Folks: This is a light-hearted interlude before I get back to the read business of arranging a marriage. A marriage should take place in the next chapter—but with a twist!

Thanks to the following reviewers of Chapter 55: Grumpy, Legosgurl, and Andi-Black.

Vocabulary

elleth—elf maiden

ellith—elf maidens

ellon—male Elf

ellyn—male Elves

thêl-nîn—my sister

Chapter 56: Matrimonial Madness

A month after his conversation with Galadriel, Legolas rode at the head of a column that approached the doors to Elrond's Hall. With an effort he restrained himself from urging his horse into a gallop.

"I must remember," he chided himself, "that I am no longer a nameless elfling but rather Legolas Thranduilion, Prince of Northern Mirkwood."

Riding behind him, Gilglîr and Edwen Nana exchanged smiles. They could tell from the edgy way that Legolas sat his horse that he was eager to once again see his childhood friends.

Legolas pulled up in front of the Hall and dismounted as gracefully as his excitement permitted him, which, as he was an Elf, was still very graceful indeed. Gilglîr came to stand slightly behind him to the right, and Tathar and Edwen Nana stood behind him to the left. Just before the doors opened and Elrond stepped forth, Edwen Nana reached swiftly forward and adjusted the Prince's diadem, a golden one.

"Nana!" Legolas whispered, mortified, and then he straightened himself and tried to look dignified.

"Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion," Elrond greeted him, the formality in his manner belied by the joyful look in his eyes. "Mae govannen," Elrohir and Elladan echoed him. Like their father, they were unable to hide their happiness even as they went through the motions of a ceremonial welcome. Now Arwen stepped forward.

"Mae govannen, Anomen Elrondion. For I do not as yet know you well in your guise as Legolas Thranduilion."

"Mae govannen, thêl-nîn," replied Legolas gratefully. Elrohir and Elladan glanced over at their father to see how he took this latest sign that Arwen and Legolas felt as siblings one to the other. Elrond was smiling.

"With your leave, Lord Elrond," Legolas continued, "I would present to you Gilglîr, Seneschal of the realm of Northern Mirkwood, and Tathar, first amongst my advisors. And this Lady whom you see before you is known to all as Edwen Nana, first amongst all the mothers of the realm."

Elrond and his sons inclined their heads in acknowledgment of these distinguished guests, and Arwen offered Edwen Nana her hand and drew her aside.

"You must allow me to show me to your room, Edwen Nana. It is the one next to mine, so that if you need anything you will not have to rely upon the ellyn, who can be woefully indifferent to the niceties of hosting a lady."

"But will I be near Laiqua's room, so that I may look after him?"

"During your stay here," Arwen said firmly, "you will look after no one. Instead, you will be the one who is looked after."

"I must look after someone," protested Edwen Nana. "There's that little Estel, now. Can't I look after him?"

Arwen smiled.

"That 'little Estel' has grown up into a Man. In any event, he already has someone pledged to look after him."

Edwen Nana looked searchingly at Arwen.

"Oh ho! Is that the way of it? I see it is a good thing that Thranduil is placing his hopes on Cîrdan's niece!"

Arwen blushed a little. She well knew that some had speculated that she was to be shortly betrothed to the Prince of Northern Mirkwood. She hoped that this visit by Legolas, which would end without such a betrothal being announced, would put an end to the rumors.

Legolas, the innocent cause of said gossip, was looking about him eagerly as he walked alongside Elrond.

"Where is Aragorn, Elrond? I had hoped that he would be here to greet me."

"Aragorn by now has probably arrived at Edoras. I am sorry that you missed him, Legolas, for it may be years before he returns to Imladris."

"Why is that?"

"Once he has thoroughly acquainted himself with the land of Rohan, he will probably journey on to Gondor and remain there for quite some time. When we next see him, he will be much changed, I believe."

"For good or for ill?"

"He will have gained in strength and maturity. He will have lost—or at least have been forced to put aside—his playfulness and sense of mirth. So, my answer will have to be, 'yes' and 'yes'."

"An answer that would be worthy of Galadriel!"

"That is no surprise, as I had it of her. I have said nothing that she has not already opined."

"Perhaps I may be able to journey to visit him," murmured Legolas. "But, no," he added quickly, "my father will never permit it!"

Legolas turned to another matter.

"And Mithrandir is also absent?"

"Yes, he is on one of his periodic visits to the Shire. Almost I would say that he has become obsessed with that quaint land!"

