A/N: Sorry about the wait! I had a severe case of writer's block, and then
I got confused and thought that this chapter was the next chapter, so...
yeah. I DON'T OWN LOTR!!!
And now for the story that you have all been so patiently waiting for.
When Legolas awoke the next morning, it was to a loud bang on his window. Yawning, he got out of bed and opened the window to tell whoever was throwing rocks to go away... And was hit with a rock on the forehead. Elenna stood under a tree, laughing at Maqueden, who was holding a rock and looking quite embarrassed. Neither had to work, considering the pleasant fact that they both had the day off.
"Sorry!" Maqueden called up to him. "You should move faster!"
"You shouldn't throw rocks at royalty!" Legolas called back. "I'll be down in a few minutes. Give me a minute to wake up!" He ducked, narrowly missing another pebble that Maqueden threw at him.
Closing his window, the prince quickly dressed and walked down the hall. He stopped at Kyriana's door and peered inside, surprised that she was up this early. She was sitting on the window seat, wrapped in a blanket and sipping a steaming mug of tea. Her blond hair blew in the warm May air, little wisps of it going everywhere.
Legolas coughed to let her know he was there. Startled, she turned to face him, setting the mug down on the floor and smiling at him. After knowing him for a month or so, she had learned to trust him... Somewhat.
"We- Maqueden and Elenna and I- are doing something outdoorsy. Want to come?" Legolas asked, fearing that any attempt to get Kyriana outside would prove to be fruitless, considering the fact that she had a fear of... well, just about everything.
"Sure." She answered quietly. Shedding her blanket and closing the door, she turned to lock it.
Legolas blinked in surprise. Her answer was not the one he expected. When he noticed her turning the key and pocketing it, he hurriedly said, "You don't have to do that." Putting a hand on her shoulder, he continued. "Thefts are nonexistent."
"It's my father." She answered, slowly. Did she trust him with this information? Mentally smacking herself in the face, she thought, of course I do! He is one of the few people on this planet who cares about me! Taking a deep breath of the sweet-smelling air, she continued. "If I don't lock my door, he goes into my room and... well, let's just say that he's not the most respective person in all of Middle-Earth."
Legolas nodded. There was silence for a few minutes as they walked down the hall, before he asked, "Do you like horses?"
"Not particularly." She answered, the change of subject startling her.
Legolas grimaced. "We're probably going to have to ride to get where we're going. That is, unless you want to spend a good portion of your day walking to and from the river."
"I don't have to swim, do I?" She asked, her fear of drowning taking hold of her.
"No. We can't even get to the river, much less swim in it." They were outside now, and in a few strides were under the tree with Elenna and Maqueden.
After meeting Elenna, Kyriana looked confused. "There's two of you?" She asked, looking from Maqueden to Elenna and back again.
"She's my twin." Maqueden and Elenna said in unison. The four laughed.
Legolas started off toward the stables. "Ada took all the horses but two, so we're going to have to double up. Any preferences?"
"Do we have to ride?" Kyriana asked, backing slowly away from the horses.
"No. You can spend an hour walking." Maqueden said. She led Starwind from her stall and put on her saddle and bridle. "Horses aren't mean or scary. They're only scary when they know you're afraid of them. You just have to show them who's boss."
"Right." Legolas led Shadowmoon from his stall. "Come here. He's gentle, he won't hurt you."
"No." Kyriana whimpered, backing further away. "I really don't like horses."
"But you've ridden before..." Legolas said, fishing a sugar cube out of his pocket and giving it to Shadowmoon.
"I was forced to." She said. Shadowmoon looked at Kyriana and started towards her.
"Do you trust me?" Legolas asked, leading Shadowmoon closer to Kyriana. The frightened girl backed into the corner with a squeak.
"Yes. But I don't trust him." She gestured at Shadowmoon.
"If I told you that he would never hurt you, would you believe me?"
"No... You don't know he wouldn't hurt me..."
"He would never hurt you, I swear it."
"I don't..." Shadowmoon took two steps forward and bent his head so that he could see Kyriana. She backed further into her corner. Shadowmoon nuzzled her palm looking for a sugar cube. Kyriana let out a frightened squeak and retreated into the shadows. Shadowmoon followed her.
