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 III : Only Time
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."
Legolas stirred in his sleep as Rathien entered his room silently, well, almost. Rising to his full height, Rathien nudged the sleeping form impatiently, poking and prodding.
"What brings you here at this time of day Rathien?" His annoyance bubbling up on edge, Legolas sat up and glared at the hovering elf beside him. When his eyes focused, he worried over the grim expression on Rathien's face.
"There seems to be some trouble amidst the lands of Middle Earth Legolas." Crouching, Rathien studied Legolas for what seemed to be an eternity. "Your father sends his request to meet you at his study. You are to go immediately. No questions."
Puzzled, Legolas sent a nod Rathien's way and got up to get dressed to meet his father. Hopefully, it wouldn't be ill news.
"You wished to speak to me Father?"
Thranduil looked up wearily from gazing out the window to focus gleaming green eyes at his son. Tapping his desk with jittery fingers, he motioned for Legolas to sit down. It was time to talk.
The water flowed with ease through her fingers and Aeryn closed her eyes. Her lashes, long and thick and dark brushed against the fragile skin beneath her eyes. Her cursed eyes. The eyes that had caused her much pain and agony through her early years of childhood. The wind combed patient fingers through her hair as Aeryn dipped a slender leg into the river, humming an old song whose words had been weaved by her ancestors from years before. Even as she dipped another leg in to enjoy the cool water lapping at her calves, she knew someone was coming.
With quick efficiency, Aeryn turned around to face the intruder. Her fists clenched, she narrowed her gaze to the dark silhouette walking down the dirt pathway with heavy depressed steps. So it was an elf. The flash of elegantly pointed ears proved her correct. Ducking behind a bush, Aeryn waited until the elf came to spying distance. Scowling as a prickly bush grazed her arm, she peered out only to see a familiar face.
Legolas. Memories of her weeping and sorrow from yesterday flooded her mind, and her breathing quickened. Rubbing the aching spot where her heart beat, Aeryn looked away. Last night, when everyone had been sleeping and when the stars came out to guide her, Aeryn found a conclusion to what she would do. What she should do. She would leave Legolas and Ethuil to their happiness, even if it meant to leave her own heart bleeding, helpless, and hopeless. After all, that's what best friend's were supposed to do right? Be happy for their friends. Yes. There would be no more thought to love. It was too painful.
A sudden ideal prank caused her face to light up and smile wickedly. Her chance at revenge for the archery match yesterday finally came. The sneaky cheater. With a lighter mood on, Aeryn prepared to launch herself on him when his voice rang out.
"Don't you even try it Aeryn."
Knowing him, Aeryn muttered a sigh and scrambled out of the bushes. Crossing no longer scrawny arms across her chest, Aeryn glared at his retreating back.
"Where do you think you're going o great prince?" The touch of mockery in her voice only pleased her more.
"Away from you."
Grinning, Aeryn chased after him, her flowing white dress streaming behind her in a whirlwind of white. With a mouth full of comebacks, Aeryn spun him around only to meet blistering angry blue eyes. The foolish smile dropped from her face and a serious tone tuned her voice.
"What's wrong?"
He turned to look at her, his face grim and serious. "I have to go to Rivendell tomorrow after the first touch of light reaches the dawn. I am to represent Mirkwood at a meeting with King Elrond ."
Aeryn turned violet and green eyes to gaze at him stubbornly. "I will come too."
"It is not safe Aeryn."
"Must you always treat me as a weak female?"
Fury coloured her cheeks and she gritted her teeth, unable to contain her sudden anger. Without warning, storm clouds rolled over the skies and lightning struck. Rain fell, slapping against the hard dirt.
With wide eyes, Legolas surveyed the sudden change of weather, irritation forgotten.
"What happened? How did the weather change so fast in a period of time so short?"
Aeryn stared at the wavery puddles of water with a kind of wonder, the drizzles of rain running smoothly down her arms. Her answer to his question came in a quaky voice.
"I. . . I don't know. "
Soaked to the bone, Aeryn shivered under the feel of cold water sliding underneath her dress.
