Disclaimer: See chapters 1 – 12
Chapter 13
Talking With Kings
One thing: Emer is not that strange a name. It can also be spelt Eimear or Emmer, it's an Irish name and not that unusual.
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Amothien rushed along the corridors, franticly checking every room for Em.
"Where in Middle Earth could she be?" She asked herself as she left yet another room unsuccessful.
She hasty scurried down the halls back to Em's chamber in case she by some miracle had returned. She pulled open the door and breathed out a sigh if relief as she saw Em curled up in bed fast asleep. She rushed to the side of the bed and shock Em's shoulder to wake her up.
"You are going to make me old before my time." She scolded as she woke Em. "Where were you all night?" she asked.
"I was here." Answered Em.
"When I called for you first you were not to be found in this room." Amothien told Em.
"I had a sore head so I went for a walk so I could get rid of it." Em answered simply.
"So to rid yourself of a head ache you wandered down halls you are unfamiliar with and to all good reason should have gotten lost in, and in all that time managed to make me frantic as to of your where abouts?" Amothien asked
"Pretty much yeah." Em said, as she seemed to be thinking about it. "You woke me up so what do I gotta do?"
Amothien let out a sigh at the girl and then said with exhaustion in her voice. "Bathe, get dressed, and then talk with the King."
"Right so." Em said and jumped out of her bed and skipped into the bathroom. Amothien collapsed back into the chair.
A short while later Amothien and Em were standing outside the King's study, Em fidgeting with her dress and Amothien telling her to stop fidgeting with her dress.
"Are you sure this is my size…and a dress?" Em asked as she pulled at the sleeves.
"I am positive it is indeed a dress and stop fidgeting this instant." Scolded Amothien.
"Alright, alright. Don't have a cow." Em smiled at the remark.
"Why would I have a cow? What would I want with a cow? Where would I possible keep it?" A possible Amothien asked.
Em started laughed at this remark but quickly stopped as the door of the room burst open. Out stepped King Thranduil with one of his advisors following close behind.
"Greetings Lady Amothien, Lady Em. How does this morning find you?" Greeted Thranduil as he led the two ladies into his study.
"We are both well, thank you your Highness." Amothien said as she curtsied, Em quickly copied her. "And how are you?" "I am in good health thank you. Please sit down." Thranduil pointed to the pair of chairs opposite the desk as he seated himself. "I just wanted to see how Lady Em is settling to palace life." Thranduil said. "How do you find it so far?" "Fine." Said Em quickly"No problems at all? Nothing wrong at all?" Thranduil asked
"Nope, everything's just peachy." Em said.
"How are you finding it settling in with our inhabitances?" Thranduil said.
"Fine…" Em said
"Actually." Amothien butted in. "Lady Em had not had a great deal of chances to mingle with other elves. I believe she has only been in contact with myself and Prince Legolas for a longer period of time."
"That is easily remedied. We are planning on having a small celebration in a few nights time." Said Thranduil.
"I was unaware of any celebration my Lord. What is it in celebration of?" asked Amothien.
"It was to celebrate the arrival of Gandalf and Radagast but they have already left but I think a banquet would be very suitable at this time." Answered Thranduil. "How are feeling? Are you at all tired, feeling unwell or having trouble sleeping, anything?" Thranduil asked concerned.
"Nope, I'm fine." lied Em.
"Are you absolutely sure?" Asked the King
"Yeap." Answered Em.
"Alright then. I am sure both yourself and Lady Amothien have to have your new dresses fitted, I arranged the seamstress to meet you in sewing room an hour before noon, which has almost come." Said Thranduil as both Em and Amothien got up and left the room.
The advisor sat in one of the now vacant chairs. "Lady Em does not seem a all troubled in anyway. In fact she seems perfectly fine if not a touch nervous."
King Thranduil was currently writing notes down. He did not look up but just replied. "She's lying."
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"How nice of the King. I am sure you will be very glad to help pick a gown for yourself." Amothien chatted happily.
