Authors Note: Thank you for all your reviews. I'm glad that some of you are
enjoying this so far as I was not sure how it would turn out when I first
started writing this.
So many of you who have reviewed want Leggy alive *considers idea at length* maybe I could find a way with out it becoming predictable... I will think it through but if I do then this fic may become a lot longer and complicated than I had originally intended, *sigh* my imagination is beginning to run wild again.
Chapter Three
Shaking her head slightly, Aranel cleared her mind before stepping back in the kitchen where Gwen was patiently waiting for her.
Her head felt strangely lighter with out the weight of her long golden hair. It now hung to just under her chin, still enabling her to conceal the faintly pointed tips to her delicate elven ears. Her clothes must have seemed slightly odd to Gwen but she did not say anything as the older woman caught sight of her with the cloak now loosely hanging about her shoulders revealing the soft black leggings and long, mid thigh length grey tunic appeared more elven than human.
"Pretty young thing aren't you." Gwen smiled an almost motherly expression on her face. "I don't know why you were hiding yourself behind that hood but I suppose you must have your reasons."
Aranel nodded, looking a little startled as Gwen held out one of the large baking trays for her to take. Gently dropping her leather bag on to the table she then reached out and accepted the tray.
"Will my belongings be safe if I..."
"Yes of course no one else uses these kitchens but me don't you worry." Gwen took the second large tray in her work weathered hands. "It is not far to walk." She turned and flicked the door latch with her elbow and kicking it open with her left foot. "Follow me."
~*~
The walk up to the palace did not take long although Aranel was quickly learning to put her elven senses to good use as she had to carefully avoid soldiers on horse back and running children who obviously were not very aware of her.
The palace itself was bigger and grander than she had expected, having only ever seen it from a distance before on her travels with Gimli many years ago. She had always wanted to see it up close. As a child she had dreamed of running through its cold, stone corridors believing that she could be a human princess in a beautiful floor length gown. But her childish dreams had swiftly faded as Gimli told her stories of human royalty and a life with out freedom.
'A human king and his family do not live as you dream.' He had explained to her once as they were stumbling through thick, damp under growth towards the mouth of the dark caves of Moria. 'He is ruled as much by his people as they are by him.'
'What do you mean?" She had foolishly asked being young she had not quite grasped the meaning of his words.
'A king is only a king until his people turn against him." He stopped walking for a moment and placed a caring hand upon her arm. 'For example if a king fell in love with someone whom his subjects did not think was suitable then they could ignore his rulings.'
'But is that not unfair, when I fall in love no one will stop me from being with my true mate.'
Looking back she remembered the dwarf shaking his head almost in sympathy, she now knew he had been telling a similar tale to that of her father's separation.
"Are ya still with me Aranel?" Gwen's question made her jump slightly and brought her mind immediately back to the present situation.
Looking up at the grey, stone walls in front of her she realised that they had reached the palace.
"Yes," She replied hastily. "I am still here."
"Good." Gwen smiled. "Now keep close to me, we can't have you wondering off around the palace and getting lost now can we!"
Aranel shook her head and stepped closer to the older woman, making sure that she was never more than a few steps behind as they began walking again.
Passing through one of the main gates they followed the path through the courtyard but veered off to the left down a lesser used walk way.
"This path leads down to the back entrance of the kitchens." Gwen murmured.
"Why is the bread not made with in the palace?" Aranel asked curiously. "If you do not mid my asking?" She hurried to add.
"Not at all ask away young one." Gwen came to a stop outside a dark wooden door and tapped on it twice with her leather clad foot. "They don't always have time here in the palace always so busy preparing feasts and banquets for the many visitors they have. A friend of mine works up here some times and a few years ago she was complaining about having too much to do so I offered to do the baking once and a while, for a fee of course, to help out. And I have been doing it every morning since along with other chores around and about the palace."
Gwen frowned as she finished her sentence. "Is anyone going to answer this blasted door?" She muttered under her breath, Aranel's elven hearing heard her clearly although she did not show that she had.
The door finally creaked open.
"About time." Gwen said loudly before pushing her way through in to the kitchen beyond.
"Gwen you impatient..."
"Hold your forked tongue Max! There's a young lady present." Gwen hissed forcing the tray heavily down on to the nearest space of empty counter with a thud.
