Gandalf pays a visit!
"Ha!" Legolas declared triumphantly. Alasse came right at him, with the speed of lightning, and suddenly flicked both of his daggers away with her sword before he could even set them toward her. He stood there gaping. "That was...swift." He sputtered.
Alasse nodded, but then frowned, both excited and puzzled. "It was." She tried to rub it in. I know I'm fast. Very fast. But, as embarrassed as I am to admit it, I'm not as fast as Legolas yet. But even Legolas isn't that fast! Her thoughts bounced around. "I am loathed to confess this, but...I don't think that was me." She pursed her lips.
"Of course it was. As loathed as I am to admit it as well." Legolas sighed.
"No. That wasn't me! It...it almost felt like...like...magic!" Alasse's eyes darted back and forth suspiciously. Legolas tilted his head, gazing into the trees.
"Someone is coming." Legolas said. "From far down the path." Alasse also heard the visitor approaching before he even came in sight. They could hear an aged voice merrily humming to himself, and the rare and irritating scent of Longbottom Leaf filled the Mirkwood air. There was only one person ever who freely crossed their Wood with the ornery audacity to smoke that weed in spite of their longing pleas or demands for him to take it somewhere else!
"Mithrandir!" Alasse's eyes lit up. Legolas chuckled.
"Never a doubt." He shook his head in amusement. Alasse turned excitedly and ran to greet their guest. Legolas followed after.
Sure enough, trudging along the path was a tall, raggedly cloaked figure bearing a large staff. He wore a tall, pointed hat and had a long gray beard. He had thick, bushy eyebrows and aged blue eyes that were a whole other historic world all in themselves. And, he was smoking a very long, very thin pipe and blowing wispy smoke rings through his mouth.
Alasse ran with the grace of a doe, and caught up to him. "Gandalf!" She greeted warmly. He turned back and was nearly knocked over as she threw her arms around him. Normally, the Sindarin elves weren't entirely that affectionate, except for certain people they saved it for. But Gandalf was impossible not to hug! He laughed heartily. "It's been so long." Alasse told him.
"Aye, young elleth. It has been a very long time since I was here last." Gandalf smiled.
"Gandalf, was that you assisting me in my fighting practice?" Alasse groaned.
"Now, would I do that?"
"It was very sweet. But you making me win, Gandalf, isn't fair!" Alasse scolded. "I have to do it myself."
"A wizard's help is never truly appreciated. Well, let me look at you." His eyebrows rose. "My, my. Well, gracious me! This is not the shy but gabby little elleth I recall on my last visit to the wood!"
"You're wrong there, my friend. She is still very gabby! Even more so now." Legolas teased as he came into view.
"Legolas Greenleaf." Gandalf smiled warmly. Legolas ran to greet him and patted him on the shoulder.
"Gandalf, it is good to see you." Legolas smiled. "What brings you here, Mithrandir?"
"Oh, nothing much." Gandalf cocked his head innocently. "Just passing through."
"I don't believe you." Legolas narrowed his eyes.
"My dear boy! Are you daring to call an old fellow, your elder, such as myself a liar?" Gandalf asked in mock scolding.
"You are the worst liar I have ever met, Mellon." Legolas grinned. "Every time you use that casual tone, you are up to something."
"Oh, really?" Gandalf acted surprised. "I can't imagine what that could be."
"You old reprobate." Legolas chuckled. Alasse sidled up to the wizard.
"Oh, Gandalf? You will give the penneths a firework show before you take your leave, will you not?" She asked. "They always enjoy it immensely."
"Oh, I don't know." Gandalf groaned. "My magic isn't what it used to be."
"Just a short one?" Alasse looked at him with puppy dog eyes. "They will be very disappointed if you don't! And it would be considered extremely rude to turn down a request from the princess of Mirkwood." She added slyly.
"My dear young lady, are you intending to blackmail me?" Gandalf sputtered.
