RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
25.
"If the orcs have surrounded us, then why have they not attacked?" asked Elenath checking out the torn hem of her dress and shaking her head. Tripping over it had probably saved her life, but it had still been embarrassing.
"It seems that most of them fear the magic of the Elves," replied Thorondil. "Except for a certain three who we disposed of earlier. We left their bodies near the border for their comrades to find. That should reinforce their fears."
"It appears," added Raion, another guard who Elenath had met as she watched a training session earlier that week, "that their intention is to keep us as prisoners here until we can stand it no longer and attempt to ride out."
"We overheard some of them talking," said Thorondil. "They are aware that Elenath has returned and are counting on her desire to see her family at Rivendell. What they do not know is that Lord Elrond is already here, and that we are aware of their presence"
"So we are under siege," said Elenath.
"Yes," replied Raion with a nod. "But fear not, My Lady. We will guard you with our very lives."
She smiled, regarding the tall, red-haired Elf with sincere appreciation. "My dear Raion. I am grateful to you for your willingness to protect me. However, I do not fear death. What I do fear is that I shall never be able to fight properly in such elegant gowns. Is there no clothing in Mirkwood appropriate for a female warrior?"
Raion laughed. "We have no female warriors in Mirkwood, Princess. Not since you left us before…. And we had hoped-"
Thorondil silenced the younger Elf with a glance. "Elenath is a born warrior. She carries the Sword Calmakil, and thus has been designated protector of the Elves. Princess or no, Raion, she will return to the battlefield with us."
"You would have to chain me to keep me away," agreed the Princess gravely.
Legolas took her hand. "Do not say such things, My Love. You might give your grandfather ideas."
Everyone laughed at that, including Lord Elrond. "I was a fool for ever trying that, and I shan't ever attempt it again. My granddaughter has a mind and a heart of her own. Although… Granddaughter… it has been nice to see you dressed in a way appropriate to your royal standing these last few days."
Legolas nodded. "I must agree. But, to answer your question: yes. You have an entire wardrobe full of clothes that you used to wear in training and on the battlefield. You are smaller now than you were, but most of them have been altered to fit you. Our seamstress has not completely finished."
"Just another day or two!" a voice piped up from the back of the crowd and Elenath smiled in that direction.
"You have my undying gratitude," she said to the unseen seamstress. "Though perhaps we have much more pressing issues than clothing at this moment. Does Mirkwood rely on outside sources for food?"
"We are completely self-sufficient, My Lady," replied Raion, "Though we may do without some luxuries."
Legolas nodded. "Good. Tomorrow we will move to the caves if it pleases my father. But for now, I would like to get some sleep."
They all nodded and moved aside to let the royal couple pass.
Elenath shivered as she heard Elrond say, "Post guards at their door. Make sure they remain safe."
***
Elenath could not sleep. She lay awake listening for sounds in the woods, ever aware of the presence of the guards outside their door. Legolas held her close; soothing her as best he could with gentle caresses and softly spoken words.
"I read the rest of the letter," he whispered at last when he knew she was not falling into slumber.
"What did it say?" she asked him.
"A lot about the authority that you have over evil. And Mike said that he planned to ask a woman to marry him as soon as you were safely home. A woman with a young daughter."
"Diana," she sighed. "She will be so happy."
"He said that he would bring his new family here if they were agreeable. His heart longs for home and for the companionship of others like himself."
Elenath grew worried but did not voice her thoughts. If Thranduil's Kingdom was surrounded by orcs, how would Mike and his family ever reach them safely? She hoped that they would somehow know to wait until the threat passed. "Legolas?"
"Yes, my love?"
"What do the orcs do to their prisoners?"
He sighed and wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I will not speak of it."
They were silent for a few long moments.
"Elenath?"
She smiled. "Yes, my Prince?"
"Does your heart really long for Rivendell? Do you remember that place?"
"Yes," she replied, "I remember the singing of the trees and the waterfalls. And our waterfall."
He smiled. "Our waterfall… Where I first tasted of your sweet lips." He kissed her gently. "The place where I pledged my heart to you the night before I was to leave for Mirkwood."
"I do not remember that," she said.
"You will," he replied. "Now, Melamin (My Love), close your eyes and sleep. Tomorrow will be very busy. You will join the palace guard in their training."
"What sort of training?"
"Archery."
Legolas felt her tense at that word. "Archery?"
"Yes. It is an important skill."
She sighed. This was just great. Kara and David would have a field day.
"Why are you worried?" he asked.
"You didn't see me my last year of college when I took an archery class. It was a disaster."
"What happened?"
This time it was Elenath's turn to hold her silence, an embarrassed flush creeping into her cheeks. "I will not speak of it."
