As Lilly and Révin entered the great hall King Théoden walked over to meet
them, "Lady Lillyana, you look simply radiant tonight."
"Thank you my lord." She said bowing her head to hide her blushing face.
"Now I am trusting that you will show Lady Lilly around and take good care
of her?" he said turning to Révin.
"Of course my lord."
"Well I must be off. I hope you two enjoy yourselves."
"Thank you my lord." called Révin as Théoden walked away. "Lilly would..
would you like to.. to dance." He finished as though it took all the will
power he had to say it.
Lilly blushed.
No one had ever asked her to dance except Legolas and her father. But never
someone she knew very little about. But the look in his eyes told her that
nothing would make him happier.
"I would love to Révin."
Relief washed over his face. Without a word Révin took Lilly's hand and led
her to the dance hall.
As Révin led Lilly, she took in everything. The hall was brightly lit with oil lamps. It was a windowless hall, so whenever the wind blew it fluttered the satin curtains that hung there. The floor was made of a sort of granite with hues of green, gold, purple, and gray. It was polished so that your reflection was looking up at you. The establishment was supported by eight one hundred twenty foot pillars; four on each side. They were made of high polished redwood trees, which had vines intricately carved into the pillars. Banners were hung u welcoming Lilly to the palace and in the top middle was a great banquet set in her honor. All at once a multiple number of smells came wafting towards her. Turkey, pork, steamed vegetables, corn, rice, and other exotic foods Lilly had only dreamed of. "Wow." Lilly managed to say. "Quite amazing isn't it?" Révin asked chuckling at the look on her face. "I must admit after living here for so long you take for granted many things, and this is one of them." Révin waited a moment longer to let Lilly take it all in, before saying, "shall we?" Lilly simply looked up and took Révin's arm. "This is one of my more favorite songs", commented Révin. "Yes, I like it very much myself." Replied Lilly. Waiting for an opening Révin slipped his hand around her waist and took her hand and held it about eye level. While Lilly shyly took her hand and put it in Révin's outstretched one and gently rested her other hand on his arm that was holding her waist.
The music began again, lighter and more content for it had found that which it desired. Lilly took a step back on one beat, drawing Révin with her, then took two small steps on the next. As if they had practiced it a thousand times, Révin raised her hand above her head and gently spun her around. Warming to the dance, he slipped an arm about her thin waist to stop her and drew her close. Lilly's hands on his chest felt the gentle beat of his heart beneath her fingers and noticed the change as his pulse quickened at her proximity. Looking up, she saw how close his face was to hers and had the sudden, unreasonable urge to let herself fall into his deep, beautiful eyes. Révin was surprised by how good it felt to hold her, how right she felt in his arms. The next pulsing beat demanded that he release her and he did so with an obvious reluctance. In a wisp of flowing baby blue and light violet flowers, she leaped away from him, twirling to the other side of the dance floor where she waited perfectly still for him to move. The music told him what to do, and the rhythm quickened while he moved swiftly to her side. As he walked behind her, he put a hand lightly on her wrist and traced his fingers gently up her arm and across her shoulders. Shivers of delight ran down Lilly's back, and tilting her head, she allowed herself to fall. Strong arms caught her, as she had known they would, and lifted her. The music became more frantic and the watchers stamped their feet and clapped along, as Révin, cradling Lilly against his chest, whirled around on the spot. Around, and around, and around they spun, faster and faster, until at just the right moment Révin released Lilly and she landed nimbly on the balls of her feet.. She had barely got her balance before she launched herself backwards. The momentum would normally have carried her backwards but Révin was there to stop her. He caught her wrist and pulled her to him, and together they whirled, dizzyingly fast, so that their figures blurred and they became as one. On the final, sudden, climatic beat of the music they stopped, entirely motionless. There was silence in the palace. Never had they been treated to such an incredible demonstration of skill and trust. Then they erupted into applause. Lilly became very uncomfortable and quickly let go and left the dance floor. Révin not seeing what had just happened ran after