Disclaimer~ We don't own anything in here except for a few people so please
do not sue.
Please R/R. Please! And thankyou to those who did.
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Chapter 2
I sat on the bed of my 'temporary bedchamber'. It was an average size room with a large bed, cupboard, a dressing table with a mirror and chair.
I looked around me nervously rethinking over the ordeal I had gone through only the night before with the king.
Even when the Lady Galadriel had questioned me before I became her handmaiden it had not been so nerve wracking as the king's questioning had been. And what made me more afraid of him was that I felt like he could see right through me and know if I was lying or not.
He really was intimidating with everything he said and did. I could not even look him straight in the eye for at least ten seconds without being frightened. I understood why he was so highly regarded amongst his subjects, because he was so coerce.
I still did not know the king well enough to discern what type of a person he was. There were times when he sounded incredibly conceited speaking as if he owned all of Arda. It is clear though that he is very pompous. I figured that out as soon as I saw him. Or more like after I had gotten over the sight of him.
I still cannot believe just how beautiful he looks. In all my years I have never come across a man with such beauty. It seemed like he was not an elf at all, but a god. He certainly acted as such.
I remember faintly Lady Galadriel talking about him to Lord Celeborn. I know that he has been in rule for some time, ever since his father had fallen in the Last alliance. He cannot be that much older than me, for he himself was in the war, just like my father and brother.
I looked outside the room, through the window. It is quite dark outside. I had spent my whole day walking around the amazing palace and gardens with nothing to do. The fascination of basking in the sun had soon worn off and I was sure I had walked down every hall in the castle. I was not still facing the problem of having nothing to do. As late as it was it felt too early for me to go to sleep just yet. The stars were out now and they glimmered brightly in the dark evening sky.
There was a knock on the door and I turned my head.
" Come in." I said.
The door slowly opened and two ladies dressed in simple white clothing came in, they were obviously maids.
" Milady we've been asked to get you ready." One of them said smiling walking into the room.
" Ready for what?" I asked frowning as the other one walked in with something gold draped across her arms.
" The ball." The maid said standing me up.
" What?" I asked.
" His majesty is having a ball in honour of his guests from Rivendell." The second maid said as she laid out what was a gold dress on the bed.
Rivendell? I thought that these elves did not associate with other elves.
I continued to question the maids as they dressed me and did my hair and soon found that it was not just any normal ball but in fact a masquerade just to make things more entertaining. The reason why there were elves from Rivendell was because Lord Elrond was sending a messenger to the king. Perhaps when they left I could go with them.
By the time they had finished I was dressed in a beautiful gold and partially crème dress with my hair left down but I wore a small gold tiara like hairpiece that kept the hair out of my eyes. I was also given a gold mask then concealed my face including me nose and revealed everything else underneath. The gold mask itself had bright diamonds in it and swirls of some glittering substance making it more decorative.
After the maids had left me I sat still in my room wondering what I was to do. Finally I stepped out of my room, following the directions of the maids that would lead me to the ballroom.
I was unsure if I should go, after all I would know nobody there, besides the king but what company was he.
I walked through the big double doors and found myself in the big ballroom that was filled with elves, all in the most elegant attire manageable and all of them wearing masks. In the centre of the room there were couples dancing in time to the music and all around them there were others who spoke, laughed, drank and conversed with one another.
Although I was Galadriel's handmaid I did not so much as serve her, but instead I was more of her attendant and friend, following her wherever she would go and listening to her when she spoke to me. I even played with Lady Celebrian when I was younger, she being only a few centuries older than me. I had been to many balls such as this one but I had never been to one that seemed so glorious.
I walked nervously, wringing my hands and looking around me, wondering what I was to do.
" Milady." Said a voice.
I took no notice and kept on observing my surroundings until I felt a hand on the bend of my elbow and someone say 'milady' again.
I turned around, surprised that it was I who was being addressed, but frowned when I could not recognise who was speaking to me.
He obviously realised this and lifted his mask and I saw one of the two men who I had seen behind the king earlier.
" Good evening." He said kissing my hand gently.
" Good evening my lord." I said politely smiling.
" It is indeed good of you to come seeing that you know no one here." He said smiling. " Perhaps you would like me to introduce you to some other elves?"
" Yes please." I said gratefully.
He offered his arm to me and I took it.
"What is your name?" he asked me.
" Arielle." I answered looking around me.
" My name is Alcolyte." He said pleasantly.
Alcolyte led me towards a group of elves who were laughing with one another most of them not wearing their masks. Alcolyte took off his mask so I took mine off as well, not wanting to be rude. I felt quite uncomfortable and alien in this place without my mask, even though you could not tell me apart from the others.
" May I introduce Lady Arielle." Alcolyte said after clearing his throat to get some attention from them.
They all turned their heads and stared at me with big blue or brown eyes making me feel even more alien.
" Oh is this the lady from Lothlorien?" one of the ladies asked and Alcolyte nodded.
At once they all started to smile and ask me questions that I found hard to answer all at the same time.
" Is it true that you elves live on talans?"
" How did you end up here?"
" Why is it that the trees in Lorien never discolour?"
" What do the spiders look like?"
" Who is Galadriel and Celeborn?"
" Has Lothlorien changed much since I last saw it?"
I smiled as I tried to answer all of their questions all at once. They were very curious about Lothlorien and I soon found that most have them had never been there, which was no surprise to me because Lord Celeborn was very cautious with who he let in and out of out woods.
Soon enough I got to know the names of those who I were talking to. They were a nice bunch of people.
" Come." Alcolyte said leading me away from the group we had been talking to.
" Where are we going?" I asked him. I no longer felt too nervous, especially around him.
" We, milady, are going to dance." He said smiling.
I opened my mouth to object but his actions were to fast and before I knew it I was in the centre of the ballroom with him and other elves.
The minuet started and all that I could do now was join in, giving Alcolyte occasional glares which he merely laughed off.
I moved gracefully next to my partner, following the same moves that those around me made with Acolyte gliding gracefully around me and past me.
" So where is this friend of yours?" he asked me as he took my hand and turned me under his arm and bowing.
" I do not know." I said sadly.
" Do you think he is perhaps somewhere in our woods?" he asked.
" I hope so." I said.
" Our guards will most probably find him." He said optimistically.
" Will they hurt him thinking that he is an enemy?" I asked.
" Not if they are given orders not to hurt him."
I sighed feeling lonely suddenly with the absence of my Kellin. I never thought that I would miss him this much. For as long as I could remember I've always had Kellin with me ever since I was a little girl, mainly because his father and mine were best friends and Kellin's father was the only father figure I had ever had. I never met my father, who had perished in the last alliance. He himself never knew that I existed in my mother's womb. She only found out that she was pregnant after he had left. My older brother was far too injured after the war and too died after much pain. My father never returned from the war and my mother was left to raise me by herself but Kellin's father and mother helped her and Kellin grew close to me as a brother.
I was brought out of my reverie when I realised that I was no longer dancing with Alcolyte but some other elf who wore a dark navy blue mask instead of the silvery mask my former partner was wearing.
I frowned and looked around me trying to find Alcolyte and saw him with some other lady. I looked back at the new elf to find him smiling with amusement at me, making go slightly red and grateful that I was hidden behind a mask.
After more graceful sliding, bowing and turning I had another partner. He wore a red mask and was very talkative. Most of the time that I danced with him I could not help but laugh at what he said, he was very humorous.
After bowing to the man in the red I turned around to see who my next partner was and was met by another elf, this time wearing gold just like me. 'What a coincidence' I thought.
He took my right hand and bowed, kissing it gently, his rich dark eyes peering over my hand into my eyes. I was so enthralled by his actions, as simple as they were, but that kiss was not necessary.
As if I was under a spell I could not look away from his eyes. They were so captivating and he in return did not break his gaze.
Although I could not see most of his face, I could tell that he was incredibly handsome. He wore elegant imposing gold and red attire and wore a gold mask that covered the upper half of his face, just like mine. His long, straight, silvery hair was worn in the normal elven fashion and seemed so pale that the gold from his long robe seemed to reflect on his hair colouring it. Around his head there was a thin crown made of gold leaves. He was taller than me by only a few centre meters but when looking at him I still had to tilt my head up slightly. Overall his appearance was breathtaking. If only I could see his face.
He moved elegantly and smoothly around and beside me, his movements so fawnlike. He always made eye contact with me, and even if he needed to break it his eyes never strayed for too long. There was something odd in the way that he looked at me. It was as if he knew something that I did not. I always noticed a certain glint in his dark eyes when he looked me over when I was supposedly not looking but when we were looking at each other directly in the eye his gaze seemed to be so subtle and calm yet at the same time so magnetising and mysterious, almost even seductive.
Under any normal circumstance I would not be still dancing with him but instead hiding behind the closest tree outside the hall, bright red, but behind my mask I felt like I had reason to feel embarrassed, after all he could not see my face and he did not know who I was.
