Nain In Aired 'irn - Tales of the Old Days
Sunlight was filling the room as she woke up finally. The smell of summer came in from outside and she wrinkled her nose. Calina had been moved to a different room. It was smaller, just her bed, a tables and a few chairs. One had been put by her bed. Someone had left their book open on the covers. Calina had been changed also and she was now in a plain white gown. Calina picked up the book and marked the page with a bookmark left on the chair. She moved to prop herself up with a pillow so she could sit comfortably in bed as the door opened and a healer walked in,
"Good, you are awake. How do you feel? Your wounds are healing nicely. They should be fully closed in another few days and we can take the bandages off. The Prince will be glad to know you are awake and well."
"What?" she said, she was totally confused. The healer was jabbering away and she really wasn't awake enough to listen. The door opened again and Legolas walked in. He smiled to see her awake and came and stood on the other side to the healer, next to the chair,
"I am glad you're awake Calina, I had almost finished my book." He smiled again and she felt that same sort of calming aura she had felt when she had first met him. The sun shone off his hair and the light reflected in his blue eyes. She noticed for the first time how beautiful he was. He was saying something to her and yet again all she could say was,
"What?" His laugh penetrated her ears.
"I can see you are not quite awake yet. Do not worry, it can wait." Calina used all her brain to form a sentence,
"I feel so tired and yet I must have slept for days judging by these cuts healing."
"It was six days my lady," said the healer, "but you must remain here for at least that time again. Your body was exhausted and it needs much rest." He left and Legolas took his seat by the bed. Calina sank back into the pillows behind her, sighing. Legolas was looking at her. He seemed undecided on something,
"Calina, I drew this while you were asleep. You looked so peaceful I had to capture the moment, well moments. Please, do not be angry." He handed her a piece of paper with a pencil drawing of her face on it. It was beautiful,
"I do not look like this," she said amazed at what was before her. It was the most flattering thing anyone had ever done for her,
"I just drew what I saw," he said with a shrug,
"It is amazing. I do not know what to say except thank you." Calina smiled and gave his hand, which was on the bed, a quick squeeze and then she had to look at the drawing again. She could not believe this was how he saw her.
"There is one more thing Calina. It is my father. He insists on speaking to all strangers to the Halls when they first arrive. He did not get to speak to you before. May I go and get him, if you do not mind?"
"I cannot refuse the king," she said neutrally. Legolas took this as an acceptance and left the room. Calina tried to straighten herself up, flatten her hair, make herself look respectable, but then she did not suppose she could have looked much worse than when he saw her last time. A few minutes later, there was knock on the door and Legolas entered with his father. Another chair was set opposite the other one and she was stuck between the two of them. Legolas removed his drawing from his father's sight as he sat down. Thranduil fixed his gaze on her and said,
"Legolas tells me you have been lost for some months."
"Yes your highness. I am not sure quite how long, but it was ever since the forest was attacked." Thranduil nodded and then said,
"I hear that you lived in Beechgrove. That must be a great tragedy for you. I am deeply sorry. You are free to stay here as long as you wish."
"I thank you, highness. I am in your debt and your son's for bringing me here, even if I was a bit reluctant at first." Legolas' face finally broke from the fixed, serious expression it had been during the interview to a soft smile. That relaxed her slightly, but she knew the question that was coming next and she did not want to answer it,
"And what were you doing in those months which have past?"
"I would rather not talk about it," she said as firmly and finally as she could manage and she looked down at the bed covers.
"Calina," Legolas reached out and touched her hand. He spoke softly and she looked at him, "Calina, you should tell us. It will go no further than father and myself, I promise." Calina looked desperately into his eyes,
"I cannot, please, do not make me. Please do not." Calina pleaded with him,
"No Calina you must." Legolas was firm. He took her hand in his, his fingers encasing her hand completely. She fought back the tears and looked once more into his eyes. Their confidence spread to her and told her story,
"When the orcs came we all left out flets and fled into the forest. They followed us quickly but I became separated from the others. I watched as they were led back to the village from the bushes. I could do nothing. I had no weapon of any kind. But some orcs found my scent and I had to run. I ran and ran paying no attention to where I was going. It could have been round and round in circles for all I knew. They followed me for days I think. All the time I kept on running or hiding for short whiles to get my breath back and eat a little. Sometimes I thought I had lost them, but they kept on coming. I ran from the forest hoping I could lose them in the sun, but after a few more days I was too tired and I just collapsed. They caught me and bound my hands and feet. That's what these marks are from," and she gestured to her wrists. Her ankles were underneath the sheets. "The band of orcs had become separated from the main armies and they decided it would be best to take me east to wherever their base was. We marched for many days and passed far into a land I did not know. I was their only prisoner. But as we went further and further towards the shadow lands it became clear to them that the Dark Tower had been destroyed. They did not know what to do, or where to go. They abandoned me in the wild and turned back. They mentioned the Misty Mountains and Moria, but were undecided as to where to go. However I followed them back and while they were resting I killed a couple with a knife they had put down and stole food and a pack. I had to flee from them again, but this time, they gave up after only a few hours. I was disorientated and utterly lost, but the sun was setting and I set off towards it, hoping that I would find my way back home. I hoped that someone had managed to help my family and friends, but it seems no one could reach them in time. I had been walking for days when Legolas and Gimli found me." Calina stopped, realising her throat had become dry. Thranduil was looking at her quizzically, and Legolas rubbed his thumb over her fingers, trying to comfort her. He spoke first,
"You had no pack when we found you. Or a knife."
