9. Encounters
Legolas stood outside the stables in the bright noon day sun preparing his faithful steed, Callon, for their journey into the countryside that lay beyond the hidden valley of Imladris. The two were happy to be reunited with one another. Callon had been well cared for and rested, for he was clean, freshly brushed and quite frisky.
"Don't you look splendidly handsome?" Legolas murmured as he stroked the horse's eager face.
Callon leaned his brown muzzle into Legolas' hand, making it difficult for him to walk away from his demanding nuzzles. Perhaps the horse sensed he was preoccupied, for his thoughts were a tumultuous mix that he hadn't a chance to sort out. Callon had a keen sense for his master's mood and the horse could often predict an action before Legolas made a command.
Legolas' mind initially pondered what he had learned about Estel this morning but then as he doted on Callon, he was reminded of his dream and Ithil, his childhood, toy war-horse.
Anxiety danced around mockingly in the pit of his stomach. So much had been revealed in his dream that his mind didn't know which facet to explore. Which emotion to allow himself to feel . . . confusion, hurt, betrayal, grief, anger, apathy? Could there possibly be room enough for all? For he felt as if he were drowning in their wake.
Most poignant, was Lord Elrond's words to his father, about a spell that he could only interpret as one that had been performed on him as an elfling, for the purpose of erasing the memory of his mother's death. This was shocking to Legolas and left him confused, not knowing how to feel or what to do with the information.
His first reaction was to be angry at his father and Lord Elrond for deceiving him but seeing his father desperately grieving and worried for him . . . worried for his fëa, for his life, gave him pause. Had his father allowed some spell to be enacted upon him for his survival?
Legolas could barely conceive this possibility, though it might explain why no one spoke of his mother. Legolas recalled that his father implied that he had witnessed her death and that no elfling should have to bear what he had. His stomach turned into a seething pit of grief for the elleth that had given him life - which he could not remember, but that his father claimed loved him, more than anyone . . . more than life.
Aerlinniel had been present in his dream again. So young and timid – still in shock by the violent deaths of her parents. Was it true that she wasn't Celebrían's and Elrond's biological daughter? Did she know about her parent's death? Was she under a similar spell? This wasn't something that he could just ask without being horribly insensitive or rude. This sort of information would have to naturally surface, he concluded.
Callon's large eyes followed Legolas as he moved around him inspecting his tack. He adjusted the blanket upon his back, then situated the pack he was bringing to the saddle. As he fussed with the reins, Callon began brushing his foot and sniffing which meant he wanted Legolas' attention.
"What is it, feisty one?" Legolas asked looking up to him. The horse shifted his head back towards Legolas and then turned his head forward again and then repeated the motion as a low nicker rumbled from his throat. "What has got you riled?" Legolas snickered at him. "We will ride soon enough, mellon nin." He patted the horse's taught shoulder.
Callon sniffed again and tipped his muzzle up repetitively. Legolas turned toward the horse's gaze and his eyes befell the Lady Aerlinniel approaching. Legolas' jaw slackened as the vision of her scattered the storm of clouds that preoccupied his thoughts. He stood still, holding his horse's reins, as he watched her walk. She looked different than last eve, he reflected. Simpler, but no less beautiful. Her hair was pulled away from her face and neck into a long braid that she had pulled over her right shoulder and fell nearly to her waist. Her dress was a deep blue velvet with a gold belt that hung low upon her slender waist – the aspect strikingly simple. The external glamour of last night bereft, there remained a winsome innocence about her that begged notice.
"Prince Legolas, how are you?" She greeted smiling warmly, stopping a few feet away from Legolas and Callon.
That smile . . . her look just then, was it familiar? Legolas found himself lost in internal wonder about the golden haired elleth.
She tilted her head and shifted her bag that was hanging over her shoulder – searching Legolas' eyes and then he realized she had asked him a question and that she was expecting an answer.
"I . . . I am fine . . . quite well actually." He fumbled awkwardly but recovered as best he could.
"I see Ada didn't keep you late." She smiled again and he couldn't help but study her face in hopes of glimpsing something akin to the small elleth of his dream.
Legolas sniggered, "yes, he was careful to release me in time."
She stood there before him, so open and sincere and he had no earthly idea what to say. He simply stood looking at her, no doubt appearing a fool.
"'Tis a beautiful day for a ride, is it not?" She asked, snapping him back to the present.
