Winter comes early to Greenwood…
The Gardens were a place once destroyed by warring but now healed. The likes of Gandalf the White and Galadriel had blessed the earth there and let forth fountains that quenched the flames of orcs. Simbelmyne grew here also, sad as it was. Great stone pillars and white statues gleamed with evening dew. It was bedecked with flowers of all kinds; every kind in middle-earth that would will itself to bloom blossomed underneath the moon.
Tonight, the pale beauty of the Gardens was lit up with elven fires and silver wrought lanterns. Many elves had already arrived, carrying food and drink of all sorts and all of delicious taste. As the feast began, Thranduil feasted with several of his guests, one including Gimli and Glorfindel, an elf who assisted Frodo Baggins the ring-bearer long ago.
Legolas ate among his fellows and in cheery demeanor, though he looked about often for Celebrive. At last when it came time to clear the eateries and join in song and dance, Legolas grew weary of his wait and rose up to leave, claiming that the food, though fine, disagreed with his stomach.
His aching seemed to be cured when he glanced his father speaking to a young elf-maid. She seemed strangely familiar…
"Legolas! I believe you know this elven warrior from afar?" asked Thranduil as he approached with the maiden. She was decked in blue and silver. Her face, as fair as it was, seemed sad and lifeless. Legolas knew her instantly and rushed forth to embrace her.
"Cairnoe! It has been as you have told me all those long summers ago. You stand before me, unchanged but sad is your face. You are not the lass I knew of old," he pondered aloud to her, arms spread to hold her.
Cairnoe backed away and clasped his hand instead. "It has been long since I saw you, Prince of Greenwood. I am glad to hear your voice—My Lord," she said blandly, setting her lips upon his hand before releasing her hold and bowing. In the distance vibrant music played and all sang and danced.
"I leave thee to join in amongst the merriment, for I hear my favorite of songs being played. Excuse me," said Thranduil, striding away rather quickly to hear his song. Though he was the Lord of all Greenwood, it did not mean he was too high to enjoy songs of lore.
A startled Legolas looked upon the face of Cairnoe. He saw the reason for her name, Celebrive. Her face was a barren wasteland of ice, beautiful but cold and bare. The sadness in her eyes stirred up pity and grief in Legolas, who only saw such pain in those who have suffered tremendously. His friend was lost to him, it seemed.
"You were sweetest summer, and now you have become the coldest of winters. What has changed thee? A broken heart?" he asked, his elven face knitted with worry.
Breaking the gaze he held on her, Cairnoe bowed her head. "You were right, after all, Legolas. It is a broken heart I suffer, but it is not made lame by a man, for I bind myself to no one. It is because I feel no joy here, in this land. The moment I heard your father's request, my heart left me. I could not turn down such a plea, and I missed you as well. Now I see I was wrong. The Grey Havens, elfhome! Elfhome is forever the land of our people, Legolas! How I wish to see it again… I will do my duty here—I will slay the last of Greenwood's dangers and go home. My real home. The love of the sea tugs at me; it will not relent. You understand?" she answered softly, looking up to see into the eyes of her friend. She saw the faint glimmer in them. Temptation of the grey sea glimmered in the eyes of Legolas. That and something more—something she did not know lurked in his bright eyes. The things that stirred up in her as she looked in those eyes: hope, love, memories, oh, the memories of sunshine and laughter; it brought memories of him. Memories of life.
"I understand the things you speak of. I only wish for you to have life, mellon. You are sorrowful. Let me help you," said Legolas at length.
His soft voice, so full of sincerity, brought her out of her thoughts. She could not think of much else but his words. Her eyes nearly relented the hard gaze they bore until she shook off the confusion of thoughts. Cairnoe straightened her stature and looked into the eyes of Legolas, saying slowly, "You speak as if you think I care. I care not, Legolas. Life has left me like summer to the land. It soon returns, but it will not spark here. I have told you, my home is in the Grey Havens. I wish I could be a lady and as not to disappoint you but…" Her voice faltered. She stepped back as a spear, long and black, struck the point where she had stood and pinning down the hem of her dress, and around the hem became hard as ice.
Thranduil hurried to her and flinched when he saw the weapon. He took a cloth from his servant and pulled out the spear, never touching it with his bare flesh. "Nyphestas, the renegade. Will she not relent? Look here, Legolas. This is the spear of the Army of the Queen. Darker than Sauron. If it were to pierce the skin, anything, be it immortal or not, will become like stone. A warning is written here: 'He who rests his gaze upon this weapon shall know that all is doomed in the end. To fight is to die. To surrender is to die. Nyphestas rules all!' She is still breathing after a score of arrows in her chest. She is strong indeed. And now, I bring to attention what I have put away. My Lady Celebrive, I think it is time you prepare for battle. The lone spear is always followed by many," he warned, striking the black spear into the ground, where the poison dripping from it turned the ground gray and lifeless.
A spark lit in Cairnoe that frightened Legolas. "It is what I come for, my lord. I think you must gather your fighters. The time for battle is short, and time for victory even shorter. Come, Legolas, let us put away all thoughts but what we require for battle. My blade needs whetting," she said calmly. And with the slightest movement, she tore off the ruined hem of her gown and stalked off to prepare herself.
Gimli, who had just appeared, watched as Legolas gazed after her. "She is a wild one, friend. I dare not go to battle next to a warrior so ready. Well… in any such case, we must prepare for battle as well. Come with me! Come with me, Legolas! To fight is to die indeed!" he cried, taking his arm. Thranduil nodded at Gimli's request for dismissal and the two made for their chambers as quick as Gimli's legs found it possible.
