Oh man, I am so sorry, I have not abandoned this story, but I was so stuck and I still am.. I can't handle Ram and Strider being apart. But they are. I am not sure how it happened... duty and everything. But I am working hard to get back to this story and get some new chapters.
Also, my grammar program is having issues, so if I got some grammar wrong. I am sorry. It is not my strong point.
So, for you an extra-long chapter.
"Mithrandir!" The elf lowered his bow and relaxed. "I did not know you were in these parts." Gandalf put his sword away and put his pointy hat back on. "It is good to see you Legolas, we have been tracking a creature for a few weeks now and it lead us here."
"We?" The elf asked curiously, looking around but seeing no-one but the wizard. "Yes, you can come out now. Legolas is a friend."
With a thud, Ram landed as she jumped out of the tree she had been sitting in. She put away her bow but kept her hood on. "Hello, friend." She spoke soft, lowering her voice.
"This is not Thorongil now is he?" Legolas asked, looking confused at the ranger. "Thorongil is in Rohan, this is Ram, the best tracker there is."
"Where are you going?" The elf asked, still on his guard as Ram had not shown her face. "That way." She pointed behind the elf.
Legolas shook his head. "I am sorry, I can not let strangers pass into our woods." Gandalf sighed and leaned on his staff. "Don't be ridiculous Legolas. I vouch for Ram, I am no stranger.
"The shadow is moving Mithrandir. Even you can be blind. Perhaps if you lower your hood I…"
Ram pulled off her hood in one movement, before pulling it back up. Legolas nodded to her and Gandalf. "You still need to go to my father. I am sorry, I can not let you pass."
Gandalf stepped closer, but Ram was quicker. "The trail will go cold. He is not easy to track."
The elf stared at her. "You are the best tracker, you will find it again." He replied, moving his hand as the other elves around her started to move. One of them placing his hand on her back to start her to move. "Don't touch me." She pulled away and moved over to Gandalf, who put his hand on her arm. "Stay calm Ram, let me do the talking."
Within a day they arrived at the palace of King Thranduil. They were greeted kindly, but there was always an elf guard with her, and Ram tried to calm herself.
Gandalf told her she needed to stay quiet and calm. Ram was pacing up and down in the room she was put in. There was a dress laid out for her, but she could tell by looking at it the waist and sleeves were fit for an elf, not for a warrior like herself. She wanted to move on as soon as she could, so she just washed her face and put on the clean green tunic she gotten from Strider. The sent of pipeweed and wood had left if when she washed it, but it still gave her some reassurance. She could do this.
There was a knock on the door, and Ram opened it quietly. The elf looked at her but did not truly see her. "The king wishes to see you."
She nodded and followed the elf guard through the hallways. She walked into the throne room, a room hold up by trees and a singular throne stood on a high pedestal. The elven king was sitting on it. His crown on top of his head and a false smile on his lips.
Gandalf was nowhere to be seen."Well, well, who do we have here. Lady Cailean. I thought I asked my servants to lay out a dress for you."
Ram bowed deeply for the elven king. "I thank you for the kind gesture my Lord, but I am afraid an elvish body is proportioned a bit differently than a human one. I did not wish to ruin it." She replied, letting her mother's lessons take the lead. Be polite, humble and gentile. And never tell straight forward what you think.
The king smirked at her once more and stood up from his throne. "I have heard some stories about you, my lady. Fighter, killer and a bed warmer to the chieftain of the Dunedain."
Ram's head snapped up, glaring at the king. "Well, you have got two of the three stories right." She replied as she glared at him. "Your majesty."
He walked down to her level and was walking around her now. "And now you are off on some wild goose chase with Mithrandir. I thought you would be with your captain, so he can stop your heart from going dark."
Ram felt the fury burn inside her, her explosive anger trying to take over. But Ram kept her lips sealed as she tried to remain calm. Her mother's voice echoed in her mind. For gods' sake, smile Cailean, they can not hurt you when you just smile. The last one keeping a true smile is the winner. Ram felt her face move, as her lips turned to a soft smile. She felt her body relax as she looked at the king. "My lord, I am a ranger, if you wish to know something about me, you can just ask. I carry no darkness in my heart. I do have a love for my captain, and I keep him close to my heart. But we are both people of duty. And we both have some different tasks to perform at the moment. Your majesty."
She gave him a slight bow with her head.
The Elvenking straightened his back and looked down at her, he was taller than her, but not by much. But the impressive and powerful elf felt like a giant to her.
