The Foundling
Over time the young one lost all memory of her life before the forest. Sometimes she was told stories of a brother she never saw and the adventures he would have. The tree's said he would come and tell them what he had been up to when he passed by but the last time had been a long time ago.
The Linh Dohl had named her Little Tree not long after she arrived, they taught her what to eat and where to get water. They made sure she didn't get hurt when she learnt to climb and soothed her when she fell. She knew what plants to use when she got hurt and the ones to avoid.
Everything she knew she had learned from the tree's.
Many years later
The child froze, one foot in the air. So did the elves. For a moment nothing happened then all at once the child turned back and ran into the darker depths of the forest. The elves hesitated unsure whether or not to enter, they chose to follow.
It was the first time the young girl had seen anyone since she first came to the forest. She had no idea what to do so she ran to father tree who was the closest of her parents. She climbed him to get away from the strangers below.
"Father tree I have been found, what should I do?"
Father tree hugged her as tightly as a tree can and told her "you must go with them little tree, they mean you no harm."
The little girl trusted her family like nothing else she had met so with tears streaming down her face she climbed down to the unknown beings below. Before she left father tree he said "We shall all be here for you whenever you want us."
She climbed back down and slowly walked towards the elves.
The elves saw her crying and wondered what could be wrong.
"Perhaps she has hurt herself." Suggested one.
"No, I don't think so. What I want to know is why she ran from us yet comes back to us now."
"True enough."
One of the elves crouched to the girls height.
"What's wrong child. Why are you crying." He had been speaking in Weston because unbeknownst to the child she looked human, but he did not get an answer or even a hint of understanding. He tried many other languages each with the same effect.
Eventually he resorted to sign language. Pointing to himself he said his name. He waited for her to do the same. To help her understand he pointed to another elf and said his name. She pointed to herself but nothing else happened. Thinking she was deaf or dumb they took her to Greenwood for their healers to look at her.
The crouched elf stood and held out his hand. Understanding what he wanted the girl took it. She whispered one last goodbye to her family before they left.
The healers didn't know what to do with her. She wasn't deaf or dumb. She wasn't stupid either, they'd found that out and in all other respects she was healthy.
When the healers were done she was taken to Thranduils throne room. Sitting beside him, or almost on him was a very young Legolas. The girl decided to use the guard who had led her out of the forest as a bodyguard.
"What's her name?" Asked Thranduil addressing the guard.
"We don't know, my lord." She doesn't seem to speak any language we know of."
"She's not deaf?" Thandruil questioned.
"The healers say she isn't"
"Or dumb."
"No."
Suddenly Legolas started bouncing up and down on the arm of his father's throne.
"Oh she's speaking tree language ada!"
"What?"
Normally Thranduil would have been angry if he had acted this way in the throne room but this information was important and surprising. Unfortunately it also meant Legolas would be more unmanageable than usual.
Thranduil gave a sigh of exasperation before turning to the matter at hand.
"It would be best if we found someone who could speak tree and is able to adopt."
"Why can't we adopt her?" Legolas had wanted a sister for years now.
"Because I can't speak tree and you have other things to think about. Remember, you're a prince." Legolas sulked a little.
"I believe one of the kitchen staff knows the trees language." suggested the guard.
"Brilliant. Go and get her."
The young girl refused to leave her new friend so Thranduil sent another elf to go.
Amdirthorn was unsurprisingly shocked at being called before the king. Shaking violently all the way, every possible scenario ran through her head. Why should she go to the throne room? But when she arrived she saw a young girl trying to hide behind one of the guards while Legolas eyed her eagerly. Amdirthorn curtsied to the king.
"You called for me my king?" She kept her eyes from the king as all servants do when in the presence of royalty.
"I believe you are able to speak tree language?"
Surprised at this statement it took a while for her to answer.
"I do."
"We are unable to speak to this young girl due to a language barrier which, as Legolas noticed, is because she only seems to understand tree language."
Amdirthorn was near speechlessness and finally chose not to say anything.
"Well."
Amdirthorn looked at him blankly.
"Well ask her her name for goodness sake."
Amdirthorn turned to the child. A while later and she thought she understood the answer.
"If I understand correctly she said her name is 'little tree'."
"Ada, ada can I try?" Asked Legolas excitedly.
"Would you calm down Legolas, I shouldn't have to reprimand you in the throne room."
"But ada." Whined Legolas.
"Fine you can have ago. But we are not keeping her."
Legolas began to speak tree. Little Tree looked out from her hiding place realising someone was speaking to her.
"Hello, I'm Gael. What's your name? He translated his name into the Greenwood version of Entish seeing as they don't have Ent s.
"Little Tree."
"I live here in Greenwood. Where do you come from.?"
"Linh Dohl."
Linh Dohl is the Trees name for themselves. Legolas knew this so he didn't enquire further.
"What is this place. What are you?"
A little surprised by the last question Legolas answered "I'm an elf. I'm a prince and this is my ada's throne room."
"What's a prince?"
Again Legolas didn't know what to say because trees don't have royal families. Their conversation was interrupted by Thranduil
"Legolas what is going on."
"Amdirthorn was right, her name is Little Tree. But she doesn't know what an elf is. Oh and she comes from Linh Dohl."
"What's Linh Dohl?"
"It's what the trees call themselves."
Thranduil raised an eyebrow.
"So our new guest is from the forest itself and is even named Tree?" He stated, exasperated.
Everyone seemed perplexed.
"Then how come no patrols have ever seen her before?"