After dinner, we adjourned to a small ballroom for some light entertainment...dancing, music, and the like. I don't dance, though, so I mostly just sat with Legolas. We sat close, closer than comfortable might have been with anyone else, but with Legolas, I didn't mind so much. When the hour grew late and my eyes began to droop, he even let me rest my head on his shoulder.
Elrond was not very participative in the evening activities as well. He sat deep in thought, probably worried about what tomorrow would bring. His eyes were dark, and his brow permanently etched into a frown. His thought process was interrupted, though, when one of his guards walked into the room and whispered in his ear for the second time that night. Elrond stood, and followed the guard out of the room. Curious eyes followed his retreating back.
"I wonder if something is amiss," Legolas said, softly.
I shook my head. "I don't know."
Elrond reentered the room then, but at his side was a man, someone new. He looked vaguely familiar, but I was tired and could not process his face. He walked beside Elrond as the elf lord strode over to us. Legolas and I stood as they approached.
"My friends," Elrond said, looking more than a little relieved, "it gives me great honor to introduce to you Boromir, son of Denethor, and Captain-General of Gondor. Boromir, this is Legolas, son of Thranduil of the Woodland Realm, and Celaena of the Weather Hills."
Boromir bowed deeply, as did Legolas. I stuck to a small curtsy, never taking my eyes off of him. Boromir was fair...he was tall and strong, and his grey eyes were hypnotising. "It is an honor to meet both of you," he said at last, straightening himself. "It would be more of an honor had we the chance to meet on a more pleasant occasion."
"I am at least pleased, though, that Denethor finally answered the request I sent to him," Elrond sighed, a relieved look on his face. "I sent for a representative from Gondor more than two weeks ago..."
"Two weeks?" said Boromir, confused. "I left Minas Tirith with a small troop of men back in July...in response to a dream that both my brother and I had." He sighed. "I see why you had no response from my father, though. As wise as he is, he still finds no reason to trust elves. I find no reason not to."
Upon this information and comment, a troubled look crossed Elrond's face. He inhaled deeply. "All of this will be discussed at the meeting tomorrow. Until then..." He gestured around the room. "Enjoy the festivities."
With that, Elrond left the room, overcome with worry. I stared at his retreating back, worried for his troubled mind. My gaze faltered only when a small cough was heard. I turned my head, seeing that it was Boromir.
"My lord Legolas," he began, "if you do not mind, I would like to borrow your friend Celaena for a dance."
I looked at him, and he looked back at me. His blue eyes were unreadable. I didn't like not being able to read him. He cleared his throat. "You will have to ask the lady. She is perfectly capable of making her own decisions."
I had wanted Legolas to say no. I wanted him to tell Boromir that I had two left feet, that I had consumption, that I was dropped on my head when I was a baby...anything to make him go away. The one time in my life I wanted someone else to have even the tiniest amount of control over me, he gave me the reins. Respectable, yet I hated him for it. I didn't want to have anything to do with the son of the Steward of Gondor.
Boromir turned back to me. Before he could say anything, I told him firmly, "I don't dance."
He was silent for a moment, then laughed. He LAUGHED at me. "Of course you do," was all he said. "Every noblewoman can dance." Without saying another word, he took my hand, and led me onto the dance floor. I obliged, not because he was stronger than me, but because I had no desire to make a scene. As I was led away, I threw one more glance at Legolas, who was just as surprised as I was. He had more than one emotion on his face, though...surprise, yes, among hurt and jealousy. There was a sharp pain in my chest...I hadn't meant to hurt him...
My thoughts went back to the man I was dancing with. Boromir. The son of a man I despised, the descendant of the man who had cast the vampire slayers out of our city all those years ago. Now the White City was overrun with vampires, and who had Denethor blamed it on? Me. No doubt his hatred had poisoned his own son's mind. No doubt the man who held me in his arms at that moment held some sort of strange vendetta against me and my kind.
Boromir spoke then, as if attempting to make small talk. "Ah...Elrond said you were of the Weather Hills. I didn't know they were inhabitated."
