A/N: Ai, Elbereth! Are all those dialogues back there really... *mine*?? Heca!! I must have been possessed by the 'speech Muse' or something!...
Er... maybe I should make more threats?... LOL! THANK YOU!!! It's rewarding to know people are reading... Ai! This story is a brain twister! Good to know it pays off! So don't worry, I WILL keep updating, slow as I might be...
I'M SO SORRY FOR THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TOOK FOR ME TO GET THIS CHAPTER DONE!!!! School's killing me... IT'S ALL PHILOSOPHY'S AND BIOLOGY'S FAULT!!! It's 'test-season'... =/
It's rather funny some of you mentioned Legolas' hair, but I'm not going to tell you why just yet... I need to meditate on it first - too many dialogues in between... Ai, Thuriniel, dump Legolas and help ME! ;P Maybe on the next chapter, depends on my mood, as everything else! ;) But whenever I do mention it again, be sure that it's dedicated to you two: Lossie Alqua (LOL! Maybe, but I really don't remember anything like it! Anyways, you gave me an excellent idea!... You'll see it later!) and Adrienne (Sport? ROTFL! Don't kill me, but when I read your review all I could think of was Sylvester Stallone all bleeding in "Rocky" - you choose which one... You know, after the fights: "Adrian!!!!" "Rocky!!!!"... er... that would mean Legolas is Rocky, wouldn't it?... *shudders* O.O! Best to simply forget it!)
About my lovely Thuriniel *smiles proudly*... Galadriel? Never thought about her, since she and Legolas still haven't met... or at least Legolas hasn't, but that really doesn't mean anything, does it? I guess she can be whomever you want! When I was revising the story, though, I was enlightened, and discovered her identity. But I'm not saying... ;) And with this, I just realised that I still haven't told any of you when exactly this takes place... Didn't anyone wonder about it? Ai, my philosophy teacher would have your heads over this! ;) If you've read RotK, ALL of it, you'll find out on this chapter! (That is, if I ever end these notes... Sorry, can't help it! I feel like I'm plugged in to electricity or something... I'm sooo happy!!)
Kapaali (you get to have your own exclusive paragraph, just for that review!): REALLY?? WAY TO GO, TOLKIEN!!! I JUST LOVE YOU MORE AND MORE WITH EVERY NEW THING THAT I LEARN!!! (Just one more thing about 'the hair thingy': I don't think the real Legolas would have made such a big deal over it... That's partly the movie's influence, I suppose. To me, the hair is more of a symbol of the many differences between the Elves and Orcs. He's a warrior! Don't you think that maybe he's too busy killing orcs and spiders to care about his hair? Of all things, why hair?!) Thank you so much for the info! Actually, I'm reading that book, but I'm still at The Fall Of Gondolin - just GRAND!! -, so it must be somewhere after that, right? I just have to see!... *checks* It's right at the end! ROTFL - especially like the parts "wrathful comment" and "ladylike"! eheh... =D
Thank you to everyone else whom I did not mention! Hope you keep reading and enjoying it as much as I do writing it!
Ok... I think those are enough notes for now... I enjoy myself WAY to much writing those for it to be entirely healthy... OH NO! I was rambling, wasn't I? oO? Oh, s***...
This chapter's a light one, not at all like the others! It matches my present mood. I'm not too sure about the descriptions... :/ My copies of FotR and "The Hobbit" have been recently abducted by a friend of mine (forgive me - "The Sisterhood of the Ring", as he so eloquently puts it! Not for the obvious reasons alone, though. It's for much more horrifying thoughts as well... =D - HELLUIN!!! I WANT THEM BACK!!! OR NO QUETTAPARMA QUENYANNA FOR YOU!!) and since I haven't read them in a while now, there are likely to be lots of mistakes and made up stuff... I wrote a combination of what I think I remember and some things from the movie, and who knows, maybe The Fall Of Gondolin found its way into this as well, the little Balrog!
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Chapter VI - Of Rivendell
They parted ways with Mithrandir at the stone bridge, before entering Imladris. After saying their farewells, Legolas decided to stand there for a little while. He wished to fully absorb all the bliss of that land and to miss nothing of it. Lord Elrond could wait. It was so different from Mirkwood. Not fairer, not better either, simply of a different kind. Each corner seemed to have a different story to tell, and there were not any two alike. Each kept its own secrets, but would gladly share them with whomever wished to learn of them.
They crossed the small bridge, and Legolas was finally able to see the Last Homely House. A woman was standing at the front, as if she was expecting them.
Legolas was at awe. No matter what he'd already seen of the region, everything continued to impress him. There were many waterfalls in the valley, all falling into the Bruinen below. Water particles filled the air about them, reflecting and separating the colours of the bright sun's rays and creating a ceiling of many small rainbows over the streams.
Lótessë [May] was bright in its final glory, preparing the way for Nárië [June]. Beeches and oaks graced the banks of the main river, and the sent of pine-trees was also clear in the air, coming from the narrow paths around the vale. All in all, it was a safe, beautiful haven, protected by steep hills.
The woman was of mortal kind, but still Legolas was surprised with her grace and poise. She had a regal air about her, but also a tinge of great sadness. She seemed to be waiting for someone, indeed, but not for those who had arrived.
"Mae govannen, my Lady! What are you doing out here, in the open, all by yourself?"
"Mae govannen, mellyn [Well met, friends]! And I'm looking for Estel. Again." The twins laughed at the comment.
