Disclaimer : I do not claim ownership of any of Tolkien's characters other
than the characters I have created myself.
An Echo of Tears - Outcasted Shadow
Chapter II : Ethuil
"So unjust of you Legolas!"
Fuming, a few degrees above rage, Aeryn glared at Legolas's back, hoping he could feel the hole her eyes were burning there. He merely laughed. Typical.
"There ,there fair Aeryn, no need to get upset over a game of archery."
"But you cheated!" Mumbling, Aeryn ignored his grins and stalked off back to her room, her dark chestnut hair swirling fiercely behind her. It was payback time.
The light airy rhythm of the music pounded like drums in Aeryn's ears. She felt ready to coil and spring, snap out. Tossing an elegant braid over her shoulder, she checked her reflection in the pool. A flawless face peered back at her, long dark hair flowed in strands down her back and both eyes stared back, unblinking.
Dimly, Aeryn heard lightly scampering feet and voices calling her name. With her blood boiling with energy and her mouth curved into a sly smile, Aeryn started off towards the music, her flowing white dress trailing behind her. It was time to dance.
The guests of Mirkwood forest went quiet as she entered, eyes hot and confident. Challenging. Then the mysterious music started. And Aeryn danced. Her dress whirling out in a brilliance of white around her, Aeryn told a tale of murder and death with her body. Gestures were made with her hands and the woods faded out to a blurry light. Enchanted, none of the guests noticed her eyes flash and the wind start to blow stronger, furiously lashing out at the figure in white. And then it was over. The wind died down and all was left was the light tingling of chimes in the air. Flashing a small smile at the spell-bound audience, Aeryn left the stage, glancing momentarily at a giggling female sitting next to Legolas in the crowds.
He watched as Aeryn danced onstage, her movements foreign to the naked eye. Even though he had seen her dance many times before, his eyes were still glued to her quick movements. Silently, he read the story she told. Blood. Screams. Death. Life. She spun around and their eyes locked. Remembered. With the same stride, Aeryn broke eye contact, concentrating once more on telling her story, leaving Legolas to think back to the past.
Flashback -
"No."
Stubbornly, Aeryn crossed scrawny arms across her chest and shook her head, glaring at Legolas. Tilting at the edge of patience, he tried again.
"Aeryn, I propose you to try it out this once for you just might regret it in the near future." Legolas could almost hear the mechanical clanking of her brain running again. At least he got her considering.
"No."
"Dancing isn't hard at all! Just try it once and see if or not you like it."
"No way. You will just laugh at me." Aeryn lifted her chin a little higher to try to intimidate him. It didn't work. By now, both were glaring at the other, teeth bared.
"No, I won't."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"N-" He cut her off, infuriating her. How dare he?
"Fine. I will teach another how to dance and leave you be." Aeryn's eyes widened and her hand had shot out before she'd realized it. Clutching to his arm, Aeryn let out a faint whimper and looked up at him.
"Okay. I'll learn. Just don't leave."
Inwardly, Legolas grinned. His plan had been executed perfectly. Releasing himself from her hold, he led her out into the bare open field. And began their dancing lesson.
End of Flashback -
"Aeryn of Mirkwood was really magnificent down there, do you not agree?"
Snapping out of his trance, Legolas turned to look at Ethuil with an observing eye. A cap of pale blond hair hung around her face and dark blue eyes peered at him in waiting. Noting her mild impatience, he answered her as expected.
"Yes. Quite magnificent indeed."
Smiling at his answer, Ethuil leaned back on her chair and closed her eyes wearily.
"Have you been friends with her long?"
"Yes. Since earliest childhood."
"She must be very special to you for you have kept the friendship bond for so long." Her eyes opened and revealed summer blue. Touching his arm lightly, Ethuil smiled as he gave a small start.
"Must you be so tense Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood? I most certainly wouldn't eat you."
Shaking his head, Legolas gave her an amused look and remembered now, why he'd chosen to be engaged with her other than anyone else. Inwardly, he wept in pity for himself. Anyone other than Aeryn. And she couldn't know.
Sweeping her hair back with a quick flick of her hand, Aeryn stood motionlessly by the pool, her arms and legs weary from the emotional dance. Skimming her eyes across the horizon, where the sun was just beginning to set, Aeryn started off towards the main hall. One look at the picture in front of her and Aeryn stopped in mid-step. Legolas and Ethuil stood at the side; their hair glowing a newly spun gold from the slanted sun rays and their eyes were blue, so blue. The perfect golden couple. Just as Legolas had been, and always will be, the perfect golden boy. Aeryn could only stare as Ethuil's hand brushed his arm, as she whispered something incomprehensible to make him laugh. Blinking back tears, Aeryn turned to flee back into her room, making sure her steps were silent and her breathing steady. She was losing him already. Her best friend. Since forever. She couldn't do a thing to stop him from drifting away, leaving her alone and him with Ethuil. And the thing that saddened her most was the undeniable fact that she did, and had always, loved him.
End of Chapter I : Reviews please! Liked this chapter? I know, I know, some parts may be all mush but hey, what can I say? I like mush. =^o^=
Preview of Chapter III :
It was still morning, with the dewdrops still wet on the grass, when the messenger from Rivendell came as a guest to King Thranduil.
With the ease of experience, the messenger handed a guard the note King Elrond himself had written and waited for King Thranduil to let him speak. Receiving the nod, the messenger cleared his throat and spoke.
"As you know, the War for Middle Earth is about to begin. King Elrond requests a representative from every place in Middle Earth to hold a meeting at Rivendell."
"Must it be so quickly done?" King Thranduil lifted glazing green eyes to stare at the messenger. Unflinching, the elf answered.
