Frodo looked up from his game with Merry, Pippin, and Sam to see Gandalf, Strider, and a strange, new elf approaching from Elrond's reception chamber. He quickly alerted the others, and they stood, ready to greet their friends. Off to the side, Gimli and his father conversed in hushed tones.
"Gandalf!" He smiled, and the Ring thumped against his chest, under his shirt, "How went the meeting?"
"Very well," Gandalf looked back at the new elf, which seemed to be watching Merry and Pippin trade pinches and 'oh-it-was-not-me' looks, "This is Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil, the Elf-King of Mirkwood."
"The same who imprisoned me so long ago, yes?" Gloin, his large frame still strong and heavy, stepped forward.
"Aye, Master Gloin, his son," Strider responded.
"I know not if my son can travel with the son of my enemy," The dwarf lord glared.
"How can my father be your adversary if you have not seen him past sixty years?" Legolas said quietly, "Mithrandir, I will accompany you, no matter who else is part of our Company."
Gimli stepped forward, "I, too, will see this to the end! No matter if there is an elf at my side when it happens!"
Frodo looked at them, "I had no idea that the hate between elves and dwarves ran this deep."
"It matters not to me," Sam jumped forward, "Dwarves are good with axes and are very strong, and Frodo, Elves are known for their wisdom, archery, and dexterity. It would be good if we could have them both with us."
"My companions will also be complements to the quest, for we are four in number," Legolas nodded, "You are the Ringbearer?"
Frodo was slightly taken aback by his abrupt question, but he nodded, "Yes, I carry the Ring."
"You already have my sword at your disposal," Aragorn nodded.
"Then, if the heir of Isildur can swear his sword in the service of a hobbit Halfling, then my weapon will stand beside his," Gimli said gruffly, "You have my axe, young hobbit."
"And my bow," Legolas said quietly, "Now, please excuse me, for preparations must be made."
Frodo watched him walk off, "Gandalf, he walks so strangely, like a wind upon the grass. Why is this so? He seems so sad, so much more than the others."
"His home, Mirkwood forest, has been overrun by orcs," The old wizard nodded, "Many of his people have been killed, and he has been fighting with a small handful of elves against the forces of Dol Guldur for close to sixty years now."
Frodo looked after Legolas with eyes filled with pity, "How many of his people are left?"
"Just he and his three companions. Two women, great elves in their own rights, were killed in the attempt to escape Mirkwood and reach Rivendell," At Gandalf's words, even Gimli had nothing to say or scoff at.
Sam looked around, "Where's Merry and Pippin?"
Edredhel finished pulling on his over-tunic and robe. They had received permission to escort the Ringbearer. This would be a mission that would most certainly be less dangerous than trying to live in Mirkwood.
"Nithanien," He called for his friend, who emerged from Tiranien's room, "How is he?"
"A death of grief is far too close for him to attempt another mission right now," Nithanien shook his fair elven head, "I fear that he may not come with us. If the choice was mine, I would stay here until my heart had healed."
"Then stay he will," Legolas entered the commons room of their separate chambers, "For I fear that this will be a trying quest indeed."
"Mierawen was a dear friend to us all," Nithanien said, "As was Imarades. But we cannot forsake our duties. Tiranien will stay, while we go on, perhaps to death, perhaps not. Who can know the future, save the stars?"
"Go, and ready yourselves, for we leave soon in the morning," Legolas sighed, "That is, if the humans from Gondor arrive as they planned tonight."
"Can we trust them, Legolas?" Edredhel asked, leaning on the back of a couch, "Can we trust our lives to these—humans, Halflings, and wizards? There is to be a dwarf in our presence as well!"
"We can and we will, Edredhel," The prince nodded, "For I have already sworn to protect the Ringbearer. My bow and life are at his service. If you do not wish to commit yourselves, you do not need to, and I would not force you."
"You swear to protect the Ringbearer, and it would not do to have his friends unprotected," Nithanien's eyes narrowed, "But I will swear not to protect a human, or a dwarf."
"Then protect his friend Halflings, for there are three in numbers," The elven prince sank into one of the couches, "Much is to be done before we can be accepted, my friends."
"Accepted into what?" Edredhel asked.
"Society," He sighed, "We have lived for so long under rotting trees and alone that we have forgotten what we truly are. We must strive to become elven once again."
Nithanien smiled widely, "Then let us become civilized! Onward, and into the challenge!"
"Onward!" Edredhel raised his fist with a smile. Nithanien matched his fist and crossed his own with it in the air. Legolas rose and added his fist to the salute.
"Onward," He smiled and laughed for the first time in sixty years.
Merry and Pippin wandered around Rivendell for a time. They had seen much of the Elven refuge, and were stunned by the miraculous beauty of it. But they did not find whom they were searching for.
"Merry, I see him! The elf prince!" Pippin pointed to a group of three elves who sat in the garden of Elrond. They seemed less than subdued as they laughed and smiled, trading jests in the language of the Sindar.
"Shall we speak to him?" Merry wondered out loud, and then the elven prince saw them. The smile on his face melted into one of recognition and he waved for them to approach.
"You are the Ringbearer's friends," He said.
"Frodo? Yes, he's our cousin," Merry spoke up as he was offered a seat next to one of the newer elves.
"His name is Merry, and I am Pippin," The Took carefully, but eagerly sat beside the other elf.
"We are pleased to meet you," The one sitting by Merry smiled, "I am Edredhel, and my friend here is…"
"Nithanien," They traded handshakes, something that the elves hesitated to do at first, "How is it that you were searching for us?"
