These characters and places are not my own, they belong to JRR Tolkien.
Slipping up to the top of the cave, Legolas honed his eyesight toward to the creatures making their path closer in a stealthy and noiseless fashion. Though keen elven ears heard it like a dying a breeze rustling through the trees. A wave of relief came over him, he knew then who these strangers were and malice was not their due course. Legolas stood up straight revealing his presence, he called out to them in an Elvish tongue. Out of the camouflage the leader appeared, like opening a door and suddenly he was there. Running to greet them, Legolas noticed the group was of High-Elven, twelve in all. His Elvish words had no meaning to them unless these fair elves were also schooled in Sindar. Legolas himself knew very little of the High Elves' dialect, patterning only after what little his father knew when he addressed fair elf visitors from beyond his region.
In Westron speech he said, "A large company traveling far from home, what lucky chance has this bestowed? I am Legolas of Northern Mirkwood and I bid you a very fine morning." He bowed before them.
"The son of Thranduil, king to the Elves of Northern Mirkwood. The honor is ours." Upon the lead of the elf's example his company bowed in return. "My name is Gildor of the House of Finrond. We have traveled a great distance in the night risking a run in with the wolves. Several beasts were on the prowl but I do not sense them, it is as if they have vanished from the earth."
"By quiver and blade were the wolves defeated and cast back to the Black Land in a shapeless form." In full detail Legolas described the quarrel between the evil beasts and the hobbit and the elf. His audience remained captivated in the tale, growing eager to meet the brave hobbit so well spoken of.
Unfamiliar voices and lilting laughter played into Pippin's dreaming. Mildly irritated that he could not place these new sounds he awoke suddenly. Forgetful of where he was, he sat up looking in every direction recollecting where and why he was in a cave. His eyebrows stressed in concentration, trying to piece who the voices belonged, surely they were not his hobbit friends whom he is heart ached for. Pippin emerged to the day with a confused face gawking at the population of elves that suddenly sprung up over night. Sleepily he hobbled to Legolas who was speaking with an all too familiar elf. On second thought, he was certain most of these new elves he met at another place in time.
"Ah, sleep has worn out and you awake to a bright day." Legolas said smiling.
"Pippin," the familiar elf greeted. "it has been many a night since we diverged paths." But Pippin only smiled politely returning no recognizing glance. "You struggle to recollect, I see the confusion you brand on your face. 'Tis early yet, and you may not be fully awake to the sun." he smiled broadly. "My name is Gildor, escorts to Frodo Baggins and company to Woodhall for a night of merriment and much needed rest. We tended to you on your road to Crickhollow and Bree. Is your memory now awakened?"
"High Elves!" The excited hobbit leaped, "Yes, I remember all and especially your generous hospitality. What brings your travel this way?"
"I was summoned from Rivendell to search for this poor messenger." Gildor led his eyes to the wounded elf behind him. Pippin overlooked the captioned elf sitting against the tree when he wandered out. Several others attended to his comfort, the remaining meandered near perimeter on guard. Gildor continued, "Swiftly on horseback he rode to Rivendell to advise Lord Elrond of the blackness he discovered in Rohan and Isengard when a troll attack hindered his safe return."
The word troll singularly echoed like a falling cry. The tallest hobbits were barely breast high to men, and it is told next to trolls eye level rested on their kneecaps! Pippin shuddered but Legolas showed no sign of alarm.
"Legolas, your road to Eregion will cross paths with these trolls." Counseled Gildor. Pippin then shouted his question for emphasis: "There were more than one? I've an answer: we will travel by day, trolls turn hard as stone in sunlight. We'll surely be safe from our foes then."
But Gildor shook his head and in lower voice he dealt more bad news, "The trolls are cross breeds of the Dark Power, Olog-hai, they are called, and the sun does not harm them. From the races of trolls, Olog-hai are the most treacherous."
