Chapter 3
Stranger in the Night
I was taken to a room at the top of a huge, long staircase. The room was bare. I heard the guards bolt the door behind me and I wondered if they really didn't mean to keep me here forever in this dark room.
Inside the room, a small window was barred and covered with a small, dirty green curtain covering it. There was also a pile of hay in the corner with a ratty, old blanket on it. The blanket was so dirty it was hard to distinguish its original color. It might have been a deep blue or purple.
At first, I was determined not to fall asleep. However, when darkness came along with the cold, I wrapped myself in the dirty old blanket. After awhile of just sitting in the corner huddling in a filthy blanket, I begin to get sleepy. Before I realized it, my eyelids were heavy and I fell into a restless sleep.
I couldn't have been asleep for more than an hour when I was awoken by a soft, strange sound. Then that is when I heard it. The door was slowly being opened and a shadow came into the room. Who ever it was, was trying to be as quite as possible.
Then a soft voice came from the dark, "Lily are you in here?"
Not knowing what to say I answered back thinking that it would not do any harm, "Yes I'm in here."
"Good," the voice mutter and the closed the door once he stepped into the room.
That was when I finally realized who this man was. It was Legolas, the man from the great hall. Only I was confused why he was here of all places when he could roam around as he pleased, unlike me who was stuck in this nasty pace.
"What are you doing here?" I questioned.
"I feel the need to apologize to you for my father's behavior. I am truly sorry that you are being treated like a criminal," he whispered back to me in the darkness.
As he neared me, I saw that he was holding a small bundle of what looked like clothing. Before I could question him about it, he took the dirty blanket that I was using away and gave me what he was carrying. It turned out to be a thick, warm blanket. I hurried and wrapped it around me for I was already growing cold for the few seconds the other one was gone.
"Thanks," I muttered
"You're welcome. My father feels the need to protect his people. He does not mean any harm to come to you," He began.
"If he really means no harm then why am I being held like some prisoner?" I questioned.
"I only know what I have seen him do in the past for I am not him. I cannot say what shall happen to you. I only know that I shall try and help you through the trial with your interest at heart. Before you say anything I w ant to tell you exactly where you are."
Then he began his tale, "You are in Mirkwood. Mirkwood is one of the lands used by elves that are immortal and shall live to see the end of the world. Many of our elders are quite old and have seen many ages pass. My father alone is merely one thousand eight hundred and sixty four years old. My mother is only about two hundred years younger than him. I am merely one hundred and fifty six years old and have not seen as many years as many of the elves that live here.
'Mirkwood is full of life and history. We are an old civilization so there are lots of stories and legends to tell of our long ages. One day I shall tell you some of our stories. But tonight I cannot stay long, I will need time to prepare a case in your favor."
"I am still confused as to why I am here. How can I have traveled from my world into your world?"
"That answer is still unknown. I am afraid that we may never know. My best guesses are that you were either destined to come here or someone with great power has sent you here to cause chaos in our world. I only hope that my theory will be proven correct. That you are here to help our people and bring joy back to a city who has long be without."
"Why has such a beautiful city been without joy and happiness?"
"Not more than a hundred years past, a great evil possessed this earth. He killed many and is still feared today. Many say that they do not have time to find a moment to be happy because they fear he will come back. I myself do not know much on this evil for I was only a young lad during this time. Nevertheless, our village has not been the same since the years that darkness fell on all middle earth."
"I do not see how I can make such a difference in this place."
"In time we shall see what your true purpose is. I must leave. Tomorrow, you should not worry. I am on your side and my father shall not put you to death if I make the point that I must. You need to get your rest. Don't tell anyone about out meeting tonight," with that he turned on his heel and started to leave.
"Wait. Why are you trying to help me when you do not even know who I am? I am a mere stranger to you," I asked.
He did not turn around but only answered, "I don't believe that you are here on accident I think you were sent here for a reason. What the reason is I do not know yet. I am willing to give you a chance and not see you put to death for simply waking up in our land. Our world had lived in hate for to long."
With that, he left. The door closed with a small click and I heard the lock being locked once again.
Then I was alone again. It was not cold any longer; then again, it could have been the blanket Legolas had brought me was keeping me a lot warmer. I could not stop but wonder why he was willing to protect me. As I had already stated he did not even know me. Although I liked the idea of having a friend to help me thorough all this mess.
That thought seemed to be in my mind as I drifted off to sleep, into a dream that made no sense.
