Hi again folks,
It's really late, or early, depends on how you see it...(4a-m), so I'm not gonna say anything at all but...
...ENJOY
KiyaJinnSkywalkerKenobi: I didn't think of him as Haldir, but I guess it isn't imposible that it could be him xD But it probably wasn't, he's probably buisy doing some Marchwarden-work :3
Yay, I like that you love the flower! :D It will come back a bit later in the story :3
Muirgen79: Thank you :) And I believe your question will be answered in this chapter :3
xxx
I twirled around as I tried to find mistakes on the light dress, which felt so smooth on my scuffed up skin, but my gaze found none. It was actually perfect, both to my joy and discomfiture. To my joy because it was one of the most comfortable things I had ever worn, and I did not feel an urge to change back to my old, dirty clothes, but to my disappointment because I had to admit to myself that I had been wrong all the time - dresses were actually comfortable.
The dress was white, it reached down and ended right above my feet, making it easy to move in it. The neckline was round and dressed with beadings, showing off my collarbones, without being daring. A thin, white and braided belt had been knot around my waist, which caused it to look more figure-fitting when I spun around and the bottom lifted from the ground. The sleeves were long and see through, when I reached out my arms they looked like butterfly wings, but they didn't cover my hands which was a relief.
I turned to Lagorel, the tailor maiden who lady Galadriel had sent me to, that had given my the dress. She had a satisfied look upon her face, seeing that I enjoyed what she had created. Though, her hand cupped her chin and her index finger placed on her lips as her smaragd eyed studied me thoroughly, as if she was wondering if she could do anything more to improve it. But after a moment, she smiled to herself as she told herself that no improvements could make it more beautiful than it already was, on the girl in front of her.
"I like it a lot." I said with a slightly blush upon my cheeks, answering her question "What do you think?" which she had asked just a minute ago. Lagorel slowly and gracefully walked around me as she looked upon me.
"I agree, it suits you perfectly." she said casually and tilted her head, like a squirrel would do. I was about to tilt my head as well, but stopped me just as I was about to. The maiden turned and approached one of her workbenches, covered in many different fabrics and laces. "Now, now. Away with you, my work has to continue." she continued which put me off for a second.
"I shall." I said and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for the dress, I will be very careful with it." I continued and went for the exit.
"You're more than welcome, Gilrin little." Lagorel called over her shoulder as I walked out the door. She had called me that as well! What did it mean? I stopped and turned around, opening my mouth to ask her, but she was most concentrated on the work in front of her so I shut my lips and continued my walk.
I headed down the stairs from her workshop and stopped as I reached the path on the ground. I didn't want to go back to Aragorn and Legolas, as The Lady had suggested. At least not right now. Instead, I walked in the opposite direction, away from the center of Caras Galadhon and towards the outer forest. After all, Galadriel had said that I was free to move wherever I wanted to.
I followed the hard path away from the city, and the music of Galadhon faded the further away I got. Even if the music was enchanting and beautiful in every single way, it felt good to hear only the silent forest and the tweeting birds. It felt more like normal, more as it should be. More like home…
The trees that grew along the path grew smaller and less great as the ones in the city. The trunks were not as wide and the branches grew lower. But alas was the bark as silvery and the leaves as golden. A small hill, a short distance from where I was walking, caught my attention and I left the path.
The hill was a perfect one; perfectly round and covered with green, soft grass. I leaned against one of the trees that grew and wrapped my arms around it. It was about lunch time and I should probably be heading back to join Aragorn and Legolas for lunch, but I was still satisfied from the breakfast and didn't feel a need to eat again on a very long time.
I breathed in the air, and all the scents of the forest that came with it, as I looked out over the kingdom. I told myself I would thrive here, that I would feel like home in this beautiful forest. But honestly, I wasn't quite sure if I would. What if in the coming months, I would forget who I was? What if I would forget the greatness of my home and no longer want to come back to it? No! I could not think like that, I would not tell myself that. My home was behind, but I will return. Someday…
But before I can return, I have to stay here, and then in Mirkwood.
