Disclaimer: Not mine!
Chapter 15Advice.
Italics – talking in the present. I updated sooner then I thought I would! :)
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"You're reading my diary?" Em said again almost as if she couldn't believe it.
"Ember I can explain this, I promise if you just listen to me for a few moments…" Legolas began as he tried to calm Em down.
"You were reading my diary!" Em shouted for a third time, with more angrier then the first two tries.
"Please just listen to me. There is a good reason behind this." Legolas said as he maybe his way over to the girl.
"Yeah, I bet there is." Em said sarcastically "You got bored so you thought hey why not read my diary, right?"
Em began to back out of Legolas' room.
"Please wait." Legolas begged as Em left his room, she stopped for a second and turned to face him.
"I don't think I ever want to see your face again, Greenleaf." Em said angrily and she ran off down the corridor.
"Now I've done it." Legolas said to himself as ran to his chamber door, he looked around the corridor but he couldn't see Em.
He listened carefully for the sound of her footsteps and then ran after the sound. He ran down the two following corridors but still could not find sight nor sound of Em; he paused and looked around for her.
"Brilliant, Legolas, just brilliant." Legolas said to himself as he ran his hands through his long blonde hair in frustration. "You've went and lost her. Just brilliant."
He sighed in frustration and turned back in the direction he had came from and walked back to a door along the way and knocked three times.
"Come in." sang the voice from inside.
Legolas followed the instructions and went into the room.
"Greetings Arwen." Legolas said as he bowed.
"A hundred, thousand welcomes Legolas. Why so troubled?" Arwen asked her anxious looking friend.
"Many things. I was wondering if I could ask you advice or help?" Legolas asked.
"Of course. What is wrong? What has happened?" Arwen questioned as she lead Legolas over to a bench and a few chairs.
Legolas lay back on the bench while Arwen sat gracefully on one of the chairs.
"Well, do you remember the girl I told you about? The one not from around here." Legolas asked.
"Yes, of course. Did something happen to her?" Inquired Arwen.
"No, well, yes. Where to start… She is feeling better after the incident with the wolves and a few days ago so I visited her and…no before that. My father summoned me two nights ago, and then it started…
The prince sat in the intimidating room as he waited for his father to appear. The door open and his father marched in, dismissing the elves that followed him. Legolas stood up to greet him.
"You summoned me Father?" Legolas said.
"Please sit down Legolas." Thranduil said as he did the same, a dark look came over his face. "I heard about what happened this afternoon." He stated.
"I know how annoyed and disappointed you must be with me, but it was not that I intended the wolves to attack us…" Legolas began explaining.
"Legolas Greenleaf, I was not done talking yet. I do not care whither you intended this to happen or not you still put the girls life in danger. Thank Eru she wasn't more badly hurt. She could have been hurt much worse quite easily, don't you forget that. She was brought her for her protection and safety, not to be attacked by wolves in the forest." Thranduil said as he rose out of the chair and glared down at his son. "You should have known better then to go so deep into the forest when wolves had been spotted there so soon, especially when you are the crowned prince. Why did you not even consider bring some guards with you?"
Legolas bowed his head in shame and answered quietly. "I am sorry Father. It is my fault Lady Em is hurt. I am sorry I failed you."
Thranduil sat down again and let a small smile appear on his face. "I am sorry I had to yell at you but you need to learn to think about the outcomes of your actions a little more. Lady Em is not that badly hurt, you need not blame yourself had you not been there she would have be injured much worse if she was alive at all."
Legolas looked up at his Father but still looked grave.
"If I had not suggested that the two of us walk in the forest she would not have been hurt." He said.
"You did not know the wolves would have been there." The King said. "Lady Em was brought here under my protection and I would hate anything happen to her."
Legolas sat up a little more and asked his Father. "Why did you bring her here."
"My son I have told you already for her protection and safety, what more do you want?" He asked.
