Going Home

Chapter Five/ Going Home

Tiny sparks burst out of the flames as Ambar placed new wood on the fire in the center of our camp. The fire hissed and sputtered, but finally settled down to a comforting crackling. The warmth was welcome as it reached me where I was sitting wrapped in a blanket and leaning against Seregon’s chest. Callo, a warrior of the Home Guard, stooped in front of me and held out a mug of honey tea. I smiled my gratitude and took it, feeling the heat of the tea seeping through the cup to warm my hands. He went to where Legolas was held in similar fashion in Aldamir’s lap and sat the cup on the ground to Aldamir’s side where he could easily reach it when Erelas completed cleaning and bandaging the cut on Legolas’ neck.

"This paste will burn a little," Erelas told Legolas as he finished washing the area with a soft wet cloth. "It is not bad. Only the skin is broken. It will be healed in a few days time," Erelas said soothingly, as he worked. He continued to talk amicably. I suppose he was trying to calm Legolas, and I think it helped since Legolas did not try to bolt up a tree to escape. Though I am certain being in the safety of Aldamir’s arms was enough for him at that time. I know for me, I was content to be in the shelter of my older brother, an Elf whom I had just seen for the first time serve as a warrior in battle.

Even though I was still reeling with shock, confusion and exhaustion, I was most stunned by what I had witnessed of my relatives. These were Elves I lived with and ate with, but I had never seen them the way they had been earlier that evening. Seregon has served as a warrior for all my life. In truth, he was a warrior long before I was born. I thought I knew what warriors did. But never in my wildest imaginings had I contemplated him as a fierce and deadly force to be reckoned with. He was simply my brother, Thranduil’s second in command, but what else that entailed I had never thought to explore. On this night, I carefully considered what being a warrior really meant. I had watched a battle take place that was over in minutes. Arrows had flown with deadly accuracy. Elves moved with a fell gracefulness as they released their bolts with an awe inspiring speed. I saw quick glimpses of grim faces as the warriors sought their targets and unemotionally brought them down. I knew then, I would think twice about angering Seregon again! I was right back to one of my rules, one I had never applied to him: Never anger an Elf with a sword. From that moment forward, I expanded that edict to include a bow. A slow smile of satisfaction spread over my lips. Now that I had seen Seregon in battle, I was mightily impressed with his skill and confidence. And this powerful warrior was my brother.

I took a sip of my tea, and despite the abundance of honey Callo had placed in it, I could still taste the slight bitterness of what I knew to be sleeping draught. I made a face and said accusingly, "You are trying to put me to sleep!" Callo laughed aloud while all the others chuckled. I could feel Seregon’s chest shake merrily at my back.

"Yes, we are," Seregon answered lightly. "You need the rest. We will leave at first light in the morning to go back to the palace." He gave me a gentle squeeze. "I do not want to have to haul you back still asleep."

"Have you sent word to the palace?" Legolas asked.

"Yes," Aldamir said, "and I have sent word to Adar as well."

Legolas tried to turn his head to look at Aldamir, but Erelas caught his chin and steadied him as he completed placing a light bandage over the cut. "Is Adar not at the palace?"

"No, little one, he is in the forest looking for you and Daeron," Aldamir told him. "He will be here before the night is gone." I could see Legolas was thinking over this piece of information. To be honest, it was a surprising image to contemplate: Thranduil taking part in a warrior party. I was not certain if I should be honored or frightened out of my wits by this news.

"Why do we not go back tonight?" I asked. I was ready to see my naneth and to get into my own bed. Surprisingly enough, I still wished for a hot bath, especially if it would please Nana. She had been on my mind a great deal as of late, and I sorely wanted to ask Seregon about her. Still, I could not bring myself to do that with so many others near. It seemed too personal, too private, and it held the potential to make me cry in front of a group of warriors.

"Because you two are not in any shape to travel all night," Aldamir said. "You are tired, hungry and cold. None of us has stopped in over a day’s time either. We will have you home soon."

