Chapter One - Old Friends
Legolas of Mirkwood hated to admit it, but he was bored. He was glad to be home, of course, he had of course missed the forest, but things were much too calm after the adventure he had just returned from. Tomorrow his father was throwing a large celebration in honor of his return and welcoming his friend and guest the dwarf Gimli, to Mirkwood, maybe that would be interesting. He sighed, of course, those parties tended to be, well, stiff. After his absence he had found conversation with his old friends to be filled with long pauses. It's strange how after over two thousand years of living, one adventure could change his life so much. He sighed, looking out at the horizon from his favorite spot in Mirkwood, sitting in an old tree on the edge of the forest.
A noise in the distance caught his attention. Something wasn't right. His sharp vision scanned the distant landscape to see a figure on a black horse with a dark cloak riding fast toward the woods. He stood this was odd. As the figure came closer he saw that it was a woman, and she was being persued by--
"What is that?" He asked out loud. In all his years and travels he had never seen such creatures. They were dark and furry with fierce teeth and glowing eyes; they rode like they were uncomfortable, but used to riding horseback.
Legolas was now unsure what to do; the riders were coming towards him fast. He jumped down with his bow ready. The woman, whoever she was, was obviously in trouble and way out numbered.
Suddenly, the woman stopped the horse, and turned around. She swung down and stood perfectly still. Her pursuers lined up in front of her, and reared to charge. Then, without warning a wall of fire sprang up between them in a line as far as even Legolas could see. With a shriek, the creatures retreated, shrieking sounding somewhat like ringwraithes.
When they were out of sight, the woman raised her hands to the skies and within seconds it began to rain over the fires, putting them out, and to Legolas' surprise, not a mark was on the ground. He would have to be wary of this stranger, no need to approach her unless she came into Mirkwood.
The woman in the black cloak reached her hand to her hood, Legolas craned forward to see her face as she pushed it back with a sigh. The woman had the elegant features of an elf, with shockingly light blue eyes. Her hair was a honey gold, instead of being allowed to hang freely she had it pulled away from her face in a low bun. He gasped in recognition, and found himself beaming as he ran toward her.
"MELRIADORA!!" He called to her.
The woman turned and a smile graced her lips. "Legolas!" She called in greeting.
Legolas embraced his old friend in greeting, "Melriadora, it's been years!"
The elven woman grinned, "More than that, my friend. It's been at least a millennium since I last saw you." They then fell silent for a moment as they each studied the others face, smiling at one another. It wasn't that they had nothing to say, it was that they had much to say and didn't know where to start. They were such old friends, after all.
Legolas noticed a deep cut on her forehead, and put his hand to it, "You look well, my dear friend, but what happened here?" He asked with concern.
She sighed, "It's a long story Legolas-" A shriek in the distance interrupted her. "And I suggest I share it within the safety of Mirkwood. They won't dare cross the boarder."
Legolas nodded, and Melriadora swung up onto her black horse. "Get on, I doubt we have long to dawdle." She told him.
Legolas swung up onto the horse behind her and the pair rode into Mirkwood. During their silent ride, Legolas' mind swum with questions. What were those creatures? What did they want? Why was Melriadora back in Mirkwood? All the while he was very much aware of how close she was to him and how good it felt to have her in his arms as they rode. i"I thought I was over her, I suppose I'm not. I should be careful." He glanced at her as they rode. "Who am I fooling? I loved her then, and I'll probably love her now. Time doesn't heal all wounds after all." /i
When they reached the forest she stopped her horse with a simple whispering command and swung down. "We can walk from here if you don't mind, I've been riding for two weeks straight and I'd rather like to feel the earth beneath my feet again."
Legolas climbed off her horse, "I don't mind. It will give us time to talk." He turned and noted his friend's weariness in her face, "Are you sure you're all right?" He asked.
She gave him a weak smile, but could not hide the exhausted look on her face, "I'm fine, just tired, that's all. I've been traveling nonstop since I left the island, two weeks ago."
He raised an eyebrow, "The Island of the Silver Lake is at least a months journey."
"I travel quickly with help from the Craft of the Isle of course." She then grinned, "And I don't tire near as fast as you." She teased.
He chuckled softly, and stopped to look her in the eyes. "Melri, I'm glad you're back."
