Part 22

Later, Legolas joined Eowyn in their chambers and, after checking on Melannen with her—watching her press a final goodnight kiss to his little brow, and whisper, “You were a very good boy today, sweetheart,”—he escorted her across the walkway to Hentmirë’s house.

“Aragorn is convinced,” he said, “that there is no town in that valley.”

“Which is exactly what you said when you came back with Niben.”

“Yes,” Legolas admitted, “but I must have been mistaken, melmenya. We spent two nights there.”

“Two nights that, apparently, did not exist either… Well, we will know more when Orodreth returns.”

“I shall miss you tonight,” said Legolas, knocking on Hentmirë’s door.

“It will soon pass, Lassui,”—Eowyn smiled—“and we have done it before.”

“With one or two small lapses,” said Legolas, “if I remember rightly.”

Eowyn’s smile turned into a wicked grin. “Goodnight, my darling.” She came up on tip-toe to kiss his cheek. “And, if you should get lonely during the night,”—Hentmirë’s companion opened the door and she lowered her voice to a whisper—“just imagine what you will be doing this time tomorrow!”

…

Knowing that he would not be able to sleep, Legolas climbed the stairs to their private garden.

The flet was covered with snow, and the plants, clustered together in their pretty pots, sparkled in the moonlight with a dusting of fine frost, but the bed, protected from the weather by its canopy, looked warm and inviting.

He sat down and, gazing up at the stars, sang softly,

“A Elbereth Gilthoniel,
silivren penna míriel
o menel aglar elenath!
Na-chaered palan-díriel—”

He broke off at the sound of running feet.

“We dreamed it!” Eowyn bounded onto the flet.

“Melmenya, your feet are bare!”

She had draped a fur rug over her thin nightgown, but her breath was steaming and her body was pinched with cold… Legolas swept her up and held her tight. “Oh, Eowyn nín! You should not have come out like this.”

“We dreamed it, Lassui,” Eowyn persisted, clasping her arms about his neck. “The drink—do you remember how we drank from Melannen’s water skin, and immediately felt tired?” Legolas carried her down the stairs. “I think we fell asleep, and dreamed the whole thing. That is why no time had passed when we got back.”

Legolas smiled, fondly. “And when did we wake up?”

“When I remembered our wedding—or perhaps a little later.”

“But why would we wake in a different place, melmenya?”

“Well, perhaps we had already walked a while before we fell asleep.”

“And we forgot that, too?”

“It is possible…” Eowyn frowned. “Do you think that, if Master Dínendal were to examine the drink, he could tell what it was?”

Legolas pushed open Hentmirë’s door. “I do not know, melmenya,” he said, manoeuvring her through the doorway.

“You are not convinced.”

“No.” He carried her into Hentmirë’s guest chamber.

“Why?”

“Well, for one thing, we both had the same ‘dream’.” He set her down on the bed.

“Yes. Because of our bond.” She drew up her legs.

Legolas wrapped her in the coverlet. “And Melannen?”

“We do not know for sure what he thinks happened.”

Legolas kissed her forehead. “Then I will ask him in the morning. Just for you.”

“I will be coming over,” said Eowyn, “to help him wash and dress.”

“And there is no point in my trying to dissuade you, is there?”

“No.”

Legolas smiled. “Good night, melmenya.”

…

Next day

Eowyn arrived early. “Good morning, Lassui!” She beamed up at him. “Can I come in?”

“This feels strange,” said Legolas.

“I know. I do wish we had arranged the ceremony for this morning. It is going to be torture waiting all day.”

The elf gave her a quick brotherly hug. “There is still much to do,” he said. “What is that?”

She was carrying a small bundle. “Clothes for Melannen.”

“More clothes?”

“Lord Lenwë’s wife sent them. Everyone wants to make him welcome, Lassui.” She crossed the lobby and knocked on Melannen’s door. “Sweetheart?”

There was a thud, and then the sound of running feet—“Are we quite sure that he is an elf?” asked Legolas—and Melannen opened the door.

Eowyn gasped.

Hanging from the boy’s little hand was the jumping bear they had bought him, from the Yuletide Market beside The Two Ways tavern, in the town that did not exist.