A/N I didn't get in! Grrrrr.....they gave some eeeeeevil little seventh
grader MY part! Grrrrrrrrr.....
"Valiane? Are you here?" I called as I entered my apartment.
Instead of the brown-and-white uniformed, motherly women I expected, a tall feminine figure in a blue gown entered from the antechamber.
It was Aurora!
"Hello, Ellen. Do you remember me?" I gaped. She smiled. "I wanted to give you another of my memories-but in return, I'll have to take one of yours."
"I-I-I-uhhhhhh...."
She smiled again. "You have no choice. Do you not WANT to remember any thing about Rivendell, or Legolas, or Valiane, or MY parents, or of Elvish, or horses? I could just leave you here, with no knowledge. Is that what you want? And besides, you'll need this memory for later."
"No," I said resignedly. "Give me another memory."
She reached out her hand. In it was another golden mist, but this one seemed almost to have a shape. Legs, an elongated head, a fluffy mane and tail- it was a horse, galloping in her hand!
"Here you are. And congratulations on your victory over Legolas. I always thought he was a pig-headed daddy's boy. And have fun with Galon, this afternoon." With that, she disappeared.
"Galon?" I wondered out loud -but then ceased to wonder, because I had found my most recent memory.
A horse, a golden horse, cantering across green fields beneath me.
"Galon." I breathed.
I heard a voice- my voice, it sounded like, saying what I had said only minutes-seconds- before, but no one was visible.
"Valiane? Are you here?"
""Of course I am." Spotting my brown-and-green attire, she gasped. "What are you WEARING? I should certainly hope that the prince didn't see you in that!"
"Er..of course not. I was taking a walk by the river..and I doubt he was anywhere near." Changing topics, I continued. "So what am I supposed to do this afternoon?"
"You are going on a ride through the lower hills of the Misty Mountains. I will not be accompanying you. You will be chaperoned by Legolas's guard of honor. You will not wear that ridiculous outfit you have on. I suppose, because I KNOW you will protest if I say otherwise, you may be permitted not to ride sidesaddle, though. Eat your lunch quickly- they rescheduled, and now you are going early afternoon." She gestured toward a small table in an antechamber. It was loaded with chicken, salad, bread and fruit. I helped myself and settled down to eating.
I finished quickly, and was handed a pair of cream-colored riding trousers, a royal blue shirt, and a pale, icy azure cloak. They were obviously very well made, the cloak especially- it was of thick-layered satin and had a beaded fringe.
There was something that I should remember... something... from home. Hard as I might try, I could not recall the memory I had forgotten.
What was it?
I pulled on my shirt, coiled my bowstring and put it in my pocket, slung my quiver over my shoulder (complete with brand new, dark green feathered arrows,) and pulled my hair back in a loose braid falling down my back. The cloak I tossed over my arm.
"Valiane!" I called. She reappeared from the main chamber.
"You've got to go soon. I'll escort you to the stables."
The stables were located on the opposite side of the city from the practice courts. They were a long, low building of pale wood with thin windows looking out on the street.
Valiane led me in one end, ducking her head the low beam inside the door.
Inside were rows upon rows of majestic horses. Some were black, some brown, some white, and one palomino. I could already see Legolas leading his tall white mare into the central aisle. His guards were saddling their dappled gray mounts.
Valiane walked swiftly past stalls occupied by mares and geldings, colts and stallions, and paused- by the palomino- what a surprise.
"Hallo Galon," she crooned. "Are you ready for a ride?" Addressing me, she continued. "He must be glad to see you. Well, I'll see you tonight, when you get back."
"Right." I said cheerfully. At least I knew how to ride.
"Shall I have someone saddle him for you?"
"Yes, please." I replied dizzily.
A young groom saddled my stallion for me, and handed me the reins. I led him down the aisle and out into the open air of the stable yard. He breathed in and snorted happily.
I paused at the mounting block and swung up.
Galon and I clop-clopped over to Legolas and his pure white mare. Galon and his horse touched noses, and Galon whinnied.
"Lets go!" Cried one of the guards.
