Hi thanks for the reviews. As you can see I am working as fast as possible,
I allocate about an hour each day after a morning jog on this story. =) I
think in some ways I agree with Tei Hune, perhaps an author do not need
reviews to write after all. At least so far for my original stories at
fictionpress.com, that is the case. I have written over thirty chapters and
am just as happy with only two reviews for them! =) Perhaps it's because
those are original stories, so I feel so motivated to write it out.
By the way, I like drawing a lot and my friends all know that I love giving people my drawings. I think art should never be owned. So I drew Ethelia and I have decided to scan it and store it in my e-mail. Anyone who wants to see how Ethelia looks like can just write down their e-mails and request for it in a simple review. I will be very pleased if anyone wants the picture at all and I would sent it to the requestor by e-mail asap! You can do anything with the picture, it's yours to keep.
Chapter eleven
Lady Liana hurried up the steps, lifting her long gown so that it did not hinder her movement. Beside her, Meren, in robes of scarlet and dark blue, hurried along with her.
" You can confirm that what you heard is true?" Liana snapped as she strode into her own chamber.
" Yes my daughter." Meren replied, sounding slightly meek as he followed Liana with his eyes.
" But why would they remove her from the dungeon into the healer's room?" Liana asked, touching her temple.
" I am told that Ethelia needs recovering from her injuries. They plan to allow a heart healer to come and help her navigate her thoughts. Gandalf says that Ethelia has lost an important memory, but to what he did not tell, or perhaps he himself did not know what that memory is. He DID mention that it might hold the key to healing Legolas." Meren reported dutifully, wondering to himself at Liana's obvious obsession with this information.
" Gandalf is it? May the Valar forbid it! Then he suspects!" Lady Liana thought to herself.
She turned quickly, the heavy skirt swished about her ankles. Aloud she asked her father, " Are they still questioning her?" She pasted a look of mild concern on her face.
" No, she is to be left alone with her own thoughts for now. The healer has given her a tonic meant to revive hidden pasts, that tonic would take a few nights to take its full effect on her." Meren replied.
Meren watched as Liana thought this over in silence. The old feeling of worry and parental protection surfaced itself once again in his chest. After the.... the death of her mother, the fair Lady Melwasúl, Liana had refused to share her sorrow with him.
She had locked her heart away and seemed to retreat further and further from her friends and relatives day by day, her grief only characterized by her long absences from the court. Meren feared Liana loathed him, for his marriage with Lady Melwasúl had been nothing but a convenient political alliance of land and power. He did love his wife, and refused to take another, but the love he had for Melwasúl was insufficient in Liana's eyes.
Meren swore that he would make sure that Liana never has to grief again. She would attain the highest honors even if it meant that he had to diminish his virtues in front of the King.
Lady Liana came to a sudden decision. Turning sharply to her room she murmured to Meren, " Stay here father and wait for me."
Meren nodded, shifting his weight slightly. It had been ages since he was last allowed to step into Liana's chamber.
In the darkened room where shades have been drawn over all her windows, Lady Liana pulled open a drawer and removed a simple casket. From within, she took one glove, made of the finest silk. She examined it and found it perfect. Gandalf himself would never detect her hand in this dark affair.
Then she retrieved another darker and more frightening object. The head of an arrow, sharpened and polished till it was thin and light but sharp. Very sharp.
Lady Liana smiled. A simple throw from a distance could implant this safely within the throat of that girl. Be she dreaming or awake, Liana would take her by surprise.
Her smile diminished as the arrow head glinted slightly. Try as she might to kill this feeling, she still trembled with fear at the very thought of killing.
Killing again, that is.
In truth, Lady Liana feared herself.
Liana shook her head and the trembling stopped. Ever so softly, she closed her eyes and threw in a lungful of cold air. This is NOT like her first killing. This time it is merely a girl who has been pampered and spoiled by the elves. Yes, she had lost her parents. But what was the harm in that if she has no memory of it?
Memories. Liana looked at the arrowhead with a kind of grave curiosity. What was death like? Perhaps she could end it here and now herself...
Liana breathed in sharply at this thought. No, she feared death. To the elves it was never something they could never understand. To part with an immortal life was too much agony. She was not as wise or strong as Arwen Evenstar. She feared death as much as she feared herself.
Hiding her hand with her long sleeve, she strode lightly out of her bed chamber again and gave her poor father a rare smile.
"Father, I have desire to speak with Ethelia myself. Would you please stand guard at the door so that I will not be disturbed?" Lady Liana asked. She knew all his weaknesses. It did not matter to her anymore if he knew or not. If he tried to bring her down, she would banish all the evidence of his in complacency and sins. He will never dare to lay a finger on her.
