AN: Hey there folks! I'm so thankful to you all for giving me your input! I hope you'll like this next chapter! "Gelir Cuilheriaur" translates very (and I mean VERY) roughly to "Happy Birthday".
I have no legal rights to Tolkien's works.
Chapter 7: Gelir Cuilheriaur!
The dwarves were quickly forgotten for Auruin's birthday was approaching. Legolas and Eluthar were—as they did for each other every year—preparing something special for her.
"Do you think she will be surprised?" asked Eluthar as Legolas walked into the grand room.
The older elf's eyes twinkled with laughter, "I hope she will." He handed Eluthar a flower and it was added to the arrangement on the long dinner table. "How many of the guests will be attending?"
"I do not know," Eluthar shrugged, "How many have replied?"
Legolas paused, a frightened expression crossing his features. "Were you not the one who was to invite them? Should you not know?"
"Invite them?" the boy asked confused, "Me? I did not invite any guests. I ensured that we would have a cake."
"We have no guests?" choked Legolas. Momentarily shrugging the thought from his head, he looked up at Eluthar hopefully, "Well, at least we have a cake. Where is it?"
Eluthar's back stiffened. "Where? Oh, yes, of course…" he turned to Legolas, eyes bright and grin wide. Slowly, he backed away to the door mumbling apologies and something about retrieving it.
Legolas frowned as he heard Eluthar's footsteps scurrying to the kitchen. After quite some time, he returned with what appeared to be a plate of Lembas bread with strawberries pushed hastily on top to form a happy face. "Here it is!"
Legolas put a hand over his eyes and shook his head. "It is a good thing she is blind."
Eluthar looked offended and was about retort but instead hung his head in shame, "I know…"
The prince sighed. "Nevertheless, I have already promised to fetch Auruin shortly so we have no time to fix this cake or invite any guests. We will make do with what we have. I shall return with our guest of honor with the setting sun. Please be ready by then!"
"Do not worry, Legolas!" he patted his friend on the shoulder, "I will be finished by then."
* * *
Auruin bit viciously into her cordof. "Ah… one of my favorite places," she giggled stretching her legs. Legolas smiled at her and bit into his own cordof. "Where is Eluthar?"
"Eluthar…?" he gulped, "He had some business to attend to, I believe."
"Oh?" she grinned, "Does this 'business' happen to be named Lady Ivorael?"
Legolas laughed nervously and chomped down on his cordof again… this time, more as an excuse to keep quiet rather than for his love of the fruit.
"You do not have to answer, Legolas," she said cracking a smile and waving a hand in the air. He breathed a sigh of relief.
* * *
Eluthar looked around the room, a satisfied smirk on his face. Torches burned merrily on the walls lighting the pink and white tablecloths, the elaborate tapestries, the intricate flower arrangements. Auruin would never see them, of course, but the sentiment was ever-present. He noticed the last fading wisps of the sun's light filtering in through the windows just as the faint sound of footsteps and voices alerted him of arrival.
"I still do not understand the need to be indoor on such a warm and lovely night! Why can we not sleep under the sky again?" Auruin's voice complained just as the large wooden door swung open.
"Surprise!" cried Eluthar.
Auruin paused, "A surprise? Whatever for?"
"Why, for your birthday, of course!"
Her mouth dropped in shock and she stood motionless in the middle of the doorway. Eluthar, in the excitement, had thrown his arms above his head. A smile was spread happily over his face. We certainly did surprise her!
Moments passed and the girl had not spoken anymore. Legolas, who had been silent, now spoke up. He touched a hand to her shoulder, "Is something the matter, Auruin?"
Slowly, her head tilted forward and she sighed. The boys caught an unreadable look on her face before it was hidden away by the strands of her golden hair. "Today is not my birthday," her lips murmured behind slender fingers. Legolas's face turned from one of curiosity to that of shock. His hand slipped from her shoulder and fell to his side. They now realized the meaning of her strange look for her voice was filled with concealed laughter. "Today is not my birthday. It is still two weeks yet to come!"