"I had to leave them when I found I couldn't carry them anymore. I had left them three days before you met me, I think. I carried a little water, but I lost that somehow. I do not remember." They sat in silence for many minutes. Thranduil was deep in thought. He cleared his throat before saying,
"Calina you have been very brave for one so young. It appears the orcs you travelled with chose to go to the Misty Mountains. A band was killed by the northern borders of the wood a couple of days ago." He paused here. "Please rest now. Legolas will stay with you, if you want. I wish you a speedy recovery." He got up and left. Tears began to fall silently down her cheeks. The grief had been rekindled inside her. Legolas kissed her hand and then stood up to hug her. Calina cried into his shoulder, then she sniffed and said,
"Sorry, I keep crying on you."
"It is alright Calina. You have a lot to cry about, do not worry unnecessarily." He smiled at her.
"Legolas, I think I am going to sleep now. You do not need to stay. I am sure there are people here that want to see you returned home safe from war." He did not answer and stayed anyway.
She woke again later that day, about mid-afternoon. Legolas was there, his book closed and finished in front of him. He was simply watching her as she slept. His blue eyes questioned hers as soon as they opened, "I am alright," she reassured him, "I could do with some food though." He smiled and left the room for a moment to ask for some food. A bowl of soup was brought in to her, "You did not have to stay," she said to him between mouthfuls,
"On the contrary, my father asked me to make sure there was someone here when you woke up. Seeing as you do not know anyone else here I thought it best it be me."
"I do not wish to bother you."
"Calina, stop worrying about me and concentrate on getting better. Drink your soup."
She fell back to sleep again soon after she had eaten. Calina did not rest peacefully. The memories of the past months still haunted her. Several times she woke up in a cold sweat, shaking at what she had remembered. Legolas placed a cool cloth on her forehead and he whispered words of comfort in her ear, soft words that made her smile. Needless to say that when she finally awoke properly at dinnertime, she was greatly in debt to his kindness,
"Thank you Legolas for calming me when I slept." The only answer she got was a short gaze from his eyes. The bell for dinner rang, "You had best go."
"Only if you wish me to go."
"I would never wish you to go," she said shyly, "but I think your father might."
"As you will." He put down whatever he had been doing that afternoon and left the room. Calina was brought a small, plain dinner and she ate sitting at the table in her room, not in her bed. Calina had been determined to get up that day. Her legs were weak and tired and once she had sat down she had to wait several moments for the room to stop spinning and her vision to return to normal. Calina ate and felt the strength return to her limbs and a warmth spread through the dullness that had been there before. Calina picked up what Legolas had left in her room. It was a small scrap on parchment with the beginnings of a song written on it. It was not unusual to find elves writing music, but various lyrics caught her eye. It was the story of his time in Moria and the fall of Gandalf the Grey. His torment in the tunnels under the mountain must have been great, elves need to feel the Sun. After a verse, she put the parchment down and could read no more. Calina understood now why he and Gimli had refused to discuss it.
Legolas returned shortly and noticed her out of bed and his work had been moved. He sat opposite her and pulled the parchment towards him, "I am sorry Legolas. Your suffering must be great, you have seen many things since you left here."
"I do not want your pity Calina. I ask you only that they never speak of it again and you do not tell it to anyone."
"Of course, highness." An uncomfortable silence followed. Calina broke it first, "How is your father?"
"He is well and in good spirits, thank you. He asked to be remembered to you and to say that if there is anything you want you only have to ask."
"That is very kind. I have become deeply indebted to the royal family." Calina said solemnly. Legolas lifted his head and smiled,
"It is our pleasure."
They talked all evening. He told her about life in the palace and what it was like growing up the heir to the throne, not that he expected to ever be king. His father seemed determined to remain in Middle Earth till the end of the time of the elves. Calina had already told him much of her family, but he questioned her anyway, asking what her parents and friends did for a living, and what she did to help them. Calina told him they were carpenters making out living by creating furniture and selling it all over the forest and to the dwarves and men that her father and brother went to trade with. Calina was not allowed to go with them very often when they went to Dale or around the forest to sell their goods and buy whatever they needed.
Gradually over the days of her convalescence Legolas came less and less. His father had begun to give him jobs to do round the palace and Legolas returned to his archery practise. Her last day in the care of the Healers came and Legolas arrived early to see her. He brought with him several of his friends and she was introduced to Verlat and his sister Lineil, and Nithin and Mineta, Legolas' closest childhood friends, children of two of Thranduil's closest advisors. They were taking her first to her new room in the palace. Calina had already tried to argue against staying in the Halls with Legolas that week but he was having none of it. He said he wanted to keep an eye on her until they could be sure she was completely recovered, as it was his duty as a member of the royal family to watch over his father's subjects. His father had invited her to dine with the court that evening and she was to sit at the top table. Lineil and Mineta, therefore, had their work cut out trying to make her presentable that evening and give her a crash course in how to behave in front of the king. However, before any of that was to happen, they went for a picnic in one of the many gardens surrounding the palace.
