Chapter 5
"You have healing powers, Joey," Galadriel said, shaking the part-elf out of her trance. "That is what the light from your hand was. You have the power to take away great pain, but at a price. Whenever you heal someone, you in turn will feel weary, or feel the pain yourself. Your magic is only effective for flesh wounds, and cannot heal the heart or cure poisons, but it is still useful." "Healing powers?" Joey said in a hollow voice. "First, I'm part-elf and now I have powers," she said as she stood up. "I'm sorry, but this is too much for me right now." "It is understandable, young one," Galadriel said, placing a soothing hand on Joey's shoulder. "Come, there is a room awaiting you." Galadriel led Joey out of the dining hall and own a corridor. She opened a door to one of the rooms and led Joey inside. "Get some sleep. Everything will be clearer in the morning." Joey nodded and said her thanks. Galadriel closed lightly and left Joey to think about everything that happened.
"Part-elf, and healing powers," Joey thought, suddenly tired. "Who am I? What am I?" A quiet knock sounded form the other side of the door and Joey turned to open it. Legolas stood on the other side, looking rather worried. "May I come in?" Legolas asked, uncertain of how Joey was feeling. Joey nodded and moved out of the way so the slender elf could get through. "Are you alright?" he asked, peering at her face for some sort of answer. Suddenly there was a fire in her eyes that made him jumped back slightly. "Why do you even bother to ask?" Joey snapped, her frustration taking over. "I just found out my grandfather is alive and an elf, which makes me part- elf and I have healing powers that I knew nothing about! How would you feel?" A fire similar to Joey's had now kindled in Legolas' eyes. "Is it shameful that your grandfather is an elf?" Legolas asked, his eyes flashing. "I didn't mean it like that!" Joey snapped back. "You don't get it do you?" Joey said the fire suddenly replaced by tears. "I don't even know who I am anymore," she said, the tears rolling down her cheeks. The look on Legolas' face softened when he realized that Joey was feeling lost and he felt horrible for losing his temper. "I am sorry, my friend," Legolas said, placing a hand on her sobbing shoulders. "I didn't mean to snap." "Who am I, Legolas?" Joey sobbed. "Where do I belong?" Legolas held her in his arms as she sobbed, feeling his heart break as he felt the pain she was going through. After a moment, he released her and placed a hand on her cheek, making her look him in the eyes. "You are Joey, my friend, granddaughter to Glorfindel," Legolas, not taking his eyes away from hers. "You will find where you belong. Perhaps you truly belong here, in this world," he said, looking thoughtful. "Are you happy here?" Joey though hard about what he had said and she smiled. "I am happy here," Joey said softly, thinking about all she'd seen already. "Then that is all you need, for now," Legolas said, giving her a warm smile. "Thank you, mellon nin," Joey said, hugging him again. "You're welcome," Legolas said, bowing his head slightly. "Get some rest now. I will see you in the morning." Joey nodded and they walked back towards the door. "Goodnight," Joey said softly in Sindarian, pausing at the door, a hand on the knob. "Goodnight," Legolas said, bowing his head again before turning to walk down the hall to his own room.
~*~
"Milady?" an unfamiliar voice called from the other side of the door. It was just past dawn, but Joey was already awake. "You may come in," Joey called from the table where she was fixing her hair. The door clicked open and there stood a strawberry blond-haired elf she didn't know. "My name is Atheral, milady," said the elf, who, though trying not to show it, was having a hard time taking his eyes off of her. She looked a lot like an elf, though she was obviously human as well. "Are you Joey?" "Yes, I am," Joey said. "Hello, Atheral," she said, giving him a warm smile that made Atheral's heart skip a beat. "Is there something you had to tell me?" "Yes, you're beautiful," Atheral thought. Instead, he said, "Breakfast is ready, milady," "Thank you," Joey said, getting up from her chair and walking out of her room with Atheral beside her.
~*~
"This place is truly beautiful," Joey thought. It was after breakfast and she had decided to take a walk through the forest alone. She stopped at the edge of a small river and sat down in the grass. She closed her eyes and used her ears and senses to hear the water running its course and the birds singing their songs. "Milady," a voice said from beside her. She opened her eyes and looked up to see Atheral looking down at her. He smiled and asked, "May I join you?" Joey nodded and Atheral sat down. They sat in silence for a while, listening to nature. "It's beautiful here," Joey commented, breaking the silence. She turned to look at Atheral and was surprised to see him staring intently back at her. "Yes, it is," Atheral said in a soft whisper. A gentle breeze picked up and blew a strand of Joey's hair across her face. He reached up to brush it away from her cheek, leaving his hand to linger there for a little longer than needed. "I should be heading back now," Joey said, pulling away. She was slightly uncomfortable with the attention from Atheral. "We are leaving tomorrow morning and I should make sure I've packed everything." She bowed her head slightly as she stood up to leave. Atheral opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, but no words cam out so Joey turned and left.
