*This chapter is dedicated to Mitch Olsen, my critic and friend, who often
gives me cause to hit him with my 'purse' (which is used as a giant pencil
case and storage bag, as well as for storing lip gloss, a mini hairbrush,
and a few assorted scrunchies and headbands. But NO bricks, even if some
of my friends believe to the contrary), though I always apologize. His
reviews aren't always what I want to hear, but I admire his frankness, and
his ambition: to revive the lost art of claymation, and become the next
Steven Spielberg. So Mitch, this chapter's for you! (And I'm -very- sorry
for the whole 'modernism' fight, really).
*This chappie: Dancing and teasing. Not a very good summary, but you'll see what I mean as the chapter progresses.
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The feasting was over, and a great night of dancing was ahead for the inhabitants of Mirkwood. However, there was one prince of Mirkwood who was not dancing, but merely watching with his friends, laughing at Celebross's attempts to woo the maidens, and joking about the festivities. Such laughter, however, was cut short when Tanglinna came over to Legolas with a grin on his face.
Tanglinna grinning. This could not be good for Legolas. He gulped, and the master archer spoke.
"Your father thinks it would be a good idea if you were to ask the Lady Deidre for a dance," he said calmly.
"W-what?" Legolas asked, surprised.
"You heard me, little greenleaf. Ask the Lady Deidre for a dance. Your father requests it." Seeing Legolas's hesitation, he added, "Now."
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While Legolas was talking to Tanglinna, Deidre was busy observing the scene around her. Elladan and Elrohir were flirting with some maidens, Prince Aralith was looking very nervous, for some reason, Prince Celebross was trying to score points with a gaggle of girls, and Princess Laerlend was talking with one of her friends.
Suddenly, a flash of movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention. Prince Legolas was walking toward her. Oh, great, she thought. I've tried to avoid others all evening, and now, the person who I would like most to avoid is coming straight toward me! Probably going to ask me for a dance. I swear, males are so predictable, she thought, shaking her head in amusement.
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Legolas walked over to Deidre, very nervous. "Good evening, Lady Deidre," he said, trying to hide the fact that he had no idea what he was doing. "I trust your journey was pleasant."
"As pleasant as could be expected, Prince Legolas," she replied calmly.
"That's good," he said, trying to think of how to best phrase the question he was about to ask. "Lady Deidre, would you do me the honor of a dance?"
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Deidre mentally congratulated herself. She had guessed correctly. But now, what was she to do? It's not that she didn't care for dancing, she rather liked it. By herself, when no one was watching, that is. Still, if she said no, it wouldn't be very polite, but if she accepted, she'd have to dance with him. Well, he was nice, and he was being very polite. She just hoped the twins didn't see her dancing with him, or she'd never hear the end of it.
"I would be happy to dance with you, Prince Legolas," she said, taking the hand he offered her. They walked to the area where people were dancing, the musicians playing a lovely tune.
**************************************************************************** ********************************************************************
Meanwhile, the twins had left the group of maidens and had walked over to Prince Aralith, trying to engage him in conversation. "So, Aralith," Elrohir began. "What's life in Mirkwood like?"
"Fine," he replied nervously.
"So, do you guys keep giant spiders as pets or something? I mean, you do live in, how did Deidre refer to here? Oh, yes, 'the spider capital of Arda'. Surely you have a great deal of contact with those particular arachnids, am I right?"
Aralith gulped, and the twins eyed him suspiciously. "A-actually, we don't really see them much. T-the spiders tend to stay away from our dwellings."
Elladan and Elrohir exchanged a grin. It was obvious that Prince Aralith was scared of spiders, and while they couldn't play any pranks, they certainly could use this to their advantage.
"That's a bother," said Elladan. "You see, Elrohir and I were really looking forward to seeing them."
Elrohir took his brother's cue and added, "Wait, I have an idea! Aralith could take us hunting for spiders!"
Aralith's face paled. Bullseye, the twins thought. "I don't think you'd really enjoy that," he said, glancing around the room like a cornered animal looking for some means of escape.
"Oh, but we would," Elladan protested. "And you'd be the best one to go with us, right, brother?"
