Within Redwick's adventures he had before encountered elves, yet not all of them were as they seemed and he seldom shares tales of it; especially amongst his own kin-folk. For he himself would call himself ælfwine, yet he would not have other men of Rohan hear of it.
Of the first elves he encountered in Rivendell! The hidden valley of the elves, The Mead Company found it and most of them hated it. They caused quite a stir amongst the elves, and those of The Warband of Imladris would be able to share the tale of their coming and going, yet I doubt whether they should speak of their company's return journey. That day brought such an uncouth sight that many now dread to speak of it, save for the members of the company who laugh and cackle at the memory of it.
The second time was once more in Rivendell when Redwick and Alfknutr went forth a secret quest. Of what was this quest one might ask? It was a quest to get gifts for their women to please them, but that is another tale that I shall not go deep into. There they met an elf who Redwick became fond of, for ever was he kind to Redwick when even he had wronged an elf for mere jest and amusement, for when he did so he knew not better of elves and thought them to be evil and spell-casters. Let us not forget that Redwick was not one who harkened intently to tales of his folk, thus he knew not of those until Alfknutr shared them with him. A funny story perhaps. Yet Redwick admired this elf who spoke to him with what seemed endless patience and then Redwick was curious of them. There he watched the elves dance beneath the light of the moon and how beautifully they danced, Redwick was taken in awe as he watched. Now he thought that if ever there was witch-craft within the elves, this was it and he saw no ill in it. He watched the elves dance as though he was taken by a spell, so beautiful, so blissful that he himself wished to dance in the same fashion with Therwen, yet he knew not how to dance unless he was drunk!
There was a time when Redwick had an unpleasant meeting with an elf, he had met her in Rivendell and there she wore a guise and seemed frail. She sought to deceive him but one as cunning as Redwick was not easy to deceive, even by an elf. Yet this one was not as fair as the rest, it was as though the light that shone upon the rest had faded upon her and all was black. Redwick did not become fond of her and yet he thought naught of her trickery until their second meeting which took place in a dreaded place: The Barrow Downs. There Redwick had tracked along with the the aid of Awilred for their friend Merys who had gone missing to the West of Bree. Redwick fought aside all fear and horror of what he beheld of the accursed place, for the love that he had for his friend was greater than his fear of what stirred. And there he found her, in the mercy of an elf who demanded ransom for her freedom. Poor Merys was held captive and Redwick gazed upon the elf with hatred, he swore that he shall take vengeance upon her for her ill-doing that day. Of the rest of the tale concerning Merys' capture Redwick plays no part in, yet he went and sought for the device that the elf, Thangrineth wished for in ransom. What evil drove this elf Redwick did not understand, yet he knew well his intent with her. And that is of Redwick's dealings with the elves. He learnt well that not all can be trusted.
Now tales may have gone far and wide within the Riddermark that elves have been caught wandering through their lands, these elves were hindered by Denholm's Eored who found them. There they encircled the elves who huddled against another in defense and they aimed their swords, their spears and their arrows at each other. Elves and men. Redwick was amongst the Eored and his bow was pointed at an elf with an arrow to the string. Redwick bent his bow but with a heavy heart, for he did not wish slay any elf who had given him no reason to, but he knew his orders as a rider and would have released that arrow if ever there was need. For long Denholm exchanged words with the elves and orders that their weapons be lowered. There was some rebellion amongst the elves but that was resolved by themselves, for they had knocked out one who would not lower her weapons. Now Redwick hearkened as they spoke and though he enjoyed the sound of the Elven tongues he did not like that they would conspire within the rider's circle, thus he had demanded that they cease it with a simple excuse that their may be bewitchment upon their tongues. As Redwick listened to them speak in their common tongue to their leader he felt disappointment, for they sought for a friend of theirs who was taken into the lands of Rohan. He felt pity for the elves, yet he did not like their means of business and thought that if ever their friend was so dear to them then by now they would have done without question what they were told, for they were trespassing within the lands of the Horsemen and it would do them well not to hinder their pursuit further by bickering with the men who protected those lands. And ever as they spoke on his frustration grew more and more, for he did indeed wish to see the elves on their way. But such a wish was not in his command, nor would it ever be his to make. He was a mere rider there and he had orders that he was to follow, but he grew to trust those elves little. He did not like them and he began to tease them as he sat atop Goldwine, aiming his bow from one to the other, watching if they were afraid.
At length they agreed for their weapons to be taken and Redwick himself held some, the weapons were beautiful and his curious eyes could spend little time away from them. He could not understand why something so beautiful was designed to slay foul orcs. Eventually his frustration passed and he was at ease when the elves finally followed Denholm's demands and were taken to Grimslade. There they were locked into store room where they were to await word from Grimbold who they claimed had given them passage into Rohan. Yet time still remained for them to speak with the elves, for a while Redwick sought to befriend(Mind you, Redwick often has different ways of making friends than others) them and he thought that perhaps he may grow to trust them, they asked for his name and he gave it amongst his title! Yet his thoughts were betrayed and soon fell once more, he began to tease them with mild insults and the elves insulted back. This Redwick found some amusement in for he found it entertaining to hear of how others may describe him, be it good or bad. He was not easy to offend but the manner of which the elves spoke soon annoyed him. His mirth remained and he kept exchanging insults with some of them before he got bored. Denholm had ordered some men within Grimslade to clear out the store room, they had no desire for the elves to eat their food, but Redwick made his move swift to secure a single barrel with his cunning so that he and the other riders may drink.
Up he filled two mugs and gave one to Yrminas who he swiftly grew fond of in the past few days, for they had some likeliness. Redwick drank and continued to exchange more insults with the elves for a while. The elves spoke of Mandos and this only merely baffled Redwick, for he knew not of the lords across the great sea, save for Orome who the Eorlingas knew as The Legendary Huntsman or Bema. He thought Mandos to be an elf and laughed at the elves when they mentioned that he would not lend his aid to the elves. When the elves were presented with a basket of foods Redwick thought it to be for him and his comrades as reward after their efforts of capturing elves. He was wrong. He took a roll and began to eat from it before he knew that it was for the elves, he did indeed feel foolish, but he would not say anything and rather laughed at himself within his mind.
A woman amongst the Riders had also seemed to be ælfwine and felt more pity for these elves than Redwick, for now his pity was little to none. She protested that they be treated better but none of the men would have that. Redwick's source of amusement then turned from the elves to her, for he teased and jested. Seeking to make the woman herself a jest. Her name was Ileen and she had a solid, stubborn face much alike the elves that sat scattered within the store room. Though Redwick had teased her, he meant no ill to her and thought that she might amuse him for many more days to come. She offered wine to the elves but Denholm would not have, nor would Redwick wish it, instead she was ordered to bring them water. Once she had brought in water for the elves -which they appeared rather ungrateful to receive- Redwick had built saliva in his mouth and threatened to spit into it as jest. He would not do such a thing so cruel, and he merely wished to see how she would respond. Needless to say: Her nor Denholm was pleased, but her more than he.
Redwick thought these elves to be too prideful, he doubted whether he could befriend them, but he remains willing to try again. Perhaps by different means.
This is not the end of this tale, only the end of this chapter.
