Chapter 2
I woke up early the next morning, and for a split second before I opened my eyes I thought I had dreamed everything. But as I opened my eyes and sat up in bed I remembered that this was no dream at all. I crossed over to the window, pulled open the drapes, and slid the window open. I hung my head out of the window and spotted Legolas down on the ground among other elves just as he spotted me.
"What took you so long to wake up?" he shouted up at me.
"What took me so long? It's early!"
"I've been up for hours wondering when you would decide to grace us with your presence! Get dressed and I'll spend the day showing you around."
I nodded and closed the window as I realized I was hungry. I hoped breakfast was as magnificent as supper was last night. I wouldn't be surprised if it was better.
I had gotten dressed and I was twisting my long reddish-brown hair into a braid when Legolas knocked on the door. "Come in," I said without looking away from the mirror. "Impatient, are we?"
"Well, I was hungry! You're taking a long time, you know."
"Sor-ry! You could have gone to breakfast without me," I said dryly.
"What if I wanted to be polite and wait for you?"
I stopped, wondering if he was flirting with me. Well, I figured, if he could play that game, then so could I. "I don't see you waiting very patiently," I countered.
He raised his hands in surrender and laughed. "You have me there. Are you done yet?"
"As a matter of fact, I am."
"Well then let's go downstairs. I'm hungry." As he turned to walk out the door, he unexpectedly reached out his hand for me to take. Hoping he didn't notice my surprise, I timidly slipped mine in it and we walked to breakfast.
Despite the comfort of a familiar face walking beside me, the insecure air of a stranger in a foreign land surfaced as we walked downstairs. Legolas must have noticed my discomfort because he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before letting go as we neared the dining hall. As other elves drifted into the dining room, Legolas caught one by the arm as she was walking past and introduced her as Nissiyon. She had reddish-golden hair and sparkling blue-green-gold eyes, with a bubbly personality that made one instantly like her. I, however, must've come across as horribly shy as I nodded hello.
"Legolas told me about you last night. I've been dying to meet you! We've got to get together and talk sometime! I want to hear all about you and how you got here! I've—"
"Nissiyon, take a breath!" Legolas said to her, then turned to me. "You'll find that friends are plentiful in Mirkwood. Just not all of them are as…well…excited as she is."
I didn't know what to say, so I just nodded and looked down, with kind of a half-grin on my face. I must've looked ridiculous. Legolas, once again, noticed my uneasiness and nudged me into the dining room with a hand on my shoulder. I ate breakfast in silence as Legolas and Thranduil discussed our plans for the day. When we got through, Legolas got up and said, "Shall I show you around?"
I got up and proceeded to follow him. "Did I seem rude?"
"When?"
"With Nissiyon."
"Oh, that. No, you just seemed shy. And there's nothing wrong with that. But tell me. Do you plan on talking with her and satisfying her massive curiosity?"
"Well, I-I don't know."
"I think you should. You two would get along."
"Okay, then. You can tell her where my room is and she can come whenever."
"I will. You need to make some friends."
"Thanks a lot."
"No, no! I didn't mean it like that! I just meant you should get to know some people. I'll introduce you to some others later today." He started to walk. "Come with me. I'll show you around."
As we toured the palace the conversation flowed. I got to know more about the elf I had read about so much in the far off land that was my home, and in talking to him I discovered his personality, good and bad. I learned that he was good with animals but a bit impatient with children, what kinds of foods he liked and the fact that he wasn't a morning person, and that he went hunting with his father and raced horses in the fields when he didn't have anything better to do. He learned a good deal about me too. I assured him that I'm not always the shy, quiet girl I had been lately and that within my comfort zone I was actually brave and bold, impulsive and tomboyish with a mean temper. In fact, as I grew more at ease with the company I was in, this nature was brought out and I became enthusiastic and spirited, a sharp contrast to what I had been. I even felt flirty and I realized maybe I was feeling too at home with this very attractive male elf. It caused me to wonder if maybe I was starting to really like him. We talked for hours as he showed me through the first few stories of the palace.
It wasn't until we were touring the third that we realized that it was a little after noon and we were starving. After we had eaten a big lunch and were walking outside to tour the Forest, we came across a group of young women whom Legolas introduced me to. Among them was Nissiyon, whom I felt at ease with. But I began to feel uncomfortable when he introduced Aranel, a beautiful elf that reminded me of those girls at school who were so beautiful and graceful that you had to hate them, but at the same time wanted to be just like them. I really got antsy when Legolas smiled warmly at her…the same way my brother smiled at his girlfriend!
I was standing there trying to figure out whether there was something between them until Legolas wrapped up the conversation and led me down the main road. For the rest of the day we toured Mirkwood Forest, which was really a small community. He showed me the school, the smithy, the gardens, and the shops with only a short break for supper. Near dark we decided to call it a day and we headed in. After saying goodnight we went to our respective rooms. Realizing how tired I was, I flopped down on the bed only to hear seconds later someone knocking rapidly on the door. I groaned and got up. When I opened the door Nissiyon was standing there smiling.
"Legolas told me this would be a good time to talk. I hope you don't mind. He said you might be tired but to go ahead. Did he show you everything? If there's anything you need to know I'll be glad to tell you." She took a breath as if to say something else, but then stopped and grinned sheepishly as if she knew she was talking too much.
"Come on in and have a seat." She plopped down on the edge of the bed and I sat facing her. "Actually this is a good time. I've been looking forward to getting to know more of the people here. So, what did you want to know?"
She then proceeded with a steady stream of questions about where I was from and how I got here. She was considerate in her query, however, because when she was done she asked me if there was anything I wanted to know.
I thought about that afternoon. "Tell me—tell me about Aranel."
"Aranel? Well, she's a Lady in King Thranduil's court-but that's nothing special, she's one of many. She lives a couple of roads down from the palace. She—" Nissiyon stopped, then grinned slyly as she said, "Ohhh, you want to know about what she has to do with Legolas, don't you?"
I, shocked that she had figured this out, debated hiding this from my excited informant, but then hesitantly nodded.
"Well, he's been attracted to her for a long time, but she never showed any interest in him. She likes to let him think she does, but then, she lets all men think that. She's a beautiful girl, of course, so men are drawn to her. She comes across as dignified, but those who know her well see past that—" She grinned. "Now I'm getting into gossip. Did that answer your questions?"
"Yes, it did. Thanks." In my mind I was marveling at how similar my world and this were. Yes, Aranel reminded me of many girls I knew and for a moment, I had to hide a smirk.