~*~
"Are you alright?" Legolas asked Joey, concerned. Joey had just literally bumped into him. She seemed to be troubled. "Is something wrong?" "No," Joey said a little too quickly. "Nothing is wrong. I just want to make sure I have everything packed for tomorrow." She nodded her head and went off in the direction of her room, leaving Legolas standing in the hallway. "Why do they always say nothing when there is something?" Legolas thought, making a mental note to keep his eye out for her.
~*~
That night, Joey couldn't help the urge to go back out to the enchanted forest again before she left to go to Imladris, to visit Glorfindel. He had left the same day he had arrived, but she promised to see him soon. She was looking up at the moon when she felt a tap on her shoulder that made her jump. She whirled around and found herself face to face with Atheral. "Good evening, milady," Atheral said with a smile. "A beautiful night, isn't it?" "It is," Joey agreed, growing uneasy again. "I should head back in to rest now, unfortunately. It will be an early day tomorrow. Goodnight," she said as she turned to leave, but Atheral caught her wrist and wrapped his arms around her. "Please, don't go," Atheral breathed into her ear. He pulled away to look at her, but didn't let go. He leaned in closer, but Joey turned her head and brought her arms up onto his chest to stop him from getting any closer. "Atheral, don't," Joey said, trying to reason with the elf. "We can be friends, but I don't feel the same for you," she said, looking him in the eyes. "I'm sorry." "I love you," Atheral said, leaning in again. "How can you say that?" Joey said as she pushed him away again. "We just met," she said, pulling away. She turned to leave again but he grabbed her arms and physically pushed her to a tree, leaving no room for her to escape. "No! I won't let you leave me!" Atheral said as he held onto the struggling part-elf. "Don't! No, Atheral," Joey said, fear in her eyes as she struggled under his powerful grip. A figure dropped down from the tree and pulled Atheral away, standing between him and Joey. "Don't touch her, Atheral," Legolas growled, glad he had decided to find Joey. Atheral looked at Joey, then Legolas, and back at Joey. "Is he the reason you refuse me?" Atheral asked, shocked. "What does he have that I do not?" "Don't be a fool, Atheral," Legolas said, his eyes flashing. "She is my friend and you tried to hurt her. As long as I breathe, I will not allow that. Let's go, Joey," he said taking her arm. He shot another look over at Atheral and led Joey away.
"Thank you," Joey whispered after Legolas had taken her back to her room. "Please, Joey, be careful," Legolas said with concern in his eyes. He hugged her and smiled after she nodded. She opened her door and went inside as Legolas took on last look and went to his room.
"You have healing powers, Joey," Galadriel said, shaking the part-elf out of her trance. "That is what the light from your hand was. You have the power to take away great pain, but at a price. Whenever you heal someone, you in turn will feel weary, or feel the pain yourself. Your magic is only effective for flesh wounds, and cannot heal the heart or cure poisons, but it is still useful." "Healing powers?" Joey said in a hollow voice. "First, I'm part-elf and now I have powers," she said as she stood up. "I'm sorry, but this is too much for me right now." "It is understandable, young one," Galadriel said, placing a soothing hand on Joey's shoulder. "Come, there is a room awaiting you." Galadriel led Joey out of the dining hall and own a corridor. She opened a door to one of the rooms and led Joey inside. "Get some sleep. Everything will be clearer in the morning." Joey nodded and said her thanks. Galadriel closed lightly and left Joey to think about everything that happened.
"Part-elf, and healing powers," Joey thought, suddenly tired. "Who am I? What am I?" A quiet knock sounded form the other side of the door and Joey turned to open it. Legolas stood on the other side, looking rather worried. "May I come in?" Legolas asked, uncertain of how Joey was feeling. Joey nodded and moved out of the way so the slender elf could get through. "Are you alright?" he asked, peering at her face for some sort of answer. Suddenly there was a fire in her eyes that made him jumped back slightly. "Why do you even bother to ask?" Joey snapped, her frustration taking over. "I just found out my grandfather is alive and an elf, which makes me part- elf and I have healing powers that I knew nothing about! How would you feel?" A fire similar to Joey's had now kindled in Legolas' eyes. "Is it shameful that your grandfather is an elf?" Legolas asked, his eyes flashing. "I didn't mean it like that!" Joey snapped back. "You don't get it do you?" Joey said the fire suddenly replaced by tears. "I don't even know who I am anymore," she said, the tears rolling down her cheeks. The look on Legolas' face softened when he realized that Joey was feeling lost and he felt horrible for losing his temper. "I am sorry, my friend," Legolas said, placing a hand on her sobbing shoulders. "I didn't mean to snap." "Who am I, Legolas?" Joey sobbed. "Where do I belong?" Legolas held her in his arms as she sobbed, feeling his heart break as he felt the pain she was going through. After a moment, he released her and placed a hand on her cheek, making her look him in the eyes. "You are Joey, my friend, granddaughter to Glorfindel," Legolas, not taking his eyes away from hers. "You will find where you belong. Perhaps you truly belong here, in this world," he said, looking thoughtful. "Are you happy here?" Joey though hard about what he had said and she smiled. "I am happy here," Joey said softly, thinking about all she'd seen already. "Then that is all you need, for now," Legolas said, giving her a warm smile. "Thank you, mellon nin," Joey said, hugging him again. "You're welcome," Legolas said, bowing his head slightly. "Get some rest now. I will see you in the morning." Joey nodded and they walked back towards the door. "Goodnight," Joey said softly in Sindarian, pausing at the door, a hand on the knob. "Goodnight," Legolas said, bowing his head again before turning to walk down the hall to his own room.
