Chapter 3: The Talk and Party Mischief
Later that evening, Tamuril was sharpening her arrows. She had long since been ready for her father to check on her. Just as she finished sharpening and put down an arrow, there was a knock at her door. She shoved her arrows under her bed and put her flint stone away. She stood carefully and straightened her dress. She walked slowly to the door and looked out of the peephole. Her father was standing outside waiting patiently for his only daughter. She immediately unlocked and opened the door.
"How are things coming along this night, Tamuril?" he asked with a hint of concern in his voice.
All of his worries were washed away when he saw what she was wearing. "Ahhh... You are wearing your mother's favorite dress tonight. A great decision if I may say so." He said.
"Mae Govannan, ada. You sounded worried there for a second." Tamuril stated with a sly smile.
"Yes dear, I was worried that when you opened the door you would be clad in a tunic instead of a dress. I thought I would be forced to throttle you," replied her father teasingly, "but it appears that you have proven me wrong once again."
"Father, what is your real reason for coming here tonight?" Tamuril asked, preparing herself for the worst possible scenario.
He took a deep breath and began, "I knew I couldn't get anything past you my dear. Please sit."
She sat beside him on her bed. "Honey, I want you to know that your mother and I love you very, very much and we always will. We think that you have grown into a fine young Elven woman. I thought that you should know, and I could kick myself for not telling you this sooner, that the ball tonight is the last party that your mother and I will be attending."
Tamuril gave her father a confused look. "What do you mean by that, Ada?"
He took another deep breath. "Your mother and I are sailing to the Valinor tomorrow morning."
Tamuril was shocked by the news she had just received. "Why did you not tell me this until now?"
He put his arm around her and pulled her close. " I didn't think you would understand."
She pulled away and looked at him in disbelief at what he had just said. "And what makes you think that I would understand anymore now than I would have then? Hmm?"
He looked at her face and did not see himself. He should not have viewed her like himself, for she was not of his blood in any way. She held nothing of him. "I am sorry. I wish I could go back and change the decision that I made, but it is already too late."
"I do not want you to go, Ada, nor Nana. I shall miss you both greatly. I know that you must leave, for the New Year is in a week and it signifies the beginning of a new age. I know that the beginning of a new age is a sign to crown a new King."
"Yes, my brother Legolas shall become King. Though I don't rightly know if he wishes to. It doesn't seem like he has much of a choice at the moment. You are not of the bloodline and Miranu is much too young." said King Elamond.
He studied her face once again. He saw great sadness there, but he saw no tears. There was a reason for that too. She did not cry, because she did not know how. Tamuril had been born with little to no sense of pain and without the ability to cry. Sometimes he wondered if that was a good or a bad thing.
()()()()()()()()()()()
Tamuril was hurriedly changing into her silver tunic, black leggings and boots. Her father had just left and she was set in her intentions to be in the courtyard to meet her friends on time tonight. The ball was to start in 15 minutes. She needed to distract herself tonight.
She quickly finished buttoning her tunic. She pondered for a moment about taking a weapon or two. "Sure, why not?" She thought.
She scurried to her weapon table and grabbed two fan daggers, stuffing them in the sides of her boots to conceal them. That was all she had time for. She did a quick check and started out the door, locking it behind her.
She began to sprint down the hall. She had five minutes to spare. She turned the corner quickly and silently; too silently to be heard by the poor elf that she ran into. "I'm sorry!" she called out to him as she continued to run at an Olympic sprint down the corridor.
Just as she broke through the doors to the open courtyard, she ran head-on into Linwe. "Well, that was graceful!" said Larien, another one of Tamuril's closest friends.
"Oh, shut up Larien! You probably would have done worse if you were in as much of a hurry as I was." pouted Tamuril.
She noticed that Larien was wearing the same dress that she had worn at the Council of Elrond. Larien and she had met prior to the Council in the library at Rivendell. The dress she wore was a deep, royal blue with baby pink sleeves and a golden sash around the waist. Larien's long, golden hair was twisted half-up into an intricate Elven braid. A stone of hematite hung at her brow.
Tamuril helped Linwe to remove the leaves from her golden silk dress just as Miranu walked into the circle. He was clad in a tunic of deep red wine color and black leggings and boots. His hair was in the usual style of the warriors of Mirkwood, and glistened a shining black as the light from the moon was reflected upon it.
