Wayfarer of dawn

XV. In which we play

It hadn't really gone well, the negotiating with Thranduil. Especially not after Thorin declined his offer with some Kuzdul curse words even Eleniel didn't know the meaning of. But, judging on Balin's reaction a few minutes later, she realised it was not good - not good at all. And that, secretly, made her smile. She really did not mind it one bit, that Thorin had insulted her former king. She, had she known the right words, would probably have done it herself - just to spite the said king.

And then the realisation of the prediction they were in hit home. And instead of freaking out, Eleniel laughed. She laughed so loud and so long the Dwarves thought that some Elf had cursed her - or perhaps given her wine. The strong wine, not the human stuff. But it had been neither. And it took Eleniel a long time to calm back down. In fact, it took her so incredibly long that one of the guards decided to try and make her stop. Not that it worked, mind you, it didn't work at all. And after a while of trying the guard gave up and walked back to his post.

And it was not until later that night that Eleniel got a new visitor. "Eleniel," a soft voice said from her cell-door. She looked up with a sigh, already knowing who it was before she saw him. "Caun Legolas," she said softly - as a greeting of sorts. "It is the feast of the starlight tonight," he commented as he sat down on the other side of the bars. She smiled sadly and sat down in front of him. "I know, it will be the first time I will not be able to see the stars," she told him. Legolas let a delicate frown cross his face for a few seconds. "Have you seen them tonight?" She asked him. "Yes," he admitted. "It must be one of the most beautiful nights I have seen in all my years," Legolas told her softly. Eleniel smiled in response, trying to imagine it. "Do you remember our last feast?" He asked her. "I do," Eleniel admitted softly. "You sang the song of exile," he said. "I have not sung it in many years," she told him. "Will you sing it now?" Eleniel looked at him, pondering on his question a bit, and then nodded.

"Land of bear and land of eagle ,

Land that gave us birth and blessing,

Land that called us ever homewards,

We will go home across the mountains" 


Legolas let his eyes drift shut as he listened, a serene feeling settling down over him.

"We will go home, we will go home ,

We will go home across the mountains ,

We will go home, we will go home ,

We will go home across the mountains "

Eleniel smiled as Legolas opened his eyes again - smiling at her too.

"Land of freedom land of heroes ,

Land that gave us hope and memoriesHear our singing hear our longing 
We will go home across the mountains"

A guard came up behind Legolas, obviously affected by the song Eleniel was singing. "Caun Legolas," he said. Legolas turned his head and got up, looking at the guard questioningly. "Tauriel, she... is talking to the male Dwarf again," the guard told him. Legolas sighed and turned back to talk to Eleniel again - to tell her he had to go. But she had already gone back to a lonely corner in the back of her cell. A soft sigh passed his lips again and he walked off, towards where he knew he would find Tauriel.

Eleniel had near fallen asleep - not that it was night anymore, but she didn't know that - when she heard it, her sensitive ears picking up the sound of soft footsteps near her cell. She glanced up, confused - all guards had long since left to join the feast of the starlight. "Rà- Eleniel," a soft voice muttered outside her door - just outside her door. But she saw no one. Getting up she quickly walked towards the door, and suddenly Bilbo appeared. "Bilbo," Eleniel muttered and then noticed he was holding some keys. "I won't ask how you did it, I won't question you now, just get me out of here," she quickly said. Bilbo nodded and opened the door with a smile. And Eleniel walked out, Bilbo telling her to go down instead of up. But she did not question him, and quickly walked down the stairs.

But by the time she understood what Bilbo had planned, Eleniel cursed her luck, over and over - once, twice, thrice. Right now she wished she were dead, instead of having to crawl into this barrel - knowing exactly where the trap-door beneath them led. Well, maybe she didn't... It was quite amusing to see the Dwarves curse and mutter and push themselves into barrels.

And after all the Dwarves, and an Elf, were seated in a barrel, Bilbo pulled the lever - and down the drain they went.