Chapter 8
"Lizule, come here please," Thranduil said.
"Yes, your Highness?"
"You can take Glorfindel on his tour now. He has rested, and wants to explore the entire forest."
Lizule gulped. "All of it?"
"Well, no, that would take days. Just show him the stables, gardens, that sort of thing. He needs to be familiar with the layout of Mirkwood. You don't mind showing him around, do you?"
"Oh! No, not at all," she said, astonished. She was going to take this god around the place? She could hardly believe it. Lizule knew some of the maidens at Mirkwood would give their life just to have Glorfindel look at them.
Thranduil smiled. "Good. Now run along. I believe he is waiting for you in the courtyard."
Lizule nodded nervously, bowed, and left. She felt old anxiety overwhelm her as she made her way out of the palace and into the afternoon sunshine. They light from the sun was so bright, it made her squint. Even though her eyes were half-closed, she picked him out of the crowd in a second. He was over by the stables, talking to one of the grooms. She took a deep breath and said,
"My Lord, my name is Lizule. I will be your tour guide for this evening." Glorfindel paused in his conversation and looked straight at her. He grinned, nodded to the groom, and came over to her. Lizule felt her legs start to shake as he stopped in front of her. She cursed her shortness (for an Elf) silently, praying that he would not do something that would make her embarrassed of her height. He did nothing of the sort.
"Why, thank you. I was wondering if I would have to explore this place myself. It is always nice to go on an adventure after a long ride, you know?"
Lizule shrugged, feeling her body start to relax. "I have never gone on an "adventure." My Lord, this will not be an exciting tour, let me assure you. I have been commanded to show you the grounds of Mirkwood so you can understand this place."
"I have been here before, a long time ago, when Oropher ruled. I know most of my way around the palace, so I was going to ask you if you could show me something new, something I might not have seen before."
Lizule nodded, instantly thinking of the wild meadow, even though it filled her heart with sadness. "I know just the place." She pointed East. "Come on, I'll show you."
****
"Why did you lie?"
Legolas froze in place. He pivoted on his feet and faced Laurelin's angry stare.
"I did not lie. I just didn't inform you of our military procedure."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you never asked me, and I did not think it was relevant to our marriage."
"How did I know that I was supposed to ask you? I had not one clue."
"Look, I am sorry, okay, but I have no time to argue about this. I have to fix my bow since the preparation starts tomorrow." He spun on his heel and stalked off.
Laurelin glared after him.
"Liar," she hissed under her breath. Since when could he treat her like that? What gave him the right to deliberately deceive to her? She exhaled loudly and tried to put her temper under control. She finally succeeded and decided that she would go for a ride on Galada. It would help ease her mind.
****
"This is the location I was telling you about," Lizule said as Glorfindel came up beside her. The hill they were standing on enabled them to see the whole meadow. Daisies flowed gently in the breeze, birds chattered back and forth. The sun-kissed grass glinted under the sky.
"It's dazzling. I love the view," he said, shading his eyes with his long hand. Lizule nodded silently, agreeing with him.
"What's that?" Glorfindel pointed towards a small cave, south of the meadow. He started to walk closer.
Lizule ran forward to stop him, but it was too late. He was already there, running his hand over the inscriptions on the rock wall.
"Wow. Look at all these markings. What do they stand for?"
"Um, it's a tradition. Every person who comes up here must carve their name in the wall, along with their lovers," she said uncomfortably.
"So it's a lovers cove?" he said, not noticing the hesitation in her voice.
"Uh, well, yes. See, here is Legolas and Laurelin's name. They inscribed that a long time ago."
"So you were with them?" Lizule blushed; she now had to tell him the complete story.
"It was me, them, Retkia, and Gabriel. We all came up here together, supposedly for a picnic. It turned out to be more of a, uh. well, you get what I mean." Lizule felt her face growing hot.
"Anyway, Legolas and Laurelin carved their names, along with Gabriel and Retkia. It stands for the bond the couples will share with each other for all eternity."
"I see." Glorfindel studied the writings again, more intently.
"Is your name on here?" he asked, turning to her.
