Arwen Undomiel: Thank you for your kind posts. They are definitely motivating!
Joee: Glad you found Glorfindel funny. Remember how he used to terrify Anomen? He can't do that any more.
Melissa: I've corrected that error you pointed out. Sometimes, though, it takes 24 hours for the corrected version to show up. Thank you for continuing to respond so helpfully and enthusiastically. ^_^
Jebb: Yep, that was a certified Johnny Depp sighting. He just keeps commandeering this series. But, hey, remember what Captain Jack Sparrow leers when Will Turner indignantly declares, "You cheated!" It was a one word response but to the point: "Pirate!"
Dragonfly: Thank you for catching those two problems. Now Glorfindel is the one doing the bowing, and I've sent Berenmaethor to Mirkwood, because, as you will see in today's installment, I really need Glorfindel around. Thanks for the offer to beta, but I think I'm too impatient—the minute I finish an installment, I want to post it! This does mean that often I have to repost corrected versions, but fortunately it is pretty simple to upload a replacement chapter.
Konzen: There is also some emotion expressed in this chapter. Hope that helps.
I"ve noticed that sometimes Fanfiction doesn't post the reviews for one chapter until I've posted a subsequent chapter. So my apologies in advance if someone does not receive a well-deserved acknowledgement for their review. The review and the posting crossed in cyberspace, and I'll just make sure to acknowledge it at the beginning of the next chapter.
The day after Thranduil and Elrond's private meeting, the two were back in Elrond's chamber, but this time accompanied by many others. Plans were being made for the journey to Greenwood.
"I suggest," said Glorfindel, who had just received the most recent reports on conditions past the borders of Imladris, "that Thranduil and Legolas do not attempt the crossing of the Misty Mountains."
"You suggest a southern route, then," said Elrond.
"Yes. They will assuredly be unmolested for a very great part of their journey if they travel through Eregion and thence Dunland. They would pass through the Gap of Rohan, which is still safeguarded by the Rohirrim and then turn north. Only a short ride would remain from the Gap to Lothlórien, and they can keep to the plain until they are due east of that land. Orcs would not be able to come upon them without their having ample warning. Once in Lórien, they can rest, and then I have no doubt but that the Lord and Lady will graciously assign them some of the Galadhrim to augment their forces as they continue north parallel to the Misty Mountains and then make the crossing east to Northern Greenwood."
Thranduil nodded.
"I think Glorfindel's counsel is good. This route will present the fewest dangers."
"Yes," said Elrond, "and it affords additional benefits. After you have passed through the Gap of Rohan, you can turn aside for a time and make for Isengard. You can both rest and gather the latest news, for by the time you have reached the Gap, conditions may have changed. Elrond and Elrohir will also be able to deliver letters to Saruman. Gandalf entrusted one to me when he departed for Lothlórien, for he meant to take the route over the Misty Mountains, and I have one that I have lately penned myself."
This plan pleased everyone but Legolas.
"I do not want to go to Isengard," he blurted out, then colored as everyone stared at him.
"Why not, Legolas?" asked Thranduil.
"Because-because-because-stopping in Isengard would delay my return to Greenwood!"
Thranduil studied him for a moment before speaking.
"I did not believe, Legolas, that you were in such a hurry to arrive at the Great Hall. Mayhap there is another reason?"
Elrond laughed.
"Spoken like a true father, Thranduil, one who senses when a child is not entirely forthcoming."
"I am not a child," said Legolas irritably.
"Then no doubt you can give us a sensible reason for bypassing Isengard when it all but lies upon your path," replied Elrond.
"I do not like Saruman," Legolas replied shortly.
"I said a sensible reason," Elrond repeated patiently. "After all, you yourself have told me that he desired to adopt you when first you visited Isengard. From the very beginning he has taken an interest in you."
"I do not want to be adopted by Saruman."
Elrond smiled.
"Legolas, I hardly think Thranduil would permit Saruman to adopt you when he himself is so anxious to father you!"
To this Legolas had no answer, so he made none. The matter passed, and the southern route was settled upon.