It was true I was hungry. As if Aldamir’s mention of our hunger brought forth food, Ambar brought us a bowl of steaming stew and a small packet of dried fruit and nuts. I put my mug aside, sat up in Seregon’s lap and began to eat with all the relish of a starving elfling. At that point I could have been given a new title: Daeron Tarondorion, The Famished. Seregon somehow managed to eat some of the stew also, while balancing me on his out-stretched knees. Legolas slipped to the ground next to Aldamir, but he stayed pressed up against his brother as if he feared losing bodily contact with him. I knew exactly how he felt. I was not even willing to move out of Seregon’s lap.

When my stomach was full, I settled back into my place against my brother. He picked up my mug of tea and handed it back. "Drink it all, Daeron. I will hold you while you sleep."

I took the offered cup, snuggled down until I was fitted perfectly then sniffed at it. "It does not taste very good," I complained.

"It tastes terrible," I heard Legolas say, unhappily. I looked over to see he had resumed his spot in Aldamir’s arms.

Seregon adjusted the blanket around my shoulders and chuckled. "That is too bad. Drink it anyway."

We sat in silence for a while as Legolas and I sipped our foul tea, watching the other warriors clean up from the meal. His eyes never left Erelas, as he set the watches for the night. Ambar built the fire up again until it blazed with a mild comforting roar. I breathed in the burning wood fragrance and felt the peace of knowing it was bringing warmth and safety, and it simply smelled good. The warriors not taking first watch settled down against the trees, talking quietly among themselves. A few took to the trees and were quickly gone from my sight.

Legolas shifted uneasily in Aldamir’s lap. "Who were they?"he asked solemnly.

Aldamir pulled Legolas into a deeper embrace and rested his cheek on the top of his head. "We do not know. We looked through their belongings, but found nothing to indicate where they had come from."

"Or what they were doing here," Erelas said as he settled down next to his brothers.

Legolas told them about seeing the Dwarves and what they had speculated upon in their private conversations. He told them the Dwarves intended to look for the Elven patrol and send help to us.

"Did you see the Dwarves?" I asked. "They wanted to help us, but they were afraid Uncle would blame them if something went wrong."

Aldamir smiled into the blond hair. "Yes, we saw them, and they told us where you were. Even though the men had changed direction to a more northerly track, they were very accurate in giving us a path to follow."

"You were not angry with the Dwarves for being in the forest, were you?" Legolas asked.

"No, Legolas," Aldamir said. "I was very grateful to them. The forest is large, and we had many warriors looking for you, but it was still a lot of ground to cover. We knew you and Daeron had passed through the trees to the northwest of the stronghold, but once you were on the ground, the men made very few tracks. We could find them sporadically, but would lose them for stretches. Then, we had to guess which way they were headed and try to find their passage again."

"You mean we were easier to track than the men?" I asked, stunned with the horror of knowing that two Wood Elves, namely Legolas and me, were so hapless in traveling without leaving a trail. Of course, it worked out for us this time. But still, it was a good thing it was not orcs tracking us.

Erelas laughed. "Yes, but then, I do not suppose you meant to cover your passage, and you did not mean to be taken. As it was, the trees knew you and were able to give us aid. We found the place where you left the trees. There, we found signs of the men."

Legolas snorted. "Left the trees! That is a nice way of putting it."

"Why did you leave the trees?" Seregon asked.

I gave Legolas a searing look. He smiled crookedly. "We fell."

There were enough shocked looks to go around. I did not know which was worse: for them to know that we had fallen out of a tree or for them to know why we fell. But I knew I did not wish to talk about creepy crawly spiders. It was a topic best avoided, though I feared the news would be revealed eventually by my hysterically amusing cousin when he had the proper audience.

I thought it was a good time to change the subject. "Is Uncle very angry with us?" I asked. I would rather face Uncle’s wrath than a spider, or my family’s ribbing that I had caused all this by flailing around trying to get away from one of the fell beasts.

