Stepping out into the cool night breeze,Meril took in a deep breath. A
light blush painted itself across her cheeks, as she sat down on one of the
stairs, descending down into the garden. Up ahead, the pale moon¹s glow
splintered through the high canopy of dark branches scattered above.
A sudden chill crept upon her, splattering goosebumps across her tender flesh. An involuntary jolt shot through her fingers. Her lips sucked and pushed out shallow breaths, barely granting her the capability of breathing. Why did this always happen? Ever since she fled fromRivendell, it seemed as if her soul had been torn from her being. Numb fingers ran over the silky fabric of her dress, barely able to make out what exactly she was touching.
³Meril......I really do not think we should be here....Elrond...I do not think he¹d agree with all this...²
³Of course he would not agree, if he knew, Falasiel, and you promised. Do not dare stab a knife of betrayal in my back and twist it with hatred. It will leave me to perish in immortal agony if my heart cannot be merged with his.²
³Fine....I will remain your faithful companion....²
³Then, do not let it hinder you.²
³I am only afraid that you are letting you¹re feelings devour your emortality....Meril.....You will not live forever, if you make your choice upon thy meeting with him tonight.²
³I have already made my decision. Don¹t you think I deserve a choice as well as Arwen? She threw her soul away to a mortal. Why not I to make such a decision also?²
³Because, you are Elrond¹s only immortal daughter.....Arwen gave her¹s away already, why not remain undying? There are many elves...²
³I do not care for any of those many elves....I have heard that speech plenty from my father, do not presume to lecture me now.....²
**************************************************************************** **
³Meril...forgive me,...but in my heart, there is no desire to place you in. I feel not what you want me to feel........²
³But....you said that we could be together if I bound myself to you...You promised me a future with you!²
**************************************************************************** **
³Yrch!...Meril! Tima ten¹ta!.....Sii¹!! (Orcs...Meril! Run for it!....Now!)
³Falasiel! No! Not without you!²
³Don¹t be stupid, princess, make a dash for it! It is too dangerous for you!²
³I have my bow, Falasiel! I can shoot!²
³Then run and shoot the ones that fall in your path! Now go! I will not let them have you!²
**************************************************************************** *
Burying her face into her palms, Meril sobbed. Pearls of tears slipped between her fingers, staining her dress.
³Falasiel...........Forgive me for my foolishness........²
³You always had a tendency to act quite foolish, my dearest sister.²
Meril lifted her head, quickly wiping away the tears, using the back of her hand. A soft sniffle emerged from her. ³Arwen?²
³You carry too many sorrows....Since when has it been, your heart soared, for it loved.....a mortal. I understand, do not ever think one second that I don¹t. I feel what you feel.²
Arwen slipped an arm around Meril, pulling her into a heart-felt embrace.
³Nae saian luume¹.......(it has been too long)...You¹re beauty has bloomed to its fullest²
Gently, Arwen brushed aside a strand of flaxen hair, out of Meril¹s eye. A small tear slid its way down her cheek.
Arwen clasped her warm hands over Meril¹s slowly raising, and pulling Meril along as she did.
³You have not told me...I am afraid I was never there to listen to your problems, as good as I should have. And I blame myself for that.²
³I never tried to tell you, Arwen, there is no blame to place.² Deep within, Meril¹s heart cried out in agony. Then whose fault would it be? You loved him! She loved a mortal and got away with it. It was her fault that you snuck out in the first place. Her fault was it! Falasiel was lost to darkness because of her!!
An involuntary jolt surged through Meril. She jerked herself free of Arwen¹s hands, her eyes wide, empty. She felt her heart pound in her throat, throbbing in her ears. She was falling again into that dark abyss. It reached out for her with its icy claws, pulling her down until she sensed no more.
The world was spinning around her. Time was revolving, the years passing by quickly before her, while all she could do was stand still and watch. Flowers bloomed, then wilted, many suns and moons rose and sank, leaves turned to golden hues, then lush green....The race of the elves dimnished, until only she was left stranded on a silent battlefield. Thousands of dead bodies lay sprowled on the once lush hills of Middle Earth. They were elves...Elves...