Once preparations began for the journey, Legolas went to see the Head Cook. This invaluable gentlemen, once he had heard that the young Elf was departing for Mirkwood, had suddenly become very solicitous about his welfare and no longer roared at the sight of him anywhere within a furlong of the kitchen. Truth be told, the Cook was actually sorry to see Legolas go. Like everyone, he had grown fond of him over the centuries. Besides, for all his fulminations over the depredations of wicked elflings, he had actually enjoyed the raids that Legolas and the twins had mounted upon the kitchen. It was a challenge to see who would outwit whom on any given occasion, and the Cook was not always on the losing side! Now Legolas would be leaving, and the twins would not often be in Rivendell, for they would be on patrol. Ai! The kitchen would be far too quiet over the coming centuries.
"Master Cook," called Legolas, taking the precaution of stopping at the door and peering cautiously inside.
"Ah, Anomen—or Prince Legolas, I should say," beamed the Cook.
"Just Legolas, please. I am only a prince in Mirkwood."
"Nay, nay, you will be a prince where'er you be."
"Still, you knew me when I carried myself as anything other than a prince!"
The Cook had to laugh at that.
"Aye, you did not look very princely when you were peeling potatoes and scraping egg and flour from the floor! But what is it that you desire, Legolas? Not to cook another cake, I hope!"
"Oh, no! Nothing like that! Merely this: when you are gathering together provisions for my journey, will you set aside as much fresh fruit as you can spare?"
"Of course! Of course! Some traders have just arrived. I'll buy every apple and pear in their stock, and I'll strip our orchards to boot. Will that do?"
"Thank you, Master Cook. I do not deserve your kindness."
"Oh, but you do! You do! More than you know, I think."
When Legolas had taken his leave, the Cook sighed mournfully.
"I must volunteer for one of the patrols, else I shall die of boredom in this kitchen."
Just then he caught sight of the tousled brown hair of Elrond's remaining foster son as the lad crept underneath a trestle table.
"Oh ho," the Cook chortled to himself. "'Tis the little human. Hungry, as usual, no doubt."
The Cook had that morning removed several fruit pies from the ovens. He placed all the now-cooled pies upon a huge wooden tray save one. That last pie he carried to the trestle table, where he carelessly left it near the edge. Then he hoisted the tray and left the kitchen to carry the other pies to a storage room. When he returned, there was no sign of either boy or pie. The delighted Cook stood at the door to the kitchen and shouted in the direction of the garden, "Pies don't have feet, but I'll warrant I know who does!"
In the garden, hidden by the ever-useful statue of Gil-galad, Estel grinned as he scooped up another handful of pie and passed it through his berry-smeared lips. What, he wondered, would be on the menu later that day. And Legolas, in his room overlooking the garden, smiled in amusement. It was nice to know that some things would not change.
But the one thing that would change drew inexorably closer. At last all was packed, and Legolas would be departing in the morning. Early on the day before the planned departure, Thranduil knocked upon the door to Elrond's chamber.
"Enter. Ah, Thranduil," said Elrond, arising from his seat and inclining his head slightly. "Please join me," he continued, gesturing toward a chair.
Thranduil bowed slightly in return and took the seat indicated, the most ornate one in the room.
"A fine chair, Elrond, very elegant, but I wouldn't object if one day you were to usher me to another one—say, a more comfortable one."
Elrond chuckled.
"The price of dignity, my friend."
"You may pay such a price if you wish," retorted Thranduil with a smile, "but I would rather not!"
"So dignity does not concern you overmuch? Good. You are a father now, and you may be sure that Legolas will give you plenty of opportunity to shed your dignity."
"Yes, I understand that he has had plenty of practice in making you shed yours."
Elrond laughed and leaned back, lacing his hands together behind his head.
"I cannot deny it, Thranduil. And I must confess," he added with a wry smile, "that I will miss being periodically stripped of my dignity."
