The ride to Imladris was uneventful, yet long, for Legolas would oft let
slip a statement of obvious-ness. One or two such statements aren't so
bad, but when you're stopping every five minutes to say something like:
"the grass sure is green" or "that squirrel is eating nuts!" you can really
burn some daylight.
As it was, the Elven Prince arrived at the Last Homely House before the Second Coming, and so he considered it rather timely. He sought out Lord Elrond, but was constantly being led astray by bad directions, obviously a plot against him. Someone here knew his true identity, and was trying to keep him from his quest. That, or perhaps it was the Elf's complete lack of a sense of direction. But the latter possibility never crossed Legolas' mind.
After spending a few days lost in Imladris, Legolas finally found Lord Elrond. "Suilad, Lord Elrond," the considerably paler and gaunter Elf greeted, standing up tall. "I am Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood. My father, King Thranduil, has some disturbing news for you." Legolas explained the matter concerning Gollum. Once he had finished recounting his tale, he examined Lord Elrond's reaction. Elrond's expression was grim, and he stroked his beardless chin in thought.
"This is grave news," Elrond said after a time. "And I fear it will have a severe impact on other matters."
"Other matters?" Legolas asked, curious.
"Yes," Lord Elrond replied. "But I will not reveal them to you yet. I ask you to come to a secret council meeting tomorrow. You will tell your story there, and perhaps learn more than you wished."
"What do you mean?" the Elven prince asked, but Elrond raised his hand dismissively.
"Tomorrow," he said simply, and ushered the questioning Legolas out the door.
"That was strange," Legolas remarked. "I wonder what it is that he wouldn't tell me." He glanced around, and remembered that he was still lost. "If I'm not mistaken, the council will take place in the Council Room," he said. It was then that he saw the sign on the door across the hall. Fine gold script said in Elvish: Council Room. "Ah ha!" Legolas exclaimed. "I do believe that the secret council will take place in there, for it is the Council Room." He grinned, satisfied with his logic.
However, that still left him with the problem of finding his quarters, and then finding this place all over again. Finally, he decided that to avoid being lost, he would simply sleep in the Council Room. Then he would not be late. This decided, the Elf went into the Council Room, and lay down on a bench. It wasn't long before the exhausted Elf was sound asleep in the Council Room.
As it was, the Elven Prince arrived at the Last Homely House before the Second Coming, and so he considered it rather timely. He sought out Lord Elrond, but was constantly being led astray by bad directions, obviously a plot against him. Someone here knew his true identity, and was trying to keep him from his quest. That, or perhaps it was the Elf's complete lack of a sense of direction. But the latter possibility never crossed Legolas' mind.
After spending a few days lost in Imladris, Legolas finally found Lord Elrond. "Suilad, Lord Elrond," the considerably paler and gaunter Elf greeted, standing up tall. "I am Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood. My father, King Thranduil, has some disturbing news for you." Legolas explained the matter concerning Gollum. Once he had finished recounting his tale, he examined Lord Elrond's reaction. Elrond's expression was grim, and he stroked his beardless chin in thought.
"This is grave news," Elrond said after a time. "And I fear it will have a severe impact on other matters."
"Other matters?" Legolas asked, curious.
"Yes," Lord Elrond replied. "But I will not reveal them to you yet. I ask you to come to a secret council meeting tomorrow. You will tell your story there, and perhaps learn more than you wished."
"What do you mean?" the Elven prince asked, but Elrond raised his hand dismissively.
"Tomorrow," he said simply, and ushered the questioning Legolas out the door.
"That was strange," Legolas remarked. "I wonder what it is that he wouldn't tell me." He glanced around, and remembered that he was still lost. "If I'm not mistaken, the council will take place in the Council Room," he said. It was then that he saw the sign on the door across the hall. Fine gold script said in Elvish: Council Room. "Ah ha!" Legolas exclaimed. "I do believe that the secret council will take place in there, for it is the Council Room." He grinned, satisfied with his logic.
However, that still left him with the problem of finding his quarters, and then finding this place all over again. Finally, he decided that to avoid being lost, he would simply sleep in the Council Room. Then he would not be late. This decided, the Elf went into the Council Room, and lay down on a bench. It wasn't long before the exhausted Elf was sound asleep in the Council Room.