"Wait! I get to help pick out what my gown looks like. As in I have a choice of what I wear." Em said as Amothien nodded in conformation. "I don't know what to say. This is just so unexpected. I have a choice in what I wear, me!" Em smiled. "Can you wear trousers at a banquet?"
Amothien froze mid-step and turned to Em with a look of mixed shock and dread.
"Kiddy, kiddy. So you can't then?" Em teased.
Amothien and Em soon stood in the sewing room. Well, Amothien was sitting comfortable on a chair as she flipped through colour and pattern choices for Em's gown, while Em was standing uncomfortable on a stool as a female elf took about a thousand measurements.
Amothien and the women both stood up and started look intently as they began picking the colour.
"I think red would suite her well." Said the seamstress.
"But would red look well on her at a banquet, it might seem too dark a colour for such an occasion, perhaps a light pink or creamy colour." Recommended Amothien.
"How about green." Suggested Em
"Perhaps a light shade of blue." Said the seamstress.
"It would have to be very light." Said Amothien.
"Am I invisible?" asked Em, finally annoyed enough by being talked over, not getting her say in her dress and one pin jab to many.
"No dear, you're standing right in front of us." Said the seamstress worriedly
"Right! So why are you talking like I'm in Timbuktu." Asked Em
"What is this Timbuktu?" Amothien asked.
"Never mind. Why are both of you talking like I'm not here and picking out what I'II be wearing without my say?" Em restated.
"Of course you have your say." Said the seamstress.
"Most defiantly." Agreed Amothien
"But…" started the seamstress. "You might like…"
"Need. You defiantly will need our help, a lot of our help because…." Amothien said.
"Because you have not attended a ball before and therefore do not know what would be right to wear." Finished the seamstress.
"Yes, we are only doing this for your own good." Said Amothien "But I suppose, of you want to look out of place, you can help pick the shape or the colour."
"Great." Em beamed "I love looking out of place. So what colours can I choice from?"
Amothien and the seamstress exchanged glances then both said. "A light blue."
12 pin jabs later Em's dress had been decided on and Amothien had began her turn on the stool, all Em could do was sit in the chair and look around the room. Soon enough both women noticed how bored Em was, it could have been the humming or perhaps tapping the William Tell Overture of the back of her hand…
"Em, if you like why not explore the palace while you have the opportunity. I will find you when I am finished." Said Amothien as she stood on the stool.
"K…" Em got up and left the room to explore.
Time had pasted and Em had managed to lose her way several times until somehow she ended up at her room door.
"At least I wouldn't get lost in there." Em mumbled.
She walked in and flopped down on the bed, she reached under the mattress and removed her diary. She reached over for the quill on the desk and began scribbling away
Two Hours (and a bit) Later
"God I'm bored." Em moaned as she lay back on her bed. "I thought Amothien'd be back by now."
She had filled up many pages of her diary with writing and would still be writing had see not ran out of ink. Em finally made up her mind to explore since there wasn't anything left to keep her sane…
She rolled off the bed and shuffled out the door. She wandered down the endless halls and found that she could place some of them. She drifted out to a strange ground near the palace with archery targets on one side of the field, her eyes rambled around the field until they met another pair.
"Jebus!" exclaimed Em as she jumped a foot in the air. "Legolas is your goal in life to give me a heart attack?" Em asked as she regained her breath.
"Eru forbid. I was going to see who had appeared on the archery field, perhaps I could then challenge them I thought, but it was only you." Answered Legolas.
"What do you mean only you?" Demanded Em.
"I did not mean any offence at the remark, but you are unskilled in archery I believe so it would be unfair of me to challenge you." Legolas explained.
"How do you know that?" Em asked
"I am not sure, but I do not believe you have mentioned any skill at archery." Legolas responded.
"But your not sure so you just decide I can't shot a bow and arrow for my life. It's not rocket science it's a twig and a bit of string shooting another twig."
"It is more then two twigs, Lady Em. It takes many years to perfect." Legolas retorted annoyed someone was making funny of his favourite sport.
"Yeah sure." Em said sarcastically.
"If you are so sure of its simplicity, why not try your luck." Suggested Legolas
"I've never tried archery before." Em confessed.
