When I heard that speech, I had no idea how many surprises I got. First of
all, Legolas was a prince?! He mentioned it once before, but I thought he
was kidding. I knew he was good looking, brave, strong, and caring, but
him?! All this stuff about a power rising was too much for me.
I looked around and found that everyone was busy talking. Legolas was talking to Elrond, so I couldn't go to him.
"Try the food," Niphredil suggested.
I looked down at my plate. There was a slab of meat, few mushrooms, and a small block of cheese. It didn't look very inviting. I picked up a fork and started poking the meat. Blood oozed out. Was this even cooked?! Now my appetite was gone completely.
"Is anything wrong?" Niphredil asked with a concerned voice.
I sighed, "Everything's wrong." I propped my elbows on the table and held my head in my hands. I hated this! I felt so left out here around these elves. I felt unwanted. No one was talking to me except the girl sitting next to me.
'This is how the girls feel around you at school.'
I sat up straight at the voice in my head. I had never thought about that. This surprised me a lot.
"You need to brighten up, Jocelyn." Niphredil said after she saw me slouch. "I will take you somewhere after dinner." She offered, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "It will certainly cheer you up." She smiled at me.
"Got to give you credit for the effort." I said, smiling back. "So what's all this shit about a power rising?" A few heads snapped to look at me with a glare. "What?"
Niphredil leaned over to whisper in my ear. "We are not supposed to talk about it, remember?"
"Oh, right," I yawned. This was getting more boring by the second. I nibbled on the block of cheese while everyone took big bites out of their slabs of meat. When finally dinner was over and Elrond dismissed us, I was more than happy to leave. In my haste, I knocked over my chair. Once again, everyone's eyes were on me. It was just so nice to have everybody's attention on my clumsiness. I quickly bent down to pick up the chair. Legolas was sending me an are-you-ok look. The look was appreciated, really.
I decided to leave this place as soon as possible but then I realized that I didn't know where my room was. I was too busy thinking while walking here that I didn't note where I was going. Great, I was lost. Legolas, where were you when I needed you?! I had so many questions to ask him and he was busy talking to.Niphredil! What was she doing over there with him?! I quickly walked over to them.
"Jocelyn, you have met Niphredil, yes?" Legolas asked politely.
"Of course I have. Who wouldn't have met a girl who goes around flirting with every guy available like a slut?" I said back as politely as I could. I guess I had been a little judgmental, but come on! They just looked at me weirdly. As I was leaving, I remembered. "Niphredil, aren't you supposed to take me somewhere? Let's go!" I protested.
Niphredil bit her lip and looked at Legolas apologetically. Ah, got her there! "I am really sorry. We shall talk tomorrow."
I laughed and shook my head. "No, you see, you're going to be busy tomorrow." I pulled her away. "So, where are we going?"
Niphredil's eyes brightened. "This way," she guided me towards the woods. "Can you swim?"
I furrowed my brows. "Yes," I said slowly.
She turned around and looked me up and down. "I suppose you can swim in that."
"This?" I looked down at my yellow gown. "But it's so pre.We're going swimming?"
Niphredil giggled and nodded. She picked up her pace and ran forward. I followed and soon we were met by a small lake. Wow, I had to say it looked beautiful. Steam hung heavily over the water. There was a flora essence surrounding the lake. Without stopping, Niphredil jumped into the water, splashing me.
"Hey, watch where you splash that water!" I said, wiping the warm water off my forehead.
She just laughed and splashed me some more. That was it. I had enough. I bent down to reach the water to splash her back but she grabbed my hand and pulled me in.
"Oh my god, I'm so getting you back for that!" I said when I surfaced. I swam over to her and dunked her head down. She tickled me underwater and I had to let her go.
"Do you feel better now?" Niphredil asked while squeezing her nose.
"Way better," I held my breath and went under. I took hold of her leg and tugged. She came down under with me. We continued to fool around like this until the sky was close to pitch black.
"It is late and darkness is here. I have to report to my father. Good night," Niphredil turned and ran as if a tiger was at her feet.
"Well thanks for leaving me in the middle of no where. Oh, and for cheering me up." I didn't really mean the last part. I added that in for effect.
