***
It was Midsummer Night, and much feasting, dancing and general merrymaking was going on. Kathryn, however, did not join with them, finding nothing to laugh about. Instead she sat alone in a corner, brooding in dark solitude. Light came to her in a strange form.
"May I have the pleasure of dancing with you, vána hirin?" A musical tenor asked. She looked up. It was Legolas. She was surprised she recognised him, because before she had looked on him as some kind of monster. The first things she noticed about him were his eyes; they were green and sparkled with life and merriment. He had long blonde hair; some of it braided in some foreign elvish style. He was taller than she, lithe yet muscular, his arms toned from archery. Noticing her appraisal, he smiled a charming smile and whisked her into the middle of the dance floor.
"How is your shoulder?" Legolas whispered in her ear.
"Healing, but I'm not allowed to fight for a while."
"Ah - so no challenges tonight, then?" His green eyes twinkled. Kathryn was tired of arguments.
"Yes, it's your lucky day Legolas. What brings you to Rivendell?"
"I came to meet Estel, Elrohir and Elladan, I need council on the defences of Mirkwood. I know I should not of speak of such things tonight but a shadow is rising from the South." He was troubled. "Trees and animals alike whisper of a nameless fear. Darkness is creeping back into the forests of the world. Some event has drawn them out of their foul hiding holes." He almost spat in disgust but somehow still managed to keep the dance's rhythm. "So my father is in need in advice of defence." He looked intently into her eyes and Kathryn became aware of how close he was. Her lips seem to quiver. She turned her face away, looking over his shoulder, to the pillars marking the outside. They danced, not speaking, to the music of harmonious elvish instruments. Suddenly she saw Estel, watching her in the shadows, frowning.
When the music ended, Kathryn turned to go, but Legolas grasped her wrist. "Stay and dance!" He beseeched her.
Laughing, Kathryn declined, "Law, Legolas (No Legolas)! You're such a charmer, but I'm sure you will have another lady up your sleeve! Have fun!" Legolas grinned and turned to a fawning elven maiden with brown ringlets and spun her, giggling, onto the dance floor.
Kathryn walked quickly over to where Estel had been. Only shadows remained. Stepping out beyond the columns, to outside, her eyes roved the darkness. Hitching up her red dress, she walked further out. Someone slouched against the dark bark of a tree, singing softly to himself.
"Ai tirin nin vinya mellon, astaldo, (Alas I watch over my young friend, bravely) Ú si rya randir nin ostello, (But now she wanders from my protection) A im ywalmesse." (And I am in torment)
Sighing, he pulled his hood further over his face and sang on the lament.
"Ar si dolen-essë úfanin, (And now a hidden name has been unveiled) Nelden nin umbar a hilarma, (I know my destiny and heritage) Ú dénien an nin egla mellon." (But lament for my forsaken friend)
Kathryn left him and softly crept back inside. She had decided. She could not stay in this place anymore.
It was barely dawn, first light illuminated the lingering mist with a cold light. Everything was grey, and Kathryn looked out onto the dreamland, not believing. She packed silently and dressed quietly in dark green. She pulled the laces of her corset tight, every jerk trying to bring her to the realisation that she was leaving, to wander the lonely roads of darkness and light. Everything was grey. Now she polished her sword, rounding the dull grey to a sharp sheen. With a faint smile she ran her fingers along its blade, feeling the engraved elven characters that flowed along its slight curve to the tip, etched also into her mind:
"O imiûl echan gildin, I gelenas o nórui yrn, Im Lassiûl."
(From amidst the embers, Awakens a spark, The leaf of burning trees. Emberleaf am I.)
Her hand encircled the familiar grip of the hilt that was carved to the likeness of vines. In the centre a ruby was set, surrounded by a ring of emeralds. It had been a gift from her father, before he rode off to his last battle. With that gift came the words, "You have earned it, my daughter. Remember always, a blade must be hard enough to sharply cut, but soft enough not to break. Do not become too hard, dear Kathryn, do not become too hard." She did not see him again.
Knocking on the door hoisted her out of her memories. "May I come in?" Elrond's voice sounded through the door. Startled Kathryn got up and let him in. "So you plan to go." Elrond said sadly, searching her eyes. "I will not hold you back. And Estel will not find out until tomorrow's morn. Andelu i ven (the road is dangerous). Rivendell will miss you, even though your stay was short. I will miss you."
Kathryn hugged him. "I will miss you." She drew back, and sheathed her sword in a nondescript leather scabbard.
"Enninath pella le aen. Nathlye bell dúnien ir tollye ad le (Long years are ahead of you. You will be a strong woman when you return)." Elrond gave her an encouraging smile, then spoke in archaic Quenya, "Nai tiruvantel ar varyuvantel i Valar tielyanna nu vilya (May the Valar protect you on your path under the sky)." With that, he left.
Kathryn tied up her saddlebags and slung them over her shoulders, and slid her sword to hang by her hip with her dagger. Snatching her cloak, she left her room, before morning began. She did not return for twenty years.
