Chapter 2
Legolas sat high in a tree watching the comings and goings of people visiting his father, the king. Off to one side he noticed a group of guards on horseback riding off down the southern road. It was odd because hardly anyone used the southern road; most people came by the eastern road which was safer. He wondered if they would be getting visitors out of the south, perhaps Gondor or even perhaps Lorien.
Someone shaking the tree broke his reverie. Looking down he saw his younger brother Adrolas. "Come down Legolas, Father has something important he wishes to speak to us about." Then Adrolas turned and went back into the castle.
Muttering to himself something about being impatient Legolas swiftly jumped from branch to branch until he hit the ground with a soft thud. Walking quickly he joined up with his brother and they walked to their fathers study together. Knocking softly they entered their fathers spacious room. Legolas being older spoke first, "You wished to speak to us father?"
King Thranduil turned to them, "Yes I did, sit both of you." They obeyed and sat in the two chairs that stood opposite their fathers' desk. Thranduil reached into a drawer and pulled out a message cylinder, "This message came from Lord Celeborn in Lorien. It seems that one of their archers has progressed beyond what their weapons master can teach and he wrote to inform me that he would be sending this person here to train further with our master archers."
Legolas must have looked confused, Lord Celeborn often sent people to train with them, why would this person be any different. Sensing his son's confusion King Thranduil went on, "I am telling you this because of who this person is. This person is no ordinary member of their guard. This person is Lord Celeborn's own granddaughter, the Lady Galadrien; whom I know you have met. She shall arrive within the week. On the day of her arrival we shall hold a grand ball and you Legolas shall be her escort."
Legolas sat back with shock, it had been at least 200 years since he last saw the Lady Galadrien, and now she was leaving the safety of the enclave at Lorien and coming to Mirkwood.
King Thranduil went on, "I have already dispatched members of our guard to clear the southern road of spiders and orcs and to watch the road for their arrival." With that he sat back down at his desk and pulled out some important work. Seeing this Legolas and Adrolas quickly got up and left their father to his work.
Looking up Thranduil stopped Legolas; "Just a minute son, I would like to speak to you in private." Legolas stopped and Thranduil spoke again; "I know you have a slight history with this lady son and I thought I should warn you that she is coming not just to study weapons craft. That was simply a ruse to get her grandmother to agree to the trip. In truth she is coming here to help end this feud with her grandfather's blessing." Legolas nodded in understanding and his father continued, "I want you to find some way to link our realms so that Galadriel has no choice but to agree to end the feud. That is all my son." Legolas nodded, bowed and left the room.
Outside Legolas turned to Adrolas who was leaning against the wall smirking, "The Lady of Lorien coming here, isn't that rich." Legolas decided to ignore his brother and started walking towards the archery practice area. Adrolas continued, "You know she probably won't remember you, she is a lady after all and ladies of her standing receive all kinds of visitors. You gave her nothing to remember you by."
Legolas ignored his brother and kept walking, of course she had something to remember him by, he had carved her a small elanor flower, but then again what if it had broken or what if she lost it. He walked out into the training yard and looked up through the canopy of trees at the sky, it was twilight already and the stars were starting to shine. Looking up at them he wondered where Galadrien was at that moment.
Four days journey south of Mirkwood, Galadrien and her group lay camping out in the open plains. The 6 guards who were traveling with them lay in a circle around the fire. Alana, Galadrien and Haldir all lay inside the circle. Galadrien noticed Haldir staring at the stars so she picked up her bedding and lay next to him. "Tell me Haldir, what you see in the stars," she asked.
He thought for a moment then took her hand and pointed to a grouping of stars, "There is Iluvatar, the father of Elves and Man alike." He looked at the sky again and pointed to three groupings of stars, "and those represent Vilya, Narya, and Nenya, the Rings of Power."
Quickly he put her hand down; being so close to her in this fashion was intoxicating to him. It took every ounce of his resistance not to kiss her at this very moment. Much to his surprise she inched closer, "Haldir, do you think Mirkwood has changed since I was last there?"
He pondered that for a moment then said "No doubt it has changed as such things change often. Though I suspect the change was not for the better. The Necromancer is still a threat to the population though he hasn't made his presence known in a while."
Galadrien moved closer to Haldir and laid her head on his shoulder, "I feel so vulnerable out here in the open. This is odd because I have been this way before, though long ago."
Haldir almost lost his composure, her being so close was maddening, "I suspect you will grow used to it again. The first few times I camped in the open I was uneasy being so exposed but with time I came to like it."
Galadrien placed a hand on his cheek and turned his face towards hers and gently kissed him on the forehead, "Sleep now Haldir, for a in few short days we shall be in Mirkwood. Then I shall see my prince again." With that she soon fell into an elves slumber, with her eyes open blending real light with that of a dream world.