"He was not pleased you had disobeyed him and left the area you were told to stay in," Aldamir said. "But he was very worried. He was most preoccupied with getting the search parties together and keeping naneths calm."

"Did you not organize the search parties? " Legolas asked.

"I did, but I answer to Adar, little one," Aldamir said. "He was involved in all the planning, and it was done very quickly. We had no time to waste." I thought this must be a polite way of Aldamir saying Uncle was breathing down his neck the whole time he was trying to get the troops ready to move. Little goes on in this realm that Uncle does not know about, and little is done without his hand in it. I think he trusts Aldamir, but he does not like surprises.

Legolas leaned further into his brother’s chest. "I am glad you came for us," he said softly.

"You did not think we would not, did you?" Aldamir asked, his voice low and serious.

"I feared you would not find us in time, and the men would take us out of the forest, and we would never see you again," Legolas replied.

Aldamir hugged him tightly. "I would have followed you to the ends of Arda, little brother. No one will take you from us." Legolas’ eyes filled with tears, and as Seregon’s arms tightened around me, mine felt full and hot. It came as a shock to me that my brother was not so dull after all. He was strong and fierce and gentle and kind. I felt ashamed of how much trouble I had caused him and Naneth. I wanted to be more like him and less like me. I did not know if I could ever be as strong as he is, but I wanted to. It occurred to me that Adar must be very proud of Seregon.

Finally, I got around to asking the question that had haunted me throughout the time we spent with the men. "I did not understand the men," I said. "They were not unkind to us, and they seemed to not be bad men. How can people who seem to be good, do bad things?"

Everyone grew so quiet that for a moment, I thought I had asked an inappropriate question. I was already steadying myself for the lecture, but my question was honest, and my confusion was real. My life had been sheltered in the Woodland Realm. I think Legolas and I had been even more sheltered than other elflings by living in the protective embrace of the palace. I knew little of the outside world, and Eru knows, the adults rarely told Legolas or me what was going on. Even more daunting was the fact that the more I learned of the world, the less I understood. It was not even that the world was a frightening place (which it could be) but it struck me more as a confused place where no one really knew what they were doing. Truth seemed subject to change and agendas were altered on whims. The thought that all creatures were stumbling blindly through existence, frightened me more than an army of orcs. At least we knew what the orcs wanted. How could you ever trust anyone if you never knew what they really wanted from you?

Seregon shifted slightly. I thought he seemed a bit uncomfortable with my question. But finally he answered. "That is a difficult question to answer, Daeron. From what you and the Dwarves told us, it appears the men did not know much about our kind. I would suspect that even though they were badly misinformed, they thought they were doing the right thing. We do not know who told them about us or what their real reasons for sending the men were. But it is a fact that even good men can be led astray."

A sudden vision of all the men lying dead on the forest floor came rushing back. I felt queasy and unsettled with the memory of men who had been talking and eating, walking and sleeping, merely a few hours earlier, but who were now fallen, impaled with many Elven arrows. An involuntary shudder ran through me. I had never seen a dead person before. It was a strange and unreal sight. There was a lot of blood, but I think it was the look on their faces that I will remember. It was as if each man’s death meant something different to him. One man looked as if he were surprised, his eyes wide and staring at nothing. Another seemed to only be sleeping while the one lying next to him looked as if he had been frozen in the last moment of agony he had felt. I had not seen them for long since Seregon took me quickly away from the place where they died. I did not want to stay. Most of all, I did not want to see the one who had cared for us. After seeing the few I did see, I closed my eyes and buried my face in Seregon’s shoulder. Thankfully, I did not see the young man.

