Gracy walked back along the
path feeling much more peaceful. Suddenly, she heard the tiniest
of rustles. She turned and looked around. Deciding it was
just the wind she continued. But then she heard a small rustle
again and two seconds later, Legolas stepped lightly onto the path.
"Did I frighten you, my Lady?" he said, as if he'd just noticed her.
"Actually, I heard you coming, Your Highness," Gracy replied calmly.
"Please, call me Legolas. I never enjoyed being addressed with a royal title."
"Very well, Legolas. Do you always go for late night strolls? Is it an elvish custom?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing," Legolas replied grinning. As he spoke, he moved closer until he towered over her in a way she could see and Gracy was by no means a short woman. "Perhaps you would enjoy a short stroll with me before you retire, " he asked, sounding hopeful. Gracy didn't really know what to say. She was still very restless and a walk sounded like a good idea but she wasn't really sure she wanted any company. All those thoughts pretty much fell away when she looked up and saw the hope in Legolas' eyes.
She nodded and said, "I'd be glad to." Legolas smiled and lightly taking her arm, they strolled back down the path and into the cool woods.
~*~*~*~
Gracy held onto Legolas' arm as she got her breath back from laughing. Legolas was quite a charming person. He had funny tales and adventurous ones which he enjoyed telling her. Legolas was quite captivated by her as well and was drawn to the tales and lifestyles of her world. In a moment of silence, Legolas dared to glance at her. She was tall and slender with long, thick, shiny black hair. Her skin was very different from the elven maidens, although, 'her beauty could rival theirs,' Legolas thought to himself. It was a lovely light creamy brown that went perfectly with the rest of her features. They included large, brilliant black eyes with long feathery lashes that cast shadows on her cheeks. Her lips were full and looked incredibly soft. As for the rest of her? Legolas exhaled softly. There was no other way to react to such loveliness.
"Legolas? Legolas?!" Gracy's voice sounded, breaking his thoughts. "Legolas, are you well?" She looked anxious.
"I apologize, My La - er...Gracy. I was lost in a thought. What was it you were saying to me?"
"I was asking if we should go back now, " she replied looking curiously at his bewildered face.
"Oh, oh yes. Perhaps we should." They walked back to the palace in silence and Legolas escorted Gracy back to her chambers.
"Thank you for the walk and the wonderful tales, Legolas," she said leaning her back against the door.
He smiled, "It was my pleasure." He kissed her hand, but he began to kiss up her arm. Panic seized Gracy as the kisses grew more intent and pushed away as best she could with her back against the door. She looked sadly at him, shook her head, and turned and entered her chamber locking the door.
Gracy, Lorraine, Ally, and Sierra stayed two more days in the land of Mirkwood. They were very pleasant but Gracy still felt uncomfortable in Legolas' presence. It wasn't as though she was afraid of him, it was just that she felt...well, she didn't really know what she felt.
The next morning, Gracy was awakened by a gentle tapping on her door. Yawning and stretching she opened the door to find a maid standing there.
"Mistress," she began nervously, "today is the day you leave for Rivendell. I'm here with the things you will need for the journey, to help you pack, and to convey a message that his majesty, the King, would like to see you and your companions when you have a moment.
"Thank you, my lady. How many will escort us there?"
"I am not sure, but I shall travel with you as well. My brother will also. And I insist you call me Bell."
"Of course I will, Bell. Thank you very much," Gracy said smiling at the maid. Bell helped her gather her things as well as the new gowns and other clothing sewn for her in the past few days. Among clothes was an ensemble that looked suspiciously like a pair of hipsters flared jeans and a black top with flared bell sleeves. After dressing, Gracy allowed Bell to escort her, Lorraine, Ally, and Sierra to King Thranduil's palace once again. When they arrived, they were greeted warmly and asked to sit.
"I realize your coming here was not what you expected. I hope you all enjoyed staying here all the same."
"We did, your Highness! Mirkwood is a lovely place," Lorraine chirped brightly.
"Yes, we truly enjoyed our stay," Ally broke in.
"That is good news," Thranduil said with a laugh. "I did not summon you here for just this reason. There is something else." He smiled at their curious faces. "You see, it is custom here in this land, and many others besides, to give a parting gift to all guests."
