[UPDATED!! With only a few words changed but I've decided to change my character. And to do that, I needed to change the description of her.]
No I do not own the characters or Lord of the Rings or the Elvish language. They all belong to Professor J.R Tolkien. What a guy. Thank you Mr Tolkien!! (For Legolas, I mean) ^_^ And thanks to local man, Peter Jackson for hiring Mr Hottie himself, Orlando Bloom, to play Legolas. (Mmm…good picture.)
BUT! A-hem. But, I do own a few characters and some other stuff, which I will mention at the end of the chapter.
A Simple Love Story.
It was a clear golden day in Northern Mirkwood. The sun was a dazzling white, the many trees were a dusty bronze and yellow-green leaves of the tall trees whistled a song of peace. The River of Seere[1] was thin but long as it winded through and through the whole of Mirkwood, like a silver-blue thread and needle, deep in a rich blanket.
Deep in Northern Mirkwood, the house of Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, was crowded with many elves. Most of them, busy servants, as they were preparing a large banquet outside.
"Master Legolas!"
A deep voice halted the tall elf, running towards the forest. They were the only ones on a small path surrounded by green, which ended with five stone steps and the endless forest. He turned quickly and put his first finger to his thin lips.
"Shhh! Quiet Belegmenel!" and he frowned very slightly.
Belegmenel looked around cautiously before catching up with his silent master.
"But sir," he whispered still looking for any watchers, "you mustn't leave now! You are to meet your to-be verne' [2] in precisely one hour! You still need to get dressed in the proper-"
Legolas cut his servant friend off impatiently.
"-that is my point."
Belegmenel looked at Legolas with his curious navy eyes before continuing.
"I apologise but I do not understand, my lord. You do not wish to get dressed?"
Legolas grinned and shook his head. He looked at the ground, almost like he was embarrassed.
"No that's not it. I do not wish meet my… 'future wife', as you put it."
Belegmenel was shocked and his voice steadily rose.
"But if you do not meet her, you will not be allowed to marry her! And you will not become King!!"
Legolas quickly hushed him again. Waiting silently, checking if anyone had heard. They only heard the hustle and bustle of the servants organising the food arrangements.
Legolas looked back to his friend with sparkling eyes.
"…once again, that is my point."
Belegmenel was lost for words as his master began to run off again. But just as he got to the top step he turned around and called out to his friend, not caring if his voice could be heard.
"Belegmenel, my dear friend. Not yet, do I wish to take up the throne as I have yet to discover love!"
Belegmenel suddenly answered back. He too, yelling.
"But when you are married to the Lady, you will find it!"
Legolas shook his head.
"That is not love. Love…is not forced."
And before he disappeared into the forest, he hesitantly yelled to his servant, "I will see you later in no less than two hours, Belegmenel!"
'Two hours…' thought Legolas.
He had stopped running now and was at walking pace, quite confident that his men would not find him by the time they realised he was gone. He looked around at the towering forest trees and the bright light shining through the tops of them.
'…two hours…I can amuse myself for two hours…'
He had gone off the common road and was mindlessly zigzagging through trees and bushes that were tightly packed together. Legolas could name them all but had more important things on his mind.
'Marrying a stranger…'
Leaning against a thick tree he sat down in between two giant roots.
"Sounds quite stupid really." He said aloud.
A listening sparrow flew down from that tree and perched on Legolas's raised knee. It twittered madly, objecting to Legolas's down-some mood.
"Sweet, innocent sparrow. You do not understand." Legolas spoke softly to the small bird. "Marrying a complete stranger, only to take over the throne. It is wrong. It is not love."
Legolas sighed and raised his head to the shining sky.
"My father insisted me to quickly get married, so he could become my High Advisor and gain the title 'Cala'quessir Thranduil'[3]. In that way, he would receive more respect than he ever would as King."
The sparrow flapped it's wings furiously and twittered again.
"What? You do not think it is for his own selfish desires?"
And the sparrow curiously fell silent. Legolas chuckled and looked skyward again.
"Well anyway, I told him I would marry when I found love."
He laughed suddenly, causing the sparrow to jerk up it's head.
"He said he would give me one thousand years, and if by then I still did not have love, he would choose a wife for me. And yes, you have guessed it. That was one thousand years ago."
The sparrow twittered again, almost like it was laughing.
"Yes, I agree, it is quite immature of me to just run away like that but you must understand, sparrow. When I marry, it will be for love and love only."
