Legolas looked behind him. He yearned to tell Gimli about his vision in Fangorn. How would his friend take it? He wished he knew.

"Aye, master Elf!" The dwarf's voice pulled Legolas back to reality. His eyes shot toward his companion. He mumbled something inaudible, which the dwarf decided to ignore.

"I see something is troubling you, Legolas. Speak of it to me. Tell me your burden. What is bothering you so?" The elf responded naught but stare longingly at the dwarf, who suddenly stopped abruptly, judging this may be more serious than he had thought.

"How can you be so troubled? You just came through your beloved Fangorn! You've been dreaming of this exploration (and nagging me about it) for so long! You seemed so happy up until those words . . . " His voice trailed off for at the mention of that mysterious song, the Elf had twitched. Gimli sensed he needed to probe further.

"Those words . . . they meant much more to you than I deemed, it seems. Did they bring back a memory? Have you heard it before?" The dwarf looked straight into the Elf's eyes, who was trying his best to avoid the deep stare. Finally, Legolas seemed to be trying to say something, trying to put together words. He sighed heavily and then looked straight at the suspicious dwarf, who was seemingly growing impatient with each passing moment.

"I saw a vision, Gimli," he said finally. "And it disturbed me greatly."

"Tell on!" cried the dwarf, eager to heal his friend of his wounds.

"Well the voice was of a lady, and she was singing . . . of the Sea." Gimli waited resigned to saying nothing.

"I saw a gull rise out of the ground. It cried out, longing for the Waters. I heard, not far off, the crashing of waves onto the surf and it nearly broke my heart. The bird flew in circles, searching for the source of the sound, but in vain. Then tears unnumbered began spilling from its eyes. They dripped onto the ground and formed a puddle, which then grew into a small pond. The pond suddenly swelled to the size of an ocean, water wherever you turned. The trees all disappeared and I was standing on the surface of a great ocean. I felt the breeze, I smelled the salty water, and I yearned for all of it all the more. The bird stopped crying and looked to the water. It sighed heavily and began floating down like a feather onto the surface of the water. Suddenly, to my utter dismay, the bird's back snapped in two. It let out the most horrific screech that sent shivers down my back. Then its body just . . . dropped into the water. The water became still as it hit. There was no sound, no splash, no ripples. It just . . . " His voice faltered as he choked back his billowing anger and sorrow.

Gimli stood, close to tears himself. He watched, absolutely helpless, as the Elf sunk to his knees, a look of pure horror on his face. Unable to stand it, the dwarf rushed to Legolas and embraced him. The token of Gimli's love awakened the Elf again out of his zombie-like trance and he hugged his dear friend back, no longer feeling so alone.

"Uruite!" Lindelëa held up the necklace she had crafted of some flowers she'd discovered. "Would you like me to make you one?"

The Elf hung the jewelry of purple and crimson over her horse's neck who, moments before towering over her, now gently lowered his head to nuzzle her kneeling body and accept her gift. Lindelëa giggled and kissed the horse's nose. He blew air into her ear, making her laugh again, and then stood up with his head high. He was apparently showing her how proud he was to wear such a beautiful thing.

The giant, black beast, named More Lòmë for his jet-colored coat, had been with his master since he was but a clumsy, little colt. He had been a gift to her from the Lady and Lord of the Wood when she had first decided to stay in Lothlòrien. As Lindelëa had grown up being the messenger of the Great Rulers, More Lòmë had bourne her all over Middle Earth. They had been through evil terrors and the greatest of comforts together. They were the closest of friends.

Uruite looked down at the couple, bow in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. A mischievous grin, as always, controlled her expression. She shook her head as Lindelëa held up another flora ornament her way.

"Lin!" She laughed aloud. "Let us celebrate the Earth with drink! Pick no more flowers!" She patted the branch beside her. "Come! Share this bottle with me! Then let us go search more of this enchanted forest! After that we can go back to the others and inform them of the continuing peace that flourishes in this part of the Wood."

At first, Lindelëa hesitated at this scheme, but she decided in the end to nuzzle her horse, climb up the tree, and vacate to her friend's plans. In the back of her mind, however, she felt the wrath of Mailëa. She looked around her, wondering if he had spies around, watching their every move. But one look at Uruite's optimistic, sparkling eyes and all her fears were drowned in the bottom of the bottle.

Growing fatigued, Legolas and Gimli decided on discontinuing their journey for a time. They had been giving Arod a break for quite a while for they had not felt the encumbers from lack of sleep for over a week. Their trip through Fangorn had enlightened their spirits, but now all of that was wearing off. Gimli was now declaring, "If you have a horse, ride the devil!" This made Legolas laugh, for he fondly remembered when Gimli would put up a fuss about having to ride upon such a broad-backed animal. But even without them as burdens, Arod was becoming weary from unrest. Sensing this in the horse and their own feet, they sat down by a running stream in a wide meadow.

"We're soon come to the place where Lothlòrien and Mirkwood meet. We have news of naught yet. Shall we descend down into the Wood, or go north toward home?"

Gimli had known this question was coming. "My heart would on any other occasion take joy in seeing that place again." He nodded to the South. "However, my excitement grows every step nearer to my house we are. Home is where I am to go, Master Elf! Let us end this exploring foreign streams and return to familiar waters."

Outwardly, the Elf smiled warmly at the thought of his father's grand halls and his people's laughter and embraces. On the interior, however, his heart ached from Gimli's words as the faint sound of rushing water flowed to his ears and was gone.