Seregon lowered his cheek to press into the top of my head. "I am sorry, Daeron. I know this is difficult to understand. We had no desire to kill the men. What we did was not because of political differences or because they were not like us or even because they were bad people. We even attempted to take one of the men alive, but he killed himself before he could be completely disarmed." I felt my breath catch for a second in shock. I had seen none of this. "Aldamir gave the orders he did because once he assessed the situation, there was no other way to ensure your safety," Seregon said. "We were not willing to risk your lives." He sat up and turned me to look at him. "They had taken you, Daeron. They were here for reasons that could not have been good for us, and they were in the act of abducting two elflings. We had no other choice."

"I understand," I whispered.

He ran his hand over the top of my head, smoothing a few tendrils that had come loose from my braid. "I cannot imagine having to return home and telling Naneth that I had failed to bring you or Legolas home safely. She has suffered too many losses already, as have our uncle and aunt. I fear such a loss would have been more than she could bear. I would not lose you either, little brother. Nor would I needlessly endanger myself. I would not have you or Naneth mourn me. I do not know of any warrior who does not think of those he loves before he goes into battle. Aldamir had many things to consider before he decided on our course of action. There were too many lives at stake, and the implications for the entire realm were too grave to take this lightly."

Legolas had been listening to what Seregon had to say with what appeared to be all his attention. His brow was slightly furrowed, and his eyes were wide. I think he was having as much trouble as I was in deciphering the men. "There was one who was very young, for a human," Legolas said. "He should not have been with men like that. He was kind, and I do not think he would have harmed us."

"We will never know if that was the case," Aldamir said. "There was an equally good chance he would have killed you if it served their purposes." He looked over at me, and then back at Legolas sitting in his lap. "I made the decision to take definitive action if your lives were at risk." He rested his cheek again against Legolas’ hair and repeated softly, "I would do it again."

Erelas reached over and squeezed Legolas’ shoulder. "The risk was too great and the two of you too valuable." He sighed heavily and settled back against a tree. "There is no good explanation for why people do bad things. Each person has their own reasons, I suppose, and those reasons are often so complicated that they may not even know themselves what they are. But there is still much good in this world and in her people. We may never know what motivated these men, but do not be discouraged. I promise you that you will meet many others throughout your lives that will be strong and pure of heart. You will recognize them when you meet them."

"I thought the young man was a good person even if he was doing a bad thing," I said, realizing I was not off to a good start with discerning good people from bad people. "He gave us his blanket last night so we would not be cold."

Erelas nodded. "He may have been a good person if we had met him under different circumstances. But you must understand that whether the men were good or bad was simply not our concern when we came upon you still being held by them." He shook his head slightly. "He was one of the people who took my brother and my cousin, and we had not the luxury of determining what his intent was or what kind of person he might have been. The only issue was that the men had you under their power, and it was our job to see you to safety, no matter what the consequences were to the men."

"I truly understand why you had to do what you did," Legolas said. "I still do not understand the men, but maybe I never will."

"Separate the two issues, Legolas," Aldamir said. "The moral issue of whether the men were good or bad is one. The other is that we, as warriors, had a job to do and nothing else mattered. Do you understand?" Legolas nodded. "And do you understand why we took the action we did?" Legolas nodded again. "Then all we have left is the moral issue, and I think Erelas’ explanation that there is no real good answer is the best answer we can give you." He patted Legolas’ arm reassuringly. "Do not feel bad that you are having trouble understanding. I have lived many centuries longer than you, and I cannot understand what motivates people sometimes. I imagine Adar would tell you the same thing. Many times there is simply no explanation."

Legolas sighed and settled back against his brother. "Then when I am a warrior I will not understand any better?"

Aldamir smiled. "Probably not, but you will have gained an understanding of your role as a warrior, and you will have experienced enough of life to know that you will never have all the answers."

Legolas nodded and ran his hands over the tooled leather arm brace on Aldamir’s arm. "I love you," he whispered.

Aldamir smiled brightly. "I love you too, little greenleaf."

"And me?" Erelas asked as if he were insulted.

