The trip to Rivendell merged into a blur in my mind though it took the
better part of two weeks. I remember rain, my buttocks aching from the
constant riding, my dress turning to an attention-grabbing shade of, how
shall I put this delicately, puke-green from constant wear, and Aragorn and
Legolas's steadfast presence. I knew they always had one eye on me at all
times, and as the time I spent in -where was I again? Middle Earth?
Mirkwood? Whatever- began to increase, I started to treasure minutes alone.
It's not like I didn't like them- well, Legolas I was beginning to feel a
strong surge of disdain for, but I just liked being alone.
So, obviously, I was very very very *etc* glad to see Rivendell come into view. I was definitely wary of who I was going to see there though, and how I would be treated once there. I still had no idea how I was going to get back home, but from the descriptions I was given of Elrond and this wizard like dude- who from his description, really reminded me of Dumbledore from Harry Potter- whose name was Gandalf, they were the smartest people around.
I was riding with Aragorn, as usual, when the sounds of a stream floated to my ears, and my eyes perked up. We were less than an hour from Rivendell, suposivedly. I swung around to Aragorn, who looked a little startled, and asked discreetly, "Is that a river?"
He shrugged, but curiosity sparkled in the depths of his eyes. "I think so...why?"
"Could we stop for a second?"
"Why?"
I wrinkled my nose. "You may not mind riding into whatever this place is with pounds of dirt on my body- but I do."
He chuckled. "As you wish."
"Princess Bride." I said immediately. He shook his head with a smile.
I found that whenever Legolas or Aragorn spoke, their quotes were often found in movies I loved. Aragorn had just quoted a line from the movie the Princess Bride. I had explained to them the first couple times when I randomly spoke the movie's names that there words were found in modern day blockbusters, but by now they knew what I was talking about.
Aragorn spoke to Legolas in elvish, while the elf frowned reluctantly but sighed and agreed, his blue eyes dark. I don't know why he hated me so much. I was trying not to care.
The cheerful blue stream trickled down through a clearing in the pleasant woods that bordered Rivendell, with a thick dark bush surrounding parts of the laughing brook. Some berries were beginning to come into season on the shady shrub, but it was still mostly bare. There were no visible animals nearby, save for a few birds in the towering trees above.
I glanced uneasily at the two men I was traveling with.
"You can leave now." I told them unceremoniously as I dismounted as gracefully as I could from my perch on the horse.
Legolas sighed, and as he dismounted, turned his back towards me and the stream. I was about to become offended, but then I realized he was just turning so he didn't see me, and rolled my eyes. He could have just walked away.
Aragorn did the same, and uneasily, I slowly stripped down to my lace bra and underwear. Glancing behind me apprehensively, I could hear them talking amongst themselves, but once again, it was in elvish.
I glanced at my body before stepping closer to the water. I had bruises on my calves from riding so much, but my muscles were firmer. My arms and shoulders were a dark tan, but where my strapless dress began on my chest, my tan line was vividly clashing and I rolled my eyes.
I peered hesitantly into the clear water, and slowly dipped a foot in. It was deeper than I expected, and I lurched in awkwardly, a huge splash of ice cold water enveloping my aching body as the water closed over my head.
I broke the surface and gasped for air, and glancing over towards Aragorn, I could tell by the way he was standing that he was laughing at my gracefully fall.
"Have a nice trip?" he asked jokingly as he heard me surface. I rolled my eyes.
"Shut up."
I tried to clean myself as quick as I could, my toes wringing in feminine delight as I was clean, thank God, once again. I put my hair up quickly, but made sure the bun was tight and neat before I quickly rose out of the water. The stream had been ice cold, and I shivered as goosebumps appeared on my arms and legs as the air met my body. I dressed quickly and then coughed to get there attention.
"Okay. I'm done."
-----------
Rivendell was a place that I could not describe. I don't think anyone really can.
Aragorn went ahead of us into the palace courtyard, and Legolas and I waited beside the horses. I was shivering uncontrollably, and though if anyone asked, I would have claimed it was just because I was cold but honestly- I was nervous beyond belief.
Legolas, with his uncanny sense of perceptiveness, for the first time since he caught me with his arrows, caught my eye and his gaze held nothing but reassurance.
"Don't worry," he whispered to me and he reached over and touched my arm gently. "It'll be fine."
I stared at him in shock, and unconsciously, drew my arm back. He looked intently back at my sudden movement, and pulled back quickly, his gaze quickly jerking to Strider, who was coming back with an older man at his side, and two younger men behind him. I stood up straighter, and forced my fists to unclench.
