Chapter 4: An Almost Perfect Moment
Legolas takes Arriël to the stables, which are not like the normal stables that she remembers from home. They actually look more like a big ranch the horses everywhere roaming and running. There's a small river flowing through the field where they can drink freely. It is not even fenced off all it has two wooden poles that makes an archway for the entrance. Two guards stand watching the horses making sure none of them stray to far. Arriël is amazed at how beautiful the horses are, coming from the city she has never really seen many horse stables.
The ones she has seen were absolutely awful the horses stood in small boxed in areas. They always look sad like the stables are prison and they were its prisoners. One particular horse catches her eye it is a caramel color with a white main with a small crescent moon on her forehead. Arriël approaches the horse feeling drawn to her; the horse walks towards the young maiden. Legolas not watching turns and yells for Arriël to stop, but she keeps walking towards her. Legolas finally reaches Arriël seeing that the horse has not harmed her he becomes relieved. Arriël looks at him with confusion on her face
"What's wrong Legolas?" She asked petting the horse.
"It's amazing," he said looking at Arriël.
"What is?" She asked still confused.
"You approached Liliel without her becoming angry, usually she never let's anyone touch her but me" he said with surprise.
"Oh well I guess she just knows that I'm a friend" Arriël suggests.
"Well I guess she's yours then" he said smiling at Arriël.
"What you mean she's my own horse like I can keep her?" Arriël asked shockingly.
"Yes Liliel is yours to keep, she obviously trusts you, and I know you'll be good to her" Legolas said with a smile.
"Oh thank you Legolas, thank you so much" she said kissing him deeply.
"Oh you're welcome Arriël, but if you don't mind me asking what was the kiss for?" He asked curiously while blushing from her kiss.
"Just for being so good to me. I've never had a guy treat me as well as you do. A guy who just gives me a gift to give not because he wants something in return," Arriël said smiling and blushing at her sudden burst of spontaneous affection.
"Well come I wish to show you my favorite place in all of Middle-Earth." He said pulling her along side him. "It's a secret that no one knows about, but I'm going to show it to you because you're very important to me. I want to be able to share this with you." Legolas said this with the biggest smile on his face.
He decides that they will both ride on Liliel for their journey. Arriël likes this idea because she loves being close to Legolas knowing he is right there to protect her. They travel for what seems forever but in reality is only about an hour. Arriël feels as if it has been longer, everything in Mirkwood is beginning to look the same, tall trees, flowers, and brush. Legolas feels Arriël's restlessness so he stops and decides they should rest. Arriël feels that something is wrong with Legolas so she decides that maybe she should ask him about it.
"Legolas is anything wrong?" Arriël asked feeling a little weird.
"No, not really I just," Legolas's voice fades out because he does not wish to talk about what ales his heart so badly.
"It's just what Legolas?" she asked giving a concerned look. "Please tell me I don't like you hiding things from me" she said becoming upset.
"You want to know what bothers me so. I will tell you what is wrong! I pour out my heart to you tell you I love you and you leave me looming in the shadows. Then I give a ring that says love of my life and yet you still don't show love in return. I just feel like you're using me that you don't really love me." Legolas yells at her, finally realizing what he has just done he regretting his harsh words.
"Is that so Prince Legolas" as she calls him Prince Legolas he knows that she is upset. "Well let me tell you something you cannot buy love especially mine. How dare you assume that I would even think of hurting you, it hurts me deeply that you'd think I could be so cruel to you or anyone. Here take this I don't want it anymore" Arriël said handing him the ring. "I just really wish that you would have been more understanding. I told you earlier that things between us would get better. You said you understood how ridiculous of me for thinking you were different from all the rest. How stupid I was to I was to believe that you were sincere about all you said. I mean all the things I'm going through right now." She stops not wanting to remember the dream. "Argh just leave me alone." Arriël said yelling at him filled with anger that he would even assume such a thing she runs away not caring long it will take her to return to the palace.
Seeing this Legolas jumps on to Liliel and runs after Arriël yelling for her telling her to get back on the horse, she refuses for the first five minutes. Soon enough she becomes tired and knows she will not reach the palace before dark. So she gives in although Arriël does not hold onto Legolas during the ride and says nothing to him the whole time. When they arrive back at the palace, she hustles straight to her room not saying anything to Legolas. Somewhere else in the palace Alexia feels Arriël's troublesome emotions. Running away quickly apologizing to Dimtilion for her sudden leave of absence, lying on her bed crying her eye's out Arriël curses into her pillow.
