Chapter 29 Year 2063 The morning after An Uncommon Courtship, and An Uncommon Beginning
Unede sat up briskly in bed and drew the blade that leaned against the wall. She stilled her breath and listened hard to the dull footsteps that padded through the talan. Legolas wiped his eyes and stretched his arms far above his head, but just as he was about to yawn, a firm hand was set hastily on his mouth and her eyes shot him a steely look of silence. Unede slipped silently across the room and came to rest with her back to the wall, prepared to strike whatever entered.
The wood on the fire shifted, and cupboard doors opened and closed. An egg cracked and the smell of bread met her nostrils. The tinkling of elleth laughter crossed the threshold of the room and she lowered the blade. She looked at Legolas with relief, but her emotions shifted back to panic as a gentle knock came to the wood of her door.
"Your Highness, we've put breakfast on. How do you take your tea?"
Unede's eye's widened and her mouth dropped, she bit her lips clasped her hands on the hilt of the blade. A silent curse fell from her tongue and she strode across the room and began to throw the Prince's clothes toward him.
"You have maids Legolas? And you sent them here? I have seen you dress and make your own breakfast a thousand times. Can we not have a moment of privacy? Honestly. I did not think you were such a spoiled Prince." Her face turned a deep shade of red and her mouth scrunched a pale green. "Get dressed." She mouthed. Legolas could not help but smile at the precarious situation they had found themselves in.
"Those are not my valets." He shrugged and in that moment he made two decisions. The first was to let her realize that these maids were most probably here for her, and the second was to not mention that his boots and cloak sat nestled by her front door, and had likely been observed by the newcomers already. And probably too, they had been tidied and hung in their place.
Another knock came; "Ma'am would you like help dressing?"
Unede threw her head back and let out a silent cry, and pulled on a cotton gown that was draped unceremoniously on the door of her wardrobe.
"No." She said in desperation as both realization and embarrassment flooded over her.
"When did you get ladies maids?" Legolas teased as he pulled his tunic on and smoothed his hair. He rather enjoyed the hue verdant embarrassment that had colored her face.
"Shh!" She placed his hand over his mouth. "I do not have ladies maids. I know not who they are, nor why they are in my house." She said hastily. "Or why you are in my house for that matter."
"We drank a lot of wine last night my love, and I believe we deigned to stir some gossip. This should do as a right beginning." He chuckled and pulled her closer to him, but she pushed him away. Stifled giggles filtered through her wooden door, and she found herself in Legolas's embrace despite her struggle. He kissed her promptly on the head, and opened the door to find three blushing elleths busying themselves about the house. "Just sugar for the tea please." He said taking a seat by the window and finding a cup placed in front of him, before the ladies skittered off to the bedroom.
He watched as Unede stood uncomfortably and the maids teased the knots from her hair and straightened her dress. They pushed her towards the table and lay bread and tea before her, and egg's and fruit came soon after. Legolas ate the food and smiled as the maidens straightened her bed and folded the clothes.
"Ex…excuse me…" Unede said as she stood up from the table. The tea in her hand shook, and she took a step towards the bedroom.
"Sit ma'am, eat your breakfast." Legolas out a snort of laughter and watched the rouge color to Unede's cheeks again.
"Who are you." She said more directly. The women stopped and looked at each other.
"Were your lady's maids of course, if it pleases you." The tallest of them said. "We were informed that you will be on the King's council, and taking up your title, and living in the councilor's quarters of the palace."
Unede stood silently for a moment and watched them all shift in discomfort as she pondered the words of the woman before her.
"I like my tree, and I am of the mind to stay in it." She said shortly, then sat down, drank her tea and took a hasty bite from the bread before her. Legolas bit his lip and looked down, he sipped his tea and tried to hind behind the dainty cup as Unede watched as the ladies looked from each other to him. "What am I missing here."
"I know nothing." He said swiftly.
"Ma'am it is the custom for counselors and any of noble blood, such as yourself, to live in the Palace. His Highness has selected lovely rooms for you, with a garden and a view of the forest." Her voice was high pitched but gentle, and she moved across the room to refill Unede's tea.
