Legolas frowned.
It had been three days since the Dark Elves had arrived. He knew something was afoot... He just didn't know what. And when he'd approached Haldir about a possible alliance between the Lorien archers and his own from Mirkwood, that Elf had just smiled and turned him away, treating him like a child... an amateur! As if he would be a bother. It was an insult to the Golden Prince's pride. That spurnful memory still fresh in his mind, Legolas squeezed his hand into a fist of rage.
"I cannot stand him! I don't know how he could have become March Warden... He takes nothing seriously, nor does he try to get along amiably with anyone!" The Prince of Mirkwood was bitter.
Elladan nodded in agreement. "He is quite... well..."
"Rude! Obnoxious!" Interrupted Glorfindel. "He treats Lord Elrond with the utmost disrespect!"
"Well, I didn't think he was all that terrible," Elladan said thoughtfully. "Ada doesn't seem to mind so much; he gets amusement out of his behavior." He smiled. His father hardly ever laughed anymore and it was refreshing to hear him.
"Still, I do not care much for him!"
"I agree." Legolas folded his arms.
The door opened, startling them into silence. It was only Erestor. He smiled shyly. "Good day... everyone..."
"How are you, Erestor?!" Elladan rushed up and took his arm.
"I am well. Better than I was..." His voice was quiet.
"Are you certain?" Asked Legolas, his blue eyes heavy with concern. He nodded. "Those terrible creatures!"
"Oh, no!" cried Erestor in objection. "They treated me very well. I just... could not eat their food. It made me ill..."
"If all that is so, then how come they brought you back to Rivendell a prisoner: blindfolded, gagged, and tied?" Legolas demanded.
Before Erestor could answer, Elladan piped up. "Aye! And Glorfindel too."
"I admit, they didn't treat me unwell either... They captured me spying on their force... I suppose we were all more frightened than anything." Glorfindel blinked.
"They wanted to make certain they'd reach Rivendell unharmed." Said Erestor with conviction. "Lord Teregith was very kind, though I had much trouble understanding him."
The other three nodded. "So tell us! What was their city like?" Asked Elladan. He leaned forward curiously.
"Well..." Began Erestor, "I rode past the dark mountains with much caution for I did not know what awaited me there or beyond. The forests really were quite lovely! Bedded with all manner of flowers... But they were so dark, and filled with many manner of strange creatures and strange songs. The ground was much more rocky there than our own. The mountains themselves were dark, of black and brown stone. A week it took me. The weather was not so pleasant; thick stormy clouds followed me the whole way and the wind grew cool and strong at my back. Still, I pressed on.
"When I reached the other side, the land spread out in brown valleys and golden fields. The city rose from the horizon, black, imposing... I confess I did not want to press further, but Lord Elrond's letter was tucked over my heart and I knew I must go." Here, he paused and looked at his awe-struck listeners.
"Please continue!" Urged Legolas. The others murmured their support.
"On, my horse galloped. I had to cross a black river. It was most peculiar! Unlike any rivers in this land. It had rocky shores that were, by the Valar, blue as the summer sky! There were great fish that swam its depths: their scales gleamed in the sun and they were longer, some of them, than the height of a man!" The other Elves gasped. They had never seen such sights! "The earth was old, I could tell. Older than the earth on this side of the mountains.
"We finally reached the gates of the city, my horse and I. The countryside was deserted as we had passed through it and I couldn't figure out why... Well, they had sensed my coming. They were quite frightened of me, I was surprised to find out. So when I did reach the city, there was an armed guard waiting for me. That was when I first met Teregith... He was captain of that guard squadron, and he made me his ward. They took me to the heart of the city, where I was presented to the queen.
"She was darkly beautiful, regal on her throne that seemed to be made of ebony. (I learned later that it was a gift from the Dwarves for some forgotten task in which they had aided those people.) She was as kind as Teregith had been to me. I greeted her with all the reverence I would for one of our lords or ladies, then offered her the letter from Lord Elrond.
"Teregith, a lord himself, was one of the only members of that court that knew the Common Language well enough to carry on a conversation, so between us two, we managed to translate the letter for Her Highness. She was overjoyed! The Elves of this land had never made an effort to involve them with our affairs.
