"Nope, absolutely nothing. We were just....testing the quality of the
down. It....err.....is quite good." I added, with an angelic smile.
Valiane glared over the king's shoulder. The hints of a smile played around the king's thin lips.
"I should hope so. We make it from the finest down available." He said. "Now, today you will be meeting the populace of our Kingdom of Mirkwood. Dress in your best, both of you. Legolas, may I see you for a moment? Valiane, Lady Aurora, I hope to see you in the banquet hall in half an hour."
Thranduil bowed majestically and swept from the room. Ashen-faced Legolas shakily did the same, and Valiane and I were left alone.
She didn't speak to me.
"Um..what'll I be wearing today?" I said hopefully, hoping for a response on a question about her favorite topic.
"Pants." She said briefly, looking up.
"Why?" I asked in surprise.
"Going riding. On horses. Can't ride in a skirt." She replied momentarily.
"Oh. True."
I ended up in beaded, soft leather riding boots, a burgundy silk shirt, soft pants, and gold leaf earrings.
Legolas was already in the great hall with his father, pacing nervously along the length.
"Ready then?" Thranduil said quickly, starting from where he had been sitting in a large armchair. "Lady Valiane, will you be accompanying us?"
"No, I think that I'll stay here, thank you." She said with a hint of a Scottish brogue.
"All right. We'll see you at dinner tonight. Aurora, Legolas, follow me." Thranduil replied.
For the second time in only a few minutes, Thranduil swept from the room, followed by a still pale Legolas. And me.
Thranduil led us through a winding route to the stables. Noblemen, ladies, maids and stable boys all bowed in homage to him. Afraid of tripping over my feet while trying to curtsey, I settled on a serious nod.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness." A richly dressed, slightly overweight nobleman said in a deep voice as he passed. Thranduil acquiesced with a deep nod.
Finally, we reached the stables. A teenage stable boy with lank blond hair led us to our saddled mounts.
We trotted out of he gate, fighting our way through a gathered crowd.
"Wave." Thranduil said through a forced smile.
We waved.
"Lucky." I heard a young girl say rapturously, gazing at Legolas, who was sitting tall on his pure white mare, waving at the crowd.
A/N hey, I'm back. This chapter I SLIGHTLY longer, anyway!!!!!!
Valiane glared over the king's shoulder. The hints of a smile played around the king's thin lips.
"I should hope so. We make it from the finest down available." He said. "Now, today you will be meeting the populace of our Kingdom of Mirkwood. Dress in your best, both of you. Legolas, may I see you for a moment? Valiane, Lady Aurora, I hope to see you in the banquet hall in half an hour."
Thranduil bowed majestically and swept from the room. Ashen-faced Legolas shakily did the same, and Valiane and I were left alone.
She didn't speak to me.
"Um..what'll I be wearing today?" I said hopefully, hoping for a response on a question about her favorite topic.
"Pants." She said briefly, looking up.
"Why?" I asked in surprise.
"Going riding. On horses. Can't ride in a skirt." She replied momentarily.
"Oh. True."
I ended up in beaded, soft leather riding boots, a burgundy silk shirt, soft pants, and gold leaf earrings.
Legolas was already in the great hall with his father, pacing nervously along the length.
"Ready then?" Thranduil said quickly, starting from where he had been sitting in a large armchair. "Lady Valiane, will you be accompanying us?"
"No, I think that I'll stay here, thank you." She said with a hint of a Scottish brogue.
"All right. We'll see you at dinner tonight. Aurora, Legolas, follow me." Thranduil replied.
For the second time in only a few minutes, Thranduil swept from the room, followed by a still pale Legolas. And me.
Thranduil led us through a winding route to the stables. Noblemen, ladies, maids and stable boys all bowed in homage to him. Afraid of tripping over my feet while trying to curtsey, I settled on a serious nod.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness." A richly dressed, slightly overweight nobleman said in a deep voice as he passed. Thranduil acquiesced with a deep nod.
Finally, we reached the stables. A teenage stable boy with lank blond hair led us to our saddled mounts.
We trotted out of he gate, fighting our way through a gathered crowd.
"Wave." Thranduil said through a forced smile.
We waved.
"Lucky." I heard a young girl say rapturously, gazing at Legolas, who was sitting tall on his pure white mare, waving at the crowd.
A/N hey, I'm back. This chapter I SLIGHTLY longer, anyway!!!!!!