The morning has sun and silence painted between its grasses, and just like what was predicted by the forest, they receive light rain.
They sit in their shelters and watch through the large windows. The elves of Shfashara offer grapes and breads to eat, but the dwarf and the cat insist on meat.
Legolas accepts the fruit and bread, and so they sit on the floor and continue the game of pebbletoss that they left here last time, and while they play, they eat.
They can see the other enclosures wherein more elves sit and eat. Gimli sees Nînthel and Farriel alone in their own and narrows his eyes.
"They're awfully close, aren't they?" he remarks to Ulvinowyn, who is in the shape of a lady. Elu, who is still handing Legolas an over-abundance of vegetables, turns his head to see them feeding one another grapes. He merely nods and returns to his task.
"They are together," he informs them. "They have been so for two thousand years."
Legolas peeks over at the two in light confusion, glancing at Elu with a tip of his head. "They are both women," he says.
Elu explains kindly as he decides he's given Legolas quite too many leaves already and falls still. "Here we do not care what they are. We lay with both women and men. It does not matter as long as we care for them." He pauses, returning the comment with a quizzical expression. "Are your lives not the same?"
"I do not lay with anybody," Legolas replies. "I have never felt such wanting. I have loved, but I have not lain."
Elu nods. "That is a way of life here as well. You may love anyone in any way you wish to. It is not our business to control."
Legolas, comforted somehow by these words, takes a bite of his bread and falls silent. Gimli seems caught up on this new information, regarding the two elven women with eyes of dubiety.
"It's strange, isn't it?" he says, and Ulvinowyn only smiles.
"I think it is lovely," she replies.
Legolas shows his agreement. "They are lovely."
There is something most peaceful about Nînthel and Farriel sharing a life together. A sweet innocence attaches itself to the sight of the two in the morning rain. When seeing love displayed in this way, on this morning, how can you deny it?
Legolas' thoughts are interrupted as the morning patrol approaches, led by elves he remembers being named Nediion, Faethrundir and Tinnuir. They stop just outside, and Tinnuir is the one to speak.
"Elu, you are needed on morning patrol," he informs him, and Elu accepts the invitation.
"Athon, atar," Elu replies. "Yes, Father."
He leaves with them, and, pondering over his new definition of what it means to love, Legolas thinks about affection for a very long time as he watches him go.
➵