Disclaimer: I own none of Tolkien's characters, Middle Earth, elves, or elvish. I do own my plot, Carissa and Splash.
For those of you who may think I have made a few spelling mistakes or whatever, its only because I am Australian and using the spelling I was taught to use. J
Read and Review.
There was a knock on the bedroom door and Carissa got up to answer it. She opened the door to reveal a beautiful elven maiden.
"Good evening Carissa," she said in a clear voice. "I am Telrunya. I was told to help you get ready for dinner."
"But its not for a while yet," Carissa said.
"Oh," Telrunya laughed. "But you must get yourself ready to meet with the king. You will be sitting beside him tonight."
Carissa felt the blood drain out of her face.
"First thing," Telrunya said thoughtfully. "You will need a bath and wash your hair."
Carissa was taken to the bathroom, made out of dark wood along the floors and walls. A clawed bath sat in the middle of the room and was quickly filled with warm water.
Carissa looked at all the different colored bottles with strange writing on them.
"What's this?" she asked Telrunya.
"Shampoo," Telrunya said as if it were the most obvious thing. "Now, out of those dirty clothes and hop in."
"What?" Carissa said. "With you in here?"
"I can turn around if you like," Telrunya said.
"But I don't bathe with people in the room," Carissa said.
"Its only me Carissa," Telrunya said. "I am your maid servant and-"
"But where I come from we don't need help with our baths," Carissa said, starting to panic.
"Calm down," Telrunya said. "If you would like me to leave I will."
Telrunya returned to the door.
"Wait," Carissa said. "What are each of these bottles?"
Telrunya pointed out each to Carissa then left the room to get her clothes ready.
cath shee
As quickly as she could, Carissa jumped into the bath and washed her hair and body. She had just hopped out with Telrunya came back in.
"Here is your clothes for this evening," Telrunya said.
After a few minutes, Carissa had a long sleeved pale blue dress on. It had three layers and was laced around the neckline with deep blue beads.
"You look like an elven princess," Telrunya commented after Carissa had her hair and make up done.
"Just a mixed up princess," Carissa laughed. "I could get used to this."
She sat on the balcony, wondering how everyone was coping in her world while she was here. She had been through a lot already while she had been here. Sleeping under the stars and being alone in the wilderness. Seeing a giant spider, and meeting elves.
She smiled as she thought of the elf that saved her from the spider. Legolas, he acted a bit strangely but she supposed all elves did.
Carissa yawned and looked over her shoulder at the bed, it was looking very comfortable. Getting to her feet she moved over to the bed and sat on the edge, just when she was about to fall back onto the soft mattress there was a knock on the door.
She got up and opened the door to reveal Legolas standing there wearing a tunic of silvery blue. Along his forehead was a, strange looking crown? It was thin and made of silver, with a bright star shining in the middle of it.
"Good evening, Carissa" he said with a smile. "You look beautiful."
Carissa smiled shyly. "Thank you."
"I brought this for you to wear," Legolas said. "So everyone will know that you are in my highest honors."
He pulled out a crown similar to his; it had a small diamond in its centre. He placed it on her head and the diamond began to glow.
"So its you," Legolas said with a smile. His eyes sparkled with something unknown to her.
"What's me?" Carissa asked.
"The King may be able to tell," Legolas said. He took her arm in his and led her through to a dining hall.
There was a long table with a dozen seats on each side. At the head of the table sat who Carissa guessed to be the King. He looked a lot like Legolas, except something about him seemed older and wiser. Legolas led her over to him.
"Welcome," he said warmly. "I am Thranduil, King of Mirkwood. Please, take a seat beside me."
Legolas sat her to the right of the king and sat himself beside her.
"What is your name, lady?" Thranduil asked.
"I am Carissa, your majesty," Carissa said.
"Carissa," Thranduil said. "There is no need for those formalities. Simply Thranduil will do. Now, let the food be brought in."
Telrunya appeared and brought with her a silver platter laden with freshly cooked food. She served it up onto each of the plates before backing away. Another maid appeared and poured wine into each of their glasses.
"Thank you," Carissa said.
"And how is it you came to our fair land?" Thranduil asked.
Carissa told him everything, from the hedge jump to the giant spider to being at the table.
"I see," Thranduil said. "And what do you think of my son?"
"I don't think I have met him yet," Carissa said.
"You never told her I was your father?" Thranduil asked Legolas.
"No father," Legolas answered.
"You're a prince?" Carissa asked Legolas. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Legolas does that sometimes," Thranduil said. "If he told everyone he was a prince, he would be risking his life."
"Father," Legolas said. "I gave her the crown."
"I saw that all ready," Thranduil said. "And I see that it glows."
"What does it mean?" Carissa asked. "Legolas said you might be able to tell me."
"I do not know much of it myself," Thranduil said softly. "What I do know is that it has chosen its wearer. Ancient magic is at work within it and you. Why you came into our world, I do not know."
Legolas exchanged a few words with his father in a strange language. Carissa listened to them, imaging the sounds to be like the sound of soft bells chiming in the wind.
Thranduil nodded and gave a smile, before his face went back to being serious.
"There may be someone," he said slowly. "Who may have some of the answers. But I will have to think about it."
They ate their meal in light conversation, until Carissa could barely keep her eyes open.
"I am sorry," Thranduil said apologetic. "But I have kept you too long and you now are falling to sleep in front of me." He gave a small chuckle. "Go now to bed and sleep away all weariness."
Legolas got up and helped her to her feet. He ended up scooping her into his arms and resting her weary body under the sheets and blankets of her bed.
