I'm back!!!
The Song of the Forest's Grave
"Come, I will take you to my Master, little daughter of the Adan!" said Thorwen. Lauren crawled onto his back and he flew from the cave. Lauren looked down at the forest and saw that it was stretched out as far as she could see. She wondered what Legolas and Demrem were doing and what they would do if she were gone too long. Would they leave her?
Thorwen flew into a cave in another mountain, but this one was light up with torches against the walls and was plain gray. Lauren hopped off and followed him into the cave. "This, my friend, is the Great Griffin Palace in the mountains! Now follow me, we have a good mile to walk before we get to the Master, Lord of Griffins."
"What is his name?"
"Orodmir, meaning mountain jewel."
And Thorwen was right. They walked one long, slow mile into the mountain until they came upon great double doors of wood, the first doors yet. Thorwen pushed the large doors aside and Lauren scampered in behind him. She gasped at the figure in a great throne covered in golden necklaces and fine jewels.
"What is taking her so long?" Legolas sighed. "I fear they have eaten her!"
Demrem snorted. "Don't be negative, Prince Legolas. Before you know it, she'll be back with a horde of Griffins at our command. She is Brilaglar, angel of the..."
"Does she seem like an angel to you?" Legolas snapped. "She may look like it, but all she does is sit and think of her home, refusing to enjoy Mirkwood for it's beauty."
"Sorry to say so, Prince, but Mirkwood isn't very beautiful or kind. I'm sure it's nothing like her home. Is it wrong to like a place such as Mirkwood?"
"Whether it is or not, if she hates it, I shall not enjoy her. Nor do I wish to marry her," Legolas crossed his arms and laid back against a tree. "You know well what the prophecy says and do not deny it!"
"If you do not know, many of the younger elf men have a liking for her. She is fair and very different from any person I have ever seen."
"That she is indeed," Legolas retorted. "My king is old and weary without a queen. My house shall be overtaken by wargs and orcs and everyone wants to take orders from a girl only fifteen! Plus, to make things worse, I'm supposed to get married to this CHILD."
Demrem shook his head. "Don't be such a stiff-neck, Legolas," and he said no more.
Lauren stared, gaping at the figure. "Orodmir is an elf!" she exclaimed. She had expected a griffin to be the 'Lord of the Griffins'. She least expected an ELF to be leading the griffins. Didn't they hate elves?
His hair fell down his shoulders like silver silk and his twinkling eyes were a soft green. His face was young and ageless with a bright, careless smile. He looked like some wise ancient Elf-Lord!
He laughed so carelessly and free. "That I am. Would you sit by my feet, lady?"
Lauren took that as an order and sat on the steps that went up to his throne. "Would you tell me the tale of this strange occurrence? Why might you be here?"
Lauren spent a long time telling the elf lord every detail that she knew about the war and the king listened attentively while rubbing his chin. "And that is all I know," she said finally.
Orodmir shook his head. "I cannot help. Though my griffins would jump at the chance for jewels, I shall not spare them so we may have more riches. If the elves were our friends, I would want to help, but the elves are no use to us. No friends have they ever been."
"May I ask...why are you and elf...but hate all the other elves?" Lauren said slowly, afraid to ask the great elf any thing.
He frowned for the first time so far. "I was young and befriended the humans when I was only one hundred. I lived on the very edge of the forest in my own house in the trees. And by befriending the humans I became close to the Griffins. I was also close to my own kin, the elves, though they did not enjoy the company of the griffins.
"Without my knowing about it, many of the elves began to despise the griffins. They had greats halls of gold that they had found over the many years walking the earth and the elves became jealous. So taking some of their own gold for bait, they scattered it through the woods. The griffins found that the forest was filled with new treasures so they went on a long hunt to find it all.
"And while they were away in the forest for weeks, searching for every trinket, the elves stole many, many golden things from the griffins' caves. The griffins came back to their caves with sixty-five pieces of gold and silver and they had lost more than sixteen thousand trinkets. They figured the elves' trick and searched for their rightful treasures, but the elves hid it. They were deep underground where the griffins could not reach. So I found out, but it was too late. I was exiled from the elves were being on the side of the griffins...and that is the story. One thousand years has passed, at least, but still Thranduil gives not back the gold."
"How horrible," Lauren said. "But couldn't you just help, get back your gold, and move on?"
"Nay," said Orodmir. "It was not the treasure I mourned for, but for the loss of once great friends."
She nodded, but felt helpless. "Then I shall go back to them and die with them in this war," she said, hoping that would make the king change his mind. "There is no hope now."
"May your fortune be well, farewell Adan-vende," he said [Human-daughter]. "I will give you this as a token of friendship among the griffins." Lauren held her hands out towards the king and he handed her a gold necklace with a little clear-gold ball attached. "It will provide light to your dark path. Now, Thorwen, take her back to her friends."
Lauren put the necklace on and it glowed just dimly. "It is beautiful, thank you."
