1 Come What May
- By Hitchhiker
1.1
Chapter Six
This time so alive
Everybody's tranced, dancing tonight
Oh so beautiful, and so strange
Oh, it was empty until you came . . .
Dave Matthews Band, "So Right"
*~*~*~*~*
The dress was utterly beautiful: a true example of Elvish needlework. It was the soft lavender color of twilight with flowing skirts tumbling like waterfalls down to the floor. Fine silver embroidery trimmed the v-neck and waist as well as the end of the skirt and sleeves. It was softer than anything Hope had ever felt before and lighter than air.
"I can't wear this," Hope said simply as she gazed at the dress. "I just cannot wear this, I'm sorry."
"Why not, Hope?" said Arwen in a confused tone, "Isn't it to your liking?"
Hope turned toward, saying quickly so as not to offend the Elf. "No, it's beautiful, Arwen, really. But it's too beautiful. For me anyway."
Arwen shook her head firmly. "You'll look wonderful in it, Hope. This color suits you."
Hope licked her lips but was not in the mood to argue. She really did want to wear the dress, but surely it was to fine-looking for her . . .
Hope sighed and touched it again, feeling it's gauzy surface and watching it shimmer in the candlelight.
"Well," she said softly, finally consenting, "Maybe I'll wear it, just tonight."
*~*~*~*~*
Elrond was pleasantly surprised to see the newest guest in a dress. "I'm glad to see you are feeling better," he said as he pulled out the chair for her to sit in, "You look splendid." Hope blushed deeply and smiled.
Naturally, Elrond sat at the head of the rectangular table, with Glorfindel at his right and Gandalf at his left. Hope sat in-between Glorfindel and Arwen, across from Frodo.
The night was filled with laughter and tales of the many adventures they all had had. For Elrond, he thought he could have listened to the laughter for hours. Especially Hope's. For Elrond, dinner was one of the most enjoyable he had had in quite a long time.
All too soon, however, dinner ended and most of the other Elven guests made their way to the Hall of Fire to sing. Elrond was about to join them as usual, when he saw Hope stand and whisper something to Arwen. Then she turned and left the dining room.
Elrond, curious as to where she went, followed her out to an open balcony near the Hall of Fire. She stood there, looking out over the falls and the valley, with beautiful stars above.
"Truly, they look like diamonds," said Elrond as he stepped up behind her. Hope turned quickly and smiled.
"That's the second time you've startled me today. Isn't that a little rude?" she said in mock antagonism.
"Forgive me," said Elrond just as mockingly, bowing as well, "Do you like them?"
Hope frowned. "Do I like what? The stars?"
Elrond nodded, standing beside her, hands on the balcony railing. The moon was half full, shining its light down in the valley below and the two beings standing in the house.
"The stars are beautiful, just like on Earth, but I don't know any of the constellations. They're all different from the ones we have at home."
Elrond frowned inwardly. He knew every star and constellation in the sky. How many times had he wakened sorrowful at the lack of companionship, and spent sleepless nights in the company of the heavens? They were a source of comfort for the Elven lord when the loneliness and solitude became too much for even him to bear.
"Well we can't have that," said Elrond, "I'll just need to show you them."
For the next hour, they stood, staring into the sky, Elrond periodically telling a story behind a constellation or certain star as he pointed them out to her.
"This is my favorite," said Elrond with a smile, "Amrun Thoron, the Sunrise Eagle." However, Hope could not make out the constellation.
"I'm sorry," she said softly, "I just can't see it." Hope sighed sadly. She was enjoying this time with Elrond, learning from him and was frustrated that she could not make out his favorite.
He moved quickly behind her, moving close and gently taking her hand, index finger pointed outward.
"Here," he said, connecting the shining dots with her finger, "There are his wings, outstretched in flight. And his proud head, with the keen eyes to watch over us all. Through the night he will soar across the sky and finally ascend into the rising sun."
Hope swallowed thickly, nodding. It felt so *right*. So right for him to be here, standing with her under the glory of the night sky, the starlight and moonbeams dancing round them. She felt warm and safe, completely at ease. All the confusion of this new world seemed to melt away, leaving only her and Elrond and the stars.
She turned slowly, facing the handsome Elf lord. And handsome he was with that soft, dark hair and beautiful grey eyes. She gazed up at him, suddenly trembling. He was so close, so close . . .
