RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
9.
Isabella did not realize how cold she had allowed herself to become; so cold that she felt numb and detached from the world around her. She was suddenly ashamed of herself. Hadn't she always thought herself to be stronger than this? Yet she could not force the bitter ice from her bones. "I am frightened," she whispered to the prince and he held her more tightly.
"What is it that frightens you?" he whispered in reply.
She shuddered slightly in his arms. "I feel that my heart has turned to ice… and I am powerless to melt it."
"Let me help you, My Lady," he murmured, willing his warmth into her. It enveloped her completely and she began to shiver as feeling returned to her limbs. "Surely you have been taught how to stay warm in wintry weather?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Strengthen the fire that burns ever in my heart. Yet I fear that flame has gone out."
"I assure you it has not or you would no longer be here with us," said Legolas, his free hand rubbing one of hers gently. Her shivers became more violent, and he knew that meant she was warming. "Close your eyes and concentrate, and you will find it."
Isabella tried but quickly gave up. "My heart despairs unto death," she whispered through trembling lips.
"My Beautiful Princess," he sighed gently "Tell me what has caused a black cloud to cover your radiant heart, and I shall command it away. For it grieves me greatly to see you so downcast."
She was stubbornly quiet for a long moment, though her heart began to soften toward the prince and she leaned her head back against his shoulder. "I cannot speak of it, Prince Legolas." Her shivering had stopped at last, her skin beginning to radiate some warmth of its own.
"I only wish to help," he said quietly, casting a worried glance at Calen who rode alongside and not far off, listening to every word with his keen ears.
"Then continue to speak to me, for your voice reminds me that I am not alone."
"Very well, Isabella. I shall speak to you of your mother."
She allowed the shadow of a smile to pass over her face as he began to tell his tale.
"Long ago, nigh on eight hundred years now, a beautiful maiden was found wondering in the Wilderness of Mirkwood. I was very young then, and Calen was only newly born, but I remember it clearly. She was the loveliest Elf that any of us had ever seen. Liriliel had eyes that seemed to reflect the fathomless waters of the sea from which she came, and hair of gold spun with the fiery red of sunset." He paused for a moment, as if recalling her to his memory and then added. "You look just like her, Isabella."
Calen smiled in the darkness as he rode along, remembering the special bond his best friend had shared with the mysterious visitor from the sea. She had been like a mother to him and he like a son to her. All of Mirkwood had been charmed by their deep love for one another.
"Your mother cared for me," continued Legolas as they rode along. "My own mother had gone West to the Havens when I was still but a babe, so Liriliel stood in her place. She used to sing to me at night to help me rest."
"Me too," whispered Isabella. "The most wonderful songs about her home by the sea."
"Yes," replied the Prince. "About sea gulls and dolphins and white sand glittering in the sunlight."
"And the sound of the waves as they slid into shore," she added.
"And the reflection of the moon upon the water, and the smell of the salt- water air."
Isabella closed her eyes. "And the sensation of the cool ocean breeze against her face on a hot summer day."
The two were silent for a long moment before Isabella began to sing in her fair Elven voice the lullaby that her mother had sung to her as a child. Three lines she sang before she stopped, her memory failing her, and there the prince picked it up. Back and forth they traded the verses, sometimes singing together and other times singing alone until tears of longing slid down both of their faces.
When the song died away, Isabella spoke in a voice soft with love. "I miss my mother."
The prince could not reply, but kissed the tip of her pointed ear in agreement as a gentle snow began to fall. After a moment, he spoke so quietly that not even Calen could hear. "I love your mother with the love of ten sons. On the day that she left with your father for Forest River, she bade me always look after you and keep you safe if any harm should ever befall her. She entreated me to see to your happiness as well, and that I am doing now, though I know you do not understand."
"Legolas, I-"
"Shhh," he interrupted, still so quiet that his voice seemed almost a dream to her. "Beautiful One, I know that your heart longs for Calen. Rest assured that I know it, and that your happiness is of my foremost concern. I would never seek to hurt you, for my love for you is as strong as it was for your mother. But you must trust me if you can find it in your heart to do so, for I can say no more at this time except for this: Things are not always as they seem. Do not let your heart despair."