When he snickered, Ram knew she would be fine. "You say much without saying a lot, my lady. Yet you have much to learn. Honesty is not always the way." He crossed his arms in front of him. His robes adding in his impressive look. But Ram was not going to let the elf intimidate her too much. She looked up at him, in his piercing blue eyes. She smiled at him as if he was a friend. "Neither are lies, my lord. They will always come back to you."
King Thranduil smirked at her, as he flicked his robes around him. He started to walk around her again, his eyes following her like a predator. "Ah, the ignorance of youth. You remind me of my son. I ask you to stay here for a week and rest. After that, you are free to go whatever way you wish to take."
Ram stared at him in shock but then bowed. He was pushing her to make a move. To have him win as she was overtaken by anger. But Ram was not taking the bait. "I thank you, my Lord." She bowed. "I would like to see some of your beautiful halls and forest this week. If you allow me." If she was stuck here, she might as well enjoy herself. There was no way she could go against King Thranduil's wishes in his own hall. But she could make it work for herself.
"Very well, I will ask my son to show you the beauty of Eryn Lasgalen. But first, you will join me for dinner tonight and I will arrange for you to get a proper dress." He spoke as he smiled at her.
"If it pleases you, my Lord." She replied and bowed again, as she smiled at the king. "I look forward to our next meeting." Lord Thranduil laughed. "See you do know how to behave. You are dismissed."
She bowed her head again and turned around, leaving the throne room with her heart pounding in her chest.
She knew there were training grounds somewhere and she needed something to hit. She asked the elf that was guarding her. He looked a bit surprised but then lead the way.
She found her way to the wooden weapons, as she was not allowed to carry a real sword in the halls of the king.
She understood the rule, but she knew if she really wanted to she could do some serious harm with wooden swords.
The weapons stood on an armory, showing a lot of different models. She passed the two-handed swords and did not look at the bend swords she knew the elves fought with. But instead looked at the one-handed straight swords. She swung a couple of different swords, finding they were just as balanced as any well-made sword. But then she spotted the staffs in the corner. It had been her first weapon before she moved to swords and her shield. The smooth wood was quickly warming in her hand. She grabbed one that was just a bit taller then she was. It lacked the iron spikes she was used to, but like the lack of iron swords, it made sense.
She swung it around a few times before she looked around for a place to hit something.
When she did not see anything, she looked up at her guard elf. "Oi, you. Where are the dummies?" She asked. The elf raised an eyebrow at her. "My lady?" Ram sighed. "I am not a Lady, I need to hit something. And I will get my ass kicked by you lot, so I need a dummy." The elf blinked. "I am sorry, I do not understand." He replied after a moment. Ram sighed. "Do you want to spar with me?" She asked, a bit more hesitant now.
"I am not allowed at the moment Miss, but I will take you to the rings." Ram nodded and followed him.
They arrived at a clearing where multiple elves were training. Ram never saw anything like it. The elves were running around in the trees jumping from one branch to another, fighting each other at the same time. One of the elves spotted her and landed on the ground in front of her. His blond hair waving behind him. She recognized him as the elf that caught her in the woods. Legolas.
Gandalf said he was the son of King Thranduil. He looked interested in the ranger in front of him.
"My lady." He bowed his head slightly. Ram crossed her arms but bowed her head back at him. "You do not have to call me that, my Lord."
He smiled and nodded. "Did you come to watch us train?" He asked, looking at the wooden staff in her hand. She spotted his own knives strapped to his back. Ram noticed the policy for no weapons did not apply to the prince.
"No, I came to hit something. Can you tell me where the dummies are? This one does not understand me." She pointed at her elf guard behind her.
Legolas looked at her guardian and raised his eyebrow. They spoke elvish for a moment before the blond elf smiled at her again. "Come, my flower. I can give you an object to hit."
Ram glared at him but followed him anyway. Her arms still crossed. They arrived at a flat piece of the forest floor. In front of Ram's feet lay a line of stones. She followed the line describing a large circle in the forest. It did not look any different then the other parts of the forest and only the circle showed it was different from the rest. The elf put his weapons upon the weapon rack and stepped into the ring.
"This, my la.. my flower." He winked at her. "is our boxing ring. No use of weapons here."
Ram nodded and put her staff in the rack and stepped into the ring, expecting some more explanation and a bit of a tour from the elf.
Within moments more elves arrived, dropping from the trees and running towards them. They stopped on the edge of the ring, talking fast with each other. Some looked down at them from the surrounding trees.
