Legolas walked silently down the hallways of the palace. All was quiet, save for the occasional light swish of clothing as a servant passed by attending to some duty or another. In passing by one of the meeting rooms that his father and he sometimes held council in, he saw several of his captains talking together. They bowed when they caught sight of him and Legolas strode over to them. These were not the elves that had traveled back to the city with him from the stronghold, but rather a small group of those who had been left behind to protect the city. To them Legolas spoke and left orders for the following day. They were to attend to the spider carcasses and report to the stronghold with the new supplies, relieving the warriors that still remained within its walls.
After speaking with them, he turned down a different arm of the hall and into his own room. Wolf was there, cowering on a richly upholstered couch, hugging his knees to himself and looking rather like a cornered animal when a hunter comes to administer the killing blow. He looked up fearfully as Legolas entered the room. At a quick glance though, Legolas was pleased. A tray with a half eaten meal was lying on top of a small table and Wolf was resting in different clothing. Legolas caught the faint scent of lavender bath oils and knew that his servants had allowed Wolf a warm bath. In the attached bathing room, Legolas could see one of the servants drawing a second bath.
Legolas decided against approaching Wolf right away and passed him by without saying a word. The elder elf seemed to hold his breath in anticipation as Legolas walked towards him and then let go of it in a relieved sigh as he continued past. In this fashion Wolf endured the prince's presence until the door to the bathing room shut as Legolas entered and the servant exited. Inside, the young elf cleansed the dirt from his body, feeling rejuvenated by the scent of the perfumed oils and the feel of the warm water on his skin. Once finished, he drained the water from the tub and dressed in the fine sleeping clothes that had been laid out for him. He sighed inwardly though, for now it was time to confront the frightened lost elf in the next room. Steeling his courage, he reentered his bedroom and made fast the door so that none would interrupt him. Now he turned to Wolf.
"I do hope that the servants have been kind to you," he said as he went about his business, putting away a few things where they belonged.
Wolf only nodded.
"You know, you have no need to feel frightened here," Legolas continued, determined not to let the other's silence dishearten him. "You are safe and I have only the desire to help you, not to harm you." Still Wolf's expression did not change. Legolas tried again. "Listen my friend, I do not know what evils befell you in your past but take comfort in the fact that those days are long gone. If you can but trust me a little I can help you. Please tell me what it was that scarred you so."
Wolf shook his head furiously. Legolas tried to decide whether it was the pain of whatever memories Wolf had that would not allow him to speak or whether it was the fear that something similar might befall him.
"Wolf, I do not know how I can express to you my true self. I know that you fear me because I am in a higher position than you, or so you believe. But you must trust me when I say that I have no desire to make you a servant or to abuse you in any way. I wish to share your company as a friend and nothing more. I greatly despise the whole idea of master and servant. You are my equal, Wolf. Neither of us is the greater one here."
Wolf furrowed his brow and Legolas knew why, for he had spoken of his servants and the elder elf had seen them doing Legolas' bidding.
"You misunderstand me," Legolas said with a smile. "The elves here that are in the service of my father and myself, while they are servants, are treated with much respect. They work at the palace surely, but never have they been mistreated or even spoken to as less than our equal. They are our partners in the smooth operation of the kingdom, though the authority lies within the hands of my father and myself. Please, will you not give us the chance to help you?"
But Wolf would not speak and Legolas fell silent, trying to think of something to say. He was unused to such fear in another elf and it unnerved him. At last he sighed in despair.
"Wolf, I do not know what it is that shall make you feel comfortable around me. Perhaps a night's rest will do you some good. Ai, but Tandala has forgotten to make up an extra bed. Excuse me for a minute or two and I shall track down some bedding."
Wolf shook his head.
"Is there something the matter?" Legolas asked.
"No my lord, it is fine. I shall be comfortable enough upon the couch," came the unexpected reply.
Now it came time for Legolas to shake his head. "You are a guest in my father's house and I will not stand for a friend to be treated thusly."
Wolf cowered down again, for without meaning too, Legolas had spoken as one with power. Mentally, Legolas kicked himself. Just when Wolf was starting to talk to me! he thought. But the damage had been done, and Wolf grew silent and wary again. Legolas decided to give him some more time to himself and went to fetch some linens.
When he returned, Wolf had moved to the floor and Legolas went about making up the plush couch as a bed. Now he moved to the window and peered out at the sky, taking in the sight of the stars and the thin sliver of the moon that hung among them. Half to himself, he began to sing aloud an old elvish lullaby. It was a favorite song of his since the time he had been but a small child and he had often sung it to himself in the bitter watches of the night while traveling during the war. It told of the things of the night enshrouded world; the stars, the moon, fires burning brightly in the hearths of each household, the whisper of the wind, the call of the night birds, the chirping of summer crickets, and other such things. He was only two or three verses in, when behind him came another voice, matching his own words. Legolas spun on his heel to see who it was.
There was Wolf, absently singing the same tune.