Chapter Four: In Lothlórien
Legolas found that they were not even halfway to their destination. But it was not much of a problem. Lothlórien lay almost due south, and he decided to stop there. He missed the Golden Wood very much and wanted his beloved Síriel to see it. He was not worried very much about when they would arrive in Ithilien. Of course, they would eventually arrive before Síriel gave birth, or so he hoped.
When he shared this plan with the others, they were thrilled.
"Oh, ernil (prince), it is a wonderful plan!" they cried.
Only Síriel seemed unsure.
"Will this not make our arrival late in Ithilien?" she asked.
"I care not." Legolas replied.
It took them twenty days to reach the Golden Wood. They passed through the Gladden Fields on the second day after leaving the Beornings and crossed the river with hardly any difficulty. Only Celebrindal's horse refused to cross, so Legolas led her across.
"I wonder where Haldir is." Legolas mused.
They were traveling under the mallorn trees, and none of the marchwardens had appeared, not even Rúmil or Orophin. What was even more unusual was that Haldir was not present.
"Maybe he sees us but wants to surprise us." Síriel said.
Legolas shook his head.
"That is not like Haldir." he said, puzzled.
It was afternoon, and the sun was filtering through the emerald leaves of the trees. Síriel forgot about everything except the beauty that surrounded her. She was in complete awe as she looked around her in silence, her eyes matching the color of the leaves. After some time, the Elves became aware of the sound of a waterfall. Legolas smiled.
"Behold, we have come to the falls of Nimrodel!" he cried.
The procession of Elves stopped at the Prince's command and dismounted. Legolas helped Síriel off her steed then led her to the falls. He sat her down gently on a rock then removed her shoes. She looked at him quizzically as he slipped off his own shoes and stepped into the water. He smiled and beckoned her to do the same.
"I remember the first time I came here," he said very softly, reminiscently. "It was nighttime, and we had escaped from Moria. We were all very weary and grieving, for Mithrandir had fallen. And I stand here as I did over a year ago, with my feet unclad, for the waters of Nimrodel heal the feet of the weary, and I sang…"
He closed his eyes and saw in his mind's eye the memory of the first time he had been in Lórien with the Company. Boromir, Aragorn, the Hobbits, Gimli, they were all there. Each looked utterly exhausted.
"What did you sing?" Celebrindal asked.
"He sang the song of Nimrodel." came a voice.
Legolas' eyes shot open.
"Haldir!" he said.
From the treetops there came a rustle. The Eryn Lasgalen Elves glimpsed the heads of three male blond Lórien Elves. A moment later they dropped gracefully to the ground in front of Legolas and Síriel.
"Long has it been since you were here last." Haldir said.
The Prince placed his hand over his heart.
"Indeed, a little more than a year." Legolas replied.
He nodded in greeting to Rúmil and Orophin.
"You must be Síriel, Legolas' wife." Haldir said to the half elf.
She looked at him in surprise.
"I am…but how do you know?" she asked.
Legolas smiled at her.
"There is not much that escapes the knowledge of Lady Galadriel, who rules Lothlórien with her husband Lord Celeborn. She can read the minds and thoughts of others and can speak into minds." he said. "No doubt she knew of our arrival and informed Haldir to meet us."
The Captain of the marchwardens smiled.
"That is precisely how it happened." Haldir acknowledged.
Then the three brothers led the Eryn Lasgalen Elves to Caras Galadhon, arriving just as the evening was falling. The sound of many fair voices singing greeted them from high amongst the mallorn treetops. Legolas was not surprised when he found himself before the Lord and Lady. The travelers bowed in unison to the rulers of the Golden Wood.
"Legolas Greenleaf, we meet yet again, but this time you pass not with the Company or Gimli, but with your wife and your future people. We have been awaiting your arrival ever since you left the Beornings. I trust Haldir and his brothers led you here." Lady Galadriel said.
"Indeed, Lady, it was as you said." Legolas replied.
She smiled, then turned her head to look at the others. Legolas felt Síriel tremble slightly beside him as the Lady's gaze fell upon her. A most curious expression passed over her face, a mixture of pity and sadness.
"There is a feast prepared for you. Let us eat." Lord Celeborn said.
The dining hall was already full by the time the Lord, Lady, and Eryn Lasgalen Elves arrived. Celeborn briefly introduced them to his people before all began to eat. Even though the atmosphere was very pleasant, Legolas noticed that Síriel was not her usual self. She was uneasy and hardly touched her plate of food.
"Legolas, I am going for a brief stroll." she announced suddenly.
