Forest green eyes stared at her intently, unreadable, seeming to pierce through her, so infinite, so full of many secrets and knowledge hidden inside their impenetrable emerald irises. She wanted to look away, but did not dare to break the stare, forcing her face into a mask as much as she could. The face of the elf remained as unreadable as his eyes, perfectly composed, cold and yet so noble and gentle, his undeniable authority over the rest of the elves clearly visible in his relaxed face, as if he had no need of even raising his voice for his command to be obeyed. The sole power of his serene confidence and impenetrable eyes was enough.
However, there was something in his piercing stare that made her suddenly feel nervous. She felt as if at that precise moment he knew exactly who she was, but she could not see the faintest glimpse of confirmation, or the slightest clue of recognition behind the hard emerald irises. Then as suddenly as his eyes had fallen over her, they moved away to look at the twins.
Soft words in elvish escaped the elf's mouth, the sound floating out of his lips so naturally, like a gentle melody carried effortlessly by the wind. His voice was soft, as tranquil as his face, the words perfectly pronounced one at a time, and yet there was such a power inside his kind, soft voice, that she felt sure she would instantly obey anything he said.
She could not understand the words, but by the way his arms danced open to his sides, and the way in which his head inclined slightly, she could tell he was welcoming them. All of his movements seemed so light and graceful, so regal and beautiful. Almost instantly, all of the other elves bowed slightly to them in greeting, imitating this regal looking elf. Elladan and Elrohir nodded their heads respectfully in return, and she copied them, completely at a loss of what to do.
"Thank you for such a kind welcome, Prince Arahaelon. It is an honor to be received by the Crown Prince" Elladan was the one to speak, in the same polite, gentle tone, looking exactly as the Lord of Imladris he was.
The name hit her like a bucket of cold water, her heart skipping a beat, but she did not let her sudden comprehension and surprise show in her face. Arahaelon. She had heard Legolas say that name before. The Crown Prince of Mirkwood: her eldest brother.
She was silently thankful to Elladan for discretely specifying the identity of the elf, the spark in his silver eyes letting her know that he had done it on purpose. Out of the corner of her eyes she could see Legolas staring at her, a wide smile reflected in his infinite blue eyes.
She did not know how to feel. Her heart raced and nerves washed over her once more. In front of her stood a brother she had not met before. It felt strange, and suddenly she felt scared, terrified. Did he know who she was? Did he remember her like Legolas did? Had her father, the King, told her siblings she was alive? Or was he still keeping it a secret for himself?
Stranger of it all, she knew they shared the same blood, and yet she did not know anything about this elf, did not feel at all like family. She did not know what she had been expecting, but reality was proving to be quite different. She had built a mental image of the moment in which she would meet her siblings, and in all of them she had instantly felt as if they were related, as if they had known each other their whole lives. And now, in reality, it did not feel that way. They had not known each other their whole lives. The Crown Prince, her eldest brother, resulted as strange to her as the rest of the elves surrounding them, and yet, he already fascinated her.
The Crown Prince's eyes narrowed slightly in confusion, questioning Elladan's choice of tongue but he did not say anything about it. Again, she was grateful that the elder twins had chosen to reply in the common tongue for her to understand.
"The honor is mine, Sons of Elrond" Replied Arahaelon in the same soft voice, a welcoming smile appearing in his unreadable face. She wondered if the blond regal elf knew which twin had been the one to speak, if he could tell them apart at all, but again there was nothing visible through his crystal-like green eyes.
The Crown Prince's eyes turned to look at Legolas, softening as a faint gleam sparkled in the dark emerald irises. She saw Legolas' eyes stare back into those of his brother, almost admiringly, and she was reminded of the elfling image of Legolas from her dreams. She knew the Crown Prince was most likely hundreds of years older than him, probably thousands.
"Welcome to you too, little brother" Said Arahaelon in the same polite voice, and yet she could see the faintest shimmer of a smirk hidden in his mysterious eyes and gentle smile.
His impenetrable green eyes fell on her once more and she froze. They were so deep, so full of knowledge, as if she could see the gentle liquid emotions and transparent thoughts concealed behind the cold and composed green irises, like a glass barrier not meant to be broken. The stare only lasted a second as his eyes turned once more to the twins.
"Allow me to escort you to the Palace" His voice was soft again, incredibly noble and gentle, as a kind smile played on his lips.
Then, he turned around in a graceful movement, his right hand lifting slightly in the air to indicate the rest of the elves to start their march, the movement so light, so patient, that she could not keep her eyes from him. Without hesitation, the other elves obeyed, and in seconds, they were once again walking through the dense forest, now surrounded by the large elven escort.