"Lady Arwen will be arriving soon, I must go out and greet her. I shall see you at dinner." Thranduil said as he stood up and left the room.
"Think of the possible outcomes of your decisions before you make them." He advised and was then gone.
"Like getting a girl who fell from the sky attacked by wolves." Legolas muttered to himself as he got up and left the room.
"You feel guilty for Lady Em getting hurt, then? But why it was not your fault?" said Arwen as she looked down on Legolas' frustrated face. "I heard she was feeling much better."
"I know it was not fully my fault. I still think I could have been quicker and then perhaps she wouldn't have been hurt at all." Legolas said. "But that is only the beginning."
Legolas wandered along the passageways to Em's chamber. He knocked three times on the door and waited for her to answer. He heard a few sounds of something being moved and then Em pulled the door open smiling as she saw Legolas. She was dressed in a surprisingly plain blue dress that trailed a little on the floor.
"Hi!" She chirped happily.
"Good morning, Em. Why are you so happy?" Legolas asked returning the smile, but when he saw the red bruised area where the stitched were he winched. "And why are you out of bed?"
Em shot him an exasperated look. "Because it's only a scratch and I feel fine." She moved aside letting Legolas inside. "And on your other question, I got to pick what I wore this morning." She answered still smiling. "Granted my jeans and top are m.i.a but I am wearing a dress that does not look like something from a Barbie collection, and I am sure this is, more or less, my size and look!" Em said pointing to her sleeves. "I could tell what why they went on and they're like normal sleeves."
Legolas laughed at Em, who still remained smiling happily.
A sudden confused expression appeared on his face. "What is m.i.a? What is a Barbie?"
Another exasperated look appeared on Em's face. "A Barbie is a piece of badly shaped wax with a multitude of pink and yellow outfits who needs to buy her friends, and has hair kinda like you only longer. M.i.a means missing in action."
A looked of realization appeared of Legolas' face then the confused one reappeared. "Why would a piece of wax, no matter how badly sculpted, need friends?"
"Never mind." Em dismissed. "You called…?"
"To see how you where feeling. Good I see. Where is Amothien, she has been by your side for the past two days for every second?" Legolas asked.
"She had something to do, she didn't want to leave me but I made her. I told her I didn't need a baby sitter." Em answered simply.
"Ooh. How are you really?" asked Legolas, his eyes still fixed on the nasty looking cut.
"I'm really fine, just a bad headache every now and again."
"Would you like to accompany me around the palace?" Legolas asked politely as he offered Em his arm.
"Not risking any more wolf incidents?" Em asked as she accepted his arm.
"Exactly. Care to visit the Gallery?" suggested Legolas.
"We'd better go before Amothien comes back or she'll make me wear one of those…things." Em shuddered as she pointed to the closet in her room.
"We can't have that now can we?" Legolas joked as they walked down to the Gallery.
Em and Legolas talked happily on the way other to the Gallery until suddenly Legolas grabbed Em's hand and pulled her into a hidden arc in the passageway. Em shot a confused look Legolas' way, Legolas placed a finger to his lips and mouthed the name 'Amothien' and 'over there'. Em looked over in the direction that Legolas had pointed in. Amothien was walking out of a room talking happily with another elf maiden. Amothien and her friend walked slowly by the alcove, not noticing Legolas and Em hiding behind it. They stopped and began talking again and looking around them for some reason. Em shucked in her breath when they stopped in shock and subconsciously took a step back but bumped into Legolas who was standing closer to her then expected. She fall backwards and was about to let out a small 'eep' but before she could hit the floor Legolas had caught her, a concerned look in his eyes, he held his hand over her mouth to muffle any sound she was going to make. Another elf ran out of the room Amothien and her friend had emerged from and they three elves went on there way, completely unaware of any sound coming from the hidden alcove behind them. Legolas straightened both of them up and then took his hand away from her mouth.
"You okay?" he asked as he checked her head.
"Yes, fine. Just me being clumsy, nothing new." Em mutter embarrassed as she swatted Legolas hand away from her head.
