Legolas knew that Rochwyn will have already chosen her nine, by that night. He never did use the room that she suggested, but after he heard her leave for the feast, he ventured outside into the frosted courtyard, but now in the dead of night there were no laughing children, only the sound of the fountains could be heard.
Legolas called to his horse and through the darkness, the sound of hooves echoed on the cobbled stone. He mounted the white stallion and rode silently though the streets past the thatched houses and the city and outward on the rocks of Eymn Muil, further and further upward past the icy ground until he could hear the Anduin again. The steady rushing of the great river lead him to the bank were he rode furiously till he came into sight of the Argonath. The grim stone faces of Isildur and Anarion raised high amid the black skies, the statues faced north with their left arms raised, palm outward. In their right hands they held axes and on their heads were helms and crowns. Against the night they were crowned by the glorious starlight.
"Hail. Sons of Elendil. Hail" he called, and he dismounted, walking closer to the banks of the Anduin, the wet mud moved under his feet and a cold wind ran through his hair.
The Sindar Prince watched the Argonath till dawn, when a pale sun appeared on the horizon, it shed little light to the life below and feebly crept across the sky, but by then Legolas had already ascended his steed and was making his way back toward the city.
"Wait! Stop." Legolas spun round. But he could see no-one - a muffled giggle revealed a small boy, from behind a tree, he was dressed in that of Sarn Gebir and had obviously been collecting stones by the lake as they fell from his pockets whilst he ran toward Legolas.
"Have you come to see her?"
"Who?" Legolas asked smiling at the small child
But the child ignored his question and motioned for to come down off his horse, Legolas kneeled down next to the boy. The child's dirty face peered into Legolas's eyes and a wide grin spread across his face.
"She will be pleased to see you." He mumbled and then he defiantly turned around and said with much difficulty. "Mára aurë."
Legolas was astounded; a child could not know the language of the elves. He put his hands on the boys' tiny shoulders
"Take me to her." He said.
The child took his hand and led him over the remainder of the North Stair there he came to Nen Hithoel a beautiful shimmering lake with white pebbles at its shore and at its end he could see the golden haze of the falls of Rarous
As the child of Sarn Gebir led him over the North Stair he began to skip and jump as he led the elf by the hand to the entrance of a cave, naturally formed by the rapids of the Anduin. The child ran away smiling and never once looked back to see Legolas, but he could still feel the eyes of something watching him but he could not place the stare.
He looked around, lost until a stifled laugh like music broke free, he spun round but it came not from the darkness of the cave but from above on its rocky roof and there sat an Elf-Maiden like one he had never seen before. Long tresses of woven silver fell about a most pale face and eyes of the oceans blue. Legolas had heard of such elves the greatest mariners ever conceived by the Valar, only this elf had grown wise and fairer with age.
"It has been long since I looked up the face of one of the Sindar." She said thoughtfully, "Will you not join me?"
Legolas reached for the branch of the nearest tree and nimbly climbed it till he was at the same height as the roof of the cave and leaped onto the mossy rocks. She could see him more clearly now and knew he was at once of nobility, a great child of the stars, tall, fair of skin and grey-eyed, though his locks were of spun gold, and the light that glimmers from all elves shined brighter in him than any other she had seen before. As if to confirm her suspicions he introduced himself.
"I am Legolas, son of Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm." He bowed still standing. She rose to her feet and bowed, only then did Legolas see her fully. She was tall and lithe; her hair was adorned by pearls and fell only to her waist, while her dress was of blue silk held at her shoulder by a clasp alike to a jeweled fish.
"I am Nenfëa the last of the Falathrim, the sea elves of Falas one of the Avari, though I dwell in Beleriand no longer."
Her smile that had entranced Legolas began to fade, she took his hand and lead him to sit on the moss. Slowly she reached a willowy hand and ran her long fingers through his golden hair. Legolas began to enjoy the attention
"You remind me of one I knew many seasons past." She mused, the smile began to stretch back across her face and a sweet laugh escaped her lips.
"You smile as though you have not smiled for an age." He jested
"You are one most perceptive and yet you speak the truth, Prince."
"I bid you tell me of your sorrow" he persisted
"My past is a tale of strife, which I will not burden on one so young and so jovial. May we speak of lighter subjects; it has been too long since I have had such noble company."
"Ae anírach."
"As you wish.
"
The two talked late into the evening not only on the cave but past it and along Nen Hithoel. They conversed over Tol Brandir, Amon Hen and Amon Lhaw the Argonath, Legolas told her of his home in the Woodland Realm and Nenfëa told him of havens built by the Teleri in her land Eglarest and Brithombar, he then told her of the assault upon the orcs. They were by the lake both ankle deep in the cold water, she stopped.
"Who travels with you?"
"Ten from Edoras, ten from Mirkwood, ten from Rarous and soon ten from Sarn Gebir."
She paused wistfully and looked down to her feet, then she moved over to Legolas and placed both hands upon his shoulders,
"No diriel Irnil, Avo acheno"
"Be watchful prince, don't look back"
"Hain ú-'rogon" and he took her hands from his shoulders and kissed one.
"I do not fear them"
A chilled mist began to creep over Eymn Muil and Nenfëa suggested Legolas leave before it became too difficult to cross back to Rarous, and reluctantly they parted.