It was upon reaching the fair city of Lothlorien in with the song began. His sweet voice carried the story of Nimrodel across the water and into the trees. The rest of the Fellowship followed warily behind him, trying not to make much noise.

'Legolas, how much farther?' asked Boromir.

'Just a little more and we'll be there. It has been so many hundreds of years since I had last tred hither but still I recall the beautiful trees and the fair Lord and Lady!" he replied. "Perhaps I should climb a tree to see how far we are. I am at home in the trees. These, ' he said, pointing at an old straight-limbed tree, 'are called 'Mellyrn".'

Legolas jumped easily into the tree, but a sudden voice started the elf into springing down. 'Daro!' the voice said.

Legolas looked up and answered in their language. 'Elba nante kana, Haldir?' he shouted.

'Who are they? What are they saying?' asked Merry.

'Can't you here? They are elves!' said Sam.

'Yes they are Elves, and they say you breathe so loudly that they could shoot you in the dark!' said Legolas. Sam clamped his hand over his own mouth, looking nervous. 'Frodo, come with me.' Legolas once again shot up the tree as Frodo followed slowly.

'Legolas! How many centuries has it been since I last saw your face?' one of the Elves asked. He had a pleasant face and a calm voice. 'These are my brothers, Rumil and Orophin, though they speak little of the Comman Language.' Behind him stood two elves with darker hair than Haldir and Legolas. These two reminded Frodo of Elrond and Glorfindel.

'It has been too long, Haldir, but I cannot stay long. We, I, Frodo, and the others down thither are on a quest,' Legolas answered.

"Hiko, vayteer kokolo aljeture," said the one called Orophin.

'We have already been notified by Rivendell of this,' translated Haldir. 'You shall have to spend the night hither. We have skins and blankets to spare but you might not need them. The wind is in the South tonight. How many are of your party?'

'Eight. Myself, four hobbits, two men, one of which is Aragorn son of Arathorn.'

'That is only seven. The eighth?'

'The eighth is a dwarf,' answered Legolas.

'A dwarf! Hm.. this is not good. I cannot allow him to pass, even if he comes with you, Legolas. Anata kawa dinun diao?'

'Yoush. But Elrond chose him himself. He has been loyal for our whole journey.'

'Ah... But only if he'll be blindfolded when we get past the Celebrent,' said Haldir. The rest of the company settled on the "talan" which the elves had built in the tree. It was just a wooden platform, without even a rail. There was a board that could be moved around to keep out the wind.

In the middle of the night, Rumil arroused them. 'Yrch,' he said. The company understood. They had heard Legolas say it enough that by now the understood its meaning: Orc. The four elves dropped noiselessly through the tree.

They came up many moments later, only to bring them news of no event. The orcs had not noticed them, for the talan was well hidden but the foul creatures did linger at the area in which the company had stopped earlier.

Frodo could not sleep the rest of the night. He lay down, resting. Legolas had joined his kind in the task of look-out. Every hour or so, they would rotate. Haldir-Legolas; Rumil-Orophin.

For now, Rumil perched himself in the higher branches while Orophin stayed lower. He, Frodo, could make out Legolas' frame proping himself against the wind-block. Haldir was next to him. They were conversing in very quiet voices that Frodo barely noticed it.

Their talk ceased for a moment, and one of the shadows, Haldir's, passed in front of Legolas'. The moonlight gave Frodo just enough light to see their lips meet for a brief period.

Legolas suddenly looked right at Frodo. Their eyes met and the elf's were frightening sharp. The glare shone out that they could almost give heat.

Frodo, unable to keep the contact, broke it and turned himself so that his attention was now focused on Sam's cooking pans.

Legolas dropped the gaze and turned back to the Lorien elf. 'Haldir...' Legolas let his head fall into Haldir's neck. They did not part until Rumil and Orophin's shift was over.