"Oh, no...." I said under my breath.
A/N I love you all!!!!!!!!!
"Valiane? Are you here?" I called as I entered my apartment.
Instead of the brown-and-white uniformed, motherly women I expected, a tall feminine figure in a blue gown entered from the antechamber.
It was Aurora!
"Hello, Ellen. Do you remember me?" I gaped. She smiled. "I wanted to give you another of my memories-but in return, I'll have to take one of yours."
"I-I-I-uhhhhhh...."
She smiled again. "You have no choice. Do you not WANT to remember any thing about Rivendell, or Legolas, or Valiane, or MY parents, or of Elvish, or horses? I could just leave you here, with no knowledge. Is that what you want? And besides, you'll need this memory for later."
"No," I said resignedly. "Give me another memory."
She reached out her hand. In it was another golden mist, but this one seemed almost to have a shape. Legs, an elongated head, a fluffy mane and tail- it was a horse, galloping in her hand!
"Here you are. And congratulations on your victory over Legolas. I always thought he was a pig-headed daddy's boy. And have fun with Galon, this afternoon." With that, she disappeared.
"Galon?" I wondered out loud -but then ceased to wonder, because I had found my most recent memory.
A horse, a golden horse, cantering across green fields beneath me.
"Galon." I breathed.
I heard a voice- my voice, it sounded like, saying what I had said only minutes-seconds- before, but no one was visible.
"Valiane? Are you here?"
""Of course I am." Spotting my brown-and-green attire, she gasped. "What are you WEARING? I should certainly hope that the prince didn't see you in that!"
"Er..of course not. I was taking a walk by the river..and I doubt he was anywhere near." Changing topics, I continued. "So what am I supposed to do this afternoon?"
"You are going on a ride through the lower hills of the Misty Mountains. I will not be accompanying you. You will be chaperoned by Legolas's guard of honor. You will not wear that ridiculous outfit you have on. I suppose, because I KNOW you will protest if I say otherwise, you may be permitted not to ride sidesaddle, though. Eat your lunch quickly- they rescheduled, and now you are going early afternoon." She gestured toward a small table in an antechamber. It was loaded with chicken, salad, bread and fruit. I helped myself and settled down to eating.
I finished quickly, and was handed a pair of cream-colored riding trousers, a royal blue shirt, and a pale, icy azure cloak. They were obviously very well made, the cloak especially- it was of thick-layered satin and had a beaded fringe.
There was something that I should remember... something... from home. Hard as I might try, I could not recall the memory I had forgotten.
What was it?
I pulled on my shirt, coiled my bowstring and put it in my pocket, slung my quiver over my shoulder (complete with brand new, dark green feathered arrows,) and pulled my hair back in a loose braid falling down my back. The cloak I tossed over my arm.
"Valiane!" I called. She reappeared from the main chamber.
"You've got to go soon. I'll escort you to the stables."
The stables were located on the opposite side of the city from the practice courts. They were a long, low building of pale wood with thin windows looking out on the street.
Valiane led me in one end, ducking her head the low beam inside the door.
Inside were rows upon rows of majestic horses. Some were black, some brown, some white, and one palomino. I could already see Legolas leading his tall white mare into the central aisle. His guards were saddling their dappled gray mounts.
Valiane walked swiftly past stalls occupied by mares and geldings, colts and stallions, and paused- by the palomino- what a surprise.
"Hallo Galon," she crooned. "Are you ready for a ride?" Addressing me, she continued. "He must be glad to see you. Well, I'll see you tonight, when you get back."
"Right." I said cheerfully. At least I knew how to ride.
"Shall I have someone saddle him for you?"
"Yes, please." I replied dizzily.
A young groom saddled my stallion for me, and handed me the reins. I led him down the aisle and out into the open air of the stable yard. He breathed in and snorted happily.
I paused at the mounting block and swung up.
Galon and I clop-clopped over to Legolas and his pure white mare. Galon and his horse touched noses, and Galon whinnied.
"Lets go!" Cried one of the guards.
"Oh, no...." I said under my breath.
A/N I love you all!!!!!!!!!