The tiny bird paused for a moment before fluttering off. It left chirping a song of sadness and pity for Legolas.
Legolas stood up and admired the scene for a minute or two.
'How beautiful life is…We are all so lucky-'
He stopped.
He held his breath and heightened his hearing senses.
It was faint but he could hear voices.
"Do you think he came this way?"
Legolas remained calm, closed his eyes and listened harder.
Judging by the raspy voice, he suspected it was his irritating personal guard (although he didn't need one), Lurter.
Another voice. It was Lurter's companion, Hundor. The two were inseparable and made a good team. Lurter was wise and clever and could track down anything. Even his own kind. Which is something to marvel at as Elves do not leave heavy footprints as a Dwarf normally would. But his strength let him down. Hundor on the other hand could lift three Orqs if he wanted to. IF, he wanted to. But he lacked in high intelligence (unlike all other elves). He couldn't tell the difference between an apple and an orange.
"I'm not sure, Lurter. Belegmenel, you must tell us where he is now!"
Legolas froze.
'Belegmenel? NO! What is he doing with them? Surely he is not helping them! My own personal advisor, my…best friend…no…'
"Calm down, Hundor. I do not know where the Master is. He did not whisper a single word to me, he simply disappeared without a trace. I myself, am quite shocked at his disappearance."
And Legolas smiled.
'Brilliant Belegmenel. I should have never doubted you.'
"Hundor! Do not believe him! He knows SOMETHING."
Legolas frowned and gritted his teeth.
'Oh that annoying, Lurter. When all of this is over, I should make him work at the fields!'
He thought for a while and judged that they were several miles away.
'Hmm, I will have to go silently. They too, have excellent hearing. Especially that Lurter. And if I know him, he probably has a crew of men searching for me right now.'
Hundor's voice could be heard again.
"Alright Lurter's men! Half of you go head North! The other half head South! And the other half, West! We will go East!"
And then came the chorus of obedient warriors.
"Yes Nikerym!"[4]
Legolas chose this as a good moment to leave his tree.
He carefully made no footprints on the dirt and bark ground and darted in and out of trees.
'Where do I go? If Lurter's men head in all directions, where can I go?'
He thought silently and stopped behind a mammoth tree with low heavy branches.
He stood completely still and strained his brain for a safe location.
An idea hit him.
'The River of Seere! It leads aimlessly to the mountains away from my village and then back again! The journey is just so pointless, Lurter and his men won't even bother going near the river!'
Legolas grinned but suddenly stopped in his thoughts.
'But…I have to go cross the main road again. The river is on the other side. The men that are heading South may spot me…but…I have no choice.'
He looked up at the sun and the direction it was falling in.
'Another hour and a half. I still could make it to the celebration if they found me. Not good.'
He shuddered at the thought of marrying some mysterious lady.
A twig snapped.
Legolas froze and looked at his feet.
'But I haven't moved yet. And Lurter's men are still…coming! Oh no…'
He forgot about the twig and cleared away from his hiding spot and reached some low dark green bushes some distance away from the common road. From there he could faintly see the men coming but was not sure if they could see him. He ghosted along closer to the road and waited.
Another twig snapped. This time louder.
Giving Legolas a fright and cue. He jumped up and fumbled over the bushes.
"THERE! I SEE HIM! HE'S THERE! STOP PRINCE LEGOLAS!"
Legolas stopped and stared.
'This is not good.'
The men had spotted him and were coming. Fast.
'What? Fast?'
He shaded his eyes and looked harder.
'HORSES?!?! Their hooves!! Why didn't I hear them?!? What is wrong with all my senses?'
But Legolas didn't stall any longer. He ran across the road onto the risen land. It was a large hill that he was running on. Trees seemed to jump up out of no where, slowing Legolas down. The hill continued to rise and the sound of hooves was becoming clearer.
"STOP! PRINCE LEGOLAS! STOP!"
'Running from my own men. How…unusual…'
Legolas ran faster. He looked behind him and saw the horses had stopped at the bottom of the road.
'Yes!'
Legolas praised. But it wasn't long before he started running again as the men had jumped off their horses and were running after their prince.
'NO!'
He ran in and out of trees not caring about footprints or bushes. He just ran as fast as he could. Pushing the thought of marriage out of his head.
'No marriage. No marriage. Don't stop. No marriage…'
Legolas was so powered and blinded by adrenaline that he didn't seem to notice the large drop approaching him. It was about seven metres high with more bushes and trees and the bottom.
