The power of Love
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Tolkiens. They are all his ecept for the ones you don't recognize, those are mine and I want it to stay that way. –Thanks
Name meanings. Áraviniel: Daughter of the New Dawn. Tatharion: Son of willow
MUST READ
AN/ this story is one out of 4 that I have written. 3 have been completed and this one which is currently still developing. This story does not hold close to Tolkien's works. The elves are portrayed differently. I have had some feedback concerning the difference and I placed this note here to say, "If you don't like it, don't read it." I will be posting my more accurate fics after this one is finished. My other stories were developed with out the aid of and reviews. I wanted to see the difference in my writing. With that said I only need to add one more thing; Please don't send me reviews saying how the elves should be portrayed. I know this story is off and I don't need to be reminded.
Thanks,
P.J.
Chapter 1: A good time gone bad
Far of in Lothlorien, under the cascading trees and tree talons, sat a young elf maiden lost in her book. As she read the world around her faded and a new adventure began.
Her big sea green eyes scurried around the pages as fast as she could take in the words.
Her blond and red hair fell in wisps around her face, making it hard to see the book. She sighed and placed it in her lap while she tucked the small tendrils behind her ears. Then she picked up the book and began to read again.
The book was a gift, from her step mother. She was away in Rivendell at the moment. Just that thought made her angry all over again. Oh, how she wanted to go and see the place she was so often told about, the place where Arwen lived.
"Oh well" her soft voice was scarcely heard. She had a habit of talking to herself, especially while she was reading. Her thoughts were no longer on her book. She could no longer concentrate on the pages so she put the book down on her lap, face open.
Suddenly she remembered something. A memory shot in to her mind like an arrow and she jumped up from where she was sitting, causing the book to fall. "OH no, I'm so late! Adar is going to kill me!"
She picked up her book and took off toward home. She was running fast and hard when she pulled up short in front of a tree talon. The ladder was down and she hurriedly climbed to the top. No one was home. "Good" she said.
She placed the book down on a table that sat near the door and ran to her room. She raced to her closet and took out a shimmering red dress that set off her eyes. She placed it on the feather bed and dove into the closet floor to retrieve the matching red slippers.
She took a minute to breathe and then took off her clothes. She put on the dress and slippers and then looked out her window. The sun was setting, it was time. She collected herself and calmly headed out of her room, closing the door quietly behind her. She went to the table and picked up her book. She found the page she had left off on and put a small piece of a flower in it.
"Well it's time to go." She said to herself. She climbed down the ladder and headed off to the palace. As she walked she could hear the singing grow louder. The celebration had started. She shook her head and murmured "Adar is really going to have a fit." Not but hours earlier she had argued with her father that reading did not in anyway prevent her from doing what she was supposed to do. She hopped he wouldn't forbid her from reading.
She finally saw a break in the trees. As she neared she could see the gigantic clearing. Elves from all over were there. She wounded her way up the many stairs to the top. They had come to celebrate the arrival of Haldir and his troops. They had gone to fight and were gone so long that the people had feared the worst. Her father was one of the commanders who were left in charge while they were gone.
As she arrived in the celebration an Ellon (male elf) came up to her and bowed saying "Bout time you got here Áraviniel." She smiled and curtsied saying "It's good to see you too Tatharion."
He took her hand and led her to where the elves were dancing. "Would you like to dance?" She smiled and said "Yes I would, actually" He grinned and led her to the middle of the platform. Everyone knew that they were the best dancers in their age group.
As they began to dance the people made a circle around them. It was breath taking. The spins, turns, dipping and footwork were precise and lacking nothing.
Araviniel was not only dancing but she was studying her partner. He had blond hair and unusual sea storm eyes. They changed constantly. Blue, green, brown, grey and sometimes when he was deep in thought they were a light purple-blue. Right now they were grey. His eyes were dancing much like he was.
The music died down and the dance came to a stop. Then a new song began and the other elves returned to the floor to dance. Tatharion led her off to one of the tables and got both of them a drink. He gave her hers and together they headed towards one of the many balconies that surrounded the tree palace.
They stopped by the railing and Araviniel leaned over it slightly. The view from here was spectacular. There was a crystal stream flowing beneath them and the setting sun cast a mesmerizing reflection on the water. It was magic; this forest was magic and full of glory.
She sighed and lifted the crystal glass to her lips, sipping the red liquid slowly. Her thoughts drifted to when she was little standing on this very balcony, so long ago.
Flashback
Not to long ago, yet so far from thought and time, there was a beautiful she-elf standing on of the many balconies of the Lothlorien palace. She had long red hair, most uncommon for an elf, and shocking red-green eyes, void of any emotion but sadness.
Her daughter stood next to her looking out over the forest. Her tearstained eyes could not shed any more tears. She just stood there with her mother, her shoulders still moved every now and then with a sob. This was their parting, their goodbye. Not to long from now an armed guard would take her mother away to her death.
They stood in familiar silence and dread. The young Elleth looked at her mother and said in a trembling voice, "When will I see you again, momma?" Her mother looked down at her child and smiled saying, "When the moon meets the sun, dearest, when the stars smile and the rain laughs. It won't happen soon, my dear, but when it does you shall know I am with you, always." She knelt down by the railing with her back to it and held her daughter close.
She began to sing a song that would stay with her daughter to the end of her days, her voice rand out among the trees. She could still her mother's voice as the guards pushed her away and dragged her mother to her end.
