Chapter 2
My head felt like it had been hit by a sledgehammer and my eyes felt so heavy I didn't know if I could open them. I could hear people moving around me, I could hear melodious chanting, and I could feel a soft breeze on my skin. But no matter how hard I tried I just wasn't able to wake up, all I wanted to do was sleep until the pain disappeared.
I would love to say that I had wonderful dreams of magical places and felt at peace as I rested. But that was not true. There were no dreams. Only blackness and pain. I had no idea what was happening to me...was I dying?
After what felt like a lifetime the pain began to recede. It started at the back of my head near the base of my neck and slowly moved forwards until I felt the pressure around my eyes lift. The blackness was still there but there was a faint light glowing in the corner of my vision. I opened my eyes slowly and a vision of red hair swam before me, a broad smile etched onto her lovely face.
"Kalina, thank the Valar! I did not think you would pull through. It has been 7 days since you drank the tonic, I thought we may have killed You," she said tears filling her eyes.
From somewhere in the fog my brain conjured up a name, "Mireth?" I croaked, my voice dry and cracked in sound from having not being used.
She smiled at me and handed me a silver goblet full of a crystal clear liquid. "Drink this it will make you feel better, and then more rest I think."
I drink the full goblet of liquid as Mireth chuckled at my eagerness. It tasted divine, like the purest water, and the sweetest honey, and the sharpest tang of herbs. The fog in my head began to recede and I lay back, closing my eyes as my head sunk into soft pillows.
This time I dreamt wonderful dreams. I was walking through a beautiful forest, tall silver barked trees and jade green leaves. The sky above a soft blue and sunlight peeped through the leaves warming my skin. Below my feet sink into a woody moss covered ground, my toes relishing the coolness of the moss. I walked deeper into the trees, towards the sound of rushing water. From behind a particularly splendid tree and child appeared. An angel. Platinum blond hair, big blue eyes, two cute dimples and the sweetest smile. He reached his little hand towards me.
"Legolas!" I shouted, sitting bolt upright in bed.
"Hush Kalina it is all ok. You are safe. Calm my child," said Mireth as she sat beside me and stroked my hair in a comforting way.
"Sorry...I was startled...everything feels so vague...I don't know what is going on...where am I?" I asked. Tears began to well in my eyes and flow in slender rivers down my cheeks. It was completely overwhelming.
Holding me against her in a motherly fashion Mireth spoke softly, "you have had a significant head injury Kalina it is normal to feel disorientated. You are in the halls of King Oropher of the woodland realm in northern Greenwood the Great. We are in the healing halls whilst you recover and you are very welcome and very safe."
The flow of tears began to stop and I took a deep breath. Small steps and it would all be ok.
"Legolas he is real?" I enquired.
"Yes, he is the Kings grandson and has officially labelled himself your rescuer. Now he is very eager to see, but one thing at a time, and right now food is more important that visits from elflings"
Mireth vanished through the doorway and I sat myself up in bed adjusting the pillows behind me to a more comfortable position. I barely had time to think of my surroundings before Mireth was back with a tray which she placed on my lap. There was a broth full of all kinds of vegetables, several cubes of a creamy coloured cheese, slices of warm fluffy bread, and a bunch of sweet red grapes. With encouragement I began to eat and it wasn't until that moment i realised just how hungry i was.
After i had eaten Mireth drew me a bubble bath and washed my skin and hair with a lavender scented soap. It was a wonderful sensation to lie in the hot water whilst delicate hands massaged lavender soap through my hair.
Mireth gave me a beautiful emerald green gown, with a delicate leaf pattern in golden thread. My hair she braided in an almost French plait, with a few loose tendrils curled around my face, through the braid she wound a fine golden thread that matched my gown. Delicate golden slippers with green flowers were slipped onto my feet, and after dabbing a flowery scent on my neck, Mireth vanished to take away the dirty laundry.
Left alone i had my first chance to look in the mirror and the reflection gazing back at me was a shock. It was me but it didn't look like the me I knew. My hair had always been dark brown but now it was softer almost like chocolate, and where before I would have said it was frizzy now the loose tendrils were perfect curls. The shape of my face remained oval, but it seemed more defined, and my skin was like milk with soft pink lips perfectly complementing. It was my eyes that I was transfixed by, still almond in shape but bigger than I remembered. They were still green but deeper in colour like moss, and they twinkled like miniscule diamonds adorned the eye. And my ears no longer stuck out but instead there were more setback and...wait...pointy! It looked like me and I knew it was me but yet it didn't feel like my reflection.
Gazing at myself is how Mireth found me. I blushed when I realised she was stood In the doorway watching me watch myself. She must think I was so self absorbed. Sheepishly I turned to face Mireth.
"Now that you are ready the King has requested your presence. If you follow me I can take you to him now." My face must have displayed the knot that arose in my stomach because Mireth smiled at me as she said, "don't worry Kalina he is a good King he just wants to talk to find out how we can help you."
Trying to feel as confident as Mireth felt, all the while my stomach in knots, I followed Mireth from the safety if my hospital room and tried to prepare myself to meet with the King.
A/N: hope it's not being too slow I wanted to make sure the scene was properly set before getting into the story fully. So Kalina is off to meet Oropher...will it go well? And don't worry lots of little Legolas to come. Maybe even an appearance from a certain prince of the realm.Let me know if you liked It! Love to all