³MERIL!²
The sound of her name caused her eyes to search frantically through the heavy grey mist that settled. In the far distance, a terrible cry echoed throughout the darkness.
³Meril!²
Warm hands were placed upon her shoulders, shacking her impatiently. Feeling her body sway back and forth, Meril¹s eyes sank shut. Her body felt drained of its energy. She slumped forward, growing limp in Arwen¹s arms.
*********
Casually, Legolas leaned up against a huge oak tree in Elrond¹s garden, his arms folded loosely infront of his chest. His usual attire of green¹s and greys was replaced by a simple silver tunic. His golden locks hung freely, framing his tender features.
Inhaling a deep breath of fresh air, he leaned back his head, letting his eyes close. Words failed at that moment, how wonderful it felt to be back among elves. Often, on the battlefield, he felt somewhat lonely for some of his own kin. Gimli was great company, yet, he was no elf. He couldn¹t magically sprout himself a pair of pointed ears, even if he tried.
Legolas chuckled at that thought. He missed his dear companion.
Lowering himself onto the soft bed of grass and flowers, he rested his head on his hands, which were folded behind his head. Up ahead, he watched the clouds pass by. Frodo, Aragorn and the rest of the fellowship crossed his mind. Arwen was in Rivendell, would that also promise Aragrorns presence? Why was Arwen back in Rivendell, wasn¹t she supposed to be in Gondor?
Legolas tried to set these thoughts aside, studying the shapes the clouds took to themselves. Often, while he was still in Mirkwood, he snuck out of his fathers realm, and explored deeper depths of Mirkwood¹s forest. His father never let him go off boundaries, causing more curiosity to well up within the young prince.
There, in the furthest, deepest part of Mirkwood, he found the most beautiful tree in all of Middle Earth. It¹s bark glimmered gold, it¹s leaves bearing the lushest green he¹d ever laid eyes upon. To him, it seemed as if the golden branches were reaching out to the realms of the heavens above. His heart desired to explore it with all his curiosity Often he would climb to its highest branch, and watch the clouds pass by over the evening sky.
Legolas felt his heart open up to old memories. How he often longed to still be that foolish young boy he was. Now he was a grown prince, with a promised throne and crown waiting for him. How could he ever take up that much responsibility, when most of his desires consisted of drifting off into his own little world?
His blue eyes lingered dreamily at the blue velvet strung up endlessly above. The soft song of the wind sang sweetly to him, as it brushed past. lulling him to sleep. He wanted to merge one with the sky, become a part of something wild and free. Melt into the earth, completely vanish from eyes¹ sight. Not a victim shackled in chains, forced to take upon a crown unwanted.
***********
Meril awoke in her bed, a sheeth of sweat glazing her skin. Shivering, she pulled the red silk covers up to her quivering chin. Beads of perspiration dripped from her forehead, staining her cover. She tried to recall what had happened earlier, only to find her thoughts and memories blank.
Only Arwen¹s presence earlier struck her mind. She remembered Arwen being with her. Her presence in Rivendell startled her. Why was she in Rivendell instead of Gondor?
Sitting up, her eyes wandered across her room. Everything was just in place, exactly the way she left it before her departure. One of her window¹s was left open, allowing a cool draft of fresh air to enter. Her desk was still cluttered with empty sheets of paper, she had once dreamed of writing a novel of that little ringbearer, Frodo Baggins. Never had she met him, her father insisted on keeping her out of the eyes of strangers. Nearly all her life, she had been held in the background, never talked about. As if she were some sort of evil bearer, an enchantress of death.
It infuriated her, the way everyone treated her. As if she were some delicate flower, ready to wilt at almost anyones mere touch. Meril let out a low sigh, her eyes closing.
Absent mindedly, she ran her fingers through her dishevelled hair. A wavy portion of it fell like a curtain over her shoulder.
Curse this life of perfection!! Damn it all.......