She had not been outside for almost a fortnight and she was excited to see the sky again and to feel the grass beneath her feet. Calina would have run about laughing, but two firm arms were practically carrying her, Legolas on one side and Verlat on the other. The Healers had said she was perfectly capable of going about by day as normal so long as she did not go anywhere too fast, but Legolas was adamant that she did not tire herself out. They spent all afternoon outside. The five of them were exceptionally close friends, but they did not mind admitting another into their group. They all avoided talking of families, she thought at Legolas' instruction, and they talked of happier times and they teased Legolas mercilessly! By the end of the afternoon even she was joining in that. It was just too easy! Calina was just so happy to be amongst other elves again. She could derive so much inner peace from their good natures and contentment. Their serenity settled her nerves and calmed the grief and anger within her.
At about five o'clock Lineil and Mineta stood and helped her to her feet. It was time to get ready for dinner. They helped her slowly to her room and left her in the care of a servant to have a bath and wash her hair. Sinking into the waters was a lovely feeling she'd missed over the months. There is nothing like a good bubble bath. Afterwards Lineil and Mineta returned and brought her a dress to wear. She just had to look at it and know that it was a bad idea. Calina was essentially a country girl, she had no time for fancy dresses, especially ones as revealing and tight as the one before her. It took them several minutes to coax her into at least trying it on. It wasn't as tight as she thought it was going to be, just sitting comfortably on her skin and not showing how thin she had become too much. Calina turned to Mineta,
"I cannot wear this! Please Mini, do not make me."
"Calina, you are going to dinner as a lady of the court, a great honour, and this is how they are expected to dress. Do you have any other clothes to wear?" Unfortunately she had a point.
"But you are not dressed up this much." That stumped her for a second or two, but Lineil jumped in,
"Calina, it is wear this or go naked." She was defeated,
"Fine, I will wear this, but surely you cannot at least do something about this?" she pointed to the large expanse of chest that was on view,
"No," she said firmly, "That is how the dress is meant to be worn. It is the fashion these days." Calina was less than pleased to say the least. Then Mineta started playing with her hair as well, twisting it into different styles. That was quite enough and she stood up,
"Please, just leave my hair." And they finally decided to leave her alone. She stood to look at herself in the mirror. She was a thin remnant of how she remembered herself. Her arms had become thin and her legs too. Her cheekbones stood out more than she remembered and the same with her collarbone. As for what she was wearing, well, it was a dark purple robe with a low plunging neckline and a low back as well. She felt as if half her body was still exposed even wearing the dress. The top bodice tapered into a small waist which then flowed into a floor length skirt. It touched the ground and rustled as she walked. On her feet she had a pair of silken slippers. She had never touched anything as intricately woven. There were tiny little beads sewn all over it in the most amazing patterns. Her long blond hair cascaded down her back and looking back, despite her protestations, she did look good!
They left early to make their way to the dining hall. This meant she did not have to tire herself with walking quickly and she would not have to be embarrassed by limping in front of everyone. She would be stared at enough that night so she was thankful someone had thought this through enough to plan that. She was surprised to see Legolas, Nithin and Verlat already there. Lineil and Mineta had already instructed her on how to behave in the hall, but as she walked in she was not prepared for the sheer grandeur of the place. It was set between the bases of four of the largest trees in the forest, one at each corner, the lowest branches of the trees formed the roof and the entire floor was covered with the fallen blossom of the trees. It was breathtaking. Legolas hurried over as she admired her surroundings. He took her from the arms of the girls and offered her his own saying gallantly,
"My lady Calina, please allow me to escort you to your seat." she laughed at his formality, curtseyed and said,
"Why thank you your highness, I would be delighted," and she took his arm. Calina leaned heavily on him as they walked across the blossom-carpet room. "This is a wonderful room, Legolas. It is so beautiful."
"Yes this is the best time of year in here. they do not use it much after autumn, it's a bit cold with no roof." She nodded in reply, not really listening as she still took in the sights around her. Calina was seated next to Legolas at the table, only two seats down from the king. This was a great honour and she began to get nervous and fidget. Nithin laughed at her from a couple of seats down,
"Calina, there is nothing to be worried about. We are not going to be eating you. Relax." Calina smiled weakly back and started playing with her knife and fork. Legolas was stood behind her and reached over, resting his hands on top of hers,
"Calina relax and do not fidget about so much," he whispered into her ear. Before he took his hands away, she whispered to him,
"Legolas stop trying to look down my dress or I shall tell your father," and they both began laughing. Legolas stood up and said,
"I had not figured you to be a modest country girl Calina." Calina was about to make a scathing reply but the Hall had begun to fill and Thranduil's arrival was announced. As instructed she rose with everyone else and remained standing until he had sat down. Her legs began to shake before he'd even reached the table and Legolas reached an arm out to steady her. Calina noticed Lineil watching her and she smiled at her. She did not smile back and turned away.
As soon as Thranduil had sat down she practically fell into her seat. Very ungraceful and unladylike. The king turned his attention straight to me, "How are you feeling Calina? Legolas says you are much improved."
"Yes thank you your highness. I feel much better, but a little weak. I cannot stand for long or walk very far." He nodded and then turned to someone sitting on his left. Legolas gave her a quick run down on who was sitting at the table - Thranduil's brother, sister-in-law and their three children, Verlat and Lineil's mother and father, Nithin' father and Mineta's parents and her older sister. There were several advisors and nobles of the Halls. Altogether the table sat thirty. She ate slowly and in silence, she knew nothing of the conversations they were having or the people they spoke of. Calina was finally roused during dessert by the person sitting opposite me,
"Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Garin, nephew to the king and cousin to Legolas. Pray tell me, how did you come to be here in Halls?" Legolas cut in and said,
"Calina is here as a guest of myself and her father, Garin. That is all you need to know." His cousin looked at him strangely and said,
"Very well, I shall ask no more, but there are some very interested people in the Halls and some very interesting conjectures about your good self Calina and Legolas." Calina looked at Legolas not sure what to do, but he sighed and said,
"There is always conjecture about what I do and who I do it with. That is nothing new."
