AN: One more update either to end the old week or start the new one, since
I'm typing this at about 1:21 AM. Anyway, you reviewers are the best. I
take my beat up, pin covered, green NY Mets baseball cap off to all of you.
I'm very glad so many of you read and review this story of mine.
Gollumseye: Thanks for the review. By the way, I like the name. My nickname is Gollum.
Oracle: I didn't know there were so many ballet fans on this site. I'm glad you like my characters and more about Fire and Ice will be revealed shortly.
Lomiothiel: I really do have ballet lessons at 8:00 AM. It's not as bad as you'd think. You get use to it after a while. As a college student, I've seen people try to sleep with their eyes open. It really doesn't work. Why did you climb all those flights of stairs?
kurleyhawk2: Thanks and I will try. The only time my updates may get a bit few and far between is when finals start.
PixiePea000: That guy can be downright hostile in the morning. Make a mistake on a step when he's having a bad morning and you're liable to have your head bitten off. By the way, GOLLUM!
Elleiadrieal: Thanks and I really will try. Emma's parents are under lock and key back in Mirkwood. They're safe and sound and worried though, especially her mother.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for a handful of made up characters. Tolkien thought up the concept and, as such, it belongs to him. I'm just playing in his world. I'm broke and in college. All I own are Pointe Shoes.
Emma's days became a blur of riding for many hours, camping for the night, waking up, eating, and riding again. She was not sure how long they had traveled, whether it had been two days or two weeks or, even, two months.
One evening, Legolas whispered to Emma, "Look up, little elf, we have reached the Golden Woods."
Emma, who was pressed against the horse's neck, struggled to a normal sitting position. She felt Legolas help her into a normal riding position, hands remaining on her waist just in case she began to slide in either direction.
Emma looked around the horse's head and her breath caught at the sight before her. It was the largest forest she had ever seen, even larger then some of the forests she had camped in during her years as a Girl Scout. The trees were enormous and, even from a distance, the looked ancient. The trees appeared to shimmer in the twilight creating an ethereal appearance to the woods before her.
"It's beautiful," she breathed, more to herself.
Legolas's sensitive hearing picked up the young elf's comment and he could not help but smile.
"Do people actually live there?" she whispered to Legolas.
"Men do not dwell under the eaves of those trees. A dwindling population of elves does," Legolas replied as he led the group down a narrow path.
They traveled slowly, the path being very narrow in some places.
"Halt! Who goes there?" called a fair sounding voice as the group neared a dense, tree lined area of the path.
Emma heard Ice and Fire comment to each other. It appeared the two of them knew the owner of the voice.
Gray clad figures stepped out of the trees. All held large bows at the ready. Emma tensed at the sight of the figures, afraid of what they might do. She felt Legolas straighten up behind her.
"Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood Forest," he announced.
Following the prince's lead, the other elves announced themselves to the cadre of guards.
"Wiggy. I seek Captain," announced a very deep voice off to Emma's left.
Emma heard the two sisters speak but they did not introduce themselves as Ice and Fire, as she had expected them to do.
"Litsetaure of these fair woods," a voice-Ice's-called from Emma's right.
"Marille also of these fair woods," Fire called from the rear of the quartette.
The lead guard, upon hearing the names of the two females, smiled and called, "It is good to see you are both well, daughters."
Both sisters called a reply in some form of elvish, making their father smile.
All eyes, then, turned to Emma. They were waiting for her to announce who she was and where she was from.
"Do not worry about the child, Haldir. She is under my care," Legolas told the lead guard.
"Is she of elven blood?" a guard called, pulling out a length of gray cloth.
He meant to bind her eyes if she was not an elf.
"She is of elven blood. She hails from Mirkwood," Legolas replied.
The guard returned the length of cloth to his quiver.
"Dismount your horses. We will travel the rest of the way on foot," the lead guard-identified by Legolas as Haldir- ordered.
The riders dismounted, again with Legolas helping Emma off of his steed. The horses were left in the care of two of the guards.
"Follow me," Haldir ordered.
The group began to walk along the path.
Emma tried not to lag behind but she was soon outstripped by the other elves who knew the woods better than she did. It didn't help that she kept glancing around at the forest around her.
