The night was finally quiet and Ithildin crept from her room, through the house and out the door. She quickly wrapped her cloak around her to help hide her presence from anybody who might see her. She walked quietly down the path leading to the valley where the horses were kept, pausing at the edge of her community before going any further. She looked back the way she had just come, making sure nobody was following, and then continued down the path. She stopped for a moment as she came to a large hollowed out tree where she had hidden some gear earlier in the day including a bridle for her horse. Grabbing it out and again looking behind her, she continued until she reached the valley. Quietly, she went around the valley to the far side and softly whistled for her mare. She watched to see if the elves who watched the herd were disturbed, and seeing they were not, she waited as her faithful mare trotted up to her.

“We must be quiet, Faeron,” she whispered, “We do not want to get caught again.” Quickly she put the bridle on her horse and mounted. She did not need a saddle, as she could ride a lot easier without one, and to retrieve one would disturb the other elves and spoil her plan. She rode slowly through the forest at first so as not to bring attention to herself, and then as she got further away from the community she put Faeron into a fast run. She knew that if she rode at this pace, she could be to the border of the forest by early evening. She rode through the night and into the early morning without stopping, but shortly after dawn, she pulled Faeron to a halt, quickly ate, and let her horse rest. Then remounting, she rode off again. It was getting dark as she reached the borders and removing the bridle from Faeron, she let the mare wander. She knew where she would find Gailon, so quietly she headed in the direction of his post using her cloak to help hide her in the forest. Reaching the tree that he was usually posted in, she quickly looked around, and then climbed up to the platform.

“Ithildin,” he said helping her up, “You are not suppose to be here,” he scolded her. “I have already gotten into trouble with your father once because you were out here and I do not want that to happen again!”

Ithildin sat on the platform grinning at him for a moment then standing up she walked up and gave him a quick kiss on the check, “Nice to see you too, Gailon,” she said sassily as she turned to walk to the other side of the platform. She and Gailon had been friends for many years, but since being made captain of the guards, he was rarely home, so she had started coming to the borders to see him. Ithildin laid her bow down on the platform and sat down with her legs dangling over the side.

“It is nice to see you, Ithildin, but you should really return home,” he said trying to convince her of her foolishness, “Your father will skin you and me alive if he catches you here again!”

Laughing Ithildin looked over at her friend, “I left during the night. He does not know that I am here,” she said mischievously, “Besides, I will go back home tomorrow, I just wanted to see you.”
“Do you really think he will not guess where you are at, Ithildin?” he asked her, “He will know you came here and will probably have followed.”

“If you would come home more often, then I would not have to sneak out here to see you,” she said.

“Everything is different, Ithildin. You are no longer the little elfling I was teaching to use her bow or to ride,” he said impatiently, “I have new responsibilities, and I can not be home as much. I miss the fun we had also, but times are different. Middle Earth is more dangerous than it use to be and it is not safe for you here at the borders.”

Standing up and walking toward him she said, “I know everything is different, Gailon, but I like visiting with my friend every now and then and what can it hurt being here for just one evening?” she asked stubbornly shivering slightly in the chill of the night. It was early winter and the cold managed to work its way past the warmth of her cloak.

Gailon turned and grabbed a blanket from behind him, “Put this on, Ithildin,” he said seeing her slight shiver, “Surely you brought a warm blanket with you?”

“Yes Gailon, as you said, I am not an elfling,” she answered sarcastically taking the blanket from him, “I brought enough supplies to last me a few days.”

“You are going home tomorrow, Ithildin, even if I have to drag you there myself,” he said sternly.

“You are not much fun anymore, Gailon,” she said sulking, “You have become too serious.”

Sighing deeply he said, “I am the Captain of the Guards now, Ithildin, you know this…” Gailon stopped suddenly as he heard a commotion coming from a few trees beyond him. As he listened, he heard the sounds of elves yelling and wolves growling. The large hairy creatures has slipped past his guard while he was talking with Ithildin he realized and jumping down with his bow in hand he ran to the other trees, shouting back at Ithildin, “Stay in the tree! Do not come down until I come for you!”

Ithildin could hear the sounds of battling from a short way across the forest, and being worried about Gailon; she grabbed her bow, climbed down the tree, and followed the noise. She notched an arrow in case she needed it and quickly crossed the forest ground to the source of the sound. Coming around a tree, she saw several wolves had indeed slipped in and the guards were battling them. She watched in horror as the wolves viciously attacked two elves and she quickly shot an arrow at the closest one. Gailon saw the arrow hit one of the wolves, and turning found Ithildin ready to shot another one.

“I told you to wait in the tree!” he shouted at her.

“Look out, Gailon!” Ithildin shouted back as she saw a wolf lunge for him. The hairy, creature grabbed hold of Gailon at his waist shaking him. Ithildin shot another arrow hitting the wolf in the side, but it only turned toward her. Ithildin quickly started backing up notching another arrow as she did, but suddenly there was another arrow shot at the wolf hitting it in the chest. Ithildin turned to see where the other arrow had come from and came face to face with her father. Thalion quickly shot another arrow killing the last wolf, and turned to his daughter.

“I can explain, father,” she said knowing she was in a lot of trouble. Thalion did not say anything to his daughter but walked to check on the other elves. Ithildin ran to Gailon as he started sitting up.

“Let me help you,” she said trying to help him.

“I do not need your help, Ithildin,” he said knocking her hand away, “I think you have helped enough for one night!” Gailon stood up and went to check on the rest of his guards leaving Ithildin standing there alone. She followed him to where there were two elves lying on the ground. Her father knelt down and checked them, then hung his head for a moment. Standing up he turned to Gailon.

“How did the wolves make it past you and into the forest?” he demanded.

Gailon looked at Ithildin. “I was distracted for a few moments, My Lord, and they slipped past my guard,” he answered not saying what his distraction was, but Thalion knew.

Thalion turned to his daughter and walking up to her, he took her by the arm, “Where is your horse?” he asked leading her away from the scene.

“She is wandering close to Gailon’s post, father,” she answered.

“You will get your horse and prepare to leave!” he said angrily, “We will then get the injured and dead home. We will discuss this when we get home, now is not the time.” Thalion returned to helping the injured elves prepare for returning home.

“You should take the boats, Gailon, with the other injured. It will get you home quickly and the wounded tended to,” he said talking to Gailon again.

“Yes, My Lord,” Gailon answered turning from him and moving his guards to the boats.

Ithildin had not moved yet. She had just realized that two elves had been killed in the attack and she hung her head a moment, then realizing Gailon was leaving she tried to stop him, “Gailon, wait a moment please,” she called to him.

Gailon turned and glared at her. They may have been good friends, but because she had distracted him, the wolves had made it past him. Not only was he injured, but also two of his friends were dead. He did not say anything to her, just quickly turned his back on her and helped his guards to the boats at the river.

“I told you to get your horse and prepare to leave daughter!” she heard her father say from behind her.

“Father, I want to help please,” she pleaded with him.

Thalion took her by the arm and led her through the forest, “Call your horse now!” he told her. Ithildin whistled and soon Faeron came trotting up to her.

“My gear is at Gailons’ post, father,” she said trying to pull from his grasp to retrieve it.

“I will get it and you will wait right here,” He let her go and walked to where only a short while before she had been teasing her friend, but now she doubted she would ever be able to do that again. Thalion retrieved her gear; made sure the remaining guards were set for the evening, and then returned to his daughter handing her gear to her. Thalion grabbed her around the waist and put her on her horse.

“Father, I am not an elfling, please do not treat me like one,” she said angry at the way he was treating her.

