Matchmaking
Chapter four: Of tea and lectures
In the early morning hours, a silent figure crept through the halls of Mirkwood. The shadows fell on her form, she stealthily creeping to the gardens down below.
The person was dressed in a nightgown, this one far less revealing than one she had worn previously. Wrapped around her thin frame was a beautiful elven robe. If her night gown was not modest enough, this would handle any other problems.
Well... except for one.
"Oof!" a loud thud rang out in the corridor. The girl lay on the floor, arms splayed, clothing now drowning her. "Unghhh..." Tawny rolled over looked down to the robe she had on. It was long, made for an elf. Tawny was most definitely not an elf. "Blasted elven clothing!" She shouted at it, struggling to get untangled. A door opened slowly, and she bowed her head in frustration and embarrassment.
Yelling, when in a corridor of sleeping elves, was not a wise thing to do. Tawny struggled to stand, and only managed to trip once more. Trying not to look like a total idiot (which was rather hard, considering she had just fallen twice, and was in complete disarray,) she looked up. A pair or lavender eyes gazed down at her, this elf's expression showing he was thoroughly amused.
"Having trouble, mellon?" Legolas looked down at her, then up and down the hall, before he bent down to pick her up in his arms.
Of course, this only furthered Tawny's embarrassment. She struggled in his grasp, then gave up, realizing he was quite strong. Much, much stronger than her, in fact. "I was out for a walk."
"In the middle of the night. Oh, but of course." He grinned down at her. "May I ask you a question?"
"Ask away." She spoke easily, somehow forgetting he was currently holding her.
"I've been around humans long enough to know that they are not all like you. Most prefer to sleep at night. So then-"
"You're wondering what on earth I'm doing up at..." Tawny glanced at the sky, "four in the morning?"
Legolas did not understand what "four in the morning" meant but he nodded, assuming it meant late at night.
"I was taking a walk. I was always something of an insomniac back home." Tawny grinned up at him.
He smiled back, and then began to walk down the hall. "To bed, Lady Tawny." Legolas spoke softly but firmly. The words had barely left his mouth before he realized her head was resting on his shoulder, her breathing steady. Tawny had already managed to find sleep.
******
The next morning it seemed all the elves in Mirkwood had heard of Tawny and Legolas' short meeting the night before. An entire breakfasting hall was abuzz with information about the newcomer, most of it not accurate. Several she-elves insisted that Tawny was a sorceress who had ensnared their dear Prince, while others said something quite the contrary. The current rumor going around was that she was a mortal who was dying of a strange disease and so was sent to be an outcast in the woods, where Prince Legolas found her. Of course, this caused Tawny to receive strange looks as she walked into the breakfast hall, trying her best to look as regal and flowing as the elven maidens.
She failed miserably.
Two steps into the breakfast hall Tawny tripped over her gown (they made them far too long for her "mortal" frame, she decided as she began her descent to the floor,) and stiffened in preparation for the impact that she was sure would come.
It didn't.
Instead, the poor, diseased mortal found herself in a head-on collision with one of the elves serving something similar to hot tea to the elves of the palace. Tawny now sat on the floor, having fallen back after the crash, in shock. It took a few seconds for the hot water to seep into her skin, and she immediately jumped up, crying out in pain.
Next she looked down to her soiled clothing, and gasped, wishing that she was invisible. The young elf before her had barely gotten out a word before she saw her running out of the hall, past Prince Legolas.
The young prince jumped out of the way, and stared in wonder after the streak of green fabric and short blondish hair that was currently making its way back to Lady Tawny's room.
******
"Milady, you must come out of your room." Ameth proclaimed through the door, knocking once more.
It had been three hours. Tawny had soaked in the bathtub for nearly the entire time, and she now was looking quite presentable.
"I apologize, Ameth." She bowed her head, embarrassed. "I was taking a bath, and got ready in the bath room, so I did not hear you." Inwardly Tawny rolled her eyes at how she was speaking. It was far too proper. But then, that was how everyone else seemed to speak to her, so it was only correct. 'When in Rome, right?' she thought to herself. 'Or in this case, Mirkwood.'