"Ahh. Using your own weapons against you, my friend." Legolas snickered. "We all know you have a notorious way for making people do things they would never dream of doing, against their will!" He crossed his arms. Gandalf stood there, mumbling and puffing on his pipe.
"Well, in that case..." He finally sighed. "I shall indeed."
"I can't wait to see them myself." Alasse said.
"You wish to speak with Father, don't you?" Legolas asked.
"Somewhere along those lines, yes." Gandalf nodded. "But first, I brought something."
"What?" Alasse furrowed her brows curiously. The wizard reached into his cloak, and pulled out a very lanky, solid object wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine. He handed it toward Alasse. "For me?" She asked excitedly.
"Aye. It's what you might call a present." Gandalf said. Alasse unwrapped it, and saw that it was a long, sturdy piece of wood. She stared at it. It felt trusty in her hands but not so heavy that she couldn't hold it with difficulty. "Thank you. What is it?"
"That, my dear, is a staff, a bit like my own. With the exception that it does not wield magic. But, try wielding it like a sword." Gandalf explained. Alasse, rather than imitating Legolas with his swordsmanship, imitated Gandalf the way she'd seen him fight with his staff. It was not too heavy, but when she swung it, it breathed a brutal hiss. She twirled and flung it, with the blow sounding dangerous.
"Ha na- a verui triw stave, mui Mellon. Polodren, a polodren, a yet outwardlui modest (It is a fine stave, my friend. Strong, and powerful, and yet outwardly modest)." Alasse beamed gratefully.
"Ai. The enemy might mistake it for a simple wooden limb. But mark my words, this rod holds a vicious attack when summoned properly." Gandalf said. "Your brother Legolas's fighting specialty is archery. I thought it was time you achieved one of your own. My dear Alasse," Gandalf spoke more seriously, "trust in this rod, and it will not easily miss. I say, you should be able to knock off an enemy or two with this trusty piece of wood." He smiled.
"Thank you, Gandalf. I promise, I will not use it flippantly." Alasse said.
"Very good."
"Did you make it, Gandalf?" Legolas asked.
"Nay." Gandalf pouted. "That is beyond my skill. I picked it up from some good friends in the Shire. Now, I should like to speak with your father. Where is the walking palace portrait?" Gandalf asked. Legolas and Alasse exchanged a look.
"Err, I wouldn't attempt to surprise him with your presence just now!" Legolas warned him.
"Oh?" Gandalf asked lightly.
"Ha's potentiallui hazardous na cin health! (It's potentially dangerous to your health)!" Alasse gasped.
"Well, gracious me."
"Ho na- most likelui na- n found in a dagerouslui foul mood! Cin'd ceri eithel na cheb- a safe haered. (He is most likely to be found in a dangerously foul mood! You'd do well to keep a safe distance)." Legolas added. "We had one of Adar's oldest king friends over last night, and well, I'd say they both drank themselves heartily."
"Too heartily." Alasse bit her lip.
"Oh! Well, that does put a new light on the matter, doesn't it?" Gandalf sighed. "Pity. Ahh, well. I suppose I shall pay my respects to the household staff." And with that, he made his way back toward the palace.
Alasse ran her hands over her stave, admiring it. "Just make sure you look before you fling that thing around." Legolas snickered. Alasse smirked with narrowed eyes. She twirled and swung it at him. Legolas, being the graceful and quick agile elf that he was, backed out of the way safely before she could blink an eye. She still held it in a threatening stance. "You missed!" Legolas told her smugly.
"Just make sure that you stay out of my way!" She teased, smirking.
As Legolas and Alasse returned to the castle, they saw the cook fleeing outside, tears in her eyes. "Lavender, what is wrong?" Alasse asked, concerned.
"I cannot bear it another moment!" The cook cried, wringing her hands. "Cursing and swearing fiery words as if he were ready to send me to the stake! Begging your pardon, but it is not my fault the king drank himself sick yester-eve!" She wailed.
