Hi people! This is my fav chapter of all(and Kaitlin's too!) So please tell
me what you think of it! By the way: thanks so much to all of you who sent
me reviews! it is so nice to get such lovely ones! Thankyou! Oh yes, I do
agree totally about how rushed it was in the first few chapters, but now I
have started to slow things down, and maybe some time in the future when I
have a bit of spare time I can do a revised version, but unfortunately I
cant do it now, due to exams and homework.
Laerian stood up quickly and with a wide grin on his face, this was going to be fun.
"Any suggestions?"
"I think we sh-" Elladan started.
"-Let's have a picnic!" Laerian interrupted clapping his hands together before Elladan could suggest anything different.
Elladan just shrugged his shoulders, it was fine with him. "We can go riding too!" El was beginning to feel slightly scared at Laerian's excitement, she thought they were going riding tomorrow, never mind, Laerian was just too excited to wait.
"I will go and inform the maids to get a picnic ready," Ivy said as she stood up and left through the large door.
"I will help," Riwel said as he followed Ivy out of the room.
Legolas' head was in his hands; today was not going to be a peaceful day with Laerian around.
"Well...Come on then! It is nearly two O'clock and we need to leave before dark," Laerian said with frustration. They could always go tomorrow, but he wanted to go now!
"Gathiel, we have so much to show you and so little time!" He said dramatically helping her from the chair, and grabbing her hand as he pulled her towards the door.
Was Laerian always this enthusiastic about things? "Laerian I do not think I have the right clothes for this," she pointed out worriedly.
"So? Who cares!" He proceeded pulling her out of the room, the others following close behind. They walked out of the large doors and through the gardens, El had no time to stop and look around because Laerian was still holding on tightly to her hand.
"First, we must go to the stables, Iavas should be there ready with the food. We will then go for a ride, and we can have afternoon tea on the hill."
El looked behind her, Legolas was not far behind, he grinned and nodded his head towards Laerian. Why did she always end up being pulled around by over enthusiastic Dryads? Elladan and Elrohir were not far behind Legolas.
Soon they had reached the huge stone wall, which was still covered in the night's frost. Laerian looked upwards.
"Hello there! Can you open up please," he called loudly.
There was no answer, it was lunch and the gate guards were probably eating.
"Oh this is just GREAT!" Laerian yelled sarcastically, "Never mind."
He lifted his hand and flicked it lightly towards one side and the doors began to creek open, Laerian walked briskly through, with the others following closely behind.
Laerian dragged her to a set of buildings made of both wood and stone. El could see a couple of Elves around the buildings, saddling up many horses, cleaning and grooming them.
El's dress waved around a little in the breeze.
"Yes, the horses are saddled! Come Gathiel, this one is yours, she is called Esti." The Elves, who had been saddling the horse, went back into the large stables. It was huge, and must have had more then 500 horses inside! There were even more of roaming freely around the huge paddocks. Laerian took El towards a beautiful tall, lean silver mare.
"Esti," whispered El. The mare immediately bent down her head and nuzzled El's green hair, El laughed and patted her on the neck. She put her foot in the stirrup and tried to get onto the horse as elegantly as she could with a dress on. The breeze was not helping as it was filling the dress with air, showing off her legs. Laerian was watching her with great amusement, and his head was tilted slightly to one side, she did have nice legs.
"A little help would be greatly appreciated!" El stated exasperated, she could see Laerian's dangerous expression, he was not going to help her in a hurry. Legolas, who had been getting on to his own black stallion, walked it up next to El.
"Here, take my hand," Legolas said lifting her gently on to the huge horse.
Laerian was looking annoyed at Legolas; it had been enjoyable watching her suffer.
"Thank you Legolas," She said with a grateful smile, then turned her head to Laerian and narrowed her eyes. He grinned back mischievously, and then got onto his chestnut colored horse.
"So where are we off too then?" Elrohir said, both he and Elladan were on bay stallions.
"Well we have just got to wait for Ivy and Riwel who have got the food. There they are now!" Laerian exclaimed pointing at the two Dryads getting closer to the stables. Riwel was carrying a basket full of food. They loaded up a donkey to carry the food, and the other two mounted their stallions.