The Prince nodded.
"Be on your guard. Take Celebrindal with you." he told her.
"She is not here." Síriel said. "I will be careful, avo 'osto (worry/fear not)."
Legolas tried to call her back, but she was gone. He looked for Celebrindal, but found that she was gone as well, as Síriel had said.
"I wonder where they went." he mused to himself silently.
At that moment, Haldir approached, and with him was a lady. Legolas recognized her as Elenath, the Lord's niece. The last time he had been in Lórien, with Gimli, Haldir had informed him he was betrothed to her. Now there was a child in the Captain's arms, and a smile on his lips.
"Do you remember Elenath?" Haldir asked him.
"I do. You were betrothed last I knew." Legolas replied.
Haldir beamed.
"Indeed, you remember well! Now we are wedded, and this is our child. His name is Innas. He is the light of our lives." Haldir said proudly.
He glanced over at Elenath lovingly, who flushed.
"May I hold Innas?" Legolas asked the couple.
"Indeed, ernil (prince). It would be an honor." Elenath said.
She took her infant son from his father's arms and handed him to Legolas. The Prince cradled the infant in the crook of his arm, making sure to support his head properly. He smiled softly down at Innas. There was a strange feeling of content with the infant's small warm body in his arms that filled the Prince. He took in every detail of the infant: from his small, delicate, smooth pointed ears to his tiny feet. He imagined holding his own son in his arms, with Síriel smiling proudly at his side.
"How beautiful…" Legolas whispered, stroking his golden hair.
The parents beamed.
"He resembles Haldir, but he has my eye color and build." Elenath said. "At times, though, I can see my uncle in him."
"I am sure Lord Celeborn is delighted." Legolas said.
"He is, and so is Lady Galadriel. When he is not with me, he is with either of him. They dote upon him so much." Haldir told him.
"And why not?" Legolas said, gazing into Innas' gray eyes. "One so young and innocent as this should be doted upon every instant."
Innas smiled. An instant later, he was crying.
"What did I do?" Legolas asked in alarm.
"Nothing, he is only hungry." Elenath said, taking Innas from Legolas. "Come, my little one, and drink your fill."
Haldir excused himself and left with his wife, leaving Legolas alone.
"You have seen Innas, then."
Legolas turned and found Lady Galadriel standing behind him. The hall was completely deserted. He could not remember it being so. She spoke to him without words, but through her mind.
"I have seen him." Legolas replied silently.
"And you desire a son yourself?" she asked.
Legolas knew better than to be astonished at how she knew.
"I do." he told her.
Lady Galadriel motioned for him to sit, and it was then that Legolas realized they were no longer in the hall. They were in the glade with the Mirror. He seated himself on a smoothly sawn tree trunk.
"It is every father's dream to have a son to carry his name. Lord Celeborn himself desires a son, but the Valar have not blessed us. I do not envy my fate at all. Whatever Eru wills happens, and nothing I do can change that. We are blessed, though, because of Celebrían, and through her Arwen was born. And now we have Innas to keep us busy, though he is the son of Lord Celeborn's niece.
"Legolas, let me tell you something. I will counsel you only. Your desire is legitimate; it is a natural part of being a father. When a man weds the one he truly desires, it is expected that he will want his beloved to bear for him children. And the woman will do so, out of love for her husband and her inborn tendency to become a mother. Yet, here comes my warning to you: even if the desire is legitimate, there may be a hidden outcome that will be known only when it is too late." the Lady said.
She turned slowly and faced him as she finished. Legolas looked at her blankly. He did not understand what she meant.
"When the desire involves a great sacrifice, I do not think it wise to still want it. Síriel is too dear to you to allow it to happen." she added.
"Ú-chenion (I do not understand), hiril nín (my lady)." Legolas told her.
She smiled at him slowly.
"If you want Síriel not to come to any harm, then do not let your desire blind you so much that you put her in mortal danger." she said.
She looked gravely at him. Legolas could not comprehend what he had just heard. How could he place Síriel in danger? That was the last thing he would ever think of doing! She was his life.
"I know what you think. I know how much she means to you. Yet, keep my counsel in mind. Do not let your desires control you." she said.
She lifted his chin with her hand and looked deeply into his eyes. The Prince had never been this close to the Lady before and her beauty amazed him. He saw the kindness in her face radiating towards him.
"Síriel loves you very much, Legolas. She cannot live without you. Take care of her well. She deserves it." she said quietly.
Legolas nodded silently. The Lady straightened and withdrew her hand from under his chin. She left him alone to contemplate her words.