Lilly. He found her out on one of the balconies. "Lilly? Are you alright." He asked slowing his pace and coming to a halt beside her. "I'm..I'm fine Révin" but she said this without meeting his eyes. "Is there something that I have done to offend you? Please tell me so I may correct it." He said still not actually comprehending what had just happened. "Lilly please, tell me. I will be hurt more if you don't tell me what is bothering you." "First answer me this, do you have any feelings for me?" she said bluntly. Révin had not expected Lilly to be so foreword and to the point. For a minute he had to think about how to put his feelings into words. "My lady.. even though I have known you only a short time.I have developed feelings for you. I do not usually get attached to people quickly, but you have a certain mystery about you that is so enchanting." That's what Lilly was afraid of. If Révin cared about her as much as he said, Lilly could not bear to tell him about Legolas. She wanted to be honest, but telling him that she loved someone else when he loved her equally. Lilly's eyes betrayed her feelings. "Lilly I can see it in your eyes that you don't are holding back something, but I urge you, please be honest with me." Lilly could see the hurt in Révin's eyes that pained her just to look into them. She could see hurt, confusion, sadness, and so many other feelings. Choosing her words carefully so as not to hurt him further, Lilly tried to explain her situation with Legolas. "Révin, there is another that you must know about. I have known him far longer than I have known you, so my feelings for him deep." Lilly finished, biting her lip as she waited for Révin to reply to her words. "And.and who is this other?" he stuttered, half in anger and half in frustration for letting himself get mixed up with her in the first place. How could he have been so foolish? "Révin please, this isn't easy for me either. You must try to understand, I like you, have no question of that in your mind. It's just I do not return your feelings as deeply as you would like." Révin only repeated himself. "Who is this other?" After a few moments of quiet debate, Lilly decided that it was best to go ahead and tell him. "It is Legolas Greenleaf." "Prince of Mirkwood? How could I not have guessed, that would after all be fitting for a princess to chose a prince for her love. What, is a palace guard to lowly for your liking?" "Révin you know well that is not it." She began to protest. "Are you really going to blame me for knowing Legolas first? Révin be sensible. Had I known you longer, I would have deeper feelings for you, but that was not the way fate played out." Now Lilly was losing her usually calm, collected state of mind. Why was Révin so angry with her? I mean sure he had a case of puppy love for her but that was no reason to go and blow up at her. And he was being a bit selfish. I mean it is hard to choose between to very handsome elves; but the truth is, she loved Legolas, there was no two ways about it, and if he wanted to hold a grudge against her then fine, let him. See how far it gets him. Lilly seeing that this conversation was clearly over, stormed out of the great hall, and throwing a scornful glance back saw that Révin was doing the same.
As Révin led Lilly, she took in everything. The hall was brightly lit with oil lamps. It was a windowless hall, so whenever the wind blew it fluttered the satin curtains that hung there. The floor was made of a sort of granite with hues of green, gold, purple, and gray. It was polished so that your reflection was looking up at you. The establishment was supported by eight one hundred twenty foot pillars; four on each side. They were made of high polished redwood trees, which had vines intricately carved into the pillars. Banners were hung u welcoming Lilly to the palace and in the top middle was a great banquet set in her honor. All at once a multiple number of smells came wafting towards her. Turkey, pork, steamed vegetables, corn, rice, and other exotic foods Lilly had only dreamed of. "Wow." Lilly managed to say. "Quite amazing isn't it?" Révin asked chuckling at the look on her face. "I must admit after living here for so long you take for granted many things, and this is one of them." Révin waited a moment longer to let Lilly take it all in, before saying, "shall we?" Lilly simply looked up and took Révin's arm. "This is one of my more favorite songs", commented Révin. "Yes, I like it very much myself." Replied Lilly. Waiting for an opening Révin slipped his hand around her waist and took her hand and held it about eye level. While Lilly shyly took her hand and put it in Révin's outstretched one and gently rested her other hand on his arm that was holding her waist.
