As the years went on, it seemed that the friendship between Legolas and
Anarrima became stronger and stronger. Even so, the King grew very fond of
her as well as all who lived in the kingdom. But finally the year came of
Anarrima's coming of age ceremony, all too soon for her liking. It was to
take place in the great Palace Ballroom, where Legolas' ceremony was held.
The mood around Mirkwood at that time had been joyous. "The Prince shall
take his rightful place on the throne" was heard all throughout the halls
of the palace.
Though the mood around the palace was much as it was at Legolas' ceremony, there was much sorrow also. Anarrima was to leave Mirkwood to begin her training as one of the Rangers.
The night before, though, Anarrima could not sleep at all. What kept her awake were the thoughts of the ceremony, and how hard it would be to leave everything behind. Mirkwood had become her home. What haunted her the most was the thought of telling Legolas goodbye. They had grown up together. Everything they did they always did together.
**********************************************
"There is no one, come on," Legolas stated, searching the room for any of the elders. Finding no one, he motioned for Anarrima to enter the room.
Holding the tiny bottle Anarrima tiptoed silently into the King's study chamber. Looking around cautiously she handed the tiny bottle to Legolas.
"Go check the hallway," he whispered to her. Ana nodded and glided to the door, popping her head out to check the hallways.
As Anarrima kept guard, Legolas untwisted the cap on the tiny bottle and poured the ink into the King's cup of tea. When a small amount of the contents had been emptied, Legolas stirred the liquid and screwed the lid back on and placed the bottle in the pocket of his tunic.
"Alright, done!" he declared. He took Anarrima's hand and dragged her out of the chamber with him. They headed out of the Palace and into the gardens. It took all they had to keep from letting out loud fits of laughter as they approached the giant stone fountain in the middle of the gardens. When they were a safe distance from the front courtyard they both burst out laughing, holding on to each other to keep from falling over.
*******************************************************************
Anarrima smiled at the memory and laughed softly at the image their prank created, King Thranduil and his stained black teeth. A tear slid down her cheek at the memories of the years she had shared with Legolas. Outside she could hear the rain begin to fall. As the lightning flashed outside her window she climbed out of bed and left her chamber. Walking down the hallway she memorized all she could through the flashes of light. Even after thousands of years the majesty of King Thranduil's Halls still amazed her. The ceiling arched what seemed hundreds of feet above her. All along the walls were great statues of the elven kings of old. Her footsteps echoed lightly as she stopped in front of Legolas' chamber door.
She reached for the knob and turned it slowly. She pushed the large wooden door open and held her breath as it creaked. Anarrima stood in the doorway and took in the vision she saw. There he was, her best friend, her lifelong companion, sleeping peacefully. He lay on his back, soft white sheets covered him only to his waist. His chest slowly rose up an down in perfect rhythm to the rain beating on the window. The lightning flashes turned his golden hair into a flowing stream of silver that spilled across the pillow. It was in this moment that she realized he wasn't the little elf he used to be, he was much older, a Prince, a warrior.
Anarrima went to his bed and slipped under the covers beside him. Glancing over at him, grazing the back of her palm against his soft, warm cheek. She then turned to face the window, tears in her eyes to watch the rain fall down.
"Can't sleep," Legolas whispered with his eyes still closed. He knew she had tried to sneak in without waking him, she had always come to him when it rained at night. He also knew her scent better than anyone. She smelled like wildflowers in the Spring.
"I'm sorry if I woke you," Anarrima whispered back still facing the window, forcing back her tears. She whinsed at the sound of her voice, she knew he wasn't fooled no matter how hard she tried. But the last thing she wanted him to see was her cry. It was one of those weaknesses that females possessed in which Anarrima hated.
As her closest friend he could always sense her distress, and it tore at his heart. Pulling her close to him he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder and kissed her ear.
"We have been friends for a very long time," he whispered with sincerity. "Why do you fear the future?"
"I'm afraid," she began, "I'm afraid of where this road I take might lead, that the stars will not shine for me."
