Chapter Two - NADRWYNNA
Elrond shot up the minute he heard an almighty bang echoing from one of the rooms down the corridor. He quickly pulled on his robe and went to investigate the source of the noise. It was no surprise to see Thranduil leaving Nadrwynna's room.
"She's gone?"
Thranduil nodded. "It must've been a dream she had."
When Elrond raised his eyebrows, he explained further. "She told Nilmade she dreamt of Legolas everytime she rested."
Elrond nodded. "Then we must trust her judgement as she already knows what has happened to Legolas. But, for their safety, send out trackers."
*
Legolas tried to pull himself up, but the pain in his leg was too excruciating. Obviously, the arrow was poisoned. Grimacing slightly, he closed his eyes and tried to clamber into the trees. Sulë stared at him, puzzled. When Legolas painstakingly managed to grasp a branch, the stallion moved forward and assisted him into the tree. From there, he smiled at the stallion and mumbled several words in Elvish.
"Net Nadrwynna, mellon nin." Sulë snorted. "Nuro lim!" He didn't want to leave his master. But when Legolas insisted, he turned and galloped into the field. It was only then that Legolas climbed higher into the tree and succumbed to his pain.
*
"But when did he pass through here?" persisted Nadrwynna. Gimli sighed. This elf was exactly like the one she was looking for – stubborn and annoying, but likeable and trustworthy.
"Naught but a day and a half ago." Gimli finally gave up. There was something terrifying in the Elf's eyes, and she seemed like a person who did not like to be toyed with. Besides, she was very heavily armed.
"Is there a place I can change?" The maiden's voice brought him out of him reverie.
"Pardon?" Gimli looked her up and down.
The Elf muttered something which sounded like 'blasted dwarf', but repeated her question.
"Why," he asked her suspiciously.
"A female Elf like myself cannot fight when wearing a dress."
Gimli nodded and pointed her to a dark corner. When she reemerged, he was amazed at the regal aura around her. A delicate silver headband rested on her head, and the blade she was holding glinted harshly in the light.
"That sword looks very much like Legolas'," the Dwarf muttered.
"It is," replied Nadrwynna matter of factly, sheathing the sword.
*
The princess left the mines ruled by Gimli, son of Gloin, shortly. She was already late, but much more comfortable. Her hair whipped around her face as Aire, her stallion, rode north. She was a lone figure, racing against time, to save the Prince of Mirkwood, before it was too late.
*
Legolas dreamt of the past, all the while he was in the tree – the day his mother passed into the Undying Lands, the day Thranduil found Nadrwynna, the day Nadrwynna's parents had died, the day Boromir perished….they kept haunting him….
*
"Ada, what's that?" six year old Legolas peered into the bundle of blankets his father held. Thranduil frowned.
"Careful, Legolas, Nadrwynna's a baby, and she's very fragile."
"I don't like it."
"Nadrwynna has a name, my son. She's not an 'it', she's a 'she'," corrected Thranduil absentmindedly.
"I still don't like her."
Thranduil sighed.
"Go away, Legolas. Let me put her to sleep, then we can talk."
The baby stared at the young prince, then reached out and yanked hard at the golden locks hanging down. Legolas yowled and pulled away instantly, glaring at the child with distaste.
"I see she likes you," said Gilgande, his elder brother entering the room. "How old is she, Ada?"
"One, one and a half?"
"A perfect playmate for Legolas, don't you think?" Gilgande teased his younger brother.
Legolas scowled, and retreated to his room to plot revenge.
That night, Thranduil boycotted the dinner.
"Gilgande, where's Ada?"
"Tending to Nadrwynna." He resumed his conversation with Glorfindel, the Lord who had brought the child from Rivendell. Feeling bored, Legolas slipped away to confront his father. He found the king humming a lullaby.
"Ada, why didn't you come for dinner?" he demanded.
"Nadrwynna wouldn't sleep," murmured the ruler.
"Why don't you go get something? I'll look after her while you're away," Legolas said innocently. Thranduil looked at him, a calculating look on his face.
Finally, he nodded. Gently handing the child to his son, he made his way to the hall below. Legolas looked at the baby. Even he had to admit she was very cute. Two shiny eyes stared back into his own. But he still didn't like her. She was a pain.
*
Even in his unconscious state, Legolas smiled. He had tried to throw her out of the window, wondering if she could climb trees the way he did. Unfortunately, at the same time, both Thranduil and Gilgande had returned. No matter how much Legolas had pleaded and begged, nothing would stop the punishment given to him, for both felt he had been trying to dispose of her.
For the next hundred years, he had spent his life being tutored in an elven city leagues from Mirkwood. When he returned to Mirkwood, a well-grown lad, Nadrwynna had left. Thranduil had told him she had gone to Lothlorien, to be under the care of the Lady of Light. He didn't see her until hundreds of years she returned to visit King Thranduil. The princess descending her horse was nothing short of beautiful. Seeing Legolas, she had just smiled, then gone to greet her foster father. But both still envied the other.
*
"LEGOLAS!" bellowed King Thranduil, striding into his son's bedroom. "I told you to keep those cursed ferrets out of the storage pits!"
