Intro:
This little piece of imagination takes place before the War of the Ring, starting about a year before Legolas the elf sets out for Rivendell and joins the Fellowship. Therefore, the only characters in this Part I of the story that are actually in the works of Tolkien are Legolas, Aragorn and Thranduil, King of Mirkwood. I pulled out as many resources as I could find on the time before the War of the Ring, especially the events leading up to it in the realm of Mirkwood as that is where the beginning of this story is based, but I couldn't find too much and much of what I've written is my own. Don't judge me too harshly :)
Disclaimer:
Lord of the Rings is not mine; it's characters are not mine.
PART I - Mirkwood
Chapter 1 - Hellbringer
**
Ethuil
April 10 III 3017
It has begun. That which will doom us for sure. That which will bring destruction and hell raining down from the heavens; droves of orcs and demons to overrun us; the fall of the great name of 'Rivermoon'. One word to explain it all, one name to destroy us all: Vellesta.
Need I say more?
Today, she drove the Lady Helena to tears; causing frightful squeals of panic to echo throughout the entire palace. Even King Thranduil heard the terrible screeching of Lady Helena at the mercy of Vellesta, as he conversed with his Lords in the Great Hall. Vella told Lady Helena a gruesome, terrible story; a story which, I am sure, included a numerous number of orcs and impossible feats of hideous torture. Instantly concocted on the spot of course. I could hear Vell's rising voice as she reached the climax of her dark tale, followed by the Lady's wails of fear and panic as Vella added the final touches to her masterpiece of terrible imagination.
Lady Helena ran from our quarters in tears; Father strode in with King Thranduil on his heels, their swords drawn, demanding to know who was being tormented and by whom. The whole palace was up in arms and do you know what Vella did when faced with the accusations of terrorizing and causing a public disturbance? She stood there and laughed. Laughed! Father was so angry, he shook and turned an unhealthy shade of deep purple. But with King Thranduil there, Father couldn't' do much, so they marched out again, their swords resheathed.. All the while, everyone was glaring at poor Vella, though she seemed unconcerned by the furious glances thrown her way. That's Vellesta for you; my dear sister whom I sometimes hate with a passion, bringer of doom for us all.
The worst thing is, this has been the third time in as many months that Vella has crept up on fragile ladies and caused all pandemonium to break out through all of Mirkwood! Twice, Father had to make public apologies while the Ladies themselves were fanned and subject to sedation. The third time, Vella had cut off the hair of Lady Halis, sneaking up unawares on the sleeping victim and with a 'snip!', sent the dark chestnut curl tumbling to the ground. When Lady Halis awoke, there were screams to be heard through all of Middle-earth. Vella was sent to her chambers for a week for that stunt, which she claimed, was worth the entire week and the whole month of kitchen work as well.
When I saw Father later, he was brooding; a bad sign. When Father is angry, he turns different shades; when he is frustrated, he sputters and cannot seem to speak; when he is planning, he broods.
I fear for Vellesta, my sister. I fear for her well-being and her reputation which, I hear, has spread far throughout Mirkwood as "the hell-bringer". Ladies use her as an example to scare children into obedience: "Now now, my daughter, you must mind your manners lest you turn out like that dreadful Lady Vellesta Rivermoon!". I have tried everything in the hopes that she will change her ways. I have tried bribery and threats; I have even begged, asking her to change for me, her little sister whom she must set the example for. To everything, Vell just laughs and then promises to mind herself, for a time. And then it all happens again and Father is pushed just a little bit further. I fear Father has not much more room for Vella's antics.
Until then,
Avaranthe
**
Avaranthe Rivermoon, of Mirkwood Forest, closed the clasp of the gold-gilded diary and thought for a few moments as she tapped her fingers against the wooded writing desk. She gazed outside at the golden sun that shone upon the tall trees that made up the forest of Mirkwood but felt none of its shining glory. In the chamber next to hers, she could hear her sister throwing books against the walls. Vellesta was at it again. Since that morning, when she'd been condemned to her chambers for tormenting Lady Helena, Vella (as those who knew her well called her) had been ripping pages out of texts and throwing books against the wall as an outright burst of defiance.
Avaranthe stood and walked to the opposite wall, pressing her ear against its cool surface as the ripping and banging ceased for a few moments. She grimaced, wondering if one particular text was still intact and hoping that it was.
