Chap. 2
New Places
Staring at her dirty feet, she noticed that no longer did wildflowers and luscious grass fill the meadow, but dirt and weeds. Puzzled, she began to walk lightly, brittle twigs snapping under her weight as she pushed away greedy branches as they grasped her worn out skirt. Ahead of her, a soft light glowed through the darkness of the haunting night. An inviting smell tingled her senses and it seemed to pull her to the source. Finally, she reached her destination. In front of her was a red, hot fire, with a fowl roasting on a spit. Beside the fire sat an incredibly handsome man. He had long, golden hair tied in a half ponytail. He wore leather boots, rough pants and a brown shirt. An intrically-designed quiver was strapped to his back holding finely crafted wood arrows. His long bow lay beside him on the soft earth. All of a sudden, a whistling noise filled Aranel's ears as a deadly arrow flew past her head. More missiles began to soar through the air and the girl shrieked. Ducking, she placed trembling hands over her head and sat there, shaking. A shout alerted her to the approaching man.
"Come on, we've got to get out of here! Now!" he yelled loudly, over the rising din. Aranel stood to walk to him, but as she rose, an arrow flew towards her and pierced her in the arm. She screamed in pain as ruby red blood spurt from the wound. She collapsed and her world went black.
~
When she woke, she found herself in a brilliant room, with sunshine flooding through large windows. A warm breeze entered the place through balcony doors, tousling her strawberry blond hair. Then she heard voices echoing through out the gigantic bedchamber. The language was not Common, but a foreign tongue.
(Any words within * are spoken in Elvish.)
*I was under an Orc attack when I found her, Father. She was alone, I'm sure, and had no way of defending herself. A poisoned arrow pierced her right arm, but the Healers got to her in time. There is no infection yet,* One voice said.
*Very well. It was fortunate that you were there to help her. You should introduce your self while I go and fetch a handmaiden to clean her up,* the other voice replied.
*Alright, and thank you, Father,* the first voice said.
The man that Aranel had seen in the woods entered, and she could see him clearly, even without her glasses. She realized that they were no longer necessary.
'This is very strange, though I cannot complain, she said silently to herself. Her chain of thought was abruptly cut off as the man spoke.
" I am Legolas. I saved you from the Orcs that had attacked us in the Mirk Wood," he finished.
" What are Orcs? And where is the Mirk Wood?" Aranel questioned inquisitively.
"Surely you know of the horrid creatures that torrent the people of Middle Earth? And the Mirk Wood is a widely known forest!" Legolas exclaimed.
" I know nothing of what you speak, and there is no such place as Middle Earth! Many philosophers speak only of one planet and that is ours. Where am I? How did I get here?" Aranel replied anxiously.
" I have answered already your first question, but how you got here I would very much like to find out," Legolas answered. " Do you remember what happened before you found me, before the attack?" he questioned.
" Well, I had run away from my home, and slept in a beautiful meadow, and when I awoke, I found myself to be here," she said simply. A slight rapping on the door alerted both that the handmaiden that Thandruil had sent for was waiting.
" Very well. There will be a meeting of the Fellowship in the gardens, and I should very much like you to attend. This matter may be discussed more in depth. Goodbye, for now," Legolas said kindly, as he exited the room. The young woman entered the elegant area, and introduced herself as Erame. She intended to make Aranel suitable for the Fellowship's presence. Aranel had never been a beautiful girl and thought this task nearly impossible. Thus, the girl's makeover had begun.
New Places
Staring at her dirty feet, she noticed that no longer did wildflowers and luscious grass fill the meadow, but dirt and weeds. Puzzled, she began to walk lightly, brittle twigs snapping under her weight as she pushed away greedy branches as they grasped her worn out skirt. Ahead of her, a soft light glowed through the darkness of the haunting night. An inviting smell tingled her senses and it seemed to pull her to the source. Finally, she reached her destination. In front of her was a red, hot fire, with a fowl roasting on a spit. Beside the fire sat an incredibly handsome man. He had long, golden hair tied in a half ponytail. He wore leather boots, rough pants and a brown shirt. An intrically-designed quiver was strapped to his back holding finely crafted wood arrows. His long bow lay beside him on the soft earth. All of a sudden, a whistling noise filled Aranel's ears as a deadly arrow flew past her head. More missiles began to soar through the air and the girl shrieked. Ducking, she placed trembling hands over her head and sat there, shaking. A shout alerted her to the approaching man.
"Come on, we've got to get out of here! Now!" he yelled loudly, over the rising din. Aranel stood to walk to him, but as she rose, an arrow flew towards her and pierced her in the arm. She screamed in pain as ruby red blood spurt from the wound. She collapsed and her world went black.
~
When she woke, she found herself in a brilliant room, with sunshine flooding through large windows. A warm breeze entered the place through balcony doors, tousling her strawberry blond hair. Then she heard voices echoing through out the gigantic bedchamber. The language was not Common, but a foreign tongue.
(Any words within * are spoken in Elvish.)
*I was under an Orc attack when I found her, Father. She was alone, I'm sure, and had no way of defending herself. A poisoned arrow pierced her right arm, but the Healers got to her in time. There is no infection yet,* One voice said.
*Very well. It was fortunate that you were there to help her. You should introduce your self while I go and fetch a handmaiden to clean her up,* the other voice replied.
*Alright, and thank you, Father,* the first voice said.
The man that Aranel had seen in the woods entered, and she could see him clearly, even without her glasses. She realized that they were no longer necessary.
'This is very strange, though I cannot complain, she said silently to herself. Her chain of thought was abruptly cut off as the man spoke.
" I am Legolas. I saved you from the Orcs that had attacked us in the Mirk Wood," he finished.
" What are Orcs? And where is the Mirk Wood?" Aranel questioned inquisitively.
"Surely you know of the horrid creatures that torrent the people of Middle Earth? And the Mirk Wood is a widely known forest!" Legolas exclaimed.
" I know nothing of what you speak, and there is no such place as Middle Earth! Many philosophers speak only of one planet and that is ours. Where am I? How did I get here?" Aranel replied anxiously.
" I have answered already your first question, but how you got here I would very much like to find out," Legolas answered. " Do you remember what happened before you found me, before the attack?" he questioned.
" Well, I had run away from my home, and slept in a beautiful meadow, and when I awoke, I found myself to be here," she said simply. A slight rapping on the door alerted both that the handmaiden that Thandruil had sent for was waiting.
" Very well. There will be a meeting of the Fellowship in the gardens, and I should very much like you to attend. This matter may be discussed more in depth. Goodbye, for now," Legolas said kindly, as he exited the room. The young woman entered the elegant area, and introduced herself as Erame. She intended to make Aranel suitable for the Fellowship's presence. Aranel had never been a beautiful girl and thought this task nearly impossible. Thus, the girl's makeover had begun.