Chapter Nine
Glorfindel and Elrond were in their study talking when a knock on the door interrupted them. Elrond rose, but Glorfindel waved him down. He opened the door and was surprised to see Avara. "May I come in?" she asked, and Glorfindel looked back at Elrond, who nodded. Glorfindel let her in and shut the door. She waited until Glorfindel sat down before she pounced. "Why did you tell Haldir about my past?" she asked. Her voice was low and controlled, but her eyes were angry and cold. "They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, but hers.they are windows into coldness," Elrond thought, quietly observing. "I told him because he asked why you were so different from the other maidens he knows. I told him the truth because he asked me," he answered slowly. "What do you wish I tell them when they ask why you are different, as you obviously do not want them to know?" he asked. Avara's eyes narrowed. "They do not need to know what makes me different. I do not need their friendship," she answered, a hint of anger in her voice. Elrond spoke up then. "What is it about their friendship you so despise?" he asked gently. Avara turned to him and Elrond saw a deep sadness reflecting in her eyes. "The others here, they have led such simple, sheltered lives. They do not know what it is like to suffer, to hurt the way I have been. They would not understand, and I do not want their pity," here she stopped and looked away, tears threatening to overflow. "Avara, do not make the mistake of judging them so quickly. They just want to know you," Glorfindel said. Avara's eyes went cold so quickly that Elrond shivered involuntarily. "And once they get to know me, they will pity me! You pity me; I can see it whenever you look talk to me, when you look at me! All you see is the slave you rescued! I do not want pity!" she cried, truly angry now. Elrond got up and kneeled down in front of her, resting his hands on her shoulders. "What is it you want Avara?" he asked softly. Avara stared at the floor, and then finally met his gaze, and he was deeply saddened to see the hurt and sadness that went to deep into her soul. "Something you cannot give me milord. I am sorry I troubled you. I must go." With a slight bow, Avara left the room quickly, shutting the door softly behind her, leaving both Elvin lords to wonder what exactly had happened.
Avara walked outside, emotion in a whirlwind. She avoided the regular paths for some more suclusive ones. She did not want to see anyone the way she was feeling now, just wanted to be alone; she craved solitude. She explored the surrounding woods, seeking that perfect spot that she alone could go to whenever she wanted to without worrying about intruders. She was about to give up when suddenly the path sloped sharply and, taken by surprise, she lost her footing and rolled down the hill and came to an ungainly stop. She got up and brushed herself off, glad no one had witnessed her tumble. Sharp pain raced up her leg when she put her weight on it. "Great. Just what I need," she muttered, along with a few choice words in Quenya when she discovered she had reopened a wound that had been healing. Sighing, she ripped some fabric from her pants and tied that around the wound. Leaving it at that, she continued to explore the unfamiliar territory she now walked in. She pushed her way past some thick bushes and stumbled into a rather large clearing. It was spacious, and surrounded by trees on all sides, and went in a circle. On the east was a waterfall, and it formed into a pool in the center of the clearing. It had a quite magical feel to it, and Avara decided that this would become her new spot. She walked over to the pool and peered into it. She was surprised to find it crystal clear, and she could see right to the bottom-where something glittered, catching her attention. She looked around, then stripped off her clothes and slipped into the pool. It was cool and surprisingly quite deep. She took a deep breath and dived, searching for the thing that had caught her attention. When she didn't see it again, she surfaced and tread water, looking, and it caught her eye again. Taking another deep breath, she dived again, and this time she saw it, and grabbed it. When she surfaced, she shook her head free of water and was about to open her hand to look at her treasure when she sensed something was not right. She looked around and saw that her clothes were gone. She tread water, not wanting to get out and expose herself. She swam to the edge of the water, which was built up and offered some protection, and peered into the woods. Light laughter echoed in the clearing. "Looking for something?" The voice was light and teasing, and most defiantly male. Avara raised an eyebrow. "My clothes would be nice," she replied smoothly, wiping water out of her eyes. "What if I choose not to give them back?" the voice asked. Avara smiled slightly and looked around, trying to find the speaker. "Then you shall have an angry, naked elf maiden after you," she replied. Laugher again echoed in the clearing. "That would be something to see indeed, but since I am a gentle-elf, here are