"That's very kind of you, my lord, but you needn't trouble yourself with any gifts," Gracy said quickly. Truth be told, that wasn't why she wanted to leave right away. In fact, she was very flattered by the gifts, but Legolas had walked in a few words before Thranduil finished speaking and the memories of her first night in Mirkwood still made things awkward between them.
"Nonsense! You've all been wonderful guests. I'm sure Lord Elrond of Rivendell will grow very fond of all of you as we have in a very short time. The gifts are no trouble at all!" He turned and smiled at his son who nodded in agreement.
"It is with regret that we will not be able to accompany you to Rivendell, as we have grown very fond of you. But you must except our gifts as a token of gratitude as well as a tradition of parting," Legolas said. His face fell upon each of them in turn and then to all, but he darted his gaze upon Gracy many times.
"Gratitude?" Sierra asked, looking at Legolas and trying to catch his eye.
"Of course," Thranduil replied, not noticing any of it, "you brought so many interesting tales and customs from your world. You entertained and educated my people as well as my son and myself. Now enough stalling! We've only a short time to present the gifts before you have to leave." Thranduil gestured to a few maids in the corner of the room. They held various objects covered with cloths. Thranduil spoke to and presented a gift to each of them in turn. "To you, Lady Sierra, perhaps you will find this useful for the rituals of your craft." A maid stepped forward and pulled back a swatch of satin the color of the sky to reveal a box with the sweet scent of cedar. Sierra pulled back the lid. Inside were small, corked glass bottles. Each was filled with a different scent and sometimes color. They were all anointing oils.
"To you, Lady Allison, may you wear and cherish this in the practice of your craft." A second maid stepped forward also carrying a sky colored cloth. The maid pulled it back to reveal the gift, and a lovely one at that. It was a beautiful, long robe of black silk. It was so smooth, it felt like water against their fingers. On the left side near the collar, a silver, pentacle, exactly like the one Ally wore around her neck, was stitched and on the edges where the robe folded closed, a thin border of silver leaves on a shiny vine had been stitched.
"To you, Lady Lorraine, may you always look lovely wearing this and using that." A third maid stepped forward. She held a velvet covered apple red box. Lorraine lifted the lid slowly. Inside was a beautiful gold rose on a thin gold chain. The maid moved a few inches to the left as a fourth maid came forward. When the cloth was pulled back it revealed a box very much like the one that held Sierra's gift. But when the lid was pulled back it held not anointing oils, but a crystal blue libation goblet. One the front, Lorraine's name was in elvish script painted in gold.
"This is beautiful!" She said softly. She reached out and lightly ran a finger along the gold rose.
"And to you, Lady Gracy, who are not last in my thoughts, you many find this useful. Well, all of these hopefully." A fifth maid came forward. She seemed to be having a bit of trouble holding it, and when the, this time, black cloth was pulled back and the gift revealed Gracy knew why. It was a sword. It was long and beautiful, perfectly crafted and easy to maneuver with, such was the skill of elven craftsmen. It was tucked into a cedar scabbard and parts of the wood were deeply cut to fit tiny crystals of silver. But that wasn't all that was in it. Behind the sword was a knife in a leather scabbard. It was very heavy and Thranduil informed her in a pleased tone that the knife was perfect when she didn't have her sword. "Does the cloth please you?" Thranduil asked. The maid held the swords while Gracy held the cloth in front of her, on the cloth, which was black velvet, was a very accurate picture of Durga Mata sitting atop a tiger. She looked beautiful and Gracy was amazed that they had made it so accurate from just a description.
"It's all so beautiful! We can't thank you enough for your kindness!" Gracy smiled brightly at the king.
"No trouble at all my dears." Thranduil bent slightly, being much taller then they and kissed them each on their foreheads. Then just like that, they left. With four guards and the maid that had helped Gracy that morning. They rode rather quietly most of the way, but on the third afternoon Gracy struck up conversation with the guard nearest to her and very soon they were all happily chattering as they all had done in younger days.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity they reached Rivendell. They were greeted by one of Lord Elrond's sons, Elladen and his sister, Arwen. Arwen was soft spoken and beautiful and took an immediate liking to Gracy. After they arrived in Rivendell Arwen brought them straight to her father. Lord Elrond was exactly how he'd been portrayed. He spoke kindly to them and told a maid to show them to their chambers, and questions would happen tomorrow.
