Everyone turned around and Robin felt embarrass like when her father held a speech on her birthdays. She climbed down the short slant and was greeted by the elves, Ennor raugs[1], ents and everyone else. Even a little shy Ulunn[2], which had come in the promise that no one would stamp on it, dared to greet her. Carex had let go of her arm and disappeared somewhere in the crowd.

Robin walked to Convallia, and all Calenparth[3] flock around them, but Trientalis kept in the background. He wore a green coat with long tail and a ruffle at the neck. Convallaria wore a bell shaped white dress and long light golden hair.

“Mae govannen!” she said. “We have waited a long time, but are not less happy to see you.”

“I came as fast as I could. But I think I can’t help you, Convallaria. I haven’t come on anything –“

“Oh, it will solve shall you see,” said the elf. “You have accomplished more than enough already. Sit down for a while and rest, you have been in such tremendously adventure. Missne has told us –“

Robin was confused at first, but then remembered that Galadriel had said that Greenwood had several names and she had mentioned that as one of them. “Yes where is he?” Robin knew she was ill mannered that cut her of. And she should probably not sound so eager, either.

“He is somewhere among the others. You will find him.” Convallaria said.

Robin didn’t want to show how disappointed she was that Greenwood hadn’t come and greeted her. She sat down beside Rubus, that had wide his raspberry red cloak over the ground.

“Shouldn’t someone sing a welcome song?” Rubus shouted to Convallaria.

Convallaria nodded. “Trientalis has the most beautiful voice,” she said.

But Trientalis lowered his head and didn’t say a thing. Robin couldn’t think badly about the little flower elf, even with what Carex had said about Greenwoods interest in him.

“Please Trientalis, sing,” said Convallaria. She sounded almost like Robin's teacher had sounded when Robin didn’t dare to read aloud.

“He does not need to sing, if he don’t want too,” said Robin.

“But I want too,” said Trientalis, and he raise his head and sang with a voice so clear, that even the wind kept silent and listen:

“O, noble Robin, hear my song,
With you came the happiness back!
Now creep Mites from the tight lair
No Ennor Raug cry.
Now celebrate those that died once
And remember how the wailing sounds.
Ack, must the sadness flight be long,
As we know what a snare is! 

Ara’Robin lathro amin aerlinn
Anlle teli adgelir!
Si teli Ulunn O’tong torech
Al’Ennor Raug nallon.
Si gelir ren tanyaer gwanna
arin sut nella hûl.
Aiyla, gar-naer revia brono,
Lye isto mani templa naa!”

Trientalis bow and sat quickly down among the others. Robin moved closer to him. He gave her a careful eye from slanting green eyes.

“I wanted to sing a more beautiful song, but I couldn’t think of any,” he said. “I hear songs in my head, and then when I shall sing them is it like it is missing a tone. But one day I want to find the most beautiful song, the one that ensnare and healing everything.”

“Is there a song that can do that?” wondered Robin.

“It has too. Sometimes I think I almost hear it in the wind, but when I listen, it disappeared.” He went silent, embarrassed over to speak at all.

“Trientalis,” said Robin, “do you know where Missne is?”

He shook his head.

Someone touched Robin's shoulder, and she turned around. Galadriel and Jacob stood behind her.

“I can tell you where Greenwood is,” said Galadriel. “He left just before you arrived, saying that you didn’t think to come back, because you had been threaten with it, he said.”

“But I didn’t mean it!” Robin got startled. ”Where did he go? What if he has met one of the persuaders?”

“Missne will never be grey” said Trientalis convinced. “That you don’t need to worry about.”

“I guess he went to the fens,” Galadriel filled in.

“It is dreadful what that Missne seems important,” Rubus interpose. “Isn’t it time to think on Angel stones instead?”

“You can think on what you want!” said Robin angry. She turned to the Bird watcher. “I have to tell you a thing, Jacob,” she said. “I dreamt that I saw a dront egg in the wood too.”

“What happened?” the birdwatcher sounded eager. “Did you get it?”

“No, it came a giant –“Robin stopped. She remembered a story she had read about a giant that had throw stones on churches. Big stones. 

