Everyone needs someone
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of these story I only borrowed them to make one.
Notes: I am really disappointed from the lack of comments but I am going to update anyway.
Chapter Eight
The Lord's worst day
A chorus of shocked gasps were heard from the servants who were working on the gardens and heard what the older daughter of their lord addressed the young one. All their eyes turned fearfully to see what would be happening next.
The mighty lord of Imladris who was greeting his in laws turned his head sharply upon hearing these hateful scornful words directed from someone dear on his heart to another dear person. But he is an old just ruler, he should do something to prevent farther damage.
He marched purposely towards his daughters and stood between the older and the younger and addressed the older one.
"Arwen, this is your young sister Estel. I know you did not meet her before but it is not polite to call others name without knowing who they are." the wise father rebuked his daughter kindly. But to his dismay, the dark-haired older daughter did not stop her childish behavior.
"Ada, I know who she is. She is your new charity case, a homeless hungry orphaned child...she could not continue her tirade because her father's angry booming voice stopped her abruptly,
"That's enough! I would not permit one more word insulting my little daughter. How dare you talk about your sister that way! Do not you have any remaining manners inside you? You shamed me and your mother with your shameful arrogant brainless behaviour."
Deadly silence fell on the courtyard, no-one dared to speak and most of the attendants held their breath waiting to see what would happen next. The small form of the brown-haired little child moved and tugged on her angry father's long sleeve, the simple movement caught that attention of the father and most of the other elves. The child spoke in perfect Sindarin,
"Ada, do not be angry at my sister. You said people who do not really know the person, may hurt him or her. But once they knew the real person, they would like him or her. I will make my sister likes me, Ada. Do not worry." a small smile appeared on the ancient noble face and the tall father knelt in front of his little and hugged her tightly and said softly,
"I am really proud of you, Estel. I know you will succeed who could resist your charms." he released the child and patted the soft curls of his youngest. Elrond turned and faced his older daughter and simply said,
"That's the manners I am teaching my children, Arwen, and they are the same manners I taught you and your brothers. I am glad you are here so you could be reminded of them."
The young-elleth's face turned red from shame and humiliation. She rushed from the courtyard towards the huge house and disappeared in her old room, she could not meet the eyes of anyone. She felt as a scolded young silly elfling. Tears of shame and anger stained her beautiful flawless face, how dare his father and a young child huliminate her that way and in front of her grandparents, brothers, her father's advisors and servants. She is the Undomiel, the Evenstar of her people, she will make them pay.
The poor father stared unblinkingly towards the hurriedly retreating form of his older daughter and sighed in exasperation, he could not imagine why fate always chooses to mess with his life. Everything was perfect and proceeding smoothly why his daughter had to be hot-headed jealous childish elleth is beyond his comprehension. He wondered silently if there would be other things adding to this mess and his answer came too soon.
Another horn was heard from faraway. It declared the arrival of another delegation but it was not any delegation, it was none other than the wood-elves of Mirkwood. He refrained himself from smacking his forehead on any hard wall beside him. He did not even invite them, the relationship between the Noldor-elves and the wood-elves had been strained for many many years. Why they had to choose this moment to declare their existence is mysterious. He was sure now that the heaven hates him.
Heavily armed guards of Mirkwood went through the enormous gates of the hidden valley and Elrond became sure that at least one of the royal family came with the delegation. He prayed to God that the King of Mirkwood was not the one who chose to visit him. He was not in the mood to deal with another arrogant hot-headed egoistic elf, his daughter was more than enough.
He released a sigh of relief when the majestic white steed carrying the blonde prince of Mirkwood passed through the gates followed by four more guards. The blond elf dismounted gracefully and bowed respectfully to the ancient Lord of the hidden valley.
"Greetings to you Lord Elrond. I apologize if I came to your home uninvited but I have something important to discuss with you if you permit."
"Greetings to you young prince. You and your companions are welcomed here anytime. You can spend as much time as you need here, consider yourself at home. Guest-rooms would be prepared for you in half an hour. Please, follow me to my study so we can have something to drink and see what you want to tell me."
The elf-lord turned and headed towards the big house followed by the prince and his companions after leaving their steeds to the capable hands of the stable-workers. The prince's eyes were wandering here and there to take in the beauty of the Last Homely House. Everything here is wondrous amazing as if it was out of a fancy book. The lush green trees full of fruits, flowers decorating the gardens giving the atmosphere dreamy aromas. The sparkling surface of the water in the fountains, the majestic wonderfully crafted statues scattered here and there.
What captured his eyes the most, a young child was giggling happily, she was running followed by two identical elves who the prince recognized as the elven-lord's twin sons. They were chasing each others, the girl climbed swiftly the nearest tree and started to toss some acorns at the older elves, she caught one of them on his temple and the other twisted gracefully evading the first projectile but the second one caught him on his chest. The victorious shouts of the young girl filled the place and the other two climbed quickly the same tree, caught their attacker and launched their own attack by tickling the child mercilessly. She started to giggle non-stop.
