The Art of Deception
ToE: psst! Elladan! Is it safe out?
Elladan: *looks around at the angry reviewers all holding large objects* Yup! ^_^
ToE: *steps out of hiding place* whew…I thought they were gonna kill—*dodges a rather large mirror thrown at head* O_O ELLADAN!!!!! You big meanie!!!! You said that it was safe! *runs back to hiding place*
Elladan: *sighs disappointedly* I was hoping that one would hit her…
SORRY SO MUCH FOR TAKING SO LONG!!!!
Disclaimer: don't own it, obviously.
Chapter Thirteen: Tala Root
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Aria's POV (first person)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I stared at myself hard in the mirror.
Lifting a finger, I pointed to my reflection and said, "You. Are. An. Idiot."
Whirling away from the mirror, not so quickly as to hurt my arm, I began pacing the room. Legolas had left shortly after lunch, excusing himself politely, of course. He said something about Lord Elrond, but that was all I caught.
What was I thinking, going and telling Legolas (I'm still convincing myself that he really is the real thing) all about my parents. I mean, I know he couldn't understand what I was saying, but what if he remembered when we actually could communicate?
Oh come on, I mentally scoffed. No one can remember a conversation in another language that they don't even know.
Well, Legolas is an Elf, I reminded myself.
And even if he doesn't remember…He's almost a complete stranger! I can't believe what I did!
And now I'm contradicting myself! What happened to, "I wanna trust someone,"? What happened to "This is a new beginning,"? God damn, I don't make any sense! Plopping down on a bed, though not as hard as I would've liked, I let out a huge sigh.
Why was I like this today, anyway? I have never been this emotional since my parents became psychos. Emotions were always better bottled up inside. There, they only bothered you and no one else, which meant less pain during lessons. There, they meant that you could hide them during the day and stay your normal self.
Now that I come to think of it, I had been feeling strange ever since I woke up. One moment, I felt like sobbing my heart out, the next, laughing my ass off. What the hell was wrong with me? Did they poison me?
Oh, come one Aria! my mind shouted. That's a little too suspicious even for you! Great, now I'm becoming delusional too (though I might already be insane). Sighing once again, I buried my face in the soft pillow, trying to focus my mind on something else.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Omniscient POV~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: just assume everything's being said in Elvish until I say otherwise.
"Pardon me, my lady. I must leave you for a short time to discuss some matters with Lord Elrond," Legolas said politely with a bow. Aria smiled and waved, still sitting at the now clear table as he walked out of the room. "Watch after Lady Aria while I am not here. If she leaves, see where she is going but if it is only to the privy, do not wait for her there. We do not want to make our guest uncomfortable," he instructed two guards outside the door."
"Of course, your highness," they replied obediently. Satisfied, Legolas strode away, making his way to Lord Elrond's quarters.
Though his expression didn't show it, Legolas was troubled. He still remembered vividly the bitterness of Aria's tone as she spoke of something he could not understand. She had looked so solemn, so serious, as if she were imparting a major secret to him. She's so young, he pondered. What could have happened to her that she should be so bitter? And yet she changes. She seems so happy and cheerful when I see her, the true innocent that she should be at that age…and yet, yet…
He wondered if those emotions were just side-effects, recalling the words of Lord Elrond. "…Be very careful with her for the next few days, Legolas. The antidote of that poison contains tala root.
"Tala root, my lord?" Legolas questioned, puzzled.
"Yes, young prince. It is an herb used by seers to heighten spiritual awareness in hopes of receiving a vision. However, for one without the Sight, it contains some rather unusual side effects. Her emotions will probably run higher than normal, with more outbursts or strong feelings. At the worst, she may even experience delusions, or in some special cases, even a vision or two. She might jump to conclusions very quickly on some subjects, and her thoughts will not be as clear. But it is not dangerous, normally. Just watch her more closely than you normally would for the next few days, until the side-effects wear off."
Was that just an emotion that had been pent up for too long? Perhaps just a trivial matter that I am overthinking too much, he mused. But… He tried to remember the sounds of what she had said. A few were clear to him, the rest just a jumble of words he did not understand.
His thoughts were cut off by a sickly sweet voice calling out, "Why, Prince Legolas!"
Legolas froze. He recognized that voice. His eyes searched for an escape route, but suddenly, the voice was right behind him.