“That is the problem, Ithildin,” he said looking up at her, “You are not an elfling, but a full grown elf who knows how to obey rules! If you had obeyed me about not coming to the borders, Gailon would not have missed the wolves coming in,” he told her angrily, “What if I had not gotten here when I did? That wolf was heading straight for you, and now you could be dead along with the others!”

“Father, I am sorry, I just wanted…” she started to say, but Thalion cut her off.

“We will not talk about it here, Ithildin,” he said sternly, “We will go home, take care of the injured elves, then we will talk,” then turning from her, he whistled for his horse. Mounting his horse, he led the way back to the community riding as hard as they could.

Ithildin was exhausted when they arrived home. They had ridden without stopping for rest or food. After handing the horses over to the guards, Thalion took her by the arm and led her back up the path to the community. As they were walking into the clearing beside the River Teiglin, they saw the boats were home and there were several elves helping the injured elves, and others were removing the bodies of the dead elves. Ithildin could see Gailon and he looked tired and weary. She was concerned about his wounds and started to go to him, but her father stopped her.

“You will go to the house now, Ithildin,” he commanded sending her in the direction of the house.

“Father, they need help with…..” she started only to be cut off again.
“You will obey me and go to the house now, Ithildin,” he ordered her leaving little room for argument. Ithildin glared at her father through the tears in her eyes. She knew she was to blame and wanted to do something to make everything right, but he turned his back on her heading to the edge of the river where the boats were. Ithildin turned and ran to their home, tears running down her face. As she ran into the house, her mother stopped her.

“Your father found you. What is wrong, Ithildin?” Durelleth asked with concern.

“Nothing, I am sure father will tell you when he gets home,” she said heading to her room, “I am going to my room.”

Durelleth watched her eldest daughter in confusion, and then headed out of the house to find Thalion. Seeing the injured elves she rushed to Thalion asking, “What has happened?”

“I will tell you shortly, Durelleth, right now I have to finish here,” he said following the elves. They took the elves to their homes and each was tended. Thalion, having finished checking the other elves headed toward Gailon’s home. Walking into the room where Gailon was lying on a bed he asked, “How are your wounds?”

Gailon sat up and looked at him, “They are fine, My Lord. They are a little deep, and will probably leave some scars, but I am one of the lucky ones,” he answered quietly.

“How could you allow the wolves past you? It was your job to protect the forest, not playing silly games with my daughter!” Thalion finally asked angrily. He was not sure whom he was angrier at; Ithildin for going out there or Gailon for letting his guard down, but sighing deeply he said, “For now you will rest. Once you are recovered you will have to go before Lord Lathron and Lady Gwalath to decide what will happen.”

“Yes, My Lord,” Gailon answered quietly and lay back down. He knew he would have to answer for the lives that were lost.

Thalion left Gailon’s house and headed for his own home. He knew the battle that awaited him there, but he would put a stop to his daughter sneaking off to the borders one way or another he thought to himself. Thalion was lost in thought when he heard his father call him.

“Thalion, how did this happen?” Lord Lathron asked him as he walked up to his son.

Sighing heavily he said, “Ithildin was at the borders again. She was talking with Gailon and he did not see the wolves enter the forest.”

“I see,” his father said, “I will take care of Gailon once he has recovered, but what are you going to do about Ithildin? She can not continue going to the borders.”

“I know, father, I am on my way to talk to her now,” Thalion answered, “I do not know what I am going to do. I have forbidden her from going to the borders and as you can see, that did not work. I am not sure how I am going to handle this.”

“Something must be done, Thalion, lives were lost this time,” his father said sternly, “Bring her when Gailon comes before us. She is as responsible as he is.”

“Yes, father,” Thalion answered, and then headed for his home. He knew his father was right. His father would put aside the role of grandfather this time he could tell. Ithildin had disobeyed one time too many and now he was going to discipline her as the Lord of the Forest, not just her grandfather.

Thalion walked into his home and into the main room where his wife and other three children sat talking. “Melbenion, Edraith and Gelireth,” he said to his children, “I need you to go to either your uncles’ home or your grandparents for awhile. I will send for you when you can come back.”

“Yes, father,” they answered in unison and left the home.

Once they had left Durelleth turned to him asking, “So tell me what happened.” Thalion took a few moments and explained to her the attack and his fathers order that Ithildin be brought before him with Gailon. “What are you going to do in the meantime?” she asked him concerned.

“I am not sure,” he answered his wife. He was tired, hungry, and angry but he could not put off talking to his daughter any longer, so taking a deep breath he walked into her room. Ithildin sat on her bed with her arms wrapped around her legs, and her head resting on her arms. She looked up as she heard her father walk into her room.

“I will let you know first that your grandfather has ordered you be brought before him with Gailon in a couple of days,” he started, “Until that time though, you will not leave this house!”

“Fathe,r that is not fair!” she exclaimed, “How can you expect me to stay in here all day?”

“It is not fair, Ithildin?” he said to her in anger, “Was it fair that you disobeyed me again? Was it fair for those elves to be injured or killed? Was it fair that because of your foolishness Gailon will most likely lose his post as captain? Answer me, daughter! Tell me what part is not fair!”

“Father, I just wanted to see him is all, I did not mean for anybody to get hurt,” she said between sobs.

“That is the problem though, Ithildin,” he said, “You did not mean for anybody to get hurt, and if you had obeyed, then nobody would have gotten hurt!”

“You do not know that, father,” she tried defending herself, “How do you know nobody would have been hurt?”

“The point is, Ithildin that if you had not been out there Gailon would have seen the wolves and rose the warning,” he said angrily, “Enough though, I said you will remain in this house and that is what I mean. You will not go near the horses and you will hand me your bow now,” he demanded holding out his hand.

“Father, you can not take my bow from me,” she shouted at him.

“Ithildin, you are in enough trouble right now. I would suggest you obey me on this, daughter,” he said to her in a low stern voice.

Ithildin knew her father was very angry, but to give up her bow was more than she could bear. She had carried the bow with her every day since her grandfather had given it to her when she was a small elfling barely able to hold it. “No, father, I can not give it to you,” she said defiantly.

Thalion’s temper exploded and he reached across her and grabbed the bow from beside her, and then turned to leave the room.

“Father, please do not take it!” she yelled trying to grab it back from him.

“Ithildin, enough,” she heard her mother say, “Give the bow to your father now.”

Ithildin looked at her mother and father. She knew she was close to bringing her fathers’ temper to exploding, but how could she give up her bow? Finally, she relented and released her hold on the bow saying, “Fine! Take it, I do not care!” She turned her back on her father and walked to the window created by the leaves to stare out into the community.

Thalion sighed, and then handing the bow to his wife, he walked to where Ithildin was gazing outside. “I am sorry if this hurts you, Ithildin,” he said trying to take his daughter in his arms, “But this behavior can not continue.”

Ithildin pulled away from her father and turned to glare at him, “Leave me alone, father,” she said quietly.

“Ithildin, listen to me. You have to stop this behavior before somebody else gets hurt,” he said to her, “What if that had been you killed?”

“Go away, father, I do not want to talk to you right now!” she told him angrily.

“It is time for you to grow up, Ithildin,” he said his anger returning, “You are a full grown elf and with that comes responsibility. You cannot be running all over the forest anymore. Middle Earth is getting too dangerous; there have been reports of elves being taken prisoner…” Thalion continued to try to explain to his daughter, but she cut his words off again.

“Then maybe I can be a prisoner there instead of here,” she answered him stubbornly.

“You are not a prisoner here, Ithildin, and I do not want to continue hearing talk like that,” he yelled at her.

“Leave me alone, father, I do not want to talk to you!” she yelled back at him.

