Chapter 47—Kel's Rebellion
The three Elves began to walk, and the wraith Della/Rose followed. They passed from tree to tree, obviously with some destination in mind, but as far as she could see, they were merely wandering. No one spoke for a long time, until the second Elf—Kel—broke the silence.
"What is this Fellowship? Is it the same that started from the house of Elrond, Imaldris?" Their father laughed.
"Could there be another? Galadriel says it is one and the same. They were led here by the border guard yesterday, blindfolded."
"Blindfolded?" Ellis sounded surprised. "Why should they be bound so? Is not Aragorn, son of Arathorn, among them?"
"The Dunedain? He is, and so is this Legolas, son of Mirkwood's King Thranduil. But they are also in the company of a dwarf."
"A dwarf! Well, then. Why should a dwarf accompany them?" Their father shrugged.
"He pledged his support, and Elrond did not see fit to deny them. This Legolas…son of Thranduil…I remember, now." Kel had a day-dreamy, whimsical look on her face.
"As do I. He was the young man whose father took over when Awaren was killed in the war. Mother died protecting his son, Syndar, but he died anyway. And…he was the Elf that was in love with Rosellyn." Their father had flinched at the mere mention of his wife, but at the sound of Rose's name, he turned away completely.
"Come. Let us talk of happier things." Kel didn't seem happy with that decision.
"You never so much as mentioned our mother or our sister, all through our childhood. It is high time you should mention them now."
"What do you want me to say?" he snapped irritably, "Your sister had just been born, and you knew your mother."
"Not nearly well enough," replied Kel crisply. Ellis seemed content to stay out of the feud, for now. "We were so young. Why didn't you take Rosellyn with us?" Della/Rose noticed her father's twitch. So did Kel. "Can't you even hear her name, never mind say it? Why did you leave Rosellyn behind?"
"I thought it best," he said shortly.
"Having her killed before she was half-grown? I fail to see how that is beneficial."
"That was not my doing, and well you know it! I didn't dream that Awaren, that fool, would use children in his little wars. I didn't put the knife in her myself, and I will not have you addressing me so!"
"You might as well have killed her, and mother, as well!"
"Enough!"
"Look!" Ellis suddenly interrupted his father and sister's argument. "It's…"
"A hobbit," finished their father. "One of the Fellowship, I presume."
"I've never seen a hobbit before," said Ellis. Rose/Della looked and saw a figure she assumed to be a child, at first. But upon closer examination, she saw that he had a mature figure, that of an adult. He's probably older than me, thought Della. Maybe twice my age, more, but he's half my height. She drifted over, following her family. To her amusement, she saw that his feet were bare, and covered with a thick mass of curly hair, much like his head. What a funny little creature. The hobbit looked up and saw the Elves coming towards him and stood his ground.
"You are with the Fellowship?" asked her father coolly. The hobbit nodded uncertainly.
"Aye. My name is Meriadoc Brandybuck."
"You are not the Ringbearer, then?"
"Oh, no. That would be one of my kin, Frodo Baggins." Her father seemed eager to get the niceties over with.
"You travel in the company of Legolas of Mirkwood, do you not?"
"Aye."
"What do you think of him?" Meriadoc seemed to think about that one.
"He has proven himself an able fighter, and a true asset to our cause. His skills with the bow have saved us many a time."
"Does he ever mention any other Elves?" Meriadoc now looked confused, and was obviously aware he was treading on unstable ground with this question. Della was beginning to think that Rose's father, for all his supposed wisdom, was a bit of a jerk.
"No, my lord, he does not, though I am not close with him. You would, perhaps, do better to ask Gimli, son of Gloin, or perhaps Aragorn, son of Arathorn. They speak with him far more often than I."
"Thank you, master Brandybuck. Good day to you, and good luck on your quest." With that, they walked away, leaving a clearly confused hobbit behind them. After a moment, though, Meriadoc continued on his way, wherever he had been going.
"I would speak to this Legolas myself," said Ellis. "If what master Brandybuck says is true, he is by all accounts a fine Elf. And I would speak to him of Rosellyn, as well. That Ranger spoke the truth, then; he knew her far better than I."
"He does not even speak of her," pointed out her father. "No ballads of lost love have sprung from his lips concerning her, he does not mention her to his companions. I do not think they were truly in love."
"Some prefer to keep their grief private, father. That is not a crime," replied Kel. "In fact, I would take it as a sign of respect. I agree with Ellis; I should meet this Legolas of Mirkwood myself. Whether or not you choose to do so is your choice alone. Come, Ellis, let us find him." Without another word, she took off, taking her brother by the hand. Her father did not follow.