I could see at first glance that all of the people Strider had returned with were elves. All of their hair was much darker than Legolas's, and they all bore some resemblance to each other. The oldest one, who walked next to Estel, locked eyes with me for a moment and I caught my breath, looking to see the same disdain I saw in Legolas's eyes.
There was none.
"Child," he greeted me warmly, a curious smile on his face as he proceeded to clasp his hands in my own, nodding his head in a slight bow. His long hair cascaded down his back and his gentle gray eyes shone with interest and welcoming kindness. "I am Lord Elrond, Halfelven...Welcome to Rivendell."
I let my breath out slowly. "I'm Krystal," I said slowly, my eyes catching his again. "Thank you, I hope I won't be too much of an *extra burden*."
My words hit their mark and I saw out of the corner of my eye Legolas swing his head around to fix me with a withering glance. I ignored him, but a satisfied smirk settled itself firmly on my lips.
"Come, come, you're shivering, child! Come in, get warm, and then we shall have a discussion that I'm sure you're very looking forward to." Elrond said taking my hand and leading me into Rivendell. I glanced behind me uneasily at Strider, who shot me a grin, before I turned around and walked steadily in, my eyes wide as I stared at the large building, so elegantly built, yet I could see that living trees surged straight throughout the palace. It seemed as though they had built *around* the trees. Everything was detailed in an immaculate manner, yet the palace had a lived in look to it, a comfortable air suspended in the balance. Elrond paused for a moment at the two elves standing at the gate, who had accompanied out Strider.
"These are my sons, Elladan and Elrohir. My sons, this is Lady Krystal, our new guest."
The twins eyes became light with interest, as Elrohir smiled at me and Elladan shot me a grin. "I pray you haven't been too traumatized on your travels, with such...*rascals* as guides" Elladan said, his voice low, masking the hidden note of mirth.
My eyes widened as I caught the joke, and I burst out laughing in spite of myself at Legolas's rueful expression. "Aside from being tossed about on a horse for two weeks, wearing the most inappropriate shoes as I was dragged through the wilderness, and then being tied to a tree and held captive for a night...no lasting damage." I said lightly, before turning to Lord Elrond, whose knowing smile showed that Aragorn had already informed him of my less than lady like tendency to speak my mind.
Elrohir's eyes, however, widened and he bit his lip before bursting out laughing. "They tied you to a tree?" Elladan asked in shock between laughs, shooting Legolas and Aragorn a look.
Legolas shrugged. "She deserved it." He said tightly, before walking past us, roughly brushing my shoulder as he strode angrily past, the mood of lightheartedness evaporating.
Elrond sighed, and nodded slightly as everyone went quiet. "Come child. We have much to talk about."
So, obviously, I was very very very *etc* glad to see Rivendell come into view. I was definitely wary of who I was going to see there though, and how I would be treated once there. I still had no idea how I was going to get back home, but from the descriptions I was given of Elrond and this wizard like dude- who from his description, really reminded me of Dumbledore from Harry Potter- whose name was Gandalf, they were the smartest people around.
I was riding with Aragorn, as usual, when the sounds of a stream floated to my ears, and my eyes perked up. We were less than an hour from Rivendell, suposivedly. I swung around to Aragorn, who looked a little startled, and asked discreetly, "Is that a river?"
He shrugged, but curiosity sparkled in the depths of his eyes. "I think so...why?"
"Could we stop for a second?"
"Why?"
I wrinkled my nose. "You may not mind riding into whatever this place is with pounds of dirt on my body- but I do."
He chuckled. "As you wish."
"Princess Bride." I said immediately. He shook his head with a smile.
I found that whenever Legolas or Aragorn spoke, their quotes were often found in movies I loved. Aragorn had just quoted a line from the movie the Princess Bride. I had explained to them the first couple times when I randomly spoke the movie's names that there words were found in modern day blockbusters, but by now they knew what I was talking about.
Aragorn spoke to Legolas in elvish, while the elf frowned reluctantly but sighed and agreed, his blue eyes dark. I don't know why he hated me so much. I was trying not to care.
The cheerful blue stream trickled down through a clearing in the pleasant woods that bordered Rivendell, with a thick dark bush surrounding parts of the laughing brook. Some berries were beginning to come into season on the shady shrub, but it was still mostly bare. There were no visible animals nearby, save for a few birds in the towering trees above.
I glanced uneasily at the two men I was traveling with.
"You can leave now." I told them unceremoniously as I dismounted as gracefully as I could from my perch on the horse.
Legolas sighed, and as he dismounted, turned his back towards me and the stream. I was about to become offended, but then I realized he was just turning so he didn't see me, and rolled my eyes. He could have just walked away.
