Chapter 11 - Chapter 10

Chapter 10
            Thenext day Tilly, Galandiel and Nims held a council of war. It was held inElrond’s stone council chamber, where many years before the Elrond Council todiscuss the matter of the one ring was held. Lilly was playing quietly in acorner.  It was Nimrodel, who spokefirst,
          “I’mso glad you’re back. It’s been awful with just me and that stupid wood elf “she spat, “he keeps looking and me then telling dad what a beautiful daughterhe’s got and telling me how lovely  Ilook.”
          “Helurves you,” Tilly teased
          “Shortskirt and nimmy up a tree,” jeered Galandiel,
          “Ohshut up both of you for the sake of Elbereth you two sound about as young asher,” Nims exasperated gesturing loosely to Lilly.
          “I’mgrown up though,” said Lilly indignantly. The idea struck Tilly like a ten-footiron bar, but less painful, “Lilly can you pretend to cry?” she asked,
          “of course I can” said Lilly proudly and brieflydemonstrated.
          “Doyou know who Legolas is?”
          “YesI do,” said Lilly with disgust, “he’s the one who called me a Midge,”
          “Amidge?” asked a confused Tillyenna
“I think she means a midget.”suggested Galandiel, “Yes Lil?”
          “Yeaha midge,” affirmed Lilly,
          “Anyhow,”continued Tilly “if we put you somewhere and then make Legolas go there two canyou start crying,”
          “Ok”said Lilly with a gleam in her eye,
          “Andthen,” said Nimrodel fast developing Tillyenna’s plan “if someone who isn’tLegolas asks you why you are crying you tell them that Legolas hit you,”
          “Ok”agreed Lilly placidly.
          “Excellent”grinned Galandiel,
          “Legsiewill hate this,” said Nimrodel evilly,
          “Legsie,Legsie,” Tilly spat out then collapsed in a fit of giggles,
          “Wheredid that come from,” asked Galandiel cracking up.
          “It’swhat everyone calls him, bad habit I guess.” Said Nimrodel blushing
          “AinaElbereth Nims, you’re so funny” giggled Tilly “come onlet’s go and get ‘Legsie’ into trouble” she ran off with Nimrodel chasing her,Galandiel held out his hand Lilly,
          “Sochildish aren’t they? Come on we better go and find them hadn’t we.”
          “Ithink we better had” agreed Lilly taking his hand and together they followedthe twins.
 
** * * * *
 
          Everyonewas in his or her place. Lilly was sitting on the bottom step of the grandstaircase and the other three were hiding just out of sight. Unknowing Legolaswalked innocently into the room, immediately Lilly started cry. It was so loudthat Galandiel had to put his fingers in his ears, but Tilly just grinned athim, shook her head and whispered, “I’m louder.”
 
Righton cue Legolas started to panic. Here was this small child crying, for noapparent reason. What was he supposed to do? He was useless with kids. At thatexact moment Lord Elrond entered and saw Lilly crying, he walked over to her,
          “Now,now Lillia what’s the matter?” he asked in a gentle voice.
          “He,he” spluttered Lilly pointing at Legolas “he hit me!”
          “What”said Lord Elrond rising up? Fury boiling in him like avolcano on the verge of exploding. He turned to Legolas,
          “Isthis true Greenleaf?” he whispered as quiet as the eye of a storm
          “LordElrond I assure you I did no such thing” Legolas promised. By this point Tillyhad entered and was running over to Lillia “Lilly, Lilly! What’s the matter”she said as she ran, when she got to Lilly she bent down by Lilly and whisperedvery quietly into her ear “Well done, that was brilliant.” She was just aboutto pick Lilly up when Aragorn entered, “Lilly!” he yelled and swooped her up,“come on now, come with me and tell me what the matter is” he said and carriedLilly off leaving Tilly alone at the bottom of the stairs, she was astounded.
          “Ididn’t even know they knew each other” she said aloud to herself then shruggedher shoulders and thinking nothing of it walked off.
 
** * * * *
 
          “Nowthen” said Aragorn putting Lilly down, “Whatever is the matter? Why are youcrying? You’re such a clever, grown-up girl.” That made Lilly stop crying,
          “Really?”she asked beaming at Aragorn,
          “Yesreally, now tell me why you were crying” he tried again,
          “Wasn’t,”Lilly said proudly “You believed me too”
          “Whatdo you mean?” asked Aragorn confused,
          “Iwas pretending. So nasty wood elf,” she spat, “would get into trouble”
          “Youmustn’t spit Lilly” chided Aragorn, “who told you to cry”
          “Tilly”
          “Tillyennatold you to?”
          “Yesand Nimrodel,”
          “Ihave to go now,” said Aragorn very quickly and ran inside to find Lord Elrond.
          Hefound Lord Elrond trying to get any information out of a stunned Legolas,
          “Stop”yelled Aragorn “Legolas has done nothing to wrong any of us!”
          “Whatdo you mean?”
          “Hedid not hit the child”
          “Butshe was crying.”
          “Shewas pretending to cry. It was all and elaborate plot, set up by Tillyenna andNimrodel.”
          “Manythanks for telling me Aragorn” he turned to Legolas “My deepest apologiesLegolas I should have listened to you”
          “Iaccept you’re apology Lord Elrond, you were right to take the side of thechild.”
 
** * * * *
 
          Tillyennaand Nimrodel stood ashamed in front of their father. Lord Elrond stood withAragorn on his right and Legolas on his left. They stood the solemn judges allin a row.
          “Icannot think of a punishment for you two girls. What you did was wrong, youshould know better by now.” Said Lord Elrond, this made both girls angry,
          “It’syour fault,” said Nimrodel “you shouldn’t have brought a wood elf here in thefirst place, I’d of thought you, with all your special powers, would know yourown daughter well enough”
          “Nimrodel!”yelled Lord Elrond,
          “Youcan’t punish Nimrodel,” said Tillyenna suddenly “It was me!”
          “Thatdoes not change my decision; you will still both have to go with Legolas tomeet his Family”
          “IfNimrodel did not do anything” said Legolas “I ask she is not punished”
          “Verywell” agreed Lord Elrond then he turned to Tillyenna “You however still have togo to the Grey Havens, with Legolas”
          “Butthat means I have to go through the shire” complained Tilly “And I hatehobbits.”
          “Wellyou shouldn’t have acted so mortal then! Go and make ready, you leave at dawn”condemned Lord Elrond,
          “Amindelotha lle” yelled Tillyenna and started to run upstairs, she got halfway upand turned to Legolas, “You’re from Mirkwood aren’t you?” she accused,
          “Yes,”replied the wood elf “and what of it?”
          Tillyennapointed to the scar running down her cheek, “That was a Mirkwood elf,” she saidand ran up the stairs. Leaving Legolas shouting after her, “I am notresponsible for my brother’s deeds.”

You are not authorized to comment here. Your must be registered and logged in to comment