The Withering Jewel
A young maiden stood on her balcony in the sanctuary of Rivendell. She
watched longingly as the guards practiced with theirs bows, aiming at
targets and hitting them perfectly in the center. She sighed and turned her
head away, wanting to run down there and practice with them. But, she knew
her father, Lord Elrond, would scold her for wanting to be more like a
warrior then his youngest daughter. It was true; she did want to be a
warrior. Dreaming of going out with her older brothers to battle and hunt.
Except all her dreams were crushed into pieces by her father. Always
telling her to act lady like and find an elf to marry.
She did not know what she wanted and he was always pushing her to do the
things she did not want to do. She shook the thoughts from her head wanting
to enjoy the beauty of the city. The sun began to slowly set mixing the sky
with colors of purple and yellow. She smiled wider as loved this part of
the day. It made Rivendell look so peaceful and serene.
"Culaldaiel Lightleaf, What are you doing out here?" came a familiar voice
from behind her.
She turned suddenly to see an elf standing there. He had brown hair and
clear eyes. He was wearing brown robes with a silver headband.
"Father, I was just watching the sunset."
"You are supposed to be at the banquet for our honored quests. Child, you
try my patience. Now put on some decent pair of clothes and come down to
the Hall quickly."
She nodded and he turned disappearing out of her room. She sighed and felt
the tears forming in her sapphire blue eyes. She obeyed him though she did
not want to. She glanced over to where the guards were practicing and
noticed they were not there anymore. She rushed into her room shutting the
balcony doors behind her. She threw open her wooden cabinet doors and
pulled out a white shimmering dress. She placed it on, smoothing out the
wrinkles and looked in the mirror. It came down to her feet and clung to
her slender, curvy body. The sleeves were cut to her elbow and had the
sleeves drooping down. It showed much cleavage, but not too much as to make
her father angry. She wore a necklace that was similar to the necklace
Arwen wore except that hers was wrought in sapphire.
She brushed her shoulder length copper-red hair and fixed on a silver
headband. She slipped on her white satin slippers and rushed down to the
great hall. Once she got down to the doors she slowed down and smoothed out
her dress. She nodded to the guards and they opened the doors. People were
sitting, watching her father make a speech when she gracefully entered.
" Here she is now, my youngest daughter. Her name is Lady Culaldaiel and
she is as stunning as the stars above."
She bowed her head politely and flashed a fake smile. She glanced around at
the table seeing her brothers and sister. She began walking to her seat
when she noticed an elf that made her stop for a second. He had long blonde
hair and crystal blue eyes, not as quite as light as hers. He had luscious
pink lips that were full and he had delicate, milky white skin. He was clad
in greens and browns. She stumbled as he gazed up at her, their eyes
finally meeting.
"Culaldaiel, Take your seat," Elrond said softly.
She forced her gaze away from him and sat down next to Elrond and Arwen.
She stared down at her plate, thinking. She was not hungry at all nor did
she have any intention to eat. People began engaging in conversations as
she looked over to Arwen.
"Arwen," she tenderly whispered.
Arwen leaned in to hear her sister talk.
"Who is the man with golden hair and eyes like sapphires?" she inquired.
"Prince Legolas of Mirkwood, Son of King Thranduil," she whispered back.
She nodded and sighed to herself. A prince. Her soul mate was a prince. She
had always wanted a man like Strider. Noble and fierce, yet caring and
content. This prince looked like a prissy, rude, spoiled little brat,
winning girls hearts with his royal title and good looks. She sighed yet
again. It was true; the elf was extremely good-looking with eyes you just
wanted to stare into forever. She shook her head as she found herself once
again drawn to stare at him. She broke her gaze again by looking at her
father.
"May I be excused for the night? I am extremely tired," she said
innocently.
"As you wish, my daughter," he bowed his head to her, "Good night."
She smiled and stood up looking at the long table.
"It has indeed been a pleasurable evening but, I have grown weary and am
going to retire to my quarters for the night. Good night to you all and May
Eru be kind to thee."
She bowed her head and marched out gracefully, her dress slightly dragging
behind her. She had felt his icy blue eyes on her but she did not dare make
eye contact once more. She walked as fast as she could to her room. She
opened the door and slammed it behind her. She hated attending her father's
banquets. She took off her jewelry except her necklace and changed into a
silver silk nightdress. She grabbed her midnight blue cloak and placed it
on, walking over to her balcony she threw the doors open and walked to the
edge, grabbing the railing.