Ah, Mirkwood. The name somehow fit it perfectly. Tall greenery and dark blue-gray architecture rose up all about them, and yet somehow it seemed strangely fitting. The stones which were used to build the magnificent place were carved very ornately, and most were painted. Though, some of the paint was beginning to wear off and chip in places. It was sad, Tawny mused, to see it like this. What must if have been like one-thousand years ago? It seemed now as though the whole empire (would it be called that? It didn't seem right. Maybe "kingdom" was more accurate) was beginning to fade away. It wasn't like other places, which simply crumbled. No, this beautiful kingdom was actually fading away.
Perhaps in another thousand years it would no longer be this strange blue-grey stone place. Perhaps it would instead look like a mist, light and airy, no longer really existing, just caught in two worlds. The world of the living, where no one cared for it, and the world of memories.
It struck Tawny as odd, that she would be thinking like this. It was, in fact, the whole air of Mirkwood which set her mind to forming these thoughts. The elves here were living as those who knew they would not soon be around to enjoy life as it was... here.
A hand was passed over Tawny's dreamy face, and she came out of her reverie to see a very worried Ameth staring at her. "Lady Tawny?" she asked quietly in her soft voice.
"I'm sorry, Ameth. I was just thinking."
Ameth muttered something which sounded like, "Well at least someone does around here." Tawny gasped and Ameth whirled around.
"Well, well!" Tawny walked over to Ameth, and grinned, leaning on her already-made bed. "Looks like you have a sense of humor afterall." At Ameth's surprised look she continued. "Hey, don't worry about it. I won't tell anyone."
Ameth smiled and then fluffed the pillows, going into the bathroom to find that it was all neat and orderly already. "My lady!" she called, and Tawny came into the room, looking at her with a curious expression. "I would kindly ask you to stop cleaning up after yourself."
Tawny burst out laughing at the irony of the situation, leaving Ameth standing there, helpless.
"When I was ten I would have loved to hear that." She spoke in between giggles. "But I guess cleaning became a habit as I got older." Shrugging, she folded a towel, but stopped when Ameth placed her own slim hand over her's. "Oh right, sorry." Tawny took back her hand, and looked at her sheepishly. "I guess... if you want me to stop cleaning I will. But no guarantees." She put one finger up, and walked out of the room, still laughing to herself.
******
Tawny was still chuckling to herself as she ran into Legolas. Literally.
"Ah, so the lovely human maiden has chosen to grace us with her presence." He spoke genially, taking her by the elbow. His tone turned serious for a moment. "You took quite a nasty spill in the dining hall this morning. Are you quite alright?" It seemed he was searching her face for some change in expression. Or perhaps he was just confused as to why she was laughing to herself. Either way...
"I'm perfectly fine. It was just some hot tea. Gosh, you should have seen me when Michael spilt McDonald's coffee all over me in the middle of the night during one of our study sessions!"
At the blank look from the Prince of Mirkwood Tawny stopped, and looked around. "Um, I mean..."
"This Michael..." Legolas changed the subject, seeing the look that crossed her face. "... is he your betrothed?"
"Oh heaven's no!" Tawny put her hands in front of her while she shook her head. "He's one of my best friends... if not a little crazy." A wistful smile crossed her face, and Legolas knew he had touched a tender subject. Once again he was amazed at the way humans could betray their emotions so easily.
"Then he is just a friend?"
"I believe we have established that, yes." She teased, smirking at him. "I'm certain you know maidens who are your friends." After a moment of pondering she pointed out, "Like me."
"True, true." He smiled to her. "Mellon, it was lovely talking to you, if only for a moment. But I must be going. Have a lovely day, and I hope to see you at dinner." He side-stepped and then went on his way, nodding to her.
Tawny turned to look at his retreating form, "Seeya later then, I guess!"
When he was out of view, she rolled her eyes at herself. "Who says 'seeya' here, Tawny? Gosh but you're an idiot." And with that she walked off, hoping to find some place to sit and think. Or maybe there was a library around here somewhere... oh wait. They didn't speak English here. Chances were there would be no actual books she could read. "Dangit." She spoke to herself once again, and then began stalking away.
******
Left behind, though Tawny didn't know it, was Ameth. She came out from around an ornately carved stone corner, and smiled softly to herself, in the way only elves can. She could see something beyond Legolas and Tawny's friendship.
