Chapter 6: Time To Hightail It Outta Here
I rush down the halls to Riharu's room. It's great that I don't have to worry about lifting my short traveling dress off the ground. I make it to their room and knock on the door like a maniac. Riharu opens the door and I rush in.
"Enchantment. What's going on? Are you okay?" He says while looking me over. He's always forgetting the "lady". He's definitely not like most guards.
I nod and catch my breath. I say, "I think I found the jewel. It's part of a locket. But I almost got caught." Jui and Koir's eyes go wide when I say the last part. I almost forgot they were staying in here, too.
"What exactly happened? I need details." Riharu says, starting to pace.
"I'll show you. Open up your minds to me. Okay?" I tell them all. Jui is the first to nod. Soon, I can feel the energy of them all. I pass on my memory of what happened. I give them the image, sounds, and feelings. They close their eyes feeling it all.
"W-what? What do we do now?" Riharu asks me, stumbling over his words.
"How many hours do we have before the feast?" I ask them.
"The sun has settled. I'd say an hour, your Highness." Jui answers, sitting on the bed.
I start to pace. Okay, I've been through too much to leave without that jewel. I continue pacing and say, "Well, if I steal it, it's possible they'll think it was me. Even with other Witches and Men across Middle Earth here. So that would mean: We have to immediately leave once I get it. But there's no guarantee that Elven guards won't be on the hunt for us. They might even have guards patrolling where we need to exit!"
"Your Highness, most of them will be too drunk to even walk after us if they are on duty. I heard about what happens at the Feast of Starlight. Which is why we should stay away from their wine. If it can get Elves with such a high tolerance for getting wasted drunk, it'll only be a matter of seconds for us." Koir jumps in.
Then Jui stands up to say, "When will we leave?"
"Once I retrieve the jewel. Jui and Koir go wait by Riharu's and my horse, and please try to get most of the things I brought here even if it is little. Be sure to grab some food and water for our travel back home." They do as ordered and are on their way.
I face Riharu, "Okay. You and I will get the jewel. You'll stay in between the party and Thranduil's room to warn me when someone is coming my way."
I start to leave to go to my room and prepare when Riharu asks, "How should I warn you?"
"Do it with your mind. Remember, mind communication? You read my thoughts all the time." I chuckle at the end. "Bye for now. We'll meet at the feast. I must show my face so they don't jump to conclusions all so fast." I continue. Riharu looks down and nods.
And I must see Legolas one last time.
I walk out into the halls.
~/\\~
The hour is upon us. It's go time. I change into a black dress that ends at my ankles—I don't know who gave me the extra clothing but I'm grateful. It's short sleeved with some of my chest showing under a heart shaped hole that ends high enough. I throw on a grey cloak in case I don't have time to put it on when I'm escaping.
I grab a paper, pen, and ink, for I have decided to write Legolas a farewell letter. I want him to know I'm innocent in all of this. Well, I'm not, but he doesn't nor does he need to know that. I would like to think that I have at least one Elf friend. I begin writing. I write what I feel. Whatever comes to mind. And just like that, I'm done. I hope he reads it.
I grab things like my weapon belt and bow with it's quiver. I'll just give it to Riharu when I see him so that they don't question me even more. I make sure not to forget the letter. With everything I need, I make my way to the feast. My last feast here.
If things go wrong, maybe my last feast ever.
~/\\~
I see Riharu at the stairs to the feast. I quickly tell him, "Here Riharu. Can you hold my things?"
"Yes my lady, but I really don't know about this. I'm just worried for you is all." He says, while getting my things. Really, it isn't much. He can just rock the weapon belt around his waist and the bow and quiver over his back. He's worried but not near as much as me. I'm going to use my magic and it may take all the juice out of me depending on what I do, but I have to. I plan to locate the locket with my magic. I just hope I'm strong and skilled enough.
"It'll be okay, Riharu. Now I must go to the feast. Remember, get between here and his room." I tell him.
He nods and walks away. He's disappeared around the corners of the hall. Now I'm a bit more worried. I walk through the doors of where the Feast of Starlight is being held.
