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Amothien led Em around the magnificent hallways towards the dinning room where the dinner would be held.
''Come on now. I promise you will have a chance to stare at the palace and the rest of kingdom another time. But right now we must attend dinner.'' Implored Amothien as she dragged Em away from her gaze at a exquisite sculptures decorating the walls of the hallway.
''I'm coming! I'm coming! No need to drag me.'' drawled Em.
The pair walked quickly down the seemingly never-ending hallways, stopping several times to look at something or other, until Amothien came to a stop outside two large oak doors with gold patterns on them.
''Don't be nervous. It will go just fine, and then you will find out some answers. You look fine. It will be fine, just fine.'' Amothien said, rather nervously, as she straighten Em's gown and gave her a once over.
''There, perfect. Let us enter.''
Amothien reached over and turned the handle on the heavy door and pushed them forward. Amothien entered the room with Em in tow. Three people were already present in the room. An middle aged person, or it could have been an elf, in long flowing robes at the top of the table. The old man, the wizard, Em and seen early, on the elf's left. On the middle aged elf's right was another elf, much younger and quite handsome, who flashed a cheeky grin at Em as she gazed wide-eyed around. Amothien had already dropped into a curtsey by the time Em had finished looking at the other people present, then realizing her mistake, quickly dropping into a slightly rusty curtsey as well.
''We apologize for being late, your highness.'' Amothien said in her curtsey and then rose, as did Em.
''Ooh, it is quite alright. We came earlier then we had planned to, so it was no fault of yours.'' The elf at the head of the table said, regally, as he waved his hand in the air, as though he was brushing the incident away. '' Please take your seats.'' He continued as he indicated towards two chairs, one on the left the other on the right.
Amothien and Em quickly went to their sides. Amothien beside the wizard, Em beside the younger elf. Before anyone had a chance to speak some servants entered the room with trays of food they put on the table and in front of each person, before, silently, leaving the room again.
''She will come to my study after dinner.'' The older elf said to Amothien. Em was not impressed that he had said ''she'' to Amothien instead of ''you'' to her. She was about to say something when Amothien kicked her lightly under the table and gave her a look saying ''do you like your head on your shoulders.''
The dinner passed in total silence, Em barely picked at her food. She occasionally glanced up to see if she could tell if the others present were all elves are just Amothien and the elf beside her. She came to the conclusion that the old man wasn't an elf, but the bloke at the head of the table was.
Soon the sun had completely set and with it the delicious dinner came to an end.
''I will see you in a few moments.'' Spoke King Thranduil as he stood up and glided out of the room with the old man beside him. Em had decided that the old man bore an uncanny resemblance to her late grandfather. She noted that the older elf had said ''you'' instead of ''she'', making Em think that he perhaps had seen her look of annoyance from earlier in the dinner. She grinned sheepishly at the thought. The younger elf stood up and followed the older elf, which Em believed was his father.
''That went just splendidly, didn't it? Yes it did. Now come on, you were called to the Kings study.'' Amothien chirped as she stood up and led Em out of the room, who, by now, was utterly silent, the nervousness finally setting in on her.
Amothien led Em down another set of beautiful hallways, but this time Em did not stop to admire anything on the walls.
''Why has an unearthly silence descended upon you, little one?'' questioned Amothien as she watched her young friend fidget with her sleeves and gown.
''Ooh, nothing much. I'm just in some new dimension without MTV or cinema. About to talk to the ruler of one of the ''realms''. And of course what would a other world be without a wizard. Ooh yeah, and elves exist. Have I mentioned I have a sneaking suspicion that this is just a sugar-high day dream, and that I'm really in my English class sitting beside Colm and Sam…'' Em stopped mid-sentence and continued walking on.
Amothien follow after here and then gently grabbed her arm. ''This is the King's study.'' She stopped Em in front of a pair of tall, dark doors.