Thalion grabbed his daughter by the arm and turned her to face him, “You may not want to talk to me, but you are going to, daughter, and that is all there is to it!”

“I never want to speak to you again, father, so leave me alone!” she said softly glaring at him and yanking her arm from his grasp, she turned back to gaze out the window.

Thalion stared at his daughter for a few moments in shock at her words, then anger set in, “So be it, daughter, remember that in a few days when you go before your grandparents,” then he walked out of the room took the bow from his wife and went into his room.

Durelleth followed him and watched as he carefully placed the bow in the chest they had to store belongings in. “She did not mean it, Thalion, she is just angry right now,” she said softly walking up and putting her arms around her husband. Thalion pulled his wife into his arms and laid his head on the top of hers, but did not say anything.

The days passed slowly for Ithildin. She rarely came out of her room and she did not speak to her father at all. Her Uncle Tauron tried to talk to her, but she also sent him away. On the third day, her brother Melbenion came into her room. Ithildin was lying on her bed staring at the leaves above her that helped make a canopy to her room.

“What do you want?” she asked him without even looking at him.

“I was sent to bring you to grandmother and grandfather,” he said watching her, “Gailon has recovered from his injuries enough that they have sent for him and you.”

Ithildin lay there on the bed a moment. The day she had been dreading was finally here and now she was afraid. She suddenly wished she could crawl into her fathers arms again as she had done when she was younger, but she knew she could not. Standing up, she took a deep breath and followed Melbenion to her grandparents’ home. They quickly walked across the community and up the platform that led into the main room in her grandparents’ house. Gailon was already standing there. She was happy to see him, but she did not say so as she looked him over. He stood there tall, proud, and refused to look at her as she entered. He was dressed in his grey outfit used by the guards with his blonde hair lying neatly down his back. Ithildin walked up and stood next to him facing her grandparents.

Lord Lathron rose from his seat next to his wife, “Today it is my sad duty to have to discipline the two of you for the near disaster a few days ago,” he began in a very solemn tone, “Two elves were killed and several injured due to these events. Gailon, what have you to say before I decide?”

Gailon answered, “My Lord, I ask your forgiveness for failing in my duties as Captain of the Guards, and I take full responsibility.”

“That is not true,” Ithildin said quickly, “I am as much to blame if not more, grandfather. I am the one who choose to go out there and if I had not; Gailon would have been able to do his duty!”

“Ithildin, I will remind you that at this moment I am not speaking to you as your grandfather, but as the Lord of this forest,” he said sternly, “You will remember to address me as such.”

“Yes, My Lord,” she answered quietly, “Please forgive me. May I speak for a moment?”

“Yes,” he answered.

“My Lord, Gailon is not the one responsible for the attack. I disobeyed my father and went out there. Please do not punish him for my foolishness,” she pleaded with him.

“I am as much to blame if not more, Ithildin,” Gailon said to her, “I should have had an elf bring you back home immediately.”

“You would not have been able to get me home that easily, Gailon, and you know it,” she started to argue.

“That is enough out of the both of you!” Lord Lathron said, “It is for me to decide who is responsible and who is not and I say you both are. Gailon, you are right, you should have found a way to have Ithildin sent home. You failed in your duty as captain so I hold you responsible for that. I am removing you from the position of captain. You have a choice though, you may return as a guard when you have completely recovered, or you may chose to remain here. You do not have to decide right this moment. You will need to let me know though when you have finished recovering.”

“Yes, My Lord,” Gailon answered in a tight voice. He had expected this, but he had hoped maybe he could find a way to regain the trust he lost.

“Ithildin, you are responsible because you broke the rules again and went to the borders after having been told repeatedly that you were not to,” Lord Lathron continued, “I find myself in a quandary as to how to appropriately punish you. I have decided that you shall be confined to the community. You are not to take off on your horse or go anywhere else beyond the community without permission. I understand your father has already taken your bow from you. It will remain in his possession until the restriction is lifted,” he told her sternly.

“My Lord, please allow me to have my bow. If I can not leave the community, then why can I not have it returned to me?” she asked stubbornly.

“There is no room for discussion here, Ithildin,” he said getting angry with her for arguing even now. “You will obey these restrictions, or there will be further harsher punishment; is that understood?”

“Yes, My Lord,” she said between clenched teeth.

“We are finished now, the both of you may leave,” he said dismissing them.

Ithildin and Gailon turned and walked out of the main room and down the platform. Gailon was turning to his home when Ithildin reached out and took hold of his arm, “I am sorry, Gailon. I tried to prevent you from losing your post,” she said.

Gailon pulled his arm out of her hand and turned his anger on her, “You could have prevented that, Ithildin, if you had not come out to the borders!”

“I am sorry, Gailon. I wish I could change what I did, but it is too late,” she said tears starting to form in her eyes again. She did not want to lose her best friend. “We have been friends for a long time. Are you going to tell me you no longer wish to even speak to me?”

“We are no longer friends, Ithildin,” he said in a tight angry voice, and then turned his back on her and walked away.

“He will forgive you eventually, Ithildin,” she heard her uncle say behind her.

Ithildin turned to look at her uncle, “No, Uncle Tauron, I do not think he will this time,” she said sadly, and then threw herself into her uncles’ arms and cried, “I am going home,” she said between sobs.

“I will take you there,” Tauron said holding her with one arm around her waist as he walked her home.

Thalion stood with Durelleth and his parents as he watched Tauron walking Ithildin home. “Do you think this will work?” he finally asked his father.

“I hope so, Thalion, if not, I do not know what we will do,” Lord Lathron answered. “I do not like having to be so harsh, but she must learn.”

Thalion sighed then answered softly, “I know, but I miss her beautiful smile.”

Durelleth hugged her husband. “We will see what happens. I say we give it some time,” she told both of them. “I have to go now I told father I would meet him this afternoon and let him know what happened.” Durelleth leaned up and gave her husband a gentle kiss, then waving to his parents; she walked down the platforms toward the training grounds.

A week had gone by since Ithildin had been restricted to the community grounds and other than a few walks along the river she had not left her home. Thalion was becoming more and more concerned about her as the days went by. She rarely spoke to anybody, and she still refused to speak to him at all. When she did take walks along the river, she was seen staring off into the distance lost in some far away thought. If anyone tried to talk to her, she would return to her room at home. One afternoon, Thalion went to her room to talk to her.

“Ithildin, your mother and I are going for a ride. I have asked your grandfather for permission for you to join us,” he said hoping to bring her out of her silence. “He said that as long as you stayed with us, that he does not mind. Would you like to go for a ride with us? I am sure Faeron has missed you.”

Ithildin was lying on her bed once again staring at the canopy above her. When she heard her fathers comment she rolled onto her side turning her back to him.

“Ithildin, you should not stay in here all the time,” he said softly sitting next to her on the bed. “Go riding with your mother and me.”

“I do not feel like going for a ride, father,” Ithildin said quietly.

Sighing, Thalion rose from her bed. He started to say something, but decided that she would not want to hear what he had to say, so he left her room. Walking out the house, he met his wife to go for their ride.

