******
Lashriel woke early, as usual. Someone, in the night, had removed the mirror entirely from sight, and her heart felt lighter for that. The blue dress had been gently hung away, far from view, away from prying eyes - never again to be touched.
A sudden knock at the door startled her out of her morning reverie.
" Yes?"
A maid peered cautiously over the boundary.
" Lord Elrond requests the presence of his guests. He has organized a morning hunt, and wishes you to be present, milady."
Lashriel nodded, and the maid left as silently as she came.
******
" Well, Legolas," Aragorn peered out over the distance," It would seem you've outdistanced me again."
" Hm."
The King of Gondor turned to his long time companion, a distant look in the elf's eyes.
" Shall you humiliate me more, by telling me you weren't even paying attention?"
Legolas smiled and shook his head.
" No, I had been attempting my success."
" Then, what ails you, friend?"
" It's just..." Legolas paused, uncertain of words to express his puzzlement.
" Yes?"
Their conversation was cut short as the rest of the riding party approached. Aragorn's face fell as he saw his second wife. Legolas continued to ponder, as more elven riders joined them. Hearing his name, he turned to see Arweyon waving at him from the back of the group. Beside him, was an Elven maiden with auburn colored hair, by the name of Raeliquen. She was about 1000 years the Prince's junior, and he found her admiration of his skills rather amusing. She constantly found pleasure in challenging him to mock-tournaments, which usually ended with her commenting and praising each of his shots.
" Legolas! Where is this new friend that Arweyon has been going on so much about?" Raeliquen teased from her mount.
" Yes, Legolas? Where is my si...er...Lashriel?"
" I haven't seen her."
As he spoke, he spotted a drab figure amongst the others. She wore dull, ordinary colors that paled her face, and kept her hair bound beneath the hood of her cloak.
" It can't be that poor wretch, could it?" Raeliquen tsked.
" I'm sad to say it is."
" Oh, that poor girl. I recognize her now. She was the lovely maid in the blue gown. She looked so stunning. Why the sudden change?"
" Actually, this is her normal style. Yesterday was more Eliza's doing."
Raeliquen tsked again, before riding her horse towards Lashriel. Arweyon turned to follow, but Legolas touched his shoulder.
" Perhaps we should leave the courtesy to your friend."
******
Lashriel felt much more comfortable now that she wasn't lit up like a torch. Her hair had been bound in such a way that they hid her ears.
" Hello."
Lashriel turned, and felt her face go somewhat red in embarassment. It was an elf-maiden, with long curls of dark brown hair. She smiled reassuringly.
" My name's Raeliquen. Is this your first time in Rivendell?"
Lashriel nodded dumbly, feeling her face flush at the extra attention. The only other person who could embarass her anymore was...
" It's good to see you awake, milady." Legolas said as his horse cantered to a stop.
Raeliquen noticed Lashriel's face grow even redder as more people began to surround her, and quickly grinned.
" Come. Lord Elrond is about to begin the hunt."
******
There were thirteen hunters, seven human and 6 elves. A humongous wild boar had been discovered ravaging that side of the country, and besides being a competition, this would be a way to rid themselves of a parasite. Now, the beast was cornered panting as it roared its defiance, nearly as tall as a man, it was in the prime of its life. Boars were prized for their wild meat, and their tusks. They made a menace of themselves, uprooting many of the sacred trees that were scattered around the elve's forests.
Gerala kept her nose high, staying at the head of the party. Lashriel wasn't sure if she was attempting to give the impression that she was leading, or that she was very brave - either way, she looked ridiculous. Suddenly, Lashriel smelled something peculiar in the air. It was very faint, a smell much like burning wood. Whatever it was, it began to worry the horses. Lashriel tried to calm her mare as it stirred restlessly beneath her. Lashriel felt it calm under her touch, but heard a shriek of disaster from in front. Gerala's horse would not be calmed.
" Gerala!" Her mother called out urgently.
Lashriel leapt quickly off her horse, and hurried towards the daughter. Gerala, though panicked by her stallion, looked down at Lashriel in disdain.
" What are you doing?!"
" Gerala, we must calm your horse."
Lashriel saw the boar from the corner of her eye. It was in a blind rage of fear, and if provoked, would strike for the first thing that it saw.
" What are you DOING?! TAKE YOUR FILTHY HANDS FROM MY HORSE!"
" Gerala, quiet! We must calm your horse, or the boar-"
" STAY AWAY FROM MY HORSE!"