I suddenly came to think of the journey to Mirkwood, who would bring me there? I had a weak memory of Elrond telling me Legolas would, but would Aragorn join us? Or would tomorrow be the last day I saw them? The thought made me quite sad, even if I didn't have a strong bond with them, due to the lack of time, I trusted them to do all in their power to keep me from being harmed.
This journey had most definitely brought me closer to them; the few talks I'd had with Aragorn, the time Legolas had taken me in his arms to keep me away from the coldness and when he told me the story of the sun and the moon. I'd seen both of their minds and they'd had a piece of mine. I didn't want them to leave so soon, but neither did I dare to ask them to stay - what would they think of me other than being mere childish, and selfish? But the reason I wanted them to stay was… That I was terrified of being left alone.
But what if when they left would be the last time I saw them? It would mean that I will not meet someone I know for at least eight months. A lump in my stomach began to grow. "I might as well be all on my own now. I have to be strong, I have to be brave, for if I don't make it through…" I thought but shook away the thoughts. Instead, I reminded myself of home.
About the brooks and rivers, the trees and the glades, the animals - every single bird and field mouse. And of Arahael… ARAHAEL. Oh what was wrong with me?! He was right here, with me. I would never be alone as I had him close to me.
I grinned as I turned around and ran in the direction of the stables.
xxx
"Hello there." I whispered from where I stood outside the box and he looked up at me. His eyes looked accusing upon me. "I'm sorry I haven't visited you." I explained with sorrow in my voice. He raised his ears and placed his nose on my cheek, and I pulled him into a hug where I let all my emotions flow freely.
How glad I was to have him here, my fright of being alone and of not returning home. My disappointment of the two men leaving so soon. Every thought, every emotion I let pass to him. And in return, he comforted me with memories and he filled me with a feeling of being alright. The heat and comfort from him caused me to look upon with even more respect.
We stood like that for a long time, maybe for hours, without being interrupted by the stable workers. I learned the pattern of their movements, how they place their steps and in which tempo the individual elves preferred. I could feel their eyes burn into my back once in a while, but I shrugged them off and focused on my friend. We got as much as lost in each others minds.
I did not look up until a new pair of feet joined us in the stable. They were faster, yet lighter than the workers. I looked up and saw Legolas look about in the stable until his gaze fell on me and Araheal. His shoulders lowered a bit, relaxed, and he approached us with a respectful look at my horse.
"I've been searching for you." he said and turned his face to look at me. I slightly opened my mouth and blushed ashamed. Had they been looking for me? "One of The Lady's maidens informed us that you were at the tailor's, and join us for lunch when you were finished?" he said questioningly with a frown. I felt a bit ashamed, but in theory I had nothing to be ashamed of.
"She told me I could go wherever I wanted to." I replied quietly and stroke Arahael's forehead. Legolas's face relaxed and his lips formed a slight smile as he looked down at me.
"Of course you can." he said and leaned at the box door. "We were just worried about you."
I looked up at him with an expression of questions and hope - they had been worried about me? He frowned at my reaction and tilted his head.
"What's wrong?" he asked kindly and at that point I couldn't bare it no longer. I looked away as tears grew in my eyes. I closed them, determined to not let them escape, but all that happened was that the movement caused the water to slowly roll down my cheeks.
'What was wrong?' he had wondered. Well, everything. I was so anxious, so worried about the future. It somehow felt as if this journey would change the whole of my life, and as if I wouldn't come home. I didn't want him to know how I felt, to think that I was so weak as I was. It was embarrassing.
He took my chin in his hand and turned myself so I was forced to look at him for, and through the touch he felt my emotions. After a split moment of looking into his blue, worried eyes I quickly struck his hand away and took a step back.
"Don't touch me." I whispered in a sob as I passed him on my way towards the exit of the stable. I hurried my steps and wiped my eyes as I walked, I had noticed that a few of the stable workers had stopped in the middle of their doing and was looking at me.
