"We'll be staying here for some time, you'd best get yourself used to it,"
he remarked as he began to unpack the few belongings we had taken with us
and store into a handcraft truck at the end of his bed. A small door
adjoined my room to his. We had just arrived from six days of camping and
journeying through the forests and plains to make our way to the elven
village or Rivendell.
"What makes you think I don't like it much?" which was more of a rhetorical question, even though he answered. "It was just a comment child. Perhaps having more of a home will do us some good, especially you. You're getting older and still there are so many things for you to do yet. Your bowing skills should improve a great deal here in Rivendell, perchance gaining the help of a bowmen. They are they best you know."
"Of course I know," I answered, smiling. "The elves are the best bowmen in middle-earth. So you expect us to stay here some time? I suppose I should go gather my things and take them to where I'm to sleep."
"Don't spend all night there. We're to eat with the some of the elders. Put on one of your dresses and your cloak. Who knows, perhaps you'll catch the eye of some fine boy." His gentle face was expressionless but his eyes gave away his thoughts. He was looking for me to settle down with a man, and in that way, keep me here. I had no intention of leaving Ephraem; he had always been there for me. Not that I could have left by choice in the matter as it was. He still carried the book, the ragged leather cover beginning to wear down but I had no way of controlling the powers that it contained, nor did I feel any urge to temp them. At the time, I was content living this second life of mine, and rarely thought of what I would do once I returned to my own realm. In a way it scared me to think of leaving this place. I glanced around me at the newly found walls of my home. Yes, that's exactly where I was...home. I felt as if I had never belonged elsewhere.
That night I did as he said and put on my dark burgundy dress and charcoal colored cloak before leaving for the hall. As I walked down the hallways, the sounds of music began echoing off the walls. It was strange music that I had heard only briefly from time to time, with such a sound that tied every note together in almost a dreamy sense. Almost Fay in some ways…but not quite…where was something else about it. I entered the hall to find tables filled with fruits, vegetables, and a few meat, along with freshly baked breads and berries. As the tables surrounded the hall, the middle was left barren where people were now gathering to dance and mingle with one another.
I found Ephraem across the room talking to an older elf, with long white hair that hung down to his mid-back; much longer than even mine. Beside this elder, was a younger elf, much more around my age, or so he looked, but I had come to know elves to be much older than they actually looked. I casually walked by each table, glancing around at the people who had arrived. It was then that I realized that I was one of the only humans here.
"Honestly, how does he expect me to catch someone's eye when they wouldn't bother looking at me in the first place," I laughed to myself. If I caught anyone's eye it would be an elf's or dwarfs.
"There you are my girl, come and sit here and have something to eat." He motioned towards the chair between him and the younger elf. I blushed a little, knowing what he was up to and seated myself quickly and as quietly as I could. The boy looked over at me and smiled and extended his hand.
"Its pleasant to meet you m'lady. Welcome to Rivendell." He spoke softly and smiled.
"And do I have a name to put with your face," I asked lightly, glancing from his eyes that seemed to be locked with mine. I was feeling uneasy about him looking at me so.
1
2 "Legolas. And may I have one for yours as well?" He raised an eyebrow and took a bite from a roll baked with berries.
3
4 "Jenna." I answered and picked up my plate, heading towards the food tables. The food looked wonderful, especially after the camp food we had ate for the six days it took to arrive here. I filled it with a few fruits and the same bread that Legolas had been eating, mixed with red and purple berries. Slowly I wandered back to my seat and began eating. After a moment he glanced my way again and commented lightly on what I was doing. I had opened the bread and placed a slice of dried fruit between the slices. I hadn't noticed anything strange about what I had been doing, although now that I had attention drawn towards it, I blushed.
"I'm not sure, it just seemed good at the time," I smiled, my face turning pink. He laughed and before long we had begun a conversation that lasted for quite some time. We left the dinning room after the music began to get louder and more people began to dance or sing. We wandered up to on of the wooden verandas and looked out over the valley.
"You know, I don't believe I've ever seen a forest so green. Its looks amazing out here." I muttered, gazing out over the side of the mountain.
"Yes, I don't think I'll ever grow weary of the forests." He answered, leaning over the balcony. "Or perhaps of your company. We've been talking for several hours now. Perhaps I should let you go to sleep?" He turned his face toward me and gave a slight smile.
"That would be best," I yawned. "I'll talk at you tomorrow perhaps?"
"Oh course, m'lady. Good night and pleasant dreams to you." At that he turned and left for his room. I lingered on the balcony for a moment longer. Had I really spent the whole night talking to him? He had been so easy to talk to, so open with his thoughts. What am I thinking…I shouldn't get so excited over talking to someone. Anyway, I can be sure nothing will come of this… At that thought, I wandered back up to my room. As soon as I was in bed, sleep came quickly and before I knew it, I was waking up to soft light coming into my window.
