Chapter 5
I wake to the sound of birds singing outside my window. It has been five weeks since Legolas left, and I find myself wandering to the bench in the garden where we sat that night. I long to go after him, though I recall the promise I made to him, that I would stay in Mirkwood.
*Flashback*
"Do you have everything?" I ask as I walk with him to the two other elves waiting in the nearby field.
"For now yes, though when I leave I am leaving something behind. However I have a slight notion that it will try to follow." He is leaning on a tree when I turn and smile at him knowingly and reply,
"I made a promise. I hold to my promises, but this one will be exceptionally difficult."
We both turn to the sound of a whistle from the clearing nearby. I sigh and turn to accompany Legolas to the companions waiting it the field.
Legolas walks to his white stallion speckled with gray and hoists himself into the saddle. I step forward and Legolas then assists me in also mounting his stallion. I sit in front of him with one of his muscular arms wrapped around my waist and clasped firmly in his other hand the reigns.
When we arrive, I see the soldiers all readying themselves for their departure. Aragorn approaches smiling.
"Coming to kick some Orc-," Aragorn cut short with a sharp look from Legolas. "Er, I mean," He stuttered looking for the right words, obviously going to be cheeky knowing him the way that I do, "Lady Elaviel would you accompany us in the kicking of Orc tushie and the saving of all Middle Earth?"
Legolas rolls his eyes and lets out a sigh though I know he is smiling, while I giggle an answer.
"Sorry my friend I will not be accompanying you on this Orc-tushie-kicking- quest this time. His Majesty, the royal party pooper, says that I must stay here, where it is "safe" and be here for his coming home."
Aragorn lets out a laugh before saying with a smile,
"And where might Lady A'maela be? She has not come to say good-bye, and I would like to tell her to make sure that she protects her virgin eyes from such extremities as kissing."
"She has told me to tell you that she is "recovering" from your last brutal attack of pokes and prods."
He just smiles. As I predicted he said one last remark before helping me to the ground
"Right, and I am an Orcan Queen." He has walked right into this one, and I reply,
"Your Majesty." I bow my head in false respect
"That was so funny I forgot to laugh." He glares at me playfully. Aragorn has always been a brother to me. Few have seen Aragorn this way, boyish and immature, except close friends such as Legolas, A'maela, myself etc.
"I must go. However, I will miss you beyond words. Stars shall shine on our next meeting." Legolas's eyes glint in the early sunlight, I smile at him lovingly. He turns to go after a signal from Aragorn that it is time to leave. "Good-bye my Elaviel. I always shall love you."
"And mine shall never falter."
Aragorn calls for Legolas as the soldiers begin to leave. He looks at me longingly then puts Troy into a gallop. Just before they are about to disappear behind a hill, Aragorn and Legolas both turn and wave before continuing. I whisper to quietly to myself, "my heart shall weep till I see you again'. I then return to the palace.
*End Flashback*
I can no longer stand worrying about Legolas I am going after him today, and no one is going to stop me.
I put together a set of riding clothes and a couple of dresses into a sack along with paper, a quill and ink. I also put in a pair of dress shoes; you can't wear traveling boots all the time.
I ask Leaiam, my chambermaid, to fetch some food and several containers of water. She did so, though not without an awkward glance and questioning tone of 'yes my lady'.
She returns just as I am lacing up my black boots that come just below my knees now covered by black-gray trousers that go to the middle of my shin inside my boots. I also have on a parchment colored shirt covered by a deep gray full-length coat though it only buttons down to my waist. I like to wear this coat for riding because there are slits on the sides and in the back and front from the bottom to my waist. I stand up, take the items from Leriyan thanking her, and ask her not to tell anyone about this including my parents and my sisters, well Peniel anyway. I also request that she give a note to A'maela and Peniel for me. They will more than not be too pleased but they will get over it. She curtsies and leaves.
I sigh as I make a mental checklist of everything. Slinging my bag over my shoulder and gathering my bow and arrows I make my way to the stables.
My mind must have been somewhere else for I ran into A'maela reading a book as we both normally do. I do not realize who it is at first then I see the curl that either rests to the side of her forehead or in the middle. Ah Elbereth! Why today of all days do I run into her in the halls!
"Hello Elaviel," she says cheerfully, though that was before she looked up, "Where are you going all spruced up? You're not going to go after Legolas are you?" she laughs jokingly. I cough and turn my eyes to the floor. Her laugh dwindles slightly and she asks with a very false smile, "You're not going to, right?" I keep my eyes to the floor. She gasps, "You are! No, you can't! Do you know what our parents would do to you?!"
My eyes finally rise from the floor to face her, "Yes, I know, but must do it." I then continue my way down the hall towards the stairs that finally lead to the outside world and to the stables.
I ignore the running footsteps and my name being called persistently behind me. I just run and latch the door behind me. I then sprint to the stables.
I smile at my white mare, Entali, who is dirty from rolling in the dirt when she was let out to graze. I quickly wash her off a bit and groom her rapidly, nervous about A'maela following me once more. I saddle her and load her with the necessary supplies. Then mounting her, I gallop out of the stables and down the way of which Legolas traveled all those weeks ago.
It is not too long before I hear the guards shouting and calling for their horses. Not long after there are a sounding of many horses hoof beats behind me. Why they are chasing me I do not know, nor do I care. As long as they stay away from me.
"Brilliant Elaviel, what are you going to do now?" I think to myself. I do not know what made me think of it but I remember a path I used to take walks down sometimes. The path that weaves in and out of the trees in a maze of green shall be the perfect place to loose them.
As I turn Entali towards the path, I hear a call ever so familiar,
"Elaviel Goldleaf!!" I stop for I second to see who it is. I should not have for thundering behind me came, eyes flaring hair flying behind her, A'maela.