Legolas laughed and nodded his head. "And you, too"

"What about me?" Seregon laughed.

"Yes," Legolas said laughing.

I sat up straighter and crossed my arms. Trying my best to sound offended, but not quite able to completely keep the smile from my face, I announced to Seregon, "But you are mine. He already has two brothers, and I have only you."

Seregon hugged me tightly. "And I could not be more blessed than to have you, little brother. I will always be yours."

My eyelids were growing heavier by the second. Callo’s abominable tea was working. Seregon wrapped the blanket around me again and pulled me to his chest. With a yawn, I curled up against him, listening to the steady beat of his heart. He dropped a light kiss on my forehead. "Go to sleep, my favorite brother," he said, as if I had some choice in the matter. "I am your only brother," I muttered as my eyes drifted completely shut from the fatigue and the potion. My last sight was of Legolas sound asleep in Aldamir’s arms.

It was well into the night when the soft sounds of movement woke me. My eyelids felt as if they were weighted, but I managed to crack them enough to see. Thranduil was kneeling next to Aldamir with his hand on Legolas’ chest. He was dressed as a warrior, a bow and quiver fitted snugly to his back. A sword dangled from his side onto the forest floor. I had never seen him so attired. He looked dangerous and competent, yet kingly and kind. I suddenly realized he was all these things and more. He was as complex and as difficult to unravel as the men had been. At that moment, he looked to me like a warrior of the Woodland Realm. And he looked like Legolas’ adar. Behind him I could see the Fifteen were fanned out among the trees keeping watch over their king. They looked like they always did: scary.

"Is either of them injured? " I heard Thranduil ask as he lightly touched the bandage on Legolas’ throat.

"No, Adar. Thankfully, that is no more than a scratch. They were frightened and confused, but after eating and getting warm, they seem well enough," Aldamir told him.

Thranduil nodded. "We will speak of the men later." He bent further, scooping Legolas into his arms as he stood. Aldamir rose to stand next to Erelas. Thranduil held his youngest son close to his breast, kissed him on his forehead and then his cheek. Legolas stirred and opened his eyes. I could see that he was still as sleepy as I was, and it was taking all I had to stay awake.

"Ada?" Legolas whispered and then threw his arms around his adar’s neck, choking sobs shaking his back and shoulders. "I did not think I would ever see you and Nana again," he cried.

"Sh.h.h., little one," Thranduil whispered as gently as if he were singing a lullaby. His hand made slow lazy circles on Legolas’ back. "You are safe now. No one will ever take you from me or your nana."

"I want to go home," Legolas whimpered into his adar’s neck. "I want to go home."

"At first light, I promise you," Uncle said soothingly. With Legolas in his arms, he walked over to where I was still huddled against Seregon. He bent and placed his hand on my shoulder. I took that as an invitation to let them know I was awake and sat up. Thranduil pulled me into his arms. "Come to me, little one. Come to me." I joined Legolas in throwing my arms around his neck, and we both held on to him and to each other. Uncle kissed my head and my cheek and squeezed me closer. "I love you both," he whispered. I joined Legolas in crying with relief and joy. I would have hoped that all the warriors were asleep and missing this fountain of tears I was shedding, but it was a vain hope since every one of them had sprung to his feet the moment the king had entered the campsite. I made a reminder to myself to ask Seregon if there was any sort of warrior rule that prohibited warriors from telling everyone and their brother about what goes on out in the woods. But I would worry about that later. At that moment, I was content to be safely and lovingly held in the strong protective embrace of my king and uncle.

I returned to Seregon’s lap to spend the remainder of the night, but Legolas stayed closely guarded in his adar’s arms. Thranduil settled down next to us. That was the last I remember until Seregon woke me gently.

"Wake up, Daeron," Seregon whispered in my ear. "It is morning, and I am certain the palace guards are already having to restrain Naneth." I stretched and yawned, feeling too warm and content to truly want to remove myself from my blanket and Seregon’s lap, but I wanted to go home worse than I wanted to stay in my cocoon. Legolas was stirring as Thranduil softly talked him back into wakefulness.