Aragorn did the same, and uneasily, I slowly stripped down to my lace bra and underwear. Glancing behind me apprehensively, I could hear them talking amongst themselves, but once again, it was in elvish.
I glanced at my body before stepping closer to the water. I had bruises on my calves from riding so much, but my muscles were firmer. My arms and shoulders were a dark tan, but where my strapless dress began on my chest, my tan line was vividly clashing and I rolled my eyes.
I peered hesitantly into the clear water, and slowly dipped a foot in. It was deeper than I expected, and I lurched in awkwardly, a huge splash of ice cold water enveloping my aching body as the water closed over my head.
I broke the surface and gasped for air, and glancing over towards Aragorn, I could tell by the way he was standing that he was laughing at my gracefully fall.
"Have a nice trip?" he asked jokingly as he heard me surface. I rolled my eyes.
"Shut up."
I tried to clean myself as quick as I could, my toes wringing in feminine delight as I was clean, thank God, once again. I put my hair up quickly, but made sure the bun was tight and neat before I quickly rose out of the water. The stream had been ice cold, and I shivered as goosebumps appeared on my arms and legs as the air met my body. I dressed quickly and then coughed to get there attention.
"Okay. I'm done."
-----------
Rivendell was a place that I could not describe. I don't think anyone really can.
Aragorn went ahead of us into the palace courtyard, and Legolas and I waited beside the horses. I was shivering uncontrollably, and though if anyone asked, I would have claimed it was just because I was cold but honestly- I was nervous beyond belief.
Legolas, with his uncanny sense of perceptiveness, for the first time since he caught me with his arrows, caught my eye and his gaze held nothing but reassurance.
"Don't worry," he whispered to me and he reached over and touched my arm gently. "It'll be fine."
I stared at him in shock, and unconsciously, drew my arm back. He looked intently back at my sudden movement, and pulled back quickly, his gaze quickly jerking to Strider, who was coming back with an older man at his side, and two younger men behind him. I stood up straighter, and forced my fists to unclench.
I could see at first glance that all of the people Strider had returned with were elves. All of their hair was much darker than Legolas's, and they all bore some resemblance to each other. The oldest one, who walked next to Estel, locked eyes with me for a moment and I caught my breath, looking to see the same disdain I saw in Legolas's eyes.
There was none.
"Child," he greeted me warmly, a curious smile on his face as he proceeded to clasp his hands in my own, nodding his head in a slight bow. His long hair cascaded down his back and his gentle gray eyes shone with interest and welcoming kindness. "I am Lord Elrond, Halfelven...Welcome to Rivendell."
I let my breath out slowly. "I'm Krystal," I said slowly, my eyes catching his again. "Thank you, I hope I won't be too much of an *extra burden*."
My words hit their mark and I saw out of the corner of my eye Legolas swing his head around to fix me with a withering glance. I ignored him, but a satisfied smirk settled itself firmly on my lips.
"Come, come, you're shivering, child! Come in, get warm, and then we shall have a discussion that I'm sure you're very looking forward to." Elrond said taking my hand and leading me into Rivendell. I glanced behind me uneasily at Strider, who shot me a grin, before I turned around and walked steadily in, my eyes wide as I stared at the large building, so elegantly built, yet I could see that living trees surged straight throughout the palace. It seemed as though they had built *around* the trees. Everything was detailed in an immaculate manner, yet the palace had a lived in look to it, a comfortable air suspended in the balance. Elrond paused for a moment at the two elves standing at the gate, who had accompanied out Strider.
"These are my sons, Elladan and Elrohir. My sons, this is Lady Krystal, our new guest."
The twins eyes became light with interest, as Elrohir smiled at me and Elladan shot me a grin. "I pray you haven't been too traumatized on your travels, with such...*rascals* as guides" Elladan said, his voice low, masking the hidden note of mirth.
My eyes widened as I caught the joke, and I burst out laughing in spite of myself at Legolas's rueful expression. "Aside from being tossed about on a horse for two weeks, wearing the most inappropriate shoes as I was dragged through the wilderness, and then being tied to a tree and held captive for a night...no lasting damage." I said lightly, before turning to Lord Elrond, whose knowing smile showed that Aragorn had already informed him of my less than lady like tendency to speak my mind.
Elrohir's eyes, however, widened and he bit his lip before bursting out laughing. "They tied you to a tree?" Elladan asked in shock between laughs, shooting Legolas and Aragorn a look.
Legolas shrugged. "She deserved it." He said tightly, before walking past us, roughly brushing my shoulder as he strode angrily past, the mood of lightheartedness evaporating.
Elrond sighed, and nodded slightly as everyone went quiet. "Come child. We have much to talk about."