Chapter 12
Finally they came to the borders of the Forest of Lothlorien. The richness of the land and the far away sound of the Nimrodel make it hard to believe that they have come on such urgent matters. Without warning a very large group of Galadrium surround them. Out of the shadows Haldir steps forward.
"You have come unbidden Lord Elrond of Rivendell to the forests of the Lady. Your need must be great to travel so far, so armed." Haldir says as he bows slightly to Lord Elrond.
"The need is great and the hour is dark, Haldir, Warden of the Forests of Lorien. I must have counsel with the Lady Galadriel." Lord Elrond replies. Haldir bows again, more deeply this time, as he rises his eyes fall on Legolas. For a brief moment blackness burns in Haldir's eyes. Ignoring the Mirkwood elf Haldir turns his attention to King Elessar and Arwen.
"It is indeed an honor to see you again, King Elessar and Queen Arwen." Making one last bow to them Haldir turns. "Follow me and I will take you to Caras Galadhon and present you to the Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel." The members of the company that are on horseback dismount and all of them follow Haldir into the forest.
Because of the men traveling in their company the elves cannot travel as fast as they usually do. But still they make good time. Along the way Legolas can feel Haldir's cold stare on him. Finally he cannot stand it anymore and walks quickly, catching up to Haldir.
"Haldir." Legolas begins, but Haldir stops him.
Without looking at him Haldir says. "I have no desire to speak to you, now or ever. Save this, you will NOT speak to my wife nor will you seek her out." Legolas can see that Haldir is fighting hard to prevent a great rage from exploding from him. He falls back, behind Haldir, feeling uneasy.
The company finally reaches Caras Galadhon. At the base of the trees they stop. Haldir turns and address them. "Wait here while I go to announce you to the Lord and Lady." Quickly Haldir leaves and vanishes up the stairs. Away off to the side, under a heavily shaded tree sits Gandalf the White; upon his knee is a small elf child. Gandalf looks up and sees the group of people that just arrived. He rises from his spot and approaches them, the elf-child clinging to the hem of his robe.
"Ah, I was wondering when you would get here, Lord Elrond." The wizard says as Lord Elrond, Legolas, Arwen and King Elessar approach him.
"We come on a matter of up most importance Master Wizard." Lord Elrond says. Upon seeing Arwen the young child runs up to her, and Arwen catches the child in her arms.
"How are you Lalaith?" Arwen says laughing as she tickles the child. Lalaith looks at the company her eyes are wide with wonder. There is something about the child looks familiar to Legolas. Her face has the look of a friend known long ago. Looking closer he sees that her eyes are blue, like two pale sapphires.
"Lalaith, time to come home." A woman's voice calls from the shadows.
"Nana!" Lalaith runs into the shadows. She comes back out being carried in the arms of Ithil. Legolas' heart catches in his throat. 'Mommy? Is that what the child said? She must be Ithil's daughter.' A warm feeling of love and protectiveness for the child washes over him. 'No, don't do this to yourself; Ithil's child is also Haldir's child.' Legolas thinks to himself.
"They are ready for you now." Came Haldir's voice from the stairs. Ithil walks to Haldir, still holding the child Lalaith in her arms. Standing beside him Ithil turns to the company. "It is good to be reunited with old friends, if you have need of anything please ask it of me and it shall be provided for you." She says, as Lalaith plays with her mother's hair.
Legolas tries not to think about what could have been. He looks at the family standing there on the steps. Haldir takes Lalaith from Ithil and gently tosses her; Legolas can see the child's eyes sparkling. But wait, what trick of light is this? Ithil's eyes are green, Haldir's are gray and the child's eyes are BLUE?
Ithil continues, "A great feast will be ordered for your arrival. For now I must ask your leave for there is much to do." With that she nods to the company and takes Lalaith and leaves on another flight of stairs.
"Follow me." Haldir turns and starts climbing up the stairs to the chambers of the Lord and Lady. Behind him Lord Elrond walks, followed by Gandalf, King Elessar, Arwen and Legolas. The climb is a long one but it takes them almost no time.
