Chapter 3
A few months later a messenger from Rivendell comes to the court of Lord Celeborn. He has much news to tell them, of a fellowship and a great burden one of them carries. Lord Celeborn sends Haldir out to meet this "Fellowship" that has been sent by Lord Elrond.
From high atop the trees they can see them, the fellowship sent out from Rivendell. Haldir leans over and whispers to Ithil, "Stay here in this tree we will go and give them a friendly greeting." Ithil can see his smirk of a smile and tries very hard not to laugh out loud. She stays behind out of sight in the tree as she is told.
Ithil is happy when into view steps Aragorn, for she has met him many times in the court of Lady Galadriel. It is good to see him again. But what is this? A dwarf? And Hobbits? The messengers of Elrond had not mentioned these. And who is this elf? He obviously came from far away. She looks forward to meeting them, as it sounds as if they are going to be taken to Caras Galadhon. So she follows behind trying to stay out of sight. She follows as they cross the river and through the forest.
At one point she misjudges a branch she is holding on to and it breaks with a loud snap. Aragorn turns to the sound and he sees someone hiding deeper in the branches. Aragorn has to smile to himself for he knows full well who it is following them. Legolas also turns to where the sound comes from, and with his elvish eyes he sees her in the tree. He wonders who she is for she is very beautiful.
When they reach Caras Galadhon, Ithil leaves them to go to her room to change into her court clothes. Once she changed she goes to see if there is anything she can do to make the visitors welcome. Going into the kitchen she prepares a tray to take to them. She fills it to overflowing with fruits and cakes and a beautiful silver decanter of drink, and she takes it to the visitors.
Aragorn warmly greets her. "It is good to see you again Ithil." Aragorn says bowing to her.
"It is pleasant to see your face again Aragorn, even if it does need washing." She laughs. Aragorn smiles and shakes his head. She is spending too much time with Haldir, he thinks to himself. Legolas laughs at her comment.
"May I introduce you to Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood." Aragorn says extending his hand to Legolas. Legolas bows to Ithil. "And over here," he continues, "Is Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck and Pip Took, they are hobbits from the Shire. This is Gimli son of Gloin from the Lonely Mountains. And this is Borimir of Gondor. Gentlemen I give you the lovely Ithil Linde, Lady Galadriel's handmaiden."
"Most pleased to meet all of you. I bring you substance for body and spirit; eat, drink and rest for it may be a long time before you have such comforts again." Ithil smiles at the company. Her eyes come to rest on Legolas. "If you would not mind I would like to return to you later and hear of your journey."
Her glistening green eyes captivate Legolas; he bows again and replies, "As you wish, it would be my pleasure my lady."
With that she leaves them to their rest and returns to her duties. Songs start to fill the trees, such sadness, as she has never heard before. It brings tears to her eyes to hear it.
Even in the midst of such sadness and desperate times it is exciting to her to have such visitors from afar. Ithil finishes her duties with haste and runs back to the company. When she returns to them she finds all of them asleep, save for Legolas. He has been waiting for her return.
Sitting down beside him Ithil says, "Tell me of your journey, tell all that you can." Legolas laughs, and he begins their tale. Ithil listens intently, wide-eyed, interrupting only to ask questions to clarify something he says.
At last his tale ends and he looks at Ithil, her eyes are bright with wonder.
"Tell me of Mirkwood, tell me of your home, you're travels." She asks pleadingly. A voice laughing from behind them interrupts her.
"Ithil, that is enough, let him sleep." They turn to see Haldir standing on the stairs. "Come Ithil."
"Yes Haldir." She says getting up, "It was a great pleasure to meet you Legolas Greenleaf, and I hope that fortune will allow us to meet again one day."
"I will look forward to that day My lady." Legolas says rising to his feet, bowing once more. Ithil nods and leaves with Haldir.
Ithil watches as the Fellowship leaves down the river. Her eyes follow until she can no longer see them.
Turning from the river, she whispers under her breath, "Until our paths cross once more Legolas Greenleaf."
