Disclaimer: Once upon a time, there were two friends who were bored one
night, and decided to write a FANfic. They don't own the recognizable
characters, J. R. R. Tolkein does. And then-
Tala: Wait....he's dead...*cries*....so wouldn't the foundation or whatever own it?
Nerina: You interrupted my story!!! Fiend!!! *smacks Tala upside the head*
Tala: Ow!!!
Nerina: Anywayz, *ahem* we don't own any of the stuff u recognize....now enjoy!
************
The Great Hall was filled with voices and soft music. Most everyone was happy, but a gray cloud hung over the Prince and his wizard companion. They slumped slightly in their chairs and didn't eat much, preferring to push food around on their plates. Even the very good elven wine was mostly untouched. The King noticed such, and then noticed something else.
"Legolas? Where are the ladies? If I remember correctly, I specifically said to make sure they were here," Thranduil said, raising his brows.
Legolas jumped a bit in surprise, having been lost in his thoughts about the said women. Or more specifically, one of them. The woman Tala ever so slightly fascinated him, and couldn't quite forget the positions they had been in following him tackling her. He was still a little miffed at her being able to demobilize him so quickly and easily, but still couldn't get over the fact that he had liked the ways her eyes had lit with fire......
Even Gandalf did the same, for his thoughts had strayed in a similar tangent, yet in the opposite direction. Nerina was the object of his thoughts. He was vividly recalling how the lady had felt in his arms, first taut in fury and the ability to spring, and then relaxed and calm. He realized, a little late, that his hands had lingered with the desire to not let go, how interesting . . . . . .
"Well...they weren't hungry, so we left them to get adjusted to their new surroundings," Legolas said smoothly with just a slight hesitation.
Gandalf nodded, seeing a very good excuse and way to escape wrath from the king...but then who exactly would threaten Gandalf the White? Still . . . . . .
"I'm sure their lack of hunger partially results from so much happening so soon. Since you and Gandalf seem to be finished," he said with a pointed look at their plates, with their rearranged piles of food, "why don't you take trays to them? They are surely hungry, and if not now, they will be so later."
Legolas and Gandalf seemed to wince, and Thranduil concealed a smile, suspecting the women were stumping the prince-used-to-getting-his-way and the wizard-used-to-knowing-everything. This could get quite interesting . . . . . . .Thranduil thought with just a hint of glee. Life had become just slightly boring with the peace that had settled over Middle Earth. Not that peace was a bad thing, but a change was needed, and the wise king felt as though these mysterious women would be the harbingers of great change.
"Of course, Father," Legolas finally managed, and sharing a suffering glance with Gandalf, headed to the kitchens to prepare a tray.
******
They reached the door, and their sharp ears detected the faint sounds of shrieks and thumps from inside the room. They looked at each other worriedly, and then Legolas said "They wouldn't have...it's way too soon...They've only been here a few hours!"
Gandalf responded with, "Well, they are very unusual...and we did leave them alone for hours after making them angry-"
A loud crash cut off his words, and they both abandoned the dirty thoughts that had been running through their heads, thinking instead there was danger. Legolas drew a knife at his side, adjusting the tray so it could possibly be thrown, and Gandalf raised his staff. He shouted a word, and the door flew open. A most unusual sight greeted them and caused them to stop short.
Nerina was standing on the bed, her head scarf turned to cover her head differently, making her look oddly like a pirate, pointing a knife in Tala's general direction. Tala was standing beside a knocked over chair and table, holding a knife of her own. Both looked surprised, then a little guilty, and then angry as they realized who it was and where the door had gone.
"What are you doing?" demanded Nerina from her perch on the bed, crossing her arms and tilting her head in a regal pose. Tala nodded, and lifted an eyebrow.
"We heard the crash, and removed the door to make sure nothing was wrong," Gandalf said.
"As you can see, nothing is. If you blow our door open again like that, I'll steal your staff," Tala said, and sheathing the knife proceeded to straighten the chair and table, mumbling something about them ruining a great game of priates. She ignored the outrage that flowed off Gandalf. Then she saw what Legolas carried. She got the funniest look on her face, and ran straight toward him. He stepped back, worried, but then she just grabbed the forgotten tray and sped back towards the bed and Nerina.
"Yay! Nerina! WE finally get fed!" she sang, placing the tray on the bed, and attacking it. Nerina sat down slower, but also ate the food with gusto.
Now Legolas and Gandalf felt pretty guilty (as they should), for they knew the women had not eaten in a while, maybe even a day, and had left them here without the ability to call for or go to any food. They looked at each other and nodded, knowing they shared the guilt. They also thought about how to go about apologizing, but never quite got to it. Instead, they heard a contented sigh from the bed, and looking over, were quite amazed to see that most of the tray had been cleared of food, and Tala was reclining on the pillows while Nerina continued to eat with slow bites, finishing a sugared pear. These women were definitely not what they seemed.
