It was growing light. Already, the early morning fog was lifting and the air felt crisp and clear. The sun slowly began to make its daily climb through the sky, reinvigorating Eladrien's tired limbs. Next to her, Alare stumbled awkwardly and Eladrien knelt down next to the exhausted little Elf.
She pushed back her heavy air, the babyish curls settling back on her forehead, 'Shall I carry you, young one?'
Alare nodded sleepily.
Behind her, one of the guards coughed and shifted impatiently but Eladrien ignored him. She hoisted her sister on to her back and resumed walking. After a while, Eladrien could feel that she was asleep, her limbs heavy, her breathing slow and regular. They continued to walk through the dense forest until the pace suddenly quickened. For a nomadic Elf used to travelling, Eladrien knew this meant they were nearing their destination. She held her breath. It had been many long years since she had laid eyes on a city of any kind. She had vague memories of Edoras, the Rohan city in Middle Earth where the three of them had been born, but since then she had rarely seen any kind of civilisation for herself. And an Elven city was something that had always intrigued her. Her favourite pastime, as a young child, had been listening to the stories her mother had told of her time with the Elves of Rivendell. Images and pictures of buildings and gardens of sumptuous beauty had weaved themselves into her imagination. Often in her daydreams, Eladrien had tried to see these wondrous places for herself, dreaming about the life one could lead in such a magical place.
The company stopped and Eladrien craned her neck eagerly to see what was ahead of them. Two massive gates towered above, their imposing beauty successfully intimidating all those who laid eyes on them. Her brother's hand tightened in her own. On either side of the gates, fences ran along the limits of the forest, etched and covered with beautiful Elvish figures and symbols. Eladrien concentrated on some of the inscriptions but they were in an Elvish tongue unlike the one she had been taught. There was more inscribed along the fence that was hidden from view, but she could read:
An si Tintallë Varda Oiolossëo
Ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortanë
ar ilyë tier undulávë lumbulë
ar sindanóriello caita mornië
I falmalinnar imbë met, ar hísië
untúpa Calaciryo míri oialë
Si vanwa ná, Rómello vanwa, Valimar!
Namárië! Nai hiruvalyë Valimar.
Nai elyë hiruva. Namárië![1]
It sounded beautiful and seemed to possess a wistfulness that held Eladrien's attention long enough for her to enjoy a moment's relief from their predicament. The large gates slowly began to open and again, the small group moved forward. Eladrien eagerly gazed around, drinking in all that she could see from the path. Around her, gardens full of blooming flowers and greenery enjoyed the bright sunshine. Small paths turned off from the main one, and snaked between the small gardens, ponds and fountains that adorned the area. Elves strolled along, beautifully dressed and immaculate, stopping to stare at the new admissions through the Palace gates. Eladrien's face felt hot as she saw the openly curious looks they were attracting. Embarrassed, she turned her attention away and craned her neck to see above the tall guards in front of her.
Ahead of her, finally in view, was the Grand Palace of King Thranduil. Eladrien tried to stop herself from staring too intently but it was more stunning than she had even imagined and her mouth fell open in incredulity. The sun hit the sides of the Palace, bouncing off the beautiful carved pillars and parapets. The huge edifices rose upwards, the stairs graciously curving up to grand hallways that swept away along to where Eladrien could not see. Directly in front of her, many halls and chambers were visible, their enormous open windows admitting plenty of sunshine. All around, large, stately trees stood like royal guards, for this was still part of the Tedian forest. The sun shone merrily down on the scene, dappling through the leaves and creating alternate areas of light and darkness. Never before had Eladrien seen anything more beautiful. Her fantasies paled against the reality and withered to nothing. Now, she understood. Her mother had forsaken her Kin, many centuries ago, after stumbling on a place such as this; the home of the great Lord Elrond. The price had been high but as Eladrien laid her eyes on such another Elven kingdom for the first time, she knew she would also have abandoned her heritage as Aladwen had done. For surely there could be little not worth sacrificing so that one might live in such a dream. She smiled. Her mother's blood ran deep in her veins.
At the entrance to the Great Hall, the company split up and half of their escorts disappeared down another path. Eladrien, still carrying Alare, followed the rest into the Great Hall. The floor below her feet was paved with large slabs of stone unlike any she knew. It appeared almost to contain glittering jewels that shined and winked as if preening themselves under her reverent gaze. Above, there was a huge, vaulted ceiling that ran down to thick pillars, which sturdily supported it on either side. The remaining guards seemed to fade from in front of her, and Eladrien was left standing there, with her brother at her side, and her sister on her back. As if feeling the tenseness permeating through Eladrien's body, Alare woke and wordlessly slipped to the ground. At the end of the Hall stood two Elves deep in conversation. With a start, Eladrien recognised the Elf that had first found her, and been ice and stone, with an arrow ready to kill had she said or done the wrong thing. After talking at length to his companion, he walked over to where Eladrien was standing, the younger two half hidden behind her.
