly?” Her brows furrowed up in confusion as she questioned him.
Finally he turned from the sea to face her. His tired eyes bore into hers while his face still showed a facade of calm he replied, “Think too deeply. We’re already lost out here, no need to allow your thoughts to follow.”
This man. Who was he to assume anything of her and her though. Even if he was right. “You presume to know what goes on in my mind.”
“No, only that I could all but hear the downward spiral of them from over here. But go ahead carry on if you wish.”
An outraged retort was on her lips but he spoke again before she could get it out.
“I just ask that if you should go mad that you don’t try to take me overboard when you jump back in.”
She would blame what she did next on heat stroke. It was the only possible reason for what she did.
Without a word or moment of hesitation she leaned over the side of the raft and proceeded to scoop all the water she could in her arms- and then she flung it into Halbrand's face.
For a moment neither one of them did anything besides stare incredulously at each other.
Then with a jerky nod of resolution Halbrand leaned over into the sea and proceeded to return the favor.
The next several minutes we’re filled with insults and water alike thrown at one another till both were left out of breath and soaked.
“Should we survive this, I won’t say anything about this if you won’t.”
“Agreed.”
Soaked and out of breath still they both began to laugh.
Yes they had definitely been in the sun too long.
But Galadriel would be lying if she said she didn’t feel lighter now than when she woke at first light.
She supposed Halbrand wasn’t the worst of companions.
Hours later their slightly cheered mood melted away with the sun's continued presence.
They had seen no ships or speck of land.
Once more the sunset.
This time they both laid down closer to the middle away from their designated sides.
-
“I don’t want to die out here.”
“We won’t.”
-
The stars shined down till the sun began to rise once more and still they floated on.
With chapped lips they took turns telling stories of their travels, both omitting names and places.
The constant stream of words did well at hiding the mutual slow terror of realization that they would not survive much longer without food. So on they talked. As much for themselves as the other.
When their mouths ran dry and the thunder rumbled in, and the current began to pick up at an alarming pace, neither one of them were surprised with the bad luck.
“Better prepare yourself. Looks like we’re going to have a long night.”
Both refrained from pointing out it might very well be their last. It seemed that went without saying at this point.
-
Come morning the storm had passed.
And the sea that had previously done its best to drown them gently rocked them to the safety of a ship and her captain while both of them were lost to a deep exhausted sleep, facing one another only a breath apart, bound at the waist with rope.
When asked to report on the incident later the captain would kindly forget to mention that they had also been holding hands. After all that wasn’t anyone else’s business