A/N – I am soooo sorry that this chapter took so long. I was waiting for some divine inspiration as to what happens next. If you thought everything would be solved quickly, well, you were wrong. I was also somewhat saddened that my band of readers seems to have shrunk. :( So for those of you who are reading, please please please review! I love reviews. And also please please please go over and read my other story, which is also begging for reviews!
Disclaimer: I realized I haven't done a disclaimer in a veeeeeeeery long time, so here goes. Venitia and the daughters and Donovan are mine, Aragorn and Arwen obviously are not, as is not Legolas, who has been seen earlier. They belong to the maestro, Tolkien. Other little characters are of my own invention and any similarities are purely coincidental.
Chap 18
Spring approached steadily. Venitia found herself restless and anxious. Should she go after Donovan, like she had meant to after the ball? Most of these thoughts were crushed by the apprehension that he was long gone by now. Even if she did manage to leave the city, where would she go?
She spent most of her time thinking about this. She never talked to anyone about it, except for the occasional casual question or two to her mother. But all in all, it seemed rather hopeless. Eventually, she gave up the idea altogether.
April came and went, and May began. The air smelled of flowers, which was fine for everyone except poor Almira. She had dreadful allergies.
Venitia spent most of her time outdoors, either riding her horse in the meadow or along the river. She had picnics with Muriel and her parents, and would sometimes lie on the grass while Muriel drew the spring landscape. The sun shone brightly every day and Venitia's heart lightened a great deal.
One day, Venitia was riding her horse back through the meadows to the stable. She had been gone all day, as she had gone to ride through the forest and along the river. She noticed her father and the general standing near the stable, apparently discussing something.
"Venitia!" Her father called to her as she neared them.
"Good afternoon, Father. Good afternoon, General Gautier," she said, coming down to greet them.
"Good afternoon, your highness," the general said with a short bow. He was a tall, strong, formidable looking man, but was very kind indeed. He was a well-known military strategist, although his years in Gondor failed to supply him with the need to do such strategizing, but he stayed anyway.
"We would like to have a word with you, if you're not too busy," the king said to her.
"Of course," she said, and followed them back along the field to the back of the castle, making pleasant conversation along the way.
They walked through the palace to her father's study. He sat in his large chair behind the desk, Venitia sat in one of the chairs in front of it, and the general remained standing.
"The general and I have been having a discussion," her father said. "We want you to consider something. We both think it would be an excellent experience for you, and also a way to keep up with your military training, since…well, since you…have not had it in some while," he said hastily. "Venitia, the general is taking an troop to investigate some strange happenings on the eastern border of the mountains (A/N I think I'm talking about the White Mts., but if I'm wrong, please tell me). We were wondering, hoping really, if you would like to join them?"
Venitia stared open-mouthed at them. Her, go on a military expedition? A thrill went up her spine.
"You will be perfectly safe, your highness," the general said, confused at the look on her face. "This mission is just a checkup, nothing serious."
There was an awkward silence while Venitia thought hard and fast. "I…I would love to," she said.
Her father's worried face broke into a smile, and the general nodded curtly.
"We leave within the week. I must go make some preparations for her. Please, excuse me," the general said, bowed, and left the study.
"Are you certain you wish to go?" Aragorn asked.
"Yes! It'll be exciting don't you think?" she answered.
"I do. This is exciting…perhaps I should tell your mother," he said with a look of discomfort on his face. She tried to smile encouragingly as he got up and left the study as well. Suddenly, his face poked back in.
"Look through my maps, Venny," he said with a wink and then left again.
She left her chair and went over to the large cabinet on the left wall. She opened a drawer and was greeted by maps flying everywhere. She frantically tried to grab them all without ripping any of them, for she knew her father had a system when it came to his maps.
Damn, she said, for she was sure that she had messed up the system. She took the ones that were already in her hand and left the room, intending to go back to her room. The second she opened the door, however, she was attacked by her mother.
"Oh, dear, my honey, my darling! It will be so dangerous…I suppose you will be protected, but honestly! My daughter going off with a military troop!" Venitia had never in her entire life seen her mother act like this. Arwen was always pulled together and never had outbursts. Sure she cried a lot, as she was now, but she never had outbursts like this (a/n – sorry, couldn't help it…I just saw TTT for the fifth time).
"Mother, it'll be fine, I will be fine…" Venitia stopped talking because she might as well have been talking dwarfish for all her mother was listening. She kept babbling on, and Venny caught words like "impossible" and "cannot believe" and "appalled".
Suddenly, however, her mother got this look of understanding on her face, and she turned to Venitia, who was stunned.
"Have fun, honey," her mother said, then swept out of the hall.
Venitia shook her head in disbelief and headed to her room, still holding the maps. She pushed open the door and made for the balcony. She set down her maps on a chair when she noticed something had almost been blown off the table.
A small piece of paper was lying on the edge of the table. Venitia, with a pounding heart, picked it up.
I cannot hide any longer. Please meet on the bridge over the stream at 8:00 this evening.
Forever, your admirerVenitia stared at the note and read it again. Tonight? Tonight! I'll finally find out who it is! Venitia was excited beyond belief. She jumped up and down on the balcony.
"I'll finally find out who it is, I'll finally find out who it is," she sang as she danced around. Then another thought struck her mind. What if it was a joke? What if the whole thing had been leading up to this night, the grand finale? Worse, what if it wasn't a joke but it was some atrocious old man who wanted to marry her?
She was so anxious that she jumped mile-high when the bell for dinner sounded. Extremely apprehensive, she left her room and made for the dining hall.
At dinner, while answering tons of questions about the expedition and such from her family and the courtiers, she stole glances at everyone at the table, to see if anyone looked suspicious. However, no one looked at her strangely, or laughed behind their hands, or eyed her or anything. She left dinner feeling a lot more uneasy.
The hour and a half from six to seven thirty passed extremely quickly. She took a deep breath, took one last look in the mirror, and then left the palace.
The stream was a very small trickle of water that ran near the edge of the forest. It was a popular romantic spot, as any citizen could go through the forest.
The nights were starting to get longer, and both the sun and the moon could be seen. The sky was purple, and the stars were just beginning to show.
Venitia walked nervously across the field toward the forest. At the edge, her step faltered. She was too nervous…she started to walk away. But she had to know…with a final, confident nod, she stepped into the forest.
She walked about a minute, when she saw the stream. She followed it until she saw the bridge. Someone was standing there, but it was much too dark to see. She carefully walked to the edge of the bridge and stood for a second. She was pretty sure he hadn't heard her, but she still couldn't see him. He had his back turned to her.
She stepped onto the bridge, and then she knew he had definitely heard her. He turned his head sideways, but didn't turn around.
"Um…" she said softly. "Excuse me?"
He seemed to take a deep breath, and then turned around.
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A/N – I know, I am evil. Who is it? Maybe this will force you to review! Mwhahaha! I don't call myself NazgulQueen for no reason, ya know. So please review! And please go read my other story! The next chapter won't take so long; I know what it's going to be it's just a matter of writing it. My new semester at school is pretty much hell, but nothing will stop me! Hopefully.
