He didn't mean it. He didn't mean it. He didn't mean it! That was just what
guys say. They don't mean it. He didn't mean that!
I was pacing in my room before dinner. I had told Legolas that I was exhausted and wanted to retire to my room. Now all I could think about was his answer to my stupid question that I had to ask. Why could she not have stopped me? Then I probably wouldn't be rethinking about leaving or not.
'Rethinking?! You're rethinking? Why?'
Why? Why?! I thought you could read minds, master witch! Why? Did you not hear him? If I leave, something was sure to happen. I was positive. He was hinting at something. He said the word death and it definitely couldn't be anything on the good side.
'But he didn't mean it.'
He looked serious enough.
'What, so you're saying that he meant it?'
No! I didn't say that! Maybe he was playing with me. He was just joking. He had to be. Right. I was cool. Fine. Calm.
"My lady, it is dinner time."
I must have jumped about a foot into the air. "Yes, yes of course."
"Are you alright? You seem a bit on the edge." Mueyna looked at me worriedly.
"No, I'm alright. Let's go." I brushed past her out the door. I walked down the long hallway. Would this day ever end? Was it possible that one single day could both be wondrous and disastrous?
"My lady! You are going the wrong way!" Mueyna ran up from behind.
"Oh," I surveyed around me and I realized I walked past the grand staircase and was outside Legolas' bedroom.
"Are you looking for the prince? I think he was accompanying Lady Arwen. Perhaps you will see them at dinner. This way," She stepped back out of my way to let me go first.
"Oh no, I was just um...thinking. I wasn't looking at where I was going so ya." I stopped myself before I could say anymore. "Well, let's get going." I started off with a fast paced walk but gradually slowed down at the bottom of the steps.
"Something is on your mind. I can see it in your eyes." Mueyna held me back by gently placing her hand on my arm.
I looked at her while trying to think up an excuse. I sighed instead and surrendered. "I have this small question. Maybe you could help me?" I watched her cautiously.
"Of course, my lady, anything." She smiled.
I gave her a small smile in return. It was more of a slight upturn of the corners of my mouth. "What happens," I started, "if someone that an elf liked were to leave his or her side?" this was not a good way of putting my question!
"You know little of us elves. We do not like someone, we love. We give them our whole heart. To have someone dear to us leave is having a part of us taken away; a part that we cannot live without. Elves can die of a broken heart." She looked at me as if it was plain obvious all along.
"What? You're only kidding right? Why? How?" Elves were impossible to read!
"They slowly wear away, tearing themselves apart from the inside." Mueyna gave me a sad look. There was such grieve in her eyes.
"I knew elves couldn't be perfect." I looked down. But did it have to be that bad? Die? Of a broken hear? "Ridiculous!" I voiced my thought out my accident.
"You think I am teasing you? You think I would take such a thing like life and death as a joke? At a time like this, would I be such a fool?" Mueyna stared at me hard, breathing heavily.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way." I took a step forward to her, but she took a step back.
"No, I am sorry. I should not have burst out like that. It was not my place." She curtsied.
"Mueyna, don't do this. Please!" I offered her my hand.
She smiled gravely and took it. "Life seems so much easier for me with you here. Thank you, Jocelyn."
I smiled and truly meant it. The feeling I had when she said those words were incredible. I couldn't help it. I hugged her and pretty tight too. "Thank you. Come one, or else we'll be late. I'm starving." I took her hand and pulled her down the hall. All thoughts of Legolas were driven from my mind. "So you were saying something about the time like this. What did you mean?"
Mueyna loosened her hold on my hand and pulled away. "Everyone can feel it. Him. His forces are building ever stronger. He is brewing a poison that he will spill over all of Middle Earth, destroying everything that once was. His malice hangs like a shadow over Mordor that every second spreads toward realms of different kindred. Nothing can stop him. He senses our fear."
"What are you talking about? Who is he?" I could tell she was about to answer me but stopped abruptly. Her face paled in shock. Her mouth hung open. She was staring at something behind me. I turned to see Lord Elrond standing there. The next thing I knew, Mueyna was down on her knees.
"My lord, I am terribly sorry! It is my fault. I should not have mentioned it in the first place. Please, I beg of you my lord, have mercy!" She was near tears.
"Why should I say again the words I have already spoken?" Elrond said calmly, still holding his posture. "Jocelyn, will you join me to dinner?" Without a second glance, he turned and walked away from Mueyna.
I quickly ran to catch up with him. I looked back to see Mueyna crying. Oh no, what did I do?! "Lord Elrond, I hope you understand that it was me who asked her. Don't punish her! It was my fault."
"Lady Jocelyn, I hope you understand you are not better off yourself. I announced that no on was to discuss the matter amongst themselves and the both of you! You had better hope I will not take back my offer." He slowed down his pace.
"Offer?" I looked at him curiously.
"It was Legolas' request. I will explain fully after supper." He dismissed the subject simply.