~*~
"Milady?" an unfamiliar voice called from the other side of the door. It was just past dawn, but Joey was already awake. "You may come in," Joey called from the table where she was fixing her hair. The door clicked open and there stood a strawberry blond-haired elf she didn't know. "My name is Atheral, milady," said the elf, who, though trying not to show it, was having a hard time taking his eyes off of her. She looked a lot like an elf, though she was obviously human as well. "Are you Joey?" "Yes, I am," Joey said. "Hello, Atheral," she said, giving him a warm smile that made Atheral's heart skip a beat. "Is there something you had to tell me?" "Yes, you're beautiful," Atheral thought. Instead, he said, "Breakfast is ready, milady," "Thank you," Joey said, getting up from her chair and walking out of her room with Atheral beside her.
~*~
"This place is truly beautiful," Joey thought. It was after breakfast and she had decided to take a walk through the forest alone. She stopped at the edge of a small river and sat down in the grass. She closed her eyes and used her ears and senses to hear the water running its course and the birds singing their songs. "Milady," a voice said from beside her. She opened her eyes and looked up to see Atheral looking down at her. He smiled and asked, "May I join you?" Joey nodded and Atheral sat down. They sat in silence for a while, listening to nature. "It's beautiful here," Joey commented, breaking the silence. She turned to look at Atheral and was surprised to see him staring intently back at her. "Yes, it is," Atheral said in a soft whisper. A gentle breeze picked up and blew a strand of Joey's hair across her face. He reached up to brush it away from her cheek, leaving his hand to linger there for a little longer than needed. "I should be heading back now," Joey said, pulling away. She was slightly uncomfortable with the attention from Atheral. "We are leaving tomorrow morning and I should make sure I've packed everything." She bowed her head slightly as she stood up to leave. Atheral opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, but no words cam out so Joey turned and left.
~*~
"Are you alright?" Legolas asked Joey, concerned. Joey had just literally bumped into him. She seemed to be troubled. "Is something wrong?" "No," Joey said a little too quickly. "Nothing is wrong. I just want to make sure I have everything packed for tomorrow." She nodded her head and went off in the direction of her room, leaving Legolas standing in the hallway. "Why do they always say nothing when there is something?" Legolas thought, making a mental note to keep his eye out for her.
~*~
That night, Joey couldn't help the urge to go back out to the enchanted forest again before she left to go to Imladris, to visit Glorfindel. He had left the same day he had arrived, but she promised to see him soon. She was looking up at the moon when she felt a tap on her shoulder that made her jump. She whirled around and found herself face to face with Atheral. "Good evening, milady," Atheral said with a smile. "A beautiful night, isn't it?" "It is," Joey agreed, growing uneasy again. "I should head back in to rest now, unfortunately. It will be an early day tomorrow. Goodnight," she said as she turned to leave, but Atheral caught her wrist and wrapped his arms around her. "Please, don't go," Atheral breathed into her ear. He pulled away to look at her, but didn't let go. He leaned in closer, but Joey turned her head and brought her arms up onto his chest to stop him from getting any closer. "Atheral, don't," Joey said, trying to reason with the elf. "We can be friends, but I don't feel the same for you," she said, looking him in the eyes. "I'm sorry." "I love you," Atheral said, leaning in again. "How can you say that?" Joey said as she pushed him away again. "We just met," she said, pulling away. She turned to leave again but he grabbed her arms and physically pushed her to a tree, leaving no room for her to escape. "No! I won't let you leave me!" Atheral said as he held onto the struggling part-elf. "Don't! No, Atheral," Joey said, fear in her eyes as she struggled under his powerful grip. A figure dropped down from the tree and pulled Atheral away, standing between him and Joey. "Don't touch her, Atheral," Legolas growled, glad he had decided to find Joey. Atheral looked at Joey, then Legolas, and back at Joey. "Is he the reason you refuse me?" Atheral asked, shocked. "What does he have that I do not?" "Don't be a fool, Atheral," Legolas said, his eyes flashing. "She is my friend and you tried to hurt her. As long as I breathe, I will not allow that. Let's go, Joey," he said taking her arm. He shot another look over at Atheral and led Joey away.
"Thank you," Joey whispered after Legolas had taken her back to her room. "Please, Joey, be careful," Legolas said with concern in his eyes. He hugged her and smiled after she nodded. She opened her door and went inside as Legolas took on last look and went to his room.