"Well, I'm sure he'll show up for lunch! My Lady, this is Prince Legolas, of the Elven Realm of Mirkwood. He has long been a good friend of ours. Legolas, mellon, may I present you to Lady Gilraen." The twins exchanged a glance.
"My Lady, it is a pleasure."
"Likewise, my Prince. Forgive me if I'm wrong, I am merely a woman of the Dúnedain and know little of the matters of the Elven folk, but were not the Lords of Rivendell and Mirkwood in... how should I say..."
"No need Lady, I understand what you mean, and yes, it is true. That is part of the reason why I have come here."
"Legolas! Don't tell me that your father has finally decided to put aside that ridiculous quarrel of his!" Elrohir suddenly exclaimed, speaking for the first time.
"Why, my foolish Elrohir! If I'm not mistaken, it was not alone my father's fault that caused this issue!"
"What?! How dare you come here into our own lands, to our house, to speak such of our father! Besides, you're the one who looks terrible!" If looks could kill, the Rivendell elf would have fallen lifeless to the ground, by the intense glare Legolas was giving him. Only two murmured words, however, left his lips, barely audible.
"Rivendell elves..."
"My Lords, please! Do not fight! I'm sorry to have brought up such a question, I never considered you'd react like this! I meant not to further aggravate the relationships between your two lands!" Gilraen was indeed quite distressed, but Elladan smiled.
"Do not worry yourself, Lady Gilraen, they only jest! They do not mean what they say, merely enjoy themselves arguing with each other! If it were up to the three of us, the real fight would have long been dismissed."
"Yes, my Lady. My wise brother Elladan speaks true. Do not trouble yourself! But Legolas, you do look rather..."
"Elrohir..."
"Never mind."
Gilraen laughed at their teasing, but quieted down and stepped aside, when Lord Elrond came out of the house. Elladan looked cautiously at Legolas and addressed the Lord, wondering what his reaction would be. His father was wise, and would surely welcome the Prince, despite the circumstances.
"Father, may I introduce you to Prince Legolas Thranduilion of Taur-e-Ndaedelos." Elrond considered this for a second and graced the Prince with a strange look, but made no further case of it.
"Welcome to Rivendell, Thranduilion." Legolas wasn't sure of what to say, given the way he was called and what he must surely look like to the eyes of the Elven Lord. He chastised himself for not remembering to stop along the way and fix himself up, Mithrandir's words of amusement now echoing seriously through his mind. ~What would your father say about that?~ So he chose to speak of what he had thought upon arrival.
"Thank you, my Lord. Imladris is a fine land indeed, the stories that are told and sung do no justice to its real beauty." Elrond seemed pleased. Legolas knew, from the twins, that he wasn't like Thranduil in the matters concerning the two Houses, so he took it as a good sign. ~What wouldn't father say if he knew I came before the Lord of Imladris looking like this... Ai, Thuriniel, you have helped me before! Please do not let him find out!~
"Come, no need for formalities here! My sons have told me much about you and I am pleased to have finally met you. But, pray tell, what would a Mirkwood elf be doing in this land?"
"I am most pleased as well, my Lord. I come here with word from my father, concerning both the forest of Mirkwood and all those who live by it, and also in hopes of finally burying the past quarrels between our kin."
"Very well. For now, however, we shall eat and be merry, for you must surely be weary of travelling and judging by your look, Prince Legolas, I'd wager you would especially like to clean up and rest for a while, is it not? Are you in need of a healer?" Elrond granted him a kind smile, and Legolas responded in turn.
"Nay, my Lord, no need. And you would wager most correctly!"
Elrond then excused himself and left, as another elf came to take the horses to the stables. The three friends were preparing to enter the house as well, when, suddenly, a small figure came out of nowhere and threw himself at Gilraen. He was gasping and laughing at the same time, and Gilraen smiled warmly at him, as did the twins.
"Estel, what have you been up to this time? Where have you been all day?"
"Ai, mother, I found this wonderful place! Come, I want to show you!" He turned around to drag her along, and saw the other elves standing there. "Elladan! Elrohir! You're back!" Then, he focused on Legolas. "And who are you?"
"I am Legolas. Lady Gilraen, this youngling is your son Estel, I assume?" Legolas was delighted with the youth's energy.
"Yes, he is." She said nothing more, but discreetly looked over at the twins, trying to go unnoticed. Elrohir tensed and Elladan became nervous. Mortal eyes would not see this, perhaps, but to an elf, it was rather obvious. ~What's this?~ A tense atmosphere settled between them, and Estel, in the middle, just looked from one to the other, trying to figure out what was going on. It was Elrohir who finally broke the silence.
"I say, lunch will be served soon and you should prepare, Legolas. Lets get in!" Elrohir took the wood-elf inside, and left the Lady and her son with Elladan.
They finally entered the Last Homely House and found that, inside, a beautiful hallway decorated with carved wooden doors and marvellous paintings greeted them. At the end of it, there were staircases leading to the upper floor, whirling around a bell-tower. That was where they were going. Legolas' room was on the top floor, facing East, overlooking a porch and a beautiful garden from a small balcony.
"Make yourself comfortable, mellon. I'll see if I can have someone bring you new clothes... how's your leg? I noticed earlier that you still had a slight limp."
"Thank you, Elrohir. My leg is almost fine, the goblins did not break it too badly."
"Fine. Don't take too long, the bell will ring soon." Then he left the room, and left Legolas alone to his thoughts.
~What just happened down there? Why did everyone get so tense all of a sudden? I don't understand...~