A story from a nobody like me, I feel so great, not. Well I hope you enjoy and reviews are very much appreciated. The keyword is reviews… (It doesn't matter I plan on finishing this story either way, with out without reviews.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord Of The Rings, it belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien, and I only own what is mine. (The poem at the beginning of this particular chapter is neither mine, it belongs to Emily Smith, a dear friend of mine.)
Title: Behind The Mask Chapter One: Ill TidingsWhen the shadows have fallen
Your footsteps falling along side mine,
Your pride swollen,
Then I'm running out of time…
The clock's ticking,
Your hearts beating,
I'm losing,
I'm running out of time…
Running Out Of Time – Emily Smith
It was early in the wintry morning when the castle gateway opened and Legolas stood in the cave's aperture overlooking the snow-covered terrain. It was a astounding sight to behold and still it gleamed with pride, the tree's foliage were full of snow and its heavy burden weighed it down, threatening to fall off at the slight change of weight. Legolas set one foot on the grounds and walked around blissfully, he gazed around him and sighed, it had been many years since it had decided to snow here in Mirkwood and he was joyful that it had. His flaxen hair intermittently swayed to the right as the zephyr came in and swept by. Legolas respired and then exhaled, it was a wonderful sensation and he could taste each part of the brisk and fresh morning air. Icicles hung from the roofs of many tree domiciles, the door still closed in fear of the cold weather.
He had walked a good ways when there was a slight rustling in the bushes beside him and he jerked around eyeing the trees and bushes apprehensively and then advancing a bit forward, to try and peer over the leaves, but there was no luck, the leaves were enormous and inexplicably enough no snow was upon it. He was a growing a bit anxious of being out here all alone with eccentric creatures, still he needed to make sure what was hiding inside that green bush. He took cautious steps over, his eyes scanning all around for anybody approaching him, but it was an empty field, nobody was out and nobody would be in a long time. He stopped and then looked back, he could easily forget about this and not mention it, but something was nagging him to figure it out.
He crept forward a bit and then he was only 3 feet away from the big bush, but his legs seemed to have frozen on the spot and his mouth went dry as the deserts, he felt a chill going down his spine and he decided to back out, walking backwards and heading up the path, trying to push the thought out of his mind, it was a battle that he couldn't win. Finally he couldn't stand it anymore and shouted, "Come out!" Birds scattered out of the trees, but no response came and he became infuriated then stormed down the path, heading to nowhere in particular, just trying to blow off some steam.
As he neared his favorite spot the rustling came again this time he jerked around and stormed over to the shrub he had half a mind to just run back and close the palace doors behind him so that he would be secure, but his pride wouldn't let him do that. He scolded himself mentally about his ego and as he neared the bush his legs felt unsteady and it didn't seem possible for him to move any closer. The sense of being alone slowly began to dawn upon him. He felt eyes watching him, but he saw nobody. "Calm down, Legolas. No ones here, but yourself so why don't you give it a rest?" He tried to sound tranquil and unruffled, but his voice faltered at the end and some of the words were a bit shaky. He didn't feel at all comfortable being out here in the snow and the morning.
He finally thought it over and knew he would have to check it out, he walked over and with his two hands parted the bush, no one was there and there were no tracks left to show that anybody had even been there. "Damn it," He cursed silently, "it was just my imagination all along. How embarassing. I better not do it again." He turned away and just then he almost got knocked off his feet, there standing before him was a stranger dressed in all black. A hood covered the face and Legolas backed up quickly, petrified and startled he knocked against the tree trunk his heart beating quickly against his chest and his eyes darting around frantically.
The stranger dropped the hood backwards and a mane of dark brown hair rolled down her back, her pale face looked at him, to him it was a deathly pale white and her eyes a faded brown. She looked like she had died a decade ago, his heart still beating quickly he eyed her and watched her as she approached him, her hands hidden inside her cloak. He was sure she was going to protrude a knife or a dagger, he opened his mouth to shout, but no words came out and his throat had gone drier than ever. Her blood red lips opened and closed, but he couldn't hear her, it was just the announcement of his death, he knew it.
