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To the East!
The next morning, an assembly was called, one Elf in a hundred having been summoned. These Elves were those Legolas had previously spoken to about being in sub-command of sections of the group, once Legolas realised just how many people intended to follow him East.
For indeed, near to ten thousand Elves had heeded Legolas' call, and with one hundred to a ship, that meant one hundred ships.
Legolas had named, then, a hundred of his people as Captains, for they had been in positions of leadership before. Some of them were Elves who had led armies in Arda, like Oropher, Legolas' brothers, and Elrond. Others had been highly recommended by Elves who would sail under them, for they were Teleri who had experience with Captaining ships.
"My friends!" Legolas called, bringing the field to silence. Legolas stood on a bench, one usually used by those supplying drinking water to Elves in training. He stood proud and tall, and commanded the attention of those assembled on the grass.
"You have, one and all, volunteered to embark on this historic quest with me, as we sail into the East, and into the unknown! We have trained here for nigh unto a year, honing our skills that we might be better prepared to meet any dangers still lurking in the wilds of Middle-Earth. I have spoken to Manwë, and Ulmo, and they say that the water will be safe to sail in four weeks' time!"
A babble of mutterings, and some cheers, broke out at this, as a definite date had never been set for departure. Legolas quieted them with a raised palm.
"Middle-Earth may not be exactly as we remember it. It is the Age of Men, and there may well be only one Elvish Kingdom surviving. When I left Arda, one hundred years ago, the Elvish colony of Ithilien had rejoined King Thranduil in the north. Celeborn and the remnants of Lothlorien had fled their land, as it fell down around their ears, and settled in the dangerous southern woods of Eryn Lasgalen. The sons of Elrond in Imladris may still keep a refuge in the valley, but I believe that they and their remaining people will be found in the woodland."
More mutterings broke loose, for not all had realised that there were not many Elvish kingdoms that side of the Sea. Legolas waited a moment before continuing to speak.
"It is for the north-eastern part of Eryn Lasgalen which we shall make," he declared. "We will join King Thranduil, and perhaps then we shall disperse across Middle-Earth once again. But we do not try to restore the Age of the Elves, for it is a time long passed. Arda belongs to Men now, and we are only guests. Today, when you attend training, I bid you to tell the others what I have said now. We sail in four weeks! Before departure, I want everyone to be interviewed regarding their decision to leave, and you shall choose your crew by two weeks hence. I want the lists on my desk on the morning of the fifteenth day."
Legolas jumped off his bench, and strode away, as the gathering dispersed to go about their day-to-day activities. Oropher met him at the edge of the field.
"I am proud of you, my dear," Oropher said, clapping his grandson on the shoulder. "You are a great leader, and I believe that, before the end of this journey, we will all be glad to have a Commander as visionary as you."
Legolas grinned cheekily. "That's only because they don't want you to lead them into anything before the time is right!"
Oropher gave the insolent elf a shove. "The nerve!" he exclaimed. " To speak to your elders as you do!" But then he laughed. "It is true. You are not too wrapped up in your own worries to seek out others for news. If I had known what we faced in advance, and that our allies were prepared, perhaps many of these people would still be in Arda to this day."
Legolas gave his Daeradar a one-armed hug as they walked off towards a field some archers were training in. "Aye, but you made the choice between the death of all, or the death of most. Those same Elves follow you today, and whether to another death or another life is yet to be seen."
"Not quite, my lad; they follow you, because you fill them with the desire to go to Arda, to see what can be seen of the world."
Oropher and Legolas parted ways, glad that they could be in good spirits after all that had happened to people under their commands. Indeed, Oropher was to be Captain of a hundred Elves, who would crew the ship he sailed, but many other ships would sail under Oropher's command, if Legolas and his ship were too far away for direct orders to be had.
Legolas wasted no time in beginning his own series of interviews. First he spoke to those he particularly wished would sail with him, and secured their places aboard his ship.
Elmír was the first Elf whom Legolas interviewed, other than his old companions from the Greenwood. The Teleri sailor followed Legolas into the tent someone had raised as a command pavilion, and took the seat on the opposite side of the desk to Legolas.
"Why are you here?" Legolas asked him carefully. Elmír shrugged.
"I grew up on the seaside, and on sailing boats," Elmír finally answered. "There is only so much to see, and so much to do on Tol Eresseä. Also, I like you. I wouldn't mind following you on a hare-brained adventure."
Legolas smirked. "That's a relief. I'd rather like having someone on my ship that can sail and actually likes me."
"I know every nook and cranny around Tol Eresseä, and I can read the moods of the sea, in open ocean and bays alike. I once circumnavigated Tol Eresseä with only my baby sister, when she was barely old enough to pull the ropes," Elmír stated proudly.
