The days were long and eventless. I passed unhindered through Greenwood and turned south along the Anduin river. I rarely slept – I did not need it. My mares tired faster than I did, and I often ran while they slugged behind me. I paced myself to the river – it coursed swiftly and I enjoyed the challenge. I kept my mind occupied by composing poetry with which to outmatch Thranduil's cheating.
A fortnight had passed when I stepped foot in the woods of Lórien. The trees here were thinner, and golden as was to be expected during early summer. The fresh smell of my home overwhelmed my senses, and I was filled with joy.
I left the mares a few miles outside of Caras Galadhon, where it became too hilly for them to continue. I sprinted until I came upon a watch tower, where I knew I was being watched.
"Alla!" I called. "Hail! I bear a message for the lady Galadriel from Oropher, king of Greenwood."
A silver figure leapt from the tree, straightening into the form of Rúmil, whom I had known before I departed for my sojourn in Greenwood.
"I thought I recognized the ducet tones of Celebrîan's celebrated cousin! Alatúlië!" he exclaimed, placing a hand over his heart. "Well-come indeed!"
My legs were shaking from my relentless travel. "May I pass?"
"The Lady knew you were coming," Rúmil said. He escorted me through the mossy trees although I knew my way. He looked me up and down. "You have become a woman!"
"Did you ever doubt it?" I asked, trying to ignore the unsettling familiarity. "Surely you know that all elflings follow such a pattern." We had arrived at the city, and Rúmil bowed to me before turning back towards his post.
I ascended into the palace where I knew Celeborn and Galadriel to inhabit. They were present in the main chamber that I was directed to by a servant.
"Caradel," Celeborn said, looking up. "You are almost too late. What is the message?"
As one not blessed with foresight, I found their knowledge of my mission was uncanny. Celeborn quickly scanned through the message.
"Will you sit, yelya?" Galadriel asked, indicating an empty chair.
"Ván, melda heri," I replied, inclining my head. "I won't, beloved lady. It is necessary that I leave – I must continue on to Imladris. I will replenish my stores and rest briefly, if I might."
"You may," Celeborn said. "When you wake, I will have prepared a message for Oropher."
"Alámenë," Galadriel clasped my hand. "Go with our blessing. Your prince needs you."
"My – what?" I was bewildered, but I was dismissed without further explanation, and I was left alone with my thoughts.
I ran along the river in my waking dreams. Darkness was clouding the sky, and I looked up to see raindrops. But they were not water – whatever the subtanse was, it burned my face as they made contact. I was wheezing. My lungs were tight with exertion, and my legs burned from strain. I tried to stop my frantic running, but I could not. I looked behind me, and tendrils of smoky darkness were rapidly approaching. I knew in my heart that they would destroy me. I faced ahead again, trying to see what I was running at. A bright light pierced my eyes, and I stumbled and fell to my knees as I was blinded..A'maelamin, the light told me as it caressed my aching body. A'maelamin. I was lulled into a trance by the light, which whispered to me until I woke.
Crossing the mountains was more difficult than I had anticipated. My poor horses stumbled along the rocky paths, and my soft boots began to wear in the soles. Nevertheless, I made good pace and arrived at Imladris just as the season was beginning to be hot. I was not expected here – but still received admirable hospitality as I waited to see Gil-galad, king of Noldor. I was refreshing my clothing when a flurry of excitement burst through the door and enveloped me.
"Caradel! It is well that you have come at this time!" It was Celebrîan. I turned to embrace her.
"I was hoping to see you," I said. "But I am only here for a short time. I must return to Amon Lanc before midsummer."
"Posh," Celebrîan clasped my hand and led me from the room, tossing her silver hair over her shoulder as she grinned at me. "Nothing should take precedence over family!"
"Alas, I have promised the king that I would return. And I promised Thranduil that I would attend his coming of age."
Celebrîan turned and looked at me with raised eyebrows. "Thranduil? The prince?"
I nodded.
She smiled with knowing eyes. "Aye, I have heard of him. Handsome, is he not?"
I shrugged. "I suppose. He does not yet have the face of a man."
We arrived at a large library, where Gil-galad was waiting with Elrond, Celebrîan's husband. I had not spoken to the great king before, but he seemed kindly enough. Elrond, of course, as part of our family, was well used to our ways and he nodded fondly at me as we entered.
