Short Story Author's note: This is a short story only one chapter. I may write another story based on this one. But this is it for this one.
Elvish words
Fea: soul (two dots over the e)
Eryn: Forest or wood Maani: Spirit
Summary: Legolas encounters a fabled wood nymph.
The trees around him sang with a steady beat. Feeling their inspiration he began a low rythmic sound deep in his throat and slowly brought it up to speed and began harmonizing with the sounds he heard there. Weaving an intricate melody, and then designing a harmony against the trees. Wood elves hear the trees voices better than any. They were able to hear them and were often inspired to sing with them. Creating difficult songs. Just as the words came to his heart Legolas heard a new harmony in the music. A female voice. Opening his elf eyes, he imediatly looked for it's source. Seeing nothing he continued to sing but this time as a distraction. He reached for his bow. His song stopped mid note as he placed an arrow. He looked around slowly pointing his bow at specific spots in the trees. Nothing was there. The trees swayed in their usual gentle green mist. But as he looked around the trees and through the mist it began to move. Not because of the wind. Or because of some animal but on it's own. With definate purpose the mist took a form. The form of a woman. It floated to the ground where it became solid. Legolas blinked. The woman's skin was flawless. Except for a light scattering of freckles on her nose and cheeks. Her green eyes flashed with a golden light and her red hair curled into tight spirals around her face. Her arms and neck were unadorned but her right index finger bored a single gold band with an emerald that glinted against her soft green dress.
"Who are you." He demanded despite his rapture with the woman before him.
The woman smiled..... "That is simple elf. I am an Eryn Maani. A forest spirit, a wood nymph as the humans call us."
Legolas gasped when she spoke. Her words we but a whisper, yet they resounded in his head. Again he spoke, even more wary of her intentions.
"They do not exsist. I think it would be best if you would tell me the truth Sorceress." Legolas glared at her. He thought he felt magic behind her actions
At the word Sorceress she smiled. Not an evil smile but a calm understanding one. As if she had been mistaken many times. When she spoke again his head shook with her comanding voice
" I suggest that you listen. I am no sorceress. If I was would I be singing with the trees? Would I be in a forest at all? I think not. Now please relax. I'm not going to hurt you. We are incapable of such an act. I am appearing to you because you are the first elf in ages to sing with the trees in such a way. Not only was your mind and voice singing but your heart and fea also sang with us. You have a connection with the forest as none has had in thousands of years. I am here to ask you to listen a bit harder. Sing with the trees again. But this time open your fea."
The spirit then opened her mouth and sang one pure note. It sent chills down his spine and his face lifted. Before he could protest his own mouth joined in her song. Their notes intertwined and danced. His fea opened and poured forth the most beautiful song he had ever heard. As tears coursed down his cheeks the trees seemed to respond. The swayed gently in a wind neither felt nor heard. Together Legolas and the Eryn Maani sang. He closed his eyes and sang with all he had. As he felt the song come to a close he opened his eyes only to see that the forest spirit had gone. Confused but happy he continued his joy ride by lifting himself lightly onto his horse. Urging her with a kind word in Quenya he galloped off , his fea thrumming with the beat of the song.