Chapter 2: Greenwood the Great

Caladhel was surprised to find Haldir waiting for her in the courtyard below her talan early the next morning. He had her horse already saddled and his as well. She secured her weapons, picked up her light travel bag, already packed, threw it over her shoulder and descended the long stair to the forest floor. Haldir turned his gaze up to her and when she caught his eye her brow rose in silent questioning.

Haldir saw in that small gesture the question her eyes asked. "My father would have assigned me as your escort, were he not touring the western fences, so I assigned myself."

Caladhel suspected he was right. "And who will keep watch over the city while Lord Thandaer and his son are away?"

Haldir took Caladhel's bag and attached it to her saddle. She could see her question had offended him, though he tried to hide it. Haldir continued checking the horse's saddle and did not look at her when he asked, "Do you imagine I would take off to the Greenwood without ensuring all is cared for in Caras Galadhon?"

Caladhel knew Haldir was incredibly diligent in his duties. It had not been her intent to criticize him, but to pay him a compliment. She should have known better. He didn't take either very well. "It was a compliment, Haldir, not a criticism."

Here he did look back at her and she could almost hear him curse silently for his literal interpretation of her words. He knew she was not mean spirited.

"I meant only that there are no better guardians of the realm than you and your father," she said. "All others come a distant third."

Haldir did smile then and acknowledged her compliment with a small nod before his expression fell. "Do not let Húlben hear you say that," he said, thinking of the warden who was third in command. "It would not be an aid to him when my father and I are away. He is a fine warden."

There were many reasons why Haldir had been chosen to be his father's second, and Caladhel knew the care with which he trained and handled those under his command was one of the most important. Some elves thrived on praise, but Caladhel found that Haldir thrived best when he bestowed praise on others.

When Haldir was finished checking the horses he nodded to her and they departed, walking the horses to the edge of the city before mounting. They walked carefully through the forest for a couple days but had to ferry across the Anduin with their horses once they reached the river's shore. Caladhel's mare, Sídhel, did not care for being floated across water, but Caladhel's voice and soothing presence kept her calm. Once they crossed the water the horses were rewarded with far open fields stretched out for hundreds of miles north. Caladhel could feel the joy and excitement emanating from Sídhel and she and Haldir allowed their horses to set their own pace. The pair headed north at a gallop carrying their riders ever closer to Thranduil's halls.

It was ten days riding before they reached the Forest Road that would lead them to the Emyn Duir where Thranduil's kingdom was now seated. Haldir had told her the lords of the Greenwood dwelt in caves beneath the greatest of the small mountains. Caladhel, herself, found the very idea abhorrent. She could not see why any elf would desire to dwell underground.

"My father remembers Menegroth fondly," said Haldir. "As does Lord Celeborn. They say no palace now standing in Middle-earth comes close to the beauty of Doriath's cavern fortress."

Caladhel took his word on it, for her mother never spoke of her days in Doriath before she sailed west. It had never occurred to Caladhel to ask her uncle what it was like to dwell in caves, but she suspected he would prefer the trees under starlight to a ceiling of stone.

While riding north Haldir had kept them along the shores of the Anduin, so they had some miles to travel on the Forest Road before it entered Greenwood. The forest was not at all what Caladhel had been expecting. It was denser, she thought, than Lórien's wood and she found it difficult to see very far into its depths. She had no doubt that Greenwood's wardens had spotted them already and would soon make their presence known. There was no hurry. It would be clear to any in the trees that the riders came from Lórien. They rode awhile before a figure appeared on the road hailing them.

"Welcome, Haldir of Lórien."

Caladhel was momentarily surprised when the Greenwood warden greeted Haldir by name, but on second consideration knew she should not have been. There were few who ran messages back and forth between kingdoms. She had no doubt that Haldir and his father remembered the face and name of every Greenwood messenger to cross their border.

Haldir dismounted and walked over to the warden. He bowed slightly in greeting and then clasped the other warden's arm, a far more familiar gesture reserved for friends or others of equal stature.

Caladhel slid from her saddle and landed lightly on the road. She approached the Silvan guard who gave her a curious look.

Haldir held out a hand toward Caladhel. "May I present Lady Caladhel, niece of Lord Celeborn."

The warden bowed. "My lady, welcome."

"And this is Haldor, son of Iordor, who is commander of Greenwood's guard."

Caladhel found the similarities in both their names and lineage amusing and could not help but laugh. "You could be brothers," she said, smiling at both wardens.

Haldor returned her amusement with a winning smile. Haldir frowned.

"Thank you for meeting us, warden," said Caladhel. "I carry a message for your king."

Haldor had wondered what business the lady had traveling so far from home and he knew the message must be of great importance else Haldir would have carried it himself.

"It is yet another day's ride along the path before you must turn north towards the mountain," said Haldor. "I would journey with you."

"If you do not mind riding Sídhel," said Caladhel, "I can ride with Haldir." She did not ask Haldir whether he minded for she knew he would not.