She smiled at the nickname he called her when they were young and gave him a hug, "So am I, Legolas. So am I." They then started to walk again.
Melriadora started to explain what was happening at the Isle. They were under siege by the Polrai from the far North. "They don't want any of our objects or our island. They want us. They've taken a few of us when we try to leave the island, but for the most part, we've held them off on our own. They still can't get through the mist, but we can't last forever, Legolas, it was only luck that I escaped, and we can't shut ourselves off from the rest of Middle Earth forever either." She sighed, "There is only one way to stop them, and I've been sent to do it, but I'll need-"
She stopped suddenly, her face paled. Legolas couldn't get over how gaunt she looked. "What-"
She collapsed, and he caught her limp form in his arms, "Melriadora?" He called her name. She was still alive, he could feel her breathing. He leaped onto her horse with her still in his arms, and he raced off to find help.i "Come on, hurry!" /iHe willed the horse silently. i "Please be all right Melriadora. Please hang on."/i
Gimli the Dwarf had been looking for his friend when Legolas came riding through the dwellings. He was on a strange horse with a strange elven woman in his arms. He was calling for help. The other elves in Mirkwood came to see what was the matter. "Take her, she lost conciseness ten minutes ago." He said as he handed her to a group of elves who must specialize in healing.
Legolas got off the horse and followed them asking all the while if she would be all right. Gimli, interested followed but got left outside the door. He could wait though, he was curious.
Legolas finally came out and sat down beside Gimli. "She'll be all right they say." He told him. "She was just exhausted, she needs rest and some nourishment."
"That is good my friend." Gimli said. "But who is she?"
Legolas looked at his friend, surprised, as if he just realized he was there. "Her name is Melriadora, she is only a year behind me in age. We grew up together here in Mirkwood." He smiled, "We were such friends, we hardly were ever seen apart. Although we were suppose to have much different lessons, we somehow managed to convince my father and hers to allow us to learn together. She learned to hunt and track the same as I did." He chuckled, "She was good. Very good." He seemed lost in memories for a moment. "She's very special, my friend. Very special."
"You love her, don't you?" Gimli asked, with a smile appearing at the corners of his beard.
He sighed, "Yes, or I did anyway." He laughed at himself, "All right, I suppose I still do."
"What happened?"
He looked at the stars. "When we just coming of age I realized that my feelings for my old friend were changing into something else." He smiled sadly. "We were in love, our parents were against it, on the ground of we were far too young. My father told me I had to wait for at least 100 more years before I even thought about marrying Melriadora. We however, made a pact; as long as we lived we would never love another. We kept our love secret for twenty years, until-" He trailed off lost in memories again.
"Until what?" Gimli prompted.
"Until the Lady of the Isle came for her." He sighed, looking sad. "The Order of the Isle takes only those women that have some sort of power. I cannot explain what it is, for I do not know myself. All I know is that the Lady, the leader of the Order herself, came for my Melriadora, and she had to leave Mirkwood for the life of one of the Order. She had no choice in the matter really. Once the Order calls, and they do not call upon new women for their Order often, one must go." He sighed, "She told me that she did love me, but she couldn't ignore the call of the Order. I vowed to her that I would hold by my pledge, she argued, telling me she didn't want to deny me a chance to have a family, but I wouldn't hear of it. I told her I loved her, her and no one else, nor would I ever love another." He leaned back, "And I never have."
Gimli processed this story, it was a sad tale. "When did you last see her, before today?"
"About 1200 years ago." He said with a sigh. "Melriadora returned for a test she had to complete before she would be made High Priestess of the Order." He smiled, "She only stayed for two weeks, but those were the best two weeks of my life."
Legolas looked down, "And now she is here again, this time for a quest to save her Order." He looked back up, as if he came to a decision. "I will go with her. She needs help, I must assist her."
"I will go with you-"
"No my friend, I have asked too much from you already." Legolas interrupted.
Gimli grinned, "Very well, if you wish to be alone with your love. I will return to my home then, you have been a very good host Legolas, I will stay until your father's celebration, and then I'll return to my home." He rose. "Good night, my friend."
(A/N - HTML makes me angry. Just thought I'd share! Have I fixed it yet?????