It was Midsummer Night, and much feasting, dancing and general merrymaking was going on. Kathryn, however, did not join with them, finding nothing to laugh about. Instead she sat alone in a corner, brooding in dark solitude. Light came to her in a strange form.
"May I have the pleasure of dancing with you, vána hirin?" A musical tenor asked. She looked up. It was Legolas. She was surprised she recognised him, because before she had looked on him as some kind of monster. The first things she noticed about him were his eyes; they were green and sparkled with life and merriment. He had long blonde hair; some of it braided in some foreign elvish style. He was taller than she, lithe yet muscular, his arms toned from archery. Noticing her appraisal, he smiled a charming smile and whisked her into the middle of the dance floor.
"How is your shoulder?" Legolas whispered in her ear.
"Healing, but I'm not allowed to fight for a while."
"Ah - so no challenges tonight, then?" His green eyes twinkled. Kathryn was tired of arguments.
"Yes, it's your lucky day Legolas. What brings you to Rivendell?"
"I came to meet Estel, Elrohir and Elladan, I need council on the defences of Mirkwood. I know I should not of speak of such things tonight but a shadow is rising from the South." He was troubled. "Trees and animals alike whisper of a nameless fear. Darkness is creeping back into the forests of the world. Some event has drawn them out of their foul hiding holes." He almost spat in disgust but somehow still managed to keep the dance's rhythm. "So my father is in need in advice of defence." He looked intently into her eyes and Kathryn became aware of how close he was. Her lips seem to quiver. She turned her face away, looking over his shoulder, to the pillars marking the outside. They danced, not speaking, to the music of harmonious elvish instruments. Suddenly she saw Estel, watching her in the shadows, frowning.
When the music ended, Kathryn turned to go, but Legolas grasped her wrist. "Stay and dance!" He beseeched her.
Laughing, Kathryn declined, "Law, Legolas (No Legolas)! You're such a charmer, but I'm sure you will have another lady up your sleeve! Have fun!" Legolas grinned and turned to a fawning elven maiden with brown ringlets and spun her, giggling, onto the dance floor.
Kathryn walked quickly over to where Estel had been. Only shadows remained. Stepping out beyond the columns, to outside, her eyes roved the darkness. Hitching up her red dress, she walked further out. Someone slouched against the dark bark of a tree, singing softly to himself.
"Ai tirin nin vinya mellon, astaldo, (Alas I watch over my young friend, bravely) Ú si rya randir nin ostello, (But now she wanders from my protection) A im ywalmesse." (And I am in torment)
Sighing, he pulled his hood further over his face and sang on the lament.
"Ar si dolen-essë úfanin, (And now a hidden name has been unveiled) Nelden nin umbar a hilarma, (I know my destiny and heritage) Ú dénien an nin egla mellon." (But lament for my forsaken friend)
Kathryn left him and softly crept back inside. She had decided. She could not stay in this place anymore.
It was barely dawn, first light illuminated the lingering mist with a cold light. Everything was grey, and Kathryn looked out onto the dreamland, not believing. She packed silently and dressed quietly in dark green. She pulled the laces of her corset tight, every jerk trying to bring her to the realisation that she was leaving, to wander the lonely roads of darkness and light. Everything was grey. Now she polished her sword, rounding the dull grey to a sharp sheen. With a faint smile she ran her fingers along its blade, feeling the engraved elven characters that flowed along its slight curve to the tip, etched also into her mind:
"O imiûl echan gildin, I gelenas o nórui yrn, Im Lassiûl."
(From amidst the embers, Awakens a spark, The leaf of burning trees. Emberleaf am I.)
Her hand encircled the familiar grip of the hilt that was carved to the likeness of vines. In the centre a ruby was set, surrounded by a ring of emeralds. It had been a gift from her father, before he rode off to his last battle. With that gift came the words, "You have earned it, my daughter. Remember always, a blade must be hard enough to sharply cut, but soft enough not to break. Do not become too hard, dear Kathryn, do not become too hard." She did not see him again.
Knocking on the door hoisted her out of her memories. "May I come in?" Elrond's voice sounded through the door. Startled Kathryn got up and let him in. "So you plan to go." Elrond said sadly, searching her eyes. "I will not hold you back. And Estel will not find out until tomorrow's morn. Andelu i ven (the road is dangerous). Rivendell will miss you, even though your stay was short. I will miss you."
Kathryn hugged him. "I will miss you." She drew back, and sheathed her sword in a nondescript leather scabbard.
"Enninath pella le aen. Nathlye bell dúnien ir tollye ad le (Long years are ahead of you. You will be a strong woman when you return)." Elrond gave her an encouraging smile, then spoke in archaic Quenya, "Nai tiruvantel ar varyuvantel i Valar tielyanna nu vilya (May the Valar protect you on your path under the sky)." With that, he left.
Kathryn tied up her saddlebags and slung them over her shoulders, and slid her sword to hang by her hip with her dagger. Snatching her cloak, she left her room, before morning began. She did not return for twenty years.