The music began again, lighter and more content for it had found that which it desired. Lilly took a step back on one beat, drawing Révin with her, then took two small steps on the next. As if they had practiced it a thousand times, Révin raised her hand above her head and gently spun her around. Warming to the dance, he slipped an arm about her thin waist to stop her and drew her close. Lilly's hands on his chest felt the gentle beat of his heart beneath her fingers and noticed the change as his pulse quickened at her proximity. Looking up, she saw how close his face was to hers and had the sudden, unreasonable urge to let herself fall into his deep, beautiful eyes. Révin was surprised by how good it felt to hold her, how right she felt in his arms. The next pulsing beat demanded that he release her and he did so with an obvious reluctance. In a wisp of flowing baby blue and light violet flowers, she leaped away from him, twirling to the other side of the dance floor where she waited perfectly still for him to move. The music told him what to do, and the rhythm quickened while he moved swiftly to her side. As he walked behind her, he put a hand lightly on her wrist and traced his fingers gently up her arm and across her shoulders. Shivers of delight ran down Lilly's back, and tilting her head, she allowed herself to fall. Strong arms caught her, as she had known they would, and lifted her. The music became more frantic and the watchers stamped their feet and clapped along, as Révin, cradling Lilly against his chest, whirled around on the spot. Around, and around, and around they spun, faster and faster, until at just the right moment Révin released Lilly and she landed nimbly on the balls of her feet.. She had barely got her balance before she launched herself backwards. The momentum would normally have carried her backwards but Révin was there to stop her. He caught her wrist and pulled her to him, and together they whirled, dizzyingly fast, so that their figures blurred and they became as one. On the final, sudden, climatic beat of the music they stopped, entirely motionless. There was silence in the palace. Never had they been treated to such an incredible demonstration of skill and trust. Then they erupted into applause. Lilly became very uncomfortable and quickly let go and left the dance floor. Révin not seeing what had just happened ran after Lilly. He found her out on one of the balconies. "Lilly? Are you alright." He asked slowing his pace and coming to a halt beside her. "I'm..I'm fine Révin" but she said this without meeting his eyes. "Is there something that I have done to offend you? Please tell me so I may correct it." He said still not actually comprehending what had just happened. "Lilly please, tell me. I will be hurt more if you don't tell me what is bothering you." "First answer me this, do you have any feelings for me?" she said bluntly. Révin had not expected Lilly to be so foreword and to the point. For a minute he had to think about how to put his feelings into words. "My lady.. even though I have known you only a short time.I have developed feelings for you. I do not usually get attached to people quickly, but you have a certain mystery about you that is so enchanting." That's what Lilly was afraid of. If Révin cared about her as much as he said, Lilly could not bear to tell him about Legolas. She wanted to be honest, but telling him that she loved someone else when he loved her equally. Lilly's eyes betrayed her feelings. "Lilly I can see it in your eyes that you don't are holding back something, but I urge you, please be honest with me." Lilly could see the hurt in Révin's eyes that pained her just to look into them. She could see hurt, confusion, sadness, and so many other feelings. Choosing her words carefully so as not to hurt him further, Lilly tried to explain her situation with Legolas. "Révin, there is another that you must know about. I have known him far longer than I have known you, so my feelings for him deep." Lilly finished, biting her lip as she waited for Révin to reply to her words. "And.and who is this other?" he stuttered, half in anger and half in frustration for letting himself get mixed up with her in the first place. How could he have been so foolish? "Révin please, this isn't easy for me either. You must try to understand, I like you, have no question of that in your mind. It's just I do not return your feelings as deeply as you would like." Révin only repeated himself. "Who is this other?" After a few moments of quiet debate, Lilly decided that it was best to go ahead and tell him. "It is Legolas Greenleaf." "Prince of Mirkwood? How could I not have guessed, that would after all be fitting for a princess to chose a prince for her love. What, is a palace guard to lowly for your liking?" "Révin you know well that is not it." She began to protest. "Are you really going to blame me for knowing Legolas first? Révin be sensible. Had I known you longer, I would have deeper feelings for you, but that was not the way fate played out." Now Lilly was losing her usually calm, collected state of mind. Why was Révin so angry with her? I mean sure he had a case of puppy love for her but that was no reason to go and blow up at her. And he was being a bit selfish. I mean it is hard to choose between to very handsome elves; but the truth is, she loved Legolas, there was no two ways about it, and if he wanted to hold a grudge against her then fine, let him. See how far it gets him. Lilly seeing that this conversation was clearly over, stormed out of the great hall, and throwing a scornful glance back saw that Révin was doing the same.