Like a wineglass suddenly slipping from a table, the moment shattered with the sound of an Elven messenger clearing his throat at the doorway.
Elrond immediately pulled back and he became aware of his heart hammering inside his chest.
"Lord Elrond," began the messenger, stepping onto the balcony, "Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn have arrived from Lothlórien. They wish to see you at once."
"Honestly?" Elrond asked, "Well, I suppose I must see them." He saw Hope walking away out of the corner of his eye and turned toward her. "Are you leaving, Hope? The night still has yet to become old."
"I- I'm just tired that's all. I'll see you in the morning, Elrond. Good- night." There was a strange look in Hope's eyes, like longing or sadness and maybe a little fear. Elrond was confused.
He turned back to the servant and nodded. "Tell the Lord and Lady I shall be there shortly." Although it was bad form to keep his guests waiting, Elrond did not particularly care. He had no love for Galadriel or Celeborn and they could wait. His mind was elsewhere and he was not ready to face them. It seemed there was a swarm of flies in his head and he could not collect himself.
Something had happened between he and Hope. Something Elrond couldn't place. But it had felt . . . right. Was that the word? Yes, he did not feel so empty, so alone when he was with her. It felt so strange and yet it was so *right*.
It unnerved him. After a few moments, he regained himself as duty encroached and he went to meet the new arrivals from the Golden Wood.
*~*~*~*~*
Hope threw herself onto her bed, quite exhausted. The encounter with Elrond had been somewhat less than calming. On the contrary, it had seemed to make her blood rush faster and heart beat much harder.
What had happened? She had no idea. She was scared, scared because the whole situation was so confusing.
She thought of the way his strong but gentle hands had guided hers through the stars and the rich, soft cadence of his voice as he told her of the heavens, she could not help but think that there was nothing more pure in the world than what had passed between them.
Hope punched her pillow as tears of her jumbled emotions formed behind her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. She dearly wished her father was here. He'd always had all the answers.
*~*~*~*~*
Disclaimer : Most of this all belongs to John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. Thank you.
A/N : I don't know if Tolkien actually had some constellations for Middle- earth, so I made up a few of my own.
More reviews!! :) ;) Suggestion and constructive criticism is welcome. Also, ideas for what to do next.
*_* ^_^ #_@
- By Hitchhiker
1.1
Chapter Six
This time so alive
Everybody's tranced, dancing tonight
Oh so beautiful, and so strange
Oh, it was empty until you came . . .
Dave Matthews Band, "So Right"
*~*~*~*~*
The dress was utterly beautiful: a true example of Elvish needlework. It was the soft lavender color of twilight with flowing skirts tumbling like waterfalls down to the floor. Fine silver embroidery trimmed the v-neck and waist as well as the end of the skirt and sleeves. It was softer than anything Hope had ever felt before and lighter than air.
"I can't wear this," Hope said simply as she gazed at the dress. "I just cannot wear this, I'm sorry."
"Why not, Hope?" said Arwen in a confused tone, "Isn't it to your liking?"
Hope turned toward, saying quickly so as not to offend the Elf. "No, it's beautiful, Arwen, really. But it's too beautiful. For me anyway."
Arwen shook her head firmly. "You'll look wonderful in it, Hope. This color suits you."
Hope licked her lips but was not in the mood to argue. She really did want to wear the dress, but surely it was to fine-looking for her . . .
Hope sighed and touched it again, feeling it's gauzy surface and watching it shimmer in the candlelight.
"Well," she said softly, finally consenting, "Maybe I'll wear it, just tonight."
*~*~*~*~*
Elrond was pleasantly surprised to see the newest guest in a dress. "I'm glad to see you are feeling better," he said as he pulled out the chair for her to sit in, "You look splendid." Hope blushed deeply and smiled.
Naturally, Elrond sat at the head of the rectangular table, with Glorfindel at his right and Gandalf at his left. Hope sat in-between Glorfindel and Arwen, across from Frodo.
The night was filled with laughter and tales of the many adventures they all had had. For Elrond, he thought he could have listened to the laughter for hours. Especially Hope's. For Elrond, dinner was one of the most enjoyable he had had in quite a long time.
All too soon, however, dinner ended and most of the other Elven guests made their way to the Hall of Fire to sing. Elrond was about to join them as usual, when he saw Hope stand and whisper something to Arwen. Then she turned and left the dining room.
Elrond, curious as to where she went, followed her out to an open balcony near the Hall of Fire. She stood there, looking out over the falls and the valley, with beautiful stars above.
