A/N: I do not own any characters or places form JRR Tolkien's
wonderful book, 'The Lord of the Rings' or any other book from him. I own
Danielle, Cloud, Loreth and Arienna.
Chatelaine: thanks for telling me what on earth a mary-sue fanfic was. Without you, I'd been useless. ^^
Geminigrrl6227: thanks for telling me that! Makes me have self-confidence in myself! ^0^;;
Chapter Four
The two ladies walked side by side, linking arms as they made their way towards the palace of Mirkwood. They both carried some books with blank pages inside, and some quills, inks, charcoal, and sketching paper, not to mention paints and paintbrushes.
"Cousin of my heart, did you know that Legolas' first love was a lady of the court by the name of Ariena Sky-blue?"
"I admit, no cousin. Does he love her still?" asked Danielle, curious.
"Of course not. She used to be in love with him, but when he became wrapped up in a preparation for a festival for one day, she thought him too serious and decided that she liked his cousin better, who was also courting her in secret, since all he liked to do was hunt and bring back the animals he caught to his ladyloves." Arwen answered, amused.
"But you say 'ladyloves', did you not? What do you mean by that?" Danielle asked, also amused but curious at the same time. Arwen was eager to answer her.
"He had many ladyloves. Servant elf girls, mortal girls in pub houses, ladies of the court, and many more. But they all did not know that they were each a mere plaything to him. They each thought that they were the love of his life, and dreamed of the title of being the wife of the cousin of royalty. A silly dream really, since he does not have any dreams of marrying anybody."
Both of the maidens laughed. ***
Legolas was still in the library when he heard the door open and footsteps padded onto the floor. When he turned around, he found himself, facing face to face with Lama.
"Greetings, old friend! And why are you in a dusty library when you could be out in the woods, galloping on a horse, enjoying this fine day?" demanded Lama.
"Thinking, you old rascal!" Legolas jested.
"Thinking about what? It's not about the One Ring is it?" asked Lama.
"About Ariena. I wonder how she is faring."
"She is faring fine-really fine-with your good for nothing cousin of yours! Now, she is with child, and what does your cousin do? Betray her by abandoning her! Now, because of that one mistake, her beauty is fading. She cares naught for the world, but for the child. She thinks that if she bears a healthy heir for her love, he will return to her. What she does not know is that he made nearly every elf maiden in the whole of Middle Earth, not to mention the mortals maidens, with child!" replied Lama sarcastically.
"Then for her sake, I hope she finds happiness in the end with her child, even though it might be fatherless." added Legolas.
***
Danielle went to the Royal Gardens of Mirkwood, armed with her sketching pencil and book. She went and sat on a bench next to some beautiful red roses, in full bloom. Danielle started to sketch it, and was so absorbed in her work that she did not know that someone was next to her, until that someone tapped her on the shoulder, causing her to drop her book and pencil in surprise and give a small yelp.
"I am sorry, Lady Danielle, if I have surprised you." Apologized the voice.
She turned around and saw to her amazement, an Elf maiden, who was, as her dress suggested, a servant of the court, and high ranking at that too.
"Oh, no, no, it's quite all right." reassured Danielle. "Pray, tell me your name."
"Well, Lady, it is Nala."
From that day on, the two became close. The servant was older and more experienced in the ways of court, having been the Queen's closest servant, until the Queen left for the Land of the Undying. Then, she was the head of the servants, and was in charge of them. Danielle was a daughter to her, having no children before. Then, Arwen joined the group, and then, the three of them were close, even though Nala was called by some members of the royal family, she had pretty much more freedom than any other servants, being responsible and loyal.
"Lady Danielle! Do not even tell me that you are not yet ready for the Ball!" scolded Nala.
"But Nala, the Ball is not for another two days!"
"Nevertheless, a lady must always be prepared for all events, and you are already quite late at that! Your preparation should have started YESTERDAY!" Nala emphasized the word 'yesterday' as if it meant a lot for Danielle.
"So Nala, what should I do?"
"First, you must hire a tailor or a dressmaker to make you your gown, with the cloths you would already have purchased, the day before. Since you have not done that, Lady Arwen had taken the privilege to do so. You must thank her. Then, you must visit the dressmaker often though out the next two days. And then on the last day, the day of the ball, you will make the final visit, and make sure that it fits. And then, you will pay her. On the two days before the day of the ball, you will be required to do no hard work, and to bathe in a scented bath of flowers. You will experiment, so that you'll know which smell is best for you. On the last day, you will bathe in that scent. You will have perfume of the same smell dabbed on your neck, wrists, and the behind of you ears. And then you must-" at this she was cut off by Danielle.
"Enough! Enough Nala, Enough!" I never knew there was so many things a lady needed to do for a royal ball!"
"That is because there wasn't one for a hundred years! That is why at this ball, every lady will be competing for the title of 'The Fairest Lady in all of Mirkwood'."
Danielle laughed.
"That is a silly title to be competing for."
"Not unless the winner gets to dine privately with Prince Legolas for a night."
"Just for that?"
"Yes, that is why we must get you cleaned up."
"Nala, why are you so interested in getting me cleaned up?"\
At this, the old servant sighed, and she looked deeply into Danielle's eyes.
"In all of the Elf maidens I have ever met, you are by far the most generous and loving Elf I have met. You will make a great Queen."
"A Queen? Me? Surely you are jesting!" cried Danielle.
"I never jest." was Nala's curt reply.
At that Danielle blushed in embarrassment.
"I am sorry Nala."
"'Tis alright milady. And if you please, we must get you cleaned up."