Legolas frowned at her answer. He couldn't even begin to imagine how she felt about leaving. he sighed as he listened to the thunder roll through the lands. "You should always trust your star, you never know where it may lead you. Now get some sleep, mellon."
Anarrima nodded and closed her eyes. While the rain played a melody on the window she fell asleep in Legolas' arms.
Though the mood around the palace was much as it was at Legolas' ceremony, there was much sorrow also. Anarrima was to leave Mirkwood to begin her training as one of the Rangers.
The night before, though, Anarrima could not sleep at all. What kept her awake were the thoughts of the ceremony, and how hard it would be to leave everything behind. Mirkwood had become her home. What haunted her the most was the thought of telling Legolas goodbye. They had grown up together. Everything they did they always did together.
**********************************************
"There is no one, come on," Legolas stated, searching the room for any of the elders. Finding no one, he motioned for Anarrima to enter the room.
Holding the tiny bottle Anarrima tiptoed silently into the King's study chamber. Looking around cautiously she handed the tiny bottle to Legolas.
"Go check the hallway," he whispered to her. Ana nodded and glided to the door, popping her head out to check the hallways.
As Anarrima kept guard, Legolas untwisted the cap on the tiny bottle and poured the ink into the King's cup of tea. When a small amount of the contents had been emptied, Legolas stirred the liquid and screwed the lid back on and placed the bottle in the pocket of his tunic.
"Alright, done!" he declared. He took Anarrima's hand and dragged her out of the chamber with him. They headed out of the Palace and into the gardens. It took all they had to keep from letting out loud fits of laughter as they approached the giant stone fountain in the middle of the gardens. When they were a safe distance from the front courtyard they both burst out laughing, holding on to each other to keep from falling over.
*******************************************************************
Anarrima smiled at the memory and laughed softly at the image their prank created, King Thranduil and his stained black teeth. A tear slid down her cheek at the memories of the years she had shared with Legolas. Outside she could hear the rain begin to fall. As the lightning flashed outside her window she climbed out of bed and left her chamber. Walking down the hallway she memorized all she could through the flashes of light. Even after thousands of years the majesty of King Thranduil's Halls still amazed her. The ceiling arched what seemed hundreds of feet above her. All along the walls were great statues of the elven kings of old. Her footsteps echoed lightly as she stopped in front of Legolas' chamber door.
She reached for the knob and turned it slowly. She pushed the large wooden door open and held her breath as it creaked. Anarrima stood in the doorway and took in the vision she saw. There he was, her best friend, her lifelong companion, sleeping peacefully. He lay on his back, soft white sheets covered him only to his waist. His chest slowly rose up an down in perfect rhythm to the rain beating on the window. The lightning flashes turned his golden hair into a flowing stream of silver that spilled across the pillow. It was in this moment that she realized he wasn't the little elf he used to be, he was much older, a Prince, a warrior.
Anarrima went to his bed and slipped under the covers beside him. Glancing over at him, grazing the back of her palm against his soft, warm cheek. She then turned to face the window, tears in her eyes to watch the rain fall down.
"Can't sleep," Legolas whispered with his eyes still closed. He knew she had tried to sneak in without waking him, she had always come to him when it rained at night. He also knew her scent better than anyone. She smelled like wildflowers in the Spring.
"I'm sorry if I woke you," Anarrima whispered back still facing the window, forcing back her tears. She whinsed at the sound of her voice, she knew he wasn't fooled no matter how hard she tried. But the last thing she wanted him to see was her cry. It was one of those weaknesses that females possessed in which Anarrima hated.
As her closest friend he could always sense her distress, and it tore at his heart. Pulling her close to him he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder and kissed her ear.
"We have been friends for a very long time," he whispered with sincerity. "Why do you fear the future?"
"I'm afraid," she began, "I'm afraid of where this road I take might lead, that the stars will not shine for me."
Legolas frowned at her answer. He couldn't even begin to imagine how she felt about leaving. he sighed as he listened to the thunder roll through the lands. "You should always trust your star, you never know where it may lead you. Now get some sleep, mellon."
Anarrima nodded and closed her eyes. While the rain played a melody on the window she fell asleep in Legolas' arms.
