Elanim sang softly to herself as she looked down onto the shore of the small lake. The oak tree she sat in was very comfortable. She was playing with an arrow when she a saw a figure riding in the distance. She quickly climbed up further into the tree. She did not risk wanting to be seen. She did not wish to be known among anyone...
Legolas dismounted his horse. He had decided that now would be a good time for Arod to get water. He led him to the edge of the lake. In the reflection of the water he could see a giant oak tree behind him. He turned around and looked at it. After thinking a moment, he hopped onto the lower branch of the tree.
Elanim stiffened when she saw the blonde elf climb onto the tree. She barely breathed. This was not good. She closed her eyes. But they flew open when she heard her quiver go crashing to the ground. She knew she should've strapped that to her back!
Legolas jumped where he sat. He immediately notched an arrow to his bowstring. He aimed his bow high into the treetops where the arrows fell from. He sighed as he spotted a frightened girl high in the tree. Seeing her weaponless, he lowered his bow.
Elanim bit her lip when she saw him put his bow down. She clutched the trunk of the tree when he started to climb up towards her.
"It would be wise of you, Master Elf, if you stayed where you were and went on your way." She said. He cocked his head to the side.
"And why would that be?" Elanim took a deep breathe, hoping to calm her nerves. She did not wish to be filled with any more shame. All she wanted was her friend back. No one else. Just her friend...She tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
"You are getting yourself into much danger already just by speaking to me."
"How so?" He asked playfully.
"Do not question me. Now please, I beg of you, please be on your way!" She pleaded.
"Is there something that troubles you..." His voice trailed off and his eyes grew wide. For the maiden's skin and clothes began to shed a pure light.
Elanim had tried so hard to hide her light, but no longer could she control it.
"You're a-"
"Yes! I'm a fallen star. I could not do my job so I was sentanced to live here on Middle Earth!" Elanim sat back down on the branch and held her head in her hands. The others now all saw her as a disgrace, an outcast. She was forever shamed. To make matters worse, she was forced to live on the land. The sky had always been her home. Now she was forced to live as an exile.
Legolas quickly made his way up the tree to where the girl sat, as though broken.
"Do not be sad. Surely you could find happiness here." He said gently. Elanim slowly raised her head. A small smile slowly made its way across her face.
"You are not afraid to speak to an exile such as myself?"
"Is there a reason why I should?"
"Well, most would look the other way if I were to cross their path. No one wishes to speak to outcasts."
"Ah, you judge too quickly. May I be so bold as to ask you for your name?"
"Elanim. And what might your name be?"
"Legolas of Mirkwood, son of King Thranduil." She nodded, considering this information.
"Well, Legolas of Mirkwood, your behavior is quite impressive. A normal person with no rank at all wouldn't dare to speak to me. But a prince! Not bad...not bad at all." She laughed. He was about to sit down next to her, but she quickly stopped him.
"No! Sorry, I should've warned you before. It would be wise of you not to touch me. It would danger you greatly. I'm afraid I'd cause you to become seriously ill, or worse yet...cause death to come upon you. That's...part of my sentance. Any living being, save the plants and trees what have you, shall wither under my touch. That would include Men, Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits." He looked at her with pity.
"What about animals?"
"No. I was lucky to have my friend convince the Great Ones to exclude them."
"Who is this friend you speak of?" Elanim sighed.
"She and I were as close as sisters. She had a high position on the council. Wise indeed she was."
"Why do you speak of her in past-tense?" He voice was gentle and soothing. Elanim caught herself as she was about to continue.
"Why am I telling you all of this? I barely know anything about you, but yet here I am going into the story of my life and problems! No. No more. I am sorry, Legolas, but I do not wish to speak of any more." She grabbed her pack and gracefully jumped down to the ground. After grabbing her quiver that lay on the floor, she ran like lightning across the earth.
"Wait!" Legolas yelled after her. He quickly made his down the branches of the tree. He mounted Arod, who had finished drinking, and galloped after the fallen star.
Legolas dismounted his horse. He had decided that now would be a good time for Arod to get water. He led him to the edge of the lake. In the reflection of the water he could see a giant oak tree behind him. He turned around and looked at it. After thinking a moment, he hopped onto the lower branch of the tree.
Elanim stiffened when she saw the blonde elf climb onto the tree. She barely breathed. This was not good. She closed her eyes. But they flew open when she heard her quiver go crashing to the ground. She knew she should've strapped that to her back!
Legolas jumped where he sat. He immediately notched an arrow to his bowstring. He aimed his bow high into the treetops where the arrows fell from. He sighed as he spotted a frightened girl high in the tree. Seeing her weaponless, he lowered his bow.
Elanim bit her lip when she saw him put his bow down. She clutched the trunk of the tree when he started to climb up towards her.
"It would be wise of you, Master Elf, if you stayed where you were and went on your way." She said. He cocked his head to the side.
"And why would that be?" Elanim took a deep breathe, hoping to calm her nerves. She did not wish to be filled with any more shame. All she wanted was her friend back. No one else. Just her friend...She tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
"You are getting yourself into much danger already just by speaking to me."
"How so?" He asked playfully.
"Do not question me. Now please, I beg of you, please be on your way!" She pleaded.
"Is there something that troubles you..." His voice trailed off and his eyes grew wide. For the maiden's skin and clothes began to shed a pure light.
Elanim had tried so hard to hide her light, but no longer could she control it.
"You're a-"
"Yes! I'm a fallen star. I could not do my job so I was sentanced to live here on Middle Earth!" Elanim sat back down on the branch and held her head in her hands. The others now all saw her as a disgrace, an outcast. She was forever shamed. To make matters worse, she was forced to live on the land. The sky had always been her home. Now she was forced to live as an exile.
Legolas quickly made his way up the tree to where the girl sat, as though broken.
"Do not be sad. Surely you could find happiness here." He said gently. Elanim slowly raised her head. A small smile slowly made its way across her face.
"You are not afraid to speak to an exile such as myself?"
"Is there a reason why I should?"
"Well, most would look the other way if I were to cross their path. No one wishes to speak to outcasts."
"Ah, you judge too quickly. May I be so bold as to ask you for your name?"
"Elanim. And what might your name be?"
"Legolas of Mirkwood, son of King Thranduil." She nodded, considering this information.
"Well, Legolas of Mirkwood, your behavior is quite impressive. A normal person with no rank at all wouldn't dare to speak to me. But a prince! Not bad...not bad at all." She laughed. He was about to sit down next to her, but she quickly stopped him.
"No! Sorry, I should've warned you before. It would be wise of you not to touch me. It would danger you greatly. I'm afraid I'd cause you to become seriously ill, or worse yet...cause death to come upon you. That's...part of my sentance. Any living being, save the plants and trees what have you, shall wither under my touch. That would include Men, Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits." He looked at her with pity.
"What about animals?"
"No. I was lucky to have my friend convince the Great Ones to exclude them."
"Who is this friend you speak of?" Elanim sighed.
"She and I were as close as sisters. She had a high position on the council. Wise indeed she was."
"Why do you speak of her in past-tense?" He voice was gentle and soothing. Elanim caught herself as she was about to continue.
"Why am I telling you all of this? I barely know anything about you, but yet here I am going into the story of my life and problems! No. No more. I am sorry, Legolas, but I do not wish to speak of any more." She grabbed her pack and gracefully jumped down to the ground. After grabbing her quiver that lay on the floor, she ran like lightning across the earth.
"Wait!" Legolas yelled after her. He quickly made his down the branches of the tree. He mounted Arod, who had finished drinking, and galloped after the fallen star.