"Let us go!" Laerian cried who then whispered into the horse's ear, spurring it forwards. El bent down closer to Esti.
"Let us see how fast at riding Laerian really is Esti." Esti jumped into the air, and then went into a fast canter, soon El had caught up with Laerian. He began to slow down, as did El.
There was no point in racing, as El had no idea where to go. She decided to just trot alongside. The others caught up with them quickly.
"Here we are," Laerian said as he dismounted from his horse. In front of them was a large lake with pink and white lilies floating on the top. Elladan helped El off Esti, and they all seated themselves on the bank of the lake. Laerian was sat on one side of El, and was talking quietly with Riwel. Could they really be friends? They were nearly opposites! How could anyone possibly like Riwel? El watched Riwel closely as he talked. She turned to Legolas on her other side.
"Why is it that Laerian and Riwel are talking like friends?" She whispered carefully so that Legolas was the only one that could hear her.
"Well, it may come as a surprise to you, but they have been the greatest of friends ever since they were children, before you or I were born even. He is actually nicer than you may think. Every now and then he goes funny. Although he has always hated you and I." El flinched at the word. Hate was a very strong word. She did not hate Riwel, she just did not think she liked him.
"Riwel is just that kind of person, he has a protective shell around the outside because he does not want to get hurt again."
"Why what happened?" El replied. It must have been something terrible to affect him so much. Legolas raised a finger to his lips.
"Today may not be the best time to tell you." El nodded at Legolas' answer, he would tell her soon enough. Legolas knew that Riwel's feelings were changing towards her, he had hated El since the day she was born. Why now did he change his judgement he had kept for nearly 2000 years?
"Food!" Elladan cried as Ivy pulled the package off the donkey. El looked towards Elladan.
"Are you really that hungry?" She asked, surely he could not be.
"Of course!" He replied haughtily.
"It has only been two hours since we ate lunch!" El had seen the amount of food he had piled on his plate.
"Exactly, Two...whole...hours!" He replied trying to defend himself. No wonder the dining hall was the only place he knew the way too. Ivy took out the cakes and bread that were inside and placed them on a large dish so everyone could help themselves.
El took a piece of fudge cake, Elladan took three, as well as an assortment of other things.
"I suggest you save some for the others Elladan," Ivy exclaimed as she helped herself to a muffin. Elladan shrugged his shoulders and continued to binge.
"I have not even had my second helping yet!" He said grinning maniacally at her.
After the quick afternoon tea, thanks to Elladan, El got up to investigate the lake further, and walked between the waving boughs of the willow tree to look over the waters edge. It sparkled in the dappled light of the sun. It was so peaceful here, and it gave her time to think. El lay down on the grass still looking over the edge of the water so that the ends of her hair touched its smooth surface. She picked a silver-white lily off its cold surface to smell the sweet fragrance it emitted, the petals spread out on her hands. Maybe it was a good thing she had lost her memory, and that she could not remember Riwel's dislike for her.
El could hear the muffled voices of her friends behind. El looked at the flower that was in her hand, and then placed her other on top. What creature did she like the most? Her hands shone blue and white and the light was intense in the cracks between her fingers.
She opened up her hands to reveal a beautiful silver swan with a golden beak. She brushed her fingertip along its tiny snow-white wing, it was so soft, and like the petals of the flower that had made it. The tiny bird stood up slightly dazed and looked at its wings with wonder, like it was the first time it could actually see itself. El laughed, of course the lily had never seen itself or moved before. She had turned it into a swan, an actual moving being! She flapped her wings vigorously, trying to push itself into the air. El lowered her hands and placed it gently onto the cold surface of the water. She started swimming around in circles, then swam over to another of the lilies.
"You can change into what ever you want. If you want to go back to being a lily again, you can." El laughed as the swan shook its head, this was far more exciting then being a lily. She rubbed the swan's head lightly and began humming softly to herself. The rippling water stopped, revealing the presence of a tall young man behind her. She stopped singing.
