I hear a knock at the door and make my way to it, still reading. I open the
door inattentively, finish the paragraph and look up. It's Legolas. "Hi,
just wait until I find a bookmark. Please, come in." I walk over to the
small table, and rummage in its drawer. I hear Legolas shut the door, and I
presume he follows me. "Ah, found one." I retrieve a slip of paper and
place it in the book, marking my place. "Well, shall we go to dinner?"
"Milady, you are.beautiful. You rival Arwen herself." I turn around and shake my head at him.
"Don't be silly. Are we going or not?" He bows to me and takes my hand, kisses it. Legolas is a wolf. Note to self, do not be alone with Legolas again. "Good apology. Let's go." I withdraw my hand and sweep out of the room. Legolas follows me. I frown as I look up and down the corridor. "Where are we going anyway?"
"This way, milady." Legolas takes my hand and leads me down the corridor. I hear the sounds of conversation and walk faster. We enter a large room, which at the other end has two guards standing by a large archway. Through it, I can see people dancing and tables with people at them. I sniff hungrily, the food smells good. Legolas looks down at me smiling. " I am Legolas, son of Thranduil, a Prince of Mirkwood. My companion is Lady Caitlyn, of lands unknown. " Legolas says to them in Elfish. I hope that it's not something unflattering. The guards bow, and turn and announce us, first in Elfish, then in Common.
Legolas and I enter. I smile brightly at the assembled Elves. I resist the urge to wave and blow kisses. Legolas escorts me to where Elrond is sitting, Legolas bows, and I dip a minimum curtsey. Elrond smiles slightly. He stands up and gestures to the room for silence.
"Today, we welcome new friends and old, old rivals and new allies. Welcome to Rivendell, everyone here tonight. There are several new faces around our tables, and ones we have not seen for many a year. I extend a particular welcome to the Dwarves, the Men of Gondor, the Elves of Mirkwood, the Hobbits and Lady Caitlyn. Now let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow is another day." Elrond sits back down in his chair and turns and talks to a tall powerful looking male Elf standing behind his chair.
"That is Glorfindel, Elrond's councilor. He is very wise and powerful." Legolas whispers in my ear as he leads me to the two empty seats on the High Table. He draws a chair out for me, and I demurely sit.
"Thank you Legolas." I glance around at the table and smile with pleasure as I see the Hobbits. Frodo is being inconspicuous, but I think that Pippin and Merry are getting smashed. Sam is ignoring them both and fussing over Frodo. "Hey Hobbits!" I wave at them. Legolas sits next to me with a sigh. They wave back, Frodo discreetly, Pippin and Merry with large gestures and Sam with a shy smile. Who is else is here? Boromir, Dwarves, who are probably Gimli and Gloin, Elladan and Elrohir. They keep looking at me, and then looking away guiltily. Boromir looks very unhappy and out of place. The Dwarves look worse.
A server places a goblet in front of me and pours in what looks like water, but smells like flowers and wine. I cautiously taste it, and then take a deeper swallow as the flavor hits my taste buds. It is deeply refreshing. Legolas puts a hand over the top of the goblet. "Hey!"
"Go easy on that. It's stronger then you think. Eat something."
I nod crossly. "All right. Know it all Elf." I mumble under my breath.
"True though, in this case. Eat." Legolas spears a tidbit of food with his knife and waves it in front of me.
"Get that out of my face. I can feed myself, you know. I was just thirsty." I look down at the table top for a knife or fork. I pick up the knife at the side of my plate and start to cut up and eat the food on my plate. I don't know what it is, but it's awful nice.
"Thirsty? You should drink water then, not wine. Especially if you aren't used to it."
"Be quiet annoying Elf. I can take care of myself. But I do need you to teach me archery."
"I am sure that Lord Elrond would find someone here in Rivendell to teach you.
"Won't be in Rivendell." I mumble around a piece of food. I swallow. "We're going on a quest, mission, thingy. And yes, that includes you. Eight other people are coming. I mess up the numbers to make ten, instead of nine. So you'll have plenty of time to teach me archery. And Boromir has already promised to teach me swordplay." I glance at Legolas. He looks dumbstruck. "Oh get over it. You don't think you came to Rivendell merely to tell Elrond about Gollum escaping."
"How did you know that?"