There's lots of fine wine and even finer food. Many Elves and even other races. Men, Witches, and a select few of Dwarves. The large room that looks like it could stretch on forever is lit brightly. The color bounces off of everyone's face and glittery clothes. Great, I'm the only one who looks out of place. Like I'm up to no good. Dressed in black and ready to attack.
There are tables scattered everywhere and a very long one far back. I suppose that's where Thranduil and Legolas will be sitting for the most part. They're there now. I look up to see a hole in the cave roof, revealing the stars and moon. If I had practiced how to use my energy source more, meaning the moon, I could just put everybody to sleep or freeze them and then get back to my mission. But no. Not a moment later, to my complete displeasure, Tauriel waves me over to the long table.
I want to pretend like I didn't see it and just walk the other way, but I literally stared her in the face as she did it. No turning back now. I walk over to the table. Thranduil, Legolas, Tauriel, and more Elves are sitting there. I'm guessing noble Elves of high rank. I take a seat next to Legolas, who is sitting mighty close to Thranduil. Right next to Thranduil's seat at the end of the table.
Thranduil is the first to speak. After he takes a sip of his wine, he says, "Magnificent, isn't it?" Arrogant, aren't you?
"Yes, your Majesty. Very." I tell him. An Elf starts speaking to Thranduil in their language. I turn a little more to Legolas, hand him the folded letter, and say, "Read it later, okay? Like really, really later. Preferably after the feast. I'm just going to go and find Riharu. He's probably outside, just waiting in the hall." Legolas looks at the letter and then me. Before he has the chance to say anything, I quickly make my way to the exit.
As I get closer to Thranduil's room, my stomach is in knots and I feel anxious. I just want this to be over with. It's getting tiresome. I pass Riharu. He looks at me with such worry in his eyes that it almost hurts my heart. No would she worry about me that much. It's just putting stress on him. I just nod. If I talk to him now, it might just make him more worrisome and not so sure if it's a good idea. But it's the best that I have.
I slowly creep into Thranduil's room. I walk over to the closet. He couldn't have hid it elsewhere, right? I open the closet and dig my claws deep into it. I search and search but there is no locket to be found. "Okay. I can just use my powers. All I have to do is focus my energy on the locket's energy." I whisper to myself. I walk all around the room. Tapping into my spirit guide, hoping to find the locket's connection. It glowed when I touched it. I just need to touch its glow with my energy. And I need to now. I can feel the dizziness and headache creeping up on me from using my powers.
Then I feel it. My spirit mind entangles its hands in the locket. It's in the wall by the bed. I tap on the wall by the bed. Then I start knocking. That's when I hear a hollow place in the wall. I trace its shape and then very carefully pull the slab of wall out. I see the locket. I start to grab it when I hear Riharu's voice in my head, "Get out of there! Legolas is coming your way!"
I quickly put the slab back into the wall and drop the locket in my dress. I then run over to the bathroom and lock myself in. I don't want him to see me. It'll ruin everything! Not Legolas. Why not someone else?
I can barely hear him in the other part of the room. He moves like a cat and is quiet like a mouse. He knocks on the door and asks, "Who is in there?" I decide not to answer. If only there was a window to jump out of. Then. . . I hear a second voice.
"Legolas? What are you doing in here?" The voice asks. I think it's Riharu! Thank the Valar.
"I could ask you the same."
"I was just looking for a bathroom that was close."
"Well, this one is occupied. By whom, I do not know." Legolas says. Then he knocks on the door again. I'm being as quiet as possible that I'm hardly breathing. My heart could stop any moment now.
"Okay. An Elf at the party wishes to speak with you, says it's horribly important."
"Then I guess I should leave."
"I will be right behind you."
I wait a few more minutes before opening the door to leave. I immediately see Riharu. He walks up to me and . . . hugs me. I pull away after a second or three. Or maybe a minute. What? I didn't want to be rude.
"Lady Enchantment, you're okay. Thank the stars." He says after I've pulled away.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just call me Channie, okay?" I say.
"As you wish, but we need to go." He says before pulling my hand and leading me out of the room.
We go down long halls and we try to be as invisible as possible. We make it outside to the stables. We walk up to Jui and Koir, who are next to our horses.
Jui sees me and asks, "Did you get it?"