She had never seen such a beautiful and vibrant forest. As they ventured further and further, she felt the need to be very, very quiet. The shimmer she had perceived earlier seemed to be increasing.
Legolas looked around him. Emma had started out walking next to him. Now she was no where to be found. He glanced around and found her straggling behind the group.
"One moment, please," he said to Haldir.
The gray clad elf nodded and Legolas ran the length of the group to where Emma wandered.
"I know these woods are beautiful. You must keep up, though. I do not think your mother would ever forgive me if I were to lose you," Legolas told Emma.
"I'm sorry but you guys are moving really fast. I can't keep up," Emma whispered, apologetically.
Legolas shook his head, remembering that Emma knew very little about the skills she possessed as an elf.
"You can keep up, Emma. It is very easy for an elf," Legolas explained.
"How so?" she asked.
"I will explain some other time. We must keep going. I wish to speak to the Lady of the Woods as soon as possible," Legolas replied.
Emma looked hurt; she did not like being left in the dark even though the people she danced with often left her there,
Legolas saw her expression change from wonder to hurt. He took her hand and led her back up the path.
"If I lag behind, just tug me along," she told Legolas as he took her hand.
Legolas smiled but said nothing.
Emma got very quiet again. The woods, themselves, seemed to emit music. It reminded her of one of the pieces they were using for her ballet. It was unearthly but melodic.
"Do you hear that, Emma?" Legolas asked, giving her hand a soft tug to remind her to keep moving.
Emma nodded, not wanting to disturb the woods.
"Those are elves singing, passing along the news of our arrival," Legolas explained.
Emma, unable to understand what the elves were saying, decided to take Legolas's word for it.
The group continued to walk until they reached what appeared to be the center of the woods. Then they climbed. Fifty, one hundred, two hundred stairs passed before Emma lost count. They wound up a tall tree until they left off at a stage of some kind.
The stage seemed to be bathed in light, two figures appeared to be either coming out of the light or radiating the light themselves. They were tall, far taller then Emma, and clad in silver and white.
Following the example of the others around her, Emma gave her full attention to the stage. She wanted to ask someone about the two elves in front of her but she decided that it might be rude if she did.
The male elf dismissed the guards with a simple gesture. Wiggy left with the guards that were heading off the eastern edge of the platform. The two sisters followed Haldir---whom Emma figured was their father---off the western edge of the platform.
"It had been a very long time since I last had the pleasure of speaking to you, Prince Legolas. I hope I find you well," the female elf said.
"I am well, Lady Galadriel, and I am very glad to be under the eaves of your fair woods again," Legolas replied, formally.
"You come with a question from your father. Am I correct?" the female elf questioned.
"I do, ma'am. I have come to look in your mirror, with your permission of course," Legolas answered.
"Come," Galadriel said, gesturing for Legolas and Emma to follow.
Emma followed Legolas across the stage and through another opening. After a few moments, she saw that they were headed for some kind of sunken in clearing.
"I'm confused, Legolas. Who is this lady and what about a mirror? Is she going to do something like what you did with the mirrors back at my dancing school?" Emma asked in a hurried whisper.
Legolas smiled down at the elfling holding fast to his hand.
"You fit in so well here, that I forgot you were not raised here. That is the Lady Galadriel, one of the oldest elves in Middle Earth. She and her husband, Lord Celeborn have ruled these woods for several ages. As for her mirror, it is somewhat like what I did at your dance studio. In this case, we may see the past, present, and the possible future. It may help us figure out to whom you belong," Legolas explained.
Emma nodded her understanding as Galadriel turned to look at them.
The group continued to walk further and further down until they, finally reached the clearing.
Expecting something very different, Emma was surprised to see an ornate looking basin in the center of the clearing and a small man-made waterfall off to one side.
Legolas guided Emma toward the basin while Galadriel, picking up a silver pitcher, went over to the waterfall and scooped up some of the clear liquid. She joined them at the basin.
"You bring me an elven maiden dressed in male clothing," she said, matter of factly.
"I do, Lady Galadriel. We believe that she is the lost elf of recent legend," Legolas replied.
