A/N: Thank you so very much for my readers/reviewers/raters.... You are all wonderful!
Please remember to review the chapter!!!!!!
Chapter 6- Water Fight
"Did I just witness a miracle?" Aranel called as Emlin ran over to her, away from her father.
Emlin stopped and smiled, "What do you think you just witnessed?"
"What did he do to you in the woods?" She asked, glancing back at Haldir as they walked around some bushes.
"I do not know, he could have used some elven magic or something." Emlin said quietly and remained silent for a few moments. "We talked about some things, Aranel, and I am so happy that we did. Did you know that he stopped doing things with me because he thought I needed to be a child?"
Aranel sighed and shook her head, "I did not, but that does not make sense, Emlin."
"What does not make sense?" Emlin questioned. Right now, she was sure that nothing would be able to lower her spirits. She had been so nervous about the outing with her father out into the woods. She had no idea what would happen with them alone, and when they first started to speak to one another, it almost seemed that they would end in an argument to end all arguments. It was different, though. Something between them was different, and it almost seemed that for once they accepted each other's point of view, even if they did not particularly agree on anything.
They talked without arguing for a few hours. That within itself was a great achievement for them, but actually getting down to the reasons as to why they had been at each other's throats for so many years was even better. Emlin knew that it would take some time, possibly the rest of her life, to repair the damage that had been done between them, in large part due to her. It saddened her, though, that all of the times her father had not been giving her his attentions, which he thought was best for her own growth- and truthfully it was good for her- that she had made him miserable. His intentions were only to help her and be a good father. She had been foolish enough to believe that it was because her father did not love her.
How could she have ever thought that! Just to look in his eyes today was enough to know that he did. Oh and her mother... Emlin sighed. Nana deserved an apology for all of those times she tried to tell her that Haldir loved her, and Emlin had argued with her that he did not. And she also had to apologize to Thoron! Even though she had never gotten angry at him beyond the normal sibling arguments, she still had thought bad of him for so many years because he had, in her mind, been the one that pushed them the final distance apart.
Emlin sighed heavily, and thought to herself, "Maybe I should just apologize to everyone."
"Hmm?" Aranel asked.
She glanced up at her cousin, feeling her face grow warm. "Did I say something aloud?"
Aranel chuckled, "You just said that you thought you should apologize to everyone."
"Oh, I suppose I did." Emlin said, "I have just realized that everything that I have said and done about Ada has affected everyone, and not just me."
Aranel sighed, "You never answered my question as to why Uncle Haldir's lack of time with you is the reason you two were so horrible to one another."
Emlin glanced at her cousin, debating if she wanted to answer or not. She loved Aranel dearly, but she was quite the loud mouth and gossiped enough that telling her a secret like this would be unwise. "It is a long story, that I will leave for another day. Today is a beautiful day, though! Let us go the stream."
"Which stream?" Aranel asked.
"The one in that little secluded glade." Emlin said, "We have not visited there in quite awhile."
"Nay, we have not." Aranel replied as they locked arms and started down the path, detouring to the stream through the dense trees before they reached the glade.
They walked together laughing and commenting on the lovely day, the whole talk with her father really not sinking into her head. She could not believe that it had happened, but it had, and she felt as light and weightless as the hawk making lazy loops in the clear blue sky over the tall trees. The glade was unoccupied for such a brilliant day, but she was glad because the bright green grass was beckoning for her to walk in it barefooted uninhibited, and then wade into the assuredly cold, crystal waters of the stream bubbling along.
"It is such a beautiful day!" Emlin said excitedly as she fell on top of the lush carpet of grass dramatically. She quickly untied her riding boots and placed them beside the large boulder next to her.
Aranel giggled and took off her own slippers, "I have never seen you so happy Emlin! I enjoy you much more like this!"
"I enjoy myself more like this." Emlin laid back in the grass and let a long sigh out of her lungs. They stayed there for a while watching the sun change above them, slowly beginning to dip below the western trees, and listening to the pleasant tune of the birds in their roosts. And of all the things that could have gone through her head right at the moment was the thought of the Mirkwood prince and what had happened the previous night. "Aranel?"
