"My Lady?" Gilan asked when the rest of the Fellowship was out of earshot.
"It is good to see you well, Gilan. We were worried when you left so abruptly without telling anyone." Gilan grimaced.
"I am sorry for that. I am sorry for everything, in fact. I've taken an unfair advantage of your hospitality and gave nothing in return and-"
"Slow down, Gilan." Said Celeborn with a warm smile. "We do not expect anything in return. We do, however, wish to know why you left. Was it something we did?"
"No, no!" Panicked Gilan. "I am forever grateful that you took me in. I... I just needed to move on." The bard said and bowed his head.
"Where did you go?"
"I just traveled. Up to the Gray Mountains. I stayed with a few rangers and learned how to defend myself. And eventually I met Mithrandir." Gilan's voice drifted away and sadness crossed his face..
"I see. You can return to your companions now. Have a good rest. You need it." Celeborn sighed and Gilan bowed.
"Thank you, my lord."
Legolas almost didn't notice Gilan joining them at the campsite they made. The bard was as quiet as a mouse and seemed to not want anyone talking to him. The only other person to see him was Aragorn, who just momentarily lifted his eyes and then looked down again. The elf looked away too.
***
A scream wakes Gilan up. He shoots up from his bedroll and tilts his head to listen. It is quite the distance away but he can hear lady Galadriel speaking to Frodo. The hobbit's voice shook with terror and Gilan quickly made his way closer. He felt the air shift and the leaves in the trees trembled as Galadriel spoke loudly.
"In place of the Dark Lord, you would have
a Queen, not dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Dawn. Treacherous as the Sea! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!" Her voice seemed to reach his very core. His blood ran cold and he clenched his hands to stop them from trembling. And then, with a sigh, it all stopped. Galadriel laughed, her voice once again soft and a bit sad. "I pass the test. I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel." Gilan, still hidden by the trees, slowly turned on his heel and began walking away. The Ring Bearer was in no danger. There was no use in returning to the campsite, he wouldn't fall asleep again even if he wanted. Instead, he climbed one of the trees and hid in the leaves. The air was too quiet for him so he started to hum a slow, familiar melody.
"When a humble bard
graced a ride along
with Gandalf the Wizard
along came this song." He mumbled out and then stopped as the quiver of his voice grew stronger. He bit his lip, angry at himself.
"It has a nice melody." Gilan jerked, startled.
"Weren't you taught it's not nice to sneak up on people?" Sighed Gilan and Haldir hummed.
"I was never able to sneak up on you." The elf sat next to him and lightly bumped their shoulders together. "Is it Mithrandir? I've never seen you affected by anything that happened to you so much. Even when... Do you want to talk about it?" Silence stretched between them. "Tell me what happened after you left then." Gilan let out a short sigh and straightened up, giving into Haldir's distraction.
"I became a bard." Haldir covered his mouth as a laugh escaped his lips.
"A bard?" He repeated between giggles. Gilan snorted too and nodded.
YOU ARE READING
Out of Sight, Out of Mind//Legolas
FanfictionOnce Gandalf offers him a seat among the Council of Imladris, Gilan joins the fellowship on its way to destroy the One Ring. He is, however, met with some prejudices, for he is just a bard. And blind, but that would have nothing to do with it, right...
