Second Verse
~
Nuquer sat on her bed facing her open window and looked out at the few stars she could see in the cloudy night sky. The wind blew the light draperies around and Nuquer kept thinking of her handsome prince.
She blew the candle out beside to bed and lie down, though she couldn't sleep. Her mind kept wondering what Legolas and Bragolfin were doing. She was hoping they weren't together.
~
Legolas left Bragolfin at her house and raced back to the palace, he had to see Nuquer! He stopped by the dining room though he had a feeling she wouldn't be there and he was right. He ran through the halls to her room, there was no light coming from under the door though. He stood outside wondering if her should knock or not. A guard coming down the hall made his decision for him, no. He instead, ran around to the courtyard and climbed the wall up to her balcony.
"Nuquer?" He called quietly.
Nuquer lie in bed, half-asleep, thinking the voice calling to her was a dream.
"Nuquer, are you awake?" Legolas called as he climbed over the balcony.
"Legolas?" Nuquer called out in her sleep.
"Yes, I wanted to see you." Legolas answered, thinking she was awake.
Nuquer didn't answer but rolled over.
"Nuquer, are you awake?" Legolas stopped at the side of her bed.
Nuquer opened her eyes and saw someone standing next to her bed, she let out a startled scream, "Shhh! It's me Legolas!" Legolas knelt down and covered her mouth with his hand.
"Oh! You scared me! What are you doing here?" Nuquer sat up in bed, still shocked from her fright.
"I had to see you, I couldn't stand Bragolfin any longer and we didn't talk all day." Legolas crawled under the covers next to her and wrapped her in his arms.
"I know, it was horrible. I hated to see you with her." Nuquer cuddled up next to his strong chest and breathed in his scent of the night air.
"I hope this doesn't take long or I will just give up, it's only been one day and I am already sick of listening to her." Legolas sighed.
"Let's not talk about her, it will ruin the night for us." Nuquer smiled.
"You're right, tonight it's about us." Legolas smiled back and kissed her sweetly.
"Legolas, I talked to some new girls today." Nuquer said after a few moments.
"I know, I saw you at dinner, how was that?" Legolas asked.
"It was nice to meet the people that don't live in the palace, make some new friends you know, since I will be here for a while." Nuquer laughed.
"Maybe forever." Legolas smiled hopefully.
"Forever?" Nuquer smiled playfully.
"Maybe, unless it's not good enough for you here." Legolas laughed lightly.
A urgent knock on the door cut them both off.
"Milady, are you all right in there, we heard a scream?" A guard called.
"Oh, yes, I'm fine. It was just a dream. I'm sorry to have startled you all. I'm fine." Nuquer called to the guards.
"If you are certain milady, good evening." The guard called back and the two waited until they heard his footsteps down the hall.
"Stay with me here tonight, please." Nuquer kissed Legolas's neck.
"Of course, where else would I go?" Legolas had no trouble making up his mind and pulled the warm covers up around him and Nuquer.
~
Nuquer woke in the middle of the dark night to a strange noise outside her window. She listened silently for a moment before she could tell what the noise was, it was voices outside her window. Nuquer froze straining to hear their nearly silent voices.
"What did the King say?" one voice whispered to the other.
"There are rumours of bands of orcs roaming the free countries lately." The second voice answered. It was two guards, they had obviously met during their night watches.
"What do he will do about it?" The first asked.
"Well, with the way the animals, mostly the spiders and such, have been acting lately, I'd say that he's thinking about fighting against them."
"Well of course we will fight them-"
"No, I meant I think he is thinking about war." The second explained.
"How big?" The first asked after a few moments.
"I don't know, I'd guess just a little war against the orcs, maybe more of a battle I guess." The second answered.
"I've heard rumours about some other things farther away, in Rivendell." The first one nodded.
"You know he will send the prince to fight. He's the best archer in Mirkwood." The second commented.
"Of course! His new maiden friend won't be happy about that. You know how Thranduil is when it comes to sending his son into battle."