" Gerala, look out!"
The boar turned with a roar, and raced towards the panicked stallion. Lashriel made a hasty decision, shoving Gerala off and to the side. She turned to run, but the boar tossed its head, impaling the frightened horse, and trampling it to the ground. The other hunters, caught by surprised, rushed to her aide as she struggled from beneath the crushing weight of the screaming stallion. Spears stabbed into the boars gut, but it flung its attackers off with great force, and charged towards Lashriel. A paralysis of fear hit her, as she curled her arms over her head - the boar raced towards her at a suicidal pace. And suicide it was...
She shrieked as the boar suddenly lurched to it's knobby knees, and fell to the ground a few feet from where she stood, an arrow buried in it's forehead. Nearly 40 paces away, Legolas lowered the second arrow he'd already prepared, his face cold and calculating, the muscles in his neck tensed. His eyes swept the scene, a furious Gerala stumbling towards Lashriel, who shook uncontrollably.
" You. YOU!" Gerala pointed a finger at her accusingly," Look at me!"
" You're safe. Well. What more could you have asked for?" Lashriel said softly.
" Next time..." Gerala hissed, lowering her finger," Keep your tactics to yourself!"
She stalked off, and Lashriel only stared after her, unable to tear her gaze away. Something warm and uncomfortable had grown in her throat, and she turned sharply, the cloak spinning around her. Raeliquen rushed to her side as she started to get back astride her horse.
" Lashriel! Are you all right?"
" No. It would seem, no matter how hard I try, I'll never be all right." She said coldly, nudging her mare into a gallop.
Raeliquen watched her departing figure, her eyes sad and sympathetic.
*****
Plip....plip....plunk...
Lashriel tossed pebbles casually from a tree into a nearby fountain. She leaned back, her eyes watery, but dry. A shivery sigh escaped her, and she threw one in with extra force. As she continued to cast her sorrows one by one into the water basin, a tiny sneeze escaped from behind her branch. Turning around, Lashriel was surprised to see Eliza staring at her.
" ELIZA!"
Lashriel reeled backwards, nearly tumbling from her branch? Why hadn't she heard her?
" Mister Legolas has been teaching me to be very quiet." Eliza smiled.
" It seems he's done a good job of it too."
There was an uncomfortable silence as Lashriel fingered one of the pebbles, smoothing one side with her thumb. Finally, Eliza handed her a small bouquet.
" Oh, thank you." Lashriel murmured, smiling at the pleasant scent of cinnamon," It's beautiful."
" Thank you." Eliza said softly," For saving my sister."
With that, she crawled swiftly from the tree, and disappeared back into the castle. Lashriel stared at the little bundle of dried flowers, taking a final whiff, before returning to put them in a vase in her room.
******
" Absolutely not!"
Aragorn turned angrily on his second wife. He'd never had a cause or need to be angry before, but this was the last straw.
" She is a menace to this society!" She argued," She cannot be kept here! Why, only today, Gerala informs me she pushed her right off of her horse!"
" She was trying to save your daughter from being trampled by a wild boar!"
" There were thirteen hunters present." The wife sniffed," Plenty to deter the boar. I'm told that three of your men lost their lives today because of that little wretch!"
" And it could have been six or seven, INCLUDING your daughter if Lashriel hadn't stepped in." Legolas put in.
Everyone turned to see the Prince of Mirkwood standing firmly to one side. Aragorn turned a helpless glance to the Prince.
" Do not interfere," He reproached the Prince in Elvish," These affairs do no concern you."
" I will interfere. For I can stand it no longer," The Prince snapped back.
" I don't understand why you must socialize with these uncivilized barbarians." The wife finally commented.
The Prince's eyes flared as he stepped in to retort, but Aragorn interceded.
" Legolas, perhaps you should busy yourself elsewhere." Aragorn commanded," I will take care of matters here."
Legolas hesitated, then nodded politely to Aragorn, before turning his back and stalking out.
******
" It was a noble effort."
Lashriel didn't bother to turn around this time. She was used to people surprising her now.
" Apparently, noble isn't enough for some, Master Elf."
The two elves stood silent for some time, staring out at the distant waterfalls.
" But, tell me, Master elf. Did she even commend YOU? After all it was your shot that killed that boar."
Legolas blinked in surprise. He'd been more than forty paces away from it when he'd shot it. How could she have possibly seen him through the brush? Not even an elf can see so far in thick trees...
