A Place In Heaven

It was a day much like this that I found myself on a grand ship. One only reserved for people of the utmost importance to my father. After what seems like years and in fact only days I can still see my father's face clearly as he stood on the royal dock waving to me. His features and posture so sure, he reeked of confidence only a man as great as him can portray and yet his eyes betrayed him. No one knew. Had I not had a close interest in people's eyes I would not have noticed either.

I was my father's only child. Was? The world I left behind seems so far away and I will try my best to keep away from it. It is as if God has purposefully set my life upon this course, this surely was meant to be. I woke up this morning to find myself on a foreign shore; I assume it is foreign as there is none of the usual fisherman around. I take a moment as I realized that this moment will never come again and therefore I felt the need to enjoy my freedom.

A few moments later my eyes was closed and I was enjoying a small dance when I got the feeling that I was being watched. I opened my eyes. I was so sure then that I was on a foreign shore as I saw the fairest looking man I had ever laid eyes on. Everyone back home was darker than this and the lightest people could not match his color by far. He was staring at me with open curiosity and I understood, as I was hardly dressed appropriately. I had had barely time to jump off the ship let alone get dressed properly.

"What are you doing here?" the man in front of me asked in what I could only describe as hostile. I had extensive knowledge of their tongue. My father had insisted on teaching me this language after the war saying that we should always understand the language of our enemy. Of course he did not give me a choice and as always he decided things and nobody could refuse his requests. Requests? Ha! They were hardly requests, if you did not do as you were told then you would mysteriously wind up dead a few days later.

"As you can see not much, there was an accident and my ship caught on fire so I swam to this shore"

"Well get on then, it will get dark soon"

I hoped on to his horse and off we went. We rode for a long while and the tiredness of the night's events were speedily catching up to me. I was feeling extremely sick and drowsy when the man finally announced we were here. It still looked like the middle of nowhere but it was well into the night and I could not see well. And as I was squinting I saw it. Finally! Somewhere to sleep. The buildings looked rather civilized which meant there was somewhere for me to rest and wash and food. Instantly I was reminded of my hunger.

I was escorted to the king's private study and was told to curtsey as soon as I was in his presence. I received a surprising amount of rather unpleasant comments as I passed guards, servants and even the common people. Clearly these people held grudges against us but then I expect they would get the same treatment if they were in my position and were back home

The king was a rather young man but seemed very wise for his age. I am Aragorn he said and went on to tell me that I was in Minas Tirith. These names meant absolutely nothing to me, as I hated history when I was taught it at school and only passed because I was the king's daughter. He asked a series of questions about where I was from, my name, my age, and such things then called for a servant to take me away.

I lie on a bed so soft and feel my troubles ease away as I slip into a dreamless and peaceful sleep. Sleep with no thoughts, no worries. Nothing. I wake up to soft singing. I cannot make out the words since it required concentration. I get out of bed and walk to the window overlooking the massive palace gardens. As I look down I realize it was the elf from yesterday. I was enraptured with his voice. Not because it was so beautiful but because it was different. The masculine sweetness in it was foreign to my ears. I stood there and watched, the flowers and listened to his voice. I was surprised as I felt a pang of homesickness. I always thought when I left, which at the time seemed an unrealistic dream it would be for good and I would have no regrets. After all, the one thing I did have was destroyed before my eyes. Was it my fault? How many times had a pondered that? How many times had questions rolled around my head? Endlessly I wished for a way out, out of my own thoughts and yet whenever there was a way out I rejected it because…I do not know why.

Before I had time to go down the road that my brain traveled at least once a day, I had three servants appear out of nowhere; I just turned around and saw them. I believe they were waiting for me to wake up from my daydream. The clothes, which they brought, were not to my liking as they were large dresses, which were extremely difficult to wear, and I did not feel the colors complemented my skin tone. I asked for trousers but they just gasped as though I had just transformed into a hideous creature so I thought better of it. It was a maroon color and the kind that clung to the figure only to come out into a big puff as it hit the waist. Definitely a style I hated but it was either that or going naked I guess. I opted for the former. I looked into the mirror and I realized that however hard I might try I was not going to blend in with the crowd in this place. Virtually every woman I saw was extremely fair. And the majority were blond and slim especially the elves. I was so different, my skin tone is dark, my features very different and my hair is very curly and it seemed to have gotten even frizzier and bigger without my natural oils and treatments. It seemed to stick out even more especially with all of these elves and their sleek and straight hair.

I walked out with them and they escorted me to a rather large hall where I was told that I would see the king and he would decide my fate. I walked in and curtseyed as told. I was told to rise. The king sat in a high throne and next to it sat his wife. There was a long line of chairs where the elders of the region sat. It seemed almost like a trial. However the most striking face to me was the queen. I still remember how her face shone, light was coming of it and she was so beautiful. She looked like a goddess. She had a look in her eyes and I remembered that look. I saw it countless times being reflected right back at me from my mirror at home. It was the look of pure and reckless happiness.

The king began by introducing me to his audience.

"This is Sahar, a princess by birth and the only heiress to the kingdom of Harad. Her ship drowned and by a strange twist of fate she has ended up on our very shores where she was found last night by Legolas. What should we do?"

They all sat there in deep thought and I felt increasingly awkward so I stepped forward.

"May I speak your highness?"

"Of course," he kindly replied

I looked around at each person, I had made many public speeches before my retreat therefore I had experience. "I appreciate very much the food, clothes and shelter which you and your king have provided me with, however I feel that my stay is long expired and I beg request of you to let me leave this country. I shall not trouble you anymore and the minute I exit your gates I promise that for as long as I live you shall never set eyes upon me again if you so wish."

The elf, supposedly called Legolas slipped in through a back door and leaned on the throne. He had a casual and relaxed attitude and I assumed there must be some sort of close friendship between the king and the elf.

"Nonsense child!" the king said "whatever grudges any of us may have against your people we shall not take it out on a helpless woman, though I must admit your courage is admirable. However I insist that you stay in our care at least until you are strong enough in knowledge and skill to survive on your own in our wilderness."

"Sire, I thank you a great deal however I have one request and I would owe my life to you if you were to grant it, may I ask?"

"Of course, anything within my powers,"

"I, under no circumstance, wish to return home,"

"Granted, and of course we shall have a celebration to welcome our new guest. In the meantime I shall set someone to protect because I am sure some people might not be so open to your presence here, you are familiar with Legolas no?"

"Yes my lord, I believe we met yesterday,"

"Indeed you did and he shall have the charge of protecting you from harms way,"

"I thank you my Lords, king Aragorn and his queen, may I be excused?"

"Of course child,"

I looked at Legolas and he seemed somewhat less than pleased to be given this charge, I must say that I did not blame him. He walked in front of me, and I followed him, he took me to the palace gardens. It was so different here. Everything. The way they walked, the way they talked, and even the way their buildings looked. I walked further into the garden towards the flowers; they were beautiful. I have always loved the scent of flowers, they reminded me of my mother. Her scent, she always smelt of flowers. Sometimes I wonder how my life would have turned out had she survived. What would my father be like? Her memory is too harsh on me, before I know it a tear escapes from my eye. And then another and another. I turn around; I do not want him to see me crying. Crying is weakness. I cry little and did not cry the night I lost everything. Instead I surrounded myself with a shield, which I believe protects me and continually makes me stronger.

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This is to everyone who has read this story. Please review because I would love to hear all of your comments and suggestions whether negative or positive. If there are any grammar or spelling mistakes please feel free to inform me.

Hope you enjoy! Love Lelo.