One thing I noticed about him was that he never spoke nor did he smile. He maintained the same secretive demeanour throughout everything. At times he would have an amused look on his face by my nervous reaction to his staring but it never lasted that long. His silence intrigued me so much and I wanted to talk to him so badly but it was as if I were under his spell drawing me into silence with him.
I soon realised that he would move on and dance with some other woman and I would have a new partner. For some reason I did not want to part with him. I did not want to stop dancing with him.
I sighed and turned around knowing that when I looked back I would have another partner but to my surprise he was still there.
I frowned as he took my hand turned me in a full circle underneath his arm before meeting me again and bowing just like all the others around him.
Was I wrong in my timing? I looked around at the other dancing couples but they had all swapped partners. I looked back at him to find him looking at me with a slightly amused look on his face. As much as I questioned why he was still dancing with me I had no objections.
The same thing happened repeatedly, when I should have had another partner he continued to dance with me. None of the others who were dancing seemed to notice this but as before I had no objections.
" Who are you?" I asked him finally.
" *Mankoi umlle iest sinta?*" he asked me his voice so suave and silky.
" Can I not know who it is who is consistently dancing with me?" I asked becoming more intrigued with his identity.
" Does it matter?" he asked me.
" Not really." I said after some thought.
" Then you have no need to question." He said.
" But I only want to know your name." I said.
He shook his head with a discreet smile on his face.
" I will tell you what my name is and in return you have to tell me what yours is." I said smiling. " My name is Arielle. Now you must tell me what your name is."
" I never agreed to your bargain Lady Arielle." He said superiorly with a thin smile on his lips.
" That is not fair." I objected with a frown.
" I can always find myself a new partner who will not question my identity." He said.
" No don't do that." I said quickly. I did not want him to leave. Not yet.
I became silent again just staring back at him. The more I watched him the more I wanted to know him better. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to see his face. I felt so ludicrous getting all excited over nothing. I was merely dancing with him but I could not help but feel the way I did.
" Do you live here?" I asked him trying to make conversation.
He simply nodded as an answer.
I secretly frowned in disappointment, but of course he could not see because of my mask. I wanted so much to hear his voice again. It was so soft and gentle, so smooth and seductive. I mentally started berating myself. I hardly knew anything about the man and I was already becoming infatuated over nothing.
" Have you ever been to a masquerade?" I asked again.
" Must you always speak and spoil the silence?" he asked with an amused look on his face.
I looked at the ground slightly embarrassed and knew that I was most probably becoming a subtle red.
" As much as I would love to hear your beautiful voice, milady, at this moment I would rather just have the pleasure of dancing with you."
If my face was a subtle red before it was now definitely a very vibrant shade of red. I decided I would remain silent after that, mostly because I was too embarrassed to say anything more.
I turned around and saw Alcolyte with another lady dressed with red and I waved at him and he smiled back at me in return. Looking around the ballroom I began to realise that my partner and I were the only ones who were wearing gold. Others wore clothing with hints of gold but with us it was the other way around, he wearing gold with red and me wearing gold with hints of crème. 'Very coincidental' I thought.
I turned back around facing him and I curtseyed slightly as he took my hand and bowed again. I looked over his shoulder at a man who was staring at me. That was something I had noticed, while I danced with my partner. That man had been watching me very intently as he stood in a group of other male elves, sipping away at his wine slowly, his eyes never leaving contact with me. I suddenly became very agitated with his staring.
Who was he? I could not see his face because he too wore a mask over his face. It was silver just like his clothing and hair.
" What is the matter?" asked a voice.
I looked up, shaken from my staring, at my partner who was looking at me.
He had obviously noticed that I had suddenly become tense. " Nothing." I said smiling reassuringly.
I turned my head and looked back towards the man in silver. He still stared at me.
Trying to forget and ignore him I looked back at my partner. He looked down on me warmly with his incredible dark eyes. Every time I looked into those eyes I just became more amazed. The novelty did not wear off. They always remained so mysterious.
He folded a stray lock of hair behind my pointed elven ear and ran his long slender index finger down my jaw delicately.
" *Lle naa ikotane vanima*" he whispered softly as he caressed me cheek with the back of his hand and traced the contours of my lips with his long delicate fingers.
I looked back up at him speechless. This was certainly not part of this dance.
He lowered his head towards me and I felt the feeling of a thousand wings fluttering in my stomach, as my heart started to accelerate. His long slender fingers snaked around my neck as he pulled me closer to him.
I closed my eyes as I felt his soft lips press gently against my own and everything around me seemed to melt away into oblivion. But it didn't last that long.
In the distance there was a crash followed by numerous screams, causing both me and this glorious man to pull away from each other.
I turned my head towards where the crash and scream came from and found a wine glass broken on the ground and women apologising to the servant who was on the floor cleaning it up.
Behind her stood a group of people. One of them was the man dress in silver who was still staring at me but his eyes seemed darker than what they were before.
Once again the music started and everyone began to dance.
I looked back at my partner and found him looking at the woman darkly, his arms still around me.
" You know that man?" he asked me.
I looked behind me and it was then that I realised he was not looking at the woman but the man dressed in silver.
" No." I answered him.
" Excuse me." He said letting go of me and beginning to walk away.
" No wait. Your name." I said hastily grabbing his arm.
He ignored me and continued walking.
" Please?" I said after him not letting go if his arm.
He turned his head and looked at me gently. " *Namarie vanimaer*" he said caressing my cheek again with his hand before her turned around and walked briskly away from me before I could stop him again.
I stood there motionlessly staring into the space where I had last seen him before a couple walked in front of him and he was gone.
" Milady? Are you alright?" asked a voice behind me.
I turned around and saw Alcolyte looking at me concernedly.
" Who is he? What is his name?" I asked him.
" Who is who, milady?" he asked with a frown.
" The man. Who is the man whom I was dancing with?" I asked frantically.
I needed to know who he was. I didn't know why but I needed to.
" You were dancing with numerous men, lady." He said.
" He wore gold. Gold and red." I said.
" I am sorry milady but I know not of whom you speak." He said.
" He was wearing gold. He was the only one in here wearing gold." I said frantically hoping that Alcolyte would know who I was speaking of.
" I am sorry." He said again.
I sighed and looked around me hoping I would see him. I looked back towards the man who wore silver but he too was gone.
" Come, milady. Let us go and speak with the others." He said taking my arm and leading me towards the group of people who we had been talking to before.
I hardly noticed what they were speaking of because I was too busy looking around the hall for the man with the beautiful eyes. I needed to see him. I wanted to see him. I wanted to talk to him and know him better.
Hours passed of futile conversations, drinking and dancing but I still have not seen him. I know that I was acting childish but I was really wanted to see him again.
" Milady do you want another drink?" Alcolyte asked me.
" No thankyou." I said politely smiling.
Ever since I had got here Alcolyte had been the perfect gentleman, never leaving me and asking me if I was all right. I was grateful to him because if he didn't talk to me then I would have no one to talk to.
I suddenly got an agitating feeling in me. I frowned and looked around me. I hated it when I felt like this. Trying to ignore it I continued to listen to the conversation everyone was having but it didn't go away.
I looked behind my back and I eyes grew big when I saw a gold mask looking over someone's shoulder straight at me. I turned around completely but then he was gone. I frowned and excused myself walking towards the person who had been with him.
" Excuse me my lord." I said courteously to the man who was talking so some other elf. " Who was the man whom you were talking to before?" I asked.
" What man?" he asked looking at me blankly.
" A man. He wore gold." I said.
" I am sorry dearest but I know not of whom you speak." He said before turning around and continuing talking.
I sighed and walked over to where I had been before. Was that even him? Was I just hallucinating?
I could still feel that agitated feeling in me. It had to be him. He was somewhere watching me. I could feel it.
Looking all around me I try to detect him somewhere, anywhere, but I don't see his beautiful face. I frowned. How hard could it be? There was only him and myself who wore gold in this hall. How was it I couldn't find him?
Once again I found the man who wore silver staring at me. Perhaps it was his staring that was getting me all agitated. Against the silver mask his dark eyes seemed like bottomless pits of terror.
Then it struck me. Could he possibly be the king? He certainly stared a lot, just as the king had done with me yesterday.
" Alcolyte where is his majesty?" I asked.
" To tell you the truth I would not have a clue. He could be anyone in the room. You will only find out and midnight." Alcolyte said.
I nodded and looked back at the man in silver. He had a thin smile on his face as if he knew that I was talking about him. I shivered. He really did now how to make a person feel unsettled.
For the next few minutes I couldn't help but keep looking at the man in silver. Every time I looked at him I would find him staring right back at me with a self-satisfied smile on his face. He discerned that he definitely was the king. I doubt that there could ever be any other elf so conceited as him. Nor as beautiful.