Stranger in the Night
I was taken to a room at the top of a huge, long staircase. The room was bare. I heard the guards bolt the door behind me and I wondered if they really didn't mean to keep me here forever in this dark room.
Inside the room, a small window was barred and covered with a small, dirty green curtain covering it. There was also a pile of hay in the corner with a ratty, old blanket on it. The blanket was so dirty it was hard to distinguish its original color. It might have been a deep blue or purple.
At first, I was determined not to fall asleep. However, when darkness came along with the cold, I wrapped myself in the dirty old blanket. After awhile of just sitting in the corner huddling in a filthy blanket, I begin to get sleepy. Before I realized it, my eyelids were heavy and I fell into a restless sleep.
I couldn't have been asleep for more than an hour when I was awoken by a soft, strange sound. Then that is when I heard it. The door was slowly being opened and a shadow came into the room. Who ever it was, was trying to be as quite as possible.
Then a soft voice came from the dark, "Lily are you in here?"
Not knowing what to say I answered back thinking that it would not do any harm, "Yes I'm in here."
"Good," the voice mutter and the closed the door once he stepped into the room.
That was when I finally realized who this man was. It was Legolas, the man from the great hall. Only I was confused why he was here of all places when he could roam around as he pleased, unlike me who was stuck in this nasty pace.
"What are you doing here?" I questioned.
"I feel the need to apologize to you for my father's behavior. I am truly sorry that you are being treated like a criminal," he whispered back to me in the darkness.
As he neared me, I saw that he was holding a small bundle of what looked like clothing. Before I could question him about it, he took the dirty blanket that I was using away and gave me what he was carrying. It turned out to be a thick, warm blanket. I hurried and wrapped it around me for I was already growing cold for the few seconds the other one was gone.
"Thanks," I muttered
"You're welcome. My father feels the need to protect his people. He does not mean any harm to come to you," He began.
"If he really means no harm then why am I being held like some prisoner?" I questioned.
"I only know what I have seen him do in the past for I am not him. I cannot say what shall happen to you. I only know that I shall try and help you through the trial with your interest at heart. Before you say anything I w ant to tell you exactly where you are."
Then he began his tale, "You are in Mirkwood. Mirkwood is one of the lands used by elves that are immortal and shall live to see the end of the world. Many of our elders are quite old and have seen many ages pass. My father alone is merely one thousand eight hundred and sixty four years old. My mother is only about two hundred years younger than him. I am merely one hundred and fifty six years old and have not seen as many years as many of the elves that live here.
'Mirkwood is full of life and history. We are an old civilization so there are lots of stories and legends to tell of our long ages. One day I shall tell you some of our stories. But tonight I cannot stay long, I will need time to prepare a case in your favor."
"I am still confused as to why I am here. How can I have traveled from my world into your world?"
"That answer is still unknown. I am afraid that we may never know. My best guesses are that you were either destined to come here or someone with great power has sent you here to cause chaos in our world. I only hope that my theory will be proven correct. That you are here to help our people and bring joy back to a city who has long be without."
"Why has such a beautiful city been without joy and happiness?"
"Not more than a hundred years past, a great evil possessed this earth. He killed many and is still feared today. Many say that they do not have time to find a moment to be happy because they fear he will come back. I myself do not know much on this evil for I was only a young lad during this time. Nevertheless, our village has not been the same since the years that darkness fell on all middle earth."
"I do not see how I can make such a difference in this place."
"In time we shall see what your true purpose is. I must leave. Tomorrow, you should not worry. I am on your side and my father shall not put you to death if I make the point that I must. You need to get your rest. Don't tell anyone about out meeting tonight," with that he turned on his heel and started to leave.
"Wait. Why are you trying to help me when you do not even know who I am? I am a mere stranger to you," I asked.
He did not turn around but only answered, "I don't believe that you are here on accident I think you were sent here for a reason. What the reason is I do not know yet. I am willing to give you a chance and not see you put to death for simply waking up in our land. Our world had lived in hate for to long."
With that, he left. The door closed with a small click and I heard the lock being locked once again.
Then I was alone again. It was not cold any longer; then again, it could have been the blanket Legolas had brought me was keeping me a lot warmer. I could not stop but wonder why he was willing to protect me. As I had already stated he did not even know me. Although I liked the idea of having a friend to help me thorough all this mess.
That thought seemed to be in my mind as I drifted off to sleep, into a dream that made no sense.
