icy878 it's just one big happy... fest!!! (keepin it clean) haha!
Melissa mwahaha!!!
Lilena ahh! haha that would be so...ooo funny! I'm finding a way to work in the rsi- but I won't say when- surprises are more fun- especially when they're like this! ;)
aquitaineq thanks a ton! I'll try and get the updates out a-s-a-p! =)
blahblah thanks so much for reviewing! =) I really hope you'll continue to read! =)
Anilmathiel haha! I'm not digging her too much either! =)
Thanks a ton for reviewing- and if you ARE reading this and not reviewing- then what are you waiting for??
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I walk on the marble halls along glass walls before seeing anyone, "I beg your pardon, do you know where Lady Celebrían is? I wish to speak with her."
She looks at me with frosty green eyes, "Are you by any chance Maiden Canyaiel?" Her voice is harsh and slightly ragged, not what I expected.
"Yes," I respond slowly.
She clears her throat a little cautiously, "I was told by Lord Elrohir not to allow you in here."
I take a deep breath and bite my bottom lip so hard it bleeds, "Please accept my apologies," I try to smile, "Good day." I walk outside, aggravated, exasperated, and irritated.
"Canyaiel? Are you all right?" I take another deep breath and whip my head around to see Annacálë- eyes shining purple.
My lip twitches, "No. I am not."
She smiles in what she thinks is a soothing way- and it is, "Would you like to talk about it? We can go to my home and have tea, if you would like," she offers fervently, her eyes twinkling green.
"That would be lovely." I walk with her to her home, which is large- white and silver.
Elven maidens bow and smile greeting her eagerly, "Greetings, Princess Annacálë," "Good afternoon, my Lady," "Welcome back," "Mae govannen." She leads me through numerous halls- golden, green, yellow, pale blue, and purple, until we enter a little room that is the color of a ripe raspberry and dazzlingly lit by candles and windows. There is a white, iron table with matching chairs that we sit in.
There are two glass tea cups on glass dishes and a silver tray with bread. She takes a large glass teapot, decorated with jewels and colored glass, and pours it into the two tea cups.
"It is a little hot," she says, in an apologetic voice. She takes a piece of bread from the tray and eats it, hungrily.
"I never have had tea before," I reply, twirling the tiny glass handle cautiously and watching the scorching, brown liquid steam.
We sit in silence for a while, Annacálë sips her tea sporadically, "It has cooled down quite a bit." I drink a huge gulp from it, very un-lady like but she does not seem to care. She is much kinder than I thought- and now that I think about it, it is not fair to blame her for my misfortunes- she still does not know that Elrohir was my best friend or that Legolas... I shake my head of these thoughts. Maybe it is her fault... but I can not blame her for what Elrohir, Elladan, and Legolas have brought upon themselves.
"How long have you been here?" she asks conversationally.
I take a sip from the tea- it is sweet, very sweet, "I came here with Lord Elrond."
"You are friends with him?" she took a sip from hers, twirling it about with a silver stick.
I swirl mine using the handle, "I lived in Imladris for all of my life."
She smiles vaguely, "I never have been to Middle Earth; I was born here."
"It is very nice here," I swallow the remainder of my tea in one gulp and I want to say something else but the words seem to be lost in the crevices of my tongue.
She looks around and sighs, "Yes, I suppose it is," she falls silent for a few moments. I take a sip from my tea to find nothing left. I pour myself another cup, the soft splash against the glass the only thing to break the uncomfortable silence like a needle through a thin piece of cloth.
"You are friends with Elladan and Elrohir?" I swallow awkwardly and take another sip from the tea.
"No," I reply, "I just know them- we are rather acquaintances. Have you any siblings?" I ask, changing the subject hurriedly.
"Yes," she responds, sipping her tea, "One brother- he is older than I. And you?"
"One sister, my twin. Perhaps you know her? Lady Calwaiel."
She looks up instantaneously, "I know of her. She is Olorlótë."
"Yes," I respond, unsure of how she knew.
"Elladan told me," she replies immediately.
I take another sip of my tea, giving me time to think of a response, "Oh. I knew not that he was aware of her name."
"She must be very beautiful."
"She is."
My last statement is followed by a few minutes of awkward silence before I stand up and decide to leave, "Thank you very much, Princess Annacálë-"
"You can call me Annacálë," she interrupts keenly.
