On the eve of the 20th day they approached the valley of Rivendell. When they reached the edge and peered over, Loswen was overwhelmed. Never had she seen anything so inviting! It was a paradise! They slowly descended down to the house she had spotted only moments ago. The house seemed to be in uproar, many people were arriving. She watched a man speed past her, she gasped, t'was the man she had seen last year...the filthy one! There were three very short people talking with each other, all had curly hair and ears almost like hers.
"Hobbits," Legolas whispered to her. Slowly he pointed out different people and told her who and what they were. The blond elf by the stables was Glorfindel, the four short men, although not as short as the hobbits, with long beards were dwarves. The woman with the flowing brown hair was Arwen, Lord Elrond's daughter. Legolas didn't know who the other un-kept human by his horse was, although he guessed him to be the messenger of some king. Many elves raced about. Two elves sat talking, Erestor, chief councillor to Elrond, and with him, Galdor from the Grey Havens.
Slowly the 6 of them got off of their horses. Elrond greeted them, Legolas was introducing her, Loswen noted.
"...and this is my wife, Loswen of Mirkwood." Loswen bowed.
"Tis a pleasure to meet you, alas, I cannot linger here, I must see to an injured patient that has just awoken." Elrond rushed off.
The trouble she had sensed in the people of Mirkwood was nothing compared with the inhabitants of Rivendell. Thinking of troubled faces brought up the shadow that hung over her. She had become so good at suppressing things, alas, this was starting to irritate her. I must talk to Legolas about that, she noted.
***
Glorfindel watched the party from Legolas arrive, for him to be sent on an errand the news must not only be important, but probably bad. It was all they needed, would no one arrive at Rivendell with good news? Or someone that did not seek help? As Glorfindel saw Loswen being helped down, he paused, perhaps this was not a message, perhaps it was...a holiday? If it was, it was very ill-y timed indeed.
He again paused to watch the Lady being introduced to Lord Elrond, ah, she was Loswen, Princess of Mirkwood. With the world such as dangerous place Legolas dared to bring his wife riding with him. How very strange.
Glorfindel had never before seen the Princess of Mirkwood and judging by her expression, she had never seen many people before. Looks could be deceiving when they concerned elves. To his eyes she seemed perhaps a few years younger than Legolas himself. He studied her slowly, nay, more than just a few years younger, she had not even reached 1,000 and Legolas was well past it. Then it clicked, she was young and had not yet seen the world, or the people that inhabited it. What a better and safer place than Rivendell! Indeed, Legolas may be carrying a message, but she was surely here to see new things.
***
Legolas had gone, he had been called to a council. He had left Loswen in the very capable hands of Aldaedhel. The rooms that had been assigned to the Mirkwood party, had, luckily, a window that faced the main entrance into the house. Loswen sense that this may have had something to do with Legolas. She wanted to meet the other people here. She had sometimes heard people in the elvenking's halls talking about people she saw, or races. She was grateful that she hadn't listened. Their opinions seemed to be fixed and many of their comments were quite slanderous. Loswen was trying to decide who she would like to meet, it would have to be someone not at the council, she decided, as they would not be free. That ruled out the kind old hobbit she had met yesterday, and the brown ill one that had been in bed. It also ruled out Glorfindel, Galdor and Erestor. Hmm, the dwarves appeared to be there as well. Loswen had wondered on the purpose of the council, she knew that something threaten Middle-Earth and judging by Legolas' expression when he had been talking to others, loosing Gollum was a very grave error. Aha! She knew who was not at the council! The other hobbits! Mippin and Perry?
Aldaedhel watched Loswen try and decide on who to go and see. She was taking this awfully seriously, there would be time to see them all! He chuckled. She seemed to have decided,
"I think I would like to see the hobbits, Mippin and Perry."
*
Loswen walked silently into the chamber where Merry and Pippin were seated, talking arguing about…she listened carefully. They were hungry! They were talking about how many times elves ate a day.
"Three meals," she answered from the other side of the room, "well at least in Mirkwood we do." They were clearly shocked, she wasn't sure if it was that they hadn't heard her enter the room or at the meals that elves ate. "How many times a day do you eat?" She asked.
"A lot more," one of them answered, stressing the word 'lot'. Well, Loswen had come here with a purpose, and what a better way to start a conversation as food was something these hobbits seemed quite passionate about. And so she began… "what do you call your meals…?"
