Okay, so a funny thing happened. If you read my rant about my sucky life from the last post you'd know that our car got stolen. Well, as it turns out, the next morning my mom got a call from the police and they had this little story to tell us.
While my mom and brother were in the E.R. an old woman was there with her husband, but her husband died that night. (That's not funny, it's just part of the story.) Anyway, after he died the police took the old woman home, leaving her car there, which was also a gray 1990 Toyota Camry, just like ours. When she got home she called up her nephew and asked him to go pick up her car. Well, when he got to the parking lot he went to the first gray Camry he saw and, low and behold, the key worked.
He took it home, filled up the absolutely empty gas tank, changed the oil, cleaned the inside, and washed the outside. He takes it to his aunts the next day, she takes one look at it and says… *dramatic music plays* 'That's not my car.'
I was ours. One in every five keys belonging to a Toyota Camry will work in our car. All cars are that way. It saves on creativity. So, they called the police and told them what happened and we got our car back in better condition than when we lost it. *grins*
Thank you to everyone who sent their condolences on my sucky life. I'll try not to bother you with it in the future, though I have been given permission. *waves at LegolasLover2003*
Sorry for my ramblings.
Responses to my wonderful reviewers -
Ellenilor - No apologies needed. (you did spell it right *grins*)
Coolio02 - Really? Hmm… Cool! Lol. Thank you for the review!
silvertoekee - I thought the blood was a little dramatic but I really liked it, so I'm glad to hear you did too!
grumpy - Thank you! Getting their personalities right was a big issue for me. I mean, I know Legolas is like, waaay off target, but there's a reason for that.
MG87 - Really? You mean that? Wow. I feel so loved. Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews (and the ones to come *hint hint*), they always make me feel very special. *grins*
LegolasLover2003 - Glad to oblige, and yes I'm mad at Elrond as well. lol. As for my next story, well my muses are not so inclined to give me more than one story at a time, so the next one will not be up until after this one is finished. When that is I do not know. And you want our dear Ranger-to-be and most beloved Elf to talk you say? Well, read on dear reviewer, read on. *grins evilly*
" Memories of Ilithien "
Chapter 4 - Clever Hunter
Lindelen sent a prayer to the Valar as his horse pounded across the plains between Mirkwood and the Misty Mountains. His father, King Thranduil, had received a message three days ago from Lord Elrond saying that his youngest son, Lindelen's brother, was in grave trouble.
The oldest son of the king new well that his little brother grieved for his beloved, it had aggrieved all the inhabitants at Mirkwood's palace to learn of her death for she had been a great friend to them all for years beyond measure. And Lindelen worried now that his brother's grief was beyond what they had thought.
He had left the convoy sent for the youngest prince 2 days ago, setting out on his own, hoping to reach his brother before it was too late. He knew that the horse that carried him was being taxed further than he should have been. But Elven horses were strong, and Lindelen dared not stop now.
***
Estel could hear the angry footfalls of the elf prince through the door. He had been pacing for hours now, marching back and forth, cursing in ways that the young human had not even heard from his older brothers. The Silvan prince let out a roar of rage and Estel cringed when he heard something come to a smashing end against one of the bedroom walls.
"Make him stop." Estel pleaded with the tall, blonde elf behind him. "He'll destroy the entire room."
"With just cause." The elf bit back, his words coming out harsher than he intended. For he did not approve of the way Lord Elrond was treating his prince. Locking him in his room like an animal; ordering the prince to stay put like he were a slave.
"He'll be killed." Estel said once again as he leaned against the wall in the hallway outside the prince's room. "His emotions run too deep for him to keep a level head in battle."
"And they run too deep as well to keep him locked in his room while his betrothed's murderer's wander the lands free." Avarilas said, giving the young human a pointed look. Though he did not hold the same loathing for Human's as his lord did, he still found them to be a young and insufferable race.
"It is for his own good." Estel sighed, knowing that his foster father was right in keeping the prince at Imladris while he and his best warriors tracked down the orcs that killed Ilithien.
"Perhaps." The elf said slowly. "But think of this, human. It pains you greatly that your father denied you to come with them. Ilithien was very dear to you and you wish to avenge her death. You have loved her for thirteen years." He cast the human one last knowing look before turning and walking away, a final comment assailing Estel's ears like a drum, "But my prince has loved her for a thousand."
*
Estel peered around the door to the prince's room, much like he had done with his father's 2 weeks ago. But this time he took such caution in fear.
The angry pacing and livid curses had abruptly stopped, causing Estel to fear for the prince's well being. But though his desire to help Legolas overwhelmed it, it did not quite squelch the fear of the fuming elf. Growing up in Rivendell had proven time and again that it was folly to get in the way of an angry elf.
"You are either very stupid or very brave to enter this room, human." A cold voice hissed from the bed in the center of the room. "My guess would have to be the first."
