The pages created wind floating up to Celendir's face as he flipped them.
He was reading and reminding himself, about herbs and flowers that they
would probably see on the journey to Galadriel. He thought that if they
needed such use for plants or flowers for medicine, that he would know. He
sat on a bench under the missed warmth of the sun. He was happy, something
he hadn't been in awhile since the death of his father. His friend was
back, and although he was king, he was glad the job had not yet quite
rested fully on him. Once he would get Galadriel's guidance, he would know
the right path to take his kingdom. They would return then from grand wood,
back to Neverwinter and then the ceremony of crowing would take place. It
would be hard though, for the father of the heir would place the crown upon
their head. But instead it would be either Teldor or Thranduil.
The sound of swords clashing together reverberated in his ears. He glanced up from his studying to see Legolas and Delani practice their sword skills on each other. Delani forced her sword down upon Legolas's and pushing him with the force of it. She had him for a moment, but he only pushed back. Delani lost her balance from the push and fell on her back. She let go of her sword, which fell on the soft grass beside her. She gasped for breath, she had the wind knocked out of her. She started to cough. She raised her eyes to the sun, regaining her strength. It was shut out by Legolas's figure, which now stood over her.
"Are you alright? I am sorry about that." He said apologetically. Her face was flushed from the fall. She nodded her head when she started to breath regularly again, and then took his hand. He lifted her up. She quickly turned from him and her brother. She was embarrassed that they saw such a mistake. She fixed her white skirts that were covered in grass and dirt. Her hands were also dirty. She took sudden realization of the creek that flowed next to them. She walked over to the creek and dipped her dirty hands in the cool crisp water. She wiped a piece of her hair that fell in sight of her eyes. She stood up, her knees felt tired but warmed up, ready for another challenge of combat from the Prince of Mirkwood.
"Your angle is off." She heard his voice stating. She whipped around. Legolas stood in a loose white shirt and black leggings and boots. He took the corner of his shirt and dabbed sweat from his brow.
"What?" She sounded confused and rather offended. He raised his eyebrows towards her. He had on hand on his hip and his other hand held his sword. He came across as an observant instructor.
"Your angle on your sword was off. If you balance it you could've handled your sword with more power. I do hope your archery skills aren't as bad." Delani became enraged abruptly at his comment. Doubting her fighting skills indeed, not to mention the guidance from her father. She lifted her chin up and glared at him.
"Are you doubting my fathers teachings?" She snapped angrily, and stepped back to spot in front of him. Legolas felt interrogated and tested by this and he decided to correct her on her rudeness. He did understand that she was only defending her father, but it was no reason to do it in such a un- proper manner.
"I do not question on your father's teachings, he has done well. But I should say I do not appreciate such an outburst like this. Celendir is she always this way?" Celendir only shook his head and grinned.
"No, not always. Although if she is insulted, she shall strike back at once, like a serpent." Legolas turned around to a where a white table stood. He picked up a goblet filled with water and took a sip. The cold water floated down his throat and he felt the coldness until it hit his stomach.
"How will she have any suitors court her if she should retaliate so every time a man comments her." He said as if Delani was not there anymore. Celendir shrugged his shoulders.
"And tell me Prince how do expect to sweep a maid off her feet, if you insult her with your ignorance and state your poor observations to a fellow when she is present? I declare that it isn't proper as well." She raged.
"Your majesties!" The three royals turned to the voice. Across stretches of green earth on a path that led up to a small secret stairway, which then opened to Delani's chamber, there was a young elf maid. She waved to Delani and started down the path to them. It was Pede, Delani's lady-in-waiting but also her friend. She looked quite joyful, running to her with her brown braid swinging back and fourth, the sun lit up her pale skin, and her silver skirts curling around her legs. Delani caught her friend's arms before she fell to the ground with exhaustion. Pede balanced herself just enough to stand and bow before them. She raised her self still breathing heavily. "You majesties, I must take away my lady to prepare her for tonight's festivity
"Well then," Delani turned back around to Legolas who was massaging his forehead in stress. "I shall see you both tonight." She then took Pede's hand, smiled at her. Like a perfect image the two elf maids ran up the hill. Legolas's was irritated at what happened.
"I wouldn't get to up in arms in this. She can be very protective of people she loves and of herself. If you would've been around during her budding you may have become more known to her personality." Celendir closed his book and stood up. Preparing to leave to his chamber to get ready for the coming night as well.