Aranel followed her example, stepping past the middle aged, bearded man and putting down the tray, although her tray was placed down gently rather than with Gwen's force.
"This is Aranel she's helping me out for a bit." Gwen said roughly.
"What happened to the boy? Scare him away did ya?" He laughed closing the door behind them. As soon as it was shut the light became dim. She had not noticed at first but now Aranel saw that there was only one small window with in the kitchen it took her eyes a few seconds to adjust to the difference.
"Nay, I caught the young lad thieving." She grumbled. "Now what is it you need me for today?"
~*~
"Aragorn!" The king looked up as Elrohir waked into his study without knocking, interrupting the solitude that he had been seeking for most of the morning.
"What is it you wish Elrohir?" He sighed before standing up from his desk chair and wandering over towards the window. Staring out he noticed his youngest daughter, Lote, who once again appeared to be fraternising with the young soldiers. He had given up trying to discourage her from her obvious flirting, he had even relented and just asked her to be more discreet but she had taken no notice of his words.
"I wished to discover why you insist on moping around in your study alone?" Elrohir said stepping further into the room until he finally stood next to his foster brother.
"I have not changed my ways for nearly eighteen years why do you suddenly believe that I should change now?" Aragorn refused to turn and meet the elf's gaze, his eyes still fixed on his daughter, a look of annoyance on his face.
"Because it is about time that you remembered your family!" Elrohir hissed.
"I know my family." He growled back.
"Do you?" Elrohir looked unconvinced. "I have been here for less than fourteen days and I am yet to see you in the company of your wife or children! I have heard Arwen complain constantly about the lack of your presence, and although they say nothing I have no doubt that they could do with more of your influence."
Aragorn spun round and gasped Elrohir's arm firmly.
"Did my dear wife explain that the reason that she lacks my company is because rarely shares my bed? Has she told you that she has bedded nearly every lord that attends my court and that her youngest daughter is closely following her path?" Aragorn glared straight into the eyes of the dark elf.
"How dare you accuse my sister of..." Elrohir began, pulling away angrily from the mans grasp.
"No, your sister is not the innocent creature that she pretends to be and you are well aware of that."
Elrohir took in a deep breath, calming his emotions. What Aragorn said was true, Arwen was no angel but Aragorn had hardly been the caring husband and father that he should have been.
"Elrohir, please may we continue this discussion later my head is beginning to spin and I have a large amount of paper work that I need to complete by this eve."
Elrohir glanced up, his eyes scanning his brother's expression surprised by the dejected look that had replaced his foster brother's anger.
"Aye, I will come and find you tomorrow when you are less busy." Elrohir said finally. He rubbed his hand up and down Aragorn's arm comfortingly before turning and leaving the room.
Aragorn sighed in relief as he was once again leave to his own company.
~*~
The morning seemed to drag on forever. Not that Aranel was complaining about the menial work, she just had other things on her mind.
As she washed down the work tops her mind continued to process everything Gimli had told her about her human father. She needed to know where to start searching. She scowled suddenly as something she had not considered before crept into her mind. If she did find him how would he react to her? He thought that she was long dead would he even believe what she said was true. Would she have the courage to break up a family by marching and explaining who she was?
"Day dreaming can be dangerous."
She spun round and glared at the intruder. A dark haired boy, no a man, stood in the doorway his dark eyes fixed on her form.
"Can it." She stated before turning back to her cleaning. "Well I will endeavour to remember that, thank you for informing me." She did not mean to sound so sarcastic but he had startled her, it was a reaction that Gimli had unintentionally taught her well.
"I did not mean to insult you." He replied stepping further into the room. It was not until he moved that Aranel remembered that she had been alone in the kitchen after Gwen had been asked to help out else where in the palace.
"You did not." She hastened to reassure hoping that he would leave. It was not that she could not defend her self for that was one thing she had leant to do from an early age but she still did not like the idea of being cornered. "I was merely startled."
"Good, I would hate to think that I had offended you in someway." She could hear the smile in his words.
"No of course not but should you not be else where?" She shut her eyes for a moment hoping that when she opened them he would be gone.
"I have wondered this palace from top to bottom and from back to front and I am yet to meet anyone as fiery as you."
She turned back to look at him, noticing his formal robes she silently cursed herself for not seeing them before. "I apologise for my words my lord for I am new to this place and did not realise..."