"Legolas..." she whimpered, raising her hand to ward off the horse. In doing so she touched his nose. Now all out scared, she drew back, afraid that her hand was about to be bitten off. But Legolas was right, Shadowmoon was gentle. He nuzzled her palm again, and this time Legolas placed a sugar cube in it.
"Give this to him. He won't bite you, I swear it." Legolas said, stepping away from Kyriana. She quickly held the sugar cube in her palm, and just as quickly, Shadowmoon took it.
"Are we going?" Maqueden asked quietly, not wanting to interrupt the moment, yet doing so.
"Yes, we are going." Legolas answered. "Who wants to ride with who?"
"Starwind doesn't like me." Elenna said. "I'll ride with Kyriana."
Maqueden smiled. Legolas mounted Starwind first, then extended a hand to help her up. She sat behind him, her hands resting on his shoulders for fear she would fall off. This was the first time she had ridden with Legolas, and she was already enjoying it.
"So... Where to?" Legolas asked, turning Starwind to face Shadowmoon.
"I dunno. You're the boss. You pick." Elenna said, shifting so that Kyriana had a better grip on her shoulders and looking at Legolas.
"All right then, follow me." Legolas galloped off, Maqueden clinging to him. Kyriana and Elenna followed at a slower pace.
After riding for about half an hour, Legolas stopped, having lost Kyriana and Elenna somewhere along the way. At first Maqueden couldn't see what lay in front of her. After he dismounted, however, she had a clear view of the beauty that surrounded her.
"How come I never knew this was here?" She asked quietly in elvish, surveying the scene that lay before her. It looked exactly like it had fallen out of a fairy-tale. She stood on a rock cliff. Below her was a waterfall, and below that was a river. The banks of a river were surrounded by flowers and trees. A fine mist hung in the air. Deer jumped away from them, startled by the intruders. The only word plausible to describe it was... /"Amazing."/ She breathed, in elvish. "How did you find this?"
"By accident." Legolas said, softly. "My tutor makes me study old maps. Something good finally came out of it." He sighed, then continued. "It reminds me so much of my mother. She... She used to paint scenes like this one all the time." Gazing at the river far below him with unshed tears in his eyes, he continued. "I found a trail that leads to the river. I've already cleared away most of the sticks and vines, but I could use some help with the finishing touches. My brothers won't help me, and you can only imagine what would happen if I asked my sister."
"All right all ready!" Maqueden cried, letting out an exasperated sigh. "I can take a hint! When do you want me to start?"
"Tomorrow. I take it you don't have to work, seeing as it is the weekend?"
"I don't. Elenna does." Maqueden said. The two settled back to watch the waterfall and the birds. After about a minute or so, Shadowmoon came into the clearing.
"What was that for? You know I don't know my way through the forest!" Elenna complained, dismounting her horse and helping Kyriana down. "How were we supposed to- oh... wow..." She trailed off, walking to the edge of the cliff and looked down the waterfall and the river. Kyriana smiled, but stayed a good distance from the edge.
The four spent most of the day at the waterfall, talking about random things like life. All but Maqueden carefully avoided the subject of love. When Legolas noticed the hurt in Elenna's eyes, he said, "I knew Astoldominien. I do not honestly believe that he is dead."
"Then you believe he has condemned me to a loveless life? Did he not know that I loved him more than life itself?" Elenna asked spitefully, holding in her tears.
"Oh, he knew. I have no doubt about that." Legolas answered just as quickly, holding in tears of his own.
"Then what do you think happened to him?" Elenna seethed, turning away from her friends and facing the dark of the forest.
"I don't know." Legolas said, softly.
A single ray of sunlight broke through the trees. Kyriana smiled, feeling its warmth. This was the first time since her mother's death that she has come outside of her own free will, and she was starting to like it.
The four continued to talk until sunset, when Legolas announced that it was time to go back. Maqueden and Kyriana groaned, not wanting to go back for separate reasons. Elenna happily obliged, ready to get away from the ghost of a memory of Astoldominien. As the four rode slowly back home, Elenna gazed up at the stars. How long? She thought, a single tear leaving a translucent streak on her cheek. How long until you come back to me? How long are you going to make me wait? Am I going to die because you've forgotten me?
A/N: Sorry to leave it there, but my tiny brain couldn't write any more this week. I've started on chapter 4. And yes, I am alive. I was sick last week when I should have posted this and I couldn't get on the computer, then I had, like, 5 tests, then I was babysitting, so... yeah. Sorry for making you wait so long!