I turned my back to the man in silver and looked in front of me and to my surprise, not too far away from me, was standing the man whom I had danced with, staring at me. I took a step forward, my eyes never leaving him, but he raised his hand telling me not come.
I frowned, confused.
He then pointed at me and then at the door and lastly putting up five fingers.
I nodded, understanding that he wanted me to go outside in five minutes.
" Alcolyte." I said my gaze not leaving him.
" Yes." Alcolyte asked me.
" I'm going to." my talking subsided and my eyebrows furrowed again when he lifted one of his delicate fingers to his lips and shook his head slowly, telling me not to tell Alcolyte.
A shiver ran down my spine as he did that. The sight was so beautifully haunting, as his dark eyes peered at me and his beautiful face covered with a mask.
" Uh.don't worry." I said as I watched him turn around and walk towards the door.
After approximately five minutes of waiting I excused myself and started towards the door. A feeling of nervousness fleeted through me. What did he want from me? Why couldn't we just talk here inside the hall? I didn't even know him yet I was following him like a sheep.
I walked out of the hall into the darkness of the night and looked around but so no one so I decided to turn left. Perhaps he'd be down there.
I gasped as I felt somebody's tight grip come around my arm preventing me from walking any further. I turned my head and my eyes widened in horror when I saw the man with the silver mask staring at me.
" You should not be wandering around by yourself, milady. Especially at such a late hour of the night. You do not know what kind of evil things lurk around after death, even though our borders are guarded." He said in a low foreboding voice.
I ignored him and continued to walk on but he constricted his grip on my arm tighter, causing me to wince in pain.
" Milady I suggest that you listen to me and stay inside." He said his voice firmer.
" But I am supposed to-"
" Do you even know who he is?" he cut in challengingly.
Indeed he had been watching me very closely.
" No." I said.
" How do you know that he is not one of Sauron's minions in disguise? You do not even know if he is an elf." He said.
I wrenched my arm away from him and started back towards the hall angrily, clearly hearing his light footfalls behind me. He was obviously making sure that I did go inside.
I walked back towards Alcolyte. They were all still talking. I wanted to see him but I couldn't. Not now. I knew that the man in the silver mask was watching me. I was now certain that he was the king. The same smug look on his face, the same merciless dark eyes, and the same astounding beauty.
Looking back at the door longingly I sighed. Perhaps if I pretended that I had had enough and was on my way to my bedchamber I could get out without his majesty noticing. Why was it that he didn't want me to see the other man? It was only the day before when he was threatening my life and now he was certain that an elf who I had been dancing with was a murderer.
I was just about to put my plan into action, telling Alcolyte that I was tired when I saw a flash of gold from the corner of my eyes. I turned my head quickly and I frowned when I saw him, the man dressed in gold, talking to the king. Or it was more that the king was talking and he listened.
Then suddenly they both turned their heads and looked at me.
My eyes widened. I was totally not expecting that. They both stared at me, one in gold the other in silver but both with glorious dark eyes.
" Alcolyte.who are they?" I asked in a small timid voice.
As if he had heard what I said a small smile lurked across the man in silver's face, making me shiver. He really was scary.
" How should I know? I cannot even see their faces." Alcolyte said in an amused voice, not sensing the urgency in my voice.
I looked back at them but they were both gone. I was begging to become frustrated. Why was it that one second I could see him and the next he'd vanish?
Suddenly the music stopped and there was a blast of loud trumpets earning everyone's attention.
A male elf who was clothed in blue and grey stood up on the dais on which there was a magnificent throne.
" My good ladies and lords. It has been an honour for me and the rest of us musicians performing for you tonight in the ball that is being held in honour of Lord Erestor." He said loudly causing everyone to applaud for the Lord from Rivendell. " I hope that you all have enjoyed it as much as I have and that you continue to enjoy it but at this moment there is something that must be carried out. Before the ball began I was ordered by his majesty that at midnight the identities of those who wore masks were to be revealed. There are now only two minutes left until it is midnight and I ask that you prepare yourself to remove your masks."
There were soft hushed murmurs amongst the elves in the hall and energised anticipation filled the atmosphere. The younger elven maids stood in their group whispering and giggling to one another and I myself couldn't handle it. I wanted to see his face, if at all I got to see him again.
After a short countdown I removed my mask and looked at Alcolyte with a smile.
" Oh Valar you are not my wife!" he exclaimed with a grin making all those who had heard laugh.
Across the hall you could hear laughter and surprised screams and shouts. Looking around it was obvious that half of the elves did not know to whom they had been dancing and conversing with.
The music started again and everything soon went back to normal.
I looked around frantically. I wanted so much now, even more than ever, to see his face.
" Lady Arielle I am going to speak to the king. Would you like to follow me, saying that you indeed have been asking a lot of questions about him." Alcolyte asked me with a smile.
I nodded eagerly. He, the man in gold, had been speaking to the king before. Perhaps he would still be with him.
We weaved through the crowded hall. There were a group of men speaking to each other. I saw the man in silver and next to him was a person dressed in gold with hints of red, his golden mask held in his hand.
We were now only less than a few metres away I tried to calm myself down, I was no longer breathing but hyperventilating instead.
" Your majesty." Alcolyte said getting the attention of all the men who were there including the man in gold.
He turned his head towards us to see who had spoken and then I froze in my tracks staring at him.
Because of my skill in hiding what I truly wish to say the look of horror and shock that I felt inside of me did not show in my outer appearance as I stared at him. I was aghast, astounded, shocked and surprised at the face that I saw staring back at me. The face I was absolutely not expecting to see.
My eyes widened, dismayed as I realised that for the whole night I had been thinking about him, that face, that person.
" Your majesty?" I said weakly staring into his beautiful face.
He was the king! Him, the man who I had been dancing with, the man who I had nearly kissed, the man who had me looking around the room desperately. The same man who the night before had threatened to take my life.
But how! The king wasn't supposed to be incredibly gentle and kind. He was supposed to be conceited, pompous and cold.
" Lady Arielle." He said silkily regarding me as he took a few steps forward and took my hand, placing a soft kiss on it and peering over my hand at me with his dark eyes as he had done before, causing my chin to decline further more than it already was. " Tis good of you to join us. I was not sure if I should be expecting you or not." He commented.
All I could do was stare at him.
" Arielle was it?" another voice said.
I turned my head to see who it was who was talking to me and found the man in silver looking at me. He looked so much like the king but the king's beauty outdone the man in silver's by far.
" Yes. My name is Arielle." I said surveying him. He did not look so scary without his mask, unlike the king.
He took a step towards me and kissed my hand. " My name is Galdorilin. Please excuse our encounter earlier on. I was only doing my job." He said apologetically.
" Your job?" I asked.
" Galdorilin is the head of his majesty's bodyguards." Alcolyte explained.
Indeed I had been completely wrong in my assumptions. Galdorilin was not staring at me, but at the king making sure that no harm came to him. That also explained why he was watching me closely. I was most probably under his suspicion, being an outsider.
The men began to talk to one another, occasionally asking me questions.
I could not believe that he was the king. For some reason I felt cheated.
" *Lle merna salk*" asked a voice.
I looked up from the floor and realised that the king was speaking to me.
I nodded and let him take my hand and lead me to the centre of the ballroom. He took my right hand and put his other arm around my waist and I placed my other hand on his shoulder and we began to dance in time to the graceful music.
" *Mankoi ikotane fios vanimaer?*" he asked me in that rich, seductive, velvety voice of his.
" I did not expect him to be you." I said softly suddenly becoming conscientious of every movement I made.
I had noticed that he was holding my body closer than necessary to his. In fact he was so close to me that there was only a few centre metres space between our faces.
" You did not think I could be a gentleman?" he asked me with a small amused smile on his face.
" No sire. I thought that Lord Galdorilin was you. Your appearances are very similar. Especially at a masquerade."
" Indeed we do look alike. That's the whole point. It's on occasions like this that it comes in handy. Any assassin could easily mistake him for me." The king said.
" You are far more beautiful without a mask." He whispered softly.
" Thankyou sire." I said quietly, feeling myself go red.
This time I had no mask to hide behind. I wanted so much to hide behind a tree but I couldn't run from him. He was king.
I could feel numerous eyes on me. Now that everyone knew who he was they were probably questioning who I was.
" You blush. Do you not wish to look beautiful for a king?" he asked me.
" No sire. It's just that.your people watch." I muttered becoming more embarrassed with all the excess attention I was receiving.
" Have you enjoyed the ball so far?" he asked.
" I thought his majesty enjoyed the silence." I said not realising until after it was said just how rude that was.
He was silent for a few seconds and I could tell that he wasn't used to people talking back at him. Hopefully he wasn't mad at me.
" I've had my chance to observe you both from a close perspective and distant, milady. Now I wish to know you." he said in his cool sleek voice.
" I heard that his majesty is an excellent archer." I said trying to change the subject.
" So I am. I heard that you are an excellent musician and vocalist."
