A/N: DISCLAIMER! I do not own any of the LOTR or THE HOBBIT characters. I just own these OCs. I hope you come to love them as I love them… Here we go~ :3 Please review….PLEASE! :D I hope you guys like this~
CHAPTER THREE | Archery
The festivities continued as planned. After welcoming the prince, Lord Elrod began conversing with the odd pair from Gondor. "Master Gimli, I trust you are not disappointed with our little celebration?" He saw the dwarf drank the Dorwinian wine in one gulp.
"Very please, milord Elrond. Very please…" Gimli replied, obviously drunk with is rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes dancing. "If ay ked seggest one more thing though, milord… Where are de wemen?" With that jest, he roared in laughter.
Legolas smiled and continued to watch the dancers on the floor. He has been asked by several nobles for a request to dance with their daughters but declined. He wanted to relax tonight. Besides, he can not take his eyes off the entrance door. His mind is still on the elleth he rescued earlier.
"Legolas…" Elrond called out noticing the strange mannerism of the prince. "Is there something wrong?"
Legolas shook his head slowly. "My lord, may I inquire of the state of your niece? Is she alright?" He turned to the dark haired elf.
Elrond knew that the Sindarin prince would ask due to his earlier rescue of the fair, Maengwen. In truth, he has seen it – this fateful meeting. He knew that there will be a strong connection between Maengwen and the Prince of Eryn Lasgalen…whatever that may be…. Thus, he was not as worried of his niece's fading. "Maengwen can be trying at times…" He paused for a while and chuckled remembering all the stubborn things his niece did for centuries. "…maybe too trying… She's a free spirit, you see. Always doing what she wants… When she was but an elleth, she gave me trouble…lots of trouble…" Elrond felt tears sting his eyes at the memories. Truthfully, seeing his spirited niece wither into a soulless shell shocked him. The moment she arrived crying in his arms, he already knew that the days will be different.
Legolas' brows furrowed. "I am worried about her deed earlier, my lord. It was not logical of an elf to try and leap to take her life. I have a feeling it is...guilt that she feels not…grief…"
"Guilt…and grief…" Elrond nodded. "Don't doubt her love for Thiadir. I have seen them both and there was a love that one can be proud of…but it was not to be. The only way my spirited niece can cope up with this is to do rash things… Believe me it was not an easy time for me when they decided to leave for Lothlorien…"
"You foresaw it…" Legolas, now slightly turned towards the Peredhil listened carefully.
"I have… And it broke me seeing this devastation in Maengwen." Elrond answered in a hushed tone. "It was not in the will of the Valar that they be united and as much as I wanted to warn her before they went off to war, I knew I could not hold their spirits… And so I waited…for the inevitable." He ended it drinking from his cup.
"I do not believe that it was grief that –"
Corumeth immediately placed her cup on the table a little strongly which stopped her prince from continuing. "My lord, I pray you choose your words well… Lady Maengwen and Lord Thiadir were in love. I can testify to that. With all due respect, please let us choose another topic."
Elrond raised his cup in agreement while Legolas nodded respecting the fact that he is foreign when it came to the relationship of the elf in discussion.
Idhreneth who sits beside the prince knew she has to explain. So, with a small voice and after taking a big gulp out of her cup, she began. "My prince…"
Legolas turned to the lovely young elleth beside him who was introduced as Lady Maengwen's younger sister, Lady Idhreneth. "Yes, my lady…"
Idhreneth blushed as the prince gave her his full attention. Little did she know of Legolas Thrandulion but the tomes talk of his beauty and grace as well as his fierceness in battle. Indeed, the books did him little justice. "Maengwen, my sister… She is no ordinary elleth…and for centuries since she was young she has struggled to fit in. It was only Elrohir and Elladan, our cousins that managed to convince her that nothing is wrong with her…that having the passion for archery and swordfight is nothing to be ashamed of…even for an elleth. And then came Lord Thiadir..." She smiled remembering how handsome the elf was. "He was mesmerized by my sister's fiery spirit… His patience and devotion for her was unparalleled that my sister was utterly smitten." She lowered her voice saying, "They were in love with each other…and my sister sees it fit to lose her life with her own hands because it is the only way she will be able to let go… She was never wise…but she is always sure to do what she thinks is right without hesitation."
"I am sorry to hear that, but that…is foolish." Legolas said sadly. "You sister should know that killing herself will not help her or her betrothed."
"Then, my prince." Idhreneth smiled ruefully. "…I see that you have not been in love yet…" She turned to the entrance of the hall as a familiar man passed through the arch. "They're here…" It was Elrohir and her sister. The tall elf supported Maengwen by bracing her arm and Idhreneth knew though natural, her sister is putting up a smiling mask. She can see the pressure Elrohir is taking, supporting the elleth's body weight through her arm.
Corumeth immediately stood up and walked to her friend. She placed herself on the other side of Maengwen and took her other arm. "It pleases me that you can stand, mellon… But do remember that you are not expected to be strong all the time…"
"What an insult coming from a said 'friend'…" Maengwen jokingly hissed. "Here I am thinking, I have to attend the ball in fear that my dear friend would face the barrage of questions to come… I can see you're grateful." She narrowed her eyes teasingly.