I got out of the lake and I was freezing cold. Oh god, which way did I come in from? Niphredil left this way, so it must be somewhere there. I turned to my left and started following Niphredil's path, yet I got lost anyway. "Shit, I've been lost twice in a row. This just keeps getting better and better doesn't it?" I asked the tree planted next to me. A light breeze blew by and I shivered. "Oh, and did I mention that I'm freezing?" I turned to the tree. "No? Thought so," This was what swimming until midnight, getting lost in the woods, and standing in the wind in a soaked gown did to you.
"Who were you talking to?"
"Holy fuck, where did you come from? No, let me rephrase that. How the hell did you get here?" I shouted at Legolas.
"I walked here. It seems to be the most logical answer." Legolas said, looking around.
"I didn't hear you. Did you sneak up on me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes into slits.
"Though you cannot hear us walk it does not mean I sneak up on you." Legolas defended himself.
"What are you doing out here?" I asked, searching his face.
"I would like to ask you the same question. Jocelyn, you are soaked wet! What happened?" Legolas stepped up to me and squeezed my arm. Water dripped from his hand.
I wanted to explain to him but what happened with Niphredil earlier roused my temper. "Hmm, I wonder?" I spat. I didn't even know why I was so mad. It wasn't like he was with another girl. Wait, it wouldn't even matter if he liked a girl or not. He could be gay for all I care!
"Jocelyn, let me take you back." He took my elbow and pulled me forward but I took away my arm.
"I'm perfectly fine right here." I said, crossing my arms in from of my chest.
"This is foolish. You will catch a cold." Legolas reasoned.
"You know, I never got that expression. It's not like you can catch colds." I said casually. I slid down the side of the tree trunk and sat on the damp forest ground. Legolas sighed and took off his tunic. My jaw dropped at what he was doing. "Um, Legolas?"
He handed me his tunic. "Wear this for now."
I took it but I was still staring at him. He had the most perfect body ever. The silver glow from the moon cascaded down his ivory body outlining every muscle on his chest, torso, and arms. I was no longer shivering, if you knew what I meant. Legolas plopped down next to me.
"Why are you wet?" he asked me again.
I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "I went swimming, ok?"
"At this time of the day?" Legolas asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"What, you have a problem with that?" I said back to him.
Legolas smiled. "No, not at all." There was a silence then he asked me a question I didn't expect. "What do you think of Niphredil?"
I looked at him suspiciously. "Well, she's nice I guess. She almost drowned me but nice." I nodded.
Legolas laughed. "I met her the first time I came to Rivendell. Her father and my father were friends. They introduced us to each other. From then on, we had been good companions yet my father thinks we should be more."
I almost fainted when he said that. "What?!"
"I said my father-"
"No, not repeat what you said! That'll drive me right up the wall. What did you mean? Are you getting married? You're marrying Niphredil? I can't believe. You know what? I don't care. Who actually cares whether or not you're going to marry Niphredil? Who?!" By now, I was talking to myself mostly. I wanted to stay under control but my voice just exploded and not to embarrass myself, I threw back his tunic at his face and ran. I didn't know where I was going but I just wanted to get away. I could hear Legolas' voice calling to me from behind. I paid no heed.
Finally, I slowed down and slumped to the ground. Before I could stop it, tears burst from my eyes. These past days, I had cooped up all my feelings and emotions. I hated this goddamn fucking place. God, I wanted to go home so bad. I wanted to go back to my friends. I wouldn't even care if I had to go back to school just not here. Everything that never happened to me happened here. I'd never been shot by an arrow. I'd never drunk someone else's saliva. I'd never been chased by disgusting monsters. I'd never had my life been saved by someone who I'd never fell so hard for like Legolas. Ok, I just admitted it. I hated my life! I wanted to go back. "I want to go home!" My voice echoed through the trees.
Then a soft voice reached my ears. "Jocelyn?"
I knew it was him, but I tried to shut him out. I pulled my legs up to my chest and buried my face in the crook of my arm.
"Jocelyn?" He placed a hand on my shaking shoulder. "Jocelyn, why are you crying?"
"Go away, I don't need your pity." I shrugged his hand off.
"Jocelyn, tell me what is wrong." Legolas pleaded.
