Chapter Four
He wasn't entirely sure if it was Pippin's snoring that kept him awake or the rush of thoughts that ran through his mind. Either way, Legolas was certain that he had been laying here for several hours…his eyes wide open…his mind racing. Sleep was not going to be coming to him anytime soon, that was for certain.
The pile of velvet blankets were very slowly starting to bake him in his bed. With that in mind, he decided his best course of action was to sit out on the balcony and let his mind wander…at least there, he would have more to look at than the darkness of the bed chamber.
Silently, he crawled out of bed and walked out onto the balcony. The soft breeze felt wonderful on his slightly sweaty brow, while the cool night air seemed to instantly relax him. He would have much preferred to sleeping out on the balcony than in the confines of the bed chamber…perhaps the next night, if Gandalf allowed them to stay. It was important that they made it to Mordor…they couldn't dawdle in the niceties of Catalyncia for very long.
His eyes suddenly drifted down to the fountain below and he was slightly taken aback to see a cloaked figure seated on the side of it. He watched the figure silently for several moments and then before he knew what he was doing, he found himself walking back inside the bed chamber and promptly going out the door.
How he found his way through the mazes of corridors, rooms, and staircases, he would never understand. But somehow, someway, he found himself standing in the shadows of the courtyard below his balcony.
The cloaked figure was still seated at the fountain.
Drawing a deep breath, he stepped out into the silvery moonlight. "What is it that troubles you, my lady?"
Jumping slightly at the sound of his voice, Echo Windstorme turned her head so quickly that the hood of her cloak slid down her soft hair, revealing her tearstained face. She smiled weakly at him and said, "Only things that have troubled me for…it seems like an eternity."
Cautiously Legolas sat down beside her, remaining silent so only she could continue speaking.
Echo stared at her hands for a moment. "I have long feared that I would be unable to keep my kingdom as a whole. But…no matter how hard I have tried, it seems that things just keep getting worse and worse. They –"
She fell silent.
Legolas gently touched her hand. "You can tell me."
Taking a deep breath, Echo quietly continued, "I have heard rumor that there is a small assembly whose power grows…they do not believe that I am ruling Catalyncia in the way Rwylt would have it ruled. They feel that my thinking is too much like that of the pompous elves of the old Circle…they feel that I am no longer qualified to have the crown – "
Her soft voice broke and it took her several moments to regain her composure. When she could finally continue, she blatantly stated, "They will go to any means to make sure that Catalyncia is ruled in the way they see fit."
Legolas wasn't entirely sure what to say. He had thought that things were bad in Mirkwood…but this…at least his people weren't attempting to overthrow the monarchy. It was a horrible weight to put on the shoulders of one so innocent and delicate…much as Frodo and his burden…
After several moments of edgy silence, Legolas gently trailed his fingertips across her soft cheek. "I will not allow anything to happen to you, my lady. That is my solemn promise to you."
Echo looked at him wide-eyed, a single tear slipping from her eye. "You…no…I cannot put your life in danger – "
"And I cannot allow yours to remain in such a state," Legolas smiled shyly at her, his heart fluttering so hard that he was certain that Echo could see his tunic move. "I vow to protect you, in any way at any time."
Echo's face brightened and she smiled so warmly at him that he felt his ears grow warm. "I…I don't know what to say."
"Say nothing now," Legolas pulled her hands into his and helped her to a standing position. "Tomorrow's light draws near…and tomorrow bides us more time to discuss all matters."
Echo nodded. "If it isn't too much trouble…could you walk with me back to my room? I…ah…I fear the eyes of the palace walls."
"It would be my honor."
Arm in arm, they walked through the palace corridors, neither leading, neither following. The deep shadows of the off-set passages and darkened rooms seemed to harbor unknown dangers; secrets which the palace would forever hold. He was certain that he did not want to leave her alone and unprotected in her room…but he was helpless to do anything about the matter. He would simply have to rely on his instincts…and they had carried him extremely well thus far…
When they reached Echo's room and the time grew near to part, she momentarily paused before she closed the heavy oak door. "I am exceptionally thankful that you are here, Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood."
Legolas drew her hand to his lips. "And I am exceptionally thankful for you, my Queen."
With that said, Echo smiled shyly, and retired to the Royal Suite. However, long after the bedroom door was closed, Legolas lingered outside, unwilling to leave.
~*~*~*~
The flame of candles in her room wielded warmth no where close to how he made her feel. He was a stranger to her kingdom, yes, but there was something…something that made it seem like they had known each other for all their existence. In fact, she felt more comfortable around him than she did anyone else in all of Catalyncia…
As Echo ran a brush threw her waist-length dark brown hair, something at the corner of her eye – at the window – caught her attention. But when she turned to face the window, there was nothing to be found.