I wake to the sound of birds singing outside my window. It has been five weeks since Legolas left, and I find myself wandering to the bench in the garden where we sat that night. I long to go after him, though I recall the promise I made to him, that I would stay in Mirkwood.
*Flashback*
"Do you have everything?" I ask as I walk with him to the two other elves waiting in the nearby field.
"For now yes, though when I leave I am leaving something behind. However I have a slight notion that it will try to follow." He is leaning on a tree when I turn and smile at him knowingly and reply,
"I made a promise. I hold to my promises, but this one will be exceptionally difficult."
We both turn to the sound of a whistle from the clearing nearby. I sigh and turn to accompany Legolas to the companions waiting it the field.
Legolas walks to his white stallion speckled with gray and hoists himself into the saddle. I step forward and Legolas then assists me in also mounting his stallion. I sit in front of him with one of his muscular arms wrapped around my waist and clasped firmly in his other hand the reigns.
When we arrive, I see the soldiers all readying themselves for their departure. Aragorn approaches smiling.
"Coming to kick some Orc-," Aragorn cut short with a sharp look from Legolas. "Er, I mean," He stuttered looking for the right words, obviously going to be cheeky knowing him the way that I do, "Lady Elaviel would you accompany us in the kicking of Orc tushie and the saving of all Middle Earth?"
Legolas rolls his eyes and lets out a sigh though I know he is smiling, while I giggle an answer.
"Sorry my friend I will not be accompanying you on this Orc-tushie-kicking- quest this time. His Majesty, the royal party pooper, says that I must stay here, where it is "safe" and be here for his coming home."
Aragorn lets out a laugh before saying with a smile,
"And where might Lady A'maela be? She has not come to say good-bye, and I would like to tell her to make sure that she protects her virgin eyes from such extremities as kissing."
"She has told me to tell you that she is "recovering" from your last brutal attack of pokes and prods."
He just smiles. As I predicted he said one last remark before helping me to the ground
"Right, and I am an Orcan Queen." He has walked right into this one, and I reply,
"Your Majesty." I bow my head in false respect
"That was so funny I forgot to laugh." He glares at me playfully. Aragorn has always been a brother to me. Few have seen Aragorn this way, boyish and immature, except close friends such as Legolas, A'maela, myself etc.
"I must go. However, I will miss you beyond words. Stars shall shine on our next meeting." Legolas's eyes glint in the early sunlight, I smile at him lovingly. He turns to go after a signal from Aragorn that it is time to leave. "Good-bye my Elaviel. I always shall love you."
"And mine shall never falter."
Aragorn calls for Legolas as the soldiers begin to leave. He looks at me longingly then puts Troy into a gallop. Just before they are about to disappear behind a hill, Aragorn and Legolas both turn and wave before continuing. I whisper to quietly to myself, "my heart shall weep till I see you again'. I then return to the palace.
*End Flashback*
I can no longer stand worrying about Legolas I am going after him today, and no one is going to stop me.
I put together a set of riding clothes and a couple of dresses into a sack along with paper, a quill and ink. I also put in a pair of dress shoes; you can't wear traveling boots all the time.
I ask Leaiam, my chambermaid, to fetch some food and several containers of water. She did so, though not without an awkward glance and questioning tone of 'yes my lady'.
She returns just as I am lacing up my black boots that come just below my knees now covered by black-gray trousers that go to the middle of my shin inside my boots. I also have on a parchment colored shirt covered by a deep gray full-length coat though it only buttons down to my waist. I like to wear this coat for riding because there are slits on the sides and in the back and front from the bottom to my waist. I stand up, take the items from Leriyan thanking her, and ask her not to tell anyone about this including my parents and my sisters, well Peniel anyway. I also request that she give a note to A'maela and Peniel for me. They will more than not be too pleased but they will get over it. She curtsies and leaves.
I sigh as I make a mental checklist of everything. Slinging my bag over my shoulder and gathering my bow and arrows I make my way to the stables.
My mind must have been somewhere else for I ran into A'maela reading a book as we both normally do. I do not realize who it is at first then I see the curl that either rests to the side of her forehead or in the middle. Ah Elbereth! Why today of all days do I run into her in the halls!
"Hello Elaviel," she says cheerfully, though that was before she looked up, "Where are you going all spruced up? You're not going to go after Legolas are you?" she laughs jokingly. I cough and turn my eyes to the floor. Her laugh dwindles slightly and she asks with a very false smile, "You're not going to, right?" I keep my eyes to the floor. She gasps, "You are! No, you can't! Do you know what our parents would do to you?!"
My eyes finally rise from the floor to face her, "Yes, I know, but must do it." I then continue my way down the hall towards the stairs that finally lead to the outside world and to the stables.
I ignore the running footsteps and my name being called persistently behind me. I just run and latch the door behind me. I then sprint to the stables.
I smile at my white mare, Entali, who is dirty from rolling in the dirt when she was let out to graze. I quickly wash her off a bit and groom her rapidly, nervous about A'maela following me once more. I saddle her and load her with the necessary supplies. Then mounting her, I gallop out of the stables and down the way of which Legolas traveled all those weeks ago.
It is not too long before I hear the guards shouting and calling for their horses. Not long after there are a sounding of many horses hoof beats behind me. Why they are chasing me I do not know, nor do I care. As long as they stay away from me.
"Brilliant Elaviel, what are you going to do now?" I think to myself. I do not know what made me think of it but I remember a path I used to take walks down sometimes. The path that weaves in and out of the trees in a maze of green shall be the perfect place to loose them.
As I turn Entali towards the path, I hear a call ever so familiar,
"Elaviel Goldleaf!!" I stop for I second to see who it is. I should not have for thundering behind me came, eyes flaring hair flying behind her, A'maela.