The "little feast" was not little at all. And as soon as she walked in,
Irulan knew that avoiding this one was not to be one of the easiest tasks
she had anointed herself. The grand hall was already packed and crowded,
but it seemed like more and more were arriving by the minute. This year
would outshine all the past years for sure!
Irulan halted and took in the view - she could make out most of the common dresses of the various "houses" that had political or regional power in Middle Earth. Black, red, silver, blue and green - all the colors were in abundance tonight. The men were dressed quite brightly and the woman shone like flickering candles in their attires. She had met many from almost all of these houses over the past years in this or that occasion and frankly, knowing their political status and background well enough, she had no further interest in any of them.
Her eyes tried to locate the visitors she was looking forward to see tonight - the elves. She had met elves before, but never got the opportunity to talk to them in length. The elven race seemed so different from men and though many things failed to do so, they fascinated her and held her curiosity. She knew that elves from the neighboring woods of Mirkwood were invited today and having read a lot about them, she had not yet met a Mirkwood elf. They were known as fierce warriors, very deadly with the bow. She was looking forward to seeing some in action, since probably tomorrow they would grant their hosts with a little demonstration of their skills.
She caught sight of her father at the end of the hall and decided to join him. 'Have to show myself to prove that I was here,' she thought, 'maybe he'll forget about me the easier in this tumult later on.' She was walking toward him through the crowd when she literally bumped into someone and the only thing that saved her from falling over backwards was the table she hit.
"Oh dear, I am so sorry," exclaimed an all too familiar greasy voice. Irulan bit her tongue, "Damn!" she thought, "Not him!" She looked up and to her utter distaste it was indeed Endor, son of Elbroth, the head of House Tragath. Endor was the last person she wanted to meet today. They knew each other since they were both little children, but he decided to chase her in a more disturbing and particular manner since she was 12 and although her rejections had grown bolder by the year (she got a rather long house arrest from her horrified parents for stomping on his feet and literally smashing them two years ago) he only seemed more intrigued by them. Dashingly handsome with clear blue eyes, dark brown hair and a beard to match it, Endor was the dream of many girls. You could hear sighs erupting everywhere he went and even her two older sisters seemed to be besotted with his ways. He was a smooth talker and a very well known warrior. And yet, Irulan hated him fiercely.
"Princess Irulan!" he said softly and bowed. "I was hoping to see you tonight!"
"I bet you did Endor," Irulan said in a level tone, "but you did not need to run me over to catch my attention." She smoothed her skirts and looked at him with a very irritated look on her face.
Endor chuckled slightly "Oh please - that thought never crossed my mind! It was a mere accident, and yet a rather pleasant one," he said and then winked. "I can not deny that your attention is not easy to get."
Irulan took a deep breath and counted till ten. He actually dared to wink and flirt with her in front of this crowd! Already many heads were turning to see what Endor was up to and she caught the familiar smile on faces that said "Let's see what she will do with him this time! It should be fun."
Irulan had no intention of being the source of another avalanche of gossip concerning herself and Endor. She looked up to him and briskly said "Indeed - this seems to be one of the rare times you are right, Lord Endor. My attention is not easy to get and tonight even more so. I have other matters to attend to." Irulan tried not to feel annoyed or demoralized by the amused look plastered on Endor's handsome face and that simply refused to change. "Please excuse me now," she blurted and lifted her skirts to walk by him when got hold of her arm.
"Irulan......" he said with a softer tone, "I was hoping to talk to you later tonight. After the meal, perhaps?"
Irulan slowly freed her arm from his grasp. She was feeling more and more annoyed by his bold actions that caused brows to arch. Why oh why did she have to go and in all this crowd, run into the very person she hated most? "I would love to indeed," she hissed between her clenched teeth, "but....." and without thinking twice she instantly reached out and placed her hand on the shoulder of the passing blur of a figure. The person halted and Irulan hoped by whatever luck she had that that it was a guest......and a male one at that! She dared not look his direction, fearing that it might give her bluff away, but from his height and posture, she guessed him to be a man. Resisting the urge to exhale loudly in relief she added joyfully "I have promises for another today."
Endor's amusement finally melted and an expression that spoke of both surprise and mild anger took hold of his features. Pursing his lips, he shot a very unwelcome look towards the stranger and his gaze wandered from Irulan's hand still resting on the man's shoulder to Irulan's face. After a few seconds of silence he muttered "I have a lot of time princess, I'm sure that we will come to terms eventually."
