A/N: Once again, I don't own Elrond or Rivendell etc. *Lazily forgets to
mention she does not own Legolas* Okay! *Gets prodded with a stick* I don't
own him!!! *sniff* Sorry about lack of updatingness and stuff, but I had my
maths mock GCSE last week! I got a high Grade B...which is okay. Thanks
guys!
Part Seven: Elsbeth Makes Her Feelings Known
The next day Alwyn woke in a strangley good mood, and pranced around her room in a cheerful manner and sang loudly, not caring who heard her. She was two thousand, eight hundred and twenty-two years old today, but didn't feel any different from when she was two thousand, eight hundred and twenty- one really. But still, she was in a very good mood. Perhaps one of the reasons was that Legolas, Mariyen and the ghastly Elsbeth were leaving to go home that evening and Alwyn was always uncomfortable when in their company. She dressed, washed and got ready quickly, and spent most of the day in the library reading and talking to friends. She was badgered by young maidens all day wanting to know what it was like dancing with the Prince, but when she replied that she would have rather put her head into a bag of eels than dance with him, they backed off.
Alwyn was walking down the South corridor towards the kitchens, intent on persuading Ness to get her a small snack from the pantry, when she rounded a corner and found herself face to face with Elsbeth. 'Wonderful' she thought to herself, and smiled sweetly at the girl. Elsbeth glared at Alwyn and put her hands on her hips.
"I should like to talk to you," Elsbeth said in a cold voice full of menace.
"Should you?" Alwyn replied and raised an eyebrow. Elsbeth scowled and brought her face close to Alwyns.
"I saw you dancing with the Prince yesterday," Elsbeth said. "And I'll have you know Thranduil is intent on him marrying me. It has all been arranged."
"I see!" Alwyn said, a little shocked.
"If you are engaged to him, then it will not work out. He will marry me, it was meant to be from the start! What have you to say to that?"
"Well, if you are so sure that he is going to marry you, then why do you ask if he is engaged to me?"
"Tell me once and for all," Elsbeth exploded, and Alwyn stepped backwards. "Are you engaged to him?"
"I am not."
"Well then!"
"Fine."
Elsbeth turned on her heel and marched away, Alwyn watching her go in disgust. "As if I'd want to marry that pathetic excuse for a Prince anyway. Ha!" But she couldn't put much feeling into it.
***
The evening of their departure finally came, and Alwyn stayed in her room whilst the goodbyes were being exchanged. After an hour, she ventured outside, only to see Avardo storming down the hall with what looked like tears in his eyes.
"Avardo!" Alwyn exclaimed in utter shock, and she ran to him. He merely went into his room, however, and closed the door firmly. "Tell me what is wrong!"
"Leave me," came a defeated voice from inside, and then sound of something large and heavy being kicked with great force. Alwyn winced, and hurried off to her uncle for an explanation.
"Alwyn," he said as she came into his office. Elrond gave his niece a sorrowful gaze, and held out a piece of paper which Alwyn immediately saw to be a letter. With Legolas' signiture at the bottom.
Lord Elrond,
Thank you for your kind welcome, and let me assure you that myself, my sister and her friend Elsbeth greatly enjoyed the party you threw in honour of your niece's birthday. There is, however, some buisiness in Mirkwood which cannot be avoided. My Father wishes us to remain in Mirkwood for the rest of the year, and as there are not any special circumstances that require us in Rivendell, we mean not to return to Imladris for at least another two.
It was signed hastily with the elvish signiture 'Greenleaf'. Alwyn's heart sank, but not because of the Prince's departure. Her heart sank for Avardo. 'As there are not any special circumstances that require us in Rivendell...' The words went around and around in her head. What should she make of this? She knew that Mariyen loved Avardo. She could see it day by day. Did Mariyen believe that Avardo did not care for her? No, surely not, his love for her was plain for all to see! Wasn't it? Alwyn knew deep down that Avardo was good at concealing his feelings. He always had been...always would be. But surely Legolas and Mariyen could see through his calm exterior. Surely they could detect the deep love that burned in him for the Princess?
Alwyn put her head in her hands, and Elrond placed a hand on her shoulder in a concerned way. He, too, had sensed her brother's love for Mariyen, and it grieved him to see his niece and nephew upset.
After a while Alwyn went upstairs and knocked again on her brother's door.