Ram crossed her arms and sighed. "Alright, what did I do." Legolas moved around her laughing. "I thought you did not speak Sindarin."
Ram sighed and tied her hair up in a ponytail. She had a feeling where this was going to go. "I do not, but we have an audience, so we are probably giving a show of some kind."
"Well, you stepped into the ring with me. That means we will fight." He measured her up. "If you wish."
"Rules?" She asked as she moved her leader fingerless gloves a bit down to protect her knuckles.
"You tell me." The elf spoke as he was rolling his shoulders.
"No going up into the trees," Ram said pointing up. She started to move as well but stopped again looking at the elf.
She felt a bit apprehended to fight against this elf. She fought with Elrohir many times, but never hand to hand. He was a lot stronger and faster then she was and she would have ended up black and blue. She did not know much about the elven prince, but she was not in the mood to end up black and blue here.
She shared her worries with the elf.
"Look, you are faster and stronger than I am. You can probably get me to the ground within moments, and I won't be able to get up for a week. So please, don't kill me."
Legolas laughed. "Noted. I will see how far I can go."
Ram nodded. "Thank you." She started to move again. "Oh and not the face. I have to dine with your father tonight and he will not be pleased if I got a black eye."
Legolas moved to her and laughed. It sounded like a clear stream of water. "Alright my flower, I will not break you. Are you ready to begin?"
Ram nodded and raised her hands to her face. "Let's dance."
They circled around each other. The elf dancing away from her every time she stepped closer. But Ram had a plan, she wasn't new to fighting, and she had learned some tricks for Elrohir. So the moment he danced away again she went after him, forcing him backwards to the edge of the ring. She attacked quickly and hard. A blow to his stomach with her flat hand made him step backward. She could feel the air leave his lungs as she hit him. She moved away quickly, but the elf was faster. Hitting her sides. But that left his face free, and Ram moved. But again the elf was too quick and danced away. "How was that. I did not kill you my flower?"
Ram laughed. "That was fine my Lord. I am still alive."
Legolas smiled and Ram started her attack again. Twirling around to gain speed and strength. She got an attack in, but Legolas kicked her, sending her to topple over. But she was far from done and moved back. Her attacks turning more serious now. She could see Legolas stepping it up as well, as their attacks grew faster. The elf laughed and Ram could not help but smile at him. She was enjoying herself.
The elves around them started to yell things when suddenly the crowd turned quiet. Legolas lowered his hands and was suddenly distracted. Ram wanted to move in, but Legolas held out his hand in order to stop her. "I am sorry my flower. One moment."
The elf suddenly moved towards one of the elves outside of the ring, grabbing the brown-haired elf by the collar, and pulled him close, as he spoke something in Sindarin. The eyes of the other elf grew large in fear and he started to move away, bowing his head. Legolas threw him backward and crossed his arms as the brown-haired elf scrambled away, followed by a few other elves with fowl looks on their faces. But Legolas called them back, talking in Sindarin.
When he was gone, Legolas returned to her. "I apologize for that." Ram gave him a small bow. "No harm was done, though I do not know what happened. I trust you took care of it. Besides I needed the moment of respite. But perhaps it is time for us to stop." Legolas nodded, looking a bit distracted. "You fought well my flower. I noticed some elvish moves in your fighting." Ram nodded as she was handed a towel and wiped her face. "I was lucky to be trained by Lord Elrohir, son of Elrond for a short time. He is a good teacher."
Legolas nodded. "I hope I did not go too hard on you." He looked at her, as she rubbed her sore ribs. Ram winked at him. "The consequences of training and being a fighter. I will be fine my Lord." But the elf shook his head. "No, you are our guest. I will have a healer check on you."
Ram crossed her arms and looked at him. Legolas laughed. "You are just like Torongil. Come on my Lady. I will take you to them myself."
Ram sighed and walked with the prince. "Who is Torongil?" She asked as curiosity won her over. "A ranger who traveled with Mithrandir to our woods a few times. He is my friend. He is known to others as Estel." Ram froze and looked at the elf, who turned a few steps away from her. "You know Strider?" Legolas smiled. "Yes, and I think you know him as well." She continued walking. "I know him quite well my Lord." She felt her cheeks started to burn. Legolas opened a door for her, and they walked into a room filled with bandages and small vials and jars. An elven woman walked over to them, bowing deeply. Legolas said something in Sindarin, and the elf looked at her. She said something to her, walking away. "You can follow her."
