He's back. I had seen him first even before he reached the border of this realm. The leaves of the tree rustle as my friend occupies his favorite branch protruding at the balcony attached to my room.

"Welcome back, my friend. How's your journey?" He chirps in reply to my question. Leaves of silver hue and small particles strange to my eyes drop off his copper-brown wings. They serve as evidence of his flight. His hazel orbs stare at me with sparkle of delight. And I smile back. It is his way of saying he had enjoyed it much. How far had he traveled? If the leaves and strange particles are indication then my little friend had indeed traveled thus far. In realms beyond Mirkwood. Beyond my eyes could reach. We commune in silence. He has with him thousand of tales about the creatures in middle earth. I suddenly feel my heart quivers in excitement. My little friend tells about the golden woods where a beautiful elven queen lives. I once heard it mentioned, but never by my father. I thought of her a legend or a myth, but here my friend confirms it not.

The door to my room opens and Malikha steps in.

"Your father has called you to archery field, Legolas."

No, I have not forgotten about my archery lesson, but I had known it in my heart that my little friend would arrive. Archery is always here, but my friend rarely stays longer in Mirkwood. For he loves it there. Out there.

My father is waiting for me at the bench. While his eyes are on the archers in the field, I know he feels me walking near him. Just at I stop a few meters behind him he turns to me. His smile complements the backdrop of the clear blue sky as the sun climbs away from the mountain.

"How are you, Legolas? Master Astella has been waiting for you here. Is something troubling you, my son?" His voice is like a crystal despite the whooshing of the arrows launched. He gestures for me to approach him, and, in instant, I find myself engulfed in the warm of his embrace.

"I am fine, my father. My little friend, kiki, just arrived. I just want to talk to him."

My father gives me an amuse smile, and he proceeds to embrace me a little bit tighter.

"Astella has told me you're improving greatly in archery. It is an honor, my son, to receive such adulation from a great master like Astella himself."

I simply nod. Every elf in Mirkwood excels in archery.

The night has come. My archery lesson consumes much of my time. It has been a long day, indeed, and it is only natural for me to take refuge in the comfort of my bed. Although my body is resting, my mind stays adrift in faraway places, where the river is golden and elves are golden, or where the creatures are bigger and lack the paleness of the elves. A sudden thought comes to my mind, of certain things to see beyond what my eyes can. Tomorrow my little friend will again travel and who knows where else he has planned this time. He will be off for another adventure while I lie here waiting for the sun to rise in Mirkwood.