"We shall see. A word of caution, Prince of Mirkwood, stay near the child. There maybe some things you do not want her to see," Galadriel intoned as she poured the contents of the pitcher into the basin.
Gollumseye: Thanks for the review. By the way, I like the name. My nickname is Gollum.
Oracle: I didn't know there were so many ballet fans on this site. I'm glad you like my characters and more about Fire and Ice will be revealed shortly.
Lomiothiel: I really do have ballet lessons at 8:00 AM. It's not as bad as you'd think. You get use to it after a while. As a college student, I've seen people try to sleep with their eyes open. It really doesn't work. Why did you climb all those flights of stairs?
kurleyhawk2: Thanks and I will try. The only time my updates may get a bit few and far between is when finals start.
PixiePea000: That guy can be downright hostile in the morning. Make a mistake on a step when he's having a bad morning and you're liable to have your head bitten off. By the way, GOLLUM!
Elleiadrieal: Thanks and I really will try. Emma's parents are under lock and key back in Mirkwood. They're safe and sound and worried though, especially her mother.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for a handful of made up characters. Tolkien thought up the concept and, as such, it belongs to him. I'm just playing in his world. I'm broke and in college. All I own are Pointe Shoes.
Emma's days became a blur of riding for many hours, camping for the night, waking up, eating, and riding again. She was not sure how long they had traveled, whether it had been two days or two weeks or, even, two months.
One evening, Legolas whispered to Emma, "Look up, little elf, we have reached the Golden Woods."
Emma, who was pressed against the horse's neck, struggled to a normal sitting position. She felt Legolas help her into a normal riding position, hands remaining on her waist just in case she began to slide in either direction.
Emma looked around the horse's head and her breath caught at the sight before her. It was the largest forest she had ever seen, even larger then some of the forests she had camped in during her years as a Girl Scout. The trees were enormous and, even from a distance, the looked ancient. The trees appeared to shimmer in the twilight creating an ethereal appearance to the woods before her.
"It's beautiful," she breathed, more to herself.
Legolas's sensitive hearing picked up the young elf's comment and he could not help but smile.
"Do people actually live there?" she whispered to Legolas.
"Men do not dwell under the eaves of those trees. A dwindling population of elves does," Legolas replied as he led the group down a narrow path.
They traveled slowly, the path being very narrow in some places.
"Halt! Who goes there?" called a fair sounding voice as the group neared a dense, tree lined area of the path.
Emma heard Ice and Fire comment to each other. It appeared the two of them knew the owner of the voice.
Gray clad figures stepped out of the trees. All held large bows at the ready. Emma tensed at the sight of the figures, afraid of what they might do. She felt Legolas straighten up behind her.
"Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood Forest," he announced.
Following the prince's lead, the other elves announced themselves to the cadre of guards.
"Wiggy. I seek Captain," announced a very deep voice off to Emma's left.
Emma heard the two sisters speak but they did not introduce themselves as Ice and Fire, as she had expected them to do.
"Litsetaure of these fair woods," a voice-Ice's-called from Emma's right.
"Marille also of these fair woods," Fire called from the rear of the quartette.
The lead guard, upon hearing the names of the two females, smiled and called, "It is good to see you are both well, daughters."
Both sisters called a reply in some form of elvish, making their father smile.
All eyes, then, turned to Emma. They were waiting for her to announce who she was and where she was from.
"Do not worry about the child, Haldir. She is under my care," Legolas told the lead guard.
"Is she of elven blood?" a guard called, pulling out a length of gray cloth.
He meant to bind her eyes if she was not an elf.
"She is of elven blood. She hails from Mirkwood," Legolas replied.
The guard returned the length of cloth to his quiver.
"Dismount your horses. We will travel the rest of the way on foot," the lead guard-identified by Legolas as Haldir- ordered.
The riders dismounted, again with Legolas helping Emma off of his steed. The horses were left in the care of two of the guards.
"Follow me," Haldir ordered.
The group began to walk along the path.
Emma tried not to lag behind but she was soon outstripped by the other elves who knew the woods better than she did. It didn't help that she kept glancing around at the forest around her.
She had never seen such a beautiful and vibrant forest. As they ventured further and further, she felt the need to be very, very quiet. The shimmer she had perceived earlier seemed to be increasing.