"We won't be able to get to the Gallery, for Amothien is heading in that direction. I know…" Legolas said as he pulled Em down another set of corridors. "You seemed to like the Library when we where there last."
"You're really a wild person at heart aren't you?" Em asked sarcastically.
"I am an elf." Legolas answered confused.
"Never mind…" Em dismissed.
"Here we are." Legolas said as they stopped suddenly in front of a large pair of doors.
Legolas and Em silently walked into the room, looking around carefully to see if anyone else was present, after finding that no one was Em shot Legolas a happy smile and walked over to one of the larger book cases. Legolas reached over to the first one and took out a random book he pretended to read. He saw Em give a faint shiver and went other to light a fire in the large marble fireplace.
"I don't think the name Em suites you." Legolas said all of a sudden.
"Of course it does. Everyone's called me that since I was little, besides it's just a shortened version of my name." Em said as she took out a book from the row and walked over to where Legolas was sitting on the carpet.
"I disagree with everyone you have ever known your whole life. Em does not suite you." Legolas said again as he finished lighting the now blazing fireplace.
"What does then?" Em asked laughing.
"Well, Emer is a very sweet name if not a bit unusual and Em is a shortened version…" Legolas said as though he was giving the idea some deep thought.
"But…?" Em asked.
"You remind me of…see there in the fire." Legolas said as he pointed to the fireplace.
"Yes…? Please don't tell me you think Cinderella suites me better then Em." Em said, cringing at the thought.
"That is a very pretty name, also unusual, but you said Em was a shortened version so I was thinking…" Legolas paused for effect.
"You were thinking…" Em said as she made arm movements for him to continue
"You remind me of an ember. Do you mind if I call you Ember?" Legolas asked seriously.
"Not really, but how do I remind you of an ember?" Em asked confused.
"You are sometimes quiet but you still seem to glow even then, you then shine and glow like a fire other times." Legolas explained with a smile.
"Also… " Legolas said as he reached his hand over to cover Em's hand. "You…when we where attacked by the wolves and you became unconscious you suddenly didn't glow, all I could think of was how only a few hours before you had been alive and sparkling with life in your smile, in your laugh, in you eyes. The embers in the fire sometimes seem to die but they don't always, they glow with live when they are in the fire. They remind me of you, always glowing even if sometimes they appear not too." Legolas finished.
"That's sweet." Em blushed.
Legolas smiled proudly at making Em blush and said. "See, you do glow like an ember."
"There you are!" Called a voice.
Both Legolas and Em ducked low.
"I have been looking everywhere for you." The voice said as the footsteps of the owner came nearer.
"Look at what you are wearing!" The owner of the voice exclaimed as she began tapping her foot impatiently.
Em and Legolas slowly rose and turned around looking very sheepish.
"Sorry Amothien." Both said at the same time as they adverted her eyes and Em started giggling slightly.
Amothien let out a frustrated sigh and said. "You, young lady, can come with me and get changed into another dress. Come on now." Amothien began walking and then turned around and waited for Em.
"Goodbye Ember. I shall see you tomorrow, if not later tonight." Legolas said and then whispered. "If you can escape…"
Em giggled again before putting on a straight face and walked after Amothien.
"I'II see ya later." Em called back to Legolas.
"May I walk with both of you?" Legolas asked Amothien as he hurried to catch up with them.
"I am still making Lady Em change into a dress I see as a fit choice, but you may walk with us back to Lady Em's chamber." Amothien said politely
"As you wish." Legolas answered as he smiled at Em.
All too soon they arrived at Em's chamber. Legolas walked in with Em as they waited for Amothien to pick out a 'proper' dress. Legolas spent most of the time trying hard not to laugh at the looks of fear on Em's face as Amothien would take out a dress Em obviously didn't like, inspect it and then put it back.
"Perfect." Amothien said as she showed Em a dark blue dress with gold trimming and very long bell sleeves.