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Legolas of Mirkwood hated to admit it, but he was bored. He was glad to be home, of course, he had of course missed the forest, but things were much too calm after the adventure he had just returned from. Tomorrow his father was throwing a large celebration in honor of his return and welcoming his friend and guest the dwarf Gimli, to Mirkwood, maybe that would be interesting. He sighed, of course, those parties tended to be, well, stiff. After his absence he had found conversation with his old friends to be filled with long pauses. It's strange how after over two thousand years of living, one adventure could change his life so much. He sighed, looking out at the horizon from his favorite spot in Mirkwood, sitting in an old tree on the edge of the forest.
A noise in the distance caught his attention. Something wasn't right. His sharp vision scanned the distant landscape to see a figure on a black horse with a dark cloak riding fast toward the woods. He stood this was odd. As the figure came closer he saw that it was a woman, and she was being persued by--
"What is that?" He asked out loud. In all his years and travels he had never seen such creatures. They were dark and furry with fierce teeth and glowing eyes; they rode like they were uncomfortable, but used to riding horseback.
Legolas was now unsure what to do; the riders were coming towards him fast. He jumped down with his bow ready. The woman, whoever she was, was obviously in trouble and way out numbered.
Suddenly, the woman stopped the horse, and turned around. She swung down and stood perfectly still. Her pursuers lined up in front of her, and reared to charge. Then, without warning a wall of fire sprang up between them in a line as far as even Legolas could see. With a shriek, the creatures retreated, shrieking sounding somewhat like ringwraithes.
When they were out of sight, the woman raised her hands to the skies and within seconds it began to rain over the fires, putting them out, and to Legolas' surprise, not a mark was on the ground. He would have to be wary of this stranger, no need to approach her unless she came into Mirkwood.
The woman in the black cloak reached her hand to her hood, Legolas craned forward to see her face as she pushed it back with a sigh. The woman had the elegant features of an elf, with shockingly light blue eyes. Her hair was a honey gold, instead of being allowed to hang freely she had it pulled away from her face in a low bun. He gasped in recognition, and found himself beaming as he ran toward her.
"MELRIADORA!!" He called to her.
The woman turned and a smile graced her lips. "Legolas!" She called in greeting.
Legolas embraced his old friend in greeting, "Melriadora, it's been years!"
The elven woman grinned, "More than that, my friend. It's been at least a millennium since I last saw you." They then fell silent for a moment as they each studied the others face, smiling at one another. It wasn't that they had nothing to say, it was that they had much to say and didn't know where to start. They were such old friends, after all.
Legolas noticed a deep cut on her forehead, and put his hand to it, "You look well, my dear friend, but what happened here?" He asked with concern.
She sighed, "It's a long story Legolas-" A shriek in the distance interrupted her. "And I suggest I share it within the safety of Mirkwood. They won't dare cross the boarder."
Legolas nodded, and Melriadora swung up onto her black horse. "Get on, I doubt we have long to dawdle." She told him.
Legolas swung up onto the horse behind her and the pair rode into Mirkwood. During their silent ride, Legolas' mind swum with questions. What were those creatures? What did they want? Why was Melriadora back in Mirkwood? All the while he was very much aware of how close she was to him and how good it felt to have her in his arms as they rode. i"I thought I was over her, I suppose I'm not. I should be careful." He glanced at her as they rode. "Who am I fooling? I loved her then, and I'll probably love her now. Time doesn't heal all wounds after all." /i
When they reached the forest she stopped her horse with a simple whispering command and swung down. "We can walk from here if you don't mind, I've been riding for two weeks straight and I'd rather like to feel the earth beneath my feet again."
Legolas climbed off her horse, "I don't mind. It will give us time to talk." He turned and noted his friend's weariness in her face, "Are you sure you're all right?" He asked.
She gave him a weak smile, but could not hide the exhausted look on her face, "I'm fine, just tired, that's all. I've been traveling nonstop since I left the island, two weeks ago."
He raised an eyebrow, "The Island of the Silver Lake is at least a months journey."
"I travel quickly with help from the Craft of the Isle of course." She then grinned, "And I don't tire near as fast as you." She teased.
He chuckled softly, and stopped to look her in the eyes. "Melri, I'm glad you're back."