your clothes." True to his word, her clothes sailed through the air and landed not far from the pool. Avara opened her mouth to speak when the elf laughed again. "My back is turned milady." Avara did not move. "I cannot see your back when it is hidden amongst the shadows," she replied. She almost laughed when a blond haired elf stepped into the clearing. backwards. "Diola lle," she said, quickly getting dressed. She slipped her treasure into her pocket and proceeded to wring out her hair. The elf, satisfied she was dressed, turned around. Avara took him in: Tall, slender but well built, long blond hair, dressed in a dark green outfit that she had to admit made him look most handsome, and fair but defined features. However, it was his eyes that held her captive. Bright blue, they seemed to pierce right through her. "Mae govannen arwen en amin," he said in that clear strong voice. Avara smiled at his show of respect. "Mae Govannen. Mani naa essa en ile?" she asked. The elf smiled. "I am Legolas Greenleaf," he replied, "And what of you milady? What is your name?" he asked. "I am Avara," she replied simply. Legolas looked her over, and seemed to like the way she was dressed. "Are you from Rivendell?" he asked. "Yes, I was going back after my swim," Avara answered, and laughed when he had the decency to seemed embarrassed. "I too, am heading that way. Would you like to ride back with us?" he asked politely. Avara seemed taken aback. "Us?" she echoed. Legolas seemed mollified. "I am sorry. There are Elders with me; they always come with me on these trips." He extended his hand and smiled. "Shall we?" Avara, impressed, took his hand, but when she put her full weight on her left leg, she let out a small hiss of pain. Legolas instantly stopped. "Mani naa tai?" he asked, concerned. "It is nothing," Avara protested, seeing he was going to do something. "If you have hurt yourself, it is better for you to ride with me than to walk along. You would only injure yourself further. Let me help," he said and Avara, seeing no opening for argument, agreed. Legolas brought over his horse and helped her on. He got on behind her, and when he put his arms around her to keep her safe, she involuntarily stiffened. "I will not try anything milady. As I said, I am a gentle-elf," he whispered, and Avara relaxed, a bit embarrassed. "Amin hireathea Legolas. It is, I am afraid, a bad habit of mine," she explained. I "No need to be sorry Avara, but I assure you my intentions are honorable," he smiled. Avara smiled back and leaned back into him so her leg would not rub against the horse and reopen any more healing wounds. She did not know why, but she felt a stirring in her heart, something she had not expected, but did not mind. Mayhap there was room enough for one more friend. and something else.
Glorfindel and Elrond were in their study talking when a knock on the door interrupted them. Elrond rose, but Glorfindel waved him down. He opened the door and was surprised to see Avara. "May I come in?" she asked, and Glorfindel looked back at Elrond, who nodded. Glorfindel let her in and shut the door. She waited until Glorfindel sat down before she pounced. "Why did you tell Haldir about my past?" she asked. Her voice was low and controlled, but her eyes were angry and cold. "They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, but hers.they are windows into coldness," Elrond thought, quietly observing. "I told him because he asked why you were so different from the other maidens he knows. I told him the truth because he asked me," he answered slowly. "What do you wish I tell them when they ask why you are different, as you obviously do not want them to know?" he asked. Avara's eyes narrowed. "They do not need to know what makes me different. I do not need their friendship," she answered, a hint of anger in her voice. Elrond spoke up then. "What is it about their friendship you so despise?" he asked gently. Avara turned to him and Elrond saw a deep sadness reflecting in her eyes. "The others here, they have led such simple, sheltered lives. They do not know what it is like to suffer, to hurt the way I have been. They would not understand, and I do not want their pity," here she stopped and looked away, tears threatening to overflow. "Avara, do not make the mistake of judging them so quickly. They just want to know you," Glorfindel said. Avara's eyes went cold so quickly that Elrond shivered involuntarily. "And once they get to know me, they will pity me! You pity me; I can see it whenever you look talk to me, when you look at me! All you see is the slave you rescued! I do not want pity!" she cried, truly angry now. Elrond got up and kneeled down in front of her, resting his hands on her shoulders. "What is it you want Avara?" he asked softly. Avara stared at the floor, and then finally met his gaze, and he was deeply saddened to see the hurt and sadness that went to deep into her soul. "Something you cannot give me milord. I am sorry I troubled you. I must go." With a slight bow, Avara left the room quickly, shutting the door softly behind her, leaving both Elvin lords to wonder what exactly had happened.
