Mallorn Whispers

It was before sunrise when Jamie woke. Everyone was still sleeping except for Thelyn, who kept watch. She quietly got up and walked over to him.

"There is still time to rest," he whispered to her.

"I can't sleep anymore," she said.

Thelyn nodded. "You have a lot to think about. Today is the beginning of a quest that may take some time. Are you sure this is what you want?"

"I'm sure," Jamie said. "I just don't know how I'm going to do it. Treebeard told me I'm supposed to lead, but I don't know anything about this place. How can a song be so important?"

"The ways of the Ents are mysterious, Jamie. I think it is your judgment that is most important, not that you know which road is safest. We will help you all we can," Thelyn said with a smile.

"It seems you are making a habit of coming to my rescue," Jamie said. "I don't know what would have happened to me if I hadn't met you and your brother."

"Don't worry about what might have been, Jamie," Thelyn said. "I did find you, and I swore to protect you. You will always have me."

"Why did you do that, Thelyn? Why would you make such a big promise to a complete stranger?" Jamie asked.

"You are no stranger, Jamie," Thelyn said seriously. "The moment I saw you, I knew you were important. I believed even then you had come here for a purpose. I didn't think you should face it alone."

"I've never had a friend like you before," Jamie admitted. "Thank you, Thelyn."

Thelyn pulled her into a hug and she wrapped her arms around him and freely accepted the embrace. He knew that for her it was a hug of friendship. He longed to hold her like this knowing her feelings for him were as strong as his for her. He wanted to be her…boyfriend. For now he had to be content with her friendship, even if it was merely born out of gratitude.

Thelyn reluctantly released her and she gave him a warm smile. Her smiles were always so sweet and full of innocent affection. She was fairer than the stars in the sky or the flowers of spring, and she did not know it. She wore men's clothes and cut her hair, but could not hide such beauty. Her eyes were an endless sea of shifting blue and gold. To look into them for a moment was to be lost forever. His heart ached in his chest as he watched her turn away. She offered friendship and smiles when he longed for her love. Then he noticed something different about her. He caught her arm and she turned.

"What?" she asked.

"Jamie, your hair has grown," Thelyn said.

Jamie reached up and combed her fingers through it… and she gasped. It was just past her shoulders now. Yesterday it had been just below her ears. "How…?"

From behind her, Jamie heard Legolas laughing.

Alcon stirred and looked at him, "What?"

"Jamie's hair," Thelyn said.

Polodrin opened his eyes and looked at Jamie.

Jamie was still in shock and looked at Legolas with annoyance. "What's so funny?" she demanded.

Legolas just laughed harder, and there were tears in his eyes. "Oh, your hair," he gasped out between chuckles. "It was the Ent brew…"

"Huh?" she said in astonishment.

"The last time someone other than an Ent drank that, they grew three inches taller," Legolas said as he regained his composure. "You apparently gained three inches of hair."

Alcon started snickering, and Polodrin just stared at the new locks approvingly.

"Well, maybe now people won't stare at me like I'm a foreigner," Jamie said under her breath as she went to pack up her sleeping bag.

"Short hair never had anything to do with why people stare, Jamie," Polodrin said as she walked by. "Beauty always draws attention."

Jamie blushed, grabbed her backpack and headed out of camp into the woods. She needed a break from her 'escort.'

"Don't go far," Legolas called.

"Don't follow me," Jamie yelled back.

The four exchanged looks, and suddenly they all laughed again. She was embarrassed, and it was entertaining.

Jamie went to the stream to wash. She looked around to make sure no one followed and then peeled off her jacket. She rolled up her sleeves and filled her cupped hands with water. It was cool and refreshing on her skin as she splashed it over her face. It was nice to have a few moments alone to reflect on her decision to go on this quest. She sat up and ran her wet fingers through her shoulder length hair and laughed to herself. Well, she'd wanted to fit in. Maybe she should ask Quickbeam for more of his brew. Shoulder length hair was still short for the women here. But it was still long enough to be a nuisance. Jamie sighed and dug through her bag for something to tie her hair back with. There was nothing, oh, well. She put her jacket back on and went back to camp.