A milky-gray mist was layered on the ground, but it looked as if the day would dawn bright and clear. No breeze stirred the restful quiet of the leaves, but the air was cool, crisp and smelled of the woods in autumn. There is something fresh and new about the air when one season changes into another. I love the forest in all of them.

Morning meal was a treat. One of my favorite foods is a simple roasted honeyed oat, nut and dried fruit mixture that the warriors eat when they are in the field. Since they are so often on the move or in places where it is not advisable to build a fire to cook, they carry this mixture to eat. Seregon says it gives them energy and will sustain them until they can eat a more normal meal. Nana does not let me eat it too often because she says it fills me up, and then I will not eat what I need to grow. I would eat it every day. Seregon says the warriors get tired of eating it for long stretches and would gladly never eat it again. I offered to take the excess off their hands. He declined.

Erelas knows I love the field rations mixture the warriors call aewbas. Seregon told me the warriors complain it is like eating bird food. The real name is Celegbas since it is a food meant for travel and eaten in haste. With exaggerated slyness, Erelas slipped me an extra portion-sized pouch. The small sacks are made of a sturdy muslin with a draw sting attached to the top. They are small enough to fit neatly into a warrior’s pack as he moves about on patrol. I stuffed the one Erelas gave me into my tunic for later in the morning or until I could not stand it any longer and ate it. Without Nana there to supervise what went into my mouth, I feasted on three pouches of it and saw that Legolas was clearly enjoying his nana not being present to limit him either. He grinned at me with pudgy cheeks and muttered, "Id dis so goob."

I poured another handful into my mouth as I nodded vigorously. "Erawas gabe me sumb exwa," I told him while spurting a fine spray of tiny crispy crumbs from my mouth.

He pulled his secret pouch from his tunic, showed it to me and then quickly returned it to his hiding place in his tunic. "Me, toob."

Feeling extremely proud of our clandestine food stashing, we both grinned like half-witted squirrels and set upon the remainder of our aewbas that was public knowledge. I could not wait to be a warrior. I would probably miss Nana, but no one would tell me what to eat then. I would adjust to her absence by eating aewbas all day long.

Once we had all completed eating and clearing the camp site, Thranduil called us to him. "Legolas, you will stay with me. Daeron, you will stay with Seregon at all times. We will go back through the trees until we come to the clearing where we left our horses." He motioned to us to climb into the large oak in front of us. "Do not stray." After we had climbed onto the sturdy middle branches, Uncle and Seregon followed us. The other warriors took to the trees quickly and prepared to move out. The Fifteen were scattered throughout the trees, but maintained a protective circle around us. When Aldamir was satisfied that everyone was ready to move, he gave a low whistle, and we began to pick our way through the branches. We did not travel as quickly as I suppose the warriors could have. With us along, they maintained a steady, but relatively cautious pace.

Within two hours we came to a path that if traveled straight, traversed the forest from the northern border to the stronghold. In less than half an hour we were standing in the clearing where the horses grazed contentedly on the sweet grasses of the small field. From the waters of a clear cold stream, we refreshed ourselves, and the warriors refilled their waterskins. I ate half of my aewbas reserve and washed it down with all the water I could hold. I noted that Legolas was munching happily too as he watched the warriors retrieve the horses. Erelas lead the king’s mount, Dairuin, to his adar. Thranduil picked Legolas up and placed him on the big sorrel’s back just as Seregon lifted me and sat me on the back of another horse. It was a big beautiful black stallion. "What is his name?" I asked Ohtar.

