[Daniel Telcontar]

Elendil rode, as usual, on his grey stallion, and normally he would give some attention, pat it now and then, but not today. He had just left the army where it was encamped south of the Nimrodel, and with his son he followed Gil-galad and Oropher into a place where few mortals had ever been: The Golden Wood.

Elendil, ever the King, hid his state of awe, but his eyes greedily swallowed every impression of the golden trees, and the elves that now and then were to be seen. Likewise, Isildur hid is emotions, but his motive was different; he did not like to think how it was impossible for even the men of Númenor to conjure up an image comparable to this.

The four men and elves reached Caras Galadhon, and unmounted. A servant led them up the stairs of a huge tree. Gil-galad was in the front, unimpressed by the sights; he had clearly seen such wonders before. Oropher also kept his gaze in front of him, acting as if he was a bit bored, whereas the two men could not stop gazing in every direction, to the mirth of the elven maidens who sat in the treetops and watched the visitors.

Finally they reached the top, and entered a kind of room on the top of the majestic tree. A table stood in the center, with chairs around, and a few guards stood posted around. Then three people entered the room; Malgalad, king of Loth-lorien, and Celeborn with his wife Galadriel.

Isildur's eyes were caught by Galadriel, and it was not the fact that she was the most beatiful and mysterious elven woman he had ever seen; but her gaze seemed to pierce his soul, as if she knew his every secret. He gasped and looked down in the floor, not able to lift his gaze.

Gil-galad greeted Malgalad and Celeborn solemnly, and then embraced his kinswoman Galadriel, who let out a pearly laughter.
Oropher did the same, though his greeting to Celeborn was the most enthusiastic.

It became clear to Elendil that these were relatives, and this was not just a meeting of war, as much as a reunion of friends. He and Isildur were introduced, and when the turn came to Galadriel he bowed deep and kissed her hand. Even Isildur bowed when Gil-galad said her name, but was due to the fact that he did not dare meet her stare.

They sat down around the table, which Elendil discovered where a part of the tree, and conversation erupted. Elendil soon discovered why Galadriel was present; her knowledge of Sauron was great, and it seemed to him that the others willingly accepted her word. He himself was becomingenchanted, and he could feel the magic of the elves drawing him into another world, were it not for one thing; his son, who sat sullenly next to him.