Meren stared at that smile. For a passing moment, she so resembled her mother on one of those rare happy times of her life. He nodded with full obedience.
By the way, I like drawing a lot and my friends all know that I love giving people my drawings. I think art should never be owned. So I drew Ethelia and I have decided to scan it and store it in my e-mail. Anyone who wants to see how Ethelia looks like can just write down their e-mails and request for it in a simple review. I will be very pleased if anyone wants the picture at all and I would sent it to the requestor by e-mail asap! You can do anything with the picture, it's yours to keep.
Chapter eleven
Lady Liana hurried up the steps, lifting her long gown so that it did not hinder her movement. Beside her, Meren, in robes of scarlet and dark blue, hurried along with her.
" You can confirm that what you heard is true?" Liana snapped as she strode into her own chamber.
" Yes my daughter." Meren replied, sounding slightly meek as he followed Liana with his eyes.
" But why would they remove her from the dungeon into the healer's room?" Liana asked, touching her temple.
" I am told that Ethelia needs recovering from her injuries. They plan to allow a heart healer to come and help her navigate her thoughts. Gandalf says that Ethelia has lost an important memory, but to what he did not tell, or perhaps he himself did not know what that memory is. He DID mention that it might hold the key to healing Legolas." Meren reported dutifully, wondering to himself at Liana's obvious obsession with this information.
" Gandalf is it? May the Valar forbid it! Then he suspects!" Lady Liana thought to herself.
She turned quickly, the heavy skirt swished about her ankles. Aloud she asked her father, " Are they still questioning her?" She pasted a look of mild concern on her face.
" No, she is to be left alone with her own thoughts for now. The healer has given her a tonic meant to revive hidden pasts, that tonic would take a few nights to take its full effect on her." Meren replied.
Meren watched as Liana thought this over in silence. The old feeling of worry and parental protection surfaced itself once again in his chest. After the.... the death of her mother, the fair Lady Melwasúl, Liana had refused to share her sorrow with him.
She had locked her heart away and seemed to retreat further and further from her friends and relatives day by day, her grief only characterized by her long absences from the court. Meren feared Liana loathed him, for his marriage with Lady Melwasúl had been nothing but a convenient political alliance of land and power. He did love his wife, and refused to take another, but the love he had for Melwasúl was insufficient in Liana's eyes.
Meren swore that he would make sure that Liana never has to grief again. She would attain the highest honors even if it meant that he had to diminish his virtues in front of the King.
Lady Liana came to a sudden decision. Turning sharply to her room she murmured to Meren, " Stay here father and wait for me."
Meren nodded, shifting his weight slightly. It had been ages since he was last allowed to step into Liana's chamber.
In the darkened room where shades have been drawn over all her windows, Lady Liana pulled open a drawer and removed a simple casket. From within, she took one glove, made of the finest silk. She examined it and found it perfect. Gandalf himself would never detect her hand in this dark affair.
Then she retrieved another darker and more frightening object. The head of an arrow, sharpened and polished till it was thin and light but sharp. Very sharp.
Lady Liana smiled. A simple throw from a distance could implant this safely within the throat of that girl. Be she dreaming or awake, Liana would take her by surprise.
Her smile diminished as the arrow head glinted slightly. Try as she might to kill this feeling, she still trembled with fear at the very thought of killing.
Killing again, that is.
In truth, Lady Liana feared herself.
Liana shook her head and the trembling stopped. Ever so softly, she closed her eyes and threw in a lungful of cold air. This is NOT like her first killing. This time it is merely a girl who has been pampered and spoiled by the elves. Yes, she had lost her parents. But what was the harm in that if she has no memory of it?
Memories. Liana looked at the arrowhead with a kind of grave curiosity. What was death like? Perhaps she could end it here and now herself...
Liana breathed in sharply at this thought. No, she feared death. To the elves it was never something they could never understand. To part with an immortal life was too much agony. She was not as wise or strong as Arwen Evenstar. She feared death as much as she feared herself.
Hiding her hand with her long sleeve, she strode lightly out of her bed chamber again and gave her poor father a rare smile.
"Father, I have desire to speak with Ethelia myself. Would you please stand guard at the door so that I will not be disturbed?" Lady Liana asked. She knew all his weaknesses. It did not matter to her anymore if he knew or not. If he tried to bring her down, she would banish all the evidence of his in complacency and sins. He will never dare to lay a finger on her.
Meren stared at that smile. For a passing moment, she so resembled her mother on one of those rare happy times of her life. He nodded with full obedience.