Already there is a round table in center of the chamber and seated at it is Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. Lady Galadriel stands and welcomes the visitors and bids them to sit.
"Lord Elrond, King Elessar it warms my heart to see you in my home, but the sight of so many in arms is cause for great concern." She says.
"It is indeed with a heavy heart that we journeyed here from Rivendell. Legolas of the Woodland Realm came to me with terrible news. It will require all our spirit and strength to repel this threat to the elves of Middle Earth." Lord Elrond tells her.
"Legolas Greenleaf, rise and tell us of this threat and how it is that this terrible knowledge came to you." Lord Celeborn says, gesturing Legolas to stand.
Legolas rises to his feet and addresses those at the table. "The knowledge came to us two months past; in the form of the attempted murder of my father; Thranduil. The elf known to us as Coruon attempted to put poison in the King's midnight goblet of wine. We caught him and held him in the darkest prison. There he seemed to go mad. He started rambling about Gollum and how he had helped Gollum escape because the creature had promised to bring him the One ring of Saruon. But Gollum never returned. Then he rambled about how he had sent men to scour rivers searching for it."
At this Haldir's ears pricked up. Men searching the rivers? Then this Coruon must have sent the men who attacked them all those years ago.
Legolas keeps speaking. "Then his speech turned to the elven rings and how it would be his revenge to capture them and use them to destroy the world of the elves. We paid little heed to his ramblings, as we did not think he could ever escape our prison. We however learned to late that he had been dealing in the forbidden arts; for it was by them that he escaped. All we know of his escape is that his guards were found deaf, blind and dumb. A horrible fate for an elf and we have little hope for their recovery. So now we must take his threats seriously. It was then that I was chosen to ride to Rivendell and seek the counsel of Lord Elrond; and it was his counsel to come here to Lothlorien to warn you." When Legolas finally finishes; there is dead silence around the room.
Gandalf rises from his spot at the table and addresses them. "I have felt a rise in the dark powers as of late, but I could not put a finger on were it originated from. Clearly this threat must be taken seriously, for an elf would know of all the hiding places of the rings. This news is a fell blow to all of Middle Earth. This Coruon must be stopped."
"For now the rings of power are safe here in Lothlorien, for no one may enter the forest unknown." Haldir says from his place at the back of the room.
"Do not hold to over confidence, Haldir. There are ways that an elf can enter Lothlorien undetected." Lord Celeborn says to him. "It is clear that for now we need to increase the patrol on the borders and let no one enter the forest until this threat is taken care of."
"Yes My Lord." Haldir says as he bows and leaves the room to carry out Lord Celeborn's orders.
"For now let all of you take rest and food. Dark and dangerous times are ahead for all of us. My hand maiden will show you to where you may freshen yourselves and then she will escort you to where a banquet has been laid out for you." Lady Galadriel says as she beckons to the shadows and Ithil steps out.
"Follow me, my Lords and Lady." Ithil gestures for them to follow her to a walkway that leads to some steps going down. 'Legolas here?' Ithil thinks to herself. Different emotions well up inside her. She feels happy to see him again, yet she feels anger at him for coming. Does he not know how hard it has been to try to leave the past behind her? For in her dreams on the darkest of nights she can still feel his breath on her face and his kisses on her lips.
She also feels fear, fear of the questions he could ask. Giving birth to Lalaith had been one of the happiest days in her life, but when she saw the child's eyes were blue. She thought for a moment that Haldir would leave her; but Haldir is totally devoted to Lalaith and has never said aloud his deepest thoughts about Lalaith's blue eyes.
After the guests are finished refreshing them selves, she takes a deep breath and says, "If you will follow me." Unbidden her eyes fell on Legolas. His eyes hold hers for a moment and he gives her a smile. Before she can stop herself she smiles back. Realizing that all eyes are on her Ithil comes to her senses. "This way please." She says as she leads them out.
