Something new I've decided to try. Let me know what you think!
Weakness of Fate
"'Twas a day," Elrond began, speaking to his wide eyed listeners, "that my Great Grand daughter would do everything thing she could in her being to make my life as miserable as possible.. Despite her love for me." His eyes twinkled with mirth as his audience stirred.
"Now young ones, you must engrave this into your head before the tale goes any further. If a time comes to pass in which you are in Princess Ranil's presence, you will take care not to mention any words I have spoken. If she knew that her Grandfather had been telling her quite convoluted tale, than I fear I would pay dearly." The enthusiastic shake of heads and positive mumbles were enough to please Elrond.
The small elf children, no more than a dozen, had been pestering their Great Uncle since he let it slip that Princess Ranil had not always resided in the Golden Wood. Knowing that the long story certainly could not be avoided much longer, Elrond had gathered them after dinner that night, tucked them into their beds, and cleared his tight throat, looking for a way to begin the tale he had played over and over in his mind even to this very day, nearly two thousand years later. Closing his eyes, he searched for where he had left off.
"Ah yes. Lady Ranil was not quite the Lady you see today. It took her a long time to accept her Womanhood, and spent the first half of her life teetering around in breeches and playing with weapons, certainly not befitting to a princess." Elrond could almost see the images forming in the young elves minds of their aunt, trying to mold her into the reality he was describing, still as vivid as ever. Giving them all a reassuring smile in their beds, he continued.
"Though stunning, she insisted on trying for the Royal Guard, never done before by a woman." He laughed as he recalled the memory of that day.
**Thee Thousand years ago**
Princess Ranil sat on her bedside, pulling her hair up into a tight knot at the top of her head. Strapping a bow around her shoulder, and arrows across her back, she examined herself on the mirror on the other side of her chamber. Her green tunic clung to her torso, still not hiding her curves, something she could never seem to master. Her breeches, equally green were those of a warrior, ideal for fighting, leaving room for vast movement. Though her hair, a radiant brown grew down to her mid back, she always refused on wearing it down. Her face was of course impossible to hide the feminine features. Her large green eyes sparkled with defiance, something she never lacked. Her fair skin enhanced them even more. Though she could never totally hide her womanhood, she had done quite a good job. But she would have to, if she wanted to be accepted among those of the royal guard.
Stalking out of her room with determination and weapons at hand, Ranil congratulated herself. No one had ever defied her Grandfather before, and it was time someone did. Marching into the throne room, she spotted him, sitting on his mighty throne with a grim look on his face. He was talking with a merchant.
"My Lord" The merchant spoke, "Faredell has much to offer you and your people here in Rivendell. Perhaps we could not come to some kind of arrangement?" Elrond's face grew tight, his eyes narrowing, a sure sign he was not happy.
"Good sir, my answer is no. I have nothing more to say of this matter." Lord Elrond waved his hand, dismissing the man. Catching sight of Ranil on the far wall, a meek smile touched his lips.
"Ah, Ranil. To what do I owe this pleasure?" His voice teetered, fully aware that her presence was not always one to take delight in. "Surely you have not come on your own free will to greet me?" Lord Elrond knew that Ranil avoided court as much as possible, and to see her anywhere near the throne room was a rare occasion indeed.
Plastering a smile to her face, she walked forward, unfaltering.
"Grandfather" She stated matter-of-factly. "I am trying for the Royal Guard today." Lord Elrond's face grew dull, and he passed a weary hand over his eyes, massaging his temples. The visitors in the throne room had heard this argument many times before.
"Correct me if I am wrong, Ranil, but did we not have this discussion just last year? The answer was no then, and still is today. You are a lady of rank and shall behave like one. The royal guard's duty is to protect the royalty. Have you conveniently forgotten that you are included in that category?" Elrond loved Ranil more than life itself, but when she has her mind set on something, it just didn't go away.
Clenching her hands till her knuckles grew white, the only sign of her anger, Ranil stood with a straight face.
"As you wish, Grandfather." She turned on her heel, heading outside, but not before seeing the shocked expression on her Grandfather's face.
She didn't lie. She truly didn't. She had responded with a simple phrase, and if her senile Grandfather had interpreted it as her not joining the Royal Guard, than so be it. So, off the Princess headed to the game yards, where she would show her mastery of bow and sword.
Reaching the yards, she spotted the Captain directing elves to positions sparsely placed around the field.. Walking up to him, she smiled broadly.
"My Lord, I have come to try for the Royal Guard. Where should I begin?" Looking down at her, and realizing whom it was, he made a deep bow, and responded immediately.
"I am sorry, milady, but you cannot." It was not the answer she had anticipated.
"Excuse me, Captain?" She asked calmly. The man looked serious.
"Lord Elrond has forbidden me to let you." He clarified. Trying desperately to maintain her regal state, she nodded curtly, and stalked to the forest, where she could let her anger fly loose.