"Yes?" Aranel asked.
Emlin stood up and stretched her arms over her head before focusing her attention back on her cousin, "Did your mother say anything about what happened last eve?"
"About what? That meeting with Prince Legolas?" Aranel questioned, shielding her eyes from the rays of the waning sun. Emlin nodded her head and Aranel smiled, "She said nothing about it particularly, except she did say that he was a charming elf."
Emlin giggled and walked to the water's edge, remembering his blue eyes and smiling face. It made her heart flutter, stomach flop and her mind anxious for the next moment when she would catch a glimpse of his perfect face. These feelings she was having towards ellyn- not just Legolas- were all so new to her, and the especially strong ones she felt for the prince were downright frightening to her. She would have discussed them with Aranel, but she was yet to reach forty years and thought that every time Emlin brought up a certain ellyn, it was quite hysterical. She would giggle and act as if the what Emlin spoke of was the most repulsive and nauseating thing she had ever heard.
"Do you like the prince, Emlin?" Aranel asked.
She shrugged, stepping out onto a stone protruding from the water. "It would not matter if I did or not. He is a prince, and I am the March Warden's daughter."
Aranel sat up and wrapped her arms around her legs, resting her chin upon her knees. "That distinction is next to being referred as a princess. True, your parents do not run an entire realm, but your father could if he needed to."
"Let us not talk about this." Emlin suggested, hopping to another flat stone. She bent on one knee, dipping her other foot into the water and kicking it towards Aranel. The splash landed Aranel's silvery-blonde head and her mouth turned into a large 'O' shape.
"I cannot believe you did that." Aranel exclaimed, jumping to her feet and to the closest rock, reaching out for Emlin.
Emlin sidestepped her easily, and leapt to another stone, further away. Aranel followed and replaced Emlin on the stone she had previously stood, her skirts hitting the water, a good deal of her hem soaked. Emlin laughed and taunted Aranel to reach her, but these two stones were too far away. Aranel giggled, effortlessly squatting on her haunches, cupping her hands together and placing them in the water, throwing the cold liquid up onto Emlin's thighs. More surprised from how cold the water was, and not that Aranel had done such a thing, Emlin froze and watched as her cousin skipped to a stone next to her. The look in Aranel's eyes was wild. It would have frightened Emlin if she did not know her better.
"Wait!" Emlin shouted as Aranel lunged for her. With fast fingers, Emlin undid the fastenings of her outer tunic and threw it to the side of the stream.
"That is not fair, Emlin!" Aranel complained, "If I get wet, I get wet. I cannot save a piece of clothing to go back home in!"
Emlin smiled wickedly, "I know."
This seemingly enraged Aranel a great deal, and she lunged again for Emlin. Emlin's footing on the smooth, wet rock beneath her feet gave way and it seemed that all time slowed to a snail's pace as they each looked at each other with worried expressions, and tumbled down into the chilling water. The shock of the icy water stole the air from their lungs, but ever so quickly, they grew used to it and Emlin felt a laugh coming up from her belly. Aranel began to laugh as well, as she struggled under the weight of her sodden gown to sit back in the water.
Emlin sat up now that Aranel was off of her, and appraised the damage that had been done to her cousin. "You look atrocious."
"You do not look much better!" Aranel laughed, splashing more water at her. "Even your hair is completely soaked! Mine is still pretty dry."
"I can fix that for you if you wish." Emlin threatened and adjusted her seat in the river bed, the slimy mud seeping through her thin leggings. "Oh, that is so foul!"
Aranel raised a brow, "What is?"
"Mud in my leggings." Emlin dipped her head beneath the water, completely submerging herself. She stayed there for a few moments before surfacing and slowly standing up, offering Aranel a hand to stand up. Emlin and Aranel stood in the water, trying in vain to cleanse their saturated clothes of the mud going down their legs.
"Nana is going to send me to live with an orc after she sees this gown!" Aranel said, "I just know she will!"