Pippin turned to his partner, "Legolas, I beg you to find a safer route to Hollin! We are only two, actually, we are one plus a halfling!" He said desperately.
"You speak the truth plainly, but Legolas is gravely forced to take the one path. No other exists between you and your friends."
There was no alternate route and nothing more could be said, and so Legolas changed the subject. "Gildor, I can offer your injured lembas in aid to his recovery. Though nothing more can we spare for the others. Our rations have settled down to the last of this way-bread." Legolas explained.
"Then we shall trade! Lembas are sure to speed the heal of our fallen messenger and for it we offer you food, a plenty supply to carry you to Eregion and beyond it's limits." Gildor called to a raven-haired maiden and instructed her in their native tongue. She brought forth dried meats, winter fruits (including winterberries), crispy breads and two water skins filled richly with a potent, refreshing draught.
Pippin's mouth watered as he watched the beauty of a creature hand the stores to Legolas. A blush came to her cheeks as she drew closer to the handsome elf. Legolas smiled politely and attempted his best at Quenya to thank her. Despite his incorrect intonations, she replied in her tongue, "To be caught in the gaze of the Mirkwood Kingdom's Prince is an abundance of gratitude." But Legolas could not piece together her sentence into his own language and Gildor bothered not to translate. The elf maiden broke her stare from Legolas and faced Pippin. She smiled and asked Gildor a question. Gildor replied, "He is not the bearer, but from the accounts of his battle with the wolves, he is a brave soul."
It was decided the day will be filled with rest, the cave and its clearing will be their home once more tonight. Pippin welcomed the delay as well as the wealth of food the traveling elves brought with them. The sun was setting and the valley drew dark again, but a fire was built to light the camp. Three elves always stood post, rotating watcher duty with rest to take in warm draughts and even warmer stews. Pippin even took a shift at guard, but that was before the cooking started. His nose, mind and stomach lingered on the smells of dinner heating, and before long he posted himself closer to the slow cooking foods. The flavored smells lost his concentration completely and again he was a worthless pair of eyes. Supper and speeches carried in to the evening as the stars peered from under the blanket of night. Surrounded by the merriest of elves, Pippin forgot all his troubles and wished his cares never to return. A handful of elves did not speak the in Common manner, but they were plenty to offer translation for the Sindarian Elf and the hobbit of the Shire. The party went on past the hour Pippin fell in to a deep sleep. He forced his eyes to keep open, but the weariness overcame him and songs the elves sang carried him into a dream. At the close of the festivity, Legolas swept Pippin into his arms, retreating to their cavern.
It was late the next morning when Legolas roused Pippin from sleep after an hour from waking himself. He had seen off their visitors and bid them a safe journey. Rolling on to his side, Pippin groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. An hour more of this Legolas endured, packing their wares then going back to try and awaken the log that Pippin had become. He poked and jabbed him until the hobbit sat up annoyed.
"Take you breakfast quickly and we'll begin for the day."
The sun rose out of the hills, its light steeped down the slopes but it was no warmer a day than winters day. A soft but chilly wind smothered any heat produced by the sun. They walked on for a very long time, well past a hobbit's suppertime. Pippin yearned to complain but knew right before he uttered a foul word that it wasn't warranted. Yesterday was a full day's rest and they had much to recover from the loss of time they incurred by not hiking a step, though the break was well deserved indeed. At last Legolas gave the call to stop for the night. Pippin threw down his pack and collapsed. He could fall asleep at that moment for all he cared. But Legolas waved some dried meats at Pippin knowing his stomach couldn't resist. Pippin gladly ate; he chewed with his eyes closed, wavering side to side as if his head was too heavy. He succumbed to the weight in his head before he finished his meal and fell back down on the ground. Taking the blanket from Pippin's pack, Legolas covered the tired hobbit and stuffed the pack underneath his head as a makeshift pillow. Pippin began to lightly snore and Legolas fell asleep soon after.