The Eldest Daughter
The sound of her mothers voice called her. She hid under the table as Eldarion and Elboron parried with wooden swords in the main foyer. Her heart was beating fast. She grabbed onto her chest to insure it would not jump out in her excitement. There were soft footsteps on the marble that heightened the adrenaline in her veins. She's here. She tried to hide the giggle that snuck through her throat and cupped her hands over her mouth. That was when the first glimpse of the sea foam colored dress appeared. It carefully glided across the ground, hiding her mothers feet as she walked. Suddenly, her mother walked in front of a stone chair not to be seen again. Where did mother go? The girl thought. She held her breath and closed her eyes to strengthen the sounds around her. The sound of wood sparring together was the loudest, then there were the thumps of hearts beating, the trickle of water from the foyer well, and the sound of soft Elven foraged wool on the marble. That's her. Though the thought came too close. She felt her feet pull from underneath her and the ground disappear beneath her. The arms of her mother surrounded her. She was caught.
"There you are." Her mother's voice carried through the hall like a singing sparrow.
The girl tangled her fingers in her mother's long black hair and squeezed her neck tightly. She smelled of Mallorn tree leaves and honey. For her there was no better smell.
"Arwen nin mel. Tul-hi," Father's voice began to echo on the walls.
That was when she heard it. The loud clinking of armor in the distance. It was repetitive in sound and the more she heard it the louder it grew. It sent a cold twist into her stomach as she tried to look down the long corridor. Nothing. The clinking grew louder and Eldarion finally heard it too. He dropped his sword and it gave Elboron the chance to swing a hit. Did Elboron not hear it? She looked at the frail red-headed boy with the wooden sword. The sound filled her ears making the hair on her neck stand straight as arrows. That was when father finally arrived. His black hair speckled with the color of dark clouds, even more so than yesterday she noticed. His hair cascaded down to his shoulders but stayed still under the weight of the silver crown.
"Take the children to their chambers. They are coming." Her father said.
"Who-" The girl began to ask but the sound of a screaming child broke through.
For a moment everyone froze in place, terrified of what that signified. Her mother placed her on the ground carefully and gave her soft peck on the forehead.
"You sister must hear the soldiers too. Stay with your brother. Do not stray." She spoke in a whisper and kissed her on the nose.
Her mother walked away, continuing to glide down the hallway with grave. Turning her head, she saw Eldarion and Elboron bringing their wooden swords in a sneaking position behind her father. He would never let them win, but this was no time to play. He showed that by grabbing the swords with his hands and unarming them with a smile after just a moment.
"That is not fair Father! You have to imagine a real sword." Eldarion said, he was always whining about rules.
"If you want to see the real swords, go look down the mountain. Quickly, don't tell you mother." He whispered quietly, maybe hoping only the boys would hear.
I have the elf ears. Mother said so. The girl thought with squinted eyes. As the boys faces grew with excitement, so did hers. She followed her father and the boys to the edge of the castle grounds. The long-pointed land that was the end of her world. At least that was as far as she'd ever gone. They walked past the naked tree in on the grounds. Men were scattering around with shields, swords, and bows on their backs.
"Father, what do they do?" The girl asked grabbing tightly to his hand tightly.
"They prepare to protect us." He said as they strode out carefully.
"Protect us from what?"
Though they were almost to the edge of the small wall when she asked, Eldarion and Elboron looked over the edge and down to the long hills of the land. The girl peaked over as well with the help of her father and saw a group of black cloaked figures walking towards the gates. Shivers went through her, she shut her eyes and hid behind her father.
"Do not worry. They are the from Eregion. The Elven town in by the Misty Mountains. They will march with us to fight." She could hear the happiness in her father's voice.
Back down onto the group of elves, she could feel her own eagerness rising. She heard their footsteps, heard their armor under their cloaks, and she could see the bows held tight on their backs. If father was excited, she knew she should be as well. She could hear his thrill in his heartbeat. Quickly, she looked back down at the group that now walked through the gate. Their heads down she could not see their faces. She imagined what they might look like. The elves she'd met so far had been beautiful. These would be just the same, surely.
They continued to walk up, Father was standing in position to welcome his allies. Though something in her stomach began to turn. She closed her eyes and held her breath again, listening one last time. The sound of their footsteps against the dirt and cobblestone path. Their bows swinging along their cloaks and snagging at the ends with every other step. The sound of their breathing. Slow. Steady. Sure.
"Father, are they old elves?" The girl asked, her voice excited for the answer.
"They are Elves like the rest, all old of course." He said.
The girl grinned and grabbed his hands.
"I've never met elves without hearts." She said and swung her father's hand as she spun.
Her father pulled his grip from hers and knelt down beside her in one swift motion.
"Quiet." He said.
The girl obeyed and watched her father's expression begin to fade from eager to dread.
"Get the guards. We have imposters in our keep."
The moment the first sword drew, she closed her eyes and screamed.