'No marriage…no marriage…'
The drop came closer and closer.
'No marriage…'
Three metres.
'No…'
He blinked and looked clearly at what he had got himself into.
'A…a cliff? Since when was there a cliff here?'
The drop was all too clear. The green and brown of the forest below was a mere flash of a picture. The drop was so large…
"No!" he shouted.
But it was too late. And he began falling…
"W-what…where am I?"
Legolas had just opened his eyes. He frowned for a second trying to remember what had happened last.
'Marriage, horses, men, running…cliff!'
And suddenly his whole body started to ache. His eyebrows right through to his toes, but especially his right arm.
He frowned hoping to decrease pain through 'mind over matter'. It didn't work. And he sighed.
He looked around at his surroundings.
'The cliff. Am I at the bottom of the cliff? No wait. It was day when I ran off the cliff. Right now it's night…no. That's wrong too. Where are the stars? What? Where am I?'
It was a cave. Quite small, probably meant for only one elf.
Legolas blinked as a blurry image started to come towards him from the shadows of the cave.
'What…'
It was cloaked and hooded figure, so Legolas was unable to see the being's face. But as it sat to Legolas's side, the being removed the hood. Revealing a breathtakingly beautiful elven woman. Her umber waves of hair probably went longer down her sides, but was hidden by her cloak. Her face was slightly pale and femininely chiselled and her lips were a garnet red. But the thing that took Legolas away was her eyes. They were large sapphire eyes fringed with long black lashes. But her eyes…they were so blue. It was like they reflected the cloudless sky on a sweet laire[5] day.
Legolas was unaware of it, but he was holding his breath.
The woman spoke softly and smiled, her voice husky and almost inaudible.
"You are awake now…"
To Be Continued.
==========================================================
[1] Seere = Peace
[2] Verne' = Wife
[3] Cala'quessir = High Elf
[4] Nikerym = Captain
[5] Laire = Summer
==========================================================
Ok so far, I own the River of Seere, Belegmenel, Lurter, Hundor, the sparrow, the road, the big tree and the cliff. Oh and the cave. Oh and the twig. Hahaha, going overboard. So IGNORE ME! R&R anyway.
Oh, by the way, when I say 'A Simple Love Story' I'm being a bit…vague, if you will. ^_^
No I do not own the characters or Lord of the Rings or the Elvish language. They all belong to Professor J.R Tolkien. What a guy. Thank you Mr Tolkien!! (For Legolas, I mean) ^_^ And thanks to local man, Peter Jackson for hiring Mr Hottie himself, Orlando Bloom, to play Legolas. (Mmm…good picture.)
BUT! A-hem. But, I do own a few characters and some other stuff, which I will mention at the end of the chapter.
A Simple Love Story.
It was a clear golden day in Northern Mirkwood. The sun was a dazzling white, the many trees were a dusty bronze and yellow-green leaves of the tall trees whistled a song of peace. The River of Seere[1] was thin but long as it winded through and through the whole of Mirkwood, like a silver-blue thread and needle, deep in a rich blanket.
Deep in Northern Mirkwood, the house of Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, was crowded with many elves. Most of them, busy servants, as they were preparing a large banquet outside.
"Master Legolas!"
A deep voice halted the tall elf, running towards the forest. They were the only ones on a small path surrounded by green, which ended with five stone steps and the endless forest. He turned quickly and put his first finger to his thin lips.
"Shhh! Quiet Belegmenel!" and he frowned very slightly.
Belegmenel looked around cautiously before catching up with his silent master.
"But sir," he whispered still looking for any watchers, "you mustn't leave now! You are to meet your to-be verne' [2] in precisely one hour! You still need to get dressed in the proper-"
Legolas cut his servant friend off impatiently.
"-that is my point."
Belegmenel looked at Legolas with his curious navy eyes before continuing.
"I apologise but I do not understand, my lord. You do not wish to get dressed?"
Legolas grinned and shook his head. He looked at the ground, almost like he was embarrassed.
"No that's not it. I do not wish meet my… 'future wife', as you put it."
Belegmenel was shocked and his voice steadily rose.
"But if you do not meet her, you will not be allowed to marry her! And you will not become King!!"
Legolas quickly hushed him again. Waiting silently, checking if anyone had heard. They only heard the hustle and bustle of the servants organising the food arrangements.
Legolas looked back to his friend with sparkling eyes.
"…once again, that is my point."