"So, are we going to be well kept captives here rather than badly kept ones in the dungeon?" Tala asked lazily, narrowing her eyes at them from where she reclined. Nerina also looked up, eager to know the answer.
"Of course not, ladies, it was just...that...well..." Gandalf trailed off, not being able to think of a suitable excuse. He looked to Legolas, clearing signally he would have the answer, and Legolas glared back. But Gandalf ignored the glare and looked to the dismantled door. With a quick word he put it back in its place and made sure it was secure.
"We thought it would be more enjoyable for you to be here on your first night than to have to deal with the court and such, but please forgive us for not thinking about the food earlier," Legolas quickly lied, and was relieved to at least Nerina nod, accepting it. Tala still had a suspicious look, but finally gave in and nodded.
"How kind," said Nerina cheerily, "So would you two like to sit down?"
"Better yet," Tala piped up, "why don't give us a quick tour?"
Gandalf and Legolas gulped, knowing they did not yet want to unleash these two in the palace. "Why don't we wait until morning," Gandalf proposed. "Surely you are tired and wish to retire early so you may greet tomorrow fresh."
"No, how about you do so-Ouch! Fine, fine, we'll do it tomorrow," she acquiesced, following a kick to her leg from Nerina, who glared at her. "So, what time are you going to come get us for breakfast and where's the alarm clock?"
The males looked confused, and as Nerina giggled at their expressions, Legolas still answered, "At about eight. Does that suit you?" (A/N: yeah yeah, maybe they don't go by our time increments, etc., but for ease of writing, they do now).
Tala groaned slapping her forehead with her hand, but Nerina ignored her and nodded happily and said, "That's fine. See you in the morning!" She waved, and Tala stood and walked towards them.
Both guys swiftly nodded, and then quickly exited the room, very happy to have escaped something worse.
Tala threw the bolt home, and leaning against the door, groaned again, "Eight? Wonderful."
Nerina laughed, then went to her room after calling goodnight and they slept.
**** A/N: Right, so a bit short, but we're sure you all understand about school . . . . . . etc. ;) But never fear, we shall update again soon!! Thanx to all the reviewers, and hope u enjoyed . . . . . . and will mayb review *puppy eyes* And rum for everyone! And chocolate! Yay!
Tala: Wait....he's dead...*cries*....so wouldn't the foundation or whatever own it?
Nerina: You interrupted my story!!! Fiend!!! *smacks Tala upside the head*
Tala: Ow!!!
Nerina: Anywayz, *ahem* we don't own any of the stuff u recognize....now enjoy!
************
The Great Hall was filled with voices and soft music. Most everyone was happy, but a gray cloud hung over the Prince and his wizard companion. They slumped slightly in their chairs and didn't eat much, preferring to push food around on their plates. Even the very good elven wine was mostly untouched. The King noticed such, and then noticed something else.
"Legolas? Where are the ladies? If I remember correctly, I specifically said to make sure they were here," Thranduil said, raising his brows.
Legolas jumped a bit in surprise, having been lost in his thoughts about the said women. Or more specifically, one of them. The woman Tala ever so slightly fascinated him, and couldn't quite forget the positions they had been in following him tackling her. He was still a little miffed at her being able to demobilize him so quickly and easily, but still couldn't get over the fact that he had liked the ways her eyes had lit with fire......
Even Gandalf did the same, for his thoughts had strayed in a similar tangent, yet in the opposite direction. Nerina was the object of his thoughts. He was vividly recalling how the lady had felt in his arms, first taut in fury and the ability to spring, and then relaxed and calm. He realized, a little late, that his hands had lingered with the desire to not let go, how interesting . . . . . .
"Well...they weren't hungry, so we left them to get adjusted to their new surroundings," Legolas said smoothly with just a slight hesitation.
Gandalf nodded, seeing a very good excuse and way to escape wrath from the king...but then who exactly would threaten Gandalf the White? Still . . . . . .
"I'm sure their lack of hunger partially results from so much happening so soon. Since you and Gandalf seem to be finished," he said with a pointed look at their plates, with their rearranged piles of food, "why don't you take trays to them? They are surely hungry, and if not now, they will be so later."
Legolas and Gandalf seemed to wince, and Thranduil concealed a smile, suspecting the women were stumping the prince-used-to-getting-his-way and the wizard-used-to-knowing-everything. This could get quite interesting . . . . . . .Thranduil thought with just a hint of glee. Life had become just slightly boring with the peace that had settled over Middle Earth. Not that peace was a bad thing, but a change was needed, and the wise king felt as though these mysterious women would be the harbingers of great change.