Ithildin waited for her father to leave the room, then stood up and watched from the window as her mother and father headed for the horses. As soon as she saw them leave, she quickly left her room, walked down the hall and entered her parents room. Looking behind her for a moment guiltily, she quickly went to the chest where her father had put her bow. Quickly she opened it and seeing her bow; she picked it up and returned to her room with it. She slipped it under her bed, then went and gathered a pouch full of food that she also slipped under her bed. Late that evening Ithildin waited until the house and community were quiet, then rising from her bed, she put on her dark grey pants, shirt, and boots. She took out her heavy cloak and wrapped it around her, then reached under her bed for all of the items she had stashed there earlier in the day. She was starting to walk out of her room when she remembered one thing. Reaching up behind her neck, she removed the necklace she wore. Her mother had given it to her as a birthday gift many years before, but she decided that it would remain here. She no longer needed it she thought to herself, so she laid it under her pillow, and then walked from the room and out of the house. Quickly she traveled through the community away from the banks of the river. She knew that if she traveled that way, her father would find her. If she went across the forest, she could travel up the river Sirion. Her chances of being found were not as likely. Ithildin had spent the last week thinking about this and having finally decided she was going to leave her home, she had put her plans into motion waiting for the right moment. She loved her family, but she felt she had let them down and no longer had a place among them. She had lost her best friend, and her grandparents were still barely speaking to her. Her mother had lived on her own wandering Middle Earth for many years by herself so surely she could manage, she thought to herself. Stopping for a moment, she turned and looked at her home one last time, and then she quickly headed through the forest until she reached the River Sirion. There she followed the river through the forest. She knew walking would take her a couple of days to get out of the forest, but she went as fast as she could travel and rarely stopped for rest or food. She did not know where she was going; only that she was leaving.

The next morning Thalion went looking for Ithildin. He had decided he was going to make her come out and go for either a ride with him, or at least a walk. He was surprised to find she was gone from her room. He spent the next hour going through the community looking for her speaking to everybody he met. Nobody had seen her. He went to the pasture to find out if her horse was still there and the elves informed him that Faeron was in the field and Ithildin had not been out there. Next, he went to the practice field to speak with Sirion, but he also said he had not seen her. By this time, he was getting concerned, but also angry. He knew Gailon had returned to the borders, but he did not think that Ithildin would travel there again. He decided he would speak with his parents quickly before riding to the borders to look for her.

Entering the main room he found his parents and said to them, “I have been looking all over for Ithildin today. Has she been here at all today?”

“No, Thalion, we have not seen her for days,” his mother answered.

“Where do you think she is?” his father asked.

“The only place I can think of father would be the borders again,” he said angrily, “I have looked everywhere else. She is not in the community. I am going to the borders now and get her. We will deal with it when I get back!” Then he turned and went to his home to let his wife know where he was going.

“I cannot believe she went there, Thalion,” Durelleth said, “Not after all that has happened. Gailon does not even speak to her anymore.”

“I know, but she is not here, Durelleth,” he said, “I have to go.” Thalion kissed her quickly then ran down the path. Quickly he saddled his horse and rode for the borders. It was already late afternoon when he left, so he pushed his horse hard to reach the borders as fast as he could.

The next afternoon Thalion reached the borders and looked for Gailon. “Gailon,” he said climbing onto the platform where he stood guard with several other elves, “Where is she?”

“Where is who, My Lord?” Gailon asked in confusion.

“Ithildin, isn’t she here?” he asked.

“No, My Lord, I have not seen her since the day we went before Lord Lathron and Lady Gwalath,” he said in concern, “We argued after we left, and I have not seen nor spoken to her since.”

“I do not know where she is. We cannot find her,” he said now worried about his daughter.

“Perhaps she is back home now,” Gailon said trying to find a reason for Ithildin being gone, “But she has not traveled here.”

“Then I have to go back and look for her,” Thalion said jumping down from the platform and calling his horse.

“Wait,” Gailon called to him as he also jumped down, “May I return with you? If she is missing I must help you find her.”

“I thought the two of you were not friends anymore,” Thalion said.

“I know I was angry with her, but the truth is I could never stay angry at her for long,” Gailon laughed for a moment, then looking at Thalion, he said seriously, “If she is missing I would like to help look for her, please.”

Thalion looked at the guard for a moment, then nodding his head; he quickly mounted his horse with Gailon behind him and returned to their home. The next afternoon when they returned home Thalion ran to his house to see if Ithildin had returned. When he walked in the door, he found Durelleth sitting at a table in the main room holding something in her hand.

“Durelleth, Ithildin was not at the borders,” he said, “Has she returned home?”

Durelleth looked up at him with tears in her eyes, then handed him the necklace she had found under Ithildins’ pillow. “Her bow is also gone Thalion as well as her heavy cloak,” she said throwing herself into her husbands’ arms, “I fear she has left.”

“Why would she do that?” Gailon asked.

“It has not been easy for her since the restrictions were placed on her,” Thalion explained. “She was never one to like being confined to a small area, she needs to be running free, and I think we have just pushed her to doing just that. I need to get elves together and search for her,” he said running out of the house.

Gailon followed him and within minutes, they had gathered several elves to help them search. Thalion realized that Ithildin had at least three days head start and there was no telling in which direction she went.

“She would not have gone straight through the middle of the forest,” Gailon said to Thalion, “She would have been spotted by the guards at the border.”

Thalion looked around then deciding Gailon was probably correct that left two other options, following both rivers, “Tauron, I will take you, Melbenion, Edraith and Nadu with me and follow the river Teiglin,” Thalion said getting everybody set, “Gailon, you take Curuon, Berior and Ellech with you and follow the River Sirion.” Having made their plans they quickly went to the pastures and retrieved their horses. Taking their horses, they all headed on the path they were to follow.

It had been three days since Ithildin had left her home. She had traveled along the River Sirion resting and eating very little. She knew her father would eventually come looking for her and the further she got, the harder it would be to find her. On the evening of the third day, Ithildin decided she needed to rest. She was exhausted and hungry. Looking around, she found a large formation of boulders and rocks. Climbing up them, she found a small cave with just barely enough room for her to lie down and sleep. From the cave, not many people would be able to see her and she thought it would keep her safe. Climbing in, she made herself as comfortable as she could and fell asleep. Ithildin slept through the night and into the next morning, but she woke up when she heard some men talking nearby. She quickly raised her head up and peered over the rocks. She saw three men riding horses. They were filthy men, with long beards, and raggedy clothes. She started to slip back into her hole when she accidentally knocked several small rocks down. Hearing the noise, the men stopped and looked up. Ithildin tried ducking inside her hole before they could see her, but she was too late.

“There is someone up there,” she heard on of the men shouting.

“Go see who it is so we can be going,” another one answered.

Ithildin quickly grabbed her bow, but with so little room in the small cave, she did not have room to use it. She climbed out of the cave and started to pull herself up on the rocks so she could use her bow when a hand clamped down on her shoulder.

“What have we here?” she heard a voice asking as the man hauled her to her feet, “It would look like our fortunes have changed.” Ithildin struggled to free herself from the strong hands holding her and the filthy man clamped his arms around her tightly preventing her from escaping. As she struggled, her bow fell to the ground below the rocks. “Be still or I will have to hurt you,” she heard a voice growl in her ear. The foul smell coming from him made her gag, but she continued to struggle to free herself. The foul smelling man finally lost his patience with her and grabbing her by one wrist, he used one hand to slap her hard across the face. Ithildin lost her balance as the pain shot through her face and she started slipping down the rocks. The man let her go and she fell down the rocks and landed hard on the ground.

The men laughed at her as she tried to sit up. “Manreth, do not injure her too much,” she heard one of the men saying, “The reward for this beauty will be high.” Ithildin finally sat up and looked at the men still sitting on their horses laughing at her. She glared at them and carefully stood up. She could feel bruises all over her body from the fall, but fortunately, it did not feel as if anything was broke. She looked for her bow and seeing it on the ground near the rocks, she made a dash for it. She almost had it when the man called Manreth jumped from the rocks in front of her and grabbed hold of her again. Ithildin screamed as he clamped his arms around her again.