"But seconds ago you were saying it was so easy."
"I said it wasn't hard."
"Making it easy. Why not try, what do you have to lose?"
"Why should I bother? I'm going find Amothien."
"So your afraid to lose then."
"I never said I was afraid to lose, just that I wasn't going to try a pointless game."
"Why not?"
"Because it's a pointless game, that anyone could try."
"Well prove it."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Here, aim for that target." Instructed Legolas. "Hold the bow like this and place the arrow here, then shot."
"No problem." Em did as Legolas instructed and shot the arrow, which landed just below the target, five feet away…
Legolas shot a smug smile at Em who returned it with a scowl. "It's just pointless…" Em muttered as she began to leave the field a hand stopped her and Legolas walked in front of her.
"I am sorry. Archery does take some time to perfect, but that was very good for a first attempt." Legolas said a small smile was playing on his lips. "It even went in the right direct, so if it had a little more speed…"
"It would have landed four feet away." Finished Em
"Maybe even three feet away with some practice." Legolas smiled.
"Where were you going anyway?" Legolas asked.
"To find Amothien and see if she is finished getting her dress ready." Em answered.
"When did you last see her?" asked Legolas.
"Almost four hours ago maybe more, why?"
"I think you will have plenty of spare time until Lady Amothien is finished." Explained Legolas. "I have no matter to attend too, and if you likewise have nothing to do then perhaps you would care to improve your archery skills?"
"Why not." Answered Em.
Legolas went to a small shed and took out a bow and a quiver full of arrows and a pair of arm braces, which he hand them to Em. Em slowly put the quiver around her back, strapped on the arm braces and followed Legolas to the middle of the field.
"Watch me and then try on your own. I will tell you what you are doing wrong." Legolas said as he aimed with his own bow. The arrow flew gracefully the air and hit dead center. Legolas then turned to Em and watched as she attempted to copy him. The arrow flew but yet again not far enough.
"Your direction is good, but you're holding the bow wrong. Put one hand here, and pluck the string with only a few fingers." Legolas demonstrated with his own bow and then looked back at Em.
"No, raise your hand a little higher."
Em did as Legolas said and raised her hand.
"No, that is to high. Here."
Legolas stood behind Em and placed his hands over hers and moved them to the correct positions, he pulled his hand back, guiding Em's hands with his, and let go of the arrow. It hit just beside the center.
"It is not that hard, is it?" asked Legolas
"We'll see …" answered Em
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One Hour Later.
"I DID IT!" Shouted Em happily pulled Legolas into a hug. "You did it." Repeated Legolas half shocked half happy, while returning the hug. Em took another arrow from her quiver and placed it in the bow, she fired and… "I didn't do it." Em mumbled disappointedly as the arrow landed just past the target on the right hand side "Never mind, you have hit the target once already." Said Legolas "Maybe archery is harder then it looks…" muttered Em
"Maybe we could go for a walk now, there is still some time before Amothien will be finished picking her dress." Legolas asked.
"Why not." Em smiled as she collected the arrows and returned the bow and quiver to the small shed, Legolas kept his bow with him as Legolas and Em left the archery field and headed to the forest.
The pair walked deep into the forest until Em had a strange sense of de ja vu.
"I've been here before…"Em said as she looked around the small clear with a few old trees on the bank of a rushing river.
Legolas looked around and then realized where they were. "Yes, this is near the place we first found you." He answered as they looked around.
"Emer, Radagast told me that you…" Legolas began but was cut off by a vicious snarl.
Legolas and Em slowly turned to face a troop of snarling wolves, a bearing their horrendous fangs.
"Stay close to me." Ordered Legolas as he took an arrow from his quiver and prepared his bow. He reached to the side of his boot and retrieved a small dagger from it and handed it to Em. "Just in case." He assured her as he waited for the wolves to strike.
The attack came swift and deadly, the horde of snarl creatures pounced and Legolas wounded many, but Em and Legolas got separated in the clash. Legolas was in the middle of the fight with most of the wolves around him, biting him and tearing his clothes. Em was backed up against a tree near the riverbank as three wolves surrounded her. The number of wolves facing Legolas' was steadily depleting as one by one the wounded creatures backed up to the edge of the clearing.