Miranu and she were different from other elves. They did not have a distinct glow to their aura. They only glowed in moments of great renown or meaning, and if they glowed at all it was in the moonlight or starlight.
"So, once again, you where not a dress, but a tunic, Tamuril?" asked Miranu knowingly.
"Yes, I refuse to dress as a Lady of Mirkwood. No one could make me, not even my father," she answered arrogantly.
"I see. You don't want to draw undo attention to yourself. I completely understand," he said.
He walked over to Tamuril and whispered into her ear, "I feel your pain," as he pointed to Linwe evoking a laugh and pat on the back from Tamuril.
The little group gathered themselves together and turned to Tamuril as if to name her the leader of the fun tonight. "Okay, here is what we're gonna do."
She turned to Miranu. "You make sure that my father doesn't look for me or find me tonight. Keep him distracted."
He nodded and took off. She turned to Linwe. "You are to go to the stables and get me my parchment paper and quill from my saddle bag."
She also nodded and sprinted away as quickly as she could in her dress. Tamuril finally turned to Larien, "Now, you are going to come with me and work me on my little harmless jokes and pranks."
She leaned over and whispered the plan into Larien's ear eliciting a small giggle from her. "That would get us into so much trouble if we were found out." said Larien in an all-too-girly fashion.
"I know, but they won't find out." said Tamuril.
"I have done this many times before at every gathering we have. They just never learn to not make snail snacks…"
They worked through the plan once more and jogged silently to the kitchen. "Okay, Larien, work your magic."
And she did just that. She pranced over to the young cook Kilmay and said, "Do you have directions to the Lady's room? I seem to have lost myself in this big, huge palace!"
Tamuril clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh and with the other she opened her salt pouch and as Kilmay was distracted, poured a handful into the snail mix. She watched as they began to fizz and gave Larien the signal, immediately turning and sprinting out of the exit.
Once Tamuril was sure that she was out of earshot of the other elves, she burst out laughing. She wished she could see the look on the young cook's face when he saw the snails disintegrate. She calmed herself and began to travel back to the spot that the friends were supposed to regroup. She sat on the white-elm bench that was in the center of the courtyard. She watched the wildlife of the forest come to life at night. She closed her eyes and took in every sound. The sound of the nightingale's cry at dusk, the sounds of the leaves rustling in the wind, and the sound of the Elven minstrels playing on their instruments and singing ballads in the Great Hall. She soaked up the sounds of little elflings playing ball in one of the other courtyards, and the sound of the quiet chatter of Elven women. She heard all of the sounds of the events taking place at the ball.
Suddenly, a new voice rose above that of the ball. It was Legolas. He was talking quietly. So quietly that she had to strain to hear. She decided to let her curiosity rule her for a bit and walked around the courtyard to get a closer look. She saw that Legolas was talking to an attractive male elf around her age. She was intrigued further and decided that she wanted an even closer look.
She scoped out the terrain. Then, she spotted a trellis that looked easy enough to climb. She silently tiptoed over to it and registered the possible hiding place. There was a balcony door at the top, but it had no bar, only a ledge. She pondered, "What the heck, might as well."
She hooked her hands into the vines and began to climb nimbly up the trellis. She reached the balcony and maneuvered herself to sit on the ledge. There, she was set. She found a small hole in the vines and began to watch and listen.
Legolas was wearing a silver blue tunic and dark blue leggings with black boots. He bore an Elven teardrop crown upon his golden head. His companion wore a tunic of what appeared to be spun gold! His leggings were a tan color and his boots were off-white. The stranger had a head of silky, dirty-blonde hair. His eyes were a dark grey-blue mix and looked as if the stars themselves had kissed them to make them shine.
Legolas spoke as if he had just heard of a death in the family, solemn and melancholy. "I know not what to do. I did not ask for this. I did not need this. I did not want this. Though, it doesn't seem as if I have much of a choice at this point. Who else would be able to take up this task? Lathron? No, he already rules a kingdom. Miranu? No, he is much too young. Tamuril? I wish she could do this for me, but she is not of my bloodline and she is therefore unable to accept this task. I wasn't expecting anything for my birthday, especially the throne of Mirkwood! I didn't even think that this day would come in my lifetime."
The stranger spoke, "I have no words of comfort to speak to you, for I am but a Prince of Rivendell, not a King. I personally hope that I never have to be. But my father's rule is failing. I fear that he also shall leave this land, though he will not be leaving in a kingly manner. His leave will be more of an act of fleeing."