"Of course cousin, but these are particularly entertaining. My personal favourite is that you fell in love with Calina during your travels through Lothlórien and have persuaded her to come here and be princess of the realm." Calina almost choked on her food for laughing. That was the most ridiculous idea she had ever heard. Little did these people know she was merely a carpenter's daughter and they all probably owned bits of furniture made by her father, brother or even herself. Calina looked at Legolas as she tried to keep all her food in her mouth. His face wasn't laughing, it was stony. He turned to her and said,
"Calina, may we have your permission to announce your presence to the Hall?" Calina thought for a second, then nodded. It was a shame to stop the rumours, but Legolas didn't deserve to be the centre of such speculation. He leaned over to his father and whispered in his ear. Thranduil nodded and then rose. The Hall fell silent and he spoke,
"Friends, we have a special guest here tonight. May I present to you all Calina Birch of the Birches of Beechgrove, the renowned furniture makers. She is the only survivor of the atrocity there. She ended up in the wilderness many miles from home and had wandered for almost four months when my son found her in the lands near Erebor and brought her to the Halls almost a fortnight ago. She has suffered much and exhibited great courage and skill in survival. I wish her welcome to my Halls and bid her stay as long as she chooses." And he sat down.
The Hall then buzzed as people turned around to get a good look at her. Calina blushed and looked at her hands in her lap. Legolas leant over and said, "Sorry about father, he gets a bit carried away sometimes. Have you finished? Do you want to go?" Calina nodded desperately at him. Legolas stood up and helped her to her feet. Calina summoned up all her energy to carry herself out of the Hall and back to her room. She collapsed into a chair panting hard as Legolas let go of her. He fetched her a glass of water from her bathroom and she sipped it while she got her breath back. Eventually she had calmed down enough to say,
"I am not doing all that again in a hurry." Legolas smiled and said,
"You will not have to. They all know who you are now and you will just become another face at the high table." All she could say back was,
"Hmmm," and he smiled again and said,
"I had not connected you to the Birches of Beechgrove. You made wonderful furniture."
"I had not realised our work was so well known. We never seemed to have much money so I did not think our work was well received. I knew it was good. The number of times my father told me to redo some small bit of carving, well, he was a perfectionist."
"You worked as well?" Legolas was astonished,
"Yes. I did a lot of the intricate carving work following my father's designs of course. My fingers were smaller that his or any of my brothers so I could manoeuvre them better in the tight places. My mother used to do it as well, but she was blinded in an orc raid before I was born. She had a daughter to carry on her work." Legolas stood up and said,
"Let me show you something. I will carry you it is not far." He picked her up into his arms without her thinking and checking the corridor was clear ran quickly with her up some stairs and along several passageways until they arrived outside another room. Legolas put her down and opened the door, "This was my parents' bedroom before my mother died. Father does not use it now, but it has been kept the way she left it. The bed is by the Birches of Beechgrove." Calina walked inside and the four poster bed in the centre of the room immediately caught her attention. There were intricate carvings on ever post and pillar and the Greenleaf crest was carved into the headboard intermingling with another crest, which she presumed to belong to Legolas' mother. It was the most fascinating piece of carving she had ever seen. Calina checked the one place she knew her father would have signed his work, on the bottom of the front piece of the bed. Sure enough there it was along with the signature of her mother and the scrawled name of her eldest brother who must have only been a child when this was made.
"Oh Elbereth," she muttered under her breath, sitting back against the bed she spoke to Legolas, "This was done by my father, mother and my eldest brother when he was a child. It must be thousands of years old."
"It is." Legolas looked sad,
"Do you remember your mother?" she asked,
"Yes, the memory has never faded even though she died when I was very young and many seasons have been and gone." He smiled through his sadness at some distant memory then said, "After she died I used to come and sit in this bed and make up stories about all the images carved into the bed. Mother used to tell me stories about them at night if I would come in scared by the storms. Father would usually just grumble about being woken up and turn over, but Mother would stay awake until I had fallen asleep again." Calina reached up to him standing in front of her and took his hand to bring him comfort as he had done her. He had seen so much sadness in his relatively short lifetime for elves. Calina stroked his fingers, kissed his knuckles once and then held his hand. They must have been like that for a long time because the room became noticeably darker as the candles went out one by one. They clung to each other for the support they needed with their grief.
Eventually Legolas flexed his fingers and they were both brought back from their thoughts. He said nothing and neither did she. Legolas simply bent down and picked her up. As she wrapped her arms around his neck she saw sadness in his eyes, such pain as she has never seen since, and he did not meet her gaze. They went slowly in silence and saw no one. Once inside her bedroom Legolas laid her down on the bed. He sat on the edge next to her and finally met her eyes, which had been trying to catch his for minutes, and said, "Thank you, Calina." Calina smiled and said,
"What for Legolas? I simply helped you as you have helped me."
"You are too modest," was all he replied and he kissed her forehead and left her to rest. A servant entered to help her undress and get into bed, but she did not rest much. A pair of blue eyes was haunting her.
