Disclaimer: Whats with me and forgetting to put a disclaimer in the
beginning of each story?! Ugh! It makes me so depressed. lol. ok. I AM NOT
AN OLD DEAD GUY WHO MADE UP A WHOLE WORLD, MYTHOLOGY, AND LANGUAGES IN A
MATTER OF YEARS! I AM A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT WHO DREAMS OF LIVING IN THE
WORLD THAT SAID OLD DEAD GUY CREATED!! Sheesh...lemme go cry in my corner
now (dont expect a disclaimer every chapter!)
Girl in the Gardens
Chapter Two- Bitter Seclusion
***
Year 2004 of the Modern Age
The Portuguese Residency of Mateus de Andrade
Legolas sprinted down the hallway, trying to get as much distance as possible between him and Haldir, who was jogging to keep up with his friend.
"Legolas! Listen to me!" he exclaimed, stepping in front of the other elf, causing him to stop abruptly. Legolas's anger seemed to radiate off him in waves.
"No longer is that my name, Christopher. You know that well..." Legolas said through gritted teeth. Haldir shook his head and sighed as Legolas side-stepped him and continued walking through the halls of his mansion in Portugal.
"No longer your name? You were born with that name!" he yelled at Legolas's departing back. "The times have changed, but you have not!" Legolas stopped and his back stiffened at this. "Just because you use a different name when you interact with mortals, does not mean you are a different person! You are still Prince Legolas Greenleaf, son of King Thandruil of Eryn Lasgallen!" The two elves still, letting Haldir's words echo in the hallway.
Finally, Legolas sighed, dropping his head to look at the floor. "I am no longer Legolas Greenleaf, mellon nin. I am Mateus de Andrade, a wealthy Portuguese merchant. Next time you wish to speak to me, use my proper name." Legolas continued down the hall, expecting Haldir to give up and leave. Instead, Haldir ran towards Legolas as he rounded a corner.
"Why are you here, Legolas?! Why did you not leave for Valinor with the rest of our kin? The Council of Elrond needs you! You were part of the Fellowship! You are one of the oldest Elves who didn't leave for Valinor. You have to keep your place in this world!" he growled, sprinting alongside his stubborn friend. Again Legolas halted and turned to face Haldir.
"The Council of Elrond? Ha! How is it the Council of Elrond if Elrond himself is not there?! How dare you place his name on such a petty thing? And what do the people there DO?! Decide on whether or not to clone the DNA of hobbits?!" Haldir's eyes filled with a fire that Legolas had never seen before.
"The Council of Elrond is named so to HONOR the memory of Lord Elrond of Rivendell, and was named so by his own sons, Elrohir and Elladan! And its purpose is to HELP mankind... The same reason YOU decided not to leave for the Undying Lands!" he said venomously. Legolas kept a blank face and replied calmly.
"I left the Council after they decided to act in secrecy. We are no help to mankind if they do not know we exist, Christopher. I will not go back to Canada to participate in a ridiculous meeting with bickering elves and a select few humans who know of our existence. I simply refuse to. My life is here... in Portugal." With that, Legolas turned away from Haldir, once again shutting the door from his past. "I will call a cab to take you back to the airport, Christopher... Good-bye."
Haldir stood alone in the hallway as Legolas slowly walked away, trying to forget the past.
***
Year 2004 of the Modern Age
Aeroporto Internacional de Portugal (International Airport of Portugal)
Haldir sat in the uncomfortable chair in the airport, recalling the argument he had had earlier with Legolas. *He is right...* he thought to himself. *He is no longer Legolas Greenleaf... he is a changed man.*
Just then, Haldir heard the shrill ring of his cell phone. He clutched at his ears that, even though were surgically cut and rounded periodically, were still very sensitive to high pitched sounds. He grabbed the phone quickly and flipped it open, putting it to his ear cautiously.
"Chris speaking," he said quietly, to not disturb the people surrounding him. For a while there were only cracks and static on the other line, but eventually, Haldir heard a voice.
"Chri- I mean- Haldir? Can you hear me?" the person on the other line said loudly. Haldir winced slightly, but then responded.
"Yes, Elladan, I can hear you. Is anything wrong? I'm in the airport and I'm about to fly back to Quebec." There was a momentary silence on the other line, but in that time, the cracking and static had gone away.
