NOTE: So sorry! I really am! If only you knew what calamities I had to deal with, namely my dropping out of nursing. I went back to the previous chapters and edited them, so that the girls are three months old. Also, what Legolas says about the growth and development of Elves is true. I read that from a site. If you want the link, please let me know. Background info concerning Dol Amroth courtesy of Anyway, here it is at last, chapter twenty. I hope it pleases you.
Chapter Twenty: In Dol Amroth
The procession of Elves rode slowly out of the woods. From the treetops they could hear their kin singing a song of a safe journey for them. The late afternoon sun bore down on them, glinting off their hair and the gems that they wore, so that from a distance it seemed that a procession of many heavenly beings was approaching, shrouded in rays of green, gold, and silver. And their fair faces glowed as well.
Síriel rode in the rear of the procession next to Celebrindal so she could keep watch on her twin daughters, Selena and Selina. The girls were strapped tightly onto the backs of foals. They rode without saddles, as is the Elven custom, which Síriel knew. However, her natural feeling of protection towards her daughters caused her to be quite fearful. Any moment she expected her daughters to fall from their mounts. Even though she knew they were strapped tightly, as Legolas himself had fixed the straps, she could not help but worry a little. She begged her husband before they left not to travel hastily, but to travel at a moderate pace.
"It will cause us to spend unnecessary time travelling," he said.
"I care not! It is wiser to be safe than sorry! If not, then I will gladly remain behind with them, and you may go alone." she told him.
When Legolas heard this, he assured her they would travel slowly.
And so it was that they rode at a slow pace.
An Elf rode to Síriel's side.
"Híril nín (my lady)," he said, bowing his head slightly at her in greeting. "Ernil nín (my prince) wishes that you ride alongside him. I am to ride here and guard your daughters; it will be an honor."
Síriel nodded at him; there was no use in arguing. If that was what Legolas wished, then his wish would be granted.
"Very well," she told him, as she nudged her steed away from Celebrindal's side and towards the head of the procession.
As she moved closer to Legolas, she thought of how foolish she was to think that her daughters would come to harm. Were they not Legolas' daughters as well, and did he not too care for them? She spotted her sire and Thranduil, directly behind Legolas, and nodded her head at them.
"Ah, you have come, cuil nín (my life)." Legolas told her in delight as her mount slid into place beside Legolas' beloved mount, Arod. "I trust my message reached you, then?" he asked her.
She nodded her head.
"It did reach me." she replied.
"And the girls, they are well?" he inquired.
"They are, and there is something I wish to tell you regarding them." she said. "I owe you an apology."
Legolas turned and looked at his wife in surprise.
"Apology?" he said, eyebrows cocked high.
"Yes, an apology. I was so worried over our daughters when I realize that they are safe, that no harm will come to them so long as you are with them. I was foolish to think otherwise." she said.
Legolas smiled softly at her.
"You recall what you told me earlier? 'It is wiser to be safe than sorry'. You are a mother, so how could I expect otherwise?" he told her.
Síriel returned the smile with one of her own.
"Thank the Valar that I wedded you!" she said.
They rode on in silence, observing the land that surrounded them. Síriel had never been this way before, so Legolas told her everything. Each river they passed, every new landmark, Legolas explained it all to her. She loved hearing his voice as he spoke lovingly to her, pointing out a new type of bird or a tree that they came upon. Behind her, Gil-celeb and Thranduil listened intently as well to everything Legolas said.
After some time, Síriel decided to check on her daughters.
"How are they?" she asked as she reached Celebrindal.
"Resting." her handmaiden-friend replied. "The gentle lulling movements of their steeds put them to sleep,"
"They were very happy, though, chattering away like a pair of small birds." the Elf Legolas sent told her. "I enjoyed watching them."
Síriel beamed at him.
"Indeed, they are a joy to watch." she agreed.
She returned beside Legolas and told him what she learned.
"They are precious." he said to her with a smile.
The Elves rode on until night fell, upon which they set up camp. A light meal was made, then the travelers rested. Selena and Selina were brought in to their parents' tent. Legolas and Síriel placed their twin daughters between them for the night so that they were enclosed within their parents' bodies. Síriel spent the night admiring her sleeping family.