Gingerly, she caressed her tired features . Her fingers tenderly kneading her flawless flesh. To her it felt as if some hungry demon sought out for her, draining her of her life. The dangers she endured in Hollin, set hideous image into her mind. Staining her dreams with its crimson and black curtains.
Fresh tears welled up within Meril¹s eyes. A bitter taste built itself up within the back of her throat, her chest heaving. She felt hot and cold at the same time, another layer of sweat covering her.
*********************
Laughing merrily, Meril leaped into the clearing of the forest. Anor¹s rays glittered high above, bathing the clearing in a puddle of gold. Millions of flowers decorated the lush green grass.
Falasiel stayed close behind, stopping in her tracks once she saw the stranger leaning up against one of the many trees surrounding them. In her heart, she felt an uneasyness stir. Yet, she remained silent, watching Meril approach the dark shadow.
³Raphayelle!² He stepped into the light, his midnight black hair rested carelessly upon his broad shoulders.
³Meril. Our meeting finally came to be.²
³And so has our future! Raphayelle! Now you and I can be together, till death parts us!²
Falasiel sensed the happyness radiating violently off Meril, she could almost taste it. And it¹s taste stained he senses with biterness. Something was not right. Raphayelle held a dark aura about him, his eyes were hazed with darkness.
The elf thought of making a rash act, suddenly stopped by Raphayelle¹s sudden words. His voice sounded as if it belonged to another being of some sort.
³No, I am afraid I cannot grant you t hat my love.²
³What?² The pain in Meril¹s voice was so evident, Falasiel could taste it, replacing the bitterness.
³Meril...forgive me,...but in my heart, there is no desire to place you in. I feel not what you want me to feel........²
³But....you said that we could be together if I bound myself to you...You promised me a future with you!²
A sudden laughter erupted from him, giving both elves goosebumps.
³Of course you bound yourself to me, you¹re such a foolish maiden, princess. You have no idea what you brought yourself into.²
Falasiel grasped Meril by the arm, slowly driving her backwards with her. Raphayelle¹s lips peeled back, exposing a hideous snarl.
³You see princess,² he went on, ³You bound yourself to me, and as long as there¹s love in your heart for me, I have your immortality. I claimed it mine the day your heart fell weak for me....Now, I have your streangth, to use as I please.²
He brought his fingers up to his lips, sending out a shrill whistle.
³Princess, we should leave, I feel a darkness heading our way.² Falasiel whispered into Meril¹s ear. Meril nodded.
Her feet froze in place, as thousand¹s of shrill cries were heard as a swarm of orcs burst into the clearing.
³TIMA!!!!!² (run) Falasiel recklessly janked Maril after her, running through the forest in a mad dash. Thousands of heavy feet clashing into the hard dirt could be heard approaching them at a great pace.
The orc¹s cried out to them, urging them to stope and fall within their trap. Falasiel never loosened her hold on her princess, as they ran for their lives.......
************
³Your highness.²
A cool hand placed itself against Meril¹s burning forehead. Meril suddenly jerked, her eyes torn wide at the young elf maiden standing next to her bed. Clumsily, she stumbled back a few uncertain steps, her lips parted, not sure what to say.
³Forgive me for intruding, princess.² The elf gave a light bow. ³His majesty, Elrond asked me to come and check up upon thy state. It seems you are running a fever, princess. Highly unlikely for an elf, strange I find it. It is not in our nature to fall sick, yet, all thy symptons point to it.²
³What...happened?² Meril cast a glance of confusion at the maid. ³ I cannot remember a single thing, since I have been placed in bed. I ....I awoke earlier, I must have drifted off again...And....where¹s Arwen? She spoke to me! Where is she?²
³Your highness, you must have hit your head and passed out. As for Arwen, she left with Estel before sunrise.²
Meril remained speechless. The maiden gave a look of concern. ³Your father is hosting a feast and dance tonight, though, he in a way assumed that thy present will be absent tonight. You are not well, princess. I beg you to rest tonight and I shall return in the morning to check on thy health again.² She curtsied, and dissappeared through the door. Meril sank beneath her covers, her head pounding.
| |Top of Form [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic] Bottom of Form
A sudden chill crept upon her, splattering goosebumps across her tender flesh. An involuntary jolt shot through her fingers. Her lips sucked and pushed out shallow breaths, barely granting her the capability of breathing. Why did this always happen? Ever since she fled fromRivendell, it seemed as if her soul had been torn from her being. Numb fingers ran over the silky fabric of her dress, barely able to make out what exactly she was touching.