With that he made a slight bow, turned on his heels and walked away with long and fast strides. Irulan rolled her eyes at the women whose gaze followed him. "I wish one of them would finally get her hooks into him anytime soon," she thought. The bystanders quickly paced away from the scene as well and the tense atmosphere dissolved soon enough. All of a sudden she remembered the person who was still standing silently and patiently next to her. She put a gracious and very "princess" smile on her face and turned to the man.
Only it was not a man. It was an elf. And the most beautiful one she had ever seen, as well. His long and straight blonde hair, the front part of which was held with an intricate braid in the back, hung smoothly down to his shoulders. He had high cheekbones and the most delicate and yet obviously male features. A small smile was widening his perfect lips. Irulan realized that she was staring and quickly snatched her hand from his shoulder.
"My lady," he said with a melodious voice and bowed slightly. Irulan felt an odd feeling washing over her, then. She did not linger on it too long, as other and more flaring feelings took hold of her in seconds, but later on she would remember the moment her eyes met with this elf and the feeling of familiarity along with an unexplainable excitement bloomed in her, like a flower gently opening it's petals. It was only for a moment, and that moment slipped from her grasp instantly, and yet her memory would go back to it and much, much later Irulan would realize that what she believed to be an event of utter coincidence and accident was actually a moment of fate and serendipity.
Irulan blinked and immediately closed her mouth. "I........I am sorry," she stammered. She was well aware that she was blushing and yet, having come face to face in such a fashion with someone she meant to meet for such a long time, she could not pull herself together. "I thought......." she began but the words died in her throat.
The elf was smiling very openly now. "Please allow me an introduction. I am Legolas, son of Thandruil," he said softly. Irulan hastily stepped back and bowed slightly herself. "Irulan," she whispered, "daughter of Kanduin."
Legolas' brows arched slightly. "Princess Irulan herself!" he said, "I am honored to meet you."
Irulan blushed even deeper and started to feel angry with herself for blushing like a stupid infatuated girl instead of the royalty she was supposed to be. 'Nice start indeed!' snickered a voice in her head. 'An invaluable way to prove your grace and glamour to the elven society, Irulan.' Irulan felt that she should say something at least slightly intelligent to bring some explanation to some of the unspoken questions hanging between them, but under the gaze of such a creature, found it difficult to concentrate. Again and again her eyes wandered over him, finding only grace and beauty and again and again she barely resisted the urge to openly and greedily stare at the rare and unusual sight.
"The honor is all mine," she heard herself saying finally, "please forgive my behavior just now. I was....forced to..use your presence. It was very inappropriate. I apologize." She looked up to his face, not knowing what she would find there, but the cool amusement was certainly unexpected.
"Not at all," he said slowly and after looking in the direction Endor walked off to just moments ago he added "I am glad that I could be of assistance. You certainly looked.........displeased." Legolas smiled at her with a warm expression and she could have sworn that something in her trembled and began to melt at that. And although this was a completely foreign emotion for her, oddly she felt the faintest stirrings of relief and comfort slowly following it. The kind of comfort that one feels in the presence of an old and trusted friend.
Legolas slightly cocked his head and clasping his hands behind his back, looked her up and down. He did not make an attempt to break the silence that seemed to find it's way between them even though both had tried to hinder it. The slightest frown settled on his features and a distant glaze came to his eyes as he looked at this mortal woman before him. He, too, felt a distant and fuzzy emotion of familiarity and he too could not place it. Why did she remind him of....of...his frown deepened more. She reminded him of someone, and yet he knew not who. It was not a friend. Not a relative by blood. Not a fellow warrior. More like..
"Why do you stare?" Irulan said suddenly, disrupting his train of thought. Then she blinked, looking startled to have said it and Legolas barely kept himself from grinning openly when she managed a rather loud and un-princess- like gulp. No she DID not just say that! That was so not how she wanted the elves to remember her, if they ever did. A feeling of dread shook her as the realization of her immensely rude comment towards the guest of honor that also happened to be an elf, sank in. She desperately tried to think of something to make up for her breach of manners, but absolutely nothing even remotely resembling such a statement came to her mind. Finally, not wishing for the awkward silence to stretch on any longer, she abruptly added "Please excuse me now," and quickly turned away before an even deeper shade of crimson hit her cheeks. 'So much for being a princess! That accursed Endor! It's all his fault!' the voice in her head screamed while she stomped off hastily to get as far away from the scene of embarrassment as possible.
Legolas stood staring after her. He was still smiling slightly. It was intriguing to see the emotions of humans reflected so openly in their faces. Contrary to elves, their emotions were very obvious - one only needed to look to see it. And the depth and strength of those feelings! He chuckled slightly. He had met many humans and although his experiences with many of those had been rather unpleasant, the character that was a result of the inexperience and youth (compared to elven immortality) of this kind was still very interesting to him. It would be an interesting night indeed!
