Chapter 7: Entering the Golden Wood.
There was a rocky plain at the exit of Moria. Boromir, Aragorn and Legolas set down the hobbits, who were crying. Legolas and Eldiriel looked out at the horizon, not looking at anything. Boromir and Gimli sat down staring at the ground. Aragorn was the first to recover from the shock of losing Gandalf.
'Eldiriel, get the hobbits up. We have to get moving. This place will be crawling with orcs by night fall.' Aragorn said.
'Let them be! Can't you see they need their rest!' Boromir cried out to Aragorn.
'Aragorn is right, we need to keep moving.' Eldiriel said as he looked at Boromir.
'Come along Merry and Pipin.' Legolas said helping the hobbits up to their feet.
'Why can't we just stop!' Pipin cried out.
'We are near Eldiriel's homeland. There we will be able to rest and mourn for our loss.' Legolas said.
'Eldiriel's homeland?' Merry asked.
'Lothlorien.' Eldiriel said quietly.
'Where's Frodo?' Gimli asked looking around.
'Frodo? Frodo!' Aragorn yelled. Looking around he saw Frodo walking away. 'Frodo, come back.'Frodo looked back with sad eyes.
'Come on Frodo.' Aragorn said. 'Gandalf would have wanted us to go on!' Frodo nodded and walked back towards the group. Aragorn took the lead followed by Sam and Frodo, than Gimli and Boromir. Merry and Pipin followed and Legolas came up in the end. Soon the terrain changed from the rocky mountains to the rolling hills, than to grassy plains.
'We are coming close to Lorien!' Eldiriel exclaimed gladly. 'Don't listen to what Legolas says about Mirkwood and how great it is! Lorien surpasses Mirkwood by a long shot! Rivendale doesn't come close to the loveliness of Lothlorien!' Eldiriel bragged.
'Oh no! Legolas and Eldiriel might get into fight!' Sam whispered to Frodo.
'Let's hope they don't!' Frodo said as he looked at Legolas.
'Everyone should get some rest tonight. We've had a tough day.' Aragorn said from around the fire.
'Aragorn, I will stand watch tonight.' Legolas said.
'I will join Legolas!' Eldiriel said looking at Legolas.
'You two need you rest also.' Aragorn said.
' We are not that far from Lothlorien, Aragorn. We will rest there.' Legolas said.
'Alright.' Aragorn smiled. 'Try not to kill yourselves.' Legolas faintly smiled. Eldiriel playfully punched Legolas and laughed.
'You seem very happy, Eldiriel.' Legolas said.
'That's because I am.' Eldiriel said smiling.
'How can you say that. With what happened?' Legolas said bitterly.
'The Lady of the Wood told me to go to her Mirror. I did. I saw Gandalf fall, than come back.' Eldiriel said.
'How can you be sure?' Legolas said. 'You know that her Ladyship's Mirror sees what has been, what will be and what may be.'
'Legolas, there is always the chance of that, but I'm sure her Ladyship didn't let me look in her mirror for what may be!' Eldiriel cried.
'Eldiriel, please, the rest are sleeping.' Legolas said looking around.
'Why do you hate me so?' Eldiriel asked. 'I know I tried to kill you and Lorlome. Elves can forgive. What have I done that is so terrible?' Eldiriel asked.
'I don't hate you, Eldiriel. We got off on the wrong foot from the beginning. Remember when we first met?' Legolas asked.
*************
'Dirielduil!' King Thranduil cried in this hall of stone. His sons and only daughter standing in order from oldest to youngest beside him.
'Thranduil!' Dirielduil, King Thranduil's younger sister said joyfully.
'It's been to long since you have graced our families halls.' King Thranduil greeted hugging his sister. \tab
'I'm so terribly sorry to hear what happened to you wife! Your concerns for a motherly figure in their life are now fulfilled.' Dirielduil said. 'My husband has allowed us to come and visit every summer!'
'That's wonderful!' King Thranduil cried joyfully. 'You said 'we'?'
'Yes, my son, Eldiriel, has come with me. He is a little younger in age than your middle child.' Dirielduil said.
'Legolas! He needs a good smack in the rear!' King Thranduil said bitterly.
'He can't be that bad! I should know from being the only girl in our family and having a son of my own, that elflings will be elflings...especially boys!' Dirielduil laughed.
'No. We don't get along at all. He was there when.....his mother died. He didn't do one thing to help her!' King Thranduil cried angrily.
'Brother, he is only 131. Nothing more than 6 years old in man's years. How is he taking the loss?' Dirielduil asked.
'Like nothing even happened! He goes around laughing and joking.' King Thranduil said.
'I DO NOT!' Legolas screamed.
'Don't start with me!' King Thranduil yelled back.
'Mommy told me it wasn't my fault! That we would meet again! That I should be happy because she was going to a better place! Mommy told me it wasn't my fault!!' Legolas screamed again. Tears filling his eyes he fled from the peircing glare from his father, the sympathetic gaze of this aunt he didn't know and the glares from his brothers. Legolas ran out of the hall of stone and ran right into an elfling a little younger than him.
