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people *luvvie kisses* here's the next chapter, please R+R.
Chapter 4
Aria stood with the towel covering her for what seemed like hours. She did not realise that she was shivering, the water was cold are so was she but she still stood there. Aria couldn't get that person out of her head that was the most a man had ever seen of her. He was utterly gorgeous and a gentleman, leaving the room once he saw her. Oh no! He saw her! She looked at her legs; the blood was still on them and the bruises more prominent. Aria sat down in the cold water she scrubbed her legs harder than before biting her lip with the pain but she scrubbed none the less. Once clean Aria stepped out of the bath and let the water drain away, luckily Lady Arwen and Aragorn, Aria scolded herself remembering that they were King and Queen she had forgotten with all her problems. What must they think of her forgetting their titles? Aria blushed at her own incompetence rushing into the room that they had kindly let her use. Arias blush deepened as she took in the room it was lovely, much nicer than her room back home. Then why did that not surprise her? She let her hand lazily brush the silk bed cover, it felt like heaven. She rushed over to a dress that was waiting for her with a note attached, it read 'I hope this will do. If there is anything else that you want please do not fear to ask, yours always Arwen.' Aria smiled it was so nice to be thought of. She picked up the dress and held it up against her, she felt that it did not suit, pale lilac colour. Aria was so use to wearing dark colours; it felt strange to wear something light. Her legs felt awful and looked awful, Aria moved stiffly and dried herself. Aria ebbed herself into the dress; it felt so comfortable compared to the corseted attire that she was forced to wear before and surprisingly light. Her wet hair barely reached her jaw line, mabey she cut too much off. It looked strange a boy's haircut in a dress. Aria sat at an ornate dressing table and worked some plats into her hair to make her look more feminine, but she looked the same. Aria tore herself away from the subject of herself, all that she could think of was the guy that walked in. Aria tried not to think of him for she knew that her mother was right and if she thought of him in that way she would end up just like her. A psychotic old woman that was no more than a common trollop. Aria would never let herself become her mother; she would never give herself to a man, never! It would be in marriage or not at all. She could not risk it, if it was already in her blood then she might get …she couldn't bring herself to articulate the words, partly because it disgusted her and partly because she did not know. No one had told her anything she had only found out by eavesdropping on conversations people had, once she thought that she had died but it turned out to be something else, that meant you were a woman. Aria blushed feeling very young and vulnerable. Her mind was wondering back to the 'guy'. There was knock at the door and Aria answered, the same maid stood before her. She asked "Miss your presence is wanted King and Queen, please follow me." Aria did as she was told, trying to keep up with the sprightly maid.
Arwen and Aragorn sat in yet another luxurious room, this time more personal than the previous. They looked troubled Aria knew that they had been talking, of course they had how could they not? Arwen motioned to Aria to sit down she did, and spoke softly "What have you decided?"
Aragorn spoke matter of factly "We wish for you to stay here, we will say that you are a distant family member. Now you must understand that you cannot tell anyone who you are. Anyone."
Aria nodded, and Aragorn continued "We will give you a new identity you must forget your past."
Aria bowed her head "Please understand that I am beyond grateful but there is something I have to tell you." She looked up and spoke in a small voice "My father was not my father, I do not know who he is." She pulled out the page from the family tree "I have been left out, that is why I had to leave." Aragorn took the piece of paper from her hands and looked at Arwen "This complicates matters slightly. Do you know who your father is?" Aria shook her head "More importantly does he know of you?"
Aria did not know her mother had never told her. She said, "I do not know, I only found this out information a matter of days ago. She said something of him being an elf but then said that she had never" she coughed "an elf."
Arwen spoke now Aragorn sat beside her, with her thumb she stroked the back of his hand "I do not see how this changes anything now, in the future perhaps but now she is still a relative. Do not worry we will protect you."
Aria licked her lips "I hope this does not sound rude but what is my name?"
Arwen smiled calming Aria immediately "Your name, we have not given much thought to it what do you wish to be called?"
Aria said, "I do not know."
Arwen smiled broadly "We shall call you…" Arwen thought "…Melda."
Aria's eyes lit up "Thank you for such a lovely name hope I do not let it down." She knew very little elvish but it sounded nice.
Aragorn smiled at the girls reaction "Melda a very nice name indeed. We still have to talk about your new-found family. We will say that you are a relative of Arwen, you do suit the title. You no longer have a title, do you think you can handle this?"
"Not that I had one before" Aria (Melda) said flippantly. Her eyes became serious "All I care about is that none of my siblings have to go through what I did." Her heart ached at the thought of strong and serious Karr, innocent Sora and the mischievous Kavan and Orren; she could not let her mother persecute them too.