"Riwel," El whispered bitterly to herself, just loud enough for him to hear her. To her surprise he did not even reply or grin. He just lay down on the cold mossy ground next to her and sighed. He could not believe he was doing this. El just ignored him and carried on playing with her lily swan. Riwel could not help but smile, she looked so content, and so- What was he thinking?!
The swan swam over to a golden lily that was nearby and rubbed her silver head against it.
"I think I know what this little swan was missing," Riwel said as he turned and picked the golden lily next to the swan. He cupped his hands around it and his hand glowed gold for a moment before he too opened them, revealing a slightly larger, gold, male swan. It immediately flew from his hand and landed next to the female and the two began playing. "Now neither of them is lonely." He smiled peacefully as he watched the two.
El watched him with interest; it was the first time she had actually looked at him properly. She had not noticed before how handsome he was. His short hair, she noticed, was not the electric blue she had seen him with first. It had darkened to a blue black. His icy blue eyes reflected the sun that shone on the waters surface. What surprised her was how kind they looked. Her eyes wondered past his perfect nose and lingered on his soft darkish red lips. He had silver tinged skin like her. Riwel turned to look back at her and smiled softly. El moved her head back quickly to the lily swans. He did not look as if he hated her. What was Legolas saying?
Riwel stomach dropped when he saw El looking back at him with curiosity. Did she like him?
"El, are you alright?" Legolas asked. He had seen Riwel looking at her. Had his feelings really changed? Riwel snapped his head back to Legolas, and he got up off the ground quickly.
"Hello 'Prince'. I bet you were listening to the whole conversation were you not?" Riwel was now right in front of Legolas, both were lean and of even height. "Are you jealous?" Riwel said in a whisper. Legolas' eyes narrowed. What was he doing? "You know what I mean Legolas, I will take her from you. Just because she loved you before does not mean she will like you now. I will try to take her from you, and succeed." Legolas was furious, but forced a smile.
"Of course you will try Riwel, feel free to try, but you will not succeed." Legolas pulled away from him and walked closer to El, taking her hand and pulling her off the ground. Riwel watched with anger. How could he be so cool and collected?
El took Legolas' hand gratefully; she could feel the tension between the two men. She looked back at the two swans and waved goodbye, before she turned to follow Legolas past the willow tree back to where the others were.
"Gathiel! Riwel and I have put together a little demonstration," Laerian said cheerfully.
"Demonstration of what, exactly?" El asked curious.
"How great my powers are!" Laerian said looking at his fingernails. Riwel cleared his throat behind him.
"Oh yes, and Riwel's too. But mine are better!" Laerian stood five meters away from Riwel. "Alright then, who shall start first? Are we going to battle each other or what?"
"I thought you had this all planned out!" Riwel said.
"I did, I mean I do! FINE I will go first!" Laerian pointed his hands at Riwel's feet, and a large flame erupted from them, licking Riwel's boots. Riwel just stood there grinning. The flame became more intense. Around Riwel's feet ice began to appear, protecting him from the flames. Then before their eyes, Laerian's flame had become incased in the ice, as if it were frozen in time. Riwel's hair turned into its electric blue that El had seen him with on the first night she had met him. Riwel brushed a fingertip over the ice and it crumbled into a million icy shards to the ground. Laerian's hair was waving around in the breeze, but instead of being its usual honey brown it was now shining a bright gold. This was amazing!
Suddenly a cry echoed through the forest that was less then a mile away. El shivered. What creatures were they? Laerian and Riwel's heads turned to the direction the noises were coming from. Both of their eyes were glowing in the twilight. It was twilight!
"Quick! We must go back to the City walls!" Legolas cried, they could hear the harsh voices of unfriendly men around where the other cries had came from.
Ivy ran over to where Riwel and Laerian were standing. Her hair that had been darkened before shone a flame red, her once light blue eyes shining silver. She turned her head towards Laerian. "What is it?" She whispered.
"I do not know, they are too far away. Quick, you must get to the walls!" Laerian ran over to El and lifted her onto Esti. "Hurry Gathiel, you are the one they are looking for! Legolas ride with her. Riwel and Ivy will wait with me!" Laerian whispered is Esti's ear, she jumped into the air and started galloping towards the walls that looked so far away.
