Credo
500 years passed over the lands of Middle Earth. In the realm of Men battles raged. Empires were formed, grew and died.
Tall buildings, once proud heralds of advancement, now lie scattered on the ground, ruined.
The realms of the Elves remained ever the same.
*****
Hearing horses' hooves off in the distance, Arelén looked up from her reading to see a silver cloaked rider approaching Thranduil's castle.
((He has to be Lorien))
By the time she arrived in the great hall, the rider had dismounted and was passing through the archway into Thranduil's private chamber.
Arelén caught a glimpse of the rider presenting Thranduil with a silver bound vellum scroll.
"Be off, little one" snarled a Royal Guard as he securely closed the door. "This is no matter for you."
Arelén excused herself. Standing close to the wall, she focused her attention on the unfamiliar voice within.
The rider's voice was hard to catch "...Lady Gladriel extend their hospitality...Mirkwood ...visit ... recreation." Were the only words she could make out.
Arelén eyes sparkled at the thought of visiting Lóthlorien. Ever since she can remember she has heard stories of the Golden Woods. ((But how to get Thranduil to let her go?))
Unable to hear anymore of the conversation, Arelén returned to her room.
*****
Throughout breakfast the next morning, Arelén caught snippets of conversations as she filled the cups of the King and his ministers.
Apparently The King decided to set out for Lorien this morning. Causing his ministers, servants and all a great flurry of activity to prepare for the journey.
Thranduil sat in his chair facing a pile of papers. "While our Lorien cousins send an invitation for leisure, are you clear of the business you are to conduct while you are there?"
Thranduil's Chief Minister nodded. "Yes My King. We are ready to go at your command."
Barging in from a side door, Legolas ran to Thranduil's table "Father, may I join the company to Lóthlorien. Please? I so want to go." His blue eyes gleamed with excitement.
Without a look to his youngest Thranduil sneered "No." "I am sending your older brothers."
Disappointment crossed Legolas' face. "But I want to go!?"
Arelén took the few steps to touch Legolas' arm. ((Calm yourself, brother. I will take care of this))
Waiting until Thranduil had a moment to calm down, Arelén approached his table.
"My King, if Legolas and his companion are allowed to go, they will be out of your house for at least 3 maybe 4 moons. During said time you will not have to worry about them or be concerned about their well being. Leaving you plenty of time to spend with your older sons and your new consort."
Thranduil's dark blue eyes and one raised eyebrow peered over a piece of paper. "And what else would my son's companion do?"
Arelén's face fell "This servant will make the proper apologies to the Lord and Lady for her behavior."
Thranduil leaned back in his large carved chair. After a moment of thought he nodded. "Very well then. You have an hour to get ready. Remember who you are."
Arelén bowed as she slowly walked away from the table "Thank you." Grabbing her brother's hand on the way out.
As the doors to Thranduil's chamber were closed by a guard, the dark haired one gave a sly wink issuing a challenge to the fair haired one. "Come on."
"Those two", as called by most members of Thranduil's court, raced down a flight of stairs and through a long hallway to their chamber.
For most of the race, the darker one kept the lead.
The ringing of the King's last warning caused Arelén to stop just outside their chamber door, allowing Legolas to run in first.
No longer containing his excitement Legolas happily fell backwards onto his bed. "We're going to Lorien! How did you do that?"
"Do what?" was the half response as Arelén scanned her bookshelf. ((Which ones to bring))
"Change his mind?"
With her back still to her brother and selecting books from the shelving "Was not that difficult. I merely acted how and spoke like he wanted me to." ((I do need to make my apology.)) "Would you hand me the satchel under your left leg?"
"You just want to go to see him again." Legolas teased as the bag went airborne.
Arelén caught the well-worn leather satchel without a look. "See whom?"
"Haldir." mocked Legolas' voice.
"Haldir?" Arelén questioned as she turned around from her bookshelf. "I hardly remember him. Would you hand me the box of inks and quills?"
Legolas reached over behind his shoulder, grasping the intricately carved wooden box he made for her many Mid-Summers ago. It wasn't much but she treasured it more than any other of her possessions. A smirk crossed his face as he brought it over to his sister, "Do too."
