- Chapter 44 -
Lastril sat stone still in her seat, positively fuming. Farril stood in the corner behind her in the tent, head bowed and quieter than a mouse. The maid was practically invisible to the Lady who now tapped an index finger impatiently; her eyes flicking around her father's tent out of sheer irritation. The icy grey eyes darted to the unmoving flap, hopeful that every sound of approaching feet would be her father returning from his council with the King, but each time the steps would pass the tent and the sound would die down. She could tell the difference between an elf's footfalls and that of a Lakeman's easily; her keen elvish hearing allotted her that ability.
Finally. There it was; the sound she was waiting for. Light footsteps approached the tent but they were not level footfalls of a calm elf, they were rushed and stomped louder than they should have. With a swipe of his hand, the flap drew back and Lord Iamben stormed inside, fury written on every inch of his person.
"That foul little elf," he growled, and shoved his chair back from the table with such force its legs clanked on the stone beneath it. Lastril was used to her father's temper, so his actions were hardly anything for her to get worked up about. However, when his eyes flicked to her sitting in the chair, they narrowed even more. "What are you doing here?" he snapped, and she pressed her lips together in a fine line. "Be gone, I am in no mood for your skulking."
She raised a perfect eyebrow challengingly. "Am I to assume all hope is lost?"
"All hope was lost when you failed to win the Prince's heart," he growled. "You did not even try."
Cocking her head to the side, she narrowed her eyes at him. "I assure you Father, it was not without effort," she said dryly.
"Everything I have done has been for you. The only thing I ever asked of you was to win the Prince's heart, and you could not even do that."
"The Prince's taste in she-elves is apparently lacking."
"Do you understand what you have done?" he snapped angrily. "You have put me in a position I never thought possible in all my years. I should have shipped you into the West with your mother when I had the chance, but you begged to stay. And this is how you repay me?"
"I cannot help the fact he bonded with her," she said steadily. Her father's words hardly impacted her, for she had heard them many times over the years to know they were just that: words. "Will she not be banished then?"
"Banished?" he gave a hollow laugh. "Banished? You still think she could be banished after bonding with the Prince? What goes on in your head, daughter, if you think the King will banish his only son's soulmate?"
"If she was banished she could not come back to the Realm, and I hardly think Ernil Legolas would be willing to leave the Realm to follow her."
"That is the issue Lastril, you do not think. If she were banished, the Prince would have no choice but to follow her. Banishing her, means banishing him; does that not register in your pretty little head at all?"
Lastril blinked and recoiled a little at Iamben's words. No, she had obviously not thought about it.
"The moment I caught wind of that ridiculous rumor this morning I knew something was amiss. You honestly think the King will allow his son to leave, leaving him with no heir to the throne? His line unsecured?" Iamben laughed again and shook his head. "No my daughter, the Prince will remain and that half elven Princess will come to stand by his side. All hope is lost."
The yellow peaks of the tent came into view and she slowed her pace just a notch. Arossel was not next to her this time to give her encouraging words or helpful advice, but instead insisted on packing Shyloh's things for her journey to Lothlorien. Shyloh thought she was already packed but Arossel insisted she take the gowns she acquired during her stay in the city. Shyloh said it wasn't necessary, but the maid insisted so she shrugged and let Arossel do as she pleased.
The two guards from Rivendell followed her quietly and as they approached the tent, she felt a little relieved to find the King alone, but then her nerves quickly stole over and she partly wished he was too busy. He was sat in his seat and looked up when she stepped under the yellow fabric and stopped.
There is no going back now, she thought.
"My Lord," she said with a curtsy. "I was wondering if you might have a quick moment?"
He gave her a curious look, then gestured to the seat to his right she had once occupied before.
"Is something on your mind?" he asked casually, and she hesitated a little as she sat down.
"I honestly just wanted to thank you," she said suddenly feeling shy. "For everything you did for me while I was here and in the Woodland Realm. I just wanted you to know I appreciate it. All of it."
He tilted his head in a shallow bow, but never stopped staring.
"I only wish you had a more pleasant experience, and trust you now know why I kept you to your rooms while we were within the halls?"
Nodding, she realized that now she did. With Iamben being as mistrusting as he was, the King could have hardly let her wander the halls freely, especially when Iamben was attempting to stir up trouble and crimes against her.
"Yes, I think I understand," she said, and he nodded once with satisfaction.