"Prince Legolas!" the voice said again, a whine beginning to find its way into the tone.
Ah, Legolas lamented, where is my speed and agility now? He turned around, bowing and saying politely, "Lady Celóndra." Facing him was a young Elven maiden. She was beautiful, her hair long and dark, falling down her back. Her eyes mirrored the green forest. A perfect figure along with porcelain skin and rosy lips that were often in a pout made her irresistible to any male. And many would have had her had she not been so intent on claiming the youngest prince of Mirkwood as her husband.
When Legolas had first met her, he had been entranced, her beauty rivaling even that of the Evenstar's. But after a few sessions of endless fluttering eyelashes and coy smiles, combined with a mean-spirited personality, he had been quick enough to stay away. However, she still pursued him with an iron will, and try as he might, he could not avoid her.
"My prince," she pouted, "barely anyone has seen you for days! Where have you been?"
"I have had matters to attend to, my lady. Forgive my absence," Legolas replied courteously, though he was inwardly wishing that someone would walk by and rescue him from the current situation. No doubt she would ask him if he was attending the ball tonight.
Fortunately, she did not pursue that topic yet. "Matters, my prince?" she asked sweetly. "Are the rumors true that you found a woman while hunting orcs?"
Legolas didn't miss the emphasis on the words 'woman.' Nor did he miss the slight disdain with which she said those words or the suddenly primal flash of anger in those green eyes. He considered his reply carefully. "I am not aware of what the rumors speak of, my lady, but I did find a human girl. She was seriously injured."
"But Prince Legolas," she continued, whining, "why must you spend all your time with that…that…woman?!"
"My lady," Legolas began—Elbereth give me patience, he thought—, "Because it was I who found her, it is my responsibility to care for her until she is well and may communicate with other humans. She does not speak any language known to us."
For a moment, all of Lady Celóndra's emotions were evident on her face. Anger, rage, hatred, jealousy. But, as was the ability of all Elves, they were gone in an instant. She put on a sweet smile, speaking in a sugar-coated tone that seemed somewhat poisoned, "Then, my prince, she absolutely must attend the feast tonight to experience Mirkwood's finest hospitality. And of course, I shall sit next to the young woman to show her just how friendly we Elves of Mirkwood can be. I shall see you at the ball tonight, my prince." She curtsied prettily, with another sweet smile, and took her leave before Legolas could utter a single word of protest.
Legolas just stood there for a moment, before shaking his head and walking off to try to find Lord Elrond, whom he had promised to report to about his patient's condition. His mind, however, was preoccupied. He would need to find more gowns for Aria, since Lady Celóndra would probably have told everyone by now that there "dear new visitor" was going to the feast. It would not make a good impression on the Elves of Mirkwood, who were rather suspicious by nature because of the environment in which they lived, if she did not show up. And since Legolas was currently acting the part of protector and teacher, he would have to attend by default. He sighed, shaking his head a little. There was no getting out of attending the feast now.
He continued on his way to Lord Elrond's chambers, one more worry added to his growing list.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Aria turned over, staring at the ceiling. She had been lying on the bed for perhaps five minutes. Her arm was gently cradled in a pillow, though it did not pain her currently. She was forcing herself to think about the issues she had been avoiding. She stared into space as her thoughts raced inside her head.
Where do my parents think I've gone? Do they think I've run away? She shook her head. Surely they would not expect me to abandon Johnny!
Why did you leave me, Ari?
Oh God. An overwhelming sense of guilt, which had been growing in her mind for the past day, seemed to completely envelope her. She had left him, left the brother that she had sworn to protect. Left him to their parents. What would they do to him now that she was not there? Would he be the next person they wanted to "train"?
No, she thought fiercely, I will not give myself up to this guilt. If I do, I am of no use to anyone. Wallowing in guilt will help no more than wallowing in self-misery. I need to think of a way to get back. How do I get back? By now, it's obvious that I am in no place I've ever heard of or seen.
Aria sighed, closing her eyes. Against her will, the images from that day flashed before her closed eyelids. School. Arriving home. Finding Johnny. Packing everything. Leading Johnny to the front door. Her parents, in black robes, bursting in.
Her father came first, dressed in a what looked like a black bathrobe. In instant reflex, she hurled one of her daggers. But this was not in practice. This was real, deadly earnest. It plunged into his chest, and he staggered. With a look of surprise, he crumpled to the ground.