Haldir however stayed awake for sometime running his fingers through her soft hair and doing his best not to act on his fantasies but he soon feel into a deep elven slumber melding the light of the stars to the images of Galadrien inside his head.
Galadrien woke several days later to the sounds of Alana and the guards making breakfast. They had entered the outskirts of Mirkwood the night before and had camped in a small clearing. Turning to her side she noticed that Haldir was not there. For the past four nights they had laid side by side as they slept, she did it because she was uneasy sleeping in the open and needed a comforting presence and that presence was Haldir, but what he was thinking as they lay there she did not know.
Alana, noticing that she was awake went over to her, "We are only half a day's ride from Thranduil's halls, there is a small waterfall nearby, perhaps you should go bathe."
Galadrien stood, "Yes I shall, and all I need is a change of clothing." Alana quickly got her a new cloak, this one much finer then the one she traveled in as well as a new dress, all very fine traveling clothes. She picked up her bow and quiver of arrows, as well as her sword. All of which she had taken out when they entered Mirkwood and accepted the clothes then set off on a path through the trees.
The morning air was fragrant with wood flowers and the sunlight dappled through the trees. The path ended at a place where a small river cascaded down a waterfall. She took her clothes off and set them on a rock with her bow and quiver. Then in a graceful leap she dived into the pool. The water was cold but not bracing cold and felt good after 4 long days on horseback. She swam around for a while then stood under the waterfall letting the water cascade over her body. She then dived back into the water and surfaced in the middle of the pool with the distinct feeling that she was being watched.
Haldir had woken early to scout the forest around them. He had walked around in a wide circle then had walked towards the sound of the waterfall. All the while he thought of Galadrien. He thought of how they lay side by side yet he never had to courage to tell her he loved her. He had just approached the waterfall when he heard a splash. Startled he ducked behind a rock and glanced at the pool.
There was Galadrien, her pale skin a stark contrast to the dark blue of the water. For once in his life Haldir did not know what to do, should be back away and risk being seen, should he make his presence known and risk getting yelled at? While he contemplated he watched as she swam; her lithe body cutting through the water with grace. He did not know how long he watched her but his concentration was broken when she called out his name.
"Haldir!" Galadrien called out spotting him peeking out from behind a rock, "Haldir come down here." Diving back into the water she swam to the middle of the pool to wait for him.
Like a scolded child he walked down the path to the rock where her clothing was. She treaded water to keep afloat and stared at him, "Why were you behind that rock?"
He started to stutter and stammer out a reply then she cut him off, "Stop, I don't want to hear anymore." He looked very dejected. Then she smiled and started laughing, "Haldir I am not mad at you. A little confused as to why you would watch me in such a way but not mad." Then he visibly relaxed and Galadrien continued, "You look like you could use a bath as well, put your clothes next to mine and jump in, the water is wonderful."
Haldir looked at her with a shocked and embarrassed look on his face. Galadrien just laughed, "Oh I won't look while you undress, here I will even turn around." She turned and faced the opposite direction and heard him taking off his clothes and then a splash as he dived into the water. She turned back around but he was nowhere to been seen. Then she felt a tug on her foot and he surfaced right behind her and splashed her.
Laughing he quickly swam away. "Oh I am going to get you for that," she said and started to swim after him. Then he again disappeared below the water and she stopped looking for a ripple, any sign of where he was. Then without warning he popped up behind her and dunked her beneath the surface. Surfacing she turned to face him when he started swimming slowly towards her. Soon she was backed into a corner. Grinning evilly Haldir advanced towards her when suddenly she ducked below the surface of the water. She surfaced just behind him and with a kick that sent a wave over his head swam towards the other side.
He swam after her laughing at how she used his own trick against him. Galadrien reached the other side and jumped up onto a large flat rock, Haldir jumped up beside her. Laughing at him she asked, "Now wasn't that fun?" Instead of answering her he did something rather impulsive, he kissed her. He drew upon years of held back emotion and kissed her with as much passion as he could muster.
Galadrien for her part found herself not resisting but accepting the kiss and responding to it. But just as she was reaching to pull him closer he pulled away, "I am so sorry milady; I do not know what came over me." And with that he grabbed his clothes, hurriedly put them on and ran back towards camp.
Grabbing her clothes she called after him, "Haldir wait!" But he did not listen. Quickly putting her clothes on she grabbed her bow and quiver and ran off after him but stopped when she realized that she would never catch him, he was too fast. She leaned against a tree to finish fastened her clothing and to catch her breath when she heard something awful, a terrifying scream coming from the direction of camp and an all too familiar, very sickening smell. The smell of an orc.