³Meril......I really do not think we should be here....Elrond...I do not think he¹d agree with all this...²
³Of course he would not agree, if he knew, Falasiel, and you promised. Do not dare stab a knife of betrayal in my back and twist it with hatred. It will leave me to perish in immortal agony if my heart cannot be merged with his.²
³Fine....I will remain your faithful companion....²
³Then, do not let it hinder you.²
³I am only afraid that you are letting you¹re feelings devour your emortality....Meril.....You will not live forever, if you make your choice upon thy meeting with him tonight.²
³I have already made my decision. Don¹t you think I deserve a choice as well as Arwen? She threw her soul away to a mortal. Why not I to make such a decision also?²
³Because, you are Elrond¹s only immortal daughter.....Arwen gave her¹s away already, why not remain undying? There are many elves...²
³I do not care for any of those many elves....I have heard that speech plenty from my father, do not presume to lecture me now.....²
**************************************************************************** **
³Meril...forgive me,...but in my heart, there is no desire to place you in. I feel not what you want me to feel........²
³But....you said that we could be together if I bound myself to you...You promised me a future with you!²
**************************************************************************** **
³Yrch!...Meril! Tima ten¹ta!.....Sii¹!! (Orcs...Meril! Run for it!....Now!)
³Falasiel! No! Not without you!²
³Don¹t be stupid, princess, make a dash for it! It is too dangerous for you!²
³I have my bow, Falasiel! I can shoot!²
³Then run and shoot the ones that fall in your path! Now go! I will not let them have you!²
**************************************************************************** *
Burying her face into her palms, Meril sobbed. Pearls of tears slipped between her fingers, staining her dress.
³Falasiel...........Forgive me for my foolishness........²
³You always had a tendency to act quite foolish, my dearest sister.²
Meril lifted her head, quickly wiping away the tears, using the back of her hand. A soft sniffle emerged from her. ³Arwen?²
³You carry too many sorrows....Since when has it been, your heart soared, for it loved.....a mortal. I understand, do not ever think one second that I don¹t. I feel what you feel.²
Arwen slipped an arm around Meril, pulling her into a heart-felt embrace.
³Nae saian luume¹.......(it has been too long)...You¹re beauty has bloomed to its fullest²
Gently, Arwen brushed aside a strand of flaxen hair, out of Meril¹s eye. A small tear slid its way down her cheek.
Arwen clasped her warm hands over Meril¹s slowly raising, and pulling Meril along as she did.
³You have not told me...I am afraid I was never there to listen to your problems, as good as I should have. And I blame myself for that.²
³I never tried to tell you, Arwen, there is no blame to place.² Deep within, Meril¹s heart cried out in agony. Then whose fault would it be? You loved him! She loved a mortal and got away with it. It was her fault that you snuck out in the first place. Her fault was it! Falasiel was lost to darkness because of her!!
An involuntary jolt surged through Meril. She jerked herself free of Arwen¹s hands, her eyes wide, empty. She felt her heart pound in her throat, throbbing in her ears. She was falling again into that dark abyss. It reached out for her with its icy claws, pulling her down until she sensed no more.
The world was spinning around her. Time was revolving, the years passing by quickly before her, while all she could do was stand still and watch. Flowers bloomed, then wilted, many suns and moons rose and sank, leaves turned to golden hues, then lush green....The race of the elves dimnished, until only she was left stranded on a silent battlefield. Thousands of dead bodies lay sprowled on the once lush hills of Middle Earth. They were elves...Elves...
