Chapter 2
"Is it true, my lady?" asked Feli, her maid, excitedly. "Is it true that the archery contest was judged by the Prince of Mirkwood himself?"
Elora turned from the window of her chamber that overlooked one of the White City's many gardens. Living as far from the capital as they did, beings such as elves were rarely seen in their land. Elora smiled at the young girl's enthusiasm. "Yes Feli, he did indeed."
"And was he as handsome as the stories say?"
Elora reflected for a moment. Handsome? No he was beautiful, like the sun's reflection off a frozen lake in winter, or a gilded lily. Even now as she brought his image to her mind's eye, her breath ceased. "Yes Feli, he was as handsome as they say."
She didn't feel it necessary to inform her maid that she had the honor of meeting the famed elf from Mirkwood. That was something she would cherish herself.
Elorimir was a contestant in the archery contest. While in his youth he was an impressive shot, his skills of late had dwindled. But for family honor, he entered the contest. Elora and her sister-in-law stood with the spectators watching the preparations for the final ten archers, her brother among their number. The herald came into the center of the field an announced the names of the finalists. Elora and her sister-in-law shouted enthusiastically when Elorimir's name was read off.
"My lords, ladies, and gentlemen, it is with great honor that I present the distinguished judge for this afternoon's contest, Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood."
The crowd murmured with curiosity. So many had only heard that name in story or song. Heads craned to catch a glimpse of the elf as he climbed the stairs to the grandstand. When he at last came into view a great cheer arose from the crowd. Elora held her hand to her head to shield her eyes from the midday sun that hindered her view.
"It can't be." she gasped.
"What can't be?" asked her sister-in-law, looking about them to see what it was Elora was referring to.
"It's him, it's that man I saw last night in the Great Hall. Remember I was telling you about him?"
"The fair stranger?" she smiled slyly. "You've caught the eye of the famous Legolas? Well sister, much is made of the stamina of elves."
"That's one contest I would be more then happy to judge," Elora volleyed. The two women laughed heartily as the first shooter prepared his bow.
In the end, her brother made a decent showing, coming in third. He stood on the grandstand and received his award for his efforts, speaking briefly with the judge who bestowed it upon him. Elora's heart jumped suddenly when, while the two were talking, they both turned and looked in the direction where she and her sister-in-law were standing. She secretly hoped that handsome Prince was inquiring Elorimir about her, perhaps asking for an introduction. When the winners dispersed and made their way through the crowds, Elora was disappointed to see Legolas leave the archery grounds, accompanied by an official from the King.
"Well wife, what do you think of your old husband now?" he bellowed, holding the cup he received before him for the women to admire.
"Husband, I never imagined your accuracy was so finely tuned," she teased. "Perhaps we should engage in some target practice later ourselves."
Elora rolled her eyes at the pair. "Honestly," she grumbled. "Next you'll be talking of the strength of his arrows." The couple roared with laughter.
The throngs of people were moving onto the next event. Elora and Elorimir decided to join their father for a small meal before the grand feast that evening. As the walked through the streets of the city to their quarters, husband and wife chattering on, Elora watched the faces swirling around her. It was such an array of humanity, a variety of shape and color. Peace had allowed people the freedom to travel again and the city was the destination for so many from the far reaches of Middle Earth.
Something shiny in one of the merchant stalls caught the eye of her sister- in-law and they stopped to look. Elora walked on a bit further to the next table that was laden with rich fabrics. Sifting through the many bolts she found a blue that when you looked at it in such a way, it flashed silver. She ran her fingers over the surface of it, expecting it to be cold. But to the contrary, it was warm and soft and it reminded her so of those eyes.
"I feel the lady would be better suited in the colors of autumn: reds and coppers and browns. For those would compliment the coloring of her fair skin and her hair."
Elora stopped absent-mindedly rubbing the fabric to look into the very eyes she was musing about. For a moment she was unable to speak, unable to think. He was standing a mere breath away from her. And at this distance he was even more enchanting. Her staring elicited a grin across his lips and she found her tongue again.
"I was unaware that elves were renowned for their knowledge of women's fashions," she said, her eyebrows raised. She was rewarded with laughter. Her memory went back to the first time she saw the Queen and what she had believed then. Truly elves are bewitching and magical. Even his laughter wove a spell around her.
"It is a little known fact, I am afraid. It is not something we want the dwarfs to have knowledge of. It is hard to negotiated treaties when they are constantly asking for advice on what to wear to that night's banquet."
"Nicely done," she smiled, much impressed with his quick wit. He nodded, gratefully. "I apologize for my appalling manners. I do not normally stare. I am however not accustomed to seeing famous members of the Fellowship."
"Then I shall introduce myself and that way we shall be friends and staring is permitted." He took a step back and made a deep bow. "I am Legolas, Son of Thranduil, of the Woodland Realm."
"And I am Elora, daughter of Elorihm," she curtsied as befitted his station. "It is with great honor and pleasure that I make your acquaintance, my lord Prince."
He reached out and took her hand, placing upon it a kiss, "As it is for me, my lady."
Her hand lingered in his for a moment and Elora felt the flesh where he has pressed his lips burning. Silence passed between them as each were lost in their own thoughts for a moment. Elora's brother and sister-in-law joined them and Elora said it was time they moved on.
"I shall look forward to continuing this conversation tonight at the feast," Legolas said, his words holding her back as the others began to walk away.
Elora blushed knowing her sister-in-law was watching them intently. "I shall endeavor to be a pleasant companion, my lord." She turned and started to wade through the crowd.
"Oh I think anyone who can make the King laugh does not need to work very hard," he called out to her. She did not acknowledge hearing him, but could not stop the smile that broke across her face.