Who is this Nyphestas I have abruptly thrown in? I don't know… I think she might have a few paragraphs or something… I need some more caffeine…yeah…caffeine…
The Gardens were a place once destroyed by warring but now healed. The likes of Gandalf the White and Galadriel had blessed the earth there and let forth fountains that quenched the flames of orcs. Simbelmyne grew here also, sad as it was. Great stone pillars and white statues gleamed with evening dew. It was bedecked with flowers of all kinds; every kind in middle-earth that would will itself to bloom blossomed underneath the moon.
Tonight, the pale beauty of the Gardens was lit up with elven fires and silver wrought lanterns. Many elves had already arrived, carrying food and drink of all sorts and all of delicious taste. As the feast began, Thranduil feasted with several of his guests, one including Gimli and Glorfindel, an elf who assisted Frodo Baggins the ring-bearer long ago.
Legolas ate among his fellows and in cheery demeanor, though he looked about often for Celebrive. At last when it came time to clear the eateries and join in song and dance, Legolas grew weary of his wait and rose up to leave, claiming that the food, though fine, disagreed with his stomach.
His aching seemed to be cured when he glanced his father speaking to a young elf-maid. She seemed strangely familiar…
"Legolas! I believe you know this elven warrior from afar?" asked Thranduil as he approached with the maiden. She was decked in blue and silver. Her face, as fair as it was, seemed sad and lifeless. Legolas knew her instantly and rushed forth to embrace her.
"Cairnoe! It has been as you have told me all those long summers ago. You stand before me, unchanged but sad is your face. You are not the lass I knew of old," he pondered aloud to her, arms spread to hold her.
Cairnoe backed away and clasped his hand instead. "It has been long since I saw you, Prince of Greenwood. I am glad to hear your voice—My Lord," she said blandly, setting her lips upon his hand before releasing her hold and bowing. In the distance vibrant music played and all sang and danced.
"I leave thee to join in amongst the merriment, for I hear my favorite of songs being played. Excuse me," said Thranduil, striding away rather quickly to hear his song. Though he was the Lord of all Greenwood, it did not mean he was too high to enjoy songs of lore.
A startled Legolas looked upon the face of Cairnoe. He saw the reason for her name, Celebrive. Her face was a barren wasteland of ice, beautiful but cold and bare. The sadness in her eyes stirred up pity and grief in Legolas, who only saw such pain in those who have suffered tremendously. His friend was lost to him, it seemed.
"You were sweetest summer, and now you have become the coldest of winters. What has changed thee? A broken heart?" he asked, his elven face knitted with worry.
Breaking the gaze he held on her, Cairnoe bowed her head. "You were right, after all, Legolas. It is a broken heart I suffer, but it is not made lame by a man, for I bind myself to no one. It is because I feel no joy here, in this land. The moment I heard your father's request, my heart left me. I could not turn down such a plea, and I missed you as well. Now I see I was wrong. The Grey Havens, elfhome! Elfhome is forever the land of our people, Legolas! How I wish to see it again… I will do my duty here—I will slay the last of Greenwood's dangers and go home. My real home. The love of the sea tugs at me; it will not relent. You understand?" she answered softly, looking up to see into the eyes of her friend. She saw the faint glimmer in them. Temptation of the grey sea glimmered in the eyes of Legolas. That and something more—something she did not know lurked in his bright eyes. The things that stirred up in her as she looked in those eyes: hope, love, memories, oh, the memories of sunshine and laughter; it brought memories of him. Memories of life.
"I understand the things you speak of. I only wish for you to have life, mellon. You are sorrowful. Let me help you," said Legolas at length.
His soft voice, so full of sincerity, brought her out of her thoughts. She could not think of much else but his words. Her eyes nearly relented the hard gaze they bore until she shook off the confusion of thoughts. Cairnoe straightened her stature and looked into the eyes of Legolas, saying slowly, "You speak as if you think I care. I care not, Legolas. Life has left me like summer to the land. It soon returns, but it will not spark here. I have told you, my home is in the Grey Havens. I wish I could be a lady and as not to disappoint you but…" Her voice faltered. She stepped back as a spear, long and black, struck the point where she had stood and pinning down the hem of her dress, and around the hem became hard as ice.
Thranduil hurried to her and flinched when he saw the weapon. He took a cloth from his servant and pulled out the spear, never touching it with his bare flesh. "Nyphestas, the renegade. Will she not relent? Look here, Legolas. This is the spear of the Army of the Queen. Darker than Sauron. If it were to pierce the skin, anything, be it immortal or not, will become like stone. A warning is written here: 'He who rests his gaze upon this weapon shall know that all is doomed in the end. To fight is to die. To surrender is to die. Nyphestas rules all!' She is still breathing after a score of arrows in her chest. She is strong indeed. And now, I bring to attention what I have put away. My Lady Celebrive, I think it is time you prepare for battle. The lone spear is always followed by many," he warned, striking the black spear into the ground, where the poison dripping from it turned the ground gray and lifeless.
A spark lit in Cairnoe that frightened Legolas. "It is what I come for, my lord. I think you must gather your fighters. The time for battle is short, and time for victory even shorter. Come, Legolas, let us put away all thoughts but what we require for battle. My blade needs whetting," she said calmly. And with the slightest movement, she tore off the ruined hem of her gown and stalked off to prepare herself.
Gimli, who had just appeared, watched as Legolas gazed after her. "She is a wild one, friend. I dare not go to battle next to a warrior so ready. Well… in any such case, we must prepare for battle as well. Come with me! Come with me, Legolas! To fight is to die indeed!" he cried, taking his arm. Thranduil nodded at Gimli's request for dismissal and the two made for their chambers as quick as Gimli's legs found it possible.
Who is this Nyphestas I have abruptly thrown in? I don't know… I think she might have a few paragraphs or something… I need some more caffeine…yeah…caffeine…