Emlin started to laugh at Aranel again, but she was silenced by the sound of someone clearing their throat behind her. Aranel's face grew pale, and she tried to form words with her mouth, but nothing came out. What could possibly be so horrible behind her? Emlin turned slowly, and Aranel's nervous was made clear to her. There stood Legolas, on the bank of the river, and standing very close to her. How long had he been there? How much had heard of their earlier conversation?
"Please tell me it is not him." Emlin said.
"It is." Aranel replied, trudging towards the bank. Legolas offered his hand to Aranel to lift her out of the shallow water. She accepted it gratefully, and Legolas lifted her with no difficulty to stand on the grass. He smiled brightly and then offered his hand to Emlin. Not wishing to remain in the cold water or risking a chance of angering the elf, she gave him one of her hands. Just as simply as he did Aranel, Legolas hoisted her to the grass, though with a little too much force behind it, causing her to stumble slightly into him. Legolas steadied her with his body and not his hands this time, and Emlin's sheer nervousness for the situation raised considerably when she felt his warm breath upon her ear.
Emlin pulled away, the blush on her face she hoped was not so bright as it felt. "Thank you."
"My pleasure, lirimaer." He replied.
Could he not tell that she was not even of age yet? Why was he charming her so? Emlin swallowed hard and pushed away from him, walking quickly over to her boots and the outer tunic she had thrown to the side. The under tunic she wore was thin and she felt slightly chilled from the water, but it was not bad enough that she needed to put it on. That was until, to her extreme mortification, Emlin glanced down at her under tunic as she was pulling on her boots. She had not realized that the gauzy white cloth would become so sheer when it became wet, or that it would stick to her body so well. Emlin straightened herself and pulled the cloth away from her body, but that only caused a cool breeze to float underneath the cloth, caressing her breasts and making her nipples stiffen.
She reached for her outer tunic and quickly covered herself, turning to find Legolas grinning slightly at her realization of what was happening. At least he was getting pleasure out of this experience! Emlin scowled and slipped her arms in the outer tunic. She was so embarrassed by the situation that she did not even know if she could move to make a quick escape.
"Would you two lovely elleths allow me to escort you to your talans?" Legolas asked.
"No thank you, we are fine on our own!" Emlin exclaimed, grabbing Aranel's arm and moving off in a fast run towards a dense green covering. They ran for some time before Emlin finally stopped and they looked behind them. "Thank Elbereth he did not follow us."
"No kidding." Aranel sighed, "But I do not think I would have minded very much."
Emlin pursed her lips, "How long had he been there?"
"I do not know." Aranel said, "I hope that he was not hiding in the trees when we were speaking about him though! Oh would that not be upsetting?"
"Most upsetting." Emlin agreed and looked around. "I need to go back to the talan and cleanse myself of this mud."
"As do I." Aranel nodded.
Without saying more, they started up the stairs and separated ways not long after. Emlin opened the door to the talan to find her mother standing over the a black cast iron pot over the fire, and her father sitting at the table with Thoron, teaching him how to string his bow. She saw him glance towards the door and his eyes widen. "What in Iluvatar's name happened to you?"
"The stream happened." Emlin said, "And so did Aranel pushing me in."
"Well, go and bathe quickly!" Her mother chimed in, "We are having company for the evening meal."
Emlin raised a curious brow, "Who is joining us?"
"You shall see." Nana smiled and pushed Emlin towards her room, "If you worry about it, you will not bathe quickly enough."
"Aye, Nana." Emlin replied and walked to her room, finding one of her pale blue gowns laying atop her bed that her mother must have left out for her. How old was she? Ten? She sighed and removed her boots quickly, gathering her things and went back down to her parent's sleeping room so she could get into the bathing room. The water was already drawn for her, so she whispered a quick warming spell and stepped into the niphredil scented water. It was while she was in the bath that she heard the first notes of a lament to Gandalf, accompanying the quickly darkening sky.
