Chapter 11
Five years pass since Legolas has been in Rivendell. Returning is the last thing that he wants to do; but the circumstances are most dire. He must see Lord Elrond at once. Legolas bares the most grievous news, a traitor has been found amid the elves of Mirkwood, a traitor who seeks the elvish rings of power.
Rivendell looms before him as memories come flooding back to him. Memories that he has been trying to bury for the last five years, without success. For his nights are indeed haunted with the memories of Ithil. As he lies in bed he can still smell the scent of her; his hands still feel her skin. His lips smolder with the memory of her kisses. When he does manage to fall asleep his dreams are haunted with pictures of her face and the sound of her voice. If only they were pleasant dreams he could bear them, even look forward to them, but they always end the same way; with visions of Ithil and Haldir kissing.
From where he is he can faintly see the willow tree from where he watched Ithil take her moonlit swim. The waterfall taunts him with the memory of the kiss beneath its cool waters. He tries to shake the memories from his mind; he has more important things to deal with right now. Arriving at the front gate he dismounts from his horse and is warmly greeted by many friends.
"I must see Lord Elrond immediately." He says to the gathered crowd.
"Certainly, Prince Legolas, follow me." A dark haired he-elf says.
"Thank you." Legolas replies.
Following him Legolas tries hard not to look around too much. The memories are torturing him worse then he thought they would. Getting a grip on himself he enters Lord Elrond's upper chambers.
"Mellon nîn Legolas." Lord Elrond says. "Please enter and be seated." Turning to the dark haired elf he says, "Go and prepare some refreshments for our royal guest."
"Yes My Lord." And with that the dark haired elf leaves.
"Legolas, tell me friend, what brings you to Rivendell? It has been a long time."
"Lord Elrond, I come with terrible news. We have discovered a traitor in Mirkwood. As you know, long ago Gandalf entrusted to us the creature Gollum and we accepted the task. He then escaped our custody one night and I told you that I feared he had help. As we have discovered, Gollum did indeed have help and not from orcs."
"What is it you are saying?" Lord Elrond says slowly.
"It is one of our own sir." Legolas says lowering his head. "We have discovered the most horrendous plot. An elf by the name of Coruon assisted Gollum in his escape and has designs on seeking out the elvish rings of power and making them his own."
Lord Elrond turns away from Legolas and looks out the window. After a long while he finally turns back to Legolas and says. "I cannot say that this surprises me. I have foreseen that a new dark elf Lord will rise up and spread his evil to all the elves in Middle Earth; and then to Middle Earth itself."
"What is your counsel? How are we to purge ourselves of this threat?" Legolas asks.
"We must travel to Lothlorien, we must warn Lady Galadriel of this threat. In Lothlorien we can make a united front against this evil and hopefully crush it before it can spread its disease to the rest of Middle Earth. If it is the rings of power he wants he will have to come to Lothlorien to find them." Lord Elrond says as his eyes glow with anger.
"If that is your counsel then that is what we will do, Lord Elrond. What of Gandalf? Surely word must be sent to him." Legolas says.
"Gandalf has a way of turning up when he is needed, I think that we will find him in Lothlorien already awaiting us." Lord Elrond replies. Legolas nods, rises and leaves the chambers.
Lothlorien. the last place he wants to go. He was nervous enough just coming to Rivendell, in case she happened to be here. But to go to Lothlorien, her home. Sadly Legolas shakes his head and tries to stop thinking about it. Still, to see Ithil again, it causes his heart to skip a beat as an image of her pops into his mind. For a moment he thinks he hears her laughter on the wind, he turns to the sound to see if she is there, but of course she is not.
A great host gathers to travel with Lord Elrond and Legolas. They are told of the threat and each one pledges their life to protect Lord Elrond. Legolas rides next to him; archers and elves carrying the banner of Lord Elrond and Rivendell surround them. Lord Elrond gives the command and they depart Rivendell.
They travel the high roads that are used mainly by elves. At midday they have made excellent progress. The archers and foot soldiers keep a sharp watch out for anything unusual. Suddenly an alarm rings out. The elves take their places; some encircling Lord Elrond and others take up positions around them. Legolas gets his bow and draws an arrow from his quiver. All the elves are tense, waiting for the attack to come. They hold stone still, all eyes on the lookout; when a voice calls out.
"Is this the greeting you give your daughter Ada?" It is the soft voice of Arwen, Lord Elrond's daughter. Her entourage comes into view, several men on horses with swords drawn and bearers carrying the banner of King Elessar. In the middle of them is Arwen and King Elessar himself. Upon seeing each other the men and the elves relax and lower their weapons. Arwen leaves the side of her husband and goes to her father. The men and elves part to make way for her.
'Ada." Arwen says as she pulls her horse along side of Elrond and she gives him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Suilad, mellon nîn Legolas. What is it that makes you leave your home in the northern realm?"
"Come ride with us Daughter, there is much to tell you and your husband." Lord Elrond says as he beckons King Elessar over to them. Riding side-by- side Lord Elrond and Legolas tell of Coruon and his dastardly plot. The land flows swiftly by as the group makes their way to Lothlorien.