"Good. I also wish for you to know that you are welcome back to my halls anytime you please, for as long as you desire. Proper accommodations will be provided, of course."
At that, her heart swelled a little more, and she found herself wishing she could stay just a little bit longer.
"Thank you," and here she hesitated when the next question formed on the tip of her tongue.
"I know what you want to ask," he said abruptly. "And you need not worry any longer about Lord Iamben. He is not to speak with you unless I am present. It is an order he literally cannot refuse."
She wasn't sure if she was relieved or shocked by this news, but decided it was about half and half, so she just nodded slowly. She hesitated again, and he could see the conflict flicker in her eyes.
"You don't...think he's upset I'm not staying, do you?"
He was taken back by her honest question, much like he was when she sought out his advice the night before the battle. He knew who she was asking about. He was not accustomed to such heartfelt speech; not since the passing of his wife. Even talk between him and his son was never so open and raw like her question was right now. She looked vulnerable and torn about her decision to leave, and he could tell she was battling with her choice.
She wasn't looking for a long speech, or a list of reasons why her decision to leave was the right one, or wrong one, but instead was looking for a simple, honest answer, and he could hardly lie to her.
"Yes, I think he is," he said, and the moment he said those words, regret took hold in the depths of her blue eyes. "But no more upset than you are because he cannot go with you."
Her head snapped up when he said those last words and she looked thoughtful. Yes, now it made sense. One of the things nibbling at her was the fact she couldn't take him with her. Legolas' duty was with the Woodland Realm, at least for now, especially since they had a long way to go while they recovered from the war.
How had the King known that?
She suddenly felt a little better about her decision, even though leaving would still be hard. A pull on her heartstrings nabbed her attention. The blue tent wasn't far from here...
He stepped out from the barrier between the front of the tent and the room in the back just as she stepped under the overhang. He looked up but almost wasn't surprised to see her standing there. Tonight was the last night he would see her for...well, possibly years. With nervous hands she smoothed her skirts and gave him a wavering smile.
"Are you out walking again?" he asked, then looked behind her, half expecting to see Arossel tailing behind like she usually was.
"Sort of," she shrugged. "I was just talking with your Father for a minute, and thought I would stop by here and..." Her voice trailed off and he gave her a questioning look.
"And?" A smile played at the corner of his mouth while he watched her wave her hands in the air listlessly.
"I'm not sure," she sighed. "I didn't really plan it out very well I guess."
Now he smiled and she couldn't help but laugh at her own foolishness. She could have slapped herself on the forehead for not having an actual purpose to come and see him, other than literally seeing him.
"Was there something on your mind?" he asked casually as he started stacking up the pile of papers on his table.
"No," she said sheepishly. "I guess I just...wanted to..." she waved a hand awkwardly once more. "See you."
Wow Shyloh, she thought, you get a pat on the back for making this awkward and an A for being lame. Good job!
She was about to turn and apologize for interrupting him, but he was a step ahead.
"Will you stay?" he asked suddenly. "Have supper with me?"
She blinked, not expecting that at all. She didn't know if Elrond and her cousins were expecting her or not but she suddenly didn't care.
"Alright."
They sat under the stars on the cold stone ground. Lucky for them, the sky was clear of clouds and the stars gave them a heck of a show. The basket of food was now practically empty aside from a few stray rolls that still lingered, and they leaned against the wall behind them side by side. The causeway was deserted along the western wall much to their delight and supper had been a quiet affair. There were no guards, at least ones that were visible, and no one came seeking them out while they sat and talked.
"Are you all ready for your journey tomorrow?" he asked.
"I think so," she said with a shrug but he gave her a questioning look. "Arossel fired me from helping," she muttered.
He laughed. "If it is left to Arossel then I have no doubt you will be well provided for," he said and she rolled her eyes dramatically.
"She's great though, she really is," she insisted.
"Yes she is," he said but she saw the pained look that crossed his features.
She nibbled her lip, wondering if her next question might be crossing a line but decided to go for it anyways. "Do you miss her? Your Naneth?" She held her breath while she waited for him to answer and worry grew in her stomach the longer he was silent.
"Yes," he said after a length. "I do miss her."
"What – what was she like?"
He smiled sadly as he recalled some memory she would probably never hear about, and she felt like she just completely ruined the night. Just when she was desperately trying to wrack her brain for something else to talk about, he sighed.