He looked upon the sky and then to the gently rustling trees and breathed in the fresh air, "Aye, 'tis lovely my lady." His gaze returned to hers. Surely she thought he was strange for he appeared to have no conversational skills to speak of and he couldn't help but continue to study her face in hopes of glimpsing something familiar.
"He is beautiful."
Her reply snapped Legolas back into the present, "What . . . Who?" His eyes followed her gaze, which went from him to Callon.
"Your horse, he is lovely," she said as she stepped to smooth her hand over his velvety cheek.
Legolas felt his insides teaming with heat. He was unnerved and entranced by the simple act of her touching Callon. It brought forth the scene from his dream when she stroked Ithil and called him lovely. It was as if the Valar were toying with him.
Still at a loss for words, he simply smiled and said reverently, "yes, he is."
Aerlinniel smiled as her eyes returned to Legolas, her eyelashes fluttered as her chest swelled with anticipation, perhaps hoping he would say something – anything, but he stood vacantly before her.
"Well, I shall ready myself and be along shortly." She bowed her head as she excused herself, "My lord."
"My lady," his voice trailed off as she walked towards the stable and left him standing with Callon feeling most inadequate. He sighed deeply, that did not fare well.
Not long after she left, Elladan and Elrohir arrived with leather satchels over their shoulders.
"Legolas, I see Adar didn't detain you! Well done Elladan." Elrohir jovially slapped his brother's back.
"Nay, he was sure to send me on my way with more than enough time!" Legolas was relieved his ability to converse had miraculously returned.
"The old elf lord paid heed!" Elrohir grasped Legolas by the shoulder, "are you ready for a sight-seeing adventure mellon?"
"Aye, you have no idea how ready I am to linger upon the beauty of your land."
"Ah, well linger you shall mellon nin."
When Aerlinniel arrived, the others had been readying their horses alongside Legolas and Callon. She had changed into suitable traveling attire: a long sky blue jacket over a white tunic and forest green leggings, her hair pulled back in the long braid she had arrived with. Though the elleth proved to look beautiful regardless of what she was wearing, he missed the simple grace and beauty of her navy dress.
Aerlinniel's mount, Sadron, was a tawny colored stallion with an ivory mane. She had sidled Sadron up next to Estel, whom Legolas was pleased to see venturing along, on his own chestnut colored stallion, he called Faeron.
The company sat ready to ride, each one upon their mounts as the last of the stable hands pulled back and away. Callon was eager to surge ahead and Legolas had to lean over and whisper for him to relax, that he would have his time. "Patience Callon, you will soon get the action you crave," he murmured to his eager steed.
"You planning on hunting some orc while the rest of us while away the day?" Elladan nodded teasingly at the mass of weapons Legolas had with him. His bow and blades were strapped to his back and a dagger was sheathed at his waist. All the ellyn carried swords, and the ellyth daggers, so comparatively, his weaponry wasn't really a concern but perhaps it was excessive for the safe lands of Imladris. Their assurance was foreign to him for where he came from, it is always necessary to take serious precautions when traveling.
"I never leave home without them." Legolas jested with a smirk.
"You can take the elf out of Mirkwood but you can't take Mirkwood out of the elf." Elladan jeered as the others snickered.
Legolas' eyes flitted over to Aerlinniel who forced a polite smile and then looked away. Perhaps he had offended her earlier with his odd behavior. He couldn't blame her, for his actions had been nothing less than odd. Sighing, he looked up to the sky and hoped the ride would loosen him up.
"Let us take up our formation. We shall take the lead and you two flank the back. The ladies shall ride amid. "Elrohir gestured to Legolas and Glorfindel who rode up alongside him in preparation to leave. It appeared they were riding in pairs save Estel who was situated between Elrohir and Elladan. The ellyth were behind them and then Glorfindel and Legolas at the back.
"Glorfindel, how far is Bein Near?" Legolas asked the golden warrior who sat regally upon his snow colored steed.
"Only an hour and half ride, three if we stop along the way."
Legolas nodded adjusting Callon's reins.
"You don't have to travel far to find a thing of beauty here in Imladris," he said with a wink, and with a toss of his golden hair he ushered his horse ahead leaving Legolas to catch up.