"He wants him to go right away and stay until the last minute." The other guard finished for the first one. The voices stopped and Nuquer could hear their footsteps as they walked away.
Nuquer turned and looked at her sleeping prince. He looked beautiful, the moonlight fell across his face and he looked so carefree and happy in his rest. Nuquer curled up closer to him and thought about what it would be like if he did have to go away. It would be horrible, that's what it would be, she though silently to herself.
~
"Nuquer, wake up. You're having a bad dream." Legolas shook Nuquer gently after being waken up by her unhappy moans.
"What?" Nuquer looked around her, "I was having a horrible dream." Nuquer shook her head and sat up.
"I could tell." Legolas smiled.
"Oh, Legolas I heard two guards talking last night!" Nuquer remembered what she had heard from the guards, "They were talking about orcs being close to Mirkwood and that your father might send you and others away to fight them!" Nuquer exclaimed and hugged Legolas tightly.
"Calm down, Nuquer, are you sure that is what you heard? My father hasn't spoken about this to me." Legolas held Nuquer to him.
"That's what I heard them saying." Nuquer nodded.
"I will talk to my father today." Legolas assured Nuquer.
"If you are going away to fight them I'm coming too." Nuquer said defiantly.
"Nuquer, don't be ridiculous. You are going to stay here where it is safest." Legolas lay back down and let Nuquer rest her head on his stomach.
"I won't be left here waiting for your return." Nuquer looked into Legolas's eyes.
"We'll talk about this after I talk to my father." Legolas smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Okay." Nuquer agreed.
~
An hour later Legolas knocked lightly on his father's door.
"Come in." Thranduil called.
"Father, I want to talk to you. I've heard some rumours-"
"Then let me tell you what is true." Thranduil stopped Legolas.
"There are orcs and reports just came to me this morning that said they have crossed the border and are now in the woods." Thranduil looked stressed, Legolas could see this in his father's face, "I'm going to have to send out parties to fight against them. And you are the captain." Thranduil finished.
"When do I have to leave?" Legolas asked quietly.
"Tonight actually. I'm calling a meeting today to gather the others and you will all leave at sunset." Thranduil looked up at his son, "I'm sorry it's such short notice. Nuquer and Flora will be safe here."
"If they stay." Legolas mumbled to himself and took his leave.
~
"Nuquer." Legolas sat down next to Nuquer at lunch after his talk with his father.
"Legolas, what are you doing? Remember, you're with Bragolfin now." Nuquer whispered to Legolas.
"That's over."
"What? Legolas, what's wrong?" Nuquer could tell that something was bothering Legolas very much.
"I have to leave tonight. I'm captain of the troops and we are going to fight the orcs, they have crossed our borders." Legolas said sadly.
"Tonight?!" Nuquer exclaimed.
"Yes, my father just told me this." Legolas placed his hand over Nuquer's and looked into her eyes, "I want you to stay here where it is safe. Okay?"
"Legolas, I need to see my sister." Nuquer suddenly thought of her sister back at her home, had the orcs been there?
"Flora?"
"No, Faunia." Nuquer corrected Legolas.
"You mean you're going to leave Mirkwood and travel back to Dol Amroth? Now? Nuquer, it's not safe!"
"I have to see my sister, what if she's dead?!" Nuquer jumped out of her seat and Legolas followed her out of the dining hall.
"When are you leaving?!"
"Today!" Nuquer called to Legolas as she began to run to her room.
"When will you come back?!"
"I don't know!" Nuquer begin grabbing some of her possessions and shoved them in a pack, "Tell Flora to stay here." Nuquer called to Legolas as she ran down the hall.
Legolas caught up with her and stopped her, "Nuquer, stay here where it is safe!" Legolas pleaded with her.
"I have to see my sister!" Nuquer said quickly and begin to head towards the stables again.
"I'm going with you until the edge of the forest then." Legolas decided.
"That's fine but I must go back home." Nuquer nodded.
