Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, was confused. It didn't happen often, but when
it did the confusion was profound. He looked around him, blue eyes picking
out tiny details that all but the rangers would miss and yet he found no
trace of his quarry. This was Rivendell, home of Lord Elrond, a place he
knew like the back of his own hand. And yet.. Why could he find nothing out
of place? Where had she gone? He stopped and turned at a slight noise
behind him, there was nothing. When he turned back around, however, he was
greeted with a pair of laughing blue eyes. He jumped, and swore before
joining his companion in the laughing hysteria that had taken her over.
"Fooled...You" she gasped, her head thrown back, her face to the heavens. Legolas nodded, sitting up holding the stitch in his side. "You did" he looked over at her. "Profoundly" The she elf pulled herself up, offering a hand to Legolas, who took it without complaint. Behind them, a horn blew, both elves found themselves looking towards the source of the noise. They looked back to each other, before breaking into a run.
"WHY?!" Kari stamped her foot, tears flowing down her cheeks. "Why do you have to go Legolas?!" she turned to the human beside her cousin, beating on his chest with small fists. "WHY do you always take him away?!" she continued to beat. "WHY WHY WHYYYYY!?" The male stepped back, and long fingered hands took her shoulders. Legolas went to his knees before her, meeting her eyes. He smiled, brushing stands of her firey hair from her face. The anger seeped away, through the tears remained. "Why?" "My father is unwell, Kari, you know I must go" he gave her a smile, and wiped the tears from her cheeks with a gentle move. "I wont be away long, I should be back soon" Kari sniffed. "You always say that" she sniffed. "Last time it took years!" her eyes welled up again. "Now, Kari, that was not of my doing you know that" Legolas looked stern, just for a moment, then the expression passed. Kari knew she was being unreasonable, but she didn't care. Behind Legolas the human coughed, the Prince drew her into a hug, before standing. "I will come back as soon as I can" he gave her a smile. "I promise"
**** ***** *****
The dress was lovely, and it would look exquisite, on anyone else but Kari that was. Or at least that was Kari's opinion. Everyone else seemed to think differently, however. Servants were bustling in and out, making sure she was getting ready. Kari herself was still dressed in the breeches she had been wearing that morning. There was a knock on the door, which Kari ignored. Another, then a steady pounding. Kari looked down from her window. When the door finally opened, it was onto an empty room, an abandoned drawing on the windowsill.
Kari ran, purely for the love of running, she came to the edge of the wood and stopped, climbing upwards, clinging to the branches of the nearest tree until she came to the top branch. Here her head pushed forth from the foliage like a rare and vibrant flower, her hair a bright red halo around her pale face. She watched, no one bothered to tell her which officials were coming to Rivendell, which people she could talk to. There was always Arwen, of course, but the two elves differed to such an extent, it was hard to hold a conversation for long. Kari let her mind wander, to far off places and people that were growing so fague in her memories. Legolas, of course, still stood to the front of her mind. The cousin she adored, and saw so little of. She had not seen him in decades, and in the nights she wondered if perhaps, they too would differ so widely when they would meet again.
Something brought her back to the present. There was an unmanned horse on the road, plodding along as though exhausted. She focused on it, and saw in the distance the riding gear, it looked for all the world as if the rider had fallen from his saddle. But elves didn't fall, not without 'help' and beneath the trees.. Yes there was a noise there. The type of noise that comes from someone trying not to make any. Kari dropped, silently, to the branch below, then the branch below that. Indeed, there was a hooded figure, stooped. An Intruder. She looked around, no it was too late now to call for aid, and the guards were too far away. She ran silently along the length of the branch that she was on, leaping to another until she leapt from the branches and tackled the intruder to the ground. There was a moment of confusion, as he tried to throw her off and couldn't. After a struggle she found herself on her back, pinned to the ground. She struggled, and there was a laugh. A deep, throaty laugh and she froze. Above her the figure pulled back his cloak hood, and the long blonde locks spilled forth. It was Legolas, and he was laughing.
Kari sat with her back against the stone wall, Legolas by her side. They were talking, about everything and of nothing at all. Kari had soon found out her fears were unfounded, Legolas and she got on like they always had. She looked over at him, and raised an eyebrow. "Why did you leave your horse? Come in on foot, this way of all ways" Legolas beside her laughed. "I wondered when you would ask it of me, you have danced around the question since you found me" "You are still not answering me, Legolas" He laughed. "My horse is back up the trail, it waits for my return. I wanted to come back privately." He smiled, the same smile she had always known. "I get sick of the smiles of the highborns" Kari choked, and looked at him. "Hypocrite! You're a prince! You do not get higher!" Legolas laughed. "Its true. What is it Aragorn says? Ah yes. Blue blood. I do not believe you will find blood bluer than mine, but.." He shrugged. "I still get sick of it." There was a shout far off. "They are looking for you" Legolas commented, mildly. Kari looked guilty. "They are. I left without.ehm, seeking permission" "Permission?" "I jumped from the window" Legolas laughed, and got to his feet, with a fluid grace that the half Elven Kari could only dream of. He reached down and helped her up. She took a moment, curled into his chest to let herself come to terms with his presence. Legolas held her, before backing away with an apologetic smile. "I must go, and so must you" and with that he turned, and disappeared into the forest.