Avara walked outside, emotion in a whirlwind. She avoided the regular paths for some more suclusive ones. She did not want to see anyone the way she was feeling now, just wanted to be alone; she craved solitude. She explored the surrounding woods, seeking that perfect spot that she alone could go to whenever she wanted to without worrying about intruders. She was about to give up when suddenly the path sloped sharply and, taken by surprise, she lost her footing and rolled down the hill and came to an ungainly stop. She got up and brushed herself off, glad no one had witnessed her tumble. Sharp pain raced up her leg when she put her weight on it. "Great. Just what I need," she muttered, along with a few choice words in Quenya when she discovered she had reopened a wound that had been healing. Sighing, she ripped some fabric from her pants and tied that around the wound. Leaving it at that, she continued to explore the unfamiliar territory she now walked in. She pushed her way past some thick bushes and stumbled into a rather large clearing. It was spacious, and surrounded by trees on all sides, and went in a circle. On the east was a waterfall, and it formed into a pool in the center of the clearing. It had a quite magical feel to it, and Avara decided that this would become her new spot. She walked over to the pool and peered into it. She was surprised to find it crystal clear, and she could see right to the bottom-where something glittered, catching her attention. She looked around, then stripped off her clothes and slipped into the pool. It was cool and surprisingly quite deep. She took a deep breath and dived, searching for the thing that had caught her attention. When she didn't see it again, she surfaced and tread water, looking, and it caught her eye again. Taking another deep breath, she dived again, and this time she saw it, and grabbed it. When she surfaced, she shook her head free of water and was about to open her hand to look at her treasure when she sensed something was not right. She looked around and saw that her clothes were gone. She tread water, not wanting to get out and expose herself. She swam to the edge of the water, which was built up and offered some protection, and peered into the woods. Light laughter echoed in the clearing. "Looking for something?" The voice was light and teasing, and most defiantly male. Avara raised an eyebrow. "My clothes would be nice," she replied smoothly, wiping water out of her eyes. "What if I choose not to give them back?" the voice asked. Avara smiled slightly and looked around, trying to find the speaker. "Then you shall have an angry, naked elf maiden after you," she replied. Laugher again echoed in the clearing. "That would be something to see indeed, but since I am a gentle-elf, here are your clothes." True to his word, her clothes sailed through the air and landed not far from the pool. Avara opened her mouth to speak when the elf laughed again. "My back is turned milady." Avara did not move. "I cannot see your back when it is hidden amongst the shadows," she replied. She almost laughed when a blond haired elf stepped into the clearing. backwards. "Diola lle," she said, quickly getting dressed. She slipped her treasure into her pocket and proceeded to wring out her hair. The elf, satisfied she was dressed, turned around. Avara took him in: Tall, slender but well built, long blond hair, dressed in a dark green outfit that she had to admit made him look most handsome, and fair but defined features. However, it was his eyes that held her captive. Bright blue, they seemed to pierce right through her. "Mae govannen arwen en amin," he said in that clear strong voice. Avara smiled at his show of respect. "Mae Govannen. Mani naa essa en ile?" she asked. The elf smiled. "I am Legolas Greenleaf," he replied, "And what of you milady? What is your name?" he asked. "I am Avara," she replied simply. Legolas looked her over, and seemed to like the way she was dressed. "Are you from Rivendell?" he asked. "Yes, I was going back after my swim," Avara answered, and laughed when he had the decency to seemed embarrassed. "I too, am heading that way. Would you like to ride back with us?" he asked politely. Avara seemed taken aback. "Us?" she echoed. Legolas seemed mollified. "I am sorry. There are Elders with me; they always come with me on these trips." He extended his hand and smiled. "Shall we?" Avara, impressed, took his hand, but when she put her full weight on her left leg, she let out a small hiss of pain. Legolas instantly stopped. "Mani naa tai?" he asked, concerned. "It is nothing," Avara protested, seeing he was going to do something. "If you have hurt yourself, it is better for you to ride with me than to walk along. You would only injure yourself further. Let me help," he said and Avara, seeing no opening for argument, agreed. Legolas brought over his horse and helped her on. He got on behind her, and when he put his arms around her to keep her safe, she involuntarily stiffened. "I will not try anything milady. As I said, I am a gentle-elf," he whispered, and Avara relaxed, a bit embarrassed. "Amin hireathea Legolas. It is, I am afraid, a bad habit of mine," she explained. I "No need to be sorry Avara, but I assure you my intentions are honorable," he smiled. Avara smiled back and leaned back into him so her leg would not rub against the horse and reopen any more healing wounds. She did not know why, but she felt a stirring in her heart, something she had not expected, but did not mind. Mayhap there was room enough for one more friend. and something else.