My Burden
By Elven Warrior
Disclaimer: I own nothing other than the plot, perhaps. The characters are not mine, save for the ones that I have created.
Chapter Six
Homecoming
They had stopped their horses once they reached the forest. From where she sat, mounted upon her horse, Laidacilien could see that the path they had been travelling on wound in through the trees. The trees were truly beautiful. Laidacilien sat in awe at the site before her. The sunlight filtered gently through the leaves, and the rays illuminated the forest floor.
Calenhad moved his horse forward onto the path. He was a few yards ahead of the girl when he realized she wasn't following. He turned his horse around and looked at her for a moment before he spoke. "Are you coming, or do you plan on staying there all day?"
She looked back at the man and then shook her head, as if coming back into reality. "My most sincere apologies, Calenhad. It is just that. this place."
"The forest has a mysterious power all of it's own, my Lady. You need not apologize, for I have found myself staring silently into the mighty woods of my homeland," he said.
She could not help but smile at him. She nudged her horse forward, so that she was once again riding up next to the man. She rose silently next to him for several moments before she spoke again. "You really do surprise me," she said, looking at him.
Calenhad smirked at her sudden statement. "Might I ask how so, my Lady?" he asked.
"You aren't at all the person I thought you were, when we first met."
"Well, the circumstances under which we first met would not leave room for a good impression, I do not think. You will learn more and more each day that you cannot always judge a person at first sight," he said.
Laidacilien nodded at his words and they continued to ride in silence for the rest of their journey. Within a few hours time they could see the Gates into Mirkwood ahead of them. Calenhad has picked up his horses pace considerably, as though he were anxious to get home as soon as possible. Laidacilien's heart began to pound inside of her. 'I hope I can do this.' she thought to herself.
"Of course you can," said Calenhad, smirking. He had been listening to her thoughts. She knew Elves possessed the ability to do that, but it took a considerable amount of concentration, and Laidacilien had not yet mastered the art.
"You are going to have to teach me how to do that. It isn't fair that you should be able to barge into my mind whenever you feel like it, and for me not to be able to do the same to you in return," she said.
"Perhaps I will, but I think there is another who has a better right to do so," he said.
"I imagine you are referring to the man that I am going to wed?" she asked, wanting to know the meaning of his words.
"The man that you *may * be wed to."
"Do you think that it will happen?" she asked.
He slowed his horse a bit and he had a serious look on his face. She could tell he was deep in his own thoughts, so she took the opportunity to catch up with him and to wait for his response.
Calenhad was hoping that, yes, it would happen, but he wanted to make sure he gave her an honest answer. Finally he spoke. "I do. I honestly do. I have a feeling there may be a few rocks on the road ahead, as far as you and m Lord are concerned, but I feel that all will be well," he said, honestly.
"Thank you," she said as she looked at him. She admired him, to an extent. He was honest, he spoke his mind. He did not fear to speak what he thought. Since the day she was born people had told lie and lie again to protect her. She appreciated their concern, but she wanted the truth.
"You are very welcome. I doubt you will have to ask for the truth often, for my people, and my Lord are honest folk, and cannot abide in lies and deception," he said.
At those words she relaxed. Calenhad's faith in his Lord was unbelievable to her. "Look! Ahead are the gates. I am sure that once we reach the gates you will be welcomes warmly. I can also promise you a warm welcome when we reach the Palace. There shall be a great banquet in your honor, and to celebrate your homecoming. There will you meet the Prince of Mirkwood for the first time."
Disclaimer: I own nothing other than the plot, perhaps. The characters are not mine, save for the ones that I have created.
Chapter Six
Homecoming
They had stopped their horses once they reached the forest. From where she sat, mounted upon her horse, Laidacilien could see that the path they had been travelling on wound in through the trees. The trees were truly beautiful. Laidacilien sat in awe at the site before her. The sunlight filtered gently through the leaves, and the rays illuminated the forest floor.
Calenhad moved his horse forward onto the path. He was a few yards ahead of the girl when he realized she wasn't following. He turned his horse around and looked at her for a moment before he spoke. "Are you coming, or do you plan on staying there all day?"
She looked back at the man and then shook her head, as if coming back into reality. "My most sincere apologies, Calenhad. It is just that. this place."
"The forest has a mysterious power all of it's own, my Lady. You need not apologize, for I have found myself staring silently into the mighty woods of my homeland," he said.
She could not help but smile at him. She nudged her horse forward, so that she was once again riding up next to the man. She rose silently next to him for several moments before she spoke again. "You really do surprise me," she said, looking at him.
Calenhad smirked at her sudden statement. "Might I ask how so, my Lady?" he asked.
"You aren't at all the person I thought you were, when we first met."
"Well, the circumstances under which we first met would not leave room for a good impression, I do not think. You will learn more and more each day that you cannot always judge a person at first sight," he said.
Laidacilien nodded at his words and they continued to ride in silence for the rest of their journey. Within a few hours time they could see the Gates into Mirkwood ahead of them. Calenhad has picked up his horses pace considerably, as though he were anxious to get home as soon as possible. Laidacilien's heart began to pound inside of her. 'I hope I can do this.' she thought to herself.
"Of course you can," said Calenhad, smirking. He had been listening to her thoughts. She knew Elves possessed the ability to do that, but it took a considerable amount of concentration, and Laidacilien had not yet mastered the art.
"You are going to have to teach me how to do that. It isn't fair that you should be able to barge into my mind whenever you feel like it, and for me not to be able to do the same to you in return," she said.
"Perhaps I will, but I think there is another who has a better right to do so," he said.
"I imagine you are referring to the man that I am going to wed?" she asked, wanting to know the meaning of his words.
"The man that you *may * be wed to."
"Do you think that it will happen?" she asked.
He slowed his horse a bit and he had a serious look on his face. She could tell he was deep in his own thoughts, so she took the opportunity to catch up with him and to wait for his response.
Calenhad was hoping that, yes, it would happen, but he wanted to make sure he gave her an honest answer. Finally he spoke. "I do. I honestly do. I have a feeling there may be a few rocks on the road ahead, as far as you and m Lord are concerned, but I feel that all will be well," he said, honestly.
"Thank you," she said as she looked at him. She admired him, to an extent. He was honest, he spoke his mind. He did not fear to speak what he thought. Since the day she was born people had told lie and lie again to protect her. She appreciated their concern, but she wanted the truth.
"You are very welcome. I doubt you will have to ask for the truth often, for my people, and my Lord are honest folk, and cannot abide in lies and deception," he said.
At those words she relaxed. Calenhad's faith in his Lord was unbelievable to her. "Look! Ahead are the gates. I am sure that once we reach the gates you will be welcomes warmly. I can also promise you a warm welcome when we reach the Palace. There shall be a great banquet in your honor, and to celebrate your homecoming. There will you meet the Prince of Mirkwood for the first time."