The hall has been beautifully decorated and the tables are so full of food that the middle of the tables sags a little under the weight. The guests are milling around talking and catching up on news with each other. Lalaith runs around the room looking wide-eyed at all the commotion. Here and there she runs up to people giving them hugs. One of her favorite people is Arwen who she runs to many times.
Finding a quiet corner Legolas sits and tries to stay away from everyone. He enjoys the quiet until; Lalaith jumps up on his lap and puts her arms around his neck. Taken by surprise Legolas isn't sure what to do. Her soft cheek presses against his and her little arms hold his neck tight. He puts his arms around her and hugs her tightly. Looking down he can see Ithil in her face and his own blue eyes looking at him from her eyes. Is it possible? Can he be holding his own child? Is she the result of the night of passion with Ithil?
The talking quiets down as Celeborn and Galadriel enter the hall. Lalaith gives Legolas a quick kiss on the cheek and jumps down from his lap. She runs to Lady Galadriel who picks up the child and carries her to the table.
"Gather around family and friends, let us partake of this wonderful feast together." Galadriel says as she and Celeborn take their places at the table. Everyone gathers around the table and takes their places. Haldir enters the hall and takes his place at Lord Celeborn's right hand and Ithil sits next to him. Lalaith leaves Galadriel's lap and goes to sit by her mother. Legolas tries hard not to look at them but it is too hard for him as he catches himself stealing glimpses of them. All that can come to his mind is the question, 'Is this my child?'
After a long a leisurely meal the last bit of food and dishes are cleared away. Celeborn looks at Ithil and asks, "Will you indulge us with a song Ithil?"
"With pleasure My Lord." Ithil replies. Getting up from her spot she walks to where her harp is sitting in a corner of the hall. She sits at it and pulls it to her shoulder. Thinking for a minute she tries to think of what song to play. Coming up with an idea she raises her hands to the strings.
If it is on purpose or not, Legolas is not sure, for Ithil starts to sing the same song that she sang the night of the moonlit swim. Legolas feels as captivated this night as the first night so long ago when he had first seen her eyes. The hall falls silent as all eyes are on Ithil; all eyes that is, except Haldir's, whose narrowed eyes are on Legolas.
Something silver flashes on Ithil's wrist; looking closer Legolas sees on her wrist the bracelet he had left in Rivendell.
Ithil keeps her eyes closes as she sings; she picked this song as a gift for Legolas and she hopes it will speak to him more than any words she can say. As her song ends she feels a small hand on her knee. Opening her eyes she sees it is Lalaith. Smiling Ithil picks her up and places Lalaith on her lap. The young girl starts to strum the harp strings, its not a song but it is obvious given time she will be as gifted with music as her mother.
The night drags on for Legolas; all he wants to do is escape from the dark looks of Haldir. Rising from his chair Legolas goes to Lord Celeborn and bids him good night.
"Certainly Legolas, Ithil can show you to where you will sleep." Lord Celeborn says.
"I will show him." Lady Galadriel says quickly. "I do not want to ask her to leave the party so soon."
"Very well then." Lord Celeborn says with a confused look on his face.
Legolas follows Galadriel out of the hall. When they are alone Galadriel pulls him aside into a dark empty room.
"Your eyes speak your heart Legolas." She says. "I know of what happened between you and Ithil and I must tell you; you are speaking louder with your eyes than your mouth. Ithil and Haldir are happy and Lalaith is a very happy little girl." Legolas starts to open his mouth to ask the question that is burning in his mind; but Galadriel stops him. "No do not speak of it Legolas. Lalaith eyes are that of the elves of Mirkwood not Lothlorien. That is the answer to your question. Do not take it any farther for it will only lead to more hardships."
Legolas' head is reeling, he is barely aware of where Lady Galadriel is taking him. 'My child, I have a child. How could she not tell me? How could she keep me in the dark like this? I have a child.' The thoughts keep ringing in his mind all night.
