That evening, Isilya found herself sandwiched between Falasglin and Legolas. Gelion was glowering away on the other side of Linduin. The cook seemed unperturbed by his anger. She blithely carried on conversation with or without him, and was aided by Haldir and his brothers, who sat across from the children. Teasingly, they inquired what kind of dish the cook would make of the strange fruit they had found earlier.
"Obviously something to complement the taste of land fish," the lady answered easily. The prince of the Greenwood nearly snorted his juice, and Isilya giggled.
Once again outmaneuvered by the hunter's wife, the brothers put up their hands in mock-surrender. Haldir then said, "Lady, I am grateful that you married Falasglin, for he seems much improved by your tender care. However, I do beg that you give the rest of us a similar chance."
"Never," Linduin replied cheerfully. "I have enough trouble with only him."
Grinning, Falasglin told his friend, "I am afraid she has room enough in her busy schedule only for me. And Isilya."
"More for Isilya than you," teased Linduin, leaning around Legolas to kiss the child in question. "She can improve. You, I fear, are doomed to remain much as you are."
"Alas, I suspect this is so," Falasglin agreed calmly. "Yet, I hear few complaints."
"There would be little sense in complaining about what you cannot change," teased Haldir.
"True, but cheekily delivered for all that," Falasglin scolded him, making Legolas chuckle. Isilya grinned at Linduin, thoroughly enjoying the banter. With a tender smile, Linduin told the children,
"Now, you must not follow their bad example. When you are adults, you must carry on clever conversation without a hint of a smile."
"Right," Legolas agreed, trying to look grave. Isilya did not even try, but did her best to smother her giggles.
"Well, if my brothers and these children are any sign, polite society is doomed," Haldir pronounced.
"What a relief," exclaimed Orophin. "It is such a bother to remember all those rules, when simple courtesy can take their place."
"Courtesy mixed with common sense," said his younger brother seriously. "For if you have no common sense, you will find yourself holding chairs for ducks instead of ladies."
"When did we invite ducks to the table?" Haldir demanded in mock-amazement.
"About the same time we lost our common sense, I believe," Falasglin told him.
"If we have ducks at the table, have we got other birds as well?" Orophin queried. "I do not think I would like to sit next to a vulture. His food would surely put me off my own."
"Nay, I think we would only invite the courteous animals," Haldir protested. "If I follow the conversation rightly. I admit with you two, I could very well be lost at sea."
"When dining at sea, we would have to have gulls, for ducks do not go so far out," Rúmil pointed out.
Isilya and Legolas were openly laughing now. What a strange conversation for adults to have! With a smile, Falasglin reproved the brothers,
"See what you have started? Leave be, lest you get these two dismissed."
"True, true." Haldir looked at the pair with a smile of his own. "Forgive us, children. We will try to keep from tickling your funny bones so enthusiastically."
Linduin gave them each a serving of the vegetable dish, and the children settled down enough to try it. Unlike most children, Isilya had no trouble eating her vegetables. She knew what it was like to be hungry, wishing for just a taste of a carrot or bean. Turning her nose up at food, once she had tried it, never occurred to her. Of course, the one problem she did have was eating more than she ought to, because wasting food was equally absurd. Both Linduin and Celebrían had become good judges of her appetite to prevent bellyaches.
Haldir and his brothers tried a few good-natured jokes on Gelion, but that elf would not be drawn into conversation. With a raised eyebrow, Haldir turned his attention back to Linduin. More seriously, he asked the cook about her supplies. He and his brothers would be going on a month-long patrol, and if there were herbs she was missing, they could look for them. Reflective, Linduin mentioned half a dozen herbs, including Athelas. She explained to the curious brothers that she had overheard Elrond mention the lack of the herb in the storehouses.
"It is not wise for a lady to eavesdrop," Gelion said scathingly. Linduin only smiled.
"If you call over-hearing a part of a conversation while I was busy changing the sheets of two boys- who were at that time having a heated argument about who was to wear green that day- eavesdropping, I should like to know what you would call standing at the door of someone's chamber with a glass to your ear to improve the sound."
"A glass does not truly improve the quality of the sound," Orophin supplied. "Nor do most other objects you might have to hand."
Haldir grinned. "Certainly not when I have taken all those that might from your possession to keep you from 'accidentally' listening in on my reports of your behavior to the Lord and Lady."
"Some people," Orophin said loftily, "are concerned with how they appear to others."
"Other people," Rúmil added casually, "had the sense not be caught listening in."
Both of his brothers gave him wondering and slightly awed looks. Rúmil went on calmly eating his food. When he caught Isilya looking at him, he gave her a slow wink. She giggled.
"Is there any particular reason that child cannot be quiet at the table?" Gelion asked.
"Enjoyment is not to be stifled," Linduin told him coolly.