Arwen stood up and took Aria (Melda * I'm letting you get used to the name change *) by the arm and they walked out of the room. Arwen turned to Aria (Melda) and mentioned "Do you wish go on a tour?"
Aria (Melda) agreed "Very much so."
The pair walked around the vast palace finally coming out into the courtyard. A small group of men were laughing what seemed to be practising archery, Aria (Melda) was not sure. As soon as they saw Arwen they stopped and did a form of bow, all except one who was aiming an arrow at a target and was deep in concentration, he let the arrow leave his bow. It sailed through the air and hit the centre of the target with power and ferocity, but still an amount of restrain. Arwen laughed and spoke to the men; suddenly Aria (Melda) realised that they were not men but elves. She had only met a few elves; most of them had gone to the Havens now. Arwen introduced all the members to Aria (Melda) she tried to pay attention but her gaze was drawn to the archer. She nodded and did the pleasantries; Arwen pulled two similar looking elves and spoke to them quietly. The archer finished and Aria could feel excitement bubble I her stomach, as he approached her face fell and became red.
Arwen soon returned she stood beside Aria (Melda) and the archer joined the group. He spoke to Arwen "Sorry I did not notice you before." He looked at Aria (Melda) "Who is this with you?"
Arwen breezed "She is a relative of mine, Melda. This is Haldir."
The 'guy' finally had a name, one that suited him. Melda's eyes opened wide she had fallen into the same trap as her mother, she must keep her distance from this gorgeous being.
Haldir smirked and looked Melda straight in the eye " 'Beloved' an unusual name."
Melda blushed as she though of their first meeting in the bathroom, her legs felt worse than before. She tried not to flirt "I'm an unusual person."
He looked deeper than before "That does not surprise me." Haldir could not believe what he was saying to this girl infront of him, she was obviously embarrassed but he continued to talk. It seemed to make the experience more pleasurable. He extended an arm "Would you care for a walk?"
Melda hesitated she turned to Arwen hoping for an escape, but that was denied Arwen merely nodded. Melda had to keep herself away, she had to! She decided to go on this walk "Do you not mind?"
Arwen spoke smoothly "Certainly not, enjoy yourself." That was what Melda feared.
Chapter 4
Aria stood with the towel covering her for what seemed like hours. She did not realise that she was shivering, the water was cold are so was she but she still stood there. Aria couldn't get that person out of her head that was the most a man had ever seen of her. He was utterly gorgeous and a gentleman, leaving the room once he saw her. Oh no! He saw her! She looked at her legs; the blood was still on them and the bruises more prominent. Aria sat down in the cold water she scrubbed her legs harder than before biting her lip with the pain but she scrubbed none the less. Once clean Aria stepped out of the bath and let the water drain away, luckily Lady Arwen and Aragorn, Aria scolded herself remembering that they were King and Queen she had forgotten with all her problems. What must they think of her forgetting their titles? Aria blushed at her own incompetence rushing into the room that they had kindly let her use. Arias blush deepened as she took in the room it was lovely, much nicer than her room back home. Then why did that not surprise her? She let her hand lazily brush the silk bed cover, it felt like heaven. She rushed over to a dress that was waiting for her with a note attached, it read 'I hope this will do. If there is anything else that you want please do not fear to ask, yours always Arwen.' Aria smiled it was so nice to be thought of. She picked up the dress and held it up against her, she felt that it did not suit, pale lilac colour. Aria was so use to wearing dark colours; it felt strange to wear something light. Her legs felt awful and looked awful, Aria moved stiffly and dried herself. Aria ebbed herself into the dress; it felt so comfortable compared to the corseted attire that she was forced to wear before and surprisingly light. Her wet hair barely reached her jaw line, mabey she cut too much off. It looked strange a boy's haircut in a dress. Aria sat at an ornate dressing table and worked some plats into her hair to make her look more feminine, but she looked the same. Aria tore herself away from the subject of herself, all that she could think of was the guy that walked in. Aria tried not to think of him for she knew that her mother was right and if she thought of him in that way she would end up just like her. A psychotic old woman that was no more than a common trollop. Aria would never let herself become her mother; she would never give herself to a man, never! It would be in marriage or not at all. She could not risk it, if it was already in her blood then she might get …she couldn't bring herself to articulate the words, partly because it disgusted her and partly because she did not know. No one had told her anything she had only found out by eavesdropping on conversations people had, once she thought that she had died but it turned out to be something else, that meant you were a woman. Aria blushed feeling very young and vulnerable. Her mind was wondering back to the 'guy'. There was knock at the door and Aria answered, the same maid stood before her. She asked "Miss your presence is wanted King and Queen, please follow me." Aria did as she was told, trying to keep up with the sprightly maid.
