A/N: I'm so sorry for taking so long to get this chapter out! I got home late after watching The Two Towers on opening day and my brain just wouldn't work after that! Whoever said that there is A LOT more Legolas scenes in this movie wasn't kidding! Not that I'm complaining, though. LOL
Chapter 17
Legolas didn't know what to make of his current situation with Ziendriel. She was avoiding him, that much was clear, but he did not know why. After their kiss at the ball three days ago, something had changed and so had her attitude towards him. He thought that their kiss had sealed their unspoken commitment to one another, but her actions told him otherwise. He had so many questions to ask her!
If she would only agree to see me! He thought, wryly, as he walked the halls of the palace. Gragoc and Jhad accompanied with him, just as silent, just as deep in thought. Apparently, he was not the only one confused by Ziendriel's actions.
The day after the ball, the four of them had gone in search of the wayward maiden, only to come up empty-handed at the end of their hunt. Legolas had gone to her house, while Gragoc, Lorith and Jhad had searched the woods, palace and House of Healing, respectively. She had either just stepped out or had not been there. Her mother had said Ziendriel had awakened early and left before anyone else had risen. Velia had told them that she had sent the younger Healer off on some errands in the village.
The four of them had then headed out to the village, but were unlucky; no one had seen or heard the lady. And they most certainly did not see her.
"Curious," Jhad had murmured, as they had made their way back to the palace. The other three could only nod in agreement.
The two days that followed were met by the same fate: they couldn't find Ziendriel. It was becoming quite frustrating to them; they were, after all, the best hunters in the kingdom. They could track birds on a cloudy day or deer on fresh fallen rain in the forest. Why could they not find their friend?
As if reading his thoughts, Jhad said, "I am beginning to think that our fair Ziendriel does not wish to see us." They had already made their way down to the main floor of the palace and headed immediately for the dining hall.
Gragoc snorted. "Your wisdom astounds me, Jhad!" he said, sarcastically, "I think it was obvious the day after the ball!"
It was Legolas' turn to chuckle. "You did not see it then!" he shot back, "You only mention this now in hindsight!" He arched an eyebrow at his friend.
"I thought it was obvious!" Gragoc returned, haughtily. This caused his friends to roll their eyes.
"What was obvious?" Lorith asked, coming up to them. He had just entered the hall from the gardens and was looking quite happy.
"That you are so happy," Jhad answered, looking at him with suspicious eyes. Upon further scrutiny, he exclaimed, "Are you blushing?" He pointed to the slight pink upon his face.
Lorith ducked his head, his cheeks turning a brighter shade of pink. "The morning air has done wonders for me," he offered, lamely.
Gragoc raised an unbelieving brow. "A walk in the garden," he commented, remembering his entrance, "In morning's first light." His eyes widened. "Who is it?" he demanded.
Lorith blushed. "No one I would introduce to you, lunkhead!" he said, smugly.
Gragoc just chuckled. "I will find out soon enough, Lorith!" he warned him, "You could never keep a secret!" He laughed when Lorith stuck his tongue out at him, then immediately sobered. It was something Ziendriel had often done to tease them. Funny how a small action such as that could remind me of her, he thought, somberly.
Legolas understood immediately. "Come," he said to his friends, clapping Gragoc on the shoulder, "We will eat first, then continue with our search for Ziendriel." He began to lead them to the dining hall, but was suddenly stopped by Jhad, whose eyes had abruptly noted something.
"Look," he whispered to them, his head nodding towards the end of the hall.
They all watched as Ziendriel stood in the front entrance archway, deep in conversation with another Healer. She held a scroll of parchment in her hand and gestured with it as she talked, during which the other simply nodded her head. The two were rapidly approaching them when the other Healer said something to Ziendriel and veered off into the hallway next to the dining hall. Ziendriel watched her go, calling out her farewell, then smashed right into Gragoc as her head turned.
"Oommf!" she exclaimed, stumbling backwards. Four pairs of hands shot out to steady her on her feet. "Eek!" she squeaked, when her eyes met theirs.
Gragoc laughed. "That is something new!" he exclaimed, "I have done many things, but never have I made a maiden squeak like a mouse!" The others laughed.
Ziendriel blushed. "Yes, well," she murmured, averting her eyes as she untangled herself from their grasps. She smoothed down her dress, nervously clearing her throat. "I thank you, milord," she added, quickly curtsying, then pushed her way past them.
Jhad quickly grabbed her arm. "Are we playing a game of tag?" he teased, "Because I fear we have not been aware of it, milady." He waited for her to turn to him, but frowned when she did not.
"I know not of what you speak of, milord," she replied, firmly yanking her arm free. She kept her back to them.
The four Elves frowned at one another. "Ziendriel, we have been looking for you for the last three days," Legolas explained, gently grasping her hand, "We were worried when you suddenly disappeared from the ball. Why did you not tell us?"
"I-I was tired, milord," she lied, forcing her hand to go limp in his, "I did not…think to tell you; I apologize." Still, she would not turn to them.