“Caldon, bring some rope so we can bind her,” he said to one of his companions. Caldon was a tall stocky man with dark dirty hair and a long bushy beard. He quickly climbed down from his horse and walked over where Manreth was still struggling to hold Ithildin.

“Let me go!” Ithildin ordered.

“Well at least this beauty knows the common tongue,” Caldon said as he tied her wrists together. He looked the she-elf up and down liking the dark hair that flowed down her back and the blue-grey eyes. “Yes, she will definitely bring a good price. Be careful, or you will get hurt again,” he warned, but Ithildin was past all caution and she swiftly reached out and kicked him as hard as she could manage. Caldon was sent sprawling on the ground and he quickly jumped up angry, but Manreth had already grabbed hold of the now bound she-elf and he again slapped her across the face. Ithildin went falling to the ground.

“I will warn you one last time,” Manreth said, “Do not push our patience for we have none where elves are concerned. You are our prisoner now, and you will quit fighting, or you will be beaten until you do,” Manreth leaned down and picked her back up to her feet before continuing in a threatening voice, “Is that understood?” Ithildin could not answer, but she shook her head.

Manreth took her to his horse, set her on, and then he mounted. They continued the path they had been following before finding her, traveling along the river. It was not until later that Ithildin remembered all of her gear and bow was back at the cave.

It was not difficult for Gailon to find and follow Ithildin’s trail. He and the elves rode hard following the river for two days without stopping for rest or food. At the end of the second day, they reached the rocks where Ithildin had been captured and Gailon jumped down from his horse to look around.

“Here is her bow,” Gailon said picking it up.

“Gailon, there are hoof prints over here,” Ellech shouted to him. “There appear to be three horses.”

Curuon climbed the rocks to look for any signs of Ithildin and found her gear in the cave. He grabbed it out and tossed it to Gailon. “This was in a small cave up there,” he said as he climbed back down.

Gailon surveyed the land around them, and then looked into the distance. “They are following the river heading in the direction of the mountains,” he said quietly, “These tracks are not very old, maybe from this morning, but I would say no later. They will probably stop to rest tonight.” Gailon turned back to his horse and mounted, “If we continue riding through the night we should catch up with them by tomorrow morning.” Gailon and the elves quickly rode off following the trail left by the other horses.

Ithildin was exhausted by the time Manreth stopped for the night. He pulled her off the horse and dumped her on the ground He pulled out another rope and tied her ankles.

“Give me any more trouble, elf,” he said taking her face in his large hand, “And I will make sure you cannot move for a long time.” Manreth let her go and walked away to take care of his horse.

Ithildin watched as the three men built a fire and ate some food. Her stomach rumbled and she realized it had been a long time since she had any food, but she refused to ask them for some. The men finally lay down for the evening and she started trying to free herself. She first worked on the ropes around her ankles. The rope was tied tight, but she kept struggling with it. She spent several hours working the rope free, and at last, she was able to remove it. Once she had done that, she stood up and started running away from the camp. The night was already half over and she knew her time for escaping would soon be gone. While running she looked for a place to hide. She had not been able to untie her hands yet, but she had decided it would have to wait until after she had escaped. Ithildin ran for hours up the river hoping she could find a place to hide. She was tired as the sun started coming up over the horizon and she heard the sounds of horses running behind her. She looked back and saw Manreth and the other men coming after her. She started running as fast as she could trying to find anyway of escaping. Manreth raced his horse up to her and swiftly he reached out. He grabbed her pulling her onto his horse with him, and pulled his horse to a halt. He dumped her onto the ground and climbed from his horse.

“I warned you, elf, that if you caused any troubles I would punish you,” he said to her angrily. Ithildin cringed as he hit her across the face again. Manreth turned to his horse, withdrew a small whip from his pack, and turned back to her. Ithildin screamed as he raised his arm and hit her with it. He raised his arm a second time to hit her, but never got the chance. Manreth stared past her in shock as an arrow pierced his chest, and then he fell over dead. A quick volley of arrows was shot at the other men but they quickly grabbed Manreth’s horse and rode off. Ithildin turned to see who had rescued her and was surprised when she saw Gailon and three other elves ride up. Gailon jumped from his horse and took her into his arms.

“Curuon, Berior, go after those men and make sure they never hurt another elf,” Gailon ordered angrily, “Ellech, I want you to ride back to the forest ahead of us. Let Ithildin’s family know that she is safe and I will be bringing her home.” Gailon watched as the other elves left then picked Ithildin up, carried her to the side of the river, and gently sat her down. He pulled out a dagger and cut the bonds at her wrists, and Ithildin threw her arms around his neck. Gailon held her as she cried.

“Gailon,” she said when she had calmed down, “I am so glad you are here.”

“Ithildin, you are lucky we arrived when we did,” he answered her angrily.

Ithildin sat back and looked at him. She could see he was angry, but she was not sure if he was angry with her or with the men, but she did not ask. Right then she was just glad to be safe and alive.

Gailon stood up, walked to his horse, and retrieved a cloth, and going to the river, he wet it. Turning back to Ithildin, he washed her wrists where the ropes had cut into her flesh. He got even angrier as he saw the bruises on her face.

“You are a fool, Ithildin,” he said looking at her face, “Did you really think you would be safe out here?”

He was angry with her, Ithildin thought to herself. “Yes, Gailon, I thought I would be fine,” she answered him with a little anger in her voice now. “How did you find me?”

“We followed your trail from the forest,” he answered her. Gailon stood up again and stared across the river, “Why did you leave the safety of the forest, Ithildin?”

“That is none of your business,” she said walking away from him. She stopped as she saw her bow and gear on his horse. “You found my gear,” she said to him.

“Yes. We found it in the small cave yesterday evening,” he answered her. He watched as she walked up to his horse, removed her gear and bow, and started to walk away. “Where do you think you are going?”

“Anywhere but here,” she answered him. She was surprised when she felt him grab hold of her.

“Ithildin, you are not going anywhere but home,” he said.

“I cannot go home, Gailon,” she told him trying to pull her arm free.

“Why can you not go home, Ithildin?” he asked her.
“You must be joking, Gailon. You heard the warning my grandparents gave me,” she said, “If I broke the rules I would be in worse trouble than I was already in.”

Gailon let her arm go and watch as she continued walking down the riverbank. “Ithildin, running away is not the answer,” he tried to tell her, but she ignored him and continued walking. Gailon was quickly losing his patience. He walked up to her with determined strides and took hold of her arms again, “Whether you want to go home or not, I am taking you there.” Gailon tried to take her back to his horse but she started struggling with him. Gailon swiftly lifted her up and starting carrying her to his horse.

“Let me go, Gailon. I am not going home,” she yelled at him.

“Yes you are,” he answered her quietly. He reached his horse, put her up, and mounted behind her. He grabbed hold of her and put his horse into a gallop. Ithildin had no choice except to hold on. They rode for a few hours before Gailon pulled his horse to a stop. They had reached the rock formation where Ithildin had slept inside the cave. Gailon jumped down and helped Ithildin down. He walked over to the edge of the river and splashed some water on his face. He was exhausted. He had been riding for days without any sleep and he realized with Ithildin arguing with him about returning home, it was probably going to be a few days before he would get any sleep.

“Why are you determined to take me home, Gailon?” Ithildin asked from behind him.

“I am too tired to argue, Ithildin,” he answered her with a deep sigh, “Just get some rest before we continue.”

Ithildin watched as he again splashed some of the cold water on his face and neck and soon she was angry with him for not answering her properly. “Gailon, I want an answer or I will start walking again!”