"Vell?" She called, her voice sounding unnaturally loud in the empty suddenly-quiet room. "Vella?"
*thud*. Ava jumped back as more books came hurling in her direction. She winced as she thought of the ancient texts that Father had ordered Vella to translate in a hopes of calming her, being ravaged and torn apart by the terrible Vell.
"Vella!" She yelled at the opposite wall, standing a good distance away from it. "You can't keep this up, you know! Father is going to come back and he's going to have a fit!"
There was a silence, and then an angry Vellesta Rivermoon appeared in the doorway, her dark hair coming out of its circlet and flying every which way. Her cheeks were red and her eyes glinted with a dangerous light.
"For one thing," Vella advanced menacingly towards her younger sister, "I don't give a damn about what Father does. He can blow a hole for all I care! And another," Her green eyes narrowed and she suddenly pursed her lips, studying Ava up and down. "Shouldn't you be having a nap or something, baby sister?"
Ava gritted her teeth. She should've known this would be all the thanks she'd be getting; of course Vella would resort to the lowest of the low. Their age difference, pulling older sister superiority, now of all times.
"Ugh!" She seethed with frustration, annoyance and anger. "For one thing, Vellesta," she spoke the name with as much distaste as she could manage. "I am only four hundred eighty-seven years younger than you! For another, you can be sent to Mordor for all I care!"
"Then bugger off!" Vella shouted, whirling around and slamming the door back towards her own chamber. Ava was quicker though and scooted into the room and perceived the damage done to the ancient texts full of elven-lore.
"Oh lord.." She said, taken-back despite the pleasure she knew that Vella would take in her horror. Feeling anger bubbling up once more, she turned on Vella. "Look at this! The whole of Mirkwood is going to be at our door for this!" She gesticulated wildly.
Ancient texts lay around the room in broken heaps, pages still fluttering to the floor. Pieces of parchment littered the room like snow and broken binding and covers bent every which way. That Father would blow a hole through the roof was not even exaggerating; Ava wouldn't be surprised if Father took to strangling his own daughter.
"Why do you have to be like this?!" She demanded. "Why can't you be normal, like everyone else!"
"Hmphf." The expression on Vella's face spoke of her thoughts on 'normal'.
Ava picked her way through the shattered pages and texts and finally found what she had been looking for. An ancient book filled with elven-writing of the Second Age; a text that contained not only Elven records but also human text. The world of humans and fascinated Avaranthe; she took every opportunity to hear any and all news about them. To her sheltered life, the race of humans seemed exciting and passionate compared to the long-lived, peaceful elves. They always seemed to be getting themselves into one battle or another, overthrowing one king or another. Ava cradled the book which she'd thought would be lost for sure if kept much longer in the vicinity of Vella.
"Don't you know," Ava spoke quietly, "that each time you throw a tantrum, our family's good name is tarnished even more. You're a lady, Vell, but you act like a fifty-year old child. Do you not hear the rumours that circulate? Do you not wish to be wed, to lead a life?"
"I wish to be left alone." Vella said, nodding towards the door. Ava rolled her eyes.
"It's your life, Vell." She started to head towards the door, ever intention to leave, until Vella leapt at her from behind, grabbing a fistful of Ava's pale hair. "Owww!!" Ava shouted, dropping the text for a moment to massage her wounded scalp. Keeping one hand on her sister's hair, Vella picked up the text that Ava had tried to smuggle away.
"What's this? A human text?"
"Shut up! Give it back!" Ava swung her hands in an awkward attempt to grab the book. Vella's hand on her head prevented her from going anywhere; Vella was freakishly strong for her slender frame.
"Human pictures?" Vella began skimming through the pages, noticing creased corners and folded pages. "What is this, baby sister, a fascination with the humans?"
"Give it back!" Ava lunged at her sister, throwing her full weight onto Vella.
"Umphf."
They both landed on the floor, Ava on top, while each grappled the other. Vella still had her hold on Ava's long hair, which unbound, trailed down past her waist. She pulled, hard, causing Ava to shriek out in pain. In return, Ava began to push Vella's head, her hand lodged up underneath the older's chin. They remained lock in position, each unable to move lest the other recoil. Vella's legs flailed every which way while her other arm pushed and pinched, trying in vain to get the smaller body off hers.
"Owwww! Goddamn!" Ava shouted as Vella got her in the eye. For that, she pushed extra hard, causing Vella to cry out in pain.