Loswen learnt their names weren't Mippin and Perry, she had been close, but no, their names were Merry and Pippin. The Shire sounded like a terribly strange place to Loswen, and the meals that they ate! No wonder they had been discussing it, to them, elves must seem like they were on a diet! She would have shown them where the kitchen was, but alas, she did not know where it was. The hobbits and herself talked about a lot of things, just as it was her first time out of Mirkwood, it was their first time out of the Shire. Although, her first trip seemed to have faired much better than theirs. The black riders sounded terrible, and when they told her what had happened to their friend Bilbo Baggins when he had passed through the Misty Mountains she was truly thankful.
There was one point in their telling of Bilbo's story that perplexed her somewhat. They had told her that Bilbo's company had been imprisoned in the elvenking's halls. How strange, surely she would remember that, she had, after all, been living in the halls at the time. Perhaps she had been more sheltered than she had, at first, believed. Was she that oblivious to her surroundings?
Aldaedhel had watched Loswen talking with the Halflings. As he tired, neither of them seemed to. The stories and tales both of them were telling, the places they were describing, he had seen and heard a thousand times. He wondered how much longer the council would go on. When the prince returned he could take his place and Aldaedhel could retire to his rooms. As if on cue the prince entered the room, his face grave.
"Tis not good news," he said simply, seeming not to notice the two hobbits. "There is peril ahead and I would not wish it on anyone to be with the ones that must go."
"What is it?" Loswen asked.
Legolas was pulled immediately back to the fact that the Halflings were in the room. "We shall talk later," he turned to Aldaedhel, "you can go now, I shall guide my wife."
Aldaedhel nodded and left the room.
*
Elrond had been debating, whom should he send. His house, at the moment, contains some of the most able people of Middle-Earth. Frodo, Sam and Gandalf, the three were assured. Nine Walkers to be set against the Nine Riders, yes, that would be the best course of action. Each race, now that would seem fitting. Gimli, young and eager enough, as proved in the council. Boromir and Aragorn, they needed to travel to Minas Tirith, obvious choices, and there weren't that many humans around here to choose from. Who for elves…Elrond pondered this deeply. He could send an Elf-lord, Glorfindel, perhaps, his sons, the group…the Fellowship, would need the best skills. Legolas, of Mirkwood! One of the best archers in Middle-Earth and his senses were amazing even for an Elf. Thranduil may not be too happy about having his heir being sent on a perilous journey, the best were needed to ensure the safety of Middle-Earth.
Elrond called to a servant immediately, "send for Gimli and Legolas".
*
"…would be my honour to lay down my life to protect Middle-Earth and represent the Elves," Legolas finished.
Elrond was pleased, both had agreed without hesitation, now all he needed to do was decide on the final two members.
*
Legolas returned to the rooms he shared with Loswen, he was to go to Mordor with the Fellowship. He couldn't believe that he had agreed so readily, as he approached the door to where Loswen sat, he paused. He had not even considered her, how utterly selfish, he could not even pull out now. Legolas may have just sealed her fate as a widow. He scolded himself, how was he going to explain this to her…
"Loswen," she turned around, "I come bearing news, its type, for you to decide."
She was perplexed, he looked so solemn, oh dear, what had happened? "What has happened?"
"Lord Elrond had decided that a group of Nine Walkers will be set against the Nine Rider, to go to Mordor, to destroy the One Ring. Each race of Middle-Earth is to be represented. He…he asked if I would represent the Elves…and…and…I…agreed." She looked hurt…
Loswen could not understand it…why would he do something like this without even consulting her? Was she not his wife? Did she not need him as much as the people of Middle-Earth? They could have other saviours, other representatives, he was hers. Never had she felt so possessive over something.
"Why…?" She choked out.
"I…do not know."
Loswen turned and fled the room.
*
It had started snowing sometime in the middle of the night, and now, near dawn, the snow covered the ground like a thick blanket. Loswen was lying, she had tired of weeping and now lay sleeping in the snow.
Glorfindel was walking, t'was a wonderful night and the dawn would surely be as splendid. He was thinking about all that was happening, he had just returned from gathering information for Lord Elrond. Was he to be sent on the quest? He doubted this, he would probably be sent out as a messenger, bringing news of the Fellowship to those that could help them. Knowing Lord Elrond Lothlorien would probably be his destination. As he rounded the corner he gasped, there on the snow lay a she-elf, Legolas' wife, dead, frozen. He rushed to her side and disturbed the snow as he went. As he put a hand down to her face her eyes opened and he saw that she drew breath! Surely she must be freezing, even he was slightly cold.
She blinked, knocking snow off of her eye lashes. "Hurry m'lady, you will freeze, you are a scold as ice now!" She didn't seem disturbed in the slightest.