She glimpsed up at the stars and smiled wide. She loved the stars above
everything else. She heard a rustle amongst the bushes and saw Legolas
trailing his slender fingers across them. She held her breath hoping he
would notice her. As she had wished, he glanced up at her.
"Good evening, m'lady," he said simply.
She tried to speak but no words came out. He was so handsome he made her
tongue-tied. She laughed slightly, her cheeks and the tips of her pointed
ears turned bright red. The moonlight shone brightly on her breath-taking
features. Her pin straight copper-red hair was swaying rhythmically with
the shallow breeze. Her cherry red lips curved upwards into a sweet
childish smile. Her slightly tanned skin smooth and yet tough gleaming in
the moonlight. Her clear, sapphire blue eyes blessed with shining stars in
them glittered brightly than the stars in heaven.
"Lady Culaldaiel, you are absolutely the most stunning creature on Middle
Earth. You are like a fallen star that still has its heavenly glow."
"I thank you for your compliments. You praise me as I do you," she laughed
pleasantly.
"I must be going off to bed but tell me you will meet me in the morning
perhaps for a tour of Rivendell, from you to me?"
"I would be honored to be your guide."
He bowed and disappeared into the shadows. She could not help but chuckle
senselessly.
"Child, get in here we must talk," came a voice behind her. She knew
instantly it was Elrond.
She turned and her feelings of joy were diminished. She slowly walked in
and shut the doors behind her.
"And what do I owe the pleasure to for this joyous meeting?" she said
sarcastically.
"Sit down. I should not have waited this long to tell you, but there shall
be no more lies just the truth." He said seriously.
She sat down as he had commanded her to do. She stared up at him, wondering
what was going on. Just then Arwen, Elladan and Elrohir entered the room.
She looked each one over, noticing that Arwen had just been crying.
"What is this all about, father? Why was Arwen crying?" she was so confused
and distressed.
"This is very difficult to tell you and it pains me to do so. But, I must.
We can no longer keep this from you. He is here. He wants and needs to see
you."
"He? Who are you talking about? Father." but she was interrupted by Elrond.
"Stop calling me that. This is painful enough. Just be silent and let me
explain," he took a long breath of air then stared straight into
Culaldaiel's eyes, "Culaldaiel, I am not your father. Arwen, Elladan and
Elrohir are not your kin."
Tears were streaking down his cheek and Arwen burst out crying.
A young maiden stood on her balcony in the sanctuary of Rivendell. She
watched longingly as the guards practiced with theirs bows, aiming at
targets and hitting them perfectly in the center. She sighed and turned her
head away, wanting to run down there and practice with them. But, she knew
her father, Lord Elrond, would scold her for wanting to be more like a
warrior then his youngest daughter. It was true; she did want to be a
warrior. Dreaming of going out with her older brothers to battle and hunt.
Except all her dreams were crushed into pieces by her father. Always
telling her to act lady like and find an elf to marry.
She did not know what she wanted and he was always pushing her to do the
things she did not want to do. She shook the thoughts from her head wanting
to enjoy the beauty of the city. The sun began to slowly set mixing the sky
with colors of purple and yellow. She smiled wider as loved this part of
the day. It made Rivendell look so peaceful and serene.
"Culaldaiel Lightleaf, What are you doing out here?" came a familiar voice
from behind her.
She turned suddenly to see an elf standing there. He had brown hair and
clear eyes. He was wearing brown robes with a silver headband.
"Father, I was just watching the sunset."
"You are supposed to be at the banquet for our honored quests. Child, you
try my patience. Now put on some decent pair of clothes and come down to
the Hall quickly."
She nodded and he turned disappearing out of her room. She sighed and felt
the tears forming in her sapphire blue eyes. She obeyed him though she did
not want to. She glanced over to where the guards were practicing and
noticed they were not there anymore. She rushed into her room shutting the
balcony doors behind her. She threw open her wooden cabinet doors and
pulled out a white shimmering dress. She placed it on, smoothing out the
wrinkles and looked in the mirror. It came down to her feet and clung to
her slender, curvy body. The sleeves were cut to her elbow and had the
sleeves drooping down. It showed much cleavage, but not too much as to make
her father angry. She wore a necklace that was similar to the necklace
Arwen wore except that hers was wrought in sapphire.
She brushed her shoulder length copper-red hair and fixed on a silver
headband. She slipped on her white satin slippers and rushed down to the
great hall. Once she got down to the doors she slowed down and smoothed out
her dress. She nodded to the guards and they opened the doors. People were
sitting, watching her father make a speech when she gracefully entered.
" Here she is now, my youngest daughter. Her name is Lady Culaldaiel and
she is as stunning as the stars above."