"Truly, they look like diamonds," said Elrond as he stepped up behind her. Hope turned quickly and smiled.
"That's the second time you've startled me today. Isn't that a little rude?" she said in mock antagonism.
"Forgive me," said Elrond just as mockingly, bowing as well, "Do you like them?"
Hope frowned. "Do I like what? The stars?"
Elrond nodded, standing beside her, hands on the balcony railing. The moon was half full, shining its light down in the valley below and the two beings standing in the house.
"The stars are beautiful, just like on Earth, but I don't know any of the constellations. They're all different from the ones we have at home."
Elrond frowned inwardly. He knew every star and constellation in the sky. How many times had he wakened sorrowful at the lack of companionship, and spent sleepless nights in the company of the heavens? They were a source of comfort for the Elven lord when the loneliness and solitude became too much for even him to bear.
"Well we can't have that," said Elrond, "I'll just need to show you them."
For the next hour, they stood, staring into the sky, Elrond periodically telling a story behind a constellation or certain star as he pointed them out to her.
"This is my favorite," said Elrond with a smile, "Amrun Thoron, the Sunrise Eagle." However, Hope could not make out the constellation.
"I'm sorry," she said softly, "I just can't see it." Hope sighed sadly. She was enjoying this time with Elrond, learning from him and was frustrated that she could not make out his favorite.
He moved quickly behind her, moving close and gently taking her hand, index finger pointed outward.
"Here," he said, connecting the shining dots with her finger, "There are his wings, outstretched in flight. And his proud head, with the keen eyes to watch over us all. Through the night he will soar across the sky and finally ascend into the rising sun."
Hope swallowed thickly, nodding. It felt so *right*. So right for him to be here, standing with her under the glory of the night sky, the starlight and moonbeams dancing round them. She felt warm and safe, completely at ease. All the confusion of this new world seemed to melt away, leaving only her and Elrond and the stars.
She turned slowly, facing the handsome Elf lord. And handsome he was with that soft, dark hair and beautiful grey eyes. She gazed up at him, suddenly trembling. He was so close, so close . . .
Like a wineglass suddenly slipping from a table, the moment shattered with the sound of an Elven messenger clearing his throat at the doorway.
Elrond immediately pulled back and he became aware of his heart hammering inside his chest.
"Lord Elrond," began the messenger, stepping onto the balcony, "Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn have arrived from Lothlórien. They wish to see you at once."
"Honestly?" Elrond asked, "Well, I suppose I must see them." He saw Hope walking away out of the corner of his eye and turned toward her. "Are you leaving, Hope? The night still has yet to become old."
"I- I'm just tired that's all. I'll see you in the morning, Elrond. Good- night." There was a strange look in Hope's eyes, like longing or sadness and maybe a little fear. Elrond was confused.
He turned back to the servant and nodded. "Tell the Lord and Lady I shall be there shortly." Although it was bad form to keep his guests waiting, Elrond did not particularly care. He had no love for Galadriel or Celeborn and they could wait. His mind was elsewhere and he was not ready to face them. It seemed there was a swarm of flies in his head and he could not collect himself.
Something had happened between he and Hope. Something Elrond couldn't place. But it had felt . . . right. Was that the word? Yes, he did not feel so empty, so alone when he was with her. It felt so strange and yet it was so *right*.
It unnerved him. After a few moments, he regained himself as duty encroached and he went to meet the new arrivals from the Golden Wood.
*~*~*~*~*
Hope threw herself onto her bed, quite exhausted. The encounter with Elrond had been somewhat less than calming. On the contrary, it had seemed to make her blood rush faster and heart beat much harder.
What had happened? She had no idea. She was scared, scared because the whole situation was so confusing.
She thought of the way his strong but gentle hands had guided hers through the stars and the rich, soft cadence of his voice as he told her of the heavens, she could not help but think that there was nothing more pure in the world than what had passed between them.
Hope punched her pillow as tears of her jumbled emotions formed behind her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. She dearly wished her father was here. He'd always had all the answers.
*~*~*~*~*
Disclaimer : Most of this all belongs to John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. Thank you.
A/N : I don't know if Tolkien actually had some constellations for Middle- earth, so I made up a few of my own.
More reviews!! :) ;) Suggestion and constructive criticism is welcome. Also, ideas for what to do next.
*_* ^_^ #_@