Gailon stood up and looked at her closely, and then sighing again, he walked away from her to his horse. He grabbed some food from his pouch and gave some to her. “Sit down and eat, Ithildin. We will talk about it another time.” Gailon took his food over to the rocks, sat down, and started eating.

Ithildin sat down by the riverbank and ate the food Gailon had given her. She was not willing to tell him she was starving, but she did thank him for it. Gailon decided he was going to have to rest. To try to keep going with out any rest was going to be dangerous. He thought about the small cave where they had found Ithildin’s gear and quickly climbed up the rocks to look inside it. The cave was small, but he decided that if they left their gear sitting out of the small enclosure, there should be enough room for the both of them.

“Ithildin, we are going to sleep in the small cave up here,” he called out to her. He waited for a few minutes for her to answer and was confused when she did not. Gailon climbed down the rocks to see what she was doing and was angry when he realized she was gone. She could not have gone far he thought; she had been sitting on the bank when he climbed up to look at the cave. About the time he was climbing down, Curuon and Berior rode up.

“Did you see Ithildin while you were coming back this way?” he asked them.

“Do not tell me she is lost again,” Curuon said, “How did that happen?”

“Trust me she is not far,” Gailon said looking around, “You two head back to the forest. I will find her trust me.”

The elves laughed until Gailon gave them a glare and they quickly stopped and turned to the forest. “What should we tell her family?” Curuon asked still trying to hide his laughter.

“Tell them I am bringing her home,” he answered, “If they are lucky she will be in one piece!”

The elves laughed again and quickly rode off before Gailon could let his temper explode on them. Gailon looked around the bank where Ithildin had been sitting to eat. It was not hard to find her footprints in the muddy bank and he followed them.

Ithildin had started walking along the bank while Gailon had climbed up the rocks. When she reached the other side of the formation, she discovered a large opening and went inside. The sides of the stone were smooth, cold, and damp and she let her fingers lightly drift over them as she walked further into the opening. She was surprised how large it was. It would seem from the way it looked, that the rocks outside had formed a larger cave inside where the river would occasionally flow into it. There was a small pool of water in the middle of the cave and she leaned down to cup some water in her hand and let it flow back into the pool.

“What do you think you are doing?” Gailon asked as he walked in and found her leaning over the small pool.

“Nothing, I was just looking around that is all,” she answered defensively, “What do you think I was doing?”

“Trying to hide so you do not have to go home,” he answered truthfully, “Come back outside, we are going to rest in the small cave on top of the rocks.” Gailon started to walk back out of the larger cave, but turned to make sure she was following him.

“I am not sleeping in that small hole with you, Gailon, you can just forget it,” she said crossing her arms.

“Ithildin, I am too tired to argue. I have been riding for days to look for you, plus I was on guard duty when your father went to the borders to look for you,” he said to her getting angrier by the second. Gailon walked toward her menacingly saying as he did, “You will come back up there or I promise you I will carry you there!”

Ithildin stepped backward, trying to retreat from his anger. She had seen Gailon angry before, but this was different, “Gailon, I do not mind stopping for rest, but I refuse to sleep in that hole with you. There was barely enough room in there for me.”

Ithildin was startled as he swiftly reached out and grabbed her by the arms. She tried to pull her arms out of his grasp but as she did, her feet slipped on the edge of the pool. She reached out for Gailon and grabbed his arm, but it was too late. She fell backwards into the pool pulling Gailon with her. They quickly learned that the pool was no more than a few inches of water and the rest was mud. Gailon landed beside her in the mud. After a few moments, he sat up and glared at her.

“Now we have no choice but to build a fire and rest here, Ithildin,” he said at her angrily. Gailon stood up trying to wipe mud off him, but he glared at her as she started laughing. “Just what do you think is so funny?” he demanded.

“I had often wondered what you would look like covered in mud,” she said laughing at him.

“Get up, Ithildin, we have to get clean!” he ordered. Gailon offered her his hand and helped pull her up. Ithildin was still laughing as they walked out of the cave. Gailon went to his horse and retrieved their gear. He pulled clean clothes from his and tossed her pack to her, “Get some clean clothes and get cleaned up.”

Ithildin grabbed her pack and pulled some clean clothes out. “Gailon, why are you so determined that I should go home?” she suddenly asked him, “Are you trying to win points with my grandparents so you can get the post of captain back?”

Gailon stood up and walked over to her. “If I ever get my post back, Ithildin, it will not be because I have rescued their spoiled granddaughter,” he answered her angrily. “It will be because I have earned it!”

“I am sorry, Gailon I did not mean that, please forgive me,” she said suddenly ashamed. She knew Gailon would never do anything like what she had suggested, “Why are you taking me home then.”

Gailon grabbed her by both arms so that she faced him, “I am taking you home because it is where you belong.”

Ithildin suddenly felt exhausted and she leaned forward and rested her forehead on his chest, “I know, Gailon, but how do I explain this to my grandparents? How do I tell my father that he was right, and I was wrong?” she asked quietly, “What do I say to them?”

Gailon took her chin in his hand and raised her face to look at him, “Tell them you are sorry, Ithildin. That is always the best thing to do.” Gailon released her and walked to the edge of the river. He stripped his cloak and shirt off tossing them to the ground while he started to clean the mud off.

Ithildin watched him for a few moments admiring the muscles in his back. She grinned for a moment looking at the mud-covered hair lying on his back, but as her eyes moved across him, she saw the scars on his side where the wolf had attacked him. Her look grew serious and she walked up beside him, reached her hand out, and gently touched the scars. She saw him stiffen when she did, but he did not move away from her. Lightly she ran her hand over the scars for a moment, “I am sorry, Gailon, I never meant for you or anybody else to get hurt. Can you ever forgive me?” she asked quietly.

Gailon stood still for a moment afraid to move, and then he turned to her, gently taking hold of the hand that had been wandering across his side. Gailon turned her hand palm up, brought it up to his lips, and gently kissed it. “Yes, Ithildin,” he whispered, “I can forgive you. I have already done so.” Gailon watched her for a moment then taking her into his arms, he held her. He looked down at her for a moment, and then leaned his head down and kissed her gently.

Ithildin was stunned. She had often wondered what it would be like for Gailon to kiss her, but they had always been just friends. Now she leaned into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. Gailon deepened the kiss, running his hands down her back. Gailon finally raised his head and looked at her. Her face was flushed, her lips were red from his kiss, and her eyes were foggy. Her look was his undoing and groaning, he leaned down and captured her lips with his again.

“Gailon,” Ithildin moaned as he again raised his head, “Do you know how long I have wanted you to do that?”

Gailon brushed some of the muddy hair out of her face, “No, how long have you wanted me to do that?” he asked kissing her again.

“For too long,” she answered him when she was able to.

Gailon removed her arms from around his neck, and then kissing each palm again, he told her to clean up. Gailon turned back to the river and started pouring some water from the river over his head. The cold water seemed to clear his foggy brain. He could not believe he had just kissed her. They had always been friends, but over the years as he watched her grow into the beautiful and spirited she-elf, he started caring for her as more than a friend. He had decided long ago not to tell her though. It was better to keep her as a friend. How he had ended up kissing her was beyond him. Now that he had kissed her, Galion knew that life was going to be different at home. Gailon finished cleaning up and watched down stream as Ithildin finished cleaning the mud out of her hair. They both changed into dry, clean clothes then Gailon built a fire laying their wet clothes out to dry.
Ithildin wrapped up in her blanket and sat as close to the fire as she could. With her cloak wet, there was little to keep her warm. She watched as Gailon made himself comfortable next to the fire wrapped in his blanket. It was growing dark and Ithildin felt her eyelids grow heavy. She was tired from the last several days, and she still hurt from the bruises on her body. Ithildin lay down beside the fire trying to sleep, but she was cold and the fire was barely helping. She decided she never wanted to fall into any more mud puddles.