I smile, despite myself, "Thank you, Annacálë."
"I was wondering," she stands up also, "My father is holding a banquet tomorrow night, perhaps you would like to come?"
I smile again, "That would be lovely."
I leave speedily, walking toward my home and feeling a great deal more confused than I was before- too hastily, right into another maiden. We both fall to the sandy, gold path.
"Oh! Please accept my apologies," I say quickly, standing up and looking down at her- long, dark- almost black- hair covering her face.
She stands up and smiles, "Oh, it is quite all right." She brushes some of the golden dust from her dress, "You must be Lady Canyaiel."
"What else is he saying about me?" I spat out, not angry at her but at Elrohir.
She seems not to care for my fury but laughs acrimoniously, "I have not spoken to Elrohir for years- I know not. My name is Lithelena." She looks up at me for the first time, revealing stunning aqua colored eyes, and somehow knowing exactly whom I was speaking about.
Lithelena is bitter and clever- an unusual combination for a maiden. She is strong and polite, unusual yet quite ordinary, friendly and untrusting, and at the same time reminding me of myself more than anyone I have known before.
"The whole city is looking for you, save Lord Elrond," she plucks a thread of grass from the hem of her sleeve, "Well, perhaps not the whole city. Elrohir is looking for you."
I snort, "Well, he is not important." We start walking at the same time. "I have to see my horse."
"Oh, well, Lord Elrond asked if I would take care of it for a little- I help him at the stables, at least until Lord Thranduil sails." She turned in the opposite direction back toward Lord Elrond's palace.
"You are from Mirkwood?"
She smirks, "Yes. My father is an advisor to Lord Thranduil. And what of you?"
"I am from Imladris. My father was an elf-Lord." We stop in front of the stable gates. "I am not allowed in the palace, by order of Elrohir," I reply, scornfully.
She just shakes her head and laughs to herself, then takes out a large, gold key and opens the stables.
"Celebelda," I murmur, walking over to her and stroking her silver-grey coat.
"She is beautiful." We stand there for a few moments, patting her and feeding her apples.
"Do you live in the palace?"
She nods, "I was once a very close friend of Elrohir."
"As was I," I sigh, "Along with Arwen and Elladan."
"I knew Arwen not well..."
I sigh again and lean against Celebelda, "How did you know Elrohir, if you lived in the realm of Lord Thranduil?"
"Elrohir and I met once when he and Elladan came to Mirkwood with a letter. Legolas was already friends with them, but," she sighs, "we are kin for the father of Lord Thranduil had a sister, my father's mother. Legolas introduced me to them; Elrohir and I just..."
She sighs again, "My father never really liked Elrohir, but daren't say... He sent me off with my mother to Lindon, to be safe for the oncoming War."
"He told me about you," I reply gently, thinking back to that serenely warm night, "He was telling me about you... he told me that I was beautiful and 'do not give up on love,' but I responded and said that he had, so why could I not? He said that perhaps he had not. He told me that he had fallen in love with a maiden, many winters ago, and that she was lost- you were lost."
"And I was," she sighs again and I wish that I could be as mysterious and fresh as her, "Elrohir spoke of you most highly. Am I right in saying that you were the maiden with a sword?"
"Yes," another thought strikes me, "Elrohir has not even seen you?"
She smiles sullenly, "I have come only two days ago. He is too busy with other matters that are far more vital than long lost loves."
I want to say something, but I find the words lost in the back of my throat- and I look at her aqua colored eyes and we both know why.
"How he came to try and banish you from the halls that you were once welcomed in..." her voice trails off delicately, like the roaring of a waterfall falling into the gentle mist, "Was it Annacálë that has caused this?"
Lord Elrond's voice flutters through my head, 'the right thing,' 'I know you will do the right thing,' 'the right thing...'
"A few days ago there was a banquet of some sort, Lord Saelbeth asked me if I would like to accompany him and I said that I would. Of course, he went off dancing with different maidens, but I minded not for I was not as agile and quick-footed when it came to dancing.
"I sat talking with my sister and Elrohir came over. We were speculating as to who she was. Calwaiel said that she was not kind to her and I made a joke. He overreacted, became quite angry..." I sigh, "He took my wrist," I held up my wrist.
She studies my wrist, covered in bandages of white, and shakes her head sadly.