Sunlight was filling the room as she woke up finally. The smell of summer came in from outside and she wrinkled her nose. Calina had been moved to a different room. It was smaller, just her bed, a tables and a few chairs. One had been put by her bed. Someone had left their book open on the covers. Calina had been changed also and she was now in a plain white gown. Calina picked up the book and marked the page with a bookmark left on the chair. She moved to prop herself up with a pillow so she could sit comfortably in bed as the door opened and a healer walked in,
"Good, you are awake. How do you feel? Your wounds are healing nicely. They should be fully closed in another few days and we can take the bandages off. The Prince will be glad to know you are awake and well."
"What?" she said, she was totally confused. The healer was jabbering away and she really wasn't awake enough to listen. The door opened again and Legolas walked in. He smiled to see her awake and came and stood on the other side to the healer, next to the chair,
"I am glad you're awake Calina, I had almost finished my book." He smiled again and she felt that same sort of calming aura she had felt when she had first met him. The sun shone off his hair and the light reflected in his blue eyes. She noticed for the first time how beautiful he was. He was saying something to her and yet again all she could say was,
"What?" His laugh penetrated her ears.
"I can see you are not quite awake yet. Do not worry, it can wait." Calina used all her brain to form a sentence,
"I feel so tired and yet I must have slept for days judging by these cuts healing."
"It was six days my lady," said the healer, "but you must remain here for at least that time again. Your body was exhausted and it needs much rest." He left and Legolas took his seat by the bed. Calina sank back into the pillows behind her, sighing. Legolas was looking at her. He seemed undecided on something,
"Calina, I drew this while you were asleep. You looked so peaceful I had to capture the moment, well moments. Please, do not be angry." He handed her a piece of paper with a pencil drawing of her face on it. It was beautiful,
"I do not look like this," she said amazed at what was before her. It was the most flattering thing anyone had ever done for her,
"I just drew what I saw," he said with a shrug,
"It is amazing. I do not know what to say except thank you." Calina smiled and gave his hand, which was on the bed, a quick squeeze and then she had to look at the drawing again. She could not believe this was how he saw her.
"There is one more thing Calina. It is my father. He insists on speaking to all strangers to the Halls when they first arrive. He did not get to speak to you before. May I go and get him, if you do not mind?"
"I cannot refuse the king," she said neutrally. Legolas took this as an acceptance and left the room. Calina tried to straighten herself up, flatten her hair, make herself look respectable, but then she did not suppose she could have looked much worse than when he saw her last time. A few minutes later, there was knock on the door and Legolas entered with his father. Another chair was set opposite the other one and she was stuck between the two of them. Legolas removed his drawing from his father's sight as he sat down. Thranduil fixed his gaze on her and said,
"Legolas tells me you have been lost for some months."
"Yes your highness. I am not sure quite how long, but it was ever since the forest was attacked." Thranduil nodded and then said,
"I hear that you lived in Beechgrove. That must be a great tragedy for you. I am deeply sorry. You are free to stay here as long as you wish."
"I thank you, highness. I am in your debt and your son's for bringing me here, even if I was a bit reluctant at first." Legolas' face finally broke from the fixed, serious expression it had been during the interview to a soft smile. That relaxed her slightly, but she knew the question that was coming next and she did not want to answer it,
"And what were you doing in those months which have past?"
"I would rather not talk about it," she said as firmly and finally as she could manage and she looked down at the bed covers.
"Calina," Legolas reached out and touched her hand. He spoke softly and she looked at him, "Calina, you should tell us. It will go no further than father and myself, I promise." Calina looked desperately into his eyes,
"I cannot, please, do not make me. Please do not." Calina pleaded with him,
"No Calina you must." Legolas was firm. He took her hand in his, his fingers encasing her hand completely. She fought back the tears and looked once more into his eyes. Their confidence spread to her and told her story,
"When the orcs came we all left out flets and fled into the forest. They followed us quickly but I became separated from the others. I watched as they were led back to the village from the bushes. I could do nothing. I had no weapon of any kind. But some orcs found my scent and I had to run. I ran and ran paying no attention to where I was going. It could have been round and round in circles for all I knew. They followed me for days I think. All the time I kept on running or hiding for short whiles to get my breath back and eat a little. Sometimes I thought I had lost them, but they kept on coming. I ran from the forest hoping I could lose them in the sun, but after a few more days I was too tired and I just collapsed. They caught me and bound my hands and feet. That's what these marks are from," and she gestured to her wrists. Her ankles were underneath the sheets. "The band of orcs had become separated from the main armies and they decided it would be best to take me east to wherever their base was. We marched for many days and passed far into a land I did not know. I was their only prisoner. But as we went further and further towards the shadow lands it became clear to them that the Dark Tower had been destroyed. They did not know what to do, or where to go. They abandoned me in the wild and turned back. They mentioned the Misty Mountains and Moria, but were undecided as to where to go. However I followed them back and while they were resting I killed a couple with a knife they had put down and stole food and a pack. I had to flee from them again, but this time, they gave up after only a few hours. I was disorientated and utterly lost, but the sun was setting and I set off towards it, hoping that I would find my way back home. I hoped that someone had managed to help my family and friends, but it seems no one could reach them in time. I had been walking for days when Legolas and Gimli found me." Calina stopped, realising her throat had become dry. Thranduil was looking at her quizzically, and Legolas rubbed his thumb over her fingers, trying to comfort her. He spoke first,
"You had no pack when we found you. Or a knife."