"Come in" she said trying to sound like she hadn't be crying.
"Arriël what's wrong I got this feeling that something was wrong with you and I rushed off leaving Dimtilion in the garden are you ok?" Lex asked concerned.
"Lex I want to go home this whole situation bites the big one; I mean first I'm seeing this freak in my dreams. Now Legolas is mad at me because I haven't confessed my inner feelings for him, even though he knows damn well how I feel about him. I wish none of this had ever happened, I wish we were back home with Mom and Dad. I wish that I had just gone out with Eric that everything was back to normal." Arriël said crying as her sister hugs her.
"No you don't because deep down inside you know as well as I do that if we left this place right now you would miss him so much. Eric makes no comparison to Legolas and you know that, you are just upset everything is going to be ok. For now I'm going to go talk to that little boy"
Dimtilion walks in slowly, looking at both of the girls. "Is anything wrong Lady Arriël?" his voice is concerned.
"She'll be fine but for now stay with her," Alexia walks out the door leaving to two to talks amongst themselves.
Sitting in silence neither of them know what to talk about looking around at the room for the hundredth time is becoming old. Arriël turns around and notices Dimtilion's ears for the first time, and wouldn't you know they look exactly like Alexia and Arriël's beautiful leave shape ears.
"Dimtilion how did you come to be born with ears like this?" Arriël said touching his ear causing him to laugh.
"My lady all elves are born with ears such as this, it is how you would say back home normal. All elven folk are of fair skin, pointed ears, grace, and wisdom. Why do you ask?" Arriël unveils her ear, moving a simple lock of hair. Now it is Dimtilion's turn to look in surprise.
"Alexia has them too, does this mean we're?" Arriël asked.
"The test look beyond those two mountains and tell me what you see?" He said pointing into the distance.
"Um, a large dormant volcano, and some broken tower, oh and these giant black gates, why?" Dimtilion scoops her into his arms spinning her around.
"My lady you are an elf you and Alexia this means you have immortality your sister and I can marry and she will not leave me because of the curse of old age that mortals have, Lady Arriël you have made me the happiest elf alive!" Dimtilion's great joy is overpowering.
"I don't understand all the people I have seen here, they are all elves too?"
"Yes all of us are, and you are too. No mortal can see that far between the two mountains say only an elf."
"This is impossible back home elves we're all myth, fake. But that would explain why Alexia and I were always in perfect health, never broken anything, because we're elves for some reason I like the sound of that" she smiles they continue to talk about all things that concerning elves and humans.
"I wonder why you have never noticed our ears before all mortals know of them as soon as they see us," Dimtilion questioned.
"I think it's because Alexia and I are so use to them, back at home no one ever paid that much attention to our ears, I think we did the same when we arrived here. We are so use to ourselves having pointed ears that the fact of you and all the people in this place having them as well seemed some what normal," Arriël suggested.
Meanwhile Alexia finds her way to Prince Legolas's chambers, anger fierce in her heart. Growing tired of looking she asks Sidiel the head guard for the palace, he happily smiles and points towards the west wing. Alexia enters his room Legolas does not move instead his fingers the ring that he had given Arriël, moping over the latest events.
"What's your problem Legolas? How could you just assume that Arriël would do that to you and," she stopped trying to control her anger but was failing badly.
"I know I just," Legolas starts but Alexia interrupts him.
"You just what? Thought that Arriël was capable of being so cruel as to use you for something she does not need. Or what you thought she was after your crown, which let me tell you Legolas isn't that, big of a deal. She isn't after that, she loves you. She has loved you ever since we met in the forest; she knows there is something about you that makes her love you. You, you your highness love her for her, she saw that right away, and she still sees that. The only reason she did not tell you right away because she was scared of her heart being broken, she has not had the best luck with relationships and guys. You have really hurt her Legolas I only pray that she'll take you back, because I know you'll be good to her." Alexia scolds Legolas as if he is a mere child and she does not care that he is the crown prince of Mirkwood. All she knows is that her little sister is hurt and to Alexia, nobody does that to a member of her family and gets away with it.
"I know she loves me the way I love her, when she looks at me I see it in her, and I know she can see it in me too. When Arriël did not return my feelings that was the first thing that entered my mind. Doubt had sent in my heart, but I knew she felt the same way and still does, her eyes give her away, but I still had doubted" Legolas said all this and as he did a small crystal clear tear fell from his face.