Belegmenel was lost for words as his master began to run off again. But just as he got to the top step he turned around and called out to his friend, not caring if his voice could be heard.
"Belegmenel, my dear friend. Not yet, do I wish to take up the throne as I have yet to discover love!"
Belegmenel suddenly answered back. He too, yelling.
"But when you are married to the Lady, you will find it!"
Legolas shook his head.
"That is not love. Love…is not forced."
And before he disappeared into the forest, he hesitantly yelled to his servant, "I will see you later in no less than two hours, Belegmenel!"
'Two hours…' thought Legolas.
He had stopped running now and was at walking pace, quite confident that his men would not find him by the time they realised he was gone. He looked around at the towering forest trees and the bright light shining through the tops of them.
'…two hours…I can amuse myself for two hours…'
He had gone off the common road and was mindlessly zigzagging through trees and bushes that were tightly packed together. Legolas could name them all but had more important things on his mind.
'Marrying a stranger…'
Leaning against a thick tree he sat down in between two giant roots.
"Sounds quite stupid really." He said aloud.
A listening sparrow flew down from that tree and perched on Legolas's raised knee. It twittered madly, objecting to Legolas's down-some mood.
"Sweet, innocent sparrow. You do not understand." Legolas spoke softly to the small bird. "Marrying a complete stranger, only to take over the throne. It is wrong. It is not love."
Legolas sighed and raised his head to the shining sky.
"My father insisted me to quickly get married, so he could become my High Advisor and gain the title 'Cala'quessir Thranduil'[3]. In that way, he would receive more respect than he ever would as King."
The sparrow flapped it's wings furiously and twittered again.
"What? You do not think it is for his own selfish desires?"
And the sparrow curiously fell silent. Legolas chuckled and looked skyward again.
"Well anyway, I told him I would marry when I found love."
He laughed suddenly, causing the sparrow to jerk up it's head.
"He said he would give me one thousand years, and if by then I still did not have love, he would choose a wife for me. And yes, you have guessed it. That was one thousand years ago."
The sparrow twittered again, almost like it was laughing.
"Yes, I agree, it is quite immature of me to just run away like that but you must understand, sparrow. When I marry, it will be for love and love only."
The tiny bird paused for a moment before fluttering off. It left chirping a song of sadness and pity for Legolas.
Legolas stood up and admired the scene for a minute or two.
'How beautiful life is…We are all so lucky-'
He stopped.
He held his breath and heightened his hearing senses.
It was faint but he could hear voices.
"Do you think he came this way?"
Legolas remained calm, closed his eyes and listened harder.
Judging by the raspy voice, he suspected it was his irritating personal guard (although he didn't need one), Lurter.
Another voice. It was Lurter's companion, Hundor. The two were inseparable and made a good team. Lurter was wise and clever and could track down anything. Even his own kind. Which is something to marvel at as Elves do not leave heavy footprints as a Dwarf normally would. But his strength let him down. Hundor on the other hand could lift three Orqs if he wanted to. IF, he wanted to. But he lacked in high intelligence (unlike all other elves). He couldn't tell the difference between an apple and an orange.
"I'm not sure, Lurter. Belegmenel, you must tell us where he is now!"
Legolas froze.
'Belegmenel? NO! What is he doing with them? Surely he is not helping them! My own personal advisor, my…best friend…no…'
"Calm down, Hundor. I do not know where the Master is. He did not whisper a single word to me, he simply disappeared without a trace. I myself, am quite shocked at his disappearance."
And Legolas smiled.
'Brilliant Belegmenel. I should have never doubted you.'
"Hundor! Do not believe him! He knows SOMETHING."
Legolas frowned and gritted his teeth.
'Oh that annoying, Lurter. When all of this is over, I should make him work at the fields!'
He thought for a while and judged that they were several miles away.
'Hmm, I will have to go silently. They too, have excellent hearing. Especially that Lurter. And if I know him, he probably has a crew of men searching for me right now.'
Hundor's voice could be heard again.
"Alright Lurter's men! Half of you go head North! The other half head South! And the other half, West! We will go East!"
And then came the chorus of obedient warriors.
"Yes Nikerym!"[4]
Legolas chose this as a good moment to leave his tree.
He carefully made no footprints on the dirt and bark ground and darted in and out of trees.
'Where do I go? If Lurter's men head in all directions, where can I go?'
He thought silently and stopped behind a mammoth tree with low heavy branches.
He stood completely still and strained his brain for a safe location.
An idea hit him.