"His name is Aduial. He is companion to Delerion," Ohtar replied. This was the horse of one of the Fifteen, and they were going to let me ride him! Even more surprising was the horse was going to allow me on him. I was shocked beyond words (a rare occasion, I confess) for no one rode the mounts of the Fifteen except the Fifteen. All Elven horse are well trained and highly intelligent. The mounts of the warriors are even more so for they see battle. They are brave and steady of foot. But the mounts of the Fifteen are in a category all unto themselves. They are, of course, as well trained, intelligent and brave as any other horse, but they are different: They seem to take on the personalities of the fierce, stoic and extremely frightening warriors who ride them. I would no more anger the horse of one of the Fifteen than I would one of the Fifteen. Humorless seems an odd characteristic to apply to a horse, but it is fitting. I would not be surprised to find out that they can wield a sword.

"Are you certain it is permissible?" I asked. Ohtar smiled at me and nodded. My mouth dropped open. Ohtar smiled! My whole world was crumbling. This entire trip was shattering my ideas of how the world worked.

As Seregon mounted behind me, I leaned forward and patted the great steed’s neck. "Thank you," I whispered. "You are very kind." Naneth always says it is much easier to catch flies with honey than vinegar. The last thing I wanted was to offend a horse who had probably never carried another living creature save Delerion. It seemed prudent to make friends.

It was then that I noticed there were only sixteen horses. We would not all ride. Thranduil called to Aldamir where he was speaking to a warrior called Ostoher. "I would have you ride with us, Aldamir." Aldamir nodded and quickly completed whatever he was instructing Ostoher to do.

"What about Erelas?" Legolas asked.

"He will take the others through the trees," Thranduil told him.

"Why does he not go with us?" Legolas inquired further.

"He is in command, Legolas, and will lead his warriors back to the stronghold." He patted Legolas’ leg. "Erelas will be home soon after we are." While it is true that the warriors can travel through the trees more swiftly than on the ground, not even they can outpace horses riding an open trail. Unless something slowed us, we would arrive home before they did.

Erelas came forward to where his adar and his brother were discussing him as if he were not anywhere near, when in reality he was merely feet away. "Adar is right, Legolas. I will be home by evening meal and still have time to bathe before Naneth chastises me for smelling less fragrant than she would have me."  He smiled up at his younger brother and then turned to his adar. "By your leave, my lord, we will begin our journey home."

Thranduil nodded and then added, "Go swiftly and with great care."

Erelas bowed and said, "As always, my lord."

I watched as Uncle swung up behind Legolas and as Erelas went to Aldamir. The two brothers exchanged quick words, and then Erelas placed his hand over his heart in formal salute and disappeared into the trees. The others going home by this way followed him, and all were lost to our sight in moments. Legolas was frowning slightly as he continued to stare off into the trees where his brother had disappeared. Uncle urged his horse forward, and we began the second leg of our journey home.

We stopped at mid-day to eat and refresh ourselves. The same small bubbling stream we had drunk from earlier ran past us again, and we took advantage of its presence. I knelt down next to Legolas as he drank from his cupped hand. "Do you think we will get to eat aewbas again?" I asked, my voice full of excitement at this unexpected good fortune.

He nodded. "I think so. I can not see the warriors stopping to cook when we are so near home."

I smiled in agreement. It only seemed logical. "Do you have any left from the extra Erelas gave us?"

"No. I have eaten it all." He grinned. "Do you?"

"A little." I was saving it for hard times, and I imagined those would come as soon as we passed the threshold of the palace. I had visions of lying in my own bed that night in a hazy darkness, munching happily on my secret stash. It was the height of decadence. Nana would never know.

As we had hoped, the meal was quick and once more consisted solely of our favorite food. Since it was there for the offering, Legolas and I both ate our fill. Again. No one was particularly paying us any mind. As long as we stayed where they had put us, they did not seem to care what we ate. My urgency to complete growing and training reached a new height. This was the life, traveling through the forest and living off whatever you wanted to eat. I supposed that we would have to slay a few orcs on occasion, but then we could celebrate by feasting on aewbas. We slipped another pouch into our tunics for later.