The men had packed the gear and saddled the horses. Quickbeam arrived and gave Jamie a bow. He addressed her formally.

"Good morning, Jamie, forest singer," he said in Entish. "I am ready to depart."

Jamie smiled, "After breakfast we'll leave, after we decide which way to go."

Quickbeam bowed and went back into the forest. Legolas turned to Jamie with a flat expression and crossed his arms.

"Would you mind telling us when you learned to speak fluent Entish?" Legolas asked.

"I don't know what you mean… I just understand him, don't you?" Jamie asked.

"Since we came here, you have spoken Entish. What happened to you at Entmoot?" Polodrin asked seriously.

"I sang and then… I don't remember," she admitted.

"That's all right," Legolas said. "What did he say?"

"He's ready to leave. I said we'd go after breakfast. Anyone know how to get there?" she asked.

"That would depend, my lady on where you wish to go?" Alcon said with a smirk.

Jamie frowned at his humor. She had an idea, just nothing specific. She thought back to the songs of Entmoot and all the Ents had said. She closed her eyes and concentrated.

"Across a wasteland there's a sea. Beyond it is a wild land…and another great river. Between the river and a mountain range is a valley… and a very old forest…" her voice trailed off. Jamie opened her eyes and looked at them expectantly. "Sound familiar?"

Legolas furrowed his brow. The East was unexplored, and full of unfriendly peoples. If that was their destination, he would only be able to guide them so far before they were entering the unknown. But he could lead them for a while. The Old forest Road through Eryn Lasgalen, the Wood of Greenleaves, would be the quickest way. Despite the fair name given to Mirkwood, it was not a welcoming place anymore. His father, Thandruil, had gone, and with him most of the Elves save those that settled in Ithilien. Legolas had not been home since before the War of the Ring. He wasn't looking forward to walking through his empty homeland. But it was the safest and fastest way.

"We'll go north and take the Forest Road," Legolas said.

Thelyn looked at him, and realized the decision was an uneasy one. He'd never seen Eryn Lasgalen in the height of its glory, but Legolas had. It would be hard to see it abandoned, just as it was hard to pass through Lorien.

Jamie looked at Legolas and smiled. "Then you are the leader," she said.

"No, Jamie," Legolas said. "You are the Singer of the quest, you lead. I will guide as long as I can. Where we are going, none of us have been before. I'll get us there, after that, we follow you."

Jamie went pale at the thought. That was more responsibility than she wanted. They ate breakfast quickly and started to mount up. Thelyn and Polodrin both reached a hand out for Jamie to ride with them.

"Jamie?" Thelyn and Polodrin both asked simultaneously.

Legolas had seen quite enough of their battle for her attention. He wouldn't stand for it anymore. "Jamie will ride with me until we can get her a horse of her own," Legolas said firmly.

Polodrin and Thelyn exchanged annoyed looks, but neither protested. Legolas reached a hand out and helped her up behind him. Quickbeam emerged from the wood again and looked at Jamie questioningly.

"Which way?" he asked.

"Legolas will guide us," Jamie said, "For now."

"Very well," Quickbeam said.

Legolas gave the Ent a nod and they rode northeast. They passed through Fangorn and continued across open country until they came to the edge of Lorien. Legolas halted and turned to Alcon and Thelyn.

"This is your home," he said. "Lead us through."

Alcon smiled, but this homecoming was a sad one. There was no one left to greet them. But as nightfall approached, they could camp in comfort in the boughs of a Mallorn. Alcon led them into the wood with his brother beside him. As they passed deeper into the wood, the path narrowed and they continued single file.