…
The company of elves took their time as they rode through the forest, stopping now and then to indulge Legolas when he desired to linger. He could be seen taking in the last remnants of fall with his head upturned and his eyes scanning the trees, not in surveillance but in reverent wonderment.
The quiet beauty of the woodland canopy surrounded them as the burnished leaves fell from the trees, like snowflakes and wandered slowly to the ground creating an enchanting vestige for the eyes to marvel. An occasional gust of wind would sift through the trees lifting and whirling leaves around in a lofty dance before gathering upon the forest floor.
Glorfindel was entreated with the soft murmurs and songs of the prince as they rode along. 'Twas when the prince proclaimed that, "it's as if the leaves had timed their release just for us," that Glorfindle replied, "mellon nin, your love of the woodland is felt by the company you share and surely it is the combined blessings of Manwe and Yavanna, that Fall has clung to our realm so late in the season."
When the prince had his fill, they journeyed on until the wood grew less dense and gave way to a meadowland that took his breath away. He stopped Callon and leapt off his steed and took in the panorama that fell before his eyes. This has to be Bein Near, he told himself. The others looked back and slowed their horses to a stop and watched what he would do.
"Mellyn nin, you may ride ahead. I must linger here for I must allow this beauty to etch itself into my mind."
"We'll see you on the other side of the meadow mellon." Elrohir pointed in the direction of where the falls where cascading down the mountain in thin white laces.
Legolas nodded, it was apparent his thoughts were far away - a ghost of a smile was upon his face. Aerlinniel noticed his countenance had slowly softened over the progression of the ride, like that of a glacier meeting the summer sun. She hoped he would find the rest he craved. She had imagined he was still weary from his trip and the battle he'd left just days ago.
As she ushered her horse forward, she felt a tugging upon her chest. She likened it to a need, something instinctual but she could not discern it. Perhaps she didn't want to part from the prince, for she hoped to bear witness to his reaction of the beauty of Bein Near. She knew it was novel for the prince to be outside of his lands, which were now darkening into shadow. She wanted to see his expressions and share in his wonder of Yavanna's blessings upon the earth - the simple and abundant beauty of nature that the elves of Imladris might easily take for granted. The gentle smile that had graced his lovely face and the look of wonder in his blue eyes when he first laid eyes upon Bein Near would be a sight she would not forget.
When the elves arrived to set up their camp the ellyn began collecting firewood for the evening and the ellyth laid blankets in both sunny and shady patches in an open glade near the river. Each blanket requiring rocks on the edges so that the corners didn't curl up and blow away. They pulled out the food and wine that their brothers had brought. A lovely feast of fruit, nuts, cheese, bread and wine was laid invitingly upon a large blanket. Not far away, Estel had drug enough logs around a small open hearth for the elves to gather around when the sun went down. He then began preparing the fire wood as the ellyn brought armfuls of kindling, piling it neatly nearby. Everyone worked with quick efficiency and soon they were washing their hands in the river in preparation for a late lunch.
When the work had been completed, Estel discarded his boots and pushed the legs of his breeches up and waded through the river. He loved to explore the river bed looking for creatures and collecting gems hidden like treasure below the water's surface. He was skimming rocks when he glimpsed the blonde hair of the prince cantering towards the camp on his steed. Estel smiled and waved hoping to draw the prince's attention to him. Legolas saw the boy's excited wave and accepted the invitation by riding Callon right up to the river where Estel was knee deep in the water. Legolas dismounted Callon and lead his horse to a place from which the horse could drink.
"Now, this is what I had hoped we'd find today!" Legolas looked at Estel with a gleam in his eye as he began removing his weapons and his overcoat. Estel was thrilled Legolas had come to the river before settling down on a blanket with the adults.
"Is the water cold?" Legolas asked as he sat upon the river's edge pulling off his boots. Estel's eyebrows lifted in excitement realizing the prince intended to join him in the river.
"Aye, but you get used to it. Besides, you are elf kind, you will not feel it as I do."
Legolas nodded as he pushed his breeches up past his knees and stepped into the nearly still water. It had been longer than the he could remember that he had enjoyed a simple pleasure such as this. His smile met Estel and the two gave each other a nod.
"What is it you are collecting?" Legolas asked curiously gesturing to the pouch Estel had across his chest.
"Gems! Have a look." Estel offered him a look in his bag.
