Chapter 13: Questions, Answers, and Missing
Oh wow it's been quite a while, sorry guys things got really hectic at the end of the year. But never fear a new chapter is upon us. Hopefully, it will make up for any pain that has been caused due to the long wait
And no with out further ado …the next chapter…
"Who are all of these people?" Annadîn questioned ever so softly.
"They are the Lords and Ladies of the land." Legolas replied. "I believe that everyone has been invited to this feast."
"Why so many people?"
"Annadîn, is there something that you fear?" Legolas inquired looking down at her.
But Annadîn never answered, dinner was announced. Legolas escorted her over to the high table at which they would sit. At this table were Aragorn, Arwen, Gimli, Merry and Pippin, Faramir, Eowyn, and themselves. The entire group acknowledged each other in some sort of way and then took their seats.
While this had taken place Annadîn stood unnoticed behind her chair. When the others went to sit, she did also. On her right was Legolas to his right was Gimli and her left was Eowyn. Across the table sat Aragorn and Arwen. On Aragorn's left was Merry and Pippin. On Arwen's right was Faramir. After noticing where everyone was seated Annadîn stared into her lap. No one noticed for Aragorn had stood and was presently saying a speech.
Slowly Annadîn's right hand found its way to the top of her right ear. There her earring was, as it always had been. She began to play with it. Staring at the table, she got lost within her own thoughts, and everything outside of her head became a blur. She did not notice when Aragorn sat and the hall erupted in applause. Neither did she notice the gentle roar of talking that had erupted around the hall in the absence of the quiet.
Legolas saw a slight movement out of the corner of his eyes. He moved his head so that Annadîn was in his full line of vision. There she sat staring at the table her fingers playing with the ring in her ear. Looking closer he saw the shadows still present in her. Because of this, agony flickered in his. Aragorn was slowly tuned out of his head, as ideas began rush into his mind. All Legolas wanted to do was help this young woman. Yet whenever progressed was made, it was always came undone.
He was broken out of his watchful stupor when the people began to clap. Quickly, he covered his distraction and also began to clap. Gimli soon lured him into a conversation that wiped the gloominess from his eye.
"Annadîn, you should eat something." A soft murmur was in her ear. Next, a gentle hand took hold of her own and lowered it from her ear.
She glanced over and saw that it was Legolas who was telling her this. With a blank stare she looked at her hand grasped in his, and then her eyes looked back into his. She was so confused. It wasn't until she had seen all of the people that she knew something was wrong with her, and if not with her, then with the world. She shook her head.
Legolas saw the blankness in her eyes. He knew that she was lost. She was tumbling back down into the hole in which she would not speak. As he looked into her eyes he saw the shake of her head. She was losing her grasp and that was the only way she could tell him. Gently, he took her hand and stood up from the table.
"Excuse us Estel, we shall return soon." Then he walked smoothly from the table. Annadîn gently being dragged behind him.
The two stepped out onto the balcony. It was a slap in the face, with the cool night air. Legolas relished in it, once he noticed that it awoke Annadîn.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She murmured. She was leaning on the banister, looking out into the garden.
"Anna…" Legolas quietly whispered. "Please tell me."
Annadîn turned around so that she could look back into the dining hall. Her façade said she was intently studying the people; however she was just seeing shapes. "There's so many people here…So many families." Quickly she looked away and tucked her head away from the light.
Letting out an unheard exhale Legolas stepped closer to the young woman. "You miss them?"
"More then I should."
An eyebrow quirked at that answer, "Why is that?"
"Because I have neither heard nor seen my parents in many years, I only have had contact with my elder brother."
"They are your loved ones. I have not seen my…." Legolas stopped his sentence short, a realization taking over him. "Come here." He whispered quietly.
Hesitantly, Annadîn walked over to the Elf. He wrapped her in his arms and set his chin on her head. "You will never stop missing them. But you will see them again. You must take courage in that."
A tear fell down Annadîn's cheek and she nodded softly. She knew that, but the loneliness would never stop haunting her. After a while Annadîn's tears stopped. She gently untangled herself from Legolas's arms, and looked him directly in the eye. He could see her old timidness in her eyes. But he did not see the fear that was usually present.
