The Last Days of the Elves by Alicia Wood
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Urgent News
Rengolas Greenleaf rested on a limb of a giant oak in his home forest of Mirkwood. He resembled his father, Legolas Greenleaf, in his handsome face and lean, muscular form. His hair was long and fair gold, laced with twisting braids and delicate young leaves. His eyes were deep, sparkling blue, like the sky on a beautiful, clear day. His nose came to a kind, noble slope above his shapely, warm lips. His square jaw was set as he scanned the woods about him.
It was a bright, warm day and the sun filtered down through the trees. Rengolas fingered his bow, which once belonged to his father. He thought about the Old Days, and the stories his father told about the War of the Ring.
"It was a very dark time," Legolas had said. "But hope got us through."
"What did you hope for, father?" Rengolas had asked.
"My hope was held in the thought of returning home to these forests. Mirkwood has always been the home of the Greenleafs. This was the only place I belonged."
And Legolas began to sing,
Over the brook, Over the field, My home in Mirkwood yield: A joy so sweet, A peace so kind, It should ease my mind. No trouble comes, While elves are near, I know my home is here.
Rengolas knew that his father's love of the woods was also in his heart.
"I would protect this land and its people with my life," Rengolas told himself.
Suddenly, Rengolas became alert. Something approached from the east, or several some things. Rengolas slowly lifted an arrow to his bow. He crouched, waiting on the tree limb.
Out through the underbrush came two halflings, followed by two more, shorter halflings. Rengolas lowered his bow.
"You know, Pip, I think we're lost," said one of the halflings.
Behind them, the brush parted and out came an older, fat halfling and a younger on. The younger one was skinnier, but his face was that of the fat one. Rengolas assumed they were father and son.
"I say we stop and eat," said the fat halfling.
"We've got to get to Legolas and the other elves as fast as possible, and eating just slows us down," said the first halfling.
"Oh, Merry! We've already missed elevensies, and afternoon tea!" The fat hobbit exclaimed, hopping up as he spoke. The others paid him no heed.
"Seems like we ought to be getting close now," said the halfling called Pip.
Rengolas smiled at the little band of short men. They did not look dangerous, and they knew of his father. Rengolas silently jumped down from the limb to face the hobbits, his bow drawn.
The halflings noticed him right away, "Don't shoot! We bring news to Legolas and the elf council of Mirkwood," said the halfling called Merry.
"Don't worry, if you mean no harm, you have nothing to fear," said Rengolas.
"Say," said the fat halfling. "You kind of look like Legolas Greenleaf."
"I am his son, Rengolas," he bowed. "Who are you all, and what kind of creature are you?"
"We are hobbits of the Shire. My name is Merry Brandybuck, this is my son Tom. This is Pippin Took, and his son Faramir. And this is Sam Gamgee and his son Frodo Gardner," Merry pointed at each of the hobbits as he introduced them.
"It is good to meet all of you," said Rengolas. "I have heard stories about you. You were members of the Fellowship of the Ring."
"Yes, many years ago," grunted Sam as he plopped onto a fallen log.
"Could you take us to your father?" asked Merry. "We have urgent news."
"Yes, sirs, right away," said Rengolas. "Follow me."
Rengolas led them northward through the trees. To Sam, it felt like ages before they reached the gates of the elf city.
Two guards on either side of the gates stopped them. "Rengolas Greenleaf, who do you bring to the Woodland Gates?" asked on of the guards. He had shinning green eyes and long dark hair.
"These were my father's companions during the War of the Ring. They bring urgent news to us," said Rengolas.
"Enter," said the green-eyed guard as he stepped away from the opening gates.
Rengolas led the hobbits into the wooded elf city. The trees were taller and more spread-out here. Elf maidens' voices could be heard, singing among the trees. White flowers drifted down from the tree-tops.
"Wow," breathed Frodo. It was the first time he had seen elves and elvish dwellings, although he had heard of them all his life. His father was in love with the ways of the elves and never tired of talking about them. Frodo knew all of the stories of his father's adventures in Rivendell, Moria, and Mordor. He was proud to be named after Frodo Baggins, the bearer of the Ring. He hoped, one day, to meet him.
"My grandfather, Thranduil, was King in Mirkwood, until he left for the Grey Havens. Now my father is king. I will take you to his house," Rengolas was saying. "This way."