"I beg your pardon Sir, but, when a War is starting, everything must be done quickly."
An Echo of Tears - Outcasted Shadow
Chapter II : Ethuil
"So unjust of you Legolas!"
Fuming, a few degrees above rage, Aeryn glared at Legolas's back, hoping he could feel the hole her eyes were burning there. He merely laughed. Typical.
"There ,there fair Aeryn, no need to get upset over a game of archery."
"But you cheated!" Mumbling, Aeryn ignored his grins and stalked off back to her room, her dark chestnut hair swirling fiercely behind her. It was payback time.
The light airy rhythm of the music pounded like drums in Aeryn's ears. She felt ready to coil and spring, snap out. Tossing an elegant braid over her shoulder, she checked her reflection in the pool. A flawless face peered back at her, long dark hair flowed in strands down her back and both eyes stared back, unblinking.
Dimly, Aeryn heard lightly scampering feet and voices calling her name. With her blood boiling with energy and her mouth curved into a sly smile, Aeryn started off towards the music, her flowing white dress trailing behind her. It was time to dance.
The guests of Mirkwood forest went quiet as she entered, eyes hot and confident. Challenging. Then the mysterious music started. And Aeryn danced. Her dress whirling out in a brilliance of white around her, Aeryn told a tale of murder and death with her body. Gestures were made with her hands and the woods faded out to a blurry light. Enchanted, none of the guests noticed her eyes flash and the wind start to blow stronger, furiously lashing out at the figure in white. And then it was over. The wind died down and all was left was the light tingling of chimes in the air. Flashing a small smile at the spell-bound audience, Aeryn left the stage, glancing momentarily at a giggling female sitting next to Legolas in the crowds.
He watched as Aeryn danced onstage, her movements foreign to the naked eye. Even though he had seen her dance many times before, his eyes were still glued to her quick movements. Silently, he read the story she told. Blood. Screams. Death. Life. She spun around and their eyes locked. Remembered. With the same stride, Aeryn broke eye contact, concentrating once more on telling her story, leaving Legolas to think back to the past.
Flashback -
"No."
Stubbornly, Aeryn crossed scrawny arms across her chest and shook her head, glaring at Legolas. Tilting at the edge of patience, he tried again.
"Aeryn, I propose you to try it out this once for you just might regret it in the near future." Legolas could almost hear the mechanical clanking of her brain running again. At least he got her considering.
"No."
"Dancing isn't hard at all! Just try it once and see if or not you like it."
"No way. You will just laugh at me." Aeryn lifted her chin a little higher to try to intimidate him. It didn't work. By now, both were glaring at the other, teeth bared.
"No, I won't."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"N-" He cut her off, infuriating her. How dare he?
"Fine. I will teach another how to dance and leave you be." Aeryn's eyes widened and her hand had shot out before she'd realized it. Clutching to his arm, Aeryn let out a faint whimper and looked up at him.
"Okay. I'll learn. Just don't leave."
Inwardly, Legolas grinned. His plan had been executed perfectly. Releasing himself from her hold, he led her out into the bare open field. And began their dancing lesson.
End of Flashback -
"Aeryn of Mirkwood was really magnificent down there, do you not agree?"
Snapping out of his trance, Legolas turned to look at Ethuil with an observing eye. A cap of pale blond hair hung around her face and dark blue eyes peered at him in waiting. Noting her mild impatience, he answered her as expected.
"Yes. Quite magnificent indeed."
Smiling at his answer, Ethuil leaned back on her chair and closed her eyes wearily.
"Have you been friends with her long?"
"Yes. Since earliest childhood."
"She must be very special to you for you have kept the friendship bond for so long." Her eyes opened and revealed summer blue. Touching his arm lightly, Ethuil smiled as he gave a small start.
"Must you be so tense Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood? I most certainly wouldn't eat you."
Shaking his head, Legolas gave her an amused look and remembered now, why he'd chosen to be engaged with her other than anyone else. Inwardly, he wept in pity for himself. Anyone other than Aeryn. And she couldn't know.
Sweeping her hair back with a quick flick of her hand, Aeryn stood motionlessly by the pool, her arms and legs weary from the emotional dance. Skimming her eyes across the horizon, where the sun was just beginning to set, Aeryn started off towards the main hall. One look at the picture in front of her and Aeryn stopped in mid-step. Legolas and Ethuil stood at the side; their hair glowing a newly spun gold from the slanted sun rays and their eyes were blue, so blue. The perfect golden couple. Just as Legolas had been, and always will be, the perfect golden boy. Aeryn could only stare as Ethuil's hand brushed his arm, as she whispered something incomprehensible to make him laugh. Blinking back tears, Aeryn turned to flee back into her room, making sure her steps were silent and her breathing steady. She was losing him already. Her best friend. Since forever. She couldn't do a thing to stop him from drifting away, leaving her alone and him with Ethuil. And the thing that saddened her most was the undeniable fact that she did, and had always, loved him.
End of Chapter I : Reviews please! Liked this chapter? I know, I know, some parts may be all mush but hey, what can I say? I like mush. =^o^=
Preview of Chapter III :
It was still morning, with the dewdrops still wet on the grass, when the messenger from Rivendell came as a guest to King Thranduil.
With the ease of experience, the messenger handed a guard the note King Elrond himself had written and waited for King Thranduil to let him speak. Receiving the nod, the messenger cleared his throat and spoke.
"As you know, the War for Middle Earth is about to begin. King Elrond requests a representative from every place in Middle Earth to hold a meeting at Rivendell."
"Must it be so quickly done?" King Thranduil lifted glazing green eyes to stare at the messenger. Unflinching, the elf answered.
"I beg your pardon Sir, but, when a War is starting, everything must be done quickly."