Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings, Legolas, Aragorn, or Elrond's funky tiara thingy. Which stinks.
Ok, in this chappy Legolas takes a bath. Just a plain, normal bath. I don't want all you Legolas fans (like me) to giggle through it all. LOL. Ok, just read. Thanks.
*********Chapter 6**********
Legolas awoke to a soft rapping coming from outside his door. He quickly scrambled out of bed and opened it. It was Celidur. He had a fresh pair of clothes in his hand, along with towels.
Your bath is ready, my lord Legolas. he said politely.
Legolas nodded gratefully and followed as the younger elf lead him to the bathrooms. Celidur opened a door on the left and gestured for Legolas to enter. He entered after him and set the fresh clothes and towels on the marble counter.
It should be just the right temperature, Celidur said, partly to himself. I checked.
Thank you, Celidur. Legolas said with a smile. It is very kind of you.
Celidur held up a hand. Please, don't thank me. Thank Lord Celebhen. He's the one responsible for your treatment. I simply follow orders.
I thank both of you then. Legolas replied.
Celidur smiled and then nodded a goodbye and left the way they had come. Legolas watched him leave, until his eyes began to wander and search the room. The Nimar had excellent carving skills when it came to marble and other stones. Even a dwarf would have been impressed. The walls were inscribed with pictures of trees and flowers, mountains and valleys, and various other scenes. Up towards where the walls connected with the ceiling there were words carved into the stone, in a language he couldn't read. He remembered Celidur saying something about the Nimar creating their own language after they had settled here, so he figured then that was it. His eyes fell to the floor, which was also made of exquisite marble and granite tile. The bath was large, very large, in fact. Even the one at his palace at home weren't this large. Sighing, he quietly undressed and stepped into the tub. His tired muscles immediately relaxed and he sank further into the scented water. Breathing in the sweet aroma of the bath oils, he smiled. He was looking forward to tonight.
After his bath, Legolas dried himself and changed into his new clothes, which, to his surprise, fit him perfectly. They were a dark blue tunic with silver-gray breeches and very light shoes made of material which matched the tunic. There was also a longer tunic made of pale blue material, meant to fit over the rest of the outfit. He put it on also, and then looked in the mirror at himself and laughed. He looked so much like his father in these rich, fine clothes.
Soon Legolas began to think that dinner was drawing near, so he stopped admiring himself and stepped out of the bathroom and walked back to his room. Celidur was already there.
Hello, did you enjoy your bath? the servant asked.
Legolas nodded. It was wonderful. And these clothes are most beautifully made.
Celidur smiled. I suppose I should thank you for that. My mother made them. She's Celebhen's head seamstress. The younger elf looked down for a moment and them back up. Well, let's fetch the others, shall we?
Legolas nodded again, and they went forth toward the other's rooms. First was the ones belonging to the hobbits. Celidur politely knocked on each door before entering, but the first three rooms were empty of the halflings. Celidur turned to Legolas in confusion.
Where could they have gone? I just checked on them all a minute ago. He said.
Legolas chuckled. Hobbits are very social creatures. They need to be together. Check the last room.
Celidur looked at the elf prince strangely but turned and knocked on the last of the hobbit's doors. Suddenly there was a shout.
"We're coming!" Cried many small voices, and the elves outside the door heard sounds of large furry feet scurrying about. Then the door opened, and the hobbits appeared, also wearing new clothes. Merry was fussing with the buttons on his shirt.
"You elves certainly live fancily!" he exclaimed as he finished the last button. "We look like kings!"
The other hobbits grinned and nodded in agreement, and Celidur smiled and nodded in thanks.
Celidur calmly knocked on all the doors in the hall and soon out of each one emerged two men, a wizard, and a dwarf, all dressed in fine clothes. Needless to say, Legolas was impressed with the amount of knowledge these elves had about sewing. Celidur's mother must have been very talented.
Celidur then lead the Fellowship down several corridors, into a large room with an equally large table. There were servants hurrying to prepare the dishes and drinks, and the smells from the nearby kitchen were wonderful.
