The Quest for the Kitchens!
I finally made it after a hard and diligent search, accompanied by much wandering. I poked my head around the door frame and peeked into the kitchen. I don't normally indulge in my everlasting desire to spy on people, but I felt that the extreme circumstances merited an exception. Besides, meeting new people can be trying, and it could be said that I was really assessing the situation and summoning my courage. It was the biggest kitchen I had ever seen, but that's not saying much as I don't really make a habit of examining kitchens. A continuous counter ran along the wall overhung by cabinets, and interjected with stoves and sinks. The wide open room was dotted with tables and islands at which several people were diligently working. Their long silky hair hung freely and I wondered if they were breaking some sort of health regulation. In all they looked very graceful even though they were doing tiresome servile work like washing pots and pans.
"Big industrial sized kitchen maybe it's a hotel?" I thought to myself.
Taking a deep breath I prepared to initiate contact. "Hi," I said as I timidly stepped into the door way. The people in the kitchen looked up in surprise. One of them, I think he's in charge, walked over. Surprisingly he bowed. His face seemed kind and his eyes pooled with untold wisdom. His dark brown hair slid over his shoulders and his plum tunic brought out the brown in his eyes. "How may I help you little one?" he said tenderly, looking at me as if I was extremely precious and small.
"Little one?" I thought to myself. "Doesn't he realize I'm fifteen?"
Aloud I answered, "I was looking for some breakfast." He smiled pleasantly in a manner that put me completely at ease. "This way," he said as he led me over to some stools at the side of an Island. "What would you like?" the man asked me. "What do you have?" I questioned. For some reason the others chuckled quietly. "Anything you'd like" the man answered with an even bigger smile. "So, what shall it be?" I got the feeling that he liked feeding people.
"I need to remember this guy in the future, he could prove to be an able ally," I told myself.
"Two pieced of buttered toast and a cup of coffee," I told him. He got right on it. "Anyway I can help?" I asked looking after him as he crossed the kitchen and began to slice some bread. "No," one of the other people said as they whisked by the island. "We have it handled."
"My name's Marilla what are your names?" I asked, trying to appear polite. They introduced themselves as Fingwin, Lathaldir, Gaildwinion, and Latalie. During the whole time they never stopped moving, bustling first to one thing then to another. They danced around each other and appeared to be one unit; moving constantly yet never bumping into each other or getting in the way. Soon, Lathaldir handed me my food. I ate in silence as I observed them. They almost didn't seem human- like twirling angels that never even touched the floor. Their footsteps were light and soundless. And I watched to see if they really stepped on the ground. Their silence seemed like music, their work a flawless dance.
"Where should I put my dishes?" I asked when I was through. "In the sink would be fine," said Gaildwinion calling back over his shoulder with an amused look on his face. I placed my dishes in the large sink and went back to sit on my stool.
I needed to decide what to do from here. I had some questions and wanted answers. Also, it would be rude to not meet the host. So, I decided I would have to find whoever was in charge.
"Who is in charge of everything around here?" I asked. "In charge of the kitchens?" Gaildwinion questioned. "No, I mean in charge of everything." I clarified. "That would be King Thranduil," he answered with a respectful nod of his head.
"Thranduil must be a good king if Gaildwinion likes him so very much, and a king is a good place to start when looking for answers."
"Can you tell me where he is?" I asked. "He is most probably in his throne room," Fingwin told me knowledgeably. "Can you direct me in the right direction?" I asked. "That came out weird." They chuckled. "Go down the hall to the left. All the way at the end there is a flight of stairs. Go up and take a right, then take the first hallway on your left. When you get to a bridge with two guards in front of it you're there," Fingwin instructed.
"This guy has got to be trying to confuse me. What is it with these people and directions! Has anyone here heard of an open floor plan?"
"It would not be wise to enter without first making an appointment," said Latalie. "Thanks," I said, waving as I left the room.
"She says I need an appointment, should I? Nah, that would take too long. Patience is for wimps. Besides, he's the one who probably brought me here."
So I set off for the throne room. It was not really a room, more like a bridge to nowhere. Standing at the edge of the massive bridge, I took back my previous words about an open floor plan. They definitely got the 'open' part down. There were countless curving bridges twisting over each other. They went down far below me and went on further than I could see.
I climbed down the steps, tripped on something, and fell on my face. "Hey, this carpet's kind of nice!"
The king was standing at the other end of the now dubbed 'bridge to nowhere', going over some scroll with another shorter blonde guy. The king glanced up at the sound (even ninjas make noise sometimes) and seeing me flat on my face raised an eyebrow. The other guy followed the king's gaze and gave me an interesting look that I couldn't read. A look, almost, of wonder and awe. I sat up crossed my legs in my lap and waved.