"No, please do not apologise." He placed his hand gently upon her shoulder, smiling kindly. "I to am new and a visitor here. I am also unused to the strange ways of men."
She stared at him stunned, he could not possibly have meant what he had just said, but the longer she stared at him especially now close up she could plainly see that he was not human. His skin was far too pale and his hair to long and to silky.
Aranel slowly moved her arm, gently raising her hand and carefully brushing his soft dark hair back behind his left ear. There she could see the pointed tip, far more prominent that her own.
He caught her hand before she could draw back, using his other hand to push back her own hair and reveal one of her own ears.
"You are a rare find." He whispered. "I knew you could not be human."
Aranel drew back, pulling out of his grasp and moving further into the kitchen.
"My father was human." She scowled picking up her cloth once again and turning to soak it in a basin of water.
"A half elf is still an elf." He said but this time he did not attempt to follow her movements. "I must alert my uncle your presence here. An elf should not be working for human kind."
"I will work where I please." She retorted suddenly annoyed at his comments, she was no better than anyone one else, human, elf or dwarf. She rung out the damp cloth roughly, before rubbing down the nearest work surface.
"But we elves, half or not, are sacred creatures we should not be working for those lesser than ourselves."
"You think to highly of yourself." She snapped, refusing to turn to face him. "I prefer to pay my own way through life rather than live off of others."
She heard him sigh heavily and froze as she heard him step closer.
"Forgive my rash words." He began slowly, considering his words carefully. "I obviously do not know of what I speak. I have grown up in luxury where as obviously you have not."
"I had a wonderful childhood!" She growled spinning round to face him, how dare he insinuate that she had not.
"Peace friend, that is not what I meant." He shook his head and chuckled softly. "May we begin once again, good day to your fair lady my name is Tavaril." He bowed his head slightly. "May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"
She searched his eyes for a moment before finally relenting.
"Aranel."
"Princess." He said softly.
"I'm sorry?" She did not quite hear what he had said.
"Your name, it translates as princess in Quenya."
"I know." She whispered her wiping down of the work top faltered.
~*~
TBC...
Please R&R
Lote: Flower
Tavaril: Spirit of the forest
So many of you who have reviewed want Leggy alive *considers idea at length* maybe I could find a way with out it becoming predictable... I will think it through but if I do then this fic may become a lot longer and complicated than I had originally intended, *sigh* my imagination is beginning to run wild again.
Chapter Three
Shaking her head slightly, Aranel cleared her mind before stepping back in the kitchen where Gwen was patiently waiting for her.
Her head felt strangely lighter with out the weight of her long golden hair. It now hung to just under her chin, still enabling her to conceal the faintly pointed tips to her delicate elven ears. Her clothes must have seemed slightly odd to Gwen but she did not say anything as the older woman caught sight of her with the cloak now loosely hanging about her shoulders revealing the soft black leggings and long, mid thigh length grey tunic appeared more elven than human.
"Pretty young thing aren't you." Gwen smiled an almost motherly expression on her face. "I don't know why you were hiding yourself behind that hood but I suppose you must have your reasons."
Aranel nodded, looking a little startled as Gwen held out one of the large baking trays for her to take. Gently dropping her leather bag on to the table she then reached out and accepted the tray.
"Will my belongings be safe if I..."
"Yes of course no one else uses these kitchens but me don't you worry." Gwen took the second large tray in her work weathered hands. "It is not far to walk." She turned and flicked the door latch with her elbow and kicking it open with her left foot. "Follow me."
~*~
The walk up to the palace did not take long although Aranel was quickly learning to put her elven senses to good use as she had to carefully avoid soldiers on horse back and running children who obviously were not very aware of her.
The palace itself was bigger and grander than she had expected, having only ever seen it from a distance before on her travels with Gimli many years ago. She had always wanted to see it up close. As a child she had dreamed of running through its cold, stone corridors believing that she could be a human princess in a beautiful floor length gown. But her childish dreams had swiftly faded as Gimli told her stories of human royalty and a life with out freedom.
'A human king and his family do not live as you dream.' He had explained to her once as they were stumbling through thick, damp under growth towards the mouth of the dark caves of Moria. 'He is ruled as much by his people as they are by him.'
