(A/N: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. Just wanted to let you know
that I have written up to 15 or 16 chapters on paper for this story, and a
lot's going to happen. New characters are going to be introduced, and a lot
of twists are going to shock you, dun dun dun!!! I just am trying to find
the time and energy to type them out. But for my faithful readers fear not,
for I have not abandoned this story. R/R!!!!)
"100 faces all around, I know them each by name. And 2 are buried underground, still chat is all the same."
CHAPTER 7: A Bit of Earth
Adah stared up at the tall trees that outlined a path for the two travelers. The two were riding slowly along a river Adah had never discovered before. It took a long while for them to come down to the water, and even longer to walk down it. The sun was now high in the sky, and it had been around this time yesterday Adah had last seen Legolas.
They seemed to be walking aimlessly when the river began to run into the bottom of a waterfall. Adah stared up in amazement. Never before had she beheld such beauty. The cliff rose high, and vines and flowers blanketed it. The fall poured its soul down into a crystal pool, lifting white foam that glittered in Adah's golden eyes.
Elrond pointed up to a path leading up the cliff. For their journey to the top they would have to leave the horses behind. The climb took almost an hour and Adah's curiosity grew immensely. Such great effort and distance was being put forth, so whatever Elrond wished to show her had to be of great importance.
When they reached the top, Adah stopped to catch her breath, and the exercise seemed to lift some of the heavy weight she'd been feeling. Before walking any further with him, she took a moment to look over the cliff. Much could be seen of Rivendell, all except the city. Elrond went to take her hand, and still mesmerized by the view, she took it. He lead her down the stream, and she wondered what more he could have shown her.
They didn't go far when Adah noticed two mounds of dirt rose a little higher from the ground. No grass grew on them, but they were surrounded in flowers, and each mound was outlined with a trail of little rocks.
"I come here often." Elrond whispered. "I come to seek council, though I receive little."
Adah stared at the mounds confused. She began to feel a strange presence around her, and felt a strange connection with the two little hills. She looked to Elrond for approval and crept slowly forward. When she reached the mounds she knelt down in respect. She felt a vibe of great importance from below her, and slowly, she began to understand.
"They are your parents." Elrond was now standing directly behind her. "They passed when you were only a babe, and when I found you, I promised to keep you safe here until your time came to leave. And so I have, and so I will, to the best of my ability ere you hate me or not.
"Your parents were two noble creatures, and they loved each other with a greater love than I have ever seen. Nothing shook them, and with that same love they protected a part of my forest.
"Fate turned ill for them, and so it seems for you, but your days are not yet over. Perhaps your tides will one day turn.
"You may come here whenever you like. Alone or with aid. I will bring you as you please until you can find the way on you own."
For the first time in his speech, Adah turned to him and her face was stricken with tears. She said nothing and turned back to the graves and laid her head upon them. Her tears watered the soft dirt, and none could ever describe what she felt at that moment.
Elrond stole her away before night fell, and led her back to her room. She shut the door behind her and said not one word to the king. A candle had been lit for her, and she saw that her room had been cleaned. Her dresses hung in the closet and new sheets and pillows lay on her bed. The glass was gone, but there was no new mirror.
She walked to her bed and found on her stand; another rose, a piece of paper and Legolas' crest. She first picked up the paper, and in gold writing it read, 'I try to hide in darkness, but the thought of you lingers on in my mind. Perhaps one day I will seek your forgiveness, though I deserve it not.' She put down the note and picked up Legolas' crest. She fingered it for a while, than kissed it and clasped it around her wrist.
She pulled down her blankets, crawled beneath them and cried herself into a dreamless sleep.
"100 faces all around, I know them each by name. And 2 are buried underground, still chat is all the same."
CHAPTER 7: A Bit of Earth
Adah stared up at the tall trees that outlined a path for the two travelers. The two were riding slowly along a river Adah had never discovered before. It took a long while for them to come down to the water, and even longer to walk down it. The sun was now high in the sky, and it had been around this time yesterday Adah had last seen Legolas.
They seemed to be walking aimlessly when the river began to run into the bottom of a waterfall. Adah stared up in amazement. Never before had she beheld such beauty. The cliff rose high, and vines and flowers blanketed it. The fall poured its soul down into a crystal pool, lifting white foam that glittered in Adah's golden eyes.
Elrond pointed up to a path leading up the cliff. For their journey to the top they would have to leave the horses behind. The climb took almost an hour and Adah's curiosity grew immensely. Such great effort and distance was being put forth, so whatever Elrond wished to show her had to be of great importance.
When they reached the top, Adah stopped to catch her breath, and the exercise seemed to lift some of the heavy weight she'd been feeling. Before walking any further with him, she took a moment to look over the cliff. Much could be seen of Rivendell, all except the city. Elrond went to take her hand, and still mesmerized by the view, she took it. He lead her down the stream, and she wondered what more he could have shown her.
They didn't go far when Adah noticed two mounds of dirt rose a little higher from the ground. No grass grew on them, but they were surrounded in flowers, and each mound was outlined with a trail of little rocks.
"I come here often." Elrond whispered. "I come to seek council, though I receive little."
Adah stared at the mounds confused. She began to feel a strange presence around her, and felt a strange connection with the two little hills. She looked to Elrond for approval and crept slowly forward. When she reached the mounds she knelt down in respect. She felt a vibe of great importance from below her, and slowly, she began to understand.
"They are your parents." Elrond was now standing directly behind her. "They passed when you were only a babe, and when I found you, I promised to keep you safe here until your time came to leave. And so I have, and so I will, to the best of my ability ere you hate me or not.
"Your parents were two noble creatures, and they loved each other with a greater love than I have ever seen. Nothing shook them, and with that same love they protected a part of my forest.
"Fate turned ill for them, and so it seems for you, but your days are not yet over. Perhaps your tides will one day turn.
"You may come here whenever you like. Alone or with aid. I will bring you as you please until you can find the way on you own."
For the first time in his speech, Adah turned to him and her face was stricken with tears. She said nothing and turned back to the graves and laid her head upon them. Her tears watered the soft dirt, and none could ever describe what she felt at that moment.
Elrond stole her away before night fell, and led her back to her room. She shut the door behind her and said not one word to the king. A candle had been lit for her, and she saw that her room had been cleaned. Her dresses hung in the closet and new sheets and pillows lay on her bed. The glass was gone, but there was no new mirror.
She walked to her bed and found on her stand; another rose, a piece of paper and Legolas' crest. She first picked up the paper, and in gold writing it read, 'I try to hide in darkness, but the thought of you lingers on in my mind. Perhaps one day I will seek your forgiveness, though I deserve it not.' She put down the note and picked up Legolas' crest. She fingered it for a while, than kissed it and clasped it around her wrist.
She pulled down her blankets, crawled beneath them and cried herself into a dreamless sleep.