"I know you love her, and she loves you but until dinner I think it best that you not talk to her. At dinner I think you should ask her to dance and then apologize to her ok." Alexia said it wasn't a suggestion more of an order.
"I will, and I really am sorry for what I said to her." Legolas said feeling even more awful than before, only because the fact that Alexia scolded him, like a mere elf-boy.
"I know you are because much like my sister your eyes give you away too, neither one of you can tell a lie" said Alexia smiling at Legolas showing him that she had no hard feelings anymore.
"Alexia would you mind if I talk to you in private?" asked Legolas.
"Of course Legolas," Alexia walks back to his bed side.
"What is it that you wish to talk about Legolas?" She already knows what it is reading his mind, but she does not want to answer the question he is about to ask.
"You can do it too can't you Alexia?" He asked knowing the answer.
"I don't know what you mean Legolas, what can I do too?" She asked back trying to play dumb.
"Do not lie to me Alexia you can do it too! You have the power of foresight, telekinesis, you have this connection with Arriël through your emotions," He asked again in a demanding tone.
"How did you know about my gifts?" She asked becoming scared of what he might do.
"I know you have because of Arriël she has explained to me why she's sees all these visions, is this true?" More clam Legolas repeated his questions his voice not as stern as it was before.
"Yes this is correct Legolas Arriël and I have the same gifts the gifts of foresight and telekinesis. We have had them ever since we were very young. We don't know exactly where they came from but we've learned to control and cope with them." Alexia said with much relief that he was not going to over react to his newfound knowledge.
"Then tell me how come Arriël is having all these visions of something evil and you are not? Why is she burdened with all these evil visions and not you as well," Legolas asked, but it was not so much a question as to more of a demanding comment.
"I don't know Legolas but for some reason Arriël has always been stronger in her gifts than I have. When we learned of them she practiced them more. How to use them and how not to use them so I guess she just is more prone to see things than I am. It's not something I like; being the older one I wish it was me seeing these things. I do not like seeing her face go from joy into a look of horrible terror. She is too young to see whatever it is she is seeing she still has not told me what it is. I fear that soon enough we will all know of what she sees." Alexia said in a grave voice she hated seeing her sister's face have the look of terror that it did when these visions came.
"I don't like seeing Arriël's beautiful face with that look of fear on it either. You must talk to her about it before something worse happens to her and you!" He said with the look of concern.
"I will. I must go back to Arriël I'm going to help her get ready for dinner. I would also like to thank you for being so kind to us it is hard not being able to see our family, and friends. Being here has helped ease the pain and to Dimtilion, you and King Thranduil we owe our thanks." She said this bowing and left his room. She walks out seeing Dimtilion waiting there for her she smiles and grabbing his hand.
"Hello a' maelamin, are you ready now?" Dimtilion asked reaching for her hand. Nodding she took his gesture happily.
"Why do you call me a'maelamin?" She asked sheepishly.
"Because you are my beloved Alexia" he said kissing her and her kissing back she thought to herself he tastes of sweet chocolate, and cream. Dimtilion also thought to himself she taste's of sweet apples, and wine. They part still savoring the sweet blissfulness of their kiss.
"My love I have some news to tell you, more like show you, look at my ears" Dimtilion reveals his pointed ear.
"What are you trying to say, are you making fun of me?" Alexia said hurtfully.
"No melamin you have them too I know you do Arriël showed me, Legolas along with myself and all the people that reside in Mirkwood are elves do you know what this means?" He asked smiling.
"That I am not as big a freak as I thought I was?" Alexia asked stupidly.
"No you are immortal meaning that you will never die; only when the elven folk wish to go reach Valanor and rest will they leave this place. You will never know sickness in fact you probably have never known sickness or disease" He actually has forgotten to tell her that, he plans on them being together forever, Dimtilion is so happy that he has experienced his first love's kiss, that he can think of nothing else but that one blissful moment.
They walk off down the hall Dimtilion takes Alexia back to Arriël's room, kisses her good-bye and tells her that he will pick her up at her room for dinner. Although sadly she said that she changes their meeting place for the dining hall and that she was going with Arriël. Just to make sure she is going to be ok. Alexia went into Arriël's room and there sits Arriël on a stool dressed in her silver dress, with the silver slippers. Sitting while Cris is just about to start on her hair, Arriël sees her sister smiling at her, eye's were not longer red and puffy, but back to their lovely beautiful brown. Alexia seeing that she was alright smiles and waves good-bye telling Arriël that she would see her at dinner. They both smiles waving good-bye to each other.
