Chapter 15
It is early afternoon, and the appointed meeting place is deserted. Most people are home now as is the custom here. The narrow streets between the stone houses are confining, and I find myself wishing for the Golden Woods, and the freedom of living in the flets.
I sit down under the trees, where I will wait for her. I am confused and little worried as to what Ellie will tell me, that it is not good I know, but how bad can it be? I push that thought aside, and think of her, her beauty, and her courage. Now that I know of her parentage, I can see that she is of Elrond's family, but of Elrond's children she resembles the twins more that Arwen. Of course, she looks more like her mother than anyone. I have always known who her mother is, I met Gilraen several times, and I admit I wondered who Ellie's father was.
She is here now. It is strange to see her in a gown, today she wears sky blue, and it makes her eyes glow like a gem. I stand so she can see me, and take her hand as soon as she is close enough. I step to her and greet with her a kiss, after having declared my love for her, I will not pretend we are just friends now.
Ellie indicates we should sit, and I take her to where I waited. Once again, I have food ready.
'Do you have a never ending horde of food in your pockets?' she says smiling.
'No, just today. Better yet, there is this', I show her a wine skin, and because I am eating, ask her in sign language if she wants some. She agrees with a grin, no doubt remembering times we have gotten drunk together. I remember one time when Ellie, myself, my brothers and several other elves made total wreaks of ourselves. I woke the next morning with Ellie in my arms, and most of the others on top of us. It took a week to fix the tree houses and flets we damaged that night, mostly by falling out of them. Still, we were in really good spirits about that, after all Lord Celeborn had been with us.
'hhhmm not a bad drop. How did you come by this, or do I not want to know.' She says.
'A little bet with a Dwarf, namely Gimli. Prince Legolas did warn him!!' I grin wickedly back at her.
'You are a brat you know. Between the three of you, you and your brothers must have driven your parents mad!!' she giggles.
'We did, that's why they both sailed west 500 years ago. And you haven't met my sister yet!' I laugh back at her.
'Really!! I was joking', she looked at me,' do you really have a sister'.
'Yes, she is the youngest of us. Leesha is married to Erestor, Elrond's chief councillor, and lives in Rivendell. Did you not know?' I ask her
'No I did not!' she replies.
'She is very shy and is almost a recluse,' I say. I hesitate before continuing. 'Both Leesha and I were captured by Orcs when we were very young; the experience has damaged Leesha badly. We were both taken to Rivendell for healing, and she stayed, at first out of friendship for Celebrian, and later because she married', I answer her.
'Well, I never heard that tale, but it does explain why hate orcs even more than most Elves', Ellie replies. 'And it will make what I have to say easier for me, but harder for you to hear', she continued.
I looked at her in surprise, for she had moved close to me and laid one hand on my shoulder, and the other on my face. I respond by wrapping my arms around her waist'
'What is it love?' I ask her.
There is a determined look on her face. As if she does not say now what she means to she never will. 'A year before I met you and your brothers on the borders of Lorien, I was captured by some of the wild hill folk who live east of Rivendell. They were raiding away from their homes, seeking plunder and captives near The Shire, the home of the halfings. I and some other Rangers were sent to stop them if we could. Only I and two others survived the initial attack. I was taken to one of their camps, it was 4 months before I was rescued.' She finished.
Horror stuck, I could not speak to her. I shook my head, in denial.
'Yes, it happened', she insisted, taking my face in her hands, making me look at her.
'By the Gods, now I know why you do not want to marry. Why did you not tell me?'
I asked her, beyond shock.
It is early afternoon, and the appointed meeting place is deserted. Most people are home now as is the custom here. The narrow streets between the stone houses are confining, and I find myself wishing for the Golden Woods, and the freedom of living in the flets.
I sit down under the trees, where I will wait for her. I am confused and little worried as to what Ellie will tell me, that it is not good I know, but how bad can it be? I push that thought aside, and think of her, her beauty, and her courage. Now that I know of her parentage, I can see that she is of Elrond's family, but of Elrond's children she resembles the twins more that Arwen. Of course, she looks more like her mother than anyone. I have always known who her mother is, I met Gilraen several times, and I admit I wondered who Ellie's father was.
She is here now. It is strange to see her in a gown, today she wears sky blue, and it makes her eyes glow like a gem. I stand so she can see me, and take her hand as soon as she is close enough. I step to her and greet with her a kiss, after having declared my love for her, I will not pretend we are just friends now.
Ellie indicates we should sit, and I take her to where I waited. Once again, I have food ready.
'Do you have a never ending horde of food in your pockets?' she says smiling.
'No, just today. Better yet, there is this', I show her a wine skin, and because I am eating, ask her in sign language if she wants some. She agrees with a grin, no doubt remembering times we have gotten drunk together. I remember one time when Ellie, myself, my brothers and several other elves made total wreaks of ourselves. I woke the next morning with Ellie in my arms, and most of the others on top of us. It took a week to fix the tree houses and flets we damaged that night, mostly by falling out of them. Still, we were in really good spirits about that, after all Lord Celeborn had been with us.
'hhhmm not a bad drop. How did you come by this, or do I not want to know.' She says.
'A little bet with a Dwarf, namely Gimli. Prince Legolas did warn him!!' I grin wickedly back at her.
'You are a brat you know. Between the three of you, you and your brothers must have driven your parents mad!!' she giggles.
'We did, that's why they both sailed west 500 years ago. And you haven't met my sister yet!' I laugh back at her.
'Really!! I was joking', she looked at me,' do you really have a sister'.
'Yes, she is the youngest of us. Leesha is married to Erestor, Elrond's chief councillor, and lives in Rivendell. Did you not know?' I ask her
'No I did not!' she replies.
'She is very shy and is almost a recluse,' I say. I hesitate before continuing. 'Both Leesha and I were captured by Orcs when we were very young; the experience has damaged Leesha badly. We were both taken to Rivendell for healing, and she stayed, at first out of friendship for Celebrian, and later because she married', I answer her.
'Well, I never heard that tale, but it does explain why hate orcs even more than most Elves', Ellie replies. 'And it will make what I have to say easier for me, but harder for you to hear', she continued.
I looked at her in surprise, for she had moved close to me and laid one hand on my shoulder, and the other on my face. I respond by wrapping my arms around her waist'
'What is it love?' I ask her.
There is a determined look on her face. As if she does not say now what she means to she never will. 'A year before I met you and your brothers on the borders of Lorien, I was captured by some of the wild hill folk who live east of Rivendell. They were raiding away from their homes, seeking plunder and captives near The Shire, the home of the halfings. I and some other Rangers were sent to stop them if we could. Only I and two others survived the initial attack. I was taken to one of their camps, it was 4 months before I was rescued.' She finished.
Horror stuck, I could not speak to her. I shook my head, in denial.
'Yes, it happened', she insisted, taking my face in her hands, making me look at her.
'By the Gods, now I know why you do not want to marry. Why did you not tell me?'
I asked her, beyond shock.