"I wholeheartedly agree," his twin said.
Aralith was panicky as he saw the twins' identical wide grins. He was in trouble.
**************************************************************************** ********************************************************************
*Next chapter: archery and guessing games
*This chappie: Dancing and teasing. Not a very good summary, but you'll see what I mean as the chapter progresses.
**************************************************************************** ********************************************************************
The feasting was over, and a great night of dancing was ahead for the inhabitants of Mirkwood. However, there was one prince of Mirkwood who was not dancing, but merely watching with his friends, laughing at Celebross's attempts to woo the maidens, and joking about the festivities. Such laughter, however, was cut short when Tanglinna came over to Legolas with a grin on his face.
Tanglinna grinning. This could not be good for Legolas. He gulped, and the master archer spoke.
"Your father thinks it would be a good idea if you were to ask the Lady Deidre for a dance," he said calmly.
"W-what?" Legolas asked, surprised.
"You heard me, little greenleaf. Ask the Lady Deidre for a dance. Your father requests it." Seeing Legolas's hesitation, he added, "Now."
**************************************************************************** ********************************************************************
While Legolas was talking to Tanglinna, Deidre was busy observing the scene around her. Elladan and Elrohir were flirting with some maidens, Prince Aralith was looking very nervous, for some reason, Prince Celebross was trying to score points with a gaggle of girls, and Princess Laerlend was talking with one of her friends.
Suddenly, a flash of movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention. Prince Legolas was walking toward her. Oh, great, she thought. I've tried to avoid others all evening, and now, the person who I would like most to avoid is coming straight toward me! Probably going to ask me for a dance. I swear, males are so predictable, she thought, shaking her head in amusement.
**************************************************************************** ********************************************************************
Legolas walked over to Deidre, very nervous. "Good evening, Lady Deidre," he said, trying to hide the fact that he had no idea what he was doing. "I trust your journey was pleasant."
"As pleasant as could be expected, Prince Legolas," she replied calmly.
"That's good," he said, trying to think of how to best phrase the question he was about to ask. "Lady Deidre, would you do me the honor of a dance?"
**************************************************************************** ********************************************************************
Deidre mentally congratulated herself. She had guessed correctly. But now, what was she to do? It's not that she didn't care for dancing, she rather liked it. By herself, when no one was watching, that is. Still, if she said no, it wouldn't be very polite, but if she accepted, she'd have to dance with him. Well, he was nice, and he was being very polite. She just hoped the twins didn't see her dancing with him, or she'd never hear the end of it.
"I would be happy to dance with you, Prince Legolas," she said, taking the hand he offered her. They walked to the area where people were dancing, the musicians playing a lovely tune.
**************************************************************************** ********************************************************************
Meanwhile, the twins had left the group of maidens and had walked over to Prince Aralith, trying to engage him in conversation. "So, Aralith," Elrohir began. "What's life in Mirkwood like?"
"Fine," he replied nervously.
"So, do you guys keep giant spiders as pets or something? I mean, you do live in, how did Deidre refer to here? Oh, yes, 'the spider capital of Arda'. Surely you have a great deal of contact with those particular arachnids, am I right?"
Aralith gulped, and the twins eyed him suspiciously. "A-actually, we don't really see them much. T-the spiders tend to stay away from our dwellings."
Elladan and Elrohir exchanged a grin. It was obvious that Prince Aralith was scared of spiders, and while they couldn't play any pranks, they certainly could use this to their advantage.
"That's a bother," said Elladan. "You see, Elrohir and I were really looking forward to seeing them."
Elrohir took his brother's cue and added, "Wait, I have an idea! Aralith could take us hunting for spiders!"
Aralith's face paled. Bullseye, the twins thought. "I don't think you'd really enjoy that," he said, glancing around the room like a cornered animal looking for some means of escape.
"Oh, but we would," Elladan protested. "And you'd be the best one to go with us, right, brother?"
"I wholeheartedly agree," his twin said.
Aralith was panicky as he saw the twins' identical wide grins. He was in trouble.
**************************************************************************** ********************************************************************
*Next chapter: archery and guessing games
