Disclaimer: I've wrote this all before…
Chapter 7
The Dinner.
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Em's Room
"There! Just right. You look a vision, and just in time too." Amothien complemented as the chime of three sweet sounding bells echoed throughout the castle letting the elves know the dinner would be served soon. After much pleading Amothien had gotten Em to wear a long black gown with the much peculiar sleeves she had ever seen, paired with a stone that Em believed to be an onyx stone due to the dark black colour.
"What will the dinner be like?" Em said quietly as she fiddled with her sleeves.
"Much the same as the dinner last night except more elves, not many more but still more all the same. Don't fiddle with that! It is perfect the way it was so let it be." Scolded Amothien as she removed Em's hand from the right sleeve. " Let us go now you and I."
The elf maiden and the girl with a scowl on her face left the room and made there way down the corridors to the main banquet hall.
King Thranduil's Study
"There is something that worries me Father. Something is bothering the girl. I do not know what but she…" Legolas said as he paced up and down his father's study as his father looked on
"Legolas, my son, allay thy worries what is it that makes you so sure something is troubling the poor girls mind?"
"She said something in the main library, when I was taking her on the tour of the palace this morning. She mentioned a name…Sam, yes that is what I heard. Then she corrected herself for some reason, first she said 'says' then she corrected herself and said 'said' instead." He said as he continued to pace
"Hmm." The King pondered
"That is not all that is bothering me, something else is unsettling me, the way she acts towards most people she has encountered, and she is awfully skinny…" Legolas finally stopped pacing and looked at his father who was in deep thought.
"Gandalf mentioned little of her past excepted it might return to her…I must consult him on this matter soon rather then later. " Thranduil thought aloud, forgetting of Legolas' keen ears.
"What of her past? Why would it concern her present?" asked Legolas upon hearing his father's mumblings
"No concern of her past is to you. She is not your worry. Myself and Gandalf will solve any problem that you might believe has arose." The King said as he dismissed his son.
"What of her past Father?"
"No concern is it of yours about her past." Replied Thranduil
"Father what of her past? Why are you so closed on the subject? What is hidden from me about her?" demanded Legolas
"I have answered you." Thranduil rose from his chair. His voice rose at his son.
"My King, the dinner is being served." A Paige entered and bowing after having delivered his message left the room.
"Why will you not tell me then? Why did you bring her hear?" Legolas turned back to face his father as the Paige left.
"Em was brought her under the guidance of myself and Mithrandir, not under your guidance. Her past is hers alone and I will not divulge what is not of your concern to you. I have made myself clear now depart. I will follow soon." Thranduil said as his voice finally lowered, but the tone of angry could still be made out
"As you wish it." Legolas grudgingly said as he bowed and left.
The Main Banquet Hall
Sweet music played softly in the room as a small group of around 45 elves stood chatting quietly in their melodious voices in small groups around the beautiful hall, as some elves placed delicious foods on the table in the center of the hall. Amothien and Em entered through the doors Em and Legolas had entered earlier that day. Several elves looked up to see who the new arrivals were, but most quickly returned to their own conversations.
All the elves present that night wore beautiful gowns and clothes that only helped enhance their already inherited elvish good looks and grace. Em soon began to feel out of place among all the elves in their splendor and charm, and began fiddling with her gown, brushing away invisible bits of dust and creases.
"What are you doing?" asked an amused Amothien
"Hm!?!" Em looked up startled, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "I'm just…nothing." Em stuttered attempting to look innocent, falling short.
Amothien could only laugh at Em. "You look fine. There is no need to be nervous. So stop fiddle with your gown." Amothien said the last part like a mother scolding a small child.
Em quickly placed her hands behind her back and looked back at Amothien. "What is going to happen at the dinner away?" she asked but before Amothien could reply King Thranduil entered with Legolas close behind and all present walked gracefully to their seats at the table. Em was sitting next to Amothien who turned and whispered to her as they were sitting. "Dinner, and then some light dancing."
King Thranduil rose majestically and greeted all those present and called for the meal to begin. The meal was filled with quiet chatter from some groups at the tall, but Em remained deathly silent as she move the food around on her plate. Nervously stealing glances at the strange new elves all around her. Soon enough the meal was finished and waltz like music swarmed the banquet hall as many elves began gliding effortlessly across the polished marble floor, while the table was cleared.