"I had to leave them when I found I couldn't carry them anymore. I had left them three days before you met me, I think. I carried a little water, but I lost that somehow. I do not remember." They sat in silence for many minutes. Thranduil was deep in thought. He cleared his throat before saying,
"Calina you have been very brave for one so young. It appears the orcs you travelled with chose to go to the Misty Mountains. A band was killed by the northern borders of the wood a couple of days ago." He paused here. "Please rest now. Legolas will stay with you, if you want. I wish you a speedy recovery." He got up and left. Tears began to fall silently down her cheeks. The grief had been rekindled inside her. Legolas kissed her hand and then stood up to hug her. Calina cried into his shoulder, then she sniffed and said,
"Sorry, I keep crying on you."
"It is alright Calina. You have a lot to cry about, do not worry unnecessarily." He smiled at her.
"Legolas, I think I am going to sleep now. You do not need to stay. I am sure there are people here that want to see you returned home safe from war." He did not answer and stayed anyway.
She woke again later that day, about mid-afternoon. Legolas was there, his book closed and finished in front of him. He was simply watching her as she slept. His blue eyes questioned hers as soon as they opened, "I am alright," she reassured him, "I could do with some food though." He smiled and left the room for a moment to ask for some food. A bowl of soup was brought in to her, "You did not have to stay," she said to him between mouthfuls,
"On the contrary, my father asked me to make sure there was someone here when you woke up. Seeing as you do not know anyone else here I thought it best it be me."
"I do not wish to bother you."
"Calina, stop worrying about me and concentrate on getting better. Drink your soup."
She fell back to sleep again soon after she had eaten. Calina did not rest peacefully. The memories of the past months still haunted her. Several times she woke up in a cold sweat, shaking at what she had remembered. Legolas placed a cool cloth on her forehead and he whispered words of comfort in her ear, soft words that made her smile. Needless to say that when she finally awoke properly at dinnertime, she was greatly in debt to his kindness,
"Thank you Legolas for calming me when I slept." The only answer she got was a short gaze from his eyes. The bell for dinner rang, "You had best go."
"Only if you wish me to go."
"I would never wish you to go," she said shyly, "but I think your father might."
"As you will." He put down whatever he had been doing that afternoon and left the room. Calina was brought a small, plain dinner and she ate sitting at the table in her room, not in her bed. Calina had been determined to get up that day. Her legs were weak and tired and once she had sat down she had to wait several moments for the room to stop spinning and her vision to return to normal. Calina ate and felt the strength return to her limbs and a warmth spread through the dullness that had been there before. Calina picked up what Legolas had left in her room. It was a small scrap on parchment with the beginnings of a song written on it. It was not unusual to find elves writing music, but various lyrics caught her eye. It was the story of his time in Moria and the fall of Gandalf the Grey. His torment in the tunnels under the mountain must have been great, elves need to feel the Sun. After a verse, she put the parchment down and could read no more. Calina understood now why he and Gimli had refused to discuss it.
Legolas returned shortly and noticed her out of bed and his work had been moved. He sat opposite her and pulled the parchment towards him, "I am sorry Legolas. Your suffering must be great, you have seen many things since you left here."
"I do not want your pity Calina. I ask you only that they never speak of it again and you do not tell it to anyone."
"Of course, highness." An uncomfortable silence followed. Calina broke it first, "How is your father?"
"He is well and in good spirits, thank you. He asked to be remembered to you and to say that if there is anything you want you only have to ask."
"That is very kind. I have become deeply indebted to the royal family." Calina said solemnly. Legolas lifted his head and smiled,
"It is our pleasure."
They talked all evening. He told her about life in the palace and what it was like growing up the heir to the throne, not that he expected to ever be king. His father seemed determined to remain in Middle Earth till the end of the time of the elves. Calina had already told him much of her family, but he questioned her anyway, asking what her parents and friends did for a living, and what she did to help them. Calina told him they were carpenters making out living by creating furniture and selling it all over the forest and to the dwarves and men that her father and brother went to trade with. Calina was not allowed to go with them very often when they went to Dale or around the forest to sell their goods and buy whatever they needed.
Gradually over the days of her convalescence Legolas came less and less. His father had begun to give him jobs to do round the palace and Legolas returned to his archery practise. Her last day in the care of the Healers came and Legolas arrived early to see her. He brought with him several of his friends and she was introduced to Verlat and his sister Lineil, and Nithin and Mineta, Legolas' closest childhood friends, children of two of Thranduil's closest advisors. They were taking her first to her new room in the palace. Calina had already tried to argue against staying in the Halls with Legolas that week but he was having none of it. He said he wanted to keep an eye on her until they could be sure she was completely recovered, as it was his duty as a member of the royal family to watch over his father's subjects. His father had invited her to dine with the court that evening and she was to sit at the top table. Lineil and Mineta, therefore, had their work cut out trying to make her presentable that evening and give her a crash course in how to behave in front of the king. However, before any of that was to happen, they went for a picnic in one of the many gardens surrounding the palace.