"What is your name?" he asked her
"Eladrien. This is my brother, Enier, and my sister Alare."
He eyed them. "These names are strange to my ears. Of what Kin are you?"
"Our father was a Man, a Rohan Lord. He named us."
The Elf nodded, "This would explain why your ears are not of Elven form."
Eladrien shook her head, "It explains no such thing. All of my Kin have ears like ours. Though out father was mortal, we are Elf-kind. We take after out Mother."
The Elf again looked suspicious, "What Kin is this that you speak of? I have travelled far and met many of my kindred. Never before have I heard speak of Elves who do not possess the common Elven ears."
Eladrien paused, "I have given you my name, but have not heard yours. If I am to impart information concerning myself, surely you would not mind telling me whom I am addressing."
The Elf nodded in acquiescence, "My name is Legolas, son of Thranduil and heir to the Realm of Oropher."
For a moment, Eladrien could do nothing but stare at him. 'You? You are Legolas, one of the nine known to all as the Fellowship of the Ring?"
He bowed, "You are correct. I am he."
The infamous tales of the nine companions of the One Ring had reached the ears of even the Spirit Elves. Legolas' great mastery as an archer and his experience as a warrior had made him one of the most exalted of the Wood-Elves and his name was unknown to very few. Eladrien regretted having asked him the question for now that she knew who he was, she shrunk back, intimidated by his high stature compared to her lowly one.
"Well?" he asked, "Now that you know my name, will you tell me who your Kin are and how they have managed to stay secret, even to me?"
Eladrien started to panic. Her Mother had been snatched away so suddenly that they had not had time to discuss how to explain themselves to the Wood-Elves. Here stood the son of the very Elf Eladrien needed to see, and he was full of suspicion and mistrust of her. Though Spirit Elves could not read the minds of others, they had a keen sense of Elven emotions, especially when they were more extreme, such as great happiness or sadness. This was a perception common to most Elves but it was slightly more developed in those of the Spirit Kin. It was obvious to Eladrien that Legolas was unlikely to believe anything she had to say, convinced as he appeared to be that she was lying.
"I do not think you would believe me even if I told you." She replied.
He raised his eyebrows at this; "You say you are here to deliver a message to my father. You will have to first relay this message to me."
Eladrien had imagined something of the sort, "I understand your concerns. But I am sorry, Prince Legolas, I can impart my knowledge to none but the King."
"Is this knowledge of such vital importance that none can hear it, but him? Not even his own son, an Elven Prince? You expect me to trust you, but you are unwilling to return the favour on me."
"This is not a question of trust. This job was entrusted to me with strict rules. Were I to break them, as I would be doing by telling you, I would be failing all those who put their faith in me."
Legolas stared at her, long and hard. Finally he nodded, "We will discuss this no longer now, for I have much to attend to. I will send for you later and we will attempt to come to an agreement on this little problem."
Eladrien bowed her head, graciously, "As you wish."
"You must understand that strangers must be explained before they can be given leave as a guest in our Palace. You will be placed under armed escort until we can establish who you are. Please understand that this, also, in not a question of trust." With this, he left her, sending a guard over to escort her and her small family to their quarters.
-------------------
Hey peeps!
Thanks very much to all those who reviewed, I know you're supposed to be writing for yourself and all that, but it's still lovely to know that others are appreciating your story…or at least think it's worth taking a little time out to write something about it, good or bad! Hope you enjoyed this chapter…I updated as fast as I could coz I didn't want to cause anyone's death, whether they be Elves or Men…(hope this is okay, Lulu Bell!). Anyway, please leave a review and tell me what you thought of it…
Thanks, Am xx
[1] This is taken straight from the Lord of the Rings and is part of a song sung by Lady Galadriel. The English translation is:
"For now the Kindler, Varda the Queen of the Stars, from Mount Everwhite has uplifted her hands like clouds, and all Paths are drowned deep shadow; and out of a grey country darkness lies of the foaming waves between us, and mist covers the jewels of Calacirya for ever. Now lost, lost to those from the East is Valimar! Farewell! Maybe thou shalt find Valimar. Maybe even thou shalt find it. Farewell!"
I liked the idea that the Elves would inscribe such things as a reminder to all those who had once wondered about Valimar and the Valinor, while still in Middle Earth; and for all those who never made it across the Sea.