Hello everyone! I just wanted to clear up that in the last chapter Leuthil was not taking a bath. She likes the water and went there to relax after the horrible news of Gandalf's death. It may sound a little weird but that's it and I'm sorry if it did sound a little wrong I could see how it would. Please forgive me. Well here is the next chapter.
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~*Chapter 3*~
When the young elf left, Legolas immediately got out of the water also. He was no longer relaxed at all. 'What was she doing here. She was supposed to be lamenting for Gandalf high in the trees not here in the water' he thought. 'Perhaps she relaxes in the water also'.
He got dressed and went to join the rest of the fellowship. They had to sleep on the ground instead of high in the trees, as Legolas would have much rather enjoyed. The hobbits asked Legolas what the elves were saying about Gandalf, Legolas did not tell them. He was not yet ready. "For me the grief is still to near, a matter for tears and not yet for song", he told them.
They slept peacefully that night. For the first time in many days resting securely, without the threat of someone or something attacking them.
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Leuthil ran quickly into the dense trees, which surrounded the small lake. " I should never have gone there", she mumbled to herself, "All it has caused me is embarrassment when all I wanted was to relax from this awful news"
"What has caused you embarrassment?" someone said in the elvin tongue making her jump.
"Orophin! Do not do that. You startled me." She said. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to look for you. Someone said you had come this way."
"Yes, I was on my way to my flet."
"Are you not supposed to be lamenting for Gandalf?"
"I was, but I simply want to go to my flet and from there I shall continue."
"Very well, do you mind if I join you?" Leuthil felt like rolling her eyes, but decided against it, as Orophin would surely see her.
"Yes, you may." They went up many stairs to her flet. They entered and went to the edge and sat down. Leuthil began singing, but Orophin did not. He simply stared at her.
"Why are you not lamenting Orophin?" she asked him.
"I would rather listen to your beautiful voice." He said with a very sincere smile.
"Well, please do not. I thought you were saddened by this horrible news, would it not be inappropriate not to lament for one whom you were so fond of."
"Yes, I suppose you are correct, but I must return to my brother Haldir. I am sure he has more errands for me. I hope we may speak again later." He said as he got up and bowed to her.
"Yes, I am sure we will" she said. Then he retreated down the winding stairs and was out of sight.
Leuthil continued to lament for Gandalf, forgetting about what had happened earlier. She soon laid down on the floor of the flet and slept. She slept on her back, with her arms lying folded on her chest, and her eyes open, as most elves did.
There was always much light in Caras Galadhon due to the silver lamps which the elves lit at night. The glow from the small lamps made the trees look beautiful and it was a wonderful feeling to look at the stars high above the silver trees. All the silver light made Leuthil feel as if she did not need sleep at all, and she rested only for a short while.
When she awoke she changed and went down to the kitchens. She had work to do today. She did not know what, but they would tell her in the kitchens. She arrived at the small white tent, which was hidden among the trees, on the ground and entered. It was much larger inside then it appeared to be from the outside.
She walked in and saw Voronwer. Voronwer was the elf whom told all the others what to do. She knew what needed to be done in all of Caras Galadhon and whom to tell to do it.
"Leuthil, there you are." She said.
"Yes, good day Voronwer. What will I be doing today?"
"Your task is easy today. All you shall have to do is take breakfast to our guests. The eight gentlemen who have come."
"Excuse me?" said Leuthil in shock. She truly had the worst luck ever. " Assign me anything, just not that which you ask!! Voronwer please."
"But why Leuthil. This is an easy task. I wanted to give it to you, as you are the nicest elf I know and the best one for this task. You are good with newcomers, and I hear they have a dwarf in their company." She said with a look of antipathy.
"And what is so wrong about a dwarf, I am sure you have many elves who would rather have this task."
"No, no you will be the one. I have asked many already and when I spoke of the dwarf they said it was out of the question."
"So, then why can I not decline to do this as they have?"
"Please Leuthil, just do this for me?" said Voronwer.
"Very well, but you owe me a huge favor."
"Thank you! Hurry now, they have just awoken and are waiting for breakfast", she said as she handed Leuthil a large trey, which Leuthil had much trouble with, as she was smaller than other elves. "And return afterwards, there is still another trey", said Voronwer behind her.
'Thank goodness I will not have to climb stairs' thought Leuthil.
She walked out of the tent with the large tray in hand. There was much food on it. ' I suppose they have been on a long journey if they need this much refreshment, and there is still another trey like this one!' she thought.
She finally came to where the fellowship was waiting. She looked around and saw that the blonde elf was away from the group speaking with one of the hobbits.
"Ah! The food has come!" she heard the dwarf said as she approached. There was a small table set up and Leuthil walked to it. Leuthil did not understand why elves disliked dwarfs so much. She was sure that they were not that bad. Everyone was goodhearted deep down, was what she thought.
"Do you need help with that?" she heard someone say. She turned and saw that it was a man, the same one who had looked at her when she came upon them in the forest with Haldir.
"No, thank you I am fine. This trey seems to be a little too large for my arms." She said as she set it down on the table. "I will return with more. There is still another trey."
She turned around and left.
She returned quickly with the second trey, and saw that they were all seated at the table and were talking amongst themselves. She noticed the look they all had in their eyes, the look of sadness from losing someone, Gandalf.
"So, in which direction shall we travel next Aragorn?" she heard one of the hobbits say. At the mention of the name she automatically remembered.
This was the mortal who Arwen had fallen in love with. She stared at him without noticing as she gave each one of them a plate and goblet to eat and drink from. Now she understood how Arwen had fallen for him so easily. He was very handsome for a human and always very nice, she could tell, as he had been the only one to offer her help.
"Is there a problem?" he asked arousing her from her thoughts and making her aware that she was staring at him and all who sat there were staring at her.