She had not been outside for almost a fortnight and she was excited to see the sky again and to feel the grass beneath her feet. Calina would have run about laughing, but two firm arms were practically carrying her, Legolas on one side and Verlat on the other. The Healers had said she was perfectly capable of going about by day as normal so long as she did not go anywhere too fast, but Legolas was adamant that she did not tire herself out. They spent all afternoon outside. The five of them were exceptionally close friends, but they did not mind admitting another into their group. They all avoided talking of families, she thought at Legolas' instruction, and they talked of happier times and they teased Legolas mercilessly! By the end of the afternoon even she was joining in that. It was just too easy! Calina was just so happy to be amongst other elves again. She could derive so much inner peace from their good natures and contentment. Their serenity settled her nerves and calmed the grief and anger within her.
At about five o'clock Lineil and Mineta stood and helped her to her feet. It was time to get ready for dinner. They helped her slowly to her room and left her in the care of a servant to have a bath and wash her hair. Sinking into the waters was a lovely feeling she'd missed over the months. There is nothing like a good bubble bath. Afterwards Lineil and Mineta returned and brought her a dress to wear. She just had to look at it and know that it was a bad idea. Calina was essentially a country girl, she had no time for fancy dresses, especially ones as revealing and tight as the one before her. It took them several minutes to coax her into at least trying it on. It wasn't as tight as she thought it was going to be, just sitting comfortably on her skin and not showing how thin she had become too much. Calina turned to Mineta,
"I cannot wear this! Please Mini, do not make me."
"Calina, you are going to dinner as a lady of the court, a great honour, and this is how they are expected to dress. Do you have any other clothes to wear?" Unfortunately she had a point.
"But you are not dressed up this much." That stumped her for a second or two, but Lineil jumped in,
"Calina, it is wear this or go naked." She was defeated,
"Fine, I will wear this, but surely you cannot at least do something about this?" she pointed to the large expanse of chest that was on view,
"No," she said firmly, "That is how the dress is meant to be worn. It is the fashion these days." Calina was less than pleased to say the least. Then Mineta started playing with her hair as well, twisting it into different styles. That was quite enough and she stood up,
"Please, just leave my hair." And they finally decided to leave her alone. She stood to look at herself in the mirror. She was a thin remnant of how she remembered herself. Her arms had become thin and her legs too. Her cheekbones stood out more than she remembered and the same with her collarbone. As for what she was wearing, well, it was a dark purple robe with a low plunging neckline and a low back as well. She felt as if half her body was still exposed even wearing the dress. The top bodice tapered into a small waist which then flowed into a floor length skirt. It touched the ground and rustled as she walked. On her feet she had a pair of silken slippers. She had never touched anything as intricately woven. There were tiny little beads sewn all over it in the most amazing patterns. Her long blond hair cascaded down her back and looking back, despite her protestations, she did look good!
They left early to make their way to the dining hall. This meant she did not have to tire herself with walking quickly and she would not have to be embarrassed by limping in front of everyone. She would be stared at enough that night so she was thankful someone had thought this through enough to plan that. She was surprised to see Legolas, Nithin and Verlat already there. Lineil and Mineta had already instructed her on how to behave in the hall, but as she walked in she was not prepared for the sheer grandeur of the place. It was set between the bases of four of the largest trees in the forest, one at each corner, the lowest branches of the trees formed the roof and the entire floor was covered with the fallen blossom of the trees. It was breathtaking. Legolas hurried over as she admired her surroundings. He took her from the arms of the girls and offered her his own saying gallantly,
"My lady Calina, please allow me to escort you to your seat." she laughed at his formality, curtseyed and said,
"Why thank you your highness, I would be delighted," and she took his arm. Calina leaned heavily on him as they walked across the blossom-carpet room. "This is a wonderful room, Legolas. It is so beautiful."
"Yes this is the best time of year in here. they do not use it much after autumn, it's a bit cold with no roof." She nodded in reply, not really listening as she still took in the sights around her. Calina was seated next to Legolas at the table, only two seats down from the king. This was a great honour and she began to get nervous and fidget. Nithin laughed at her from a couple of seats down,
"Calina, there is nothing to be worried about. We are not going to be eating you. Relax." Calina smiled weakly back and started playing with her knife and fork. Legolas was stood behind her and reached over, resting his hands on top of hers,
"Calina relax and do not fidget about so much," he whispered into her ear. Before he took his hands away, she whispered to him,
"Legolas stop trying to look down my dress or I shall tell your father," and they both began laughing. Legolas stood up and said,
"I had not figured you to be a modest country girl Calina." Calina was about to make a scathing reply but the Hall had begun to fill and Thranduil's arrival was announced. As instructed she rose with everyone else and remained standing until he had sat down. Her legs began to shake before he'd even reached the table and Legolas reached an arm out to steady her. Calina noticed Lineil watching her and she smiled at her. She did not smile back and turned away.
As soon as Thranduil had sat down she practically fell into her seat. Very ungraceful and unladylike. The king turned his attention straight to me, "How are you feeling Calina? Legolas says you are much improved."
"Yes thank you your highness. I feel much better, but a little weak. I cannot stand for long or walk very far." He nodded and then turned to someone sitting on his left. Legolas gave her a quick run down on who was sitting at the table - Thranduil's brother, sister-in-law and their three children, Verlat and Lineil's mother and father, Nithin' father and Mineta's parents and her older sister. There were several advisors and nobles of the Halls. Altogether the table sat thirty. She ate slowly and in silence, she knew nothing of the conversations they were having or the people they spoke of. Calina was finally roused during dessert by the person sitting opposite me,
"Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Garin, nephew to the king and cousin to Legolas. Pray tell me, how did you come to be here in Halls?" Legolas cut in and said,
"Calina is here as a guest of myself and her father, Garin. That is all you need to know." His cousin looked at him strangely and said,
"Very well, I shall ask no more, but there are some very interested people in the Halls and some very interesting conjectures about your good self Calina and Legolas." Calina looked at Legolas not sure what to do, but he sighed and said,
"There is always conjecture about what I do and who I do it with. That is nothing new."