So what do you think of this chapter? Sorry these chaps are getting long, but its all part of me adding in more descriptions and thoughts. Please review to tell me what you think. (
Laerian stood up quickly and with a wide grin on his face, this was going to be fun.
"Any suggestions?"
"I think we sh-" Elladan started.
"-Let's have a picnic!" Laerian interrupted clapping his hands together before Elladan could suggest anything different.
Elladan just shrugged his shoulders, it was fine with him. "We can go riding too!" El was beginning to feel slightly scared at Laerian's excitement, she thought they were going riding tomorrow, never mind, Laerian was just too excited to wait.
"I will go and inform the maids to get a picnic ready," Ivy said as she stood up and left through the large door.
"I will help," Riwel said as he followed Ivy out of the room.
Legolas' head was in his hands; today was not going to be a peaceful day with Laerian around.
"Well...Come on then! It is nearly two O'clock and we need to leave before dark," Laerian said with frustration. They could always go tomorrow, but he wanted to go now!
"Gathiel, we have so much to show you and so little time!" He said dramatically helping her from the chair, and grabbing her hand as he pulled her towards the door.
Was Laerian always this enthusiastic about things? "Laerian I do not think I have the right clothes for this," she pointed out worriedly.
"So? Who cares!" He proceeded pulling her out of the room, the others following close behind. They walked out of the large doors and through the gardens, El had no time to stop and look around because Laerian was still holding on tightly to her hand.
"First, we must go to the stables, Iavas should be there ready with the food. We will then go for a ride, and we can have afternoon tea on the hill."
El looked behind her, Legolas was not far behind, he grinned and nodded his head towards Laerian. Why did she always end up being pulled around by over enthusiastic Dryads? Elladan and Elrohir were not far behind Legolas.
Soon they had reached the huge stone wall, which was still covered in the night's frost. Laerian looked upwards.
"Hello there! Can you open up please," he called loudly.
There was no answer, it was lunch and the gate guards were probably eating.
"Oh this is just GREAT!" Laerian yelled sarcastically, "Never mind."
He lifted his hand and flicked it lightly towards one side and the doors began to creek open, Laerian walked briskly through, with the others following closely behind.
Laerian dragged her to a set of buildings made of both wood and stone. El could see a couple of Elves around the buildings, saddling up many horses, cleaning and grooming them.
El's dress waved around a little in the breeze.
"Yes, the horses are saddled! Come Gathiel, this one is yours, she is called Esti." The Elves, who had been saddling the horse, went back into the large stables. It was huge, and must have had more then 500 horses inside! There were even more of roaming freely around the huge paddocks. Laerian took El towards a beautiful tall, lean silver mare.
"Esti," whispered El. The mare immediately bent down her head and nuzzled El's green hair, El laughed and patted her on the neck. She put her foot in the stirrup and tried to get onto the horse as elegantly as she could with a dress on. The breeze was not helping as it was filling the dress with air, showing off her legs. Laerian was watching her with great amusement, and his head was tilted slightly to one side, she did have nice legs.
"A little help would be greatly appreciated!" El stated exasperated, she could see Laerian's dangerous expression, he was not going to help her in a hurry. Legolas, who had been getting on to his own black stallion, walked it up next to El.
"Here, take my hand," Legolas said lifting her gently on to the huge horse.
Laerian was looking annoyed at Legolas; it had been enjoyable watching her suffer.
"Thank you Legolas," She said with a grateful smile, then turned her head to Laerian and narrowed her eyes. He grinned back mischievously, and then got onto his chestnut colored horse.
"So where are we off too then?" Elrohir said, both he and Elladan were on bay stallions.
"Well we have just got to wait for Ivy and Riwel who have got the food. There they are now!" Laerian exclaimed pointing at the two Dryads getting closer to the stables. Riwel was carrying a basket full of food. They loaded up a donkey to carry the food, and the other two mounted their stallions.
"Let us go!" Laerian cried who then whispered into the horse's ear, spurring it forwards. El bent down closer to Esti.