Irulan halted and took in the view - she could make out most of the common dresses of the various "houses" that had political or regional power in Middle Earth. Black, red, silver, blue and green - all the colors were in abundance tonight. The men were dressed quite brightly and the woman shone like flickering candles in their attires. She had met many from almost all of these houses over the past years in this or that occasion and frankly, knowing their political status and background well enough, she had no further interest in any of them.
Her eyes tried to locate the visitors she was looking forward to see tonight - the elves. She had met elves before, but never got the opportunity to talk to them in length. The elven race seemed so different from men and though many things failed to do so, they fascinated her and held her curiosity. She knew that elves from the neighboring woods of Mirkwood were invited today and having read a lot about them, she had not yet met a Mirkwood elf. They were known as fierce warriors, very deadly with the bow. She was looking forward to seeing some in action, since probably tomorrow they would grant their hosts with a little demonstration of their skills.
She caught sight of her father at the end of the hall and decided to join him. 'Have to show myself to prove that I was here,' she thought, 'maybe he'll forget about me the easier in this tumult later on.' She was walking toward him through the crowd when she literally bumped into someone and the only thing that saved her from falling over backwards was the table she hit.
"Oh dear, I am so sorry," exclaimed an all too familiar greasy voice. Irulan bit her tongue, "Damn!" she thought, "Not him!" She looked up and to her utter distaste it was indeed Endor, son of Elbroth, the head of House Tragath. Endor was the last person she wanted to meet today. They knew each other since they were both little children, but he decided to chase her in a more disturbing and particular manner since she was 12 and although her rejections had grown bolder by the year (she got a rather long house arrest from her horrified parents for stomping on his feet and literally smashing them two years ago) he only seemed more intrigued by them. Dashingly handsome with clear blue eyes, dark brown hair and a beard to match it, Endor was the dream of many girls. You could hear sighs erupting everywhere he went and even her two older sisters seemed to be besotted with his ways. He was a smooth talker and a very well known warrior. And yet, Irulan hated him fiercely.
"Princess Irulan!" he said softly and bowed. "I was hoping to see you tonight!"
"I bet you did Endor," Irulan said in a level tone, "but you did not need to run me over to catch my attention." She smoothed her skirts and looked at him with a very irritated look on her face.
Endor chuckled slightly "Oh please - that thought never crossed my mind! It was a mere accident, and yet a rather pleasant one," he said and then winked. "I can not deny that your attention is not easy to get."
Irulan took a deep breath and counted till ten. He actually dared to wink and flirt with her in front of this crowd! Already many heads were turning to see what Endor was up to and she caught the familiar smile on faces that said "Let's see what she will do with him this time! It should be fun."
Irulan had no intention of being the source of another avalanche of gossip concerning herself and Endor. She looked up to him and briskly said "Indeed - this seems to be one of the rare times you are right, Lord Endor. My attention is not easy to get and tonight even more so. I have other matters to attend to." Irulan tried not to feel annoyed or demoralized by the amused look plastered on Endor's handsome face and that simply refused to change. "Please excuse me now," she blurted and lifted her skirts to walk by him when got hold of her arm.
"Irulan......" he said with a softer tone, "I was hoping to talk to you later tonight. After the meal, perhaps?"
Irulan slowly freed her arm from his grasp. She was feeling more and more annoyed by his bold actions that caused brows to arch. Why oh why did she have to go and in all this crowd, run into the very person she hated most? "I would love to indeed," she hissed between her clenched teeth, "but....." and without thinking twice she instantly reached out and placed her hand on the shoulder of the passing blur of a figure. The person halted and Irulan hoped by whatever luck she had that that it was a guest......and a male one at that! She dared not look his direction, fearing that it might give her bluff away, but from his height and posture, she guessed him to be a man. Resisting the urge to exhale loudly in relief she added joyfully "I have promises for another today."
Endor's amusement finally melted and an expression that spoke of both surprise and mild anger took hold of his features. Pursing his lips, he shot a very unwelcome look towards the stranger and his gaze wandered from Irulan's hand still resting on the man's shoulder to Irulan's face. After a few seconds of silence he muttered "I have a lot of time princess, I'm sure that we will come to terms eventually."
With that he made a slight bow, turned on his heels and walked away with long and fast strides. Irulan rolled her eyes at the women whose gaze followed him. "I wish one of them would finally get her hooks into him anytime soon," she thought. The bystanders quickly paced away from the scene as well and the tense atmosphere dissolved soon enough. All of a sudden she remembered the person who was still standing silently and patiently next to her. She put a gracious and very "princess" smile on her face and turned to the man.