And now for the story that you have all been so patiently waiting for.
When Legolas awoke the next morning, it was to a loud bang on his window. Yawning, he got out of bed and opened the window to tell whoever was throwing rocks to go away... And was hit with a rock on the forehead. Elenna stood under a tree, laughing at Maqueden, who was holding a rock and looking quite embarrassed. Neither had to work, considering the pleasant fact that they both had the day off.
"Sorry!" Maqueden called up to him. "You should move faster!"
"You shouldn't throw rocks at royalty!" Legolas called back. "I'll be down in a few minutes. Give me a minute to wake up!" He ducked, narrowly missing another pebble that Maqueden threw at him.
Closing his window, the prince quickly dressed and walked down the hall. He stopped at Kyriana's door and peered inside, surprised that she was up this early. She was sitting on the window seat, wrapped in a blanket and sipping a steaming mug of tea. Her blond hair blew in the warm May air, little wisps of it going everywhere.
Legolas coughed to let her know he was there. Startled, she turned to face him, setting the mug down on the floor and smiling at him. After knowing him for a month or so, she had learned to trust him... Somewhat.
"We- Maqueden and Elenna and I- are doing something outdoorsy. Want to come?" Legolas asked, fearing that any attempt to get Kyriana outside would prove to be fruitless, considering the fact that she had a fear of... well, just about everything.
"Sure." She answered quietly. Shedding her blanket and closing the door, she turned to lock it.
Legolas blinked in surprise. Her answer was not the one he expected. When he noticed her turning the key and pocketing it, he hurriedly said, "You don't have to do that." Putting a hand on her shoulder, he continued. "Thefts are nonexistent."
"It's my father." She answered, slowly. Did she trust him with this information? Mentally smacking herself in the face, she thought, of course I do! He is one of the few people on this planet who cares about me! Taking a deep breath of the sweet-smelling air, she continued. "If I don't lock my door, he goes into my room and... well, let's just say that he's not the most respective person in all of Middle-Earth."
Legolas nodded. There was silence for a few minutes as they walked down the hall, before he asked, "Do you like horses?"
"Not particularly." She answered, the change of subject startling her.
Legolas grimaced. "We're probably going to have to ride to get where we're going. That is, unless you want to spend a good portion of your day walking to and from the river."
"I don't have to swim, do I?" She asked, her fear of drowning taking hold of her.
"No. We can't even get to the river, much less swim in it." They were outside now, and in a few strides were under the tree with Elenna and Maqueden.
After meeting Elenna, Kyriana looked confused. "There's two of you?" She asked, looking from Maqueden to Elenna and back again.
"She's my twin." Maqueden and Elenna said in unison. The four laughed.
Legolas started off toward the stables. "Ada took all the horses but two, so we're going to have to double up. Any preferences?"
"Do we have to ride?" Kyriana asked, backing slowly away from the horses.
"No. You can spend an hour walking." Maqueden said. She led Starwind from her stall and put on her saddle and bridle. "Horses aren't mean or scary. They're only scary when they know you're afraid of them. You just have to show them who's boss."
"Right." Legolas led Shadowmoon from his stall. "Come here. He's gentle, he won't hurt you."
"No." Kyriana whimpered, backing further away. "I really don't like horses."
"But you've ridden before..." Legolas said, fishing a sugar cube out of his pocket and giving it to Shadowmoon.
"I was forced to." She said. Shadowmoon looked at Kyriana and started towards her.
"Do you trust me?" Legolas asked, leading Shadowmoon closer to Kyriana. The frightened girl backed into the corner with a squeak.
"Yes. But I don't trust him." She gestured at Shadowmoon.
"If I told you that he would never hurt you, would you believe me?"
"No... You don't know he wouldn't hurt me..."
"He would never hurt you, I swear it."
"I don't..." Shadowmoon took two steps forward and bent his head so that he could see Kyriana. She backed further into her corner. Shadowmoon nuzzled her palm looking for a sugar cube. Kyriana let out a frightened squeak and retreated into the shadows. Shadowmoon followed her.
"Legolas..." she whimpered, raising her hand to ward off the horse. In doing so she touched his nose. Now all out scared, she drew back, afraid that her hand was about to be bitten off. But Legolas was right, Shadowmoon was gentle. He nuzzled her palm again, and this time Legolas placed a sugar cube in it.