She said something else and her hands moved over Ram's tunic. wanting to lift it from her. But Ram pushed it down, looking at Legolas. She was not going to undress with the male elf looking at her so close. "Turn around." She ordered the prince, who looked a bit surprised. "I beg your pardon?" He replied. "Please, turn around. I am sure you are familiar with the ways of men. You are male, and I am female. It is not proper for you to see what is underneath my clothes." Legolas laughed. "Very well my flower. I will turn around."
The healer moved quickly and she was cleared soon enough as the elvish healer had given her a jar of ointment to rub on her ribs after she took a bath.
Legolas brought her to her room and gave her a wink. "Until dinner, my flower." Ram bowed. "Until dinner, my lord"
She took a bath and an elvish woman helped her get dry. She saw the dress laying on the bed and sighed in relief. She was afraid she would get some unpractical dress as she did in Rivendell, but this dress looked fine. She moved to her pack and put on her leggings, feeling much comfortable wearing them. In silence she thanked Arwen she made her wear dresses and taught her how to move in them, and be comfortable.
She put on the white bottom dress and the elf helped her with the piece that went over it. It was heavily embroidered and it was quite a dramatic dress. A dress to be seen in. It made Ram feel a bit uncomfortable.
The elvish woman started to brush and braid her hair, but it was clear she was unfamiliar with human hair.
"Wait. wait." Ram said as she pulled her hair for the third time. "Give me the brush, please. before I end up bald." She grabbed the brush from the elf who stared at her in shock.
Ram quickly brushed her own hair detangling it as best as she could. She rubbed some oil in it she had found near the bath. Her natural curl would show if she let it dry loose.
"Now you can braid." She said to the elf, who had looked curiously at her actions.
The elf said something and moved quickly. Two simple braids running from her temple back to the back of her head where they joined together in one braid. She put in some flowers and smiled. Ram thanked her as there was a knock on the door. It was Gandalf, who gave her a look from the top of her head to her feet. "You look lovely my dear. I see King Thranduil dressed you."
Ram nodded. "He did. It is a bit of a dramatic look." She giggled nervously.
"I heard you got in a fight with his son. Legolas." Gandalf said, rubbing his beard.
Ram shook her head as she looked at Gandalf. Somehow the grey wizard looked more put together, his beard was less wild as it had been that morning in the forest. And his robe looked less like a beggar and more like the wizard she knew he could be. "No, we had a lovely afternoon. We spared."
Gandalf raised an eyebrow. "I am a ranger Gandalf. That is what we do."
"I was told there was a problem." He said. Ram nodded. "One of the elves said something. I am guessing it was insulting for Legolas all but beat him and send him away. I do not know what it was about. I do not speak Sindarin."
They reached the doors of the dining room and Gandalf gave a knock. The doors opened and a long table was filled with food. "Gandalf, I have never been to a dinner like this. What do I do?" Ram froze as she saw the number of chairs and plates that were on the table. Suddenly realizing there would be more elves then just the king and prince. "Just follow my lead, and be polite," Gandalf whispered. They were placed across each other and Ram tried to talk to the elf to her right. But unfortunately, he only spoke Sindarin. The seat to her left remained empty. Ram bit her lower lip, feeling uncomfortable. Not being able to speak to the others, and not knowing the etiquette that belonged to a dinner like this.
She breathed in relief as finally, her left neighbor sat down, giving her a wink.
"You look beautiful, my flower." Legolas kissed her hand.
Ram felt her cheeks start to burn. She had not been called beautiful by many.
"Though a bit tense, are you well?" He asked, his eyebrows knitting together.
"I have never been to dinner this formal. Let alone an elvish dinner. What do I do?" She whispered, exhaling to relax her nerves.
Legolas smiled. "Don't worry. I will help you. I do not want Estel's heart to embarrass herself."
Ram froze as his words echoed in her head, before her head snapped towards the elf, wondering what he meant by that. "What did you call me?" She asked in shock.
But before he could answer the King entered the room and everyone got to their feet. "Welcome, my friends. Please enjoy your meal." The King spoke before he spoke in Sindarin. All raised their cups and cheered before they sat down and started eating.
"Legolas, do not keep our lovely guest all to yourself. Come sit here my dear." The king pointed at her and then at the chair next to him. Ram looked a bit nervous from Legolas to the king. The first nodded and helped her up. She moved next to the king and sat down.
"My Lord." She curtsied in the way of her people.
"You look lovely my dear. I see this dress did suit your taste."
Ram nodded as her hand ran over the outer fabric. "It is fitting." She replied with a smile. The king smiled. "It looks lovely. Now I heard my son put you with the healers today. I hope he wasn't too hard on you." He said as he took the outer fork and knife and started to eat something that looked like a salad.