Finally they came to the borders of the Forest of Lothlorien. The richness of the land and the far away sound of the Nimrodel make it hard to believe that they have come on such urgent matters. Without warning a very large group of Galadrium surround them. Out of the shadows Haldir steps forward.
"You have come unbidden Lord Elrond of Rivendell to the forests of the Lady. Your need must be great to travel so far, so armed." Haldir says as he bows slightly to Lord Elrond.
"The need is great and the hour is dark, Haldir, Warden of the Forests of Lorien. I must have counsel with the Lady Galadriel." Lord Elrond replies. Haldir bows again, more deeply this time, as he rises his eyes fall on Legolas. For a brief moment blackness burns in Haldir's eyes. Ignoring the Mirkwood elf Haldir turns his attention to King Elessar and Arwen.
"It is indeed an honor to see you again, King Elessar and Queen Arwen." Making one last bow to them Haldir turns. "Follow me and I will take you to Caras Galadhon and present you to the Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel." The members of the company that are on horseback dismount and all of them follow Haldir into the forest.
Because of the men traveling in their company the elves cannot travel as fast as they usually do. But still they make good time. Along the way Legolas can feel Haldir's cold stare on him. Finally he cannot stand it anymore and walks quickly, catching up to Haldir.
"Haldir." Legolas begins, but Haldir stops him.
Without looking at him Haldir says. "I have no desire to speak to you, now or ever. Save this, you will NOT speak to my wife nor will you seek her out." Legolas can see that Haldir is fighting hard to prevent a great rage from exploding from him. He falls back, behind Haldir, feeling uneasy.
The company finally reaches Caras Galadhon. At the base of the trees they stop. Haldir turns and address them. "Wait here while I go to announce you to the Lord and Lady." Quickly Haldir leaves and vanishes up the stairs. Away off to the side, under a heavily shaded tree sits Gandalf the White; upon his knee is a small elf child. Gandalf looks up and sees the group of people that just arrived. He rises from his spot and approaches them, the elf-child clinging to the hem of his robe.
"Ah, I was wondering when you would get here, Lord Elrond." The wizard says as Lord Elrond, Legolas, Arwen and King Elessar approach him.
"We come on a matter of up most importance Master Wizard." Lord Elrond says. Upon seeing Arwen the young child runs up to her, and Arwen catches the child in her arms.
"How are you Lalaith?" Arwen says laughing as she tickles the child. Lalaith looks at the company her eyes are wide with wonder. There is something about the child looks familiar to Legolas. Her face has the look of a friend known long ago. Looking closer he sees that her eyes are blue, like two pale sapphires.
"Lalaith, time to come home." A woman's voice calls from the shadows.
"Nana!" Lalaith runs into the shadows. She comes back out being carried in the arms of Ithil. Legolas' heart catches in his throat. 'Mommy? Is that what the child said? She must be Ithil's daughter.' A warm feeling of love and protectiveness for the child washes over him. 'No, don't do this to yourself; Ithil's child is also Haldir's child.' Legolas thinks to himself.
"They are ready for you now." Came Haldir's voice from the stairs. Ithil walks to Haldir, still holding the child Lalaith in her arms. Standing beside him Ithil turns to the company. "It is good to be reunited with old friends, if you have need of anything please ask it of me and it shall be provided for you." She says, as Lalaith plays with her mother's hair.
Legolas tries not to think about what could have been. He looks at the family standing there on the steps. Haldir takes Lalaith from Ithil and gently tosses her; Legolas can see the child's eyes sparkling. But wait, what trick of light is this? Ithil's eyes are green, Haldir's are gray and the child's eyes are BLUE?
Ithil continues, "A great feast will be ordered for your arrival. For now I must ask your leave for there is much to do." With that she nods to the company and takes Lalaith and leaves on another flight of stairs.
"Follow me." Haldir turns and starts climbing up the stairs to the chambers of the Lord and Lady. Behind him Lord Elrond walks, followed by Gandalf, King Elessar, Arwen and Legolas. The climb is a long one but it takes them almost no time.