He led them up a stairway that wound its way up the trunk of the tallest tree. Up in the boughs was the Royal House. Rengolas led them inside and into a long white room. At the end of the room, seated on a giant wooden chair, was a stately elf dressed in green flowing robes.
"Father," called Rengolas, "Your comrades have come!"
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Sam smiled. No spread could be bigger. The elves were experts at providing dinner to famished hobbits. Sam and the others had been seated at a long table with Legolas and his wife and children. The table was filled with delicacies; fruits, vegetables, meats, and fishes.
Frodo also smiled over the spread, but also over the amazing grace and beauty of Legolas' children. Along with Rengolas, there were two others, both daughters; Marawyn and Rashaina.
Marawyn had blue eyes, like her father, and long, straight brown hair. Her nose was rounded and her lips were red and full. She was shapely and beautiful and strong.
Rashaina was also beautiful. Long, golden hair fell about her regal shoulders. Her green eyes were wreathed by long lashed above her gently pointed nose. Her lips, too, were red and full and her figure shapely and strong.
Frodo knew right away that he liked the Greenleaf family. They were generous and kind, and full of love, just like his family. Frodo's father always treated his wife, Rose, with respect, and loved all his children equally much. However, truth be told, Sam was closest to Frodo. Be it his name or personality, Sam didn't know, but he was able to tell Frodo things he couldn't tell his other children.
"Well Master Hobbits," Legolas said, "What news do you bring to us?"
"It's not very good news," said Merry. "In fact, it's quite dark news."
"There is news of war-talk beyond Khand," said Pippin.
"How do you know of this?" asked Legolas, sounding concerned.
"Merry and I were visiting the lands of Gondor, and when we were in south Gondor, the king's riders came with the news," said Pippin.
"War," said Rengolas. "Why war?"
"Power," said Sam. "Some one wants to take over the free lands."
"Again?" asked Rengolas.
"Men will never give up their desire for power," said Legolas. "It is because of men and their hate that many elves have left."
"And it is good we still have you here," said Merry.
"We must assemble the Council of the Elves, summon our allies, and decide what to do," said Legolas
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Urgent News
Rengolas Greenleaf rested on a limb of a giant oak in his home forest of Mirkwood. He resembled his father, Legolas Greenleaf, in his handsome face and lean, muscular form. His hair was long and fair gold, laced with twisting braids and delicate young leaves. His eyes were deep, sparkling blue, like the sky on a beautiful, clear day. His nose came to a kind, noble slope above his shapely, warm lips. His square jaw was set as he scanned the woods about him.
It was a bright, warm day and the sun filtered down through the trees. Rengolas fingered his bow, which once belonged to his father. He thought about the Old Days, and the stories his father told about the War of the Ring.
"It was a very dark time," Legolas had said. "But hope got us through."
"What did you hope for, father?" Rengolas had asked.
"My hope was held in the thought of returning home to these forests. Mirkwood has always been the home of the Greenleafs. This was the only place I belonged."
And Legolas began to sing,
Over the brook, Over the field, My home in Mirkwood yield: A joy so sweet, A peace so kind, It should ease my mind. No trouble comes, While elves are near, I know my home is here.
Rengolas knew that his father's love of the woods was also in his heart.
"I would protect this land and its people with my life," Rengolas told himself.
Suddenly, Rengolas became alert. Something approached from the east, or several some things. Rengolas slowly lifted an arrow to his bow. He crouched, waiting on the tree limb.
Out through the underbrush came two halflings, followed by two more, shorter halflings. Rengolas lowered his bow.
"You know, Pip, I think we're lost," said one of the halflings.
Behind them, the brush parted and out came an older, fat halfling and a younger on. The younger one was skinnier, but his face was that of the fat one. Rengolas assumed they were father and son.
"I say we stop and eat," said the fat halfling.
"We've got to get to Legolas and the other elves as fast as possible, and eating just slows us down," said the first halfling.
"Oh, Merry! We've already missed elevensies, and afternoon tea!" The fat hobbit exclaimed, hopping up as he spoke. The others paid him no heed.
"Seems like we ought to be getting close now," said the halfling called Pip.
