Chapter 2
Author's notes: Pip and Merry join the group and we find out what happened to our beloved elf boy Single quotes are elf-speak.
Megilian took Frodo's hand.
'Quiet all Elves. I have someone to introduce, this is the Elf Friend Frodo Baggins.'
An Elf spoke up, 'We know who he is Megilian. Let us eat and be merry.'
Megilian frowned, but did not look angry, 'Ai! Such haste, indeed joy has been long in coming here. Eat now and put your worries out of mind for a time.'
Many smiles appeared on stern faces and a warmth filled the room. The trees had been roused and were humming slightly in the warm night air.
"Sit, Master Frodo and enjoy the feast."
The hobbit sat down an immediately pure elven voices broke out in chatter.
Gandalf sat to Frodo's left and Elrond was, of course, on his right. As he was enjoying some Aneloia bread, Frodo listened to Gandalf, Elrond and Arwen discussing Elven Lore. Their chatter being occasionally interrupted by Gimli and Elessar's talk of weapons. And though he was surrounded by allies, Frodo felt quite alone. He missed Sam.
There was, then, a great commotion. The trees stopped their humming and began to laugh. Two elf children had climbed upon the table and were dancing to Megilian's violin. His lithe fingers danced over the strings, the bow was a blur and his face was lit with great amusement. The other elves, however, did not seem amused in the least. Frodo did not understand this until he realized the were not elf children at all. Their hair was too short, their feet too big and they were not by any measure graceful. It was Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck, and they were making fools of themselves.
Frodo got up from his seat, "Merry! Pippin! You young numb skulls, get off that table this instant."
The violin music stopped as all faces turned to Frodo. The two hobbits looked first at him, then at each other, then back to him.
"Frodo!" They cried in joy and immediately leapt from the table to meet him.
"Yes, it is Frodo, though I would make no claim as to being related to you, you were making such a scene."
The chatting began again.
"Frodo, we heard about Sam and we are sorry," said Merry seriously.
"Yes, very sorry," added Pippin.
Frodo could not help smiling at them, "Bless you both but I have missed you two."
Though Pippin and Merry had grown quite tall because of the Ent draught, Frodo managed to embrace them both at the same time. He then began to cry.
"Oh cousin Frodo, why are you weeping? We are all here now," said Pippin.
"In the Shire they had been saying you were dead. I did not believe it at first, but then when 20 years went by, I did not know what to think."
"Well, we are all here now, as I said, so no more crying. I will not hear of it," Pippin said, stamping a foot.
"Pippin, you do not even begin to imagine how much seeing you has lightened the load on my heart," Frodo said with a laugh.
"Would you like someplace to talk in private small masters?" Megilian appeared, apparently out of nowhere, but only Frodo seemed startled by his sudden apparition.
"Yes please Megilian, that would be lovely," said Pippin.
He led them to a far room that was partially open to the sky and had an ceiling of silver leafed branches that glistened in the light of moon and candle. There was a bed of fresh leafs tucked in among the rock.
"This is my room, it is simple, but quiet enough I expect. I must check on my lord and then I shall return." He turned to Frodo, "Maybe you will learn something useful from them," he gestured to Pippin and Merry. "Maybe some other news my come from me, or perhaps others. Who could guess? Well for now I must bid you a good evening."
He left and the hobbits stood in silence for awhile, listening to the clear chatter of fair voices that seemed so far away as to be in another world altogether.
"Is our Megilian not the queerest elf you've ever met? Do not mistake me, for Merry and I love him more than we do anyone else here, aside from poor Legolas of course," said Pippin.
"Have you noticed that some seem afraid of him?" asked Frodo. Merry and Pippin looked at one another.
"That's because Megilian is not…" A knock interrupted Merry and Frodo thought no more of his question for a long time hence.
The one who had knocked was revealed as Aragorn.
"Hello my friends, I have come to answer Frodo's questions. As many as I may or can anyway."
"What questions?" asked Pippin.
"Why I am an elf for one, and what happened to Legolas as far as we know."
"I would sooner learn how to make him awaken, but I expect that question will never be answered," said Frodo so grimly that the others all looked upon him with startled looks on their faces.
"Do not say such things Frodo!" cried Pippin, tears in his eyes, "He would never give up on us that quickly."
Aragorn smiled, "Pippin is right Frodo. All hope is not lost. I do not know how to heal the king, but I will tell you all I do know, and that will have to be enough for now."
"Forgive me Aragorn, I was impolite. I welcome all you would have to tell," said Frodo.
"That is well, for it is an altogether odd tale, in and of itself and I would suppose not entirely sufficient for a hobbit's curiosity, but I shall do my best."
The gentle rebuttal was not lost on Frodo, and he smiled.
"Elbereth came to me in my dreams, She told me to come to the palace of the Greenleaf and there She would bless me. So with my Lady, I came to this place and we spoke to Legolas and found that he, also, had been visited by the Elf Queen. She bade him give me this," He held up a small phial that was around his neck, and in the moon and stars it glittered and shone with a pale yet brilliant light. "I placed it about my neck and I was changed on the spot."
"That is indeed a strange tale, and not nearly all one would hope from a story, but you will be happy now, and live forever as such, and for that I am very glad," said Frodo. "And what of you Merry and Pippin? You hardly seem to have changed at all."
Merry shrugged, "We do not know why, but we are delighted. If I were to venture a guess, I would that it was something of dear Megilian's doing."
As if called forth at the sound of his name Megilian knocked softly and glided in.
"I brought food," he said.
Merry laughed, "See why Megilian is so dear to us Frodo? He brings us food!"
They all chuckled joyfully. While Pippin and Merry helped themselves to apples, Megilian sat down on his bed and regarded Frodo grimly.
"I will tell you what happened to my master," he said, "We were and are under attack by some unknown enemy. We fear they are orcs, but we have never seen one. I advised his majesty against scouting, for if he was slain we would have none to turn to. He did not heed my warning, which was not too surprising, and there was nothing to do, but to let him go. One day our worst fears were realized when he did not return with the rest. I left my good friend Helkahliel in charge and went in search of him myself. I found him, and he was awake, though I know not how. There was a black arrow stuck in his breast, 'Engwarothiel, Megilian,' he said, 'Engwarothiel,' then he was silent. That means 'Dark Lady in our tongue. I pulled the arrow from him, the wound was not deep, but the tip was dripping with a fell black liquid that burned the ground that it touched. I carried him back and he has slept ever since."
"How terrible!" Frodo cried.
"Indeed," said Megilian, "For though his wound is healed, none can wake him. Our only hope now rests with Lord Elrond."
"Yes, only hope," said Frodo thoughtfully. He certainly prayed Elrond could do something.