“Galadriel?” she said. “Was it you that told me that there was a giant here in the wood?”

“Yes, it can be possible. But I have not seen him myself. He is said to live in the deepest forest, in a cave." Galadriel looked wondering at her. “Why do you ask about him?”

 

~*~ Part 36 ~*~

Robin told about the stone-throwing giant in the story. Evidently, giants were not bound by the law to not harm anything in the mortal world.

“That sounds like an excellent idea,” said Jacob enthusiastic. “But how shall we get anyone to knock at the giant place – if he is real – and how shall we get the giant to catch the angle stone, if you understand what I mean? That can probably be little tricky. Giants aren’t so easy to deal with. And for one thing – where does he live?” Jacob polished his glasses, like that would help him to see clearer on the riddles solution.

“We have to consult the gathered,” said Galadriel and went to the big grass area, where the Calenparth’s[1] had danced. Her clear voice sounded over the valley: “Is there any of you here that know about giants? A giant lives somewhere in this forest. Who has seen him? Who know his habits and his temperament?”

The little Ulunn[2] squeaked something, but no one heard what it said, until an Ent bowed and listen carefully.

“It says that the giant is big,” explained the Ent. “It says the giant is evil.”

An Unechil[3] asked to say something and said: “The giant isn’t evil in the same way Thind Mân’s[4] and Manulô’s[5] are. A real old Ennor Raug[6] told me once, that the giant was like a big hen[7], or as a cat, that plays with the animals it catches.”

A slender Calenpath raise her voice: “but I have heard the one that speak clever with the giant can manage well. He isn’t like the Hrávemat[8] that he misses sense and thoughts and only drives of his hunger. He speaks with his victim. Often he can sit and speak with them in hours before he eats them, it is said.”

“Yes, the Ennor raug said it managed to get away from the giant by telling a joke that was so screamingly funny that the giant couldn’t stop laughing,” the unechil filled in.

“Did it say where the giant had its home?” asked Galadriel.

Calenpath shook her head. No one knew where the giant lived.

“Isn’t it so that they live in caves and such?” said the bird watcher to Robin.

“I think we shall ask Greenwood,” mumbled Robin. “He said he had seen the giant.”

“It is tremendous that you trust the untrustworthy water creature,” interpose Rubus. “I would not give reliance on Missne for one minute. If you do, you know where you end up.”

“You start talking about things you not understand,” said Trientalis without looking up. “Do you start to be grey, Rubus?” He didn’t sound cheeky only scared.

“My dear Trientalis,” said Rubus with repressed anger. “Now has it gone so long that everyone suspects everyone? It is just what Ag and his follower’s wishes. If we are so occupied of suspecting each other, do we not manage to think on much else? And just then is one of the persuaders there…”

“Don’t say so.” Trientalis looked up quickly. “Amin hiraetha![9]”

Rubus nodded gracious. He rose and went to Galadriel. “Robin thinks we should ask Missne.” He said with an ironic smile.

“Yes, why not?” Galadriel turned toward Robin. “You should go self to him, Robin,” she said. “But take some that accompany you, so you not get lost.”

Robin was happy Galadriel hadn’t offered herself to follow. She had a feeling that Greenwood wasn’t all too taken with the female-spirit. “Can Jacob come with me?” she suggested. She had very much a need to speak more with Jacob; he know so much about everything, and now when she had dreamt about a dront egg, she somehow felt connected to him.

“Of course,” said Jacob and looked flattered.

“Don’t you need someone to better protect you?” asked Rubus. “I have my rapier at my side. A young lady like you would be taken by a real man that better can defend her against –“

“Thanks, I can take care of myself,” said Robin snootily. “I do not think Ag’s people are so fond of getting me any longer. I can think them away, you know.”

Jacob put his hand on Robins shoulder. “You are after your time, Rubus,” he said smiling to the Eredh egol[10]. Rubus corrected his hat and twisted annoyance his red moustache.

Robin and Jacob said, “Until later” to the gathered and waved. Then they left.

  

~*~ Part 37 ~*~

“Do you think Greenwood is very angry with me?” Robin worriedly asked Jacob, when they had walked some way.