"Well, we wanted to see you again," Merry turned red, "And, well, we've never really—seen—elves before, and we just wanted to…"
"Ah, my small friend, you need not explain further," Legolas smiled.
"You don't seem to be as sad and angry as you did before," Pippin said, then slapped his hands over his mouth, as if he had said something to insult, "I mean—"
Nithanien rested his hand on the Took's shoulder, "We have been cut off from the world of others for so long, and it took us a while to readjust, to become what we once were. Now, instead of hate, we laugh. Is that so strange?"
"No, definitely not!" Merry jumped in excitedly. He was going to ask another question when they all heard the clear ringing of a call for them to go to the dinner table. For the first time, they noticed how late it really was.
"Merry! Pippin!" Sam and Frodo called for their friends as they stood above, on the garden terrace.
"Go, my young friends, join your cousin," Legolas smiled.
"You must come!" Merry stood, as did Pippin, "Supper is for you, as well! Everyone needs to eat! Come on!"
The hobbit's excitement seemed to be slightly infectious, as all three elves stood. Their over-tunics were moss green, like that of the beautiful forest, nearly hid them against the backdrop of the garden. The hobbits quickly led the way up to the terrace, where Frodo and Sam were waiting.
"Frodo, Sam," Merry bounced a little, then calmed down as he strode up to them, "These are the elves that will be coming with us, to protect us."
Frodo looked up uncertainly at the elves, but smiled anyway.
"I am Nithanien," The elf knelt to Frodo's height, and Edredhel did the same.
"And I am called Edredhel," They nodded their heads to him, "The fourth of our party, called Tiranien, will not be able to escort you, but we will do all we can to protect you and your friends."
"Thank you, friend elves," Frodo smiled and looked over at Sam.
"Our prince has bound his skills to you, Frodo, and that accounts to you as well, Samwise," Nithanien said, "And it would not do to simply protect you, if your friends are in danger."
Merry looked at Pippin, confused, when Nithanien and Edredhel knelt before them.
"You have our skills to protect you, young Halflings," Nithanien said, "This is a vow not easily broken, but you must do as you can to allow us to keep our oath. Will you accept our protection?"
Nithanien's twinkling blue eyes met Pippin's innocent green-brown. Edredhel's sharp moss green met Merry's light blue. In an instant, a feeling of complete trust passed between them, and the hobbits nodded in unison.
"Thank you, Nithanien," Surprising the elf, Pippin jumped forward and gave the elf a big hug. Stunned, Nithanien knew not what to do or how to react, but he carefully embraced the hobbit in return. Then, he winced, as the old, poisoned wound stung.
"Thank you as well, Edredhel," Merry stuck out a hand. Edredhel nearly jumped away, for perhaps he thought that he would have been attacked by this hobbit as well. Instead, he calmed and shook his hand.
"Master Samwise, I truly wish that Tiranien could have been here to swear his loyalty to you, but his betrothed was killed," Legolas knelt to their level, "He has much healing to do before he can call himself whole once again. Is this acceptable?"
"You and I shall be protectors of one, then," Sam grinned widely, "Because he's going nowhere without me. And that is the truth."
The clear ringing of Legolas' laughter was soon joined by the hobbits, and his friend's chuckles.
They entered the dining hall, as friends. Gandalf and Aragorn watched the group of six in partial astonishment as they took seats near each other and began to quietly share stories. The hobbits listened, spellbound and excitedly, to the elves' calm rendition of their adventures.
Even after the food had been eaten and the dishes cleared from the table, the elves and hobbits continued to trade stories. Even some of the Rivendell elves stood or sat nearby, listening intently.
Aragorn turned to Gandalf, "I believe that I have misjudged him. He still has the heart of an elf, and a young one at that."
"Yet he has the maturity to see when it is needed," Gandalf nodded, "Yes, he is much the same as when I met him first, when he was barely twenty years old."
"You have known him for that long?" Aragorn looked at the Istari, "I knew you were old, Gandalf, But I did not know how old."
"It is no matter, for now arrive the humans of Gondor," Gandalf stood and left the room, leaving Aragorn with the story-telling hobbits, as they had been asked to share their experiences now. Sighing, he stood and moved to sit closer, listening.
The night was filled with laughter and jest, as the hobbits regaled them with the tales, folklore, and legends of their people. Even after Boromir, and his escort, the humans from Gondor, entered, he was greeted with warmth and an invitation to join them.
After the conversation had dissolved, they all went their certain ways. Boromir and Aragorn spoke together, of Gondor, the sword of Narsil, and of the Quest of the Ring. Because time was so short, there would be no formal Council, for all knew the gravity of the situation.
Aragorn approached Legolas soon after most had left, "Legolas, a question has been weighing on my mind for a long time, and I wish to ask you sooner rather than later."
"Then ask, for I shall answer to the best of my ability," Legolas turned away from the railing.
"Why is it that you call yourself the Tawar-Maethor as if it were your race? Are you not Sindarin and your friends Silvian?" He tipped his head to the side, inquisitive, yet sensitive to the emotions of the elf. He did not wish to alienate the elf.
The elven prince shrugged without his shoulders, if that was possible, "When we chose to stay in Mirkwood, we become of a race like none other. We could not bring ourselves to call our rebellion of one race. So we became the Tawar-Maethor, the Forest-Warriors."
Aragorn nodded, "Thank you."
As he turned to walk away, Legolas said, "Glad to ease your mind, friend."
Before the human could turn, the elven prince had disappeared from the room, most likely back to his chambers. Without anything else to do, the man known as Strider rejoined Gandalf at the long table, intending to speak to him of the unpredictability of the elves.
And so, the next morning, the Fellowship and their three elven companions left the safety of Rivendell.