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
9.
Isabella did not realize how cold she had allowed herself to become; so cold that she felt numb and detached from the world around her. She was suddenly ashamed of herself. Hadn't she always thought herself to be stronger than this? Yet she could not force the bitter ice from her bones. "I am frightened," she whispered to the prince and he held her more tightly.
"What is it that frightens you?" he whispered in reply.
She shuddered slightly in his arms. "I feel that my heart has turned to ice… and I am powerless to melt it."
"Let me help you, My Lady," he murmured, willing his warmth into her. It enveloped her completely and she began to shiver as feeling returned to her limbs. "Surely you have been taught how to stay warm in wintry weather?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Strengthen the fire that burns ever in my heart. Yet I fear that flame has gone out."
"I assure you it has not or you would no longer be here with us," said Legolas, his free hand rubbing one of hers gently. Her shivers became more violent, and he knew that meant she was warming. "Close your eyes and concentrate, and you will find it."
Isabella tried but quickly gave up. "My heart despairs unto death," she whispered through trembling lips.
"My Beautiful Princess," he sighed gently "Tell me what has caused a black cloud to cover your radiant heart, and I shall command it away. For it grieves me greatly to see you so downcast."
She was stubbornly quiet for a long moment, though her heart began to soften toward the prince and she leaned her head back against his shoulder. "I cannot speak of it, Prince Legolas." Her shivering had stopped at last, her skin beginning to radiate some warmth of its own.
"I only wish to help," he said quietly, casting a worried glance at Calen who rode alongside and not far off, listening to every word with his keen ears.
"Then continue to speak to me, for your voice reminds me that I am not alone."
"Very well, Isabella. I shall speak to you of your mother."
She allowed the shadow of a smile to pass over her face as he began to tell his tale.
"Long ago, nigh on eight hundred years now, a beautiful maiden was found wondering in the Wilderness of Mirkwood. I was very young then, and Calen was only newly born, but I remember it clearly. She was the loveliest Elf that any of us had ever seen. Liriliel had eyes that seemed to reflect the fathomless waters of the sea from which she came, and hair of gold spun with the fiery red of sunset." He paused for a moment, as if recalling her to his memory and then added. "You look just like her, Isabella."
Calen smiled in the darkness as he rode along, remembering the special bond his best friend had shared with the mysterious visitor from the sea. She had been like a mother to him and he like a son to her. All of Mirkwood had been charmed by their deep love for one another.
"Your mother cared for me," continued Legolas as they rode along. "My own mother had gone West to the Havens when I was still but a babe, so Liriliel stood in her place. She used to sing to me at night to help me rest."
"Me too," whispered Isabella. "The most wonderful songs about her home by the sea."
"Yes," replied the Prince. "About sea gulls and dolphins and white sand glittering in the sunlight."
"And the sound of the waves as they slid into shore," she added.
"And the reflection of the moon upon the water, and the smell of the salt- water air."
Isabella closed her eyes. "And the sensation of the cool ocean breeze against her face on a hot summer day."
The two were silent for a long moment before Isabella began to sing in her fair Elven voice the lullaby that her mother had sung to her as a child. Three lines she sang before she stopped, her memory failing her, and there the prince picked it up. Back and forth they traded the verses, sometimes singing together and other times singing alone until tears of longing slid down both of their faces.
When the song died away, Isabella spoke in a voice soft with love. "I miss my mother."
The prince could not reply, but kissed the tip of her pointed ear in agreement as a gentle snow began to fall. After a moment, he spoke so quietly that not even Calen could hear. "I love your mother with the love of ten sons. On the day that she left with your father for Forest River, she bade me always look after you and keep you safe if any harm should ever befall her. She entreated me to see to your happiness as well, and that I am doing now, though I know you do not understand."
"Legolas, I-"
"Shhh," he interrupted, still so quiet that his voice seemed almost a dream to her. "Beautiful One, I know that your heart longs for Calen. Rest assured that I know it, and that your happiness is of my foremost concern. I would never seek to hurt you, for my love for you is as strong as it was for your mother. But you must trust me if you can find it in your heart to do so, for I can say no more at this time except for this: Things are not always as they seem. Do not let your heart despair."