A Time To Forget

For Legolas and Calenuir it was finally time to leave their sanctuary and make their way to the elven city. Ignoring the youth completely, Haldir their guide, inclined his head towards Legolas before speaking, “The Lady bids me bring you and your friend to Caras Galadhon, please follow closely.”

With that he moved quickly off into the forest and Calenuir had to hurry to keep up as Legolas brought up the rear.

Both the youth and his friend would have enjoyed the beauty and majesty of the forest immensely if not for the disdain that was rolling off their guide. Calenuir tried not to take it personally as he remembered what his friend had told him, but still he could not help feeling a little disheartened and hoped that this was not an indication of the welcome he would get from the group that Legolas had been travelling with.

Indeed if it was not for Legolas insisting they stop periodically to give his young friend some food and water and a short rest, Calenuir doubted he would have made it to the city at all.

As it had been just after sunrise when they set off they were able to reach the heart of Lothlorien by just on dusk. Despite the weariness of his journey the young man was indeed awestruck by the beauty and tranquillity of this wondrous place.

They didn’t have much time for reflection as Haldir hurried them forward towards a tall tree, at the bottom of which was a sort of pavilion. He pointed towards the pavilion “Your companions await you; I will come for you in the morning to take you to the Lady of Light.”

Placing a reassuring hand on Calenuir’s shoulder he moved them both forward, “Shall we, mellon nin?”

Calenuir took a steadying breath and allowed himself to be lead towards an unknown reception, while he was nervous about the outcome for himself; he was more worried about the treatment his only friend in middle earth would receive.


Down in the clearing below the others were about various activities and only Aragorn who had grown up with elves and was keenly attuned to their quiet tones heard the whisper on the gentle breeze of a voice that he had missed dearly.

Startling his companions, Aragorn rushed towards where the voice had come from taking in the Prince of Mirkwood and his totally normal looking companion.

He let out a relieved sigh when he observed the lad was not sprouting wings or covered in black leather skin after all and Legolas looked his usual immaculate self.

Aragorn decided to wait till Legolas and the boy had made it to the bottom of the steps that lead to their pavilion before moving forward and grasping his friend in a warrior’s welcome. He was acutely aware of the rest of the fellowship gathering awkwardly behind him, but chose for the moment to ignore the tenseness in the situation.

“Na vedui! Legolas, I am glad to see you none the worse for wear, mellon nin. It would seem our fears were unfounded after all.” At that he turned to look pointedly at Boromir and Gimli. (At last!)

Legolas for his part smiled and turned to bring Calenuir by his side so that he could introduce him. “My friends may I introduce you to my friend, Calenuir. Calenuir this is my long time friend Aragorn son of Arathorn.”

With that Calenuir moved forward, going over the lessons in elvish once more before nervously greeting Aragorn, “Mae govannen, hir nin.”(Well met, my lord)

Aragorn for his part was taken by complete surprise by the greeting, so much so that he couldn’t help responding in kind, “Mae govannen, Calenuir. You did that very well, I see that Legolas has been teaching you. I am somewhat shocked however to see you obviously fully healed; in fact you don’t appear to have any after affects at all. How is this possible?”

Legolas for his part knew that the healer in Aragorn would temper his wariness towards Calenuir for which he was most grateful.

Unfortunately this topic once more triggered the same mistrust as before from Boromir and Gimli, who now made their views known strongly.


“Indeed” began Boromir. “ It looked to me as though the child was turning into something evil, so I ask you now Legolas tell us if indeed this was the case, what he turned into and how came he to appear as he is now?” Gimli was nodding and let out a grunt of agreement in the background.

The hobbits too were looking on but they were merely enticed by the promise of an extremely interesting tale. All that is except the kind hearted Sam who being slightly to the side of the clearing could see Calenuir immediately begin to cringe at the man of Gondor’s questioning.

Legolas’ face fell for he knew that if he withheld this information they may have concerns trusting him with other things. However if he told what had happened it could do immeasurable damage to his burgeoning bond with Calenuir. Finally he decided that the only right thing was to ask the youth for permission to tell what he knew.
So the archer turned to his companion but the answer was on the boy’s face and in his slight shaking. What he saw was the look of someone who was both haunted and hunted, something that he had not seen before.

Sam could not help it, he recognised that look as one of a cornered animal and he just to go and comfort him. Slowly he moved forward with his hand outstretched and his mouth open to introduce himself, when it happened.

“I’m sorry Legolas, I’m so sorry Legolas,” Calenuir continued to whimper and shrink, his body changing before their shocked eyes. Again his skin turned into black fur and his ears had changed into long furry floppy things. His body bent over on all fours and, legs and arms became short black legs ending in paws. While his head and face became that of a very scared furry puppy with a long white lightning bolt shape above his left eye.

Before anyone including Legolas could react the puppy took off into the forest as fast as his little legs could carry him.

Sam suddenly took off after the fast retreating Calenuir, while strangely all that came to Legolas’ mind at that moment was, ‘not again’.