"There's someone here." Legolas looked at Gimli, thoughtfully. "The trees say someone approaches."
Gimli looked around quickly, scanning the trees for any signs of movement. But the trees were too close together. They were tall and thin, and spread out as far as the eye could see. He saw nothing but trees, and that worried him.
"Show yourself!" Gimli shouted, hand moving to his axe. Legolas put out a hand to stop his companion.
"Not a threat, Gimli. Don't you see the light here? It's much brighter."
"I do not have eyes for such things Legolas." He snapped, slightly irritated. There were times that he wished he could see the world through an elf's eyes, so that he could know what Legolas was talking about. His talk about whispering trees and changing light was a bit unsettling to the dwarf. It bothered him to know that there were things happening that he could not see or hear.
"Yes, but even dwarves see the stars, do they not?" A voice said from behind them. Gimli spun around to see an elven maiden not unlike the Lady of Lorien whom he loved dearly. Sparkling like a star, she stood in great contrast to the trees behind her, which seemed dull and humble in her shadow. Her skin shone white, almost whiter than anything he had ever seen. Her golden blonde hair flowed down her back catching the twinkle of the light as it moved. Her dress, as white as her pale skin was trimmed in gold and her shoes shone silver. She seemed to give off her own light in the dark forest
"Who are you?" Gimli asked, eyes narrowing. Was this some sort of spell? Legolas had mentioned nothing about elves living in the heights of the mountains, but this seemed to be no ordinary elf. Gimli would have been willing to bet his axe that she was some sort of Elven-Queen. She carried the same countenance as the beautiful Galadriel.
"Nimrodel. Lady of Lorien," she said, softly. Gimli laughed.
"But you are not the Lady of Lorien. We have seen her in the wood, and her name is not Nimrodel."
Legolas shook his head slowly. "Gimli, she is not the Lady now, but was at one time. Her beloved Amroth was a great King of Lorien many years ago," he said. Gimli thought he heard awe in Legolas's voice.
Nimrodel smiled. "Young one, surely you were not there when I was Lady. Is my story so great that the young ones still know?"
"My lady," he said, "We have been taught your story since the moment we came into being."
"And who might you be, young one? And your companion, the dwarf? Who is he?" She looked at Gimli suspiciously, and quickly turned back to Legolas.
"My lady, I am Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil, from Mirkwood. And my companion, my most trusted friend, is Gimli son of Gloin."
Gimli stepped forward, saying "At your service, my lady." And bowed. She nodded in acceptance, but Legolas could sense her confusion. She carried many of the old ideas with her, and among those was distrust for dwarves. The dwarves and elves had never been friends, but after the dwarves awoke the Balrog in the darkness of Moria, they considered themselves enemies. But this had passed, and soon she would see that she had no reason to dislike Gimli, or any of his kind. There would be many things that would come as a surprise to her in the coming days. She turned towards Legolas.
"Well then, young Legolas, I should very much like to hear you tell my story one day, for not once have I imagined that it would be passed on."
"One day I shall, but not now, for it is not a happy tale." Legolas replied, but when she looked at him curiously, he quickly added, "but now it seems that will change somewhat, as the Lady-Star is no longer lost!" He wondered if she knew how the story had ended. Surely she knew that Amroth was lost, but what if she didn't? Would he have to tell her that they believed Amroth was no more?
"Lost?" Gimli asked, now understanding why Legolas had not mentioned this before.
"Yes, I have been lost in these mountains for many years." She said sadly. "And I should like to go home soon." She looked at Legolas and then to Gimli. "Can you take me to Lorien?"
"My lady, I should take you instead to the Grey-Havens, for all the elves are going there. Lorien, I fear, is lost."