~
~
Nuquer sat on her bed facing her open window and looked out at the few stars she could see in the cloudy night sky. The wind blew the light draperies around and Nuquer kept thinking of her handsome prince.
She blew the candle out beside to bed and lie down, though she couldn't sleep. Her mind kept wondering what Legolas and Bragolfin were doing. She was hoping they weren't together.
~
Legolas left Bragolfin at her house and raced back to the palace, he had to see Nuquer! He stopped by the dining room though he had a feeling she wouldn't be there and he was right. He ran through the halls to her room, there was no light coming from under the door though. He stood outside wondering if her should knock or not. A guard coming down the hall made his decision for him, no. He instead, ran around to the courtyard and climbed the wall up to her balcony.
"Nuquer?" He called quietly.
Nuquer lie in bed, half-asleep, thinking the voice calling to her was a dream.
"Nuquer, are you awake?" Legolas called as he climbed over the balcony.
"Legolas?" Nuquer called out in her sleep.
"Yes, I wanted to see you." Legolas answered, thinking she was awake.
Nuquer didn't answer but rolled over.
"Nuquer, are you awake?" Legolas stopped at the side of her bed.
Nuquer opened her eyes and saw someone standing next to her bed, she let out a startled scream, "Shhh! It's me Legolas!" Legolas knelt down and covered her mouth with his hand.
"Oh! You scared me! What are you doing here?" Nuquer sat up in bed, still shocked from her fright.
"I had to see you, I couldn't stand Bragolfin any longer and we didn't talk all day." Legolas crawled under the covers next to her and wrapped her in his arms.
"I know, it was horrible. I hated to see you with her." Nuquer cuddled up next to his strong chest and breathed in his scent of the night air.
"I hope this doesn't take long or I will just give up, it's only been one day and I am already sick of listening to her." Legolas sighed.
"Let's not talk about her, it will ruin the night for us." Nuquer smiled.
"You're right, tonight it's about us." Legolas smiled back and kissed her sweetly.
"Legolas, I talked to some new girls today." Nuquer said after a few moments.
"I know, I saw you at dinner, how was that?" Legolas asked.
"It was nice to meet the people that don't live in the palace, make some new friends you know, since I will be here for a while." Nuquer laughed.
"Maybe forever." Legolas smiled hopefully.
"Forever?" Nuquer smiled playfully.
"Maybe, unless it's not good enough for you here." Legolas laughed lightly.
A urgent knock on the door cut them both off.
"Milady, are you all right in there, we heard a scream?" A guard called.
"Oh, yes, I'm fine. It was just a dream. I'm sorry to have startled you all. I'm fine." Nuquer called to the guards.
"If you are certain milady, good evening." The guard called back and the two waited until they heard his footsteps down the hall.
"Stay with me here tonight, please." Nuquer kissed Legolas's neck.
"Of course, where else would I go?" Legolas had no trouble making up his mind and pulled the warm covers up around him and Nuquer.
~
Nuquer woke in the middle of the dark night to a strange noise outside her window. She listened silently for a moment before she could tell what the noise was, it was voices outside her window. Nuquer froze straining to hear their nearly silent voices.
"What did the King say?" one voice whispered to the other.
"There are rumours of bands of orcs roaming the free countries lately." The second voice answered. It was two guards, they had obviously met during their night watches.
"What do he will do about it?" The first asked.
"Well, with the way the animals, mostly the spiders and such, have been acting lately, I'd say that he's thinking about fighting against them."
"Well of course we will fight them-"
"No, I meant I think he is thinking about war." The second explained.
"How big?" The first asked after a few moments.
"I don't know, I'd guess just a little war against the orcs, maybe more of a battle I guess." The second answered.
"I've heard rumours about some other things farther away, in Rivendell." The first one nodded.
"You know he will send the prince to fight. He's the best archer in Mirkwood." The second commented.
"Of course! His new maiden friend won't be happy about that. You know how Thranduil is when it comes to sending his son into battle."