Rengolas smiled at the little band of short men. They did not look dangerous, and they knew of his father. Rengolas silently jumped down from the limb to face the hobbits, his bow drawn.
The halflings noticed him right away, "Don't shoot! We bring news to Legolas and the elf council of Mirkwood," said the halfling called Merry.
"Don't worry, if you mean no harm, you have nothing to fear," said Rengolas.
"Say," said the fat halfling. "You kind of look like Legolas Greenleaf."
"I am his son, Rengolas," he bowed. "Who are you all, and what kind of creature are you?"
"We are hobbits of the Shire. My name is Merry Brandybuck, this is my son Tom. This is Pippin Took, and his son Faramir. And this is Sam Gamgee and his son Frodo Gardner," Merry pointed at each of the hobbits as he introduced them.
"It is good to meet all of you," said Rengolas. "I have heard stories about you. You were members of the Fellowship of the Ring."
"Yes, many years ago," grunted Sam as he plopped onto a fallen log.
"Could you take us to your father?" asked Merry. "We have urgent news."
"Yes, sirs, right away," said Rengolas. "Follow me."
Rengolas led them northward through the trees. To Sam, it felt like ages before they reached the gates of the elf city.
Two guards on either side of the gates stopped them. "Rengolas Greenleaf, who do you bring to the Woodland Gates?" asked on of the guards. He had shinning green eyes and long dark hair.
"These were my father's companions during the War of the Ring. They bring urgent news to us," said Rengolas.
"Enter," said the green-eyed guard as he stepped away from the opening gates.
Rengolas led the hobbits into the wooded elf city. The trees were taller and more spread-out here. Elf maidens' voices could be heard, singing among the trees. White flowers drifted down from the tree-tops.
"Wow," breathed Frodo. It was the first time he had seen elves and elvish dwellings, although he had heard of them all his life. His father was in love with the ways of the elves and never tired of talking about them. Frodo knew all of the stories of his father's adventures in Rivendell, Moria, and Mordor. He was proud to be named after Frodo Baggins, the bearer of the Ring. He hoped, one day, to meet him.
"My grandfather, Thranduil, was King in Mirkwood, until he left for the Grey Havens. Now my father is king. I will take you to his house," Rengolas was saying. "This way."
He led them up a stairway that wound its way up the trunk of the tallest tree. Up in the boughs was the Royal House. Rengolas led them inside and into a long white room. At the end of the room, seated on a giant wooden chair, was a stately elf dressed in green flowing robes.
"Father," called Rengolas, "Your comrades have come!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sam smiled. No spread could be bigger. The elves were experts at providing dinner to famished hobbits. Sam and the others had been seated at a long table with Legolas and his wife and children. The table was filled with delicacies; fruits, vegetables, meats, and fishes.
Frodo also smiled over the spread, but also over the amazing grace and beauty of Legolas' children. Along with Rengolas, there were two others, both daughters; Marawyn and Rashaina.
Marawyn had blue eyes, like her father, and long, straight brown hair. Her nose was rounded and her lips were red and full. She was shapely and beautiful and strong.
Rashaina was also beautiful. Long, golden hair fell about her regal shoulders. Her green eyes were wreathed by long lashed above her gently pointed nose. Her lips, too, were red and full and her figure shapely and strong.
Frodo knew right away that he liked the Greenleaf family. They were generous and kind, and full of love, just like his family. Frodo's father always treated his wife, Rose, with respect, and loved all his children equally much. However, truth be told, Sam was closest to Frodo. Be it his name or personality, Sam didn't know, but he was able to tell Frodo things he couldn't tell his other children.
"Well Master Hobbits," Legolas said, "What news do you bring to us?"
"It's not very good news," said Merry. "In fact, it's quite dark news."
"There is news of war-talk beyond Khand," said Pippin.
"How do you know of this?" asked Legolas, sounding concerned.
"Merry and I were visiting the lands of Gondor, and when we were in south Gondor, the king's riders came with the news," said Pippin.
"War," said Rengolas. "Why war?"
"Power," said Sam. "Some one wants to take over the free lands."
"Again?" asked Rengolas.
"Men will never give up their desire for power," said Legolas. "It is because of men and their hate that many elves have left."
"And it is good we still have you here," said Merry.
"We must assemble the Council of the Elves, summon our allies, and decide what to do," said Legolas
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