Chapter Five - Into the Temple
Melriadora loved to climb. The strength she felt in doing this charged her soul. Her muscles twigded as she held on while her feet searched for a new foot hold. Her golden hair blew in her eyes and she let out a small sigh and tossed the strands that strayed from her bun out of her eyes with a flick of her head. She felt the wind whisper past the bare skin of her arms, she had shed the long sleeved tunic an hour before, it was much too hot and she preferred her simple sleeveless tunic and pants. She found her foothold and allowed her arms to rest a moment, letting her legs support most of her weight.
She looked down to Legolas, who was following her. "How are you doing?" She called.
He looked up, "Do you do this often?" He asked. Melriadora could tell he was not comfortable with this. While the Prince climbed trees often enough, rock climbing was new to him.
Melriadora grinned, "As often as possible."
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" He asked, amused.
She looked up, then back, "Of course! Aren't you?"
His foot slipped and he gripped the rock with his hand until his feet were more secure. "Oh, this is the most fun I've had since I went through the Mines of Moria." He replied.
Melriadora laughed as she continued up, "Why, Prince Legolas I believe you are being sarcastic!"
He allowed a small smile, "I've spent too much time with you Lady Melriadora."
She looked down at him, "I get the point. Don't worry, it's not much farther."
Legolas nodded, watching with wonder as the slender elf pulled herself up the cliff with confidence. "Good." He watched her climb, copying her moves closely. Melriadora was a skilled climber that much was obvious. He also was amazed when she took off her outer tunic, most elven maidens would never have done something as bold as that. Not to mention she showed no fear at climbing this mountain. He glanced down and winced, he couldn't wait until they reached the Temple.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Melriadora reached the top first and turned to watch a rather annoyed Legolas finish the climb. She smiled coyly at his occasional grumbles.
"What was that Legolas?" She called down after his hand slipped and he grumbled a word that ladies should not repeat.
He looked up at her, "You're enjoying watching this, aren't you?" He cocked his head to the side.
She laughed, "You bet I am."
"Why did you insist we carry everything?" He asked.
"Because, if everything goes according to my plan we won't be going back down." She explained.
"An explanation would be appreciated Melriadora." He asked, raising an eyebrow.
She smiled mysteriously, "Just hurry up and climb, I'll explain later."
So the Prince went back to his climbing leaving Melriadora to watch his progress and ponder things. She had forgotten just how his eyes affected her. He could just look at her with those blue eyes and she would feel her heart beat faster. The Prince of Mirkwood had always been handsome, and the years of separation had only made her more aware of how much she was in love with him.
Legolas reached the top, finally. He looked at her, "Melri, I don't see how you got here so quickly." He commented.
She just shrugged, "I've always been quicker then you." She teased. "Come, let us go into the Temple." She said turning to the stonewall behind them.
Legolas stared at the rock, "What Temple?" He asked.
Melriadora just smiled and stepped forward, staring hard at the wall, finally, the stones started to move forming a brilliant door complete with columns and writing in a language he couldn't make out, the language of the Isle. Melriadora noticed him looking at the writing.
"It says, 'Behold the Second Gateway.'" She informed him.
"The Second Gateway?" He asked. "What is that?"
"You'll see." She said. "Come." With that she lead him into the Temple.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Legolas never knew how complicated the Isle really was. Melriadora had been wandering the Temple for hours mumbling to herself. It rather reminded him of Gandalf trying to remember the password to Moria. Legolas had followed her for a while, but gave up and sat down watching amused as she paced the floors. Amazingly, the Temple looked as if it had been cleaned just recently, not what one would expect from such a remote, empty place.
Legolas sighed to himself and decided to take the time to look over his arrows. He had to admit thus far this trip had been action free, though he wouldn't complain. Talking with Melriadora was always better then battling Orcs or other foul things. As soon as Legolas had started to find something usual to do Melriadora came over excitedly.
"Grab your things, hurry! Let's go!" She practically shouted.
"Go where?" He asked.
"I have learned that the answer is in the Lost Valley of the Misty Mountains. Come, and hurry." She said hoisting her own bag to her back.
"Melri, don't you think we should rest before we leave? The Misty Mountains are a long journey." He pointed out.
"Oh come on! I know a short cut, we will be there in a second if you will just hurry!" She said urging him to his feet.
Confused Legolas quickly gathered his things and followed Melriadora. She led home through the winding passages of the Temple to a circular room with four stones arranged in a square.
"Stand in the square." She instructed.
Legolas did so and she grabbed his hand. Without explanation, She shouted. "Neyanna Ki!"
The room swirled and suddenly Legolas found himself standing a snowy field, from what he could tell in the Misty Moutains.
"Isle magic." She explained. "There are four transports, that was one of them."
"Next time may I have some warning?" Legolas asked, a bit annoyed.
She turned to him, "My apologies. The portal is only open once every month for two hours. I did not want to miss it."
Legolas nodded, but couldn't shake the feeling she wasn't quite telling him everything. "Now what?" He asked.
Melriadora smiled, "Now we head North."
* * * * * * * * * * *
A/N- Bum Bum Bum!!!! Hehe! Anyway, their quest continues! I'm getting to the torture, I promise! Then Melri will become less Mary-Sueish... I hope.... anyway! Review! Because I like reviews! They make me sing a little happy song and dance around the room! My roommate can vouch for that!
