A/N: Ehm...the title of the chapter indicates the point of view in that
particular time frame. Anyways, I know the first chapter was short, but
this one should be fairly long. Reviewing ish good karma—constructive
criticism is welcome. ^^Enjoy^^
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Legolas:
As soon as Valandil burst into my room, I knew something was amiss. His normally cheerful eyes were timid and aghast, bringing me to feel the same way. "What is it, nin mellon?" I queried instinctively. "What disturbs you?" Concern burned like a bonfire in my mind.
"Gondor is in need of our assistance," he stated calmly, closing the oaken door behind him.
My brow furrowed at this, and I turned to gaze out the window into the forest's green abyss. Only elvish eyes could see to the top of those tall trees. "Tell me all you know."
"Orcs are massing about Minas Tirith, and if I am not mistaken, the King resides there at this moment," Valandil replied bitterly. His voice matched the expression he wore when he walked in.
"Who gave you this information?" I demanded, turning to face my lifelong friend.
"Taela of Gondor--the woman we found just outside the forest yesterday, sire."
"How do you know can trust the word of this woman?" I queried unbelievingly.
"How do you know we can't?" That elf never failed to think of a comeback.
"Maybe we can," I mused, "but I shall have to speak with her before anyone leaves for Gondor." As soon as I had spoken, my feet had already carried me into the corridor. As I began my light-footed descent to the lower level of the palace, my eyes drifted over the elvish tapestries. The walls were flourished with them. It still amazed me how the stitches were nearly invisible, blended to tell stories within a simple piece of artwork. Had it really been that long since I first gazed upon the beauty of a tapestry?
My fist was raised to knock when I finally reached the room.
"Come in," a female voice called almost immediately. The voice was smooth and soft, like the fair coat of a newborn foal.
The doorknob turned at the will of my hand, and I gently pushed the door open. My eyes fell upon a woman who looked no older than nineteen sitting upon the bed. Her youthful jade orbs were full of concern. "Will you not help my people?" she inquired as she stood up to reach eye level. Standing up didn't help much, for the top of her head didn't go any higher than my chin.
Just looking at her convinced me, though I had no idea why. "I shall leave immediately. My captain will gather the elves that have not left for the Undying Lands and lead them to Gondor as soon as possible."
"In that case, I'm going with you," she stated, brushing her light chestnut hair away from her eyes. Her face was suddenly struck with determination.
I had to force myself not to laugh. "A battle field is no place for a woman," I managed to squeak without a laugh escaping.
She glared at me. She glared at me. "I can fight." There was a certain light in her eyes that reminded me of Arwen's Evenstar Pendant.
"Whether you can fight or not, I'm not allowing you to go," I replied, turning to leave the room. Her determination surprised me, for she reached out to grab my sleeve—the grip was strong, even though her hand was so small.
"Why not? Is my request really so hard to grant? All I ask is to defend the land I grew up in..."
Her determination surprised me, for she reached out to grab my sleeve as she spoke—the grip was strong, even though her hand was so small. I sighed deeply, "If it is really that important to you, then you may come with me." As soon as I said this, her entire face seemed to light up.
"Then let us make haste," she brushed past me and down the corridor.
"Taela," I chortled as she stopped to look back at me. "The stables are the other way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Legolas:
As soon as Valandil burst into my room, I knew something was amiss. His normally cheerful eyes were timid and aghast, bringing me to feel the same way. "What is it, nin mellon?" I queried instinctively. "What disturbs you?" Concern burned like a bonfire in my mind.
"Gondor is in need of our assistance," he stated calmly, closing the oaken door behind him.
My brow furrowed at this, and I turned to gaze out the window into the forest's green abyss. Only elvish eyes could see to the top of those tall trees. "Tell me all you know."
"Orcs are massing about Minas Tirith, and if I am not mistaken, the King resides there at this moment," Valandil replied bitterly. His voice matched the expression he wore when he walked in.
"Who gave you this information?" I demanded, turning to face my lifelong friend.
"Taela of Gondor--the woman we found just outside the forest yesterday, sire."
"How do you know can trust the word of this woman?" I queried unbelievingly.
"How do you know we can't?" That elf never failed to think of a comeback.
"Maybe we can," I mused, "but I shall have to speak with her before anyone leaves for Gondor." As soon as I had spoken, my feet had already carried me into the corridor. As I began my light-footed descent to the lower level of the palace, my eyes drifted over the elvish tapestries. The walls were flourished with them. It still amazed me how the stitches were nearly invisible, blended to tell stories within a simple piece of artwork. Had it really been that long since I first gazed upon the beauty of a tapestry?
My fist was raised to knock when I finally reached the room.
"Come in," a female voice called almost immediately. The voice was smooth and soft, like the fair coat of a newborn foal.
The doorknob turned at the will of my hand, and I gently pushed the door open. My eyes fell upon a woman who looked no older than nineteen sitting upon the bed. Her youthful jade orbs were full of concern. "Will you not help my people?" she inquired as she stood up to reach eye level. Standing up didn't help much, for the top of her head didn't go any higher than my chin.
Just looking at her convinced me, though I had no idea why. "I shall leave immediately. My captain will gather the elves that have not left for the Undying Lands and lead them to Gondor as soon as possible."
"In that case, I'm going with you," she stated, brushing her light chestnut hair away from her eyes. Her face was suddenly struck with determination.
I had to force myself not to laugh. "A battle field is no place for a woman," I managed to squeak without a laugh escaping.
She glared at me. She glared at me. "I can fight." There was a certain light in her eyes that reminded me of Arwen's Evenstar Pendant.
"Whether you can fight or not, I'm not allowing you to go," I replied, turning to leave the room. Her determination surprised me, for she reached out to grab my sleeve—the grip was strong, even though her hand was so small.
"Why not? Is my request really so hard to grant? All I ask is to defend the land I grew up in..."
Her determination surprised me, for she reached out to grab my sleeve as she spoke—the grip was strong, even though her hand was so small. I sighed deeply, "If it is really that important to you, then you may come with me." As soon as I said this, her entire face seemed to light up.
"Then let us make haste," she brushed past me and down the corridor.
"Taela," I chortled as she stopped to look back at me. "The stables are the other way."