"Let us see how fast at riding Laerian really is Esti." Esti jumped into the air, and then went into a fast canter, soon El had caught up with Laerian. He began to slow down, as did El.
There was no point in racing, as El had no idea where to go. She decided to just trot alongside. The others caught up with them quickly.
"Here we are," Laerian said as he dismounted from his horse. In front of them was a large lake with pink and white lilies floating on the top. Elladan helped El off Esti, and they all seated themselves on the bank of the lake. Laerian was sat on one side of El, and was talking quietly with Riwel. Could they really be friends? They were nearly opposites! How could anyone possibly like Riwel? El watched Riwel closely as he talked. She turned to Legolas on her other side.
"Why is it that Laerian and Riwel are talking like friends?" She whispered carefully so that Legolas was the only one that could hear her.
"Well, it may come as a surprise to you, but they have been the greatest of friends ever since they were children, before you or I were born even. He is actually nicer than you may think. Every now and then he goes funny. Although he has always hated you and I." El flinched at the word. Hate was a very strong word. She did not hate Riwel, she just did not think she liked him.
"Riwel is just that kind of person, he has a protective shell around the outside because he does not want to get hurt again."
"Why what happened?" El replied. It must have been something terrible to affect him so much. Legolas raised a finger to his lips.
"Today may not be the best time to tell you." El nodded at Legolas' answer, he would tell her soon enough. Legolas knew that Riwel's feelings were changing towards her, he had hated El since the day she was born. Why now did he change his judgement he had kept for nearly 2000 years?
"Food!" Elladan cried as Ivy pulled the package off the donkey. El looked towards Elladan.
"Are you really that hungry?" She asked, surely he could not be.
"Of course!" He replied haughtily.
"It has only been two hours since we ate lunch!" El had seen the amount of food he had piled on his plate.
"Exactly, Two...whole...hours!" He replied trying to defend himself. No wonder the dining hall was the only place he knew the way too. Ivy took out the cakes and bread that were inside and placed them on a large dish so everyone could help themselves.
El took a piece of fudge cake, Elladan took three, as well as an assortment of other things.
"I suggest you save some for the others Elladan," Ivy exclaimed as she helped herself to a muffin. Elladan shrugged his shoulders and continued to binge.
"I have not even had my second helping yet!" He said grinning maniacally at her.
After the quick afternoon tea, thanks to Elladan, El got up to investigate the lake further, and walked between the waving boughs of the willow tree to look over the waters edge. It sparkled in the dappled light of the sun. It was so peaceful here, and it gave her time to think. El lay down on the grass still looking over the edge of the water so that the ends of her hair touched its smooth surface. She picked a silver-white lily off its cold surface to smell the sweet fragrance it emitted, the petals spread out on her hands. Maybe it was a good thing she had lost her memory, and that she could not remember Riwel's dislike for her.
El could hear the muffled voices of her friends behind. El looked at the flower that was in her hand, and then placed her other on top. What creature did she like the most? Her hands shone blue and white and the light was intense in the cracks between her fingers.
She opened up her hands to reveal a beautiful silver swan with a golden beak. She brushed her fingertip along its tiny snow-white wing, it was so soft, and like the petals of the flower that had made it. The tiny bird stood up slightly dazed and looked at its wings with wonder, like it was the first time it could actually see itself. El laughed, of course the lily had never seen itself or moved before. She had turned it into a swan, an actual moving being! She flapped her wings vigorously, trying to push itself into the air. El lowered her hands and placed it gently onto the cold surface of the water. She started swimming around in circles, then swam over to another of the lilies.
"You can change into what ever you want. If you want to go back to being a lily again, you can." El laughed as the swan shook its head, this was far more exciting then being a lily. She rubbed the swan's head lightly and began humming softly to herself. The rippling water stopped, revealing the presence of a tall young man behind her. She stopped singing.
"Riwel," El whispered bitterly to herself, just loud enough for him to hear her. To her surprise he did not even reply or grin. He just lay down on the cold mossy ground next to her and sighed. He could not believe he was doing this. El just ignored him and carried on playing with her lily swan. Riwel could not help but smile, she looked so content, and so- What was he thinking?!