"Give this to him. He won't bite you, I swear it." Legolas said, stepping away from Kyriana. She quickly held the sugar cube in her palm, and just as quickly, Shadowmoon took it.
"Are we going?" Maqueden asked quietly, not wanting to interrupt the moment, yet doing so.
"Yes, we are going." Legolas answered. "Who wants to ride with who?"
"Starwind doesn't like me." Elenna said. "I'll ride with Kyriana."
Maqueden smiled. Legolas mounted Starwind first, then extended a hand to help her up. She sat behind him, her hands resting on his shoulders for fear she would fall off. This was the first time she had ridden with Legolas, and she was already enjoying it.
"So... Where to?" Legolas asked, turning Starwind to face Shadowmoon.
"I dunno. You're the boss. You pick." Elenna said, shifting so that Kyriana had a better grip on her shoulders and looking at Legolas.
"All right then, follow me." Legolas galloped off, Maqueden clinging to him. Kyriana and Elenna followed at a slower pace.
After riding for about half an hour, Legolas stopped, having lost Kyriana and Elenna somewhere along the way. At first Maqueden couldn't see what lay in front of her. After he dismounted, however, she had a clear view of the beauty that surrounded her.
"How come I never knew this was here?" She asked quietly in elvish, surveying the scene that lay before her. It looked exactly like it had fallen out of a fairy-tale. She stood on a rock cliff. Below her was a waterfall, and below that was a river. The banks of a river were surrounded by flowers and trees. A fine mist hung in the air. Deer jumped away from them, startled by the intruders. The only word plausible to describe it was... /"Amazing."/ She breathed, in elvish. "How did you find this?"
"By accident." Legolas said, softly. "My tutor makes me study old maps. Something good finally came out of it." He sighed, then continued. "It reminds me so much of my mother. She... She used to paint scenes like this one all the time." Gazing at the river far below him with unshed tears in his eyes, he continued. "I found a trail that leads to the river. I've already cleared away most of the sticks and vines, but I could use some help with the finishing touches. My brothers won't help me, and you can only imagine what would happen if I asked my sister."
"All right all ready!" Maqueden cried, letting out an exasperated sigh. "I can take a hint! When do you want me to start?"
"Tomorrow. I take it you don't have to work, seeing as it is the weekend?"
"I don't. Elenna does." Maqueden said. The two settled back to watch the waterfall and the birds. After about a minute or so, Shadowmoon came into the clearing.
"What was that for? You know I don't know my way through the forest!" Elenna complained, dismounting her horse and helping Kyriana down. "How were we supposed to- oh... wow..." She trailed off, walking to the edge of the cliff and looked down the waterfall and the river. Kyriana smiled, but stayed a good distance from the edge.
The four spent most of the day at the waterfall, talking about random things like life. All but Maqueden carefully avoided the subject of love. When Legolas noticed the hurt in Elenna's eyes, he said, "I knew Astoldominien. I do not honestly believe that he is dead."
"Then you believe he has condemned me to a loveless life? Did he not know that I loved him more than life itself?" Elenna asked spitefully, holding in her tears.
"Oh, he knew. I have no doubt about that." Legolas answered just as quickly, holding in tears of his own.
"Then what do you think happened to him?" Elenna seethed, turning away from her friends and facing the dark of the forest.
"I don't know." Legolas said, softly.
A single ray of sunlight broke through the trees. Kyriana smiled, feeling its warmth. This was the first time since her mother's death that she has come outside of her own free will, and she was starting to like it.
The four continued to talk until sunset, when Legolas announced that it was time to go back. Maqueden and Kyriana groaned, not wanting to go back for separate reasons. Elenna happily obliged, ready to get away from the ghost of a memory of Astoldominien. As the four rode slowly back home, Elenna gazed up at the stars. How long? She thought, a single tear leaving a translucent streak on her cheek. How long until you come back to me? How long are you going to make me wait? Am I going to die because you've forgotten me?
A/N: Sorry to leave it there, but my tiny brain couldn't write any more this week. I've started on chapter 4. And yes, I am alive. I was sick last week when I should have posted this and I couldn't get on the computer, then I had, like, 5 tests, then I was babysitting, so... yeah. Sorry for making you wait so long!