Chapter Two
The mouth of the passage was bordered by thick, stone walls which continued onwards for an immeasurable amount of distance. Thick ivy hung down over several parts of the wall, making it seem that whoever had constructed them had done so many thousands of years ago. Following the reach of the wall with his eyes, Legolas soon realized that a rather large city was in the distance - the pinnacle of which was an immense palace.
It all looked strangely familiar.
"Gandalf," Frodo frowned and ran his hand through his unruly brown hair. "Where are we?"
"Catalyncia," Gandalf replied as he began to walk in the direction of the palace. "The City of the Banished Elves."
Catalyncia...Legolas had heard of it, although only vaguely and often times only spoken of as myth. The Dineich Elves had at one time been the closest ally that Legolas's people had - the sister cities of Rivendell and Silverswell were the most glorious of any Elvin people of any Elvin time. However, King Rwylt of Silverswell betrayed King Ytesa of Rivendell by denying his loyalties to his comrades. Ytesa never forgave his friend and had it so that the entire race of Dineich Elves were banished from the Circle (that, being what all races of elves and their kingdoms were grouped in). Rwylt and his people disappeared - and the Dineich race was never spoken of again - except in hushed whispers. Rumor had it that Rwylt traveled to the far reaches of Middle Earth and settled a beautiful city named Catalyncia...a city so wonderful that its splendor rivaled that of Rivendell and Silverswell combined.
As they approached the city, two dark haired elves swiftly emerged from the shadows, both armed with bow and arrow. Both were dressed in deep blue and silver - and neither looked particularly happy at the sight of Legolas.
"Might I ask who you are and what you are doing here?" the taller of the two studied Gandalf suspiciously. Legolas noticed that four more dark haired elves had silently positioned themselves behind the travelers...
"I am the wizard Gandalf! My companions and I are here to seek audience with her Majesty to ask for safe lodging for the night."
The tall elf regarded them silently for a few moments, his steely eyes still filled with suspicion. Finally, he spoke: "I will ask the Queen if she will allow an audience. She isn't fond of strangers."
"That maybe so, but we have met before."
* * * *
In the time that the Fellowship waited outside the throne room, Legolas could not shake off the strange sensation nor the feeling that every elf in the city hated him and would have preferred to see him dead. It seemed like hours since the tall elf had left them there...so long that he was certain that they would be turned out into the hands of the Ring wraiths. He hated to see the little Hobbits ripped to shreds by the Black Riders...but then, he also hated to see the Dineich Elves rip him to shreds -
"Her Majesty will see you now."
Legolas - though he would have been the last to admit it - was extremely nervous about having an audience with the Queen. Not only because of the all too obvious fact that he was of a different race of elf than she was - he was Sindarin, she was Dineich - but also because he was a Prince. This could cause problems...he just knew it...
The palace floor was highly polished marble and Legolas kept his eyes locked on his reflection as he shuffled into the throne room. The thick, silver doors slammed shut behind the group of travelers, causing such a loud crash that Legolas - startled - looked up and into the eyes of the Queen.
His first thought was that he had never seen an eye color that was quite the same shade as hers. They were deep green...almost the color of the lushest leaves of the trees in his homeland and were perfectly complemented by thick, dark black eyelashes. He momentarily lost himself in her eyes, overwhelmed by the heightened sensation that had first begun when they passed through the door in the tree.
When he could finally tear his eyes from the beauty of hers, it occurred to him that she was the most beautiful creature that he had ever seen in his entire life. Her hair was a deep brown and flowed down her back like a silky brown waterfall, just barely touching her slim waist. Her skin looked smooth and silky, lightly tanned as if she had spent a day or two lounging in the sun. Dressed in a gown of pale blue silk, she was the image of complete grace and beauty...and there was something else...something that seemed to pull on his heart. That Something that had been with him since they neared the city...it came from her.
It was only then that he realized that her deep green eyes were locked on his crystal blue eyes. The instant connection was so strong that he could almost feel their entire beings becoming one.