Kari we greeted by highly strung elves. She was shoved towards the bathing room, then dressed with a speed that she hadn't deemed possible. As she looked at herself in the mirror she was forced to admit, yes, the dress did look good. Her vibrant red hair curled naturally around her face, the forest green dress brought out her blue eyes wonderfully. She looked like some kind of rare flower, young and green. She brushed a strand of hair behind her pointed ears. Karitryn Half-Elven. Lord Elrond was half elven, perhaps that was why she had never been treated badly here. Here, at least, her half-breed race was accepted. The horns blew, and she turned, speeding from the room.
Lord Elrond and Arwen were already standing at the bottom of the steps, and she hurried to meet them. She stood out among the elves, all of whom seemed to be varying degrees of either Brunette or Blonde. Arwen was talking in a hushed tone to her father. Kari caught the words "Aragorn" and "Halflings" before the horn blew again, and the conversation was silenced. Kari turned to look, entering was Legolas, his white stallion proudly baring the prince of Mirkwood. Legolas looked clean and tidy, indeed there was a small house just inside the borders of Rivendell for the incoming visitors to get themselves ready. She and Legolas shared a secret glance, his eyes danced with hidden laughter. But he did not dismount, behind him came another man. He was tall, his dark hair long for a human male's, but too short for an elf's. It was not until she met his eyes with her own that she knew his name, and once she did she cursed her own stupidity. Aragorn, son of Arathorn smiled at her, and she smiled back.
"Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood, I am Honoured by your Presence" Lord Elrond spoke in a booming voice, a smile in his eyes. Legolas bowed. "I am honoured to be here, Lord Elrond" "Aragorn, Son of Arathorn" Elrond gave a small bow. "You are welcome, as always" Aragorn bowed, and turned, bringing forward three smaller figures Kari had paid no attention to before. "May I introduce the Hobbits. Samwise Gamgee, Meriadock Brandybuck and Peregrine Took" The three gave small bows, before Lord Elrond sent them inside to freshen up and rest. The official welcome faded away, and there was a true welcome for the home comers.
Arwen hugged Legolas tightly, whispering her greetings in a teary voice. Legolas hugged her back, though he was slightly less moved. Kari herself hugged Aragorn with a feirceness she usually reserved for Legolas alone. The heir of Isildur greeted her with equal warmth, before being swept up in Arwens more personal embrace.
"Fooled...You" she gasped, her head thrown back, her face to the heavens. Legolas nodded, sitting up holding the stitch in his side. "You did" he looked over at her. "Profoundly" The she elf pulled herself up, offering a hand to Legolas, who took it without complaint. Behind them, a horn blew, both elves found themselves looking towards the source of the noise. They looked back to each other, before breaking into a run.
"WHY?!" Kari stamped her foot, tears flowing down her cheeks. "Why do you have to go Legolas?!" she turned to the human beside her cousin, beating on his chest with small fists. "WHY do you always take him away?!" she continued to beat. "WHY WHY WHYYYYY!?" The male stepped back, and long fingered hands took her shoulders. Legolas went to his knees before her, meeting her eyes. He smiled, brushing stands of her firey hair from her face. The anger seeped away, through the tears remained. "Why?" "My father is unwell, Kari, you know I must go" he gave her a smile, and wiped the tears from her cheeks with a gentle move. "I wont be away long, I should be back soon" Kari sniffed. "You always say that" she sniffed. "Last time it took years!" her eyes welled up again. "Now, Kari, that was not of my doing you know that" Legolas looked stern, just for a moment, then the expression passed. Kari knew she was being unreasonable, but she didn't care. Behind Legolas the human coughed, the Prince drew her into a hug, before standing. "I will come back as soon as I can" he gave her a smile. "I promise"
**** ***** *****
The dress was lovely, and it would look exquisite, on anyone else but Kari that was. Or at least that was Kari's opinion. Everyone else seemed to think differently, however. Servants were bustling in and out, making sure she was getting ready. Kari herself was still dressed in the breeches she had been wearing that morning. There was a knock on the door, which Kari ignored. Another, then a steady pounding. Kari looked down from her window. When the door finally opened, it was onto an empty room, an abandoned drawing on the windowsill.
Kari ran, purely for the love of running, she came to the edge of the wood and stopped, climbing upwards, clinging to the branches of the nearest tree until she came to the top branch. Here her head pushed forth from the foliage like a rare and vibrant flower, her hair a bright red halo around her pale face. She watched, no one bothered to tell her which officials were coming to Rivendell, which people she could talk to. There was always Arwen, of course, but the two elves differed to such an extent, it was hard to hold a conversation for long. Kari let her mind wander, to far off places and people that were growing so fague in her memories. Legolas, of course, still stood to the front of her mind. The cousin she adored, and saw so little of. She had not seen him in decades, and in the nights she wondered if perhaps, they too would differ so widely when they would meet again.