"You like humans! You like humans! You want to marry a human!" Vella cried out in glee, laughing and choking until tears trailed down her cheeks.
"Shut up shut up!" Ava said, pinching harder. Vella laughed, while Ava suddenly wanted nothing more than to be rid of the horrible person whom she had to call a sister.
"What will it be next, baby sister, maybe dwarves?"
"Argh!"
In their fighting and shouting, they didn't notice the stranger leaning against the door, watching in amusement.
"Ahem."
The sisters froze. Vella glanced at the stranger, then grinned. Ava turned, her eyes widening in horror that she should be caught doing something as immature as fighting with her sister. She turned two shades of red, then leapt off Vella and grabbed her text. Vella sat up, brushing her skirts and grinning as if nothing had just happened. Ava shot one more nasty glance at Vella, vowed to hate her forever, then turn on her heel. At the doorway, she paused for a moment.
"She's horrible!" She whispered earnestly at the stranger, then slammed the door and retreated into her own room. The 'stranger' turned to the older sister and tried to keep a straight face.
"Was that any way for a lady of your rank to act?" He asked sternly. He glared in what he hoped to be a furious manner, though inside, he was laughing dry tears.
"Lady?" Vella glanced around the room, her eyes in open amazement. "Where's the lady, pray tell, for I must meet her!"
They glanced at each other for a moment, an exchange of wills, then both burst out in laughter. Vella stood up and straightened her hair, then fell back onto her bed and stared at the ceiling. Next to her, the stranger also fell and they both studied the ceiling side by side as if having seen it for the first time. They began counting the tiles: a tradition long set.
"I count two hundred and forty-three."
"Two hundred and fifty!" The stranger rose up indignantly.
"Are you questioning my mathematical ability?"
"Of course not." He lay back down, grinning. They were silent for a few moments, then Vella sat up.
"I'm sure you've heard wild tales of Lady Helena's traumatic morning, Prince?"
"Who hasn't?" Prince Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood frowned, his hands folded behind his head. "They're beginning to suspect that you have ogre blood in you; that is the latest rumor from the deep depths of gossip."
"And do you believe it?"
"Of course."
"Why, thank-you!" She laughed again. A deep bubbling laughter that filled up the entire room; Legolas had to join in.
Despite being wild, unladylike and feared by all the ladies at court, Vellesta Rivermoon was his best friend. No where else, other than in her presence, could he be carefree and willful, silent and brooding; whoever he wished to be. They had grown up together, running wild through the forests they called home. He could still rmemeber the first day he'd met Vella and Ava, the two sisters who -even then-where notorious for thier mischeif. Only children, they'd dragged the somber prince on a wild goose chase thatt led, finally, to them all tumbling down a ravine and spending the night in a cave. Needless the say, the next morning, their return had caused more than a little commotion: Imagine, a prince coming home dirty and tired! Legolas had tasted, however, the joys of life, and longed for more of the life that he had glimpsed.
The best thing about Vella was, he thought, the fact that she was so unique; so very unlady-like. All the other ladies of court bored him, what with their
tittering laughter and inane humour. Vella wasn't afraid to say what she thought, to say what everyone thought. True, at times, her mouth got her in deeper trouble than she intended, but then, what of all the times Vella had stood up for him against his rowdy cousins? Vella could cuss like the best of them and had even fought one or two, teaching Legolas that strength had very little to do with winning; it was all in the spirit. Whenever they were together, it wasn't a lady and her prince; rather, it was just Vella and Legolas. He didn't have to be courteous and valiant around her, finding lost needles and reciting poetry. He could be himself, Legolas. He could happy, sad, upset, arrogant, even cocky-though Vella always put him right in his place as soon as he crossed a line into irritating. And Vella was...well, Legolas never tried to describe Vella. He simply couldn't; the sheer range of her attributes surprised even him, who had known her since childhood.
"Tell me, lady who is not a Lady, what did you do to the Lady Helena to make her cry so? Whatever it was, you succeeded, she is still being treated for shock!"
Vella smiled, desptie herself. "I merely told her some truths of life outside of Mirwood."
"And you should know this, how?"
She gestured aroundt he room at the broken texts; Legolas looked up and noticed them all for the very first time.
"Great lord!" He leapt to his feet, staring at the wreckage around him. Vella stretched, glancing at the mantle clock that read that it was soon to be dinner.