Legolas and Demrem impatiently fidgeted around their campfire. "Look!" Legolas pointed into the sky as a black beast flew from the mountain. They silently watched as the beast came closer and closer till finally it was only a hundred feet away. It perched itself on the side of the mountain and Lauren crawled down and it flew back into the sky.
"What happened? What did they say?" Demrem was excited.
She frowned. "They won't help," she said quickly, walking past them. She expected Legolas to have some sort of fit and that he did. "I knew it!" he said flinging his arms up. "This is not the time of Brilaglar! If it were, the griffins would help!"
Demrem faced Legolas. "Don't say that! Maybe we were wrong, but still, there is no need to hurt the poor girl's feelings!"
"But what are we gonna do now?" Legolas looked worried. "Now we just have one more problem in all of this mess: getting her home and out of this soon- to-be war-zone."
"The problem will have to be dealt with later some other time! She'll have to wait," Demrem hissed.
Lauren started to walk faster away from them. Problem? First she was cool with them, then she was a kid, and then she was JUST another problem. She wanted to go home. That was ALL she wanted. Before she knew it, she was running aimlessly into the woods, trying to get as far away from them. She drowned out their argument with muttering a song. "And I need you now somehow...and I need you now somehow..." she whispered as she ran through the forest.
She then stopped when they seemed to be very far away. She bent down and leaned against a tree, starting to cry. This was so unlike her to cry all the time. Usually she went a year without crying once, but this was pure hell. She was going to have to go back to their underground palace thingy and into her little room while a war went on.
"CAAAAWWWW!" Lauren fell with surprise when she heard the deafening sound. It came again, but she covered her ears and hid her face. It came again and again, each time quieter. Through the trees she saw something black squirming as if stuck somehow. She crawled on all fours towards it. The curiosity filling in her was overwhelming. She had to figure out what it was.
Legolas's mouth dropped as Lauren took off into the forest. "YOU CANT GO OFF THE ROAD!" he yelled at her, but she didn't seem to hear! He watched her sped as fast as she could and he tried to get into the forest behind her, but some trees moved their places and blocked his view of her.
"Oh no," Demrem said, falling on his knees and covering his face with his hands. "What will the king say? She's gone."
Legolas stared at the forest and began to sing a song he learned as a child.
"Men who skip beyond the road
Led so far into the great abyss
Will surely be buried in trees of old
Lost in thick air, lost in mist
And wither in the their foresty grave?
None can tell, none can say!"
AH! What will happen to Lauren! What is making that awful noise and if you already think you know, why is it there? Is there absolutely NO hope for the elves? Find out. Hehehe.
The Song of the Forest's Grave
"Come, I will take you to my Master, little daughter of the Adan!" said Thorwen. Lauren crawled onto his back and he flew from the cave. Lauren looked down at the forest and saw that it was stretched out as far as she could see. She wondered what Legolas and Demrem were doing and what they would do if she were gone too long. Would they leave her?
Thorwen flew into a cave in another mountain, but this one was light up with torches against the walls and was plain gray. Lauren hopped off and followed him into the cave. "This, my friend, is the Great Griffin Palace in the mountains! Now follow me, we have a good mile to walk before we get to the Master, Lord of Griffins."
"What is his name?"
"Orodmir, meaning mountain jewel."
And Thorwen was right. They walked one long, slow mile into the mountain until they came upon great double doors of wood, the first doors yet. Thorwen pushed the large doors aside and Lauren scampered in behind him. She gasped at the figure in a great throne covered in golden necklaces and fine jewels.
"What is taking her so long?" Legolas sighed. "I fear they have eaten her!"
Demrem snorted. "Don't be negative, Prince Legolas. Before you know it, she'll be back with a horde of Griffins at our command. She is Brilaglar, angel of the..."
"Does she seem like an angel to you?" Legolas snapped. "She may look like it, but all she does is sit and think of her home, refusing to enjoy Mirkwood for it's beauty."
"Sorry to say so, Prince, but Mirkwood isn't very beautiful or kind. I'm sure it's nothing like her home. Is it wrong to like a place such as Mirkwood?"
"Whether it is or not, if she hates it, I shall not enjoy her. Nor do I wish to marry her," Legolas crossed his arms and laid back against a tree. "You know well what the prophecy says and do not deny it!"
"If you do not know, many of the younger elf men have a liking for her. She is fair and very different from any person I have ever seen."
"That she is indeed," Legolas retorted. "My king is old and weary without a queen. My house shall be overtaken by wargs and orcs and everyone wants to take orders from a girl only fifteen! Plus, to make things worse, I'm supposed to get married to this CHILD."
Demrem shook his head. "Don't be such a stiff-neck, Legolas," and he said no more.
Lauren stared, gaping at the figure. "Orodmir is an elf!" she exclaimed. She had expected a griffin to be the 'Lord of the Griffins'. She least expected an ELF to be leading the griffins. Didn't they hate elves?
His hair fell down his shoulders like silver silk and his twinkling eyes were a soft green. His face was young and ageless with a bright, careless smile. He looked like some wise ancient Elf-Lord!
