Dusk fell over Rivendell in a tapestry of purples and reds, dappling the
forest with color and sending beams of dying sunlight dancing over the
waterfalls.
Legolas descended a short flight of steps into the courtyard on the way to Rivendell's council room. Golden leaves danced to the ground in front of him, spurred by a light autumn breeze. The tall aging trees hid the courtyard from the sun's last rays. Leaving only the stately marble fountain in the center unshaded. It was there, by the fountains' edge, that Arillen sat dappling her thin white fingertips into the sun-kissed water. Flecks of amber tinted the mane of silky white blonde hair that tumbled in sheaves over her shoulders as she stared broodingly at her own reflection in the fountain pool. She did not hear Legolas approach.
Almost invisible among the trees along the sidelines, he watched her. She was very beautiful, like all of the elves of Lothlorien - with her golden hair and pale skin - and she was dressed in layers of flowing, iridescent gauze of a slight blue tint. Legolas was not watching her for her beauty, but merely hesitant to approach for if she was resentful with him, due to that rather awkward scene with Arwen, she might not be friendly.
Finally he began to wonder if an explanation was in order.
The longer he lingered in he woods the longer Arillen continued not to notice him. With the Meeting with the Council hanging over his head and the time slipping steadily away, Legolas made his decision and struck resolutely into the courtyard.
Arillen looked up at him. Legolas, fully expecting a harsh questioning, was shocked to wonderment when Arillen only smiled gracefully at him and stood to make a small bow in his direction.
"Fair evening to you, my lord," she said in her quiet voice.
"And to you, Lady Arillen," Legolas replied. There was a slight pause.
"Go you to the Council seat?" Arillen inquired - more in politeness than curiosity.
Legolas nodded. "Verily."
Arillen said nothing more and seemed to end the conversation by re-seating herself at the fountain's edge. Beside her, standing in slight discomfort, Legolas was wondering if she wanted to know just what his intentions with Arwen were. He did not feel so much like disclosing to any other any of his feelings for his lady, and in order to put off the invariable questioning he diverted the conversation by asking Arillen how long she had been from her home in Lorien.
Light blue eyes flickered up to meet his briefly.
"A week have I been here," Arillen replied. "It is a bittersweet visit, for just as I enjoy being here in Rivendell, I do also yearn for my home and family." She shook her head at her reflection in the fountain pool, and more blonde hair came tumbling down around her face. "No doubt," she said slowly, "The festivities have been lost upon you my lord" (meaning Legolas) "For the evil news that has sprung upon us?"
Legolas nodded slightly but said nothing.
"Yes," Arillen murmured. "What a shadow to fall over our ceremonies. And that we should chance to be here while our homelands lie in grave danger - we are unable to help." She brushed her hand quickly through the still water and watched as the ripples bleared her reflection. "Alas," whispered Arillen, "You are hindered from any defense while I and every one of the female race are simply unable to defend."
"If there were no womenfolk to defend at home," Legolas interposed, feeling that he'd heard this complaint before, "Then the men would have no reason to fight."
Arillen cocked her head to the side.
"You correct me," she wondered, "And you do speak wisely." Sighing, "I spoke hastily, and please do not think that I am not content with my duty as a woman, only sometimes I wish to . . ." she trailed off abruptly and bit her lower lip.
"The world is built on women so brave who would give up their positions to fight at a man's side but do not for they revere the duties given by nature's way to them," Legolas said quietly. Arillen looked up at him from her mournful place and was at once awed by the noble strength borne by the prince. A sudden little shiver ran through her heart.
He is so much higher than I am and yet he speaks to me as an equal, she thought, impressed.
Elladan came striding into the courtyard at this time and approached the fountain where Arillen and Legolas were. He made a polite gesture in the direction of the lady, who bowed her head and blushed; then he turned to the prince.
With one inquisitive lifting of his eyebrow at finding his friend with Arillen, Elladan proceeded to speak.
"The ambassadors from Lothlorien," he told Legolas, "As well as those from Mirkwood."
"Who is it who has come from Mirkwood?" Legolas questioned eagerly, and Arillen looked up at the name of Lorien.