That night, Gracy heard a knock on her chamber door. Gracy opened it to find Arwen.
"Will you join me for a short walk before you retire?"
"Of course! I'd be very happy to!" Arwen smiled. They walked all through Rivendell and Arwen told her all about each of the different spots. Gracy's favorite spot was a waterfall with a bridge in front of it. It was a romantic spot where Arwen told Gracy that she and Aragorn (her lover as she told Gracy) had first declared their true love for each other. It was sweet and Gracy tried not to feel so jealous. Her heart had been broken several times.
"What of your life?" Arwen asked, breaking her thoughts.
"Oh well, it's rather different than life here," and Gracy proceeded to tell her about her life. Arwen was very good at listening. She chuckled and pouted in sympathy at the proper moments.
"What has been most fulfilling in your life, Lady Arwen?" Gracy asked.
"Well, that is an odd question to ask, but since you have, my love for Aragorn I suppose. Oh and please just call me Arwen. What has been for you?"
"Well, nothing yet, I'm afraid I haven't been alive very long, in order to see the world as I truly have wanted to. In fact nobody has ever taken so much interest in my friends and I since...well, NEVER!"
"So you feel as though your life has not been a good one?" Arwen asked, looking closely at her.
"Oh no! No, no! My life has been very good! It's just, well, like you, I wanted my fulfillment to be finally finding my true love," Gracy replied, looking the slightest bit embarrassed.
"Ah," Arwen nodded understandingly and they spoke no more on the subject. "Tell me more of your practices of W-wicca? and Hin-hinduism?" Arwen laughed at her own stumbling speech and for the rest of their walk that is what Gracy did.
It was late when Gracy and Arwen finally returned at Gracy's chambers. "Thank you very much for the lovely walk and the stories, Gracy," Arwen smiled brightly.
"It was a pleasure. I enjoyed you stories as well. Do you know what sort of questions your father will ask of us?" Gracy looked anxious.
"I do not know, but there is no cause to worry. He would never ask of you things you would prefer not to speak of."
Gracy nodded and bid her goodnight before hurrying into the bed and slipping into a deep peaceful sleep.
"Did I frighten you, my Lady?" he said, as if he'd just noticed her.
"Actually, I heard you coming, Your Highness," Gracy replied calmly.
"Please, call me Legolas. I never enjoyed being addressed with a royal title."
"Very well, Legolas. Do you always go for late night strolls? Is it an elvish custom?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing," Legolas replied grinning. As he spoke, he moved closer until he towered over her in a way she could see and Gracy was by no means a short woman. "Perhaps you would enjoy a short stroll with me before you retire, " he asked, sounding hopeful. Gracy didn't really know what to say. She was still very restless and a walk sounded like a good idea but she wasn't really sure she wanted any company. All those thoughts pretty much fell away when she looked up and saw the hope in Legolas' eyes.
She nodded and said, "I'd be glad to." Legolas smiled and lightly taking her arm, they strolled back down the path and into the cool woods.
~*~*~*~
Gracy held onto Legolas' arm as she got her breath back from laughing. Legolas was quite a charming person. He had funny tales and adventurous ones which he enjoyed telling her. Legolas was quite captivated by her as well and was drawn to the tales and lifestyles of her world. In a moment of silence, Legolas dared to glance at her. She was tall and slender with long, thick, shiny black hair. Her skin was very different from the elven maidens, although, 'her beauty could rival theirs,' Legolas thought to himself. It was a lovely light creamy brown that went perfectly with the rest of her features. They included large, brilliant black eyes with long feathery lashes that cast shadows on her cheeks. Her lips were full and looked incredibly soft. As for the rest of her? Legolas exhaled softly. There was no other way to react to such loveliness.
"Legolas? Legolas?!" Gracy's voice sounded, breaking his thoughts. "Legolas, are you well?" She looked anxious.
"I apologize, My La - er...Gracy. I was lost in a thought. What was it you were saying to me?"
"I was asking if we should go back now, " she replied looking curiously at his bewildered face.
"Oh, oh yes. Perhaps we should." They walked back to the palace in silence and Legolas escorted Gracy back to her chambers.