They both laughed at the joke. The stranger looked very familiar. She couldn't quite place a name to his face though. She studied him, hoping that he would say or do something. Anything, anything at all that could give her a clue as to his identity. Then, it came.
The stranger spoke. "You spoke of a name earlier. Tamuril was it?" Legolas nodded.
"Would that by any chance be Tamuril 'The Fierce'?"
Legolas nodded again, "Yes, why?"
The stranger cast his eyes downward, "I thought she was of human kind. Did you say she was your sister?"
Legolas stifled a laugh and said, "No, not by blood, she is my niece-in-law. No, no she is not of human kind. She is half-Elven."
The stranger looked a bit taken aback. "Do you know if she is present here tonight?"
Legolas nodded and replied, "Yes, I spoke with her earlier this day. She attends the ball this night."
Why were they talking about her? She didn't even know this elf. How did he know her? She wanted to ask so many questions right now, but if she did she would be caught and if she asked later she would be found out. She would just have to listen further and see if she could catch a hint as to the elf Prince's connection to her.
"I would very much like to speak with her again." said the stranger.
Legolas looked up at him with a questioning look on his face, "Again? Do you know her?" he asked suspiciously.
The stranger nodded and said, "Long ago a friendship stood as a bond between us. I know not if that friendship still exists."
"What?" she whispered.
She immediately clamped a hand over her mouth. Any louder and they would have heard her.
"What the heck is going on?" she wondered.
Who was this man? How did he know her? Why did he look so damn familiar? Found out or not she was going to ask at the next meeting between her and Legolas.
They turned to leave. Suddenly, the door behind her on the ledge opened without warning. She was knocked off and hurled through the air. She cried out. Just as she was about to hit the ground, two strong arms caught her in their grasp, breaking her fall. "Whoa, that was really close to being really bad!" she said.
"Thank you, my lord. He studied her for a moment. "I know your face," he said.
"Though I cannot place a name to it."
She looked at him and said, "Put me down and I shall tell you my name."
He snapped to attention and noticed that he was still holding her in his arms like a baby.
"Forgive me for my being shameful. I am Darsali."
She realized who he was and a smile peeled across her face slowly, "Aiya, Illuvitar! Welcome, Darsali, it has been too long!"
He gave her a questioning look. She answered him with a smile and replied, "A star hath shined on the hour of our meeting."
"What is your name?" She smiles and says, "My name is Tamuril."
His eyes grow as wide as saucers and he says, "Ever is thy sight a joy, my friend! They embraced.
"Where have you been all of these years?" she asked him.
"Training to be what I wish not to be in Rivendell. What about you? You haven't been very easy to find either."
She laughed and replied, "I have been completing my studies and doing my duty as a royal elf of Mirkwood."
Legolas cut in, "You are now the Crown Princess of Mirkwood, you do know that, don't you?"
She answered reassuringly, "Yes, I know. My father talked to me earlier."
Legolas nodded, "Then you know?" he asked.
"Yes…"
Legolas removed her from Darsali and pulled her into a tender hug. "I shall need all of the help that I can get from you, Tamuril. I need you now more than ever," he said softly.
She felt the warmth of his touch had gone cold. "I will follow you to death and beyond! Don't worry, I know your strength. You can do it."
He looked down at her and smiled warmly. "You always have sweet words to flank my worries."
They looked at each other for a moment. With a final embrace they parted silently, but his hand remained in hers. "Are you planning on attending the initial ball?" Legolas asked.
"Yes, I plan on going later. I have some business to attend to with my friends at the moment. The same two friends that are hiding in the bush directly behind Darsali over there."
Just then Linwe and Larien tumble out of the bushes. "We're sorry, my lord. We meant no harm. We were only curious as to the whereabouts of Tamuril."
Legolas looked at them and said, "You are forgiven, but next time make your presence know if you wish to know something."
"Yes my lord." They curtsied and scurried away.
They weren't watching where they were going and Linwe ran straight into a pillar of marble. As she brushed herself off and continued on with a red face, Tamuril stifled her laughter and decided that she would blow off her last prank of the night. "Who am I kidding? I'll go with you to the ball right now." she said still holding Legolas' hand, but grabbing a hold of Darsali's arm also.
"Something tells me that this will be a night to remember." she said as they disappeared into the Great Hall...