The mouth of the passage was bordered by thick, stone walls which continued onwards for an immeasurable amount of distance. Thick ivy hung down over several parts of the wall, making it seem that whoever had constructed them had done so many thousands of years ago. Following the reach of the wall with his eyes, Legolas soon realized that a rather large city was in the distance - the pinnacle of which was an immense palace.
It all looked strangely familiar.
"Gandalf," Frodo frowned and ran his hand through his unruly brown hair. "Where are we?"
"Catalyncia," Gandalf replied as he began to walk in the direction of the palace. "The City of the Banished Elves."
Catalyncia...Legolas had heard of it, although only vaguely and often times only spoken of as myth. The Dineich Elves had at one time been the closest ally that Legolas's people had - the sister cities of Rivendell and Silverswell were the most glorious of any Elvin people of any Elvin time. However, King Rwylt of Silverswell betrayed King Ytesa of Rivendell by denying his loyalties to his comrades. Ytesa never forgave his friend and had it so that the entire race of Dineich Elves were banished from the Circle (that, being what all races of elves and their kingdoms were grouped in). Rwylt and his people disappeared - and the Dineich race was never spoken of again - except in hushed whispers. Rumor had it that Rwylt traveled to the far reaches of Middle Earth and settled a beautiful city named Catalyncia...a city so wonderful that its splendor rivaled that of Rivendell and Silverswell combined.
As they approached the city, two dark haired elves swiftly emerged from the shadows, both armed with bow and arrow. Both were dressed in deep blue and silver - and neither looked particularly happy at the sight of Legolas.
"Might I ask who you are and what you are doing here?" the taller of the two studied Gandalf suspiciously. Legolas noticed that four more dark haired elves had silently positioned themselves behind the travelers...
"I am the wizard Gandalf! My companions and I are here to seek audience with her Majesty to ask for safe lodging for the night."
The tall elf regarded them silently for a few moments, his steely eyes still filled with suspicion. Finally, he spoke: "I will ask the Queen if she will allow an audience. She isn't fond of strangers."
"That maybe so, but we have met before."
* * * *
In the time that the Fellowship waited outside the throne room, Legolas could not shake off the strange sensation nor the feeling that every elf in the city hated him and would have preferred to see him dead. It seemed like hours since the tall elf had left them there...so long that he was certain that they would be turned out into the hands of the Ring wraiths. He hated to see the little Hobbits ripped to shreds by the Black Riders...but then, he also hated to see the Dineich Elves rip him to shreds -
"Her Majesty will see you now."
Legolas - though he would have been the last to admit it - was extremely nervous about having an audience with the Queen. Not only because of the all too obvious fact that he was of a different race of elf than she was - he was Sindarin, she was Dineich - but also because he was a Prince. This could cause problems...he just knew it...
The palace floor was highly polished marble and Legolas kept his eyes locked on his reflection as he shuffled into the throne room. The thick, silver doors slammed shut behind the group of travelers, causing such a loud crash that Legolas - startled - looked up and into the eyes of the Queen.
His first thought was that he had never seen an eye color that was quite the same shade as hers. They were deep green...almost the color of the lushest leaves of the trees in his homeland and were perfectly complemented by thick, dark black eyelashes. He momentarily lost himself in her eyes, overwhelmed by the heightened sensation that had first begun when they passed through the door in the tree.
When he could finally tear his eyes from the beauty of hers, it occurred to him that she was the most beautiful creature that he had ever seen in his entire life. Her hair was a deep brown and flowed down her back like a silky brown waterfall, just barely touching her slim waist. Her skin looked smooth and silky, lightly tanned as if she had spent a day or two lounging in the sun. Dressed in a gown of pale blue silk, she was the image of complete grace and beauty...and there was something else...something that seemed to pull on his heart. That Something that had been with him since they neared the city...it came from her.
It was only then that he realized that her deep green eyes were locked on his crystal blue eyes. The instant connection was so strong that he could almost feel their entire beings becoming one.