³MERIL!²
The sound of her name caused her eyes to search frantically through the heavy grey mist that settled. In the far distance, a terrible cry echoed throughout the darkness.
³Meril!²
Warm hands were placed upon her shoulders, shacking her impatiently. Feeling her body sway back and forth, Meril¹s eyes sank shut. Her body felt drained of its energy. She slumped forward, growing limp in Arwen¹s arms.
*********
Casually, Legolas leaned up against a huge oak tree in Elrond¹s garden, his arms folded loosely infront of his chest. His usual attire of green¹s and greys was replaced by a simple silver tunic. His golden locks hung freely, framing his tender features.
Inhaling a deep breath of fresh air, he leaned back his head, letting his eyes close. Words failed at that moment, how wonderful it felt to be back among elves. Often, on the battlefield, he felt somewhat lonely for some of his own kin. Gimli was great company, yet, he was no elf. He couldn¹t magically sprout himself a pair of pointed ears, even if he tried.
Legolas chuckled at that thought. He missed his dear companion.
Lowering himself onto the soft bed of grass and flowers, he rested his head on his hands, which were folded behind his head. Up ahead, he watched the clouds pass by. Frodo, Aragorn and the rest of the fellowship crossed his mind. Arwen was in Rivendell, would that also promise Aragrorns presence? Why was Arwen back in Rivendell, wasn¹t she supposed to be in Gondor?
Legolas tried to set these thoughts aside, studying the shapes the clouds took to themselves. Often, while he was still in Mirkwood, he snuck out of his fathers realm, and explored deeper depths of Mirkwood¹s forest. His father never let him go off boundaries, causing more curiosity to well up within the young prince.
There, in the furthest, deepest part of Mirkwood, he found the most beautiful tree in all of Middle Earth. It¹s bark glimmered gold, it¹s leaves bearing the lushest green he¹d ever laid eyes upon. To him, it seemed as if the golden branches were reaching out to the realms of the heavens above. His heart desired to explore it with all his curiosity Often he would climb to its highest branch, and watch the clouds pass by over the evening sky.
Legolas felt his heart open up to old memories. How he often longed to still be that foolish young boy he was. Now he was a grown prince, with a promised throne and crown waiting for him. How could he ever take up that much responsibility, when most of his desires consisted of drifting off into his own little world?
His blue eyes lingered dreamily at the blue velvet strung up endlessly above. The soft song of the wind sang sweetly to him, as it brushed past. lulling him to sleep. He wanted to merge one with the sky, become a part of something wild and free. Melt into the earth, completely vanish from eyes¹ sight. Not a victim shackled in chains, forced to take upon a crown unwanted.
***********
Meril awoke in her bed, a sheeth of sweat glazing her skin. Shivering, she pulled the red silk covers up to her quivering chin. Beads of perspiration dripped from her forehead, staining her cover. She tried to recall what had happened earlier, only to find her thoughts and memories blank.
Only Arwen¹s presence earlier struck her mind. She remembered Arwen being with her. Her presence in Rivendell startled her. Why was she in Rivendell instead of Gondor?
Sitting up, her eyes wandered across her room. Everything was just in place, exactly the way she left it before her departure. One of her window¹s was left open, allowing a cool draft of fresh air to enter. Her desk was still cluttered with empty sheets of paper, she had once dreamed of writing a novel of that little ringbearer, Frodo Baggins. Never had she met him, her father insisted on keeping her out of the eyes of strangers. Nearly all her life, she had been held in the background, never talked about. As if she were some sort of evil bearer, an enchantress of death.
It infuriated her, the way everyone treated her. As if she were some delicate flower, ready to wilt at almost anyones mere touch. Meril let out a low sigh, her eyes closing.
Absent mindedly, she ran her fingers through her dishevelled hair. A wavy portion of it fell like a curtain over her shoulder.
Curse this life of perfection!! Damn it all.......
Gingerly, she caressed her tired features . Her fingers tenderly kneading her flawless flesh. To her it felt as if some hungry demon sought out for her, draining her of her life. The dangers she endured in Hollin, set hideous image into her mind. Staining her dreams with its crimson and black curtains.
