Entry the Eleventh – Mirkwood Palace

I awoke this morning to find Candace by my bedside. We had re-aquatinted ourselves with each other over the past few weeks, but she had never been this familiar towards me.

"Candace…" I began

"Have you reached a decision?" she asked

"I have. This is home, and it has been since the day I arrived." I replied confidently. Candace smiled warmly.

"Then I want you to look at every single room in this palace, and return to me in a few days when you have come upon one you feel immediately at home in." She said. "As a friend of the Queen, you may come and go at your leisure… I really want you to be happy here with me. It has been many a long year since I have had company."

I rose, dressed, and I began to walk. I came upon many rooms, as diverse in their semblance as they were numerous, but I found none which felt like home.

At last, I came upon the perfect room. At first glance, I knew I was home! A heavy oak door opened to reveal a modest sized chamber patterned in shades of green. A dark mahogany dresser and nightstand provided a beautiful contrast. Double glass doors opened out onto a keyhole shaped balcony with wrought iron railings and a simply breathtaking view of the forest beyond. Inside, the four-post bed had a lush canopy and covers embroidered with an enchantingly simple ivy leaf pattern. I flopped down onto the bed and cried out in surprise. I was laying upon what felt like a giant bead of rain. I got up, looked down at my feet and smiled down upon the oak floor. I had to tell Candace!

I ran down the hallway towards the throne room, and I stopped at the door, unsure if I should knock or not. At that moment, another elf approached. He looked like a pampered palace brat, covered in the finest clothes and looking down his nose upon everyone. Nevertheless, his presence was intimidating to me, and I found myself shrinking against the door.

"What do you want?" he asked huffily

"To talk to Candace, if she's not busy." I replied, keeping my neck straight and my tone polite

"She has no business with the commoners." He said. My eyes flashed with anger at his arrogance.

"I am no commoner, Legolas! I am her majesty's friend, and I have information which she requested I bring to her personally." Amazingly, I kept from shouting.

"Her majesty does not befriend those who fraternize with orcs. You may be able to fool the others, but I can see you for who and what you truly are!" His words stung like a caustic acid splashed upon my skin, eating its way down to my very soul. How could he possibly know? I felt a flood of warm tears well up in my eyes. I turned and ran, not knowing where I should go.

I don't know just how long I fled, but eventually I found myself in a garden. It was beautiful as everything else here, and it made me feel somewhat better. Despite what the prince had said, the trees and vines cared for me. I could almost sense the flowers smiling at me, as if they knew some pleasant secret which I did not. Unable to take their word for it, I couldn't smile back. I slumped down beside a flowering arch of roses, letting out a long unhappy sigh. I listened to the chirping of the birds and the gentle plinking of water from the fountain behind me.

Presently, the sound of approaching footsteps drew me out of my trance. It was Narwain. My mind relaxed and my heart was glad to see a friendly face. He drew nearer and I hurriedly wiped the tears from my face, but it was too late: he saw them.

"Memoria, what's the matter?" He asked, surprised. Then I told him what the prince had said.

"Nevermind that pompous numskull. He knows nothing but luxury and blind obedience, and resents anything else." He replied, with a laugh. Then he looked at me again, and his expression grew serious.

"You can trust me, Memoria." He whispered. I knew his words to be true. He was the only one besides the Queen who had reached out to me here. I knew I was impatient by elven standards, but how long would it take for them to notice me?

"Do you know what I was before you found me?" I asked quietly

"I know not, nor do I care what you were, for I know what you are, and you are beautiful both inside and out."

"You wouldn't say that if you knew" I felt my tears begin again and I knew it was time to tell him the whole story, start to finish. He listened silently, as I poured out my heart to him. I told him my memory began almost a year ago in Lothlorien, how the Lady and Lord of the woods gave me my name. I told him about how I met Candace, of our separation, and about the orcs. I kept secret that final night I spent in the woods with Magar, but my silence could not stop my thoughts, or my tears. I told about my escape, and when I had finished all I had to say, he simply looked back at me with those soft blue eyes. Presently, he smiled.

"What?" I asked defensively.

"There. Was that so terrible?" He asked, still smiling at me. My tension dissolved in a laugh. His face remained unchanged in its quiet, calm, knowing smile.

"Now, you were looking for Candace?" he asked.

"Yes." I replied.

"Well, then let's go find her."