He laughed so carelessly and free. "That I am. Would you sit by my feet, lady?"
Lauren took that as an order and sat on the steps that went up to his throne. "Would you tell me the tale of this strange occurrence? Why might you be here?"
Lauren spent a long time telling the elf lord every detail that she knew about the war and the king listened attentively while rubbing his chin. "And that is all I know," she said finally.
Orodmir shook his head. "I cannot help. Though my griffins would jump at the chance for jewels, I shall not spare them so we may have more riches. If the elves were our friends, I would want to help, but the elves are no use to us. No friends have they ever been."
"May I ask...why are you and elf...but hate all the other elves?" Lauren said slowly, afraid to ask the great elf any thing.
He frowned for the first time so far. "I was young and befriended the humans when I was only one hundred. I lived on the very edge of the forest in my own house in the trees. And by befriending the humans I became close to the Griffins. I was also close to my own kin, the elves, though they did not enjoy the company of the griffins.
"Without my knowing about it, many of the elves began to despise the griffins. They had greats halls of gold that they had found over the many years walking the earth and the elves became jealous. So taking some of their own gold for bait, they scattered it through the woods. The griffins found that the forest was filled with new treasures so they went on a long hunt to find it all.
"And while they were away in the forest for weeks, searching for every trinket, the elves stole many, many golden things from the griffins' caves. The griffins came back to their caves with sixty-five pieces of gold and silver and they had lost more than sixteen thousand trinkets. They figured the elves' trick and searched for their rightful treasures, but the elves hid it. They were deep underground where the griffins could not reach. So I found out, but it was too late. I was exiled from the elves were being on the side of the griffins...and that is the story. One thousand years has passed, at least, but still Thranduil gives not back the gold."
"How horrible," Lauren said. "But couldn't you just help, get back your gold, and move on?"
"Nay," said Orodmir. "It was not the treasure I mourned for, but for the loss of once great friends."
She nodded, but felt helpless. "Then I shall go back to them and die with them in this war," she said, hoping that would make the king change his mind. "There is no hope now."
"May your fortune be well, farewell Adan-vende," he said [Human-daughter]. "I will give you this as a token of friendship among the griffins." Lauren held her hands out towards the king and he handed her a gold necklace with a little clear-gold ball attached. "It will provide light to your dark path. Now, Thorwen, take her back to her friends."
Lauren put the necklace on and it glowed just dimly. "It is beautiful, thank you."
Legolas and Demrem impatiently fidgeted around their campfire. "Look!" Legolas pointed into the sky as a black beast flew from the mountain. They silently watched as the beast came closer and closer till finally it was only a hundred feet away. It perched itself on the side of the mountain and Lauren crawled down and it flew back into the sky.
"What happened? What did they say?" Demrem was excited.
She frowned. "They won't help," she said quickly, walking past them. She expected Legolas to have some sort of fit and that he did. "I knew it!" he said flinging his arms up. "This is not the time of Brilaglar! If it were, the griffins would help!"
Demrem faced Legolas. "Don't say that! Maybe we were wrong, but still, there is no need to hurt the poor girl's feelings!"
"But what are we gonna do now?" Legolas looked worried. "Now we just have one more problem in all of this mess: getting her home and out of this soon- to-be war-zone."
"The problem will have to be dealt with later some other time! She'll have to wait," Demrem hissed.
Lauren started to walk faster away from them. Problem? First she was cool with them, then she was a kid, and then she was JUST another problem. She wanted to go home. That was ALL she wanted. Before she knew it, she was running aimlessly into the woods, trying to get as far away from them. She drowned out their argument with muttering a song. "And I need you now somehow...and I need you now somehow..." she whispered as she ran through the forest.
She then stopped when they seemed to be very far away. She bent down and leaned against a tree, starting to cry. This was so unlike her to cry all the time. Usually she went a year without crying once, but this was pure hell. She was going to have to go back to their underground palace thingy and into her little room while a war went on.
"CAAAAWWWW!" Lauren fell with surprise when she heard the deafening sound. It came again, but she covered her ears and hid her face. It came again and again, each time quieter. Through the trees she saw something black squirming as if stuck somehow. She crawled on all fours towards it. The curiosity filling in her was overwhelming. She had to figure out what it was.
Legolas's mouth dropped as Lauren took off into the forest. "YOU CANT GO OFF THE ROAD!" he yelled at her, but she didn't seem to hear! He watched her sped as fast as she could and he tried to get into the forest behind her, but some trees moved their places and blocked his view of her.
"Oh no," Demrem said, falling on his knees and covering his face with his hands. "What will the king say? She's gone."
Legolas stared at the forest and began to sing a song he learned as a child.
"Men who skip beyond the road
Led so far into the great abyss
Will surely be buried in trees of old
Lost in thick air, lost in mist
And wither in the their foresty grave?
None can tell, none can say!"
AH! What will happen to Lauren! What is making that awful noise and if you already think you know, why is it there? Is there absolutely NO hope for the elves? Find out. Hehehe.