'What do you mean?" She had foolishly asked being young she had not quite grasped the meaning of his words.
'A king is only a king until his people turn against him." He stopped walking for a moment and placed a caring hand upon her arm. 'For example if a king fell in love with someone whom his subjects did not think was suitable then they could ignore his rulings.'
'But is that not unfair, when I fall in love no one will stop me from being with my true mate.'
Looking back she remembered the dwarf shaking his head almost in sympathy, she now knew he had been telling a similar tale to that of her father's separation.
"Are ya still with me Aranel?" Gwen's question made her jump slightly and brought her mind immediately back to the present situation.
Looking up at the grey, stone walls in front of her she realised that they had reached the palace.
"Yes," She replied hastily. "I am still here."
"Good." Gwen smiled. "Now keep close to me, we can't have you wondering off around the palace and getting lost now can we!"
Aranel shook her head and stepped closer to the older woman, making sure that she was never more than a few steps behind as they began walking again.
Passing through one of the main gates they followed the path through the courtyard but veered off to the left down a lesser used walk way.
"This path leads down to the back entrance of the kitchens." Gwen murmured.
"Why is the bread not made with in the palace?" Aranel asked curiously. "If you do not mid my asking?" She hurried to add.
"Not at all ask away young one." Gwen came to a stop outside a dark wooden door and tapped on it twice with her leather clad foot. "They don't always have time here in the palace always so busy preparing feasts and banquets for the many visitors they have. A friend of mine works up here some times and a few years ago she was complaining about having too much to do so I offered to do the baking once and a while, for a fee of course, to help out. And I have been doing it every morning since along with other chores around and about the palace."
Gwen frowned as she finished her sentence. "Is anyone going to answer this blasted door?" She muttered under her breath, Aranel's elven hearing heard her clearly although she did not show that she had.
The door finally creaked open.
"About time." Gwen said loudly before pushing her way through in to the kitchen beyond.
"Gwen you impatient..."
"Hold your forked tongue Max! There's a young lady present." Gwen hissed forcing the tray heavily down on to the nearest space of empty counter with a thud.
Aranel followed her example, stepping past the middle aged, bearded man and putting down the tray, although her tray was placed down gently rather than with Gwen's force.
"This is Aranel she's helping me out for a bit." Gwen said roughly.
"What happened to the boy? Scare him away did ya?" He laughed closing the door behind them. As soon as it was shut the light became dim. She had not noticed at first but now Aranel saw that there was only one small window with in the kitchen it took her eyes a few seconds to adjust to the difference.
"Nay, I caught the young lad thieving." She grumbled. "Now what is it you need me for today?"
~*~
"Aragorn!" The king looked up as Elrohir waked into his study without knocking, interrupting the solitude that he had been seeking for most of the morning.
"What is it you wish Elrohir?" He sighed before standing up from his desk chair and wandering over towards the window. Staring out he noticed his youngest daughter, Lote, who once again appeared to be fraternising with the young soldiers. He had given up trying to discourage her from her obvious flirting, he had even relented and just asked her to be more discreet but she had taken no notice of his words.
"I wished to discover why you insist on moping around in your study alone?" Elrohir said stepping further into the room until he finally stood next to his foster brother.
"I have not changed my ways for nearly eighteen years why do you suddenly believe that I should change now?" Aragorn refused to turn and meet the elf's gaze, his eyes still fixed on his daughter, a look of annoyance on his face.
"Because it is about time that you remembered your family!" Elrohir hissed.
"I know my family." He growled back.
"Do you?" Elrohir looked unconvinced. "I have been here for less than fourteen days and I am yet to see you in the company of your wife or children! I have heard Arwen complain constantly about the lack of your presence, and although they say nothing I have no doubt that they could do with more of your influence."
Aragorn spun round and gasped Elrohir's arm firmly.
"Did my dear wife explain that the reason that she lacks my company is because rarely shares my bed? Has she told you that she has bedded nearly every lord that attends my court and that her youngest daughter is closely following her path?" Aragorn glared straight into the eyes of the dark elf.
"How dare you accuse my sister of..." Elrohir began, pulling away angrily from the mans grasp.
"No, your sister is not the innocent creature that she pretends to be and you are well aware of that."