Only it was not a man. It was an elf. And the most beautiful one she had ever seen, as well. His long and straight blonde hair, the front part of which was held with an intricate braid in the back, hung smoothly down to his shoulders. He had high cheekbones and the most delicate and yet obviously male features. A small smile was widening his perfect lips. Irulan realized that she was staring and quickly snatched her hand from his shoulder.
"My lady," he said with a melodious voice and bowed slightly. Irulan felt an odd feeling washing over her, then. She did not linger on it too long, as other and more flaring feelings took hold of her in seconds, but later on she would remember the moment her eyes met with this elf and the feeling of familiarity along with an unexplainable excitement bloomed in her, like a flower gently opening it's petals. It was only for a moment, and that moment slipped from her grasp instantly, and yet her memory would go back to it and much, much later Irulan would realize that what she believed to be an event of utter coincidence and accident was actually a moment of fate and serendipity.
Irulan blinked and immediately closed her mouth. "I........I am sorry," she stammered. She was well aware that she was blushing and yet, having come face to face in such a fashion with someone she meant to meet for such a long time, she could not pull herself together. "I thought......." she began but the words died in her throat.
The elf was smiling very openly now. "Please allow me an introduction. I am Legolas, son of Thandruil," he said softly. Irulan hastily stepped back and bowed slightly herself. "Irulan," she whispered, "daughter of Kanduin."
Legolas' brows arched slightly. "Princess Irulan herself!" he said, "I am honored to meet you."
Irulan blushed even deeper and started to feel angry with herself for blushing like a stupid infatuated girl instead of the royalty she was supposed to be. 'Nice start indeed!' snickered a voice in her head. 'An invaluable way to prove your grace and glamour to the elven society, Irulan.' Irulan felt that she should say something at least slightly intelligent to bring some explanation to some of the unspoken questions hanging between them, but under the gaze of such a creature, found it difficult to concentrate. Again and again her eyes wandered over him, finding only grace and beauty and again and again she barely resisted the urge to openly and greedily stare at the rare and unusual sight.
"The honor is all mine," she heard herself saying finally, "please forgive my behavior just now. I was....forced to..use your presence. It was very inappropriate. I apologize." She looked up to his face, not knowing what she would find there, but the cool amusement was certainly unexpected.
"Not at all," he said slowly and after looking in the direction Endor walked off to just moments ago he added "I am glad that I could be of assistance. You certainly looked.........displeased." Legolas smiled at her with a warm expression and she could have sworn that something in her trembled and began to melt at that. And although this was a completely foreign emotion for her, oddly she felt the faintest stirrings of relief and comfort slowly following it. The kind of comfort that one feels in the presence of an old and trusted friend.
Legolas slightly cocked his head and clasping his hands behind his back, looked her up and down. He did not make an attempt to break the silence that seemed to find it's way between them even though both had tried to hinder it. The slightest frown settled on his features and a distant glaze came to his eyes as he looked at this mortal woman before him. He, too, felt a distant and fuzzy emotion of familiarity and he too could not place it. Why did she remind him of....of...his frown deepened more. She reminded him of someone, and yet he knew not who. It was not a friend. Not a relative by blood. Not a fellow warrior. More like..
"Why do you stare?" Irulan said suddenly, disrupting his train of thought. Then she blinked, looking startled to have said it and Legolas barely kept himself from grinning openly when she managed a rather loud and un-princess- like gulp. No she DID not just say that! That was so not how she wanted the elves to remember her, if they ever did. A feeling of dread shook her as the realization of her immensely rude comment towards the guest of honor that also happened to be an elf, sank in. She desperately tried to think of something to make up for her breach of manners, but absolutely nothing even remotely resembling such a statement came to her mind. Finally, not wishing for the awkward silence to stretch on any longer, she abruptly added "Please excuse me now," and quickly turned away before an even deeper shade of crimson hit her cheeks. 'So much for being a princess! That accursed Endor! It's all his fault!' the voice in her head screamed while she stomped off hastily to get as far away from the scene of embarrassment as possible.
Legolas stood staring after her. He was still smiling slightly. It was intriguing to see the emotions of humans reflected so openly in their faces. Contrary to elves, their emotions were very obvious - one only needed to look to see it. And the depth and strength of those feelings! He chuckled slightly. He had met many humans and although his experiences with many of those had been rather unpleasant, the character that was a result of the inexperience and youth (compared to elven immortality) of this kind was still very interesting to him. It would be an interesting night indeed!