Hey peeps, sorry for the unforgivable delay in this chapter…this is the first proper meeting between Legolas and Eladrien so I wanted to get it right, and that proved to be quite a difficult task!  Hope you enjoy this chapter and I promise the next update will be soon! Istawen xx

PS. Special apologies go out to Lulu Bell…I hope you're still alive! xx

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Chapter 4: Meeting

Eladrien was shown quickly along countless halls and passages before they finally reached a more secluded wing of the Palace.  Here, there was far less noise from outside and the air was permeated with a sense of calm grandeur.  Eladrien swallowed her nervousness.  She felt so completely out of place among such splendour and history.  As if she was a young Elfling playing games of titles with her friends.  The escort guard stopped abruptly outside a huge double door, beautifully carved into the shape of an arch.  He rapped briskly on the door before opening it and ushering her inside.  Her eyes widened.  She was standing in the biggest room she had ever seen.  The ceiling was high and painted with images of the blue sky with whispery clouds, floating gently.  Three of the four walls were covered from ceiling to floor with row upon row of scriptures and books.  Eladrien had only rarely seen a book in her life and, to see so many all at once, was a rare sight indeed.  The last wall was in fact made up of four glass doors, which opened out onto a large terraced overhang.  In the middle of the gigantic room, behind a desk, sat Prince Legolas, perusing a scrolled document.  He looked up, and gestured for her to seat herself opposite him.

"If you would give me a few moments, I must finish reading this," he gestured to the scroll in his hands.

"Please, take your time." She answered.

It gave her a chance to examine the Prince, as she had not yet been at liberty to do so.  He was remarkably similar to the descriptions she had heard.  People often talked of the golden prince who had represented the Elves and helped save Middle Earth but Eladrien had dismissed most of it as silly Elven gossip.  Seated opposite him, she could see there was no exaggeration to the reports.  Most of her kin were dark-haired, making it easier for them to escape detection.  Rarely did she see light Elves.  Legolas had bright golden hair down his back and his eyes were a deep, penetrating blue.  It was refreshing but strange to look at one who seemed to capture the light of the sun and keep it as his own.  He was youthful, athletic and  attractive; the very epitome of Elfness and the fairytale dream of a Prince.  He was big and powerful for an Elf, who were quite lean in general, yet he was also tall, which gave him a deceptive litheness.  He looked like he was always watching and waiting; ready to spring into action.  It made him formidable and intimidating.

Yet for all his golden demeanour and beautiful appearance, there was a darkness in his eyes, that Eladrien's Spirit perception could discern.  It spoke of his previous life and experiences, and the pain he had suffered.  She remembered the stories of the Nine Walkers, all of whom had been mortals except for the one Istar.  There had been a dwarf in particular, who had travelled with Legolas to the Undying Lands.  Eladrien found this intriguing; why would one become friends with someone who was so limited by their own mortality?  To do so seemed madness considering that Elves could die from the loss of a loved one. Although she did not know if the tales were true, one only had to look in the eyes of the Prince to know that he had suffered much in his life.  It had always been the curse of Elves to be left behind when others moved on.  That was why the journey to the Undying Lands had been so different; for once, the Elves were leaving and many had found that hard.  Eladrien could feel the sorrow present in his soul as if he was still grieving for those he had left behind.  Yet, he seemed to hold it away from himself, as if he was shutting part of his life away and hiding it from his own sight.  He was calm, almost unnaturally so, as if half of his life force was still slumbering in Middle Earth, where he had left it.  Eladrien found herself increasingly intrigued by him.  He held himself apart, reserved and shackled, unlike any Elf she knew.  Yet his looks spoke of a friendliness and warmth that was missing from his soul.  The two contrasts were so different that it was as if she looked on two separate Elves; one young and carefree; the other battle-hardened and cynical.

"Eladrien"

She blinked and tried to focus in reality; it was always draining for Spirit Elves to use their inner Perception, "I am sorry.  What did you say?"