I looked up at him in shock. How did he know that? " Perhaps later on you would like to show me some of your talent. I'm sure that you have many more that you keep hidden." He said, his dark eyes boring into me.
Once again I found myself looking at the floor, not being able to handle his gaze.
" Your majesty I am afraid that I am very exhausted." I said, hoping that he would catch my drift.
He stopped dancing and walked me back to where we were before.
" King Thranduil! So we finally meet." Said one of the men looking at the king.
" So we do Lord Erestor." Thranduil said.
I soon realised that this was the Lord from Rivendell, whom the ball was being held in honour for.
The two talked for a few minutes and I found myself staring at the king.
He was so beautiful and light seemed to radiate from his form. He always held his head up high regally and spoke with great confidence.
I looked down at our arms. They were still linked together. His body was so warm. When he had let me go after dancing it felt like I was being swept away by a very cold torrent
" You highness I was not told that you had such a beautiful lady."
At this I tore my gaze away and searched around the circle we had maid for a person who was obviously the kings wife but then realised that everyone was looking at me. My eyes widened when I realised that the king's 'beautiful lady' was me.
I turned my head to the king and found him looking at me with a small complacent smile over his soft lips.
" Unfortunately," he said looking at Erestor, " this fair maiden does not belong to me."
I stared at the laughing lord in sheer shock. From where in Arda had he got that from?!
" I'm sorry dear lady. I've clearly been drinking too much." he laughed. " I thought so because you both wear matching attire and you too wear a crown." He said to me.
I faked a smile and laughed so that I wouldn't sound too rude.
After another few minutes of talking I really was beginning to be tired.
" Excuse me my lords but I must get going." I said politely, releasing myself from the king's arm, which was still entwined mine.
" I shall escort you if you would like milady." Alcolyte said and I nodded in agreement.
He offered his arm to me and I took it and we began to make our way to the door. Relief spread through me. I couldn't handle being in the presence of the king. There was something that was just so strange about him.
" Oh wait my mask." I said as I dropped it when we were only a few metres away from the door.
I let go of his arm and turned around picking my mask up and making sure it was not broken.
I looked back up and froze when I saw the king looking at me with those incredible dark, seductive eyes.
His hand rose to his soft lips and he kissed his middle and index finger and pointed them at me.
I quickly turned around a shiver running down my spine as I continued to walk with Alcolyte. I could feel his eyes scanning me and I could imagine the small smirk that played on his lips with the satisfaction that he got from making me feel nervous.
I sighed as we walked out of the hall, grateful to get away from those beautiful eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lying on my bed with my curled blonde hair sprawled out across the pillows and messed up bed sheets surrounding me, I stared up obliviously at the ceiling.
For the last two nights, ever since the masquerade ball, I had been suffering from insomnia and the rest that I did manage to get was always polluted with sensual, erotic fantasies of a certain elf king.
Even in my sleep he haunts me with his charm and seductiveness. I can hear is smooth, enticing, velvety voice still in my head, calling me to him. I see his beautiful, angelic yet demonic face looking down on me seductive, lecherous. I feel his slender fingers and ever so soft lips running over my skin, inviting, alluring, delightful, pleasing, rapturous. I can sense his mysterious, enigmatic, inexplicable, seductive dark eyes roaming my body.
Thranduil. The name itself seems so pleasurable, rolling off your tongue like sweet, succulent, running honey.
Thranduil.
I had to stop thinking of him.
With a sigh I sat up on my bed, running my fingers through my hair.
Mirkwood was not as sunny as I had thought it was when I first came out of the dungeons. It was because I was confined in the dark for so long a period that the light seemed very bright.
It was explainable as to why it is called Mirkwood. But I have heard tales that this forest once used to be beautiful and green. I doubt though that the beauty of this forest can compare to that of Lothlorien. Just like how the beauty of any other man could never measure up to that of the king of these regions.
I stepped out of my bed and changed my clothes, putting on a white dress I had found in the cupboard the day before.
Just as I had finished brushing my hair there was a knock on the door.
I stood up and walked to the door to answer it.
I open the door and found Galdorilin standing there.
" Morning milady." He said pleasantly.
" Good morning my lord." I said smiling.
" You are looking very lovely this morning." He said.
" Thankyou." I said.
" His majesty wishes to see you in his office."
My eyebrows raised at this. Why would his majesty want to see me?
" Would you like me to escort you there lady?" he asked me.
" No thankyou." I said politely.
Galdorilin nodded, bowed and walked off, leaving me.
After much thought as to what his majesty wanted from me and changing my dress and hair to something more presentable I walked out of my chambers and started towards the kings office.
Again the feeling of butterflies in my stomach came as I neared towards his office. Envisages of the fantasies I had had the nights before ran through my mind, making me even more nervous.
I knocked on the large double doors before entering inside the room.
I closed the door and turned around to find the king at his table, head down, writing. He was so preoccupied he hadn't even noticed me enter.
" Er...your majesty?" I said softly trying to gain his attention.
He looked up from his work and stared at me blankly.
" You called for me." I said.
" Right." He said standing up and walking around the table. " Alcolyte told me of your friend who is still wondering my forests." He said.
My eyes grew big at the mention of Kellin.
" I have a proposition for you. I will send extra guards out in search of your friend to bring her back."
" Him." I corrected.
One of the king's eyebrows arched when I said this.
" Him?" he asked me.
" Yes. Him. His name is Kellin."
" Anyhow I will send out my guards to find your friend so long as you stay here until he is found." He said tensing the 'he'.
I stood there in thought. It was easy to agree but I needed to get to Rivendell because I was on my way to give Lady Celebrian a message from her mother.
" Arielle it would be foolish of you to leave without your companion." He said softly walking towards me.
A chill ran down my spine as he said my name pronouncing every letter with his whispery voice.
" Why should you travel needlessly when I can send one of my own messengers to do the job for you? The Redhorn pass is dangerous at these times." He said, his voice frightfully soft.
" It indeed would be a shame if anything should happen to such a beautiful thing such as yourself." He whispered as he ran his finger down by jaw sending tingling sparks through my body at his touch.
His breathing started to quicken as he slid his hand behind my neck moving closer to me.
"*Namadn' vanimaer amin. Lasta' mani amin quena.*" he uttered breathlessly, tangling his long fingers through my hair.
My heart was thumping so hard and my breathing had turned into deep intake of air as I stared at him wide-eyed in fright.
"*Caelye tula' weera vanimamin hiril?*" He whispered fiercely as he pulled my closer to him.
I nodded frightened before he pressed his lips against mine so forcefully that he pushed my head back. He coaxed my mouth open and slid his tongue into my mouth.
I moaned involuntarily as I felt his tongue probing my mouth erotically. His kisses were far better than any dream that could be dreamt.
His hands either wandered freely over my body or tangled themselves amongst my golden curls.
I tried to pull my head away from him but he was stronger than me and wouldn't let go. I was scared to death of him. My mind was screaming telling me to get away from him but my body was reluctant to act because of the pleasure he inflicted upon me and the fire he had managed to ignite in me with one mere kiss.
I tried desperately to liberate myself from his grasp and get some air into my lungs by breathing through my nose but my attempts were futile.
" Your highness." Came an unidentified voice from the door catching both of our attentions.
The king tore his lips away from me and turned his head towards the door, his eyes flashing murderously.
" What!!" he barked at the elf who was standing there.
" Lord Erestor wishes to-"
" Have you not heard of knocking before you enter a room you insolent fool!! Especially that of a king!!" he screamed.
I untangled myself from his arms and backed away from him frightened at his reaction while trying to regain lost oxygen.
" I am sorry sire but-"
" Get out." The king whispered in a deathly tone, his teeth gritted with anger.
The elf immediately ran out of the room terrified.
The king turned his attention to me, breathing hard from both the shouting and the kiss.
At once I became scared at what he would say or do. Malcalium was certainly right when he said that you didn't want to make the king angry.
" I should get going." I whispered breathlessly, my chest heaving up and down. " Thankyou, sire." I said feebly before bowing and quickly walking out of the room.
Out of the office, I leant against one of the many pillars in the hall, trying to regain my breathe after running some distance in fright.
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. He had kissed me. Why? I know that I had been dreaming of him but I never wanted them to come true.
The threat of crying overwhelmed me as I tried to justify reasons as to why I had let him kiss me but I could think of none.
I didn't want him to kiss me. Vulnerability spread through my being.
' I want my Kellin.' I thought helplessly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Translations
Mankoi umlle iest sinta ~ Why do you wish to know?
Lle naa ikotane vanima~You are so beautiful
Namarie vanimaer ~Farewell fair one.
Mankoi ikotane fios vanimaer? Why so surprised fair one.
Lle merna salk? Do you want to dance
Namadn' vanimaer amin. Lasta' mani amin quena ~ Do not be foolish my fair one. Listen to what I say.
Caelye tula' weera vanimamin hiril?~ Have we come to an agreement my beautiful lady?