'Sorry.' Legolas muttered.
'What's wrong?' The elfling asked.
'Nothing....just that I fought with my father.' Legolas said.
'Oh sorry. What is your name. I'm Eldiriel.'
'Legolas.' Legolas said. ''You must be my cousin.'
'Yes that's me.'
Just than they were joined by King Thranduil, Dirielduil, Oialelas, Raenlas and Dinel, Legolas older sister.
'There you are brat!' King Thranduil spat.
'Thranduil! What did I tell you?' Dirielduil ordered. 'Eldiriel, this is your cousin, Legolas Greenleaf, Second son of King Thranduil, prince of Mirkwood.' Dirielduil again introduced.
'Your a prince!' Eldiriel gasped.
'Unfortunately.' Legolas said softly.
'Legolas, Eldiriel will be your playmate through out the summer. You will show him around, teach him what you know and learn from him.' King Thranduil said sternly.
*******************
'You didn't want to be a prince.' Eldiriel said. 'That was memorable.'
'During that summer, you and I taught each other how to do stuff...I taught you archery, you taught me sword fighting. My father loved you more than me. You were the son he never had. Oialelas was always sheltered and protected. Raenlas was pampered because he was the baby. I was the son that could do things...but I didn't do the things my father wanted me to. I wanted to do archery and fight in the trees. My father wanted me to be on the ground with swords. You were all he wanted. I was jealous of that. I think it was than that we started heading in the wrong direction.' Legolas said.
'You thought you were jealous? You had no clue how jealous I was of you! You were the ladies elf! No mattered how dressed up I got, I was always the warrior that was out of place. You fit in both on the battle field and the dance hall.' Eldiriel said. Legolas laughed.
'What?' Eldiriel asked stunned. It had been alone time since he heard his cousin laugh.
'We could have been the greatest pranksters.' Legolas laughed. 'With your strength and my charm, we could have gotten away with anything.'
'You're right.' Eldiriel laughed. They both heard a rustle in the bushes near them and became silent.
'I'll go and see what it is.' Legolas whispered, walking forward. Legolas creped forward and than grabbed what ever was in the bushes.
'PIPIN!' Eldiriel gasped. 'We could have seriously hurt you.'
'I know, but I'm scared.' Pipin said. 'I mean, what are we going to do with out Gandalf?'
'We are going to follow Aragorn. He knows a lot about were we are going.' Legolas said kneeling down next to the hobbit.
'Besides, Gandalf trust us. He would have wanted us destroy this ring with or without him, right? We can't let him down. There may be a day when we see him again.' Eldiriel said. 'Have hope.' Pipin smiled and hugged both Legolas and Eldiriel.
'You two are great!' Pipin smiled. 'Can I sit with you?'
'You need your rest.' Eldiriel said.
'I do not! I want to help.' Pipin said.
'Alright young one. You may help us.' Legolas said.
'What are you doing?' Eldiriel asked.'
Trust me, the more we push him to go to sleep, the more he won't want to.' Legolas said.
The next day, Pipin, who stayed up all night with the elves, Legolas and Eldiriel got everyone up early. They set out soon after breakfast wanting to get away from the mountains.
'Legolas....I can feel Lorien already.' Eldrieil said as the fellowship started off. Legolas nodded in agreement. Soon the Fellowship came upon a forest.
'Lothlorien.' Legolas whispered with awe in his eyes. '
Come!' Eldiriel said walking quickly to his homeland.
Upon walking into Lothlorien, the Fellowship was in awe. They had never seen woods like this. So peaceful, quite, safe. They came up to a stream, that Legolas cried happily. The stream was surrounded by flowers and ferns that grew on it's bank. There was a broken bridge that looked like the only way across.
'It is the Nimrodel!' Legolas cried. 'The stream that the Silvan elves made songs about. In Mirkwood, we still sing about it.' Legolas said. 'It is said that the Nimrodel heals weary travelers. Come!' Legolas said joyfully. Eldiriel was eager to go in with Legolas, but knew that he should probably be the last to enter and exit the stream. The hobbits felt their weariness in their feet and legs floated away with the stream. The fellowship stopped on the other side of the Nimrodel to eat and rest. Legolas told the Fellowship of stories of Lothlorien that Mirkwood elves kept in their hearts. Eldiriel stood near the edge of the group, looking into the forest. Legolas and Edliriel sang to the Fellowship the song of Nimrodel.
'Eldiriel, why don't you speak of your homeland like Legolas does?' Merry asked.
'I don't know as much as Legolas.' Eldiriel said sadly.
'You feel bad because your cousin knows more than you do.' Merry said. Eldiriel nodded.
'Don't. Legolas hasn't lived here and only has an admirer's point of view. You have the view of what it's like to live here.' Merry said. 'Tell me about the elves in Lothlorien...what they do on a normal day.'
Eldiriel, smiled.
'These hobbits are smarter than they lead you to believe.' Eldiriel thought as he started talking about his normal days in Lothlorien.
'We should find a place to rest.' Gimli said.'
