A/N-The song in this story is why I named the title what it is and should
be kept in mind when reading the story. It was written and sung by Darren
Hayes of Savage Garden and it was this song that inspired me to write this
story, goodness knows why.
Disclaimer…thing.-Lorelein, Halin, and Calinril are my charactors! But Haldir is not. Period. Thank ya! :-D
Chapter 5
After being told twice to stop wandering away from the road by their Elvish escort, Lorelein followed the two male elves silently with a look of awe written on her face. She had never seen a place of such radiant beauty. Tall, slender trees thrived all about them. Birds were perched on limbs here and there, singing melodically. All was calm in Lothlorien.
"So beautiful." She whispered.
"Did I not tell you that you would see such land? Lorien is known for it's beauty. Among the elves at least. Many men know it more for it's lady and the foolish myth they have formed of her. Such a pity." Legolas said to her. She was beginning to think he had a grudge against men. He seemed not to like them at all, though in all the time she lived with them, she didn't find most of them to be all that bad.
"I would rather have the men fear our Lady than them know the truth. Our land would not be so beautiful with men trampling in to bother our Lord and Lady with their greedy bargains." Said the other Elf, seeming to share the same opinion of men as Legolas.
"Do Elves have a grudge against men or do they have their own foolish myth of Mortal People as the men do of Lothlorien?" Lorelein questioned. At this, both males stopped. Legolas winced at the question and immediately turned to the Lorien Elf. The Elf had turn completely around and was looking at Lorelein.
"In the name of all that is Fair and Honorable, have you any idea of what you just asked? Not but two decades ago, you, yourself, were in the Great Battle in which many lives were lost. You fought and almost lost your life for freedom of your land and people along with many others. And now you are questioning our impressions on Mortals? Please tell me you hit the ground harder than we believe because your thoughts about Men should be far from fair." The elf replied.
"That is enough, Calinril." A fair voice spoke from in front of him. A tall woman with long, golden hair stood on horseback in front of him.
"Lady Galadriel." Legolas and the Lorien Elf said in unison. They bowed down low in front of her. Lorelein stood, not sure what to do.
Looking at her, Galadriel smiled.
"Lorelein Elenhith." The Lady spoke, each word was a soft note to her voices full melody. Lorelein looked cautiously up at her.
"You are a brave one. And very lucky, no doubt. You've survived a great battle even after capture. Though you aren't the same as you were before. I can see it in your eyes. Something is missing. But you should not be troubled. All that you have lost will return with time. It is more that you have gained from this experience than lost. You have more knowledge on human's than most Elves. You have spent time in an environment as one with them. Knowledge of that you have gained may some day be of great use. Now, Lorelein, forget your troubles. You are welcome to stay with our people for as long as you please. Come and I will show you where you both may rest."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
They followed behind Lady Galadriel in silence until they came upon Lothlorien's great city. Beside of it was a great open field in which many Elves were gathered. Many voices of song were heard and much merrymaking. Lorelein looked up at Lady Galadriel, her face showing great interest.
"Would you like to join them? Feel free, they will welcome you. Go, have fun and enjoy yourselves. All of you." She said to them. Then she waved and continued on into the city.
"Come on, Legolas. I want to go." Lorelein grabbed him by the arm and began to pull him along. Legolas stumbled along surprised but then began to laugh at her excitement. He had forgotten about her loss of memory and it was as if this were her first time again to join in such an act. Only Calinril didn't look so pleased. He gave Legolas a questioning look.
"What's wrong?" Legolas asked him, walking up toward the Valley. Lorelein had already run ahead of them both.
"You treat her as if she's normal. As if nothing is different with her. Why are you not more cautious?" he asked him.
"So she isn't exactly the same as she was before. There is nothing truly wrong with her. She will regain her memory eventually. Why should I be cautious? She will not betray us if that is what you are suspecting."
"No, no. That is of no matter. I mean to say, why do you treat her as one of your own kindred? She is mixed. Impure."
"What? What do you mean?" Legolas asked, stopping to face Calinril.