"What did you say?" whispered Elladan, heard perfectly clear by Haldir. "You're coming back? Why so soon? You just arrived there--," there was a small pause where Haldir could hear the sound of clothes rustling, "-one hour ago!" Haldir sighed heavily and massaged the back of his neck with his right hand.
"Yes, I realize that, but our friend 'Mateus de Andrade' wouldn't have it any other way," he grumbled stressfully. "He made it a point that he didn't want us looking for him again." Elladan, filled with disappointment, sighed on the other end.
"I was hoping that you could change his mind Haldir. He holds you in high regards, you know. I suppose Elrohir or I will have to go. How many people have gone to him so far in the last five years?" he muttered quietly. Haldir smiled a small sad smile, though he new Elladan couldn't see it.
"Too many, my friend. Too many. I'm afraid no one will be able to change his mind. The only way we would get him to join the Council of Elrond would be if Estel or Mithrandir themselves told him to go." He chuckled bitterly. Just then, there was a click and Haldir's flight number was called. "I must depart, mellon nin. I will arrive in Quebec by tonight. I shall see you tomorrow at the Council."
"Oh, yes. Okay, Haldir. I shall see you then." There was a click on the other line as Haldir stood up and walked towards the plane.
Unbeknownst to him, a few yards away, just within Elven hearing distance, stood a blond elf with a stone hard face. As soon and Haldir was inside the plane, Legolas turned around and walked back to the entrance of the airport.
***
Year 2989 of the Third Age
Gardens of Rivendell
Legolas walked up to the girl while she played with the petals of a pink flower. He smiled slightly at the way her eyes widened when she saw him. At first he thought it was from surprise that an elf was approaching her. He didn't expect her to jump up and hug him around his neck. The girl then started to speak rapidly in a language completely new to him.
"Legolas! Nossa! Eu estava ficando dessesparada! Ninguem aquí fala Portuguese ou Ingles! O que qui voce esta fazendo aquí? Eu sei que nos estamos en Rivendell, mas... Legolas? Alo? Voce esta asprestando attencao?"
When Legolas didn't respond to her speaking, she let go of his neck and stared at his eyes. The only words Legolas had recognized were his own name and 'Rivendell'. All the other words he made sure to memorize in case he ever got her to teach him her language.
Eventually, the girl turned away, tears brimming her eyes. "Vai imbora..." he heard her mumble. He stepped closer to her, but she snapped her head to look at him, anger pulsating out of her. "SAI DA MINHA CARA, LEGOLAS!! ME DEICHA EN PAZ!! VAI!!"
Legolas stepped back in shock. He didn't need to understand her words to know that she was very angry and hurt at that moment. The girl was now sobbing and turned to run out of the gardens, leaving a very confused and baffled Legolas.
***
Year 2004 of the Modern Age
The Portuguese Residency of Mateus de Andrade
Legolas's eyes refocused as a single tear ran down his pale cheek. At that time, he had had no idea why the girl had been screaming at him, but he memorized her words. Finally, after thousands of years, the language of Portuguese had been invented and he learned it, finally translating her words...
Legolas! Sheesh! I was starting to get despaired! No one here speaks Portuguese or English! What are you doing here? I know we're in Rivendell, but... Legolas? Hello? Are you paying attention?
...She had been so happy to see him. How she had known him was still a mystery to him. Years and years after discovering what she had been saying he pondered on if he had met her before, but came to the conclusion that he would never forget a face like hers. He also pondered how she had known Portuguese if it technically wasn't created until tens of thousands of years later. The last words she had said were the ones that were perfectly fresh in his mind though...
Go away... GET OUT OF MY FACE, LEGOLAS!! LEAVE ME IN PEACE!! GO!!
More tears fell out of Legolas's clear blue eyes as he stepped out of his bed. "Two nights in a row..." he mumbled. "I have not dreamed of her in centuries, and now I've dreamed of her two nights in a row!" He turned to his alarm clock and saw that it was already ten in the morning. He sighed heavily, knowing that if he tried to sleep now, he would never succeed.
Legolas walked to his dresser and took out a pair of black slacks and a dark red button up shirt, dressing into them quickly and quietly. While dressing he caught sight of himself in the mirror. His blond hair had been cut to where it was a little longer than shoulder length and was left loose and slightly wavy. Dressed in this clothing, he looked almost nothing like the way he did millennia ago. Even his face was completely different. Then, he always looked happy, and like he was smiling at some private joke, but now...