Legolas pushed up the sleeves of his tunic and reached in to peruse the rocks within, "You have all manner of gems here. Amethyst, quartz, obsidian . . . you have a keen eye." The elf looked up and kindly appraised the boy.
"Want to help me find more?" Estel asked, hope evident in his voice.
Legolas nodded with an eager smile, "Where shall we look first?" Legolas scanned the river around them.
"There, by the waterfall, I have found some of my most favored gems. When the rocks fall in the water, the force of the falls breaks them and then they rest along the river floor only a few yards away."
Legolas looked over by the falls and nodded, "then let's go have a look."
...
"It looks as if the prince made it." Elrohir gestured to the pair wading in the river.
"Aye, 'tis good to see him abandon his position and simply be an ellon is it not?" Glorfindel surveyed the two exploring the river.
Elladan laid upon a blanket with the other elves and noticed Aerlinniel watched the pair longer than the other elves and he smiled to himself, she's curious about him.
...
"Legolas, have a look at this!" Estel screeched, gleaning the attention of the blonde elf hunched over with his arms in the water past his elbows fishing around for rocks.
"What do you have there?" He waded over to get a closer look.
"I don't know, but it has a geode in it, I am sure." Estel responded with thoughtful wonder.
Legolas' eyes twinkled, "There is only one way to find out!" Estel's eyes pulled up to the elf's. "Let's crack it open!"
Estel's smile grew wide and then he excitedly turned toward the rocky riverbank near the waterfall and began taking large steps through the water with Legolas following behind him.
They climbed upon the large rocks in search of one large enough to allow them to sit upon it together and crack the geode open.
They settled on a large smooth boulder that was situated in the sun. "Here you do it?" Estel offered the rock to Legolas.
"Nay, you do it, you found it," was the prince's kind reply.
Estel sat the rock between them and wiped his hands off on his breeches, "I insist, you crack it and we shall share whatever it is that lies inside." He looked up at Legolas with his adorable toothy grin.
"Alright, it's a deal." Legolas picked up the rock and turned it around in his hands. The rock was about the size of a grapefruit but it felt softened by the years of churning within the river. He cupped it in his palm, letting his strong fingers grasp around the sides. Giving it a swift pound against the boulder they sat upon, the rock cracked revealing a very green and glimmery treasure inside.
"Elbereth, it's an emerald." Legolas whispered as he surveyed the shimmering portion that lay on the surface between them. He then turned the one over in his hands revealing the other half of the gleaming emerald.
"Whoa! Look at that!" Estel exclaimed, sliding up to his knees. "It's beautiful!"
The two looked at each other with a shared excitement.
A whistle akin to a bird call alerted Estel, causing him to look up. Elladan stood at the camp waving his arm so they could see and he whistled again.
Estel waved back. "They are calling us. Which one would you like?" Estel looked at Legolas expectantly.
"You pick." Legolas said.
Estel selected a half and carefully wrapped his portion of the emerald geode with a cloth he used for polishing, before placing it in his bag. "You coming?" He said to the prince who hadn't made an effort to ready himself to leave.
"You go on ahead, I'll be there in a minute." The prince smiled.
After Estel left, Legolas examined the gem closer and decided to tap off the surrounding rock that encased the emerald. This took some effort so that he did not crack the emerald any more than it already had been. Once the emerald was freed from its encasing, he polished it with the bottom of his tunic until he felt satisfied that he had revealed the appropriate amount of glimmer. He held it up in the sunlight and he could see clear into the green stone. "Beautiful." He murmured satisfied.
"It's about time mellon, we could barely keep Glory out of the cheese!" Elladan sat up from his lounging position to greet the prince who stood before the group with his hands full of his discarded clothing and weapons.
"Me? It was you that has been pining for a sip of wine since we got here." Glorfindel rolled his eyes at Elladan as he rested on one elbow between the ellyth who sat with their legs curled to the side.
"You should not have waited for me. I apologize." Legolas looked worried as he appraised the other elves before setting his belongings down by a nearby tree.
"Begin a meal without our guest, who happens to be a prince . . . the Elvenking's son, no less . . . I think not! We do have some measure of decorum Legolas." Elladan quipped.
Legolas smiled apologetically as he stood before the group with his breeches still hiked up and his sleeves pushed up revealing his muscular forearms, toned calves and his very pale, princely bare feet.
"Come and sit so we can crack this bottle of wine open mellon. We must toast the day!" Elrohir gestured to the blanket.