“Come over here, Ithildin,” she heard Gailon say to her. She sat up and looked at him. He held his arms open for her, but she hesitated. “Ithildin, we will freeze tonight unless we share our warmth. The fire provides a little warmth, but I dare not build it any bigger,” he explained to her, “So come over here, and lay down with me.”

Ithildin stared at him for a few moments then she walked around the fire and lay down next to him. He put both blankets on top of them to help keep them warm. Ithildin curled up on her side with her back pressed to his chest and was soon sleeping soundly. Gailon watched her sleep for a short while, and then he went to sleep.

“Perhaps somebody would care to explain this?” Gailon and Ithildin quickly jumped up and found themselves staring at Thalion along with the other elves riding with him. Thalion climbed down from his horse and walked over to his daughter, “Well, do you have an explanation?” he asked again.

“Father, we both got covered with mud yesterday,” Ithildin started, “Our cloaks were wet after washing them, and so the only way to keep warm last night was to share our blankets. I swear that is all there is to it.”

“My Lord, she is telling the truth,” Gailon said stepping in front of Ithildin. She reached out and put a hand on Gailon’s arm while looking at her father.

Thalion watched Gailon and Ithildin then quickly turned to look at his horse. He hid a grin as fast as he could and looked up at his brother who was also grinning behind his hand. “I see,” he said before turning back around.

“My Lord, if one of you has an extra cloak she could put it on. That will keep her warm while we travel home,” Gailon said. “Our cloaks are not completely dry yet.”

Thalion turned to his pack and pulled out a cloak. “I would suggest you wear this, Gailon, and then you can wrap it around Ithildin while she is riding with you,” Thalion said handing him the cloak.

“You want Ithildin to ride with me, My Lord?” Gailon asked. “I thought you would want her to ride with you.”

“Our horses are tired,” Thalion explained, “We have not rested much, but your horse rested all night, so it would be better for her to ride with you.”

Gailon and Ithildin quickly gathered their belongings and while Gailon prepared the horse to leave, Ithildin went to talk to her father.

“Father, I am sorry for running away,” she said.

Thalion turned to his daughter and gently brushed the back of his fingers across her bruised cheek. “I am just glad that Gailon found you when he did, Ithildin,” he said. “We will discuss the rest when we get home.” Thalion pulled his daughter into his arms and held her.

“I am so sorry,” Ithildin said starting to cry, “You were right, father; it is not safe outside of the forest.”

“Hush now, we will go home and talk. I promise you alright?” he said to her. Ithildin nodded her head against her father’s chest.

“Thalion, everything is ready to go,” Tauron said from beside them. Ithildin looked at her uncle. He smiled at her, and then opened his arms for her. Ithildin threw herself into her uncle’s arms and smiled up at him.

“I am glad we found you,” he said against her hair, “We would have been lost without you.”

“I know, uncle, I am sorry,” she said against his chest. Tauron let her go and walked with Thalion and Ithildin back to the horses. Thalion led her to Gailon’s horse and lifted her up. He stood there for a moment looking up at his daughter, and then turned to his horse. Gailon quickly mounted behind her and wrapped her in his arms with the warm cloak surrounding them. Ithildin looked up at him and smiled as they headed back for the forest.

“I told you everything would be fine,” Gailon whispered in her ear.

Ithildin grinned at him again without saying anything, and then leaned back against his chest as they rode home. She knew that everything was not completely all right yet, but they were well on their way to being made right.

They reached the community the following evening. They had taken short rests on the way home, but otherwise, they had not stopped. Ithildin had ridden with Gailon all the way home. When they reached the valley for the horses, Thalion handed all of the horses over to the elves waiting for them and led his daughter home.

Durelleth saw them walking up the path toward the house and she ran out and took her daughter in her arms. “Ithildin, I am so happy to see you. I have been so worried,” she said.

“I know, mother, I am sorry,” she said hugging her mother.
“I think we should take Ithildin home, Durelleth,” Thalion said to his wife. “We are all tired and need some rest.”

“Of course,” she said and then led the way home.

“Thalion, you are home!” he heard his father call out to him.

“Durelleth, take Ithildin home while I talk with my father.” Thalion greeted his father. “Yes father, we just got home.”

“Where did you find Ithildin?” his father asked watching Durelleth walked her daughter home.

“She had traveled down the River Sirion,” he said. “Gailon is the one who actually saved her. Some men had caught her.”

“I was afraid something like that would happen to her, Thalion,” his father said. “I will need to talk to her.”

“I know, father, but please let it wait for a couple of days. I will explain why later, right now I am tired. I am going home and get some rest,” Thalion said.

“I will wait then, son, but you must come speak with me tomorrow,” his father said. “Sleep well.” Thalion walked to his home and found Durelleth talking with Ithildin.

“Ithildin, go to bed and get some rest,” he told her, “I know you are exhausted like the rest of us. You can talk with your mother later.” Ithildin stood up, hugged her parents, and then walked to her room. She was happy to be home. She had not realized how much she had missed it until that moment; she quickly prepared for bed, and then climbed onto her bed and was soon asleep.

Gailon put his gear away in his home and went to talk to Sirion. He had worked with him teaching the younger elves before taking a post as a guard. He decided it was time to talk to Sirion about possibly working with him again. He had many plans to make, and it would take time to make them.

The next day Thalion went to speak with his father. “I know you are angry with her father for running away, and so am I,” Thalion said to his father. “I may know a plan to stop her from running off though if you will listen to me for a few minutes.” Thalion and his father sat for hours discussing their plans, and then when everything was prepared they sent for Gailon.

Gailon walked into the main room where Lord Lathron and Thalion were waiting for him. “My Lords, I was told you wished to speak to me.”

“Yes Gailon,” Lord Lathron said. “I first wish to thank you for rescuing my granddaughter. You saved her life and it is a price I could never repay.”

“You are welcome, My Lord,” Gailon answered.

“As a reward I would like to give you your post as Captain of the Guards back. I know that it is a small reward, but I had not named the new captain yet so the post is yours again,” Lord Lathron said.

“Forgive me, My Lord,” Gailon replied, “I appreciate your generosity, but I am afraid I will have to decline your offer.”

“Decline my offer?” Lord Lathron asked grinning at Thalion, “Why would you wish to do that?”

Gailon took a deep breath and decided now was as good a time as any to tell them his plans. “I have talked with Sirion about working with him again. I use to enjoy teaching the younger elves before taking the post as guard. He has accepted my offer,” he said staring at Thalion and Lord Lathron.

“Why would you do that, Gailon? You were a good guard,” Thalion asked barely able to contain his laughter. He had already spoken with Sirion and knew that Gailon had spoken with him, and he suspected the reason.

“I love your daughter Ithildin, My Lord, and as soon as it can be arranged I would like to marry her,” Gailon answered holding his breath waiting for their response.

Lord Lathron and Thalion burst out laughing. “I was beginning to think you were never going to say it, Gailon,” Thalion laughed. “If you are brave enough to marry my daughter then by all means we will arrange it. Have you asked my daughter yet?”

Gailon was looking at the laughing elves and then as he realized what they were saying he started grinning. “No, My Lord, I have not asked her yet. I figured she needed some time to rest, and I would like to spend some time with her. We have been friends since she was just an elfling, but we had never discussed a more serious relationship until she ran away.”

“I would suggest you get busy then, Gailon.” Thalion said to him. “I am looking forward to my daughter getting married. There are too many temperamental she-elves in my home.” Thalion laughed with his father.