" I didn't see you." She answered his silent question," Not you exactly. I noticed the feathers on the arrow you used. You're the only visitor from Mirkwood, and your arrows are much different from the others that the Rivendell elves had used."
" Very intuitive." Legolas smiled," Much like your uncle."
Lashriel's face fell at the mention of her uncle. He was still lost, out in the wilderness, alone...perhaps wounded...and she was here feeling sorry for herself and playing at silly parties, and hunts.
" I've wasted too much time. I should be out searching. Looking for him. Not here. Dancing...fooling about while he's lost..."
Lashriel tore away from the window and began to ruffle through her things, readying a pack, as Legolas turned abruptly.
" You can't go out now." He argued," The sun's beginning to set already. The forest is murder at night."
" I thought all elves were in tuned with nature."
" You said yourself, you are not an elf." Legolas felt little satisfaction at pulling up this old argument," And besides. Elves are only in tune with the goodness in nature. At night, there are worst things beyond the horizon. Orcs, goblins. Many things that are more horrifying beyond description."
Lashriel paused in her packing. It stung her a bit, hearing her own words used against her, and by someone who'd been vying for the contrary since the beginning of their journey.Her hand reached for another article of clothing, but a strong set of callused ones pulled her back.
" Tomorrow." Legolas said firmly.
" ..."
" Lashriel..." Legolas looked at her sternly," you cannot go out tonight. It is much too dangerous..."
" And what would you know of danger?! We've been here celebrating while my uncle's gone!!!!" She snapped back.
Suddenly, she felt him pull her up roughly, his eyes as cold as ice, and his voice as sharp as a blade.
" I know a great deal more about the world beyond these borders than you," he hissed.
She wrenched herself free and began to pack more, only to have Legolas snag the bag from her grasp.
" YOU WILL NOT LEAVE." An order, not a suggestion." Until I've confirmed it with Lord Aragorn, and Lord Elrond. Do you understand?"
The strap of the bag hung loosely in her hand, before she let it drop altogether, and fell onto the bed in defeat. He was silent, placing the bag on the floor, then turning on his heels towards the door.Lashriel grimaced as he left, then turned towards the window, looking down the side. The wall was a great deal too high to scale down, and most likely there'd be guards put outside the door. Where could she go?
Lashriel woke early, as usual. Someone, in the night, had removed the mirror entirely from sight, and her heart felt lighter for that. The blue dress had been gently hung away, far from view, away from prying eyes - never again to be touched.
A sudden knock at the door startled her out of her morning reverie.
" Yes?"
A maid peered cautiously over the boundary.
" Lord Elrond requests the presence of his guests. He has organized a morning hunt, and wishes you to be present, milady."
Lashriel nodded, and the maid left as silently as she came.
******
" Well, Legolas," Aragorn peered out over the distance," It would seem you've outdistanced me again."
" Hm."
The King of Gondor turned to his long time companion, a distant look in the elf's eyes.
" Shall you humiliate me more, by telling me you weren't even paying attention?"
Legolas smiled and shook his head.
" No, I had been attempting my success."
" Then, what ails you, friend?"
" It's just..." Legolas paused, uncertain of words to express his puzzlement.
" Yes?"
Their conversation was cut short as the rest of the riding party approached. Aragorn's face fell as he saw his second wife. Legolas continued to ponder, as more elven riders joined them. Hearing his name, he turned to see Arweyon waving at him from the back of the group. Beside him, was an Elven maiden with auburn colored hair, by the name of Raeliquen. She was about 1000 years the Prince's junior, and he found her admiration of his skills rather amusing. She constantly found pleasure in challenging him to mock-tournaments, which usually ended with her commenting and praising each of his shots.
" Legolas! Where is this new friend that Arweyon has been going on so much about?" Raeliquen teased from her mount.
" Yes, Legolas? Where is my si...er...Lashriel?"
" I haven't seen her."
As he spoke, he spotted a drab figure amongst the others. She wore dull, ordinary colors that paled her face, and kept her hair bound beneath the hood of her cloak.
" It can't be that poor wretch, could it?" Raeliquen tsked.
" I'm sad to say it is."
" Oh, that poor girl. I recognize her now. She was the lovely maid in the blue gown. She looked so stunning. Why the sudden change?"
" Actually, this is her normal style. Yesterday was more Eliza's doing."
Raeliquen tsked again, before riding her horse towards Lashriel. Arweyon turned to follow, but Legolas touched his shoulder.