She let her eyes wonder around her, carefully studying the various elves that surrounded them. They moved so swiftly, their movements as if coordinated with the melody of the forest, seeming to become invisible among the trees and leaves. Their long silky hairs sparkled under the faint sunlight in different shades of silver and gold, making Elladan and Elrohir stand out noticeably.
Suddenly new shapes started to emerge in the forest ahead of them, and she nearly gasped in surprise. A majestic gate seemed to materialize in front of them, its shape almost merging with the forest, and she was sure it would not be visible until right in front of it. She looked at left and right, and yet she could not find where it started or where it ended, the delicate golden bars seeming to form part of the trees. They looped around each other, weaving and entwining, emerging from the trees like golden branches, covered in delicate leaves, both real and golden, until it was impossible to figure out which was the gate and which was and actual branch.
The song of a horn echoed through the forest announcing their arrival, and then, before her eyes, she witnessed one of the things that would remain forever engraved on her mind. Suddenly, the delicate golden branches started to move, unweaving themselves like long slender fingers, sparkling in bright gold as the sun caught them in their dance. She could not explain it, she could not understand its logic, but she did not care. Soon, a large opening had appeared before them, the gates like tall golden trees framing the now opened door. And inside, ahead of her, she could see the interiors of Mirkwood.
Houses emerged from the trees, at various different levels. Some of them in the ground, and some entwined in the branches, their architecture impossible to separate from the natural course of the forest, as if the trees had chosen to be part of them. Large balconies protruded from almost everywhere, and she immediately could see the same elven style of construction than in Imladris: long pointed arches and extremely thin and weightless columns. The space seemed so large, and once again she could not find its limits. She also noticed that the heavy canopy of the trees was somewhat reduced, the sun entering freely over the space, adorning a vast light blue sky.
And there, some distance away, behind an ample courtyard stood the palace. The majestic building was larger than any other her eyes had ever seen, although she remembered that the House of Elrond was not really much smaller than this building. And yet, they were so different. Thousands of delicate columns adorned the facades, sometimes framing open hallways, almost too thin to be able to support any weight. Thin railings branched from them, almost like trees, lacing with each other. The number of windows was too large to count, as well as the multiple balconies in all different sizes that emerged from the walls, seeming to float underneath the wide pointed arches of the corridors. It was a sight to remember.
Her eyes immediately turned to Elladan, only to find him staring at her, a smirk in his face as his playful silver eyes stared into her awed ones; he had seen the palace before, she knew it. Suddenly, a new wave of nerves washed over her as she realized that the Elven King, her father, resided just behind those majestic walls. The elf she had seen before in her dreams, the elf she had so badly wanted, and at the same dreaded, to meet was in this precise place. And there was no doubt he already knew she was inside his realm.
Sooner than she would have liked, they arrived at the large courtyard demarcating the main entrance to the palace. Elerrina noticed that the many elves that had been escorting them, quickly dispersed, dismissed by another graceful hand movement from the Crown Prince. Other elves had appeared to receive them, patiently awaiting to take their horses to the palace's stables. She was so stunned, so absorbed by her racing mind and drumming heart, that she found herself frozen on the back of Elladan's horse.
"Your Highness" The elves that approached them would say with a slight bow at the Crown prince, and then repeat the same as they spotted Legolas to her right. The tones of their voices were respectful, and she could clearly hear in them that both Legolas and Arahaelon were deeply loved by their people.
In a swift move, Legolas jumped from his horse, landing gracefully on his feet, handing the reins to a tall blond elf that waited to take them. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Elrohir doing the same, carefully helping his twin behind him to dismount. The Mirkwod elves seemed to have noticed Elladan's wound for in less than a second, there were two other elves helping the younger twin with his brother.
"My Lady"
Her head turned down in surprise at the sound of the serene voice to her right. Her eyes quickly met a pair of the same shade of green staring up at her, so deep, so tender, the impenetrable barrier completely vanished. She felt her heart stop inside her chest as her eyes involuntarily froze over his face. The Crown Prince of Mirkwood was standing really close to her now, each and every one of his fine features clearly visible as she tried to remember his face. He had one hand extended for her to take, and nervously she took it, letting the light blond elf help her to the ground.