“That is not fair to Gelireth, Thalion, she is not like her mother and sister,” Lord Lathron said defending his granddaughter. “She is very sweet tempered.”

“For now, but I have seen her temper flare,” Thalion answered, “It does not happen often and it is usually with one of her brothers being protective, but it has happened.”
“Excuse me, My Lords,” Gailon interrupted them, “May I leave now? I have a few more things to take care of this morning then I wish to find Ithildin.”

“I am sorry, Gailon, yes, you may leave,” Lord Lathron said walking up to him, “I also would appreciate it if you would stop calling me Lord Lathron unless it is in an official meeting. You are getting ready to be family.” Gailon grinned at them then quickly left to finish his tasks for the day.

Gailon and Ithildin had quickly fallen into the routine of meeting every afternoon. They would walk along the river or ride their horses in the forest. Ithildin had been home for two weeks and she was surprised her grandfather had not sent for her. She knew he was probably very angry with her for running away, and she was afraid to go talk with him. One day as she and Gailon were taking a walk, she mentioned this to him.

“Just go talk to him, Ithildin,” Gailon suggested to her. “I think you may be surprised by his response.”

Ithildin leaned against his chest and Gailon wrapped his arms around her. They had gotten more comfortable with the change in their relationship as the days had gone by. “I know I should, Gailon, but what if he is still angry with me? What do I say to him?”

“Ithildin, you will never know until you go talk with him,” Gailon answered her. “I will go with you if you like.” Gailon looked down at her as she decided.

“I think I should probably go alone though I do appreciate your offer, Gailon,” Ithildin said to him. Then she grinned, leaned up, and kissed him. “Do you know that I love you, Gailon?” she suddenly asked him.

Gailon tightened his grip on her and returned her kiss. “Yes, I know. I was just waiting for you to decide to tell me,” he said grinning at her. “You know I love you too. I was wondering if you were going to marry me.”

Ithildin, taken aback by the question, threw her arms around his neck and laughing answered, “Yes, I will marry you. I was beginning to think you were never going to ask, you silly elf.”

Gailon hugged her in return then set her aside for a moment. “You really should go talk with your grandfather, Ithildin. I will wait here for you.”

Ithildin looked towards her grandfathers’ home. “I will go talk with him. You are sure you do not mind waiting?”

“I will always wait for you, my love,” he said softly giving her a quick kiss.

Ithildin walked to her grandfather’s house and entered the main room. Lord Lathron was talking with her father when she entered and they both looked up. “Father, I need to speak with grandfather alone for a few minutes. Do you mind?”

Thalion looked at his father and nodded his head, “I will be at the house if you need me, Ithildin.”

“Actually, father, I will need to talk to you when I finish here so I will come home when I am finished,” Ithildin said as her father started leaving the room. Thalion briefly nodded to her and left.

“So what do you need to talk to me about, Ithildin?” her grandfather asked.

Ithildin was nervous and she sat down in a chair next to him. “I was concerned that you had not sent for me, grandfather,” she said.

“Why would I send for you, Ithildin?” he asked knowing that she was talking about her running away.

“I was stupid and ran away, grandfather, you know that,” she said confused, “You had told me I would be in worse trouble if I disobeyed you again.” Ithildin looked at the ground waiting for him to answer her.

Lord Lathron started laughing. “My dear granddaughter, I was thinking your experience outside the forest was enough punishment. I think you learned a valuable lesson do you not agree?” he asked.

Ithildin looked at her grandfather stunned, “You mean you are not going to punish me?”

“Well since you have returned home, you have not broken a single rule and have behaved very well. I think you must have grown up a little on the trail,” he said. “I also think you have found a reason for staying home, if these old eyes of mine do not deceive me.”

Ithildin blushed and grinned at her grandfather. “I have, grandfather. Gailon has asked me to marry him,” she said.

“I was beginning to wonder if we were going to have to do it for him,” he laughed. “He has only been planning it since you returned home.”

Ithildin looked at him in shock, “You mean you knew he was going to ask me?”

“Yes, I just did not know when. That is why he quit the post as guard and turned down the post as captain, Ithildin,” he told her.

“He turned down the post as captain?” Ithildin could not believe what she had just heard. Gailon had not told her that Lord Lathron offered him the post. The love she had for him grew in her heart.

“He did not tell you? I offered it to him the day after you returned home with him,” Lord Lathron told her.

“Grandfather, will you excuse me please? I think I owe a wonderful elf a kiss,” she said grinning. Lord Lathron stood up with his granddaughter and opened his arms. Ithildin quickly wrapped herself up in his embrace then giving him a kiss on the check she ran out of the room. Once outside she looked for Gailon. He was standing next to the river speaking with her father.

“Gailon!” she yelled out to him. He turned as she called him and caught her as she threw herself into his arms giving him a loving kiss.

“I do not know what I did to deserve that,” he laughed, “But I think I will have to make sure I do it again.”

“Grandfather told me you turned down the post as Captain of the Guards,” she answered him giving him several quick kisses. “Why did you not tell me?”

“I was waiting for you to marry me, that is why,” he laughed returning her kisses.

“Has my daughter finally decided to marry you?” they heard Thalion ask. He stood there watching them laughing at the change in his daughter.

“Yes, father, I have decided to marry him,” she answered grinning, “That is what I had wanted to talk to you about. Wait do you mean you knew he was going to ask me also?” Ithildin looked at her father then at Gailon.

“I told your grandfather and father the day they offered me the post, Ithildin,” Gailon said to her. “I wanted them to know why I was refusing the position.”

“You could have told me sooner,” she said trying to look angry, but she was too happy to succeed.

“When you go home, you will find that your mother has already made you a dress,” Thalion said.

“A dress, you mean I have to wear a dress?” she asked grinning at her father remembering some of the arguments they had over her not wanting to wear a dress.

“I would love to see you wear the dress for our wedding, Ithildin,” Gailon said to her. “Would you do it for me?” Gailon gave her such an innocent look that left Ithildin giggling at him.
“I suppose for you I could wear a dress,” she sighed deeply, then grinning she gave him a quick kiss and ran up to her home to see the dress her mother had made.

“I suppose wonders will never cease,” Thalion laughed with Gailon. “I will talk to you later, Gailon. We have a lot to do to prepare for the wedding.”

The days passed quickly as the wedding and feast to follow were prepared. Finally, the day of the wedding arrived and Ithildin was up early to prepare. They had decided to have the wedding in the late afternoon and there was a lot to do to get ready. Durelleth and Gelireth helped her prepare. It was almost time for the wedding when her father walked into her room. He looked at his daughter and smiled at her. She was wearing a flowing silver and white dress. He black hair was plaited down her back and a netting with tiny silver leaves on it over her hair. Her checks were rosy and her eyes were sparkling.

“You look beautiful, Ithildin,” he said walking up and giving her a kiss on her check.

“Thank you, father,” she said. “Is it time?”

“Almost, but I think you have forgotten something,” he said grinning. He held out his hand and in it was her necklace. She had wondered what had happened to it, but she never asked. Thalion reached around her and put her necklace on. “Now you are ready.”

Ithildin gave her father a hug and smiled at him. “I had wondered what had happened to it, thank you,” she said softly holding it in her hand for a moment before letting it dangle from her neck again.

Thalion escorted her out to the wedding and a short time later she was sitting with her husband at the feast laughing with all of her family and friends. She looked around her and realized what she had almost lost because of her foolishness. She had almost lost her friends and family, and now her husband. Her world had fallen apart, but it was love that put it back together again and she had an eternity to enjoy it.