Weakness of Fate
"'Twas a day," Elrond began, speaking to his wide eyed listeners, "that my Great Grand daughter would do everything thing she could in her being to make my life as miserable as possible.. Despite her love for me." His eyes twinkled with mirth as his audience stirred.
"Now young ones, you must engrave this into your head before the tale goes any further. If a time comes to pass in which you are in Princess Ranil's presence, you will take care not to mention any words I have spoken. If she knew that her Grandfather had been telling her quite convoluted tale, than I fear I would pay dearly." The enthusiastic shake of heads and positive mumbles were enough to please Elrond.
The small elf children, no more than a dozen, had been pestering their Great Uncle since he let it slip that Princess Ranil had not always resided in the Golden Wood. Knowing that the long story certainly could not be avoided much longer, Elrond had gathered them after dinner that night, tucked them into their beds, and cleared his tight throat, looking for a way to begin the tale he had played over and over in his mind even to this very day, nearly two thousand years later. Closing his eyes, he searched for where he had left off.
"Ah yes. Lady Ranil was not quite the Lady you see today. It took her a long time to accept her Womanhood, and spent the first half of her life teetering around in breeches and playing with weapons, certainly not befitting to a princess." Elrond could almost see the images forming in the young elves minds of their aunt, trying to mold her into the reality he was describing, still as vivid as ever. Giving them all a reassuring smile in their beds, he continued.
"Though stunning, she insisted on trying for the Royal Guard, never done before by a woman." He laughed as he recalled the memory of that day.
**Thee Thousand years ago**
Princess Ranil sat on her bedside, pulling her hair up into a tight knot at the top of her head. Strapping a bow around her shoulder, and arrows across her back, she examined herself on the mirror on the other side of her chamber. Her green tunic clung to her torso, still not hiding her curves, something she could never seem to master. Her breeches, equally green were those of a warrior, ideal for fighting, leaving room for vast movement. Though her hair, a radiant brown grew down to her mid back, she always refused on wearing it down. Her face was of course impossible to hide the feminine features. Her large green eyes sparkled with defiance, something she never lacked. Her fair skin enhanced them even more. Though she could never totally hide her womanhood, she had done quite a good job. But she would have to, if she wanted to be accepted among those of the royal guard.
Stalking out of her room with determination and weapons at hand, Ranil congratulated herself. No one had ever defied her Grandfather before, and it was time someone did. Marching into the throne room, she spotted him, sitting on his mighty throne with a grim look on his face. He was talking with a merchant.
"My Lord" The merchant spoke, "Faredell has much to offer you and your people here in Rivendell. Perhaps we could not come to some kind of arrangement?" Elrond's face grew tight, his eyes narrowing, a sure sign he was not happy.
"Good sir, my answer is no. I have nothing more to say of this matter." Lord Elrond waved his hand, dismissing the man. Catching sight of Ranil on the far wall, a meek smile touched his lips.
"Ah, Ranil. To what do I owe this pleasure?" His voice teetered, fully aware that her presence was not always one to take delight in. "Surely you have not come on your own free will to greet me?" Lord Elrond knew that Ranil avoided court as much as possible, and to see her anywhere near the throne room was a rare occasion indeed.
Plastering a smile to her face, she walked forward, unfaltering.
"Grandfather" She stated matter-of-factly. "I am trying for the Royal Guard today." Lord Elrond's face grew dull, and he passed a weary hand over his eyes, massaging his temples. The visitors in the throne room had heard this argument many times before.
"Correct me if I am wrong, Ranil, but did we not have this discussion just last year? The answer was no then, and still is today. You are a lady of rank and shall behave like one. The royal guard's duty is to protect the royalty. Have you conveniently forgotten that you are included in that category?" Elrond loved Ranil more than life itself, but when she has her mind set on something, it just didn't go away.
Clenching her hands till her knuckles grew white, the only sign of her anger, Ranil stood with a straight face.
"As you wish, Grandfather." She turned on her heel, heading outside, but not before seeing the shocked expression on her Grandfather's face.
She didn't lie. She truly didn't. She had responded with a simple phrase, and if her senile Grandfather had interpreted it as her not joining the Royal Guard, than so be it. So, off the Princess headed to the game yards, where she would show her mastery of bow and sword.
Reaching the yards, she spotted the Captain directing elves to positions sparsely placed around the field.. Walking up to him, she smiled broadly.
"My Lord, I have come to try for the Royal Guard. Where should I begin?" Looking down at her, and realizing whom it was, he made a deep bow, and responded immediately.
"I am sorry, milady, but you cannot." It was not the answer she had anticipated.
"Excuse me, Captain?" She asked calmly. The man looked serious.
"Lord Elrond has forbidden me to let you." He clarified. Trying desperately to maintain her regal state, she nodded curtly, and stalked to the forest, where she could let her anger fly loose.