King Thranduil and a small group of elves sat in one corner of the room discussing some matter. Legolas and the King speaking to each other.
"I am going to ask Lady Em for a dance. That is if I have your permission, your highness." Legolas said politely, but resentfully to his father.
"Yes you may, but you need not ask my permission for that. You should not be angered with me for not telling you of Lady Em's past, it is not mine to tell."
"I will find out on my own then." The stubborn prince said as he left the group of elves and went over to were he saw Em and Amothien sitting by themselves.
Amothien and Em were currently sitting on some chairs, Em's eyes firmly on her hands that were placed on her knees, which had suddenly appear to become exceedingly interesting.
"Why are you so quiet?" Amothien said eventually as Em did not speak.
"Nothing, not nervous, nope nothing. " Em mumbled
Amothien laughed softly at her nervous friend "If you want to retire, I am sure King Thranduil would not mind." She suggested.
"You sure? I don't really think I exactly fit in here…" Em muttered, while a look of hope at getting out of the hall sprung into her eyes.
A cough broke the two out of their conversation. They both turned their heads to the interrupter. Legolas smiled down on the two ladies and offered his hand to Em politely asked " My I have the pleasure of a dance with you, Milady?"
"Emmm.." Em began
"She would be delighted" Amothien answered for her.
Em glared at Amothien then, gingerly took Legolas' hand and the pair move to the dance floor.
Legolas skillfully placed his hands on Em's waist and intertwined his figures with Em's. Em looked around at the other maidens and then took up her skirt as they were all doing. Legolas guided Em across the room as the music pick on a more lively pace.
"Does Lady Amothien always answer for you or do you perhaps on occasion answer yourself?" Legolas teased Em as they danced
"Sure." Was the timid reply
"Sure?" Legolas continued his teasing
"Yes. Yes I do answer for myself." Em stated firmly, annoyed at being teased.
"Sure…" was all Legolas said
"I do." Insisted Em
"I never said you didn't"
"Whatever."
Legolas chortled and continued to waltz with Em. They waltz without speaking for another few minutes until Legolas broke the silence again.
"How are you enjoying Mirkwood?"
"It's fine."
"You dislike something about it then?"
"No. No…it's just that…"
"What?"
"Nothing. Never mind."
Em averted her eyes from Legolas as the dance came to the end.
"Thank you for the dance." Em said as she left the dance floor and returned to Amothien.
"I think I might just retire after all." Declared Em
"Of course. Let us depart." Amothien rose with elvish grace and walked to the doors with Em.
The two walked down the corridors that, miraculously, were slowly but surely becoming familiar to Em.
"What did the Prince ask you?" inquired Amothien
"Nothing really, just what I thought of Mirkwood is all." Answered Em as they moved down the corridors.
"Ooh! I forgot my shawl. It's still in the banquet hall. Would you be able to find your way back to your room from here, so I could retrieve my shawl?"
"Sure. I'II be fine." Em said as Amothien dashed back to the banquet hall.
Em continued down the passageway back to her room.
"Milady." Said a voice from behind Em making her jump slightly. She turned around and saw none other then Legolas looking down at her, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips after seeing he jump. "May I walk you to your room?"
"Sure."
"Sure or yes?"
"Alright, yes" answered Em
The two walked down the corridor in silence and finally stopped outside Em's door.
"Thanks. 'Night" Em said as she looked at Legolas.
"Goodnight Milady." Em turned towards the door. " Milady, I was wondering if you would be interested in seeing more of Mirkwood tomorrow. Perhaps it's really beauty, the forest itself?" asked Legolas
"Emm…you want to go look and trees and roots?"
"The forest is more then just trees and roots, Milady, it is beautiful."
"I guess then. But come on, it's a forest how can a big group of trees be beautiful?"
"You will see tomorrow. I will call at the same time as this day. Sleep well." And with that Legolas turned and made his way down the hall.
"Great. Tomorrow a nature hike, just great. This isn't a dream it's a buckin' nightmare" Em said to herself as she entered her room and shut the door behind her.
BLAME IT ON THE FROG SPAWN
IMPC