"He wants him to go right away and stay until the last minute." The other guard finished for the first one. The voices stopped and Nuquer could hear their footsteps as they walked away.
Nuquer turned and looked at her sleeping prince. He looked beautiful, the moonlight fell across his face and he looked so carefree and happy in his rest. Nuquer curled up closer to him and thought about what it would be like if he did have to go away. It would be horrible, that's what it would be, she though silently to herself.
~
"Nuquer, wake up. You're having a bad dream." Legolas shook Nuquer gently after being waken up by her unhappy moans.
"What?" Nuquer looked around her, "I was having a horrible dream." Nuquer shook her head and sat up.
"I could tell." Legolas smiled.
"Oh, Legolas I heard two guards talking last night!" Nuquer remembered what she had heard from the guards, "They were talking about orcs being close to Mirkwood and that your father might send you and others away to fight them!" Nuquer exclaimed and hugged Legolas tightly.
"Calm down, Nuquer, are you sure that is what you heard? My father hasn't spoken about this to me." Legolas held Nuquer to him.
"That's what I heard them saying." Nuquer nodded.
"I will talk to my father today." Legolas assured Nuquer.
"If you are going away to fight them I'm coming too." Nuquer said defiantly.
"Nuquer, don't be ridiculous. You are going to stay here where it is safest." Legolas lay back down and let Nuquer rest her head on his stomach.
"I won't be left here waiting for your return." Nuquer looked into Legolas's eyes.
"We'll talk about this after I talk to my father." Legolas smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Okay." Nuquer agreed.
~
An hour later Legolas knocked lightly on his father's door.
"Come in." Thranduil called.
"Father, I want to talk to you. I've heard some rumours-"
"Then let me tell you what is true." Thranduil stopped Legolas.
"There are orcs and reports just came to me this morning that said they have crossed the border and are now in the woods." Thranduil looked stressed, Legolas could see this in his father's face, "I'm going to have to send out parties to fight against them. And you are the captain." Thranduil finished.
"When do I have to leave?" Legolas asked quietly.
"Tonight actually. I'm calling a meeting today to gather the others and you will all leave at sunset." Thranduil looked up at his son, "I'm sorry it's such short notice. Nuquer and Flora will be safe here."
"If they stay." Legolas mumbled to himself and took his leave.
~
"Nuquer." Legolas sat down next to Nuquer at lunch after his talk with his father.
"Legolas, what are you doing? Remember, you're with Bragolfin now." Nuquer whispered to Legolas.
"That's over."
"What? Legolas, what's wrong?" Nuquer could tell that something was bothering Legolas very much.
"I have to leave tonight. I'm captain of the troops and we are going to fight the orcs, they have crossed our borders." Legolas said sadly.
"Tonight?!" Nuquer exclaimed.
"Yes, my father just told me this." Legolas placed his hand over Nuquer's and looked into her eyes, "I want you to stay here where it is safe. Okay?"
"Legolas, I need to see my sister." Nuquer suddenly thought of her sister back at her home, had the orcs been there?
"Flora?"
"No, Faunia." Nuquer corrected Legolas.
"You mean you're going to leave Mirkwood and travel back to Dol Amroth? Now? Nuquer, it's not safe!"
"I have to see my sister, what if she's dead?!" Nuquer jumped out of her seat and Legolas followed her out of the dining hall.
"When are you leaving?!"
"Today!" Nuquer called to Legolas as she began to run to her room.
"When will you come back?!"
"I don't know!" Nuquer begin grabbing some of her possessions and shoved them in a pack, "Tell Flora to stay here." Nuquer called to Legolas as she ran down the hall.
Legolas caught up with her and stopped her, "Nuquer, stay here where it is safe!" Legolas pleaded with her.
"I have to see my sister!" Nuquer said quickly and begin to head towards the stables again.
"I'm going with you until the edge of the forest then." Legolas decided.
"That's fine but I must go back home." Nuquer nodded.
~