Legolas seated himself and proceed to slide his pant legs back around his ankles and returned his sleeves back around his wrists. The kind hand of Arwen passed him a glass of red wine and Aerlinniel passed him a plate of food. "Thank you, my ladies." He smiled graciously with a hint of what appeared to be pink on his cheeks, which did not go unnoticed by the group of ellyn.
Elrohir raised his chalice to the center of the group and offered a toast, "to family and friends of old and new; may thy relations tie us together, never to sunder, but blossom anew."
The elves cheered and clinked their chalices, then some sipped while others gulped their first taste of wine on that sunny, fall day.
It was noticed by all, save two innocent elves, the shared glance that Legolas and Aerlinniel gave one another as they raised their chalices to their lips.
The two can't take their eyes off each other! Elladan mused to himself.
The group spoke for some time together as they enjoyed their food and drink. When they were finished, Estel shared his gems with the ellyn while the ellyth had busied themselves with cleaning up and eventually they had situated themselves, a small distance away, on a blanket in the sun. Perhaps they craved distance from the ellyn the prince thought. 'Twas not unusual for ellyth to disperse and speak privately.
"They are playing cards?" Legolas asked, eyeing the ellyth as they sat in the sun with what looked like playing cards between them.
"Something like that." Elrohir said with a nod. To which Legolas tilted his head to the side to inquire further.
"Our sister has a gift. The cards allow her to see things," Elrohir explained. "It is something she has inherited from our maternal side.
He nodded, Legolas was aware of Galadriel's abilities as a seer, in which she uses a basin of water that acts as a mirror to the beholder.
"She has the ability to draw out what it is you need to see, be it your past, your present or perhaps your future." Glorfindel swirled his glass of wine before taking a sip, then he continued. "She is a guide, if you will, into your unconscious. It is like asking her to pull the veil away from a reality you cannot see."
"'Tis helpful when one needs insight in a matter that is not clear. She has helped me numerous times when I have felt stuck or unsure of a course of action." Elladan added with an unusually serious tone.
"Aerlinniel can do this here?" Legolas asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Aye, you should go next. She'll not mind." Elladan smiled ironically to which Legolas couldn't help but wonder at the meaning of his words.
"I suppose I have a thing or two that needs sorting out," Legolas sniffed before taking a gulp of wine.
The ellyth had returned to the blanket beneath the shade of the ancient oak where the ellyn were lazing about chatting and sipping their wine.
"You've decided to join us?" Glorfindel teased the ellyth.
The two sisters sat upon the blanket smiling at Glorfindel. Legolas noticed Aerlinniel had placed a small bag down next to her, perhaps it contained her cards.
"Legolas wondered at the game you two were playing?" Elladan informed the ellyth which brought about an unexpected turn of the attention to Legolas. Both ellyth looked at him, each with a different expression. Arwen wore a mischievous smirk that looked reminiscent of her brother, Elladan and Aerlinniel looked surprised and slightly uncomfortable with having to explain what it was, they were doing.
"'Tis not a game, Legolas." Arwen began. "Aerlinniel is a seer. The cards allow her to see beyond the veil of the past and present to offer insight to the seeker."
Legolas nodded and smiled. He did not want to make the elleth uncomfortable, so he made light of it. "I have heard you are gifted with insight. I know who to turn to when I need some clarity." He gave her a playful smile to which she nodded - a relieved smile gracing her face before she looked down.
"Legolas, weren't you just saying how you wished for clarity?" Elladan began to stand.
Legolas looked up at Elladan in surprise.
"You remember, you were saying something about that thing . . . you know, how you needed clarity?" Elladan shook his head as he eyed the two of them and slowly backed away before he turned and sauntered off to lay by the river.
Unbeknownst to Legolas and Aerlinniel, all the elves and Estel had retreated, leaving the pair alone together.
'Ahh, she'll be thanking me for that later,' Elladan, satisfied with himself, rolled onto his back and curled his arms behind his head and sighed at his superior matchmaking skills.
Translations
Bein Near: Pretty Place
Callon: Hero
Sadron: Loyal
Faeron: Hunter
Elbereth: Sindarin name for Varda
Manwe: King of the Valar; the winds, air and birds were his servants
Yavanna: One of the Aratar or High Ones of the Valar, The giver of fruits; Protector of plants and ordained harvests
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