Please R/R. Please! And thankyou to those who did.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 2
I sat on the bed of my 'temporary bedchamber'. It was an average size room with a large bed, cupboard, a dressing table with a mirror and chair.
I looked around me nervously rethinking over the ordeal I had gone through only the night before with the king.
Even when the Lady Galadriel had questioned me before I became her handmaiden it had not been so nerve wracking as the king's questioning had been. And what made me more afraid of him was that I felt like he could see right through me and know if I was lying or not.
He really was intimidating with everything he said and did. I could not even look him straight in the eye for at least ten seconds without being frightened. I understood why he was so highly regarded amongst his subjects, because he was so coerce.
I still did not know the king well enough to discern what type of a person he was. There were times when he sounded incredibly conceited speaking as if he owned all of Arda. It is clear though that he is very pompous. I figured that out as soon as I saw him. Or more like after I had gotten over the sight of him.
I still cannot believe just how beautiful he looks. In all my years I have never come across a man with such beauty. It seemed like he was not an elf at all, but a god. He certainly acted as such.
I remember faintly Lady Galadriel talking about him to Lord Celeborn. I know that he has been in rule for some time, ever since his father had fallen in the Last alliance. He cannot be that much older than me, for he himself was in the war, just like my father and brother.
I looked outside the room, through the window. It is quite dark outside. I had spent my whole day walking around the amazing palace and gardens with nothing to do. The fascination of basking in the sun had soon worn off and I was sure I had walked down every hall in the castle. I was not still facing the problem of having nothing to do. As late as it was it felt too early for me to go to sleep just yet. The stars were out now and they glimmered brightly in the dark evening sky.
There was a knock on the door and I turned my head.
" Come in." I said.
The door slowly opened and two ladies dressed in simple white clothing came in, they were obviously maids.
" Milady we've been asked to get you ready." One of them said smiling walking into the room.
" Ready for what?" I asked frowning as the other one walked in with something gold draped across her arms.
" The ball." The maid said standing me up.
" What?" I asked.
" His majesty is having a ball in honour of his guests from Rivendell." The second maid said as she laid out what was a gold dress on the bed.
Rivendell? I thought that these elves did not associate with other elves.
I continued to question the maids as they dressed me and did my hair and soon found that it was not just any normal ball but in fact a masquerade just to make things more entertaining. The reason why there were elves from Rivendell was because Lord Elrond was sending a messenger to the king. Perhaps when they left I could go with them.
By the time they had finished I was dressed in a beautiful gold and partially crème dress with my hair left down but I wore a small gold tiara like hairpiece that kept the hair out of my eyes. I was also given a gold mask then concealed my face including me nose and revealed everything else underneath. The gold mask itself had bright diamonds in it and swirls of some glittering substance making it more decorative.
After the maids had left me I sat still in my room wondering what I was to do. Finally I stepped out of my room, following the directions of the maids that would lead me to the ballroom.
I was unsure if I should go, after all I would know nobody there, besides the king but what company was he.
I walked through the big double doors and found myself in the big ballroom that was filled with elves, all in the most elegant attire manageable and all of them wearing masks. In the centre of the room there were couples dancing in time to the music and all around them there were others who spoke, laughed, drank and conversed with one another.
Although I was Galadriel's handmaid I did not so much as serve her, but instead I was more of her attendant and friend, following her wherever she would go and listening to her when she spoke to me. I even played with Lady Celebrian when I was younger, she being only a few centuries older than me. I had been to many balls such as this one but I had never been to one that seemed so glorious.
I walked nervously, wringing my hands and looking around me, wondering what I was to do.
" Milady." Said a voice.
I took no notice and kept on observing my surroundings until I felt a hand on the bend of my elbow and someone say 'milady' again.
I turned around, surprised that it was I who was being addressed, but frowned when I could not recognise who was speaking to me.
He obviously realised this and lifted his mask and I saw one of the two men who I had seen behind the king earlier.
" Good evening." He said kissing my hand gently.
" Good evening my lord." I said politely smiling.
" It is indeed good of you to come seeing that you know no one here." He said smiling. " Perhaps you would like me to introduce you to some other elves?"
" Yes please." I said gratefully.
He offered his arm to me and I took it.
"What is your name?" he asked me.
" Arielle." I answered looking around me.
" My name is Alcolyte." He said pleasantly.
Alcolyte led me towards a group of elves who were laughing with one another most of them not wearing their masks. Alcolyte took off his mask so I took mine off as well, not wanting to be rude. I felt quite uncomfortable and alien in this place without my mask, even though you could not tell me apart from the others.
" May I introduce Lady Arielle." Alcolyte said after clearing his throat to get some attention from them.
They all turned their heads and stared at me with big blue or brown eyes making me feel even more alien.
" Oh is this the lady from Lothlorien?" one of the ladies asked and Alcolyte nodded.
At once they all started to smile and ask me questions that I found hard to answer all at the same time.
" Is it true that you elves live on talans?"
" How did you end up here?"
" Why is it that the trees in Lorien never discolour?"
" What do the spiders look like?"
" Who is Galadriel and Celeborn?"
" Has Lothlorien changed much since I last saw it?"
I smiled as I tried to answer all of their questions all at once. They were very curious about Lothlorien and I soon found that most have them had never been there, which was no surprise to me because Lord Celeborn was very cautious with who he let in and out of out woods.
Soon enough I got to know the names of those who I were talking to. They were a nice bunch of people.
" Come." Alcolyte said leading me away from the group we had been talking to.
" Where are we going?" I asked him. I no longer felt too nervous, especially around him.
" We, milady, are going to dance." He said smiling.
I opened my mouth to object but his actions were to fast and before I knew it I was in the centre of the ballroom with him and other elves.
The minuet started and all that I could do now was join in, giving Alcolyte occasional glares which he merely laughed off.
I moved gracefully next to my partner, following the same moves that those around me made with Acolyte gliding gracefully around me and past me.
" So where is this friend of yours?" he asked me as he took my hand and turned me under his arm and bowing.
" I do not know." I said sadly.
" Do you think he is perhaps somewhere in our woods?" he asked.
" I hope so." I said.
" Our guards will most probably find him." He said optimistically.
" Will they hurt him thinking that he is an enemy?" I asked.
" Not if they are given orders not to hurt him."
I sighed feeling lonely suddenly with the absence of my Kellin. I never thought that I would miss him this much. For as long as I could remember I've always had Kellin with me ever since I was a little girl, mainly because his father and mine were best friends and Kellin's father was the only father figure I had ever had. I never met my father, who had perished in the last alliance. He himself never knew that I existed in my mother's womb. She only found out that she was pregnant after he had left. My older brother was far too injured after the war and too died after much pain. My father never returned from the war and my mother was left to raise me by herself but Kellin's father and mother helped her and Kellin grew close to me as a brother.
I was brought out of my reverie when I realised that I was no longer dancing with Alcolyte but some other elf who wore a dark navy blue mask instead of the silvery mask my former partner was wearing.
I frowned and looked around me trying to find Alcolyte and saw him with some other lady. I looked back at the new elf to find him smiling with amusement at me, making go slightly red and grateful that I was hidden behind a mask.
After more graceful sliding, bowing and turning I had another partner. He wore a red mask and was very talkative. Most of the time that I danced with him I could not help but laugh at what he said, he was very humorous.
After bowing to the man in the red I turned around to see who my next partner was and was met by another elf, this time wearing gold just like me. 'What a coincidence' I thought.
He took my right hand and bowed, kissing it gently, his rich dark eyes peering over my hand into my eyes. I was so enthralled by his actions, as simple as they were, but that kiss was not necessary.
As if I was under a spell I could not look away from his eyes. They were so captivating and he in return did not break his gaze.
Although I could not see most of his face, I could tell that he was incredibly handsome. He wore elegant imposing gold and red attire and wore a gold mask that covered the upper half of his face, just like mine. His long, straight, silvery hair was worn in the normal elven fashion and seemed so pale that the gold from his long robe seemed to reflect on his hair colouring it. Around his head there was a thin crown made of gold leaves. He was taller than me by only a few centre meters but when looking at him I still had to tilt my head up slightly. Overall his appearance was breathtaking. If only I could see his face.
He moved elegantly and smoothly around and beside me, his movements so fawnlike. He always made eye contact with me, and even if he needed to break it his eyes never strayed for too long. There was something odd in the way that he looked at me. It was as if he knew something that I did not. I always noticed a certain glint in his dark eyes when he looked me over when I was supposedly not looking but when we were looking at each other directly in the eye his gaze seemed to be so subtle and calm yet at the same time so magnetising and mysterious, almost even seductive.
Under any normal circumstance I would not be still dancing with him but instead hiding behind the closest tree outside the hall, bright red, but behind my mask I felt like I had reason to feel embarrassed, after all he could not see my face and he did not know who I was.