Legolas looked around him. Emma had started out walking next to him. Now she was no where to be found. He glanced around and found her straggling behind the group.
"One moment, please," he said to Haldir.
The gray clad elf nodded and Legolas ran the length of the group to where Emma wandered.
"I know these woods are beautiful. You must keep up, though. I do not think your mother would ever forgive me if I were to lose you," Legolas told Emma.
"I'm sorry but you guys are moving really fast. I can't keep up," Emma whispered, apologetically.
Legolas shook his head, remembering that Emma knew very little about the skills she possessed as an elf.
"You can keep up, Emma. It is very easy for an elf," Legolas explained.
"How so?" she asked.
"I will explain some other time. We must keep going. I wish to speak to the Lady of the Woods as soon as possible," Legolas replied.
Emma looked hurt; she did not like being left in the dark even though the people she danced with often left her there,
Legolas saw her expression change from wonder to hurt. He took her hand and led her back up the path.
"If I lag behind, just tug me along," she told Legolas as he took her hand.
Legolas smiled but said nothing.
Emma got very quiet again. The woods, themselves, seemed to emit music. It reminded her of one of the pieces they were using for her ballet. It was unearthly but melodic.
"Do you hear that, Emma?" Legolas asked, giving her hand a soft tug to remind her to keep moving.
Emma nodded, not wanting to disturb the woods.
"Those are elves singing, passing along the news of our arrival," Legolas explained.
Emma, unable to understand what the elves were saying, decided to take Legolas's word for it.
The group continued to walk until they reached what appeared to be the center of the woods. Then they climbed. Fifty, one hundred, two hundred stairs passed before Emma lost count. They wound up a tall tree until they left off at a stage of some kind.
The stage seemed to be bathed in light, two figures appeared to be either coming out of the light or radiating the light themselves. They were tall, far taller then Emma, and clad in silver and white.
Following the example of the others around her, Emma gave her full attention to the stage. She wanted to ask someone about the two elves in front of her but she decided that it might be rude if she did.
The male elf dismissed the guards with a simple gesture. Wiggy left with the guards that were heading off the eastern edge of the platform. The two sisters followed Haldir---whom Emma figured was their father---off the western edge of the platform.
"It had been a very long time since I last had the pleasure of speaking to you, Prince Legolas. I hope I find you well," the female elf said.
"I am well, Lady Galadriel, and I am very glad to be under the eaves of your fair woods again," Legolas replied, formally.
"You come with a question from your father. Am I correct?" the female elf questioned.
"I do, ma'am. I have come to look in your mirror, with your permission of course," Legolas answered.
"Come," Galadriel said, gesturing for Legolas and Emma to follow.
Emma followed Legolas across the stage and through another opening. After a few moments, she saw that they were headed for some kind of sunken in clearing.
"I'm confused, Legolas. Who is this lady and what about a mirror? Is she going to do something like what you did with the mirrors back at my dancing school?" Emma asked in a hurried whisper.
Legolas smiled down at the elfling holding fast to his hand.
"You fit in so well here, that I forgot you were not raised here. That is the Lady Galadriel, one of the oldest elves in Middle Earth. She and her husband, Lord Celeborn have ruled these woods for several ages. As for her mirror, it is somewhat like what I did at your dance studio. In this case, we may see the past, present, and the possible future. It may help us figure out to whom you belong," Legolas explained.
Emma nodded her understanding as Galadriel turned to look at them.
The group continued to walk further and further down until they, finally reached the clearing.
Expecting something very different, Emma was surprised to see an ornate looking basin in the center of the clearing and a small man-made waterfall off to one side.
Legolas guided Emma toward the basin while Galadriel, picking up a silver pitcher, went over to the waterfall and scooped up some of the clear liquid. She joined them at the basin.
"You bring me an elven maiden dressed in male clothing," she said, matter of factly.
"I do, Lady Galadriel. We believe that she is the lost elf of recent legend," Legolas replied.
"We shall see. A word of caution, Prince of Mirkwood, stay near the child. There maybe some things you do not want her to see," Galadriel intoned as she poured the contents of the pitcher into the basin.