"Elfannen and Glordinas, the ambassadors," Elladan replied. "The latter chosen by the Steward of Mirkwood to appear on the colony's behest, and the former chosen by the Council thereof."
"Allanduil is a fool and a pestilence upon us," Legolas privately, speaking rather viciously about the hapless Steward. To Elladan he said, "I shall be glad indeed to see Elfannen. His wisdom will be much needed tonight. Come." Elladan joined him in a farewell to Arillen, then followed him out to the Lesser Hall wherein was grouped the newcomers and Rivendell's own leaders. Arillen, not to be left behind, trailed the pair in hopes of being able to greet the Lothlorien ambassadors and perhaps be included in any discussions.
Elfannen and Glordinas stood together, the latter tall and somewhat skeletal in appearance with high cheekbones and thin lips, and the former also tall, though not so tall nor thin as his companion, and more genuine in expression. Both elves were clad in long velvet cloaks of a dark brown color and traveling boots, with their golden hair loose and fastened only at the top by silver clasps.
Legolas hailed them and hurried over.
"Was it a difficult journey?" he asked as he and Elfannen clasped hands and smacked each other firmly on the right shoulder in greeting.
"It was not," Elfannen replied cheerfully, and watched as Legolas repeated the same greeting less heartily with the dower Glordinas.
"Good. Now tell me," said Legolas as Glordinas ambled off in search of Thranduil, "How grave does the danger seem in Mirkwood?"
Elfannen's face clouded.
"I could not say," he replied somberly. "It had not looked to bide ill, before. I was instructed to tell your father of a few incidents that occurred near our castle. We had not looked on them with deep suspicion until word came from Rivendell of..."
"What incidents?" Legolas asked quickly. A nagging worry grew inside him as he waited for Elfannen's answer.
The other elf did not respond quickly. "There were several," he said, furrowing his brow in thought.
"Several?" Legolas expostulated. Elfannen endeavored to quiet him with a severe look.
"Yes; several, as I can remember. There were cases of stray orcs, found wandering in our forests - always by themselves. That is, there was never more than one at a time...to be more specific," Elfannen said, noting the look of confusion on his friend's face.
"I understand," said Legolas, somewhat irritated. "And it is unnatural for the soldiers of Sauron to travel alone."
Elfannen nodded gravely. "It put us to shame that we had not looked deeper into these anomalies. You must understand that under normal circumstances we would have no reason to give heed to the presence of an orc in Mirkwood..."
Legolas assented this.
"...But what we failed to realize, or remember for that matter, was that these creatures were no longer being discovered in the outer regions of the forest," Elfannen continued gloomily. "They kept coming closer, and closer to us; much closer than any orc has done in some great while."
Legolas said nothing, but the worried feeling in his soul grew more pressing as Elfannen spoke.
"The most recent case was discovered wandering near the river," the other elf said, "He was not three hundred feet from our gates."
"And yet you did not notice the significance of this?" Legolas rebuked him through clenched teeth. Elfannen kept his gaze steady in the face of his angered friend and said urgently, "Allanduil had kept it secret from the Council until your father sent word for us to meet here with lord Elrond."
"What was his excuse?" Legolas muttered as he struggled to bite back his frustration.
"He gave none," replied Elfannen coolly. "He claimed that it mattered not."
"He is a fool!" Legolas said angrily. He turned away from Elfannen for a moment and stared moodily around at the other elves in the Hall. For a few minutes there was silence as Legolas thought, and finally Elfannen laid a calm hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Nothing can be done to quell Allanduil's dishonesty now," he reminded him, "But if there is a threat to our homeland, then let us be made ready and aware. I will tell your father all of these suspicious happenings, and hopefully the Council of Elrond will resolve what must be done."
Legolas turned to him.
"Hopefully it will," he replied. "Hopefully it will."
==============================================
A/N: So, next would be the Council of Elrond, which I REALLY do not feel like writing. sigh Either I write it (but not for a while because it'll probably be quite boring to type out...all those elves saying grave and thoughtful things) or I'll just skip it entirely and throw the decisions made in it into the next chapter through some odd dialogue. I just can't decide...
