"…but I don't need anyone in the first place. I'm fine on my own,"
"You'll need someone to lead they way and just be there is case anything happens." "If anything were to happen Legolas, it would need take then just one person to fight for me. It'll be a wastage of our lives." Legolas shrugged, "Then we'll have to bring others along Joari. Others that can fight and look out for your safety." "Just hold your breathe a minute Legolas, since when was there a 'we'? Aren't there already supposed to be people around to 'take care' of me? Like, people whom I can ditch easily?
"Lady Joari, don't even think about it. You'll find that elves are not fools should you try anyway," Gandalf called out, rather amused at the tirade between the two. Watching them had been the most entertaining half-an-hour he'd had all day. "Wha–?" oh damn, don't tell me he can read my thoughts? "What are you talking about Gandalf? I'll never believe that elves are fools after I've come here." He chuckled, "Well, then you wouldn't even consider running away from them would you?" Legolas looked at her astonished expression, and started laughing. "Hey! Don't you know that its rude to blurt out what others are thinking!?" She was ready to launch into another squabble when Elrond exasperatedly stepped in. "It is decided then, Lady Joari, that you feel greater safety in numbers? Then by all means, you will leave as soon as you want, else you will never get there." Joari recognized the subtle threat when she heard one, and since she didn't know exactly where she stood with the elf king, quickly decided not to push her luck. She was pissed, but there was nothing she could do about it.
She smiled sweetly. "Well, then, I must take my leave. I would like to leave at dawn tomorrow. If you want to send people along with me, I suggest to tell them to start packing now," she executed a graceful curtsy, "So Legolas, you joining me or not?" Turning on her heels, she walked out of the room. Legolas looked to Elrond, who nodded his consent. When the blonde archer had left, the two went back to their seats, "What tells me that Legolas has left himself into something much more then he can chew?" The wizard leisurely lit his pipe, as Elrond shrugged, "He's is well equipped to handle her, spirited as she is. I must admit though, it is interesting that anyone, more so a human girl, would oppose me as much as she did. Not even Arwen would display her displeasure if she had anything to be unhappy about. But now the question is: Who would I send?"
Smoking his pipe, Gandalf's eyes crinkled into a smile, "Why, the fellowship of course."
Elrond thought for a moment, before calling for a messenger. "Pass a message to the members of the fellowship, as well as my daughter and Lady Joari. Tell them they are to start packing for the wedding, and that they are to meet in this library at dinnertime. Tell the kitchen that our dinners will be served here."
***~~~~~***
Joari walked on, knowing that Legolas would follow. But the fast-flowing movement of the elves was disorientating her, and before she knew it, she was, yup, lost again. I hate this! it happened every time. She would continually get lost in a new place until she memorized it like a map, yet with her already lousy sense of direction, that didn't help when she got disorientated. She had no choice. She stopped until Legolas had caught up. "Okay, I need help now." He paused, "Are you angry at me?" she pouted, "I was. But I couldn't stay mad at you for along time. Anyway, I need you to guide me around don't I? BUT!" she became mock-serious, "you need to be punished." Legolas smiled, god, he is SO gorgeous "and how what would you propose to be my punishment, lady?" "you deserve… to be hugged to death!" she turned and squeezed him as hard as she could. Legolas would have laughed if the air wasn't like, forced from his lungs. (A/N: Nooo!!! Don't kill Legolas, Joari! He isn't copyrighted to me!) She released her grip, (A/N: Good Girl!) "there, just try to be a smart alex again and you'll be in far more trouble than this, you hear me, Legolas?" she looked up, and blushed to see Legolas looking tenderly at her. "Eck," she untangled herself from him.
"Now we can get going." "where to?" "Well, I– " Just then, an elf came up to them, bowing, he said, "Prince Legolas, Lady Joari. Lord Elrond asks that you begin packing for the wedding, and requests that you go to the library for dinner tonight." Joari rolled her eyes, " He 'asks' and 'requests' eh? I guess that means I can refuse to go can't I?" The messenger looked horrified, but Legolas cut-in, "Tell Lord Elrond that we've received his message, and that we'll be there. Thank-you," the flabbergasted messenger quickly bowed, before running from the scene. "You shouldn't have done that," Legolas lightly admonished her, "I'll keep that in mind the next time it happens k? Most likely I'll be meeting the people who are coming along tonight. Damn. He really managed to get people at such short notice?", she became silent, thinking about something.
"Legolas, can you hail me a messenger? Someone to help me pass a message?" With little difficulty, Legolas managed to engage the service of a runner. "Tell, er, lore-apprentice Trester that Joari would like to meet him tonight at the library for dinner. Hint that he would like to start packing his bags for the wedding as well." "Is there all, milady?" " That's about it. I'm Joari by the way, describe me if he asks."