Then something pierced his train of thoughts and stopped it dead in its tracks, it was a heavenly voice a sound of pure, harmony and melody, music. Floating in from behind the darkly dressed girl was a girl wearing a white cloak and a white gown under, her blonde tresses glowed even without the effects of the sun and her blue eyes were a crystal blue, deep and beautiful, they were like huge pools of water on her head and the blood red lips seemed to be singing, "Legolas."
Legolas nearly fainted, a Valier had come down to take him away, he was dead, his time had past and now he would have to give it up. He fell down to the ground and on his knees he looked up at the towering women and looked up to have his life returned. Pleadingly at them, as if beseeching for his life. "Legolas?" The blonde elf asked, a perplexed look came over her face and the ringing of bells left Legolas and he looked up remembering where he was and who he was. Shaking his head a bit he looked down, he was in the snow and his knees were covered in the white cold wet slops. Getting up and brushing off the snow he looked at the two young elf maidens, they no longer looked threatening, but beauty sprouted from them and he bowed down low.
"Good morning Ladies, and how would I be of service to the both of you?" his voice was coated with so much sugar that it almost sounded awful, he flashed a smile at them and the one with the golden blonde hair giggled a little, but got control soon after. He looked at them, his eyes glinting in an impish way and a small smile curled at his lips.
"Your Highness, we simply came looking for you, that is all. Being in your presences is more than enough," the girl in the white gown announced, still giggly and full of elation, the other one's mood was sour and unpleasant, but she kept it well hidden behind her eyes and a false smile spread on her face, they bowed as well and then the one in the white continued, "We were informed to tell his Highness that Glarawen wanted to see him." The one in the black nodded solemnly, everyone knew that Glarawen never brought good news, just ill news.
Legolas was a bit taken back he had never been called in by Glarawen, but from court legends, she is the Bearer of Ill news and whom ever she visits trouble befalls, them. Legolas managed to crack a small smile and then bowed leaving the two ladies and hurrying back into the palace grounds. "Glarawen…?" I've never met her before, at any party or at any feasts perhaps she is ugly?" He asked the question in an amusing way, but was snapped out of his thought, by a sweet melodic voice.
"Your Highness, so we meet." Wheeling around Legolas saw a tall woman with honey gold hair and hazel brown eyes that had the look of wisdom embedded in it. Her lips were bright red almost as if they had been smeared with berry juice and her perfect complexion was most desirable, she was a remarkable beauty and Legolas had nothing to say, he just stood there deferential her beauty. She curtseyed and then continued, "Your Highness, I've come to warn you that ill tidings are coming your way, you mustn't be blinded by fear or else your eyes will be clouded." Was all she said and then she turned away before Legolas could object or say anything to her.
Legolas stood there a bit shocked at the message she had brought him, so that was Lady Glarawen. Legolas wondered and then wandered around the palace grounds without anything to do.
- & -
Glarawen sat at the table gazing out of the window, a glass of wine was in her hand and her hazel brown eyes were closed, but they flickered open when her door creaked and she said in an ominous voice, "Hello Milord, what do you wish to know of?" Lady Glarawen asked, her face still facing the window rather than looking at the new arrival. There was a shuffling of feet, but no other sound and Glarawen asked once again. "Milord, surely you came in here for a reason, did you not? Or do you just barge into other people's room?" A hint of amusement was in her voice and this time she turned around to face the young elf standing before her, he was a bit shaky and his dark brown eyes jumping from one thing to another.
"I-I-I w-want to h-have m-my f-future c-cheeked?" His voice was a bit shaky. Glarawen nodded and then looked at him expectantly slowly he whispered out the date: Late winter, December 15. Glarawen leaned back and closed her eyes a small blue globe of light formed in her hands and it began to hum a little, finally she opened her eyes and the ball of light disappeared and she looked at him grimly.
"Beware of your hasty moves and thou shall have no trouble." He nodded and left the room in a jerky walk, Glarawen looked as the poor elf walked out and she frowned to herself, shaking her head. "Poor fellow, must be meeting some elf maiden and wanted to ask fro some advice, but he would do better if he didn't become so scared of his environments. Glarawen continued to gaze out the window. The wind rustled the leaves still hanging on the branches and the phantom footsteps edged on through the dark chambers.