"Thank you for the walk and the wonderful tales, Legolas," she said leaning her back against the door.
He smiled, "It was my pleasure." He kissed her hand, but he began to kiss up her arm. Panic seized Gracy as the kisses grew more intent and pushed away as best she could with her back against the door. She looked sadly at him, shook her head, and turned and entered her chamber locking the door.
Gracy, Lorraine, Ally, and Sierra stayed two more days in the land of Mirkwood. They were very pleasant but Gracy still felt uncomfortable in Legolas' presence. It wasn't as though she was afraid of him, it was just that she felt...well, she didn't really know what she felt.
The next morning, Gracy was awakened by a gentle tapping on her door. Yawning and stretching she opened the door to find a maid standing there.
"Mistress," she began nervously, "today is the day you leave for Rivendell. I'm here with the things you will need for the journey, to help you pack, and to convey a message that his majesty, the King, would like to see you and your companions when you have a moment.
"Thank you, my lady. How many will escort us there?"
"I am not sure, but I shall travel with you as well. My brother will also. And I insist you call me Bell."
"Of course I will, Bell. Thank you very much," Gracy said smiling at the maid. Bell helped her gather her things as well as the new gowns and other clothing sewn for her in the past few days. Among clothes was an ensemble that looked suspiciously like a pair of hipsters flared jeans and a black top with flared bell sleeves. After dressing, Gracy allowed Bell to escort her, Lorraine, Ally, and Sierra to King Thranduil's palace once again. When they arrived, they were greeted warmly and asked to sit.
"I realize your coming here was not what you expected. I hope you all enjoyed staying here all the same."
"We did, your Highness! Mirkwood is a lovely place," Lorraine chirped brightly.
"Yes, we truly enjoyed our stay," Ally broke in.
"That is good news," Thranduil said with a laugh. "I did not summon you here for just this reason. There is something else." He smiled at their curious faces. "You see, it is custom here in this land, and many others besides, to give a parting gift to all guests."
"That's very kind of you, my lord, but you needn't trouble yourself with any gifts," Gracy said quickly. Truth be told, that wasn't why she wanted to leave right away. In fact, she was very flattered by the gifts, but Legolas had walked in a few words before Thranduil finished speaking and the memories of her first night in Mirkwood still made things awkward between them.
"Nonsense! You've all been wonderful guests. I'm sure Lord Elrond of Rivendell will grow very fond of all of you as we have in a very short time. The gifts are no trouble at all!" He turned and smiled at his son who nodded in agreement.
"It is with regret that we will not be able to accompany you to Rivendell, as we have grown very fond of you. But you must except our gifts as a token of gratitude as well as a tradition of parting," Legolas said. His face fell upon each of them in turn and then to all, but he darted his gaze upon Gracy many times.
"Gratitude?" Sierra asked, looking at Legolas and trying to catch his eye.
"Of course," Thranduil replied, not noticing any of it, "you brought so many interesting tales and customs from your world. You entertained and educated my people as well as my son and myself. Now enough stalling! We've only a short time to present the gifts before you have to leave." Thranduil gestured to a few maids in the corner of the room. They held various objects covered with cloths. Thranduil spoke to and presented a gift to each of them in turn. "To you, Lady Sierra, perhaps you will find this useful for the rituals of your craft." A maid stepped forward and pulled back a swatch of satin the color of the sky to reveal a box with the sweet scent of cedar. Sierra pulled back the lid. Inside were small, corked glass bottles. Each was filled with a different scent and sometimes color. They were all anointing oils.
"To you, Lady Allison, may you wear and cherish this in the practice of your craft." A second maid stepped forward also carrying a sky colored cloth. The maid pulled it back to reveal the gift, and a lovely one at that. It was a beautiful, long robe of black silk. It was so smooth, it felt like water against their fingers. On the left side near the collar, a silver, pentacle, exactly like the one Ally wore around her neck, was stitched and on the edges where the robe folded closed, a thin border of silver leaves on a shiny vine had been stitched.
