A/N: I don't own any characters, places or ideas from The Lord Of The
Rings, but I do own all the characters you don't recognize in this story.
It's exam time for me, so I'll be writing this story in between revision
sessions! I'll try to update as often as I can, however. This is based on
the plot of Pride and Prejudice, but it is not the same story.
Part Four: Departure Of The Hated And The Loved
The day soon came of the Prince and Princesses departure, and Alwyn didn't show it but she was rather glad. They went off early in the morning by horseback, after a hasty goodbye to Alwyn and Avardo. Alwyn was, of course, sad to see Mariyen go as she had proven herself a dear sweet girl, and not proud like her brother. She was happy for Legolas to leave, however, as she did not think she could stand any more haughty looks and penetrating stares from him any longer. Avardo had shut himself into his room after Mariyen had left, and Alwyn was now trying her hardest to make him come out for dinner.
"You'll see her soon, brother!" she called pleadingly. No answer. "We can invite her in a couple of months or so!" She heard him snort derisively inside. "Come on, you must eat something."
"Leave me be, I say!" he shouted from inside, and Alwyn sighed and gave up. She crossed the hall and went into her own room, locking the door and throwing herself onto her bed. It had been an exhausting couple of days.
***
Exactly two weeks later, a letter arrived from Mirkwood, and was received with great delight and cheerfulness by Avardo. He ripped it open and read it aloud to all at the breakfast table.
iMy dear friend,
We would be honoured if you would agree to visit my brother and I at Mirkwood this Spring. Please stay for any amount of time you wish, as I would be overjoyed to see you again. We await your answer directly.
Mariyen/i
Avardo lowered the paper and Alwyn could see that he was grinning. A surge of happiness welled up inside her for her brother, and she could see in his eyes that he liked Mariyen very much. She only hoped it would last.
Avardo left for Mirkwood that afternoon, after sending a letter back telling of his immediate departure. Alwyn waved to him as he rode off into the forest of Rivendell, and then went back up to her room to pass the time away with a book. It was only about an hour later when a large black cloud moved in from the east and began to rain down heavily on all and sundry, soaking Alwyn as she hurried to get off the balcony of her room. Large fat raindrops fell down from the sky unceasingly, and Alwyn suddenly remembered her brother, riding to Mirkwood on horseback in the storm. Alwyn fervently tried to look for him out of a window but he was long gone, and probably right in the middle of the rain storm.
"Ah well," she said to herself. "The worst that can happen is that he'll get a little wet. Right?"
***
iMy dear Alwyn,
I am afraid I have unpleasant news. Your brother, after having ridden to our forest on horseback yesterday, is unwell. He is not, however, in a fit state to come home and so we are keeping him here with us until he is well enough to return. Please do not worry yourself, it is not a serious illness, but it will keep him confined to his bed for at least a week. Feel free to visit Avardo whenever you like, and stay a few days with us.
Mariyen/i
"Uncle, I think I must go to him," Alwyn said. Elrond looked at her incredulously.
"Go to him? I don't see why, there is nothing for you in Mirkwood. Anyway, this illness is not such a bad thing. At least Avardo and Mariyen will be together for a while. Maybe something will happen, eh?"
"Uncle, he is bed ridden. He cannot propose to her while lying in bed and coughing. He is ill, and I must go to him!" she insisted. Elrond sighed, and finally agreed, and Alwyn departed that very evening in the carriage.
***
Alwyn had not been in the carraige for more than three hours when a sudden snapping noise signified that the journey would not be able to continue. It was sunset, and she and the carriage driver were not more than ten minutes on foot from the palace of Mirkwood. Abruptly the driver's head appeared beside her.
"Not gonna be able to go on, my Lady, I'm afraid," he said, "The wheel's broken."
Alwyn looked outside. "I can go on myself, Harleth, if that is alright. It's not dark yet, I'll be perfectly safe."
"If you're sure," he said, and went around the back of the cart to look at the wheel. Alwyn jumped lightly out of the carraige and got her luggage, making her way steadily through the trees in the direction of the palace (which Haleth had pointed to and directed her towards). The journey took about ten minutes, and Alwyn was just approaching the palace, and was walking around a large willow, when a tall handsome figure appeared walking towards her, obviously unaware that she was there. He was almost upon her when he looked up and realised that she was standing there.
"Prince Legolas!" Alwyn exclaimed in surprise. Legolas merely looked at her, a slightly shocked expression on his face aswell. "I... I have come to enquire after my brother."
"On foot?" Legolas asked, taking in Alwyn's muddy dress hem and somewhat untidy hair. She ran a hand through her unkempt locks uneasily, and shot him a cold glance.
"As you see," she replied, and then looked up towards the palace. "Would you take me to him?"
