A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Here is chapter 8! Wow, I didn't expect it to
be this long. Please keep reading!
Part 8 - The Mystery Of The Disappearing Princess
It was approximately a year later, and no sign had been seen of Legolas or his sister since the day they had left Rivendell after Alwyn's birthday. Strangely, Alwyn felt their loss deeply. She had grown quite close to Mariyen while she had been around, and Avardo was just not the same without her. Alwyn couldn't understand it. One moment there they had been...laughing, flirting, getting along like a house on fire, but then she just up and left without a real reason, and Avardo had been heartbroken.
The day soon came, though, when his spirits were lifted.
"A letter has come for you Avardo," said Elrond one day at breakfast. Avardo took it glumly, not expecting anything special. He ripped it open and read it quickly. Then he looked away, with a disbelieving grin, and then reread the letter twice. Finally he let out a whoop of joy, and Alwyn snatched the letter off him.
My friend,
I would be so grateful if you could come to my home in Mirkwood immediately to pick up a package of great importance for your uncle. Feel free to stay a few days here too in the village, and perhaps your friends up at the palace will visit.
Jehewith
Alwyn smiled. Jehewith, Avardo's friend in Mirkwood, had invited him over for a couple of days to the forest. Avardo looked at Elrond eagerly.
"When can I leave?" he asked, and Elrond gestured to the door.
"Anytime you like!" he said, and Avardo rushed out to get his things ready. Alwyn watched him go and her heart swelled with joy. Perhaps Mariyen had not deserted him after all, and would visit her brother while he stayed in the village. She went up to the balcony of her bedroom and watched out of the window. After about half an hour, she could see her brother riding hastily up the path and she waved at him, smiling. She ran a hand through her long, dark hair and wished that she were also going to see Mariyen. She couldn't wait to hear all the news when he got back.
***
A day passed...then two days...and then three days had come and gone and still nothing was heard. Alwyn took this as a good sign, and hoped that Avardo would bring good news when he returned. On the fourth day, however, a letter arrived from Avardo, and it was addressed to Alwyn and Alwyn only. She took it up to her room with trepidation and opened it. It read:
My dear sister,
Jehewith is well, and so am I, so you need not worry about that. I say my health is well, but my heart, I am grieved to say, is not. Mariyen's friend, Elsbeth, came to visit me today at Jehewith's house, and she told me (after looking around the village house with distaste) that Mariyen has not the time to come and see me, and that she is kept busy in various places around Mirkwood. I must conclude, Alwyn, that Mariyen no longer cares for me. I will return tomorrow morning directly.
Avardo
Alwyn dropped the letter to the floor of her room and a single, solitary tear found it's way down her cheek. She wiped it away, nevertheless, and ran downstairs to her uncle to tell him the news. Elrond looked sadly at his niece.
"Now there would have been a great match, but, obviously it was never meant to be," he said. Alwyn gave him a determined stare.
"No, Uncle, it cannot be. I am sure Mariyen still loves Avardo. But I do not know why she has left him," Alwyn replied and ran out of the room and into the garden. She was just coming out of the door to the grounds when she bumped right into a young elf. She picked herself up hastily and apologised. "Oh goodness! I'm sorry!" she said, and the elf smiled.
"That's alright. Am I to understand you are the Lady Alwyn?" he said.
"Yes, I am. Who might you be?"
"My name is Rethnín. I am a friend to the Prince of Mirkwood, just arrived from the forest. He told me to wait for him here, as he is visiting soon I believe." Rethnín said.
Alwyn's eyes widened in hope. "With his sister?" she asked with eager anticipation.
"No, alone, I believe."
Alwyn's heart sank. "Oh. I was asking for my brother you see...," she said sadly.
"I am told by the Prince himself, Lady, that he recently saved his young sister from a very imprudent marriage," Rethnín said animatedly.
Alwyn spun around and took hold of the elf's arm. "What!?" she exclaimed. "Who was it? Why?"
Rethnín looked a little dazed. "I...I believe there were some strong objections to the suitor, whoever he was. I believe the Prince persuaded his sister not to carry on the relationship."
"Oh...good grief!" Alwyn put a hand to her head and leaned against the wall to steady herself. "I knew it...must've been him...that stupid excuse for an elf!"
Rethnín backed away and shot Alwyn a concerned glance. "I'll...go? Shall I?" He didn't wait for an answer, and marched off down the corridor.
Alwyn merely sat on the floor in complete shock and utter anger, most of it directed at that imbecile of an elf Legolas Greenleaf.
