Chapter Thirty-Four
A short time later, Legolas and Gimli arrived at the edge of the glade where they dismounted and tethered Snowmane to a tree. They entered the glade and bowed to Lady Galadriel. "Greetings Legolas and Gimli," she said with a smile. "It is good to see you both again."
"It is good to see you as well, my Lady," Legolas replied.
"Yes," Gimli chimed in with a smile. "I thought I would never again lay eyes upon your fairness after we left Lothlorien."
She smiled warmly at him and the dwarf shuffled his feet suddenly shy. "Gimli," she asked. "Please go to Caras Galadhon and ask for Haldir. I need to speak with Legolas. We will join you soon." Gimli nodded then turned and left the glade.
"What is it that you wished to see me about my Lady?" Legolas asked curiously though with no disrespect.
"There's something I have been wanting to ask you about," Galadriel answered. "Have you ever looked into the mirror?" Legolas shook his head. "You have been having visions, yes?"
"Yes," Legolas answered. "They have troubled me for some time. Eletharanna is coming to Middle Earth."
"Yes," Galadriel said sadly. She knew the Prince did not wish to marry her. "I think you should look in the mirror, Legolas. You may find your answer."
Galadriel led him to the stand and filled the mirror with water then backed away. Legolas walked up to the mirror uncertainly. He placed his hands on the cool stone of the bowl and peered in the water. It rippled, then glowed and he saw his own image looking back at him. The image faded and he saw an image of an elf maiden with dark hair on board a pale ship. That must have been Eletharanna. The image changed yet again, and this time he saw an elf maiden with long flame red hair. He gasped aloud in surprise. "You know her?" Galadriel asked, and Legolas jumped, for he had not noticed her watching the images beside him.
"I do not know her," Legolas answered. "But I have seen her before in a vision." He looked back in the mirror and the image changed once more. He saw two horses one white, that was Snowmane, and one bay. Gimli was astride the bay and Snowmane bore two riders; himself and another with flame red hair. The image faded then and the mirror went dark. Legolas looked up to Galadriel. "She's real?"
Galadriel nodded. "Two days ago, Haldir and Orophin spotted something strange two miles from our Southern border. Haldir went to investigate and found an elf maiden unlike any elf we have ever seen; She has red hair that is the color of fire. She was unconscious, and weak from lack of food. We have no idea where she even came from. She still has not awoken, though we have been giving her medicine regularly."
Legolas was in shock. "Please," he begged when he found his voice. "Take me to her." Galadriel nodded and she led the way from the glade back to Caras Galadhon.
Ten minutes later, Galadriel and Legolas entered a nosse where Haldir and Gimli were seated beside a bed where a woman lay with her eyes closed. "Never before have I seen an Elf such as this," Gimli said gruffly. "She is a beauty, but there is one fairer still." He blushed when he saw the one of whom he spoke had entered.
"Please," Legolas said quietly. "Leave us." Galadriel and Haldir nodded. Gimli grunted the stood slowly. "Gimli," Legolas said quickly. "You may stay. I have need for the company of a friend, and I wish to speak with you." Gimli sighed, then resumed his seat. "Lady Galadriel," Legolas asked and she turned back. "How often has she been given medicine?"
"Haldir gave it to her just before you reached the glade," Galadriel answered. "She needs it every two hours, so she will need it again soon. I can send him here when it is time." Legolas nodded, and Galadriel turned once more and left the nosse with Haldir.
Legolas sat near the woman's side and took her hand, then brought it to his lips, kissing it gently. Gimli watched him in bewilderment. "Uh," he said, but Legolas did not look at him. "Do you know this maiden?" Gimli asked thoroughly confused by his friends' actions.
"I know of her," Legolas said. He reached over and placed a hand on her brow. "She is too hot my friend," Legolas said worriedly. "Will you see if you can find a bit of cloth and bring some water so that I might cool her?" Gimli nodded slowly still confused but decided not to press his friend for answers at the moment. He got up and headed out the door then down to the stream.