One thing I noticed about him was that he never spoke nor did he smile. He maintained the same secretive demeanour throughout everything. At times he would have an amused look on his face by my nervous reaction to his staring but it never lasted that long. His silence intrigued me so much and I wanted to talk to him so badly but it was as if I were under his spell drawing me into silence with him.
I soon realised that he would move on and dance with some other woman and I would have a new partner. For some reason I did not want to part with him. I did not want to stop dancing with him.
I sighed and turned around knowing that when I looked back I would have another partner but to my surprise he was still there.
I frowned as he took my hand turned me in a full circle underneath his arm before meeting me again and bowing just like all the others around him.
Was I wrong in my timing? I looked around at the other dancing couples but they had all swapped partners. I looked back at him to find him looking at me with a slightly amused look on his face. As much as I questioned why he was still dancing with me I had no objections.
The same thing happened repeatedly, when I should have had another partner he continued to dance with me. None of the others who were dancing seemed to notice this but as before I had no objections.
" Who are you?" I asked him finally.
" *Mankoi umlle iest sinta?*" he asked me his voice so suave and silky.
" Can I not know who it is who is consistently dancing with me?" I asked becoming more intrigued with his identity.
" Does it matter?" he asked me.
" Not really." I said after some thought.
" Then you have no need to question." He said.
" But I only want to know your name." I said.
He shook his head with a discreet smile on his face.
" I will tell you what my name is and in return you have to tell me what yours is." I said smiling. " My name is Arielle. Now you must tell me what your name is."
" I never agreed to your bargain Lady Arielle." He said superiorly with a thin smile on his lips.
" That is not fair." I objected with a frown.
" I can always find myself a new partner who will not question my identity." He said.
" No don't do that." I said quickly. I did not want him to leave. Not yet.
I became silent again just staring back at him. The more I watched him the more I wanted to know him better. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to see his face. I felt so ludicrous getting all excited over nothing. I was merely dancing with him but I could not help but feel the way I did.
" Do you live here?" I asked him trying to make conversation.
He simply nodded as an answer.
I secretly frowned in disappointment, but of course he could not see because of my mask. I wanted so much to hear his voice again. It was so soft and gentle, so smooth and seductive. I mentally started berating myself. I hardly knew anything about the man and I was already becoming infatuated over nothing.
" Have you ever been to a masquerade?" I asked again.
" Must you always speak and spoil the silence?" he asked with an amused look on his face.
I looked at the ground slightly embarrassed and knew that I was most probably becoming a subtle red.
" As much as I would love to hear your beautiful voice, milady, at this moment I would rather just have the pleasure of dancing with you."
If my face was a subtle red before it was now definitely a very vibrant shade of red. I decided I would remain silent after that, mostly because I was too embarrassed to say anything more.
I turned around and saw Alcolyte with another lady dressed with red and I waved at him and he smiled back at me in return. Looking around the ballroom I began to realise that my partner and I were the only ones who were wearing gold. Others wore clothing with hints of gold but with us it was the other way around, he wearing gold with red and me wearing gold with hints of crème. 'Very coincidental' I thought.
I turned back around facing him and I curtseyed slightly as he took my hand and bowed again. I looked over his shoulder at a man who was staring at me. That was something I had noticed, while I danced with my partner. That man had been watching me very intently as he stood in a group of other male elves, sipping away at his wine slowly, his eyes never leaving contact with me. I suddenly became very agitated with his staring.
Who was he? I could not see his face because he too wore a mask over his face. It was silver just like his clothing and hair.
" What is the matter?" asked a voice.
I looked up, shaken from my staring, at my partner who was looking at me.
He had obviously noticed that I had suddenly become tense. " Nothing." I said smiling reassuringly.
I turned my head and looked back towards the man in silver. He still stared at me.
Trying to forget and ignore him I looked back at my partner. He looked down on me warmly with his incredible dark eyes. Every time I looked into those eyes I just became more amazed. The novelty did not wear off. They always remained so mysterious.
He folded a stray lock of hair behind my pointed elven ear and ran his long slender index finger down my jaw delicately.
" *Lle naa ikotane vanima*" he whispered softly as he caressed me cheek with the back of his hand and traced the contours of my lips with his long delicate fingers.
I looked back up at him speechless. This was certainly not part of this dance.
He lowered his head towards me and I felt the feeling of a thousand wings fluttering in my stomach, as my heart started to accelerate. His long slender fingers snaked around my neck as he pulled me closer to him.
I closed my eyes as I felt his soft lips press gently against my own and everything around me seemed to melt away into oblivion. But it didn't last that long.
In the distance there was a crash followed by numerous screams, causing both me and this glorious man to pull away from each other.
I turned my head towards where the crash and scream came from and found a wine glass broken on the ground and women apologising to the servant who was on the floor cleaning it up.
Behind her stood a group of people. One of them was the man dress in silver who was still staring at me but his eyes seemed darker than what they were before.
Once again the music started and everyone began to dance.
I looked back at my partner and found him looking at the woman darkly, his arms still around me.
" You know that man?" he asked me.
I looked behind me and it was then that I realised he was not looking at the woman but the man dressed in silver.
" No." I answered him.
" Excuse me." He said letting go of me and beginning to walk away.
" No wait. Your name." I said hastily grabbing his arm.
He ignored me and continued walking.
" Please?" I said after him not letting go if his arm.
He turned his head and looked at me gently. " *Namarie vanimaer*" he said caressing my cheek again with his hand before her turned around and walked briskly away from me before I could stop him again.
I stood there motionlessly staring into the space where I had last seen him before a couple walked in front of him and he was gone.
" Milady? Are you alright?" asked a voice behind me.
I turned around and saw Alcolyte looking at me concernedly.
" Who is he? What is his name?" I asked him.
" Who is who, milady?" he asked with a frown.
" The man. Who is the man whom I was dancing with?" I asked frantically.
I needed to know who he was. I didn't know why but I needed to.
" You were dancing with numerous men, lady." He said.
" He wore gold. Gold and red." I said.
" I am sorry milady but I know not of whom you speak." He said.
" He was wearing gold. He was the only one in here wearing gold." I said frantically hoping that Alcolyte would know who I was speaking of.
" I am sorry." He said again.
I sighed and looked around me hoping I would see him. I looked back towards the man who wore silver but he too was gone.
" Come, milady. Let us go and speak with the others." He said taking my arm and leading me towards the group of people who we had been talking to before.
I hardly noticed what they were speaking of because I was too busy looking around the hall for the man with the beautiful eyes. I needed to see him. I wanted to see him. I wanted to talk to him and know him better.
Hours passed of futile conversations, drinking and dancing but I still have not seen him. I know that I was acting childish but I was really wanted to see him again.
" Milady do you want another drink?" Alcolyte asked me.
" No thankyou." I said politely smiling.
Ever since I had got here Alcolyte had been the perfect gentleman, never leaving me and asking me if I was all right. I was grateful to him because if he didn't talk to me then I would have no one to talk to.
I suddenly got an agitating feeling in me. I frowned and looked around me. I hated it when I felt like this. Trying to ignore it I continued to listen to the conversation everyone was having but it didn't go away.
I looked behind my back and I eyes grew big when I saw a gold mask looking over someone's shoulder straight at me. I turned around completely but then he was gone. I frowned and excused myself walking towards the person who had been with him.
" Excuse me my lord." I said courteously to the man who was talking so some other elf. " Who was the man whom you were talking to before?" I asked.
" What man?" he asked looking at me blankly.
" A man. He wore gold." I said.
" I am sorry dearest but I know not of whom you speak." He said before turning around and continuing talking.
I sighed and walked over to where I had been before. Was that even him? Was I just hallucinating?
I could still feel that agitated feeling in me. It had to be him. He was somewhere watching me. I could feel it.
Looking all around me I try to detect him somewhere, anywhere, but I don't see his beautiful face. I frowned. How hard could it be? There was only him and myself who wore gold in this hall. How was it I couldn't find him?
Once again I found the man who wore silver staring at me. Perhaps it was his staring that was getting me all agitated. Against the silver mask his dark eyes seemed like bottomless pits of terror.
Then it struck me. Could he possibly be the king? He certainly stared a lot, just as the king had done with me yesterday.
" Alcolyte where is his majesty?" I asked.
" To tell you the truth I would not have a clue. He could be anyone in the room. You will only find out and midnight." Alcolyte said.
I nodded and looked back at the man in silver. He had a thin smile on his face as if he knew that I was talking about him. I shivered. He really did now how to make a person feel unsettled.
For the next few minutes I couldn't help but keep looking at the man in silver. Every time I looked at him I would find him staring right back at me with a self-satisfied smile on his face. He discerned that he definitely was the king. I doubt that there could ever be any other elf so conceited as him. Nor as beautiful.
I turned my back to the man in silver and looked in front of me and to my surprise, not too far away from me, was standing the man whom I had danced with, staring at me. I took a step forward, my eyes never leaving him, but he raised his hand telling me not come.
