Chapter 10
The next morning dawned brightly and clearly. The elves of Mirkwood went about their daily chores not knowing that anything out of the ordinary had occurred the night before. The only strange report from the chamber maids was that the lady Nilalqua.megilien had not emerged from her chambers all day. There was only idle gossip that pondered the reasons for this but they were quickly hushed. Legolas and Lossencristen were a little late to the training grounds but this was not uncommon for the morning following a feast so no one commented on it, well no one except the two elves themselves.
"So Legolas, did you enjoy yourself last night?" The two were once more in the wrestling ring circling each other. Legolas was taken by surprise, but he quickly recovered as he blocked Lossen's first attack, "why yes but from the giggling I heard from the maids not as much enjoyment as you had." Now it was Lossen's turn to be surprised and he almost was taken down to one knee before he could break the prince's grasp, "Last night was most enjoyable" he paused catching the gleam in the princes eyes and immediately defended, "We talked a good part of the night" Legolas rolled his eyes, "you suddenly took an oath of celibacy?" Lossen grinned, "mmm something akin to you no longer flirting with the ladies of the court now that you found Veduriel." Legolas was floored and was flipped over Lossen's shoulder before he regained his feet, "you mean you found someone? Who is this?" Lossen had the grace to blush as he admitted, "no I don't know if she and I . . . we just . . . I just talked all night long with a she-elf I met at the feast . . . . she picked a fight with me and then we spent all night arguing." Legolas laughed as he threw a punch at his friend, "truly the only female for you, one that attacks your pride! Who is this elf?" Lossen got a far away look that made Legolas stop and laugh, he had it bad. "Firreil" Lossen's head snapped up at Legolas's laughter, "oh my friend she came here five years ago, the first thing she did was yell at the poor elf that took her steed that he cut her horses lip by handling him too roughly! She has quite a temper, think you can handle it?" Lossen smiled, "and I don't have a temper?" With that Lossen attacked in earnest and the two battled hard. In the midst of the match a sweet yet taunting voice laughed, "that must be the most ridiculous position I have ever seen!" Lossen looked up and Legolas threw him to the ground winning the match. The two shirtless, sweaty elves looked up to see the very same Firreiel smiling very amused at the two.
Lossen looked like he had just been caught stealing apples, having had Firreiel witness him loosing. Legolas smiled and gave a small bow before leaving to clean up and put on a shirt. Lossen and Firreiel faced each other, Lossen's dark hair had come loose from it's braids and hung loosely around his face, his dark eyes met hers and he smiled. Firreiel at this point became aware of two very obvious things, 1) His shirt was NOWHERE to be found and it was defiantly a good thing; 2) She had to bite her lip to keep herself from either running right at him and kissing him or from starting an argument, both seemed equally tempting at the moment. Instead Firreiel just smiled back. Legolas returned with a shirt on and looked from one to the other smiling to himself I think they both have it bad instead of voicing his thoughts he cleared his throat. Both elves whipped their heads over to his direction, once more Legolas restrained a laugh at how absorbed in eachother they were as to not notice him, "perhaps we should go in to eat?" Dumbly they both nodded and Legolas led the way. Perhaps Lossen was tired from the match but he did not walk beside Legolas as he normally did, instead he lagged behind and talked with Firreiel into the dinning room and throughout breakfast.
Half an hour later Legolas was wondering if the pair were planning on strangling each other or passionately kissing. He sighed and just hoped that they wouldn't do either in such a public place. After loosing a round of arguments about sliver versus mithril Lossen looked around in a little sulk, "hey Legolas where is Veduriel . . . I would have thought that she would have been around sooner." Legolas looked over to his friend from the door that he had been staring at, "yes I know . . . perhaps she is still asleep." "I guess you could have worn her out?" Lossen winked and Legolas sat up restraining himself from hitting his friend, "She left for her room right after Nila left, before the end of the ball, Nila spoiled all romantic ideas that night." "She-"Firreiel began but Lossen interrupted, "that she-elf seems to spoil everyone's days, her and that gloomy manservant, she interrupted you?" "But-" Legolas interrupted Firreiel this time, "Yes at a most inconvenient time too, I have never wanted to hurt a lady before but the things she said . . . Veduriel handled it gracefully." "Guys-" Lossen didn't even pay attention, "with that victory she must be sleeping peacefully." "WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP???" Firreiel pounded her hand on the table making the goblets and silverware jump. Both elves shut up and starred at her, breathing heavily she continued, "As I was TRYING to tell you. SHE.....ISN'T.....IN......HER.... ROOM! I am right across the hall from her and when I got up this morning her door was wide open and it was completely empty, I just thought she had gotten up early." The prince and his friend stared at each other with shock on their faces. Legolas's face became grim suddenly and he stood up and took off full tilt for her room.
(Last Night After Nila's Interruption)
Veduriel sighed and put her fingers to her temple, "I shouldn't have done that." Legolas wrapped his arms around her once more trying to get her to forget about her, "You did well Arwen en amin" The mortal girl turned to him, "I'm going to have to learn this elvish of yours soon" Veduriel's expression changed to smiling but with a questioning in her eyes that looked like she feared the answer, "did you want to go with her . . . I mean if I wasn't here would you have gone with her?" Legolas looked at her in a moment of shock before violently shaking his head and running his fingers through her thick, brown curls, "no lady of mine . . . I would not have, she is not for me. She is too . . ." "Perfect?" she smiled and added. Legolas laughed, "no, she is not perfect, she only gives the illusion that she is. Perfection in my eyes is found in the imperfections of a person." Veduriel nodded, a little unsure of this answer but relieved too, "I think I'll go back to my bedchamber now." The prince became slightly worried at this change in her mood but asked slowly, "shall I walk you back?" "No." Veduriel turned and smiled making her next answer a little softer, "no thank you Legolas, I think I would like to walk alone tonight and . . . think, alright?" Legolas frowned, he did not like it but he had no reason for denying her so he nodded. Slowly he bent down and kissed her hand before turning and disappearing into the night.
Sighing she watched him go. She turned and began to walk through the gardens alone. I really wish I understood him more but he has about 3,500 years on me as far as deep thought goes. No wonder it is said 'never to go to the elves for counsel for they shall say both 'yes' and 'no'' Not wanting to go into the banquet hall she walked around the outside of the palace to reach a fairly deserted entrance so she could think more clearly. She reached the side of the palace completely sheltered by tall pines, what happens now? We live happily ever after? she almost laughed aloud at the thought, all the stories that seem to end like that are predictable and boring me being neither of which but that I'm in this story and no longer have any control over what happens in-
He had been watching her for awhile and ran ahead of her into the pine trees. When she paused to think he grabbed her. She didn't even have time to turn around before a bag was on her head with a hand over her mouth and she found herself being dragged away. The last thing that she heard was, "This is for my mistress, no female shall have him now!" As oblivion claimed her senses and her blue eyes rolled back in her head from lack of oxygen she thought defiantly not what I planned!