Right folks, more flashback...it will end...I promise. Am thinking about
teaching the computer LOTR names, the red lines are really annoying me!!
* * * *
Three hours later they ambled back to the archery room, exhausted, but firm friends. As they stowed their bows away, Legolas gave an exclamation of dismay. 'We've missed lunch! Lóriel, I'm so sorry! You must be starving! I know I am!'
As he spoke, Lóriel realised that she was indeed hungry. Legolas stuck his hands in his belt and considered their plight. 'Let's sneak into the kitchen and snatch a loaf of bread and something to drink. I guess it's not much, but there will be little else to eat.'
'Are you sure we won't get into trouble?' Lóriel asked.
'Shouldn't imagine so, someone will have noticed that we weren't at lunch and we'll find something with little problem. Come on.'
They clattered across into the kitchen. At the door, Legolas halted and whispering to Lóriel, 'Follow me!' edged into the kitchen. Lóriel followed, clinging to his arm.
'And what's this the wind's blown in,' a tall elf woman exclaimed. 'Young Legolas and a friend. I'm afraid you've missed dinner, young ones. This is the third time this week is it not, Master Legolas?'
'Yes, Aremiel,' sighed Legolas dispiritedly. 'My father wasn't angry, was he?'
'No, he just chuckled and remarked that you were off up to more mischief. And who's your companion in crime?'
'Lóriel, a guest from Sorendeth. Her father brought her with him when he came to see my father.'
'Starving the poor girl, are we? Well take this loaf and fruit and here's a flagon of juice. Off with you both.' Aremiel smiled at the children and they murmured their thanks and scuttled away.
'She seemed nice,' Lóriel ventured.
'Aremiel? Yes, she's always looked out for me and my siblings. Here's where they're drying the hay. It'll make a good place to sit in the warm sun and eat.'
He scooped up the fragrant grass and heaped it up, then they plumped themselves comfortably in the middle of it. He broke the bread in half, while Lóriel opened the flagon and took a long draught from it.
They lay back on the pile contentedly munching their bread. Legolas stared up at the clear blue sky. 'One day, I'm going to travel,' he announced. 'Far, far away, and do great deeds, and win renown. I don't know how yet, but I will do it.'
Lóriel brushed crumbs from her front and settled back comfortably. 'You're lucky. I'm a girl and I have to stay at home and sew and weave and not do archery. I wish I could come with you.'
'We'll have an adventure together, you and I,' murmured Legolas. The warm sun was making him drowsy, and he fought to keep his eyes open.
Lóriel yawned. The day had been tiring for her and the warmth surrounding her was working its spell on her as well. 'When?' she asked.
'Oh, I don't know. In the future I suppose, but …' huge yawn, 'I have to have you perfectly trained in archery first…'
'Mmm…' was all Lóriel could manage as her eyes closed in sleep. Beside her Legolas also lay in slumber, his breathing soft and even.
* * * *
'Here are the rascals,' King Thranduil whispered to Erindol, as they stood a few yards away observing the small elves curled close together in the remnants of their feast. Erindol smothered laughter as they moved quietly towards their children.
'Come on Legolas! Wake up Lóriel!' King Thranduil called gently, bending over them. They woke with a start and sprang to their feet.
'What is it father,' Lóriel asked in dismay. 'Do we have to go home?'
'I'm afraid so, my dear, unless we want to travel in darkness.'
'But I haven't shown Lóriel the gardens yet or…or…' Legolas was furious with himself. They had slept the afternoon away and he hadn't had a chance to show her the rest of the palace, let alone do more archery.
'I am sorry, Legolas,' Erindol said. 'Maybe you can come and spend some time with Lóriel at her home.'
'I know Legolas would like that very much, 'Thranduil said. 'And I'm sure he'd also like Lóriel to come back and visit us again. You'll be returning in a couple of months won't you, Erindol. Why don't you bring your daughter again? I feel sure there will be several occasions when Legolas and I will be passing near Sorendeth, and these two can meet up.'