Elrohir took in a deep breath, calming his emotions. What Aragorn said was true, Arwen was no angel but Aragorn had hardly been the caring husband and father that he should have been.
"Elrohir, please may we continue this discussion later my head is beginning to spin and I have a large amount of paper work that I need to complete by this eve."
Elrohir glanced up, his eyes scanning his brother's expression surprised by the dejected look that had replaced his foster brother's anger.
"Aye, I will come and find you tomorrow when you are less busy." Elrohir said finally. He rubbed his hand up and down Aragorn's arm comfortingly before turning and leaving the room.
Aragorn sighed in relief as he was once again leave to his own company.
~*~
The morning seemed to drag on forever. Not that Aranel was complaining about the menial work, she just had other things on her mind.
As she washed down the work tops her mind continued to process everything Gimli had told her about her human father. She needed to know where to start searching. She scowled suddenly as something she had not considered before crept into her mind. If she did find him how would he react to her? He thought that she was long dead would he even believe what she said was true. Would she have the courage to break up a family by marching and explaining who she was?
"Day dreaming can be dangerous."
She spun round and glared at the intruder. A dark haired boy, no a man, stood in the doorway his dark eyes fixed on her form.
"Can it." She stated before turning back to her cleaning. "Well I will endeavour to remember that, thank you for informing me." She did not mean to sound so sarcastic but he had startled her, it was a reaction that Gimli had unintentionally taught her well.
"I did not mean to insult you." He replied stepping further into the room. It was not until he moved that Aranel remembered that she had been alone in the kitchen after Gwen had been asked to help out else where in the palace.
"You did not." She hastened to reassure hoping that he would leave. It was not that she could not defend her self for that was one thing she had leant to do from an early age but she still did not like the idea of being cornered. "I was merely startled."
"Good, I would hate to think that I had offended you in someway." She could hear the smile in his words.
"No of course not but should you not be else where?" She shut her eyes for a moment hoping that when she opened them he would be gone.
"I have wondered this palace from top to bottom and from back to front and I am yet to meet anyone as fiery as you."
She turned back to look at him, noticing his formal robes she silently cursed herself for not seeing them before. "I apologise for my words my lord for I am new to this place and did not realise..."
"No, please do not apologise." He placed his hand gently upon her shoulder, smiling kindly. "I to am new and a visitor here. I am also unused to the strange ways of men."
She stared at him stunned, he could not possibly have meant what he had just said, but the longer she stared at him especially now close up she could plainly see that he was not human. His skin was far too pale and his hair to long and to silky.
Aranel slowly moved her arm, gently raising her hand and carefully brushing his soft dark hair back behind his left ear. There she could see the pointed tip, far more prominent that her own.
He caught her hand before she could draw back, using his other hand to push back her own hair and reveal one of her own ears.
"You are a rare find." He whispered. "I knew you could not be human."
Aranel drew back, pulling out of his grasp and moving further into the kitchen.
"My father was human." She scowled picking up her cloth once again and turning to soak it in a basin of water.
"A half elf is still an elf." He said but this time he did not attempt to follow her movements. "I must alert my uncle your presence here. An elf should not be working for human kind."
"I will work where I please." She retorted suddenly annoyed at his comments, she was no better than anyone one else, human, elf or dwarf. She rung out the damp cloth roughly, before rubbing down the nearest work surface.
"But we elves, half or not, are sacred creatures we should not be working for those lesser than ourselves."
"You think to highly of yourself." She snapped, refusing to turn to face him. "I prefer to pay my own way through life rather than live off of others."
She heard him sigh heavily and froze as she heard him step closer.
"Forgive my rash words." He began slowly, considering his words carefully. "I obviously do not know of what I speak. I have grown up in luxury where as obviously you have not."
"I had a wonderful childhood!" She growled spinning round to face him, how dare he insinuate that she had not.
"Peace friend, that is not what I meant." He shook his head and chuckled softly. "May we begin once again, good day to your fair lady my name is Tavaril." He bowed his head slightly. "May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"
She searched his eyes for a moment before finally relenting.
"Aranel."
"Princess." He said softly.
"I'm sorry?" She did not quite hear what he had said.
"Your name, it translates as princess in Quenya."
"I know." She whispered her wiping down of the work top faltered.
~*~
TBC...
Please R&R
Lote: Flower
Tavaril: Spirit of the forest