******
If only Ameth knew what was going on in Tawny's mind, then perhaps she would have been less likely to have thought about "setting up" the two. Tawny was thinking of Ameth in the same position the she-elf had put Tawny in, and wondering what it would take to set Tawny up with the handsome and wise Prince of Mirkwood...
******
It seems that not only were Ameth and Tawny thinking of setting the prince up, but the whole of the Mirkwood realm was realizing their prince was quickly reaching an age at which he should choose a bride. Though... they had been realizing it for quite some time now. His father called him in several days after his speaking with Tawny in the halls, and broached the subject with the sort of tact only a king could manage.
"My son..." Thranduil began, and Legolas knew this would be a very direct speech indeed. It was very similar to a father telling a son of the birds and the bees, but Legolas was far too old for that, nor could he stomach the talk twice. "It has come to my attention that you have yet to choose a bride."
"Why father, what ever gave you that idea?" Legolas asked, suppressing a laugh. His father was wise, he was noble, and he was just, but putting together words had never been his specialty.
"I have not yet seen anyone but the young human girl on your arm since I decreed that you were to be married soon."
"Perhaps I have not yet found an elf maiden worthy of my affections." He joked, and then grinned slightly, but then quickly plastered a silent look on his face at his father's glance.
"Either way, my son, you are of marrying age, and being this, you must understand that you need to choose a bride." King Thranduil raised an eyebrow, expection a retort, but his quick-witted son was silent for once, and so the father continued. "That is all for today. I shall see you at dinner."
****** ******
Author's note: Well, looks like things are about to get interesting. I'd really appreciate it if you would review! Thanks.
P.S. I know I don't have very many reviewers, but I suppose I should let you all know that if you want to get notifications about when chapters are up (since the whole "every Monday" thing is SO not going to work for me) then leave your email in a review.
Oh, and while this fic isn't very far along, if any of you would like a special Christmas present (i.e. a look at a bit of a chapter that'll be MUCH later in the story) Then go ahead and ask for it.)
Merry Christmas!!
In the early morning hours, a silent figure crept through the halls of Mirkwood. The shadows fell on her form, she stealthily creeping to the gardens down below.
The person was dressed in a nightgown, this one far less revealing than one she had worn previously. Wrapped around her thin frame was a beautiful elven robe. If her night gown was not modest enough, this would handle any other problems.
Well... except for one.
"Oof!" a loud thud rang out in the corridor. The girl lay on the floor, arms splayed, clothing now drowning her. "Unghhh..." Tawny rolled over looked down to the robe she had on. It was long, made for an elf. Tawny was most definitely not an elf. "Blasted elven clothing!" She shouted at it, struggling to get untangled. A door opened slowly, and she bowed her head in frustration and embarrassment.
Yelling, when in a corridor of sleeping elves, was not a wise thing to do. Tawny struggled to stand, and only managed to trip once more. Trying not to look like a total idiot (which was rather hard, considering she had just fallen twice, and was in complete disarray,) she looked up. A pair or lavender eyes gazed down at her, this elf's expression showing he was thoroughly amused.
"Having trouble, mellon?" Legolas looked down at her, then up and down the hall, before he bent down to pick her up in his arms.
Of course, this only furthered Tawny's embarrassment. She struggled in his grasp, then gave up, realizing he was quite strong. Much, much stronger than her, in fact. "I was out for a walk."
"In the middle of the night. Oh, but of course." He grinned down at her. "May I ask you a question?"
"Ask away." She spoke easily, somehow forgetting he was currently holding her.
"I've been around humans long enough to know that they are not all like you. Most prefer to sleep at night. So then-"
"You're wondering what on earth I'm doing up at..." Tawny glanced at the sky, "four in the morning?"
Legolas did not understand what "four in the morning" meant but he nodded, assuming it meant late at night.
"I was taking a walk. I was always something of an insomniac back home." Tawny grinned up at him.
He smiled back, and then began to walk down the hall. "To bed, Lady Tawny." Legolas spoke softly but firmly. The words had barely left his mouth before he realized her head was resting on his shoulder, her breathing steady. Tawny had already managed to find sleep.
