Part 5

Their own room, on the floor below, was large and draughty, but the landlord’s wife had lit the fire and aired the bed, and provided them both with flannel night clothes. Legolas held a thick nightshirt against his chest. “What do you think, melmenya? Does it suit me?”

Eowyn shook her head. “No.” She sat down heavily.

“You look tired.”

“No… It has just been a strange day. Do you think we will find Melannen’s parents?”

Legolas draped the nightshirt over a chair to warm. “I do not know, melmenya,” he said, kneeling down to unfasten her jerkin. “I think it unlikely that they live in the Forest” He slid it off her shoulders.

“Why?”

He pulled off her boots. “Because: why would anyone with such a well-situated home abandon a child?”

“I think it strange,” said Eowyn, unlacing her leggings, “that he managed to walk so far without being found. And did you hear what the landlord said—that it was a long time since he had seen any elves?”

“Yes. I pressed him on that but he was adamant: he has never heard of any elves living in the Forest. Of course,” he added, “elves are not seen when they do not want to be.”

He fetched the warmed nightshirt, and Eowyn slipped out of her tunic, and put it on. Legolas pulled back the quilt and she climbed into bed.

“Oh,” she cried, “it is freezing!”

The elf laughed. “Just a moment.” He undressed quickly and, naked, climbed in beside her.

“I win,” said Eowyn, snuggling close.