Concern clouded his features as he observed the trembling Aeryn. Water covered her from head to toe, her dark hair gleaming wet and sticking to her face in silky strands. He barely managed to catch himself from lifting a hand to brush at the tendrils of hair. Annoyed at himself, Legolas grasped her arm and started leading her back towards the shelter of the palace.
Digging her feet into the mud, Aeryn jerked her arm free and glared at him. "Promise me you will let me come with you."
Sighing in annoyance, Legolas ran a hand through his dripping blond hair and gazed at Aeryn. "Must you be told so many times? No." Whirling around and stalking away, Legolas started back to the palace himself. And remembered the real reason to why he felt so utterly devastated.
Flashback -
"Do you have any idea why I have requested your coming here to my study Legolas?"
Legolas studied his father, the lines of weariness etched in his face, the wise eyes now glassy with sorrow. If his father looked this way, he couldn't imagine what was to come.
"No Father."
Thranduil hesistated, then started the story of the War soon to come. When he finished, he was sorry to see his son looking so puzzled and grim. Before Legolas could open his mouth to speak, Thranduil continued,
"However, that is not all. After you come back from your journey, you are, by law, to marry Ethuil. She has waited long Legolas, it is time for you to start a new life. With her."
Legolas could only stare at his father emotionlessly. His life was slipping through his fingers, and he knew for a fact he wouldn't ever get it back.
End of Flashback -
End of Chapter III : Reviews please! Liked this chapter? At first, I didn't like it much because it was kind of confusing or maybe a bit rushed. I was tempted to re-write it but that would take longer than needed. And so, I stuck with this version.
Preview of Chapter IV :
Slipping inside a heavy green cloak, Aeryn pulled the hood up and grabbed her bow and arrows. The shadows danced around her, flickering from the candle that burned brilliantly from her hand. Moving quickly and silently, Aeryn crept across the grass in light footsteps and reached the stables. The smell of horses and animals reached her. Snorts and a nervous pawing of hooves cracked the silence. Raising the candle up to the stable corner stall, she smiled, her face glowing from the light of the candle.
"I seek your help old friend."
An Echo of Tears - Outcasted Shadow
Chapter III : Only Time
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."
Legolas stirred in his sleep as Rathien entered his room silently, well, almost. Rising to his full height, Rathien nudged the sleeping form impatiently, poking and prodding.
"What brings you here at this time of day Rathien?" His annoyance bubbling up on edge, Legolas sat up and glared at the hovering elf beside him. When his eyes focused, he worried over the grim expression on Rathien's face.
"There seems to be some trouble amidst the lands of Middle Earth Legolas." Crouching, Rathien studied Legolas for what seemed to be an eternity. "Your father sends his request to meet you at his study. You are to go immediately. No questions."
Puzzled, Legolas sent a nod Rathien's way and got up to get dressed to meet his father. Hopefully, it wouldn't be ill news.
"You wished to speak to me Father?"
Thranduil looked up wearily from gazing out the window to focus gleaming green eyes at his son. Tapping his desk with jittery fingers, he motioned for Legolas to sit down. It was time to talk.
The water flowed with ease through her fingers and Aeryn closed her eyes. Her lashes, long and thick and dark brushed against the fragile skin beneath her eyes. Her cursed eyes. The eyes that had caused her much pain and agony through her early years of childhood. The wind combed patient fingers through her hair as Aeryn dipped a slender leg into the river, humming an old song whose words had been weaved by her ancestors from years before. Even as she dipped another leg in to enjoy the cool water lapping at her calves, she knew someone was coming.
With quick efficiency, Aeryn turned around to face the intruder. Her fists clenched, she narrowed her gaze to the dark silhouette walking down the dirt pathway with heavy depressed steps. So it was an elf. The flash of elegantly pointed ears proved her correct. Ducking behind a bush, Aeryn waited until the elf came to spying distance. Scowling as a prickly bush grazed her arm, she peered out only to see a familiar face.