Loswen had been crying, how could he be doing this to her? Who would she travel Middle-Earth with, who would father her children? Who would she spend eternity with? She had fallen asleep, in the thick snow. Someone had awoken her, she looked up and blinked. All she saw was the most brilliant golden hair, what a beautiful elf, she thought. The opposite of her pale silver Legolas. She jolted up, Legolas, how could he? The elf staring at her, a horrified look on his face was Glorfindel, he had been gone for many weeks. She bet he would never leave his wife, if he even had one, to go traipsing around Middle-Earth on some deadly quest.
"I am fine," she said, "I was merely sleeping."
"You are not fine, Loswen of Mirkwood. You lips are blue and you are cold to the touch."
"My lips are always blue, m'lord, and I care nothing for the cold." She said sadly.
"If it is not the cold that troubles you," Glorfindel continued, as he noticed that something was wrong with her, "then what is it?"
She signed, should she confide her troubles with a stranger? Why not, who else was she going to tell? "Tis my husband, he has done a careless thing without consulting me."
"What has he done?"
"He has agreed to go and see the ring destroyed. I feel that he has placed me below everything else in the world." She finished
Glorfindel lowered his gaze, her sadness was enticing, it drew him in and made him want to weep. Perhaps comforting her was the best option, "he does a brave thing, he places his own interests before those of Middle-Earth, he risks his own life for you, for those he cares about."
"He has not put his own interests before those of Middle-Earth, he is an adventurous spirit, if this was not something he wished to do he would not have agreed without consulting me."
"He does a great service, he is one of the finest archers in Middle-Earth, he knows Lord Elrond asked him for a reason, he is needed. Lord Elrond has foresight, there must be some important role that is to be played by him."
Loswen sighed, there was no point trying to make someone who thought that this was for the good of them all, see sense. Glorfindel was continuing,
"Although, if you were my wife, I would have consulted you."
"What would your wife say, if you had done what Legolas has?"
"I do not know, for I do not have a wife."
"Oh," perhaps this is why he could not understand, and perhaps also why he was so devoted to Lord Elrond.
"Come now, m'lady, tis cold out here and can be doing you no good."
"It cools my thoughts, for I feared that I would say some regrettable things, you know what they say, Anger is a condition in which the tongue works faster than the mind."
"Are you still not cooled? Or perhaps you just wish to avoid someone that may be inside," Glorfindel suggested with the hint of a smile.
"Aye, tis both."
"Well then come then, out of the cold, into my rooms, Legolas will surely not be found there." Loswen nodded and followed Glorfindel into the house.
***
"Hobbits," Legolas whispered to her. Slowly he pointed out different people and told her who and what they were. The blond elf by the stables was Glorfindel, the four short men, although not as short as the hobbits, with long beards were dwarves. The woman with the flowing brown hair was Arwen, Lord Elrond's daughter. Legolas didn't know who the other un-kept human by his horse was, although he guessed him to be the messenger of some king. Many elves raced about. Two elves sat talking, Erestor, chief councillor to Elrond, and with him, Galdor from the Grey Havens.
Slowly the 6 of them got off of their horses. Elrond greeted them, Legolas was introducing her, Loswen noted.
"...and this is my wife, Loswen of Mirkwood." Loswen bowed.
"Tis a pleasure to meet you, alas, I cannot linger here, I must see to an injured patient that has just awoken." Elrond rushed off.
The trouble she had sensed in the people of Mirkwood was nothing compared with the inhabitants of Rivendell. Thinking of troubled faces brought up the shadow that hung over her. She had become so good at suppressing things, alas, this was starting to irritate her. I must talk to Legolas about that, she noted.
***
Glorfindel watched the party from Legolas arrive, for him to be sent on an errand the news must not only be important, but probably bad. It was all they needed, would no one arrive at Rivendell with good news? Or someone that did not seek help? As Glorfindel saw Loswen being helped down, he paused, perhaps this was not a message, perhaps it was...a holiday? If it was, it was very ill-y timed indeed.
He again paused to watch the Lady being introduced to Lord Elrond, ah, she was Loswen, Princess of Mirkwood. With the world such as dangerous place Legolas dared to bring his wife riding with him. How very strange.
Glorfindel had never before seen the Princess of Mirkwood and judging by her expression, she had never seen many people before. Looks could be deceiving when they concerned elves. To his eyes she seemed perhaps a few years younger than Legolas himself. He studied her slowly, nay, more than just a few years younger, she had not even reached 1,000 and Legolas was well past it. Then it clicked, she was young and had not yet seen the world, or the people that inhabited it. What a better and safer place than Rivendell! Indeed, Legolas may be carrying a message, but she was surely here to see new things.
