While Elenwë hugged his magician friend, the other three companions looked at Gandalf.

They all had their eyes fixed on him. His hair was as white as snow in the sun, and his robe was brightly white. Under his thick eyebrows, his eyes shone, penetrating like the rays of the sun, the power was in his hands.

Divided between astonishment, joy and fear, they stood there without finding anything to say.

Finally, Aragorn made a move.

-Gandalf! he said. Against all odds, you come back to us in

our need! What veil was before my eyes? Gandalf!

Gimli said nothing, but fell to his knees, sheltering his eyes.

-Gandalf," repeated the old man, as if he was recalling old memories, a word long since out of use. Yes, that was my name. I was Gandalf.

He came down from the rock where he was standing and picked up his grey coat and wrapped himself in it. Then everything went dark again.

-Yes, you can still call me Gandalf," he said, and his voice was that of their old friend and guide: "Get up, my good Gimli! I have nothing to reproach you with, and you have done me no harm. Truly, my friends, none of you has a weapon that can reach me. Be merry! We meet again. At the turning of the tide. The great storm is coming.

He put his hand on Gimli's head, the Dwarf looked up and laughed suddenly.

-Gandalf! he said. But you are all in white!

-Yes, I am white now,' said Gandalf. Truly, I am Saruman, one could almost say Saruman as he should have been. But, come on, tell me about yourselves! I have passed through fire and deep water since we parted. I have forgotten much of what I thought I knew and I have also learned many things that I had forgotten. I can see a lot of things far away, but many things close to me I can't see. Tell me about yourselves!

-What do you want to know about yourselves? Aragorn asked. All the events

since our separation on the bridge would make a long story. Wouldn't

Why don't you tell us about the Hobbits first? Do you have

found you and are they safe and sound?

-Yes my friends, I saw them. They met the oldest Ent in this forest, the one that in common language is called Sylvebarbe. They are safe.

-An... ent? Gimli asked.

Tree-like creatures who are the oldest people in Middle-earth, recited Elenwë in one go.

Gimli raised an eyebrow in amazement.

-You can learn at any age! he said.

They sat down and Aragorn told all that had happened to them from the mines of Moria.

When Aragorn came to the story of the departure of the Lothlorien, they remembered the slight navigational accidents they had had at that time and recalled that no one knew how Elenwë had been able to stay underwater for five minutes and come out dry.

He told Gandalf about this passage and Elenwë had the unpleasant surprise of being subjected to the more than inquisitive gaze of his companions.

Gandalf because he didn't know and the other three because they had forgotten and suddenly wanted to understand what had happened.

Elenwë turned pale and stammered three words.

-We didn't understand anything, Elenwë then said Legolas.

Gandalf smiled when he saw Elenwë blush and cough.

-Actually... I don't know exactly what happened.

-But what else? Aragorn asked.

-Well... it looks like I can breathe underwater.

-I'm sorry?! Gimli, Gandalf, Legolas and Aragorn exclaimed in their hearts.

-Oh that's all right..." Elenwë said, lowering her gaze. I can't tell you any more than that, except that now, every time, the water seems to be calling me.

-Which is to say? asked Legolas.

-Well... you're a wood elf yourself, aren't you? Legolas aquiesca. You have a special relationship with trees, you hear them and sometimes you can communicate with them. And so sometimes I hear a kind of call from the water and when I ask it for something, it obeys me.

-It's strange..." Gandalf muttered. I've never heard of water elves.

-Ahahahaha! Gimli left in a sudden burst of laughter. Water elves... frogs of sorts!

Elenwë glanced at him blackly and stood up, quite angry.

-Because you may think it amuses me that I don't understand what's happening to me?

She took off at a brisk pace in front of her companions, who looked at her in amazement.

Aragorn finally sighed.

-Legolas? he said. You should go and fetch her.

The elf nodded and got up and headed for the place where the young elf had taken refuge.

As he approached, he perceived on his left a muffled sobs.

She was crying?

He moved closer to her.

Elenwë was sitting against a tree, curled up, her knees against her chest and her face buried in his arms.

Legolas sat down beside her and put an arm across her shoulders.

She raised her face, looking up at Legolas. She wasn't crying but there was an air of real distress on her face.

Legolas held her close to him and Elenwë relaxed a little.

-Elenwë... nobody blames you for not knowing. That's all right... we'll understand in the end.

-I'm sorry to be like that. It worries me a little.

-That's quite normal. You can count on my help whenever you want.

Legolas looked at her and then noticed her hand.

-Did you burn yourself? he said, pointing to his hand.

-Oh, yes, I did. The hilt of my sword...

-Let's join the others and go and heal it. I have a healing ointment which is very effective. You have already proved its merits, it is the one I used on you in Moria. In any case, don't blame Gimli too much.

-I can never blame her," she says with a faint smile, "he's far too funny for that!

-That's true," said Legolas, smiling too. Let's go.

Legolas stood up, extending his hand to Elenwë.

They walked side by side until they found their companions.