Chapter Two: A Forgotten Face
Sitting her in room crying her eye's out. All she ever wanted to do is travel to see the world and all its wonders. Nevertheless, her uncle insists on a young marriage, never truly letting her be happy. He does not see that she is content with her life in Rivendell. I think I have met every elven prince in this entire universe, all but one. His Royal Highness Prince Legolas it is said that he is the most humble and handsome of them all. Why could not my uncle have arranged for the two of us to meet? She laughed to herself. Ariella turned to hear the creaking door open, only to see Arwen.
"Hello Ella. I am sorry about father he does only wish to make you happy. But you've seem to reject all elven princes." Arwen said sitting on her bed wiping away Ariella's tears.
"Not all of them he has not introduced me to Prince Legolas. Oh Arwen I have read so much about him well at least all that happened in The Fellowship of The Ring. Is true that he really does have crystal blue eye's, glimmering blonde hair. And a tall muscular body and a beautiful face?" Ariella asked enthusiastically biting her lower lip.
"Yes it is true the young prince is very handsome, but in the years of late his heart has become cold and unloving perhaps that is why my father did not wish you to meet him. Although you to would make a beautiful pair, he is not as he use to be." Arwen said sadly. Ariella did not respond that in fact she was very disappointed. Dinner came all too soon, and Ariella is forced to face her uncle.
Surprisingly he was not upset with her, in fact he had a task her for to handle. The Prince Legolas had captured the chief commander Arimir. Lord Elrond wishes her to go and retrieve him, with as little blood shed as possible. Ariella hugs her uncle tightly and thanks him repeatedly. He was happy to see a sincere smile spread across her elven face.
"You are to leave right now. Food and drink are ready for you. Artemis awaits you at Rivendell's Gates. You weapon and when I say weapon I mean your giant boomerang is also waiting with you in your room." He said hugging her tightly and kissed her forehead. "Namaarië little one," He whispered in her ear.
She smiled and thanked him rushing off to her room. Ariella dressed in her tunic adding the last touches her leather elbow length arm cuffs, and her elven cape. Her tunic is all black along with her cape, Artemis and her blend in perfectly together.
The finally touch her giant boomerang which she places over her shoulders, held onto by a leather strap. Ariella wields this great weapon by throwing it at her enemies although she has never had any but during her training sessions, she has proved to be deadly with it. It was made from the bone of a dragon; his name was Eriol who died honorably fighting Caspia to protect the city. With his last dying birth, he wished for his arm to be cut off and the bone to be made into a weapon for Ariella, and so his wish was fulfilled. Before Eriol died he was to protect the young princess forever, and that was the only way he knew how.
At first, the young elven princess was horrible at wielding it, in fact the first time she picked it up right after she turned one thousand years old. She almost killed Arwen when she threw it into the forest. Luckily, Arwen jumped out of the way in the knick of time. Now Ariella is more deadly with her one six-foot boomerang than a ten elves put together.
She climbs a top her giant saber tooth cats' back. Ariella waves goodbye to her family. Heading for the Hithaeglir Mountains, she will then have to cross them. After crossing them, she will arrive at the Anduin River, and then it is just a hop skip and a jump to Mirkwood and its treacherous forest. Riding on Artemis four to almost twelve straight hours none stop, she is finally over the Hithaeglir Mountains, and has just past the Anduin River.
A heavy fog hovers over the forests of Mirkwood, the young prince looks over his balcony. Ariella spots the palace not too far off into the distance. Within a matter of minutes, she is at the palace gates. An ominous presence is all about her, and she can sense within the castle the presence of her dear friend Arimir. I'm coming Arimir! Although I hope, it will not be by force. She thought to herself. Sensing him in the dungeons of Mirkwoods palace Ariella moves quickly.
Little one there is a presence in this fog. Artemis warned but it was too late. An arrow rushes past Ariella's face scratching her cheekbone. The blood trickles down her cheek.
Focusing all her energy on finding the assassin in the fog, she finds them and throws her giant boomerang at them, but it has been thrown back at her with an arrow embedded on it. The fog clears and she sees the elven prince. His pale wheat blonde hair, crystal blue eyes and semolina pink lips stand out clear in the starlit darkness. As the fog clears around Ariella, he now has a clear view of her face. His in turn becomes angry and a fire burns within his eyes that of which Ariella has never seen before.
"Your highness I wish to speak to you about the imprisonment of my friend Arimir." Legolas makes no movement but glares. "Your highness?" Ariella looked at him cautiously.
"I thought I banished you fifty years ago. What are you doing here Caspia?" Legolas asked his voice angry.
"Caspia?" Ariella asked confused.
"I spared your life then you will not be so lucky this time!" Legolas said shooting five arrows at Ariella. She quickly blocks them with her giant weapon, while Artemis breathes fire from his mouth he almost hits the prince, but Legolas's reflexes are too quick.
"Your highness I don't know what you are talking about my name is Ariella not Caspia. How dare you mistake me for the murderer of my people!" She yelled throwing her boomerang, knowing that the prince would move she aimed it for his next position. As it whirled back through the air, it hit him dead on. Knocking him to the ground, he is shocked at the strength of this young girl.