"Just leave me alone and you'll be great help."
I cried harder when he stood up, draped his tunic over me and walked away.
I looked around and found that everyone was busy talking. Legolas was talking to Elrond, so I couldn't go to him.
"Try the food," Niphredil suggested.
I looked down at my plate. There was a slab of meat, few mushrooms, and a small block of cheese. It didn't look very inviting. I picked up a fork and started poking the meat. Blood oozed out. Was this even cooked?! Now my appetite was gone completely.
"Is anything wrong?" Niphredil asked with a concerned voice.
I sighed, "Everything's wrong." I propped my elbows on the table and held my head in my hands. I hated this! I felt so left out here around these elves. I felt unwanted. No one was talking to me except the girl sitting next to me.
'This is how the girls feel around you at school.'
I sat up straight at the voice in my head. I had never thought about that. This surprised me a lot.
"You need to brighten up, Jocelyn." Niphredil said after she saw me slouch. "I will take you somewhere after dinner." She offered, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "It will certainly cheer you up." She smiled at me.
"Got to give you credit for the effort." I said, smiling back. "So what's all this shit about a power rising?" A few heads snapped to look at me with a glare. "What?"
Niphredil leaned over to whisper in my ear. "We are not supposed to talk about it, remember?"
"Oh, right," I yawned. This was getting more boring by the second. I nibbled on the block of cheese while everyone took big bites out of their slabs of meat. When finally dinner was over and Elrond dismissed us, I was more than happy to leave. In my haste, I knocked over my chair. Once again, everyone's eyes were on me. It was just so nice to have everybody's attention on my clumsiness. I quickly bent down to pick up the chair. Legolas was sending me an are-you-ok look. The look was appreciated, really.
I decided to leave this place as soon as possible but then I realized that I didn't know where my room was. I was too busy thinking while walking here that I didn't note where I was going. Great, I was lost. Legolas, where were you when I needed you?! I had so many questions to ask him and he was busy talking to.Niphredil! What was she doing over there with him?! I quickly walked over to them.
"Jocelyn, you have met Niphredil, yes?" Legolas asked politely.
"Of course I have. Who wouldn't have met a girl who goes around flirting with every guy available like a slut?" I said back as politely as I could. I guess I had been a little judgmental, but come on! They just looked at me weirdly. As I was leaving, I remembered. "Niphredil, aren't you supposed to take me somewhere? Let's go!" I protested.
Niphredil bit her lip and looked at Legolas apologetically. Ah, got her there! "I am really sorry. We shall talk tomorrow."
I laughed and shook my head. "No, you see, you're going to be busy tomorrow." I pulled her away. "So, where are we going?"
Niphredil's eyes brightened. "This way," she guided me towards the woods. "Can you swim?"
I furrowed my brows. "Yes," I said slowly.
She turned around and looked me up and down. "I suppose you can swim in that."
"This?" I looked down at my yellow gown. "But it's so pre.We're going swimming?"
Niphredil giggled and nodded. She picked up her pace and ran forward. I followed and soon we were met by a small lake. Wow, I had to say it looked beautiful. Steam hung heavily over the water. There was a flora essence surrounding the lake. Without stopping, Niphredil jumped into the water, splashing me.
"Hey, watch where you splash that water!" I said, wiping the warm water off my forehead.
She just laughed and splashed me some more. That was it. I had enough. I bent down to reach the water to splash her back but she grabbed my hand and pulled me in.
"Oh my god, I'm so getting you back for that!" I said when I surfaced. I swam over to her and dunked her head down. She tickled me underwater and I had to let her go.
"Do you feel better now?" Niphredil asked while squeezing her nose.
"Way better," I held my breath and went under. I took hold of her leg and tugged. She came down under with me. We continued to fool around like this until the sky was close to pitch black.
"It is late and darkness is here. I have to report to my father. Good night," Niphredil turned and ran as if a tiger was at her feet.
"Well thanks for leaving me in the middle of no where. Oh, and for cheering me up." I didn't really mean the last part. I added that in for effect.
