A/N: I forgot to add that the Nazgul are described by the spirits as 'the evil lord's faithful servants'. And the evil lord is of course Sauron.



Disclaimer: All references to Lord of the Rings Characters and places are the property of J.R.R Tolkien, I have just tried to use them for my own story.

Chapter 3: The Begining of Friendship

The day after the Council, Elrond had sent scouts out to find out any news of what Sauron was planing or anything else that could be important. Celebfaer, eager to hear what news she could quickly, waited a few days before she went down at night, while everyone was sleeping to the spot near the river and she called the wind spirit, to see what news he had.

He had much the same news as the water spirit, except that he told that the evil lord's faithful servants were regathering in the evil land and the evil lord was still searching. He told of Orc armies being built up and of something in the earth near Isengard, which was where Saruman dwelt. However, the wind spirit knew not where more of her people were dwelling. Just before he left through, he suggested that she ask the earth spirit as well as he might know a little more about Isengard.

It was exhausting calling up spirits and talking to them, but the male spirits of Wind and Earth were harder for women to call up, so it was four days before she felt that she was strong enough to be able to call the earth spirit.

He had the same sort of news as the wind and water spirits did, except that he added more to what was happening in Isengard. Something to do with a building of an army of Orc-like creatures, though he was unsure of what their use would be. He also told of news of the different peoples of the world, though he knew not where the fairy folk were dwelling.

The lack of news about her people started to dismay Celebfaer because if the spirits of the world had not heard of them then maybe there were none left of her kind. She refused to believe this thought and pushed it to the back of her mind before it could try and make her believe it. Celebfaer had a feeling that her people were hiding and waiting until they received some form of news from the outside world that would allow them to finally show themselves.

However, Celebfaer did not call up her favourite spirit, the fire spirit, because she knew that there would be no relevant news on the fires that she did not already know or had not already heard from the other three spirits.

Four days after she talked to the wind spirit Celebfaer went to Elrond to tell him of all the news that she had discovered that had to do with the dark lord, Sauron and what she had heard about Saruman's army.

"How long have you known all this Celebfaer?" He asked her amazed at what she had found out in so short a time since the scouts were only sent out about a week ago and none had yet returned.

"I have collected it since the night of the feast." She said, then she looked straight into his eyes in challenge and added. "Do you still doubt my usefulness to the Company as far as Lorien?"

Elrond shook his head. "I never doubted your usefulness. It is more your safety that I was concerned about."

"I can look after myself quite well. My summons and calling abilities are very strong."

"But if you are caught unaware it could end in more than your wings."

"But if I were with the Company I would not be caught unaware because Aragorn and Gandalf know of what I am and would keep a watch out, as they would with all the Company."

"It is not certain that they will be going yet."

"Well, if you do not intend to send me with them, then I will return to Lorien within the next few weeks, I have some business that I must tend to." She said and Elrond nodded.

"Okay. You will go with the Company, though I still do not know when they will be departing or who shall be in the Company as yet. When I decide you will be told, but nothing will be certain until the scouts come back, in spite of what you have told me." He said, then he turned his back, dismissing her.

Celebfaer walked down the corridors with a troubled look on her face, until Legolas saw her. She stopped when he approached her, then asked her if he could accompany her on a walk.

"If it pleases you." She replied and so they walked together, in silence at first until Legolas broke the silence by asking a question.

"Where have you been the past week and a half, if you do not mind me asking my lady?"

"I have been resting. The journey I took was more tiring than I had at first thought."

"Are you sure you are an Elf?" He asked ever so softly in Elvish and she smiled, her ears were just as keen as any other Elf.

"You dare question it? Does Elrond not say that I am? Does the Lady of the Wood not say that I am?" She replied in Elvish, whispering too so that he could hear it and Legolas relaxed a little, smiling.

"My apologies my lady." He said, but he also knew that keen hearing and the ability to speak Elvish did not make an Elf.

Legolas knew then that he would just have to find another way to test her until she either removed the hood of her cloak or was able to survive every test that he could think of. He was rather curious about her and he needed to know if she were an Elf or not, so that if she were indeed an Elf, he could study her peculiar ways and learn from her.

She smiled then. "So, is that the real reason you wished to walk with me? Elves do not avoid topics normally and I sense you wanted to talk of something else, my lord."

"Well, I would like it and be very thankful if you could tell me a little about the Elves in Lothlorien and of the wood and trees there." He said, slightly nervously and Celebfaer smiled, then nodded.

"First let us find a nice place to sit." She said, causing him to smile and then she led him towards one of her favourite spots, which was a pool with that she used to find Arwen when no one else was around. It was perfect because it was never disturbed.