Arwen and Aragorn sat in yet another luxurious room, this time more personal than the previous. They looked troubled Aria knew that they had been talking, of course they had how could they not? Arwen motioned to Aria to sit down she did, and spoke softly "What have you decided?"
Aragorn spoke matter of factly "We wish for you to stay here, we will say that you are a distant family member. Now you must understand that you cannot tell anyone who you are. Anyone."
Aria nodded, and Aragorn continued "We will give you a new identity you must forget your past."
Aria bowed her head "Please understand that I am beyond grateful but there is something I have to tell you." She looked up and spoke in a small voice "My father was not my father, I do not know who he is." She pulled out the page from the family tree "I have been left out, that is why I had to leave." Aragorn took the piece of paper from her hands and looked at Arwen "This complicates matters slightly. Do you know who your father is?" Aria shook her head "More importantly does he know of you?"
Aria did not know her mother had never told her. She said, "I do not know, I only found this out information a matter of days ago. She said something of him being an elf but then said that she had never" she coughed "an elf."
Arwen spoke now Aragorn sat beside her, with her thumb she stroked the back of his hand "I do not see how this changes anything now, in the future perhaps but now she is still a relative. Do not worry we will protect you."
Aria licked her lips "I hope this does not sound rude but what is my name?"
Arwen smiled calming Aria immediately "Your name, we have not given much thought to it what do you wish to be called?"
Aria said, "I do not know."
Arwen smiled broadly "We shall call you…" Arwen thought "…Melda."
Aria's eyes lit up "Thank you for such a lovely name hope I do not let it down." She knew very little elvish but it sounded nice.
Aragorn smiled at the girls reaction "Melda a very nice name indeed. We still have to talk about your new-found family. We will say that you are a relative of Arwen, you do suit the title. You no longer have a title, do you think you can handle this?"
"Not that I had one before" Aria (Melda) said flippantly. Her eyes became serious "All I care about is that none of my siblings have to go through what I did." Her heart ached at the thought of strong and serious Karr, innocent Sora and the mischievous Kavan and Orren; she could not let her mother persecute them too.
Arwen stood up and took Aria (Melda * I'm letting you get used to the name change *) by the arm and they walked out of the room. Arwen turned to Aria (Melda) and mentioned "Do you wish go on a tour?"
Aria (Melda) agreed "Very much so."
The pair walked around the vast palace finally coming out into the courtyard. A small group of men were laughing what seemed to be practising archery, Aria (Melda) was not sure. As soon as they saw Arwen they stopped and did a form of bow, all except one who was aiming an arrow at a target and was deep in concentration, he let the arrow leave his bow. It sailed through the air and hit the centre of the target with power and ferocity, but still an amount of restrain. Arwen laughed and spoke to the men; suddenly Aria (Melda) realised that they were not men but elves. She had only met a few elves; most of them had gone to the Havens now. Arwen introduced all the members to Aria (Melda) she tried to pay attention but her gaze was drawn to the archer. She nodded and did the pleasantries; Arwen pulled two similar looking elves and spoke to them quietly. The archer finished and Aria could feel excitement bubble I her stomach, as he approached her face fell and became red.
Arwen soon returned she stood beside Aria (Melda) and the archer joined the group. He spoke to Arwen "Sorry I did not notice you before." He looked at Aria (Melda) "Who is this with you?"
Arwen breezed "She is a relative of mine, Melda. This is Haldir."
The 'guy' finally had a name, one that suited him. Melda's eyes opened wide she had fallen into the same trap as her mother, she must keep her distance from this gorgeous being.
Haldir smirked and looked Melda straight in the eye " 'Beloved' an unusual name."
Melda blushed as she though of their first meeting in the bathroom, her legs felt worse than before. She tried not to flirt "I'm an unusual person."
He looked deeper than before "That does not surprise me." Haldir could not believe what he was saying to this girl infront of him, she was obviously embarrassed but he continued to talk. It seemed to make the experience more pleasurable. He extended an arm "Would you care for a walk?"
Melda hesitated she turned to Arwen hoping for an escape, but that was denied Arwen merely nodded. Melda had to keep herself away, she had to! She decided to go on this walk "Do you not mind?"
Arwen spoke smoothly "Certainly not, enjoy yourself." That was what Melda feared.