"And yet when that enjoyment is a detriment to the enjoyment of others-"
"I am enjoying her enjoyment," Haldir told him, with an edge to his voice Isilya had not heard in quite some time. "If you do not have it in you to find pleasure in the pleasure of others, I am quite sorry for you, cousin. However, it is most impolite to speak of discomforts with the intention of thereby discomforting others."
While the pair of them eyed each other across the table, Isilya looked at her lap. She was not comfortable. Legolas quickly put his hand in hers. It was impolite to whisper at the table, but his eyes told her that he was sorry she was unhappy.
"Isilya," Falasglin said casually, "I wonder if you would take Legolas to the elm tree? The singing is to be held there tonight, and he will not yet know the way. Will you show him, please?"
"Yes, Falasglin," Isilya said, confused by the order. He gestured, and she knew he meant at once. With a curtsy to the table, she took Legolas's hand again and led him outside.
"You do not have to go very fast," the prince of the Greenwood assured her as they walked down the staircase. "Falasglin only wanted to speak to Gelion without us hearing."
Isilya slowed down, but she did not answer. Though she did not want to concern her friend, she was thinking hard. Gelion did not like her, and she was wondering if she had done something rude while she had lived with the wood-elves. Try though she might, she could not even recall having seen him before.
"What are you thinking about?" Legolas asked her.
"Did I meet Gelion?"
"No," he told her firmly. "He was away in Dale."
"Oh," Isilya said, confused. "I thought maybe-"
"You did nothing," Legolas assured her. "Gelion never met you at all, and I hate him for not liking you."
Isilya gasped. "It is not right to hate people."
"I can hate him if I want to," declared Legolas grimly.
"Please do not," Isilya begged. He sighed, shaking his head at her, and then he leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"You are too good to people sometimes, Isilya. Gelion does not even know you, but he has decided to hate you. I hate the way he talks about you."
"I guess you can hate what people do," she allowed dubiously. "But I wish you would not. It seems mean."
"I would not hate it if it did not deserve to be hated," Legolas said evenly. "Let us go to the elm, Isilya."
Troubled by this unexpected behavior on the part of her friend, Isilya took him to the elm. The trees sang reassuring lullabies, and as they climbed into the elm, Isilya tried to let go of her worry. Legolas had said before that he was not worried about the trouble she might cause him. She found, however, that she cared that Gelion disliked her and she cared even more that he disapproved of the relationship between Legolas and herself.
Legolas put his arms around her, guessing that she was not content. "My cousin Glóredhel was supposed to come with me. Mother changed her mind about it, though. I do not know why."
Isilya was sorry to hear this. Of Legolas's people, Glóredhel had been her favorite. Glóredhel was only almost an adult, and she was very shy. When others had ridiculed Isilya, Glóredhel would slip in and take her away silently. One of her favorite things to do with Isilya had been to take her on very long walks. Sometimes they had lasted for hours.
"She wanted to give you something for your birthday," Legolas added thoughtfully. "Maybe she will come on her own."
"All by herself?" Isilya wondered. Legolas grinned.
"She is like Father: stubborn. I am sure he will send her with an escort when he finds out she means to go. He likes Glóredhel."
"So do I," Isilya told him seriously.
"I like her better than I did when I was little. Everyone would make me be her baby when we played pretend." Legolas made a face. "And then they would go on and on about how cute we looked."
Isilya giggled. "Did you look cute?"
"Probably. But I was much younger then. I am not cute anymore."
It seemed Legolas had decided, like the twins, to dislike being called cute. Perhaps it had to do with his age. Then again, it might be something only boys did. Arwen still liked to be told she was cute, and she was only a bit younger than Legolas.
"I think you are cute still," Isilya told him shyly. He smiled.
"You are allowed to, little shadow. We are hand fast."
Slightly out of breath, Talathon arrived at the elm. He had run the whole way to apologize again to Isilya. This time, Isilya was able to accept his apology. She forgave him for his thoughtless words, and he grinned.
"You are a great one for forgiving people," he commented. "Even careless wretches like me."
The adults and other children reached the space then. With a frown, Gelion ordered Legolas down from the elm. He told him evenly that it was impolite for the prince to sit above the Lord and Lady. Reluctantly, Legolas came down, although Isilya would not. Gelion frightened her.
Seeing this, Arwen gave her brothers a nudge, and the three of them went to sit in the elm. When the other adults were not looking, Elrohir made a face at Gelion. The wood-elf ignored him.
"I would like to teach him a lesson in manners," Elladan grumbled. "I could hear him all the way at the front of the table being mean to you Isilya."
"And Linduin," Elrohir added. This was close to sacrilege for the twins; Linduin was one of their favorite people.
"Maybe he just needs some time," Isilya offered doubtfully. Gelion did not seem interested in giving it time.
"Do not think about it," Arwen advised her.
"I do not want him to be mad at me," Isilya said glumly.
"You have not done anything for him to be mad at you for," pointed out Elladan.
"Yes, he is only being rude," Arwen agreed.
"And I do not like him," Elrohir declared.
