To Rekindle Hearts

Chapter Two: An Unwise Journey Begins

Six days earlier

Legolas loosened the tie on the paper and unrolled it, eyes quickly scanning the letter.

Captains Ithildim and Legolas,

As you may have noticed, Mithrandir is in the wood. I am aware that your unit is home on rest rotation for the next fortnight. I recommend that you truly rest and ask you not to do anything foolish. You know as well as I that we have some serious decisions to make before the new moon, and the advisors want the Southern Defense' counsel—to provide counsel, one must be both present in the Elvenking's Halls, and sound. I expect both of you.

Your commander,

Lostariel

The words "truly rest," "sound," and "commander" were underlined three times. Legolas handed the letter to Ithildim and took a bite of bread, leaning back on the hard-packed earth of the training field and staring up into the night sky. It was perfectly clear, and his heart sang.

Ithildim finished reading the letter and dropped it to the ground, throwing himself back so he lay beside his friend.

"When have we ever done anything foolish with Mithrandir that Lostariel was not herself involved in?" Ithildim asked.

Legolas swallowed his bite of bread and grinned. "Well, we have not yet!"

The two laughed merrily, and then lapsed into silence, considering the stars.

Finally, after they had lain quietly for long enough to see a star break the horizon and rise a few inches, Ithildim said," It is important when one constantly faces elevated levels of emotional and physical stress, and is directly responsible for the well-being of a score of other elves, that one takes the time to care for one's own needs, as well."

As Ithildim spoke, Legolas held his hand up to the sky, measuring the number of fingers between the treeline and the star's height. Three fingers fit the space between.

"Are you suggesting it is our personal and professional responsibility to act foolishly should we be given the chance?" Legolas asked, dropping his hand to his side.

"I am not suggesting anything!" Ithildim exclaimed. "You gave word to the thought, so I hold you responsible for all our choices henceforth."

"But I follow your lead, Captain," said Legolas, laughing.

Ithildim punched him lightly in the shoulder. "You better!"

"Well," Legolas began, trying to sound light, "I will not be the one to tell Lostariel that one of her head captains has tried to escape his duties by running off with a wizard."

Suddenly Ithildim stiffened and looked at his friend sharply; they had had this veiled and interchangeable argument—directed at one by the other—many times before.

"It is not an escape, Legolas," Ithildim said sharply. "And we would of course ensure we returned long before our next rotation. Besides, you would not have to tell Lostariel, because I know you will be with me, escaping your own responsibilities."

Legolas did not reply, and there was silence again for a long while. Eventually, Legolas raised his hand once more to the sky to measure the star's progress. His whole hand fit now in the space from tree to star.

He dropped his hand and said, "I am sorry."

Ithildim sighed and said, "I am, too."

"We spend much time together," said Legolas. "And sometimes I think it makes us careless of our words."

And that night the two slept shoulder to shoulder beneath the stars, scurrying up at first daylight to bathe and become presentable, and break fast with their families. They would find Mithrandir later or he, more likely, would find them.

Commander Lostariel,

We go to guide Mithrandir northward to a settlement east of the Long Lake. It is a two day's journey with the wizard; we will not tarry long there; and then we will return more quickly on our own. We shall be back while the moon still wanes, and we do not foresee doing anything foolish.

Respectfully,

Captains Ithildim and Legolas

"Do you really think this wise?" asked Amonhir, leaning on a practice spear embedded into the ground by his feet.

"I do not see what choice we have," said Lostariel. "Not after what they have just endured. Can you not see their strength waning? They cannot keep up this charade forever."

Commander Lostariel and Lieutenant Amonhir stood outside the officers' barracks and watched the two younger elves scramble into a tree at one of the training fields' edges while they waited for Mithrandir. Ithildim shoved Legolas hard, and he fell from the branch but caught it with his knees so he hung upside down; Legolas grabbed Ithildim by the arms and yanked so that Ithildim slipped, too, and hung from Legolas' wrists, shoes a few inches shy of the ground. There was a grunt as Ithildim's weight pulled at Legolas' joints, but it was followed by a mighty peal of laughter that seemed for a moment to even quiet the early morning birds.

"And these are the leaders of one of our fiercest companies," said Amonhir, shaking his head, lips curling in a half-smile.

Lostariel grinned. "We are lucky. This joy is what we fight to protect."

"Fight to protect," Amonhir sighed. "It is a very watchful peace, indeed."

Lostariel and Amonhir fell into thoughtful silence as they stood with shoulders almost touching, observing the scene before them. Finally, there was a cry of "My knees, my knees—let go!" and Ithildim released Legolas' wrists and dropped to the ground. He pointed and laughed gaily as Legolas righted himself on the branch and scooted toward the trunk, leaning against it and stretching his legs in front of him with a groan.

"It is perhaps selfish of us to allow them go with Mithrandir on this 'adventure' when we know well they are likely to be at their most foolish," said Amonhir.

"No," said Lostariel. "I think if they knew our reasoning they would be grateful. I hoped to gall them into leaving by sending a missive asking them to not do so—it is indicative of how they feel right now that it succeeded. Accordingly, it is far better for us, and them, that they take risks when they are responsible only for themselves, than they do so while on duty and responsible for a whole unit of elven lives."

"Harm reduction at its best," Amonhir said dolefully, with a short laugh.

"The wizard will take some degree of responsibility for them on this journey, I am sure," said Lostariel. "He will sense their vulnerability."

Mithrandir opened the door to the barracks behind the officers and emerged into the morning light.

"And what were you doing in there?" asked Amonhir sharply, turning around.

"Eavesdropping," said Mithrandir. "I like to know what I am committing myself to."

Lostariel laughed, but Amonhir did not seem to find it quite as funny.

"And," Mithrandir continued, "I have noticed the vulnerability, and it is why I insisted on their company, but I will not be held responsible for their lives. They must learn to deal with these dark days, however unfair it is to those who seem so young."

"Aye," said Lostariel. "I can respect that, Mithrandir."

Three heads turned as Thranduil's gates opened. The Elvenking himself rode at the head of a hunting party and across the field toward the forest. Legolas slipped from the tree onto the ground and haled his father. Thranduil raised a hand in parting, and Legolas did the same, and then the King's party rode into the trees, and Legolas slipped silently back into their branches, climbing high enough now that he blended into the woods.

A song with a simple harmony reached the officers and Mithrandir's ears, and all looked

sad to hear such an innocent tune sung by clearly guarded hearts in the early spring air.

"Well, I go to fetch them," said Mithrandir. "It will be…a trip."

Lostariel patted Mithrandir on the shoulder and Amonhir inclined his head respectfully.

"Just send them back to us, one way or another," she said. "Otherwise I will have to revisit our patrol schedule and reassign officers, and no one will be happy about that!"

Mithrandir laughed. "One way or another, Lostariel, they will come back to you."

And then he swept off and away from the barracks, raising his voice in salutation halfway across the field. There was a flurry of movement in the tree and then Ithildim and Legolas were on the ground, scooping up their bows, and running to the wizard; they flanked him on either side as he walked from the field toward the trees, and in just a minute more, they were gone.