The young prince did not notice that he stopped on his track staring at the playing laughing trio. A warm kind voice snapped him out of his stupor,
"I apologize on behalf of my children, they are always loud when they play together."
"Oh! No need to apologise my Lord. I only found their carefree playing and laughing so magical that I stopped to observe them. I am the one who should apologize for staring shamelessly."
"No need for that, Prince Legolas. If you wish I could call them to introduce themselves."
"It would be an honor to make acquaintance with your sons and daughter."
The older elf Lord nodded his head in agreement and raised his voice slightly to call his children,
"Elladan, Elrohir, Estel come here please."
The hysterical giggling sounds stopped abruptly and three agile graceful figures climbed down the tree and marched obediently towards their father. When the trio approached enough, they noticed the young blonde elf wearing green cloak and brown tunic and leggings who stood silently beside their Ada.
"My children I want you to meet Prince Legolas of Green-woods Kingdom." the trio bowed slightly to the young prince and started to introduce themselves. The eldest introduced himself, his brother and sister.
"I am Elladan the oldest son of Lord Elrond. This is Elrohir my twin brother and this is Estel our youngest sister."
"Nice to meet you Lord Elladan and you too lord Elrohir and lady Estel." the young prince greeted formally, he was not sure how to treat those new acquaintances. The younger twin smiled freely to the prince and said casually,
"No need for formalities between us, you seemed my and Elladan's age. It would be more comfortable if you drop the titles."
"Then you can call me Legolas. I am also not-comfortable with formalities." the young blonde elf offered good-naturedly. He knelt in front of the pretty young child who was staring at him innocently. The blonde wood-elf was drawn instantly to the young girl with the breathtaking grey eyes. He also noticed that her ears are different from her brothers, they were hardly pointed. He spoke softly to the young child,
"Hello there young one, may I ask you how old you are?" the little girl titled her head slightly and said proudly,
"I am turning six tomorrow. Are you not going to attend my birthday party?" The young girl's age bewildered the young elf, he heard that lord Elrond's wife sailed two hundred years ago so he expected the young elfling's age would be more than two hundred. He wondered if Lord Elrond took another wife without announcing his marriage. He was not sure. He turned his attention to the young elfling and replied,
"I would be glad if I have the opportunity to attend your birthday party but I am so sorry, I did not bring any gifts with me because I had not known before."
"No problem Legolas. I understand, I would be glad to have you in my party." the young replied smartly and humbly. The young prince found himself enjoying talking to the young girl, he felt bonded to her someway.
The lord of Imladris stood silently observing his children interacting with their new acquaintance. They seemed to cope well together, especially Estel was chatting happily and excitedly with the young prince who found it hard not to laugh joyfully at what the little girl was saying to him. The elf Lord did not have the heart to interrupt their little talk so he waited patiently for them to finish. While he was waiting, another vision hit him.
He saw two riders racing between the lush and green trees of the forest surrounding the hidden valley. Both of them pushing their steeds harder to take the lead. The first rider is a brown-haired teenage girl around sixteen years old and the second rider is a blond young elf who he recognized as the blond prince of Mirkwood. The girl reached their destination first followed by the blond prince who dismounted and approached the still mounted teenager. He circled both of his strong arms around the slim waist of the brown-haired girl and lifted her from her steed and placed her on the ground in front of him. The young teenager smiled brightly to him then the prince leaned forward and captured the cherry-lips of the teenager in a hot searing kiss.
Elrond snapped abruptly from his stupor and he felt an ice grip clutched his heart painfully followed by a hot ugly feeling on his chest. If he was a young naive elfling, he would not recognize the feeling but he is an old experienced elf and he knew that the feeling eating at his soul is jealousy.
He felt stupid to feel jealous over a vision, he was not sure if it would come true or no. But he could not stop himself, he felt possessive over the little girl. She is his girl and no one has the right to take her from him. This day started to prove itself as a bad one. It started with his daughter and ends with the vision and the prince. But he did not know that this day chose not to end as only bad. It chose to be the worst day ever.
Shouting and yelling at the grand gates of the hidden valley were heard. Followed by some curses and insults were exchanged between two parties and an old booming sound raised to calm the quarreling parties but it was in vain. A young elf from the gate-guards hurried towards the lord of the valley and bowed
"My Lord, Mithrindir arrived at the outer gates and brought with him thirteen dwarves and one halfling and they were making big ruckus. What can we do?"
The poor lord smacked this time his hand on his forehead; he became sure that God really hates him. Therefore, this day became the worst day in all his long life.
To be continued...
Author's Note: I apologize for my language mistakes because I am not an English native.