Chapter Thirteen:
The next three weeks passed by like a blur to Calathi. Whenever she came near to Harem, Legolas seemed to appear, of which she was grateful. One thing at least she was sure of: Legolas was true to his word. At this rate she didn't see what there was to fear; the Prince would never let Harem get close to his love. He meant to protect her from her tormentor in every way he could.
Every night he left her with a "sleep well, my Princess," and each morning they met again at breakfast. She looked forward to each meeting they had - sweet kisses in the shadows, a fair word spoken of his love for her, an unexpected hug from behind. Each day she felt her heart grow more and more toward him, and each day she thought she loved him as much as was possible.
If anyone noticed their affections toward each other, they did a good job of hiding it. However, the entire kingdom seemed oblivious to the growing romance. Ever the fear of the northern goblins' attack grew. The warriors trained hard to prepare for the onslaught, which seemed all but sure to happen, and happen soon. Scouts were sent out daily to keep watch on the borders of the forest, but no news came of the march of the enemies. It seemed as though the two realms had come to a stalemate.
Another two weeks passed, and still no word arrived. Anxious glances toward the north increased. Legolas became more preoccupied in council meetings all the time, and slowly Calathi's old fears seemed to return. But Harem seemed to ignore her, and he was also busy in helping to train the warriors.
One night Calathi was laying in bed, trying to sleep. The thought of the goblins rested heavily on her mind, and she wondered what she would do when the attack came. Legolas poked his head into the room, checking to see if she was asleep. She had not seen her love all day, and she was overjoyed to see him now, blocking the light from the hallway.
"Legolas!" she called, jumping out of bed despite the fact that she wore only a thin nightgown. She ran to him as he stepped into the room and hugged him.
"I was wondering if you were still awake," he laughed. Then he handed her a wrapped box that was long and rectangular.
"What's this?" she asked as she began to unwrap it. Opening the box she pulled out a light sword. She examined it in a shocked silence as Legolas' grin broadened. The hilt was silver with a sapphire on the very tip. She gripped it and smiled, for it fit her hand perfectly. Then she pulled the plain sheath off and gasped. The blade seemed to glow a bright silver in the dim light, and there were many scriptures delicately engraved on it; as she read them she found that they seemed to give her confidence and strength.
"I understand your hand has been lonely without such," Legolas said. She nodded happily, interrupted from her quiet reverence, and kissed him.
"Legolas, it's so beautiful...and powerful...and, and just perfect." She sighed. "But when could I put so woundrous a gift to use?"
His hand caressed her cheek, and he answered, "Calathi, often I've seen you watching the warriors practicing. I could see on your face as plainly as I could read a scroll that you wished to join them. I spoke with my father only recently and told him. He has consented to allow you to begin training tomorrow."
Calathi stood speechless, staring at Legolas. "King Thranduil is going to let me train as a warrior? Why?"
"My father believes that skill is not determined by gender. If he feels that a maiden is strong enough to fight, then he does not hinder her learning how to. He also heard of your first journey to this palace. Of course, there has not been a female warrior in quite a few centuries." Then Legolas' expression grew grave. "To be honest with you, amelamin my love, I think that we need as many warriors as we can get. Mirkwood has not had an attack as terrible as this one is expected to be in many centuries. May the Valar grant us victory."
Calathi nodded before asking, "Where did you get this sword?"
"Actually, it is called Methlai, and it belonged to Taremir, the last female of Mirkwood to bear arms in battle. It has been preserved in the hope that another female as talented as her would be able to wield it. Now that hope is fulfilled. But promise me, Calathi, that you will not try to be heroic. Please, protect yourself first before all else when this battle finally comes. I could not bear to lose you."
A lump rose in Calathi's throat and she hugged Legolas. "I will promise you, if you promise me the same. I love you, and I will know no joy if you do not live." Legolas only hugged her tighter before he agreed.