"Is it true, my lady?" asked Feli, her maid, excitedly. "Is it true that the archery contest was judged by the Prince of Mirkwood himself?"
Elora turned from the window of her chamber that overlooked one of the White City's many gardens. Living as far from the capital as they did, beings such as elves were rarely seen in their land. Elora smiled at the young girl's enthusiasm. "Yes Feli, he did indeed."
"And was he as handsome as the stories say?"
Elora reflected for a moment. Handsome? No he was beautiful, like the sun's reflection off a frozen lake in winter, or a gilded lily. Even now as she brought his image to her mind's eye, her breath ceased. "Yes Feli, he was as handsome as they say."
She didn't feel it necessary to inform her maid that she had the honor of meeting the famed elf from Mirkwood. That was something she would cherish herself.
Elorimir was a contestant in the archery contest. While in his youth he was an impressive shot, his skills of late had dwindled. But for family honor, he entered the contest. Elora and her sister-in-law stood with the spectators watching the preparations for the final ten archers, her brother among their number. The herald came into the center of the field an announced the names of the finalists. Elora and her sister-in-law shouted enthusiastically when Elorimir's name was read off.
"My lords, ladies, and gentlemen, it is with great honor that I present the distinguished judge for this afternoon's contest, Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood."
The crowd murmured with curiosity. So many had only heard that name in story or song. Heads craned to catch a glimpse of the elf as he climbed the stairs to the grandstand. When he at last came into view a great cheer arose from the crowd. Elora held her hand to her head to shield her eyes from the midday sun that hindered her view.
"It can't be." she gasped.
"What can't be?" asked her sister-in-law, looking about them to see what it was Elora was referring to.
"It's him, it's that man I saw last night in the Great Hall. Remember I was telling you about him?"
"The fair stranger?" she smiled slyly. "You've caught the eye of the famous Legolas? Well sister, much is made of the stamina of elves."
"That's one contest I would be more then happy to judge," Elora volleyed. The two women laughed heartily as the first shooter prepared his bow.
In the end, her brother made a decent showing, coming in third. He stood on the grandstand and received his award for his efforts, speaking briefly with the judge who bestowed it upon him. Elora's heart jumped suddenly when, while the two were talking, they both turned and looked in the direction where she and her sister-in-law were standing. She secretly hoped that handsome Prince was inquiring Elorimir about her, perhaps asking for an introduction. When the winners dispersed and made their way through the crowds, Elora was disappointed to see Legolas leave the archery grounds, accompanied by an official from the King.
"Well wife, what do you think of your old husband now?" he bellowed, holding the cup he received before him for the women to admire.
"Husband, I never imagined your accuracy was so finely tuned," she teased. "Perhaps we should engage in some target practice later ourselves."
Elora rolled her eyes at the pair. "Honestly," she grumbled. "Next you'll be talking of the strength of his arrows." The couple roared with laughter.
The throngs of people were moving onto the next event. Elora and Elorimir decided to join their father for a small meal before the grand feast that evening. As the walked through the streets of the city to their quarters, husband and wife chattering on, Elora watched the faces swirling around her. It was such an array of humanity, a variety of shape and color. Peace had allowed people the freedom to travel again and the city was the destination for so many from the far reaches of Middle Earth.
Something shiny in one of the merchant stalls caught the eye of her sister- in-law and they stopped to look. Elora walked on a bit further to the next table that was laden with rich fabrics. Sifting through the many bolts she found a blue that when you looked at it in such a way, it flashed silver. She ran her fingers over the surface of it, expecting it to be cold. But to the contrary, it was warm and soft and it reminded her so of those eyes.
"I feel the lady would be better suited in the colors of autumn: reds and coppers and browns. For those would compliment the coloring of her fair skin and her hair."
Elora stopped absent-mindedly rubbing the fabric to look into the very eyes she was musing about. For a moment she was unable to speak, unable to think. He was standing a mere breath away from her. And at this distance he was even more enchanting. Her staring elicited a grin across his lips and she found her tongue again.
"I was unaware that elves were renowned for their knowledge of women's fashions," she said, her eyebrows raised. She was rewarded with laughter. Her memory went back to the first time she saw the Queen and what she had believed then. Truly elves are bewitching and magical. Even his laughter wove a spell around her.
"It is a little known fact, I am afraid. It is not something we want the dwarfs to have knowledge of. It is hard to negotiated treaties when they are constantly asking for advice on what to wear to that night's banquet."
"Nicely done," she smiled, much impressed with his quick wit. He nodded, gratefully. "I apologize for my appalling manners. I do not normally stare. I am however not accustomed to seeing famous members of the Fellowship."
"Then I shall introduce myself and that way we shall be friends and staring is permitted." He took a step back and made a deep bow. "I am Legolas, Son of Thranduil, of the Woodland Realm."
"And I am Elora, daughter of Elorihm," she curtsied as befitted his station. "It is with great honor and pleasure that I make your acquaintance, my lord Prince."
He reached out and took her hand, placing upon it a kiss, "As it is for me, my lady."
Her hand lingered in his for a moment and Elora felt the flesh where he has pressed his lips burning. Silence passed between them as each were lost in their own thoughts for a moment. Elora's brother and sister-in-law joined them and Elora said it was time they moved on.
"I shall look forward to continuing this conversation tonight at the feast," Legolas said, his words holding her back as the others began to walk away.
Elora blushed knowing her sister-in-law was watching them intently. "I shall endeavor to be a pleasant companion, my lord." She turned and started to wade through the crowd.
"Oh I think anyone who can make the King laugh does not need to work very hard," he called out to her. She did not acknowledge hearing him, but could not stop the smile that broke across her face.