Legolas descended a short flight of steps into the courtyard on the way to Rivendell's council room. Golden leaves danced to the ground in front of him, spurred by a light autumn breeze. The tall aging trees hid the courtyard from the sun's last rays. Leaving only the stately marble fountain in the center unshaded. It was there, by the fountains' edge, that Arillen sat dappling her thin white fingertips into the sun-kissed water. Flecks of amber tinted the mane of silky white blonde hair that tumbled in sheaves over her shoulders as she stared broodingly at her own reflection in the fountain pool. She did not hear Legolas approach.
Almost invisible among the trees along the sidelines, he watched her. She was very beautiful, like all of the elves of Lothlorien - with her golden hair and pale skin - and she was dressed in layers of flowing, iridescent gauze of a slight blue tint. Legolas was not watching her for her beauty, but merely hesitant to approach for if she was resentful with him, due to that rather awkward scene with Arwen, she might not be friendly.
Finally he began to wonder if an explanation was in order.
The longer he lingered in he woods the longer Arillen continued not to notice him. With the Meeting with the Council hanging over his head and the time slipping steadily away, Legolas made his decision and struck resolutely into the courtyard.
Arillen looked up at him. Legolas, fully expecting a harsh questioning, was shocked to wonderment when Arillen only smiled gracefully at him and stood to make a small bow in his direction.
"Fair evening to you, my lord," she said in her quiet voice.
"And to you, Lady Arillen," Legolas replied. There was a slight pause.
"Go you to the Council seat?" Arillen inquired - more in politeness than curiosity.
Legolas nodded. "Verily."
Arillen said nothing more and seemed to end the conversation by re-seating herself at the fountain's edge. Beside her, standing in slight discomfort, Legolas was wondering if she wanted to know just what his intentions with Arwen were. He did not feel so much like disclosing to any other any of his feelings for his lady, and in order to put off the invariable questioning he diverted the conversation by asking Arillen how long she had been from her home in Lorien.
Light blue eyes flickered up to meet his briefly.
"A week have I been here," Arillen replied. "It is a bittersweet visit, for just as I enjoy being here in Rivendell, I do also yearn for my home and family." She shook her head at her reflection in the fountain pool, and more blonde hair came tumbling down around her face. "No doubt," she said slowly, "The festivities have been lost upon you my lord" (meaning Legolas) "For the evil news that has sprung upon us?"
Legolas nodded slightly but said nothing.
"Yes," Arillen murmured. "What a shadow to fall over our ceremonies. And that we should chance to be here while our homelands lie in grave danger - we are unable to help." She brushed her hand quickly through the still water and watched as the ripples bleared her reflection. "Alas," whispered Arillen, "You are hindered from any defense while I and every one of the female race are simply unable to defend."
"If there were no womenfolk to defend at home," Legolas interposed, feeling that he'd heard this complaint before, "Then the men would have no reason to fight."
Arillen cocked her head to the side.
"You correct me," she wondered, "And you do speak wisely." Sighing, "I spoke hastily, and please do not think that I am not content with my duty as a woman, only sometimes I wish to . . ." she trailed off abruptly and bit her lower lip.
"The world is built on women so brave who would give up their positions to fight at a man's side but do not for they revere the duties given by nature's way to them," Legolas said quietly. Arillen looked up at him from her mournful place and was at once awed by the noble strength borne by the prince. A sudden little shiver ran through her heart.
He is so much higher than I am and yet he speaks to me as an equal, she thought, impressed.
Elladan came striding into the courtyard at this time and approached the fountain where Arillen and Legolas were. He made a polite gesture in the direction of the lady, who bowed her head and blushed; then he turned to the prince.
With one inquisitive lifting of his eyebrow at finding his friend with Arillen, Elladan proceeded to speak.
"The ambassadors from Lothlorien," he told Legolas, "As well as those from Mirkwood."
"Who is it who has come from Mirkwood?" Legolas questioned eagerly, and Arillen looked up at the name of Lorien.