"I know lots of stuff, like one and one equals two. I'm a smart girl." I sip my wine, and watch the dancers. I would like to join them.
"Do you wish to dance?"
"Yes! But I don't know how." I look sadly at his outstretched hand, as he stands up.
"I'm sure you'll be fine. Come on." I sigh, and take his hand, and he draws me smoothly out of my chair. I see Boromir frown and gulp down what is in his goblet. I walk down with Legolas to the dance floor and take my place with the other couples. I can see several Elven maidens staring at me with hate, or at least envy. Legolas guides me through the dance steps, and to my amazement I do all right.
"Hey, this is fun!" I grin up at him. "But these skirts are a shockin' 'orrible nuisance, so they are!" I fuss as I disentangle myself again. Stupid skirts! Am so glad that I don't have to wear skirts all the time. But it is nice to dress up once in a while. Could I manage to take this dress home with me for my year 12 formal? I'd give it a real good try, it'd be free for one thing and it makes me look like a dream. Or something out of a Mills and Boone, but that's not the point. I feel a tap on my shoulder and twist my head around. Hello, it's Elladan. I frown at him. He's not in my good books. Legolas picks up on my bad vibes and frowns too. "Yes?"
"May my brother and I have the pleasure of conversation with you, Lady Caitlyn?" Elladan asks in a rushed stream of words. The dance is ending and Legolas and I are standing still in then position of a waltz type step. Except Legolas' hand is slipping below the waist. I step out of the pose, sigh, and follow Elladan. I wave goodbye to Legolas, and sparing half a glimpse over my shoulder see him inundated with pretty maidens. Honestly.
I follow the twins out of the hall, fuming. I want to talk with Boromir. I lean against the wall and stare coldly at them. They squirm. "Well?" My voice could double as a fridge on its time off.
Elrohir coughs. "Ah, we want to apologize."
"So you should. I wonder what Aragorn would think?" I tap my chin thoughtfully. "Even more entertaining then that, I wonder what your father would think, hmmm?"
"Please, Cat." Here I interrupt.
"I did tell you that only people I liked could call me Cat." They seem to shrink. "But if you're really, really nice I guess I could forgive you. And not tell anyone." I smile at their relived expressions. "Good. Now, shall we go back inside? I bet that those maidens are massacring Legolas. You should help him, hey?" I suddenly giggle and stick my tongue out at them. "Come on." I link my arms with theirs and urge them back inside.
"Milady, you are.beautiful. You rival Arwen herself." I turn around and shake my head at him.
"Don't be silly. Are we going or not?" He bows to me and takes my hand, kisses it. Legolas is a wolf. Note to self, do not be alone with Legolas again. "Good apology. Let's go." I withdraw my hand and sweep out of the room. Legolas follows me. I frown as I look up and down the corridor. "Where are we going anyway?"
"This way, milady." Legolas takes my hand and leads me down the corridor. I hear the sounds of conversation and walk faster. We enter a large room, which at the other end has two guards standing by a large archway. Through it, I can see people dancing and tables with people at them. I sniff hungrily, the food smells good. Legolas looks down at me smiling. " I am Legolas, son of Thranduil, a Prince of Mirkwood. My companion is Lady Caitlyn, of lands unknown. " Legolas says to them in Elfish. I hope that it's not something unflattering. The guards bow, and turn and announce us, first in Elfish, then in Common.
Legolas and I enter. I smile brightly at the assembled Elves. I resist the urge to wave and blow kisses. Legolas escorts me to where Elrond is sitting, Legolas bows, and I dip a minimum curtsey. Elrond smiles slightly. He stands up and gestures to the room for silence.
"Today, we welcome new friends and old, old rivals and new allies. Welcome to Rivendell, everyone here tonight. There are several new faces around our tables, and ones we have not seen for many a year. I extend a particular welcome to the Dwarves, the Men of Gondor, the Elves of Mirkwood, the Hobbits and Lady Caitlyn. Now let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow is another day." Elrond sits back down in his chair and turns and talks to a tall powerful looking male Elf standing behind his chair.
"That is Glorfindel, Elrond's councilor. He is very wise and powerful." Legolas whispers in my ear as he leads me to the two empty seats on the High Table. He draws a chair out for me, and I demurely sit.