Lizule lowered her head. "No. I have never taken anyone back here, it is too long a walk just to fool around with someone who doesn't even love you."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing. Forget it." she said sadly, lost in her own, dreary thoughts. "It's not worth your trouble."
Glorfindel lifted her chin up so he could gaze into her eyes.
" I will be the judge of that, Lizule," he murmured, his voice ringing like a choir of angels.
Lizule felt her knees go weak. She nodded her head, not trusting the voice inside of her.
"Oh my God, oh my God, no, he isn't going to kiss me," she thought as he leaned forward and brushed her dark hair away from her face.
"You are very beautiful, you know," he said. "I am surprised that no male Elves have swiped you yet."
Lizule shrugged her shoulders, trying to lift the tension off her body.
"I guess not. I just haven't shown any interest in anyone yet."
"Not even me?" Glorfindel said, grinning broadly.
"Uh, um, you. you're an exception. I have never met someone like you."
"Is that a good or bad thing?"
"Definitely good. Really good."
"I'm glad." He pulled her close and brushed his lips with her own.
Lizule closed her eyes, letting her soul sink into oblivion.
****
Laurelin stroked Galada's neck while chewing on her bottom lip worriedly. She had just returned from her ride, it had been a short one, for she still tired easily. Her heart was weary and she knew that she owed Legolas an apology. She just had a hard time admitting she was wrong.
"And I screwed up big time," she thought. "I don't know what I was thinking when I went off on him."
Galada nudged her with her nose, obviously expecting a treat. Laurelin smiled sadly and patted the mare.
"I'm sorry sweetheart, but I do not have anything to feed you. I'll remember to bring something next time."
Galada snorted her disapproval and decided to eat her hay. Laurelin waved good-bye to the horse and left the stables. The sun was hidden behind the clouds, making the day dark and gray. She drudged along, her soul heavy. Each step took an enormous amount of effort. She finally gave way to her exhaustion.
"I'll go take a nap," she told herself. "But then I'll have to go tell Legolas that I am dearly sorry, or I will never get around to doing it."
****
Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is so short, I will make it up in the next chapter. Please review my story. Thank you! .
"Lizule, come here please," Thranduil said.
"Yes, your Highness?"
"You can take Glorfindel on his tour now. He has rested, and wants to explore the entire forest."
Lizule gulped. "All of it?"
"Well, no, that would take days. Just show him the stables, gardens, that sort of thing. He needs to be familiar with the layout of Mirkwood. You don't mind showing him around, do you?"
"Oh! No, not at all," she said, astonished. She was going to take this god around the place? She could hardly believe it. Lizule knew some of the maidens at Mirkwood would give their life just to have Glorfindel look at them.
Thranduil smiled. "Good. Now run along. I believe he is waiting for you in the courtyard."
Lizule nodded nervously, bowed, and left. She felt old anxiety overwhelm her as she made her way out of the palace and into the afternoon sunshine. They light from the sun was so bright, it made her squint. Even though her eyes were half-closed, she picked him out of the crowd in a second. He was over by the stables, talking to one of the grooms. She took a deep breath and said,
"My Lord, my name is Lizule. I will be your tour guide for this evening." Glorfindel paused in his conversation and looked straight at her. He grinned, nodded to the groom, and came over to her. Lizule felt her legs start to shake as he stopped in front of her. She cursed her shortness (for an Elf) silently, praying that he would not do something that would make her embarrassed of her height. He did nothing of the sort.
"Why, thank you. I was wondering if I would have to explore this place myself. It is always nice to go on an adventure after a long ride, you know?"
Lizule shrugged, feeling her body start to relax. "I have never gone on an "adventure." My Lord, this will not be an exciting tour, let me assure you. I have been commanded to show you the grounds of Mirkwood so you can understand this place."
"I have been here before, a long time ago, when Oropher ruled. I know most of my way around the palace, so I was going to ask you if you could show me something new, something I might not have seen before."
Lizule nodded, instantly thinking of the wild meadow, even though it filled her heart with sadness. "I know just the place." She pointed East. "Come on, I'll show you."
****
"Why did you lie?"
Legolas froze in place. He pivoted on his feet and faced Laurelin's angry stare.