"I mean to say that she is of the two races. She is of both Elrond's people and your own. Have you not heard the story of her parents?"
"No. I have not."
"Her father was one of Elrond's men and of high Royalty. Her mother a servant of your father. Her father refused for his daughter to live the life of a servant and King Thranduil refused to let a servant's child be of his Royalty. So you see, Lorelein could not live with one parent for the other's background. They had no choice but to leave her with either the people of Lothlorien or the Valleys. They would have come here since we are still partially of her kindred but at the last minute they refused. Instead, they sent her to the Valleys where she became very highly thought of. But you and I both know the people of the Valley are queer folk. You never know what they may do."
"That's foolishness! True, people of the Valleys are queer, we know. They were always known to be strange folk. But Lorelein? No. I refuse to listen to such talk. Speak not of it again, Calinril. I don't care to hear it." Legolas then walked away and went to join in the Elves merrymaking.
Making his way through different crowds, stopping here and there and sharing small talk, he spotted Lorelein standing with others around in a circle, singing, dancing and clapping along with everyone else. She smiled and laughed as many others danced along with her. Though she was dressed unlike all the other women, she was treated with the kindliness expected and seemed to fit in perfectly with everyone else. Legolas walked over to join her.
"Having fun?" he asked with a smile.
"Very much so! More than I can ever remember having." She beamed.
"Good. Think you can sing?" he asked her, a hint of mischief in his voice.
"Yeah. Why?" she replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, you seemed to be thoroughly enjoying yourself over here. It's too bad you can't improvise a song on the spot. You would probably do pretty well here."
"Who said I couldn't?" she asked. Legolas' grinned. If there's one thing he knew, it was how competitive she was. He decided that he was going to have a little fun.
"Well, I just assumed…" Legolas started, purposefully leaving the statement blank.
"Assume? You know you really shouldn't do that."
"Yes, true. But even if you could, it would be hard to keep up with the experienced." He continued on, trying his best not to look like he was trying purposefully to challenge her.
"Oh, and I suppose you think you are experienced." She gave him a humored look.
"More experienced than you, milady."
"Ha!"
Legolas just grinned mischievously and waited for the two elves in the middle of the circle to stop singing before stepping into the circle himself. Turning to Lorelein, he spoke.
"Prove me wrong." He said, pulling her into the circle.
Lorelein gave him a surprised look but then quickly caught on. Then she walked up and stood in front of him. The circle around them was quiet, waiting patiently. Lorelein looked Legolas in the eye and Legolas stared back, his arms crossed. Waiting for her to speak first. With a smile, she began to sing.
And we stare each other down
like victims in the grind.
Probing all the weakness
and hurt still left behind.
And we cry
these tears of pearls.
We do it. Oh we do it.
Legolas uncrossed his arms and took a step closer to her.
Is love really the tragedy the way you might describe?
Or would a thousand lovers still leave you cold inside?
Make you cry…
These tears of pearls.
Nodding approval, Lorelein picked up where Legolas left off.
All these mixed emotions
we keep locked away like stolen pearls.
Stolen pearl devotions we keep locked away from all the world.
Legolas continued immediately after she had stopped.
Your kisses are like pearls,
so different and so rare.
But anger stole the jewels away
and love has left you bare,
Made you cry…
These tears of pearls.
All these mixed emotions
we keep locked away like stolen pearls.
Stolen pearl devotions we keep locked away from all the world.
Lorelein smirked but stood firm. He had chosen her lyrics to be a chorus. That meant she would have to remember them but still continue on at a steady pace.
Well I could be the tired joker.
Pour my heart to get you in.
Sacrifice my happiness
just so I could win.
Maybe cry…
these tears of pearls.
All these mixed emotions
we keep locked away like stolen pearls.
Stolen pearl devotions we keep locked away from all the world.
Legolas, eyes filled with determination, finished off the song.
We twist and turn where angels burn.
Like fallen soldiers we will learn
that once forgotten, twice removed.
Love will be the death…
The death of you.*
All these mixed emotions
we keep locked away like stolen pearls.
Stolen pearl devotions we keep locked away from all the world.