"Yes, that is why I am here. No doubt you wish to spend as much time as possible with Legolas today. Indeed, perhaps you and the twins would prefer to dine privately with him today. I do not want you to feel that you must mount one last formal dinner on my account. In fact, since this will be my last day in your beautiful realm, I thought that I would take a walking tour, carrying my supper in a satchel, if this would be agreeable to you."
Elrond looked gratefully at Thranduil.
"You are most kind, Thranduil. I will cherish this day with Legolas and look upon it as a gift from his father."
"Say rather a gift to his father," replied Thranduil, arising.
Elrond inclined his head in acknowledgement of the compliment.
Later that day, Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas sat quietly together in Elrond's chamber. Glorfindel and Erestor had dined with them but then excused themselves tactfully, saying that they had tasks to perform. Both of them had earlier taken private leave of Legolas.
Glorfindel had tried to be gruff, but Legolas would have none of that.
"Oh, come now, Glorfindel, after all these centuries you cannot expect me to be fooled by your 'balrog-slayer' manner!"
"Scamp," growled Glorfindel. "From beginning to end, a scamp. I should have skinned you when I had the chance."
"Do you remember the time I thought you really were going to skin me?"
"Without a doubt! You drew on me, and you were shaking so badly that I was sure you would release the arrow inadvertently. As you were so little, you were aiming right at 'Glorfindel'! That gave me a very bad moment, I can assure you!"
They talked on in that fashion for some time longer, but at last, reluctantly, Legolas drew the conversation to a close, for he wanted to spend some time with Erestor as well. The weapons master and the young Elf stood facing one another. Suddenly Glorfindel declared, "Oh, Morgoth take it all!" and he flung his arms around Legolas, squeezing so hard that Legolas at last gasped. When Glorfindel released him, he huffed, "Stay well. And if you don't," he growled as Legolas reached the door, "I shall skin you!"
Legolas found Erestor brooding in the library, paging through old scrolls that were filled with the handwriting of his pupil. He perked up immediately when he saw Legolas.
"Ah, Legolas, have you come for one last nugget of wisdom?" he smiled.
"You mean you were holding back on us," teased Legolas. 'I had not thought that possible!"
Erestor chuckled.
"I did expatiate at length," he conceded.
"Oh, yes," agreed Legolas. "You expatiated, instructed, professed, tutored, lectured." Legolas paused for a breath before continuing. "Taught, educated, drilled, and edified. Have I omitted any synonyms?"
"A few, but none that matter now."
"Good. And now, before I go, I wish to demonstrate my mastery of allegory."
Erestor looked worried. No one in Imladris had ever forgotten the famous Allegory of the Erection.
Legolas grinned at Erestor's expression and launched into his story.
"There was once a cave, or so it seemed to an elfling, for any room was like a cave to him, so much did he love sunshine. The elfling was trapped in this cave, or so he believed, and he thought mournfully about all the growth that was taking place outside, in the garden. But one day, as he labored in the cave, he discovered that it too was a place of growth, for he found that mushrooms flourished there, many kinds and all delicious. And then he remembered all the hidden, dark places of the forest, where grow the ferns and the elf slippers. Then he knew that not all growth takes place in gardens or in the sunlight, and he rejoiced."
Erestor did not even try to hide his tears. Gently he embraced Legolas.
"You have taught me as well, Legolas, for I have lately been moved to make a study of all the synonyms for 'love'."
"Are there many?"
"Even more than for 'teach', I believe."
"But 'teach' is itself a synonym for 'love'."
"In this chamber, I hope that was the case."
"It was," Legolas assured him. "It was."
Now Legolas sat in another chamber that was dear to him, Elrond's chamber. There he had faced reprimands and received praise, both of which he knew to have been necessary. Often he had been in the company of Elladan and Elrohir, who sat with him now. They would be accompanying him on his journey, however, so at last they arose and bade him goodnight so that he could spend the evening's last hours alone with Elrond.
They sat together silently for a long time. At last Elrond stirred.
"Ion-nîn," he said softly.
"Ada," replied Legolas, equally softly.
That was all they said that night—and it was enough.