Chapter 5: Rivendale
They reached the edge of the Misty Mountains before the Mirkwood elves came to a stop.
‘We will stop here for the night.’ The leader said as he pulled his bay horse to a stop.
‘Is it safe?’ Kal asked.
‘No where is safe anymore.’ the elf replied. ‘I am sorry, I have been rude. There weren’t made proper introductions.
‘I don’t think we could have gotton away safely from those orcs if you introduced your title to these maids.’ a younger elf punched the leader in the arms playfully.
‘Funny brother.’ the leader said. ‘As I was saying before my younger brother interrupted me. Was that under the circumstances we could not be properly introduced. I am Legolas Greenleaf, Son of Thrainduil, Prince of Mirkwood.’ Legolas said bowing low to the tired elves and dwarf.
‘This is my brother, Anorolas Greenleaf, Second son of Thrainduil, Prince of Mirkwood.’ Linolas bowed low as his brother did before him.
‘The others?’ Tintil asked.
‘We are the royal guard, Lady.’ A gruff voice said towards the left of Legolas and Anorolas. ‘We protect the Princes and their family.’
‘Nice meeting you.’ Tintil smiled sweetly, thou her eyes projected sadness that ran right to her heart.
‘Now that you have ours. May we be honored to have the names of you ladies?’ Legolas asked.
‘My name is Malarka the Green. I am a wizard, a young one at that.’ Malarka said bowing to the Elven Princes.
‘I am Morril.’ Morril bowed.
‘Tintiloss’ Tintil smiled. ‘My friends call me Tintil.’
‘Thalionkal.’ Kal bowed.
‘That’s a mouthful.’ Anorolas smiled.
‘Anorolas!’ Legolas elbowed his brother.
‘He’s right Prince Legolas. It is a mouthful. Please call me Kal.’
‘Kal it shall be.’ Anorolas bowed. Kal smiled.
‘I am Oin.’ Oin said stepping forward.
‘ They did not ask for the name of a DWARF!’ The guards came forward.
‘No one talks to Oin like that!’ Morril stepped forward. ‘He maybe a dwarf but not all dwarves are bad.’
‘We shall take your word on this Lady Morril.’ Legolas said. ‘We have not had our share of good experiences with Dwarves…especially from the Lonely Mountain.’
‘Where do you hail from?’ Anorolas asked. ‘Where in Middle Earth do Elves and Dwarves live happily with each other?’
‘Silme.’ Malarka answered. The three elf maidens looked up at the Mirkwood elves. They all seemed to breathe in and their eyes grow bigger.
‘You are from Silme?’ Legolas asked.
‘Yes, we are.’ Morril said.
‘It is said that the elves of Silme are in league with Sauron.’ Legolas said looking up at the Elf maidens. ‘Is this true?’ Legolas asked.
‘There is no time to explain, Prince Legolas.’ Malarka said. ‘I promise you that these elven maids will not hurt you or your kin. For the time has not come yet for them to make the decision.’ Malarka said. Tintil and Kal looked at each other. Morril looked at her Ring that was her left hand. Oin grunted.
‘What could these elves do? The only thing they have a heart to hurt is my feelings.’ Oin joked. Kal and Tintil smiled and laughed with Oin the rest of the night. Anorolas was uneasy with the elf maids.
‘Legolas, I need to talk to you.’
‘Yes Anorolas?’ Legolas asked.
‘Tintil, she is…’ Anorolas started.
‘You have fallen.’ Legolas smiled and patted his brothers back.
‘But…they hail from Silme!’ Anorolas cut in.
‘You have seen the Elf Maidens. Why would elves of Sauron kill orcs?’ Legolas asked. ‘Have you felt any darkness around any of them?’ Legolas asked.
‘Yes…I know you have too.’ Anorolas said.
‘Yes, Lady Morril.’ Legola said. “I have a feeling about her, but Malarka will not say a word. She says things will be revealed in due time.’ Legolas said. ’Sleep on it, brother. There is nothing for you to fear.’ Legolas said.
‘Again, you lie to me, Legolas. There are many things for me to be afraid of. One of them is what will become of Mirkwood when you go off on your own. What will become of my brother.’ Anorolas said looking at Legolas.
‘Anorolas, do not worry about Mirkwood or I. For Mirkwood is in good hands. Between you and father, things will go well. As for me, I know how to take care of myself.’
‘Yes…I think I saw talk to Tintil now. For you, as always, have given me courage.’ Anorolas smiled. Legolas smiled back. He looked at the scene in front of him. Malarka, the wizard, sitting near the fire thinking. Tintil, Kal and Oin talking and joking around. Anorolas settling in and looking confused over a joke that Oin had just told. Morril sitting off by herself looking up at the sky. Legolas did not know that he would be looking at a similar scene within a few months.
The next day, the group of elves have set out over the mountains of the Misty Mountains. Morril, Kal, Tintil and Oin were almost happy in the mountains. They had not trouble leading horses up there, or walking, setting up camp or any of the other things. The elves from Mirkwood, were uneasy and nervous. They too, living near mountains knew how to handle horses and all the things as did the Silme elves but they were watchful, for they knew what lay in the Misty Mountains and under. It took four days to get over the Misty Mountains. On the sixth day from their attack, they reached Rivendale.
Rivendale seemed ancient, but beautiful. Hidden from the world, but not it’s problems as Legolas had said. For he was there for the counsil that Malarka had told Morril, Kal, Tintil and Oin about.
‘You mean, things could come here?’ Kal asked worried.
‘No, it is protected by Lord Elrond’s powers.’ Anorolas said.
‘Have you been here before?’ Tintil asked.
‘I have, my brother, Legolas, usually stays with in the boundaries of Mirkwood. He says that Mirkwood is the only home for him.’ Anorolas said rolling his eyes. ‘How could you live in Mirkwood when you have Rivendale!’ Anorolas laughed. ‘
I miss the mountains.’ Kal said sadily. ‘I like trees and they seem to enjoy my company. But the Ash Mountains contain a certain beauty of their own. It seems weird doesn’t it? Elves talking about a bunch of rocks rather than trees.’ Kal laughed at herself when the Mirkwood elves looked at her when she started talking about the Ash Mountains.
‘Better not talk about home.’ Tintil said nodding towards Kal and Oin. Morril had stood off to the side, looking around.
‘The light! You know inside of you that darkness is the only way to go. For you are darkness.’ a voice spoke to her. ‘You’ll never be happy unless you are in darkness. Darkness will grow on you…You will never escape it!’
Morril looked around to see who was talking to her.
‘Morril, come back. You need you rest. You all do, even the Mirkwood elves for you all have fought bravely six nights ago. Rest your travel worn bodies. For there is a wait for the counsil.’ Malarka said. ‘Frodo Baggins of the Shire is on the mend. He still needs another day…today. Rest, for tomorrow will deside the fate of elves and Middle Earth.’
‘Is she always that way?’ Anorolas asked Tintil.
‘She seems to be. But there is something that suggests that we will know why tomorrow.’ Tintil smiled. ‘I need to now. Will I see you tomorrow?’
‘If you wish, Lady. If you wish.’ Anorolas said as he smiled, took her hand and kissed it. ‘Till we meet again, Lady Tintiloss. Kal, Morril…Oin.’ With that, Legolas bowed, as did Anorolas, than the Princes of Mirkwood left the three elves and dwarf.