He looked at her suspiciously, "I asked if you had considered out problem during your rest.'"

She hesitated, feeling the full import of the action she was about to take.  But so be it, she could think of no other way to reach this young Prince in front of her.

"Yes," she answered calmly, "I will tell you of our troubles, if doing so might help me to see you father."

He nodded, "It will help."

She thought how to begin.

"I have already told you that my name is Eladrien.  My mother is Aladwen and she is one of the Spirit Elves."

"Spirit Elves."  Legolas repeated, "Never have I heard of such a kin."

"No, there is no reason why you would have.  We are nomadic and we travel mainly in the shadow of the Pelóri mountain range, far from here.  We do not, in general, trust others who are not of our Kin.  We have acquired the ability to read each other's thoughts and it makes us wary of those we cannot speak to in this manner.  We seldom speak Elvish, so please excuse me if I make mistakes.  We keep mainly to ourselves, and rarely are we seen by others."

He still looked suspicious, "Have you always been in Valinor?"

"No, we were once akin to the Sindar who travelled east from Lindon but my people were lost and never returned.  For many centuries, they travelled the mountains of Middle Earth until a leader was chosen, King Earendur, who led us to prosperity and peace."

"Yet you said your father was mortal."

"My mother abandoned her kin and lived in Edoras for many years.  We were all born there, myself and my two siblings, but my father was slain in battle and we left Rohan.  For many years, we travelled, searching for our kin.  We found them when Earendur was still alive," she smiled at the memory of her beloved King, "but he was slain a few years after.  So the Spirit Elves passed away to the West."

There was a silence.

Then, Legolas spoke, 'What has happened to your kin?  Why do you travel like this?"

Eladrien looked down, "We have a new King now.  His name is Celethian and he has become bad.  I said before that Spirit Elves can read each other's thoughts.  He has become much more powerful; he is able to invade the minds of my kin and bend them to his will.  They have become his servants, ready to do whatever he desires.  And his power over them has corrupted him absolutely.  He has become vicious, greedy and envious of other elves.  He wants-…" she stopped.

The Prince watched her, "What does he want?"

She contemplated how to answer, "He wants the material wealth of your kin.  He has set his sights on your land, he wants it for himself."

Legolas scrutinised her face, "He is going to attempt to invade the Oropher?"

She nodded, cautiously.

Again, there was a silence.

"Could you tell me why your kin sent you, along with two Elf children, to explain this to us?"

She shook her head, "No one sent us.  Most of my Kin are loyal to Celethian.  But there are some who do not agree with him and want to see him stopped.  But Celethian knows this and is slowly rooting them out.  My mother decided we were the only hope.  You see, since only our mother is Spirit Kin, Celethian does not possess so much power over us.  So, my mother took us and slipped away at night.  We ran for hours. From there, we travelled for many days." Her face clouded over, and she swallowed painfully, "It was only then that we realised how much Celethian's power had grown.  My mother started to disappear; slowly at first but soon it was clear Celethian was recalling her."

Legolas interrupted, "What do you mean 'recalling her'?"

"Spirit Elves can use their mind to move their physical form from one place to another.  It takes a long time and is very hard but it can be done.  Normally, it is the Elf who must want it.  Yet, my mother disappeared without her own consent.  Celethian is now able to recall people against their will.  He has become much more skilful that we could have every imagined."

"Where is your mother now?"

Eladrien looked down, pain etched into her features, "With Celethian.  I do not know what he will do to her."

"Does Celethian have any power over you?"

"He tried.  He is always with me, talking to me in my head but I ignore him." She gave him a tired smile, "It is hard to do, but to let him in would be to let him take control of me.  And that I will never allow."

Legolas rose from his seat, "You must give me time to decide what is to be done."

Eladrien rose too, "Of course."

To her surprise, Legolas took her cold hand between his, "I know what it is to worry about someone you love.  I will not say that your mother is safe, because I do not know this, but do try not to think about it all the time.  To do so is folly."

She nodded, "Thank you, my Lord." With that, she left the room.

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