I ran through the exit and hurried along one of the paths, frustrated searching for somewhere where I could be all by myself. I left the path and ran into the wooden part, where the trees were thinner and grew closer. I was still running, avoiding the trees, but a firm grip of my arm forced me to stop. I turned my head and saw Legolas looking at me with worried and stout eyes. This was so embarrassing; to let him see my red, watery eyes and my trembling lower lip, that he had needed to follow me and 'comfort me like a little child'. I didn't want this, why couldn't he just have left it alone?
"Edengwen." he said in a low and controlled voice, sweet as sugar, placing both of his hands on my shoulders. "If you don't tell me what's wrong, then I can't help you." he continued, trying to catch my flickery gaze. But I just shook my head.
"I don't want help." I sobbed. I took a deep breath to calm myself down, but the tears just kept coming, one after another. "Just, let me go." I continued and tried to shake his hands off of me, but they were solid and immovable.
"Edengwen, please?" he tried, but I still didn't say anything but kept on crying. He embraced me and comfortingly patted my back. It actually felt very nice to be wrapped into someone's pair of arms, and I soon leaned my head against his shoulder and hugged him back, without letting our skin touch. I just stood there, letting the tears pour until there was no more left. My eyes were red and dry, my cheeks were salty and I breathed heavily as I calmed myself down.
"Now," Legolas began again. "Tell me what's wrong."
xxx
The grass underneath us was wet from the morning's dew, but we didn't care. I sat to Legolas's right side and fiddled with a grass straw.
"Why are you sad?" he asked me. I took a deep breath and wondered where I should begin. My thoughts from this morning was tangled like a spiderweb.
"It's just that," I began. "I will be gone for such a long time, and I'm afraid I won't be the same person any longer." I continued and looked down at my hands, still playing with the straw of grass. I could feel his eyes on me, but I was too abashed to meet them. It's not that I thought he would make fun of me, or tell everyone 'how childish I was'. But I was just very discomforted with opening myself to people.
"Of course you will be a new person when you return, but that's not a bad thing." he said sweet but serious. "You will know yourself better, you will be able to see the world from a different perspective." he continued. I felt a bit unsure, but what if I wouldn't like my new me?
"Oh stop it!" I urged myself, I was acting so genuine!
"Are you sure?" I asked him quietly. He placed one hand on my back and I looked up and into his eyes.
"I promise." he vowed. His eyes were so pure and clear, they had a depth of wisdom and a twinkle of joy in them.
"Okay. Thanks." I nodded and stood up, he stood as well and had a very surprised look on his face. He looked as if he thought "Well, that went quickly.". He opened his mouth and blinked a few times, as if he couldn't find the words he was searching for.
"With all respect, how come you got upset by what I said? I only said that we were worried about you?" he asked confused. My face was filled with a look of being guilty, I really looked as if I hid something, which was exactly what I did. I had knowingly avoided mentioning that I was anxious by being left here 'all by myself'. He saw that I was hiding something from him and tilted his head sternly as he looked at me with firm eyes.
"Edengwen..?" he demanded.
"It's nothing." I shrugged and began to walk back to from where we had come from.
"Come back and sit down." he commanded and I sighed and turned around.
"Fine." I said in a resigned sigh and threw up my arms as I turned and sat down next to him again, now on his left side. He watched me carefully as I bit my lips and wondered how I should put the words to make them sound not so… Forlorn.
"I… In Rivendell, I often felt alone and homesick. My whole body would just tingle, as if my body was covered in ants. And, some days I just couldn't endure it, the feeling of being lost and kept away from the things I knew." I told him slowly and bit my lower lip as I remembered. Legolas nodded, as to show that he was with me in the story. I took a deep breath before I continued.
"And at the time, I was surrounded by people I'm very fond of, people I rely on." I felt how I began to open up more, it felt surprisingly good and relieving to do so, as if a stone of a burden lifted from my chest. "And- I just-" I tried to continue, but I didn't know how to express myself. Legolas saw my dull eyes, lacking their usual brightness in form of a twinkle.
