Chapter 10

The soft wind moved through the House, casting its slight fragrance through the open windows. In the room of a Mirkwood Prince, the wind seemed to sigh with him as he looked again at the events of the evening.

Before the stranger had entered the room, he and his friends had stood apart from the Rivendell Elves, speaking in low voices over the past week they had shared.

"It is well for her that she has awoken, but it is sad that we should be leaving so soon from Lord Elrond's home," Isénduil sighed, his eyes mournfully taking in his surroundings, as if to burn them into memory, "It has brought light to my heart to be away from Lasgalen, though I love the trees of the Forest dearly."

Haldith swatted his arm, causing him to look at her with surprise and annoyance.

"What was that for?" he asked, rubbing his arm to be rid of the sting of her slap.

"Pen alag! You mourn the loss of Rivendell's beauty, yet you are still here! Wind pours from your mouth if you would grieve for what you still have."

His friend had rubbed his arm again, saying, "I was merely having fun, Haldith. By the stars, did your brother teach you to hit like that?"

"Of course," replied Haldith, her smile devious, "You know that Orophin is one of the best in hand-to-hand. Where else would I learn my skill?"

As Isénduil continued to grumble, Haldith turned her bright eyes to him, and he had found himself holding his hands in front of him in protection.

"Bau, Haldith! I have no need for a reprimand."

She laughed and had tucked her arm in his, leaning in to ask softly:

"How long do you plan on remaining here, now that she is conscious?"

His eyes immediately grew serious.

"A week, at the most I should think," he had responded, thinking hard and shaking his head slightly, "Lord Elrond has spoken to me before that she must be questioned here. Now that she is a daughter of his House my questions will be asked with her father in the room, making it more difficult."

"How so?" she had asked, head tilted at an angle.

Before speaking his ready answer, he had thought on it, then replied honestly:

"Truly, there would be no difference if Lord Elrond was with her or not; it is merely my wish being altered that has me irritated."

"That is the Legolas I know," his friend had answered, seeming pleased with herself. All at once, her head turned sharply toward the door of the Hall, her eyes narrowed as she stared hard at the wood.

"She is here, waiting outside the door."

Startled, he swiftly turned his gaze the door, and noticed a slight shaking of the door handle. He had nodded to himself and disengaged his arm from Haldith, the two of them taking hasty steps to be beside their host.

As the door opened silently, he scrutinized the human's form critically, listening to the collective gasp his friends made at the girl's attire. Her hair truly was red then, beneath the blood and grime. He remembered that even though the Healers in his father's home had cleaned her, the state of her hair had been unimportant once they found it to be uninjured.

The color of fire, he didn't remember seeing anyone with hair quite like it, though Gimli's had been the coarse color of red earth. While her hair was a peculiar color, he did not dwell on it as he took in the remainder of her attire: the gown fitting her was certainly not her own, most likely a dress left behind by Lady Arwen, though it fit her well enough. Her eyes had shown to be a pretty shade of green, evoking a memory of the summer leaves in Mirkwood.

He suspected she would be pretty enough for a human, but did not find her appearance very striking, her prettiness outmatched by that of Haldith's Elven beauty. She appeared very shy and timid, though he did not think her to be weak; Lord Elrond would not adopt one who was unworthy of his House.

Flanked by her adopted brothers, he had watched has she was led to his childhood friend, who had bowed graciously to her, his hand taking hers to kiss in respect, saying:

"Rhau lîn vain palan-híla, hirilen. I am Isénduil of Eryn Lasgalen; it is a pleasure meeting you at last."

He watched as she had bitten her lip when Isénduil had touched her, her eyes troubled slightly though she smiled shyly. His host had turned her to greet his other companion, and he looked on as she seemed to relax slightly at the sight of Haldith's form, enough to have Haldith kiss her cheeks, though it was plain she was merely allowing her to do it.

"Im múl gîn, pen-velui," his friend had smiled brightly at her, her crystal eyes sparkling with kindness and compassion, "I am called Haldith of the Galadhrim."

At last she was turned to him, the one who had found her lying in her own blood on the floor of the Forest. Her anxiety clouded her eyes, though he did not think she knew who he was.

Taking her hand in his own, he had greeted her, saying:

"Le na vellyn, firiel: I am Legolas of the Woodland Realm, and am honored to know your presence."

"Hello," the girl had said, looking up at him through nervous eyes, yet careful to keep his gaze from her own.

As he brought her hand to his lips, he had noticed she seemed to shake faintly at his touch. Pressing his lips to her skin, he had allowed his warm breath to linger over its softness before raising his eyes to hers and saying:

"Sa gell nîn suilon, Elenia iell o Elrond."

His voice had been gentle and direct, knowing it was what Lord Elrond would have wanted; she was certainly a mystery to his experience of mortals. As he shifted now in his bed, the quiet night wind rustling through his room, he pondered when the right time to question her would be.

A.N.:

Translation:

Pen alag Impetuous one

Bau No

Rhau lîn vain palan-híla, hirilen Your beauty shines far, my lady

Im múl gîn, pen-velui I am your servant, lovely one

Le na vellyn, firiel You are among friends, mortal maiden

Sa gell nîn suilon, Elenia iell o Elrond It is my pleasure to greet you, Elenia daughter of Elrond