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 Seven
Welcoming
The two travelling companions made their way closer to the gate. Laidacilien's heart began to pound faster and faster with every step her horse took forward. She could tell that, once again, Calenhad had noticed her anxiety, but was going to let her deal with it in her own way. She could also tell his heart beat faster, but not the same way hers did.
They had finally reached the gate, and Laidacilien noticed there were two guards standing there, weapons at their sides. They looked exactly like Calenhad, but then again, most elves looked the same. The guards drew their swords and stood in the center of the gate. "Halt! Who goes there, and what business have you coming to Mirkwood?"
Calenhad lowered the hood on his cloak, which he must have put back up without her noticing. "My, my, brothers! Do you not know your eldest brother, Calenhad, when you see him?" he said with a playful tone.
"Well, I'll be! We weren't expecting you to be back so soon, were we, Nardol?" said the one elf. This really did explain why they looked so much alike.
The other brother, Nardol, walked forward to Calenhad's horse and patted him on the back. "No, we weren't expecting you to return until maybe, later in the week. This sure is a surprise, isn't it, Erelas?" asked Nardol.
Erelas smiled, happy to see his brother. "It is, but now I have another question. You never told us the reason for why you left, and now you bring someone back with you? " he asked.
"Oh, yes. You have not been formally introduced. This, my brothers, is the Fair Lady Laidacilien."
Laidacilien looked at Erelas and Nardol and smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you both. Your brother was kind enough to see me safely into Mirkwood. I can see that you three are very much alike, and I do now doubt that you are faithful to your people through your duties as gatekeepers," she said.
The two younger elves beamed at her compliments towards them, and bowed low in front of her with broad smiles upon their faces. She could not help but laugh quietly at them. She had begun to calm down from when they had first reached the gates. "Thank you fair lady," said Erelas as he and his brother rose from their bows.
"Now, if you would be so kind as to open the gates and let us through, we shall be on your way," said Calenhad. He was glad to see his brothers, but he had a job to do, and he wanted to get Laidacilien to the palace as soon as possible.
"Of course! What good would it do you to return so speedily if you are meant to sit outside the gates? How foolish of us. Please forgive us for keeping you waiting," said Nardol, as he and his brother began to open the gates.
"Thank you, Erelas and Nardol, for your kindness," said Laidacilien as she and Calenhad moved through the gates.
"You are very welcome fair lady! Any time you wish to pass through the gates we will be sure to open them for you with a smile and a gladdened heart!" said Erelas. The gates began to close behind them and the two were once again on their way.
"They were nice. You should be glad to have such kind brothers."
"If only they acted like that when they weren't around a pretty lady, but all the time," said Calenhad, that familiar smirk of his returning to his lips.
They took their horses down the small roads inside Mirkwood. Just as She had remembered there being when she was younger, upon her visits, the streets had many people moving about and the small markets on the sides, crowded with people.
She rode without speaking for several minutes, too busy looking around at all the Elves, and all the other creatures that wandered about. The times had changed, and the War of the Ring was over. There were more people other than elves in Mirkwood these days.
Men and Dwarves came to visit the mighty forest, and some had even started residing there. The Dwarves didn't always get along with the Elves, but some say that the friendship that grew between the Prince and a Dwarf that joined the Fellowship of the Ring had something to do with it.
Laidacilien sighed and looked at the sky. "I am so nervous right now, I think I might be sick. I hope you were right, Calenhad. I really do," she said.
Calenhad smiled and reached over and patted her shoulder. "Fear not, my fair lady! We are already here!" he said. They slowed their horses as the rose up in front of the Palace. The place was huge, and Laidacilien gasped in amazement.
"It's bigger than you thought, is it? I wouldn't worry. Soon enough you will know every room, hallway, and passage there is in this place. You will have plenty of time to explore your new home."
Disclaimer: I own nothing other than the plot, perhaps. The characters are not mine, save for the ones that I have created.
Chapter Seven
Welcoming
The two travelling companions made their way closer to the gate. Laidacilien's heart began to pound faster and faster with every step her horse took forward. She could tell that, once again, Calenhad had noticed her anxiety, but was going to let her deal with it in her own way. She could also tell his heart beat faster, but not the same way hers did.
They had finally reached the gate, and Laidacilien noticed there were two guards standing there, weapons at their sides. They looked exactly like Calenhad, but then again, most elves looked the same. The guards drew their swords and stood in the center of the gate. "Halt! Who goes there, and what business have you coming to Mirkwood?"
Calenhad lowered the hood on his cloak, which he must have put back up without her noticing. "My, my, brothers! Do you not know your eldest brother, Calenhad, when you see him?" he said with a playful tone.
"Well, I'll be! We weren't expecting you to be back so soon, were we, Nardol?" said the one elf. This really did explain why they looked so much alike.
The other brother, Nardol, walked forward to Calenhad's horse and patted him on the back. "No, we weren't expecting you to return until maybe, later in the week. This sure is a surprise, isn't it, Erelas?" asked Nardol.
Erelas smiled, happy to see his brother. "It is, but now I have another question. You never told us the reason for why you left, and now you bring someone back with you? " he asked.
"Oh, yes. You have not been formally introduced. This, my brothers, is the Fair Lady Laidacilien."
Laidacilien looked at Erelas and Nardol and smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you both. Your brother was kind enough to see me safely into Mirkwood. I can see that you three are very much alike, and I do now doubt that you are faithful to your people through your duties as gatekeepers," she said.
The two younger elves beamed at her compliments towards them, and bowed low in front of her with broad smiles upon their faces. She could not help but laugh quietly at them. She had begun to calm down from when they had first reached the gates. "Thank you fair lady," said Erelas as he and his brother rose from their bows.
"Now, if you would be so kind as to open the gates and let us through, we shall be on your way," said Calenhad. He was glad to see his brothers, but he had a job to do, and he wanted to get Laidacilien to the palace as soon as possible.
"Of course! What good would it do you to return so speedily if you are meant to sit outside the gates? How foolish of us. Please forgive us for keeping you waiting," said Nardol, as he and his brother began to open the gates.
"Thank you, Erelas and Nardol, for your kindness," said Laidacilien as she and Calenhad moved through the gates.
"You are very welcome fair lady! Any time you wish to pass through the gates we will be sure to open them for you with a smile and a gladdened heart!" said Erelas. The gates began to close behind them and the two were once again on their way.
"They were nice. You should be glad to have such kind brothers."
"If only they acted like that when they weren't around a pretty lady, but all the time," said Calenhad, that familiar smirk of his returning to his lips.
They took their horses down the small roads inside Mirkwood. Just as She had remembered there being when she was younger, upon her visits, the streets had many people moving about and the small markets on the sides, crowded with people.
She rode without speaking for several minutes, too busy looking around at all the Elves, and all the other creatures that wandered about. The times had changed, and the War of the Ring was over. There were more people other than elves in Mirkwood these days.
Men and Dwarves came to visit the mighty forest, and some had even started residing there. The Dwarves didn't always get along with the Elves, but some say that the friendship that grew between the Prince and a Dwarf that joined the Fellowship of the Ring had something to do with it.
Laidacilien sighed and looked at the sky. "I am so nervous right now, I think I might be sick. I hope you were right, Calenhad. I really do," she said.
Calenhad smiled and reached over and patted her shoulder. "Fear not, my fair lady! We are already here!" he said. They slowed their horses as the rose up in front of the Palace. The place was huge, and Laidacilien gasped in amazement.
"It's bigger than you thought, is it? I wouldn't worry. Soon enough you will know every room, hallway, and passage there is in this place. You will have plenty of time to explore your new home."