Disclaimer: anything related to Middle Earth and any of the characters is not mine (obviously), but the wonderful work of the genius Tolkein.
Meltintalle: Thanks again for the review!!! I'm glad you are waiting for my humble story to be updated. I'll try to update more and write longer chappies so I can post my favorite parts!
Chapter 3
Tinfea glanced at Vitralth, but said, "I ran into a tree very hard and squashed my arm against it." Legolas wondered about the glance, but didn't ask. He gave her a gentle squeeze, then hugged his cousin.
"Tell me what really happened," he whispered into Vitralth's ear. Vitralth nodded and backed away.
"Why are you here?" Tinfea asked suspiciously, "I thought you couldn't live in the forest anymore."
"I can't. I must go to the sea," Legolas answered.
Tinfea gasped. "You mean you are going to the Gray Havens?"
Legolas nodded. "Yes, with Gimli. I have just come to say good-bye."
"When will you be leaving?" Vitralth asked.
"In a few days. We have decided to walk there. Anima will stay here to live out his days. Besides, Gimli is still not comfortable with horses."
Tinfea smiled. "I must get back home. I'll see you at tonight's banquet." She walked away to her home.
**********
"What really happened?" Legolas ordered. Vitralth told him the story, a look of sadness and worry on his face. Legolas frowned.
"You must not let that temper get away from you. Look was it has done, given Tinfea a broken arm and you losing your best friend. I agree with her. You completely lost her trust. I don't know how you can get it back…"
"I know I know!" Vitralth interrupted, "Saying that will not help. She is my best friend, with you leaving. And unless you have any suggestions on how to get her trust back, please don't scold what I did."
Legolas' face of anger turned to one of sympathy. "I will try to think up an idea while I am here. But it should be something you do without help, something that you would do for her all the time, even if she didn't hate you."
"Well, if she ever got into any trouble, I would help automatically. But in the 300 years I have known her that has never happened."
Legolas nodded understandingly. He was about to say something else, but was called away by his father. Vitralth watched him go and then went to his room. He sighed and looked out the window, caught in a rut.
**********
Tinfea made it to her home, but then looked up at the towering tree. How am I ever going to climb one armed? She thought. A ladder from above swung down to the ground in front of her feet. Looking up, she saw her mom smiling down at her worriedly. Tinfea sighed and struggled up the ladder. Her mother was there, pulling her into the house.
"What happened to you?" she asked.
Tinfea decided that she would leave out the part with battling Vitralth. "I fell into a tree and crushed my arm against it. You know how clumsy I can be." Her mother nodded then directed her to her room. Tinfea lay down on her bed and closed her eyes. She felt where the bone was broken and the tissues torn. Stupid tree, it's all Vitralth's fault I have to sit here.
"Is the arm alright?" asked her mother as she moved into the room. Her fingers gently massaged the sore muscles.
Tinfea closed her eyes in contentment. It's good to have someone take care of me. "Yes, it feels much better," yeah right, "I just need some rest."
"Okay dear." Tinfea nodded and sighed. After her day of rest, how could she avoid Vitralth? Tinfea did not know why she felt so strongly against him. He had tried to kill her, but to loose her trust completely? Tinfea hated feeling this way, but couldn't help it. She fell into a troubled sleep.
"Tinfea, do you feel well enough to go to the banquet for the Prince?" her mother asked later.
"Of course, my arm is perfect now." I wish.
Her mother gave her a skeptical look. "Okay. Be ready in 30 minutes." She left the room. Tinfea put on a soft, pale green dress that brought out the green in her eyes. The sleeves were of a thin, lace-like cloth that opened up at the ends and fell gently over her hands. A bodice laced with flowers was round cut and not very low. The open skirt was of flowing silk that slightly skimmed the floor. It was one of her favorites, comfortable yet stylish. It was also one of the few dresses she would wear, considering she likes the style of a tunic and leggings much more. After struggling to brush her hair, Tinfea left it down, the irregular waves falling to her waist. She turned and left, not listening to her father's lecture on dangerous situations as they made their way to the castle.
**********
Vitralth paced his room, never thinking of an idea. Every time one came to him, he dismissed it. Sighing, he got ready for the dinner. Pulling on a dark green tunic and silvery-blue leggings, Vitralth thought about skipping dinner. But he knew it would disgrace the Royal family if he didn't go, and besides, by going he would see Tinfea again. Looking in the mirror, he pulled some of his silvery hair back out of his face. A knock at his door called him out of his trance.
"Hello, Legolas," he greeted after he opened the door.
"Vitralth, have you thought up any ideas yet?" Legolas asked.
"No, everyone seems wrong," Vitralth said, remembering his distress. Legolas looked at him strangely, wondering why this caused his cousin to be so sad.
"I know that it would be horrible for Tinfea to think she hates you, but why are you so upset?"
Vitralth looked at Legolas in surprise, wondering why he never thought the same thing. Usually, he kept his emotions in, but why was it different now? "I don't know Legolas. Wouldn't you be upset also?" he replied, deciding to forget the oddness of it.
"Of course, but not like this. Remember all the fun times you had with her. I don't think that good of a friendship can stop just because of one thing."