"Now, now…ladies…" Elrohir chuckled as they finally reached the dais. "It is not the time to have fights…" He bowed in front of his father and assisted Maengwen to sit beside him opposite the prince.
Legolas was once more reminded of how stunning the maiden truly is... She is now wearing an emerald velvet gown, her pale complexion contrasted the dark wavy tresses that fall to the small of her back and her deep gray eyes are filled with sadness yet her petite lips curled up with a smile. "How do you fare, my lady?"
Maengwen chuckled, her laughter surprising the prince. "I apologize for my rudeness, Prince Legolas. You witnessed one of the few embarrassing stunts I did…"
"Truly embarrassing!" Elrohir seeked to lighten the mood. "I was so stunned by the act that I was but ready to disown her as a cousin if not for her beauty… A shame!" This sent the others in laughter.
"Well…" Maengwen mockingly punched Elrohir's arm. "…nobody is perfect…" She said between her teeth.
"I say, Maengwen…" Elladan raised his fork with a sliced cucumber stuck to it. "…weren't you the one who said…your AIM is always PERFECT?"
Maengwen raised a brow. Clearly, her cousins are putting up a show for the prince and his friend. "I'm afraid it's true… Corumeth and I survived the war, haven't we?"
Corumeth grinned despite the obvious jolt at the mention of survival. Maengwen's cheer is back and she's thankful for it. "Indeed… I say, we elleths have survived a lot, haven't we? What of Lady Sarnith and Lady Tathel from Lorien? We four have survived the war." She raised her cup to do a toast. "To the women of war!"
"To the women." The elves in their table cheered.
"I have heard of them both…Lady Sarnith and Tathel… Cousins to the Marchwarden?" Elladan asked. "Their beauty rivals that of the Lady Galadriel herself I was told… Of course, one look at Haldir and you'd say you got all the proof you need!" He sniggered at that as Elrohir laughed along.
"Golden haired twins…" Maengwen raised her cup of wine while pointing at Elrohir. "Twins, you hear…brothers? Haven't you seen them before? They have not set foot in Imladris, I heard. Haldir was too keen on keeping naughty elves away from his beautiful cousins. For good reason, of course…" The brothers stopped laughing when she added, "He especially mentioned the mischievous twins of Imladris…"
Elrohir sat straight and looked incredulously at the tall elleth who's obviously poking fun. "And who's to say we are not honorable enough for his cousins?" He filled his cup with more wine. "Why… There is no other fairer and more noble than Elladan and Elrohir." He wiggled his eyebrows.
"No other as smug like you, Elrohir!" Maengwen pointed out and everyone laughed including the brothers. Elrohir gave her a playful warning look.
"Aye, Maengwen… Your tongue is as sharp as ever." Elladan smiled. "Something we miss, indeed."
"Truly? I assumed you miss someone, brother…" Maengwen eyed Corumeth who's giving her a glare. "Judging from the letters you wrote…it was filled with questions than worry…"
Elladan's face fell and his cheeks reddened.
Elrohir roared in laughter at this.
For a while, the company ate with a bit of chattering. Gimli was busy conversing with Lord Elrond and Legolas, having seated in front of the Lady Maengwen noticed that despite her jovial act, she's holding her grief quite well. "I cannot help but be curious of your skills with the bow, my lady."
Maengwen looked up, surprised at the topic. "Would you like to test it, my lord?" She smiled, amused at the prince's curiosity. The table went silent. Everybody in Imladris knows that despite her cheerful disposition, Maengwen always prided herself in Archery. Her question was a challenge.
Legolas raised his brow slightly at the tone of voice the elleth used. He smiled. "Tomorrow, first light at the archery grounds?" There was a confident smile that appeared on the pretty face.
"Why don't we put the stakes higher?" Maengwen asked looking at his cousins. "Lady Corumeth, Lady Idhreneth and me… You, Elladan and Elrohir…"
"I'm afraid you've misunderstood, my lady." Legolas tried to clear up. "I only wanted to see your skill –"
"Asking me is the same as challenging me, my prince." Maengwen raised a brow. She hates elves who doubt her skill. It was hard enough joining the Galadhrim... True, the prince wasn't able to see her in action…but nonetheless, it was rude of him to ask of her skill.
"Now, now...Maengwen..." Lord Elrond warned softly giving the young elleth a look only a father can. "My uncle thinks it rude..." Maengwen looked at Corumeth who chuckled at the implication that the men are...afraid.
Elrohir saw this and couldn't stop himself. "I accept this challenge!"
"Elrohir!" Elladan cried.
Elrohir looked at the two elf. "What? Have you no honor, my friends? They're mocking us." He pointed at the three elleth - Idhreneth smiling sweetly knowing that they bit the bait, Corumeth rubbing her hands together and Maengwen grinning. "They are!"
TBC
A/N: So? How do you guys love this one? ^_^ Reviews please. I am trying to pick up the pace here~ :D