Legolas flinched when she led him towards there, the smile falling instantly from his face and she frowned as Elves never flinched, but said nothing and continued to lead him to the pool, where they sat.

"Is there something wrong with this pool Master Greenleaf, you act as though it is poisoned." She said and he looked at her then shook his head.

"Nay, there is nothing wrong with the pool." He said, pausing to try and think, but she interrupted his thoughts.

"Then why do you flinch so?" She pressed.

"Arwen and I got caught planing a prank on her brothers here by Lord Elrond and I have not been by this pool since then. It is nothing, we shall sit and I will get over my...... childish ways." He said pausing slightly and she laughed.

So then, once they were settled, she started to tell him of Lorien, and in return he told her of Mirkwood. She had a greater interest in it now because the Grey Mountains spanned there and Withered Heath was just beyond Mirkwood. She had looked at maps when she had not been resting. She very much wanted to bathe her wings in there until they healed, so that she could find her people.

That was how Celebfaer spent most of her days for the next month as they waited for the scouts to return, and she and Legolas became friends. Legolas was amazed at her interest in Mirkwood when she lived in the fair Lothlorien. They also ceased talking in the Common speech and talked only in Elvish to each other. She thought it was another way for Legolas to test if she were indeed an Elf. He still questioned whether she was or not though he could not make up his mind, he was waiting for some flaw in her speech or anything to catch her out and prove to him that she was not an Elf.

"Celebfaer, why do you wish to know so much about my home? Do you wish to visit it one day?" He asked her one day and she smiled.

"Maybe one day I shall. And if I do, I shall expect a grand tour." She said and Legolas laughed.

"If I am there I would be honored to show you around."

"And what of the mountains near there, do the Elves wonder in them?"

"Nay. The mountains are foul and the air about them fouler. Not one Elf that ventures up there has ever returned. I have been to the base and that is as far as I will venture. The base is foul enough and further up I imagine it gets worse."

"You think so? What if it were able to be cleansed? Would the Elves venture up there then?" She asked him eagerly.

"Cleansing can only be done by the spirits. Elves have no knowledge in that area, unless the Elves of Lorien have hidden talents." He shot at her and she realised that she should not have spoken so easily, however she rose to the challenge.

"Nay, we have no hidden talents. I was just curious is all." She said, her tone back to normal.

"You are curious of many things Celebfaer and seeing as I am curious too, I should like to ask you a question, if you will permit it." He asked her, cautiously.

"Ask your question my lord and if I am permitted to answer it then I shall to the best of my ability." Celebfaer said.

"Why do you clothe yourself in this unusual way? Or, do all Elves of Lothlorien clothe themselves in this way? You are an Elf, you should be proud to show your hair and ears." He held his head high, proudly at the last sentence, as if to demonstrate how proud she should have been.

She knew that he would ask her this one day and she had prepared her answer. "I am proud of my ears and hair, though the Lady does not permit me to show more than I do now. It is just habit I guess that keeps me donning the cloak outside of Lorien. But the cloak is light and just like the clothes you wear now. My riding cloak is much more heavier. Besides, I am able to wear clothes underneath the cloak it just feels a little weird without it on." She replied, she had only worn it for almost 2500 years and she spoke the truth, she felt weird if she did not have her cloak on.

"Well then would you show me your hair and ears, the Lady shall never know for I will not tell her and there is no one else about to see." Legolas asked, testing yet once more.

"Why do you wish to see them?" She replied. She couldn't believe that he was so persistent in his questioning and testing that he did to her.

"I wish to see if they are as beautiful as the rest of face that I see in front of me."

"And you say the Lady will never know?"

"Yes. I shall never tell her and there is only you and I here to see it."

"Then you are more foolish than you look my prince. Have you not learnt anything about the Lady since I have been educating you?"

"Yes......"

"The Lady knows all about her people, even when they are not in her land, she has a way of knowing what they are up to."

"Then she is the most wise and powerful of Elves, for no Elf has ever had that ability. Not even Elrond himself." Legolas shot back with his constant pressing and Celebfaer was starting to get a little tired of all his games.

"Well, Legolas, my father has talents in other areas. The Lady of the Wood is very wise, as is my father, but although my father is a great fighter, the Lady is better at other things." Arwen said coming up behind the two and smiling.

"Arwen it is not polite to sneak up on people." Legolas said.

"And you are an Elf. You should have heard me coming. But that is not why I come." She said, then she turned to Celebfaer. "My father wishes to speak with you, Celebfaer." Arwen said, refraining from calling her spirit child as she did when they were alone.

"Well then, Legolas we have talked enough today and I am needed else where. I shall see you tomorrow, if it pleases you." She said, then she followed Arwen, glad for a reason to get away from Legolas' questioning looks.