* * * * *
Nervously Calathi walked toward the practice courts. Her sword was sheathed at her waste, and she carried a bow and a quiver of arrows that Legolas had given her earlier that morning before he went off to a brief council. Of course, he promised to meet her at the training session before she began. Her muscles were tingling excitedly, anxious to be stretched and worked for the first time in a while. She was afraid that she would dishonor Legolas and King Thranduil's decision when she showed what skills she had. In Ilinar she had been strong and swift, but now she felt unpracticed and weak. The other elves might just laugh at her.
A strong hand gripped her arm and she turned, smiling, to Legolas - except that it was not Legolas. She froze in her traps in horror to find Harem looking at her with a grin on his sharp face. "Please, my lady, do not be frightened. I wish only to speak to you." Then he drew her toward a room, a little forcefully, as Calathi could do nothing but go along with him.
*STOP! * her mind screamed. *Don't go with him! It's a trick! Scream, kick him, do something!* But her body seemed slow to obey her mind, and before she could do anything, she was inside a room, alone, with the Captain of the royal guard.
Suddenly her power came back to her. "Let go of me!" she screamed. He did and stepped away from her, putting his hands up in a gesture of peace.
"Please, my lady, I simply want to talk to you. I will not take advantage of our solitude." He stood in front of the door, however, and Calathi did not want to risk going near him, even to escape.
"You said that you only wished to talk last time we met. And things did not turn out that way, did they, Harem." She spat his name like it was a curse.
"I am terribly sorry for my actions many years ago. I was young and foolish. But I have changed my ways since then." He looked at her, and something flickered in his eyes, though it quickly passed.
"I sincerely doubt that." Calathi stared back at him with hatred and fury. "You disgust me. Let me go." Her hand passed to the hilt of Methlai, and she drew it in one graceful motion. "Let me go or I will make you let me go," she threatened, her voice full of malice. Her face was set. She was not the same young, naïve elf as she was four hundred years ago. She was more prepared this time, and she meant to show it, though her fear was ever increasing.
Harem stared at her in disbelief, and he quickly stepped away from the door. Leaving the room, Calathi never took her eyes from him, but he made no move to attack her. She was safely in the hallway again when her worry and fear took over. She raced all the way to the practice courts, never looking back.
The next three weeks passed by like a blur to Calathi. Whenever she came near to Harem, Legolas seemed to appear, of which she was grateful. One thing at least she was sure of: Legolas was true to his word. At this rate she didn't see what there was to fear; the Prince would never let Harem get close to his love. He meant to protect her from her tormentor in every way he could.
Every night he left her with a "sleep well, my Princess," and each morning they met again at breakfast. She looked forward to each meeting they had - sweet kisses in the shadows, a fair word spoken of his love for her, an unexpected hug from behind. Each day she felt her heart grow more and more toward him, and each day she thought she loved him as much as was possible.
If anyone noticed their affections toward each other, they did a good job of hiding it. However, the entire kingdom seemed oblivious to the growing romance. Ever the fear of the northern goblins' attack grew. The warriors trained hard to prepare for the onslaught, which seemed all but sure to happen, and happen soon. Scouts were sent out daily to keep watch on the borders of the forest, but no news came of the march of the enemies. It seemed as though the two realms had come to a stalemate.
Another two weeks passed, and still no word arrived. Anxious glances toward the north increased. Legolas became more preoccupied in council meetings all the time, and slowly Calathi's old fears seemed to return. But Harem seemed to ignore her, and he was also busy in helping to train the warriors.
One night Calathi was laying in bed, trying to sleep. The thought of the goblins rested heavily on her mind, and she wondered what she would do when the attack came. Legolas poked his head into the room, checking to see if she was asleep. She had not seen her love all day, and she was overjoyed to see him now, blocking the light from the hallway.
"Legolas!" she called, jumping out of bed despite the fact that she wore only a thin nightgown. She ran to him as he stepped into the room and hugged him.
"I was wondering if you were still awake," he laughed. Then he handed her a wrapped box that was long and rectangular.
"What's this?" she asked as she began to unwrap it. Opening the box she pulled out a light sword. She examined it in a shocked silence as Legolas' grin broadened. The hilt was silver with a sapphire on the very tip. She gripped it and smiled, for it fit her hand perfectly. Then she pulled the plain sheath off and gasped. The blade seemed to glow a bright silver in the dim light, and there were many scriptures delicately engraved on it; as she read them she found that they seemed to give her confidence and strength.