We separated into our own ways as Elrond headed to his seat at the head of the table. Soon, our dinner was brought to us and Niphredil began her usual routine of annoying me. I barely paid attention to her with me thinking about Mueyna. I couldn't just let her get fired. I had to do something. I rested my elbow on the table and propped my head on my hand. Thinking up a speech to say to Elrond was hard. I glanced up and saw Legolas looking at me. Oh no, I still had to tell him. I realized everything would've been fine if I hadn't admitted to him. Even better if I hadn't come here at all! Maybe I should tell him I didn't like him anymore.
"Jocelyn?"
Yes, I should do that. It was better that it hurt less now than more later.
"Jocelyn?"
How should I say it to him? We weren't even together for a full day yet. That would hurt him...and me. Maybe tomorrow?
"Jocelyn?!"
"What?" I said, startled.
"Dinner is over, yet you did not touch your food." Legolas had come over to my side.
"Oh, I had a little to eat already so I'm not hungry." I lied. "I have something to tell you. I know you wouldn't like it. I don't like it myself but—"
"Tell me later. Come with me now." He pulled me out of my chair and led me away from the dining table.
"Where are we going?" I asked, surprised.
"You will see." He dragged me on and up a different set of staircase.
Soon, we were in a big ivory, marble room. Everything looked so smooth. It seemed obvious to me that it was an office with the desk and shelves. Lord Elrond and the girl I saw at the tournament were there. Elrond sat on a cushioned stone chair. The lady stood behind him.
"Please, sit down." Lord Elrond gestured.
Legolas led me to the nearest chair and sat me down. "What is going on?" I looked at all of them suspiciously.
"Earlier today, Legolas brought up a situation which I had never considered: the matter of your lodging here."
"Yes, I also want to talk about that. I think—"
Elrond cut in. "I know you have no where else to stay. I offer my house, Rivendell, as yours."
My jaw dropped. "No, but I was just going to say I wanted to... leave."
"What? Where are you going to go?" Legolas looked down at me surprised. Not happy surprised though.
"Home. I have relatives elsewhere. I think it would be better if I went and lived with them instead. I don't belong here." I had to make up something.
"Jocelyn, do not speak of such things when they are not true. You are welcomed here. It is even possible to have your relatives move and live here." Legolas sounded desperate.
"The same to you, Legolas, do not speak of such things when they are not true," Elrond quoted him, "if I did this for every injured person you brought in, Rivendell would be overrun by men. And secondly, this is not your home either so I suggest you not to voice your own opinion of my realm." Elrond looked sternly at him. Legolas' eyes dropped to the floor. "Lady Jocelyn, I ask you one last time. Will your home be here, or do you choose to leave?"
I was pacing in my room before dinner. I had told Legolas that I was exhausted and wanted to retire to my room. Now all I could think about was his answer to my stupid question that I had to ask. Why could she not have stopped me? Then I probably wouldn't be rethinking about leaving or not.
'Rethinking?! You're rethinking? Why?'
Why? Why?! I thought you could read minds, master witch! Why? Did you not hear him? If I leave, something was sure to happen. I was positive. He was hinting at something. He said the word death and it definitely couldn't be anything on the good side.
'But he didn't mean it.'
He looked serious enough.
'What, so you're saying that he meant it?'
No! I didn't say that! Maybe he was playing with me. He was just joking. He had to be. Right. I was cool. Fine. Calm.
"My lady, it is dinner time."
I must have jumped about a foot into the air. "Yes, yes of course."
"Are you alright? You seem a bit on the edge." Mueyna looked at me worriedly.
"No, I'm alright. Let's go." I brushed past her out the door. I walked down the long hallway. Would this day ever end? Was it possible that one single day could both be wondrous and disastrous?
"My lady! You are going the wrong way!" Mueyna ran up from behind.
"Oh," I surveyed around me and I realized I walked past the grand staircase and was outside Legolas' bedroom.
"Are you looking for the prince? I think he was accompanying Lady Arwen. Perhaps you will see them at dinner. This way," She stepped back out of my way to let me go first.
"Oh no, I was just um...thinking. I wasn't looking at where I was going so ya." I stopped myself before I could say anymore. "Well, let's get going." I started off with a fast paced walk but gradually slowed down at the bottom of the steps.
"Something is on your mind. I can see it in your eyes." Mueyna held me back by gently placing her hand on my arm.
I looked at her while trying to think up an excuse. I sighed instead and surrendered. "I have this small question. Maybe you could help me?" I watched her cautiously.
"Of course, my lady, anything." She smiled.
I gave her a small smile in return. It was more of a slight upturn of the corners of my mouth. "What happens," I started, "if someone that an elf liked were to leave his or her side?" this was not a good way of putting my question!
"You know little of us elves. We do not like someone, we love. We give them our whole heart. To have someone dear to us leave is having a part of us taken away; a part that we cannot live without. Elves can die of a broken heart." She looked at me as if it was plain obvious all along.
"What? You're only kidding right? Why? How?" Elves were impossible to read!
"They slowly wear away, tearing themselves apart from the inside." Mueyna gave me a sad look. There was such grieve in her eyes.
