Finally all that were in the King's chamber were exiting. I started to
follow them all out and most were elves. When I walked out the doors I saw
Mimosa was standing outside. I decided to approach him, as he smiled when
he saw me. "Mimosa I would just like to thank you again for helping me and
my people." I said and I must have seemed so happy because his smile grew
as I spoke.
"I am just glad that I can help. You really don't have to thank me. I just see it as duty, like something I'm obliged to do." He said and he still had a smile on his face. I just looked at his face mesmerised by its beauty. Then I saw Ilhan and he seemed to be in a hurry. I decided that now would be the perfect time to apologise to him.
"Excuse me Mimosa." I said. He bowed his head and I rushed off to catch up with Ilhan. "Ilhan! Please wait I need to speak to you!" I called out to him. At first I thought that he didn't hear me. But just before I was going to call out to him a second time he stopped and turned his face towards me.
"How can I help you?" He said coldly. I stopped in front of him and paused for a moment just to catch my breath. Ilhan walked really fast when he was angry I realised.
"Ilhan I think I owe you an apology." I finally said. "Is there somewhere we can talk alone?" I asked. He looked around uncomfortably and then he spoke.
"Well I was just on my way to the training area to do some shooting. If you would like to join me, I'm sure we will be alone." He said. He now spoke more softly. I couldn't help but think that he was now no longer angry and that he didn't despise me anymore.
We walked through the hall and out the door without making any conversation. I tried not to read into it and didn't take it as a sign that he still didn't want to talk to me. Finally we came to an open area in Mirkwood it was very quiet and there was no one in sight. As I looked around I saw some targets at the far end and closer to me were some arrows.
Ilhan already had his bow, which was under his arm. He then picked up and arrow and took aim. He released the arrow and it went whistling through the air and hit his target. He then turned to me with a smile on his face. "So you were saying you think you owe me an apology." He said and he still had that smile on his face but now it had a hint of mischief. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Well yes for the way I acted at The Great River. I was being very cruel. Its just I don't know what came over me. I wasn't myself and I'm very sorry. I don't know how to explain it. But you scared me in an unusual way that I have never been scared before. I'm sorry I'm making no sense, but please just tell me you'll forgive me." I said pleading. He started to pick up another arrow.
"Well." he said now with a very cheeky smile. I just looked at him. "If you can shoot this arrow and hit the target. I will forgive you." He said. I just looked at him in surprise.
"Please tell me you are joking?" I said. I knew that I wasn't good enough to hit the target. I had like a one in ten chance of hitting it. He just smiled at me and nodded his head. "Will you still forgive me is I miss?" I asked and gave him my sweetest smile.
"I'll think about it." Was his reply. He held out his bow and an arrow. I took the bow from him first then the arrow. I placed the arrow on the bow and aimed. Then I pulled the arrow back and then I closed one eye for concentration and to see the target properly. Then I held the arrow and bow steady. For some reason I decided to close my eyes. When I let go of the arrow I closed my other eye.
I heard the arrow whistle threw the air, and then I heard some clapping. But it wasn't coming from Ilhan. I turned around to find Prince Legolas standing behind me clapping. Shocked I turned to look at Ilhan. "I forgive you Lady Fatima." He said. I couldn't believe it I looked to the target and saw I had hit it. I smiled now and when I looked to my side Prince Legolas was standing next to me. I looked at him and he just looked back at me and then spoke.
"Very impressive Lady Fatima. So you have now another skill besides the sword." He said as he looked at my sword. "I would have to say I have only seen one mortal woman wield a sword and that was your King's sister, Lady Eowyn." He said. "She fought in the war at Gondor disguised as a man. When she was found she was presumed dead. But thankfully she wasn't." He said.
I looked up to him in surprise. "Eowyn fought in the war at Gondor? She never told me that." I said amazed. Now I had found another reason to respect her. I was now just thinking about Lady Eowyn.
"You know Lady Eowyn personally? How is she and Faramir?" He asked. Interrupted from my thoughts I looked to Prince Legolas.
"I know Eowyn and she is well when I left her, but Lord Faramir I never saw. He did not seem to be in Rohan. He may have been in Gondor." I said. Then it occurred to me that Eowyn must have been so sad because Lord Faramir was not in Rohan. He must have been on dangerous business. Then I thought that Lord Faramir might already know of these ill tidings. "Prince Legolas. Could it be possible that Lord Faramir knew of the attack?" I asked.
"I am not sure Lady Fatima. But why do you ask?" He said looking at me a little confused.