"I understand your hand has been lonely without such," Legolas said. She nodded happily, interrupted from her quiet reverence, and kissed him.
"Legolas, it's so beautiful...and powerful...and, and just perfect." She sighed. "But when could I put so woundrous a gift to use?"
His hand caressed her cheek, and he answered, "Calathi, often I've seen you watching the warriors practicing. I could see on your face as plainly as I could read a scroll that you wished to join them. I spoke with my father only recently and told him. He has consented to allow you to begin training tomorrow."
Calathi stood speechless, staring at Legolas. "King Thranduil is going to let me train as a warrior? Why?"
"My father believes that skill is not determined by gender. If he feels that a maiden is strong enough to fight, then he does not hinder her learning how to. He also heard of your first journey to this palace. Of course, there has not been a female warrior in quite a few centuries." Then Legolas' expression grew grave. "To be honest with you, amelamin my love, I think that we need as many warriors as we can get. Mirkwood has not had an attack as terrible as this one is expected to be in many centuries. May the Valar grant us victory."
Calathi nodded before asking, "Where did you get this sword?"
"Actually, it is called Methlai, and it belonged to Taremir, the last female of Mirkwood to bear arms in battle. It has been preserved in the hope that another female as talented as her would be able to wield it. Now that hope is fulfilled. But promise me, Calathi, that you will not try to be heroic. Please, protect yourself first before all else when this battle finally comes. I could not bear to lose you."
A lump rose in Calathi's throat and she hugged Legolas. "I will promise you, if you promise me the same. I love you, and I will know no joy if you do not live." Legolas only hugged her tighter before he agreed.
* * * * *
Nervously Calathi walked toward the practice courts. Her sword was sheathed at her waste, and she carried a bow and a quiver of arrows that Legolas had given her earlier that morning before he went off to a brief council. Of course, he promised to meet her at the training session before she began. Her muscles were tingling excitedly, anxious to be stretched and worked for the first time in a while. She was afraid that she would dishonor Legolas and King Thranduil's decision when she showed what skills she had. In Ilinar she had been strong and swift, but now she felt unpracticed and weak. The other elves might just laugh at her.
A strong hand gripped her arm and she turned, smiling, to Legolas - except that it was not Legolas. She froze in her traps in horror to find Harem looking at her with a grin on his sharp face. "Please, my lady, do not be frightened. I wish only to speak to you." Then he drew her toward a room, a little forcefully, as Calathi could do nothing but go along with him.
*STOP! * her mind screamed. *Don't go with him! It's a trick! Scream, kick him, do something!* But her body seemed slow to obey her mind, and before she could do anything, she was inside a room, alone, with the Captain of the royal guard.
Suddenly her power came back to her. "Let go of me!" she screamed. He did and stepped away from her, putting his hands up in a gesture of peace.
"Please, my lady, I simply want to talk to you. I will not take advantage of our solitude." He stood in front of the door, however, and Calathi did not want to risk going near him, even to escape.
"You said that you only wished to talk last time we met. And things did not turn out that way, did they, Harem." She spat his name like it was a curse.
"I am terribly sorry for my actions many years ago. I was young and foolish. But I have changed my ways since then." He looked at her, and something flickered in his eyes, though it quickly passed.
"I sincerely doubt that." Calathi stared back at him with hatred and fury. "You disgust me. Let me go." Her hand passed to the hilt of Methlai, and she drew it in one graceful motion. "Let me go or I will make you let me go," she threatened, her voice full of malice. Her face was set. She was not the same young, naïve elf as she was four hundred years ago. She was more prepared this time, and she meant to show it, though her fear was ever increasing.
Harem stared at her in disbelief, and he quickly stepped away from the door. Leaving the room, Calathi never took her eyes from him, but he made no move to attack her. She was safely in the hallway again when her worry and fear took over. She raced all the way to the practice courts, never looking back.