Legolas turned away from the mirror and walked out of his room, into the hallways, not wanting to finish his thoughts.
Girl in the Gardens
Chapter Two- Bitter Seclusion
***
Year 2004 of the Modern Age
The Portuguese Residency of Mateus de Andrade
Legolas sprinted down the hallway, trying to get as much distance as possible between him and Haldir, who was jogging to keep up with his friend.
"Legolas! Listen to me!" he exclaimed, stepping in front of the other elf, causing him to stop abruptly. Legolas's anger seemed to radiate off him in waves.
"No longer is that my name, Christopher. You know that well..." Legolas said through gritted teeth. Haldir shook his head and sighed as Legolas side-stepped him and continued walking through the halls of his mansion in Portugal.
"No longer your name? You were born with that name!" he yelled at Legolas's departing back. "The times have changed, but you have not!" Legolas stopped and his back stiffened at this. "Just because you use a different name when you interact with mortals, does not mean you are a different person! You are still Prince Legolas Greenleaf, son of King Thandruil of Eryn Lasgallen!" The two elves still, letting Haldir's words echo in the hallway.
Finally, Legolas sighed, dropping his head to look at the floor. "I am no longer Legolas Greenleaf, mellon nin. I am Mateus de Andrade, a wealthy Portuguese merchant. Next time you wish to speak to me, use my proper name." Legolas continued down the hall, expecting Haldir to give up and leave. Instead, Haldir ran towards Legolas as he rounded a corner.
"Why are you here, Legolas?! Why did you not leave for Valinor with the rest of our kin? The Council of Elrond needs you! You were part of the Fellowship! You are one of the oldest Elves who didn't leave for Valinor. You have to keep your place in this world!" he growled, sprinting alongside his stubborn friend. Again Legolas halted and turned to face Haldir.
"The Council of Elrond? Ha! How is it the Council of Elrond if Elrond himself is not there?! How dare you place his name on such a petty thing? And what do the people there DO?! Decide on whether or not to clone the DNA of hobbits?!" Haldir's eyes filled with a fire that Legolas had never seen before.
"The Council of Elrond is named so to HONOR the memory of Lord Elrond of Rivendell, and was named so by his own sons, Elrohir and Elladan! And its purpose is to HELP mankind... The same reason YOU decided not to leave for the Undying Lands!" he said venomously. Legolas kept a blank face and replied calmly.
"I left the Council after they decided to act in secrecy. We are no help to mankind if they do not know we exist, Christopher. I will not go back to Canada to participate in a ridiculous meeting with bickering elves and a select few humans who know of our existence. I simply refuse to. My life is here... in Portugal." With that, Legolas turned away from Haldir, once again shutting the door from his past. "I will call a cab to take you back to the airport, Christopher... Good-bye."
Haldir stood alone in the hallway as Legolas slowly walked away, trying to forget the past.
***
Year 2004 of the Modern Age
Aeroporto Internacional de Portugal (International Airport of Portugal)
Haldir sat in the uncomfortable chair in the airport, recalling the argument he had had earlier with Legolas. *He is right...* he thought to himself. *He is no longer Legolas Greenleaf... he is a changed man.*
Just then, Haldir heard the shrill ring of his cell phone. He clutched at his ears that, even though were surgically cut and rounded periodically, were still very sensitive to high pitched sounds. He grabbed the phone quickly and flipped it open, putting it to his ear cautiously.
"Chris speaking," he said quietly, to not disturb the people surrounding him. For a while there were only cracks and static on the other line, but eventually, Haldir heard a voice.
"Chri- I mean- Haldir? Can you hear me?" the person on the other line said loudly. Haldir winced slightly, but then responded.
"Yes, Elladan, I can hear you. Is anything wrong? I'm in the airport and I'm about to fly back to Quebec." There was a momentary silence on the other line, but in that time, the cracking and static had gone away.
"What did you say?" whispered Elladan, heard perfectly clear by Haldir. "You're coming back? Why so soon? You just arrived there--," there was a small pause where Haldir could hear the sound of clothes rustling, "-one hour ago!" Haldir sighed heavily and massaged the back of his neck with his right hand.