Jamie was impressed by the sheer size of the trees. They were as big as giant sequoias, but they weren't redwoods. She closed her eyes and listened to their whispers. Quickbeam was humming softly and Jamie drifted to sleep. Legolas felt her grip loosen and turned to check on her.

"Jamie?" he asked softly, trying not to startle her.

"Not forgotten, not forgotten…" she whispered as she woke. "Oh, I must have dozed off."

Legolas couldn't bring himself to ask her what was not forgotten. He could hardly speak at all as he passed beneath the silent trees. It was still beautiful, but the golden sunlight had long since left with Lady Galadriel. It was but a shadow of its former glory.

They came at last to the edge of Caras Galadon, the now vacant city of the Galadrim. Alcon halted beneath a large tree with a winding stair. He dismounted and secured his horse.

"Home," he said simply.

"No longer," Thelyn said. "Not without father and mother."

"It will be a comfortable place to spend the night," Alcon said. "That at least is good."

Thelyn nodded and looked at Jamie. "Tonight you shall sleep in a soft bed," he said with a smile.

Jamie stared up at the tree in wonder. "You live in trees?"

"Not for many years now," Alcon said. "When the Three Keepers departed, the Elves left. Ithilien is one of the last homes of Elves on these shores."

"Where do they all go?" Jamie asked.

Legolas helped her down and then dismounted. "Across the sea, Jamie, to Valinor, the undying lands. There all our families wait for us."

"If they are there, why do you stay?" she asked.

"There are people here who hold our love as well," Legolas said. "Valinor is for Elves, Jamie. My family will always be there. I have friends here that will not."

Jamie wasn't entirely sure she understood, but she could see the questions were upsetting. She decided she'd asked enough questions for one day.

"Sorry," she said softly and walked away.

Legolas wasn't upset, but he wasn't in the mood to chase her down and put her mind at ease. He heaved a sigh and tied up his horse.

The twins ascended the stairs with Legolas right behind them. Polodrin waited for Jamie who was talking to Quickbeam in Entish. Finally she joined him by the stairs.

"Well?" Polodrin asked.

"He will stay down here," she said. "He does not feel comfortable leaving the ground."

"Does he need anything?" Polodrin asked.

"There is a spring," Quickbeam said. "That is all I need. Rest well, in comfort, Jamie." He gave her a bow and headed down the path to the spring.

"He doesn't say much," Polodrin said, more to himself than to Jamie.

"Oh, yes he does," Jamie said. "You just cannot always hear it."

Once again, Jamie had surprised him. Polodrin gave her a smile and offered his arm. "My lady?" he said as he glanced at the long stair.

Jamie sighed, took his offered arm and they started the long climb. They circled the tree twice before Polodrin spoke again.

"Mid summer approaches," he said.

Jamie bit her lip and gazed out at the trees.

"Your silence is painful," he said. "Am I so horrible?"

"No," she said. "You are too kind, but I hardly know you, Polodrin."

"What would you know about me?" he asked, but her answer was interrupted as they approached the landing.

"Welcome to our home," Thelyn said brightly as he met them at the head of the stair. "Come, I'll show you around. I was surprised to see how much was left behind." He grabbed Jamie's hand and led her into the house.

Polodrin stood alone on the landing and frowned. "How kind of you to invite me in," he said sarcastically as he strolled over to the door.

Legolas greeted him in the doorway. "Come on in," he said.

"Thanks," Polodrin said as he glared at Thelyn still leading Jamie by the hand.

"You know, she doesn't think of him as a suitor," Legolas said reassuringly.

"Yet," Polodrin said bitterly.

"Look at her," Legolas said seriously. "She is still a child."

"No," Polodrin said. "She holds to a child's dreams, hides in them. She wraps herself in her youth like that strange blanket, but Jamie is no child. One morning she will wake and more than her hair will have changed."

"And you would be there when that morning comes," Legolas said.

"I would," he said.