"Well Eowyn did seem sad when I saw her and I suspect it is because of her husbands absence, and he must have been on dangerous business because Eowyn has a strong heart and wouldn't be sadden by just her husbands absence." I explained to Prince Legolas.
Ilhan who had been very quiet since Prince Legolas arrived finally spoke up. "I think that it could be possible because King Eomer did speak of Lord Faramir and why he was absent. And I heard he was on a quest to find out some information regarding a new evil. We did not think that it was relevant. Do you suspect he could be in danger?" Ilhan asked us both. I didn't want to think about it, so I didn't speak.
"Well when we arrive in Gondor I'm sure Aragorn will tell us all the news he knows of Rohan and Gondor." Prince Legolas said. We all then looked at each other awkwardly, as if waiting for someone to break the silence. Finally our attention was drawn to Mimosa who had joined us. He was walking towards us smiling.
"I see we are all thinking alike I guess. We all want to get some training in before our journey. Prince Legolas, have you decided when we shall leave. I have talked to some wood elves and they have agreed to join us. They said they would be honored to fight along with their Prince." Mimosa said smiling at the Prince.
"We shall leave in three days at sunrise." Prince Legolas decided. He then picked took an arrow form his quiver and placed it on his bow and in one swift move he turned pulled the arrow back and then released it and he hit the target with ease. I just look at the arrow hanging from the target with an open mouth and a look of awe in my eyes. I then closed my mouth as I thought I must have looked like the biggest fool. Mimosa came to my side and as Prince Legolas did Mimosa mimicked his exact move, but Prince Legolas did it with more ease.
As I looked at Prince Legolas I realised that he was different from his father. He was nobler and a lot kinder. I then decided to approach Ilhan and start a conversation with him as Prince Legolas and Mimosa practiced their shooting even though it was obvious they didn't need any practice. Ilhan turned to face me when he saw me approaching.
"Ilhan I hope you do not mind that I will be part of the company journeying to Gondor." I said. He looked at me and smiled shyly.
"So I guess you must have seen my reaction when you asked if you could. I'm sorry but as I said before you are forgiven and I just assumed you didn't want anything to do with me. Actually I think it will be very interesting to have a woman with us. As well to have a mortal because I haven't really spent much time with my people as I have lived here in Mirkwood all my life." He said. He then smiled and I couldn't help but smile back. It did seem he was missing something and I just found out what it was, to have a life among mortals and not elves. I was glad he wanted my company.
"I am just glad that I can help. You really don't have to thank me. I just see it as duty, like something I'm obliged to do." He said and he still had a smile on his face. I just looked at his face mesmerised by its beauty. Then I saw Ilhan and he seemed to be in a hurry. I decided that now would be the perfect time to apologise to him.
"Excuse me Mimosa." I said. He bowed his head and I rushed off to catch up with Ilhan. "Ilhan! Please wait I need to speak to you!" I called out to him. At first I thought that he didn't hear me. But just before I was going to call out to him a second time he stopped and turned his face towards me.
"How can I help you?" He said coldly. I stopped in front of him and paused for a moment just to catch my breath. Ilhan walked really fast when he was angry I realised.
"Ilhan I think I owe you an apology." I finally said. "Is there somewhere we can talk alone?" I asked. He looked around uncomfortably and then he spoke.
"Well I was just on my way to the training area to do some shooting. If you would like to join me, I'm sure we will be alone." He said. He now spoke more softly. I couldn't help but think that he was now no longer angry and that he didn't despise me anymore.
We walked through the hall and out the door without making any conversation. I tried not to read into it and didn't take it as a sign that he still didn't want to talk to me. Finally we came to an open area in Mirkwood it was very quiet and there was no one in sight. As I looked around I saw some targets at the far end and closer to me were some arrows.
Ilhan already had his bow, which was under his arm. He then picked up and arrow and took aim. He released the arrow and it went whistling through the air and hit his target. He then turned to me with a smile on his face. "So you were saying you think you owe me an apology." He said and he still had that smile on his face but now it had a hint of mischief. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Well yes for the way I acted at The Great River. I was being very cruel. Its just I don't know what came over me. I wasn't myself and I'm very sorry. I don't know how to explain it. But you scared me in an unusual way that I have never been scared before. I'm sorry I'm making no sense, but please just tell me you'll forgive me." I said pleading. He started to pick up another arrow.
"Well." he said now with a very cheeky smile. I just looked at him. "If you can shoot this arrow and hit the target. I will forgive you." He said. I just looked at him in surprise.