"She does have some spite in her doesn't she?" Legolas stated as he picked up a smooth stone and threw it into crystal creek sinuously flowing around the flourishing gardens, around the yards. "What happened to the youngster I saw running to me down the path, into my arms? I can't believe I have missed all those years" Legolas felt Celendir's hand on his shoulder. The warmth of it spread throughout his body.
"You had every right to miss those years. You were fighting for Middle Earth. Delani admires you for that. As I said I wouldn't worry about it. Now come, you must get ready for this evening."
"Is it an outside festivity?"
"Yes."
In Delani's chamber…
"Can you believe he said that? My sword angle off indeed." Delani sat on her bed, in her underclothes. She was complaining to Pede about her fight with Legolas. Pede was walking in and out of Delani's wardrobe with garments and silky materials gathered in her small arms. She brought out a light sapphire silk dress. She motioned Delani to get up. Delani got up and turned so her back was to Pede. Pede took the dress and slid it up and over the princesse's head. The material molded itself onto the skin of Delani's body. The pattern It corresponded with her curves beautifully.
"I am sure he didn't mean to offend you or your father." She bent down to Delani's ankles and straitened the skirts, "Now I think your hair would be lovely in a half plait, then if you'd like I can inter wine some pearls?"
Delani turned back around to her friend. She sank unto her bed and stared into space. Her heart ached for he father at this moment. He had always seemed to be there to comfort her. There wasn't anything she couldn't tell him. She remembered the nights he would tuck her in and tell her his stories of all his journeys. He would sit by her side until she fell asleep. Ryldor stopped this routine by the time Delani was 2,000, but never before did Delani desire just one more moment like that with her father. Just to feel the warmth of his hand stroke her hair while calling her his "Lirimaer" which meant lovely one.
"I miss him so much…" Delani whispered. Pede bent down upon her knees to level with he face.
"Who dear?" Delani averted her eyes to her friend.
"My father." She replied softly. She felt tears form, her eyes became warm, and her vision became blurred. "I miss him so much."
"Oh princess." Pede cupped the crying maids face in her hand. Delani leaned her head against Pede's shoulder. Her friend did the best she could to comfort the lady, by stroking her hair.
"Come now, you must dry your tears, you must weep no more." She raised Delani's head up. "Sit up straighter so that I may do your hair." Delani shifted her body. Pede sat behind Delani on the bed. Pearls and a brush lay in her hands. Delani closed her eyes as she felt the soft bristles comb through her hair.
The sound of swords clashing together reverberated in his ears. He glanced up from his studying to see Legolas and Delani practice their sword skills on each other. Delani forced her sword down upon Legolas's and pushing him with the force of it. She had him for a moment, but he only pushed back. Delani lost her balance from the push and fell on her back. She let go of her sword, which fell on the soft grass beside her. She gasped for breath, she had the wind knocked out of her. She started to cough. She raised her eyes to the sun, regaining her strength. It was shut out by Legolas's figure, which now stood over her.
"Are you alright? I am sorry about that." He said apologetically. Her face was flushed from the fall. She nodded her head when she started to breath regularly again, and then took his hand. He lifted her up. She quickly turned from him and her brother. She was embarrassed that they saw such a mistake. She fixed her white skirts that were covered in grass and dirt. Her hands were also dirty. She took sudden realization of the creek that flowed next to them. She walked over to the creek and dipped her dirty hands in the cool crisp water. She wiped a piece of her hair that fell in sight of her eyes. She stood up, her knees felt tired but warmed up, ready for another challenge of combat from the Prince of Mirkwood.
"Your angle is off." She heard his voice stating. She whipped around. Legolas stood in a loose white shirt and black leggings and boots. He took the corner of his shirt and dabbed sweat from his brow.
"What?" She sounded confused and rather offended. He raised his eyebrows towards her. He had on hand on his hip and his other hand held his sword. He came across as an observant instructor.
"Your angle on your sword was off. If you balance it you could've handled your sword with more power. I do hope your archery skills aren't as bad." Delani became enraged abruptly at his comment. Doubting her fighting skills indeed, not to mention the guidance from her father. She lifted her chin up and glared at him.
"Are you doubting my fathers teachings?" She snapped angrily, and stepped back to spot in front of him. Legolas felt interrogated and tested by this and he decided to correct her on her rudeness. He did understand that she was only defending her father, but it was no reason to do it in such a un- proper manner.
