Chapter 3: Thoughts and Confusion
"Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer."
Legolas was feeling many things at the moment. One was pure fury, the other was wonder, but fury was more prominent. Legolas did feel emotions intensely at times; fury like this was usually reserved for the battlefield. In all his years Legolas had not felt the need to yell at a female. Rhiannon was absolutely infuriating. She had deliberately provoked him with that comment about being a prissy elf. How dare she? And furthermore, Legolas was not bad at the mental and silent conversations; he was just used to only higher-ranking elves to perform such a thing. She had spoken to him as if he were but a child! True, he may have seemed like quite a youth to Galadriel, Elrond, Celeborn, Cirdan. Gandalf and many others of the wise; but he still had lived in more than one millennia and Rhiannon had not yet lived to see her first. And as much as he hated to, he did have to concede to her a point when she said age and experience do not necessarily go hand and hand. Arrogant little, whatever she was, mutt maybe. He considered the council he had received from his two friends. Lostladion felt the girl was harmless, only coming out from her home for a reason. Legolas was leaning more to Menepaurion's side, the mistrust of something so unknown.
Rhiannon was in awe as she looked around Rivendell. She had only been here three other times: When she was 18 and just had discovered she was to live forever, being an elf and something akin to a wizard.. She had not yet learned to appreciate the beauty around her. The second time had been when she was over one-hundred years and that was in the nighttime, she did not get a good glimpse of the city. The third, she did not like to think about. Now that she was older and had lived longer she could admire the beauty of all that was around her. Admire the peacefulness that was such a part of the beautiful elven city. Elrond had done more than well.
***
Two weeks had passed since the arrival at Imladris and Rhiannon had not spoken to Legolas in that short span of time. Rhiannon did not like being avoided or ignored, her father had admonished her more than once for acting so conceitedly human. She had remarked on how many of the elves she had met acted even more conceited than she did. Oh, her father, how she missed him. The story of the world seemed to be long eras of turmoil with very few glimpses of peace. The tumult of her home land had led her here for safety. Now the tumult was coming here and what was she to do? She wished to speak with Gandalf, but he always seemed so busy and was starting to appear as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. She had decided to speak with Legolas, but he had been avoiding her. Indecisive little elf, one moment he distrusts her, then she is considered safe, then distrusted again, and now avoiding her. The very female side of her brain wished to purposely do something to make him even more uncomfortable just to see how he would react. The more rational side of her brain, the one that had been drilled into her, warned her that in the coming times, no bridges should be burned. So, she decided to seek the Prince of Mirkwood out. She traveled through the many mazes of gardens until she came upon Legolas standing in the middle of one of the fields, staring out into the great wide open.
Rhiannon normally did not like to interrupt people when they were in deep thought, but the look of utter confusion on the elf's face compelled her forward. Lots had happened to the elven prince in the fortnight that had passed. He had been chosen to travel with the Fellowship in two months to destroy the One Ring of Power. She felt sorry for this being that had not traveled far beyond his own homeland's borders. Rhiannon slowly approached him, deliberately making a lot of noise so he would not be surprised. She spoke to him in a voice slightly above a whisper,
"What troubles you so?"
A ghost of a smile came to Legolas' lips, "I believe I once asked you a similar question and you avoided the answer. I don't know if I want to, or should, answer yours. Maybe I'll answer it with another question. Are you coming on our little quest?"
Rhiannon slowly shook her head, "My road lies similar to that of Aragorn and Boromir, I go to Gondor. I may ride beside the Fellowship if we cross the same paths, and assist when absolutely needed. I am not a warrior, that is not my area. I can not willingly kill anything, I am terrified at the thought of battle. Unless times are so grim that my help is all that can get you from one place to the next, I will then join you on that particular road."
Legolas looked down at her, "What do you mean by that statement? You do enjoy speaking in riddles don't you."
Legolas had expected Rhiannon to give a small laugh but instead he saw that she had turned her face away from him so her eyes could not be viewed. He lightly turned her chin so he could see all the unspoken statements that lay within. In her eyes shone sorrow and compassion. Legolas' worries returned to him.
Rhiannon spoke softly, "The road you will travel will be extremely dark and weary. There will be times when even you, my friend, will lose hope. But always know that there are people in Rivendell, the Shire, Mirkwood, Gondor, Rohan, Lorien, and the rest of Middle-Earth that wish you back home safely. The task is never truly done; once you realize that, you may feel wonder for why you even bother to continue on a seemingly futile mission. You must remember that all of you have a part and a future in this world. The Ring-bearer has his own fate, but there will come a time when you, Aragorn, and Gimli will hold the fates of many in your hands. When you think there is no more hope, remember my words and share them with the others."
Legolas was silent for awhile, then turned to Rhiannon, "I am touched by your concern and I am amazed that one so younger than me can be so wise."
Rhiannon smiled, "You are wise, Legolas, in your own way. You have been far removed from the wiser folk for some time and so do not realize just how wise you are. You're much more than an archer." A sly smile then came to her lips, "And a pretty-boy elf." Rhiannon turned to leave him with his thoughts, but as she walked she said to him, humor obvious in her voice, "And if you think I speak in riddles, listen to your own speech at times. Or talk to Gandalf."
Legolas then let out a loud, musical laugh and for quite some time it seemed as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer."