Legolas sat up guiltily. Behind his father, Nadrwynna appeared, an equally guilty look on her face.
"No more archery for the next two months!" snapped Thranduil turning to leave.
"Ada," the Elf Princess began, when the Prince's face fell. "It was my fault." Legolas looked at Nadrwynna in shock. "Legolas asked me to feed them, and they escaped before I could lock them back in."
Thranduil stopped in his tracks. Then he faced her, a slight smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Then you shall also be punished. You shall learn archery under Legolas until you are the perfect archer."
The girl had grinned at the first part of the sentence, but her enthusiasm faded after she heard who was to be teaching her.
"And Legolas, your punishment will be to teach Nadrwynna your art of sword fighting and archery for asking her to fulfill your duties."
Both glared at each other.
*
"Arrrrgggghhhh!" Nadrwynna dropped her bow and rushed to the fence bordering the archery field, while an amused Legolas followed her. She found Gilgande plucking an arrow from the right side of his rear end. Blushing furiously, she apologised profusely.
"It seems your student is losing her skill," Gilgande had gasped. Legolas smiled even more.
"It was he who distracted me, Gilgande. He poked me before I fired."
"I figured."
*
"Legolas, it has been five years since you started teaching Nadrwynna archery, and she has become one of the finest archers I've ever seen. Many call her the Warrior of the Woods, now. As a reward, I want both of you to go on a journey to Rivendell, as my representatives," King Thranduil told his son.
"Yes, Ada," Legolas sighed. He himself had grown to admire his foster sister's skill with the bow and the blade.
He turned to leave, then stopped. "Ada, you never told me. Why did you adopt Nadrwynna?"
Thranduil looked at the prince and began his tale. "You are now mature enough to understand, I hope. But you must not say anything to Nadrwynna." When Legolas seated himself at his father's feet, and nodded, the king continued. "Her parents were attacked by Orcs three weeks before she was brought to Mirkwood, and were gravely wounded. As Nadrwynna was too young to be tended to, they sent her here. Her parents lost their memories- they were tortured and do not recognise her to this day. She thinks they are dead, but they are very much alive. They are under the care of Lord Elrond. That is why I'm asking you now, Legolas, to take care of her when you reach Rivendell. There is much she does not know, and it might come to her as a shock when Elrond tells her the truth."
Legolas didn't say anything. He felt horrible. Imagine having parents who didn't know you.
"But Ada, you kept this a secret from her for over two thousand years."
"She still hasn't recovered from the blow that her parents are dead. It may have happened centuries ago, but this is a scar which will take time to heal."
*
"But Ada, if I wear a dress, and we are attacked, I will not be able to defend myself!" protested Nadrwynna, following Thranduil into his chamber. Legolas, who lay stretched out on the floor sat up quickly.
"No, Nadrwynna, you must not dress like a tomboy- you are representing the female population of Mirkwood, might I remind you," argued Thranduil, knowing he would eventually give in.
"Precisely!" put in Legolas. Both the Elves glared at him.
"Amin merna quen, Legolas!" Nadrwynna snapped.
Legolas shrugged, and turned away, but listened in, all the same.
"Ada, please!" Nadrwynna begged. "Just this once!"
"Once!" snorted Thranduil. "What about when you visited Lothlorien? What about when you visited Minas Tirith with me? That was a business matter, and you turned up in breeches. I had never felt more embarrassed!"
Nadrwynna blushed. "I was late, and I didn't want to worry you by being late, so I came in what I was wearing!"
Legolas smiled. This was interesting. Seeing his son smile, Thranduil suddenly grinned.
"I will consent if………" he was interrupted by a hug from Nadrwynna and he held up his hand. "I haven't finished. I will consent if Legolas wears a dress instead of you."
A stiff silence ensued. Legolas gripped his sword, and stood up.
"I will wear a dress if Nadrwynna accepts my challenge. An archery duel."
Nadrwynna gaped. "But.........but.........Lord Thranduil," she said imploringly, looking at the King. Thranduil nodded.
"If you want to wear breeches, you must accept the challenge, young one." Before she could reply, he swept out of the room.
"After all, you are a tomboy," grinned Legolas.
*
Naturally, Legolas won the tournament, and Nadrwynna left the gates of Mirkwood with a petulant scowl on her face.
"Nadrwynna, pray do not be so stiff and silent," said Legolas innocently, as the two made their way deeper into the forests of Mirkwood.
Nadrwynna eyed him suspiciously. "If you had not decided to interrupt my conversation with Ada, I would not have had to fight you, and everyone would've been happy!"
Legolas shook his head. "No, young one, I had already meant to challenge you. After all, your skill with the blade has greatly improved."
"Do not call me young one! I am barely five years younger than you!" Despite this, she still blushed at his compliment.
The rest of the journey was made in silence, except for the occasional laughter of the attendants, which was smothered quickly. The Prince and Princess ignored the other until the gates of Rivendell came into view.
"Nadrwynna! Legolas! Nae saian luume'. Creoso!" greeted Lord Elrond once the royal party had reached. "I hope your journey was comfortable."