"Do not." Arelén retorted knowing full well how Legolas loved to tease her.
"You are not going to get this unless you admit you do." Legolas teased the box just out of Arelén's reach.
Arelén play pouted. "Give it back."
"No. You will have to take it from me."
Arelén stood carefully watching the box being teased back and forth. ((His patterns are so predictable))
In an instant Arelén grabbed the box away, slid it into her bag and latched the flap.
Legolas smiled proudly. "You have been paying attention during weapons training."
"Just because I do not pay attention, does not mean I do not learn." Dropping the satchel on her bed, Arelén turned her attention to the wardrobe chest. "Will you get packing? We can not be late"
Hurriedly scanning through the clothes she selected her best things. ((These look old and worn. I will have to acquire more fabric soon))
"You like him, don't you?" inquired Legolas, distracting her from her sorting.
Arelén threw a half aimed piece of fabric at her brother. "Legolas stop it. Get packing or the Prince of Mirkwood is going to be wearing his companion's dresses..."
Blue eyes peeked from under the orange scarf. "But it's not my color!"
Gary eyes looked up and laughed, "You're right."
Laughter echoed down the hall.
*****
Few days later.
"We will set up camp here for the night. Tomorrow we ride into the realm of Lorien." The Chief Minister was still not overly pleased to have "those two" as his tagalongs. However, he did have to admit they kept to themselves and did not cause any trouble. "The dark one did know how to fix that clumsy guard's wound" he thought to himself.
After a small dinner, Arelén laid down on the blanket next to her brother. As she tossed and turned, more than finding a comfortable spot filled her mind.
"Arelén, are you ever going to stop moving around?" asked the voice beside her.
Arelén fond a reasonably comfortable spot on her side facing her brother. "Legolas, I can not sleep. What do you think the golden woods look like?"
Legolas pondered. "I heard the trees shift color from gold and silver and they are so old the trunks can not be walked around. There is music everywhere and "
"Quiet! Go to sleep you two!" Growled a guard. "Orcs like to eat noisy Elf children."
Arelén rolled over to her back, finally falling asleep staring out onto the stars.
500 years passed over the lands of Middle Earth. In the realm of Men battles raged. Empires were formed, grew and died.
Tall buildings, once proud heralds of advancement, now lie scattered on the ground, ruined.
The realms of the Elves remained ever the same.
*****
Hearing horses' hooves off in the distance, Arelén looked up from her reading to see a silver cloaked rider approaching Thranduil's castle.
((He has to be Lorien))
By the time she arrived in the great hall, the rider had dismounted and was passing through the archway into Thranduil's private chamber.
Arelén caught a glimpse of the rider presenting Thranduil with a silver bound vellum scroll.
"Be off, little one" snarled a Royal Guard as he securely closed the door. "This is no matter for you."
Arelén excused herself. Standing close to the wall, she focused her attention on the unfamiliar voice within.
The rider's voice was hard to catch "...Lady Gladriel extend their hospitality...Mirkwood ...visit ... recreation." Were the only words she could make out.
Arelén eyes sparkled at the thought of visiting Lóthlorien. Ever since she can remember she has heard stories of the Golden Woods. ((But how to get Thranduil to let her go?))
Unable to hear anymore of the conversation, Arelén returned to her room.
*****
Throughout breakfast the next morning, Arelén caught snippets of conversations as she filled the cups of the King and his ministers.
Apparently The King decided to set out for Lorien this morning. Causing his ministers, servants and all a great flurry of activity to prepare for the journey.
Thranduil sat in his chair facing a pile of papers. "While our Lorien cousins send an invitation for leisure, are you clear of the business you are to conduct while you are there?"
Thranduil's Chief Minister nodded. "Yes My King. We are ready to go at your command."
Barging in from a side door, Legolas ran to Thranduil's table "Father, may I join the company to Lóthlorien. Please? I so want to go." His blue eyes gleamed with excitement.
Without a look to his youngest Thranduil sneered "No." "I am sending your older brothers."
Disappointment crossed Legolas' face. "But I want to go!?"
Arelén took the few steps to touch Legolas' arm. ((Calm yourself, brother. I will take care of this))
Waiting until Thranduil had a moment to calm down, Arelén approached his table.