"However, a faction of the Dark Elven court was not so enthusiastic about the proposal or the invitation. They distrusted me and my people, and demanded that I should be imprisoned. They were led by Gilithtor, Teregith's brother. Teregith, on the other hand, argued in my behalf.
"I, of course, could understand none of this as it went on, but Teregith told me as best he could later, the most of what was going on and what was said. I was given quarters in the palace that night. (Their architecture is fascinating! Similar to that of men, but much more graceful and flowing... And much more older. I can see now, where those tales came from, of the first men being taught by Dark Elves how to build.) The next day, I was summoned again to come before the queen.
"I answered questions that were asked of me, and they discussed them. Finally, they came to a compromising decision: they would send representatives, but only if they were accompanied by a large armed guard. I was to go back with them, to lead the way, but only if they could bind me and blindfold me if and when they felt the need to. I had to agree.... And then Gilithtor asked to come as well. The queen consented.
"We set out at dawn, a full four weeks after I'd left Rivendell. It took only twelve days to get here; extremely impressive for so large a force. They tied me within fifteen miles of Rivendell, for fear I might shout out or try to escape to warn the city, and at Gilithtor's insistence. Teregith was against it... And then they caught Glorfindel across the river, and Gilithtor had him bound as well, for the same reason. The rest, you know for you saw it with your own eyes." Concluded Erestor.
"What an incredible story!" Elladan cried, his voice full of awe. The others were also awestruck. "Did you tell Father?"
Erestor nodded. "I told him every detail that I just told you. I thought he should know."
"Yes." Legolas agreed, stroking his chin. "And it seems to me that this... Gilithtor... is not to be trusted."
--------------------___________--------------------____________------------- -------
Chibi Legolas: My! That Erestor is long-winded! lol Hope you liked that... this is becoming somewhat of a soap opera, no? "As Middle Earth Turns..." LOL!
Oh yeah, and Go Legolas! Vote that mean little Haldy off the Island! Tune in next week, folks, for another exciting episode of "Survivor: Live in Imladris!" -_^
It had been three days since the Dark Elves had arrived. He knew something was afoot... He just didn't know what. And when he'd approached Haldir about a possible alliance between the Lorien archers and his own from Mirkwood, that Elf had just smiled and turned him away, treating him like a child... an amateur! As if he would be a bother. It was an insult to the Golden Prince's pride. That spurnful memory still fresh in his mind, Legolas squeezed his hand into a fist of rage.
"I cannot stand him! I don't know how he could have become March Warden... He takes nothing seriously, nor does he try to get along amiably with anyone!" The Prince of Mirkwood was bitter.
Elladan nodded in agreement. "He is quite... well..."
"Rude! Obnoxious!" Interrupted Glorfindel. "He treats Lord Elrond with the utmost disrespect!"
"Well, I didn't think he was all that terrible," Elladan said thoughtfully. "Ada doesn't seem to mind so much; he gets amusement out of his behavior." He smiled. His father hardly ever laughed anymore and it was refreshing to hear him.
"Still, I do not care much for him!"
"I agree." Legolas folded his arms.
The door opened, startling them into silence. It was only Erestor. He smiled shyly. "Good day... everyone..."
"How are you, Erestor?!" Elladan rushed up and took his arm.
"I am well. Better than I was..." His voice was quiet.
"Are you certain?" Asked Legolas, his blue eyes heavy with concern. He nodded. "Those terrible creatures!"
"Oh, no!" cried Erestor in objection. "They treated me very well. I just... could not eat their food. It made me ill..."
"If all that is so, then how come they brought you back to Rivendell a prisoner: blindfolded, gagged, and tied?" Legolas demanded.
Before Erestor could answer, Elladan piped up. "Aye! And Glorfindel too."
"I admit, they didn't treat me unwell either... They captured me spying on their force... I suppose we were all more frightened than anything." Glorfindel blinked.
"They wanted to make certain they'd reach Rivendell unharmed." Said Erestor with conviction. "Lord Teregith was very kind, though I had much trouble understanding him."
The other three nodded. "So tell us! What was their city like?" Asked Elladan. He leaned forward curiously.
