The travelers continued in much the same way for several days. Occasionally, Elven guards with posts along the Old Forest Road would come to meet the Elvenking's company to greet them and give their report. Many Elves with homes close to the road also came to wish the king and his companions a pleasant journey. The forest itself seemed to share in this goodwill, as the new spring flaunted bright green leaves and small flowers where icicles had once clung.
The mood among the Elves finally began to mellow as they neared the edge of the forest that was their home. At their midday halt, there was little conversation as Turiel passed around a modest meal. Elluin and Ninniach alone maintained their enthusiasm; the landscape had begun to change. Ninniach was admiring the new types of flowers, while Elluin set herself to gathering sorrel that did not grow deeper in the forest.
Just a few minutes had passed before one of the scouting soldiers returned from his survey of their surroundings with a joyful face.
"My king, there is a mountain stream not far from the road that comes to a small waterfall and a calm pool. It is not very cold. Perhaps my king would like to bathe?"
Thranduil smiled and straightened from where he was leaning against a tree. "It appears everyone is concerned that I maintain a regal appearance." Elluin was mortified when he shot a glance at her and Sulros. "Let us all bathe," he continued. "It will be one of Greenwood's last gifts to us before we cross the Great River. In this way, we may take our leave."
Captain Telior had a handful of soldiers take positions in the trees around the pool. Then he accompanied the king, Berenil, and Sulros to take their turn.
Elluin struggled to keep her thoughts from racing. Had the king overheard her speaking with Sulros? Or perhaps Sulros was obliged to betray her? Perhaps Lord Berenil? She managed to dismiss her worry and smiled, content that the king did not seem angry, and happy herself at the prospect of a bath. She took fresh clothes and bathing supplies out of the bags for the ladies, then offered to take the braids out of their hair.
"Elluin," Anarrima said while she worked, "how did you come to know which plants can be collected to eat? I understand these are not your native woods."
"They are not, my lady," she answered as her fingers gently worked through Anarrima's straight blonde hair. "My position has allowed me to study under many Elves who use the plants of Greenwood for their crafts. Healers, cooks, cloth dyers, woodworkers, scent- and soapmakers... Some of the hunters have become very clever at finding game based on where certain food sources grow. I may have been raised in Lindon, but I did not learn to appreciate plants for their various uses until I started working alongside the king's other servants here in Greenwood."
"You must think the members of the court very dull," said Ninniach. She was weaving some wildflowers into a garland. Though she found joy in the task, her tone tinged with dejection. "You and the Elves you work with all have such meaningful tasks. All we do is sit around waiting for the king to ask our advice. As of yet, I have not been of much use."
"My lady would forgive me for disagreeing," Elluin responded. "The king's advisors perceive circumstances from the point of view of the realm's prosperity as a whole. If decisions were in the hands of others, they would likely act according to the more limited perspective granted by their occupations. But advice is not the only thing court members provide. I believe the kingdom benefits from their efforts to foster joy and beauty, and King Thranduil benefits from the companionship."
Having finished with Anarrima's hair, Elluin moved to the younger elleth. "In fact, many have spoken of my lady's fair voice bringing joy to our people in song."
"It does cheer me to know I make some impact," Ninniach answered. "It would be an honor to help Greenwood continue to grow and thrive."
"I wonder, Elluin, what do the people say about me?" asked Anarrima with a smile. "I am no match for Ninniach in song, to be sure. And it is long since I have given any useful advice."
"I hear my lady is a skilled healer," Elluin answered.
"It is true; however, I hardly spend any time at practice."
Elluin hesitated. "My lady is the king's closest family. My lady shows the respect due to a king but the love my lady has for him is different from all others'. I think he considers this even more valuable than advice...especially after the war," she added quietly.
Lady Anarrima smiled sadly as she nodded in agreement. "Love is one of the strongest forces in this world," she said. "My nephew has the love of an entire kingdom and he loves it in return. Yet, as his family and as a healer, I can see that he needs something more."
Elluin's heart beat quickly as she quietly finished her work with Ninniach. Anarrima broke from her musing. "I have spoken imprudently, perhaps," said the older elleth.
The ellyn's return from the bathing pool prevented further conversation. Though the road dust had done little to detract from Thranduil's regal appearance, he now looked as if he had just stepped from his throne. Ninniach rose to meet him and, after a curtsy, reached up to place the flower garland on his head.
"My king," she said as she stepped back smiling, "you already smell of flowers. Have you been rolling in the meadow?"
Thranduil chuckled. "Sulros tells me there are dried petals packed with my clothes."
"How lovely! I should not like to smell of horse after bathing." Turning, she asked, "Elluin, do Lady Anarrima and I have the same privilege?"
"Yes, my lady," Elluin answered, collecting everything to go to the pool. "There is a satchel of dried lavender with my ladies' clothes as well."
"From your garden?" asked Thranduil.
Elluin looked up, a little startled. "No, my king," she answered. "Lavender does not do well under the trees. I found it at the eastern border."
"My ladies," Telior interjected, "if you would like to come this way?"
Elluin wrung out the ladies' chemises before putting a fresh one on herself. The high sun promised to do quick work on the wet clothes laid out to dry on a rock. While Ninniach and Anarrima lingered in the water, she and Turiel arranged clean riding dresses.
Sulros softly called up to them from beyond the trees. "Elluin, are you decent? I want the king and the lord's clothes to pack away."
"They are not yet dry," she answered, checking them where they lay across another boulder. "Resign yourself to holding them over your arms as we ride. You shall be the clothesline."
She heard laughter from the nearby treetops where the guards were stationed.
Thranduil's rich voice came floating up to them. "The Sun is westering, my ladies."
"A moment longer, my king," his aunt called back. "This water has flown over a blissful mountain, and I would draw it in. My spirit will carry its joy over less gracious ranges."
At the camp, Berenil shook his head with a smile. "Sire, if we are to reach the edge of the forest by nightfall, we should be moving on."
"Advise me, then," Thranduil said lightheartedly. "How shall I draw the ellith away from such a blessed pool? Perhaps your years of marriage have equipped you for the task."
Berenil looked up to meet the eyes of the Silvan guards in their high posts, but Thranduil knew his thoughts traveled back to the palace where his wife awaited him. "We simply convince them of our jealousy." He started a well-known song that soon all the ellyn joined.
*Lean down and see your lovely face
Reflected in the forest pool,
Tall foxgloves grow about the place,
Forget-me-nots grow green and cool.
Look deep and see the grayling rise
To meet the sunshine of your eyes.
The ellyn's fair voices seemed to increase the magic about the place, and the ellith stood still to listen.
Lean down and see how you are fair,
How gold your hair, your mouth how red;
See the leaves dance about your hair
The wind has left unfilleted.
What grayling of them can compare
With you for good and dear and fair?
Ah! look no more – the water stirs,
The grayling weeps your face to see,
Your beauty is more rare than hers,
And you are more beloved than she.
Fly! fly, before she steals the charms
The pool has trusted to her arms.
By then, Turiel and Elluin were already helping the laughing ladies into their clothes.
"Fear not!" Anarrima jested. "Our beauty remains!"
"No doubt of it," Lord Berenil called. "Pray, come and allow us to behold it."
The servants' deft fingers quickly rebraided the ladies' damp hair before collecting all the discarded garments and supplies to bring back to camp. Elluin draped the wet clothes over a clean blanket on the back of a packhorse, which earned her a grin from Sulros.
"I am glad to be spared my duty as a clothesline," he said.
* Adapted from "The Forest Pool" by Edith Nesbit