"How do you know?" She asked ever so softly.
Legolas's eyes fluttered closed. In his mind a picture of his mother began to take form. Memories came to him at an alarming rate and the only thing he could do was sit and watch them.
"I'm sorry. I should not have asked." He heard the words far away from him. With a great difficulty he pulled himself out of his mind. There before him was Annadîn looking down at her feet.
"Do not be sorry for bringing me joy."
Annadîn looked up, a question in her eye.
"Memories were stirred in my mind that I have not seen in many many years."
The eyebrows of the young woman shot up as she looked at the Elf. She shook her head softly and would have chuckled if it wasn't for the graveness of her own mind. "I cannot read your mind Master Elf."
Legolas chuckled after hearing the name from Annadîn. "Ah, but I wish you could…"
Once again the young woman shook her head.
But before the two could get into a mock fight Legolas stepped forward and gently put his hand on her shoulder. He peered into her eyes as he said. "I know because I too have witnessed the pain of losing a loved one."
Confusion flashed through Annadîn's eyes. As this occurred, Legolas touched her face gingerly.
"My mother has passed to the Undying Lands. I was but an infant when she did, yet I still have my memories of her."
Annadîn nodded softly.
"However, I know I shall she my Nana again. That is why I did not weep for long. In the Undying Lands I shall see her again, when it comes time for me to pass."
As the Elf said this Annadîn saw the longing in his eyes. "Then why do you not?"
A sad smirk graced Legolas's features. "I yet have a purpose on this earth. My friends still linger here, I will also, until they pass."
It was then that Annadîn realized that Legolas was going to see all of his friends pass away before his eyes. Aragorn and the hobbits will grow old and die. Eomer and Eowyn will do the same. Even the beautiful Arwen would die one day. A tear trickled down her cheek for his future pain. "I am sorry."
"There is nothing that can be done." Legolas whispered wretchedly.
"And yet you still believe something can." Annadîn whispered as quietly as a rose.
Legolas's head jerked up. The words had been whispered and yet he felt they had been screamed in his ear. They reverberated around in his head not in Annadîn's voice, but in his own. Ever so slowly he turned to look Annadîn in the face. If he had been a lesser being he would have cried at the sight that was before him. Annadîn was once again leaning her forearms on the banister. Her body was pressed up against it and her head was resting on her folded hands. Next to her hands on the polished stone were teardrops. She was looking in the opposite direction than Legolas, hiding her face. Her hair hung limply covering the side of her face that he would have been able to see.
"I'm sorry." There was no longer any hint of sobs in her voice.
Legolas remained fixed where he was, staring at the young woman.
"I should not have said that…I should not have interfered with your thoughts…I should not be here…." And with her last comment-the strongest-she slipped from the edge of the banister and ran down the steps leading to the garden. Her soft footsteps faded before her body disappeared in the shadow.
Legolas stood stunned for a moment looking at the place where Annadîn vanished. Then, he turned back to the banister. Her tears were still visible on the stone. With exceptional care he touched a teardrop shattering it into thousands of droplets. A moment later he took his sleeve and wiped the banister, letting the tears soak into his apparel. Soon after this he disappeared in the direction that Annadîn had.
"Annadîn!" The melodious voice of Legolas floated out between the flowers and trees. But he received no answer. "Annadîn please…you did nothing wrong," he whispered the last thought.
He had been searching for about an hour or so. Yet, he had not found any sign of Annadîn. It seemed as if she had vanished into thin air. He had searched every corner of the garden and orchard, and still he had found nothing. Not even a sign. Giving a heavy sigh he called out her name one last time. However, this time the desperation in voice was heard clearly. Still, there was nothing.
Head hung dejectedly Legolas made his way back to the dining hall. When he entered no one took notice because the dancing was already in full swing. He surveyed the room quickly finding where all his friends were. Aragorn and Arwen were dancing together in the middle of the floor, Eowyn and Faramir close by. Merry and Pippin had roped two ladies and were dancing also. Gimli was in a corner deep in conversation with a man from the smithery.