Already there is a round table in center of the chamber and seated at it is Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. Lady Galadriel stands and welcomes the visitors and bids them to sit.
"Lord Elrond, King Elessar it warms my heart to see you in my home, but the sight of so many in arms is cause for great concern." She says.
"It is indeed with a heavy heart that we journeyed here from Rivendell. Legolas of the Woodland Realm came to me with terrible news. It will require all our spirit and strength to repel this threat to the elves of Middle Earth." Lord Elrond tells her.
"Legolas Greenleaf, rise and tell us of this threat and how it is that this terrible knowledge came to you." Lord Celeborn says, gesturing Legolas to stand.
Legolas rises to his feet and addresses those at the table. "The knowledge came to us two months past; in the form of the attempted murder of my father; Thranduil. The elf known to us as Coruon attempted to put poison in the King's midnight goblet of wine. We caught him and held him in the darkest prison. There he seemed to go mad. He started rambling about Gollum and how he had helped Gollum escape because the creature had promised to bring him the One ring of Saruon. But Gollum never returned. Then he rambled about how he had sent men to scour rivers searching for it."
At this Haldir's ears pricked up. Men searching the rivers? Then this Coruon must have sent the men who attacked them all those years ago.
Legolas keeps speaking. "Then his speech turned to the elven rings and how it would be his revenge to capture them and use them to destroy the world of the elves. We paid little heed to his ramblings, as we did not think he could ever escape our prison. We however learned to late that he had been dealing in the forbidden arts; for it was by them that he escaped. All we know of his escape is that his guards were found deaf, blind and dumb. A horrible fate for an elf and we have little hope for their recovery. So now we must take his threats seriously. It was then that I was chosen to ride to Rivendell and seek the counsel of Lord Elrond; and it was his counsel to come here to Lothlorien to warn you." When Legolas finally finishes; there is dead silence around the room.
Gandalf rises from his spot at the table and addresses them. "I have felt a rise in the dark powers as of late, but I could not put a finger on were it originated from. Clearly this threat must be taken seriously, for an elf would know of all the hiding places of the rings. This news is a fell blow to all of Middle Earth. This Coruon must be stopped."
"For now the rings of power are safe here in Lothlorien, for no one may enter the forest unknown." Haldir says from his place at the back of the room.
"Do not hold to over confidence, Haldir. There are ways that an elf can enter Lothlorien undetected." Lord Celeborn says to him. "It is clear that for now we need to increase the patrol on the borders and let no one enter the forest until this threat is taken care of."
"Yes My Lord." Haldir says as he bows and leaves the room to carry out Lord Celeborn's orders.
"For now let all of you take rest and food. Dark and dangerous times are ahead for all of us. My hand maiden will show you to where you may freshen yourselves and then she will escort you to where a banquet has been laid out for you." Lady Galadriel says as she beckons to the shadows and Ithil steps out.
"Follow me, my Lords and Lady." Ithil gestures for them to follow her to a walkway that leads to some steps going down. 'Legolas here?' Ithil thinks to herself. Different emotions well up inside her. She feels happy to see him again, yet she feels anger at him for coming. Does he not know how hard it has been to try to leave the past behind her? For in her dreams on the darkest of nights she can still feel his breath on her face and his kisses on her lips.
She also feels fear, fear of the questions he could ask. Giving birth to Lalaith had been one of the happiest days in her life, but when she saw the child's eyes were blue. She thought for a moment that Haldir would leave her; but Haldir is totally devoted to Lalaith and has never said aloud his deepest thoughts about Lalaith's blue eyes.
After the guests are finished refreshing them selves, she takes a deep breath and says, "If you will follow me." Unbidden her eyes fell on Legolas. His eyes hold hers for a moment and he gives her a smile. Before she can stop herself she smiles back. Realizing that all eyes are on her Ithil comes to her senses. "This way please." She says as she leads them out.