An elderly woman runs out of the palace and into the middle of the fight. Pleading with both of them to stop. Explaining to Legolas that she had just received a letter to let him know that Ariella was going to be arriving in the city soon. Describing her perfectly from her raven black hair to her brown tan skin. Legolas apologized, as did Ariella. Noticing he was wounded she offered to dress his wounds. The young prince accepted.
Ariella led the prince back into the palace. Her gaze wondered as it often did in a new place. The elder elven woman brought them into what appeared to be the study. Sitting down Ariella undid his tunic shirt and found large bruises on his side. His ribs have been broken; he will remain bed ridden for only a week. Since he is of elven kind, he will not take as long to heal. Ariella has explained to Legolas who she is and what she came to do. He has agreed to let Arimir go free.
A taunting question remains within the very depth of her soul. Why did he mistake me for Caspia? She asked herself repeatedly. It has only been one night in which she spent that night watching over Legolas. Using her power of telepathy, she moved him into his own room. Where he now is sleeping peacefully. Ariella still finds she is unable to sleep. Her mind wonders to its own will.
I have never seen Caspia not by person or painting. Nevertheless, for him to assume that I was she must mean something right? I mean my parents were killed when I was so young, I never did see her. Now I wonder do I really look like her? Do I really look like the woman who murdered my parents all those centuries ago? Those questions nagged her throughout the night. The young prince awoke and saw the troubling look upon her face.
"What is it that makes you so troubled?" Legolas asked curiously forcing himself up.
"Wondering how could you mistake me for the woman who killed my parents?" She answered his questioned with her own, as the tears rushed to her face.
For the first time Legolas really looked at Ariella, and saw that, she looks nothing like her. The only part of her being that resembles his enemy is her raven black hair. Caspia has fair skin, midnight blue eyes, and raven hair. Ariella has brown tan skin, raven hair, and beautiful brown eyes. He stumbles to the scared little princess, and hugs her tightly. He whispered in her ear while holding her.
"I'm sorry," he said wiping away her tears. "You look nothing like her but last night you reminded me of her. Your hair is the color of hers. But Caspia has fair skin, midnight blue eyes, and raven hair." Legolas described the evil sorceress perfectly. "But you my lady are much more beautiful." He said caressing her cheek.
Over the next several days, they learned that they have much in common. Their love of literature had brought them too many debates over certain things. Ariella loved hearing Legolas's side of the story of The Fellowship of The Ring. She was fascinated with his every detail during the battle of Helms Deep. Still one questioned remained in her mind. Why did he become so angry when he thought I was Caspia? She had asked herself this repeatedly.
The day finally came, Legolas is now able to move around on his own, he has grown quiet fond of Ariella, and she in turn has done the same. Nevertheless, they still find things about each other that are shrouded in mystery. He never speaks about his past and neither does she, all they know is that they both hate and despise Caspia with a passion unlike any other. Ariella found it strange all the things that people had mentioned about Legolas were false, and in fact, it could not be further from the truth. He is kind, gentle, and loving.
His people adore him and he often lets the small elven children into the palace courtyard to play. Ariella has even caught him playing with them. The children play a game of what they call The Last Battle in which Legolas is a warrior elf, and a small elf girl is the princess waiting for a rescuer to come for her and save her from the evil dark Lord Sauron. Ariella would smile to herself as she watched a small smile grow upon his face.
Watching them, play as she often did Legolas looked up to her and this time it was her turn to smile. Waving her down, Ariella runs speedily down the halls and into the courtyard. Bursting out of the palace doors, she frightens the small children. All except one, a small elven boy dressed in a green tunic. He carries himself proudly even for such a young age. Walking up her his face stern and unloving. She crouches down to meet his face, smiling. The boy reaches for her hand and smiles.
"Come my lady you will be the princess and I will be your protector!" He said rushing into a small grove of trees.
"Oh wait a minute now. I would like to know the name of my protector." Ariella said crouching beneath the trees while the young boy holds a small sword.
"Of course my lady." He said bowing. "I am Yuriel son Yuril." A great pride filled his voice.
"It is nice to meet you Yuriel." Ariella bowed, sensing Legolas's presence close to trees. "Ha!" She yelled twirling around into his arms.
"I've captured you little princess!" Legolas said holding her closer. Yuriel saw that they wanted to be alone so he motioned to the other children to leave. Tapping Ariella's shoulder she turns and bows to the small elven child. Turning back to Legolas, she smiles.
"I want you to join me for dinner tonight. Do you accept my invitation?" He asked his gentle tone clear and present.
"I would like that," her smile sincere. His hand traced down her arm and found her hand. His finger laced with Ariella's his touch warm to her body.
Usually when elf guy made a move on her, she would reject him in the most embarrassing way. However, with Legolas it is different. She finds him irresistible, their can be all these people around and he will make her feel like she is the only on there the only person that matters to him. Legolas leads Ariella back to her room she stops in front of the door not wanting to let go of his hand, letting out a sigh she turns and kisses his cheek. Turning a bright shade of red she smiles and runs with lighting speed into her room, leaving the prince to stand their in pure amazement. He touches the place where Ariella kissed.