"I knew elves couldn't be perfect." I looked down. But did it have to be that bad? Die? Of a broken hear? "Ridiculous!" I voiced my thought out my accident.
"You think I am teasing you? You think I would take such a thing like life and death as a joke? At a time like this, would I be such a fool?" Mueyna stared at me hard, breathing heavily.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way." I took a step forward to her, but she took a step back.
"No, I am sorry. I should not have burst out like that. It was not my place." She curtsied.
"Mueyna, don't do this. Please!" I offered her my hand.
She smiled gravely and took it. "Life seems so much easier for me with you here. Thank you, Jocelyn."
I smiled and truly meant it. The feeling I had when she said those words were incredible. I couldn't help it. I hugged her and pretty tight too. "Thank you. Come one, or else we'll be late. I'm starving." I took her hand and pulled her down the hall. All thoughts of Legolas were driven from my mind. "So you were saying something about the time like this. What did you mean?"
Mueyna loosened her hold on my hand and pulled away. "Everyone can feel it. Him. His forces are building ever stronger. He is brewing a poison that he will spill over all of Middle Earth, destroying everything that once was. His malice hangs like a shadow over Mordor that every second spreads toward realms of different kindred. Nothing can stop him. He senses our fear."
"What are you talking about? Who is he?" I could tell she was about to answer me but stopped abruptly. Her face paled in shock. Her mouth hung open. She was staring at something behind me. I turned to see Lord Elrond standing there. The next thing I knew, Mueyna was down on her knees.
"My lord, I am terribly sorry! It is my fault. I should not have mentioned it in the first place. Please, I beg of you my lord, have mercy!" She was near tears.
"Why should I say again the words I have already spoken?" Elrond said calmly, still holding his posture. "Jocelyn, will you join me to dinner?" Without a second glance, he turned and walked away from Mueyna.
I quickly ran to catch up with him. I looked back to see Mueyna crying. Oh no, what did I do?! "Lord Elrond, I hope you understand that it was me who asked her. Don't punish her! It was my fault."
"Lady Jocelyn, I hope you understand you are not better off yourself. I announced that no on was to discuss the matter amongst themselves and the both of you! You had better hope I will not take back my offer." He slowed down his pace.
"Offer?" I looked at him curiously.
"It was Legolas' request. I will explain fully after supper." He dismissed the subject simply.
We separated into our own ways as Elrond headed to his seat at the head of the table. Soon, our dinner was brought to us and Niphredil began her usual routine of annoying me. I barely paid attention to her with me thinking about Mueyna. I couldn't just let her get fired. I had to do something. I rested my elbow on the table and propped my head on my hand. Thinking up a speech to say to Elrond was hard. I glanced up and saw Legolas looking at me. Oh no, I still had to tell him. I realized everything would've been fine if I hadn't admitted to him. Even better if I hadn't come here at all! Maybe I should tell him I didn't like him anymore.
"Jocelyn?"
Yes, I should do that. It was better that it hurt less now than more later.
"Jocelyn?"
How should I say it to him? We weren't even together for a full day yet. That would hurt him...and me. Maybe tomorrow?
"Jocelyn?!"
"What?" I said, startled.
"Dinner is over, yet you did not touch your food." Legolas had come over to my side.
"Oh, I had a little to eat already so I'm not hungry." I lied. "I have something to tell you. I know you wouldn't like it. I don't like it myself but—"
"Tell me later. Come with me now." He pulled me out of my chair and led me away from the dining table.
"Where are we going?" I asked, surprised.
"You will see." He dragged me on and up a different set of staircase.
Soon, we were in a big ivory, marble room. Everything looked so smooth. It seemed obvious to me that it was an office with the desk and shelves. Lord Elrond and the girl I saw at the tournament were there. Elrond sat on a cushioned stone chair. The lady stood behind him.
"Please, sit down." Lord Elrond gestured.
Legolas led me to the nearest chair and sat me down. "What is going on?" I looked at all of them suspiciously.
"Earlier today, Legolas brought up a situation which I had never considered: the matter of your lodging here."
"Yes, I also want to talk about that. I think—"
Elrond cut in. "I know you have no where else to stay. I offer my house, Rivendell, as yours."
My jaw dropped. "No, but I was just going to say I wanted to... leave."
"What? Where are you going to go?" Legolas looked down at me surprised. Not happy surprised though.
"Home. I have relatives elsewhere. I think it would be better if I went and lived with them instead. I don't belong here." I had to make up something.
"Jocelyn, do not speak of such things when they are not true. You are welcomed here. It is even possible to have your relatives move and live here." Legolas sounded desperate.
"The same to you, Legolas, do not speak of such things when they are not true," Elrond quoted him, "if I did this for every injured person you brought in, Rivendell would be overrun by men. And secondly, this is not your home either so I suggest you not to voice your own opinion of my realm." Elrond looked sternly at him. Legolas' eyes dropped to the floor. "Lady Jocelyn, I ask you one last time. Will your home be here, or do you choose to leave?"