Em raised the small dagger ready to strike, a particularly vicious wolf paced ahead of the other two. Em felt the wood against her back as she backed up and felt the earth crumble as her foot was placed unsteadily on the edge of the bank. The wolf was only a foot away from her and looked ready to pounce. The wolf sprang and Em sliced the blade across the wolf's right eye. The animal feel backwards with a yelp of pain, an arrow fell from the air and pierced one of the wolfs companions leg. The unharmed wolf sprang forward and slashed at Em with his claw. Em screamed at the pain and lost her footing on the edge of the bank, she fell into the river. Legolas rushed forward and the remaining wolves fled. He rushed over to the bank and searched the water flowing by him for Em.
A head rose from the water, sputtering water as she coughed. Legolas reached his hand into the water, grabbed Em and pulled her back onto dry land.
"Are you alright?" Legolas gasped as he saw the long gash on Em's check and forehead. "We must get you back to the palace before you get pneumonia." He said as he took her face in his hands. Em face was as pale as ivory but for the crimson blood trickling heavy down her check from the cut on her forehead, the over cut was hidden by the flowing blood.
Legolas reached down to scoop Em up in his arms and take her back to the palace.
"Hey!" Em exclaimed. "Put me down. I can walk fine on my own."
"Your hurt and in shock." Legolas replied but Em was already out of his arms by that time. "It is a long walk back to the palace, you will need my help."
"What makes you so sure I need your help?" Demanded Em, even though she felt slightly light-headed.
"What makes you so sure you don't?" Challenged Legolas. "Stop being so stubborn and let me carry you."
"I can walk back to the palace easily enough, Legolas." Em insisted.
"But you are hurt." Pleaded Legolas as he saw she had become paler then the pearls of Ormuz.
"It's only a scratch. Let's return." Em started walking on ahead much to the dismay of Legolas.
"At least lean on me." Legolas implored.
"I'm fine." Em insisted, her face now as pale as the whiter star.
Her words didn't back her up on her condition as her head all of a sudden whirled with unimaginable, seemingly unending pain. She gripped her eyes shut in excruciating pain. Legolas dropped down to the ground beside her. Em slowly opened her eyes, ignoring her throbbing head and began slowly to get up.
"Are you willingly going to let me carry you now?" Asked Legolas by her side.
Em was unable to answer this time for Legolas already gripped Em into him. He rose gracefully, showing no trouble carrying her already light weight. He retraced their steps quickly heading back to the palace.
"Em are you okay?" Legolas asked worriedly as he saw Em's eyes begin to close. "Emer!?!"
Her eyes quickly open but appeared glazed over.
"Emer we are almost back at the palace. I am going to take you to the healers alright?"
Em just nodded her head dimly.
Closer and closer they came to the palace, Legolas speeding up as he felt Em shiver against him. As he approached the archery field a figure was looking around as he came closer he saw it was Amothien.
"There you are Prince, I was trying to find you and Lady Em, a servant told me he had seen the two of you walking." Her eyes fell on the limp body cradled in Legolas' arms. She rushed forth and called for a servant to warn the healers. "What happen to both of you? Why is Em soaking wet?" Amothien exclaimed as her eyes fell on the cuts on her face and the blood staining Legolas' tunic.
"We were walking in the forest when a pack of wolves attacked us. I was not injured but Em caught hurt and fell into the stream. I was able to drag her out of the water but she was soaked through and bleeding badly so we headed back to the palace, she would not let me carry her and soon fell. I carried her back as quickly as I could to see the healers." Legolas explained. He looked down and saw that Em was now unconscious.
"When did she become unconscious? You must hurry she is bleed badly." Amothien said as she followed Legolas towards the Healing room where the healers should be waiting.
Not my best chapter, but a long chapter. If anyone thinks they know if anything is bad or could be improved please review and tell me.
WHERE IS AN INCH A MILE?
(yes I am watching the Kerry Gold Add.)
ImpC