Danielle groaned, as Nala just laughed.
A/N: please review!
It really brightens up my day/night!!!
Chatelaine: thanks for telling me what on earth a mary-sue fanfic was. Without you, I'd been useless. ^^
Geminigrrl6227: thanks for telling me that! Makes me have self-confidence in myself! ^0^;;
Chapter Four
The two ladies walked side by side, linking arms as they made their way towards the palace of Mirkwood. They both carried some books with blank pages inside, and some quills, inks, charcoal, and sketching paper, not to mention paints and paintbrushes.
"Cousin of my heart, did you know that Legolas' first love was a lady of the court by the name of Ariena Sky-blue?"
"I admit, no cousin. Does he love her still?" asked Danielle, curious.
"Of course not. She used to be in love with him, but when he became wrapped up in a preparation for a festival for one day, she thought him too serious and decided that she liked his cousin better, who was also courting her in secret, since all he liked to do was hunt and bring back the animals he caught to his ladyloves." Arwen answered, amused.
"But you say 'ladyloves', did you not? What do you mean by that?" Danielle asked, also amused but curious at the same time. Arwen was eager to answer her.
"He had many ladyloves. Servant elf girls, mortal girls in pub houses, ladies of the court, and many more. But they all did not know that they were each a mere plaything to him. They each thought that they were the love of his life, and dreamed of the title of being the wife of the cousin of royalty. A silly dream really, since he does not have any dreams of marrying anybody."
Both of the maidens laughed. ***
Legolas was still in the library when he heard the door open and footsteps padded onto the floor. When he turned around, he found himself, facing face to face with Lama.
"Greetings, old friend! And why are you in a dusty library when you could be out in the woods, galloping on a horse, enjoying this fine day?" demanded Lama.
"Thinking, you old rascal!" Legolas jested.
"Thinking about what? It's not about the One Ring is it?" asked Lama.
"About Ariena. I wonder how she is faring."
"She is faring fine-really fine-with your good for nothing cousin of yours! Now, she is with child, and what does your cousin do? Betray her by abandoning her! Now, because of that one mistake, her beauty is fading. She cares naught for the world, but for the child. She thinks that if she bears a healthy heir for her love, he will return to her. What she does not know is that he made nearly every elf maiden in the whole of Middle Earth, not to mention the mortals maidens, with child!" replied Lama sarcastically.
"Then for her sake, I hope she finds happiness in the end with her child, even though it might be fatherless." added Legolas.
***
Danielle went to the Royal Gardens of Mirkwood, armed with her sketching pencil and book. She went and sat on a bench next to some beautiful red roses, in full bloom. Danielle started to sketch it, and was so absorbed in her work that she did not know that someone was next to her, until that someone tapped her on the shoulder, causing her to drop her book and pencil in surprise and give a small yelp.
"I am sorry, Lady Danielle, if I have surprised you." Apologized the voice.
She turned around and saw to her amazement, an Elf maiden, who was, as her dress suggested, a servant of the court, and high ranking at that too.
"Oh, no, no, it's quite all right." reassured Danielle. "Pray, tell me your name."
"Well, Lady, it is Nala."
From that day on, the two became close. The servant was older and more experienced in the ways of court, having been the Queen's closest servant, until the Queen left for the Land of the Undying. Then, she was the head of the servants, and was in charge of them. Danielle was a daughter to her, having no children before. Then, Arwen joined the group, and then, the three of them were close, even though Nala was called by some members of the royal family, she had pretty much more freedom than any other servants, being responsible and loyal.
"Lady Danielle! Do not even tell me that you are not yet ready for the Ball!" scolded Nala.
"But Nala, the Ball is not for another two days!"
"Nevertheless, a lady must always be prepared for all events, and you are already quite late at that! Your preparation should have started YESTERDAY!" Nala emphasized the word 'yesterday' as if it meant a lot for Danielle.
"So Nala, what should I do?"
"First, you must hire a tailor or a dressmaker to make you your gown, with the cloths you would already have purchased, the day before. Since you have not done that, Lady Arwen had taken the privilege to do so. You must thank her. Then, you must visit the dressmaker often though out the next two days. And then on the last day, the day of the ball, you will make the final visit, and make sure that it fits. And then, you will pay her. On the two days before the day of the ball, you will be required to do no hard work, and to bathe in a scented bath of flowers. You will experiment, so that you'll know which smell is best for you. On the last day, you will bathe in that scent. You will have perfume of the same smell dabbed on your neck, wrists, and the behind of you ears. And then you must-" at this she was cut off by Danielle.
"Enough! Enough Nala, Enough!" I never knew there was so many things a lady needed to do for a royal ball!"
"That is because there wasn't one for a hundred years! That is why at this ball, every lady will be competing for the title of 'The Fairest Lady in all of Mirkwood'."
Danielle laughed.
"That is a silly title to be competing for."
"Not unless the winner gets to dine privately with Prince Legolas for a night."
"Just for that?"
"Yes, that is why we must get you cleaned up."
"Nala, why are you so interested in getting me cleaned up?"\
At this, the old servant sighed, and she looked deeply into Danielle's eyes.
"In all of the Elf maidens I have ever met, you are by far the most generous and loving Elf I have met. You will make a great Queen."
"A Queen? Me? Surely you are jesting!" cried Danielle.
"I never jest." was Nala's curt reply.
At that Danielle blushed in embarrassment.
"I am sorry Nala."
"'Tis alright milady. And if you please, we must get you cleaned up."
Danielle groaned, as Nala just laughed.
A/N: please review!
It really brightens up my day/night!!!