Legolas frowned. "But," he tried again, "where have you been? If we did not know better, Ziendriel, we would think you were attempting to avoid us." The other three murmured in agreement.
He felt her hand tense, and could tell by the way her ear twitched that her jaw was clenched. After a moment, she finally turned. They were all surprised to see her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I did not think you would require my presence," she began, plucking her hand from the prince's, "once the requirements of your wager were fulfilled." She stared at them then with eyes filled with hurt and disappointment.
Legolas felt the blood drain from his face and did not have to look at his friends to guess that they were in the same state. He could tell from the tension in the air. "Y-You know," he whispered. It was not a question, but a statement. "H-How?"
She laughed bitterly. "Does it matter?" she demanded. When they did not answer she shook her head. "I know the truth now," she added, "And, that is what matters. I do not wish to hear of your explanations or justifications. You have all lied to me and I do not want to hear more. Three days may have passed, but I fear it is not enough for me to forgive."
"Ziendriel," Gragoc began, desperate to explain. She silenced him with a look he had never seen in her eyes before.
Their green color, typically the color of moss on a fresh morning, now held the brilliance of an emerald sparkling in the sunlight. There was a fire behind those orbs, stoked high and furious, and it held such passion that Gragoc could not utter a word.
"NO!" she cried, her eyes blazing as she frowned, "No more lies! You may speak of them to each other with the purpose to soothe your guilty hearts but I will never hear them! Never will I look upon you as friends or noble elves who are due respect. Never again do I wish to lay eyes upon the four of you, for surely my heart will both break and cry with anguish! I will remove you from my heart and never will I remember your names!" Her tears were now flowing freely down her cheeks, but her head stood proud on her shoulders. She was breathing hard, her chest rising and falling in rapid succession.
The hall had become deathly quiet. The four elven-lords had been struck silent with her impassioned speech, as had many of the few servants roaming the halls. They all looked to the maiden with wide eyes, surprised such fire had come from such a lady.
Ziendriel glanced around, but did not feel repentant. "I will take my leave now," she told the prince and his friends, "And I ask that this be the end of our acquaintances. I pray that you honor this request." She curtsied and turned on her heel, making her way down the hall.
Legolas stood there for a moment, watching her retreating back. Something suddenly clicked in his head and he lunged forward, intent on chasing her. Gragoc and the others, however, seemed to understand the situation from a different view, for they held fast to the prince's arms.
"Leave her be," Gragoc said, his voice low. He tightened his hold on his friend's wrist. "At least for now."
Legolas struggled mightily. "Release me!" he yelled, but they refused.
"Do you not understand?" Jhad hissed, "She has been hurt by our actions; she is reacting to that! Whatever we have to say to her will be better received when she has had a chance to heal."
Lorith stepped in front of Legolas, his eyes somber but firm. "He is right, Legolas," he said, "The best we can do now is to grant Ziendriel's request. We will all benefit from it."
After a moment, Legolas ceased his struggles. "What if she does not heal?" he asked them, "What if she holds to her word and we are purged from her heart?" He looked at them then, his eyes full of frustration. He wanted to go to her and demand she listen to him.
Gragoc shook his head. "We must hope that it will not come to that," he answered, "We must hope that she will desire the truth and seek it from us. Until then, we must wait."
Legolas sighed. The wisdom of his friend was both logical and practical; but it did not mean he liked it. "Waiting was never one of my stronger points," he muttered.
The others chuckled, then led him into the dinning hall.
Tiri stood before her mistress, patiently listening to her instructions. She kept her eyes forward as her mistress paced the floor, carefully outlining her tasks for the day. Tiri listened and memorized the list as any loyal servant would, for that was exactly what she was.
She had met her mistress when they had been mere elflings. Her mistress had saved her from the roaring river after Tiri had disobeyed her mother and wandered to close to the water. She had fallen in after losing her balance on an old log that had fallen over and been dragged under by the quick current. Her mistress had saved her, being a strong swimmer, and from that day on, Tiri had always pledged her loyalties to her mistress.
"Lastly, Tiri," her mistress was now saying, breaking her from her thoughts, "You will deliver this to Grien; he is expecting this, so make sure you give it to him." She handed the rolled up parchment to her servant. "It is a most important detail," she added, giving her a conspiratorial wink.
Tiri grinned, and gladly accepted the scroll. Like all documents that came from her mistress' desk, the parchment had been dyed lightly with the prominent color of the family's crest. The paper now held a tinge of blue.
"Be careful with this, Tiri," her mistress warned, softly, almost deadly, "I have come too far to lose now." She held her servant's chin firmly in her hand.
Tiri slightly trembled, seeing the sudden hardness in her mistress' eyes. It was times like these that Tiri actually feared the lady. "Yes, milady," she answered, her voice slightly trembling, "I will not fail you."
Her mistress released her then, smiling. "Very good, Tiri," she said, "You, my faithful and obedient servant, will be greatly rewarded for your loyalties."
Tiri curtsied, then stepped out of the room. Her mistress was a good woman and deserved what she wished. I will make sure she gets what she wants, Tiri thought, resolutely, Mistress always gets what she wants. And what she wants, is the prince!