"Of course cousin, but these are particularly entertaining. My personal favourite is that you fell in love with Calina during your travels through Lothlórien and have persuaded her to come here and be princess of the realm." Calina almost choked on her food for laughing. That was the most ridiculous idea she had ever heard. Little did these people know she was merely a carpenter's daughter and they all probably owned bits of furniture made by her father, brother or even herself. Calina looked at Legolas as she tried to keep all her food in her mouth. His face wasn't laughing, it was stony. He turned to her and said,
"Calina, may we have your permission to announce your presence to the Hall?" Calina thought for a second, then nodded. It was a shame to stop the rumours, but Legolas didn't deserve to be the centre of such speculation. He leaned over to his father and whispered in his ear. Thranduil nodded and then rose. The Hall fell silent and he spoke,
"Friends, we have a special guest here tonight. May I present to you all Calina Birch of the Birches of Beechgrove, the renowned furniture makers. She is the only survivor of the atrocity there. She ended up in the wilderness many miles from home and had wandered for almost four months when my son found her in the lands near Erebor and brought her to the Halls almost a fortnight ago. She has suffered much and exhibited great courage and skill in survival. I wish her welcome to my Halls and bid her stay as long as she chooses." And he sat down.
The Hall then buzzed as people turned around to get a good look at her. Calina blushed and looked at her hands in her lap. Legolas leant over and said, "Sorry about father, he gets a bit carried away sometimes. Have you finished? Do you want to go?" Calina nodded desperately at him. Legolas stood up and helped her to her feet. Calina summoned up all her energy to carry herself out of the Hall and back to her room. She collapsed into a chair panting hard as Legolas let go of her. He fetched her a glass of water from her bathroom and she sipped it while she got her breath back. Eventually she had calmed down enough to say,
"I am not doing all that again in a hurry." Legolas smiled and said,
"You will not have to. They all know who you are now and you will just become another face at the high table." All she could say back was,
"Hmmm," and he smiled again and said,
"I had not connected you to the Birches of Beechgrove. You made wonderful furniture."
"I had not realised our work was so well known. We never seemed to have much money so I did not think our work was well received. I knew it was good. The number of times my father told me to redo some small bit of carving, well, he was a perfectionist."
"You worked as well?" Legolas was astonished,
"Yes. I did a lot of the intricate carving work following my father's designs of course. My fingers were smaller that his or any of my brothers so I could manoeuvre them better in the tight places. My mother used to do it as well, but she was blinded in an orc raid before I was born. She had a daughter to carry on her work." Legolas stood up and said,
"Let me show you something. I will carry you it is not far." He picked her up into his arms without her thinking and checking the corridor was clear ran quickly with her up some stairs and along several passageways until they arrived outside another room. Legolas put her down and opened the door, "This was my parents' bedroom before my mother died. Father does not use it now, but it has been kept the way she left it. The bed is by the Birches of Beechgrove." Calina walked inside and the four poster bed in the centre of the room immediately caught her attention. There were intricate carvings on ever post and pillar and the Greenleaf crest was carved into the headboard intermingling with another crest, which she presumed to belong to Legolas' mother. It was the most fascinating piece of carving she had ever seen. Calina checked the one place she knew her father would have signed his work, on the bottom of the front piece of the bed. Sure enough there it was along with the signature of her mother and the scrawled name of her eldest brother who must have only been a child when this was made.
"Oh Elbereth," she muttered under her breath, sitting back against the bed she spoke to Legolas, "This was done by my father, mother and my eldest brother when he was a child. It must be thousands of years old."
"It is." Legolas looked sad,
"Do you remember your mother?" she asked,
"Yes, the memory has never faded even though she died when I was very young and many seasons have been and gone." He smiled through his sadness at some distant memory then said, "After she died I used to come and sit in this bed and make up stories about all the images carved into the bed. Mother used to tell me stories about them at night if I would come in scared by the storms. Father would usually just grumble about being woken up and turn over, but Mother would stay awake until I had fallen asleep again." Calina reached up to him standing in front of her and took his hand to bring him comfort as he had done her. He had seen so much sadness in his relatively short lifetime for elves. Calina stroked his fingers, kissed his knuckles once and then held his hand. They must have been like that for a long time because the room became noticeably darker as the candles went out one by one. They clung to each other for the support they needed with their grief.
Eventually Legolas flexed his fingers and they were both brought back from their thoughts. He said nothing and neither did she. Legolas simply bent down and picked her up. As she wrapped her arms around his neck she saw sadness in his eyes, such pain as she has never seen since, and he did not meet her gaze. They went slowly in silence and saw no one. Once inside her bedroom Legolas laid her down on the bed. He sat on the edge next to her and finally met her eyes, which had been trying to catch his for minutes, and said, "Thank you, Calina." Calina smiled and said,
"What for Legolas? I simply helped you as you have helped me."
"You are too modest," was all he replied and he kissed her forehead and left her to rest. A servant entered to help her undress and get into bed, but she did not rest much. A pair of blue eyes was haunting her.