Early the following morning, the Elves ate their morning meal, broke up their camp, and then departed. They were travelling in a southwest direction. Legolas urged his company to ride faster than they did the previous day, since Síriel was comfortable with this now. However, to further reassure her, he ordered their daughters be moved closer to them, so she could check on them as often as she desired. After the third time, Síriel ceased checking on them. In this way, the Elves managed to cover thrice the amount they had since the previous day.
In this fashion, the Elves traveled for five more days. On the morning of the seventh day, Síriel became aware of white birds she had never seen before flying above her. Their call was strange to her. They
dipped lazily up and down in the sky, flapping their wings slowly. She became aware of a large body of water and knew it must be the sea.
"We have reached Dol Amroth!" Legolas cried suddenly, as he gazed wistfully at the sea. "The white gulls call me to Eldamar!"
The procession stopped suddenly near the edge of a large cliff. The view was breath taking as the Elves gazed down into the clear sapphire waters of the sea, broken only by the endless whitecaps. A few ships sailed in the waters, their sails and masts glistening in the morning sun. Gil-celeb and Thranduil's eyes were to the West.
"At last, I have seen the Bay of Belfalas." Gil-celeb said. "All of my life I have desired to see the sea, and now my wish has been fulfilled."
There was a great murmur of agreement from the other Elves.
Thranduil had his eyes closed.
"It is strange how memories can be released." he whispered. "How clearly I recall the days of old, when Arda was very much different…"
He sighed heavily.
Suddenly the Elves became aware of a group of riders approaching them. They wore the raiment of the guards of Dol Amroth's castle.
"Greetings, oh Fair People." a Man said. "Your arrival was noticed."
Legolas smiled.
"Keen sighted are the Men of Dol Amroth, whose Prince has the High Elven blood within him!" he told the Men.
"Surely you must be Prince Legolas," the Man said. "Our lord, Prince Imrahil, has ordered us to escort you to his castle."
"Very well, we shall follow." Legolas replied.
So it was that the Ithilien Elves arrived in the courtyard of Prince Imrahil's castle in Dol Amroth. The people of the city gazed in awe and wonder at the Elves as they passed, but mostly they looked with curiosity upon Síriel. They all knew that Elves had fair skin, yet she did not, despite her otherwise elven appearance. Imrahil himself was standing on the castle steps, smiling warmly as the travelers dismounted.
"Legolas, how wonderful to see you again." the Prince said.
Legolas helped his wife dismount from her steed before replying:
"Indeed, mellon nín (my friend),"
The two embraced warmly.
"Ah, this must be the esteemed Lady Síriel." Imrahil said with a slight bow to her. "I have heard many good things about you, and it is an honor to finally meet you at last. Dol Amroth welcomes you."
Síriel flushed slightly.
"I thank you for your kind words, Prince Imrahil. I am quite sure that we will have a wonderful visit in your city." she replied.
Legolas then turned to his sire, and Síriel's sire.
"Imrahil, I would like to introduce you to my sire, Thranduil. He came here with his friend, Síriel's sire, Gil-celeb, to visit us." he said.
Imrahil greeted the two men warmly, welcoming them as well.
"These must be Selena and Selina!" Imrahil said.
Celebrindal appeared suddenly with both girls in her arms.
"They are indeed, my lord." she said to him.
"And you are?" Imrahil asked her.
"I am Celebrindal, Síriel's friend and handmaiden." the silver-haired elf replied courteously.
Imrahil smiled at her.
"You are welcome as well. Any friend of Legolas and Síriel is my friend as well. You are from Mirkwood I presume?" he said.
She nodded in reply.
Imrahil's eyes remained on her for a moment longer before he turned to Legolas. Celebrindal and Síriel exchanged meaningful looks.
"Well, come inside." he said.
Turning to some servants, he said:
"Take their steeds and stable them properly in the guest stable."
The men bowed and went off to do their lord's wish.
Legolas walked alongside Imrahil, a few feet ahead of the others. They conversed with each other in low voices. Celebrindal and Síriel waited until everyone passed them.
"Did you see how he looked at me?" Celebrindal said.
Síriel nodded, a smile on her fair face.
"Do I sense something?" she teased.
Celebrindal chuckled.
"Well, on my part, there is nothing." she said to her friend.