"Hi," I said. "Are you the king?" He gave a slight nod. "Oh," I stood up and started walking towards him, keeping my eyes carefully glued to the bridge in order to avoid any life ending incidences such as falling into a bottomless void. "My name is Margaret. I was told your name is Thranduil is that correct?" Another slight nod. "Are you very busy right now? If so I can come back later, but I really need to speak with you." I waved to one of the guards, stepped up the last few steps and stood in front of the king. He was slightly taller than he had seemed from the other end of the bridge and the 'shorter blonde guy' was at least two heads taller than me. "Yes, I do believe I can spare a few moments. Allow me to introduce my son, Legolas." He said, gesturing towards the now not so short 'shorter blonde guy'. "Legolas…that means Greenleaf. I wonder what the name Thranduil means. Judging from his crown I'd say 'twig'."
Legolas gave a slight bow. I smiled at him and he looked down at me with the most beautiful smile, as if I was the most precious thing in the world. Thranduil went and with a dramatic flourish, sat on his throne. "What can I do for you, elfling?" He asked.
"Elfling? Is that just a term of endearment?"
How was I going to explain this? I took a deep breath. "I woke up in a bed that's not my bed, in a place that's not my house. Somebody brought me here on purpose because they packed my bag. Now you either know this somebody or you are this somebody, which is it?" I said it all in one go (the reason for the deep breath), and held his strong gaze unfalteringly. Legolas looked slightly startled, his eyes widening the slightest bit. The king, like everyone else in this blasted kingdom, looked amused. "What makes you think I know anything?" The king asked, almost as if he was testing me. "When I fell, I was wearing these clothes and I didn't have my bag. I know I didn't just land in that room because I was tucked into the bed and wearing a nightgown when I woke up. Fingwin said this whole place is run by you. That means the room I was in belongs to you. You have a lot of guards around this place including the one standing conspicuously right outside my bedroom door. So I doubt someone would be able to sneak with an unconscious me into a room without your knowledge. Unless that is what happened, in which case all your guards should be shot."
"An impressive deduction. Mithrandir told me you were smart." He smiled down at me.
"Gandalf!" I thought to myself. (I had previously made an extensive study of famous wizards in myth and legend.)
My legs were getting tired so I sat cross-legged on the floor. "Is Mithrandir here now?" I asked. "Indeed, he is," a gruff old voice answered from behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw an old man dressed all in grey.
"Like a rain cloud," I thought to myself.
"Mithrandir, why am I here?" I asked. "Because you needed to be," he answered. "Stop talking like a wizard." I said irritably. His eyes twinkled, "But I am a wizard." "Where is your hat then?" I questioned. "You don't need a hat to be a wizard." He replied in a defensive manner. I of course knew this perfectly well, but it is not often one gets the chance to argue with wizards. "Every wizard I have ever seen in pictures has had a very nice hat—aside from that one white guy, but that's because he's annoying." I retorted. "Verily, he is a wizard," Legolas leaned over my shoulder and looked at me tenderly. "When he came in yesterday he was wearing a hat." Gandalf muttered something about hats under his breath. Legolas smirked but I couldn't make out what he said.
In his hand the wizard carried a wonderful twisted staff. I could practically feel the magic and power rolling off it. Its polished surface, shining in the flickering light, was captivating and I had a strong urge to do more than just look at it. Then I saw at its top, a white crystal, wreathed in light. "Is the staff what's important or is it the rock?" I asked as Mithrandir started walking towards us. "It's not a rock it's a crystal" Gandalf answered without answering.
"Save me from wizards and their shifty answers!"
"And?" I prodded. He let loose a very put upon sigh. "They need each other," he explained. "So if you don't have both, it doesn't work?" I asked. "Be quiet young elfling or would you like me to use my magic to silence you?" he raised an intimidating eyebrow. I huffed and was about to retort when Legolas scooped me up into his strong arms and stood holding me. "Hush," was all he said. I was slightly shocked to say the least, but no one else seemed to be paying any attention. I struggled, trying to get down and failed miserably. After a moment Legolas slowly turned his head to look at me "What's all this wiggling for little one?"
"Wiggling! I was using my impressive combat skills to knock my opponent off balance and thus escape into the darkness!"
I renewed my efforts. Thranduil and Gandalf paused in their conversation for a moment as Thranduil glanced over at me. "Give her to me," he said as he lifted his arms in my direction and turned his attention back to Gandalf. Legolas took a few quick steps up to the throne and deftly passed me over to his father. I squeaked as the king lifted me up and settled me on his lap. He placed his arm securely around me. "Be still, little one" was all he said and the conversation went on as normal. Slightly alarming I know, but I pride myself on my extreme adaptability and nerves of steel. So, like a cobra waiting to strike, I settled back against the king's impressively comfy chest and waited.