"She was gentle, and kind," he said, and his eyes stared off into the night sky as he thought about the best way to describe her. "She loved to laugh. Music was something she enjoyed the most, and she used to play to me all the time. I don't think there was ever a day when she wasn't singing or playing a song. My Adar would sit and listen to her play as much as he could. She could make him smile with just a single glance, and ease a tense room of councilors with her smile."
"She sounds great," she said quietly and he nodded. Then he turned to look at her with sad eyes.
"What about your mother?" he asked, and she didn't know if he was purposely trying to change the subject or not but she went along with it.
"My mother was sometimes more of a child than an adult," she said bluntly, and he smiled a little. "She usually did whatever she wanted, when she wanted, how she wanted, and she didn't care what anyone said about it. I think that was what I loved so much about her; never caring what others thought of her. You could say she could be a bit of a handful. But she was really great. She always had such a big heart and she put her heart and soul into everything she did."
"I'm sorry you lost her," he said, then hesitated a little bit. "How...did she die?"
She didn't recall telling him her mother had died, but perhaps it was in the way she spoke about her that indicated she'd passed on somehow. Shyloh swallowed hard as the images of metal flying through the air filled her mind. The sound of iron crunching and glass shattering echoed in her ears.
"We were going to town, just the two of us to do some shopping." she said, swallowing again and clearing her mind of the awful images. How did you describe cars and semi trucks to someone who's never seen them? Deciding against it, she chose to improvise instead. "And we were hit by a cargo wagon that came out of nowhere. She was killed instantly."
He was quiet for a length, then turned to her once more. "And your father?"
She sighed quietly, letting the image of her father replace the ones of the crash. "He is great too, obviously more mature than my mother, but his job took him away for weeks at a time and it was always hard when he had to go. We lived really close to my aunt and uncle's dairy farm so my brother and I spent most of our time there. Mack, my brother, was a few years older than I was and so was my cousin Tony, and we hung out a lot at the barn together. That's where I got Boss and we used to go riding a lot through the woods."
He listened quietly while she talked and she couldn't believe how easy it was to speak about her family to him. He didn't drill her for questions or explanations about things she spoke of that he didn't understand, he just listened as she rambled on about her family.
When she grew quiet he watched the pain flash across her eyes and he understood she would say no more about them, at least not tonight. They talked for a while longer until the conversation turned back to Lorien.
"I have never been there," he admitted. "But perhaps one day I will see their famous trees."
"Ada told me there's nothing else like it."
"I am almost envious."
She smiled. "Perhaps you should come with."
He looked over at her and noticed the slight blush of her cheeks.
"If I could, I would," he said. "I hear you have already met Haldir, the marchwarden, and many others on the guard and council."
She blushed a little deeper. "Yes," she tucked her hair behind her ear. "We met a few years ago when the Lorien party came for council meetings."
He nodded slowly. "I hear the marchwarden favored you."
Now she really blushed, and gave him a startled look. "I – I don't know what you mean." Then he laughed, and she shook her head. "I think my cousins are trying to stir up trouble."
"I can hardly fault him," the Prince admitted. "The marchwarden that is."
"You're not worried, are you?" she asked, grinning slyly.
He shook his head and tried to smother a grin. "Hardly."
"Besides, if anyone has cause to worry, I think it should be me."
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
She nodded firmly. "Yes! After all, I hear you have had a whole slew of elleths throw themselves at you over the years."
It was his turn to blush and then the smile slipped from his face. Her grin faded when she realized he'd grown serious and he twisted to give her an almost hesitant look.
"I do not know what the customs were like in your old world, but I hope you do not think anything ever happened between me and anyone else."
She felt the heat rise once more to her cheeks. "I'm sure being a Prince you've had your share of elleths fawn over you, always hoping they'd be the one you chose."
He grimaced. "Shyloh, nothing ever happened," he said sternly.
"I wasn't insinuating anything did, otherwise I don't think we would have bonded."
Relief flashed across his face and he leaned back once more. She knew elves didn't 'fool around' like other races like men or even dwarves. They didn't lust or 'get some on the side,' as she would have put it back in her old world, and despite her concerns about the entire thing, she believed him when he said nothing happened, despite her ex's foul history with cheating.
"I'm going to assume Nodron told you that?" he wondered.
She grimaced, not really wanting to throw his friend under the bus.
"It wasn't very nice of him to say that in front of you," he said with a frown.
"I didn't mean to start anything," she admitted guiltily.
His face softened and he gave her a slightly painful look. "You did not start anything. You are right," he sighed heavily and leaned back against the wall again. "Many of the elleths I have met have always hoped they would be the one I chose."