Legolas sat high in a tree watching the comings and goings of people visiting his father, the king. Off to one side he noticed a group of guards on horseback riding off down the southern road. It was odd because hardly anyone used the southern road; most people came by the eastern road which was safer. He wondered if they would be getting visitors out of the south, perhaps Gondor or even perhaps Lorien.
Someone shaking the tree broke his reverie. Looking down he saw his younger brother Adrolas. "Come down Legolas, Father has something important he wishes to speak to us about." Then Adrolas turned and went back into the castle.
Muttering to himself something about being impatient Legolas swiftly jumped from branch to branch until he hit the ground with a soft thud. Walking quickly he joined up with his brother and they walked to their fathers study together. Knocking softly they entered their fathers spacious room. Legolas being older spoke first, "You wished to speak to us father?"
King Thranduil turned to them, "Yes I did, sit both of you." They obeyed and sat in the two chairs that stood opposite their fathers' desk. Thranduil reached into a drawer and pulled out a message cylinder, "This message came from Lord Celeborn in Lorien. It seems that one of their archers has progressed beyond what their weapons master can teach and he wrote to inform me that he would be sending this person here to train further with our master archers."
Legolas must have looked confused, Lord Celeborn often sent people to train with them, why would this person be any different. Sensing his son's confusion King Thranduil went on, "I am telling you this because of who this person is. This person is no ordinary member of their guard. This person is Lord Celeborn's own granddaughter, the Lady Galadrien; whom I know you have met. She shall arrive within the week. On the day of her arrival we shall hold a grand ball and you Legolas shall be her escort."
Legolas sat back with shock, it had been at least 200 years since he last saw the Lady Galadrien, and now she was leaving the safety of the enclave at Lorien and coming to Mirkwood.
King Thranduil went on, "I have already dispatched members of our guard to clear the southern road of spiders and orcs and to watch the road for their arrival." With that he sat back down at his desk and pulled out some important work. Seeing this Legolas and Adrolas quickly got up and left their father to his work.
Looking up Thranduil stopped Legolas; "Just a minute son, I would like to speak to you in private." Legolas stopped and Thranduil spoke again; "I know you have a slight history with this lady son and I thought I should warn you that she is coming not just to study weapons craft. That was simply a ruse to get her grandmother to agree to the trip. In truth she is coming here to help end this feud with her grandfather's blessing." Legolas nodded in understanding and his father continued, "I want you to find some way to link our realms so that Galadriel has no choice but to agree to end the feud. That is all my son." Legolas nodded, bowed and left the room.
Outside Legolas turned to Adrolas who was leaning against the wall smirking, "The Lady of Lorien coming here, isn't that rich." Legolas decided to ignore his brother and started walking towards the archery practice area. Adrolas continued, "You know she probably won't remember you, she is a lady after all and ladies of her standing receive all kinds of visitors. You gave her nothing to remember you by."
Legolas ignored his brother and kept walking, of course she had something to remember him by, he had carved her a small elanor flower, but then again what if it had broken or what if she lost it. He walked out into the training yard and looked up through the canopy of trees at the sky, it was twilight already and the stars were starting to shine. Looking up at them he wondered where Galadrien was at that moment.
Four days journey south of Mirkwood, Galadrien and her group lay camping out in the open plains. The 6 guards who were traveling with them lay in a circle around the fire. Alana, Galadrien and Haldir all lay inside the circle. Galadrien noticed Haldir staring at the stars so she picked up her bedding and lay next to him. "Tell me Haldir, what you see in the stars," she asked.
He thought for a moment then took her hand and pointed to a grouping of stars, "There is Iluvatar, the father of Elves and Man alike." He looked at the sky again and pointed to three groupings of stars, "and those represent Vilya, Narya, and Nenya, the Rings of Power."
Quickly he put her hand down; being so close to her in this fashion was intoxicating to him. It took every ounce of his resistance not to kiss her at this very moment. Much to his surprise she inched closer, "Haldir, do you think Mirkwood has changed since I was last there?"
He pondered that for a moment then said "No doubt it has changed as such things change often. Though I suspect the change was not for the better. The Necromancer is still a threat to the population though he hasn't made his presence known in a while."
Galadrien moved closer to Haldir and laid her head on his shoulder, "I feel so vulnerable out here in the open. This is odd because I have been this way before, though long ago."
Haldir almost lost his composure, her being so close was maddening, "I suspect you will grow used to it again. The first few times I camped in the open I was uneasy being so exposed but with time I came to like it."
Galadrien placed a hand on his cheek and turned his face towards hers and gently kissed him on the forehead, "Sleep now Haldir, for a in few short days we shall be in Mirkwood. Then I shall see my prince again." With that she soon fell into an elves slumber, with her eyes open blending real light with that of a dream world.