Part 8 - The Mystery Of The Disappearing Princess
It was approximately a year later, and no sign had been seen of Legolas or his sister since the day they had left Rivendell after Alwyn's birthday. Strangely, Alwyn felt their loss deeply. She had grown quite close to Mariyen while she had been around, and Avardo was just not the same without her. Alwyn couldn't understand it. One moment there they had been...laughing, flirting, getting along like a house on fire, but then she just up and left without a real reason, and Avardo had been heartbroken.
The day soon came, though, when his spirits were lifted.
"A letter has come for you Avardo," said Elrond one day at breakfast. Avardo took it glumly, not expecting anything special. He ripped it open and read it quickly. Then he looked away, with a disbelieving grin, and then reread the letter twice. Finally he let out a whoop of joy, and Alwyn snatched the letter off him.
My friend,
I would be so grateful if you could come to my home in Mirkwood immediately to pick up a package of great importance for your uncle. Feel free to stay a few days here too in the village, and perhaps your friends up at the palace will visit.
Jehewith
Alwyn smiled. Jehewith, Avardo's friend in Mirkwood, had invited him over for a couple of days to the forest. Avardo looked at Elrond eagerly.
"When can I leave?" he asked, and Elrond gestured to the door.
"Anytime you like!" he said, and Avardo rushed out to get his things ready. Alwyn watched him go and her heart swelled with joy. Perhaps Mariyen had not deserted him after all, and would visit her brother while he stayed in the village. She went up to the balcony of her bedroom and watched out of the window. After about half an hour, she could see her brother riding hastily up the path and she waved at him, smiling. She ran a hand through her long, dark hair and wished that she were also going to see Mariyen. She couldn't wait to hear all the news when he got back.
***
A day passed...then two days...and then three days had come and gone and still nothing was heard. Alwyn took this as a good sign, and hoped that Avardo would bring good news when he returned. On the fourth day, however, a letter arrived from Avardo, and it was addressed to Alwyn and Alwyn only. She took it up to her room with trepidation and opened it. It read:
My dear sister,
Jehewith is well, and so am I, so you need not worry about that. I say my health is well, but my heart, I am grieved to say, is not. Mariyen's friend, Elsbeth, came to visit me today at Jehewith's house, and she told me (after looking around the village house with distaste) that Mariyen has not the time to come and see me, and that she is kept busy in various places around Mirkwood. I must conclude, Alwyn, that Mariyen no longer cares for me. I will return tomorrow morning directly.
Avardo
Alwyn dropped the letter to the floor of her room and a single, solitary tear found it's way down her cheek. She wiped it away, nevertheless, and ran downstairs to her uncle to tell him the news. Elrond looked sadly at his niece.
"Now there would have been a great match, but, obviously it was never meant to be," he said. Alwyn gave him a determined stare.
"No, Uncle, it cannot be. I am sure Mariyen still loves Avardo. But I do not know why she has left him," Alwyn replied and ran out of the room and into the garden. She was just coming out of the door to the grounds when she bumped right into a young elf. She picked herself up hastily and apologised. "Oh goodness! I'm sorry!" she said, and the elf smiled.
"That's alright. Am I to understand you are the Lady Alwyn?" he said.
"Yes, I am. Who might you be?"
"My name is Rethnín. I am a friend to the Prince of Mirkwood, just arrived from the forest. He told me to wait for him here, as he is visiting soon I believe." Rethnín said.
Alwyn's eyes widened in hope. "With his sister?" she asked with eager anticipation.
"No, alone, I believe."
Alwyn's heart sank. "Oh. I was asking for my brother you see...," she said sadly.
"I am told by the Prince himself, Lady, that he recently saved his young sister from a very imprudent marriage," Rethnín said animatedly.
Alwyn spun around and took hold of the elf's arm. "What!?" she exclaimed. "Who was it? Why?"
Rethnín looked a little dazed. "I...I believe there were some strong objections to the suitor, whoever he was. I believe the Prince persuaded his sister not to carry on the relationship."
"Oh...good grief!" Alwyn put a hand to her head and leaned against the wall to steady herself. "I knew it...must've been him...that stupid excuse for an elf!"
Rethnín backed away and shot Alwyn a concerned glance. "I'll...go? Shall I?" He didn't wait for an answer, and marched off down the corridor.
Alwyn merely sat on the floor in complete shock and utter anger, most of it directed at that imbecile of an elf Legolas Greenleaf.