"The next round is going to begin soon; I'd suggest you take whatever you want to be saved." She said dryly. Legola looked at her, shaking his head and wondering at her calm. Nothing seemed to phase ol' Vell. even when she'd fallen out of the cherry trees and broken her arm in two places; she'd simply gritted her teeth and walked home. Sometimes, he admired her foolhardy bravado. Other times, he thought her plain crazy.
"So what cuased you and little Ava to fight? It's not everyday you tumble upon a match ring between sisters." Actually, Legolas thought wryly, it was almost everyday for these sisters.
"Oh, you know. Little Avie being herself again. Her little stuck-up all-proper self." Vella thought for a moment, "You know, I don't think I like this phase of her growing up. Must be her terrible hundreds or something.."
"Maybe she thinks you're a little bit too wild."
"Me? Wild?" Vella's eyes widened in mock innocence. "Never." She said resolutely, sitting up to pose exaggeratedly as a prim lady. She fanned herself with one hand, the other on her forehead in a mock faint. "Oh Legolas, my prince Legolas, bring me that feather over there for it is too heavy for my dainty arm!"
She pretended to swoon, while Legolas couldn't' help but laugh at her outrageous acting.
"Legolas, sing me songs and poetry, for I am not to be bothered to be thinking! Oh Legolas, save me from walking in the sunlight for it will burn my porcelain skin!"
While Vella continued on her charade, Legolas leafed through the texts, as Ava had done earlier, and tucked the most valuable ones under his arm. Finally, Vella-whose acting had taken her around the room- collapsed in an exhausted heap onto her armchair. She blew a piece of dark hair that had straggled onto her face away and bit her lip.
"How many weeks of kitchen work do you think they'll give me for this one?" She asked, gesturing at the broken books. "After all, they were the ones that gave them to me; I suppose it's their fault really."
"This was supposed to be part of the punishment for Lady Halis' hair. Did you know that she must wear a bonnet wherever she goes now?" Legolas frowned, then grinned because it was funny despite the disapproval it had caused.
"You have to admit though," Vella said, "It was worth the look on that ol' hen's face when she awoke."
Legolas frowned even more deeply and advanced on Vella, who returned his glare, until they both were laughing again.
"You're crazy, did you know that?"
"And you, fair Prince, are socializing with crazy elves like me, ruining your good name."
"Remind me not to. I must save my reputation, after all." He said dryly, turning away with his texts in his arms. She watched him leave with a smile on her lips.
"Legolas?" She called out, as he was about to close the door.
"Hmm?"
"Stop by Avie's room on your way to dinner and see how she is for me?"
"Scarred for life, probably." He muttered, but nodded to Vella.
The Royal Palace of Mirkwood housed the royal family as well as it's denizens. A labyrinth of winding staircases and levels, it was built among the trees that shrouded the elven power. Avaranthe and Vellesta's rooms were located in Lord Rivermoon's quarters, and Ava's room was right beside Vella's so it wasn't long before Legolas reached the closed door. He knocked gingerly twice before there was a response.
"Go away, Vell!"
He knocked again.
"I said-"
He opened the door a crack and stepped in.
"Oh!" Ava cried. She had been lying on her stomach on her bed, the text open to a chapter on human fighting techniques. She had been so absorbed in the words and descriptions that she'd even forgotten about the terrible sister next door, if only for a time. At the sight of the prince, she leapt up and slammed the book shut. "Legolas!"
"Lady Avaranthe."
Ava laughed darkly. "Hardly a lady with her," she nodded towards Vell's rooms, "in my family."
Legolas smiled sympathetically. At one time, years and years ago, when they had been but children, Ava had been as mischievous as Vella. Though now, it seemed that Ava had taken the road to lady-hood, leaving her older sister in the dust. And for that road, Ava was paying dearly. Not only did she suffer the rumors and gossip her sister generated, she was also looked down upon as connected with "the hell-bringer".
"A lady nonetheless." Legolas smiled, making Ava flush with pleasure. "Shall I escort this lady to dinner?" He offered his arm.
"Of course!" Ava leapt up with child-like glee. It wasn't everyday Prince Legolas himself escorted a lady to dinner; ha, that would show those stuck up ladies at court, Ava thought haughtily, still stinging from the last time they had snubbed her. As they descended the stairs towards the dining hall, they heard the books, once again, being flung against the wall.
Both were glad they'd gotten what they wanted before Vella had had the chance to finish them off.