Melriadora loved to climb. The strength she felt in doing this charged her soul. Her muscles twigded as she held on while her feet searched for a new foot hold. Her golden hair blew in her eyes and she let out a small sigh and tossed the strands that strayed from her bun out of her eyes with a flick of her head. She felt the wind whisper past the bare skin of her arms, she had shed the long sleeved tunic an hour before, it was much too hot and she preferred her simple sleeveless tunic and pants. She found her foothold and allowed her arms to rest a moment, letting her legs support most of her weight.
She looked down to Legolas, who was following her. "How are you doing?" She called.
He looked up, "Do you do this often?" He asked. Melriadora could tell he was not comfortable with this. While the Prince climbed trees often enough, rock climbing was new to him.
Melriadora grinned, "As often as possible."
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" He asked, amused.
She looked up, then back, "Of course! Aren't you?"
His foot slipped and he gripped the rock with his hand until his feet were more secure. "Oh, this is the most fun I've had since I went through the Mines of Moria." He replied.
Melriadora laughed as she continued up, "Why, Prince Legolas I believe you are being sarcastic!"
He allowed a small smile, "I've spent too much time with you Lady Melriadora."
She looked down at him, "I get the point. Don't worry, it's not much farther."
Legolas nodded, watching with wonder as the slender elf pulled herself up the cliff with confidence. "Good." He watched her climb, copying her moves closely. Melriadora was a skilled climber that much was obvious. He also was amazed when she took off her outer tunic, most elven maidens would never have done something as bold as that. Not to mention she showed no fear at climbing this mountain. He glanced down and winced, he couldn't wait until they reached the Temple.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Melriadora reached the top first and turned to watch a rather annoyed Legolas finish the climb. She smiled coyly at his occasional grumbles.
"What was that Legolas?" She called down after his hand slipped and he grumbled a word that ladies should not repeat.
He looked up at her, "You're enjoying watching this, aren't you?" He cocked his head to the side.
She laughed, "You bet I am."
"Why did you insist we carry everything?" He asked.
"Because, if everything goes according to my plan we won't be going back down." She explained.
"An explanation would be appreciated Melriadora." He asked, raising an eyebrow.
She smiled mysteriously, "Just hurry up and climb, I'll explain later."
So the Prince went back to his climbing leaving Melriadora to watch his progress and ponder things. She had forgotten just how his eyes affected her. He could just look at her with those blue eyes and she would feel her heart beat faster. The Prince of Mirkwood had always been handsome, and the years of separation had only made her more aware of how much she was in love with him.
Legolas reached the top, finally. He looked at her, "Melri, I don't see how you got here so quickly." He commented.
She just shrugged, "I've always been quicker then you." She teased. "Come, let us go into the Temple." She said turning to the stonewall behind them.
Legolas stared at the rock, "What Temple?" He asked.
Melriadora just smiled and stepped forward, staring hard at the wall, finally, the stones started to move forming a brilliant door complete with columns and writing in a language he couldn't make out, the language of the Isle. Melriadora noticed him looking at the writing.
"It says, 'Behold the Second Gateway.'" She informed him.
"The Second Gateway?" He asked. "What is that?"
"You'll see." She said. "Come." With that she lead him into the Temple.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Legolas never knew how complicated the Isle really was. Melriadora had been wandering the Temple for hours mumbling to herself. It rather reminded him of Gandalf trying to remember the password to Moria. Legolas had followed her for a while, but gave up and sat down watching amused as she paced the floors. Amazingly, the Temple looked as if it had been cleaned just recently, not what one would expect from such a remote, empty place.
Legolas sighed to himself and decided to take the time to look over his arrows. He had to admit thus far this trip had been action free, though he wouldn't complain. Talking with Melriadora was always better then battling Orcs or other foul things. As soon as Legolas had started to find something usual to do Melriadora came over excitedly.
"Grab your things, hurry! Let's go!" She practically shouted.
"Go where?" He asked.
"I have learned that the answer is in the Lost Valley of the Misty Mountains. Come, and hurry." She said hoisting her own bag to her back.
"Melri, don't you think we should rest before we leave? The Misty Mountains are a long journey." He pointed out.
"Oh come on! I know a short cut, we will be there in a second if you will just hurry!" She said urging him to his feet.
Confused Legolas quickly gathered his things and followed Melriadora. She led home through the winding passages of the Temple to a circular room with four stones arranged in a square.
"Stand in the square." She instructed.
Legolas did so and she grabbed his hand. Without explanation, She shouted. "Neyanna Ki!"
The room swirled and suddenly Legolas found himself standing a snowy field, from what he could tell in the Misty Moutains.
"Isle magic." She explained. "There are four transports, that was one of them."
"Next time may I have some warning?" Legolas asked, a bit annoyed.
She turned to him, "My apologies. The portal is only open once every month for two hours. I did not want to miss it."
Legolas nodded, but couldn't shake the feeling she wasn't quite telling him everything. "Now what?" He asked.
Melriadora smiled, "Now we head North."
* * * * * * * * * * *
A/N- Bum Bum Bum!!!! Hehe! Anyway, their quest continues! I'm getting to the torture, I promise! Then Melri will become less Mary-Sueish... I hope.... anyway! Review! Because I like reviews! They make me sing a little happy song and dance around the room! My roommate can vouch for that!