Legolas Greenleaf stepped onto the wide, marble terrace outside his
palace chambers and listened. All seemed peaceful in his forested kingdom
of North Mirkwood, and the air smelled of the surrounding trees and
greenery.
"Will you be needing anything this morning, sire?" a voice questioned.
"No, thank you, Coranuil. I believe your duties to the family have been fulfilled for the week!"
"Yes, sir. May I then have the permission to return to my home for the day? My…my daughter…"
"Of course, Coranuil," Legolas' gentle voice replied. "Take whatever is needed as well. I know your family's needs," he added with a soft smile.
"Thank you for your great kindness, sir." Coranuil sheepishly responded.
"No need for thanks. You hve been a faithful and loyal servant. Now, be off before I change my mind!" Legolas joked, and with an Elvish grin sent Coranuil on his way.
As his servant and friend trudged down the path toward his own cottage, Legolas turned and looked at the advancing sunrise on the eastern horizon.
"Has there ever been a more beautiful sunrise?" Recognizing his father's strong voice, Legolas answered, having no purpose to turn to see the speaker of the inquiry.
"Surprisingly, I would say not, Father. At least not that I have seen in all my years. I cannot think of any thing to surpass it—with the exception of our beautiful Realm." Legolas then turned to look at his regal father.
"That opinion may one day change, my son," he said with a smile: mischievious, as Elves can often be. With this he turned and left to inspect the other servants' work throughout the palace, leaving his son to ponder what he'd just said.
"Will you be needing anything this morning, sire?" a voice questioned.
"No, thank you, Coranuil. I believe your duties to the family have been fulfilled for the week!"
"Yes, sir. May I then have the permission to return to my home for the day? My…my daughter…"
"Of course, Coranuil," Legolas' gentle voice replied. "Take whatever is needed as well. I know your family's needs," he added with a soft smile.
"Thank you for your great kindness, sir." Coranuil sheepishly responded.
"No need for thanks. You hve been a faithful and loyal servant. Now, be off before I change my mind!" Legolas joked, and with an Elvish grin sent Coranuil on his way.
As his servant and friend trudged down the path toward his own cottage, Legolas turned and looked at the advancing sunrise on the eastern horizon.
"Has there ever been a more beautiful sunrise?" Recognizing his father's strong voice, Legolas answered, having no purpose to turn to see the speaker of the inquiry.
"Surprisingly, I would say not, Father. At least not that I have seen in all my years. I cannot think of any thing to surpass it—with the exception of our beautiful Realm." Legolas then turned to look at his regal father.
"That opinion may one day change, my son," he said with a smile: mischievious, as Elves can often be. With this he turned and left to inspect the other servants' work throughout the palace, leaving his son to ponder what he'd just said.