"Yes. Let's go. Hurry." I tell them. We all hop onto the horses. Koir and I are on Lietha, and Riharu and Jui are on the other horse. We ride to the gates and have them opened up with a mind controlling spell. Once they fall out of it, they put up their bows but Riharu and I hit them with a temporary paralysis spell. We speed past them.
We ride into the night.
~/\\~
~Legolas~
The feast is finally over. I walk to my room. When I get there, I lock my door and go to change into something more comfortable. I lie on the bed but I'm not ready to sleep. Elves don't need much sleep. We could go days without it. And right now, sleep is the last thing I can do. There's so many questions that are unanswered.
Why did that guard, Riharu I think his name was, lie about someone wanting to talk with me? Who was in Ada's bathroom? What did Enchantment write? Why did she write it? Maybe those last two questions can be answered when I read it. I think I'll read it now. I open it up and read:
This is Enchantment. But of course, you already know that. I think. I hope. Anyways, I have to leave. Or had. I'm not so good with my tenses. There's someone in your home that wishes to steal that locket. Not me, and that's what I need you to know. I had to leave because I knew Thranduil would think it was me. I do not wish to be imprisoned unfairly. I really want you to know that you were becoming a great friend. I really liked you. Makuahine (Mother) always said how mean and terrible Elves could be. But. . . you proved her wrong. Thanks for that. We won't ever see each other again unless a war against our races. And that's what I want to stop. Okay, Legolas, this is getting too long. Thanks for being a friend. Thanks for everything. Adiós para siempre. (this means goodbye forever by the way), Legolas.
I just stare at the page, full of words. My heart aches, my brain hurts. She thought I was her friend. I was so stupid not to be open with her. She. . . she was really nice and. . . gorgeous. . . like a sweet angel. She was friendly and made my heart race against the tides.
Why couldn't she just tell me this? She didn't have to leave. I would have made sure Ada didn't think it was her who took the locket. The locket. . . She said someone was going to steal the locket.
I should go to see Ada (Elven Father) but my feet don't want to move. I just want to think about her. Her silver hair. Her dimples. Her bright smile. Her full lips. Her gentle brown eyes. Her everything. I know that one day I will have an arranged marriage, but if it has to be anyone, I would want it to be her. She also said goodbye forever. I don't want it to be forever. I will ride to her kingdom just to see her if I have to. She may have liked me as a friend, but I really liked her as more. Like her. . .
Ada would never allow it. Even if she is not an Elf, she's still immortal. It's possible to marry her, right? No, I can't think about that. Once an Elf sets his mind to something, there's no telling how far an Elf will go. Our emotions run high. Every emotion is deeper, longer, stronger, and overall more complex than that of a human's or even witch's. We could even die of a broken heart.
I need to stop thinking about her or I may never leave to confront Ada. I slide off the bed and go to Ada's room.
~/\\~
The anger on his face. It looks as if he wants to slit someone's throat.
"It's not here! Are you positive she didn't take it!" Ada yells at me.
"I am not positive. I just know that she wouldn't do it."
"Do you have any clue who would do it then, since it's not your little pretend wife?!" he snarls. I've never seen him this angry before. He's cold, not vicious. This is all so new. My pretend wife? He's never poked jokes at me either.
"There was someone in your bathroom. Then Enchantment's guard came to tell me someone wanted to speak with me." I shrug, very un-prince like of me.
"Has it ever occurred to you that maybe, just maybe, Enchantment was the one in the bathroom and her guard was covering for her?" he yells.
"No! It wasn't her! It couldn't have been her! This is why she left, to avoid your certainty that it was her." I tell him, my tone rising, matching his. I'm not going to stand here and let him accuse her without her here to defend herself. It's just not right.
"Oh! I'm happy you made a friend but open your eyes for a second, Legolas," He retorts, getting closer to me. "She took that locket, and I know it."
I clench my jaw, "Maybe you just misplaced it, Father."
"If it wasn't bad enough that Gollum escaped, now someone has stolen my locket!" He just turns around and goes back to the wall in which he hid the locket. "Leave!" He yells with his back to me.
I do exactly just that. I don't have time for this. I will not let him add on to the bad mood I'm already in.