"Where I come from, we would have called them gold diggers."
"Gold diggers?"
"Yeah, you know, drawn to the money and the riches and titles instead of to the man himself."
"I've never heard that expression before, but yes, that is basically what most of them seemed to want. Are you not drawn to those things? The money and riches and title?"
"Well," she said thoughtfully. "I already have money and a title."
"This is true."
It was her turn to twist around, and she tucked her legs up underneath herself. "Why didn't you choose any of them?" she asked, and he gave her a questioning look. "Surely they couldn't have all been gold diggers. There must have been some that had genuinely good intentions."
He smiled softly and leaned towards her, then reached a hand up to caress her cheek. "Because none of them ever made me feel the way you do." Then he leaned in closer, and kissed her forehead.
Dawn peaked over the horizon in a swirl of orange and yellow; mixing together under the dark clouds that moved in overnight. Rain threatened to hinder their first day of travel and Shyloh hoped the clouds would keep moving and not be a bother. A cold breeze whistled through the city streets as they prepared to depart, and she fastened her cloak around her shoulders tightly. Some would have seen it as a bad omen; bad weather on a day of departure, but not Shyloh. She was ready to go, much like Bilbo. The next leg of her journey was ahead and the silver thread drifted across her mind once more, encouraging her trip into the south.
It was time.
"Are you not at all curious what the dwarves are sending home for you?" Bilbo asked as the straps were checked once more on the little pony.
"Not really," she shrugged. "Knowing them, it's probably rocks."
Gandalf smiled at that. "Perhaps they are shiny rocks."
She still didn't look curious. "Either way, it's probably something I'll never use. I told them not to bother, but they didn't exactly listen did they?" She checked the girth on her mare one last time before patting the bay's neck fondly.
Bilbo 'humphed' and she fixed him with a lazy grin.
"I'm a very practical elf," she said with a shrug.
"Are you?" asked Legolas as he took up the reins for her.
"Yes," she said firmly. "I like practical things."
"Diamonds hold no interest for you?" asked Bilbo and she scrunched her face up.
"What can you use diamonds for, other than maybe jewelry?" she wondered.
"Leave it to Shyloh to not care about the worth of a rock," Elladan mused from behind her as he checked his own mount.
She shrugged sheepishly. "I'm not a diamonds and riches kind of elf."
Legolas smiled and she blushed, then turned away.
"No you certainly are not," agreed Elrohir. "You should have seen the first time she had to wear a circlet."
"He doesn't need to hear about that," she quipped and the twins grinned in unison. Legolas looked merely curious but said nothing as he watched her finish checking her saddle over. Her sword was slung across her back, with her bow and quiver, and she was very happy to have all her weapons back together again. The smiths had done an excellent job, and she couldn't even tell it had been broken.
Legolas explained when they picked it up, that Bolg – the orc she'd battled in the tunnels – had snapped it at some point after she dropped it. Despite the power and strength of an elvish blade, it had taken quite the force to break the sword like he did.
A gust of wind picked up and she winced at the coldness. Her mare shook her head and stepped impatiently, eager to get going but Legolas laid a hand on the mare's cheek and spoke soothingly to her. The mare stilled and calmed herself under his touch, while Shyloh ran a hand up the length of the mare's neck.
"She is anxious to be off," Legolas said quietly but she noted he was frowning.
He promised to write to her when he could, and she said she'd do the same, even though writing a letter to someone seemed so old fashioned in her opinion. Emails and texts didn't exist in this world, and she couldn't help but long for the modern conveniences she had back on Earth. How much simpler it would be.
It is not meant to be simple, she thought suddenly, and she had to accept that. Their separation and travels would test their bond, she knew this. But, she also knew that despite the difficulties and challenges she faced – whatever those may be – that he would be waiting for her. She wished Elrond could tell her how many years until their bond fully formed, but he could no more answer that than he could tell her what the weather was like back in Wisconsin. They had years, he said, until they married, and while she sometimes thought of it as an arranged marriage in the works, she hoped she would come to understand the love and devotion that came with bonding. Legolas was not something she could set aside, nor vice versa, and even now as his fingertips brushed hers she could feel the bond flowing between them.
It was comforting and yet troubling, to know he was her future, even though she could not see it right now. Rumors were whispered about a darkness coming. Enemies were seen lurking in the mountain passes and gathering in large numbers, unable to be destroyed fully by raiders, for always there were more lurking in the shadows. Talk reached her ears of trouble brewing in Mordor, and she knew that was to the south but still knew very little of it.
