A/N thankyou all soooooo much for the lovely reviews!!!!! Note: Lumnaë=
ominous in Elvish. Marillaë = pearl in elvish. Sirilon= River, or
Rivulet.
"I trust that you'll choose the jewelry?" I said to Valiane. I needed to go. I had a lot to think about.
At her startled nod I quickly stood and practically ran from the room.
I passed thousands of rooms -well, hundreds anyway - dining rooms, bedchambers, solariums, courtyards, and just about every other type of room before finally coming to a deserted bed chamber in the very back wing. It obviously hadn't been touched in quite a while; a thick layer of dust had settled over the blue-and-gold furniture and walls.
For some reason, I knew that I needed to go in.
A delicate maple desk sat under a wide window. Its more masculine version of oak sat opposite it, covered with yellowing papers and a business-like leather journal. I settled in the graceful, blue velvet upholstered chair and looked out of the window.
One of the more beautiful views in the palace met my eyes. We were about ten feet above the ground, looking over a clear stream flowing into a deep pond.
Finally bored, I slowly slid open the thin drawer. Inside was a faded journal covered with padded silver satin. I drew it out and set it carefully on the writing table. Surprisingly, the dust wasn't covering it at all. Perhaps someone HAD been in here beside myself. I dismissed the thought almost as soon as it was conceived -only my footprints crossed the floor.
The yellowed spine creaked as I opened it. I slip of paper fell out. I picked it up. A child's drawing of a happy family..all with pointed ears fell out. A tall, proud father -crudely drawn as it was, one could still discern the facial features -a happy, smiling mother..and a child, raising his arms to be picked up. "Legolas's own.." was scrawled neatly on the back.
I turned to the first page.
"Herilasse's Journal, Early January," it said in the same neat hand. "Mother packed my things into my trunk today, even my riding pants. She says that Hyalmaë will be coming with me too. At least I'll know someone, even if it is my love-struck sister. Her dear sweetheart, Sirilon(I call him the Samnaon, or wooden post, because he is so stupid)Will be coming as well. That should make someone happy, anyway. I think that Lumnaë knows that we're going somewhere, she's been....well, as ominous as her namesake. Her foal, Marillaë, might know too. She's as gorgeous as ever, nearly putting my lovely mare to shame, even though she used to be the prettiest in the stables, all silver and gray, her little usurping daughter is nipping at her heels, golden mane flying.
"Anyway, we're leaving tomorrow. Mother says that I am allowed bring both of my horses. I'm incredibly glad, because a few days ago, she said that father could keep my Marillaë. I nearly cried, even though I don't like Marillaë nearly as much as her dove-gray mother, Marillaë would be a piece of home in the far away kingdom of Murk...Mirk...trees, maybe? No, no, I mean MIRKWOOD. Eru, couldn't they think of a better name?"
I grinned. Herilasse sounded much like me. True, she sounded beautiful, which I most certainly am not, but there was a certain similarity. She hated pretension, which I consider one of my strong suits, and didn't WANT to be a queen. I looked back at the patterns of flowing blue ink.
"A few days later, still early January.
It's barely past five, and I'm trying to write while stifling yawns. Did I mention that writing while trotting on the back of a horse is very hard? Lumnaë tries to be gentle, but trotting and writing just do not mix. I just glanced up, and Mother is giving me one of her Looks Of Ice. I suppose that I'm supposed to be taking in the surroundings of my new home..did I mention that we've reached Mirkwood? A gloomy place it is, too, very dark and foreboding. Oh well. At least Mother won't be compelled to stay long. Be back later.
Later-
I can't write long. We just barely arrived. My quarters are so U-G-L-Y. They're moldy yellow and gold. Gross, messy, disgusting...just gross. I should certainly hope that these aren't the royal colors, but I think that they have at last some green in them. Anyway, I have to go and meet my fiancé. If he's too ugly, I'll simply run away. Too bad for them.
"Later, again, after the banquet. B-O-R-I-N-G. Ugh, the prince is so stupid looking as well. I couldn't actually get close to him, but he spent the entire night conversing with Samnaon. Idiot."
A/N MY BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW!!!! Yayayayayayayayayay!!! I CAN'T WAIT. Thank YOU ALL FOR THE WONDERFUL REVIEWS. THEY MADE ME SO HAPPY. HOPE YOU LIKE THIS CHAPTER.
