Chapter Two: Hidden Secrets
Morning has come and the sweet scent of morning dew on the grass has filled the air. Legolas has already prepared the necessaries for the journey back to Lothlorien, and has informed his father of all that had happened. King Thranduil profusely apologized to Arissa, but she assured him that all was forgiven and forgotten. The queen smiled upon her soon to be daughter in-law. Queen Seraena pulled her oldest son aside before he departed for his journey, she has already pondered over the questions she means to ask him.
"My son you have become quiet fond of Princess Arissa is this wrong to assume so?" Queen Seraena asked.
"No it is not, mother she makes me feel so alive. Something deep down inside of me yearns for her touch, her love, a glance of her smile and a simple wisp of her hair. I feel drawn to her, obligated to protect her. Why do I feel like this I do not even know her," The young prince confessed his feelings.
"Because my son you love her, something about her makes you love her, that something may be shrouded in a mystery forever, or maybe you'll find out what exactly makes you love her. Nevertheless you love her so go and be with her and go with our blessing," Queen Seraena said and kissed her son's forehead.
"Legolas are you ready?" Arissa called to her new friend.
"Yes we better get leaving, so where is your horse?" Legolas asked looking around in curiosity.
"I don't ride horses Legolas I ride Goliath, come here boy" The small wolf pup comes to her side, using his magic he transforms into a giant wolf. "Legolas meet Goliath my most trusted friend and ally"
"You ride this dog?" Legolas's voice sounded smug and condescending.
"He is not a dog your highness he is a elven wolf the last of his kind given to me by Mithrandir. Moreover he, can out run your little horse any day, I apologize if he is not up to your standards of travel. If you wish to travel with us please do so, but I plan on traveling home with Goliath your means of transportation is of your choice," Arissa spoke with such authority Legolas had never heard been spoken to in such a manner, the fact rather shocked him.
"Forgive me my lady I did not mean to sound condescending," Legolas apologized. "I merely thought that,"
"You merely thought because he is a wolf that what he is savage? I assure you that horse of yours will turn on you before Goliath would. Now your highness I bid you goodbye and thank you for your hospitality," She curtsied before the king and queen. "Young prince" Arissa looked.
"Again I am sorry please if it is alright I wish to travel with you and Goliath" Legolas said still in shock of her conviction no one had ever spoken to him like that, he finds it captivating. Usually the maidens were to busy babbling on about Legolas, none of them dared to speak to him in that manner.
"Then come for the hour grows late and I long to see my home once again" Arissa said reaching for his hand. They traveled bare back on Goliath the swift breeze slashing at their faces, Arissa's hair whipping about.
"So how long have you had Goliath?" Legolas said trying to break the ice.
"Mithrandir gave me him to me when I turned thirteen hundred, along with my weapon." She eyed her two ended axes.
"I was going to ask you about that my lady but I wish to keep my head, and after your last beheading I thought it wise not to speak of it," Legolas let out a light chuckle.
She chuckled along with him Arissa smiled. "You must forgive me Legolas; I am very protective of Goliath" Arissa said.
The morning sun peered over the mountaintops; Arissa's hair glistened like diamonds. Traveling for several hours, they reached the Arissa's home, which she called her sanctuary. Her family gave her a warm welcome home, with nothing said about her travels to Mirkwood Arissa finds Legolas a room. Everything beautifully decorated Legolas settles in. He looked over the balcony and smiled at all he sees, turning around slowly to find Arissa right behind him. She hugged him tightly not wanting to let go, Legolas felt the warmth and sincerity of her embrace and helds her closely.
"I want to be with you Legolas, forever" her voice only in a whisper.
"There is something about you Arissa that makes me feel so different and I don't know what it is, but I know it's something about you." Legolas said.
"Promise that you'll never leave me" Arissa's voice trembled.
"I promise," Legolas lifted the cusp of her chin with his hand and kissed her. Pulling away from her, he pulls her closer to his body and holds her once more.
"You have been so good to me my friend," Arissa said loving the warmth of his embrace. However, her happiness faded as a sharp pain ran through Arissa's body causing her to faint and go limp. All that was the kingdom of Lothlorien heard had been Legolas' pleading voice. Lord Celeborn and Lady Galandriel ran into the room to find their niece on the floor unconscious. Days have passed and nothing has changed their niece still lays in her bed unconscious, with all the normal signs of a sleeping person and yet she is not. Arissa's body is in a dream state.