I got out of the lake and I was freezing cold. Oh god, which way did I come in from? Niphredil left this way, so it must be somewhere there. I turned to my left and started following Niphredil's path, yet I got lost anyway. "Shit, I've been lost twice in a row. This just keeps getting better and better doesn't it?" I asked the tree planted next to me. A light breeze blew by and I shivered. "Oh, and did I mention that I'm freezing?" I turned to the tree. "No? Thought so," This was what swimming until midnight, getting lost in the woods, and standing in the wind in a soaked gown did to you.
"Who were you talking to?"
"Holy fuck, where did you come from? No, let me rephrase that. How the hell did you get here?" I shouted at Legolas.
"I walked here. It seems to be the most logical answer." Legolas said, looking around.
"I didn't hear you. Did you sneak up on me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes into slits.
"Though you cannot hear us walk it does not mean I sneak up on you." Legolas defended himself.
"What are you doing out here?" I asked, searching his face.
"I would like to ask you the same question. Jocelyn, you are soaked wet! What happened?" Legolas stepped up to me and squeezed my arm. Water dripped from his hand.
I wanted to explain to him but what happened with Niphredil earlier roused my temper. "Hmm, I wonder?" I spat. I didn't even know why I was so mad. It wasn't like he was with another girl. Wait, it wouldn't even matter if he liked a girl or not. He could be gay for all I care!
"Jocelyn, let me take you back." He took my elbow and pulled me forward but I took away my arm.
"I'm perfectly fine right here." I said, crossing my arms in from of my chest.
"This is foolish. You will catch a cold." Legolas reasoned.
"You know, I never got that expression. It's not like you can catch colds." I said casually. I slid down the side of the tree trunk and sat on the damp forest ground. Legolas sighed and took off his tunic. My jaw dropped at what he was doing. "Um, Legolas?"
He handed me his tunic. "Wear this for now."
I took it but I was still staring at him. He had the most perfect body ever. The silver glow from the moon cascaded down his ivory body outlining every muscle on his chest, torso, and arms. I was no longer shivering, if you knew what I meant. Legolas plopped down next to me.
"Why are you wet?" he asked me again.
I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "I went swimming, ok?"
"At this time of the day?" Legolas asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"What, you have a problem with that?" I said back to him.
Legolas smiled. "No, not at all." There was a silence then he asked me a question I didn't expect. "What do you think of Niphredil?"
I looked at him suspiciously. "Well, she's nice I guess. She almost drowned me but nice." I nodded.
Legolas laughed. "I met her the first time I came to Rivendell. Her father and my father were friends. They introduced us to each other. From then on, we had been good companions yet my father thinks we should be more."
I almost fainted when he said that. "What?!"
"I said my father-"
"No, not repeat what you said! That'll drive me right up the wall. What did you mean? Are you getting married? You're marrying Niphredil? I can't believe. You know what? I don't care. Who actually cares whether or not you're going to marry Niphredil? Who?!" By now, I was talking to myself mostly. I wanted to stay under control but my voice just exploded and not to embarrass myself, I threw back his tunic at his face and ran. I didn't know where I was going but I just wanted to get away. I could hear Legolas' voice calling to me from behind. I paid no heed.
Finally, I slowed down and slumped to the ground. Before I could stop it, tears burst from my eyes. These past days, I had cooped up all my feelings and emotions. I hated this goddamn fucking place. God, I wanted to go home so bad. I wanted to go back to my friends. I wouldn't even care if I had to go back to school just not here. Everything that never happened to me happened here. I'd never been shot by an arrow. I'd never drunk someone else's saliva. I'd never been chased by disgusting monsters. I'd never had my life been saved by someone who I'd never fell so hard for like Legolas. Ok, I just admitted it. I hated my life! I wanted to go back. "I want to go home!" My voice echoed through the trees.
Then a soft voice reached my ears. "Jocelyn?"
I knew it was him, but I tried to shut him out. I pulled my legs up to my chest and buried my face in the crook of my arm.
"Jocelyn?" He placed a hand on my shaking shoulder. "Jocelyn, why are you crying?"
"Go away, I don't need your pity." I shrugged his hand off.
"Jocelyn, tell me what is wrong." Legolas pleaded.
"Just leave me alone and you'll be great help."
I cried harder when he stood up, draped his tunic over me and walked away.