She bowed her head politely and flashed a fake smile. She glanced around at
the table seeing her brothers and sister. She began walking to her seat
when she noticed an elf that made her stop for a second. He had long blonde
hair and crystal blue eyes, not as quite as light as hers. He had luscious
pink lips that were full and he had delicate, milky white skin. He was clad
in greens and browns. She stumbled as he gazed up at her, their eyes
finally meeting.
"Culaldaiel, Take your seat," Elrond said softly.
She forced her gaze away from him and sat down next to Elrond and Arwen.
She stared down at her plate, thinking. She was not hungry at all nor did
she have any intention to eat. People began engaging in conversations as
she looked over to Arwen.
"Arwen," she tenderly whispered.
Arwen leaned in to hear her sister talk.
"Who is the man with golden hair and eyes like sapphires?" she inquired.
"Prince Legolas of Mirkwood, Son of King Thranduil," she whispered back.
She nodded and sighed to herself. A prince. Her soul mate was a prince. She
had always wanted a man like Strider. Noble and fierce, yet caring and
content. This prince looked like a prissy, rude, spoiled little brat,
winning girls hearts with his royal title and good looks. She sighed yet
again. It was true; the elf was extremely good-looking with eyes you just
wanted to stare into forever. She shook her head as she found herself once
again drawn to stare at him. She broke her gaze again by looking at her
father.
"May I be excused for the night? I am extremely tired," she said
innocently.
"As you wish, my daughter," he bowed his head to her, "Good night."
She smiled and stood up looking at the long table.
"It has indeed been a pleasurable evening but, I have grown weary and am
going to retire to my quarters for the night. Good night to you all and May
Eru be kind to thee."
She bowed her head and marched out gracefully, her dress slightly dragging
behind her. She had felt his icy blue eyes on her but she did not dare make
eye contact once more. She walked as fast as she could to her room. She
opened the door and slammed it behind her. She hated attending her father's
banquets. She took off her jewelry except her necklace and changed into a
silver silk nightdress. She grabbed her midnight blue cloak and placed it
on, walking over to her balcony she threw the doors open and walked to the
edge, grabbing the railing.
She glimpsed up at the stars and smiled wide. She loved the stars above
everything else. She heard a rustle amongst the bushes and saw Legolas
trailing his slender fingers across them. She held her breath hoping he
would notice her. As she had wished, he glanced up at her.
"Good evening, m'lady," he said simply.
She tried to speak but no words came out. He was so handsome he made her
tongue-tied. She laughed slightly, her cheeks and the tips of her pointed
ears turned bright red. The moonlight shone brightly on her breath-taking
features. Her pin straight copper-red hair was swaying rhythmically with
the shallow breeze. Her cherry red lips curved upwards into a sweet
childish smile. Her slightly tanned skin smooth and yet tough gleaming in
the moonlight. Her clear, sapphire blue eyes blessed with shining stars in
them glittered brightly than the stars in heaven.
"Lady Culaldaiel, you are absolutely the most stunning creature on Middle
Earth. You are like a fallen star that still has its heavenly glow."
"I thank you for your compliments. You praise me as I do you," she laughed
pleasantly.
"I must be going off to bed but tell me you will meet me in the morning
perhaps for a tour of Rivendell, from you to me?"
"I would be honored to be your guide."
He bowed and disappeared into the shadows. She could not help but chuckle
senselessly.
"Child, get in here we must talk," came a voice behind her. She knew
instantly it was Elrond.
She turned and her feelings of joy were diminished. She slowly walked in
and shut the doors behind her.
"And what do I owe the pleasure to for this joyous meeting?" she said
sarcastically.
"Sit down. I should not have waited this long to tell you, but there shall
be no more lies just the truth." He said seriously.
She sat down as he had commanded her to do. She stared up at him, wondering
what was going on. Just then Arwen, Elladan and Elrohir entered the room.
She looked each one over, noticing that Arwen had just been crying.
"What is this all about, father? Why was Arwen crying?" she was so confused
and distressed.
"This is very difficult to tell you and it pains me to do so. But, I must.
We can no longer keep this from you. He is here. He wants and needs to see
you."
"He? Who are you talking about? Father." but she was interrupted by Elrond.
"Stop calling me that. This is painful enough. Just be silent and let me
explain," he took a long breath of air then stared straight into
Culaldaiel's eyes, "Culaldaiel, I am not your father. Arwen, Elladan and
Elrohir are not your kin."
Tears were streaking down his cheek and Arwen burst out crying.