"I do not question on your father's teachings, he has done well. But I should say I do not appreciate such an outburst like this. Celendir is she always this way?" Celendir only shook his head and grinned.
"No, not always. Although if she is insulted, she shall strike back at once, like a serpent." Legolas turned around to a where a white table stood. He picked up a goblet filled with water and took a sip. The cold water floated down his throat and he felt the coldness until it hit his stomach.
"How will she have any suitors court her if she should retaliate so every time a man comments her." He said as if Delani was not there anymore. Celendir shrugged his shoulders.
"And tell me Prince how do expect to sweep a maid off her feet, if you insult her with your ignorance and state your poor observations to a fellow when she is present? I declare that it isn't proper as well." She raged.
"Your majesties!" The three royals turned to the voice. Across stretches of green earth on a path that led up to a small secret stairway, which then opened to Delani's chamber, there was a young elf maid. She waved to Delani and started down the path to them. It was Pede, Delani's lady-in-waiting but also her friend. She looked quite joyful, running to her with her brown braid swinging back and fourth, the sun lit up her pale skin, and her silver skirts curling around her legs. Delani caught her friend's arms before she fell to the ground with exhaustion. Pede balanced herself just enough to stand and bow before them. She raised her self still breathing heavily. "You majesties, I must take away my lady to prepare her for tonight's festivity
"Well then," Delani turned back around to Legolas who was massaging his forehead in stress. "I shall see you both tonight." She then took Pede's hand, smiled at her. Like a perfect image the two elf maids ran up the hill. Legolas's was irritated at what happened.
"I wouldn't get to up in arms in this. She can be very protective of people she loves and of herself. If you would've been around during her budding you may have become more known to her personality." Celendir closed his book and stood up. Preparing to leave to his chamber to get ready for the coming night as well.
"She does have some spite in her doesn't she?" Legolas stated as he picked up a smooth stone and threw it into crystal creek sinuously flowing around the flourishing gardens, around the yards. "What happened to the youngster I saw running to me down the path, into my arms? I can't believe I have missed all those years" Legolas felt Celendir's hand on his shoulder. The warmth of it spread throughout his body.
"You had every right to miss those years. You were fighting for Middle Earth. Delani admires you for that. As I said I wouldn't worry about it. Now come, you must get ready for this evening."
"Is it an outside festivity?"
"Yes."
In Delani's chamber…
"Can you believe he said that? My sword angle off indeed." Delani sat on her bed, in her underclothes. She was complaining to Pede about her fight with Legolas. Pede was walking in and out of Delani's wardrobe with garments and silky materials gathered in her small arms. She brought out a light sapphire silk dress. She motioned Delani to get up. Delani got up and turned so her back was to Pede. Pede took the dress and slid it up and over the princesse's head. The material molded itself onto the skin of Delani's body. The pattern It corresponded with her curves beautifully.
"I am sure he didn't mean to offend you or your father." She bent down to Delani's ankles and straitened the skirts, "Now I think your hair would be lovely in a half plait, then if you'd like I can inter wine some pearls?"
Delani turned back around to her friend. She sank unto her bed and stared into space. Her heart ached for he father at this moment. He had always seemed to be there to comfort her. There wasn't anything she couldn't tell him. She remembered the nights he would tuck her in and tell her his stories of all his journeys. He would sit by her side until she fell asleep. Ryldor stopped this routine by the time Delani was 2,000, but never before did Delani desire just one more moment like that with her father. Just to feel the warmth of his hand stroke her hair while calling her his "Lirimaer" which meant lovely one.
"I miss him so much…" Delani whispered. Pede bent down upon her knees to level with he face.
"Who dear?" Delani averted her eyes to her friend.
"My father." She replied softly. She felt tears form, her eyes became warm, and her vision became blurred. "I miss him so much."
"Oh princess." Pede cupped the crying maids face in her hand. Delani leaned her head against Pede's shoulder. Her friend did the best she could to comfort the lady, by stroking her hair.
"Come now, you must dry your tears, you must weep no more." She raised Delani's head up. "Sit up straighter so that I may do your hair." Delani shifted her body. Pede sat behind Delani on the bed. Pearls and a brush lay in her hands. Delani closed her eyes as she felt the soft bristles comb through her hair.