Disclaimer: Go back to chapters one, two or three if reading disclaimers gives you a thrill
Chapter Nine^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Peace crept over the edge of the window and slid in fast forward to splatter the cream sheets with a honey glow. Fiothiel blinked at the sun that drew her out of her slumber, and realized who would be arriving within minutes. Sheets flew to the floor as she threw a glance at the mirror, raked slender fingers through the rumpled curls, and shot out the door like a swallow caught in an upward draft.
From the swallow's-eye-view, one could see a figure clad in a flowing off white shift run towards a proud man on a horse, who softened when he saw her and vaulted off the animal. She threw herself into his arms, and he spun her in circles with ease, their laughter and babble audible from even the rooftop, where a figure sat watching. Flaxen hair spun in circles around his shoulders as lines crinkled at the corners of blue pools, squinting to try and view the scene clearer. His heart warmed at the prospect of her friend returning home, but it also flipped somersaults in reaction to part of her time being taken from him. Such possessive thoughts were completely unnecessary, but one's thoughts cannot be discarded so easily, and are left to simmer in with ones meant to overpower. He closed his eyes, and slipped down off the roof to the balcony of his room.
If a swallow were indeed to be at roof height, were it to catch the warm breeze to the other side of the turret, it would see another figure, but were it able to read feelings, it would have known that it was for the best the two were on opposite sides… hazel does not mix with blue.
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The night of Isorfir's return, there was to be a gathering of the community to welcome him and his comrades back. The nights grew cold in Rivendell, and the chill in the air was undeniable; roses turned brown, cobblestones turned icy gray. As this was formal affair, Fiothiel dressed herself appropriately in a gown of a cream color, velvety in texture. In elven fashion the sleeves drew to a tip right above her fingers, and the gown followed her curves and flowed in spilling waves to the ground. The neckline made a wide, deep v to expose her smooth, golden neck, and stopped just short of her breast. She draped around her neck a deep green, emerald scarf, which swirled in two tails down her back and to the floor. Skillfully she arranged her wavy hair in a flowing knot at the back of her head. Taking a deep breath, she arranged her face in a manner she hoped appeared nonchalant, taking as much care with her expression as she had with her dress. Anelith watched her carefully, noting her apparent unease. A knock sounded at her door, and she smiled at Anelith.
"You're sure you don't want to attend?"
Anelith smiled shyly and replied, "My lady, such an occasion is far too fine for the likes of myself, I would surely know not what to do among such finery."
Fiothiel answered soothingly. "Please, Ane, do not call me a lady, for my rank is no higher than yours. I have told you for years… please, think of me as a friend, and call me just Fiothiel."
Anelith nodded, and watched as she shut the door with a smile and a goodbye.
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When Isorfir smiled, Fiothiel felt as if her whole self was soothed, her rough spots smoothed, and peace settled in her breast, at least for a minute. She knew one other who had this effect on her, though she could not place who…
He spoke, breaking her from her unconscious thoughts.
"I was hoping to escort you this evening milady, but it appears I come too late."
Isorfir squeezed Fiothiel's arm gently. "My prince, I am sure that the lady will save you a dance, but I believe that we have more important things at hand then manners and dances, correct?"
Legolas snapped back from his initial shock at seeing the woman he had spent 2 weeks with suddenly reappear as an apparition of beauty. "I apologize, and yes, we do. First, call me not prince, but just Legolas will do fine,"
Fiothiel interrupted. "All that needs to be said is: pretend that naught is amiss, and go on with the evening as you would normally. In addition, keep an eye honed for strange occurrences, and find a way to alert the other should something happen. Agreed?"
The two elves nodded, and together they walked, heads high, into something they could only think about in their wildest nightmares.
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