The bird watcher shook his head. “You like Greenwood very much, don’t you?” he said.

“I like him, but I don’t know why,” she said.

“I think I know.” Jacob said. “It is because that you both are straight forward and believe in your own ability.”

“But I do not believe very much in my ability. I am just snooty sometimes,” said Robin as an excuse.

“Bullshit,” said Jacob. “If you can think away the Thind mân, you can do what ever you want.” He looked examine on her. “Maybe even find a dront egg,” he added and smiled.

Robin looked into the forest. They had come in among the trees again and were surrounded by leaves shadows from birch and aspen; but further in the spruce stood dark. She remembered the first meeting with Greenwood and a chill went over her back of the thoughts to see the fen again. She had a question that she wanted to ask several times but not dared, because every time she had been embarrassed.

“Yhou, Jacob,” she said.

He turned towards her. “Yes?”

“Would you say that Greenwood is a he or a she?”

Jacob looked thoughtful. “No one knows,” he said. “A she, I think- or possible a he? Little difficult, when you think about it. Why don’t you explore that yourself if you understand what I mean?” He sounded absent-minded.

Robin wondered if he thought about the dront again or maybe on any other bird. She wanted to hear him imitate the stock dove, but he seemed to be so deep in his thoughts that she didn’t dare to disturb him again. She started think over how they would find the giant and how it would feel to be eaten. She wished the giant would eat her head first, and then she would be spared feeling anything when he ate the rest. Because she had a special feeling that everyone thought she should seek the giant, she that had thought away the Manulô and everything. They believed in her, and then it wasn’t good to show she was coward. She wished only Greenwood wanted to follow her. He among any would be able to dupe a giant at the nose. Only he wasn’t angry with her!

First when they almost were at the fens Jacob broke the silent. “It is best you walk the last way alone,” he said. “I wait here.”

They saw the meadow where the fen lay between the trees. Everything was very green there, like nothing could die there.

“Why?” said Robin.

“If you not alone Greenwood will believe you are suspicious and have taken apron with you.” Jacob sounded teasing.

“What do you mean with apron?” Robin wondered.

Jacob laughed. “Earlier in the world, when young ladies meet young men, they needed to have a person with them that kept an eye on them. A wet nurse or maybe even her mother, if it was real bad.”

“What? Ridiculous.”

“Yes, that you can think,” The bird watcher agreed. “Now I will stand behind this spruce and keep an eye, meanwhile you go to the fen.” He gave her a pat on her shoulder.

Robin almost forget to breathe when she walked out in the meadows grass and saw the sunbeams fall on the mirror blank water surface, where not a ring or surging bothered the stillness. She tried in vain to see silver or flowering trees down in the dark water. Magic lay thick over grass and sedge, which d particularly green. Even the mosquito’s dance seemed to have magic. Robin carefully went to the edge of the fen.

“Greenwood,” she whispered. Nothing happened. A wind drew through the standing trees.

“Missne,” she said. “It’s Robin.”

A movement comes from the deep of the fen. A white face, a pair of white hands and something billowing golden shimmer was visible down in the water. A light head broke through the surface. Rings were spread and catch the sunshine.

“So you have returned now?” he said.

“Of course. Please come up from the water.” She let her eyes wander to the spruce where Jacob was standing.

“Am I needed?” Greenwood said and yawned. “Really?”

“We have to get hold of the giant,” said Robin urgently. “Because perhaps he can catch the Angel stone. Do you know where he lives? Is it true that you seen him?”

“Do you think I lie,” Greenwood coolly inquired with a sceptical eyebrow.

“No, not at all,” said Robin.

“But I think so,” said Greenwood. “If the truth would get forward is it so that I have heard the story about the giant from another being, who has seen the most things here in the woods.” He slowly and soundless glided to the shore. Robin resisted the urge to take a step back.

“Who is that then?” she asked.

“He lives in water,” said Greenwood. “He is older than the time itself and stronger than the pines roots. He is colossal and heavy as the stones, but run light as the wind.” Greenwood stepped up from the water and shook himself, so Robin got wet.

“I can’t guess,” Robin said. “And please can you stop splash water on me!”

