Disclaimer: The LOTR trilogy belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien while Darcy Lewis character is owned by Marvel. I am not profiting in any way by writing this story besides having immense amounts of fun while doing so.


"That wasn't my question, Legolas." Darcy delivered in a strained voice while her vibrating hands smoothed the thick vellum. It did not need straightening but she did it anyway and with such an unwavering attention as if stopping would lead to some catastrophic occurrence... a whacking done by the way of a folded scroll, let's say. Indeed if not for the fact that the collection of poems was considered priceless with its sections painted in seductive carmine, royal indigo and vibrant malachite she would already do so two passages ago.

"I know how to read pitchkettled! What I do not know is what it means."she hissed through the teeth, gasps hot and shallow.

Swirling the tepid infusion in a small cup Obawryn swallowed it in one swing. How bitter. Schooling the ugly grimace he walked towards the fuming girl and her pitchkettled* tutor, he thought with a level of amusement that did not show on his face.

"I'm sorry to interrupt my dear but it's time for my afternoon brew. I'd go myself but I fear that the distance might be too much for me today." he smiled apologetically. "On the other hand if I fail to show at Mistress Hildegard door soon she will descend on this library like a mama bear whose cubs disappeared."

Jumping from the stool Darcy took a deep calming breath "We wouldn't want that considering the last time…" her voice trailed off until she cringed dispelling the unpleasant memory "Yes, I'll go." she declared in a flat tone.

Collecting the tray and the empty cup she settled some more. Suddenly mindful that the elder scholar was not responsible for her foul mood, she hid her warm cheeks in a clumsy curtsy. "With pleasure." she added before leaving the room.

Brows drawing together Legolas' gaze followed the disappearing woman before going distant. Wilting he made a slight shake with his head. He will never understand Darcy.

"She tricked you as well." Obawryn announced with a gleam in his eye shuffling closer. Small delighted smile playing on his face he tilted his head inspecting the elf with renewed interest. Due to the close examination he did not miss the dark look hardening into an impassable mask and yet he was still surprised by the raised words that followed.

"I won't stand for offending the lady. You'll apologise this instant!" the prince ordered piercing him with an unforgiving stare, the years of amicable trust and respect straining in the cold void that opened between them.

"Sîdh Ernil Legolas**" he opened his palms in a calming manner "I meant it as a highest praise. She managed to fool you or convince you, if you prefer. One that learned common tongue ages ago and then re-learned it as it changed. Remarkable." He mumbled under his nose shaking his head. "Did you know Darcy is not from around here?"

"I knew she is not native." Legolas started hesitantly "She does not speak like Gondorians or Rohirrim. I admit I'm not familiar with coastal speech considering the danger of stirring the Unquiet of Ulmo..." he lowered his voice at the name of the elven malady "but I assumed she migrated from a small seashore village when people headed towards big cities during the war."

"No, she didn't." Turning his back he treaded towards the inner courtyard grabbing a cane on the way. "Walk with me."

Curiosity ignited by the simple admission Legolas hurried after the hunched scholar. Taking him by the free arm he babbled "How do you know this? Where is she from? How did she get here?"

"I don't know… exactly. My dear friend and at times torturer" he stated with affection "Mistress Hildegard introduced us. She asked me to check if the girl understands Sindarin or Quenya after she failed to respond to Westron. I don't like to remember what state Darcy was in the first time I met her but considering the head of healing house was personally overseeing her treatment you can imagine how serious it was." Looking into Legolas darkening eyes he cut across the sunny lawn "Not surprisingly she didn't understand a word I was saying. Nor did she recognise Khuzdul. We've even tried a curse or two in the Orcs language! Can you imagine? Obviously it meant nothing to her." he assured. "On top of whatever tragedy befallen her, Darcy was uncommunicative but not mute."

Pulling Owabryn to a stop Legolas asked confounded. "Didn't you just say she was unresponsive?"

"Yes and no." he nodded left and right before resuming the hobble. "She was talking in a language that no one understood. In any case the nursing ladies taught her the common tongue." Arriving at the half shaded area he planked himself on a stone bench and finished with a wink "Apparently to the level that she fooled you."

"So when she said she doesn't understand…"

"She truly didn't. Next time explain describing the term in a simple definition with several, full sentences as examples and I promise you she won't ask again. She is bright our Darcy, she is. And strong."

Anxiety twisting Legolas' guts he lowered next to the elder man "Was she hurt during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields?"

"No. I've met her months before the final battle. She was well enough in late winter to help during the besiege."

Ohhh… he deflated in relief. That's why I didn't meet her in the healing houses. "Help how?"

"The lass could barely string two words together and yet she built a clever device to count. She calls it liczydło.**** With its use she adds, subtracts, multiplies and divides faster than anyone I've ever met. Faster than the chamberlain and seneschal. Truly ingenious. Remind me later and I'll show you." he enthusiastically offered.

Biting the lower lip Legolas backtracked to the previous topic "Do you know what happened to her?"

Shoulders dropping he wordlessly denied "Whatever it was it must have been a terrible tragedy." Waving at the flushed girl that emerged from the portal he hurriedly added in a hushed tone "Don't ask her about it. She gets very sad when we try to find out more."


I hope you liked. I consider reviews Christmas/new year's gifts so please leave as many as you like :)

* pitchkettled - puzzled in middle english (medieval english)

** Sîdh Ernil Legolas - peace Prince Legolas in Sindarin

*** Unquiet of Ulmo - sea-longing

**** liczydło (pronounced ljiˈʧ̑ɨdwɔ) - I decided not to use english to describe a word in a language alien to Middle Earth. I used my native language instead. Liczydło means abacus.