Aria's eyes snapped open at once and she sat up abruptly.
I killed my father.
She shivered, but not because it was cold in any way. She was horrified at herself. She had never really reflected upon what she had done yet, and this reflection shocked her.
No, she was not shocked that she had killed a person, her own father at that. Though no true father would ever act like that, she thought bitterly.
She was horrified that she had no feelings on that subject matter.
She did not feel disgust at killing. She did not regret what she did. She felt…nothing. Have I truly become such a cold-blooded human being? she wondered, chills running down her spine. Am I so far gone now that I do not even have feelings about killing? She searched her mind and heart for any hint of remorse but found none. Her thoughts suddenly became cold, almost analytical. There is a chance that he might have survived. They've always been different. Maybe I'll just kill him again then, she thought with a sadistic sort of humor.
Oh my God…did I just think that? she wondered. Now she was really freaking herself out. She lay back down on the soft bed and closed her eyes, trying to find some semblance of peace in the darkness of her eyelids.
Ari…Her brother walked towards her, his
expression one of longing and happiness. Aria opened her eyes, deciding that it
was better to focus on thinking.
Except for one thing…
The image didn't disappear. Johnny continued walking towards her.
For a moment, Aria gaped. The only thought that registered in her completely blank mind was, huh?
And then the gears began rolling again and panic seeped in. What the fuck? she thought frantically. She blinked furiously. Her brother continued walking towards her. He was only a few feet away from the bed now, and Aria had gone into full panic mode. Oh my God…this is not happening. Not happening, not happening. I'm going crazy! I swear, something is wrong…THIS IS NOT HAPPENING!!! I am not hallucinating or having delusions or…
Johnny, or whatever he was, stopped at the foot of her bed. She stared at him.
"Ari…" he said in that familiar little boy voice. As if in a trance, she slowly reached towards him, unsure of what he was—an apparition, a delusion, what? Her fingers trembled as they drew nearer to his smiling face but just as they were about to touch his cheek, he faded away, disappearing into nothingness. Her fingers remained where they were, her eyes staring at the spot where he had been standing.
And then, with a suddenness that made her arm complain, she jumped off the bed, heading towards the door. I need to get out, she thought unsteadily. I'm hallucinating…God, I'm going insane! She was still trembling all over, little tremors that she couldn't seem to control, as she neared the doorway. Aria stopped then, taking deep, calming, silent breaths. Calm down, calm down, she repeated over and over to herself in her head. Be like you are at school, she told herself. That's the best way.
Her breathing evened out. Her face took on a mask of calm. Her posture changed from one of panic and hysteria to that of a person simply taking a walk. A pleasant expression was set in her face, seemingly normal and serene. When she looked at her hands, they were steady.
If she had been an observer looking in on herself, she would have been fearful of the sudden rapid changes that had occurred. She would have been worried about how her everyday façade had become so ingrained into her mannerisms. She would have looked on with despair at the person she had become.
But she wasn't another person, looking at herself. And so she did not see.
So with that same manner of peace and tranquility, she calmly walked out of the door, smiling at the guards ever so charmingly, and headed towards the bathroom.
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YES EVERYONE I'M FUCKING SORRY I DIDN'T UPDATE SOONER!!!! I wouldn't blame you if you stopped reading…and I know this chapter was freakin short and sucked like crap (I didn't edit/proofread or anything…and the storyline sucked) …but please just deal with it until the next chapter which will hopefully come soon and be a LOT better. AND DON'T WORRY I'M DEFINITELY NOT GONNA GIVE UP ON THIS STORY!!!!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PATIENCE!!!!
~Tears of Eternity~
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Preview of the next chapter (or next next chapter…depends on how the next chapter goes) ^_^ :
…Everyone stared on, frozen to their seats. All of a sudden, the deep racking coughs that had taken ahold of Aria stopped. Her breath was raspy and uneven, as if it took effort just to take in air.
Aria stared at her hands. All the Elves followed her gaze. Silence sat with wings light as air yet heavy as stone.
Her hands were covered with blood.
Her eyes seemed to glaze over. She was muttering to herself, her bloodstained hands unmoving. And suddenly she looked up, her eyes seeming to pierce everyone around her.
Her voice came out, harsh, guttural and she spoke in the Elvish language, in the language she had not yet learned, "I will not die by your hand!"
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