----- The Present
Legolas watched as his companions settled down, waiting for him to continue
the story that he had started last night. The elf perched elegantly on a
low tree-stump while the others organised their bedrolls. Smiling, he saw
that they were now ready for him to continue, but he could not resist
taking a moment to glance to the sky and remember those blue eyes, deeper
than the purest sapphire, more intense than the hottest sun.
----- Legolas' PoV
A dream had invaded my mind, a voice singing softly, a memory of a lullaby.
I awoke to find myself in a strange room. It was warm. I was unsure of
where I was, but I knew that my head no longer pained me. Gingerly, I
reached up to touch my cheek, astonished that I could not feel the cut
there. Many thoughts crowded my mind. How long had I been
unconscious? Where was I? Where had the Orcs vanished to?
I struggled to my feet and found myself garbed in a long, white sleeping
shirt. A matching robe lay over the chair next to the bed. Reaching for
it, I found my arrows and knives piled carefully beneath. My quiver on
another chair and my bow on the mantel. I had no idea where I was and,
though it SEEMED safe, I had been taught never to make assumptions.
Pulling the soft robe around me, I took one of my knives and moved through
the large house I found myself in. The soft sounds of conversation and
crying caught my attention. Following the noise through the labyrinthine
corridors, I saw two large elven men, guards by their dress. My eyes lit
upon the woman whom I remembered as 'Eternity', but she seemed terribly sad
and alone. Beside her, in tears, stood a younger woman, the one who's
voice had drawn me to this room.
"Where am I?" I asked, hoping that they would understand, but the blank
looks that were cast in my direction told me that none here understood
Quenya. Slowly lowering my hand, I tried to rephrase my question into
Westron, but the room soon tilted and I found myself looking into eyes of
sapphire, gleaming with an intense grief. My hands were trapped and I had
been disarmed.
I could hear her demanding something, but while the words sounded familiar,
they were NOT what I recognised. I must have looked like an idiot or fool,
but I felt a thought touching my mind, insinuating itself into my own
thoughts. ~Who are you?~
I blinked, gasping slightly as I realised what was going on. I looked at
the young woman who sat astride me. ~My name is Legolas Greenleaf. I am
afraid that I do not understand your words, Lady, but ask you to please
release me. I have no intent to harm you.~
She must have seen the truth in my eyes. She stood, then offered her hand
to help me back to my feet. I regarded this petite woman curiously. She
was about my height, but built like a warrior, as I could already attest
to. Her attire was rich for a warrior, though. Her robes glittering with
threads of silver. She wore a crest on her breast, not unlike the crest of
Gondor, but without the stars. Her hair was as black as midnight, framing
a face that could have been sculpted from porcelain. But her eyes were as
bright as the sun, as blue as the depths of the deep rivers, yet clouded
from grief. I stood there looking deep into those eyes and felt my heart
lurch. I truly wished I could remove the grief that had put the frown
there.
I became aware that the guards had moved to flank the woman again and I
stepped backwards, holding my hands out from my sides to show that I did
not mean harm. The moment was tense, but I had no way of speaking to them,
unless I touched one of them.
Eternity moved to my side, touching my hand gently. I understood the new
demand of the young woman before me. She wanted to know why I was here. I
still did not know and shrugged, trying to convey my own
confusion. Eternity moved away from me and I sighed as the knowledge of
their language faded. They spoke briefly and the elvish noble nodded,
turning to leave with her guards. I felt so very alone and
confused. Where could I be, if even Quenya or Westron were not recognised
by those around me?
----- Present Day
Legolas saw that Pippin and Merry had started to yawn, nestling against
each other for warmth and comfort. He smiled, breaking the story there for
another night. "Sleep well, friends. We can continue this tomorrow." He
stood, slipping off into the woods once more, remembering the spring nights
that he had spent in Telpë Taurë, the Silver Forest.
Legolas watched as his companions settled down, waiting for him to continue
the story that he had started last night. The elf perched elegantly on a
low tree-stump while the others organised their bedrolls. Smiling, he saw
that they were now ready for him to continue, but he could not resist
taking a moment to glance to the sky and remember those blue eyes, deeper
than the purest sapphire, more intense than the hottest sun.
----- Legolas' PoV
A dream had invaded my mind, a voice singing softly, a memory of a lullaby.
I awoke to find myself in a strange room. It was warm. I was unsure of
where I was, but I knew that my head no longer pained me. Gingerly, I
reached up to touch my cheek, astonished that I could not feel the cut
there. Many thoughts crowded my mind. How long had I been
unconscious? Where was I? Where had the Orcs vanished to?
I struggled to my feet and found myself garbed in a long, white sleeping
shirt. A matching robe lay over the chair next to the bed. Reaching for
it, I found my arrows and knives piled carefully beneath. My quiver on
another chair and my bow on the mantel. I had no idea where I was and,
though it SEEMED safe, I had been taught never to make assumptions.
Pulling the soft robe around me, I took one of my knives and moved through
the large house I found myself in. The soft sounds of conversation and
crying caught my attention. Following the noise through the labyrinthine
corridors, I saw two large elven men, guards by their dress. My eyes lit
upon the woman whom I remembered as 'Eternity', but she seemed terribly sad
and alone. Beside her, in tears, stood a younger woman, the one who's
voice had drawn me to this room.
"Where am I?" I asked, hoping that they would understand, but the blank
looks that were cast in my direction told me that none here understood
Quenya. Slowly lowering my hand, I tried to rephrase my question into
Westron, but the room soon tilted and I found myself looking into eyes of
sapphire, gleaming with an intense grief. My hands were trapped and I had
been disarmed.
I could hear her demanding something, but while the words sounded familiar,
they were NOT what I recognised. I must have looked like an idiot or fool,
but I felt a thought touching my mind, insinuating itself into my own
thoughts. ~Who are you?~
I blinked, gasping slightly as I realised what was going on. I looked at
the young woman who sat astride me. ~My name is Legolas Greenleaf. I am
afraid that I do not understand your words, Lady, but ask you to please
release me. I have no intent to harm you.~
She must have seen the truth in my eyes. She stood, then offered her hand
to help me back to my feet. I regarded this petite woman curiously. She
was about my height, but built like a warrior, as I could already attest
to. Her attire was rich for a warrior, though. Her robes glittering with
threads of silver. She wore a crest on her breast, not unlike the crest of
Gondor, but without the stars. Her hair was as black as midnight, framing
a face that could have been sculpted from porcelain. But her eyes were as
bright as the sun, as blue as the depths of the deep rivers, yet clouded
from grief. I stood there looking deep into those eyes and felt my heart
lurch. I truly wished I could remove the grief that had put the frown
there.
I became aware that the guards had moved to flank the woman again and I
stepped backwards, holding my hands out from my sides to show that I did
not mean harm. The moment was tense, but I had no way of speaking to them,
unless I touched one of them.
Eternity moved to my side, touching my hand gently. I understood the new
demand of the young woman before me. She wanted to know why I was here. I
still did not know and shrugged, trying to convey my own
confusion. Eternity moved away from me and I sighed as the knowledge of
their language faded. They spoke briefly and the elvish noble nodded,
turning to leave with her guards. I felt so very alone and
confused. Where could I be, if even Quenya or Westron were not recognised
by those around me?
----- Present Day
Legolas saw that Pippin and Merry had started to yawn, nestling against
each other for warmth and comfort. He smiled, breaking the story there for
another night. "Sleep well, friends. We can continue this tomorrow." He
stood, slipping off into the woods once more, remembering the spring nights
that he had spent in Telpë Taurë, the Silver Forest.