Chapter 2: Castles in the Sky
"Which caught the eye and then the heart of one who could never be a lover of so true a maid or fair a form as she."
"Legolas, where are we going?" I could barely breathe from all of the running we were doing.
"There's no time to explain. Just keep moving and don't look back," he yelled.
What on middle earth was going on here? The only thing I could remember was being awoken and dragged out of bed by Legolas. The next thing I know I'm running for my life. In those few minutes where we were running out of town and through the forest, I thought back as to why I originally came here in the first place. It was really for my own selfish reasons. If I didn't come here, this wouldn't be happening.
"Legolas! Stop!" I yelled. I wanted to know what was going on. I was too confused and scared to keep running.
"We must not stop," he said.
"This doesn't make any sense. Why are they after us?" I said.
"Because of what has happened to us," he said.
"Which is?"
"My father overheard me speaking to Faladon last night. He knows about the child, and he knows about the marriage," he said.
"Wait, you told Faladon? How could you, you know he hasn't liked me since the first day I got here. You know he has it in for me," I reminded him.
"Yeah, well he now has it in for me too," he said.
Why would he go and do something like that for? I asked myself. No one has liked me since I got here years ago. The relationship between us has been a struggle. No one approves of us being together, especially his father. Now that I'm with child, things are only going to get worse; for him more than I. See, what no on remembers, I may not be from this place, but I am no less an elf from royalty than anyone from Legolas' lineage. But it doesn't matter.
"Look, over there," he pointed, "Go! Now!"
I ran as fast as I could to the cave that he had pointed out. But he didn't follow.
"LEGOLAS!" I yelled and yelled for him, but there was no answer.
Without warning I saw the Elves that were tracking us come to a sudden halt. The trees and brush were inhibiting my view, but I could make out a person standing in front of the elves. It was Legolas. My heart stopped. I closed my eyes because I knew what was to come. I then heard the sounds of arrows releasing from their bows. When I finally had the courage to open my eyes, everyone was gone. Legolas chose not to fight back to protect me. I guess he thought he knew what was best for me, for us. I collapsed to the floor in an agony of pain. This couldn't be real. I sobbed for what seemed like hours on end.
When I finally came to, I found myself back in bed. I looked around, confused by what just happened. Had I been out for that long? Was I being held against my will? Was this even real? I hesitantly rose from bed and walked towards the door and opened it. I slowly looked to my left, and then to my right. Nothing. I took a careful step outside and made my way over to Legolas' room. I knocked on the door. No answer and no response.
"Legolas?"
Still no answer. As if I wasn't worried enough as it was, I heard voices in his room. But it wasn't him. It was the voice of a female elf. She was giggling and laughing. It almost sounded like…okay maybe not. I turned the knob of the door and slowly opened it. To no surprise it was Legolas and another elf…in bed. My heart sank into my chest. He looked at me and continued on with himself. I suppose Faladon was right, I was just another one of his whores. I quickly found myself on the floor again after collapsing from the intense shock.
"When he passes me by he's a ray of light
Like the first drop of sun from the sky
And I know he's a king who deserves a queen
But I'm not a queen and he doesn't see me
When he dances he moves me to a smile
And I see everything near him shine
There's a grace in his ways that I can't contain
I haven't that grace oh, I haven't that grace
And the closer he gets I can't help but hide
So ashamed of my body and voice
There are boundaries we pass in spite of the war
But our own we can't seem to cross
She has a way that surrounds her so delicate
With a glory that reigns in her life she is also so much that she is not
These things I can't see 'cause he doesn't see me
There are things we can change if we just choose to fight
But the walls of injustice are high when he passes me by
He's a ray of light like the first drop of sun
From the sky and I know he's a king
Who deserves a queen someone other than me
So different from me"
If you've ever had one of those dreams that you could never wake up from, then you know where I'm coming from. I wanted to wake up badly. I didn't want to be stuck in this world anymore. That's just it though, they were just dreams, simply castles in the sky, but why were they dreams of him? I mean, I just met him, I know nothing about him. Granted, he is good-looking. My mother used to tell me that dreams were a way to see into the future. If this was my future, then I did not want it. I would rather turn around and go back to my home and face my consequences. It was not worth all the shame and hurt. I'm hoping that these dreams are from the lack of sleep as of late.
It was still dark when I awoke. The servants came in and brought food and drinks. The same servant from last night did tell me that Legolas would be in shortly to join me for breakfast. I went into the other room to change in case someone decided to come in. It was still a bit cold, so I grabbed a cloak that I had brought with me to warm me up a bit. I heard a soft rapping at the door and assumed it was Legolas.
"Come in," I said.
"So you're the one that's causing a buzz in Mirkwood. I didn't quite believe it myself until now. An elf that looks like no other…interesting. Tell me child, who is your mother and father?" the stranger asked.
"My mother is Llewellyndial and my father is Elduan," I answered back.
"Elduan…this name sounds awfully familiar. Where do you come from?" he asked.
"About a day and half's ride from here," I said.
"The name of the land child, what is it?" he insisted.
About this time is when Legolas walked in. He was surprised to see this person standing
before me.
"Father, what are you doing here?" Legolas asked.
"Can I not see who this elf is who is causing such a stir in my home?"
"Llewellyn, this is King Thranduil, my father. Father, this is Llewellyn," he said.
"Yes, we've met, thank you son. I'll be going now," he said while walking towards the door.
"My father can be very pushy at times. Pay no mind to that, it's in his nature to be that way when it comes to me. I'm the future King, and he's very protective towards me." Legolas began. If it where up to him, I think he'd already have me married off. But that's just his way of showing affection I guess," he finished.
"I thought arranged marriages where the thing nowadays? Back home I was supposed to marry another, but I didn't love this elf. So how could I marry him? Relationships are about love and trust, not what's in the best interest of the families, at least in my eyes," I said.
"That is very true Llewellyn, but in my father's eyes, what's best for the families is best for my father. Luckily for me, he has not chosen an elf for me to marry," he finished.
How did we get on this subject anyways? All this talk about love and marriage was making me sick. I came here for one reason, and one reason only, to help others. I was determined to meet my goal. And it didn't matter what it took.
"Let me ask you a question Legolas," I said.
"Okay," he said while taking a bite from his bread.
"I was wondering if you knew anybody in town that was seeking a caretaker. You know, a little bit of cleaning, some light cooking, things of that sort."
"Sort of like a servant, but not really?" he laughed.
"Yeah, I guess"
"You're in luck because I'm looking for one," he said.
"Well what a coincidence," I said sarcastically. "Image that, you're looking for one, and I happen to need the position."
"You did mention it yesterday, and I remembered. I figured you're already here, why make it harder on you," he said.
I could have taken that as an insult. But I guess he was right. I am looking for work, plus I already know this guy, well, sort of. I know what you guys are thinking, why pass up a chance to be so close to someone so handsome. But if I didn't take his offer, then this story would not have continued. So of course, I accepted his offer. I became Legolas' personal servant, of sorts.