There was loud cheering among the circle and they both smiled at each other and walked back into the crowd.
"Well now, Lorelein. Couldn't you have chosen something a bit happier?" Legolas said as they made their way out of the field and into the city.
"Me? You were the one talking about 'where angels burn.' At least I didn't speak of death or the underworld."
"Well you started it." He replied.
"Me?"
"Yes you."
And so they began their good-natured bickering that ended up lasting longer than one would expect. But they were both on more friendly terms than when they first set out from the Mortal Lands and after awhile, they got tired of the "Yes you did, no I didn't" argument that everyone has at least once in their life. So they went in search of Galadriel.
Legolas, having been there once before, led the way. But it didn't take them long before they were stopped once again by a Lorien Elf.
"Legolas! There you are. I have been looking for you." Haldir stated, putting his hand on Legolas' shoulder.
"Haldir! We meet again." Legolas replied.
"I have been sent by Lady Galadriel to show you to your rooms. Follow me, I'm sure you will be quite comfortable here." He said, leading them down a path to a great tree. After speaking something in Elvish, a ladder dropped down and Haldir and Legolas began to climb up. But Lorelein stood and looked up for a moment at the large house (or at least she thought it was a house) above her. She had no recollection of ever living in a tree but she decided to follow anyway. Climbing up didn't take her long and Haldir led them both to their own personal room. They were both elegant and simple but the beauty of the rooms were no less than that of the forest itself. Candles lay beside great beds covered with white sheets and feather pillows. The design on each bed was that of a great tree. On the tree, vines hugged it's trunk and limbs and leaves blanketed the branches. Vases filled with colorful flowers were set on both a table and dresser giving out a fragrance so strong and sweet you could almost taste it.
Lorelein said thank you and good night to both Haldir and Legolas and sprawled out on the bed. Grabbing a pillow she hugged it to her chest and closed her eyes. She smiled after thinking about the evening. As she drifted off to sleep she thought to herself that maybe Legolas wasn't all that bad. And for the first time in her life, she went to sleep looking forward to whatever lay prepared for her the next day.
*Elves are immortal but can die by being slain or from a broken heart.
Disclaimer…thing.-Lorelein, Halin, and Calinril are my charactors! But Haldir is not. Period. Thank ya! :-D
Chapter 5
After being told twice to stop wandering away from the road by their Elvish escort, Lorelein followed the two male elves silently with a look of awe written on her face. She had never seen a place of such radiant beauty. Tall, slender trees thrived all about them. Birds were perched on limbs here and there, singing melodically. All was calm in Lothlorien.
"So beautiful." She whispered.
"Did I not tell you that you would see such land? Lorien is known for it's beauty. Among the elves at least. Many men know it more for it's lady and the foolish myth they have formed of her. Such a pity." Legolas said to her. She was beginning to think he had a grudge against men. He seemed not to like them at all, though in all the time she lived with them, she didn't find most of them to be all that bad.
"I would rather have the men fear our Lady than them know the truth. Our land would not be so beautiful with men trampling in to bother our Lord and Lady with their greedy bargains." Said the other Elf, seeming to share the same opinion of men as Legolas.
"Do Elves have a grudge against men or do they have their own foolish myth of Mortal People as the men do of Lothlorien?" Lorelein questioned. At this, both males stopped. Legolas winced at the question and immediately turned to the Lorien Elf. The Elf had turn completely around and was looking at Lorelein.
"In the name of all that is Fair and Honorable, have you any idea of what you just asked? Not but two decades ago, you, yourself, were in the Great Battle in which many lives were lost. You fought and almost lost your life for freedom of your land and people along with many others. And now you are questioning our impressions on Mortals? Please tell me you hit the ground harder than we believe because your thoughts about Men should be far from fair." The elf replied.
"That is enough, Calinril." A fair voice spoke from in front of him. A tall woman with long, golden hair stood on horseback in front of him.
"Lady Galadriel." Legolas and the Lorien Elf said in unison. They bowed down low in front of her. Lorelein stood, not sure what to do.
Looking at her, Galadriel smiled.
