Since the italics don't really show when I upload, I thought I just put (Frodo:) every time he narrates, okay? Okay!
Chapter 3
***********
Frodo Baggins gazed at the eager faces of the hobbit-children. They were staring at him back, as if waiting for him to continue. Even little Faramir stopped jumping on his bed and calmly sat down gazing at Frodo with his glittering eyes. Silence had filled the room for about five minutes. Finally it was Rose who spoke.
"Then what happened, Uncle?"
Frodo thought for a while, deciding what is to happen next. Then it came to him.
"Well, Rose, I believe it went a little something like this:
(Frodo:) It had been almost 1,799 years since the birth of Legolas and Aravad. However, it seemed longer to Thranduil, for he was the last of the four friends still residing in Mirkwood. Even though he had missed his wife and friends, he had enjoyed seeing the transitions-
"Unky, what does tramskisions mean?" asked Faramir.
"You mean transitions? It means changes," answered Frodo.
"Oh."
"Yes, now where was I? Oh, of course…"
(Frodo:)King Thranduil had watched the two grow up in Mirkwood. He had witnessed his own son grow up into a strong and able prince of his kingdom. He was tall, fair, and handsome. Many elf-maidens were rather smitten with him and would blush when he would walk by them. However, what he did not know was that Legolas was quite clever and mischievous. Aravad, however, grew up to become a reluctant maiden. An outspoken lady she is, Aravad preferred bow and arrows rather than combing her long, wavy brown hair, and swordfight than dancing. Aravad was as clever as Legolas was, and would often compete with him on pranks.
(Frodo:)Thranduil's optimism of Legolas and Aravad's relationship soon began to wear away, for the two despised each other in all ways. Nobody knows who hated each other the most, Legolas or Aravad. However, they knew both would go out of their ways to make the life of the other miserable as possible. Thranduil did all he could to change the way they feel about each other, but many times had he failed. Then a wise wizard by the name Mithrandir told him this:
"Let time pass and they will both come around, Thranduil."
(Frodo:)And so-
"That's it? That's what the wise wizard told the king? Well, it's not much of an advice, is it?" said little Frodo dryly.
Frodo paused for a moment. "Well, maybe he couldn't come up with a better words of wisdom. As I was saying…"
(Frodo:)And so Thranduil followed the wise-er- the words of Mithrandir and desisted in trying to make the two like each other.
"Where's the good stuff, Uncle? When are we going to hear about the handsome prince falling in love? And-and all the true love things?" asked Elanor impatiently.
"Ew, love, yuck," commented Faramir. Elanor's eyes shoot like daggers at him. He grinned innocently.
"Well, we're a bit edgy, are we, Elanor?" chuckled Frodo. "Hold on and I will get there. Just be patient. Now let see…Oh, yes…"
(Okay, let's pretend again that everything is dissolving and we are now in a beautiful bedroom with a sleeping young woman, or she seems young. The sun bathes the room, and well, you can imagine the rest…)
(Frodo:)The beautiful, white bed was submersed in sunlight, making it glow and shimmer in the morning light. The hangings and bed sheets were made of white, thin cloths. On the bed, lay a sleeping maiden. Her eyes opened and stared faraway as if in some distant dream.
(Zoom back to the hobbit-room)
"Elves sleep with their eyes open!" said Faramir loudly. "That is very strange, Unky! Do they breathe through their mouths? Do they talk with their nose?"
"Would you shut up, Faramir?"
(Frodo:)Her features were fair and young but do not be fooled by this innocent countenance, for she was Aravad, a mischievous elf-maiden. Her long, flowing hair was spread throughout her pillow. She turned over and the sun's rays hit her face. Immediately, she jerked awake and with blind panic, rose up from her bed and ran to her nurse's chamber.
"Ludaviel, Ludaviel!" she called, running up to an elf, who was already dressed for the day. "Why have you not woken me up?! Now I am truly late for breakfast!"
"Well, I was waking you up earlier but you muttered something and began to snore again. I tried and tried to wake you up but you continued to snore!" said Ludaviel irritably. "Now I drew you a bath, but seeing as you are late again, I will get a basin for you to wash up on."
Ludaviel disappeared to somewhere and came back carrying a stone basin and a towel. Aravad quickly approached her and placed the basin on a table.
"Ugh! It is cold!" she exclaimed as she splashed the water on her face.
"It was warm earlier. But that is what you get when you wake up late, very cold water."
"Well, there is no time to lecture." Aravad went behind her divider and got dressed hastily. "I am late for breakfast."
She sprinted out of her room and down a bridge leading to another huge tree. She climbed down a long ladder and again sprinted across a gap between tall trees. At last, she arrived at the Great Hall of Mirkwood, where many had already seated and were dining. She stopped in front of the long table and composed herself. Walking lightly, she drew nearer to her seat on the table. King Thranduil looked up from his plate and stared right at Aravad.
"You are late," he said, without any tone of anger or impatience. "Why are you late?"
Aravad stopped dead on her tracks. Everyone in the Hall had stopped eating and was now looking at her. Even Legolas looked up from his plate and smirked. She could tell that he loved her humiliation. She took a deep breath and said, "Well, sir, the way I see it is that we are elves. As elves, we are immortal, meaning that we are immune to death in certain conditions. So, I believe that…we have plenty of time to spend here on this land before we past to the next. Therefore, we have plenty of time to spend say like being late for breakfast or any meal of the day."