Legolas shot an angry glare at Eluthar who had, in his own curiosity, joined them at the doorway. The prince had been almost certain Auruin's birthday was not today but Eluthar was insistent that it indeed was. The younger boy bit his lip and looked pleadingly at Legolas. "A small mistake?"
Auruin raised an eyebrow as she heard a muffled thud followed by a groan from Eluthar. She giggled, "You both do this every year! It is a wonder I do not expect it!" Eluthar pouted, rubbing his tender shoulder then turned to glower at the chuckling Legolas. Auruin smiled and shook her head as she finally continued into the room. "Is there any cake?"
Eluthar watched her easily stroll over to her favorite foods—they always seemed to have the strongest and most distinct scents. He smiled as Legolas joined her at one of the tables and helped himself to some pastries. The prince picked up napkin and wiped away some frosting that had found its way on the corner of the girl's lips; his eyes sparkled as he looked down at her. A faint dusting of pink appeared on Auruin's cheeks and she seemed to glow with life. Eluthar knew all too well the reason… countless times had he seen the same expression upon Ivorael's visage…
"Would you two be interested in some wine?" the younger elf asked striding over to a barrel. He filled three empty wineglasses to the brim and handed them to his friends. "Gelir Cuilheliaur, Auruin!"
The three drank to their fill for hours on end. The party was originally intended for a small group of elves and there was no problem with the amount of food, which they easily consumed. Soon, the full moon was high in the sky and Legolas stacked a few plates together. "We should clean up."
Auruin stumbled out of her seat, her seventh glass slipping from her grasp to the soft carpeting below. "Oh my," she mumbled pushing herself onto the wooden table. Legolas watched in dismay as she wandered aimlessly along the length of it as though in search for something.
Eluthar chuckled when Legolas attempted to persuade the girl from her runway. Both were quite far-gone—but he… he was quite impermeable to elven wine, already being an avid drinker.
Suddenly, the drunken girl's foot slipped from the edge of the table and she went sprawling into the ready arms of the prince. "At last, Legolas! I have found you! Oh… but I meant to tell you… I am drunk." She buried her head into his shoulder. "You smell nice," she whispered moving her head so that her nose was at his ear, "I have something tremendously important to tell you."
Interested, he held her closer to his body as though that act alone would tell him all he wanted to know. "What is it, Auruin?"
She snuggled closer to him, getting more comfortable. "I have always dreamt of telling you," she yawned, "But… the right moment just never presented itself. Now, I feel I can tell you anything. I feel I can tell you that I… that I love… Leaves…" Her voice trailed off and her head slumped against his shoulder. By her steady breathing, Legolas knew she had fallen asleep.
* * *
Eluthar peeked into Legolas's room and a smile spread over his face at the sight before him. Auruin lay on the bed, snuggled under the covers and Legolas sat on a nearby chair, his head pressed against an arm on her pillow. Slowly, he strolled up to them and gently shook the prince awake.
"Legolas? Would you like to get some sleep? I can take care of her for the rest of the night."
Legolas looked up groggily at his friend, "Worry not, I can watch over her." Eluthar nodded and moved to leave. Taking one last glance behind him, he stood mesmerized. The moonlight, which was once hidden behind a cloud, now spilled in from the balcony doors and engulfed the two elves in a soft, ethereal glow. Legolas lifted a finger and brought it down to the girl's pale cheek. He stroked it gently with affection. Eluthar felt his heart warm and silently, he shut the door.
* * *
Ah… I trust that this chapter was to your liking? Or was it absolutely terrible? I hope it's the former! Anyway, SATAN! What the heck kind of review was that! It was incoherent! Next time, TOM, take the time to READ my story before you decide to flame! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! (Except Tom… *Glares*) And thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read this far. Don't hesitate to review with comments and suggestions! ^_~ Now, before I leave you, I have one more thing to say: There won't be another chapter for about two weeks or so. Sorry! I'm heading off to Europe. *Punches the air* Yeah! I'll be leaving this Saturday and won't be returning until the Tuesday after the break… But don't worry, I'll be jotting down ideas like a madwoman during the flights there and back. *Grins* Have a nice break everyone!