''Gulp'' Em said out load as she stared at the doors ''Breath. Breathing is good. Breathing is your friend…''
While Em was in her daze Amothien pulled open one of the doors and scooted Em through the door. Em stumbled slightly into the brightly lit room. Two people were sitting down on chairs, King Thranduil and the wizard Gandalf, and when they saw her enter beckoned her to sit on the third chair in the room.
''Hello child. How did you find the meal?'' asked Gandalf
''It was nice. Why am I here?'' Em asked immediately
Both men laughed softly at her rashness.
''You are here, child, because the cry of pain and suffering from your heart could be heard in this world. We decided, myself with the counsel of others including King Thranduil here, that one with a heart so pure should not suffer in such great pain…'' the wizard answered.
''And?'' Em asked, making arm movements for him to continue.
''And, with the grace of Eru, we were able to bring you here. To Middle Earth. With the path you were headed on back on Earth, well, only heartbreak, weeping, and death were there for you.'' The wizard finished
''So, YOU decide, WITHOUT MY PERMISSION, that it would be best for me to be brought through NOTHING into a world with creatures I know nothing about, instead of my HOME.'' Em said getting quite angry with all that had been done to her.
''Yes.'' The wizard answered simply as he took out a pipe and commenced smoking it. The abruptness of the answer made the girl become dumbfound.
''You are welcome to remain in these woods for as long as you wish.'' The King said, for the first time that night. ''Do you have any questions I could answer for you?''
''Emm…no, no it's alright.'' The girl replied, her eyes slightly glazed over.
''Ooh, well if you ever do, or you need something, please don't hesitate to ask. Either one of us, or my son, would be pleased to help you in anyway.'' The King said
''That it?'' the girl asked in the same far away manner, as all the facts settled in.
''Yes, I believe so. Unless you do have a question. You should retire for the night you seem to be very tired from your ordeal.'' The wizard answered
''Nope. No questions.'' Em said as she got up and made her way to the door.
Amothien was waiting outside the door for her. ''Well, was that helpful? You must be tired. You should retire for the evening.'' Amothien began leading the dazed girl back to her room.
Em was in a world of her own, as she followed a few feet behind Amothien, not taking any heed of her surroundings. Suddenly Em was broken out of her world as she seemed to collide with something, possible a wall, and she started falling backwards until a pair of strong arms caught her around her waist. Em had her eyes shut tight, bracing herself for the fall, until she heard a soft chuckle, looking up she saw the elf, the Prince, from dinner, holding her to stop her from falling with the same cheeky grin on his face.
''Sorry, I think I bumped into ya. Thanks for catchin' me'' Em said in a quiet, embarrassed voice, as she stood up straight again.
''It was no problem. Em? I believe that is your name, is it not?'' asked the Prince
'' Yeah…and you are?'' Em said trying to make small talk.
''Legolas Greenleaf at your service milady.'' Legolas said as he stooped into a bow.
''Nice to meet you.''
'' You are new here, are you not? Would you like me to give you a tour of the palace tomorrow.''
''I don't want to trouble ya.''
''It is quite alright. It would be no trouble at all.''
''No thanks, I'm sure I'd just bother you.''
''No, it would be my pleasure.'' Insisted Legolas
''I'm sure you have other more important things to do.''
''I think showing you around would be considered important.''
''I don't.''
By now Amothien had stopped and realized her charge was not following her but apparently arguing with a Prince. She waited patiently for a while, but being a not very patient elf, walked over and ended the debate.
''She would be delighted to accompany you on a tour of the palace, tomorrow.'' Amothien butted in, despite the look of shock on Em's face
''At what time?'' questioned Legolas.
''At around noon.'' Answered Amothien
''I don't think so…'' Em began
''Noon will be fine.'' Replied Legolas
''But…'' Em tried again
''Grand. Goodnight Prince Legolas.'' Amothien said as she turned and dragged Em down the hall with her, to her bedroom. Opened the doors to the room and directed Em in.
''Come now, you must get some sleep. You are having a tour of the palace after all tomorrow.'' Amothien smiled as she left Em to get some sleep.
Next chapter soon.
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