"You can tell me." he tried comforting, looking at me with kindness and compassion. I gave him a vague smile before I took courage and continued.
"Now, tomorrow, you and Aragorn are leaving. You two are the only ones I know here, and when you're gone… I will be all by myself. For four whole months. And… Maybe you won't be taking me to Mirkwood, and then I will be on my own for as long time." I explained and he looked dearly at me as he understood. "And concerning what you said, I… I just…" I stammered before I took a deep breath. "I guess I was moved and I realize how much I'll miss you." I confessed. My cheeks were red and hot, I avoided meeting Legolas's gaze by looking down at my hands in my lap. I felt a hand striking me carefully on my back. I looked up at him and saw a huge smile on his lips. I frowned and gave him a questioning look.
"Oh, dear little one, i admire your honesty and innocence." he said joyous and I blushed even more. "I promise you, these months you are without us will go fast, and at the first day of spring, I and my kin will come to safely transport you to Mirkwood. You do not have to worry yourself of being alone there - I will teach you archery myself." he said proudly. I smiled at him, already feeling better. I looked down again and smiled to myself.
"I'm not that little." I whispered and slightly bumped into his side, as I used to do with Lindir. But it felt comforting knowing that he would teach me how to fight - I had seen him fire arrows, and they did not miss its target. I was met by a roaring laugh that soon turned into a chuckle. I gave him a questioning look.
"At the moment, I believe you are the youngest one of our kin." he chortled. I looked shocked at him. I did most certainly not know that. Was this the truth?
"Are you serious?" I asked him with wide eyes. He raised one of his eyebrows and bowed his head in a nod.
"I am telling you nothing but the truth." he swore. I frowned in surprise and sat quiet. I hadn't considered it until now, being the only elfling - Lindir had told me that elves are not considered as adults until their a hundred years old, even if our bodies are fully grown at the age of fifty. He had told me about the great parties the families threw for their children at the both ages, but the hundred years celebration was quite a bigger one. Music, cake, dance, fireworks. People coming longways to join the festivities, even if they didn't knew the one they were celebrating.
A question suddenly appeared in my mind.
"Legolas, how old are you?" I asked carefully, not knowing if he would feel offended by the question. But all he did was smile and reply;
"I am one thousand nine hundred and twenty seven years old." he said and my eyes widened even more as I let out a quiet exclaim. Elves are mortal, yes I know, but he was closer to two thousand years! And here I was with my, well, I didn't know exactly.
"How old am I?" I asked. It was quite funny, I had never really cared to know, Elrond had once mentioned that he couldn't place me on an exact number. Legolas raised one of his eyebrows again, I'd taken notice that he did so quite often.
"We do not know for sure, but lord Elrond thought you was not older than fifty, due to your not yet fully grown body. Maybe forty five, or a couple of years older, or younger. It's very hard to determine." he replied and I nodded understanding. It was a bit sad actually, that I would never know my own age. But I guess there's nothing to do about it.
xxx
We had conversed for a while longer, until the sky broke into the lovely colors of orange and pink, before we moved back to where the dinner was served. We joined Aragorn, who asked where we had been to which Legolas replied; "Lost in the world of words." which caused me to crack a smile. He himself had spent the rest of his day at Galadriel's side. He had said something about it to Legolas, but he said it in the elvish tongue so I didn't catch what it was. But soon that trick would not be working, for when I learned the elvish tongue I promised myself that I wouldn't let them get away with whispering secrets to each other's ears.
The dinner was delightful, it pleased me well since I had skipped lunch. We joked about with each other all the time and I listened to their stories, both funny and exciting ones, with a vivid interest. The afternoon with Legolas had really calmed me down, I felt happy, and my anxiousness had gone away for the moment. Our laughs echoed through the evening, blending with the never ending music. As we had finished, Aragorn and Legolas went off to prepare their leaving. I drew myself along the paths that lead to my tree-room. I didn't want to sleep though, it was a beautiful evening and I wanted to enjoy it. Maybe I could watch it from my balcony? Yeah, why not?
