Chapter 8 - Chapter 7

Chapter 7
          Tillyennaturned sixteen next spring. The day after hersixteenth birthday Tilly had to go and see her father to greet an old friend ofhis. She expected to see an old, fragile, half mad hobbit or something, but no.She met up with Nimrodel and they walked in together. Elrond introduced hisfriend,
          “Tillyenna,Nimrodel I would like you to meet Legolas Greenleaf of the woodland realm. Hehas come to stay in Rivendell to wait for his family to return from the undyinglands. Treat him well, he is used to royalty, he is the prince of Mirkwood.”That was the final straw Tilly dropped the cup she was holding and ran out ofthe room. Nimrodel stood in Tillyenna’s defence,
          “Daddyhow could you be so thoughtless?” she scolded
          “Thoughtless?”Elrond inquired,
          “Heis a wood elf, poor Tilly it really is unfair on her, prince of Mirkwood aswell. Daddy you must learn to think about these things. However is she meant tobear the company of a wood elf all day? Oh I suppose I had better go and findher and sort out everything, as usual,” following that Nimrodel ran out aswell.
         
Shefound Tilly lying in the garden with her head in Galandiel’s lap, crying herpoor heart out. Nimrodel turned to Galandiel,
          “ThankElbereth you’ve found her. It’s simply a disaster.”
          “what in middle earth has happened, every time I try and findout she just starts crying again,”
          “well you know dad’s friend that’s come to stay,” explainedNimrodel “he’s only prince of Mirkwood!”
          “Ed' i'ear ar' elenea! Whatever is your dad thinking?”
          “Idon’t know it’s like he’s just gone and forgotten that huge great scar on hercheek!”
         
Tillysat up, and with tears still running down her cheeks she made a plan, “all Iknow of that we can do is just annoy his majesty prince Greenleaf until he getssick of us and moves out!”
          “Anexcellent plan,” agreed Nimrodel “I don’t think the three of us would mind takingthe liberty, do you?”
          “Notat all.” confirmed Galandiel “not at all.”
          “Notstraight away,” said Tilly “first we have to find out where his room is, andthen we can make his life Mordor!”
          “Brilliant”approved Nimrodel “My mind’s bursting with tricks,”
** * * * *
            Howeverbefore they had the chance to play even the smallest trick on Legolas,Galandiel and Tillyenna decided to go on holiday. First to Lothlorien then toFangorn and Orthanc, to Rohan then to Gondor and then back again.
 
Tillyand Galandiel packed the few things they needed, for they were to travellight.  They went to the stables tocollect Wingfoot and Shadowfax – gandalf was an old wizard now and he rarelyhad use for Shadowfax so he had given him as a girt to Tillyenna – Galandielmounted Shadowfax and Tilly mounted Wingfoot.
         
Theyentered the boarders of Lothlorien just before nightfall. They had not gonevery far when an elf with jet black hair, (except for the streaks of pink),
          “Gilthoniel!”exclaimed Tilly “I was wondering when you’d show up.”
          “Ohit’s you” came a rather disheartened reply “I washoping it would be someone I could shoot, or at least threaten.”
          “Youreally are very violent aren’t you?” asked Galandiel “but I will forgive you asyou didn’t shoot us, would you like to escort us to the White City?”
          “Itwould be my pleasure.”
         
Gilthoniellead them to the white city where two guards stood by the entrance, they stoodto attention as Tilly, Galandiel and Gilthoniel walked through,
          “Evenin’Miss Tillyenna” one greeted Tilly,
          “Offto see yer Granny?” the other asked,
          “Yeswe are, good-bye now” said Tilly and trying to stifle a giggle she walked off.When they were safely out of earshot she burst into hysterics.”
          “Whatin middle earth is so funny?” asked Gilthoniel,
          “Wellyou see the Lady Galadriel isn’t exactly what I would call a granny!” shemanaged to splutter,
          “Notexactly,” agreed Galandiel and the three of them walked off spluttering andlaughing.
         
Whenthey reached the door of the palace, Tilly and Galandiel bid their good-byes toGilthoniel, straightened themselves out, dusted off, attempted to stoplaughing, and entered with the grace and posture that they should. It was LordCeleborn they saw first, Tilly ran to greet him,
          “Grandpa!”she yelled as he swept her up in an enormous hug, “It’s so good to see you,”
          “HelloChick-a-bee, it’s good to see you to! How’s my favourite little granddaughterthen. Not so little anymore though, but come your grandmother is in the greathall, this way, oh and try to be nice.”
“Ialways am!” replied Tillyenna indignantly. And with that, Lord Celeborn ledthem to the great hall. Tilly entered like a princess, she curtseyedrespectfully,
          “LadyGaladriel”
          “Ah, Tillyenna, Galandiel. I’m glad you have arrived safely,however you must be tired after your journey, your rooms are upstairs Arelliwill show you, Good-night.”
         
Atall elf showed Galandiel and Tillyenna upstairs, when they were stood outsidethe doors of their rooms he left them.
          “Chick-a-bee?”asked Galandiel in a subtly incredulous tone, that Tilly new well enough torecognise,
          “Lookhe’s my Grandpa? OK. Besides where did ‘Tils’ come from?”
          Galandielturned bright red, “Dina,” he muttered,
          “Nighty-nighty,”said Tillyenna, as she turned to go back to her room,
          “Autamiqula orqu” he yelled after her,
          “Loveyou too!” came the shout from her room.
 
 
 
          Arelliwoke them in the morning with the information that the Lady Galadriel had asurprise for them. Tillyenna dressed in her best sky blue dress and Galandielwore his best tunic, they both did their hair in the traditional way ofLothlorien, they walked down to the Lady Galadriel’s mirror together on the wayTilly whispered to Galandiel “hey, your skirt is even shorter than mine” shelaughed,
          “shut up” came the annoyed reply, Galandiel did not likewearing a tunic.
         
Theyarrived at the Lady Galadriel’s mirror and their stood Galadriel herself, and asmall girl at her side. Galadriel pushed the girl gently towards Tilly and said
          “Tillyennathis is your cousin Lillia” the small child muttered something inaudible “ sheis unfortunately an orphan and as the White City is no longer any place for asmall child your father and I agreed she is to live in Rivendell, I’m terriblysorry to spoil your holiday but would you mind desperately taking her straightback to Rivendell?”
          “We’dlove to” said Tilly before Galandiel even had a chance to draw breath, “wecould even leave today if you want”
          “Thankyou so much, why don’t you take Lillia to pack herbelongings” again Lillia muttered something inaudible,
          “Whydoesn’t she show us the way,” suggested Tilly and she Galandiel and Lilliawalked towards the dwellings,
          “Rightso you are Lillia” assumed Tilly,
          “Myname is Lilly”
          “Ohso that’s what you said, well you can call me Tilly, ok now let’s go and pack”

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