" Perhaps we should leave the courtesy to your friend."
******
Lashriel felt much more comfortable now that she wasn't lit up like a torch. Her hair had been bound in such a way that they hid her ears.
" Hello."
Lashriel turned, and felt her face go somewhat red in embarassment. It was an elf-maiden, with long curls of dark brown hair. She smiled reassuringly.
" My name's Raeliquen. Is this your first time in Rivendell?"
Lashriel nodded dumbly, feeling her face flush at the extra attention. The only other person who could embarass her anymore was...
" It's good to see you awake, milady." Legolas said as his horse cantered to a stop.
Raeliquen noticed Lashriel's face grow even redder as more people began to surround her, and quickly grinned.
" Come. Lord Elrond is about to begin the hunt."
******
There were thirteen hunters, seven human and 6 elves. A humongous wild boar had been discovered ravaging that side of the country, and besides being a competition, this would be a way to rid themselves of a parasite. Now, the beast was cornered panting as it roared its defiance, nearly as tall as a man, it was in the prime of its life. Boars were prized for their wild meat, and their tusks. They made a menace of themselves, uprooting many of the sacred trees that were scattered around the elve's forests.
Gerala kept her nose high, staying at the head of the party. Lashriel wasn't sure if she was attempting to give the impression that she was leading, or that she was very brave - either way, she looked ridiculous. Suddenly, Lashriel smelled something peculiar in the air. It was very faint, a smell much like burning wood. Whatever it was, it began to worry the horses. Lashriel tried to calm her mare as it stirred restlessly beneath her. Lashriel felt it calm under her touch, but heard a shriek of disaster from in front. Gerala's horse would not be calmed.
" Gerala!" Her mother called out urgently.
Lashriel leapt quickly off her horse, and hurried towards the daughter. Gerala, though panicked by her stallion, looked down at Lashriel in disdain.
" What are you doing?!"
" Gerala, we must calm your horse."
Lashriel saw the boar from the corner of her eye. It was in a blind rage of fear, and if provoked, would strike for the first thing that it saw.
" What are you DOING?! TAKE YOUR FILTHY HANDS FROM MY HORSE!"
" Gerala, quiet! We must calm your horse, or the boar-"
" STAY AWAY FROM MY HORSE!"
" Gerala, look out!"
The boar turned with a roar, and raced towards the panicked stallion. Lashriel made a hasty decision, shoving Gerala off and to the side. She turned to run, but the boar tossed its head, impaling the frightened horse, and trampling it to the ground. The other hunters, caught by surprised, rushed to her aide as she struggled from beneath the crushing weight of the screaming stallion. Spears stabbed into the boars gut, but it flung its attackers off with great force, and charged towards Lashriel. A paralysis of fear hit her, as she curled her arms over her head - the boar raced towards her at a suicidal pace. And suicide it was...
She shrieked as the boar suddenly lurched to it's knobby knees, and fell to the ground a few feet from where she stood, an arrow buried in it's forehead. Nearly 40 paces away, Legolas lowered the second arrow he'd already prepared, his face cold and calculating, the muscles in his neck tensed. His eyes swept the scene, a furious Gerala stumbling towards Lashriel, who shook uncontrollably.
" You. YOU!" Gerala pointed a finger at her accusingly," Look at me!"
" You're safe. Well. What more could you have asked for?" Lashriel said softly.
" Next time..." Gerala hissed, lowering her finger," Keep your tactics to yourself!"
She stalked off, and Lashriel only stared after her, unable to tear her gaze away. Something warm and uncomfortable had grown in her throat, and she turned sharply, the cloak spinning around her. Raeliquen rushed to her side as she started to get back astride her horse.
" Lashriel! Are you all right?"
" No. It would seem, no matter how hard I try, I'll never be all right." She said coldly, nudging her mare into a gallop.
Raeliquen watched her departing figure, her eyes sad and sympathetic.
*****
Plip....plip....plunk...
Lashriel tossed pebbles casually from a tree into a nearby fountain. She leaned back, her eyes watery, but dry. A shivery sigh escaped her, and she threw one in with extra force. As she continued to cast her sorrows one by one into the water basin, a tiny sneeze escaped from behind her branch. Turning around, Lashriel was surprised to see Eliza staring at her.
" ELIZA!"
Lashriel reeled backwards, nearly tumbling from her branch? Why hadn't she heard her?
" Mister Legolas has been teaching me to be very quiet." Eliza smiled.
" It seems he's done a good job of it too."