"I tried to kill her! I will never forgive myself for it," Vitralth exclaimed bitterly.
Legolas jumped back in bewilderment. "If she saw how strongly you felt over this, maybe she would forgive you," he said before leaving the room. Vitralth pounded his fist on a table before walking down to the dining hall.
**********
As Tinfea entered, her spirits couldn't help being lifted. A few golden boughs of the magical plant esiltrith hung from the walls. Many beautiful flowers sat on the tables. The music being played was happy and sad at the same time. She smiled softly and then sighed. Usually she hated the banquets, but tonight she felt indifferent. Her parents moved away to a table. Tinfea saw her friend Givertha standing near a table. Though her best friends were Legolas and Vitralth, she decided to stay away from them tonight. She strode over to Givertha, who was wearing an almost white, low-cut dress that had a faint tint of red, complementing her straight, auburn hair.
"Hello," Tinfea said, stopping near her friend.
Givertha turned towards her. "Oh, hello Tinfea. What happened to your arm?" A blast of a trumpet caused all guests to stand up. She shrugged in answer.
"I love your dress," Givertha told Tinfea. She was an elf who spent hours getting ready for dinners and balls. Everyone considered her the most beautiful in all of Mirkwood. She was always going on about beaus, not understanding Tinfea's love for adventure.
"Thank you, you look radiant yourself," Tinfea complimented. Givertha smiled thanks.
**********
Vitralth gazed around the crowded room, looking for one individual. He saw her, looking fantastic in her dress, he thought, sitting near that she-elf, Givertha. For some odd reason, he felt a bit of anger to the other elf, considered the most beautiful throughout Mirkwood, her straight, almost red hair falling to her waist. She was fair, Vitralth admitted. But to him she spent too much time caring about how she looked.
**********
Legolas noticed his cousin's eyes and glanced in that direction. He saw Tinfea and Givertha, who had tried several times to get Legolas to notice her. But he was never interested in a female elf in that way. Legolas looked back at his cousin and wondered about the kind of angry look in his eyes.
After the feasting was over, the dancing began. Legolas had to dance with many elves, at least those who would feel slighted if he didn't. Finally, getting a moment to himself, he sought out Tinfea.
**********
Tinfea wasn't asked to dance many dances. She never liked dancing, especially since she was clumsy. During one dance, she tripped over her partner's feet. They both fell into a table, causing different things to fall. Tinfea sighed and walked over to her chair. She sat there, watching all of the graceful dancers. Legolas found her there.
"Would you like to dance?" he asked.
Tinfea smiled at him. "Don't you know of my clumsiness?" she asked in return.
He held out his hand. "A friend never looks at another friend's faults." Tinfea took his hand and they whirled away to a faster song. They danced in silence for a few moments until Legolas brought up the topic she least wanted to talk about.
"You know that Vitralth feels horrible about what he did," Legolas stated.
Tinfea tensed up a bit. "I won't forgive him."
"He won't forgive himself," Legolas said. Tinfea looked at him curiously. He nodded his head in the direction of the high table. She glanced over there and saw Vitralth sitting there glumly, staring into space, a look of distress on his face. A little of her anger ebbed away, seeing how much he was suffering from her dislike of him. Vitralth looked up and Tinfea turned away.
"I really don't know why this has caused me to loose almost all of my trust in him," Tinfea said vaguely.
"Yes, but you two were so close. Can't you remember all of the good times we shared?"
"Yes, but right now I can't forgive him. It hasn't even been a day; give me some time, please." Tinfea tried to move away, but Legolas held onto her shoulders.
"Vitralth feels anguished over what he did. He has his fathers temper and battle lust in him, the same that caused his father's death. Do you think he can live happily knowing what he did and that you will not forgive him? Think about it, Tinfea. You have known each other for more than 300 years. Is your bond not strong enough to overcome this trouble?" Legolas had become angry with her stubbornness. He knew that he would probably regret his words but it was too late. He let go of her shoulders and strode away.
Tinfea blinked in surprise. Legolas usually had a calm head; he rarely said such forceful words. She shook her head and left the castle. She walked through the gardens, taking in their beauty in the soft moonlight. Cocking her head, Tinfea heard voices. She moved a little closer and heard what they said.
**********
Vitralth asked Legolas into the gardens to see what had happened. Legolas told him hesitantly about loosing his temper.
"Legolas, using forceful methods with her will never work!" he practically yelled, "She has a mind of her own and will not bow down to anger."
"I don't know what came over me. She was being so stubborn and you are in so much distress. I just want everything to be fine before I leave. It would hurt me so to know that the last I saw of you two you were not on speaking terms."
Vitralth calmed down a little. "I do not want you to leave. You are the only one I can talk to about this. I just can't believe this is happening." He sat down on a bench and put his head in his hands.
**********
From her viewpoint, Tinfea heard everything. When she saw Vitralth break down, she almost ran out to forgive and forget. Then she remembered the light in his eyes and darted away. She ran through the forest, stumbling and falling often. Finally she stopped and looked around. She was in the clearing where the battle had happened. She couldn't believe that it was just that morning. On the ground sat her and Vitralth's knives. The gems of her knives shone eerily in the shadows of the trees. Tinfea lay on the ground, memories flying through her head.