"Avi? Avardo? Come out, please, Avi," she called, but all she could hear were low grumbles and bangs from inside. She sighed and went into her own room, throwing herself onto the bed, the days events swirling around in her mind.
Part Seven: Elsbeth Makes Her Feelings Known
The next day Alwyn woke in a strangley good mood, and pranced around her room in a cheerful manner and sang loudly, not caring who heard her. She was two thousand, eight hundred and twenty-two years old today, but didn't feel any different from when she was two thousand, eight hundred and twenty- one really. But still, she was in a very good mood. Perhaps one of the reasons was that Legolas, Mariyen and the ghastly Elsbeth were leaving to go home that evening and Alwyn was always uncomfortable when in their company. She dressed, washed and got ready quickly, and spent most of the day in the library reading and talking to friends. She was badgered by young maidens all day wanting to know what it was like dancing with the Prince, but when she replied that she would have rather put her head into a bag of eels than dance with him, they backed off.
Alwyn was walking down the South corridor towards the kitchens, intent on persuading Ness to get her a small snack from the pantry, when she rounded a corner and found herself face to face with Elsbeth. 'Wonderful' she thought to herself, and smiled sweetly at the girl. Elsbeth glared at Alwyn and put her hands on her hips.
"I should like to talk to you," Elsbeth said in a cold voice full of menace.
"Should you?" Alwyn replied and raised an eyebrow. Elsbeth scowled and brought her face close to Alwyns.
"I saw you dancing with the Prince yesterday," Elsbeth said. "And I'll have you know Thranduil is intent on him marrying me. It has all been arranged."
"I see!" Alwyn said, a little shocked.
"If you are engaged to him, then it will not work out. He will marry me, it was meant to be from the start! What have you to say to that?"
"Well, if you are so sure that he is going to marry you, then why do you ask if he is engaged to me?"
"Tell me once and for all," Elsbeth exploded, and Alwyn stepped backwards. "Are you engaged to him?"
"I am not."
"Well then!"
"Fine."
Elsbeth turned on her heel and marched away, Alwyn watching her go in disgust. "As if I'd want to marry that pathetic excuse for a Prince anyway. Ha!" But she couldn't put much feeling into it.
***
The evening of their departure finally came, and Alwyn stayed in her room whilst the goodbyes were being exchanged. After an hour, she ventured outside, only to see Avardo storming down the hall with what looked like tears in his eyes.
"Avardo!" Alwyn exclaimed in utter shock, and she ran to him. He merely went into his room, however, and closed the door firmly. "Tell me what is wrong!"
"Leave me," came a defeated voice from inside, and then sound of something large and heavy being kicked with great force. Alwyn winced, and hurried off to her uncle for an explanation.
"Alwyn," he said as she came into his office. Elrond gave his niece a sorrowful gaze, and held out a piece of paper which Alwyn immediately saw to be a letter. With Legolas' signiture at the bottom.
Lord Elrond,
Thank you for your kind welcome, and let me assure you that myself, my sister and her friend Elsbeth greatly enjoyed the party you threw in honour of your niece's birthday. There is, however, some buisiness in Mirkwood which cannot be avoided. My Father wishes us to remain in Mirkwood for the rest of the year, and as there are not any special circumstances that require us in Rivendell, we mean not to return to Imladris for at least another two.
It was signed hastily with the elvish signiture 'Greenleaf'. Alwyn's heart sank, but not because of the Prince's departure. Her heart sank for Avardo. 'As there are not any special circumstances that require us in Rivendell...' The words went around and around in her head. What should she make of this? She knew that Mariyen loved Avardo. She could see it day by day. Did Mariyen believe that Avardo did not care for her? No, surely not, his love for her was plain for all to see! Wasn't it? Alwyn knew deep down that Avardo was good at concealing his feelings. He always had been...always would be. But surely Legolas and Mariyen could see through his calm exterior. Surely they could detect the deep love that burned in him for the Princess?
Alwyn put her head in her hands, and Elrond placed a hand on her shoulder in a concerned way. He, too, had sensed her brother's love for Mariyen, and it grieved him to see his niece and nephew upset.
After a while Alwyn went upstairs and knocked again on her brother's door.
"Avi? Avardo? Come out, please, Avi," she called, but all she could hear were low grumbles and bangs from inside. She sighed and went into her own room, throwing herself onto the bed, the days events swirling around in her mind.