Late the next afternoon, Legolas entered the Great Hall. He had just returned from assisting the guards in the daily border patrol. Sweat and dirt clung to his tall, slender and well muscled body. His straight blond hair, styled in the traditional Wood-Elven manner, tied back from the temples on the sides and once down the back with braids, had lost some of its neat appearance. He was dressed in green and brown, like the woods surrounding the castle.
Handing his bow and Elven blades to a young squire named Ethas, he said, "Have these cleaned and oiled and brought to my chambers."
"Yes. At once, my Lord," said Ethas, as he bowed and left.
Legolas continued deeper into the hall, humming thoughtfully to himself. A faint smile danced upon his lips. He was pleased with the day thus far. Off-handedly he thought, "Keeping back the fouler creatures of the forest is immensely enjoyable for target practice." Then, he frowned slightly. "Though, if it weren't for the dark presence to the South, the fortress of Dol Guldur, our forest would be peaceful..." Dismissing the thought as quickly as it had come, he looked around the room.
Within the Great Hall and the Dining Hall beyond, servants were bustling about, preparing for the evening's banquet. Servants were easily distinguishable from the royalty by three distinctions: One, the shortness of their sleeves, which ended just at the wrists. Royalty had sleeves that belled and flowed past the hands. Two, the colors of their clothing, which were muted gray or blue as apposed to the colorful and vibrant fabrics of the royals, and three, the female servants' dresses had higher necklines then those the royals wore, scooping just at the collar bone.
Those servants who had noticed the prince's presence stopped immediately and bowed or curtsied to him. Most though, were too busy to take notice of his entrance. Among them was Meena, the head cook and caretaker of the kitchen staff. She carried a small board with a sheet of parchment attached and was humming to herself as well as she looked intently about the hall. Every so often she took notice of something and made small check mark next to the item on a list written on the parchment.
Legolas stopped humming and watched her silently as she made her way across the hall in his direction. She was heading towards the stairway that led down to the kitchen. A small smile played on the corners of his mouth, as he realized that she had yet to notice him. Quickly, he hid himself behind a nearby column. Just as she came near to his hiding spot, he slid himself around the back of the column and as she passed, he followed unnoticed, closely behind her. When she stopped, he stopped. He waited and followed, enjoying the game he had now created.
Suddenly, Meena noticed a dirty mark on the stone floor and bent over to examine it. She had nothing with her to clean the mark and decided on using the edge of her long skirt to rub it out. Legolas's smile turned into wide grin. He crept up behind her.
"Meena! How are you this fine afternoon?" he inquired.
"Oh!" said Meena, extremely startled. Standing up quickly, she turned to face the handsome prince. "Your Prince! I beg of you, please do not do that again. You know how it upsets my nerves when you spook me so."
"Ah, Meena," Legolas said chuckling. "You know I only do such things to keep you young and on your toes." He winked at Meena. She did not share in his humor.
"Yes, My Lord, but after 850 years, youth is the last thing on my mind," said Meena with a polite curtsy. "If you don't mind My Lord, I beg your leave; I am needed in the kitchen."
"Meena, you know how I hate these formalities," said Legolas smiling. "Don't be so out of humor." He waited for Meena to respond and when none came he asked, "So tell me, will my Father be attending the evening meal?"
"Yes, Your Highness. His Majesty will be attending," said Meena, ignoring the Prince's request for informality, as usual.
She then noticed Legolas's less than neat appearance and quietly added, "Your Highness should have just enough time to make ready before the meal."
"Ah, of course. I am actually on my way to my chambers right now," said Legolas. "You wouldn't want to put down that check list and attend me while I bath, would you?"
"Oh my! Your Highness is most wicked!" said Meena raising a hand to her face in surprise. Knowing the prince will forgive her for not curtsying, she quickly turned and left, almost running to the downward staircase.
Legolas watched her depart and clapped his hands together, laughing to himself. He would never get tired of teasing Meena. Totally delighted with her reaction, he turned and made his way in the opposite direction, up a quietly lit stone staircase.
Meena entered the busy kitchen and quickly sat down at the servant's dining table, overtly distraught and trying without success to concentrate on the sheet of parchment in her hand.
Linnah noticed her and came quickly to her side. "Meena, are you all right?" asked the elf maiden. "You seem quite out of spirits, what has happened?"