"Of course, Father," Legolas finally managed, and sharing a suffering glance with Gandalf, headed to the kitchens to prepare a tray.
******
They reached the door, and their sharp ears detected the faint sounds of shrieks and thumps from inside the room. They looked at each other worriedly, and then Legolas said "They wouldn't have...it's way too soon...They've only been here a few hours!"
Gandalf responded with, "Well, they are very unusual...and we did leave them alone for hours after making them angry-"
A loud crash cut off his words, and they both abandoned the dirty thoughts that had been running through their heads, thinking instead there was danger. Legolas drew a knife at his side, adjusting the tray so it could possibly be thrown, and Gandalf raised his staff. He shouted a word, and the door flew open. A most unusual sight greeted them and caused them to stop short.
Nerina was standing on the bed, her head scarf turned to cover her head differently, making her look oddly like a pirate, pointing a knife in Tala's general direction. Tala was standing beside a knocked over chair and table, holding a knife of her own. Both looked surprised, then a little guilty, and then angry as they realized who it was and where the door had gone.
"What are you doing?" demanded Nerina from her perch on the bed, crossing her arms and tilting her head in a regal pose. Tala nodded, and lifted an eyebrow.
"We heard the crash, and removed the door to make sure nothing was wrong," Gandalf said.
"As you can see, nothing is. If you blow our door open again like that, I'll steal your staff," Tala said, and sheathing the knife proceeded to straighten the chair and table, mumbling something about them ruining a great game of priates. She ignored the outrage that flowed off Gandalf. Then she saw what Legolas carried. She got the funniest look on her face, and ran straight toward him. He stepped back, worried, but then she just grabbed the forgotten tray and sped back towards the bed and Nerina.
"Yay! Nerina! WE finally get fed!" she sang, placing the tray on the bed, and attacking it. Nerina sat down slower, but also ate the food with gusto.
Now Legolas and Gandalf felt pretty guilty (as they should), for they knew the women had not eaten in a while, maybe even a day, and had left them here without the ability to call for or go to any food. They looked at each other and nodded, knowing they shared the guilt. They also thought about how to go about apologizing, but never quite got to it. Instead, they heard a contented sigh from the bed, and looking over, were quite amazed to see that most of the tray had been cleared of food, and Tala was reclining on the pillows while Nerina continued to eat with slow bites, finishing a sugared pear. These women were definitely not what they seemed.
"So, are we going to be well kept captives here rather than badly kept ones in the dungeon?" Tala asked lazily, narrowing her eyes at them from where she reclined. Nerina also looked up, eager to know the answer.
"Of course not, ladies, it was just...that...well..." Gandalf trailed off, not being able to think of a suitable excuse. He looked to Legolas, clearing signally he would have the answer, and Legolas glared back. But Gandalf ignored the glare and looked to the dismantled door. With a quick word he put it back in its place and made sure it was secure.
"We thought it would be more enjoyable for you to be here on your first night than to have to deal with the court and such, but please forgive us for not thinking about the food earlier," Legolas quickly lied, and was relieved to at least Nerina nod, accepting it. Tala still had a suspicious look, but finally gave in and nodded.
"How kind," said Nerina cheerily, "So would you two like to sit down?"
"Better yet," Tala piped up, "why don't give us a quick tour?"
Gandalf and Legolas gulped, knowing they did not yet want to unleash these two in the palace. "Why don't we wait until morning," Gandalf proposed. "Surely you are tired and wish to retire early so you may greet tomorrow fresh."
"No, how about you do so-Ouch! Fine, fine, we'll do it tomorrow," she acquiesced, following a kick to her leg from Nerina, who glared at her. "So, what time are you going to come get us for breakfast and where's the alarm clock?"
The males looked confused, and as Nerina giggled at their expressions, Legolas still answered, "At about eight. Does that suit you?" (A/N: yeah yeah, maybe they don't go by our time increments, etc., but for ease of writing, they do now).
Tala groaned slapping her forehead with her hand, but Nerina ignored her and nodded happily and said, "That's fine. See you in the morning!" She waved, and Tala stood and walked towards them.
Both guys swiftly nodded, and then quickly exited the room, very happy to have escaped something worse.
Tala threw the bolt home, and leaning against the door, groaned again, "Eight? Wonderful."
Nerina laughed, then went to her room after calling goodnight and they slept.
**** A/N: Right, so a bit short, but we're sure you all understand about school . . . . . . etc. ;) But never fear, we shall update again soon!! Thanx to all the reviewers, and hope u enjoyed . . . . . . and will mayb review *puppy eyes* And rum for everyone! And chocolate! Yay!