He was strong, his arms not even moving a centimeter down as she leaned her weight on it while she jumped. Her feet touched the ground lightly, but the Crown Prince did not move, still standing tall, facing her, his eyes penetrating clearly through hers, studying her closely, his serene face unreadable. Her heart continued to race inside her chest and she was once again frozen, rooted to the ground. Then, he opened his mouth and spoke in a low voice meant only for her ears.
"Your eyes still look the same."
With that, he turned around and headed towards the twins. She stood there, her heart frozen, her voice gone. He knew.
Legolas walked to her side, his infinite blue eyes looking into hers as he smiled broadly. She smiled in return, although faintly, not sure if she was excited or terrified to be in the place that was her home, but did not yet feel like it.
"What do you think?" Asked her brother with a wide smile as his eyes sparkled with joy.
"He knows" She changed the subject in a barely audible whisper, her voice betraying some of her nerves. Legolas seemed to understand what she meant instantly for he simply nodded his head in confirmation.
"He remembers." Was the short answer in the same whispered tone, and she could see he decided not to talk more about the subject. She could tell that none of the elves knew who she was. She was supposed to be dead. What would happen once everyone found out she was still alive? All she could tell was that neither Legolas nor the Crown Prince seemed wishing to give away her identity before the King had decided to do so.
"Please help the Lords of Imladris to their chambers, and send a healer to treat Lord Elladan's injury."
She heard Arahaelon say in a peaceful voice and immediately saw a pair of elves rushing to aid Elladan walk slowly in the direction of the large main doors. Her heart skipped a beat in fear as she realized Elladan would not accompany her to meet the King. He seemed to sense her fear, for his liquid silver eyes turned in her direction, swallowing hers as he gave her an encouraging smile.
"May I show you to a room, My Lady?" She turned her head surprised at the kind voice, only to find a young looking maid staring at her expectantly, a smile on her fair face.
"Thank you, Lithwen, that will not be necessary. I will take care of her personally." The Crown Prince added before she or Legolas could say anything, stepping to her left side.
"Of course, your Highness." The young maid simply bowed her head respectfully in understanding, and she could see in her eyes a glint of confusion as she retired.
Elerrina let her eyes turn again in the direction of the Crown Prince, her eldest brother, and found his piercing, yet gentle, emerald eyes fixed on her. She wanted to say something, but did not know what, and she simply stared back. The look in his impenetrable green eyes told her that although he knew who she was, he had not been expecting her to show up, and for a moment, she wondered if he had known she had been alive all along or had just only found out.
"Follow me" Said Arahaelon in a kind voice, and, without waiting for an answer, started his graceful march up the steps towards the large pair of extremely tall main doors.
She forced her feet to move, feeling as if her mind was lost in a distant reality, far away from the actual place in which her physical body was. It simply did not feel real. Legolas walked closely by her side, a wide smile appearing to be forever engraved on his handsome face.
The Entrance Hall was as large as she had imagined. Rows of thin columns stretched tall towards the high ceiling, and she could see many finely crafted large doors to left and right, marking the entrances to other important halls inside the palace. The Crown Prince continued up the large marble main staircase, and she followed closely behind, her eyes lost in the labyrinth of pointed arches and branch-like railings, every column, every window, every detail so delicately crafted.
Elves walked back and forth through the halls, entering and exiting doors, stepping down elegant staircases. Some dressed in elegant formal robes, most definitely of high rank, and others in golden elven armor, guards and warriors. She could also see some maids and servants walking by them every once in a while as they made their way along the large corridors, rounding so many corners, through so many halls she was sure she could no longer remember the way out. She could feel many eyes turning in her direction as they walked, staring, and she knew why: She resembled her mother, the former Queen.
Soon she noticed that they had reached a part of the palace in which the number of elves had considerably decreased, reduced only to a servant or maid running an errand every so often. A beautiful Lady came into view just as they stepped into a long arched corridor, coming from the opposite direction of them.
Elerrina could not help but stare. Long platinum hair fell slightly below her waist, so fine, delicately braided in a way she had not seen in Imladris. Tiny pearls and aquamarines cascaded down her braids and strands of hair, hanging from silver threads that laced with her platinum locks. Her skin was pale, the palest shade Elerrina had yet seen, and her eyes were an iced combination of clear blue and green, so light her dark pupils stood out in a stunning contrast. She reminded her of a snowy winter's day.
"Legolas!"
The Lady's voice echoed in the deserted hallway, the sound like the song of tiny silver bells dancing in the breeze A gorgeous smile adorned the Lady's face as she kissed both of Legolas cheeks.
