The two Elves lay entwined in each other's arms. Nimoë slept, but Legolas stared up into the sky, thinking about his promise. With his fingers he stroked her hair, enjoying the soft feel of it. Abruptly he stilled his motion. Someone was coming.
Carefully pulling his arm out from under Nimoë's head he reached out with his other hand to grab his sword, which was lying close at hand. Even so close to Núrnelven, he did not discount the possibility of roving minions of the Shadow. Moving silently, he rose to his feet, taking a defensive position over Nimoë's sleeping form.
There was a rustle in the underbrush and the approaching creature loomed into view. Legolas let his breath out in a rush and hailed him, "Telarion! You are back!"
The young Elf looked up, startled, for no sound had alerted him to the presence of others. "Indeed, Legolas. I am back, and I bring you good news."
The Elf Prince beckoned to the scout, gesturing to a nearby stone, and dropped his sword back down on the mossy ground. "Sit. Tell me your news."
Telarion moved gracefully over the distance between them and settled onto the moss-covered rock, near to the edge of the river. "I have been to Ithilien, Legolas. I have seen the ruins of our homes. Already new life grows through the ravages of the fire. New shoots have grown to young trees and birds fly overhead."
"I traveled with Eredir and Gil-Ganan and together we journeyed to Minas Ithil. We disguised ourselves well, hiding our Elven features, but even as we trod the roads of Men we found things had begun to change. Rather than sullen looks and wary greetings we were met with smiles and welcome. Men did not carry their swords to hand, but kept them sheathed and belted. So very different it seemed from when we had left. Indeed the very appearance of the Men we met had changed. No longer ragged and scruffy, they were clean and nearly trimmed. We took heart.
"Upon reaching Minas Ithil we went to the court of the Prince, Eomiren by name, and there did we reveal ourselves for what we truly are, having deemed it safe enough. Still, we were none of us prepared for what happened then."
Telarion paused in his telling and looked over at his Prince with a smile of memory. "Prince Eomiren saw our features and he blanched an ashen white. In front of his entire court did he fall to his knees before us, hands extended in supplication. "I had thought that we had wiped all of your kind from this world! Oh the tortures I have suffered thinking that I had condoned such an atrocity. It is as if a fog had covered my eyes, my heart, my very soul, which is now lifted. When I think of all that your people did for us, for my ancestors… What can I do to begin to repay what we have wrought upon you?""
"I can tell you truly, that was not the reaction that we were expecting. However, I told him that we were but emissaries from you. That any decisions would be made by our Prince. Eredir and Gil-Ganan remained behind to fully tell the tale of what happened at Orodruin, and to prepare for your arrival, for we knew that you must travel to Minas Ithil yourself, to take counsel with Eomiren."
A quiet voice spoke then, from the softly mossed ground nearby. "Legolas, it was enough! Men have been redeemed!"
"Nimoë, I thought you were sleeping?" said Legolas.
She pulled herself into a sitting position. "I was, but your voices roused me. Telarion, this is good news indeed!"
Legolas rose to his feet and crossed to Nimoë, assisting her to stand. "Aye, it is. We must quickly return to Núrnelven to spread the word."
"Yes. And Caldarion will be missing me."
"Caldarion?!" gasped the young Elf scout. "He is back?"
"Oh, Telarion," replied Nimoë, regret in her voice. "I am sorry. I should have told you first. I named our son in honor of your brother. That is whom I speak of."
For a moment, Telarion's features fell, but then he shook himself and smiled. "What greater honor could you bestow? If he is not here in the flesh, then that is the most that I could ask for."
Legolas gripped the younger Elf by the shoulder, then said, "Come. Let us return."
Before going to find the council of Elves that had been left in command of the city when Legolas had been gone to Orodruin to tell them Telarion's news, they first went to find the Dwarf, Hobbit and baby. They found them at the shore of the Sea, Caldarion held snugly in Gilmin's arms, giggling helplessly as Raven popped his head out from behind the Dwarf, exaggerated expressions of surprise on his face.
Gilmin saw the trio approaching and hailed them. "Good thing you are here, Nimoë. This child has been begging for food."
She came over and took the little bundle into her arms, then turned to introduce him to his namesake's brother. "Here, Little One, is Telarion. It was his brother who gave you his name. You must be friendly to him, for his sacrifice was great."
Telarion held out his index finger towards the infant who reached to grab it. With strength surprising in such a small creature, Caldarion pulled the finger to his mouth and began to gum it with gusto.
Looking down at the small fair head, smiling beatifically as he chewed on his dusty finger, Telarion felt tears rise unbidden to his eyes. His voice was strained with emotion as he said, "He is lovely." Trying to hide his sentiment with humor, he muttered, "Has good taste."
"Would you like to hold him?" asked Nimoë.
Telarion stared at her, with his jaw hanging open. Before he could formulate a word, she had moved the baby onto his shoulder, and the chubby little fists were wrapped in his long, dark hair.
Legolas laughed. "Come, Telarion. Let us find the council. The good news must be spread."
The dark-haired scout followed along behind the others, unable to pull his eyes from the tiny bundle in his arms.
Author's Note: Sorry. Short chapter, I know, but the next should be longer. I'm trying to keep up with all my active stories, and I am getting a bit behind.