"Calm yourself, Lavender." Legolas said kindly. "And you are right. It is not your fault. Go, and refresh yourself when you are able." The cook curtsied and ran. Before anything else could be said, two of the guards were flung out the window onto the ground. They muttered and spat and growled in Elvish as they staggered around drunkenly and didn't even notice their royals. Legolas and Alasse watched.
"Guess Adar isn't the only one who had a 'good time' last night." Alasse gulped.
"I hope Gandalf didn't attempt to visit him! Adar is likely to have his head before the day is over!" Legolas sighed. Alasse winced.
"Ooo! Don't say that! It could actually happen!" She begged. They made their way inside. They instantly regretted it. Their father's all too well known voice, furiously echoed painfully throughout the great, winding halls. He was obviously suffering with a brutal hangover. His deep voice ricocheted off the ceiling as he swore in Elvish and lashed out at everyone he saw. One of the guards tumbled down the stairs and fell on his side unconscious at the prince and the princess's feet!
"Wouldn't want to be him!" Legolas stated. Then they heard a heavy glass vessel shatter on the throne room floor, ringing in their elf ears.
"Ooo!" Alasse grimaced, and clicked her teeth, making a slashing motion across her neck with her index finger. "Will you look, and make sure he isn't making a doorstop out of Gandalf? Please?" She begged Legolas.
"Oh, very well." Legolas rolled his eyes. Thranduil never physically abused his own children. However, they knew it better to keep their distance when he'd had one drink too many as his violent temper being bombarded with a hangover was enough to keep the Orcs out of Mirkwood! Legolas carefully made his way to the throne room but did not enter. A few moments later, he returned to his sister. "I didn't see Gandalf anywhere, not even at the bottom of the crevices."
"Oh, where is he?" Alasse moaned, worried. A small explosion blasted from outside.
"I believe that answers your question." Legolas remarked.
Indeed, Gandalf was outside the palace near the kitchen where he was throwing a spectacular fireworks show for the servants. The children bounced up and down gleefully, and the adults applauded in awe. Gandalf did a spark of a running, gliding stag. When it burst the audience roared with cheering.
"I've forgotten how remarkable his fireworks were." Legolas smiled as he clapped.
"They look even prettier at night!" Alasse agreed.
"Confound ha! Someone hollen or- I infernal racket! Mui nerves are split na I max! (Confound it! Someone shut up that infernal racket! My nerves are split to the max)!" Everyone heard the spent Elvin king bellow from inside.
"Pay him no mind, Gandalf. Do another one!" One of the maidens begged. Gandalf smirked and obeyed her request. He wielded glittery sparks of a herd of beautiful horses racing through a stream. Then they popped. Thranduil could be heard seething, and screaming for one of the healers to bring him some medicine if he knew what was good for him! Gandalf bowed as the crowd cheered. Then he came to Alasse and Legolas.
"I must take my leave." Gandalf sighed.
"I wish you could stay longer with us, but I would not want to risk your neck by forcing you to linger!" Alasse told him.
"No, indeed!" Gandalf agreed. "Well, you will give your father my respects, yes?"
"I...think you already have, you old rascal." Legolas chuckled.
"I am a creature of habit, young elf." Gandalf eyed him mischeviously.
"Please do come back before the next century is out!" Alasse told him.
"We shall see, dear elleth." Gandalf patted her shoulder. "Well, goodbye my friends. A good day to you."
"Goodbye, Gandalf, and thank you for your gift. I will make you proud with it." Alasse smiled.
"I believe you will."
"Have a safe journey, Mithrandir. May the Valar protect you." Legolas said.
"Thank you, my dear boy." Gandalf gripped his shoulder. As he walked down the path outside the palace gate almost out of sight, he summoned one last firework into the sky. This one was of enormous stars burning like flames, yet they shone as brightly as the sun. It was awesome to see.
Thranduil burst dazedly outside the palace doors, wondering what all the noise was about. He winced hard from the bright sunlight. "What the devil?" He growled.
Hope you enjoyed this one! Next chapter...Alasse meets Bard!