"I did not lie. I just didn't inform you of our military procedure."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you never asked me, and I did not think it was relevant to our marriage."
"How did I know that I was supposed to ask you? I had not one clue."
"Look, I am sorry, okay, but I have no time to argue about this. I have to fix my bow since the preparation starts tomorrow." He spun on his heel and stalked off.
Laurelin glared after him.
"Liar," she hissed under her breath. Since when could he treat her like that? What gave him the right to deliberately deceive to her? She exhaled loudly and tried to put her temper under control. She finally succeeded and decided that she would go for a ride on Galada. It would help ease her mind.
****
"This is the location I was telling you about," Lizule said as Glorfindel came up beside her. The hill they were standing on enabled them to see the whole meadow. Daisies flowed gently in the breeze, birds chattered back and forth. The sun-kissed grass glinted under the sky.
"It's dazzling. I love the view," he said, shading his eyes with his long hand. Lizule nodded silently, agreeing with him.
"What's that?" Glorfindel pointed towards a small cave, south of the meadow. He started to walk closer.
Lizule ran forward to stop him, but it was too late. He was already there, running his hand over the inscriptions on the rock wall.
"Wow. Look at all these markings. What do they stand for?"
"Um, it's a tradition. Every person who comes up here must carve their name in the wall, along with their lovers," she said uncomfortably.
"So it's a lovers cove?" he said, not noticing the hesitation in her voice.
"Uh, well, yes. See, here is Legolas and Laurelin's name. They inscribed that a long time ago."
"So you were with them?" Lizule blushed; she now had to tell him the complete story.
"It was me, them, Retkia, and Gabriel. We all came up here together, supposedly for a picnic. It turned out to be more of a, uh. well, you get what I mean." Lizule felt her face growing hot.
"Anyway, Legolas and Laurelin carved their names, along with Gabriel and Retkia. It stands for the bond the couples will share with each other for all eternity."
"I see." Glorfindel studied the writings again, more intently.
"Is your name on here?" he asked, turning to her.
Lizule lowered her head. "No. I have never taken anyone back here, it is too long a walk just to fool around with someone who doesn't even love you."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing. Forget it." she said sadly, lost in her own, dreary thoughts. "It's not worth your trouble."
Glorfindel lifted her chin up so he could gaze into her eyes.
" I will be the judge of that, Lizule," he murmured, his voice ringing like a choir of angels.
Lizule felt her knees go weak. She nodded her head, not trusting the voice inside of her.
"Oh my God, oh my God, no, he isn't going to kiss me," she thought as he leaned forward and brushed her dark hair away from her face.
"You are very beautiful, you know," he said. "I am surprised that no male Elves have swiped you yet."
Lizule shrugged her shoulders, trying to lift the tension off her body.
"I guess not. I just haven't shown any interest in anyone yet."
"Not even me?" Glorfindel said, grinning broadly.
"Uh, um, you. you're an exception. I have never met someone like you."
"Is that a good or bad thing?"
"Definitely good. Really good."
"I'm glad." He pulled her close and brushed his lips with her own.
Lizule closed her eyes, letting her soul sink into oblivion.
****
Laurelin stroked Galada's neck while chewing on her bottom lip worriedly. She had just returned from her ride, it had been a short one, for she still tired easily. Her heart was weary and she knew that she owed Legolas an apology. She just had a hard time admitting she was wrong.
"And I screwed up big time," she thought. "I don't know what I was thinking when I went off on him."
Galada nudged her with her nose, obviously expecting a treat. Laurelin smiled sadly and patted the mare.
"I'm sorry sweetheart, but I do not have anything to feed you. I'll remember to bring something next time."
Galada snorted her disapproval and decided to eat her hay. Laurelin waved good-bye to the horse and left the stables. The sun was hidden behind the clouds, making the day dark and gray. She drudged along, her soul heavy. Each step took an enormous amount of effort. She finally gave way to her exhaustion.
"I'll go take a nap," she told herself. "But then I'll have to go tell Legolas that I am dearly sorry, or I will never get around to doing it."
****
Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is so short, I will make it up in the next chapter. Please review my story. Thank you! .