He and Erindol started towards the stable, and after collecting up the remains of their meal, Legolas and Lóriel followed them.
'I'm sorry I didn't let you have another go at archery,' Legolas said in an undertone. 'You show so much promise. Next time I see you, we'll get in a lot of practice!'
Lóriel beamed. She had enjoyed the archery lesson as much as Legolas had, and longed to do more. 'You'll come and see me soon, won't you?'
'I'll nag my father until he agrees!' They had reached the stables and Thranduil and Erindol were waiting for them beside a big white horse. Legolas smiled at his new friend and they solemnly shook hands. Legolas leaned forward and whispered, 'Don't' tell anyone about the archery! It's a secret!' Lóriel nodded her head, and Erindol and Thranduil, who had been watching this covert passing of information, smothered their smiles. Then Erindol lifted Lóriel onto his horse and made his farewells to Thranduil, then he cantered smoothly from the courtyard.
Legolas watched them go, then feeling his father's hand upon his back, turned towards the palace and trudged gloomily towards it.
* * * *
The years passed and Legolas and Lóriel met frequently, at both her home and his. They trained hard, and soon Legolas became the most the most promising archer in Mirkwood, with Lóriel a close second, but this skill was unknown to anyone, but the pair.
But this idyllic lifestyle was to come to an end. Legolas was sent away from Mirkwood for several years. As the youngest son of his house, he was sent to the Elven dwelling at Emyn Beraid, to learn new skills, both in archery and courtly matters. Legolas was reluctant to go, but his father's expectations made him accept the offer. He parted unhappily from his friend, promising to come back as soon as he could and also leaving her a bow and a quiver full of finely crafted arrows.
He dwelt for several decades in the Shire, and his superior fighting skills set him apart from the others. He aided the Elves in their patrols of the Shire, and learned different tracking skills. But although his life was busy, he never forgot Lóriel.
Lóriel meanwhile waited patiently at home for Legolas to return. They corresponded infrequently, neither of them being devoted letter writers. Lóriel practised archery secretly in the woods, but she missed the lessons in archery almost as much as she missed her friend.
* * * *
Three hours later they ambled back to the archery room, exhausted, but firm friends. As they stowed their bows away, Legolas gave an exclamation of dismay. 'We've missed lunch! Lóriel, I'm so sorry! You must be starving! I know I am!'
As he spoke, Lóriel realised that she was indeed hungry. Legolas stuck his hands in his belt and considered their plight. 'Let's sneak into the kitchen and snatch a loaf of bread and something to drink. I guess it's not much, but there will be little else to eat.'
'Are you sure we won't get into trouble?' Lóriel asked.
'Shouldn't imagine so, someone will have noticed that we weren't at lunch and we'll find something with little problem. Come on.'
They clattered across into the kitchen. At the door, Legolas halted and whispering to Lóriel, 'Follow me!' edged into the kitchen. Lóriel followed, clinging to his arm.
'And what's this the wind's blown in,' a tall elf woman exclaimed. 'Young Legolas and a friend. I'm afraid you've missed dinner, young ones. This is the third time this week is it not, Master Legolas?'
'Yes, Aremiel,' sighed Legolas dispiritedly. 'My father wasn't angry, was he?'
'No, he just chuckled and remarked that you were off up to more mischief. And who's your companion in crime?'
'Lóriel, a guest from Sorendeth. Her father brought her with him when he came to see my father.'
'Starving the poor girl, are we? Well take this loaf and fruit and here's a flagon of juice. Off with you both.' Aremiel smiled at the children and they murmured their thanks and scuttled away.
'She seemed nice,' Lóriel ventured.
'Aremiel? Yes, she's always looked out for me and my siblings. Here's where they're drying the hay. It'll make a good place to sit in the warm sun and eat.'
He scooped up the fragrant grass and heaped it up, then they plumped themselves comfortably in the middle of it. He broke the bread in half, while Lóriel opened the flagon and took a long draught from it.