Haldor took Sídhel's reins and he whispered to her softly before mounting. Haldir was already upon his horse and he held out his arm for Caladhel. She pulled herself up behind him, and wrapping her arms around his waist, entwined her fingers so she would not fall. Haldir held his horse's reins in his left hand. His right hand came to rest upon hers.

They rode a day east before turning north on the Elven Path leading to the mountains. It was a narrow road compared to the great east-west road through the forest and so they traveled single file. Caladhel could not see the mountains through the trees, though she knew from books and maps that they were far smaller than the Misty Mountains to the west, a few hills, really, jutting out above the trees. As they drew nearer Caladhel began to spot lights in the trees from the houses of Silvan elves who dwelt in the forest.

Upon reaching the roots of the mountain Caladhel saw a stream running down across the forward entrance to King Thranduil's underground fortress. The woodelves called it Limrond and when she was led inside through some narrow passages and into the Great Hall she learned why. The domed roof of the hall glittered with clear stones that reflected the colored light of the torches below. Rainbows were cast on the floors and walls where the facets of diamond roof had split the light. Caladhel stared long at the ceiling in wonder. The stones had not been shaped by the elves who lived here, merely polished and allowed to remain as the earth had made them.

Haldor disappeared when they reached the door to bring word of Caladhel's arrival, leaving her and Haldir gazing at the ceiling.

"Have you ever seen its like, Haldir?" Caladhel asked, amazed.

"Nay. I have never been invited inside the palace before, nor have I met their king." Haldir had a difficult time pulling his gaze from the roof of the hall, but ever the guardian, he forced himself to turn his attention to their surroundings. The hall was empty, save for a servant sweeping up and the two palace guards standing at the front entrance. The Great Hall was not deep inside the mountain and Haldir could easily trace his steps back to the entry, but he had not missed the maze of halls and passageways they passed along the way. He was certain that if they were taken deep enough into the mountain, it would be difficult to escape.


Haldor walked swiftly, taking the shortest path he knew to the King's study. Upon reaching the door he knocked twice and waited. A minute later the door drew back and Lord Túven, King Thranduil's uncle and chief counselor stood before him.

"Haldor?" he said, his voice registering surprise. "Were you not meant to be patrolling the western border for another month? Or so your father informed me."

Haldor bristled at Lord Túven's suggestion that he neglected his duty. It also irked him that the counselor seemed to know everything going on in the kingdom at all times – including the patrol schedules Iordor set.

"Yes, my lord, but messengers have come from Lord Celeborn. I escorted them directly to the palace."

"And why did you not simply bring me his letter?"

It was the King who had spoken, but Haldor could not see him through the door and the counselor who blocked his path. Haldor would not answer his king from the hall and he stared at Lord Túven until the counselor reluctantly stepped back, allowing him entry.

Haldor stepped inside to find the King at his desk looking over a parchment, either oblivious or disinterested in Túven's little display of power at the door.

"My king," Haldor bowed, but the gesture went unacknowledged as Thranduil continued to read the parchment in front of him. "It is Lady Caladhel, niece of Lord Celeborn who comes. What news she carries was not told me, only that she has been instructed to deliver it to you."

At this news Thranduil's head rose and the matter on the parchment forgotten. "Where is she now?"

"She waits in the Great Hall," said Haldor.

"Bring word to her that I will see her shortly," he said, dismissing the warden with a wave.

Haldor bowed again, and, glancing briefly at Lord Túven, he departed to fulfill his command.

Túven closed the door behind the warden and Thranduil could see the sour expression forming on his face. "You look troubled. Have I something to fear from a daughter of Lórien?" Thranduil had never met Lord Celeborn's niece, but if she were like her cousin, he was sure to find her fair and tiresome enough.

Túven returned his full attention to the King. "He would not send that elleth without a deeper purpose."

"Those are bold words, Túven," said the King, intrigued. "Have you some knowledge of her to back them up?"

"She was at the last council with men, before Isildur fell."

"And?" the King prompted, expecting more from his counselor's concern than that.

"She is the one who learned Isildur kept the One Ring."

Here Thranduil's countenance darkened. It had been Túven who brought word to Thranduil about the Ring's fate. Thranduil had cursed Elrond for keeping the secret from him in the intervening years, for with that ring the Shadow could rise again. It was his business as an Elvenking to know such things. If Thranduil had been there, he would have cast Isildur and that cursed ring into the fire, but Elrond Half-elven let the man walk away.

"What do you mean, she is the one?"

"She heard some of his counselors speak of the pain he suffered carrying it."

This disturbed Thranduil greatly, for he knew that many wise and ancient elven lords had been called to that meeting. How was it they were unable to discover this secret while this elleth could? He wanted to know and with each passing moment his suspicion of Celeborn's courier grew to exceed that even of his counselor.

"Tell me, Túven, what else do you know of this Lady of Lórien?"