Five years pass since Legolas has been in Rivendell. Returning is the last thing that he wants to do; but the circumstances are most dire. He must see Lord Elrond at once. Legolas bares the most grievous news, a traitor has been found amid the elves of Mirkwood, a traitor who seeks the elvish rings of power.
Rivendell looms before him as memories come flooding back to him. Memories that he has been trying to bury for the last five years, without success. For his nights are indeed haunted with the memories of Ithil. As he lies in bed he can still smell the scent of her; his hands still feel her skin. His lips smolder with the memory of her kisses. When he does manage to fall asleep his dreams are haunted with pictures of her face and the sound of her voice. If only they were pleasant dreams he could bear them, even look forward to them, but they always end the same way; with visions of Ithil and Haldir kissing.
From where he is he can faintly see the willow tree from where he watched Ithil take her moonlit swim. The waterfall taunts him with the memory of the kiss beneath its cool waters. He tries to shake the memories from his mind; he has more important things to deal with right now. Arriving at the front gate he dismounts from his horse and is warmly greeted by many friends.
"I must see Lord Elrond immediately." He says to the gathered crowd.
"Certainly, Prince Legolas, follow me." A dark haired he-elf says.
"Thank you." Legolas replies.
Following him Legolas tries hard not to look around too much. The memories are torturing him worse then he thought they would. Getting a grip on himself he enters Lord Elrond's upper chambers.
"Mellon nîn Legolas." Lord Elrond says. "Please enter and be seated." Turning to the dark haired elf he says, "Go and prepare some refreshments for our royal guest."
"Yes My Lord." And with that the dark haired elf leaves.
"Legolas, tell me friend, what brings you to Rivendell? It has been a long time."
"Lord Elrond, I come with terrible news. We have discovered a traitor in Mirkwood. As you know, long ago Gandalf entrusted to us the creature Gollum and we accepted the task. He then escaped our custody one night and I told you that I feared he had help. As we have discovered, Gollum did indeed have help and not from orcs."
"What is it you are saying?" Lord Elrond says slowly.
"It is one of our own sir." Legolas says lowering his head. "We have discovered the most horrendous plot. An elf by the name of Coruon assisted Gollum in his escape and has designs on seeking out the elvish rings of power and making them his own."
Lord Elrond turns away from Legolas and looks out the window. After a long while he finally turns back to Legolas and says. "I cannot say that this surprises me. I have foreseen that a new dark elf Lord will rise up and spread his evil to all the elves in Middle Earth; and then to Middle Earth itself."
"What is your counsel? How are we to purge ourselves of this threat?" Legolas asks.
"We must travel to Lothlorien, we must warn Lady Galadriel of this threat. In Lothlorien we can make a united front against this evil and hopefully crush it before it can spread its disease to the rest of Middle Earth. If it is the rings of power he wants he will have to come to Lothlorien to find them." Lord Elrond says as his eyes glow with anger.
"If that is your counsel then that is what we will do, Lord Elrond. What of Gandalf? Surely word must be sent to him." Legolas says.
"Gandalf has a way of turning up when he is needed, I think that we will find him in Lothlorien already awaiting us." Lord Elrond replies. Legolas nods, rises and leaves the chambers.
Lothlorien. the last place he wants to go. He was nervous enough just coming to Rivendell, in case she happened to be here. But to go to Lothlorien, her home. Sadly Legolas shakes his head and tries to stop thinking about it. Still, to see Ithil again, it causes his heart to skip a beat as an image of her pops into his mind. For a moment he thinks he hears her laughter on the wind, he turns to the sound to see if she is there, but of course she is not.
A great host gathers to travel with Lord Elrond and Legolas. They are told of the threat and each one pledges their life to protect Lord Elrond. Legolas rides next to him; archers and elves carrying the banner of Lord Elrond and Rivendell surround them. Lord Elrond gives the command and they depart Rivendell.
They travel the high roads that are used mainly by elves. At midday they have made excellent progress. The archers and foot soldiers keep a sharp watch out for anything unusual. Suddenly an alarm rings out. The elves take their places; some encircling Lord Elrond and others take up positions around them. Legolas gets his bow and draws an arrow from his quiver. All the elves are tense, waiting for the attack to come. They hold stone still, all eyes on the lookout; when a voice calls out.
"Is this the greeting you give your daughter Ada?" It is the soft voice of Arwen, Lord Elrond's daughter. Her entourage comes into view, several men on horses with swords drawn and bearers carrying the banner of King Elessar. In the middle of them is Arwen and King Elessar himself. Upon seeing each other the men and the elves relax and lower their weapons. Arwen leaves the side of her husband and goes to her father. The men and elves part to make way for her.
'Ada." Arwen says as she pulls her horse along side of Elrond and she gives him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Suilad, mellon nîn Legolas. What is it that makes you leave your home in the northern realm?"
"Come ride with us Daughter, there is much to tell you and your husband." Lord Elrond says as he beckons King Elessar over to them. Riding side-by- side Lord Elrond and Legolas tell of Coruon and his dastardly plot. The land flows swiftly by as the group makes their way to Lothlorien.