He wasn't entirely sure if it was Pippin's snoring that kept him awake or the rush of thoughts that ran through his mind. Either way, Legolas was certain that he had been laying here for several hours…his eyes wide open…his mind racing. Sleep was not going to be coming to him anytime soon, that was for certain.
The pile of velvet blankets were very slowly starting to bake him in his bed. With that in mind, he decided his best course of action was to sit out on the balcony and let his mind wander…at least there, he would have more to look at than the darkness of the bed chamber.
Silently, he crawled out of bed and walked out onto the balcony. The soft breeze felt wonderful on his slightly sweaty brow, while the cool night air seemed to instantly relax him. He would have much preferred to sleeping out on the balcony than in the confines of the bed chamber…perhaps the next night, if Gandalf allowed them to stay. It was important that they made it to Mordor…they couldn't dawdle in the niceties of Catalyncia for very long.
His eyes suddenly drifted down to the fountain below and he was slightly taken aback to see a cloaked figure seated on the side of it. He watched the figure silently for several moments and then before he knew what he was doing, he found himself walking back inside the bed chamber and promptly going out the door.
How he found his way through the mazes of corridors, rooms, and staircases, he would never understand. But somehow, someway, he found himself standing in the shadows of the courtyard below his balcony.
The cloaked figure was still seated at the fountain.
Drawing a deep breath, he stepped out into the silvery moonlight. "What is it that troubles you, my lady?"
Jumping slightly at the sound of his voice, Echo Windstorme turned her head so quickly that the hood of her cloak slid down her soft hair, revealing her tearstained face. She smiled weakly at him and said, "Only things that have troubled me for…it seems like an eternity."
Cautiously Legolas sat down beside her, remaining silent so only she could continue speaking.
Echo stared at her hands for a moment. "I have long feared that I would be unable to keep my kingdom as a whole. But…no matter how hard I have tried, it seems that things just keep getting worse and worse. They –"
She fell silent.
Legolas gently touched her hand. "You can tell me."
Taking a deep breath, Echo quietly continued, "I have heard rumor that there is a small assembly whose power grows…they do not believe that I am ruling Catalyncia in the way Rwylt would have it ruled. They feel that my thinking is too much like that of the pompous elves of the old Circle…they feel that I am no longer qualified to have the crown – "
Her soft voice broke and it took her several moments to regain her composure. When she could finally continue, she blatantly stated, "They will go to any means to make sure that Catalyncia is ruled in the way they see fit."
Legolas wasn't entirely sure what to say. He had thought that things were bad in Mirkwood…but this…at least his people weren't attempting to overthrow the monarchy. It was a horrible weight to put on the shoulders of one so innocent and delicate…much as Frodo and his burden…
After several moments of edgy silence, Legolas gently trailed his fingertips across her soft cheek. "I will not allow anything to happen to you, my lady. That is my solemn promise to you."
Echo looked at him wide-eyed, a single tear slipping from her eye. "You…no…I cannot put your life in danger – "
"And I cannot allow yours to remain in such a state," Legolas smiled shyly at her, his heart fluttering so hard that he was certain that Echo could see his tunic move. "I vow to protect you, in any way at any time."
Echo's face brightened and she smiled so warmly at him that he felt his ears grow warm. "I…I don't know what to say."
"Say nothing now," Legolas pulled her hands into his and helped her to a standing position. "Tomorrow's light draws near…and tomorrow bides us more time to discuss all matters."
Echo nodded. "If it isn't too much trouble…could you walk with me back to my room? I…ah…I fear the eyes of the palace walls."
"It would be my honor."
Arm in arm, they walked through the palace corridors, neither leading, neither following. The deep shadows of the off-set passages and darkened rooms seemed to harbor unknown dangers; secrets which the palace would forever hold. He was certain that he did not want to leave her alone and unprotected in her room…but he was helpless to do anything about the matter. He would simply have to rely on his instincts…and they had carried him extremely well thus far…
When they reached Echo's room and the time grew near to part, she momentarily paused before she closed the heavy oak door. "I am exceptionally thankful that you are here, Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood."
Legolas drew her hand to his lips. "And I am exceptionally thankful for you, my Queen."
With that said, Echo smiled shyly, and retired to the Royal Suite. However, long after the bedroom door was closed, Legolas lingered outside, unwilling to leave.
~*~*~*~
The flame of candles in her room wielded warmth no where close to how he made her feel. He was a stranger to her kingdom, yes, but there was something…something that made it seem like they had known each other for all their existence. In fact, she felt more comfortable around him than she did anyone else in all of Catalyncia…
As Echo ran a brush threw her waist-length dark brown hair, something at the corner of her eye – at the window – caught her attention. But when she turned to face the window, there was nothing to be found.