The voices of the elves mingled together, creating one of the most haunting melodies she had ever heard as they sung of his passing into shadow, and of all the deeds he had on this great firmament known as Arda. It was often that songs would be conducted in this manner in Lothlórien, for happy or for sad reasons, but this time, the words weighed on her greatly. Truly, it was a horrible shame that such a wizard would fall into the depths of Moria. Emlin sighed and continued to listen closely, but she soon found herself lulling off into a light sleep.
She was just going into the final level of rest when there was a firm knock at the front door and the sound of Thoron jumping up from his chair and running with his short legs to the door traveled to her ears. Emlin nodded and removed herself from the water, wrapping a drying cloth about her body before draining the water from the bathing basin. Not wishing to leave the solace of this closed off room so hurriedly, as the last time they had a guest, it only turned out to be Luinil. If there ever was an eccentric elf, her father's friend Luinil was definitely the one, and sometimes it worried her.
Emlin moved into the bedroom where she had left her dress and pulled it over her head, tightening the ribbon on the back so the embroidered bodice lay against her skin, tying it off in a long bow resting on her backside. The talking in the other room was quiet, yet happy, but she did not pay much attention to what exactly was being said as she brushed out her already dry hair. A piece of parchment at the dressing table caught her attention, and she recognized her mother's handwriting. Emlin picked it up and read the first few lines, finding that it was only a note to Narië, dated back before she was even born. She placed the note back on the table and sighed heavily. She never knew someone could be so emotionally exhausted, but after the gamut she had been through since the sun rose, it was.
Something was said and the entire talan went quiet, Emlin then wishing she had been paying attention. Intrigued beyond anything, she quickly tied some of her hair up with one of her mother's matching ribbons and moved towards the door. The silence was utterly deafening as she pulled back the door. Emlin was fixing her right flowing sleeve as she closed the door and looked up. There he stood, as handsome as ever, in only a silver-green tunic, leggings and his boots.
"Hello." Emlin said quietly, wishing she could be any place but in this room... nay, any place but Lothlórien. By the look on his face, it was obvious that Legolas had not even the slightest idea who her parents were until this very moment.
---
Nana- Mom
Ada- Dad
Please remember to review the chapter!!!!!!
Chapter 6- Water Fight
"Did I just witness a miracle?" Aranel called as Emlin ran over to her, away from her father.
Emlin stopped and smiled, "What do you think you just witnessed?"
"What did he do to you in the woods?" She asked, glancing back at Haldir as they walked around some bushes.
"I do not know, he could have used some elven magic or something." Emlin said quietly and remained silent for a few moments. "We talked about some things, Aranel, and I am so happy that we did. Did you know that he stopped doing things with me because he thought I needed to be a child?"
Aranel sighed and shook her head, "I did not, but that does not make sense, Emlin."
"What does not make sense?" Emlin questioned. Right now, she was sure that nothing would be able to lower her spirits. She had been so nervous about the outing with her father out into the woods. She had no idea what would happen with them alone, and when they first started to speak to one another, it almost seemed that they would end in an argument to end all arguments. It was different, though. Something between them was different, and it almost seemed that for once they accepted each other's point of view, even if they did not particularly agree on anything.
They talked without arguing for a few hours. That within itself was a great achievement for them, but actually getting down to the reasons as to why they had been at each other's throats for so many years was even better. Emlin knew that it would take some time, possibly the rest of her life, to repair the damage that had been done between them, in large part due to her. It saddened her, though, that all of the times her father had not been giving her his attentions, which he thought was best for her own growth- and truthfully it was good for her- that she had made him miserable. His intentions were only to help her and be a good father. She had been foolish enough to believe that it was because her father did not love her.
How could she have ever thought that! Just to look in his eyes today was enough to know that he did. Oh and her mother... Emlin sighed. Nana deserved an apology for all of those times she tried to tell her that Haldir loved her, and Emlin had argued with her that he did not. And she also had to apologize to Thoron! Even though she had never gotten angry at him beyond the normal sibling arguments, she still had thought bad of him for so many years because he had, in her mind, been the one that pushed them the final distance apart.