"What makes you think I don't like it much?" which was more of a rhetorical question, even though he answered. "It was just a comment child. Perhaps having more of a home will do us some good, especially you. You're getting older and still there are so many things for you to do yet. Your bowing skills should improve a great deal here in Rivendell, perchance gaining the help of a bowmen. They are they best you know."
"Of course I know," I answered, smiling. "The elves are the best bowmen in middle-earth. So you expect us to stay here some time? I suppose I should go gather my things and take them to where I'm to sleep."
"Don't spend all night there. We're to eat with the some of the elders. Put on one of your dresses and your cloak. Who knows, perhaps you'll catch the eye of some fine boy." His gentle face was expressionless but his eyes gave away his thoughts. He was looking for me to settle down with a man, and in that way, keep me here. I had no intention of leaving Ephraem; he had always been there for me. Not that I could have left by choice in the matter as it was. He still carried the book, the ragged leather cover beginning to wear down but I had no way of controlling the powers that it contained, nor did I feel any urge to temp them. At the time, I was content living this second life of mine, and rarely thought of what I would do once I returned to my own realm. In a way it scared me to think of leaving this place. I glanced around me at the newly found walls of my home. Yes, that's exactly where I was...home. I felt as if I had never belonged elsewhere.
That night I did as he said and put on my dark burgundy dress and charcoal colored cloak before leaving for the hall. As I walked down the hallways, the sounds of music began echoing off the walls. It was strange music that I had heard only briefly from time to time, with such a sound that tied every note together in almost a dreamy sense. Almost Fay in some ways…but not quite…where was something else about it. I entered the hall to find tables filled with fruits, vegetables, and a few meat, along with freshly baked breads and berries. As the tables surrounded the hall, the middle was left barren where people were now gathering to dance and mingle with one another.
I found Ephraem across the room talking to an older elf, with long white hair that hung down to his mid-back; much longer than even mine. Beside this elder, was a younger elf, much more around my age, or so he looked, but I had come to know elves to be much older than they actually looked. I casually walked by each table, glancing around at the people who had arrived. It was then that I realized that I was one of the only humans here.
"Honestly, how does he expect me to catch someone's eye when they wouldn't bother looking at me in the first place," I laughed to myself. If I caught anyone's eye it would be an elf's or dwarfs.
"There you are my girl, come and sit here and have something to eat." He motioned towards the chair between him and the younger elf. I blushed a little, knowing what he was up to and seated myself quickly and as quietly as I could. The boy looked over at me and smiled and extended his hand.
"Its pleasant to meet you m'lady. Welcome to Rivendell." He spoke softly and smiled.
"And do I have a name to put with your face," I asked lightly, glancing from his eyes that seemed to be locked with mine. I was feeling uneasy about him looking at me so.
1
2 "Legolas. And may I have one for yours as well?" He raised an eyebrow and took a bite from a roll baked with berries.
3
4 "Jenna." I answered and picked up my plate, heading towards the food tables. The food looked wonderful, especially after the camp food we had ate for the six days it took to arrive here. I filled it with a few fruits and the same bread that Legolas had been eating, mixed with red and purple berries. Slowly I wandered back to my seat and began eating. After a moment he glanced my way again and commented lightly on what I was doing. I had opened the bread and placed a slice of dried fruit between the slices. I hadn't noticed anything strange about what I had been doing, although now that I had attention drawn towards it, I blushed.
"I'm not sure, it just seemed good at the time," I smiled, my face turning pink. He laughed and before long we had begun a conversation that lasted for quite some time. We left the dinning room after the music began to get louder and more people began to dance or sing. We wandered up to on of the wooden verandas and looked out over the valley.
"You know, I don't believe I've ever seen a forest so green. Its looks amazing out here." I muttered, gazing out over the side of the mountain.
"Yes, I don't think I'll ever grow weary of the forests." He answered, leaning over the balcony. "Or perhaps of your company. We've been talking for several hours now. Perhaps I should let you go to sleep?" He turned his face toward me and gave a slight smile.
"That would be best," I yawned. "I'll talk at you tomorrow perhaps?"
"Oh course, m'lady. Good night and pleasant dreams to you." At that he turned and left for his room. I lingered on the balcony for a moment longer. Had I really spent the whole night talking to him? He had been so easy to talk to, so open with his thoughts. What am I thinking…I shouldn't get so excited over talking to someone. Anyway, I can be sure nothing will come of this… At that thought, I wandered back up to my room. As soon as I was in bed, sleep came quickly and before I knew it, I was waking up to soft light coming into my window.