Legolas just shook his head as he watched Polodrin take a seat at the table. He knew that look. It was the same look Haldir had when he looked at Miranda. The problem was that Thelyn had the look too. And Jamie was keeping them both at arm's length. For one so young, she was wiser than he'd expected.

After dinner, Jamie decided to go down and keep Quickbeam company for a little while. She felt bad about him being alone down there. He was a part of this quest too, more so than any of them. She didn't think he should be alone.

She excused herself from the table and descended. On the ground alone she looked around for Quickbeam but didn't see him. She remembered him mentioning a spring and followed the path he took. She found him sitting beside a stream, singing softly. There was a large stone basin beside him and he was stirring it with one of his long woody fingers.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Making Ent draught," he said with a smile. "Would you like some?"

Jamie walked over and sat beside him. Even sitting down he towered over her. "I don't know if I should," she said. "The last drink you gave me grew my hair a good three inches. The next drink might lengthen my nose or something."

Quickbeam laughed. "It is true the Ent brew can affect mortals, but you need have no fear of it. Your voice is not all that is gifted to you from the forest. The drink will strengthen you, not turn you into a tree."

"Well, no offense to trees, but that is a relief," she said. "I'll have some then."

They shared the cool drink and sat listening to the quiet murmur of the wood. Quickbeam was weaving a garland out of some flowers he'd gathered and Jamie cooled her feet in the stream. After a while, Quickbeam asked her a question.

"What will you do after our quest is over?" he asked.

"I don't know?" she said. "Maybe I will go home."

Quickbeam looked at her curiously. "But you are home. Did you not listen at Entmoot?"

"I did, but there was so much said. I didn't understand it all," she said.

"The voice of the forest is chosen," he explained. "You belong to the trees."

"What if I don't want to belong to the trees," she said nervously. "I-I-I don't want to belong to anybody."

"Jamie," he interrupted. "Listen to them."

Jamie stopped talking and listened. The whispers of the trees were quiet and soothing, and she felt peace. Without even thinking of what she was doing, she started to sing. Quickbeam just smiled and listened as he weaved his garland. He was fortunate to have been chosen to go on this quest. It was a privilege to stand as guardian over the singer. Her song echoed the whispers of the trees and he smiled to hear their story.

Finally, as the moon climbed high, Jamie ended her song and rose to go.

Quickbeam spoke softly to her, "Thank you for the song," he said.

Jamie turned and smiled and he draped the flower garland over her shoulders.

"Listen to the trees, Jamie. Always listen," Quickbeam said seriously. "Go now, and rest."

Up on the landing, Legolas waited for her to return. He had forced himself not to follow, and ordered the others not to follow. So they all had waited and listened to her song. The language was very old, and though none of them could understand, Alcon had cried. When Legolas saw her begin to ascend, he'd sent the others to bed. He wanted to talk to her without the distraction of her two would be suitors.

Jamie finally stepped onto the landing and Legolas cocked a brow at the elaborate drape of flowers. She just rolled her eyes and said, "Quickbeam made it."

Legolas smirked briefly and then his expression turned serious. "What is not forgotten?" Legolas asked.

Jamie realized what he was asking, and answered the best she could. "The trees remember," she said. "They have not forgotten."

"What do they remember?" Legolas pressed.

"The Elves," she said. "They are happy to see you. They said that they miss the Elves."

Legolas closed his eyes as those words seemed to pierce his heart. Everything was changing, and the glory of the Elves was all but faded completely from the land. This journey would be hard for him if all he would see was the echoes of the past. He opened his eyes and looked at her. No smile was there on her face, but a single tear slipped down her cheek.

"I am sorry," she said simply and went to her room.

Legolas sat on the top step and just cried. How would he ever manage the passage through Emyn Lasgalen?

Jamie cried herself to sleep that night. The look in Legolas' eyes had been heartbreaking. She knew so little of this world, but she understood loss. He had lost something precious when his people started to leave. She wished she could have said something to make him feel better. 'I'm sorry' just isn't much help.