"Lossie" Said Legolas softly with a wide smile as he grabbed both of the Lady's hands and squeezed gently before letting them go. Then the Lady turned towards the Crown Prince, the bright smile still present on her delicate face.
"Arahaelon" She breathed as she also kissed both of the Crown Prince's cheeks.
She moved so gracefully, so effortlessly, her aquamarine dress floating around her like vapor, the many silver strings and jewels that circled her bare shoulders and cascaded down the wide sleeves sparkling as she moved.
"Lossenel" greeted the Crown Prince, a warm smile drawing on his serene face.
Once again, she felt her heart skip a beat as the name echoed inside her mind. She had also heard Legolas mention that name before. Lossenel. Her only sister. Suddenly she felt incredibly plain next to this stunning snowy Lady.
Lossenel's eyes turned to look in her direction, and she merely smiled at her, ice green-blue eyes not holding the faintest recognition as she inclined her head in a polite greeting. Elerrina mirrored the silent gesture, not knowing what else to do. Her eyes were so transparent, so gentle and filled with light, an astonishing combination of piercing ice and endless warmth she could not describe.
She then heard the Princess of Mirkwood say something in elvish to her eldest brother before continuing her way past them down the hallway, her dress and platinum hair dancing around her light steps.
As they continued their infinite march through the corridors, Elerrina was only sure of one thing: Lossenel did not know who she was. The King had not yet told anyone.
She was abruptly brought out of her wondering mind as the Crown Prince suddenly stopped in front a majestic pair of wooden doors. A guard in the same golden armor she had previously seen stood at either side of the door. Suddenly, she felt a new wave of nerves wrack her body, her heart racing dangerously as she struggled to keep a calmed face. A wave of terror invaded her, and she felt the urge to run, to flee and hide herself in Elladan's embrace, but her feet would react to her.
She watched Arahaelon reach up a hand and knock on the exquisite doors. She desperately wanted to yell at him to stop, but her body seemed to be disconnected from her mind, a cold statue frozen in place.
"Enter" Came the answer from inside, her heart stopping dead inside her chest as the Crown Prince opened one of the large doors without hesitation, stepping inside the room.
He motioned for them to follow, and Legolas grabbed her arm and nearly pulled her inside. They stopped to stand only a couple of steps into the room as the door closed behind them with a light click.
The room was clearly a large office, elegant bookshelves covered the overly high walls, and rows of tall arched windows allowed the golden sunlight to wash the space. Three elves occupied the room, sitting over a polished wooden table, appearing to be discussing something, judging from the many parchments that laid spread in front of them. Three pairs of eyes turned in their direction as they stepped into the room, but her own eyes were only glued on only one of the elves.
There, right in front of her sat the elf she had for so long longed to see. Long light blond hair fell over his shoulders and back as he rose tall to his feet, a crown made out of silver leaves glittering under the rays of sunlight. His serene face was unreadable, cold like stone, and yet his features were so delicate, so like Legolas'. He was wearing elegant soft blue robes, the fine fabric delicately embroidered in silver and gold thread, tracing patterns of leaves. He stood there, tall and regal, an air of undeniable power and authority seeming to float around him, just like the image of her dreams.
And then, his eyes flew to hers, and she felt them pierce into her mind, trapping her until she was unable to look away. They were a cold shade of infinite blue, hard at first sight, like impenetrable crystal irises. The same look Arahaelon's eyes carried.
And yet, as soon as they fell on hers, they softened, the hard crystal barrier suddenly vanishing, absorbing her entirely into the most powerful stare she had seen, pulling her like clear seas. And still, there was something else in his eyes as he stared at her. They were edged with sorrow and pain, combined with the deepest, most touching gleam of joy and pride as he stood there, motionless, as frozen as her, as if neither pair of eyes seemed willing to believe just who was standing right in front of them…
Here is chapter 49! I hope you enjoy reading it! Please let me know what you think, all of your comments are deeply welcome!
Next chapter- chapter 50- is the final chapter for this part 1 of the story! It will be longer than all the other ones. There WILL be a sequel.
One again, thank you immensely to those of you who reviewed my latest chapter: smulderalert, The Grimreaper PT, SarahWeasley, yruniwylio, mazzmataz, alexiana75, Elf sister, ILoveEomer 3, xX-MissyMoo-Xx, Coco99, MinNinniach, Martine9295, Jibril, gossipghurl, Paperlanterns86, AmazingWriter123, wonderpanda10, CeffylGwyn, She Elf of Hidden Lore, ShueYun, booklover1598, and my guest reviewers!
Love,
Elena
