Chapter 2: Planning

Legolas woke with the dawn the next morning and took a walk among the trees he hadn't seen for a very long time, or so it seemed. He paid no attention to where his feet were carrying him, and he soon found himself in front of Lunari's dwelling. Stubs of near-spent candles dimly lit the interior.

"You remembered where I live...?" asked a hesitant voice behind him.

"Lunari! You startled me. Of course I remembered where you live. I was here last night."

"Luna?" came another voice. "Who are you talking to when you have chores?" Luna's mother glanced out of the dwelling and noticed Legolas. She knelt before him. "My lord, what brings your honored presence to our humble home? Pray, come in and sit down." She rose and gestured to the door.

"Nay, lady, I will not stay long. I only request your consent on some things." Legolas led the woman out of hearing range from Luna and began a hushed conversation.

Luna crept forward to hear their voices.

"My lord! I cannot believe this..."

"Please, madam. I have considered this..."

The voices faded, the conversation ended. Luna's mother came back looking quite pleased. Legolas looked as if the moon and stars had been given to him, joyful as a child. He fairly ran over to Luna.

"Will you come with me?" he asked.

"Huh?"

"I spoke to your mother. She declared you independent of her. You can do things without asking her."

"Oh! Wow. It depends on when you go, I guess..."

"I was planning to go in two days, if that works."

"Two days..." Luna mused. "That's enough time to make a dwelling...Certainly, I would love to go!"

Legolas' eyes shone with a smile. "Excellent! I shall see you in two days, then."

Luna grinned. "Yes, Legolas. I look forward to it!"

Over the next two days, Luna built her dwelling. Legolas on the first day had trailed her to the site she had chosen, then watched her build from the trees.

On the dawn of the third day, Luna awoke and packed the few belongings she had that were meant for traveling into saddlebags, then took one of her mother's horses and rode to Legolas' palace. She found him just outside the walls, saddling his horse. Dismounting, she padded softly behind him and started to gently tug his long blonde hair.

"What! Oh, good morning, Luna. How do you always manage to startle me in the mornings?" he asked ruefully.

"How did you manage to not get killed on that last journey if you didn't notice me?"

"I never had to put up with sneaky elf maids!"

"Right..." Luna rolled her eyes. "Are you ready yet?"

"Yes, excepting one thing. We don't know where we're going!"

"Well," Luna began. "I was thinking that we could go to the Shire and visit Frodo, and maybe to Rivendell?"

"That's fine with me. I've been wanting to visit Frodo anyway."

Luna was on her horse as soon as she suggested where to go. "Well, hurry up then! I want to get going sometime this century!"

Legolas swung up on his horse. "Elves these days," he said jokingly. "Rush, rush, rush is all they think about."