The Red Elf

Chapter 10: Condemning the Future

          Azure woke up early the next morning; thoroughly surprised she'd been able to get to sleep in the first place. She lifted herself from her bed gingerly, and did her best to tame two weeks of untouched hair. She wanted her appearance to be reflective of her stature today. It took some time, but in the end she looked at least half decent.

          Instead of attending breakfast, she set of to find Galadriel. Her stomach was in knots as she searched, she was beyond nervous. She barely had time to take in the scenery as she strove to new lengths to find Lorien's great rulers. Before Azure knew it she was lost. For some reason very time she didn't know which way to go, there would be no one around to help her. 'Typical.' She thought negatively. Azure wandered around aimlessly, trying to enjoy the beauty of the Mallorn trees, which towered high above her, as well as keep her head clear of her annoying thoughts. At that moment there was a light tap at her shoulder. Azure turned around and smiled at seeing Legolas behind her.

          "Azure," he started. "There is something I need to tell you…"

          "Please wait," she interrupted. "I need to find Lady Galadriel first, there is something very important that I must tell her."

          "Then indeed you are in luck for I have just seen her. I will take you there." Legolas nodded in the opposite direction and began to lead Azure away. He guided her up the staircase that she had first climbed the day she arrived in Lothlorien. To Azure that felt like an eternity ago, so much had happened since then. At the top, three stood awaiting them. The Lord and Lady still dressed as elegantly as the ever, and another older man, whom Azure had not seen before. He too was dressed all in white, and both his hair and beard also gleamed of the same purity. The three of them side by side seemed a force to be reckoned with. They bowed their heads to Legolas, and he departed.

          "We have been awaiting your arrival." Celeborn spoke first, beckoning Azure forward. She complied, taking a few steps away from the landing, and towards them. "You have not met our dear friend," He gestured toward the man Azure didn't know. "You may call him Gandalf. He is one of the istari, and the best to ever wander these lands."

          "An istar?" Azure questioned. She recalled Legolas mentioning it, but she had not asked him what it was.

          "A wizard, my dear." Gandalf said, a smile in his eyes. It seemed to calm the anxiety caught up inside her.

          "Oh…." Galadriel then took this opportunity to bring the conversation 'back to business'.

          "Have you made your decision?" Galadriel asked softly.

          "I have."

          "Then there is no doubt in your mind that you have made the right decision?"

          "…None."

          "Let us hear it then."

          "I have decided," Azure paused; she couldn't believe this was happening. "I cannot accept; I cannot be the ruler of Lothlorien. I am sorry." Galadriel looked up to the sky. Gandalf turned to Celeborn and nodded, the smile still lingering in his eyes.

          "By the eve," Celeborn began. "The power of Nenya will diminish." Galadriel looked back at Azure.

          "Very well, it is as we expected. Now you must go and do what you have left undone."

          "What?" Azure didn't understand, but they would not answer, they bid her away.

          Azure took her time going down the steps. She paid attention to them, not feeling she had much to worry about anymore. At the end of her trek down the silver steps, Azure noticed Legolas had been patiently waiting for her at the bottom. He was squatting near the ground, his eyes fixated on something Azure couldn't see.

          "Azure… are you quite all right?" he asked, looking up at her footsteps. Azure swept a loose strand of hair behind her ear; it was a nervous habit.

"Yes, thank you." She replied quietly. As Legolas stood, a soft breeze blew between them gently rustling their hair and clothing. "Was there something you wanted to tell me?" Legolas was about to respond when Haldir stepped into the scene. He bowed his head briskly to the pair, and Legolas and Azure did so in return.

"Do excuse," Haldir said passing them and heading up the stairs without pausing for reply. Legolas smiled.

"Let us find a less busy place to converse." Azure nodded and allowed him to escort her away.

They hadn't walked very far before they reached a more secluded area behind the leafy veil of an old willow tree. Little fireflies danced around the tree's trunk like playful faeries, creating an altogether magical atmosphere.

"Azure, I…" Legolas paused unsure of what to say. Azure remained silent, waiting for him to continue. "You see, I have a loyalty to my home, Mirkwood, and to my father… and maybe even to your father." He paused once more. "So, I…." He was cut short again, but this time not because of an awkward pause, or a thought he couldn't quite express in words. An arrow had scraped the ground not a foot to his left. Legolas grabbed the arrow from its place in the ground.

"Orc arrows? This cannot be!" he exclaimed. "Come!" Legolas grabbed Azure's hand and they dashed out from the tree's security. More arrows struck the ground at their heels as the raced to their lodging tree. The Lorien elves rushed by them towards the oncoming threat; bows aloft. The two hurried up the stairs towards Azure's room, however before Legolas could usher her inside her room she turned about to see the commotion. Left, right and centre elves had gathered, most with bows and the rest with drawn swords. There they were, fighting the most hideous creatures Azure had ever seen, the same ones that had appeared to her in the mirror, and a thought that had crossed her mind before. Overcome with repulsion of such a great magnitude she hardly had time to notice the arrow heading straight for her. Legolas called her name, noticing it at the last moment. Azure snapped from her reverie and made eye contact with the incoming weapon, just in time to pull her head out of it's path. But her sudden movement caused her balance to falter, and before Legolas could grab her she had toppled backwards over the rail.

Azure's head throbbed, as she tried to lift it from the ground, but to no avail. As her head swam in and out of consciousness she was able to recognise the faces of William and Amariel and a chorus of "Azure!"s and "Are you all right?"s, before she blanked out completely.