"Er...we are a small number," I fibbed. "Small but strong." Well, again, I didn't completely lie.
He either did not hear my answer or simply disregarded it. "Have you ever been to the White City, my lady?"
I didn't like that question. "Yes, a long time ago. Unfortunately, I...didn't get to see much of it."
"You must come again, then. When this...ordeal is over and done with, I'll take you to Minas Tirith. It is more beautiful than you can ever imagine. I'd love to show it to you."
The way he spoke made me jealous. He spoke of the home I never knew, the one that Lauxely missed so much. I swallowed, and replied, "That sounds wonderful."
Boromir continued talking. "I must admit, I was surprised when Elrond mentioned that you were one of his closest allies. After all, you are a woman."
I glowered. "I am more than a woman."
"Of course you are." I hated the tone with which he said that. It wasn't quite mocking...more like a brush-off, when you pat a silly child on the head. It irritated me beyond reason, and I resisted the urge to dig my fingernails into the back of his neck.
The song we were dancing to ended. I must have left Boromir's arms too quickly, because as I made my way back to where Legolas was seated, he grabbed my elbow and spun me back around.
"My lady," he said, gripping my arm. "Allow me to escort you back to your...bedchamber."
Until this day, I had no mortal enemies. But Boromir was borderline to becoming one. I snatched my arm away from his grip and backed away. "I came here tonight with Legolas," I said, a smirk hiding my anger. "I plan on leaving with him."
I turned back around, not able to face him once more. I stalked back to where Legolas was waiting for me. He stood up when I came to him. Alarmed, he said, "Silly, what...Did he hurt you?"
"He tried," was my only reply, a growl in my throat. "I'd appreciate it if we could leave now."
"Of course." Legolas gently took my arm, and we walked quickly out of the ballroom. I dropped my head to avoid any looks of discontent that Boromir might be throwing me.
Instead of retreating to my bedchamber, as Boromir had suggested, I marched outside, untangling my arm from Legolas. Not even bothering to stay on the path, I strode straight into the grass, marching down the hill aimlessly. Legolas was not far behind. I reached the bottom of the hill, almost to the trees, and my legs slipped out from under me. I fell to the ground in a sitting position, and groaned. Not wanting to get back up, I laid back on the grass, looking up at the stars. They were soon shrouded by the outline of Legolas's head. His face expressed worry, but I could see amusement in his brilliant blue eyes. I shut my own eyes, and heard him as he sat down on the ground next to me.
A few moments of silence went by. Then I spoke. "I am meat on a stick."
Legolas gave a surprised cough. "Beg pardon?"
I sighed, having feared he would not understand my analogy. "It's like...those horrible little children that will tie a piece of meat onto a stick, then latch it to some poor hound's tail, and laugh as he chases it round and round. That's how Boromir made me feel just now. Like I was a piece of meat."
"Aye," said Legolas, the anger in his tone evident. "You are much more than that." His hand somehow found its way to my hair, and he stroked it gently. "Ruinamin."
His fingers glided over my scalp, and I hummed in pleasure. "My Elvish is rusty. What does that mean?"
"Ruinamin?" he asked. "It means...my red flame." He paused, and leaned over to look me in the eyes. "Tell if I am out of line, Silly, for I hate for you to be hurt twice this night."
"Hmmm." I let myself be lost in the soft movements of his hands across my head. "You words are soothing. I doubt I would be able to find any hidden venom in them."
There was a comfortable silence. We didn't move, didn't speak...just enjoyed each other's company. Then Legolas said, "You are strong, Silly. There are not many noblewomen who would be able to turn down a man like Lord Boromir. I would do my best to prevent him from harming you, but I believe that you can easily do that on your own."
Part of me wanted to tell him that I was no noblewoman. I was the vampire slayer, and yes, I was perfectly capable of taking care of myself. But part of being a vampire slayer is the hidden identity. And also the fact that people don't tend to take that news very well.
Instead, we laid back together in silence well into the night. As I watched the stars, I prayed that Elbereth and all that was good in the world would not take away the friendship that I found this night.
well, that's it for now! Please R&R!