Haldir however stayed awake for sometime running his fingers through her soft hair and doing his best not to act on his fantasies but he soon feel into a deep elven slumber melding the light of the stars to the images of Galadrien inside his head.
Galadrien woke several days later to the sounds of Alana and the guards making breakfast. They had entered the outskirts of Mirkwood the night before and had camped in a small clearing. Turning to her side she noticed that Haldir was not there. For the past four nights they had laid side by side as they slept, she did it because she was uneasy sleeping in the open and needed a comforting presence and that presence was Haldir, but what he was thinking as they lay there she did not know.
Alana, noticing that she was awake went over to her, "We are only half a day's ride from Thranduil's halls, there is a small waterfall nearby, perhaps you should go bathe."
Galadrien stood, "Yes I shall, and all I need is a change of clothing." Alana quickly got her a new cloak, this one much finer then the one she traveled in as well as a new dress, all very fine traveling clothes. She picked up her bow and quiver of arrows, as well as her sword. All of which she had taken out when they entered Mirkwood and accepted the clothes then set off on a path through the trees.
The morning air was fragrant with wood flowers and the sunlight dappled through the trees. The path ended at a place where a small river cascaded down a waterfall. She took her clothes off and set them on a rock with her bow and quiver. Then in a graceful leap she dived into the pool. The water was cold but not bracing cold and felt good after 4 long days on horseback. She swam around for a while then stood under the waterfall letting the water cascade over her body. She then dived back into the water and surfaced in the middle of the pool with the distinct feeling that she was being watched.
Haldir had woken early to scout the forest around them. He had walked around in a wide circle then had walked towards the sound of the waterfall. All the while he thought of Galadrien. He thought of how they lay side by side yet he never had to courage to tell her he loved her. He had just approached the waterfall when he heard a splash. Startled he ducked behind a rock and glanced at the pool.
There was Galadrien, her pale skin a stark contrast to the dark blue of the water. For once in his life Haldir did not know what to do, should be back away and risk being seen, should he make his presence known and risk getting yelled at? While he contemplated he watched as she swam; her lithe body cutting through the water with grace. He did not know how long he watched her but his concentration was broken when she called out his name.
"Haldir!" Galadrien called out spotting him peeking out from behind a rock, "Haldir come down here." Diving back into the water she swam to the middle of the pool to wait for him.
Like a scolded child he walked down the path to the rock where her clothing was. She treaded water to keep afloat and stared at him, "Why were you behind that rock?"
He started to stutter and stammer out a reply then she cut him off, "Stop, I don't want to hear anymore." He looked very dejected. Then she smiled and started laughing, "Haldir I am not mad at you. A little confused as to why you would watch me in such a way but not mad." Then he visibly relaxed and Galadrien continued, "You look like you could use a bath as well, put your clothes next to mine and jump in, the water is wonderful."
Haldir looked at her with a shocked and embarrassed look on his face. Galadrien just laughed, "Oh I won't look while you undress, here I will even turn around." She turned and faced the opposite direction and heard him taking off his clothes and then a splash as he dived into the water. She turned back around but he was nowhere to been seen. Then she felt a tug on her foot and he surfaced right behind her and splashed her.
Laughing he quickly swam away. "Oh I am going to get you for that," she said and started to swim after him. Then he again disappeared below the water and she stopped looking for a ripple, any sign of where he was. Then without warning he popped up behind her and dunked her beneath the surface. Surfacing she turned to face him when he started swimming slowly towards her. Soon she was backed into a corner. Grinning evilly Haldir advanced towards her when suddenly she ducked below the surface of the water. She surfaced just behind him and with a kick that sent a wave over his head swam towards the other side.
He swam after her laughing at how she used his own trick against him. Galadrien reached the other side and jumped up onto a large flat rock, Haldir jumped up beside her. Laughing at him she asked, "Now wasn't that fun?" Instead of answering her he did something rather impulsive, he kissed her. He drew upon years of held back emotion and kissed her with as much passion as he could muster.
Galadrien for her part found herself not resisting but accepting the kiss and responding to it. But just as she was reaching to pull him closer he pulled away, "I am so sorry milady; I do not know what came over me." And with that he grabbed his clothes, hurriedly put them on and ran back towards camp.
Grabbing her clothes she called after him, "Haldir wait!" But he did not listen. Quickly putting her clothes on she grabbed her bow and quiver and ran off after him but stopped when she realized that she would never catch him, he was too fast. She leaned against a tree to finish fastened her clothing and to catch her breath when she heard something awful, a terrifying scream coming from the direction of camp and an all too familiar, very sickening smell. The smell of an orc.