Ram copied his actions, her eyes flashing to Legolas for approval. The prince nodded ever so slightly.
"No my Lord. He just wanted to see if I was injured after our spar. All is well."
The king nodded at her answer, his eyes on Legolas, who was suddenly very interested in his salad.
"Flowers are beautiful but fragile." The king spoke. Ram could feel her heart turn colder, but it was invisible on her face. "He told me fought well, trained by Lord Elrohir so he said." The king spoke as if nothing happened. Ram nodded as she took a bite of the salad. It tasted fresh and nothing like Ram ever ate before.
The conversation between her and the king went on very naturally and Ram was actually enjoying talking to the intimidating king. He even made a joke every once in a while and Ram started to think the King was nothing like she heard. That was until one of the elves close to the king, sitting next to Gandalf said something in Sindarin. The smile on the king's face turned into a growl, and quick elvish words were shot at the elf. Ram could see the elf, Gandalf and Legolas tense up. The elf in question quickly lowered his head and looked back at his food. The King turned back at her, a fake smile around his lips. "I am sorry about that my dear. Where were we." Ram felt small as the look in the elf's eyes burned her into the ground, talking murder.
"I was telling you about how my friend Hilda and I stole a ham one day." The king nodded, but the moment had past and soon the dinner came to an end. But the evening was far from done. After a formal dinner like that, a dance was held in one of the larger halls of the king.
Lord Thranduil got to his feet and the whole table stood up with him. Ram only seconds behind with the rest. As she stood, she noticed she had way more wine then she thought and found herself a bit intoxicated. Ram knew if she had been a bit of a lightweight she would be very drunk now.
The king said something in Sindarin before he turned to Ram. "I will leave you in the capable hands of your friend. It has been... interesting."
She curtsied again before the king left and quickly after the elves around her started to move.
Legolas offered her an arm, she gladly took it. Gandalf was soon by her side and the three of them made it to the dance room. Legolas excused himself from her side and Gandalf put out his arm for her to stabilize herself on.
"You, my dear, have drunk a bit too much of the king's wine." Gandalf chuckled. Ram moved a bit closer to Gandalf faking a sway. "I did, but I am not as worse as I look. I could drink Mace under the table if I wanted too. But you are quite right. I did drink too much to be comfortable with." Gandalf handed her a glass of water. He moved his hand over it, mumbling something. "Drink this. I need you to have your wits together. The king was far too kind to you, for my liking. I think he is up to something."
"What did the elf next to you said that made him lash out?"
Gandalf pulled her closer as a group of elves passed them by. "Lord Filanto said the king looked like he was enjoying some young blood. The king replied if Lord Filanto was fond of his own blood or if he wanted to volunteer for the northward. It was quite a thread." Ram nodded. "But it was also quite a statement for a Lord to make towards his king."
Ram pulled Gandalf closer, faking instability. After the water, she felt a lot better. "How well does Strider trust Legolas?" She whispered. "He calls him his friend, and they write to each other every time Lord Elrond or King Thranduil have contact, which isn't much. Why?" "He knows about Strider and me, so does the king."
Gandalf nodded, his eyebrows knitting together. "Ah. It is good you told me. Now, look a bit more alive, Legolas is making his way over here. Probably to ask you for a dance."
Ram stared at the wizard in shock. "No Gandalf. I can't dance. I don't know any elvish dances." "Don't be ridiculous they dance human dances as well and you know those. See Legolas is coming for you already."
Ram turned and saw the elven prince walk over to her smiling. "My flower, there you are. Come we will dance."
Ram shook her head. "No… I can't dance. Please. You all are so much better at dancing than me." But Legolas waved her complaints away. "Just follow my lead." He turned her around and held her in the small of her back, pushing her against him. "Let's Walz," He started to move, and to her own surprise, Ram knew the steps and danced with the elf with ease as he led her over the dancefloor. Ram laughed as he turned her around and her dress fanned out. When the music turned to another song, Ram pulled the prince toward the edge of the floor to get something to drink. "I told you, my flower, you could dance." Ram laughed and took a big sip. "Tell me Legolas. Why do you call me that?"
"What?"
"You call me, my flower." Legolas placed a kiss on her hand. "Because you are beautiful like a flower, my Lady." He smiled at her. Ram blushed. "And I know you do not like to be called my lady."
He jumped to his feet. "Ready for another dance?" Ram nodded and grabbed the prince's hand with a smile.