"I suppose we shall see. My, what an honor it would be for you to become Lady Celebrindal, wife of Prince Imrahil!" Síriel said.
The two ladies laughed softly.
"Is there something wrong?"
Prince Imrahil stood at the top of the steps watching them.
"There is nothing, my lord. We were merely observing the castle's lovely gardens. They are very beautiful." Celebrindal said.
Imrahil eyes twinkled.
"Well, then, I shall take you on a tour of my gardens after we eat." he told her. "Come now, the others are waiting."
Síriel winked at her friend as they followed him inside to the dining hall. The castle was very grand, made of the finest white marble. The halls had high ceilings, with ornate jewels laid in the walls, forming intricate patterns. What made it more astounding was that the sun fell on the jewels, causing them to shine brilliantly, so that the entire castle seemed alight from within with countless lights. All along the halls there were fountains, and the waters' sweet trickling added to the castle's beauty. How Síriel longed to gaze upon everything!
"The castle seems to be from the Elder days." Síriel said to Imrahil.
The Prince smiled.
"It is not, though there is a fair chance that some of the Eldar were here. Dol Amroth was named after Amroth, Nimrodel's lover." he said.
"You must forgive my ignorance." Síriel said.
"It is forgiven. You should visit the library, there is much information there in the books." Imrahil told her.
"I may do that."
At last they reached the dining hall. The others were already seated. Legolas stood beside his sire conversing.
"Ah, there you are my dear." he said.
When all were seated, the meal was brought out. Though meal it was not. It was a grand feast, with endless platters of food and vessels of drink. Selena and Selina were seated beside Síriel. The girls were now starting to eat soft foods. Legolas aided his wife in feeding them rice.
"How old are they?" Imrahil asked.
"They are three months old." Síriel replied.
"Still young, they do not look like they are that old."
"Elven children grow differently than mortal children." Legolas said. "We mature later than you."
Síriel nodded.
"It took me some time to get adjusted to that when I first came to Mirkwood. Yet, it makes sense. Elves live longer, so their slower growth rate is understandable in that sense." she said.
"I agree, since you explained in that light." Imrahil said.
After the feast was over, Prince Imrahil took Celebrindal with him to show her the castle grounds. The other Elves were shown their rooms. Legolas and Síriel had a clear view of the Bay from their quarters. The half-elf could hear the gulls' cries clearly now.
"It seems Imrahil fancies Celebrindal." Legolas said, catching sight of the pair as they strolled through the garden from another window.
"I do believe so myself, as does Celebrindal." Síriel replied.
Legolas continued gazing at the Sea.
"My longing to sail West is very strong now." he whispered.
Síriel looked up from where she was lying on the bed with her daughters, nursing them. She did not know what to say.
"Perhaps it will be fulfilled one day." she said slowly.
"You fear you will not be able to accompany me; I can tell from the way you speak. Rest assured, I will not go without you." Legolas told her.
"Come, let us go to the beach. We can give the girls to our sires."
Once outside, a guard was kind enough to show them a secret staircase built into the cliff wall that led down to the beach. The stairway was somewhat narrow, but they managed it carefully by going slowly. The salty smell of the sea was very strong now. Síriel sat atop a rock as Legolas waded into the waves, his hands trailing lazily in the water.
"It is very beautiful here." Síriel commented.
"It is." Legolas agreed.
"Tell me more about Dol Amroth. Prince Imrahil informed me that it was named after Amroth, and that he loved Nimrodel. Are not the falls in the Golden Wood named Nimrodel, as well?"
"They are; those falls bear her name. Of old, Dol Amroth was one of the five greatest cities in Gondor, and it was the largest city of Belfalas.
Dol Amroth's first Prince was Galador, son of Imrazôr of Númenór and Mithrellas the elf. Due to this, the Lords of Dol Amroth are considered amongst the nobility, and their faces are fair." Legolas said.
"Aiya, how interesting!" Síriel exclaimed.
They remained there on the beach for some time before returning to the castle. Imrahil met them as they entered, and his eyes glowed.
"Legolas, he has arrived." he said.
"Where is he?" Legolas asked hurriedly.
"There." Imrahil said, pointing to a room.
"Aphado nin, (follow me) Síriel!" Legolas cried, pulling his wife behind him as he ran.
"Legolas, what is it?" she asked, somewhat anxiously.