Yes we should!' Aragorn said lively. 'We will walk till we find some trees to sleep in for the night.' Aragorn said.
'Trees? They are marvelous trees, but I can't sleep like a bird in a tree!' Pipin stammered.
'Than dig a hole, since that is your ways.' Eldiriel said. 'But just remember, you have to dig deep and fast, if you don\rquote t' want to be caught by orcs.' \par
Pipin gulped and followed Boromir. Soon the group came upon a group of trees that looked over the Nimrodel.
'I will climb up and see how the tree grows.' Legolas said. He jumped up in one fluid motion and grabbed a branch.
'Daro!' A voice ordered from the tree. Legolas let go and shrank against the tree.
'Don't move.' Legolas said. Suddenly there came laughter from the tree and Eldiriel.
'What did they say?' Sam asked.
'They said that you breathe so loud that they could shoot you.' Eldiriel laughed. 'But don't worry, Sam. They were expecting us for sometime.' Eldiriel said. 'When they heard Legolas and I singing they knew we were friendly.' Eldiriel said smiling up at the tree. Just than a ladder rolled down from the tree.
'They want Legolas to go up and talk to them.' Eldiriel said with a hint of jealousy in his voice.
Merry came up to him and tugged at his shirt.
'Why aren't you going up to talk to them?' Merry asked.
'Legolas is the next King of Mirkwood. He is respected here and everywhere in the elven realms.' Eldiriel said. 'I might live in Lothlorien but Legolas will always be recognized over me.' Eldiriel said.
'Don't say that, Eldiriel.' Pipin said. 'Remember, Legolas maybe royalty but he may not like it. Besides after this is done with you maybe recognized more so than Legolas.'
'Doubt that.' Eldiriel said softly.
Meanwhile up in the tree...
'Prince Legolas!' an elf with long blonde hair and a very war beaten face said to the young prince.
' Hello, Haldir.' Legolas said smiling.
'I remember the last time I saw you here in Lothlorien. You were only a little elfling! Look at you know.' Haldir said smiling. '
You certainly haven't changed.' Legolas said.
'Haldir, enough with the small talk!' An elf from the side urged Haldir on.'
Yes, Eardur.' Haldir said becoming serious. 'Legolas how many are with you?'
'9. 4 hobbits, 2 elves, 2 man and a dwarf.' Legolas said.
'Khazad!' Haldir gasped.
'Yes, he is friendly. He won't hurt anyone here.' Legolas said.
'Bring the ring bearer up.' Haldir commanded. Legolas nodded and climbed down the ladder.
'What did he say?' Aragorn asked.
'He asked how many there were of us. Haldir, the leader, would like to talk to Frodo.' Legolas said. 'Don't be afraid, Frodo. I know Haldir, he won't hurt you.' \par
Frodo nodded and climbed up the ladder into the tree.
'Legolas, this is the ring bearer?' Haldir questioned.
'Yes. This is Frodo Baggins.' Legolas said introducing Frodo to Haldir.
'Hello Frodo Baggins. You will be safe here in Lothlorien. Tell us more about your company.' Haldir said leaning towards Frodo.
'There is 4 hobbits. Samwise Gamgee, Pipin Tooke and Merry Brandybuck and myself. Pipin and Merry are the trouble makers and like goofing off. Sam worked for me in the Shire and has helped me a lot on the journey. There is Boromir from Gondor, who is very protective of Merry and Pipin, though he doesn't seem like that type of man. There also is Strider. He is a ranger, but his real name is Aragorn.' Frodo said looking from Legolas to Haldir.
'The name Aragorn son of Arathorn is known around here. He is also a favorite with the Lady.' Haldir said. 'Please go on.'
'Than there is Legolas and Eldiriel. I think you know Legolas pretty well. Eldiriel, you might know because he lives in Lothlorien. He is Legolas\rquote cousin.' Frodo said.
'Yes, I've had my encounters with the young Eldiriel.' Haldir said. 'He's a good elf.'
'Than there's Gimli the Dwarf. I know that elves and dwarfs don't get along to well, but Gimli is a very nice dwarf and won't do anything.' Frodo said. 'He's really nice to Legolas. Eldiriel, seems to have gotten on his nerves.' \par
Frodo watched as the Lothlorien elves talked in their own language, than asked Legolas something. Legolas replied.
'The dwarf may enter Lothlorien.' Haldir said. 'Now let us go down.'
Frodo and Legolas went down by the ladder, but the Lothlorien elves jumped down from the trees with ease.
You all will rest with us tonight. Than I will lead you to the Lord and Lady, but the dwarf must be blind folded.'
'I will not!' Gimli protested.
'We will not have you look upon the secret sentinels!' Haldir cried.
'We will all be blindfolded.' Aragorn said. 'Even Legolas and Eldiriel.'
'Ara--' Legolas started.
'No, Legolas. We will all go blindfolded.' Aragorn cut him off.
'Now that that is settled. The Hobbits shall sleep up here in this tree. The others will follow my brothers to other trees and stay there for the night.'
