Disclaimer: I only worship the genius Tolkien, nothing more…
Chapter 6
The Tour
Good to know everyone heeds my warnings. Long story involving rebellions that sorta sprang unbidden from the mind of this slightly quirky (or deranged) gal. But I can't talk about it right now…they're watching. J
Internet hugs and strawberries *yummy!* to reviewers and readers.
Italics - thoughts
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Em left the room but only after shooting Amothien a death glare. The two figures stood facing each other in the eerily silent passage.
"Greetings, Milady. How does this morning find you?" Legolas went into a low bow and, after rising, offered Em his arm.
"Hi...I'm peachy…and yourself?'' said the bemused Em as she stared at Legolas arm
"I am in good health, thank you. Shall we begin the tour I promised you..''
''I guess…" still staring at Legolas' arm, which was quickly lowered when he realized she was not accepting it.
Silence lay in the wide gap between the elf and the girl as they tread down the empty corridor. Em took this opportunity to gaze with awe at some of the magnificent paintings that hung from the wall, while she noted but pretended to miss the curious glances Legolas sent her way as Em's eyes grew wide at the beautiful stories depicted before her eye's
''Is there any place you're curious to see?'' inquired Legolas as he looked down at the girl by his side.
"Got a video games room in this fortress?'' Em asked, only half-joking as she and Legolas started down yet another lengthy passageway
"I am unsure. What is a video?'' The perplexed prince answer
''Never mind."
"We do have an extensive library, if you are in search of entertainment. "
"That'll be the first time I've heard the words entertainment and library been said in the same sentence by someone I'm not friends with.''
"We are not friends?" but Em didn't hear Legolas' whispered question
Legolas chuckled softly, with a hint apprehension, and led the girl towards a large double door with odd carvings on its polished surface. "This is the main banquet hall. Dinner is to be held in here tonight, so we need not spend hours in this room."
Legolas led Em around the room, as she followed a few feet behind.
"Do you wish to see the Gallery? You seemed to show interested in the art work in the hall." Asked Legolas as he turned his head to face Em, slightly shocked by how far behind she was.
At the mention of artwork and gallery Em's face visually brightened but her tone remained the same as she answered
"Sure."
Legolas led Em down an endless stream of corridors and passageways she was sure she wouldn't remember.
Finally stopping at a red, velvet curtain hung in an arc on one of the corridors. Legolas reached down and pulled the heavy curtain aside, and waited for Em to cross the threshold and then quickly followed pursuit.
The pair walked in utter silence as they moved slowly down a corridor around a center hall with a waterfall centerpiece, surrounded by pictures, sculptures and other works of art that surpassed the intricate beauty and wonder of any that Em had ever seen or heard of on Earth.
"Why isn't anyone else here?" asked a puzzled Em as she noticed the lack of any one other then herself and Legolas.
"This place is out of the way. Not many come here except to think or their hearts are trouble and they seek serenity and solitude." Legolas voice said from right behind her.
"O." Em said trying to not appear startled at how silently he had crept up on her "How'd you do that."
"Do what, milady?"
"Sneak up on me?"
"Elves make very little sound or none at all when they walk. I am truly sorry if I startled you, it was not my intention."
"S'ok." Em said thoroughly creeped out by the new piece of information she had just received. "Any other places we should see.
"A few today. There are many sights in Mirkwood."
Legolas and Em left the Gallery, but not before Em looked at the place one more time and thought "I'II be back here." and continued down more corridors.
"Praise the heavens, more corridors. Watch me do the dance of joy…what's that door led to?''
"What puzzles you Milady?" requested Legolas as he noticed the look on Em's face.
"Where's that go to?" Em inquired as she pointed her hand towards a door in the corner of the hall.
"That doorway leads to the dungeon. A place you never need know or visit, Milady." The prince stated as he guided Em in another direction.
"There's a dungeon? Like a dank, dark, gloomy dungeon." Em tried to find out but was just continued to be hustled along by Legolas until they stopped in front of a pair of doors.
"Here is the main library."
The duo entered into a huge, no massive, room covered from the floor to the top of the high ceilings with leather bound books.
"The collection is mainly historical or travel related." Legolas' words fell on deaf ears as Em stared at the amount of books one room could hold.
"Maybe this dream ain't so evil, and Sam says, said, said I wasn't really creative…" murmured Em
"What was that you just said?" questioned Legolas even though he had heard every word perfectly.
A deep crimson blush quickly spread on Em's checks. "What? No, nothing, I didn't say a word."
"Yes." Legolas answered but remained skeptical.
Em soon began wandering around the room, which was much vaster then it had at first appeared.
Legolas casually took a slightly dusty, book from one of the racks near the door and sat down on a comfy looking chair, but only pretended to read as he instead kept his eyes fixed on the girl in front of him.
Hours passed and Em and long since disappeared into the stalls of books. The room was silent except for the odd sound of light footfall. The calmness was broken as Amothien entered the library.
"Prince, my apologizes for interrupting, but the dinner will be starting in little over an hour and half, so my lady must prepare. Where is my lady?" Amothien asked as she looked around for any trace of Em.
"I'm here." Em called out as her head, only, appeared from behind a book shelve.
"We have to leave now." Amothien instructed as she walked over to Em and commenced walking, with her arms linked to Em's, to the door, after curtsying to Legolas.
"You must be presentably for the dinner. It will be small, but not as small as last nights dinner was." Amothien began talking about the events that would be taking place that evening, but Em quickly tuned her out and placidly followed her down the halls pondering what the rest of the elves would be like, and when she would wake up…
More to come soon.
Why not review if you read down this far, even if you want to say how bad it is, or you liked it, maybe even report sightings of strangely clad ducks or strangely hatted pigeons, perhaps even Dancing Mongolian War Lord Goldfish.
Yes I have eaten a dangerously large amount of pure sugar…he he
FEAR DANCING MONGOLIAN WAR LORD GOLDFISH!!!
ImpC