Carefully Legolas made his way to Arwen and Aragorn his head downcast so no one would stop him.
Annadîn did not know where she was going. All she knew was that she had to get away from Legolas. Once she disappeared from his view she took off running, trusting her feet to carry her.
She ran over the lawns, through the gardens where fragrances of different flowers mingled in the air. Next, she ran into the orchard. It was here that she stopped. She was in the very center, and the only thing she could do was glance around. A deep sigh escaped her lips. At that very moment she would give anything to be in her older brother's arms. She gave a start. That was the first time she had openly wished to be home since arriving in Middle Earth. Shaking her head sadly she walked over to the largest tree and climbed up.
Careful so not to rip the dress, Annadîn climbed high in the tree. She sat down on a particularly thick branch next to the trunk. Her cheek was placed against the trunk of the tree and she wrapped her arms around it as much as she could. She stayed like this as she heard her naming being called.
Legolas entered into the orchard. Annadîn watched as he swept in and out of her view going up and down every row peering into the trees. His calls were getting quieter and quieter. Finally, he stood underneath her tree. Yet, he did not even look up. She could see the defeat on his pale face and the guilt in his eyes. Then, he called her name one last time. However this time was more desperate and much softer than any of the others. She watched as he turned and departed from the orchard.
Once she knew he was gone she let her body crumple into any position that it wanted. Then, she raised her eyes to the heavens tears slowly running down her cheeks.
"I need to talk to you." Legolas whispered upon reaching Aragorn. There must have been urgency in his voice for the King gave him a strong look of confusion.
"What happened?" Arwen questioned seeing the look on her husbands face.
"I cannot tell you in here. There are too many people."
Arwen nodded her head. Aragorn did also. The two then began to depart from the dance floor heading for the balcony. When they reached it there was no one there, so they closed the doors and then turned expectantly to Legolas.
The Elf went to the banister and turned so he was facing the King and Queen, yet still leaning on the railing. He failed to speak for a moment.
"Legolas?" Aragorn asked quietly approaching his dear friend. "What has happened?"
Legolas stared into Aragorn's eyes for a moment. "I can't find her." He whispered.
"What?" Arwen asked in a soothing tone.
"I can't find her," his tone stronger.
"What do you mean you cannot find her?"
"I mean I cannot find her. She took off and I cannot find her." A hint of anger leaked into Legolas's voice.
Aragorn and Arwen exchanged a glance before looking back to Legolas. However, they did not speak giving the Prince time to collect his thoughts.
"Something is wrong again with Annadîn. I brought her out her because I saw she was returning to her shell. However, our conversation turned from her unto myself. We spoke of my mother and the Undying Lands. The next thing I know she left. She went that way." Legolas pointed to the direction in which Annadîn had disappeared.
"Did you look for her Legolas?" Arwen questioned.
"Of course."
"And…you could not find her…" Aragorn finished.
The Elvish Prince hung his head after nodding slightly. Aragorn placed an arm on his shoulder.
"We shall find her." Aragorn promised.
"She does not want to be found." Legolas hollow whisper answered.
"What makes you say that?"
Legolas's head snapped up. "Aragorn, not even I could find her. Do you think you would be able to if an Elf cannot? I do not believe so. You will not find her. She does not wish to be found. That girl will kill herself, see if I care." After his harsh outburst Legolas quickly turned around and reentered the building making a beeline for his chambers.
Ahh Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is really good! Go see it. Um yeah sorry had to put that out there. Also, summer school really is not so enjoyable. I mean I'm taking health to get it out of the way…but 5 hours with our lunatic football coach with only one eye…I mean I can only take so much of it….naw really it's funny but I still wish I wasn't going….
So I decided that my story needed some excitement. I hope that it was good, but I'm not sure. You all know what that means don't you…Please review!!!!!
Well since I'm me and well a little um…preoccupied with the fact that I'm waiting for a call from my wanna-be-lover I'm going to do a collective thank you to all who reviewed last chapter. Sorry for such the long wait and thank you very much for your thoughts. Thank you to: Serpent of Light, Jazmin3, LadySiri, Jo March95, Jade, and Lykairo. I hope to see more for this chapter.