"To you, Lady Lorraine, may you always look lovely wearing this and using that." A third maid stepped forward. She held a velvet covered apple red box. Lorraine lifted the lid slowly. Inside was a beautiful gold rose on a thin gold chain. The maid moved a few inches to the left as a fourth maid came forward. When the cloth was pulled back it revealed a box very much like the one that held Sierra's gift. But when the lid was pulled back it held not anointing oils, but a crystal blue libation goblet. One the front, Lorraine's name was in elvish script painted in gold.
"This is beautiful!" She said softly. She reached out and lightly ran a finger along the gold rose.
"And to you, Lady Gracy, who are not last in my thoughts, you many find this useful. Well, all of these hopefully." A fifth maid came forward. She seemed to be having a bit of trouble holding it, and when the, this time, black cloth was pulled back and the gift revealed Gracy knew why. It was a sword. It was long and beautiful, perfectly crafted and easy to maneuver with, such was the skill of elven craftsmen. It was tucked into a cedar scabbard and parts of the wood were deeply cut to fit tiny crystals of silver. But that wasn't all that was in it. Behind the sword was a knife in a leather scabbard. It was very heavy and Thranduil informed her in a pleased tone that the knife was perfect when she didn't have her sword. "Does the cloth please you?" Thranduil asked. The maid held the swords while Gracy held the cloth in front of her, on the cloth, which was black velvet, was a very accurate picture of Durga Mata sitting atop a tiger. She looked beautiful and Gracy was amazed that they had made it so accurate from just a description.
"It's all so beautiful! We can't thank you enough for your kindness!" Gracy smiled brightly at the king.
"No trouble at all my dears." Thranduil bent slightly, being much taller then they and kissed them each on their foreheads. Then just like that, they left. With four guards and the maid that had helped Gracy that morning. They rode rather quietly most of the way, but on the third afternoon Gracy struck up conversation with the guard nearest to her and very soon they were all happily chattering as they all had done in younger days.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity they reached Rivendell. They were greeted by one of Lord Elrond's sons, Elladen and his sister, Arwen. Arwen was soft spoken and beautiful and took an immediate liking to Gracy. After they arrived in Rivendell Arwen brought them straight to her father. Lord Elrond was exactly how he'd been portrayed. He spoke kindly to them and told a maid to show them to their chambers, and questions would happen tomorrow.
That night, Gracy heard a knock on her chamber door. Gracy opened it to find Arwen.
"Will you join me for a short walk before you retire?"
"Of course! I'd be very happy to!" Arwen smiled. They walked all through Rivendell and Arwen told her all about each of the different spots. Gracy's favorite spot was a waterfall with a bridge in front of it. It was a romantic spot where Arwen told Gracy that she and Aragorn (her lover as she told Gracy) had first declared their true love for each other. It was sweet and Gracy tried not to feel so jealous. Her heart had been broken several times.
"What of your life?" Arwen asked, breaking her thoughts.
"Oh well, it's rather different than life here," and Gracy proceeded to tell her about her life. Arwen was very good at listening. She chuckled and pouted in sympathy at the proper moments.
"What has been most fulfilling in your life, Lady Arwen?" Gracy asked.
"Well, that is an odd question to ask, but since you have, my love for Aragorn I suppose. Oh and please just call me Arwen. What has been for you?"
"Well, nothing yet, I'm afraid I haven't been alive very long, in order to see the world as I truly have wanted to. In fact nobody has ever taken so much interest in my friends and I since...well, NEVER!"
"So you feel as though your life has not been a good one?" Arwen asked, looking closely at her.
"Oh no! No, no! My life has been very good! It's just, well, like you, I wanted my fulfillment to be finally finding my true love," Gracy replied, looking the slightest bit embarrassed.
"Ah," Arwen nodded understandingly and they spoke no more on the subject. "Tell me more of your practices of W-wicca? and Hin-hinduism?" Arwen laughed at her own stumbling speech and for the rest of their walk that is what Gracy did.
It was late when Gracy and Arwen finally returned at Gracy's chambers. "Thank you very much for the lovely walk and the stories, Gracy," Arwen smiled brightly.
"It was a pleasure. I enjoyed you stories as well. Do you know what sort of questions your father will ask of us?" Gracy looked anxious.
"I do not know, but there is no cause to worry. He would never ask of you things you would prefer not to speak of."
Gracy nodded and bid her goodnight before hurrying into the bed and slipping into a deep peaceful sleep.