"I trust that you'll choose the jewelry?" I said to Valiane. I needed to go. I had a lot to think about.
At her startled nod I quickly stood and practically ran from the room.
I passed thousands of rooms -well, hundreds anyway - dining rooms, bedchambers, solariums, courtyards, and just about every other type of room before finally coming to a deserted bed chamber in the very back wing. It obviously hadn't been touched in quite a while; a thick layer of dust had settled over the blue-and-gold furniture and walls.
For some reason, I knew that I needed to go in.
A delicate maple desk sat under a wide window. Its more masculine version of oak sat opposite it, covered with yellowing papers and a business-like leather journal. I settled in the graceful, blue velvet upholstered chair and looked out of the window.
One of the more beautiful views in the palace met my eyes. We were about ten feet above the ground, looking over a clear stream flowing into a deep pond.
Finally bored, I slowly slid open the thin drawer. Inside was a faded journal covered with padded silver satin. I drew it out and set it carefully on the writing table. Surprisingly, the dust wasn't covering it at all. Perhaps someone HAD been in here beside myself. I dismissed the thought almost as soon as it was conceived -only my footprints crossed the floor.
The yellowed spine creaked as I opened it. I slip of paper fell out. I picked it up. A child's drawing of a happy family..all with pointed ears fell out. A tall, proud father -crudely drawn as it was, one could still discern the facial features -a happy, smiling mother..and a child, raising his arms to be picked up. "Legolas's own.." was scrawled neatly on the back.
I turned to the first page.
"Herilasse's Journal, Early January," it said in the same neat hand. "Mother packed my things into my trunk today, even my riding pants. She says that Hyalmaë will be coming with me too. At least I'll know someone, even if it is my love-struck sister. Her dear sweetheart, Sirilon(I call him the Samnaon, or wooden post, because he is so stupid)Will be coming as well. That should make someone happy, anyway. I think that Lumnaë knows that we're going somewhere, she's been....well, as ominous as her namesake. Her foal, Marillaë, might know too. She's as gorgeous as ever, nearly putting my lovely mare to shame, even though she used to be the prettiest in the stables, all silver and gray, her little usurping daughter is nipping at her heels, golden mane flying.
"Anyway, we're leaving tomorrow. Mother says that I am allowed bring both of my horses. I'm incredibly glad, because a few days ago, she said that father could keep my Marillaë. I nearly cried, even though I don't like Marillaë nearly as much as her dove-gray mother, Marillaë would be a piece of home in the far away kingdom of Murk...Mirk...trees, maybe? No, no, I mean MIRKWOOD. Eru, couldn't they think of a better name?"
I grinned. Herilasse sounded much like me. True, she sounded beautiful, which I most certainly am not, but there was a certain similarity. She hated pretension, which I consider one of my strong suits, and didn't WANT to be a queen. I looked back at the patterns of flowing blue ink.
"A few days later, still early January.
It's barely past five, and I'm trying to write while stifling yawns. Did I mention that writing while trotting on the back of a horse is very hard? Lumnaë tries to be gentle, but trotting and writing just do not mix. I just glanced up, and Mother is giving me one of her Looks Of Ice. I suppose that I'm supposed to be taking in the surroundings of my new home..did I mention that we've reached Mirkwood? A gloomy place it is, too, very dark and foreboding. Oh well. At least Mother won't be compelled to stay long. Be back later.
Later-
I can't write long. We just barely arrived. My quarters are so U-G-L-Y. They're moldy yellow and gold. Gross, messy, disgusting...just gross. I should certainly hope that these aren't the royal colors, but I think that they have at last some green in them. Anyway, I have to go and meet my fiancé. If he's too ugly, I'll simply run away. Too bad for them.
"Later, again, after the banquet. B-O-R-I-N-G. Ugh, the prince is so stupid looking as well. I couldn't actually get close to him, but he spent the entire night conversing with Samnaon. Idiot."
A/N MY BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW!!!! Yayayayayayayayayay!!! I CAN'T WAIT. Thank YOU ALL FOR THE WONDERFUL REVIEWS. THEY MADE ME SO HAPPY. HOPE YOU LIKE THIS CHAPTER.