Emlin sighed heavily, and thought to herself, "Maybe I should just apologize to everyone."
"Hmm?" Aranel asked.
She glanced up at her cousin, feeling her face grow warm. "Did I say something aloud?"
Aranel chuckled, "You just said that you thought you should apologize to everyone."
"Oh, I suppose I did." Emlin said, "I have just realized that everything that I have said and done about Ada has affected everyone, and not just me."
Aranel sighed, "You never answered my question as to why Uncle Haldir's lack of time with you is the reason you two were so horrible to one another."
Emlin glanced at her cousin, debating if she wanted to answer or not. She loved Aranel dearly, but she was quite the loud mouth and gossiped enough that telling her a secret like this would be unwise. "It is a long story, that I will leave for another day. Today is a beautiful day, though! Let us go the stream."
"Which stream?" Aranel asked.
"The one in that little secluded glade." Emlin said, "We have not visited there in quite awhile."
"Nay, we have not." Aranel replied as they locked arms and started down the path, detouring to the stream through the dense trees before they reached the glade.
They walked together laughing and commenting on the lovely day, the whole talk with her father really not sinking into her head. She could not believe that it had happened, but it had, and she felt as light and weightless as the hawk making lazy loops in the clear blue sky over the tall trees. The glade was unoccupied for such a brilliant day, but she was glad because the bright green grass was beckoning for her to walk in it barefooted uninhibited, and then wade into the assuredly cold, crystal waters of the stream bubbling along.
"It is such a beautiful day!" Emlin said excitedly as she fell on top of the lush carpet of grass dramatically. She quickly untied her riding boots and placed them beside the large boulder next to her.
Aranel giggled and took off her own slippers, "I have never seen you so happy Emlin! I enjoy you much more like this!"
"I enjoy myself more like this." Emlin laid back in the grass and let a long sigh out of her lungs. They stayed there for a while watching the sun change above them, slowly beginning to dip below the western trees, and listening to the pleasant tune of the birds in their roosts. And of all the things that could have gone through her head right at the moment was the thought of the Mirkwood prince and what had happened the previous night. "Aranel?"
"Yes?" Aranel asked.
Emlin stood up and stretched her arms over her head before focusing her attention back on her cousin, "Did your mother say anything about what happened last eve?"
"About what? That meeting with Prince Legolas?" Aranel questioned, shielding her eyes from the rays of the waning sun. Emlin nodded her head and Aranel smiled, "She said nothing about it particularly, except she did say that he was a charming elf."
Emlin giggled and walked to the water's edge, remembering his blue eyes and smiling face. It made her heart flutter, stomach flop and her mind anxious for the next moment when she would catch a glimpse of his perfect face. These feelings she was having towards ellyn- not just Legolas- were all so new to her, and the especially strong ones she felt for the prince were downright frightening to her. She would have discussed them with Aranel, but she was yet to reach forty years and thought that every time Emlin brought up a certain ellyn, it was quite hysterical. She would giggle and act as if the what Emlin spoke of was the most repulsive and nauseating thing she had ever heard.
"Do you like the prince, Emlin?" Aranel asked.
She shrugged, stepping out onto a stone protruding from the water. "It would not matter if I did or not. He is a prince, and I am the March Warden's daughter."
Aranel sat up and wrapped her arms around her legs, resting her chin upon her knees. "That distinction is next to being referred as a princess. True, your parents do not run an entire realm, but your father could if he needed to."
"Let us not talk about this." Emlin suggested, hopping to another flat stone. She bent on one knee, dipping her other foot into the water and kicking it towards Aranel. The splash landed Aranel's silvery-blonde head and her mouth turned into a large 'O' shape.
"I cannot believe you did that." Aranel exclaimed, jumping to her feet and to the closest rock, reaching out for Emlin.