***
Legolas had gone, he had been called to a council. He had left Loswen in the very capable hands of Aldaedhel. The rooms that had been assigned to the Mirkwood party, had, luckily, a window that faced the main entrance into the house. Loswen sense that this may have had something to do with Legolas. She wanted to meet the other people here. She had sometimes heard people in the elvenking's halls talking about people she saw, or races. She was grateful that she hadn't listened. Their opinions seemed to be fixed and many of their comments were quite slanderous. Loswen was trying to decide who she would like to meet, it would have to be someone not at the council, she decided, as they would not be free. That ruled out the kind old hobbit she had met yesterday, and the brown ill one that had been in bed. It also ruled out Glorfindel, Galdor and Erestor. Hmm, the dwarves appeared to be there as well. Loswen had wondered on the purpose of the council, she knew that something threaten Middle-Earth and judging by Legolas' expression when he had been talking to others, loosing Gollum was a very grave error. Aha! She knew who was not at the council! The other hobbits! Mippin and Perry?
Aldaedhel watched Loswen try and decide on who to go and see. She was taking this awfully seriously, there would be time to see them all! He chuckled. She seemed to have decided,
"I think I would like to see the hobbits, Mippin and Perry."
*
Loswen walked silently into the chamber where Merry and Pippin were seated, talking arguing about…she listened carefully. They were hungry! They were talking about how many times elves ate a day.
"Three meals," she answered from the other side of the room, "well at least in Mirkwood we do." They were clearly shocked, she wasn't sure if it was that they hadn't heard her enter the room or at the meals that elves ate. "How many times a day do you eat?" She asked.
"A lot more," one of them answered, stressing the word 'lot'. Well, Loswen had come here with a purpose, and what a better way to start a conversation as food was something these hobbits seemed quite passionate about. And so she began… "what do you call your meals…?"
Loswen learnt their names weren't Mippin and Perry, she had been close, but no, their names were Merry and Pippin. The Shire sounded like a terribly strange place to Loswen, and the meals that they ate! No wonder they had been discussing it, to them, elves must seem like they were on a diet! She would have shown them where the kitchen was, but alas, she did not know where it was. The hobbits and herself talked about a lot of things, just as it was her first time out of Mirkwood, it was their first time out of the Shire. Although, her first trip seemed to have faired much better than theirs. The black riders sounded terrible, and when they told her what had happened to their friend Bilbo Baggins when he had passed through the Misty Mountains she was truly thankful.
There was one point in their telling of Bilbo's story that perplexed her somewhat. They had told her that Bilbo's company had been imprisoned in the elvenking's halls. How strange, surely she would remember that, she had, after all, been living in the halls at the time. Perhaps she had been more sheltered than she had, at first, believed. Was she that oblivious to her surroundings?
Aldaedhel had watched Loswen talking with the Halflings. As he tired, neither of them seemed to. The stories and tales both of them were telling, the places they were describing, he had seen and heard a thousand times. He wondered how much longer the council would go on. When the prince returned he could take his place and Aldaedhel could retire to his rooms. As if on cue the prince entered the room, his face grave.
"Tis not good news," he said simply, seeming not to notice the two hobbits. "There is peril ahead and I would not wish it on anyone to be with the ones that must go."
"What is it?" Loswen asked.
Legolas was pulled immediately back to the fact that the Halflings were in the room. "We shall talk later," he turned to Aldaedhel, "you can go now, I shall guide my wife."
Aldaedhel nodded and left the room.
*
Elrond had been debating, whom should he send. His house, at the moment, contains some of the most able people of Middle-Earth. Frodo, Sam and Gandalf, the three were assured. Nine Walkers to be set against the Nine Riders, yes, that would be the best course of action. Each race, now that would seem fitting. Gimli, young and eager enough, as proved in the council. Boromir and Aragorn, they needed to travel to Minas Tirith, obvious choices, and there weren't that many humans around here to choose from. Who for elves…Elrond pondered this deeply. He could send an Elf-lord, Glorfindel, perhaps, his sons, the group…the Fellowship, would need the best skills. Legolas, of Mirkwood! One of the best archers in Middle-Earth and his senses were amazing even for an Elf. Thranduil may not be too happy about having his heir being sent on a perilous journey, the best were needed to ensure the safety of Middle-Earth.
Elrond called to a servant immediately, "send for Gimli and Legolas".
*
"…would be my honour to lay down my life to protect Middle-Earth and represent the Elves," Legolas finished.
Elrond was pleased, both had agreed without hesitation, now all he needed to do was decide on the final two members.