But I never made it to my tree.
The air was fresh and cold upon my skin. I breathed in the twilight with delight. The wind smelled of trees and of flowers. My hand reached automaticly up to my ear to see if the flower I'd gotten from The lady was still there - it was.
I hummed on a song I'd heard, from where I didn't know. It was weird, the song had appeared in my mind a couple of days ago, and I'd thought about it ever since. I could not place when I had heard it. And the weirdest thing was, I did only remember the melody. The words were just lost.
"You have a beautiful voice." a humble voice said next to me which caused me to give a hefty startle. I looked up and saw The lady herself stand as well as in front of me. Her eyes were bright, so was her smile, and once again there seemed to be a light surrounding her. "Tell me, what song is it?" she asked.
"I-I don't know." I replied and she raised her left eyebrow as her smile grew wider. I realised how stupid that answer sounded and I quickly looked for words to put it in another way. "I mean, I only know the melody. The song itself is a mystery to me." I explained, blushing at my stupidity. There was a short silence, and I was a bit unsure what to do next.
"Do you have any plans for the evening?" she asked in her deep and sweet-as-honey voice.
"No, not really." I replied shyly. "I should probably try to sort out my hair, it has begun to tangle itself…" I continued awkwardly. The lady's smile grew so I could see her perfectly white teeth.
"Well, we can't have it that way, can we?" she said playfully. "Allow me to help you." she asked. I nodded, of course, and she continued with a; "Follow me." So, I did what she told me and followed her. She lead me up some stairs and we followed one of the paths in the air until we came to a balcony. It was not very large, but not small either. A chair stood close to the railing and a table stood by it's side, on which it laid a brush with soft hairs.
"Sit, my child, and let me take care of you." she said and placed a hand on my back to lightly push me forwards. I approached the chair and I had barely sat myself down as she began to brush my hair. Her hands worked carefully to avoid hurting me. It was very soothing and I had to focus to keep me from drooling. The lady laughed quietly at my relaxation.
"It's a privilege to have your hair brushed." she said. "I sit here every morning as my maidens brush mine." she continued, not expecting me to answer, which I of course didn't. I leaned backwards a little more and let my back rest as I looked up at the stars that had already begun to fill the sky. Suddenly, The lady began to sing.
"An Elven-maid there was of old,
A shining star by day:
Her mantle white was hemmed with gold,
Her shoes of silver-grey." she sang, without drawing the brush through my hair.
"A star was bound upon her brows,
A light was on her hair
As sun upon the golden boughs
In Lórien the fair.
Her hair was long, her limbs were white,
And fair she was and free;
And in the wind she went as light
As leaf of linden-tree." she continued. I noticed that her voice was even more beautiful as she sang. I made a small yawn and exhaled a deep breath. I felt sleepy, very sleepy actually, and I could feel myself falling deeper into my sleeping state.
"Beside the falls of Nimrodel,
By water clear and cool,
Her voice as falling silver fell
Into the shining pool.
Where now she wanders none can tell,
In sunlight or in shade;
For lost of yore was Nimrodel
And in the mountains strayed.
The elven-ship in haven grey
Beneath the mountain-lee
Awaited her for many a day
Beside the roaring sea." The lady continued, and it was the last thing I heard before I fell asleep completely, eyes half open and looking at the star filled sky. Everything felt so perfect, right there right now. All my troubles and worries were all forgotten.
"Goodnight, little Gilrin of the great forest." The lady's lips whispered before they were placed on my forehead in a kiss.
xxx
I wasn't quite sure about Legolas's age, so I looked it up and I hope I was right :) It stood that he was 'about 1900 years old' so I gave myself the freedom to decide that he, in this story, is 1927 yrs old. Hope that's fine with you :) And Galadriel's song is taken from the book (i think Legolas sings it when they arrive to Lorien?).