******
The next morning it seemed all the elves in Mirkwood had heard of Tawny and Legolas' short meeting the night before. An entire breakfasting hall was abuzz with information about the newcomer, most of it not accurate. Several she-elves insisted that Tawny was a sorceress who had ensnared their dear Prince, while others said something quite the contrary. The current rumor going around was that she was a mortal who was dying of a strange disease and so was sent to be an outcast in the woods, where Prince Legolas found her. Of course, this caused Tawny to receive strange looks as she walked into the breakfast hall, trying her best to look as regal and flowing as the elven maidens.
She failed miserably.
Two steps into the breakfast hall Tawny tripped over her gown (they made them far too long for her "mortal" frame, she decided as she began her descent to the floor,) and stiffened in preparation for the impact that she was sure would come.
It didn't.
Instead, the poor, diseased mortal found herself in a head-on collision with one of the elves serving something similar to hot tea to the elves of the palace. Tawny now sat on the floor, having fallen back after the crash, in shock. It took a few seconds for the hot water to seep into her skin, and she immediately jumped up, crying out in pain.
Next she looked down to her soiled clothing, and gasped, wishing that she was invisible. The young elf before her had barely gotten out a word before she saw her running out of the hall, past Prince Legolas.
The young prince jumped out of the way, and stared in wonder after the streak of green fabric and short blondish hair that was currently making its way back to Lady Tawny's room.
******
"Milady, you must come out of your room." Ameth proclaimed through the door, knocking once more.
It had been three hours. Tawny had soaked in the bathtub for nearly the entire time, and she now was looking quite presentable.
"I apologize, Ameth." She bowed her head, embarrassed. "I was taking a bath, and got ready in the bath room, so I did not hear you." Inwardly Tawny rolled her eyes at how she was speaking. It was far too proper. But then, that was how everyone else seemed to speak to her, so it was only correct. 'When in Rome, right?' she thought to herself. 'Or in this case, Mirkwood.'
Ah, Mirkwood. The name somehow fit it perfectly. Tall greenery and dark blue-gray architecture rose up all about them, and yet somehow it seemed strangely fitting. The stones which were used to build the magnificent place were carved very ornately, and most were painted. Though, some of the paint was beginning to wear off and chip in places. It was sad, Tawny mused, to see it like this. What must if have been like one-thousand years ago? It seemed now as though the whole empire (would it be called that? It didn't seem right. Maybe "kingdom" was more accurate) was beginning to fade away. It wasn't like other places, which simply crumbled. No, this beautiful kingdom was actually fading away.
Perhaps in another thousand years it would no longer be this strange blue-grey stone place. Perhaps it would instead look like a mist, light and airy, no longer really existing, just caught in two worlds. The world of the living, where no one cared for it, and the world of memories.
It struck Tawny as odd, that she would be thinking like this. It was, in fact, the whole air of Mirkwood which set her mind to forming these thoughts. The elves here were living as those who knew they would not soon be around to enjoy life as it was... here.
A hand was passed over Tawny's dreamy face, and she came out of her reverie to see a very worried Ameth staring at her. "Lady Tawny?" she asked quietly in her soft voice.
"I'm sorry, Ameth. I was just thinking."
Ameth muttered something which sounded like, "Well at least someone does around here." Tawny gasped and Ameth whirled around.
"Well, well!" Tawny walked over to Ameth, and grinned, leaning on her already-made bed. "Looks like you have a sense of humor afterall." At Ameth's surprised look she continued. "Hey, don't worry about it. I won't tell anyone."
Ameth smiled and then fluffed the pillows, going into the bathroom to find that it was all neat and orderly already. "My lady!" she called, and Tawny came into the room, looking at her with a curious expression. "I would kindly ask you to stop cleaning up after yourself."
Tawny burst out laughing at the irony of the situation, leaving Ameth standing there, helpless.
"When I was ten I would have loved to hear that." She spoke in between giggles. "But I guess cleaning became a habit as I got older." Shrugging, she folded a towel, but stopped when Ameth placed her own slim hand over her's. "Oh right, sorry." Tawny took back her hand, and looked at her sheepishly. "I guess... if you want me to stop cleaning I will. But no guarantees." She put one finger up, and walked out of the room, still laughing to herself.