"Please tell me you are joking?" I said. I knew that I wasn't good enough to hit the target. I had like a one in ten chance of hitting it. He just smiled at me and nodded his head. "Will you still forgive me is I miss?" I asked and gave him my sweetest smile.
"I'll think about it." Was his reply. He held out his bow and an arrow. I took the bow from him first then the arrow. I placed the arrow on the bow and aimed. Then I pulled the arrow back and then I closed one eye for concentration and to see the target properly. Then I held the arrow and bow steady. For some reason I decided to close my eyes. When I let go of the arrow I closed my other eye.
I heard the arrow whistle threw the air, and then I heard some clapping. But it wasn't coming from Ilhan. I turned around to find Prince Legolas standing behind me clapping. Shocked I turned to look at Ilhan. "I forgive you Lady Fatima." He said. I couldn't believe it I looked to the target and saw I had hit it. I smiled now and when I looked to my side Prince Legolas was standing next to me. I looked at him and he just looked back at me and then spoke.
"Very impressive Lady Fatima. So you have now another skill besides the sword." He said as he looked at my sword. "I would have to say I have only seen one mortal woman wield a sword and that was your King's sister, Lady Eowyn." He said. "She fought in the war at Gondor disguised as a man. When she was found she was presumed dead. But thankfully she wasn't." He said.
I looked up to him in surprise. "Eowyn fought in the war at Gondor? She never told me that." I said amazed. Now I had found another reason to respect her. I was now just thinking about Lady Eowyn.
"You know Lady Eowyn personally? How is she and Faramir?" He asked. Interrupted from my thoughts I looked to Prince Legolas.
"I know Eowyn and she is well when I left her, but Lord Faramir I never saw. He did not seem to be in Rohan. He may have been in Gondor." I said. Then it occurred to me that Eowyn must have been so sad because Lord Faramir was not in Rohan. He must have been on dangerous business. Then I thought that Lord Faramir might already know of these ill tidings. "Prince Legolas. Could it be possible that Lord Faramir knew of the attack?" I asked.
"I am not sure Lady Fatima. But why do you ask?" He said looking at me a little confused.
"Well Eowyn did seem sad when I saw her and I suspect it is because of her husbands absence, and he must have been on dangerous business because Eowyn has a strong heart and wouldn't be sadden by just her husbands absence." I explained to Prince Legolas.
Ilhan who had been very quiet since Prince Legolas arrived finally spoke up. "I think that it could be possible because King Eomer did speak of Lord Faramir and why he was absent. And I heard he was on a quest to find out some information regarding a new evil. We did not think that it was relevant. Do you suspect he could be in danger?" Ilhan asked us both. I didn't want to think about it, so I didn't speak.
"Well when we arrive in Gondor I'm sure Aragorn will tell us all the news he knows of Rohan and Gondor." Prince Legolas said. We all then looked at each other awkwardly, as if waiting for someone to break the silence. Finally our attention was drawn to Mimosa who had joined us. He was walking towards us smiling.
"I see we are all thinking alike I guess. We all want to get some training in before our journey. Prince Legolas, have you decided when we shall leave. I have talked to some wood elves and they have agreed to join us. They said they would be honored to fight along with their Prince." Mimosa said smiling at the Prince.
"We shall leave in three days at sunrise." Prince Legolas decided. He then picked took an arrow form his quiver and placed it on his bow and in one swift move he turned pulled the arrow back and then released it and he hit the target with ease. I just look at the arrow hanging from the target with an open mouth and a look of awe in my eyes. I then closed my mouth as I thought I must have looked like the biggest fool. Mimosa came to my side and as Prince Legolas did Mimosa mimicked his exact move, but Prince Legolas did it with more ease.
As I looked at Prince Legolas I realised that he was different from his father. He was nobler and a lot kinder. I then decided to approach Ilhan and start a conversation with him as Prince Legolas and Mimosa practiced their shooting even though it was obvious they didn't need any practice. Ilhan turned to face me when he saw me approaching.
"Ilhan I hope you do not mind that I will be part of the company journeying to Gondor." I said. He looked at me and smiled shyly.
"So I guess you must have seen my reaction when you asked if you could. I'm sorry but as I said before you are forgiven and I just assumed you didn't want anything to do with me. Actually I think it will be very interesting to have a woman with us. As well to have a mortal because I haven't really spent much time with my people as I have lived here in Mirkwood all my life." He said. He then smiled and I couldn't help but smile back. It did seem he was missing something and I just found out what it was, to have a life among mortals and not elves. I was glad he wanted my company.