A/N Yeah, a new story...I was just thinking, yesterday, how much fun it is
to have a new one going...then I had a little idea...and, well, here it is.
I really hope you like it. If you don't....well, it is your choice, and
it'd be great if you told me how I could make it better......thankee
darlin's! Note: Whenever I do put Elvish in here, it'll be spelled
phonetically, I find it easier to read, hope you will too.
I surveyed my reflection in the calm pool of crystalline water. Silvery- blonde hair past my waist, icy green eyes with bright golden flecks. Pale tan leggings, a pastel jade shirt, and a gray cloak that changed colors with the light. I smiled wanly and tried to twist my hair into a braid, then gave up as tendrils sprang out of place immediately.
I pushed a strand behind a barely pointed ear and tied a tiny beryl on a silver chain around my neck.
"Let's go, then," I said to the pale girl standing next to me. She nodded and smiled, seeming far too cheerful for the grim purpose that we were about to fulfill, and picked up her longbow that was lying against the tree trunk. I took mine as well and followed her down a thin bark ladder.
"Where did he say we were supposed to meet him, Estellia?" I asked as we trotted lightly through the wood.
"Where we always meet, Cerithwyn. Are you still in the dream world?" She replied, looking at me oddly.
"I'm....fine...." I tried to say, but my mind rebelled. NO! I thought. I'm NOT fine! Where am I....When...why? "Yes, I'm fine...."
A few more youngsters joined us, Estellia nodding to each.
Finally, we reached a wide gray tree with pale gold leaves. There were nine of us now, all dressed in colors that matched the trees and armed with bows and quivers. I brushed my hands over the inlaid silver and emeralds in the willow. It was perhaps the nicest thing I owned, a gift from the Silver Lady.
Everyone was looking around expectantly, waiting for someone. I idly reached into my pocket and pulled out a coiled string. I braced the long wooden stave against my leather boot and slipped the cord over both ends.
Done, I thought. What now?
Finally, a gray-clothed man emerged from behind the tree.
"Greetings, Lord Celeborn," A boy with shoulder length honey-blond hair said, bowing. I bowed too.
"The same to you, my children. Do you know why you have come?"
I shook my head no, along with the other eight.
"Intruders have been detected in the wood. You job, little ones, is to find and stop them. Normally, a team of only three could do this, but since you are all so young, a team of nine should function better. You'll practice teamwork and other needed skills. You'll use bows and knives for close combat. Legolas, team leader. Cerythwin, you'll be the sharpshooter who fires the first shot. Everyone, your duty will be to support each other in battle. I know I can count on all of you. Move out!" He finished. Legolas -the boy at the front with the golden braids who had greeted Celeborn -gestured to us, and we started at a trot through the leaves.
We ran for about three minutes before being given the signal to slow and fan out. Legolas motioned to me to follow him.
"Yes?" I asked.
"We need to all be in the trees. The intruders should be here within moments. You'll be there, with me and Estellia." I nodded.
Legolas scrambled up the tree and Estellia and I followed. He lay down on a low branch, Estellia on the one above him, and I stood in the fork of the tree above them both. I tested my bowstring, aiming at an imaginary target.
Only seconds later a party of about a dozen dwarves appeared from the trees. Legolas raised his hand.....I selected a target....and he dropped his hand. I loosed. The dwarf at the front fell, clutching his chest. Estellia and Legolas dropped from the tree and ran toward the group, knives bared. I loosed two more arrows accurately before drawing my knife and following.
The dwarves fought bravely. A sideways swipe felled a young girl at my left. Her name had meant Eternal Life. Irony in its fullest.
Only seconds later the dwarves had stopped fighting.
"What business have you with the lady of our wood?" snarled Legolas at the survivors.
A/N booya, looooooong chappie..love ya guys tons!
I surveyed my reflection in the calm pool of crystalline water. Silvery- blonde hair past my waist, icy green eyes with bright golden flecks. Pale tan leggings, a pastel jade shirt, and a gray cloak that changed colors with the light. I smiled wanly and tried to twist my hair into a braid, then gave up as tendrils sprang out of place immediately.
I pushed a strand behind a barely pointed ear and tied a tiny beryl on a silver chain around my neck.
"Let's go, then," I said to the pale girl standing next to me. She nodded and smiled, seeming far too cheerful for the grim purpose that we were about to fulfill, and picked up her longbow that was lying against the tree trunk. I took mine as well and followed her down a thin bark ladder.
"Where did he say we were supposed to meet him, Estellia?" I asked as we trotted lightly through the wood.
"Where we always meet, Cerithwyn. Are you still in the dream world?" She replied, looking at me oddly.
"I'm....fine...." I tried to say, but my mind rebelled. NO! I thought. I'm NOT fine! Where am I....When...why? "Yes, I'm fine...."
A few more youngsters joined us, Estellia nodding to each.
Finally, we reached a wide gray tree with pale gold leaves. There were nine of us now, all dressed in colors that matched the trees and armed with bows and quivers. I brushed my hands over the inlaid silver and emeralds in the willow. It was perhaps the nicest thing I owned, a gift from the Silver Lady.
Everyone was looking around expectantly, waiting for someone. I idly reached into my pocket and pulled out a coiled string. I braced the long wooden stave against my leather boot and slipped the cord over both ends.
Done, I thought. What now?
Finally, a gray-clothed man emerged from behind the tree.
"Greetings, Lord Celeborn," A boy with shoulder length honey-blond hair said, bowing. I bowed too.
"The same to you, my children. Do you know why you have come?"
I shook my head no, along with the other eight.
"Intruders have been detected in the wood. You job, little ones, is to find and stop them. Normally, a team of only three could do this, but since you are all so young, a team of nine should function better. You'll practice teamwork and other needed skills. You'll use bows and knives for close combat. Legolas, team leader. Cerythwin, you'll be the sharpshooter who fires the first shot. Everyone, your duty will be to support each other in battle. I know I can count on all of you. Move out!" He finished. Legolas -the boy at the front with the golden braids who had greeted Celeborn -gestured to us, and we started at a trot through the leaves.
We ran for about three minutes before being given the signal to slow and fan out. Legolas motioned to me to follow him.
"Yes?" I asked.
"We need to all be in the trees. The intruders should be here within moments. You'll be there, with me and Estellia." I nodded.
Legolas scrambled up the tree and Estellia and I followed. He lay down on a low branch, Estellia on the one above him, and I stood in the fork of the tree above them both. I tested my bowstring, aiming at an imaginary target.
Only seconds later a party of about a dozen dwarves appeared from the trees. Legolas raised his hand.....I selected a target....and he dropped his hand. I loosed. The dwarf at the front fell, clutching his chest. Estellia and Legolas dropped from the tree and ran toward the group, knives bared. I loosed two more arrows accurately before drawing my knife and following.
The dwarves fought bravely. A sideways swipe felled a young girl at my left. Her name had meant Eternal Life. Irony in its fullest.
Only seconds later the dwarves had stopped fighting.
"What business have you with the lady of our wood?" snarled Legolas at the survivors.
A/N booya, looooooong chappie..love ya guys tons!