"Where am I?" Arissa asked looking around, wondering what had happened. All she remembers is Legolas holding her and then she fainted.
"Why you are here melamin with me, the place that you long to be in," a most familiar voice said reaching their arms around her waist. Arissa learns that it is Legolas and she smiles. "My love you have something that I want will you give it to me?" His voice now sounds strange and eerie.
"I do not know what you speak of I must leave now. Goodbye Legolas of Mirkwood."
"My dear whoever said that I was Legolas of Mirkwood?" Arissa turned to see that this creature had taken the form on Legolas and now was transforming back into its true form. A tall dark man in a black hooded cape stands before her. "Give it to me now Arissa or I will become cross with you!"
"Again I do not know of what you speak of, but now I call upon the almighty one to save me from this evil!" Arissa cried out, but before she awakens, the man stabs her stomach revealing something within her.
She awoke in a sweat; Arissa screamed gripping her side the blood pouring out from it. She felt around her wound finding a hard object protruding from the bloody mess. Pulling it out Arissa screamed in pain, her screams settled down as the sphere object was taken out of her body the wound quickly closed. Her family and Legolas find her awake and all are happy to see that she is all right. Lady Galandriel's smile faded away and her eyes grew sad.
"It has finally happened" Lady Galandriel said her niece's fate was now absolute.
"Legolas leave us now we must speak with our niece," Lord Celeborn sternly said.
"But your highness I..." Legolas protested.
"Leave us!" The lord barked. Arissa smiled at Legolas.
"Arissa we must talk, this day is one that we have dreaded for all of your life." Lord Celeborn said looking down.
"Uncle what is this, it was in me," Arissa said confused.
"It is your life it is the life of the one evil being that wishes to destroy all of Middle Earth your are bound to each other, and only if you are destroyed will he be too" Lord Celeborn's voice full of sadness and despair, never had he thought that this day would have come.
"I do not understand who this person is?" Arissa asked holding the jewel.
"He is your twin brother, born from the same womb as you once were" Galandriel explained. "Evil was set in his heart from birth; your mother was not killed by her lover. Your mother never had a lover she and your father were madly in love. At age two hundred, your brother stabbed your mother with Lord Nicolas's sword, and then killed Lord Nicolas framing him. Rumors said that they were lovers but I knew different. Your father in a jealous rage believed all the lies that your brother had set in his mind. Your brother placed a spell on him, one that cannot be broken until your brother is dead. He knew this so he created that jewel if you poses it he is powerless against you, but if he were to some how get it the world as we know it would end. Adam knew that we could never kill you so he placed it in you. Nevertheless, sweet Arissa we must some how find a way to destroy him, because he is coming after you and we do not know what do to. For centuries we have searched for a way to destroy him without killing you in the process, alas we have found no way." Galandriel cried wishing none of this had ever happened.
"I don't understand dear aunt why has he done all this?" Arissa asked.
"Jealousy you are going to be someone great in this world, your fate has already been sealed" Lady Galandriel sobs grew stronger.
"Don't cry dear aunt this is my burden to carry not yours I need no one to bare my burden" Arissa kissed Galandriel and Celeborn's cheeks as tears flowed down her own. "I wish to be alone now," they bowed and left Arissa crying, her pillows soaked from her fresh tears.
This makes no sense I am supposed to be happy, I have found the elf that I love and now I learn that I am supposed to die so my evil twin brother cannot rule this land. Arissa thought to herself. Sleep is what I need now tomorrow is a new day and as my lord Jesus says let tomorrow worry about itself and that is what I intend to do.
Various thoughts rushed through her mind; Arissa is confused and feels alone. Lost in all the lies that embedded in her, ever since she was a young elfling Arissa blamed her mother for her father's brutal beatings. Now she had come to learn that it was all an evil spell that he had no control over, but what had Arissa ever done to her brother to deserve that kind of hate and resent that he felts so strongly towards her? Will Adam ever find redemption or only his own damnation when they finally meet? All questions that Arissa felt had better be answered in the morning if not sooner. For the time being she rested and was at peace.