In front of them, Haldir turned around and raised his eyebrows at them. Isilya gave him a troubled look. She knew it was naughty for Elrohir to say such things, even if he meant them to make her feel better.
The Silvan elf elbowed his brothers and the three of them joined the children in the tree. Orophin claimed Isilya this time, with a silent wink at the child. Haldir set himself between the boys, leaving Rúmil to offer his lap to Arwen. She accepted graciously.
Spotting them, Linduin grinned and made her own way up into the elm. Her husband followed, looking amused. The lord and lady of Lothlórien looked up at the tree with gracious smiles. Several more Silvan elves had joined them, and the elm was well decorated. Gelion did not look pleased.
Lady Celebrían opened the singing with a song of Elbereth. Isilya leaned back against Orophin in contentment. The lady of Imladris had a very beautiful voice, and the song was joyful. After she had finished, Galadriel sang a song of welcome, and her people joined in for the chorus. When she knew the words, Isilya sang too, while smiling at Legolas.
Then one of the Silvan elves serenaded the assembly with a ballad about Amroth and Nimrodel. Orophin, noting Isilya concentrating hard on the meaning of the more archaic words, supplied alternate lyrics in a whisper. Listening to both, Isilya came to understand the ballad better. She liked best the mention of the flowers, because the song itself was very sad.
Haldir and his brothers followed this ballad with a song about journeys. In Orophin's lap, Isilya could feel the vibrations of his voice as he sang along. She listened closely to the happy song, which talked of the circular paths of life. The melody was her favorite part, for it was circular too.
Linduin sang a song of the sea with Falasglin. So full of longing was it that Isilya felt sorrow. Orophin let her climb to them when they were finished. With an understanding smile, Linduin took her into her arms.
The children of Lothlórien had clearly been waiting for a pause. They sang a silly song about a naughty elf who went on several misadventures. By the end of the song, the elf's head was shorn, he was missing a hand, and he was very likely without clothes and painted blue. The last verse was doomed to remain unheard, however, for the adults vetoed it firmly.
A few more songs were sung, and then there was another pause. Linduin suggested Isilya sing something. The little girl looked at Legolas and he grinned. Reassured, she stood up and sang a song about waterfalls. Mother had made it up, and it had a playful sound. When she finished, she noticed Elrond smiling at her fondly. The tune must be another that Mother had created with him.
At last, Celebrían beckoned and the children came down from the elm. While one maiden sang a lullaby, they departed for their beds. Linduin took Legolas, leaving Gelion at the singing. Isilya was delighted to discover Legolas was to sleep in the same mellryn. Cheerfully, Linduin explained that it would be easier to find out where he had escaped to if he started in the same place as the others.
"That does not mean you should try to disappear," Celebrían told the boy severely. "You have a perfectly fine bed, and I expect you to stay in it unless there is an emergency."
"Yes, my lady," Legolas promised.
"Good. Please kiss one another good night, children."
The twins pretended to protest this. In fact, they did not mind it, as Isilya knew well. Between them, they managed to kiss Arwen seven times before Celebrían caught both of them. Giggling, Arwen kissed Isilya's cheek and whispered that next time it would surely be Isilya's turn. Isilya kissed her back and suggested it might be Legolas's instead. The prince of the Greenwood looked alarmed.
Linduin helped Isilya get ready for bed. She liked to kiss as much as the twins, leading to much giggling. After brushing her hair for the second time, Linduin paused. She looked suddenly serious.
"Isilya, I want to talk to you about Gelion."
"All right," Isilya said nervously.
"I know he is not being kind to you," Linduin told her tenderly. "And I am sorry that we have let him get close enough to frighten you."
"It is not your fault. And I think he just needs time to get to know me," Isilya insisted. Linduin put a hand on her cheek and looked concerned.
"I know you want to think the best of him, darling. Please do not let your heart cloud your mind, though. Sometimes-" Linduin paused, and then sighed. "Sometimes, nothing you do is enough. There is nothing wrong with you, and he has no reason to dislike you. Maybe he will come around. But if he does not, I want you to remember it is not your fault."
Isilya did not answer, troubled. This seemed awful to say, and worse to think. Surely all people only disliked one another for a reason. There must be something that made Gelion think she was not a good friend for Legolas.
"Please think about it," Linduin said softly. "I know you do not want to believe it, but I want you to keep that in your mind when he speaks to you unkindly. And I want to hear about it if he does say something cruel."
"As do I," Celebrían said, coming into the room. She sat on Isilya's unused bed and continued, "Mother and Father will also. And Elrond. Gelion is here on sufferance, and if he misbehaves, he will be sent back to Thranduil at once. Therefore, you must tell us at once if he speaks with cruelty to you."
Isilya nodded unhappily. This was a poor start to Legolas's visit, and not an auspicious beginning of the summer season, either. She decided, for Gelion's sake, to do her very best not to upset him. Surely if she was good, he would change his mind!