I frowned, confused.
He then pointed at me and then at the door and lastly putting up five fingers.
I nodded, understanding that he wanted me to go outside in five minutes.
" Alcolyte." I said my gaze not leaving him.
" Yes." Alcolyte asked me.
" I'm going to." my talking subsided and my eyebrows furrowed again when he lifted one of his delicate fingers to his lips and shook his head slowly, telling me not to tell Alcolyte.
A shiver ran down my spine as he did that. The sight was so beautifully haunting, as his dark eyes peered at me and his beautiful face covered with a mask.
" Uh.don't worry." I said as I watched him turn around and walk towards the door.
After approximately five minutes of waiting I excused myself and started towards the door. A feeling of nervousness fleeted through me. What did he want from me? Why couldn't we just talk here inside the hall? I didn't even know him yet I was following him like a sheep.
I walked out of the hall into the darkness of the night and looked around but so no one so I decided to turn left. Perhaps he'd be down there.
I gasped as I felt somebody's tight grip come around my arm preventing me from walking any further. I turned my head and my eyes widened in horror when I saw the man with the silver mask staring at me.
" You should not be wandering around by yourself, milady. Especially at such a late hour of the night. You do not know what kind of evil things lurk around after death, even though our borders are guarded." He said in a low foreboding voice.
I ignored him and continued to walk on but he constricted his grip on my arm tighter, causing me to wince in pain.
" Milady I suggest that you listen to me and stay inside." He said his voice firmer.
" But I am supposed to-"
" Do you even know who he is?" he cut in challengingly.
Indeed he had been watching me very closely.
" No." I said.
" How do you know that he is not one of Sauron's minions in disguise? You do not even know if he is an elf." He said.
I wrenched my arm away from him and started back towards the hall angrily, clearly hearing his light footfalls behind me. He was obviously making sure that I did go inside.
I walked back towards Alcolyte. They were all still talking. I wanted to see him but I couldn't. Not now. I knew that the man in the silver mask was watching me. I was now certain that he was the king. The same smug look on his face, the same merciless dark eyes, and the same astounding beauty.
Looking back at the door longingly I sighed. Perhaps if I pretended that I had had enough and was on my way to my bedchamber I could get out without his majesty noticing. Why was it that he didn't want me to see the other man? It was only the day before when he was threatening my life and now he was certain that an elf who I had been dancing with was a murderer.
I was just about to put my plan into action, telling Alcolyte that I was tired when I saw a flash of gold from the corner of my eyes. I turned my head quickly and I frowned when I saw him, the man dressed in gold, talking to the king. Or it was more that the king was talking and he listened.
Then suddenly they both turned their heads and looked at me.
My eyes widened. I was totally not expecting that. They both stared at me, one in gold the other in silver but both with glorious dark eyes.
" Alcolyte.who are they?" I asked in a small timid voice.
As if he had heard what I said a small smile lurked across the man in silver's face, making me shiver. He really was scary.
" How should I know? I cannot even see their faces." Alcolyte said in an amused voice, not sensing the urgency in my voice.
I looked back at them but they were both gone. I was begging to become frustrated. Why was it that one second I could see him and the next he'd vanish?
Suddenly the music stopped and there was a blast of loud trumpets earning everyone's attention.
A male elf who was clothed in blue and grey stood up on the dais on which there was a magnificent throne.
" My good ladies and lords. It has been an honour for me and the rest of us musicians performing for you tonight in the ball that is being held in honour of Lord Erestor." He said loudly causing everyone to applaud for the Lord from Rivendell. " I hope that you all have enjoyed it as much as I have and that you continue to enjoy it but at this moment there is something that must be carried out. Before the ball began I was ordered by his majesty that at midnight the identities of those who wore masks were to be revealed. There are now only two minutes left until it is midnight and I ask that you prepare yourself to remove your masks."
There were soft hushed murmurs amongst the elves in the hall and energised anticipation filled the atmosphere. The younger elven maids stood in their group whispering and giggling to one another and I myself couldn't handle it. I wanted to see his face, if at all I got to see him again.
After a short countdown I removed my mask and looked at Alcolyte with a smile.
" Oh Valar you are not my wife!" he exclaimed with a grin making all those who had heard laugh.
Across the hall you could hear laughter and surprised screams and shouts. Looking around it was obvious that half of the elves did not know to whom they had been dancing and conversing with.
The music started again and everything soon went back to normal.
I looked around frantically. I wanted so much now, even more than ever, to see his face.
" Lady Arielle I am going to speak to the king. Would you like to follow me, saying that you indeed have been asking a lot of questions about him." Alcolyte asked me with a smile.
I nodded eagerly. He, the man in gold, had been speaking to the king before. Perhaps he would still be with him.
We weaved through the crowded hall. There were a group of men speaking to each other. I saw the man in silver and next to him was a person dressed in gold with hints of red, his golden mask held in his hand.
We were now only less than a few metres away I tried to calm myself down, I was no longer breathing but hyperventilating instead.
" Your majesty." Alcolyte said getting the attention of all the men who were there including the man in gold.
He turned his head towards us to see who had spoken and then I froze in my tracks staring at him.
Because of my skill in hiding what I truly wish to say the look of horror and shock that I felt inside of me did not show in my outer appearance as I stared at him. I was aghast, astounded, shocked and surprised at the face that I saw staring back at me. The face I was absolutely not expecting to see.
My eyes widened, dismayed as I realised that for the whole night I had been thinking about him, that face, that person.
" Your majesty?" I said weakly staring into his beautiful face.
He was the king! Him, the man who I had been dancing with, the man who I had nearly kissed, the man who had me looking around the room desperately. The same man who the night before had threatened to take my life.
But how! The king wasn't supposed to be incredibly gentle and kind. He was supposed to be conceited, pompous and cold.
" Lady Arielle." He said silkily regarding me as he took a few steps forward and took my hand, placing a soft kiss on it and peering over my hand at me with his dark eyes as he had done before, causing my chin to decline further more than it already was. " Tis good of you to join us. I was not sure if I should be expecting you or not." He commented.
All I could do was stare at him.
" Arielle was it?" another voice said.
I turned my head to see who it was who was talking to me and found the man in silver looking at me. He looked so much like the king but the king's beauty outdone the man in silver's by far.
" Yes. My name is Arielle." I said surveying him. He did not look so scary without his mask, unlike the king.
He took a step towards me and kissed my hand. " My name is Galdorilin. Please excuse our encounter earlier on. I was only doing my job." He said apologetically.
" Your job?" I asked.
" Galdorilin is the head of his majesty's bodyguards." Alcolyte explained.
Indeed I had been completely wrong in my assumptions. Galdorilin was not staring at me, but at the king making sure that no harm came to him. That also explained why he was watching me closely. I was most probably under his suspicion, being an outsider.
The men began to talk to one another, occasionally asking me questions.
I could not believe that he was the king. For some reason I felt cheated.
" *Lle merna salk*" asked a voice.
I looked up from the floor and realised that the king was speaking to me.
I nodded and let him take my hand and lead me to the centre of the ballroom. He took my right hand and put his other arm around my waist and I placed my other hand on his shoulder and we began to dance in time to the graceful music.
" *Mankoi ikotane fios vanimaer?*" he asked me in that rich, seductive, velvety voice of his.
" I did not expect him to be you." I said softly suddenly becoming conscientious of every movement I made.
I had noticed that he was holding my body closer than necessary to his. In fact he was so close to me that there was only a few centre metres space between our faces.
" You did not think I could be a gentleman?" he asked me with a small amused smile on his face.
" No sire. I thought that Lord Galdorilin was you. Your appearances are very similar. Especially at a masquerade."
" Indeed we do look alike. That's the whole point. It's on occasions like this that it comes in handy. Any assassin could easily mistake him for me." The king said.
" You are far more beautiful without a mask." He whispered softly.
" Thankyou sire." I said quietly, feeling myself go red.
This time I had no mask to hide behind. I wanted so much to hide behind a tree but I couldn't run from him. He was king.
I could feel numerous eyes on me. Now that everyone knew who he was they were probably questioning who I was.
" You blush. Do you not wish to look beautiful for a king?" he asked me.
" No sire. It's just that.your people watch." I muttered becoming more embarrassed with all the excess attention I was receiving.
" Have you enjoyed the ball so far?" he asked.
" I thought his majesty enjoyed the silence." I said not realising until after it was said just how rude that was.
He was silent for a few seconds and I could tell that he wasn't used to people talking back at him. Hopefully he wasn't mad at me.
" I've had my chance to observe you both from a close perspective and distant, milady. Now I wish to know you." he said in his cool sleek voice.
" I heard that his majesty is an excellent archer." I said trying to change the subject.
" So I am. I heard that you are an excellent musician and vocalist."