"Lorelein Elenhith." The Lady spoke, each word was a soft note to her voices full melody. Lorelein looked cautiously up at her.
"You are a brave one. And very lucky, no doubt. You've survived a great battle even after capture. Though you aren't the same as you were before. I can see it in your eyes. Something is missing. But you should not be troubled. All that you have lost will return with time. It is more that you have gained from this experience than lost. You have more knowledge on human's than most Elves. You have spent time in an environment as one with them. Knowledge of that you have gained may some day be of great use. Now, Lorelein, forget your troubles. You are welcome to stay with our people for as long as you please. Come and I will show you where you both may rest."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
They followed behind Lady Galadriel in silence until they came upon Lothlorien's great city. Beside of it was a great open field in which many Elves were gathered. Many voices of song were heard and much merrymaking. Lorelein looked up at Lady Galadriel, her face showing great interest.
"Would you like to join them? Feel free, they will welcome you. Go, have fun and enjoy yourselves. All of you." She said to them. Then she waved and continued on into the city.
"Come on, Legolas. I want to go." Lorelein grabbed him by the arm and began to pull him along. Legolas stumbled along surprised but then began to laugh at her excitement. He had forgotten about her loss of memory and it was as if this were her first time again to join in such an act. Only Calinril didn't look so pleased. He gave Legolas a questioning look.
"What's wrong?" Legolas asked him, walking up toward the Valley. Lorelein had already run ahead of them both.
"You treat her as if she's normal. As if nothing is different with her. Why are you not more cautious?" he asked him.
"So she isn't exactly the same as she was before. There is nothing truly wrong with her. She will regain her memory eventually. Why should I be cautious? She will not betray us if that is what you are suspecting."
"No, no. That is of no matter. I mean to say, why do you treat her as one of your own kindred? She is mixed. Impure."
"What? What do you mean?" Legolas asked, stopping to face Calinril.
"I mean to say that she is of the two races. She is of both Elrond's people and your own. Have you not heard the story of her parents?"
"No. I have not."
"Her father was one of Elrond's men and of high Royalty. Her mother a servant of your father. Her father refused for his daughter to live the life of a servant and King Thranduil refused to let a servant's child be of his Royalty. So you see, Lorelein could not live with one parent for the other's background. They had no choice but to leave her with either the people of Lothlorien or the Valleys. They would have come here since we are still partially of her kindred but at the last minute they refused. Instead, they sent her to the Valleys where she became very highly thought of. But you and I both know the people of the Valley are queer folk. You never know what they may do."
"That's foolishness! True, people of the Valleys are queer, we know. They were always known to be strange folk. But Lorelein? No. I refuse to listen to such talk. Speak not of it again, Calinril. I don't care to hear it." Legolas then walked away and went to join in the Elves merrymaking.
Making his way through different crowds, stopping here and there and sharing small talk, he spotted Lorelein standing with others around in a circle, singing, dancing and clapping along with everyone else. She smiled and laughed as many others danced along with her. Though she was dressed unlike all the other women, she was treated with the kindliness expected and seemed to fit in perfectly with everyone else. Legolas walked over to join her.
"Having fun?" he asked with a smile.
"Very much so! More than I can ever remember having." She beamed.
"Good. Think you can sing?" he asked her, a hint of mischief in his voice.
"Yeah. Why?" she replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, you seemed to be thoroughly enjoying yourself over here. It's too bad you can't improvise a song on the spot. You would probably do pretty well here."
"Who said I couldn't?" she asked. Legolas' grinned. If there's one thing he knew, it was how competitive she was. He decided that he was going to have a little fun.
"Well, I just assumed…" Legolas started, purposefully leaving the statement blank.
"Assume? You know you really shouldn't do that."
"Yes, true. But even if you could, it would be hard to keep up with the experienced." He continued on, trying his best not to look like he was trying purposefully to challenge her.
"Oh, and I suppose you think you are experienced." She gave him a humored look.
"More experienced than you, milady."
"Ha!"