They lay back on the pile contentedly munching their bread. Legolas stared up at the clear blue sky. 'One day, I'm going to travel,' he announced. 'Far, far away, and do great deeds, and win renown. I don't know how yet, but I will do it.'
Lóriel brushed crumbs from her front and settled back comfortably. 'You're lucky. I'm a girl and I have to stay at home and sew and weave and not do archery. I wish I could come with you.'
'We'll have an adventure together, you and I,' murmured Legolas. The warm sun was making him drowsy, and he fought to keep his eyes open.
Lóriel yawned. The day had been tiring for her and the warmth surrounding her was working its spell on her as well. 'When?' she asked.
'Oh, I don't know. In the future I suppose, but …' huge yawn, 'I have to have you perfectly trained in archery first…'
'Mmm…' was all Lóriel could manage as her eyes closed in sleep. Beside her Legolas also lay in slumber, his breathing soft and even.
* * * *
'Here are the rascals,' King Thranduil whispered to Erindol, as they stood a few yards away observing the small elves curled close together in the remnants of their feast. Erindol smothered laughter as they moved quietly towards their children.
'Come on Legolas! Wake up Lóriel!' King Thranduil called gently, bending over them. They woke with a start and sprang to their feet.
'What is it father,' Lóriel asked in dismay. 'Do we have to go home?'
'I'm afraid so, my dear, unless we want to travel in darkness.'
'But I haven't shown Lóriel the gardens yet or…or…' Legolas was furious with himself. They had slept the afternoon away and he hadn't had a chance to show her the rest of the palace, let alone do more archery.
'I am sorry, Legolas,' Erindol said. 'Maybe you can come and spend some time with Lóriel at her home.'
'I know Legolas would like that very much, 'Thranduil said. 'And I'm sure he'd also like Lóriel to come back and visit us again. You'll be returning in a couple of months won't you, Erindol. Why don't you bring your daughter again? I feel sure there will be several occasions when Legolas and I will be passing near Sorendeth, and these two can meet up.'
He and Erindol started towards the stable, and after collecting up the remains of their meal, Legolas and Lóriel followed them.
'I'm sorry I didn't let you have another go at archery,' Legolas said in an undertone. 'You show so much promise. Next time I see you, we'll get in a lot of practice!'
Lóriel beamed. She had enjoyed the archery lesson as much as Legolas had, and longed to do more. 'You'll come and see me soon, won't you?'
'I'll nag my father until he agrees!' They had reached the stables and Thranduil and Erindol were waiting for them beside a big white horse. Legolas smiled at his new friend and they solemnly shook hands. Legolas leaned forward and whispered, 'Don't' tell anyone about the archery! It's a secret!' Lóriel nodded her head, and Erindol and Thranduil, who had been watching this covert passing of information, smothered their smiles. Then Erindol lifted Lóriel onto his horse and made his farewells to Thranduil, then he cantered smoothly from the courtyard.
Legolas watched them go, then feeling his father's hand upon his back, turned towards the palace and trudged gloomily towards it.
* * * *
The years passed and Legolas and Lóriel met frequently, at both her home and his. They trained hard, and soon Legolas became the most the most promising archer in Mirkwood, with Lóriel a close second, but this skill was unknown to anyone, but the pair.
But this idyllic lifestyle was to come to an end. Legolas was sent away from Mirkwood for several years. As the youngest son of his house, he was sent to the Elven dwelling at Emyn Beraid, to learn new skills, both in archery and courtly matters. Legolas was reluctant to go, but his father's expectations made him accept the offer. He parted unhappily from his friend, promising to come back as soon as he could and also leaving her a bow and a quiver full of finely crafted arrows.
He dwelt for several decades in the Shire, and his superior fighting skills set him apart from the others. He aided the Elves in their patrols of the Shire, and learned different tracking skills. But although his life was busy, he never forgot Lóriel.
Lóriel meanwhile waited patiently at home for Legolas to return. They corresponded infrequently, neither of them being devoted letter writers. Lóriel practised archery secretly in the woods, but she missed the lessons in archery almost as much as she missed her friend.