The Identity Quest--Chapter 3

Chapter 3

A month with the Wood-elves

Melda stayed with the Wood-elves for about a month, and became rather good friends with Galadhmir, Galenloth, and Linwen. She spent most of her time wandering the forest, with or without them (although Legolas usually sent another Wood-elf with her when she went without them), and learning how to hunt, as well as learning more Sindarin.* It was spring, and the woods were rather pleasant. The leaves were green, the birds sang (near to where the Wood-elves lived; they had a good influence on the trees nearby to the palace),

*Sindarin was a form of Elvish. Quenyan was the older form of Elvish, rather like Latin is today; it was only used for ceremony and for high matters of lore and song. Sindarin was the primary language of all Elves by the time of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, including the great Elf Lords. The Elf Lords did, however, speak Quenyan among themselves. The Dúnedain spoke Sindarin among themselves, as well as Common Speech. See Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings (look in the back of The Return of the King).

Melda had never really seen a forest before, and she loved exploring it with her friends. One day, Galadhmir came up and asked, “Melda, have you ever climbed a tree?”

“No,” Melda answered, surprised.

“You should! It is great fun, and very refreshing! Do you want to try?”

“Alright,” Melda agreed cautiously.

Galenloth came up and asked what they were doing. “Instructing Melda in the art of tree-climbing,” said Galadhmir.

Galenloth was intrigued. “May I join you? I have some skill in trees.”

“Certainly!” said Galadhmir.

They went to a place that Galadhmir said was where her favourite climbing tree stood. “Are some trees better than others?”

“Yes,” answered Galadhmir. “Some trees have good places to sit and look out at the world, while others have branches in odd places that make them uncomfortable to sit or climb in.”

After several minutes of walking, they reached their destination. Galadhmir immediately went to one tall beech tree that stood a few paces distant from the others. “This one is my favourite,” she said. “But this one,” going to another tree, “is more suited to begin on. It is not as difficult, and the branches are lower.”

She swarmed up it like a squirrel. Melda followed much more slowly. It was a shorter oak tree, with branches in convenient places. Galadhmir showed her how to hold on to a branch in order to walk up the side of the tree and throw a leg over the branch you were holding on to, then sit up and proceed to the next branch. The tree split into four different large branches farther up, with one that was almost parallel to the ground; and father still, the other branches also flattened out somewhat, almost looking like slanted. She got up to the first branch, then went to the center; all the main branches came out from there. It was like sitting on top of a giant spider.

Galenloth joined her. Galadhmir was far ahead, among the upper branches. “Come up here, Melda!” she called joyously. “You can see the trees, and feel the wind!” Melda was rather nervous in a tree; but she climbed up anyway. She was surefooted, as befitted a Wood-elf, but not so much as Galadhmir. Galenloth followed Melda, and at last all three were seated up on the higher branches.

The butterflies were dancing above the trees, the sun was shining, and the wind was pleasant. Melda breathed deeply. All her life had been lived in open places, and Mirkwood seemed rather gloomy compared to the openness of the wilderness; though it was filled with trees, and where the Wood-elves had their feast halls (and near the palace) it was pleasant, the wilderness was less frightening. The very numbers of the trees seemed daunting to Melda. But it was nice to see the sun again. She wondered where her father was, and what he was doing.

Galadhmir called her back to the present. “What was it like, being with the Dúnedain?” she asked. “What did you do all day?”

Melda thought for a moment. “I would help my father with the cooking when my mother was gone,” she said. “I would explore the land about our camp, and my father would teach me to find and read the trails of beasts and birds. One day we found Orc tracks nearby, but they were old. My mother would teach me to cook, when she was not with the Wood-elves or the Dwarves, as well as how to sew, clean, and read.”

“Was it fun?” asked Galenloth.

Melda considered. “I would say so. At times I was bored, but I have learned much.”

Every day for about a week, Melda went with Galadhmir (and usually Galenloth also) to climb the trees. By the end of the week, Melda could climb with ease the first tree Galadhmir had taught her to climb on, and was only slightly deterred by the others.

“Is this where you have always lived, or did you live somewhere else and then come here?” Melda asked Galenloth and Linwen as they were walking in the woods. The month was waning, and was now near the end of its second week. Melda had just finished her last climbing lesson, and Galadhmir had gone back to the palace. Galenloth and Melda had met Linwen while they were wandering along the path back.

“I have always lived here,” said Galenloth, “but soon I will visit Erebor.”

“I arrived here a few months ago,” said Linwen, “and before that I lived with the Dwarves in Erebor.”