Adriel, another young maiden, was standing across the kitchen from them at a large stove and had noticed Meena's abrupt entrance as well. She looked at Linnah and raised her eyebrows in question. Linnah caught her gaze, but only shrugged her shoulders in response.
Meena waived the question away with her hand, but knowing that Linnah would continue to question her until all was revealed, said simply, "Master Legolas, Linnah."
"Oh no Meena, not again. What did he do this time?" asked Linnah with wide eyes. Looking over at her friend, she mouthed the words "The prince." Adriel covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Meena always seemed to be the brunt of the prince's practical jokes.
"I wish not to discuss it, Linnah. Now have you finished chopping the greens?" asked Meena, regaining her composure quickly and rising out of the chair. Adriel immediately turned back to her work and pretended to act busy.
"Almost. But Meena, I must away to Lady Elessa. She asked me herself to attend her tonight for the evening meal."
Lady Elessa was wife to Lord Orlindel, nephew of the king, and Meena knew what an honor this was for Linnah. Meena nodded her head and said kindly, "Of course, Linnah. I know how important being a hand maiden is to you." She sighed. "Even though I always wished for you to one day take my place as head of the kitchen. I understand you have other desires."
"For all your kindness to me, I would never wish to disappoint you," said Linnah. "I just feel pulled in a different direction than working in this kitchen." Linnah smiled at Meena, who was more than just the head of the kitchen to her. Meena was practically her mother, as Linnah never knew her own parents.
"Hand me that bowl of greens and off with you then," said Meena smiling.
Linnah handed her the bowl and on her way out, stopped briefly to whisper something into Adriel's ear. Even though they were the around the same age, Adriel was taller and had to lean over to hear what Linnah whispered. Adriel looked at her with wide eyes that were the color of violets and they both giggled. When Linnah departed up the staircase, Adriel called after her, "Good luck, Linnah."
Linnah turned and smiled at her friend and then quickly disappeared up the stairs.
Meena sighed to herself, thinking about how quickly more than one hundred years had passed since the day Linnah was found by a castle guard. She was so small, in her basket, wrapped in a smooth silvery blanket. No note to explain who she was or where she came from. Her small cries had sounded almost like a gentle song. She was brought to the king and when Thranduil saw and heard her melodic cry, he immediately named her Linnah, from the Sindarian word Linnon, "I sing." The king had no time or interest to deal with the matter further and basically gave her to Meena to be raised as a servant. At least, that was the story she had told Linnah.
Linnah never gave Meena a moment's trouble. Mainly spending her days in the kitchen, she learned the ways of a cook. Later, she took lessons from the head chamber maid as well. The chamber maid taught Linnah how to collect the bedding and soiled garments at the appropriate times and to be discrete, almost invisible, when a bed chamber was still occupied. She taught her to deal directly with the Lord or Lady's attendants and never to speak directly to a Lord or Lady unless spoken to first.
Even though she still found time to help out in the kitchen, Linnah soon found herself drawn to the position of handmaiden above all else. She loved to attend to her assigned Mistress. She helped them with their hair and garments as well as preparing their baths. Linnah was trusted and loved by the ones she served. She also became privy to many things that went on inside as well as outside the castle. She heard tales and rumors of distant lands. Though she was allowed to take a turn in the gardens behind the castle now and then, she was unable to venture outside the Great Gates. Not only were the woods outside Mirkwood Castle filled with dark and malevolent creatures since the darkness came to their land, but there was really no place she desired to go. Not yet anyway.
Meena stopped her reminiscing and continued where Linnah left off, chopping greens. Just then, a tall, smartly dressed and far older male elf approached her. He and he alone attended the king, as well as managed all living functions in the castle. If there was one elf who all the servants answered to, it was this elf.
"I see Linnah has left her post," noted Gillel seriously.
"She is to attend to Lady Elessa this evening and I gave her leave," responded Meena, not looking up from her chopping.
"Hmm, I see. Well carry on then. I'll be in the wine cellar if you need me. His majesty has requested a very special drink for this evening and I won't disappoint him."
"What is the occasion, if I may ask Gillel?"
"You may, but I myself do not know yet," answered the elf. "The king is most secretive these days."
Before Meena could say anything further, they were interrupted.
"Meena, should I be stirring this?" asked Adriel from across the room. Meena moved to investigate and Gillel headed towards the cellar.