Legolas was feeling many things at the moment. One was pure fury, the other was wonder, but fury was more prominent. Legolas did feel emotions intensely at times; fury like this was usually reserved for the battlefield. In all his years Legolas had not felt the need to yell at a female. Rhiannon was absolutely infuriating. She had deliberately provoked him with that comment about being a prissy elf. How dare she? And furthermore, Legolas was not bad at the mental and silent conversations; he was just used to only higher-ranking elves to perform such a thing. She had spoken to him as if he were but a child! True, he may have seemed like quite a youth to Galadriel, Elrond, Celeborn, Cirdan. Gandalf and many others of the wise; but he still had lived in more than one millennia and Rhiannon had not yet lived to see her first. And as much as he hated to, he did have to concede to her a point when she said age and experience do not necessarily go hand and hand. Arrogant little, whatever she was, mutt maybe. He considered the council he had received from his two friends. Lostladion felt the girl was harmless, only coming out from her home for a reason. Legolas was leaning more to Menepaurion's side, the mistrust of something so unknown.
Rhiannon was in awe as she looked around Rivendell. She had only been here three other times: When she was 18 and just had discovered she was to live forever, being an elf and something akin to a wizard.. She had not yet learned to appreciate the beauty around her. The second time had been when she was over one-hundred years and that was in the nighttime, she did not get a good glimpse of the city. The third, she did not like to think about. Now that she was older and had lived longer she could admire the beauty of all that was around her. Admire the peacefulness that was such a part of the beautiful elven city. Elrond had done more than well.
***
Two weeks had passed since the arrival at Imladris and Rhiannon had not spoken to Legolas in that short span of time. Rhiannon did not like being avoided or ignored, her father had admonished her more than once for acting so conceitedly human. She had remarked on how many of the elves she had met acted even more conceited than she did. Oh, her father, how she missed him. The story of the world seemed to be long eras of turmoil with very few glimpses of peace. The tumult of her home land had led her here for safety. Now the tumult was coming here and what was she to do? She wished to speak with Gandalf, but he always seemed so busy and was starting to appear as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. She had decided to speak with Legolas, but he had been avoiding her. Indecisive little elf, one moment he distrusts her, then she is considered safe, then distrusted again, and now avoiding her. The very female side of her brain wished to purposely do something to make him even more uncomfortable just to see how he would react. The more rational side of her brain, the one that had been drilled into her, warned her that in the coming times, no bridges should be burned. So, she decided to seek the Prince of Mirkwood out. She traveled through the many mazes of gardens until she came upon Legolas standing in the middle of one of the fields, staring out into the great wide open.
Rhiannon normally did not like to interrupt people when they were in deep thought, but the look of utter confusion on the elf's face compelled her forward. Lots had happened to the elven prince in the fortnight that had passed. He had been chosen to travel with the Fellowship in two months to destroy the One Ring of Power. She felt sorry for this being that had not traveled far beyond his own homeland's borders. Rhiannon slowly approached him, deliberately making a lot of noise so he would not be surprised. She spoke to him in a voice slightly above a whisper,
"What troubles you so?"
A ghost of a smile came to Legolas' lips, "I believe I once asked you a similar question and you avoided the answer. I don't know if I want to, or should, answer yours. Maybe I'll answer it with another question. Are you coming on our little quest?"
Rhiannon slowly shook her head, "My road lies similar to that of Aragorn and Boromir, I go to Gondor. I may ride beside the Fellowship if we cross the same paths, and assist when absolutely needed. I am not a warrior, that is not my area. I can not willingly kill anything, I am terrified at the thought of battle. Unless times are so grim that my help is all that can get you from one place to the next, I will then join you on that particular road."
Legolas looked down at her, "What do you mean by that statement? You do enjoy speaking in riddles don't you."
Legolas had expected Rhiannon to give a small laugh but instead he saw that she had turned her face away from him so her eyes could not be viewed. He lightly turned her chin so he could see all the unspoken statements that lay within. In her eyes shone sorrow and compassion. Legolas' worries returned to him.
Rhiannon spoke softly, "The road you will travel will be extremely dark and weary. There will be times when even you, my friend, will lose hope. But always know that there are people in Rivendell, the Shire, Mirkwood, Gondor, Rohan, Lorien, and the rest of Middle-Earth that wish you back home safely. The task is never truly done; once you realize that, you may feel wonder for why you even bother to continue on a seemingly futile mission. You must remember that all of you have a part and a future in this world. The Ring-bearer has his own fate, but there will come a time when you, Aragorn, and Gimli will hold the fates of many in your hands. When you think there is no more hope, remember my words and share them with the others."
Legolas was silent for awhile, then turned to Rhiannon, "I am touched by your concern and I am amazed that one so younger than me can be so wise."
Rhiannon smiled, "You are wise, Legolas, in your own way. You have been far removed from the wiser folk for some time and so do not realize just how wise you are. You're much more than an archer." A sly smile then came to her lips, "And a pretty-boy elf." Rhiannon turned to leave him with his thoughts, but as she walked she said to him, humor obvious in her voice, "And if you think I speak in riddles, listen to your own speech at times. Or talk to Gandalf."
Legolas then let out a loud, musical laugh and for quite some time it seemed as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.