The swan swam over to a golden lily that was nearby and rubbed her silver head against it.
"I think I know what this little swan was missing," Riwel said as he turned and picked the golden lily next to the swan. He cupped his hands around it and his hand glowed gold for a moment before he too opened them, revealing a slightly larger, gold, male swan. It immediately flew from his hand and landed next to the female and the two began playing. "Now neither of them is lonely." He smiled peacefully as he watched the two.
El watched him with interest; it was the first time she had actually looked at him properly. She had not noticed before how handsome he was. His short hair, she noticed, was not the electric blue she had seen him with first. It had darkened to a blue black. His icy blue eyes reflected the sun that shone on the waters surface. What surprised her was how kind they looked. Her eyes wondered past his perfect nose and lingered on his soft darkish red lips. He had silver tinged skin like her. Riwel turned to look back at her and smiled softly. El moved her head back quickly to the lily swans. He did not look as if he hated her. What was Legolas saying?
Riwel stomach dropped when he saw El looking back at him with curiosity. Did she like him?
"El, are you alright?" Legolas asked. He had seen Riwel looking at her. Had his feelings really changed? Riwel snapped his head back to Legolas, and he got up off the ground quickly.
"Hello 'Prince'. I bet you were listening to the whole conversation were you not?" Riwel was now right in front of Legolas, both were lean and of even height. "Are you jealous?" Riwel said in a whisper. Legolas' eyes narrowed. What was he doing? "You know what I mean Legolas, I will take her from you. Just because she loved you before does not mean she will like you now. I will try to take her from you, and succeed." Legolas was furious, but forced a smile.
"Of course you will try Riwel, feel free to try, but you will not succeed." Legolas pulled away from him and walked closer to El, taking her hand and pulling her off the ground. Riwel watched with anger. How could he be so cool and collected?
El took Legolas' hand gratefully; she could feel the tension between the two men. She looked back at the two swans and waved goodbye, before she turned to follow Legolas past the willow tree back to where the others were.
"Gathiel! Riwel and I have put together a little demonstration," Laerian said cheerfully.
"Demonstration of what, exactly?" El asked curious.
"How great my powers are!" Laerian said looking at his fingernails. Riwel cleared his throat behind him.
"Oh yes, and Riwel's too. But mine are better!" Laerian stood five meters away from Riwel. "Alright then, who shall start first? Are we going to battle each other or what?"
"I thought you had this all planned out!" Riwel said.
"I did, I mean I do! FINE I will go first!" Laerian pointed his hands at Riwel's feet, and a large flame erupted from them, licking Riwel's boots. Riwel just stood there grinning. The flame became more intense. Around Riwel's feet ice began to appear, protecting him from the flames. Then before their eyes, Laerian's flame had become incased in the ice, as if it were frozen in time. Riwel's hair turned into its electric blue that El had seen him with on the first night she had met him. Riwel brushed a fingertip over the ice and it crumbled into a million icy shards to the ground. Laerian's hair was waving around in the breeze, but instead of being its usual honey brown it was now shining a bright gold. This was amazing!
Suddenly a cry echoed through the forest that was less then a mile away. El shivered. What creatures were they? Laerian and Riwel's heads turned to the direction the noises were coming from. Both of their eyes were glowing in the twilight. It was twilight!
"Quick! We must go back to the City walls!" Legolas cried, they could hear the harsh voices of unfriendly men around where the other cries had came from.
Ivy ran over to where Riwel and Laerian were standing. Her hair that had been darkened before shone a flame red, her once light blue eyes shining silver. She turned her head towards Laerian. "What is it?" She whispered.
"I do not know, they are too far away. Quick, you must get to the walls!" Laerian ran over to El and lifted her onto Esti. "Hurry Gathiel, you are the one they are looking for! Legolas ride with her. Riwel and Ivy will wait with me!" Laerian whispered is Esti's ear, she jumped into the air and started galloping towards the walls that looked so far away.
So what do you think of this chapter? Sorry these chaps are getting long, but its all part of me adding in more descriptions and thoughts. Please review to tell me what you think. (