Many murmurs came around the table. Legolas gave her a confused look. Aravad smiled weakly at the king, who seemed to be trying to catch what she just said. Finally, he laughed.
"Well, that is quite true," he chuckled. "You have a good point there, Aravad. Very well, come and eat, while we still have time!" Everyone around the table laughed at his joke. Aravad gave a sigh of relief and sat to the left of Thranduil. She gave Legolas a satisfied look while she sat down.
* * *
"That was the stupidest thing I have ever heard!" exclaimed Legolas, catching up to Aravad. They were heading down to the gardens for their lessons.
Aravad rolled her eyes and stopped. "I don't remember asking for your opinion, Lego-ass. I'd appreciate it if you would just shut up."
"We're a bit touchy this morning. Are we having PMS, Arse-avad?"
"You are such an-"
Suddenly, her nurse, Ludaviel came hurrying up to them. "Don't you dare say those next words, Aravad. I swear I don't know where you learn those words. I am reckoning that you are hanging around those guards at the watchtower way too much."
"Well, if the gloves fit on him, why not wear them? Besides, Lego-ass here also needs a few teachings about proper language."
"Oh, very funny, Aravad. You are so witty. I bow to your cleverness. Hail the Lady Aravad, Queen of wit!" exclaimed Legolas, bowing to Aravad.
She glared at him. "Dimwit," she said through her clenched teeth.
Legolas tried his best to look hurt but failed. He frowned and said, "Moron."
"Butthole."
"Freak."
"Pig."
"Idiot…"
(Zoom back to hobbit reality)
"…Crap factory, butthead, twig-legs, turdbreath, nerd, dumbbutt, numbskull…"
Faramir was again jumping up and down his bed and waving his hands in the air.
"Stop it, Faramir!" said Elanor, over his noise. She folded her arms and pouted.
"Yeah, you're so immature," said Rose hotly. Faramir stuck his tongue out at her. They then began to argue.
"Then what happened, Uncle Frodo?" little Frodo inquired over the noise.
Frodo, who was in deep thought, came back to reality and
stood up to lay Faramir down again. He tucked him back to his bed and returned
to his chair. He cleared his throat...
(Zoom back to fairyland, I mean Mirkwood :-D)
"You are a lousy piece of horse manure, Legolas Greenleaf!
Hmph!"
She turned from him and strode towards the entrance of the garden. It was a huge garden filled with tall trees whose leaves shaded the ground from the sunlight. Flowers of many colors swirled around the garden, creating such a beautiful sight. A small brook was flowing at the left side of the garden. Stone benches stood in front of it. This was where the lessons were to begin. Aravad found her usual seat, which was at the far right side of the brook near the heart of the garden. The professor was already there, and his name was Master Enedrion. He was as ageless as the king, but his hair was dark (unlike the king's golden tresses) with streaks of grayish white. Hew as from Rivendell and agreed to tutor the two. He had been teaching them since they were wee little elf-children. As Aravad sat down, she noticed that he was far too busy to notice them arriving. Finally, he looked up from his reading material and smiled.
"Well, well, are we ready to learn today?" he asked eagerly. But they remained silent. "Then let's begin shall we?"
For the first few hours of the lessons, Master Enedrion bored them with the history of elves in Mirkwood. This would normally amuse Aravad, for she loved to hear about the Simaril and of the great battles fought during the Elder Days. However, this time Master Enedrion was lecturing about the habits of elves in the forests and something that was completely dull, for Aravad was no longer listening. While Master Enedrion was reading from a parchment, Aravad looked around. Legolas was seated next to her. His eyes half-closed. He had looked as if he was ready to fall asleep because he was staring far away. She then turned her attention on the ground. A twig was there. Smiling to herself, she thought of something. Why not wake Legolas to get him in trouble, she asked herself. She picked it up but hesitated to make a move. Instead, she balanced the twig between her nose and upper lip. She seemed very amused with herself but then-
"Aravad!" It was Master Enedrion, who looked both angry and stern at her. "I am quite disappointed. You are usually so eager to learn about elven history. You should be more like His Highness, Prince Legolas. Look at him. He is so studious.
He turned to look at Legolas, who was sleeping. His head rested on his hands, and his eyes were staring far away. He was on the edge of his bench.
"Prince Legolas!" called Master Enedrion loudly. Legolas jerked awake, fell off his bench, and landed on the ground next to it. Aravad tried to stifle a laugh, but gave up and burst out laughing.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Your Highness. You will take up the throne after your father. And what will happen when you do? Sleep in front of your royal subjects?" His eyes flashed dangerously at Legolas.
Aravad couldn't help it anymore. She was in fits of laughter. Master Enedrion then turned his attention to her.
"And what about you, Aravad? What does fate have in store for you? Will you let His Highness sleep on his job?" asked Master Enedrion. Aravad fell silent and confused.
"Why would I care after Legolas?" she inquired. Master Enedrion, realizing what he just said, dismissed both of them for the day. As Aravad gathered up her things, she thought of what the Master just said. Why would she care for him, Legolas, her mortal enemy?