Emlin sidestepped her easily, and leapt to another stone, further away. Aranel followed and replaced Emlin on the stone she had previously stood, her skirts hitting the water, a good deal of her hem soaked. Emlin laughed and taunted Aranel to reach her, but these two stones were too far away. Aranel giggled, effortlessly squatting on her haunches, cupping her hands together and placing them in the water, throwing the cold liquid up onto Emlin's thighs. More surprised from how cold the water was, and not that Aranel had done such a thing, Emlin froze and watched as her cousin skipped to a stone next to her. The look in Aranel's eyes was wild. It would have frightened Emlin if she did not know her better.
"Wait!" Emlin shouted as Aranel lunged for her. With fast fingers, Emlin undid the fastenings of her outer tunic and threw it to the side of the stream.
"That is not fair, Emlin!" Aranel complained, "If I get wet, I get wet. I cannot save a piece of clothing to go back home in!"
Emlin smiled wickedly, "I know."
This seemingly enraged Aranel a great deal, and she lunged again for Emlin. Emlin's footing on the smooth, wet rock beneath her feet gave way and it seemed that all time slowed to a snail's pace as they each looked at each other with worried expressions, and tumbled down into the chilling water. The shock of the icy water stole the air from their lungs, but ever so quickly, they grew used to it and Emlin felt a laugh coming up from her belly. Aranel began to laugh as well, as she struggled under the weight of her sodden gown to sit back in the water.
Emlin sat up now that Aranel was off of her, and appraised the damage that had been done to her cousin. "You look atrocious."
"You do not look much better!" Aranel laughed, splashing more water at her. "Even your hair is completely soaked! Mine is still pretty dry."
"I can fix that for you if you wish." Emlin threatened and adjusted her seat in the river bed, the slimy mud seeping through her thin leggings. "Oh, that is so foul!"
Aranel raised a brow, "What is?"
"Mud in my leggings." Emlin dipped her head beneath the water, completely submerging herself. She stayed there for a few moments before surfacing and slowly standing up, offering Aranel a hand to stand up. Emlin and Aranel stood in the water, trying in vain to cleanse their saturated clothes of the mud going down their legs.
"Nana is going to send me to live with an orc after she sees this gown!" Aranel said, "I just know she will!"
Emlin started to laugh at Aranel again, but she was silenced by the sound of someone clearing their throat behind her. Aranel's face grew pale, and she tried to form words with her mouth, but nothing came out. What could possibly be so horrible behind her? Emlin turned slowly, and Aranel's nervous was made clear to her. There stood Legolas, on the bank of the river, and standing very close to her. How long had he been there? How much had heard of their earlier conversation?
"Please tell me it is not him." Emlin said.
"It is." Aranel replied, trudging towards the bank. Legolas offered his hand to Aranel to lift her out of the shallow water. She accepted it gratefully, and Legolas lifted her with no difficulty to stand on the grass. He smiled brightly and then offered his hand to Emlin. Not wishing to remain in the cold water or risking a chance of angering the elf, she gave him one of her hands. Just as simply as he did Aranel, Legolas hoisted her to the grass, though with a little too much force behind it, causing her to stumble slightly into him. Legolas steadied her with his body and not his hands this time, and Emlin's sheer nervousness for the situation raised considerably when she felt his warm breath upon her ear.
Emlin pulled away, the blush on her face she hoped was not so bright as it felt. "Thank you."
"My pleasure, lirimaer." He replied.
Could he not tell that she was not even of age yet? Why was he charming her so? Emlin swallowed hard and pushed away from him, walking quickly over to her boots and the outer tunic she had thrown to the side. The under tunic she wore was thin and she felt slightly chilled from the water, but it was not bad enough that she needed to put it on. That was until, to her extreme mortification, Emlin glanced down at her under tunic as she was pulling on her boots. She had not realized that the gauzy white cloth would become so sheer when it became wet, or that it would stick to her body so well. Emlin straightened herself and pulled the cloth away from her body, but that only caused a cool breeze to float underneath the cloth, caressing her breasts and making her nipples stiffen.
She reached for her outer tunic and quickly covered herself, turning to find Legolas grinning slightly at her realization of what was happening. At least he was getting pleasure out of this experience! Emlin scowled and slipped her arms in the outer tunic. She was so embarrassed by the situation that she did not even know if she could move to make a quick escape.