*
Legolas returned to the rooms he shared with Loswen, he was to go to Mordor with the Fellowship. He couldn't believe that he had agreed so readily, as he approached the door to where Loswen sat, he paused. He had not even considered her, how utterly selfish, he could not even pull out now. Legolas may have just sealed her fate as a widow. He scolded himself, how was he going to explain this to her…
"Loswen," she turned around, "I come bearing news, its type, for you to decide."
She was perplexed, he looked so solemn, oh dear, what had happened? "What has happened?"
"Lord Elrond had decided that a group of Nine Walkers will be set against the Nine Rider, to go to Mordor, to destroy the One Ring. Each race of Middle-Earth is to be represented. He…he asked if I would represent the Elves…and…and…I…agreed." She looked hurt…
Loswen could not understand it…why would he do something like this without even consulting her? Was she not his wife? Did she not need him as much as the people of Middle-Earth? They could have other saviours, other representatives, he was hers. Never had she felt so possessive over something.
"Why…?" She choked out.
"I…do not know."
Loswen turned and fled the room.
*
It had started snowing sometime in the middle of the night, and now, near dawn, the snow covered the ground like a thick blanket. Loswen was lying, she had tired of weeping and now lay sleeping in the snow.
Glorfindel was walking, t'was a wonderful night and the dawn would surely be as splendid. He was thinking about all that was happening, he had just returned from gathering information for Lord Elrond. Was he to be sent on the quest? He doubted this, he would probably be sent out as a messenger, bringing news of the Fellowship to those that could help them. Knowing Lord Elrond Lothlorien would probably be his destination. As he rounded the corner he gasped, there on the snow lay a she-elf, Legolas' wife, dead, frozen. He rushed to her side and disturbed the snow as he went. As he put a hand down to her face her eyes opened and he saw that she drew breath! Surely she must be freezing, even he was slightly cold.
She blinked, knocking snow off of her eye lashes. "Hurry m'lady, you will freeze, you are a scold as ice now!" She didn't seem disturbed in the slightest.
Loswen had been crying, how could he be doing this to her? Who would she travel Middle-Earth with, who would father her children? Who would she spend eternity with? She had fallen asleep, in the thick snow. Someone had awoken her, she looked up and blinked. All she saw was the most brilliant golden hair, what a beautiful elf, she thought. The opposite of her pale silver Legolas. She jolted up, Legolas, how could he? The elf staring at her, a horrified look on his face was Glorfindel, he had been gone for many weeks. She bet he would never leave his wife, if he even had one, to go traipsing around Middle-Earth on some deadly quest.
"I am fine," she said, "I was merely sleeping."
"You are not fine, Loswen of Mirkwood. You lips are blue and you are cold to the touch."
"My lips are always blue, m'lord, and I care nothing for the cold." She said sadly.
"If it is not the cold that troubles you," Glorfindel continued, as he noticed that something was wrong with her, "then what is it?"
She signed, should she confide her troubles with a stranger? Why not, who else was she going to tell? "Tis my husband, he has done a careless thing without consulting me."
"What has he done?"
"He has agreed to go and see the ring destroyed. I feel that he has placed me below everything else in the world." She finished
Glorfindel lowered his gaze, her sadness was enticing, it drew him in and made him want to weep. Perhaps comforting her was the best option, "he does a brave thing, he places his own interests before those of Middle-Earth, he risks his own life for you, for those he cares about."
"He has not put his own interests before those of Middle-Earth, he is an adventurous spirit, if this was not something he wished to do he would not have agreed without consulting me."
"He does a great service, he is one of the finest archers in Middle-Earth, he knows Lord Elrond asked him for a reason, he is needed. Lord Elrond has foresight, there must be some important role that is to be played by him."
Loswen sighed, there was no point trying to make someone who thought that this was for the good of them all, see sense. Glorfindel was continuing,
"Although, if you were my wife, I would have consulted you."
"What would your wife say, if you had done what Legolas has?"
"I do not know, for I do not have a wife."
"Oh," perhaps this is why he could not understand, and perhaps also why he was so devoted to Lord Elrond.
"Come now, m'lady, tis cold out here and can be doing you no good."
"It cools my thoughts, for I feared that I would say some regrettable things, you know what they say, Anger is a condition in which the tongue works faster than the mind."
"Are you still not cooled? Or perhaps you just wish to avoid someone that may be inside," Glorfindel suggested with the hint of a smile.
"Aye, tis both."
"Well then come then, out of the cold, into my rooms, Legolas will surely not be found there." Loswen nodded and followed Glorfindel into the house.
***