I looked up at him in shock. How did he know that? " Perhaps later on you would like to show me some of your talent. I'm sure that you have many more that you keep hidden." He said, his dark eyes boring into me.
Once again I found myself looking at the floor, not being able to handle his gaze.
" Your majesty I am afraid that I am very exhausted." I said, hoping that he would catch my drift.
He stopped dancing and walked me back to where we were before.
" King Thranduil! So we finally meet." Said one of the men looking at the king.
" So we do Lord Erestor." Thranduil said.
I soon realised that this was the Lord from Rivendell, whom the ball was being held in honour for.
The two talked for a few minutes and I found myself staring at the king.
He was so beautiful and light seemed to radiate from his form. He always held his head up high regally and spoke with great confidence.
I looked down at our arms. They were still linked together. His body was so warm. When he had let me go after dancing it felt like I was being swept away by a very cold torrent
" You highness I was not told that you had such a beautiful lady."
At this I tore my gaze away and searched around the circle we had maid for a person who was obviously the kings wife but then realised that everyone was looking at me. My eyes widened when I realised that the king's 'beautiful lady' was me.
I turned my head to the king and found him looking at me with a small complacent smile over his soft lips.
" Unfortunately," he said looking at Erestor, " this fair maiden does not belong to me."
I stared at the laughing lord in sheer shock. From where in Arda had he got that from?!
" I'm sorry dear lady. I've clearly been drinking too much." he laughed. " I thought so because you both wear matching attire and you too wear a crown." He said to me.
I faked a smile and laughed so that I wouldn't sound too rude.
After another few minutes of talking I really was beginning to be tired.
" Excuse me my lords but I must get going." I said politely, releasing myself from the king's arm, which was still entwined mine.
" I shall escort you if you would like milady." Alcolyte said and I nodded in agreement.
He offered his arm to me and I took it and we began to make our way to the door. Relief spread through me. I couldn't handle being in the presence of the king. There was something that was just so strange about him.
" Oh wait my mask." I said as I dropped it when we were only a few metres away from the door.
I let go of his arm and turned around picking my mask up and making sure it was not broken.
I looked back up and froze when I saw the king looking at me with those incredible dark, seductive eyes.
His hand rose to his soft lips and he kissed his middle and index finger and pointed them at me.
I quickly turned around a shiver running down my spine as I continued to walk with Alcolyte. I could feel his eyes scanning me and I could imagine the small smirk that played on his lips with the satisfaction that he got from making me feel nervous.
I sighed as we walked out of the hall, grateful to get away from those beautiful eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lying on my bed with my curled blonde hair sprawled out across the pillows and messed up bed sheets surrounding me, I stared up obliviously at the ceiling.
For the last two nights, ever since the masquerade ball, I had been suffering from insomnia and the rest that I did manage to get was always polluted with sensual, erotic fantasies of a certain elf king.
Even in my sleep he haunts me with his charm and seductiveness. I can hear is smooth, enticing, velvety voice still in my head, calling me to him. I see his beautiful, angelic yet demonic face looking down on me seductive, lecherous. I feel his slender fingers and ever so soft lips running over my skin, inviting, alluring, delightful, pleasing, rapturous. I can sense his mysterious, enigmatic, inexplicable, seductive dark eyes roaming my body.
Thranduil. The name itself seems so pleasurable, rolling off your tongue like sweet, succulent, running honey.
Thranduil.
I had to stop thinking of him.
With a sigh I sat up on my bed, running my fingers through my hair.
Mirkwood was not as sunny as I had thought it was when I first came out of the dungeons. It was because I was confined in the dark for so long a period that the light seemed very bright.
It was explainable as to why it is called Mirkwood. But I have heard tales that this forest once used to be beautiful and green. I doubt though that the beauty of this forest can compare to that of Lothlorien. Just like how the beauty of any other man could never measure up to that of the king of these regions.
I stepped out of my bed and changed my clothes, putting on a white dress I had found in the cupboard the day before.
Just as I had finished brushing my hair there was a knock on the door.
I stood up and walked to the door to answer it.
I open the door and found Galdorilin standing there.
" Morning milady." He said pleasantly.
" Good morning my lord." I said smiling.
" You are looking very lovely this morning." He said.
" Thankyou." I said.
" His majesty wishes to see you in his office."
My eyebrows raised at this. Why would his majesty want to see me?
" Would you like me to escort you there lady?" he asked me.
" No thankyou." I said politely.
Galdorilin nodded, bowed and walked off, leaving me.
After much thought as to what his majesty wanted from me and changing my dress and hair to something more presentable I walked out of my chambers and started towards the kings office.
Again the feeling of butterflies in my stomach came as I neared towards his office. Envisages of the fantasies I had had the nights before ran through my mind, making me even more nervous.
I knocked on the large double doors before entering inside the room.
I closed the door and turned around to find the king at his table, head down, writing. He was so preoccupied he hadn't even noticed me enter.
" Er...your majesty?" I said softly trying to gain his attention.
He looked up from his work and stared at me blankly.
" You called for me." I said.
" Right." He said standing up and walking around the table. " Alcolyte told me of your friend who is still wondering my forests." He said.
My eyes grew big at the mention of Kellin.
" I have a proposition for you. I will send extra guards out in search of your friend to bring her back."
" Him." I corrected.
One of the king's eyebrows arched when I said this.
" Him?" he asked me.
" Yes. Him. His name is Kellin."
" Anyhow I will send out my guards to find your friend so long as you stay here until he is found." He said tensing the 'he'.
I stood there in thought. It was easy to agree but I needed to get to Rivendell because I was on my way to give Lady Celebrian a message from her mother.
" Arielle it would be foolish of you to leave without your companion." He said softly walking towards me.
A chill ran down my spine as he said my name pronouncing every letter with his whispery voice.
" Why should you travel needlessly when I can send one of my own messengers to do the job for you? The Redhorn pass is dangerous at these times." He said, his voice frightfully soft.
" It indeed would be a shame if anything should happen to such a beautiful thing such as yourself." He whispered as he ran his finger down by jaw sending tingling sparks through my body at his touch.
His breathing started to quicken as he slid his hand behind my neck moving closer to me.
"*Namadn' vanimaer amin. Lasta' mani amin quena.*" he uttered breathlessly, tangling his long fingers through my hair.
My heart was thumping so hard and my breathing had turned into deep intake of air as I stared at him wide-eyed in fright.
"*Caelye tula' weera vanimamin hiril?*" He whispered fiercely as he pulled my closer to him.
I nodded frightened before he pressed his lips against mine so forcefully that he pushed my head back. He coaxed my mouth open and slid his tongue into my mouth.
I moaned involuntarily as I felt his tongue probing my mouth erotically. His kisses were far better than any dream that could be dreamt.
His hands either wandered freely over my body or tangled themselves amongst my golden curls.
I tried to pull my head away from him but he was stronger than me and wouldn't let go. I was scared to death of him. My mind was screaming telling me to get away from him but my body was reluctant to act because of the pleasure he inflicted upon me and the fire he had managed to ignite in me with one mere kiss.
I tried desperately to liberate myself from his grasp and get some air into my lungs by breathing through my nose but my attempts were futile.
" Your highness." Came an unidentified voice from the door catching both of our attentions.
The king tore his lips away from me and turned his head towards the door, his eyes flashing murderously.
" What!!" he barked at the elf who was standing there.
" Lord Erestor wishes to-"
" Have you not heard of knocking before you enter a room you insolent fool!! Especially that of a king!!" he screamed.
I untangled myself from his arms and backed away from him frightened at his reaction while trying to regain lost oxygen.
" I am sorry sire but-"
" Get out." The king whispered in a deathly tone, his teeth gritted with anger.
The elf immediately ran out of the room terrified.
The king turned his attention to me, breathing hard from both the shouting and the kiss.
At once I became scared at what he would say or do. Malcalium was certainly right when he said that you didn't want to make the king angry.
" I should get going." I whispered breathlessly, my chest heaving up and down. " Thankyou, sire." I said feebly before bowing and quickly walking out of the room.
Out of the office, I leant against one of the many pillars in the hall, trying to regain my breathe after running some distance in fright.
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. He had kissed me. Why? I know that I had been dreaming of him but I never wanted them to come true.
The threat of crying overwhelmed me as I tried to justify reasons as to why I had let him kiss me but I could think of none.
I didn't want him to kiss me. Vulnerability spread through my being.
' I want my Kellin.' I thought helplessly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Translations
Mankoi umlle iest sinta ~ Why do you wish to know?
Lle naa ikotane vanima~You are so beautiful
Namarie vanimaer ~Farewell fair one.
Mankoi ikotane fios vanimaer? Why so surprised fair one.
Lle merna salk? Do you want to dance
Namadn' vanimaer amin. Lasta' mani amin quena ~ Do not be foolish my fair one. Listen to what I say.
Caelye tula' weera vanimamin hiril?~ Have we come to an agreement my beautiful lady?