When she slid her hand over his, even for just that quick moment before they drew apart, their eyes met. She didn't blush or try to make light of the situation, and neither did he.
This was goodbye.
He didn't kiss her on the lips, or on the forehead, or embrace her in a final hug, or whisper promises he couldn't keep. He didn't tell her he'd see her soon or make plans for a visit down the road, because neither knew what the future held for themselves. He didn't tell her to be safe on her journey or to stay out of trouble; those last two things he told her last night when they were alone, just for her to hear. They said what needed to be said before heading back to their tents, and then he'd kissed her on the head one last time before leaving her with her guards, and disappearing into the night and back to the duties that were waiting for him.
He curled his fingers over hers and squeezed gently in a final farewell as the riders around them mounted up. His eyes spoke the words he didn't say out loud, and he held the mare while she stuck her foot in the stirrup and settled herself in the saddle.
She'd already said her goodbyes to Sidhel, Nodron, and the other guards, thanking them one last time for not only their security but for their friendship. Arossel hugged her for a long time, then kissed her on the cheek with tears in her eyes. Leaving her new friend behind would be hard too, but they'd promised to write each other as much as possible.
The King bade them all farewell, and even Bard kissed the back of her hand a little sheepishly and bowed his head to her, telling her he hoped she would return one day. She didn't make any promises but said she would try, for she knew not where her next journey would take her. Years passed by like a soft breeze for elves, and even though that thought was still hard for her to comprehend, she hoped that she'd come back to see the dwarves as well.
The contract for her gold was tucked safely inside her saddlebags with Bilbo's pony. The gold would stay in the mountain under the protection of the dwarves, and Thorin made it a binding contract that in the years to come – even after his own death – no other King Under the Mountain would be able to refuse her, for she was one of the original company and her name was now etched in stone inside the mountain itself alongside her companions; forever to remain.
Elrond turned his horse down the street and with one final look at Legolas, she followed Elladan and Elrohir and the rest of the Rivendell guard followed behind. Her heart broke a little, and she could feel the pull within her to turn back around, but she didn't. One last look behind her, the silvery blond head of his disappeared around the corner. She refused to look back again, knowing it would be useless. She could feel the sadness on the edge of her mind, his sadness, and she knew he could feel hers too.
Once the city was out of sight, they rode towards the elven road back to Mirkwood. With a heavy heart she let her shoulders slump as she rode next to the twins.
"Not missing him already, are you?" Elrohir asked with a grin. Elladan shot him an annoyed look behind her back but Elrohir didn't mind.
She gave him her own annoyed look out of the corner of her eye. "I think I made the right move," she said, and deep down she knew she was right; she had to go to Lothlorien.
"That's not what I asked," Elrohir said with a sly look.
She ignored him, and urged the mare forwards a few paces so he wouldn't bother her anymore. It was going to be a long journey to Lorien if the twins were going to ask her such questions, but she sat up straighter and looked ahead. Legolas would be there waiting for her, and she, him; she knew that. She also knew that their bond was unbreakable, and eventually she knew she would come to understand what it meant fully. He was there with her; a thin little thread linking the two of them together.
Boss was waiting now, and so was the next leg of her adventure, and with a nudge to the mare's side, she rode under the cloudy sky with her hair in the wind.
Well shoot! I wanted so badly to make this first one into 50 chapters but alas, I failed miserably. I had to go and delete a bunch because I just didn't like it, and found I couldn't stretch her time out much longer in Dale. Worry not! I will continue this on with ease for already I am writing her next story. I'll just keep adding it to this but I'm anxious to start her next adventure. Book two will begin on page 45 (coming up next) :)
LDiana - I agree, she hasn't been in M.E. long enough and she needs to grow more as an elf and as a person. I'm so glad your enjoying it, because I'm enjoying writing this and your feedback is wonderful and much appreciated.
ro781727 - It's like you know what the next chapter is going to have in it! Yes, Iamben and Lastril got the boot and a swift kick in the rear. Thank you for the messages and grammar corrections throughout the last how many chapters, they are much appreciated and I am trying so hard to do a better job editing. I'm looking forward to Shy and Arwen meeting also. Thanks for following along!
Welcome new followers and thank you for joining Shyloh's journey. Stay tuned for Book 2!
- S