The afternoon was waning as we rode in sight of the palace. Judging by my internal time, training was over for the day, and the fields were likely clear. I could not see them to be certain. Not that it mattered, I was home! There were Elves still traveling the paths, and they all greeted us with warm enthusiasm as we passed. I saw Flouncy run from the path to her cottage and stop as she searched the group with her eyes. When she saw Ohtar, her face lit up and her eyes danced. She gave a small little wave in her adar’s direction. I could not see Ohtar to note if he returned her greeting. Are warriors allowed to wave? I wondered. I would have to ask Seregon.

Thranduil and Legolas were the first across the bridge with Seregon and me right behind. We had barely cleared the bridge when I saw Legolas slide from Dairuin’s back and take off running. From the landing at the Great Doors, Lalaith swept down the steps, her skirts billowing behind her. That is when I saw that my naneth had been standing next to Auntie. I threw my leg over Aduial’s back and started to slide off. Seregon caught my arms just as I slipped over his side and guided me to the ground. In the next moment, I was in my naneth's arms. She smelled so good. I have always thought that my nana smells just like the roses in the palace’s private gardens on a late spring day. There is something fresh and warm about the way she smells. Whenever I smell roses I think of her. I drank in her fragrance when she held me tightly to her, immediately comforted by everything about her that made her my nana. I was nearly bursting with joy to be in her arms again.

Despite my general feelings about bathing, the bath my naneth prepared for me was indeed, very pleasant. The water was warm and lightly scented with cedar and berry. Though I am far too old to have my nana bathe me, she seemed to want to make certain I scrubbed every crease and plane of my body. Actually, she did most of it. When I stepped from my bath, there was nothing left un-scoured, from head to toe, hip to shoulder, toe to heel. I was a clean Elf.

The bad news was that I was feeling a little queasy. But I dismissed it as excitement and trailed after Nana to evening meal.

Once the repast had begun, Legolas and I both stared at our heaping plates. "Is there something wrong with your meal?" Uncle asked. I suppose he was shocked that we were not eating since presumably we had not eaten much in several days.

We shook our heads in unison

Lalaith looked to her husband. "What did they eat on the way home, my love?"

"Celegbas mainly," he replied, clearly without any idea of where this topic was heading.

"How much?" my nana asked.

All eyes turned to us, except Erelas. He was inspecting his goblet.

"Daeron?" Naneth said. "How much did you eat?"

"I do not know," I muttered, feeling even more uneasy.

"Legolas? How many pouches?" Auntie asked.

"I have one left," he answered.

"And you actually ate how many?" she repeated.

"About eight," he replied pitifully. He really did look green. Somehow, it was not an appropriate shade even for a Wood Elf.

Aldamir nearly choked as he stifled a chuckle. Erelas was looking under the table as if scouting for orcs, and Seregon was shading his eyes with his hand. Uncle was in shock. His eyes were wide as he looked stricken at his wife.

"Thranduil!" Auntie said. "How could you allow them to consume so much at one time? Surely you knew it would upset their stomachs? They are not accustomed to such."

He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again. He looked to Legolas and me as if beseeching us to come to his aid. Unfortunately, we had none to offer. Not to mention, my stomach was hurting so badly by then, I thought it was a just inquiry. Why did no one tell us it would eat our stomachs like poison? Finally, Uncle turned back to Auntie and confessed with uncertainty, "I had no idea they had consumed so much."

Lalaith stood and motioned to us. "Come. The healers will have something that will settle your stomachs." Naneth joined her. As we were leaving the family dining room, Auntie looked back at the group of dumbstruck males who had stood for them to leave and announced, "I will be back as soon as I have seen to the little ones. We will speak of this then."

I did not actually see him, but I know I heard Thranduil groan. If I had not felt so poorly, I would have taken some amusement in the memory of the earlier look on his face. I imagined he was wearing a similar one at that point. It was clear to see: Uncle was in serious trouble.