"Of course," Legolas said with a nod, and Alwyn marched past him toward the palace. Legolas paused and watched her retreating form for a second before chuckling under his breath and following.
Part Four: Departure Of The Hated And The Loved
The day soon came of the Prince and Princesses departure, and Alwyn didn't show it but she was rather glad. They went off early in the morning by horseback, after a hasty goodbye to Alwyn and Avardo. Alwyn was, of course, sad to see Mariyen go as she had proven herself a dear sweet girl, and not proud like her brother. She was happy for Legolas to leave, however, as she did not think she could stand any more haughty looks and penetrating stares from him any longer. Avardo had shut himself into his room after Mariyen had left, and Alwyn was now trying her hardest to make him come out for dinner.
"You'll see her soon, brother!" she called pleadingly. No answer. "We can invite her in a couple of months or so!" She heard him snort derisively inside. "Come on, you must eat something."
"Leave me be, I say!" he shouted from inside, and Alwyn sighed and gave up. She crossed the hall and went into her own room, locking the door and throwing herself onto her bed. It had been an exhausting couple of days.
***
Exactly two weeks later, a letter arrived from Mirkwood, and was received with great delight and cheerfulness by Avardo. He ripped it open and read it aloud to all at the breakfast table.
iMy dear friend,
We would be honoured if you would agree to visit my brother and I at Mirkwood this Spring. Please stay for any amount of time you wish, as I would be overjoyed to see you again. We await your answer directly.
Mariyen/i
Avardo lowered the paper and Alwyn could see that he was grinning. A surge of happiness welled up inside her for her brother, and she could see in his eyes that he liked Mariyen very much. She only hoped it would last.
Avardo left for Mirkwood that afternoon, after sending a letter back telling of his immediate departure. Alwyn waved to him as he rode off into the forest of Rivendell, and then went back up to her room to pass the time away with a book. It was only about an hour later when a large black cloud moved in from the east and began to rain down heavily on all and sundry, soaking Alwyn as she hurried to get off the balcony of her room. Large fat raindrops fell down from the sky unceasingly, and Alwyn suddenly remembered her brother, riding to Mirkwood on horseback in the storm. Alwyn fervently tried to look for him out of a window but he was long gone, and probably right in the middle of the rain storm.
"Ah well," she said to herself. "The worst that can happen is that he'll get a little wet. Right?"
***
iMy dear Alwyn,
I am afraid I have unpleasant news. Your brother, after having ridden to our forest on horseback yesterday, is unwell. He is not, however, in a fit state to come home and so we are keeping him here with us until he is well enough to return. Please do not worry yourself, it is not a serious illness, but it will keep him confined to his bed for at least a week. Feel free to visit Avardo whenever you like, and stay a few days with us.
Mariyen/i
"Uncle, I think I must go to him," Alwyn said. Elrond looked at her incredulously.
"Go to him? I don't see why, there is nothing for you in Mirkwood. Anyway, this illness is not such a bad thing. At least Avardo and Mariyen will be together for a while. Maybe something will happen, eh?"
"Uncle, he is bed ridden. He cannot propose to her while lying in bed and coughing. He is ill, and I must go to him!" she insisted. Elrond sighed, and finally agreed, and Alwyn departed that very evening in the carriage.
***
Alwyn had not been in the carraige for more than three hours when a sudden snapping noise signified that the journey would not be able to continue. It was sunset, and she and the carriage driver were not more than ten minutes on foot from the palace of Mirkwood. Abruptly the driver's head appeared beside her.
"Not gonna be able to go on, my Lady, I'm afraid," he said, "The wheel's broken."
Alwyn looked outside. "I can go on myself, Harleth, if that is alright. It's not dark yet, I'll be perfectly safe."
"If you're sure," he said, and went around the back of the cart to look at the wheel. Alwyn jumped lightly out of the carraige and got her luggage, making her way steadily through the trees in the direction of the palace (which Haleth had pointed to and directed her towards). The journey took about ten minutes, and Alwyn was just approaching the palace, and was walking around a large willow, when a tall handsome figure appeared walking towards her, obviously unaware that she was there. He was almost upon her when he looked up and realised that she was standing there.
"Prince Legolas!" Alwyn exclaimed in surprise. Legolas merely looked at her, a slightly shocked expression on his face aswell. "I... I have come to enquire after my brother."
"On foot?" Legolas asked, taking in Alwyn's muddy dress hem and somewhat untidy hair. She ran a hand through her unkempt locks uneasily, and shot him a cold glance.
"As you see," she replied, and then looked up towards the palace. "Would you take me to him?"
"Of course," Legolas said with a nod, and Alwyn marched past him toward the palace. Legolas paused and watched her retreating form for a second before chuckling under his breath and following.