Dreamcast II: The Ivory Host
Chapter 5: Living A Lie
Rivers' POV
Nothing was realistic about it. Everything was a huge lie, one we could keep even if we wanted to. Love is suicide.
A little boy tugs on my skirt. I smile at him and he returns it with dimpling folds in his baby fat.
"Hello. Where's your mother?"
"Mummy is on horse. Papa sent me to big man with letter." He withdrew a slimy knuckle from his mouth to hold up a folded piece of paper, which I took.
I pat his head. "Tell your papa the big man will see it."
"Thank you, Lady."
Big man... Théoden? I mount my horse and begin a complicated weave through the crowd. Narrowly missing hands and bags, I manage to make my way across to the plaza. Legolas is there and I shudder, recalling his words from last night.
A squire takes my horse and I alight the steps to Théoden and his advisors. Aragorn tips his head, Gimli grunts, and Gandalf sweeps his staff in graceful acknowledgement of my presence. I don't even see what Legolas does. Probably nothing.
"Ah, Lady Rivers." Théoden bows. I curtsy.
"Sir, I bring news." I had him the letter. News from whom? A village child?
He scans the note quickly before folding it and handing it to a servant. "Right. Rivers, would you mind going with Legolas down to the front lines?"
"Not at all, milord."
He smiles and Legolas steps forward. The rest of the group dissolves into talking. "Greetings."
I flash him a dull look before thundering down the steps and hoping onto my mount. I spur my horse before Legolas is halfway down the stairs.
Legolas' POV
What was she trying to prove? I kicked my horse, speeding up to catch the flying edges of her favorite red cloak. "Hey!"
She doesn't even pause. I'm right next to her now. Reaching over, I pull on her steed's reins in a desperate attempt to slow her down. Suddenly, her head turns.
Splayed across her face is the most venomous look I have ever seen propped up on someone's face. Her eyes are swollen with solid anger and her mouth is puckered, pinched like a boiled sweet.
I leave her alone and continue riding by her side. The air around her is spinning with feigned hatred. Her horse increases its steps to please its rider.
I have never seen her so angry. It reminds me of Lothlorien, and I wonder if she is going through the same thing. When she stops at her place in line I tell her, "I'm sorry for what I said last night."
"That won't make them come back, will it?"
I'm surprised to get an answer out of her. It's even worse than what I expected.
"I wish I hadn't said anything."
"Think about that next time you judge someone."
"I was rash. I am sorry."
"I know." Her voice has tone now, but I can't say what it is.
"I won't do it again."
Silence.
"I'm sorry."
Her horse's tail flares.
"Why won't you apologize too? I have!"
"Because I have nothing to regret. I meant what I said. I wasn't on defense last night, Legolas. I wasn't protecting myself from a childish stereotype."
My mouth is felled by her reply. She meant everything...it was true? Now she's trying to get revenge. "Look, it won't help Middle Earth if we are fighting."
"Middle Earth doesn't care. I don't know if you understand this yet, but I'm not supposed to be here. My existence had defiled everything."
What nonsense is she talking, to speak such a falsehood?
"Our union doesn't make a difference. It never did and never will." Her head turns. Her empty white eyes are readable this time; they are brimming with...delirium?
"Stop trying to invent your own prophecies."
A tear spills out of her eye and washes across the smooth expanse of her cheek. She sobs, "They'll come true on their own."
Rivers' POV
Nothing was realistic about it. Everything was a huge lie, one we could keep even if we wanted to. Love is suicide.
A little boy tugs on my skirt. I smile at him and he returns it with dimpling folds in his baby fat.
"Hello. Where's your mother?"
"Mummy is on horse. Papa sent me to big man with letter." He withdrew a slimy knuckle from his mouth to hold up a folded piece of paper, which I took.
I pat his head. "Tell your papa the big man will see it."
"Thank you, Lady."
Big man... Théoden? I mount my horse and begin a complicated weave through the crowd. Narrowly missing hands and bags, I manage to make my way across to the plaza. Legolas is there and I shudder, recalling his words from last night.
A squire takes my horse and I alight the steps to Théoden and his advisors. Aragorn tips his head, Gimli grunts, and Gandalf sweeps his staff in graceful acknowledgement of my presence. I don't even see what Legolas does. Probably nothing.
"Ah, Lady Rivers." Théoden bows. I curtsy.
"Sir, I bring news." I had him the letter. News from whom? A village child?
He scans the note quickly before folding it and handing it to a servant. "Right. Rivers, would you mind going with Legolas down to the front lines?"
"Not at all, milord."
He smiles and Legolas steps forward. The rest of the group dissolves into talking. "Greetings."
I flash him a dull look before thundering down the steps and hoping onto my mount. I spur my horse before Legolas is halfway down the stairs.
Legolas' POV
What was she trying to prove? I kicked my horse, speeding up to catch the flying edges of her favorite red cloak. "Hey!"
She doesn't even pause. I'm right next to her now. Reaching over, I pull on her steed's reins in a desperate attempt to slow her down. Suddenly, her head turns.
Splayed across her face is the most venomous look I have ever seen propped up on someone's face. Her eyes are swollen with solid anger and her mouth is puckered, pinched like a boiled sweet.
I leave her alone and continue riding by her side. The air around her is spinning with feigned hatred. Her horse increases its steps to please its rider.
I have never seen her so angry. It reminds me of Lothlorien, and I wonder if she is going through the same thing. When she stops at her place in line I tell her, "I'm sorry for what I said last night."
"That won't make them come back, will it?"
I'm surprised to get an answer out of her. It's even worse than what I expected.
"I wish I hadn't said anything."
"Think about that next time you judge someone."
"I was rash. I am sorry."
"I know." Her voice has tone now, but I can't say what it is.
"I won't do it again."
Silence.
"I'm sorry."
Her horse's tail flares.
"Why won't you apologize too? I have!"
"Because I have nothing to regret. I meant what I said. I wasn't on defense last night, Legolas. I wasn't protecting myself from a childish stereotype."
My mouth is felled by her reply. She meant everything...it was true? Now she's trying to get revenge. "Look, it won't help Middle Earth if we are fighting."
"Middle Earth doesn't care. I don't know if you understand this yet, but I'm not supposed to be here. My existence had defiled everything."
What nonsense is she talking, to speak such a falsehood?
"Our union doesn't make a difference. It never did and never will." Her head turns. Her empty white eyes are readable this time; they are brimming with...delirium?
"Stop trying to invent your own prophecies."
A tear spills out of her eye and washes across the smooth expanse of her cheek. She sobs, "They'll come true on their own."