Legolas drank deeper and hid his face behind a buttered slice of bread.
"Oh did he now, his Highness picked lovely rooms." She looked pointedly at the Prince before her, who choked a little as he swallowed.
"Aye Ma'am." The shortest of them nodded as she folded the sheets on the bed. "Just a fortnight ago, or so I am told, once it was settled with his Majesty. We've prepared it to your liking best we knew. His Majesty the King asked us to help you prepare today since he saw that you have been up and about and well enough."
She watched the maids skirted about the house. They flung open the windows to let the light in, and placed the crumbs of morning bread on the porch for her birds. But as the room filled with clean air, and light and the sound of the morning song, Unede's face grew darker and darker, and her tree shifted its limbs with her anger.
"I thought it might make your transition to the palace easier if I had a hand in it." He said quietly. "So I picked the chambers, but I didn't know about the ladies maids. Or that they would show up this morning because it really is the most inconvenient timing." She did not speak, as was her usual way, and so Legolas continued. "I was going to take you there to see it today, and help you settle in."
He watched her as her jaw clenched and her lips trembled with anger. Then at last she pushed away her plate and spoke.
"Fine." She whispered. "Tis fine, take me there, let us go and see this room." She stood from the table suddenly, and two of the maids came to her side in a flurry of movement.
"I've got your cloak, and your circlet. Would you like to change your gown?"
"No, I'll wear this." She said waving the ladies off. Their light seemed to dim, and their smiles turned to gentle frowns.
"It's quiet a pretty day outside, all the Ladies will be about, you should look your best if you don't mind me saying." The third said as she riffled through the few gown's that hung in the dusty wardrobe.
Unede closed her eyes and knew they were looking out for her best interests. Her dislike of doting did not fall on them, and they only meant to help. She took a deep breath, she had not anticipated such a change. This should have been gradual, she realized that the Legolas had meant for it to be, he had meant to guide her and help her be comfortable and she felt guilt wash over her had her sudden out burst towards the Prince.
"Call for whoever the tailor is and have them come to my new chamber's this week. Is there someone who handle's my schedule?" She asked the tallest one quietly taking her hand gently in a silent appology. "He has someone who tells him what his day brings each morning." She looked towards Legolas.
"Your chancellor Ma'am, yes you've been assigned one by his Majesty."
"Arrange it with the chancellor then." She said waving her hand, as a maid fastened a belt onto her waste.
"Unede, you don't have to do this." Legolas said. "Please sit, enjoy breakfast, take rest today, already I have pushed much on you. You have won renown and are valiant, and if you need time to heal take it, take the rest you require."
She smiled gently at him and shook her head. "No Legolas, no it is time now. I need neither pity, nor patience. I should not have been so short, you tried to make me comfortable and my temper got the better of me. No, your father is right to send me Ladies and Chancellors, my season as a shield maiden is ended. Now I will be who I was born to be, and I will stand by your side and do all that is required of me, and I for one shall be glad for it, this next season, even though I am fearful of the change it will bring."
Legolas watched her in this moment, for suddenly she seemed anew. He had seen her blood thirsty and cutting through orc flesh, he had seen her swimming in deep pools under the summer sun, and glistening with sweat at noon on a watch. He had seen her bent over maps and ordering armies into battle. He had guarded her as she slept in the treetops covered in blood and dirt. But, he had never seen her noble side. She was brash, and swift, and loyal and strong, and he had worried when his father said that she would come to court. In all the years that he had known her she attended only one dinner in the palace, and only as a favor to her friends. But, suddenly, and without warning, she was standing before him, arranging tailors and having her hair braided, and being adorned in a thin golden circlet, and a belt embroidered with green leaves.
He watched her fall into the role with derision and duty and familiarity, and he reminded himself, that this was as real of a part of her as it was of him. She was noble, she was born to this, and she distained the burden of the role as much as he did. Yet she took it readily and with only a little faltering grace. He was in awe of her, for with little more than a braid and understated adornment she transformed a cotton dress into a Lady to be heeded. Breathless he wondered what a Princess she would make, for already she commanded the room.