"You're in my crew, Elmír," Legolas told him. "Don't let any other Captains steal you away." Elmír grinned manically, and Legolas nearly reconsidered his decision, until Elmír broke out into laughter at Legolas' expression.
The interviews with Argíríl and Turion were similar, and Legolas was immensely happy to secure the three Teleri sailors as part of his crew, for he knew and trusted their skills on ships and boats. He was quite happy to learn that each of them had joined training sessions to learn how to use bows and knives, and roped them into duty as scouts, both on the ships and later, off them.
Legolas sent messengers to find other specific Elves, for interviews, and soon Aëariel, Gílreth and Lalaith arrived at his makeshift command tent.
"Well met, ladies," Legolas greeted them. He was rewarded with bright smiles, and he offered the seats in the tent to them, perching himself on the edge of the desk. "I heard that you have all been training with the Healers," he began.
Lalaith spent the interview in silence, only smiling and nodding occasionally. After a few minutes, Legolas dismissed Aëariel and Gílreth, telling them that they were to sail in his crew, and he sat opposite Lalaith.
"Tell me," Legolas asked, "why are you so quiet?"
Lalaith lost all power of thought as she gazed into the Prince's blue eyes. She sighed, a wistful smile on her lips, then abruptly realised that her friends were no longer in the tent.
Her heart beat faster and her breath quickened as she realised she was alone with Legolas. He, having received no answer from her, leant forward to touch her forehead gently, and look deep into her eyes to check for illness of injury, despite the conditions being rare in Aman.
"Lalaith?"
She startled at the sound of her name in that musical voice, and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, my Prince," she apologised, shaking her head to clear it, but only partially succeeding as she caught a whiff of his heady natural scent. "I don't know what came over me."
A deep sadness suddenly welled up in Legolas' eyes, and he sat back on his wooden chair with a depressive sigh. "So you are not going to come after all? I was so looking forward to showing you my homeland."
Suddenly Lalaith realised that Legolas thought she was going to remain in Tol Eresseä when he left for Arda.
"No!" she shouted, surprising herself with her volume and urgency. "I'm coming to Arda! Definitely."
Legolas broke out into a huge smile, and even leapt up to hug her. "That's a relief!" he replied. "I would miss you, you're a great friend."
Lalaith hugged him back, and resisted the sudden urge to kiss him. Her heart soared, until she realised that, in his eyes, she was only a dear friend.
But being his friend was better than being merely a faceless member of his company, she reminded herself.
"You're in my crew," Legolas confessed to her, a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I'll need experienced sailors for the journey by sea, and I trust you to be a competent Healer when the time comes that your skills will be needed on land. Don't let any other Captain steal you away for his own ship!"
Lalaith laughed, and hugged him, and agreed to sail in his crew.
That month continued much like the last, but the ships, which had been finished, were now being loaded with more lembas bread than any living Elf had ever seen, and many other goods besides.
Legolas ensured that each ship could function on its own, if they were to be split from the main force. Each ship had a Captain, and a navigator who had travelled part of Middle-Earth before, and many copies of maps were made. Each ship also had five Healers, who had been trained by Elrond for the most part. Every Elf had been training in at least one weapon of the sword, bow, spear, knives and axe, and carried those weapons they chose with them.
In the event of any Company being separated from the main host, the Captains were to make their way as swiftly as possible towards northern Eryn Lasgalen, where they were to join forces with Thranduil.
On the appointed day, they were ready.
Legolas boarded the flagship, a large vessel which flew a single banner at the prow. The Greenleaf, bright green on a white field, bordered in twining vines, proudly declared the identity of their Commander to all who could recognise the symbols. Elmír cheekily informed Legolas that his baby sister had sewn it, but had been too shy to present it to Legolas herself. Legolas chuckled, and wasn't sure whether to believe Elmír or not.
As he walked up the gangway, Legolas felt whole, and pulled in only one direction: East, to home and family. He did not regret travelling to Valinor, for he had found healing there, and those who had been lost to him in life. Returning with him were a great number of warriors of Greenwood of old, who had fallen over the years in service to their country and King, and even the original King of Greenwood came with him.
Tathar, of course, came on his ship. Lalaith, Aëariel and Gílreth filled three of the Healer's positions aboard the Greenleaf, and the Teleri scouts, Argíríl, Elmír and Turion were to be taking turns in the crow's nest when off duty as sailors. Sílmariel made sure she was the high-ranking Healer on Legolas'ship.
Legolas waved to those who stayed behind, a wide smile upon his face. He had met many legends of old here, and was bringing some back home with him. On the shore, the Elves waved and cried, as loved ones sailed away from the Land of Bliss, and to an uncertain destiny.