'The River of Seere! It leads aimlessly to the mountains away from my village and then back again! The journey is just so pointless, Lurter and his men won't even bother going near the river!'
Legolas grinned but suddenly stopped in his thoughts.
'But…I have to go cross the main road again. The river is on the other side. The men that are heading South may spot me…but…I have no choice.'
He looked up at the sun and the direction it was falling in.
'Another hour and a half. I still could make it to the celebration if they found me. Not good.'
He shuddered at the thought of marrying some mysterious lady.
A twig snapped.
Legolas froze and looked at his feet.
'But I haven't moved yet. And Lurter's men are still…coming! Oh no…'
He forgot about the twig and cleared away from his hiding spot and reached some low dark green bushes some distance away from the common road. From there he could faintly see the men coming but was not sure if they could see him. He ghosted along closer to the road and waited.
Another twig snapped. This time louder.
Giving Legolas a fright and cue. He jumped up and fumbled over the bushes.
"THERE! I SEE HIM! HE'S THERE! STOP PRINCE LEGOLAS!"
Legolas stopped and stared.
'This is not good.'
The men had spotted him and were coming. Fast.
'What? Fast?'
He shaded his eyes and looked harder.
'HORSES?!?! Their hooves!! Why didn't I hear them?!? What is wrong with all my senses?'
But Legolas didn't stall any longer. He ran across the road onto the risen land. It was a large hill that he was running on. Trees seemed to jump up out of no where, slowing Legolas down. The hill continued to rise and the sound of hooves was becoming clearer.
"STOP! PRINCE LEGOLAS! STOP!"
'Running from my own men. How…unusual…'
Legolas ran faster. He looked behind him and saw the horses had stopped at the bottom of the road.
'Yes!'
Legolas praised. But it wasn't long before he started running again as the men had jumped off their horses and were running after their prince.
'NO!'
He ran in and out of trees not caring about footprints or bushes. He just ran as fast as he could. Pushing the thought of marriage out of his head.
'No marriage. No marriage. Don't stop. No marriage…'
Legolas was so powered and blinded by adrenaline that he didn't seem to notice the large drop approaching him. It was about seven metres high with more bushes and trees and the bottom.
'No marriage…no marriage…'
The drop came closer and closer.
'No marriage…'
Three metres.
'No…'
He blinked and looked clearly at what he had got himself into.
'A…a cliff? Since when was there a cliff here?'
The drop was all too clear. The green and brown of the forest below was a mere flash of a picture. The drop was so large…
"No!" he shouted.
But it was too late. And he began falling…
"W-what…where am I?"
Legolas had just opened his eyes. He frowned for a second trying to remember what had happened last.
'Marriage, horses, men, running…cliff!'
And suddenly his whole body started to ache. His eyebrows right through to his toes, but especially his right arm.
He frowned hoping to decrease pain through 'mind over matter'. It didn't work. And he sighed.
He looked around at his surroundings.
'The cliff. Am I at the bottom of the cliff? No wait. It was day when I ran off the cliff. Right now it's night…no. That's wrong too. Where are the stars? What? Where am I?'
It was a cave. Quite small, probably meant for only one elf.
Legolas blinked as a blurry image started to come towards him from the shadows of the cave.
'What…'
It was cloaked and hooded figure, so Legolas was unable to see the being's face. But as it sat to Legolas's side, the being removed the hood. Revealing a breathtakingly beautiful elven woman. Her umber waves of hair probably went longer down her sides, but was hidden by her cloak. Her face was slightly pale and femininely chiselled and her lips were a garnet red. But the thing that took Legolas away was her eyes. They were large sapphire eyes fringed with long black lashes. But her eyes…they were so blue. It was like they reflected the cloudless sky on a sweet laire[5] day.
Legolas was unaware of it, but he was holding his breath.
The woman spoke softly and smiled, her voice husky and almost inaudible.
"You are awake now…"
To Be Continued.
==========================================================
[1] Seere = Peace
[2] Verne' = Wife
[3] Cala'quessir = High Elf
[4] Nikerym = Captain
[5] Laire = Summer
==========================================================
Ok so far, I own the River of Seere, Belegmenel, Lurter, Hundor, the sparrow, the road, the big tree and the cliff. Oh and the cave. Oh and the twig. Hahaha, going overboard. So IGNORE ME! R&R anyway.
Oh, by the way, when I say 'A Simple Love Story' I'm being a bit…vague, if you will. ^_^