AN: Here we are with another installment of "Of Shadow and Light". ^_^ I hope those of you who are reading are enjoying…
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Chapter 3: A Chance Meeting
Auruin found herself roaming through the trees trying to find her way to her favorite spot: a small clearing in the woods that allowed the sunlight to dance warmly on her face. Whenever she visited the little clearing, she would drift off into her own little world and pretend that she could see everything. As she hiked along, she reveled in the nature around her smelling the scent of flowers and feeling the brush of an almost unrecognizable wind against her cheeks. The sound of a faint thud snapped her into alert. Auruin stopped and cocked her head to one side listening carefully for signs of any other movement. When nothing but the chatter of forest creatures reached her ears, she continued on her way. As she went, she heard the following footsteps of an elf. Drawing nearer to the clearing, she began to feel a little frightened. Why would someone be following me? Auruin listened carefully and pinpointed the elf's location. Speedily, she notched an arrow on her bow then swung herself around to face the aggressor.
"Identify yourself."
She waited and nothing but silence answered her. Then she heard the elf advance toward her. Alarmed, she pulled the bowstring back suggesting that she meant to shoot. The attacker stopped abruptly.
"Identify yourself," she said again more firmly. There was another pause of silence.
"I am Legolas. To whom is it I am speaking with?"
Auruin gasped. The Prince of Mirkwood forest! Gulping, she asked, "Prince Legolas?"
"Yes, I am Prince Legolas," he chuckled, "and what is your name, Lady?"
She felt her cheeks flush, how rude of her! Quickly, she lowered her bow. "Forgive me. I am Auruin."
He smiled kindly but the simple act was lost on the girl, "What brings you to these parts of the forest, Auruin?"
"I come here often, Prince Legolas, and not once before have I met you here."
"Ah, yes…" this, he knew, wasn't true; they had met before. Strange… Auruin would not look at him; her eyes wandered about. "…I have not been to these forests for centuries. And please, call me Legolas." He noticed a strand of hair dangling over her forehead. Acting unconsciously, he slowly reached up and brushed it away from her face. The girl jumped seemingly startled. What was most puzzling, though were her eyes… they didn't seem to react at all. Unable to contain his curiosity, he leaned forward and examined them more closely. She leaned away from him slightly and her eyes barely moved, fixing onto something else. He waved a hand in front of her face and she only shifted her weight to another foot.
Auruin was getting very uncomfortable. She could feel the prince shift forward and… wait motionless in front of her. He had not spoken in at least two minutes and she was feeling nervous.
Legolas had had his suspicions, but now, there was no mistaking it. The orc had injured the poor girl more than he had even fathomed. He marveled at her, interested in how she had been all these years. "Auruin," he whispered. She hummed a response. "You are blind."
She made a face. "Yes, I am well aware of my condition," she mumbled. "Now if you'll excuse me," straightening up, she began to walk to her clearing once again. Legolas gently caught her elbow intending to lead her.
"Allow me to help you."
She sighed. "You have already seen that I am capable of finding my own way. I may be blind but I can get along." Auruin jerked her elbow from him and threw her nose in the air. Swiftly, she sauntered away but only succeeded in hitting her head on a low branch. She fell to the ground. Legolas treaded over to her and helped her up. Her cheeks were aflame. "I miscalculated," she supplied.
Legolas just smiled at the girl knowing that if he laughed, he would only further bruise her sense of dignity. He followed her as she began to walk on again. "I apologize, Lady," he said, "I did not mean to offend you. I merely wished to help you."
"I understand, Legolas," Auruin sighed, "Many people do. But really, I am capable of doing things on my own." She stopped and turned to him, smiling kindly, "I do thank you for your concern."
"Where is it we are going?" inquired the prince.
Auruin grinned playfully. "You will see." She couldn't understand why he was following her but enjoyed in his company nonetheless. Basking in company—anyone's company—was a pleasure she rarely was able to enjoy.
The prince gazed wonderingly at her. There wasn't anything particularly prominent about her appearance. She was fair, as were all the elf maiden, but there seemed to be something about her that he could not place. Perhaps it was her sense of vulnerability that caused him to want to care for her so eagerly; perhaps it was his curiosity.
The two eventually found their way to the clearing in the woods. This was Legolas's first visit and he marveled at its beauty. Never before had he seen anything like this in all of Mirkwood forest. He had never really ventured out amongst the northern woods enough to find it. He followed the example of the elf girl who had just seated herself on a large, flat rock.
"Beautiful," he whispered.
"I imagine so," said Auruin wistfully, "I just wish I knew what this place really looked like. Can you describe it for me?"
Legolas hesitated. "If you are unable to see, then how am I to describe a sense you know not of?"
"I was able to see once… please…? It is but a simple request."
The elf's eyes roamed about the clearing. "Well," he said taking her hand and stretching it out about the world around her. She was taken aback; Auruin was unused to the rare contact of other strangers. "There are tiny purple and blue flowers speckled near the foot of the trees… the grass… it shines a brilliant shade of emerald… The greenery of the leaves is… very vibrant…" Legolas turned his attention to the sky and laughed. "And the clouds… they are quite feathery."
"Feathery?" she chuckled, "Oh, Legolas. I told you I was able to see once, I am aware of the appearance of clouds."
A light shade of pink grazed the prince's cheeks and he was thankful that the girl couldn't see. Mentally, he kicked himself, aware of the absurdity of being thankful for such things. "Oh yes, I nearly forgot… but… they do look quite feathery." This set another chuckle to escape her throat and the two eagerly appreciated the mirth of the moment.
"It is so peaceful here…" she said longingly.
"Yes… it is very serene… yet we have passed many similar clearings. Why have you chosen this one?"
Traces of a sad smile seemed to linger on her face. "My mother and father brought me here once on a picnic long ago… I was just a young child then." The girl's eyes suddenly seemed to sparkle with life; a distant memory was floating into her mind and revealed itself in her eyes. "My mother told me to listen, and I listened carefully. I was rewarded with a melody… one that I could never again mimic. It was beautiful…"
Legolas listened to her with interest. "Your mother sang you a song?"
"No…" Tinkling laughter filled the air, "My mother did not sing to me. When I listened, I heard the gentle wind playing with the leaves… it whistled and rustled like music. It was a tune that I never heard again." Her face returned to what it had once been. "I have come here often looking to find that melody again but alas it has not once repeated itself…"
Just then, as though by her own will, the wind picked up and a song seemed to fill the air around them. Auruin perked up. "It plays!" she cried, "After so many centuries… it plays!" She closed her lids in deep concentration as though she were memorizing every tinkle, every swish. A look of enrapture was clear on her face.
Legolas simply marveled at the music. Then all at once, the wind died down and the tinkling stopped. Auruin sighed contentedly.
"I would capture that in a bottle and play it at will if it were possible," she laughed. "Sadly, it will most likely be many centuries before it will be heard again…"
After hours of chatting and basking in the warm sunlight, the two began to head home. Legolas knew that he had been away from the palace for far too long and would certainly be missed. Still, he wanted to become more acquainted with the elven girl. He wanted to learn more about what became of her after the orc's attack. As they reached her house, he asked her to meet with him again the next day. Reluctantly, Auruin agreed. She was still feeling a little unsure and uncomfortable with the prince.
Soon, night descended upon her small elven dwelling. The girl slipped lightly into her bed and pulled the covers tightly around her… she would drift willingly into her dreams.
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And thus ends this installment. Thank you to those who reviewed! Any comments, suggestions or flames are greatly appreciated!