“Have you something against water, your quaking-grass?” said Greenwood. “Who it is you will learn, for we shall go and speak with him. He is probably the only one that knew where the giant is – if the giant is true. Did you come here alone?”

 

~*~ Part 38 ~*~

“No-o.” Robin blushed. “I have a – hm – apron with me. Just so I did not get lost, you understand.”

Jacob, who heard her words, came forward behind the spruce and lifted his hand to greeting.

“Hello, you old daddy longlegs,” said Greenwood. “So you have been Robin's company now?”

“Noo, I just wanted to move my old legs. Saunter little. Take a walk, you could say.” Jacob looked uncomfortable.

“Then I think you shall saunter back to the meeting place and tell the others that Robin and I will go and find Iarwain[11] in the creek.”

Jacob drew his forehead together. “Is that so very wise?” he said.

“It is our only chance to find the giant,” Greenwood said. “And I think we haven’t anything to fear from Iarwain. We have some in common strain, him and me.” He smiled his mischievous smile.

“I have to trust you on your word, but God help you if something happen,” Jacob said. He waved at them and went reluctantly away.

“Come, Robin,” Greenwood said.

They started to go deeper into the forest, undisturbed of everything than the bird song and the winds voice in the trees. No Hrávemat dared to get out in the sunshine, which fell on the red pine trunks and gave halos to thistles fluff. The man in the moon rock slept deep in the shadow with his gruesome eyes shut. All Madrhaw[12] and Tôgneitha[13] shrink back from the daylight. No Thind mân was seen, but they took a long detour past Lô na dûr.

“Who is Iarwain we are on our way to?” asked Robin.

“You are a very inquisitive little girl, aren’t you?” said Greenwood.

“You have to be that, or you never learn anything. Is it an old man?”

“That I will not say,” said Greenwood. “He has four legs and eyes as silver bullets. And if you not have understood who he is, then you are very dumb.”

Robin kept silent and looked annoyed.

Greenwood sang a quick, low toned melody and his leather clad feet danced over the moss. He didn’t seem to care that Robin sulked.

After a time Robin said: “Why do you tease all the time? It actually makes me sad when you do that.”

Greenwood took a little jump and said: “Why I tease you depends on that you are important for me. That you get sad when I do it is because I am important for you. We are very important, we two you see. There is all reason for us to like us.” He laughed and took her hand.

Robin felt warmth emerge from him. After consider what he said that they were important for each other was probably right. If he thought her important she would dare to ask about him. She did want to learn more regarding him, to hear of things that Galadriel told her concerning him.

 

~*~ Part 39 ~*~

“Greenwood, may I ask you a question?” Robin finally asked him.

“You already asked one, but yes you can.” He replied smiling at her.

“Why do you call yourself with different names? What are you really?”

Greenwood let her hand loose as he stopped and she feared he was angry at her.

“To explain that would take all too long time. Time which we don’t have now.” He looked a little sad.

“Try to make it short, please. As you said you have become important for me and we are friends. Friends know a lot about each others and I want to learn to know you better. So please!”

It was like of her words he started to shine more. He really sparkled.

“Okay, when you ask so nice I will tell you as much as I can until we reach our first goal.”

He took her hand again and started slowly walking.

“I think I told you that I am a woodelf and that is a half truth. My father, Thranduil is from the silvan elves. My mother was an Edhellô another sort of elf, an elf that comes from the water and we can change between the sexes. When I am a mix of them my parents did give me two names. Actually Greenwood is not my given name that is where Thranduil lives, he gave me the name Legolas. My mother gave me the name Callas Palustris. Though I do not like that very much so that is why I sometimes use Missne or Greenwood.” He went silent for a moment, “Maybe I let you call me Legolas.”

“Thanks. Though I think I still not understand what difference it is between a silvan and an Edhellô.”

“That is the longer story which we do need to have a longer time to talk about.” He said as he looked in front of them. “Come, Robin! Do you see the alders? The alders and willows? Behind them are the rivulets!”

Robin thought she became lighter of holding Greenwood in his hand. It sort of sang and tickled in her, like she had soda in her veins.

She was not the least afraid to meet Iarwain, when Greenwood was by her side.