"Yes, I realize that, but our friend 'Mateus de Andrade' wouldn't have it any other way," he grumbled stressfully. "He made it a point that he didn't want us looking for him again." Elladan, filled with disappointment, sighed on the other end.
"I was hoping that you could change his mind Haldir. He holds you in high regards, you know. I suppose Elrohir or I will have to go. How many people have gone to him so far in the last five years?" he muttered quietly. Haldir smiled a small sad smile, though he new Elladan couldn't see it.
"Too many, my friend. Too many. I'm afraid no one will be able to change his mind. The only way we would get him to join the Council of Elrond would be if Estel or Mithrandir themselves told him to go." He chuckled bitterly. Just then, there was a click and Haldir's flight number was called. "I must depart, mellon nin. I will arrive in Quebec by tonight. I shall see you tomorrow at the Council."
"Oh, yes. Okay, Haldir. I shall see you then." There was a click on the other line as Haldir stood up and walked towards the plane.
Unbeknownst to him, a few yards away, just within Elven hearing distance, stood a blond elf with a stone hard face. As soon and Haldir was inside the plane, Legolas turned around and walked back to the entrance of the airport.
***
Year 2989 of the Third Age
Gardens of Rivendell
Legolas walked up to the girl while she played with the petals of a pink flower. He smiled slightly at the way her eyes widened when she saw him. At first he thought it was from surprise that an elf was approaching her. He didn't expect her to jump up and hug him around his neck. The girl then started to speak rapidly in a language completely new to him.
"Legolas! Nossa! Eu estava ficando dessesparada! Ninguem aquí fala Portuguese ou Ingles! O que qui voce esta fazendo aquí? Eu sei que nos estamos en Rivendell, mas... Legolas? Alo? Voce esta asprestando attencao?"
When Legolas didn't respond to her speaking, she let go of his neck and stared at his eyes. The only words Legolas had recognized were his own name and 'Rivendell'. All the other words he made sure to memorize in case he ever got her to teach him her language.
Eventually, the girl turned away, tears brimming her eyes. "Vai imbora..." he heard her mumble. He stepped closer to her, but she snapped her head to look at him, anger pulsating out of her. "SAI DA MINHA CARA, LEGOLAS!! ME DEICHA EN PAZ!! VAI!!"
Legolas stepped back in shock. He didn't need to understand her words to know that she was very angry and hurt at that moment. The girl was now sobbing and turned to run out of the gardens, leaving a very confused and baffled Legolas.
***
Year 2004 of the Modern Age
The Portuguese Residency of Mateus de Andrade
Legolas's eyes refocused as a single tear ran down his pale cheek. At that time, he had had no idea why the girl had been screaming at him, but he memorized her words. Finally, after thousands of years, the language of Portuguese had been invented and he learned it, finally translating her words...
Legolas! Sheesh! I was starting to get despaired! No one here speaks Portuguese or English! What are you doing here? I know we're in Rivendell, but... Legolas? Hello? Are you paying attention?
...She had been so happy to see him. How she had known him was still a mystery to him. Years and years after discovering what she had been saying he pondered on if he had met her before, but came to the conclusion that he would never forget a face like hers. He also pondered how she had known Portuguese if it technically wasn't created until tens of thousands of years later. The last words she had said were the ones that were perfectly fresh in his mind though...
Go away... GET OUT OF MY FACE, LEGOLAS!! LEAVE ME IN PEACE!! GO!!
More tears fell out of Legolas's clear blue eyes as he stepped out of his bed. "Two nights in a row..." he mumbled. "I have not dreamed of her in centuries, and now I've dreamed of her two nights in a row!" He turned to his alarm clock and saw that it was already ten in the morning. He sighed heavily, knowing that if he tried to sleep now, he would never succeed.
Legolas walked to his dresser and took out a pair of black slacks and a dark red button up shirt, dressing into them quickly and quietly. While dressing he caught sight of himself in the mirror. His blond hair had been cut to where it was a little longer than shoulder length and was left loose and slightly wavy. Dressed in this clothing, he looked almost nothing like the way he did millennia ago. Even his face was completely different. Then, he always looked happy, and like he was smiling at some private joke, but now...
Legolas turned away from the mirror and walked out of his room, into the hallways, not wanting to finish his thoughts.