“What is Erebor like?” Melda asked curiously.

“It is large. The Dwarves almost seem to want to make everyone who visits them feel small! There is much splendor there, and the walls in the guest rooms are covered with rich hangings. The floors are solid stone and covered in some places with carpet. Gold and gems are everywhere! And at the heart of the mountain lies Thorin Oakenshield, with Orcrist and the Arkenstone on his breast,” Linwen replied, eyes shining.

To Melda it sounded like more jewels and splendor than all the rich trappings and gems than were to be found in the whole Dúnedain camp! They are not given to luxuries. “It sounds like something out of the old tales,” she said, a little wistfully.

Galenloth laughed. “Well, perhaps we should travel there!” She grew more serious. “I do mean it. We are part Dwarven after all, aren't we? It would not be wise to only see part of the world.”

“Yes,” Melda agreed, “it would not. And I, for one, would like to see the halls of my mother's fathers.” Her eyes shone with anticipation. “Also, my father told me I must not stay with the Wood-elves for long at first; they are not the only peoples in this world. They are not to be disregarded, but there are others to meet and see as well. Still,” and here she seemed a little sorrowful, “I will miss the Wood-elves. They have been very kind to me.”

“But we will not be gone forever,” said Galenloth. “It will be but a visit.”

“True,” Melda agreed. “Let us stay a week more, if you have no great urgency; for I would stay here at least a month before departing, even to visit Erebor.”

Galenloth agreed. Linwen asked, “May I accompany you?”

“I say yes, for my part,” said Melda.

“As do I!” said Galenloth.

“Do we require permission from the Elvenking to depart?” Melda asked. It had just occurred to her that it might not be the wisest plan to depart without notifying anyone of it.

Galenloth thought for a moment. “It would be a wise plan to at least ask him for permission to visit our relatives.” Linwen agreed, so they went to the audience chamber.

The Elvenking had a magnificent audience chamber. Melda was not quite as overwhelmed by the splendor and majesty as she had been when she first saw the room (though it still was overwhelming in part), so she was able to note patterns formed by the gems and gold. The Elvenking's throne had two giant antlers behind it, rather like wings. It was still spring, so he wore a crown of woodland flowers. In autumn he wore a crown of red leaves and berries. In his hand he held a carven staff of oak. “What is your request?” he asked. His voice was stern, yet kind.

“O king, we wish to visit our relatives in Erebor,” said Melda. Linwen and Galenloth nodded in agreement.

The Elvenking looked slightly surprised, but not offended. Melda took this as a good sign. He thought for a moment, then answered. “You may go with the next consignment of barrels shipping back to Esgaroth. It will in two weeks.”

“Thank you, O king,” said Melda, Galenloth, and Linwen together. They bowed and left.

Melda and Galenloth told Galadhmir they were leaving. “So you are visiting the Lonely Mountain?” ask Galadhmir.

“Yes,” the other two replied.

“Could you possibly either make or get for me a set of claws?” she asked

“What?” Melda said in surprise.

“Claws, like...I will show you a picture,” said Galadhmir. She showed them a picture of leather hand coverings without any fingers that had short blades attached. When the person wearing the gloves made a fist, the blades would go out over their knuckles, and could then be used to slash and fight with.

“I think we could,” said Melda.

“I, also,” said Galenloth. “They look very useful.”

The weeks passed by quickly. Linwen taught Melda and Galenloth some Dwarvish, but they did it in the forest so as not to be overheard. (Dwarves do not unlock the secrets of their language to any outsiders, unlike the Elves.) They packed for their journey, bringing waterskins, along with the usual spare clothes and such that are always packed for trips. They checked and rechecked everything, so as not to leave anything behind.

The day arrived. Galenloth, Linwen, and Melda went down to the place where the Wood-elves formed the barrels into rafts and took them back to Laketown. The three joined the raftsmen, and the raft moved off downstream. No great amount of luggage was needed; this was not a very long trip. Food could be obtained at Dale, before the last leg of the journey. The three were very excited. Melda and Galenloth had never been to Erebor before, and Linwen had been away in Mirkwood for almost a year.

After a day and a nights' traveling, they reached Esgaroth. Melda had never seen a town before; the Dúnedain did not live in houses. It was very strange to her, this idea that people should live somewhere with walls of stone or wood. She looked around curiously at the paved streets, the painted doors, and most especially the roofs. The people looked happy and prosperous. Children ran about the streets playing. The three friends spent the night there, and in the morning they set out on the trek to Dale. 

END OF CHAPTER
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