"Why did you say that?" "Huh? You mean the last bit? Just in case he's forgotten me of course." She looked down at herself, "Though its unlikely that he'll recognize me in this clothing now." "Lady Joari, no one can forget who you are," she shrugged and turned away, hiding the blush on her cheeks. Yeah, sometimes I wish they would forget though
***~~~~~***
Somehow, they'd managed to reach her door without more delay. At her insistence, he left to pack, and at Araya's insistence that she pack for her, Joari was left with nothing to do until dinner. Going out again would mean getting lost, adding one more headache today. "Araya, are you free for dinner tonight?" "Why?" "I was wondering if you could join me for dinner tonight." "I would be glad to, now go get some rest. We've only got an hour or so then." The extra sleep in the morning had warped her biological clock, and the last time she felt like doing was sleeping. So she went out and sat on the railing. There was a slight breeze that made the temperature bearable, and she sat, leaning against the wall, watching a bunch of elf children playing. It was quite troubling to think that the youngest there would be at least twice her age. That was one thing about the elves she couldn't get over, the fact that they were immortal. They are so perfect, it gets a little lonely just looking up to them she let her mind wonder, Like look at Legolas and Araya. They're thousands of years old, yet they still look so youthful
Time passed quickly, and before she knew it, Araya was at her side. "Joari, we'd better get ready for the dinner. We should leave soon," Joari blinked herself outta her trance. "Araya, what's being an elf like? To watch everything wither away and die?" she couldn't help being so blunt; when she was dazed, things like that happened. "Joari, it is hard to watch the passing of many things" Hmmm, that was what Legolas said too "But there are many things to live for; to live for the people you love and the people that love you. There's always joy in that Joari was on an alert now, "Araya! Are you in love with someone? Like, are you in a BGR?" Araya looked at her, puzzled, "BGR? No, but I am married." Joari couldn't believe her ears, "You!? No offense or anything, but how old are you?" Araya smiled at Joari's shocked response, "I am a little over 200 years old Joari." "200 years… isn't that kinda young for you to get married?" "Not at all, the usual age is around 100 actually." "100!" Then what about Legolas? Isn't he like thousands of years old? Does that mean he's gotten married already?
"Elves marry for love Joari, that's what keeps for eternity." A knock on the door sounded before she could say anything. Array smiled, "Looks like we are expected already. You look lovely as you are Joari, so let's go." Joari nodded, and as it was a little chilly, grabbed a sweater as she stepped out.
"Hey Legolas. I'm bring Araya along tonight." Araya looked between the couple, and shook her head, "No Joari, I best be going." Joari motioned as if to protest, but to Legolas' surprise, she didn't. "Okay then, see you." She waved as Araya walked towards to opposite direction. "What's wrong? I thought that you would surely persuade her to come." Joari replied a little sourly, "Ya, I was intending to. But I just found out something that's made me think twice. I refuse to let her come along now because she's married. It would just be too sad if anything did happen along the way, I love her too much for anything to happen." "I see," they walked, their footsteps lightly thudding against the ground. "Are you married Legolas?"
"No," Legolas shook his head. "Hey Legolas! Over here!" Someone called from behind. They turned to see the hobbit foursome behind them, together with Gimli. They caught up with the couple, "Why lady Joari, I didn't recognize you. If didn't know better, I would say that you were an elf." Gimli remarked. She smiled sweetly, coating her words with icing, "The same with you, dwarf. Why I'd almost mistaken you for one of our fine hobbit friends here," Gimli looked like he was going to explode on her remark, but couldn't when she said, "But I guess that's a compliment isn't it? Hobbits are such nice folks!" he swallowed, counted to ten in elvin (Anger management: Courtesy of Legolas), and having gotten stuck at four, decided to let the matter go. He gruffly agreed, more to appease Legolas who was beginning to look worried. But what he wasn't prepared for was Joari suddenly hugging him in a death grip, "Oh Gimli! You're so fun to tease! It's moments like these I live for!" she let go and started laughing in the most unladylike manner. Gimli blinked, then joined her in laughter, "Anytime, Lady, anytime at all." Merry and Pippin as usual had no clue about what was going on, and started clamoring, "Hey! Why are you laughing?" Frodo was just silent, but smiling as well, while Sam was muttering, "Gone of their rockers straight I tell you, can't make no sense out of it."
When they'd all calmed down, Joari realized that Legolas was gone. "Hey, where did Legolas go?"
***~~~~~***
-Quotable Quote-
"Love is perhaps the only glimpse
we are permitted of eternity."
-Helen Hayes
That's another chapter done. So what does everyone think? Review! (hmph, to those people who hound me to update, please review as well! =P you know who you are! *ahem*socks*ahem* but to the reat, you've been terrific so far! Yeah!!! Thanks everyone!!! R&R!