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
25.
"If the orcs have surrounded us, then why have they not attacked?" asked Elenath checking out the torn hem of her dress and shaking her head. Tripping over it had probably saved her life, but it had still been embarrassing.
"It seems that most of them fear the magic of the Elves," replied Thorondil. "Except for a certain three who we disposed of earlier. We left their bodies near the border for their comrades to find. That should reinforce their fears."
"It appears," added Raion, another guard who Elenath had met as she watched a training session earlier that week, "that their intention is to keep us as prisoners here until we can stand it no longer and attempt to ride out."
"We overheard some of them talking," said Thorondil. "They are aware that Elenath has returned and are counting on her desire to see her family at Rivendell. What they do not know is that Lord Elrond is already here, and that we are aware of their presence"
"So we are under siege," said Elenath.
"Yes," replied Raion with a nod. "But fear not, My Lady. We will guard you with our very lives."
She smiled, regarding the tall, red-haired Elf with sincere appreciation. "My dear Raion. I am grateful to you for your willingness to protect me. However, I do not fear death. What I do fear is that I shall never be able to fight properly in such elegant gowns. Is there no clothing in Mirkwood appropriate for a female warrior?"
Raion laughed. "We have no female warriors in Mirkwood, Princess. Not since you left us before…. And we had hoped-"
Thorondil silenced the younger Elf with a glance. "Elenath is a born warrior. She carries the Sword Calmakil, and thus has been designated protector of the Elves. Princess or no, Raion, she will return to the battlefield with us."
"You would have to chain me to keep me away," agreed the Princess gravely.
Legolas took her hand. "Do not say such things, My Love. You might give your grandfather ideas."
Everyone laughed at that, including Lord Elrond. "I was a fool for ever trying that, and I shan't ever attempt it again. My granddaughter has a mind and a heart of her own. Although… Granddaughter… it has been nice to see you dressed in a way appropriate to your royal standing these last few days."
Legolas nodded. "I must agree. But, to answer your question: yes. You have an entire wardrobe full of clothes that you used to wear in training and on the battlefield. You are smaller now than you were, but most of them have been altered to fit you. Our seamstress has not completely finished."
"Just another day or two!" a voice piped up from the back of the crowd and Elenath smiled in that direction.
"You have my undying gratitude," she said to the unseen seamstress. "Though perhaps we have much more pressing issues than clothing at this moment. Does Mirkwood rely on outside sources for food?"
"We are completely self-sufficient, My Lady," replied Raion, "Though we may do without some luxuries."
Legolas nodded. "Good. Tomorrow we will move to the caves if it pleases my father. But for now, I would like to get some sleep."
They all nodded and moved aside to let the royal couple pass.
Elenath shivered as she heard Elrond say, "Post guards at their door. Make sure they remain safe."
***
Elenath could not sleep. She lay awake listening for sounds in the woods, ever aware of the presence of the guards outside their door. Legolas held her close; soothing her as best he could with gentle caresses and softly spoken words.
"I read the rest of the letter," he whispered at last when he knew she was not falling into slumber.
"What did it say?" she asked him.
"A lot about the authority that you have over evil. And Mike said that he planned to ask a woman to marry him as soon as you were safely home. A woman with a young daughter."
"Diana," she sighed. "She will be so happy."
"He said that he would bring his new family here if they were agreeable. His heart longs for home and for the companionship of others like himself."
Elenath grew worried but did not voice her thoughts. If Thranduil's Kingdom was surrounded by orcs, how would Mike and his family ever reach them safely? She hoped that they would somehow know to wait until the threat passed. "Legolas?"
"Yes, my love?"
"What do the orcs do to their prisoners?"
He sighed and wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I will not speak of it."
They were silent for a few long moments.
"Elenath?"
She smiled. "Yes, my Prince?"
"Does your heart really long for Rivendell? Do you remember that place?"
"Yes," she replied, "I remember the singing of the trees and the waterfalls. And our waterfall."
He smiled. "Our waterfall… Where I first tasted of your sweet lips." He kissed her gently. "The place where I pledged my heart to you the night before I was to leave for Mirkwood."
"I do not remember that," she said.
"You will," he replied. "Now, Melamin (My Love), close your eyes and sleep. Tomorrow will be very busy. You will join the palace guard in their training."
"What sort of training?"
"Archery."
Legolas felt her tense at that word. "Archery?"
"Yes. It is an important skill."
She sighed. This was just great. Kara and David would have a field day.
"Why are you worried?" he asked.
"You didn't see me my last year of college when I took an archery class. It was a disaster."
"What happened?"
This time it was Elenath's turn to hold her silence, an embarrassed flush creeping into her cheeks. "I will not speak of it."