The hall has been beautifully decorated and the tables are so full of food that the middle of the tables sags a little under the weight. The guests are milling around talking and catching up on news with each other. Lalaith runs around the room looking wide-eyed at all the commotion. Here and there she runs up to people giving them hugs. One of her favorite people is Arwen who she runs to many times.
Finding a quiet corner Legolas sits and tries to stay away from everyone. He enjoys the quiet until; Lalaith jumps up on his lap and puts her arms around his neck. Taken by surprise Legolas isn't sure what to do. Her soft cheek presses against his and her little arms hold his neck tight. He puts his arms around her and hugs her tightly. Looking down he can see Ithil in her face and his own blue eyes looking at him from her eyes. Is it possible? Can he be holding his own child? Is she the result of the night of passion with Ithil?
The talking quiets down as Celeborn and Galadriel enter the hall. Lalaith gives Legolas a quick kiss on the cheek and jumps down from his lap. She runs to Lady Galadriel who picks up the child and carries her to the table.
"Gather around family and friends, let us partake of this wonderful feast together." Galadriel says as she and Celeborn take their places at the table. Everyone gathers around the table and takes their places. Haldir enters the hall and takes his place at Lord Celeborn's right hand and Ithil sits next to him. Lalaith leaves Galadriel's lap and goes to sit by her mother. Legolas tries hard not to look at them but it is too hard for him as he catches himself stealing glimpses of them. All that can come to his mind is the question, 'Is this my child?'
After a long a leisurely meal the last bit of food and dishes are cleared away. Celeborn looks at Ithil and asks, "Will you indulge us with a song Ithil?"
"With pleasure My Lord." Ithil replies. Getting up from her spot she walks to where her harp is sitting in a corner of the hall. She sits at it and pulls it to her shoulder. Thinking for a minute she tries to think of what song to play. Coming up with an idea she raises her hands to the strings.
If it is on purpose or not, Legolas is not sure, for Ithil starts to sing the same song that she sang the night of the moonlit swim. Legolas feels as captivated this night as the first night so long ago when he had first seen her eyes. The hall falls silent as all eyes are on Ithil; all eyes that is, except Haldir's, whose narrowed eyes are on Legolas.
Something silver flashes on Ithil's wrist; looking closer Legolas sees on her wrist the bracelet he had left in Rivendell.
Ithil keeps her eyes closes as she sings; she picked this song as a gift for Legolas and she hopes it will speak to him more than any words she can say. As her song ends she feels a small hand on her knee. Opening her eyes she sees it is Lalaith. Smiling Ithil picks her up and places Lalaith on her lap. The young girl starts to strum the harp strings, its not a song but it is obvious given time she will be as gifted with music as her mother.
The night drags on for Legolas; all he wants to do is escape from the dark looks of Haldir. Rising from his chair Legolas goes to Lord Celeborn and bids him good night.
"Certainly Legolas, Ithil can show you to where you will sleep." Lord Celeborn says.
"I will show him." Lady Galadriel says quickly. "I do not want to ask her to leave the party so soon."
"Very well then." Lord Celeborn says with a confused look on his face.
Legolas follows Galadriel out of the hall. When they are alone Galadriel pulls him aside into a dark empty room.
"Your eyes speak your heart Legolas." She says. "I know of what happened between you and Ithil and I must tell you; you are speaking louder with your eyes than your mouth. Ithil and Haldir are happy and Lalaith is a very happy little girl." Legolas starts to open his mouth to ask the question that is burning in his mind; but Galadriel stops him. "No do not speak of it Legolas. Lalaith eyes are that of the elves of Mirkwood not Lothlorien. That is the answer to your question. Do not take it any farther for it will only lead to more hardships."
Legolas' head is reeling, he is barely aware of where Lady Galadriel is taking him. 'My child, I have a child. How could she not tell me? How could she keep me in the dark like this? I have a child.' The thoughts keep ringing in his mind all night.