There was an uncomfortable silence as Lashriel fingered one of the pebbles, smoothing one side with her thumb. Finally, Eliza handed her a small bouquet.
" Oh, thank you." Lashriel murmured, smiling at the pleasant scent of cinnamon," It's beautiful."
" Thank you." Eliza said softly," For saving my sister."
With that, she crawled swiftly from the tree, and disappeared back into the castle. Lashriel stared at the little bundle of dried flowers, taking a final whiff, before returning to put them in a vase in her room.
******
" Absolutely not!"
Aragorn turned angrily on his second wife. He'd never had a cause or need to be angry before, but this was the last straw.
" She is a menace to this society!" She argued," She cannot be kept here! Why, only today, Gerala informs me she pushed her right off of her horse!"
" She was trying to save your daughter from being trampled by a wild boar!"
" There were thirteen hunters present." The wife sniffed," Plenty to deter the boar. I'm told that three of your men lost their lives today because of that little wretch!"
" And it could have been six or seven, INCLUDING your daughter if Lashriel hadn't stepped in." Legolas put in.
Everyone turned to see the Prince of Mirkwood standing firmly to one side. Aragorn turned a helpless glance to the Prince.
" Do not interfere," He reproached the Prince in Elvish," These affairs do no concern you."
" I will interfere. For I can stand it no longer," The Prince snapped back.
" I don't understand why you must socialize with these uncivilized barbarians." The wife finally commented.
The Prince's eyes flared as he stepped in to retort, but Aragorn interceded.
" Legolas, perhaps you should busy yourself elsewhere." Aragorn commanded," I will take care of matters here."
Legolas hesitated, then nodded politely to Aragorn, before turning his back and stalking out.
******
" It was a noble effort."
Lashriel didn't bother to turn around this time. She was used to people surprising her now.
" Apparently, noble isn't enough for some, Master Elf."
The two elves stood silent for some time, staring out at the distant waterfalls.
" But, tell me, Master elf. Did she even commend YOU? After all it was your shot that killed that boar."
Legolas blinked in surprise. He'd been more than forty paces away from it when he'd shot it. How could she have possibly seen him through the brush? Not even an elf can see so far in thick trees...
" I didn't see you." She answered his silent question," Not you exactly. I noticed the feathers on the arrow you used. You're the only visitor from Mirkwood, and your arrows are much different from the others that the Rivendell elves had used."
" Very intuitive." Legolas smiled," Much like your uncle."
Lashriel's face fell at the mention of her uncle. He was still lost, out in the wilderness, alone...perhaps wounded...and she was here feeling sorry for herself and playing at silly parties, and hunts.
" I've wasted too much time. I should be out searching. Looking for him. Not here. Dancing...fooling about while he's lost..."
Lashriel tore away from the window and began to ruffle through her things, readying a pack, as Legolas turned abruptly.
" You can't go out now." He argued," The sun's beginning to set already. The forest is murder at night."
" I thought all elves were in tuned with nature."
" You said yourself, you are not an elf." Legolas felt little satisfaction at pulling up this old argument," And besides. Elves are only in tune with the goodness in nature. At night, there are worst things beyond the horizon. Orcs, goblins. Many things that are more horrifying beyond description."
Lashriel paused in her packing. It stung her a bit, hearing her own words used against her, and by someone who'd been vying for the contrary since the beginning of their journey.Her hand reached for another article of clothing, but a strong set of callused ones pulled her back.
" Tomorrow." Legolas said firmly.
" ..."
" Lashriel..." Legolas looked at her sternly," you cannot go out tonight. It is much too dangerous..."
" And what would you know of danger?! We've been here celebrating while my uncle's gone!!!!" She snapped back.
Suddenly, she felt him pull her up roughly, his eyes as cold as ice, and his voice as sharp as a blade.
" I know a great deal more about the world beyond these borders than you," he hissed.
She wrenched herself free and began to pack more, only to have Legolas snag the bag from her grasp.
" YOU WILL NOT LEAVE." An order, not a suggestion." Until I've confirmed it with Lord Aragorn, and Lord Elrond. Do you understand?"
The strap of the bag hung loosely in her hand, before she let it drop altogether, and fell onto the bed in defeat. He was silent, placing the bag on the floor, then turning on his heels towards the door.Lashriel grimaced as he left, then turned towards the window, looking down the side. The wall was a great deal too high to scale down, and most likely there'd be guards put outside the door. Where could she go?