Legolas. Memories of her weeping and sorrow from yesterday flooded her mind, and her breathing quickened. Rubbing the aching spot where her heart beat, Aeryn looked away. Last night, when everyone had been sleeping and when the stars came out to guide her, Aeryn found a conclusion to what she would do. What she should do. She would leave Legolas and Ethuil to their happiness, even if it meant to leave her own heart bleeding, helpless, and hopeless. After all, that's what best friend's were supposed to do right? Be happy for their friends. Yes. There would be no more thought to love. It was too painful.
A sudden ideal prank caused her face to light up and smile wickedly. Her chance at revenge for the archery match yesterday finally came. The sneaky cheater. With a lighter mood on, Aeryn prepared to launch herself on him when his voice rang out.
"Don't you even try it Aeryn."
Knowing him, Aeryn muttered a sigh and scrambled out of the bushes. Crossing no longer scrawny arms across her chest, Aeryn glared at his retreating back.
"Where do you think you're going o great prince?" The touch of mockery in her voice only pleased her more.
"Away from you."
Grinning, Aeryn chased after him, her flowing white dress streaming behind her in a whirlwind of white. With a mouth full of comebacks, Aeryn spun him around only to meet blistering angry blue eyes. The foolish smile dropped from her face and a serious tone tuned her voice.
"What's wrong?"
He turned to look at her, his face grim and serious. "I have to go to Rivendell tomorrow after the first touch of light reaches the dawn. I am to represent Mirkwood at a meeting with King Elrond ."
Aeryn turned violet and green eyes to gaze at him stubbornly. "I will come too."
"It is not safe Aeryn."
"Must you always treat me as a weak female?"
Fury coloured her cheeks and she gritted her teeth, unable to contain her sudden anger. Without warning, storm clouds rolled over the skies and lightning struck. Rain fell, slapping against the hard dirt.
With wide eyes, Legolas surveyed the sudden change of weather, irritation forgotten.
"What happened? How did the weather change so fast in a period of time so short?"
Aeryn stared at the wavery puddles of water with a kind of wonder, the drizzles of rain running smoothly down her arms. Her answer to his question came in a quaky voice.
"I. . . I don't know. "
Soaked to the bone, Aeryn shivered under the feel of cold water sliding underneath her dress.
Concern clouded his features as he observed the trembling Aeryn. Water covered her from head to toe, her dark hair gleaming wet and sticking to her face in silky strands. He barely managed to catch himself from lifting a hand to brush at the tendrils of hair. Annoyed at himself, Legolas grasped her arm and started leading her back towards the shelter of the palace.
Digging her feet into the mud, Aeryn jerked her arm free and glared at him. "Promise me you will let me come with you."
Sighing in annoyance, Legolas ran a hand through his dripping blond hair and gazed at Aeryn. "Must you be told so many times? No." Whirling around and stalking away, Legolas started back to the palace himself. And remembered the real reason to why he felt so utterly devastated.
Flashback -
"Do you have any idea why I have requested your coming here to my study Legolas?"
Legolas studied his father, the lines of weariness etched in his face, the wise eyes now glassy with sorrow. If his father looked this way, he couldn't imagine what was to come.
"No Father."
Thranduil hesistated, then started the story of the War soon to come. When he finished, he was sorry to see his son looking so puzzled and grim. Before Legolas could open his mouth to speak, Thranduil continued,
"However, that is not all. After you come back from your journey, you are, by law, to marry Ethuil. She has waited long Legolas, it is time for you to start a new life. With her."
Legolas could only stare at his father emotionlessly. His life was slipping through his fingers, and he knew for a fact he wouldn't ever get it back.
End of Flashback -
End of Chapter III : Reviews please! Liked this chapter? At first, I didn't like it much because it was kind of confusing or maybe a bit rushed. I was tempted to re-write it but that would take longer than needed. And so, I stuck with this version.
Preview of Chapter IV :
Slipping inside a heavy green cloak, Aeryn pulled the hood up and grabbed her bow and arrows. The shadows danced around her, flickering from the candle that burned brilliantly from her hand. Moving quickly and silently, Aeryn crept across the grass in light footsteps and reached the stables. The smell of horses and animals reached her. Snorts and a nervous pawing of hooves cracked the silence. Raising the candle up to the stable corner stall, she smiled, her face glowing from the light of the candle.
"I seek your help old friend."