Em walked over to Amothien and looked with disappointment at the dress.
"Can't I wear this?" Em pleaded.
Legolas' eyes feel on the corner of the mattress once more and there he saw the same book peeping out of the corner of the mattress. He stared at it for a few moments before reaching down and pulling it out, but Em and Amothien didn't notice as they were still talking.
"No. You have to wear this dress today?" Amothien ordered.
Legolas looked at the leather bound book for a few moments before opening it. He saw writing and looked at a few sentences before closing it.
"Please can't I just wear this for today, the day is almost over anyway what does it matter?" Em tried.
Legolas looked back at the bed thinking about putting the diary back.
"Legolas help me out here." Em said while Amothien shock her head.
Legolas quickly pocketed the diary and looked up at the two women.
"I really don't know anything about dress, except I don't wear them." Legolas said as he stood up and made his way to leave. "Until we meet again Lady Amothien, Lady Em." Legolas said as he bowed and left the room.
"You took her diary?" said Arwen in disbelief.
"I am not sure why, but I did and now I'm in this mess." Legolas said.
"What else?" Arwen said.
"Well then I went back to my room but not before my Father saw me and decided to have a heart to heart."
Legolas sat yet again in his Father's study as King Thranduil paced back and forth.
"Legolas, you seem to spend a lot of time with Lady Em" said Thranduil.
"Yes Father." Legolas replied.
"I am worried about her. Gandalf has went to Lothlorien and Rivendell seeking guidance on how we should proceed, Radagast is going else where for the same reason and all I can get from her when I ask her questions is that she is 'fine'. You would tell me if something was amiss would you not?" Thranduil asked his son.
"Of course Father but I don't understand fully what Radagast and Gandalf have to do with Lady Em and why they need to seek guidance." Legolas said.
"That shall be revealed to you in good time but I am only asking you if you think something is bothering Lady Em? And that if anything appears to bother her in the future you will time me as soon as you are able do you understand?" Thranduil asked.
"I do not know why this is so important that…" Legolas said but was cut off my Thranduil.
"This is not a request Legolas this is an order. I want to know if you think anything is amiss with Lady Em, do you understand?" Thranduil repeated.
"Yes Father." Legolas said.
"Good." Thranduil said as he sat down. "That is all, you can go if you wish."
"Thank you Father." Legolas said as he got up, bowed and left the room.
"After that I was even more curious as to what secret they were hiding from me, why everyone was so concerned with Em. I of all people know she is special but why would two wizards be seeking guidance on her account unless it was very important." Said Legolas. "So I retired to my chamber, still with the diary and I sat and thought. I was unsure what to do. Should I read the diary and betray Em or should I continue wondering when all I need to finger out the puzzle is at my fingertips. I thought long and hard about the decision, I picked up the diary and was thinking of reading it when Em bursts into the room and sees me sitting down with her diary in my hands…I ran after her but lost her some how, then I came to you. I have no idea how to make this better. I have betrayed her trust. She will never trust be again. I do not know what to do, I want to apologies but would it even help?" Legolas said up and looked at Arwen before he gazed down at his hands.
"Apologizing would be a good start. You did not read it though, did you…Where is she now? You should find her soon." Arwen advised.
"I am unsure where she went…" Legolas said as started thinking where she would be.
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Em stood looking in front of her mirror; tears falling steadily down her checks. Her face strangely pale in comparison with the red bruises on her forehead and cheek.
"What? You thought you could trust him?" Laughed a cruel voice from behind Em. "Don't make me laugh. Why would anyone actually want to be friends with a selfish cow like you?"
The tears flowed more quickly now as the face of Sam, pale and dead and cruel laughed at Em. She was tossing a packet of paracematol in the air and then catching it in her hands again.
"Now would they?" The phantom laughed cruelly….
I'II update as soon as possible.
HE'D SHAVE A MOUSE WHILE IT SLEPT!
ImpC