A few months later a messenger from Rivendell comes to the court of Lord Celeborn. He has much news to tell them, of a fellowship and a great burden one of them carries. Lord Celeborn sends Haldir out to meet this "Fellowship" that has been sent by Lord Elrond.
From high atop the trees they can see them, the fellowship sent out from Rivendell. Haldir leans over and whispers to Ithil, "Stay here in this tree we will go and give them a friendly greeting." Ithil can see his smirk of a smile and tries very hard not to laugh out loud. She stays behind out of sight in the tree as she is told.
Ithil is happy when into view steps Aragorn, for she has met him many times in the court of Lady Galadriel. It is good to see him again. But what is this? A dwarf? And Hobbits? The messengers of Elrond had not mentioned these. And who is this elf? He obviously came from far away. She looks forward to meeting them, as it sounds as if they are going to be taken to Caras Galadhon. So she follows behind trying to stay out of sight. She follows as they cross the river and through the forest.
At one point she misjudges a branch she is holding on to and it breaks with a loud snap. Aragorn turns to the sound and he sees someone hiding deeper in the branches. Aragorn has to smile to himself for he knows full well who it is following them. Legolas also turns to where the sound comes from, and with his elvish eyes he sees her in the tree. He wonders who she is for she is very beautiful.
When they reach Caras Galadhon, Ithil leaves them to go to her room to change into her court clothes. Once she changed she goes to see if there is anything she can do to make the visitors welcome. Going into the kitchen she prepares a tray to take to them. She fills it to overflowing with fruits and cakes and a beautiful silver decanter of drink, and she takes it to the visitors.
Aragorn warmly greets her. "It is good to see you again Ithil." Aragorn says bowing to her.
"It is pleasant to see your face again Aragorn, even if it does need washing." She laughs. Aragorn smiles and shakes his head. She is spending too much time with Haldir, he thinks to himself. Legolas laughs at her comment.
"May I introduce you to Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood." Aragorn says extending his hand to Legolas. Legolas bows to Ithil. "And over here," he continues, "Is Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck and Pip Took, they are hobbits from the Shire. This is Gimli son of Gloin from the Lonely Mountains. And this is Borimir of Gondor. Gentlemen I give you the lovely Ithil Linde, Lady Galadriel's handmaiden."
"Most pleased to meet all of you. I bring you substance for body and spirit; eat, drink and rest for it may be a long time before you have such comforts again." Ithil smiles at the company. Her eyes come to rest on Legolas. "If you would not mind I would like to return to you later and hear of your journey."
Her glistening green eyes captivate Legolas; he bows again and replies, "As you wish, it would be my pleasure my lady."
With that she leaves them to their rest and returns to her duties. Songs start to fill the trees, such sadness, as she has never heard before. It brings tears to her eyes to hear it.
Even in the midst of such sadness and desperate times it is exciting to her to have such visitors from afar. Ithil finishes her duties with haste and runs back to the company. When she returns to them she finds all of them asleep, save for Legolas. He has been waiting for her return.
Sitting down beside him Ithil says, "Tell me of your journey, tell all that you can." Legolas laughs, and he begins their tale. Ithil listens intently, wide-eyed, interrupting only to ask questions to clarify something he says.
At last his tale ends and he looks at Ithil, her eyes are bright with wonder.
"Tell me of Mirkwood, tell me of your home, you're travels." She asks pleadingly. A voice laughing from behind them interrupts her.
"Ithil, that is enough, let him sleep." They turn to see Haldir standing on the stairs. "Come Ithil."
"Yes Haldir." She says getting up, "It was a great pleasure to meet you Legolas Greenleaf, and I hope that fortune will allow us to meet again one day."
"I will look forward to that day My lady." Legolas says rising to his feet, bowing once more. Ithil nods and leaves with Haldir.
Ithil watches as the Fellowship leaves down the river. Her eyes follow until she can no longer see them.
Turning from the river, she whispers under her breath, "Until our paths cross once more Legolas Greenleaf."