Legolas just grinned mischievously and waited for the two elves in the middle of the circle to stop singing before stepping into the circle himself. Turning to Lorelein, he spoke.
"Prove me wrong." He said, pulling her into the circle.
Lorelein gave him a surprised look but then quickly caught on. Then she walked up and stood in front of him. The circle around them was quiet, waiting patiently. Lorelein looked Legolas in the eye and Legolas stared back, his arms crossed. Waiting for her to speak first. With a smile, she began to sing.
And we stare each other down
like victims in the grind.
Probing all the weakness
and hurt still left behind.
And we cry
these tears of pearls.
We do it. Oh we do it.
Legolas uncrossed his arms and took a step closer to her.
Is love really the tragedy the way you might describe?
Or would a thousand lovers still leave you cold inside?
Make you cry…
These tears of pearls.
Nodding approval, Lorelein picked up where Legolas left off.
All these mixed emotions
we keep locked away like stolen pearls.
Stolen pearl devotions we keep locked away from all the world.
Legolas continued immediately after she had stopped.
Your kisses are like pearls,
so different and so rare.
But anger stole the jewels away
and love has left you bare,
Made you cry…
These tears of pearls.
All these mixed emotions
we keep locked away like stolen pearls.
Stolen pearl devotions we keep locked away from all the world.
Lorelein smirked but stood firm. He had chosen her lyrics to be a chorus. That meant she would have to remember them but still continue on at a steady pace.
Well I could be the tired joker.
Pour my heart to get you in.
Sacrifice my happiness
just so I could win.
Maybe cry…
these tears of pearls.
All these mixed emotions
we keep locked away like stolen pearls.
Stolen pearl devotions we keep locked away from all the world.
Legolas, eyes filled with determination, finished off the song.
We twist and turn where angels burn.
Like fallen soldiers we will learn
that once forgotten, twice removed.
Love will be the death…
The death of you.*
All these mixed emotions
we keep locked away like stolen pearls.
Stolen pearl devotions we keep locked away from all the world.
There was loud cheering among the circle and they both smiled at each other and walked back into the crowd.
"Well now, Lorelein. Couldn't you have chosen something a bit happier?" Legolas said as they made their way out of the field and into the city.
"Me? You were the one talking about 'where angels burn.' At least I didn't speak of death or the underworld."
"Well you started it." He replied.
"Me?"
"Yes you."
And so they began their good-natured bickering that ended up lasting longer than one would expect. But they were both on more friendly terms than when they first set out from the Mortal Lands and after awhile, they got tired of the "Yes you did, no I didn't" argument that everyone has at least once in their life. So they went in search of Galadriel.
Legolas, having been there once before, led the way. But it didn't take them long before they were stopped once again by a Lorien Elf.
"Legolas! There you are. I have been looking for you." Haldir stated, putting his hand on Legolas' shoulder.
"Haldir! We meet again." Legolas replied.
"I have been sent by Lady Galadriel to show you to your rooms. Follow me, I'm sure you will be quite comfortable here." He said, leading them down a path to a great tree. After speaking something in Elvish, a ladder dropped down and Haldir and Legolas began to climb up. But Lorelein stood and looked up for a moment at the large house (or at least she thought it was a house) above her. She had no recollection of ever living in a tree but she decided to follow anyway. Climbing up didn't take her long and Haldir led them both to their own personal room. They were both elegant and simple but the beauty of the rooms were no less than that of the forest itself. Candles lay beside great beds covered with white sheets and feather pillows. The design on each bed was that of a great tree. On the tree, vines hugged it's trunk and limbs and leaves blanketed the branches. Vases filled with colorful flowers were set on both a table and dresser giving out a fragrance so strong and sweet you could almost taste it.
Lorelein said thank you and good night to both Haldir and Legolas and sprawled out on the bed. Grabbing a pillow she hugged it to her chest and closed her eyes. She smiled after thinking about the evening. As she drifted off to sleep she thought to herself that maybe Legolas wasn't all that bad. And for the first time in her life, she went to sleep looking forward to whatever lay prepared for her the next day.
*Elves are immortal but can die by being slain or from a broken heart.