"Mmm! Smells good!" Sam said to Frodo. "We'll eat well tonight, won't we, Mister Frodo?"
"Yes, and hopefully sleep well!" Frodo replied.
Legolas smiled at the hobbits, and suddenly all the servants disappeared and Celebhen and his family appeared in the doorway. Celebhen greeted them all with a smile.
"Ah, you are here earlier than I thought! No matter, please, seat yourselves." The old elf lord said. The Fellowship obeyed, and took seats on the long end of the table. Celebhen and Meagluin took the seats on the opposite short ends. Legolas found himself on Celebhen's right side with Aragorn next to him, and directly across from one of the elf lord's daughters. It was the one with the deep blue eyes. Nenielle.
The girl looked up at him, and for the first time that he had seen, smiled at him. He smiled back, and Nenielle giggled in a youthful fashion and waited for the food to be placed on the table.
"I hope you have found your rooms comfortable," Celebhen said.
Gandalf nodded and cleared his throat. "Yes, they are most comfortable. You and your kindred have been most kind, Celebhen."
"Thank you, Gandalf."
The food arrived, and as soon as it was place in front of them, the hobbits all dug in, not minding the fact that the daughters of Celebhen were giggling with amusement. They were acting most rude, for they were supposed to wait for the host, Celebhen, to take the first bite before they were allowed to eat. But obviously hobbits did not follow the same manner guidelines as elves.
Legolas looked at Celebhen worriedly, hoping the halfing's behavior wouldn't displease him, but the elf lord seemed not to notice. He began another conversation.
"You say you have been sent by Elrond." He said. "How is he these days?"
"Did you once know him?" Legolas asked.
"Yes, when we were both young, but not since. Is he well?"
"Very well." Legolas informed.
"That is good. And how about your father, Legolas?" Celebhen asked, looking deep into the eyes of the younger elf prince.
"My father is doing well, thank you." Legolas replied.
"As are you, I see." Celebhen said. He said nothing more, but rather waited for someone else to speak.
"What's Greenwood like?" Blurted out one of Celebhen's daughter. It was Cefielle, the one with green eyes. "We've never seen it but it seems like such a wonderful place."
Legolas was a bit startled at the question, for more than one reason. These elves in Nimeryn had absolutely no idea what had happened in the world since they went into hiding here. And it was also the first time any of Celebhen's daughters had spoken.
Legolas shoke himself off his thoughts and looked towards the elf maiden. "It has changed since."
Naurielle, the daughter with the yellow eyes, frowned. "Why?"
"Sauron went into hiding in the southern part of the woods, and ever since then, the forest has been haunted by evil and in the darkness roam monsters," Gandalf answered them. The girls stared at him, until Gwelwielle, the daughter with silver eyes like her father, turned to Legolas.
"And yet you continued to live in that place?" she asked, and Legolas nodded.
"We have been able to keep our corner of the forest free from evil. But lately the evil has been strengthening." He said gravely.
"The Ring is giving evil power," Celebhen concluded, nodding. "It seems the world is falling into darkness more and more quickly."
Everyone remained silent for a short time, just staring at their food, grim thoughts roaming throughout their minds. Then Pippin looked up.
"Uh…the food is very good, Lord Celebhen." He said shyly.
Celebhen smiled. "Then you must tell that to my cooks. They will be most pleased."
Pippin smiled back and continued to eat.
The rest of the dinner passed rather quickly, though not exactly quietly. Legolas was pummeled with many questions asked by Celebhen's daughters. They didn't speak to anyone else except the hobbits. Legolas wondered if they mistrusted his companions. Celebhen had engaging in conversation with Gandalf, and Aragorn, Boromir, and Gimli and they had spoke in soft voices with each other. Only the lady Maegluin was silent. When the dinner was over, Celidur once again appeared and lead the Fellowship back to their rooms. Legolas could see the stars shine through the pale leaves of the white trees through his window as he lay alone on his bed. But sleep never came to him.
**********Personal thingy**************
Ok. That's over and done with. Next chappy will be up soon.