Cris decides that she will do Arriël's hair in an elven fashion with parts of it down except for two small strands of hair that are braided pulling them to the back of her head. Placing them with an almost invisible black tie, around her head, she places a small circlet, it is silver with many vines entwining together. Arriël feels that it looks much like a Celtic knot, she loves the way it makes a certain light around her head. She becomes happy for a brief moment and then remembers that Legolas is going to be at dinner and now she feels sick.
She thinks to herself great he is going to be there and I just know something is going to happen. I don't know if it's going to be good or bad hopefully it'll be good. I have to go because I know for sure of this I highly doubt that Lex and I are going to be getting back home. I miss my mom so much. I only pray that she's ok, but even if nothing happens tonight I need to get used to being around him because I have a feeling this is going to be my new home. As soon as Cris finishes she turns Arriël's chair so she can look at herself. Arriël smiles no one can do her hair the way Cris can.
"How do you like it Arriël?" Cris asked clearly seeing that she love it.
"I love it thank you so much Cris. You know where I'm from no one can do my hair the way I like it but now I've finally found someone who can thank you so much." Arriël said hugging her new friend.
"I'm glad you like it," Cris said surprised at Arriël's sudden outburst of friendship.
"Come I'll take you to Alexia's so that you to can go to dinner together" Cris said leading Arriël out of her room.
Cris leads Arriël out of her room and down the hallway about five doors' down to Alexia's room. Arriël knocks on the door, and then opens it, she sees that Alexia was to just about done with getting ready, Arriël loves her dress it's blue with silver outlining it, and the sleeves stop at her elbows and flare out, her hair was curled into ringlet's and flowing to her shoulders.
"Hey Lex love the dress" Arriël said smiling.
"I like yours too, and you hair looks awesome who did it?" She asked examining Arriël's hair.
"Cris remember she's my hand maid, yours always looks good curly, come on before were late, is Dimtilion taking you to dinner?" She asked.
"He was but I told him that I was going to go with you and that I'd meet him their, oh and guess what!" Alexia said with excitement.
"What! Wait don't tell me Dimtilion said he loves you!" Arriël said winking.
"I hate when you do that Arriël," Alexia said with a frown on her face.
"Do what?" Arriël asked dumbly.
"You know read my mind when I'm just about to tell you something big" she said.
"Sorry Lex I couldn't resist" Arriël said.
"I know, it's ok come one before were late" Alexia said pulling Arriël's arm and running.
They run for about two minutes but Arriël sees Legolas and stops dead in her tracks.Alexia pushes her on while Legolas smiles at Arriël. She does nothing but keeps walking trying to pretend that he is not there. She wishes that the incident between them hadn't happened. All she can do is keep her head held high and pray that nothing else bad happens that night. Tonight at this Arriël sits next to Alexia and Legolas she feels somewhat uncomfortable around him for a while but learns that she just has to ignore him. Although not to the point where she was being cold hearted. She is so hungry she has not eaten since the morning, and when lunch came, she was not too hungry either and now she is starving.
Placed before her is a beautiful dinner setting, with breads of all kinds and bread she particularly likes lembas bread, meats, fruits, pastries, vegetables, and wine. She tries not to look as if she is going to eat everything in sight, but she does eat more than most of the other's around her. The only people that she does not eat under the table is Merry, and Pippin they have eaten seven servings so far, and right now dessert has been served they have already had at least ten servings of the pastries and other sweet's. Arriël smiles at their giant appetites. Gandalf seeing at how amazed she is at how much the little half-lings could eat he asked her.
"I take it you have never seen hobbit's eat?" Gandalf asked Arriël still smiling.
"No I haven't but I must say it's amazing how much you two can put away" she said talking to Gandalf and now Merry and Pippin.
"Thank you!" They said in unison smiling at her.
"Are you not full already?" She asked them still thinking it was unbelievable at how much they ate.
"Nope" Merry said with his mouth full of some sort of sweet pastry.
Music began to play, and most of the people started dancing. Arriël loves to dance she decided that she would ask Frodo to dance with her. She thinks that Frodo is very sweet, as well as cute. She walks over to where Frodo, Sam, and Merry, Pippin are sitting and held her hand out to Frodo.
"Would you like to dance with me Frodo?" Arriël asked smiling while she held out her hand.
"I don't know I mean," Frodo starts but is cut short by Merry.
"Are you nuts go and dance with her! She's absolutely gorgeous if you don't then I will!" Merry whispers to Frodo but he is not that good at whispering because Arriël heard him and smiles.