"What is the news from Greenwood?" Gil-galad asked in a deep, booming voice.
"We go to war," I replied, pulling out the crumpled message Oropher had given me only a few weeks prior. He accepted it and began reading.
"What news of Caradel?" Elrond asked as Celebrîan stood by him, her hand on his shoulder.
"It has been an eventful year," I replied. "Goblins, parties – and now it seems I have begun my service to the king, earlier than expected."
"Parties?" Elrond raised his eyebrows. "Now that would seem to be the highlight." He was teasing me.
"Aye, I come of age this year," My chin jutted forth with pride.
"And which lad do you have your eyes on?" Elrond asked.
Celebrîan leaded over and whispered loudly into his ear, "The prince, Thranduil!"
"That is false!" I protested. "We do not care for each other – I do not even like him."
The couple nodded wisely at me, but I could tell that they were not convinced.
"Thank you for delivering this," Gil-galad said, refolding the message. "Take all the rest you need before you leave."
"Thank you, sire," I bowed and left, after Celebrîan motioned to me that she would see me after I rested.
This time, no nightmares haunted my dreams.
I was sitting on a well-furnished balcony overlooking the rivers and sipping wine when Celebrîan arrived. She was just as excited as earlier, toting her eldest son Elladan, who shied away at the sight of me. Elladan's twin, Elrohir, was absent.
"You look better," Celebrîan commented, sitting and pulling the reluctant Elladan onto her lap. "When you arrived you were so disheveled I thought you had been chased by wargs the entire distance!"
"I have travelled swiftly," I replied. "Would you like some wine?"
Celebrîan blushed. "No – thank you. I came to share our news with you. Elrond and I are to be blessed with another child!"
My mouth fell open. "You are fertile indeed, cousin, and at such a time! Rarely do elves multiply so."
"I do believe that this child will be our last," Celebrîan leaned back and sighed with contentment. "Elrond does love children, and I cannot deny him that joy."
"You love them too," I pointed out. Elladan had climbed off her lap and was now trying to scale the railing. She smiled at him fondly.
"Aye," she agreed. "I do."
The rest of the day was spent in companionable conversation, as we watched the sun descend and spread beams of bright light through the beautiful city. When the stars began to twinkle in the sky, and Elladan had fallen asleep on his mother's lap, I stood and stretched.
"I have been greatly refreshed," I said. "I should depart tonight."
"I wish you could stay," Celebrîan also stood, lifting her son in her arms. "But I must allow your duty to overshadow my longing for your presence!"
"I will be back," I kissed her on the forehead, and stroked Elladan's dark hair. "You may, of course, visit me in Amon Lanc any time."
"Perhaps only to meet your handsome prince," she winked at me. We shared a final embrace, and she left. I trudged back into the room to retrieve my pack and was galloping out of the city within minutes.
The humidity of Greenwood was overwhelming, and I shed as many of my layers as I could without being indecent. Fortunately, the horses did not mind. They had been greatly refreshed in Imladris, and kept a steady pace at the prospect of returning home.
I had kept well on the king's timetable – it was two days before Midsummer when I arrived, tired and sweaty. Thranduil met me at the gate to the city.
"Mae g'ovannen!" he cried, leaping to take the reins of my horses. "We received word that you were approaching. I have missed you greatly."
"Have you missed me enough to care for my horses? I am very tired and I must speak to your father." I dismounted and gave him a small embrace for his kindness.
"Did you forget that I am the prince? A servant will take care of the horses."
"I am glad to know that you have not changed in my absence," I said. "If anything, your head has swollen even more." I set off for the palace, and soon Thranduil caught up with me, having taken the horses to the stable.
"How fared your travels?" he asked.
"Well enough," I said. "I enjoyed the solitude."
"I have not had enough solitude," Thranduil complained. "I have been kept busy night and day! I had to beg my father to release me from my duties to meet you."
"You did not have to do that," I said. "I would have seen you anyways."
We arrived at the king's chambers. He was very busy, and waved for me to leave after I handed him the message from Celeborn.
"Stay," he ordered Thranduil, who had tried to follow me out.
"I will see you soon," he whispered to me, and the door was shut.