Hello again! Before you start to read, I thought that it would
be helpful for you to know a little background information. This is
in the Fourth Age, after Legolas has traveled with Gimli, Faramir,
and company, when he returns to Eryn Lasgalen. To make the
story work, all of the Elves haven't left Middle-Earth.
Read and Review, please? It keeps me going. Thank you!
It seems that the Fourth Age has brought more festivities than there have been in these halls for longer than I can remember! Tonight we celebrate the return of our prince with a great feast and much merry-making. Oh, Valar, even the thought of our encounter in the library makes me cringe. So far I have been lucky enough to avoid him, getting lost in the crowds. A part of me insists that I am a fool, that he wouldn't even remember what happened, but.
Oh, what a sight! The maidens are in their lovely gowns of every hue, and the lords in their finest attire. The wine flows freely, and music and laughter echo throughout the halls.
"Elráwien!" I turn at the sound of a familiar voice, smiling.
"Hénduil!" I exclaim, embracing him, "How fares the finest smith of the Elves?" Hénduil laughed, blushing slightly. "You flatter me, cousin. I do not deserve such praise," he said humbly.
"Was it not you who helped craft the swords of the Royal Guards?" I tease. I often bring this up, as he holds much pride in this. Hénduil simply beams at me; with his sweet nature, he would never think of bragging about his skill.
"A wonderful feast, is it not?" he asks, gesturing around the room.
"Indeed, it is rather-," I stop short. He is looking directly at me! The prince! He sees me! I begin to panic. If he even speaks to me, I think I shall faint from embarrassment. He's walking towards me. What do I do?
"Elráwien, are you well?" Hénduil asks, concerned. "Elrá-"
"Dance with me, Hénduil!" I say, yanking him onto a clear space in the dancing area.
"Elráwien, what are you doing?" Hénduil asks, alarmed.
"I'm avoiding the prince!" I whisper through clenched teeth.
"Don't ask why!" I give him a pleading look, and he nods, Holy Ones bless him. I glance over Hénduil's shoulder and see Legolas speaking to someone who's back is turned to me. I sigh with relief, laughing weakly.
"Now may I ask why you seem to have lost your sanity?" Hénduil asked me. Grudgingly, I explain, and Hénduil simply nodded, his eyes filled with sympathy.
"I was deep in thought, and off balance," I say, "yet I feel so." I trail off, thinking for a word harsh enough to describe my clumsiness.
"Inept? Bungling?" Hénduil offered helpfully while twirling me.
"Yes, thank you Hénduil," I said sharply. I put my right palm to his, facing the opposite direction he was, and we began circling each other.
"I apologize," he said meekly as we switched palms and began in the opposite direction. "I do not see Legolas; perhaps he has retired?"
"No, Hénduil, it is I who should apologize. And I should only be so fortunate," I said with a small smile. He laughed, and as I twirled away from him I stopped dead, my arms still stretched out.
"Lady, you are very hard to track down," said the very Elf I had been avoiding. "Perhaps," he said, looking over my shoulder at Hénduil, "I can steal you away for a moment?"
This is not happening, this is not happening. I try to respond, but all I succeed in doing is opening and closing my mouth like a fish. Luckily, Hénduil stepped in.
"She would be honored, my Lord," he said. I nodded mutely, and as Hénduil walked away he jabbed me in the side. Quickly I snapped my mouth shut and dropped my arms to my sides.
"Wonderful," said Legolas, bowing to me. I curtsied deeply, and we were off. I met Legolas' eyes for a moment; then dropped my gaze to my feet, blushing furiously. He laughed, and if possible I grew even redder. Stop! I told myself. He'll think you are a simpleton! I concentrated on my feet, silently praying that I wouldn't step on his royal feet.
"Tell me," he began in a conversational tone, "how is it that you manage to dance so well, while among books and dusty shelves you fall into handsome Elves' arms left and right?" he said, winking.
"It is a gift, my Lord," I said, and feeling a bit bolder, I added, "Though I cannot say I have found an Elf quite handsome enough." Legolas looked at me for a second, laughed heartily. It was at that moment the song ended. Legolas bowed deeply, and cupped my chin in his hand.
"Well then, I suppose we must try again sometime. You can fall, and I will be the gallant, terribly handsome Elf who rescues you. Maybe you will have a change of heart," he said, "for if memory serves me correctly, I believe you were too occupied studying the floor than studying my face." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me to try in vain to slow my rapidly beating heart.
be helpful for you to know a little background information. This is
in the Fourth Age, after Legolas has traveled with Gimli, Faramir,
and company, when he returns to Eryn Lasgalen. To make the
story work, all of the Elves haven't left Middle-Earth.
