I close my eyes, squeezing them as tightly shut as I can. There doesn't
appear to be any sound in the room and my heart sinks as I realize that my
plan has failed. The flute is too old and obviously far, far out of date.
Then someone speaks. A low, rumbling voice. "Are you going to stand there all day with your eyes shut? We have work to do, child."
I open my eyes, my fingers and toes still crossed, and see Merlin there. He has not aged a bit, apart from that his hair is slightly greying. I look at him in wonder and astonishment. Obviously, he thought this time was serious enough for him to come to my aid. I am delighted.
"My father is_"
"I know that already, my dear." He cups my chin n his big, warm hand and looks my straight in the eye. "Your heart is so full of love for the warrior that you cannot think straight. But who wants to think straight when you are in love? Love is a strong feeling, like fire. It should be cherished."
My hearts soars at his words. Looking at him, I see the father I think I never had. Why did I grow up with my father when Merlin was in the world, childless? Some things never turn out the way you hope they will.
"My father wants me to marry Rumar-"
He stopped my again. "You're thinking I don't already know all of this? Sit down, my child. I have been following your life ever since I bestowed that flute upon you." He strokes his long beard and I watch him, hoping against hope that he can help me. But then, if he couldn't he wouldn't be here. I hope.
"We must do something about your most unfortunate situation," he tells me. "You must know, my child, that in a time such as this, magick and the old ways are dying out. Gandalf is powerful but he will not be for much longer. The old ways are perishing. This means I can only help you part way. I will take you to the forest where your love, your melamin, rests. They are sleeping now. But you must find him yourself."
"That will be no problem," I say proudly. "Our hearts speak to each other."
"Good, then," he tells me, stroking my hair. With the ease, or perhaps, the desperation, of a girl who has never known much love from her father, I lean into his touch longingly.
"Thank you."
"There will be spies," he tells me, taking out a bag from the left pocket of his long, midnight blue cloak. It moves and makes a silvery, swishing sound. I touch it and it feels like the softest velvet. "Your father, thinking that you may run from home, will have planted spies in the woods. Be quick enough, though, and you will miss them, and be safe in Legolas's arms."
I can barely stop leaping for joy. I get a small bag from my bedside drawer and begin to pack a few provisions. Merlin stops me, putting his hand on mine. His eyes contain things I do not wish to dwell on.
"Do not undertake this lightly," he warns. "They are not even a quarter of the way through their journey. They have many trials to face, perhaps the loss of another. It is most certain that the ring will possess one of them."
My hearts sits uncomfortably in my throat. "Will it be-"
"Tis not my place to say. Do you still wish to take part in this most dangerous accomplishment?"
I think. I think about Rumar and my father and I think about the safe, constricted, boring life I might lead. Then I think of the life I might have in Legolas's arms. Yes, I might not live forever, but I would rather have a short life with the love of my life than a long life never knowing what would have come of Legolas and I.
I look Merlin in the eye.
"I'm ready," I say, and I don't look back.
Then someone speaks. A low, rumbling voice. "Are you going to stand there all day with your eyes shut? We have work to do, child."
I open my eyes, my fingers and toes still crossed, and see Merlin there. He has not aged a bit, apart from that his hair is slightly greying. I look at him in wonder and astonishment. Obviously, he thought this time was serious enough for him to come to my aid. I am delighted.
"My father is_"
"I know that already, my dear." He cups my chin n his big, warm hand and looks my straight in the eye. "Your heart is so full of love for the warrior that you cannot think straight. But who wants to think straight when you are in love? Love is a strong feeling, like fire. It should be cherished."
My hearts soars at his words. Looking at him, I see the father I think I never had. Why did I grow up with my father when Merlin was in the world, childless? Some things never turn out the way you hope they will.
"My father wants me to marry Rumar-"
He stopped my again. "You're thinking I don't already know all of this? Sit down, my child. I have been following your life ever since I bestowed that flute upon you." He strokes his long beard and I watch him, hoping against hope that he can help me. But then, if he couldn't he wouldn't be here. I hope.
"We must do something about your most unfortunate situation," he tells me. "You must know, my child, that in a time such as this, magick and the old ways are dying out. Gandalf is powerful but he will not be for much longer. The old ways are perishing. This means I can only help you part way. I will take you to the forest where your love, your melamin, rests. They are sleeping now. But you must find him yourself."
"That will be no problem," I say proudly. "Our hearts speak to each other."
"Good, then," he tells me, stroking my hair. With the ease, or perhaps, the desperation, of a girl who has never known much love from her father, I lean into his touch longingly.
"Thank you."
"There will be spies," he tells me, taking out a bag from the left pocket of his long, midnight blue cloak. It moves and makes a silvery, swishing sound. I touch it and it feels like the softest velvet. "Your father, thinking that you may run from home, will have planted spies in the woods. Be quick enough, though, and you will miss them, and be safe in Legolas's arms."
I can barely stop leaping for joy. I get a small bag from my bedside drawer and begin to pack a few provisions. Merlin stops me, putting his hand on mine. His eyes contain things I do not wish to dwell on.
"Do not undertake this lightly," he warns. "They are not even a quarter of the way through their journey. They have many trials to face, perhaps the loss of another. It is most certain that the ring will possess one of them."
My hearts sits uncomfortably in my throat. "Will it be-"
"Tis not my place to say. Do you still wish to take part in this most dangerous accomplishment?"
I think. I think about Rumar and my father and I think about the safe, constricted, boring life I might lead. Then I think of the life I might have in Legolas's arms. Yes, I might not live forever, but I would rather have a short life with the love of my life than a long life never knowing what would have come of Legolas and I.
I look Merlin in the eye.
"I'm ready," I say, and I don't look back.