"Would you two lovely elleths allow me to escort you to your talans?" Legolas asked.
"No thank you, we are fine on our own!" Emlin exclaimed, grabbing Aranel's arm and moving off in a fast run towards a dense green covering. They ran for some time before Emlin finally stopped and they looked behind them. "Thank Elbereth he did not follow us."
"No kidding." Aranel sighed, "But I do not think I would have minded very much."
Emlin pursed her lips, "How long had he been there?"
"I do not know." Aranel said, "I hope that he was not hiding in the trees when we were speaking about him though! Oh would that not be upsetting?"
"Most upsetting." Emlin agreed and looked around. "I need to go back to the talan and cleanse myself of this mud."
"As do I." Aranel nodded.
Without saying more, they started up the stairs and separated ways not long after. Emlin opened the door to the talan to find her mother standing over the a black cast iron pot over the fire, and her father sitting at the table with Thoron, teaching him how to string his bow. She saw him glance towards the door and his eyes widen. "What in Iluvatar's name happened to you?"
"The stream happened." Emlin said, "And so did Aranel pushing me in."
"Well, go and bathe quickly!" Her mother chimed in, "We are having company for the evening meal."
Emlin raised a curious brow, "Who is joining us?"
"You shall see." Nana smiled and pushed Emlin towards her room, "If you worry about it, you will not bathe quickly enough."
"Aye, Nana." Emlin replied and walked to her room, finding one of her pale blue gowns laying atop her bed that her mother must have left out for her. How old was she? Ten? She sighed and removed her boots quickly, gathering her things and went back down to her parent's sleeping room so she could get into the bathing room. The water was already drawn for her, so she whispered a quick warming spell and stepped into the niphredil scented water. It was while she was in the bath that she heard the first notes of a lament to Gandalf, accompanying the quickly darkening sky.
The voices of the elves mingled together, creating one of the most haunting melodies she had ever heard as they sung of his passing into shadow, and of all the deeds he had on this great firmament known as Arda. It was often that songs would be conducted in this manner in Lothlórien, for happy or for sad reasons, but this time, the words weighed on her greatly. Truly, it was a horrible shame that such a wizard would fall into the depths of Moria. Emlin sighed and continued to listen closely, but she soon found herself lulling off into a light sleep.
She was just going into the final level of rest when there was a firm knock at the front door and the sound of Thoron jumping up from his chair and running with his short legs to the door traveled to her ears. Emlin nodded and removed herself from the water, wrapping a drying cloth about her body before draining the water from the bathing basin. Not wishing to leave the solace of this closed off room so hurriedly, as the last time they had a guest, it only turned out to be Luinil. If there ever was an eccentric elf, her father's friend Luinil was definitely the one, and sometimes it worried her.
Emlin moved into the bedroom where she had left her dress and pulled it over her head, tightening the ribbon on the back so the embroidered bodice lay against her skin, tying it off in a long bow resting on her backside. The talking in the other room was quiet, yet happy, but she did not pay much attention to what exactly was being said as she brushed out her already dry hair. A piece of parchment at the dressing table caught her attention, and she recognized her mother's handwriting. Emlin picked it up and read the first few lines, finding that it was only a note to Narië, dated back before she was even born. She placed the note back on the table and sighed heavily. She never knew someone could be so emotionally exhausted, but after the gamut she had been through since the sun rose, it was.
Something was said and the entire talan went quiet, Emlin then wishing she had been paying attention. Intrigued beyond anything, she quickly tied some of her hair up with one of her mother's matching ribbons and moved towards the door. The silence was utterly deafening as she pulled back the door. Emlin was fixing her right flowing sleeve as she closed the door and looked up. There he stood, as handsome as ever, in only a silver-green tunic, leggings and his boots.
"Hello." Emlin said quietly, wishing she could be any place but in this room... nay, any place but Lothlórien. By the look on his face, it was obvious that Legolas had not even the slightest idea who her parents were until this very moment.
---
Nana- Mom
Ada- Dad