Both grimaced at each other. Elrond laughed. "Come young ones, you must be hungry. Vasa ar' yulna en i'mereth," he added, leading them into the great hall.
*
That night, Legolas had woken up to find an excruciating pain in his stomach.
"You must've eaten too much, Legolas," said a soft voice from behind him, when he left his room to visit the library of the establishment.
He whirled around, instantly gripping his daggers. Nadrwynna stood behind him.
"Why are you following me?" he demanded.
"I couldn't sleep," she sighed. Noticing the Princess looked preoccupied, he tentatively asked her if she was alright. Nadrwynna didn't answer.
"Nadrwynna, are you alright?"
Her rage broke over him.
"Legolas, for the past two thousand years I have lived with the burden of my parent's deaths. And now, I return to Rivendell to find them alive, but with no memories of me. Do you know what they said to me? Child, I do not know you. Where are you from?"
Legolas stared, then sighed. She knows, he thought.
"Maybe you are mistaken, Nadrwynna," he suggested quietly.
"No, I am not," she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I looked into my own eyes when I saw my mother."
For a minute or so, Legolas was at a loss for words. Then he gently embraced her. "It will take time for scars to heal, Nadrwynna. Give them time to remember."
If he had tried to hug her on any other occasion, he would have found himself staring at the ceiling. But this time, she didn't say anything. She just clutched on to his shoulder, tears pouring out.
"Tula, lle anta est," he said and gently steered her to her room. But she wouldn't rest.
She just sat by the couch, crying. Legolas' heart went out to her. Finally he sat down by her side and sang a soft Elven tune his father had sung to him when he was young. It worked like a charm both ways. Within minutes, both Elves were asleep on the floor.
That night had changed the competition between the two. Their remaining days in Rivendell had been spent together, along with Elrohir, Elladan, and Arwen, and it wasn't long before love blossomed.
*
Legolas smiled at the memory, and unconsciously gripped the wound. His light was fading and he knew it. His only hope was Sulë.
*
"Nuro lim, you blasted horse!" muttered Nadrwynna, as she raced the wind. The light of the Mirkwood warrior was diminishing …she could feel it.
*
"Must I wear a dress, Arwen?" hissed Nadrwynna, as she followed her friend to the changing rooms.
Arwen laughed, a delicious and enticing sound. "Yes, young one."
Nadrwynna scowled.
"You look very attractive when you do that. No wonder young Thranduillon admires you," said Arwen, rummaging through her closet.
The younger Elf glared at her. "He certainly does not! And, as I keep reminding every single Elf who I encounter, I am NOT 'young' anymore. I'm over two thousand years old!"
"Then Ada is a beetle sitting in a tree. Here, try this on."
"What are you implying?" asked the latter, looking at the dress as though it were something foul stuck on her boot.
"That you are young by Elvish standards. Ada is almost five thousand," said that Lady proudly.
"It's only two-fifths, then."
Arwen sighed dramatically. "By the time you wear a suitable dress, I will be old and gray."
"Nay, that is not so. You are the Evenstar, Undomiel. Lle naa vanima. Your beauty will never diminish"
"Flattery will get you nowhere, mellon nin. Now hurry up and change, before I hold my sword against your throat!"
"You don't have a sword," reminded the rebel.
"You do," said Arwen, yanking the blade from Nadrwynna. "Nuro lim, Wynna, you have already held up Legolas long enough!" Nadrwynna glared at her, but proceeded into the changing room.
"If I had several toads with me, I would put them down your neck!" she countered through the curtains.
"And had I Ada's beetles, I would do the same."
"Whose beetles?" Arwen turned to see the Prince of Mirkwood, leaning casually on the doorframe.
"Ah, Thranduillon, you are just in time to see the jest of Imladris," smiled Arwen.
"Ai, but what is it? And why are you clutching Nadrwynna's sword so tightly in your hand? And besides, those who call me Thranduillon are normally thrown into the dungeons of Mirkwood." said the Prince.
"Mirkwood has only cellars."
"With spiders, and wine of course," continued Legolas.
"The joke is me!" interrupted Nadrwynna exiting the changing area. All Legolas could do was stare. She looked pretty, but……… ridiculous. And then he laughed.
"I believe," he gasped through the laughter issuing from the Evenstar as well, "a spider in the dungeons I just mentioned would look better in a dress!"
The one on display's eyes flashed. "Auta miqula orqu!" she snapped rudely, before turning on her heel and storming away. "And while I'm on the subject, let me tell you this! Lle holma ve' edan ar' dolle naa lost!"
Legolas laughed even harder at that.
*
*Translations:
Net Nadrwynna, mellon nin – get Nadrwynna, my friend.
Nuro lim – hurry!
Amin merna quen – I wish to speak
Nae saian luume' – it has been too long
Creoso – Welcome
Vasa ar' yulna en i'mereth – Eat and drink of the feast
Lle naa vanima – You are beautiful
Auta miqula orqu – Go kiss an Orc
Lle holma ve' edan ar' dolle naa lost – You smell like a man and your head is empty