"My King, if Legolas and his companion are allowed to go, they will be out of your house for at least 3 maybe 4 moons. During said time you will not have to worry about them or be concerned about their well being. Leaving you plenty of time to spend with your older sons and your new consort."
Thranduil's dark blue eyes and one raised eyebrow peered over a piece of paper. "And what else would my son's companion do?"
Arelén's face fell "This servant will make the proper apologies to the Lord and Lady for her behavior."
Thranduil leaned back in his large carved chair. After a moment of thought he nodded. "Very well then. You have an hour to get ready. Remember who you are."
Arelén bowed as she slowly walked away from the table "Thank you." Grabbing her brother's hand on the way out.
As the doors to Thranduil's chamber were closed by a guard, the dark haired one gave a sly wink issuing a challenge to the fair haired one. "Come on."
"Those two", as called by most members of Thranduil's court, raced down a flight of stairs and through a long hallway to their chamber.
For most of the race, the darker one kept the lead.
The ringing of the King's last warning caused Arelén to stop just outside their chamber door, allowing Legolas to run in first.
No longer containing his excitement Legolas happily fell backwards onto his bed. "We're going to Lorien! How did you do that?"
"Do what?" was the half response as Arelén scanned her bookshelf. ((Which ones to bring))
"Change his mind?"
With her back still to her brother and selecting books from the shelving "Was not that difficult. I merely acted how and spoke like he wanted me to." ((I do need to make my apology.)) "Would you hand me the satchel under your left leg?"
"You just want to go to see him again." Legolas teased as the bag went airborne.
Arelén caught the well-worn leather satchel without a look. "See whom?"
"Haldir." mocked Legolas' voice.
"Haldir?" Arelén questioned as she turned around from her bookshelf. "I hardly remember him. Would you hand me the box of inks and quills?"
Legolas reached over behind his shoulder, grasping the intricately carved wooden box he made for her many Mid-Summers ago. It wasn't much but she treasured it more than any other of her possessions. A smirk crossed his face as he brought it over to his sister, "Do too."
"Do not." Arelén retorted knowing full well how Legolas loved to tease her.
"You are not going to get this unless you admit you do." Legolas teased the box just out of Arelén's reach.
Arelén play pouted. "Give it back."
"No. You will have to take it from me."
Arelén stood carefully watching the box being teased back and forth. ((His patterns are so predictable))
In an instant Arelén grabbed the box away, slid it into her bag and latched the flap.
Legolas smiled proudly. "You have been paying attention during weapons training."
"Just because I do not pay attention, does not mean I do not learn." Dropping the satchel on her bed, Arelén turned her attention to the wardrobe chest. "Will you get packing? We can not be late"
Hurriedly scanning through the clothes she selected her best things. ((These look old and worn. I will have to acquire more fabric soon))
"You like him, don't you?" inquired Legolas, distracting her from her sorting.
Arelén threw a half aimed piece of fabric at her brother. "Legolas stop it. Get packing or the Prince of Mirkwood is going to be wearing his companion's dresses..."
Blue eyes peeked from under the orange scarf. "But it's not my color!"
Gary eyes looked up and laughed, "You're right."
Laughter echoed down the hall.
*****
Few days later.
"We will set up camp here for the night. Tomorrow we ride into the realm of Lorien." The Chief Minister was still not overly pleased to have "those two" as his tagalongs. However, he did have to admit they kept to themselves and did not cause any trouble. "The dark one did know how to fix that clumsy guard's wound" he thought to himself.
After a small dinner, Arelén laid down on the blanket next to her brother. As she tossed and turned, more than finding a comfortable spot filled her mind.
"Arelén, are you ever going to stop moving around?" asked the voice beside her.
Arelén fond a reasonably comfortable spot on her side facing her brother. "Legolas, I can not sleep. What do you think the golden woods look like?"
Legolas pondered. "I heard the trees shift color from gold and silver and they are so old the trunks can not be walked around. There is music everywhere and "
"Quiet! Go to sleep you two!" Growled a guard. "Orcs like to eat noisy Elf children."
Arelén rolled over to her back, finally falling asleep staring out onto the stars.