Something brought her back to the present. There was an unmanned horse on the road, plodding along as though exhausted. She focused on it, and saw in the distance the riding gear, it looked for all the world as if the rider had fallen from his saddle. But elves didn't fall, not without 'help' and beneath the trees.. Yes there was a noise there. The type of noise that comes from someone trying not to make any. Kari dropped, silently, to the branch below, then the branch below that. Indeed, there was a hooded figure, stooped. An Intruder. She looked around, no it was too late now to call for aid, and the guards were too far away. She ran silently along the length of the branch that she was on, leaping to another until she leapt from the branches and tackled the intruder to the ground. There was a moment of confusion, as he tried to throw her off and couldn't. After a struggle she found herself on her back, pinned to the ground. She struggled, and there was a laugh. A deep, throaty laugh and she froze. Above her the figure pulled back his cloak hood, and the long blonde locks spilled forth. It was Legolas, and he was laughing.
Kari sat with her back against the stone wall, Legolas by her side. They were talking, about everything and of nothing at all. Kari had soon found out her fears were unfounded, Legolas and she got on like they always had. She looked over at him, and raised an eyebrow. "Why did you leave your horse? Come in on foot, this way of all ways" Legolas beside her laughed. "I wondered when you would ask it of me, you have danced around the question since you found me" "You are still not answering me, Legolas" He laughed. "My horse is back up the trail, it waits for my return. I wanted to come back privately." He smiled, the same smile she had always known. "I get sick of the smiles of the highborns" Kari choked, and looked at him. "Hypocrite! You're a prince! You do not get higher!" Legolas laughed. "Its true. What is it Aragorn says? Ah yes. Blue blood. I do not believe you will find blood bluer than mine, but.." He shrugged. "I still get sick of it." There was a shout far off. "They are looking for you" Legolas commented, mildly. Kari looked guilty. "They are. I left without.ehm, seeking permission" "Permission?" "I jumped from the window" Legolas laughed, and got to his feet, with a fluid grace that the half Elven Kari could only dream of. He reached down and helped her up. She took a moment, curled into his chest to let herself come to terms with his presence. Legolas held her, before backing away with an apologetic smile. "I must go, and so must you" and with that he turned, and disappeared into the forest.
Kari we greeted by highly strung elves. She was shoved towards the bathing room, then dressed with a speed that she hadn't deemed possible. As she looked at herself in the mirror she was forced to admit, yes, the dress did look good. Her vibrant red hair curled naturally around her face, the forest green dress brought out her blue eyes wonderfully. She looked like some kind of rare flower, young and green. She brushed a strand of hair behind her pointed ears. Karitryn Half-Elven. Lord Elrond was half elven, perhaps that was why she had never been treated badly here. Here, at least, her half-breed race was accepted. The horns blew, and she turned, speeding from the room.
Lord Elrond and Arwen were already standing at the bottom of the steps, and she hurried to meet them. She stood out among the elves, all of whom seemed to be varying degrees of either Brunette or Blonde. Arwen was talking in a hushed tone to her father. Kari caught the words "Aragorn" and "Halflings" before the horn blew again, and the conversation was silenced. Kari turned to look, entering was Legolas, his white stallion proudly baring the prince of Mirkwood. Legolas looked clean and tidy, indeed there was a small house just inside the borders of Rivendell for the incoming visitors to get themselves ready. She and Legolas shared a secret glance, his eyes danced with hidden laughter. But he did not dismount, behind him came another man. He was tall, his dark hair long for a human male's, but too short for an elf's. It was not until she met his eyes with her own that she knew his name, and once she did she cursed her own stupidity. Aragorn, son of Arathorn smiled at her, and she smiled back.
"Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood, I am Honoured by your Presence" Lord Elrond spoke in a booming voice, a smile in his eyes. Legolas bowed. "I am honoured to be here, Lord Elrond" "Aragorn, Son of Arathorn" Elrond gave a small bow. "You are welcome, as always" Aragorn bowed, and turned, bringing forward three smaller figures Kari had paid no attention to before. "May I introduce the Hobbits. Samwise Gamgee, Meriadock Brandybuck and Peregrine Took" The three gave small bows, before Lord Elrond sent them inside to freshen up and rest. The official welcome faded away, and there was a true welcome for the home comers.
Arwen hugged Legolas tightly, whispering her greetings in a teary voice. Legolas hugged her back, though he was slightly less moved. Kari herself hugged Aragorn with a feirceness she usually reserved for Legolas alone. The heir of Isildur greeted her with equal warmth, before being swept up in Arwens more personal embrace.