"You are safer here." Estel said softly, entering the room completely but blocking the door from any escape attempts.
"You think I care at all for my own safety?" Legolas growled, glaring at the frightened human. "All light has left my life. I would welcome death, should it come to me. I wish only to avenge the death of my love."
"My father will destroy the orcs for what they have done. You need not put yourself in peril." Estel assured the elf. Looking at him now, Estel could barely recognize the prince for what he was.
His icy blue eyes were dull with torment, his normally flawless hair was tangled and knotted around his face, and it looked as if he had slept in his clothes for weeks. The natural glow that surround all of the Eldar was all but gone from his presence, replacing it instead was an invisible cloud of sorrow that settled around the prince and wrapped him in its mocking grasp.
Estel was jolted from his thoughts by a contemptuous laugh that came from the elf. "You have no father." Legolas hissed, his eyes narrowing to irate slits, his lips curling up in a sneer. The elf stood and walked over to Estel, glaring at him with a superiority and hatred only the Elves could possess.
"Your father was too weak to stay on this earth." Legolas moved slowly around the room, taking in the piles of broken glass and pottery that had landed on the floor after leaving scornful dents in the walls. He turned back towards Estel, contempt rising off him like steam from a boiling pot.
"His pathetic human life was not worthy of survival, so the powers that be took him from the earth to save it of the disgrace of having created such a creature. It is simply by pity that Elrond keeps you here, for you, child, are no more worthy of staying in the halls of elves than a dog is of eating at a king's table." The prince sneered at Estel, his eyes burning with hatred and cruelty.
Estel returned the glare, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill at the elf's harsh words. He reached behind his back and grasped the handle of the door, swinging it open, letting it crash into the wall with a bang.
"Go to your death." He whispered, his words laced with pain and loathing. Legolas did not hesitate, grabbing his weapons and sliding out the door, dashing down the halls towards the road he knew the warriors took.
***
Legolas ran outside the grounds of Rivendell, following the trail of the orcs as they fled back to their home. Just days before he had not been able even to move from his bed as the grief of Ilithien's death tore at his soul and destroyed him quickly, yet so agonizingly slow; like a dwarves pick, chipping away at the hard stone of a mountain, spelling out it's doom with every blow, but also laughing at the slow, tormenting death it promised.
But with the news of the orcs trail he had regained his strength ten fold, fueled by anger and hatred, by the need for vengeance and the blood of the foul creatures to stain the ground; for their cries of agony to fill the air as he ripped their lives away as they had done to his beloved.
And now as he ran he allowed the anger, the pain, the hatred to fill his every being; to seep into the cracks of his soul and drive him onward, towards vengeance, blood, and death. Towards peace.
For now he could only find peace in death. Whether it be his own, or that of the creature's that had taken his love, his very light, from the earth. He cared not which it was at this point, he only ran on, a hunter longing for blood.
~
"Legolas?" Ilithien called out into the forest, peering through the thick veil of trees, searching for the well known shape of her beloved. "Legolas, where are you?"
'Come find me.' The trees seemed to whisper to her.
She laughed and started forward, her sparkling eyes penetrating the blanket of tree boughs and moss, searching for the unsaid secrets the whispers had held.
Feet falling silently to the forest floor, she moved ever onward, the trees leading her ever closer to her target, first here, then there, then so close she could almost touch him, the very presence of her love pulling her farther in to the heart of the forest. Finally she stopped, her eyes sliding closed, a smile forming across her delicate lips.
"Hirle nin sennui, finie feredir." Ilithien whispered, turning to find the gentle face of her love staring down at her, so close his breath became hers and hers, his. ("You have found me instead, clever hunter.")
"Alim turmara nahaeron o le annan." He whispered back, his hands find her waist, gently pulling her closer still. ("I could not bear to be apart from you any longer.")
"Trenari nin lín thurin." She sighed softly. And he caught her lips in a kiss. ("Tell me your secret.")
~
*
Estel raced across the plain beside Avarilas, cursing his own stupidity at ever letting that accursed elf get to him. 'I should have known he was just goading me on to get me to let him out. How could I have fallen for something so simple?'
But he stumbled then, his thoughts leaving him as he righted himself and sped on, concentrating instead on the ground beneath his feet, praying that they would reach the prince before he reached the orcs.
To Be Continued…
Lots and lots of reviews make me lots and lots happier. *scowls at my own bad grammar* And here I call myself a writer. *shrugs* Do you like my O.C.? I'm hoping he will show up every now and then in my stories. I've never really had my very own character. *hugs Lindelen* I like him. :) And I know, I know Legolas' character is waaay off. But like I told 'grumpy', there's a reason for that. I mean, come on. He's going crazy. That should be obvious. The blood, the seeing red, the icy breath. He's crazy. *ducks* Please don't shoot me for butchering Tolkien's beloved character. I'll fix him I promise!! *whispers behind hands* maybe…
Until next time!
Adrienne