"I'd love too dance with you Arriël. Although I must warn you I'm not that good at it." Frodo said still a little self-conscious of dancing with her because she is a least two feet taller than him.
"Oh stop it Frodo I'm sure you dance perfectly. Now come you wouldn't want to keep me waiting I might start to think that you don't like me." Arriël said trying to sound hurt.
He leads her out to the dance floor where they dance Frodo likes Arriël, he feels like she is someone he can trust like a sister almost to him. A person who would always look after him. Arriël can see that Frodo was blushing and she smiles. After the music ends she kisses his cheek and thanks him for the dance, as soon as the music was over Merry ran to her all smiles and asked her to dance.
Arriël smiles and walks out to the dance floor with him, she loves the little half-lings the all remind her of little brothers. She never has had younger siblings she also thinks it is very cute how they fight over her well not all of them just Merry, and Pippin. Frodo and Sam are to shy but they do not hesitate to dance with her. Alexia sees how Legolas keeps looking at Arriël dancing with the little hobbits, and starts to talk to him. Urging him to go and ask Arriël to dance, he claims he will when she sits down. Arriël finally seats herself starts to drink she has become tired from all that dancing. Alexia keeps looking over at Legolas giving him funny looks and mouthing ask her to dance finally he gets up. Arriël sees this and becomes jealous, letting her thoughts get to her great now he's going to ask some other girl to dance but when she turns around their stands Legolas holding his hand out.
"Would you like to dance with me Arriël?" He asked praying that she will say yes.
"Sure ok" she said trying to sound not too interested.
Legolas leads her out to the dance floor. They start dancing at least two feet apart but Legolas never takes his eyes off her. She can feel his gaze blushing she is happy that Legolas is with her and not other elf-maiden. She finally meets his gaze, stares into his bright blue eyes, and feels all her feelings rushing to her head. She steps closer to him now placing her arms around his neck and her head on his chest. Legolas places his arms around her waist, his head close to Arriël's.
When the music stops, they continue to dance until they both realize that the music is nolonger playing. Legolas questions her if whether or not she would go on a walk with him she agrees they walk out of the dining hall hand in hand. This makes Alexia smile, walking back to Dimtilion with peace in her heart. Legolas takes Arriël out to a small waterfall that flows into a small pond. Around the pond are trees that grow out and then went inward forming an archway. With tiny green leafs on all the braches through the leaves. Arriël can see the stars peering through, making the trees appear to look as if they have small Christmas lights woven through them. Patches of pink flowers grow around the pond, and near the pond is a small bench. Legolas leads her to the bench, they sit, and uncomfortable silence follows until Legolas finally finds his courage to speak.
"Arriël I'm really sorry for what I said to you earlier today." Legolas said looking deep into her eyes.
"You really hurt me Legolas. I mean to even assume that I would use you for your crown? I did not tell you that I love you right away because it was all so fast. Only a few days before all this happened, I let go of a boy that I have liked for a long time, but when you just out right said, you loved me. Well I knew you weren't lying but all of it was such a shock, and I did not want return a false feeling, but now I know Legolas." She said leaning in closer to him. "I know for sure, amin mela lle Legolas" she said kissing him.
"Amin mela lle Arriël. I feared that you might have not love me the way I love you I was so afraid of loosing you." Legolas said looking at her.
"You won't loose me melamin I promise I love you Legolas" she said kissing him again.
"I love you too, and here I think this belongs to you." He said placing the ring back on her wedding ring finger.
"Legolas what's the inscription mean?" She asked looking at her ring.
"It say's love of my life," Legolas smiles "because you are the love of my life" pulling her into his embrace they stay that way for the rest of the night gazing into the night sky talking about meaningful and meaningless things. Nevertheless, they are happy, and that is exactly how they intend to remain.
It has been over a two weeks, since the girls have arrived in this new land called Middle-Earth. They find the entire place quiet captivating, still unable to believe that they are in this forest wonderland known as Mirkwood. Arriël and Legolas have grown quiet close in the past weeks, as well as Alexia and Dimtilion. King Thranduil has seen his son grow into a handsome more mature prince, never has he seen his son become so fond of a maiden in such a short time, in fact getting Legolas to attend royal gatherings such as balls to meet new maidens was like pulling teeth, so to speak. Now the young prince cannot bear to be taken away from his beloved Arriël. Dimtilion on the other hand has always been quiet the ladies elf, never has he found a maiden though that captures his very soul the way Alexia has. Their actions towards each other speak much louder than their words.