"Aiya amin vanima lote. Amin very-il-estel-lle manke anwa," Legolas whispered. "I could not believe you were real when I saw you in the mirror. Gimli and I will stay here until you are well. I promise you that."
Three days later, Legolas and Gimli were stretching their legs. Galadriel had noticed Legolas had not left the woman's side since he had seen her, and finally had to order him to leave for a while. He only consented after Galadriel swore to send word should there be the slightest change in her condition.
"My friend," Gimli said sadly. "You know the lass might not pull through, Haldir said he suspected she had been without food for some time. Nearly a month, he said."
"No Gimli," Legolas said lightheartedly and smiled. "She will awake, I have seen it."
"But how?" Gimli asked. "Where do you know her from?"
Legolas grinned at his friend. "I have seen her before," he replied. "In a vision. I could not bring myself to hope that she was real, and then Lady Galadriel showed me the mirror. I saw her in it then as well. The Lady surprised me by telling me she was here."
Gimli had not seen Legolas truly happy in a long time. He hoped for the Elf's sake that he was right about the girl. A shout went up suddenly, and drew their attention. Rúmil came running toward them shouting. "She is awake!" he yelled as he waved his arms in the air. "She is awake!" Legolas and Gimli turned and ran back to the nosse.
Legolas slowed as he approached the door of the nosse. Lady Galadriel looked up and nodded at the look in the Prince's eyes. "Come," she said to Haldir and Orophin and they left Legolas alone with the strange woman. Gimli started to say something to his friend when Galadriel placed a hand on his shoulder as she passed. Silently, he turned and followed her, leaving Legolas alone.
Slowly, Legolas stepped inside the nosse and the girl's eyes lit upon him and followed him as he moved toward her. "Aaye," Legolas said quietly and she nodded her head in greeting. Legolas saw a bowl of steaming liquid next to the bed and motioned to it. "Soup?" he asked as he sat in a chair beside the bed and she nodded once more. He sat down and handed the bowl to her. She placed it to her lips and sipped it slowly.
When she was finished, she handed the bowl back to him, and he placed it back on the table. "You look at me strangely," she said finally. "Yet not like the others…why?"
Legolas shifted awkwardly. "Well, they have never seen anyone like you before," he said.
"But you have?" she asked curiously.
"Yes," he answered. "I have seen you before, but I did not believe that you were real," he admitted.
"Ah," she said quietly. "Then that is the reason you look at me strangely. Tell me, where have you seen me before?"
Legolas shuffled his feet in front of him and gazed at the floor a moment. "In a dream," he said finally and looked up at her. He expected her to laugh but she didn't. "Then I saw you again here in the mirror; the scrying pool of Lady Galadriel."
"Lady Galadriel?" the woman asked and Legolas nodded. "I met her I think. Was she the woman that just left?"
"Yes," Legolas replied as he watched the woman.
"Oh, that's right," the woman said. "She was with Haldir and Orophin." The woman smiled and Legolas nearly melted on the spot. "Who might you be?" The woman asked.
"Oh," Legolas said and chided himself for being rude. "My name is Legolas. Pray tell me," he said taking her hand. "What is your name?"
"My name is Haehithien," the woman said with a smile.
She blushed as Legolas brought her hand to his lips and placed the softest of kisses there. "My Lady," he said. "My friend, Gimli and I are on our way to Mirkwood to join my people. Would you care to join us when you are well?"
"I am not sure," she said honestly. "I have spent a long time searching for people like me, would you have me leave them so soon?"
"You mean Elves?" Legolas asked and she nodded. "My Lady, am I not like you?" he asked as he turned his head so that she could see his profile. He heard her gasp in surprise then turned back to face her with a grin. "Will you go with us?" he asked again. "The Lady and her people will not be here long, it might be better if you did. That way you will not have to rush when they decide to move on."
"Alright, I will go." she conceded softly and Legolas smiled at her happily.