Celtic Bard and The Brite One- THANK YOU! And Alyssa- was your comment positive? I took it as a compliment but I'm not sure. I was so excited to get your reviews that this is my second update today. THANKS!
~ Maris
Ch. 3 Many Meetings
Aragorn and Arwen rode side by side into Hobbiton. The royal court followed suit. " All hail King Elessar and Queen Arwen," a lone voice called from the hills. They looked up from the throngs of hobbits and saw a trio of Elves ride out to meet them.
"Welcome Legolas, Valaniel , and ….." The King's guard welcomed.
"I'm Maris" the small girl laughed.
Aragorn smiled at the girl and turned to the guard. " This young woman is our daughter. She is the long absent princess of Gondor and Rivendell."
The guard bowed low. " Welcome milady. I apologize for my mistake."
Maris laughed, her long dark hair fluttering with her laughter. "Where can I find a stable for my horse? He is tired and I would like him to rest. Please."
"But Maris, how will you enter Hobbiton in the procession? On foot? That would not make the right impression on the court or other Elves." Arwen said pointedly.
// Mother, I do not have to make the right impression. I am only a child in their eyes anyway. They will not take me seriously, even if I am a princess. I will walk into Hobbiton among those following your excellencies.\\ She slipped off her horse and jumped to the ground. // Besides, how much royalty can the Shire take? Prince Legolas and Princess Valaniel, King Eomer, Prince Faramir and Princess Eowyn, you two. And then you want to tell them about me? That would just complicate things. But thanks anyway.\\ She bowed, turned, and walked away.
Legolas watched her go. " Milord, if it greatly troubles you that Maris refuses to ride, she can ride on Arod with me. He is strong and I'm sure he won't mind bearing the princess for a little while."
Aragorn nodded. " Thank you mellonamin. It would indeed."
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Rosie jerked to a stop. As she looked around, she noticed something peculiar. The birds were much louder than usual. Birds of every species poured out their sweet songs to the winds and blessed all of Hobbiton.
As she looked about her, she noticed that she had wandered off the beaten dirt road and into the forest, taking a well know short cut to the gates.
"Excuse me," a soft exotic voice asked. " Could you please direct me to the borders miss?"
Rosie looked up to meet a pair of startling blue eyes gazing down at her. Her heart skipped a beat; she knew those eyes. They haunted her dreams, her fantasies, her every moment. " W…why certainly," she managed to stammer back.
"Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you. I am here for the party, milady, and was looking for a friend of mine and admiring the beauty of the Shire when I lost my way." Stop rambling! He silently commanded himself. Elves do not ramble! But there is certainly something about this maid, his brain acknowledged. She may yet be more than she appears.
"Come milord, and we will find your friend. What does he look like?" Rosie asked, interrupting his thoughts.
"She is small, only about 5 ft. tall, dark hair to just below her shoulder, and luminous green eyes. I believe she was wearing a green and brown tunic and green trousers. Although she should be in a dress…" he cut off angrily.
Rosie smiled. She finally tore her eyes away from his to study the man standing before her. He was tall, especially next to her tiny 3' 6" frame. His long blond hair was tied into a half ponytail with 3 braids adorning it. He was clad in almost exactly what he described his friend in. His face was strong, with delicately chiseled features, almost as if he was a marble statue. His skin seemed as pale and soft as the first flakes of snow on the youngest saplings in the shire. A faint smile played about his lips as Rosie gazed at him in wonder. "Does something amuse you milord?"
"No little one, not at all. And please, call me Legolas."
"Oh how awful of me! I didn't even bother to introduce myself. I'm Rosie Lass Gamgee. Please follow me and we will go search for your friend. Just out of curiosity, who is she?" Please let her be a sister or cousin or old friend. PLEASE! Rosie silently begged the Valar.
"Her name is Maris. She is my close friend and pupil." Rosie let out a silent sigh of relief. "Her father asked me to make sure that she rides into Hobbiton as befits her rank, which she refused. It is imperative that I find her before twilight."
"We will find her," Rosie answered firmly. "I hope."