Read and Review, please? It keeps me going. Thank you!
It seems that the Fourth Age has brought more festivities than there have been in these halls for longer than I can remember! Tonight we celebrate the return of our prince with a great feast and much merry-making. Oh, Valar, even the thought of our encounter in the library makes me cringe. So far I have been lucky enough to avoid him, getting lost in the crowds. A part of me insists that I am a fool, that he wouldn't even remember what happened, but.
Oh, what a sight! The maidens are in their lovely gowns of every hue, and the lords in their finest attire. The wine flows freely, and music and laughter echo throughout the halls.
"Elráwien!" I turn at the sound of a familiar voice, smiling.
"Hénduil!" I exclaim, embracing him, "How fares the finest smith of the Elves?" Hénduil laughed, blushing slightly. "You flatter me, cousin. I do not deserve such praise," he said humbly.
"Was it not you who helped craft the swords of the Royal Guards?" I tease. I often bring this up, as he holds much pride in this. Hénduil simply beams at me; with his sweet nature, he would never think of bragging about his skill.
"A wonderful feast, is it not?" he asks, gesturing around the room.
"Indeed, it is rather-," I stop short. He is looking directly at me! The prince! He sees me! I begin to panic. If he even speaks to me, I think I shall faint from embarrassment. He's walking towards me. What do I do?
"Elráwien, are you well?" Hénduil asks, concerned. "Elrá-"
"Dance with me, Hénduil!" I say, yanking him onto a clear space in the dancing area.
"Elráwien, what are you doing?" Hénduil asks, alarmed.
"I'm avoiding the prince!" I whisper through clenched teeth.
"Don't ask why!" I give him a pleading look, and he nods, Holy Ones bless him. I glance over Hénduil's shoulder and see Legolas speaking to someone who's back is turned to me. I sigh with relief, laughing weakly.
"Now may I ask why you seem to have lost your sanity?" Hénduil asked me. Grudgingly, I explain, and Hénduil simply nodded, his eyes filled with sympathy.
"I was deep in thought, and off balance," I say, "yet I feel so." I trail off, thinking for a word harsh enough to describe my clumsiness.
"Inept? Bungling?" Hénduil offered helpfully while twirling me.
"Yes, thank you Hénduil," I said sharply. I put my right palm to his, facing the opposite direction he was, and we began circling each other.
"I apologize," he said meekly as we switched palms and began in the opposite direction. "I do not see Legolas; perhaps he has retired?"
"No, Hénduil, it is I who should apologize. And I should only be so fortunate," I said with a small smile. He laughed, and as I twirled away from him I stopped dead, my arms still stretched out.
"Lady, you are very hard to track down," said the very Elf I had been avoiding. "Perhaps," he said, looking over my shoulder at Hénduil, "I can steal you away for a moment?"
This is not happening, this is not happening. I try to respond, but all I succeed in doing is opening and closing my mouth like a fish. Luckily, Hénduil stepped in.
"She would be honored, my Lord," he said. I nodded mutely, and as Hénduil walked away he jabbed me in the side. Quickly I snapped my mouth shut and dropped my arms to my sides.
"Wonderful," said Legolas, bowing to me. I curtsied deeply, and we were off. I met Legolas' eyes for a moment; then dropped my gaze to my feet, blushing furiously. He laughed, and if possible I grew even redder. Stop! I told myself. He'll think you are a simpleton! I concentrated on my feet, silently praying that I wouldn't step on his royal feet.
"Tell me," he began in a conversational tone, "how is it that you manage to dance so well, while among books and dusty shelves you fall into handsome Elves' arms left and right?" he said, winking.
"It is a gift, my Lord," I said, and feeling a bit bolder, I added, "Though I cannot say I have found an Elf quite handsome enough." Legolas looked at me for a second, laughed heartily. It was at that moment the song ended. Legolas bowed deeply, and cupped my chin in his hand.
"Well then, I suppose we must try again sometime. You can fall, and I will be the gallant, terribly handsome Elf who rescues you. Maybe you will have a change of heart," he said, "for if memory serves me correctly, I believe you were too occupied studying the floor than studying my face." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me to try in vain to slow my rapidly beating heart.