"Well..." Began Erestor, "I rode past the dark mountains with much caution for I did not know what awaited me there or beyond. The forests really were quite lovely! Bedded with all manner of flowers... But they were so dark, and filled with many manner of strange creatures and strange songs. The ground was much more rocky there than our own. The mountains themselves were dark, of black and brown stone. A week it took me. The weather was not so pleasant; thick stormy clouds followed me the whole way and the wind grew cool and strong at my back. Still, I pressed on.
"When I reached the other side, the land spread out in brown valleys and golden fields. The city rose from the horizon, black, imposing... I confess I did not want to press further, but Lord Elrond's letter was tucked over my heart and I knew I must go." Here, he paused and looked at his awe-struck listeners.
"Please continue!" Urged Legolas. The others murmured their support.
"On, my horse galloped. I had to cross a black river. It was most peculiar! Unlike any rivers in this land. It had rocky shores that were, by the Valar, blue as the summer sky! There were great fish that swam its depths: their scales gleamed in the sun and they were longer, some of them, than the height of a man!" The other Elves gasped. They had never seen such sights! "The earth was old, I could tell. Older than the earth on this side of the mountains.
"We finally reached the gates of the city, my horse and I. The countryside was deserted as we had passed through it and I couldn't figure out why... Well, they had sensed my coming. They were quite frightened of me, I was surprised to find out. So when I did reach the city, there was an armed guard waiting for me. That was when I first met Teregith... He was captain of that guard squadron, and he made me his ward. They took me to the heart of the city, where I was presented to the queen.
"She was darkly beautiful, regal on her throne that seemed to be made of ebony. (I learned later that it was a gift from the Dwarves for some forgotten task in which they had aided those people.) She was as kind as Teregith had been to me. I greeted her with all the reverence I would for one of our lords or ladies, then offered her the letter from Lord Elrond.
"Teregith, a lord himself, was one of the only members of that court that knew the Common Language well enough to carry on a conversation, so between us two, we managed to translate the letter for Her Highness. She was overjoyed! The Elves of this land had never made an effort to involve them with our affairs.
"However, a faction of the Dark Elven court was not so enthusiastic about the proposal or the invitation. They distrusted me and my people, and demanded that I should be imprisoned. They were led by Gilithtor, Teregith's brother. Teregith, on the other hand, argued in my behalf.
"I, of course, could understand none of this as it went on, but Teregith told me as best he could later, the most of what was going on and what was said. I was given quarters in the palace that night. (Their architecture is fascinating! Similar to that of men, but much more graceful and flowing... And much more older. I can see now, where those tales came from, of the first men being taught by Dark Elves how to build.) The next day, I was summoned again to come before the queen.
"I answered questions that were asked of me, and they discussed them. Finally, they came to a compromising decision: they would send representatives, but only if they were accompanied by a large armed guard. I was to go back with them, to lead the way, but only if they could bind me and blindfold me if and when they felt the need to. I had to agree.... And then Gilithtor asked to come as well. The queen consented.
"We set out at dawn, a full four weeks after I'd left Rivendell. It took only twelve days to get here; extremely impressive for so large a force. They tied me within fifteen miles of Rivendell, for fear I might shout out or try to escape to warn the city, and at Gilithtor's insistence. Teregith was against it... And then they caught Glorfindel across the river, and Gilithtor had him bound as well, for the same reason. The rest, you know for you saw it with your own eyes." Concluded Erestor.
"What an incredible story!" Elladan cried, his voice full of awe. The others were also awestruck. "Did you tell Father?"
Erestor nodded. "I told him every detail that I just told you. I thought he should know."
"Yes." Legolas agreed, stroking his chin. "And it seems to me that this... Gilithtor... is not to be trusted."
--------------------___________--------------------____________------------- -------
Chibi Legolas: My! That Erestor is long-winded! lol Hope you liked that... this is becoming somewhat of a soap opera, no? "As Middle Earth Turns..." LOL!
Oh yeah, and Go Legolas! Vote that mean little Haldy off the Island! Tune in next week, folks, for another exciting episode of "Survivor: Live in Imladris!" -_^