"Yes," Legolas said thoughtfully. "And he has made certain that its folk are well guarded whenever he himself is not present. Lucky for the Periannath that he is so solicitous of their welfare, but alas for me!"

Legolas put on a face that put Elrond in mind of a pouting elfling.

"No Aragorn! No Mithrandir!" the young Elf sighed melodramatically. "I am so disappointed, Elrond!"

"Yes, and to make matters worse, you have just missed some other guests whose company you would have greatly enjoyed."

"Other guests? Who, Elrond?"

"A party of Dwarves. They departed just two days hence. Traveling to the Shire, they were. I believe them to be friends of Mithrandir."

Legolas grimaced.

"That is something about Mithrandir that I have never understood. Why does he stoop to consorting with Dwarves!?"

"Legolas, you really must try to be more open-minded on the subject of the Naugrim."

"I don't see why!"

"My, my!" Elrond said sardonically. "Aren't we the stubborn elfling today!"

Elrond smiled. He had many memories of Legolas when the young Elf truly had been an elfling. But when he spoke again, his voice was serious.

"Legolas, you will someday be King of Northern Mirkwood and responsible for dealing with the Dwarves of Erebor. That's one good reason. If that were not enough, Mithrandir wishes it, and you should comply if only out of respect for your mentor."

"It is true that Mithrandir thinks I should try harder to accommodate the Dwarves," Legolas conceded, "although I do not understand why he is so insistent on the subject."

"Doubtless he has a reason—perhaps he has seen something in a vision vouchsafed him by Galadriel."

"You'd think he could share his knowledge with me!"

"As you well know, Legolas, our esteemed wizard is not one to reveal any information until the need is certain. You will simply have to trust him."

Legolas groaned in mock frustration.

"Every century it's the same story: trust the wizard! trust the wizard!"

"That one, anyway," muttered Elrond.

"What did you say, Elrond?"

"Nothing! Nothing! Come, let us dine. Afterward you must come to the Hall of Fire, where all your age mates will be assembled."

"Not another 'dance'?" Legolas said apprehensively.

Elrond laughed.

"I thought that in the end you rather enjoyed that occasion."

"Yes," Legolas admitted, "but I wasn't as obviously 'on the market' as I am today."

"Oh," Elrond said casually. "I wouldn't worry if I were you. Everyone thinks you are to be espoused to Arwen, so the ellith will give you a wide berth—albeit reluctantly, I am sure."

"Elrond! And you have allowed this rumor to circulate?"

"Why ever not? Since it was started, Arwen has for the first time been able to take walks in the garden without being swarmed by suitors. And you yourself will find that the rumor will make your stay here the more relaxing. I suggest that you hold Arwen's hand on every possible occasion so as to strengthen the appearance that the two of you are passionately in love."

"Elrond!"

"Ejaculating quite a lot today, aren't we?" teased Elrond.

"Elrond!"

"And again!"

Legolas clapped his mouth shut and glared indignantly at the Lord of Imladris.

"Now, Legolas," Elrond said soothingly, "I will tease you no more on this matter if it truly offends you."

"It does, Elrond. It is, it is, well, it is mortifying to have folk forever speculating on the subject of whether or not I am engaged in this or that amorous liaison—and now with Arwen, no less! You do not know how disconcerting it is that everywhere I go, folk cluster about me, gawking and gossiping. Lately, some have begged me to inscribe my name for them upon bits of parchment, and there are many who try to stay me long enough so that they may trace my portrait, preferably alongside their own!"

"It is to be expected, Legolas. You are young, handsome, personable, and very, very eligible. I am sure that throughout elvendom there are ellith who fall asleep each night dreaming of you in chambers upon whose walls they have pinned your likeness."

Elrohir and Elladan had joined them by now, and Elrohir opened his mouth to add his own observations. Elladan, however, poked his twin hard in the stomach and so prevented him. He did not think Legolas' mood would be improved by his learning that Elladan and Elrohir knew not only many young ellith but also many young ellyn who fell asleep each night dreaming of him. Nor would Legolas be pleased to learn that there were likewise some young ellyn in possession of his likeness—especially as some of the more imaginative artists had not troubled to sketch leggings and tunics for the subject of their fantasies. No, better that Elrohir should not mention these matters!

And so the conversation turned to other matters, and Legolas went to dinner ignorant of the turmoil that he engendered in the hearts of both ellith and ellyn. Oh, Reader, sometimes it is indeed true, as Men have been known to say, that ignorance is bliss!