Fresh tears welled up within Meril¹s eyes. A bitter taste built itself up within the back of her throat, her chest heaving. She felt hot and cold at the same time, another layer of sweat covering her.
*********************
Laughing merrily, Meril leaped into the clearing of the forest. Anor¹s rays glittered high above, bathing the clearing in a puddle of gold. Millions of flowers decorated the lush green grass.
Falasiel stayed close behind, stopping in her tracks once she saw the stranger leaning up against one of the many trees surrounding them. In her heart, she felt an uneasyness stir. Yet, she remained silent, watching Meril approach the dark shadow.
³Raphayelle!² He stepped into the light, his midnight black hair rested carelessly upon his broad shoulders.
³Meril. Our meeting finally came to be.²
³And so has our future! Raphayelle! Now you and I can be together, till death parts us!²
Falasiel sensed the happyness radiating violently off Meril, she could almost taste it. And it¹s taste stained he senses with biterness. Something was not right. Raphayelle held a dark aura about him, his eyes were hazed with darkness.
The elf thought of making a rash act, suddenly stopped by Raphayelle¹s sudden words. His voice sounded as if it belonged to another being of some sort.
³No, I am afraid I cannot grant you t hat my love.²
³What?² The pain in Meril¹s voice was so evident, Falasiel could taste it, replacing the bitterness.
³Meril...forgive me,...but in my heart, there is no desire to place you in. I feel not what you want me to feel........²
³But....you said that we could be together if I bound myself to you...You promised me a future with you!²
A sudden laughter erupted from him, giving both elves goosebumps.
³Of course you bound yourself to me, you¹re such a foolish maiden, princess. You have no idea what you brought yourself into.²
Falasiel grasped Meril by the arm, slowly driving her backwards with her. Raphayelle¹s lips peeled back, exposing a hideous snarl.
³You see princess,² he went on, ³You bound yourself to me, and as long as there¹s love in your heart for me, I have your immortality. I claimed it mine the day your heart fell weak for me....Now, I have your streangth, to use as I please.²
He brought his fingers up to his lips, sending out a shrill whistle.
³Princess, we should leave, I feel a darkness heading our way.² Falasiel whispered into Meril¹s ear. Meril nodded.
Her feet froze in place, as thousand¹s of shrill cries were heard as a swarm of orcs burst into the clearing.
³TIMA!!!!!² (run) Falasiel recklessly janked Maril after her, running through the forest in a mad dash. Thousands of heavy feet clashing into the hard dirt could be heard approaching them at a great pace.
The orc¹s cried out to them, urging them to stope and fall within their trap. Falasiel never loosened her hold on her princess, as they ran for their lives.......
************
³Your highness.²
A cool hand placed itself against Meril¹s burning forehead. Meril suddenly jerked, her eyes torn wide at the young elf maiden standing next to her bed. Clumsily, she stumbled back a few uncertain steps, her lips parted, not sure what to say.
³Forgive me for intruding, princess.² The elf gave a light bow. ³His majesty, Elrond asked me to come and check up upon thy state. It seems you are running a fever, princess. Highly unlikely for an elf, strange I find it. It is not in our nature to fall sick, yet, all thy symptons point to it.²
³What...happened?² Meril cast a glance of confusion at the maid. ³ I cannot remember a single thing, since I have been placed in bed. I ....I awoke earlier, I must have drifted off again...And....where¹s Arwen? She spoke to me! Where is she?²
³Your highness, you must have hit your head and passed out. As for Arwen, she left with Estel before sunrise.²
Meril remained speechless. The maiden gave a look of concern. ³Your father is hosting a feast and dance tonight, though, he in a way assumed that thy present will be absent tonight. You are not well, princess. I beg you to rest tonight and I shall return in the morning to check on thy health again.² She curtsied, and dissappeared through the door. Meril sank beneath her covers, her head pounding.
| |Top of Form [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic] Bottom of Form