She sat there and grasped the railing as she sobbed into its pearl colored wood saying in a broken voice, "When… the moon meets…the sun, mother, when the stars… smile and the rain laughs."
End flashback
Tatharion noticed the change in her and moved closer, saying "Do not dwell on the past, my dear, dear Araviniel." She nodded and leaned her head on his shoulder. He placed his strong arms around her and kissed her forehead. She was so strong yet when she gave herself up to thought and memory she shrank to what she was when he had met her.
She was so tired and worn, like a flower under to much sun. He met her not to long after her mother died. His father, Rumil, wanted him to help her. Her father was one under Rumil's guard. Rumil and Cúdir, her father, were on the same patrol. Word got to Rumil of Cúdir's daughter. And so, the arrangement began. He was to get through to her and see if he could bring her around. He didn't want to at first but after he got to know her he began to like her a lot. She, on the other hand, had no idea why he was so interested in her. He wasn't allowed to tell her that his father and hers had an agreement over her. He didn't want her to ever find out, because now he really liked her. He wasn't pretending anymore. He loved her and now she knew.
Araviniel leaned into him and just stood there. Her world melted and the only thing she felt was him. He had come along and woken her from a nightmare, he was her hero. He wouldn't ever leave her. That was his promise and she had found love in it. They were both 1000 years old and they both liked the same things.
Suddenly some one came up to Tatharion and tapped him on the back. He rolled his eyes and let go of Araviniel. He turned around to find Araviniel's father behind him.
He was a rather stern looking elf with long blond hair and blue eyes. He was tall, even for an elf, and his gaze was like Steel. He was at the moment looking at Araviniel but he would soon change over to him.
Tatharion knew how stern Araviniel's father was. One time he had found Araviniel crying outside his door. She had red marks down her back and a hand print on her face.
Her father was never like this until her mother died. But he stood protectively in front of her all the same.
Cúdir looked over to his daughter and then back at the young boy in front of him. He didn't like the way he stood in front of Araviniel. This was his daughter. He eyed him carefully and then said in a cold voice, "Leave us." Tatharion didn't move, he matched Cúdir's gaze and stood a little taller.
By now Araviniel had turned around. She felt safe with Tatharion there but she knew she shouldn't put him in anymore danger. She put a hand on his shoulder and stepped out from behind him saying, "Go ahead. I'll just be a minute."
He looked at her and reluctantly nodded. Then he headed over to a table nearby, in direct view of her.
After a few moments her view of him was blocked by her father's figure. It was like a door between heaven and hell that slammed in her face, leaving her along with Sauron himself. Her father came closer to her and she could smell liquor on his breath as he said, "You were late." She gulped and said in a tone that would remind you of a scared rabbit, "I'm so sorry, Adar. I lost track of time" Her father sneered and said in a mocking tone, "You lost track of the time? I TOLD YOU NOT TO BE LATE" He grasped her arm tightly and led her away from the celebration.
Tatharion was watching every move that Cúdir made. Suddenly some one sat down next to him and said, "HI Tatharion!" It was Nendil, his best friend. Nendil stuck his hand in front of Tatharion and waved it to get his attention. Tatharion turned his head and smiled at his friend saying, "Hi, Nendil." Then he looked back to where Araviniel was. There were a couple of elves standing in his way, he couldn't see her anymore. They moved out of the way slowly and to Tatharion's shock no one was at the balcony.
He jumped up from his chair, causing a few glasses to spill and a few protests from some of the elves at the table then ran toward where he last saw the pair but they were gone. He turned to the right and spied the trails on Araviniel's red dress disappear around the corner and ran after her.
He just had to get to her in time. He pushed and shoved his way through the crowd, spilling wine and bumping people. He didn't care. Rounding a corner he stopped short. Araviniel was up against the wall, out of sight from the rest of the people, holding her arm. Her father was blocking any view of her face but Tatharion knew what it would be like, scared and hurt. "Not this time" he mumbled and ran toward Cúdir.
He got behind him and pulled him off of Araviniel. Her father turned around and Tatharion knew this would not end well. Cúdir raised a fist and tried to clip Tatharion in the jaw. He ducked just in time for Cúdir's fist to wiz over her head. He just barely heard Araviniel's cries as he dogged another punch that came his way. Just when things started to get out of hand some one came up behind Cúdir and restrained him.
Cúdir struggled but after a few moments he realized that who ever was behind him had strength that far exceeded his own. He pulled a few more times and then stopped struggling altogether.
The elf behind him released him. Cúdir straitened himself and his tunic. Then he turned around to the whimpering Araviniel and said in a frustrated and cruel voice, "I will see YOU at home. And this time don't be late." Then he stormed off down the stairs that lead toward the wood.
Araviniel shrank down to the floor and began to cry. Tatharion rushed over to her and said in a worried voice, "Are you ok? What did he do to you?" the elf behind him came over and bent down saying, "I think she's fine. We should get her out of here though."
Tatharion nodded and picked her up as if she didn't weigh anything at all. She held on to him as if he was the only thing keeping her from falling of a cliff.
As they walked away from the crowd they received a few bewildered and shocked glances from the people around them. Tatharion looked over to the elf walking next to him and said thankfully, "Thank you. What is your name?" The elf looked at him and nodded saying, "You're welcome. My name is Legolas." Tatharion stopped and asked him shocked, "Not the prince Legolas, right?" Legolas looked over at him and smiled saying, "Yes. But if you please, just call me Legolas." Tatharion nodded, still shocked at the revelation.