"No, not at all", by now she had finished passing out the utensils and such. She quickly turned around and began walking away from them.
"Before you leave" someone from the table said. She did not listen closely enough to know who it might have been. She turned and saw that it was the last person she wanted to talk to or even look at it. It was the elf, and she knew it had been him as all the others were eating now and he was the only one looking at her.
"Yes?"
"What is your name?"
"My name is Leuthil. Feel free to call for me if you need anything."
She then turned quickly and left.
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Legolas awoke early before anyone else. Aragorn was next to awaken, then Boromir, then the dwarf and the hobbits. As they awakened he noticed all had the same look in their eyes, the sadness of losing Gandalf. They all felt as if the quest was lost now without Gandalf.
"I am hungry. Will they bring food?" Gimli asked Aragorn.
"Yes, they are on their way as we speak." Legolas answered his question as he saw far off a she elf carrying a large trey approaching them. He then recognized her and quickly occupied himself by talking to Merry who was farthest from the group, looking at the trees. He walked toward the young hobbit.
"Legolas, why have I not seen any elves? Only those who led us here and the Lady Galadriel." Merry asked him.
Legolas smiled. He found the hobbits amusing and very surprising as they were so young and had many question. They had never gone anywhere outside their homeland.
"They stay high in the trees or they simply blend in with the earth." He told him.
"And what type of trees are these?" he said as he examined the tall tree which stood proudly before him.
Legolas could now hear Aragorn asking the elf if she needed any help. Legolas felt bad and he all of a sudden felt like rushing over to help her, but he quickly decided against it.
"These are called Mellyrn or Mellorn-trees. They are very beautiful, are they not?" he said.
"Yes, they are-" Merry said before he was cut off by Aragorn.
"Legolas! Merry! Come sit so we may eat." He shouted to them.
They went to the white table and sat. Legolas then saw the girl approaching once more.
Frodo was speaking with Aragorn and Gimli with the other hobbits. Boromir kept to himself as usual, except for when he spoke with Aragorn.
Legolas noticed how beautiful she really was. Her eyes appeared to be clear with a hint of green there. They looked like transparent gems sparkling beneath the sun, and her hair was also very different from that of most elf maidens. She was shorter, and Legolas did not like that in women, yet she managed to make her shortness look like a strength rather than a weakness, and she wore her appearance proudly even though she knew she was different than most.
He also noticed that at the mention of Aragorn's name she stared at him, for a very long time at that. She gave them their plates and goblets very slowly and by this time all noticed her staring at Aragorn. Then Aragorn broke the silence in the most polite way he could. "Is there a problem?" Legolas found this amusing, but he kept his face expressionless. "No, not at all." She said.
She then turned quickly and walked away. Before she got very far Legolas could not resist so he asked for her name "Before you leave." He said hoping she would turn.
"Yes?" she asked him looking as if this was the last place she wanted to be.
"What is your name?" he wondered why he had asked, but as he thought about it he knew why he had asked. He found her very amusing and thought she would be much fun to talk to. He had not met an elf in Lothlorien before who appeared to be so lighthearted at first glance. Yes, all elves were very happy but she seemed different, in a comical way, someone who loved to laugh above all else.
"My name is Leuthil. Feel free to call for me if you need anything." she then turned quickly and left.
"You have taken a liking to her master elf?" Legolas heard Gimli say from across the table.
"I think she has taken a liking to Aragorn." Legolas said instead of answering Gimli's question.
"No, I am sure she has not." Aragorn said.
"And tell me, how are you so sure of this?" said the dwarf once more. "I think she is quite the beauty. Though she does not compare to the Lady Galadriel, she is still very beautiful."
"Well master dwarf she is a friend of a friend. Now do you mind if I ask you to keep your comments to yourself?" Aragorn said.
Legolas laughed. "Yes, Gimli, please do, you know it is not polite to meddle in the affairs of others."
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"Voronwer will pay for this!" Leuthil said to herself.
"Pay for what?" From behind a tree jumped Haldir.
"Haldir! You and your brother seem to have the same habits. Please do not do that. I have asked you before."
"I am sorry Leuthil! You seem bothered. What is the problem?"
"I am not going to tell you. You will most likely only laugh at me and think I am childish."
"I promise I will not. Come now! We have not spoken in much time."
"In these past days I have been more embarrassed then I have ever been in all my life." She said.
"Well then, tell me what has happened."
"It is that elf. I do not even know his name. The one whom I led here with the blindfold."
"Legolas! He is a good friend. He is the Prince of Mirkwood you know, King Thranduil's son. I am sure he has not done anything bad."
" I did not say that he had done something "bad". We were simply in an embarrassing situation and worse we keep meeting."
"Well then, I do not know what to tell you. Perhaps it is fate that is bringing you together." He said with a dreamy expression in his face.
She glared at him. "Haldir! I am serious, or do you think nothing bad ever happens to me? I am not always the funny girl. I think the best thing to do is just forget about it. Even though he is very handsome and he is a prince."
"Yes, just forget about it. I am sure you have no interest in a prince, and I am sure he has no interest in you."
"Do you really think so?" she asked him sounding glum. She then heard Haldir laughing.
"So then you do like this elf?" he said still laughing.
"I do not know. I think I will simply forget about it. He is to handsome, plus he is a prince."
"Well, this chat was fun but I must go now. In the meanwhile you keep thinking about the prince of Mirkwood."
"You had better not tell anyone anything, especially your brother Orophin. I have not said I like him or not."
"Very well, you secret is safe. I will not tell anyone that you like Legolas."
"I do not like him!" she shouted at him as he left. Thinking how immature her friend was for an elf of his age.
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Ok I hoped everyone liked it. I would love to get reviews from everyone who reads this story.