"Elfannen and Glordinas, the ambassadors," Elladan replied. "The latter chosen by the Steward of Mirkwood to appear on the colony's behest, and the former chosen by the Council thereof."
"Allanduil is a fool and a pestilence upon us," Legolas privately, speaking rather viciously about the hapless Steward. To Elladan he said, "I shall be glad indeed to see Elfannen. His wisdom will be much needed tonight. Come." Elladan joined him in a farewell to Arillen, then followed him out to the Lesser Hall wherein was grouped the newcomers and Rivendell's own leaders. Arillen, not to be left behind, trailed the pair in hopes of being able to greet the Lothlorien ambassadors and perhaps be included in any discussions.
Elfannen and Glordinas stood together, the latter tall and somewhat skeletal in appearance with high cheekbones and thin lips, and the former also tall, though not so tall nor thin as his companion, and more genuine in expression. Both elves were clad in long velvet cloaks of a dark brown color and traveling boots, with their golden hair loose and fastened only at the top by silver clasps.
Legolas hailed them and hurried over.
"Was it a difficult journey?" he asked as he and Elfannen clasped hands and smacked each other firmly on the right shoulder in greeting.
"It was not," Elfannen replied cheerfully, and watched as Legolas repeated the same greeting less heartily with the dower Glordinas.
"Good. Now tell me," said Legolas as Glordinas ambled off in search of Thranduil, "How grave does the danger seem in Mirkwood?"
Elfannen's face clouded.
"I could not say," he replied somberly. "It had not looked to bide ill, before. I was instructed to tell your father of a few incidents that occurred near our castle. We had not looked on them with deep suspicion until word came from Rivendell of..."
"What incidents?" Legolas asked quickly. A nagging worry grew inside him as he waited for Elfannen's answer.
The other elf did not respond quickly. "There were several," he said, furrowing his brow in thought.
"Several?" Legolas expostulated. Elfannen endeavored to quiet him with a severe look.
"Yes; several, as I can remember. There were cases of stray orcs, found wandering in our forests - always by themselves. That is, there was never more than one at a time...to be more specific," Elfannen said, noting the look of confusion on his friend's face.
"I understand," said Legolas, somewhat irritated. "And it is unnatural for the soldiers of Sauron to travel alone."
Elfannen nodded gravely. "It put us to shame that we had not looked deeper into these anomalies. You must understand that under normal circumstances we would have no reason to give heed to the presence of an orc in Mirkwood..."
Legolas assented this.
"...But what we failed to realize, or remember for that matter, was that these creatures were no longer being discovered in the outer regions of the forest," Elfannen continued gloomily. "They kept coming closer, and closer to us; much closer than any orc has done in some great while."
Legolas said nothing, but the worried feeling in his soul grew more pressing as Elfannen spoke.
"The most recent case was discovered wandering near the river," the other elf said, "He was not three hundred feet from our gates."
"And yet you did not notice the significance of this?" Legolas rebuked him through clenched teeth. Elfannen kept his gaze steady in the face of his angered friend and said urgently, "Allanduil had kept it secret from the Council until your father sent word for us to meet here with lord Elrond."
"What was his excuse?" Legolas muttered as he struggled to bite back his frustration.
"He gave none," replied Elfannen coolly. "He claimed that it mattered not."
"He is a fool!" Legolas said angrily. He turned away from Elfannen for a moment and stared moodily around at the other elves in the Hall. For a few minutes there was silence as Legolas thought, and finally Elfannen laid a calm hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Nothing can be done to quell Allanduil's dishonesty now," he reminded him, "But if there is a threat to our homeland, then let us be made ready and aware. I will tell your father all of these suspicious happenings, and hopefully the Council of Elrond will resolve what must be done."
Legolas turned to him.
"Hopefully it will," he replied. "Hopefully it will."
==============================================
A/N: So, next would be the Council of Elrond, which I REALLY do not feel like writing. sigh Either I write it (but not for a while because it'll probably be quite boring to type out...all those elves saying grave and thoughtful things) or I'll just skip it entirely and throw the decisions made in it into the next chapter through some odd dialogue. I just can't decide...