"Thank you Legolas." I glance around at the table and smile with pleasure as I see the Hobbits. Frodo is being inconspicuous, but I think that Pippin and Merry are getting smashed. Sam is ignoring them both and fussing over Frodo. "Hey Hobbits!" I wave at them. Legolas sits next to me with a sigh. They wave back, Frodo discreetly, Pippin and Merry with large gestures and Sam with a shy smile. Who is else is here? Boromir, Dwarves, who are probably Gimli and Gloin, Elladan and Elrohir. They keep looking at me, and then looking away guiltily. Boromir looks very unhappy and out of place. The Dwarves look worse.
A server places a goblet in front of me and pours in what looks like water, but smells like flowers and wine. I cautiously taste it, and then take a deeper swallow as the flavor hits my taste buds. It is deeply refreshing. Legolas puts a hand over the top of the goblet. "Hey!"
"Go easy on that. It's stronger then you think. Eat something."
I nod crossly. "All right. Know it all Elf." I mumble under my breath.
"True though, in this case. Eat." Legolas spears a tidbit of food with his knife and waves it in front of me.
"Get that out of my face. I can feed myself, you know. I was just thirsty." I look down at the table top for a knife or fork. I pick up the knife at the side of my plate and start to cut up and eat the food on my plate. I don't know what it is, but it's awful nice.
"Thirsty? You should drink water then, not wine. Especially if you aren't used to it."
"Be quiet annoying Elf. I can take care of myself. But I do need you to teach me archery."
"I am sure that Lord Elrond would find someone here in Rivendell to teach you.
"Won't be in Rivendell." I mumble around a piece of food. I swallow. "We're going on a quest, mission, thingy. And yes, that includes you. Eight other people are coming. I mess up the numbers to make ten, instead of nine. So you'll have plenty of time to teach me archery. And Boromir has already promised to teach me swordplay." I glance at Legolas. He looks dumbstruck. "Oh get over it. You don't think you came to Rivendell merely to tell Elrond about Gollum escaping."
"How did you know that?"
"I know lots of stuff, like one and one equals two. I'm a smart girl." I sip my wine, and watch the dancers. I would like to join them.
"Do you wish to dance?"
"Yes! But I don't know how." I look sadly at his outstretched hand, as he stands up.
"I'm sure you'll be fine. Come on." I sigh, and take his hand, and he draws me smoothly out of my chair. I see Boromir frown and gulp down what is in his goblet. I walk down with Legolas to the dance floor and take my place with the other couples. I can see several Elven maidens staring at me with hate, or at least envy. Legolas guides me through the dance steps, and to my amazement I do all right.
"Hey, this is fun!" I grin up at him. "But these skirts are a shockin' 'orrible nuisance, so they are!" I fuss as I disentangle myself again. Stupid skirts! Am so glad that I don't have to wear skirts all the time. But it is nice to dress up once in a while. Could I manage to take this dress home with me for my year 12 formal? I'd give it a real good try, it'd be free for one thing and it makes me look like a dream. Or something out of a Mills and Boone, but that's not the point. I feel a tap on my shoulder and twist my head around. Hello, it's Elladan. I frown at him. He's not in my good books. Legolas picks up on my bad vibes and frowns too. "Yes?"
"May my brother and I have the pleasure of conversation with you, Lady Caitlyn?" Elladan asks in a rushed stream of words. The dance is ending and Legolas and I are standing still in then position of a waltz type step. Except Legolas' hand is slipping below the waist. I step out of the pose, sigh, and follow Elladan. I wave goodbye to Legolas, and sparing half a glimpse over my shoulder see him inundated with pretty maidens. Honestly.
I follow the twins out of the hall, fuming. I want to talk with Boromir. I lean against the wall and stare coldly at them. They squirm. "Well?" My voice could double as a fridge on its time off.
Elrohir coughs. "Ah, we want to apologize."
"So you should. I wonder what Aragorn would think?" I tap my chin thoughtfully. "Even more entertaining then that, I wonder what your father would think, hmmm?"
"Please, Cat." Here I interrupt.
"I did tell you that only people I liked could call me Cat." They seem to shrink. "But if you're really, really nice I guess I could forgive you. And not tell anyone." I smile at their relived expressions. "Good. Now, shall we go back inside? I bet that those maidens are massacring Legolas. You should help him, hey?" I suddenly giggle and stick my tongue out at them. "Come on." I link my arms with theirs and urge them back inside.