She smiled at the nickname he called her when they were young and gave him a hug, "So am I, Legolas. So am I." They then started to walk again.
Melriadora started to explain what was happening at the Isle. They were under siege by the Polrai from the far North. "They don't want any of our objects or our island. They want us. They've taken a few of us when we try to leave the island, but for the most part, we've held them off on our own. They still can't get through the mist, but we can't last forever, Legolas, it was only luck that I escaped, and we can't shut ourselves off from the rest of Middle Earth forever either." She sighed, "There is only one way to stop them, and I've been sent to do it, but I'll need-"
She stopped suddenly, her face paled. Legolas couldn't get over how gaunt she looked. "What-"
She collapsed, and he caught her limp form in his arms, "Melriadora?" He called her name. She was still alive, he could feel her breathing. He leaped onto her horse with her still in his arms, and he raced off to find help.i "Come on, hurry!" /iHe willed the horse silently. i "Please be all right Melriadora. Please hang on."/i
Gimli the Dwarf had been looking for his friend when Legolas came riding through the dwellings. He was on a strange horse with a strange elven woman in his arms. He was calling for help. The other elves in Mirkwood came to see what was the matter. "Take her, she lost conciseness ten minutes ago." He said as he handed her to a group of elves who must specialize in healing.
Legolas got off the horse and followed them asking all the while if she would be all right. Gimli, interested followed but got left outside the door. He could wait though, he was curious.
Legolas finally came out and sat down beside Gimli. "She'll be all right they say." He told him. "She was just exhausted, she needs rest and some nourishment."
"That is good my friend." Gimli said. "But who is she?"
Legolas looked at his friend, surprised, as if he just realized he was there. "Her name is Melriadora, she is only a year behind me in age. We grew up together here in Mirkwood." He smiled, "We were such friends, we hardly were ever seen apart. Although we were suppose to have much different lessons, we somehow managed to convince my father and hers to allow us to learn together. She learned to hunt and track the same as I did." He chuckled, "She was good. Very good." He seemed lost in memories for a moment. "She's very special, my friend. Very special."
"You love her, don't you?" Gimli asked, with a smile appearing at the corners of his beard.
He sighed, "Yes, or I did anyway." He laughed at himself, "All right, I suppose I still do."
"What happened?"
He looked at the stars. "When we just coming of age I realized that my feelings for my old friend were changing into something else." He smiled sadly. "We were in love, our parents were against it, on the ground of we were far too young. My father told me I had to wait for at least 100 more years before I even thought about marrying Melriadora. We however, made a pact; as long as we lived we would never love another. We kept our love secret for twenty years, until-" He trailed off lost in memories again.
"Until what?" Gimli prompted.
"Until the Lady of the Isle came for her." He sighed, looking sad. "The Order of the Isle takes only those women that have some sort of power. I cannot explain what it is, for I do not know myself. All I know is that the Lady, the leader of the Order herself, came for my Melriadora, and she had to leave Mirkwood for the life of one of the Order. She had no choice in the matter really. Once the Order calls, and they do not call upon new women for their Order often, one must go." He sighed, "She told me that she did love me, but she couldn't ignore the call of the Order. I vowed to her that I would hold by my pledge, she argued, telling me she didn't want to deny me a chance to have a family, but I wouldn't hear of it. I told her I loved her, her and no one else, nor would I ever love another." He leaned back, "And I never have."
Gimli processed this story, it was a sad tale. "When did you last see her, before today?"
"About 1200 years ago." He said with a sigh. "Melriadora returned for a test she had to complete before she would be made High Priestess of the Order." He smiled, "She only stayed for two weeks, but those were the best two weeks of my life."
Legolas looked down, "And now she is here again, this time for a quest to save her Order." He looked back up, as if he came to a decision. "I will go with her. She needs help, I must assist her."
"I will go with you-"
"No my friend, I have asked too much from you already." Legolas interrupted.
Gimli grinned, "Very well, if you wish to be alone with your love. I will return to my home then, you have been a very good host Legolas, I will stay until your father's celebration, and then I'll return to my home." He rose. "Good night, my friend."
(A/N - HTML makes me angry. Just thought I'd share! Have I fixed it yet?????
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