On the long ride from the southern borders of the Greenwood up north to the Woodland Realm, the two elves spoke very little. Legolas was eloquent when he talked, but tended to open his mouth for little more than to take a sip of water. Gilith, as far as he had so far observed, was likewise eloquent and mainly silent, but she murmured to herself often in the language of the south, the Black Speech of Mordor. Few elves bothered to learn that foul language, and the ones who did knew little. Yet Gilith spoke as if it was her native tongue. This told Legolas she had been in captivity for a very long time, but somehow, he knew, she was still fluent in Sindarin, the common language of the Eldar.

The ride back was faster than the one before, since Legolas did not have to scan the ground to see where the tracks continued. Still, it was nearing evening on the third day since his departure when they finally clopped across the bridge to the palace gates. The riders dismounted, and as a guard secured his horse, Legolas' ears caught the light scamper of feet. He glanced behind him, and was surprised to see the black, ashy tailed fox, staring at him from behind the bushes. The guard, however, spoke to him before he could observe the strange fox longer, and by the time he looked again, it was gone.

"Hir nin, Legolas! It is about time you have returned. Your father had the mind to send off a search party this morning, but thankfully Arkanil and Firlowen convinced him to wait until nightfall."

He seemed to notice Gilith for the first time. "Who is this young lady? She looks like a mess." She fired a withering glare at the guard, and Legolas waved a hand.

"If it matters, Magor, you will know soon enough. Hannon le."

The guard bowed. "My pleasure, hir nin." He then hurried off with the horse, and Legolas whirled around to Gilith.

"You understand Sindarin!"

She blinked. "I…do?"

Legolas leaned back. "Do not pretend. You understood Magor, the guard, perfectly well. Enough, in fact, to be offended."

Gilith glared at him. "Well, fine, I do," she defiantly conceded in Sindarin. "And I also speak it. So? Is it a crime?"

Legolas glared at her, and she literally took a surprised step back. "It is illegal to mislead a fellow Elf. Misleading is another word for deceiving which is another word for lying, which is not going to be tolerated in this kingdom. Understood?"

To his surprise, she immediately straightened and bowed her head, almost as if it was a reflex. Then she narrowed her eyes. "If I choose to stay."

Legolas sighed. "Oh, you will. Where else will you go?"

"I would face my chances - "

"Good try. Come, and you will understand."

He glided through the gates, Gilith following cautiously. Inside, as the gates silently sealed them in, she jumped, startled. But then she turned around, and gasped.

The huge cavern inside the mountain was lit with torches and candles. Beams of light pierced through, illuminating the grand platform in the center. Bridges of wood and steps of stone connected magnificent columns and detailed arches which supported the whole thing, and waterfalls floated gently into streams far below. Elven music floated through the air, giving it a soothing atmosphere.

Gilith hugged her cloak to her body, her eyes suddenly afraid. Legolas glanced to the side, wondering what was wrong. Then he remembered. The Silvan elves of the Greenwood, as they were usually called, were widely known, where they were known, as less wise than the Imladris elves and far more dangerous. Generally, Legolas agreed with that, mainly because his father was the one in charge. Not very wise, very dangerous. Especially when he was in a sour mood. And he was in a sour mood often.

Legolas took her hand, and gazed warmly into her eyes. "There is nothing to fear here, as long as you behave honorably. Come, I will show you a room where a bath will be drawn and you can clean up."

Gilith stared at him warily. "Why?"

"To meet my father. The king."

Gilith snatched her hands from his, and haughtily announced, "I do not want to meet the king. I happen to hate him." So do I, Legolas thought. But he couldn't say that to a person he barely knew.

"Well, this is his kingdom, so it would be wise to meet him and gain his favor."

She rolled her eyes, to the astonishment of Legolas. "Oh? And what do you know of wisdom?"

Legolas was angry. His patience, though vast, had worn out with this newly released captive. "More than you, I am sure. Now, do you want a place to stay or not? Because you are not going to get much better around here."

Gilith tilted her head. "Isn't there a town on a lake east of here? Laketown?"

Legolas snorted. "You are not going to get there without a boat, genius, because it is on a lake. Hence the name Laketown." Maybe it was wrong, but he hadn't had this much fun arguing since he last saw his friends Elladan and Elrohir, sons of Elrond, Lord of Imladris.

Gilith glared at him. "Oh, so now you're being sarcastic? I will not live in a kingdom where its own prince treats me like this. I can't imagine the father."

Legolas pursed his lips, faking worry. "Ooh, the father. I pity his poor son!"

Gilith huffed, and turned to leave, but stopped suddenly, remembering the shut gates. She whirled back, and yelled, "Get me out of here!"

Legolas smirked. "Figure it out yourself."

She crossed her arms. "Are you going to capture me? Is this a prison?"

Legolas sighed. "No, unfortunately." He perked up. "But we do have a dungeon. Would you like to see those?"

Gilith glared at him. "Funny. Now are you going to let me go or not?"

Legolas shouted, "Edro i annon!" Swiftly, the gates opened. Gilith marched out onto the bridge, but turned hesitatingly back to Legolas, who stood inside watching with his arms crossed and face stoic.

"Well, there you go. What are you waiting for, an invitation? Because in that case, I invite you to go wherever you most feel comfortable and where you think will be safest."

Gilith looked, her face stricken, but she glanced up at him and, with her voice cracking, managed, "Thank you." Then she turned and sprinted into the night, and disappeared in the shadows of the forest.

But not before Magor noticed as he returned. Frowning, he pointed after her. "Hir nin! You let a lady into the forest at night? Did she run away? Would you like me to get her?"

Legolas waved a hand. "Do not bother, Magor."

"But it is against my-"

Legolas shrugged. "She will be back by morning."

Magor frowned, uncertain. "How do you know?"

Legolas grinned at him slyly. "I will tell you when she returns, so you will have no doubt. When she comes, let her in, and send for me. Understand?"

Magor bowed. "Yes, my lord. And you may want to check in with your father."

Legolas sighed, and turned back inside, muttering, "Did you have to remind me?"