******
Tawny was still chuckling to herself as she ran into Legolas. Literally.
"Ah, so the lovely human maiden has chosen to grace us with her presence." He spoke genially, taking her by the elbow. His tone turned serious for a moment. "You took quite a nasty spill in the dining hall this morning. Are you quite alright?" It seemed he was searching her face for some change in expression. Or perhaps he was just confused as to why she was laughing to herself. Either way...
"I'm perfectly fine. It was just some hot tea. Gosh, you should have seen me when Michael spilt McDonald's coffee all over me in the middle of the night during one of our study sessions!"
At the blank look from the Prince of Mirkwood Tawny stopped, and looked around. "Um, I mean..."
"This Michael..." Legolas changed the subject, seeing the look that crossed her face. "... is he your betrothed?"
"Oh heaven's no!" Tawny put her hands in front of her while she shook her head. "He's one of my best friends... if not a little crazy." A wistful smile crossed her face, and Legolas knew he had touched a tender subject. Once again he was amazed at the way humans could betray their emotions so easily.
"Then he is just a friend?"
"I believe we have established that, yes." She teased, smirking at him. "I'm certain you know maidens who are your friends." After a moment of pondering she pointed out, "Like me."
"True, true." He smiled to her. "Mellon, it was lovely talking to you, if only for a moment. But I must be going. Have a lovely day, and I hope to see you at dinner." He side-stepped and then went on his way, nodding to her.
Tawny turned to look at his retreating form, "Seeya later then, I guess!"
When he was out of view, she rolled her eyes at herself. "Who says 'seeya' here, Tawny? Gosh but you're an idiot." And with that she walked off, hoping to find some place to sit and think. Or maybe there was a library around here somewhere... oh wait. They didn't speak English here. Chances were there would be no actual books she could read. "Dangit." She spoke to herself once again, and then began stalking away.
******
Left behind, though Tawny didn't know it, was Ameth. She came out from around an ornately carved stone corner, and smiled softly to herself, in the way only elves can. She could see something beyond Legolas and Tawny's friendship.
******
If only Ameth knew what was going on in Tawny's mind, then perhaps she would have been less likely to have thought about "setting up" the two. Tawny was thinking of Ameth in the same position the she-elf had put Tawny in, and wondering what it would take to set Tawny up with the handsome and wise Prince of Mirkwood...
******
It seems that not only were Ameth and Tawny thinking of setting the prince up, but the whole of the Mirkwood realm was realizing their prince was quickly reaching an age at which he should choose a bride. Though... they had been realizing it for quite some time now. His father called him in several days after his speaking with Tawny in the halls, and broached the subject with the sort of tact only a king could manage.
"My son..." Thranduil began, and Legolas knew this would be a very direct speech indeed. It was very similar to a father telling a son of the birds and the bees, but Legolas was far too old for that, nor could he stomach the talk twice. "It has come to my attention that you have yet to choose a bride."
"Why father, what ever gave you that idea?" Legolas asked, suppressing a laugh. His father was wise, he was noble, and he was just, but putting together words had never been his specialty.
"I have not yet seen anyone but the young human girl on your arm since I decreed that you were to be married soon."
"Perhaps I have not yet found an elf maiden worthy of my affections." He joked, and then grinned slightly, but then quickly plastered a silent look on his face at his father's glance.
"Either way, my son, you are of marrying age, and being this, you must understand that you need to choose a bride." King Thranduil raised an eyebrow, expection a retort, but his quick-witted son was silent for once, and so the father continued. "That is all for today. I shall see you at dinner."
****** ******
Author's note: Well, looks like things are about to get interesting. I'd really appreciate it if you would review! Thanks.
P.S. I know I don't have very many reviewers, but I suppose I should let you all know that if you want to get notifications about when chapters are up (since the whole "every Monday" thing is SO not going to work for me) then leave your email in a review.
Oh, and while this fic isn't very far along, if any of you would like a special Christmas present (i.e. a look at a bit of a chapter that'll be MUCH later in the story) Then go ahead and ask for it.)
Merry Christmas!!
