Lothello Mel Chapter One
By
Scoutfan22
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Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own Lord of the Rings. We know this already. Read the prologue to get the whole story behind this, and to find out the characters I made up. On with the story!
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The fog rolled in low and thick that morning in the Pelennor fields. It came up into Minas Tirith and only in the Citadel or the White Tower could you see over it…
This would explain the four figures sitting on the Citadel balcony, looking out over the city and valley below.
"I can't see anything." the first whined.
"Shh!" the second said. "Legolas can't concentrate!"
"Both of you hush!" the third hissed.
Legolas smirked as he listened to his three companions bicker in attempted quietness.
"Don't worry, Luthwen, Miriel. I can see just fine without concentrating. Dunael can talk all she wants."
"Ha!" Dunael said, sticking out her tongue.
Luthwen brushed a strand of dark brown hair behind her ear, "I'd concentrate if I were you, Legolas. Who can see in this fog?"
Legolas didn't answer, for he straightened up and peered into the fog. Miriel straightened up and strained to see; wishing that her only elf-like features weren't her ears.
"Luthwen, go to the council room and alert your mother and father. Dunael, come with me. We're going to find Gimli. Miriel, go light the torch."
Miriel got up and ran down the stairs, hurtling through the city streets, narrowly missing people as she ran past.
The torch was a monument built to honor the dead from the War of the Ring. A huge stone obelisk that stood above the gate, with all the names carved on it; among them people such as Boromir, Denethor, and King Théoden. It had a torch on top that was lit at the beginning of the festivities.
Miriel scrambled for the stairs that led to the top of it, and careened into the watchman.
"Whoa, there, princess, you almost knocked us both over!"
"Oh, Bergil, I'm so sorry!"
"Don't worry about it, princess. I know you're here to light the torch, so go ahead." The young man handed her a taper, and she jogged up the stairs.
I wonder if I could run up this in my dress. She thought to herself, glad her father allowed her to wear boy's clothing most of the time.
As she got to the top, she saw that the fog had cleared considerably, and she could make out three horses and a cart. It must be the hobbits!
She smiled and put the taper into the bowl of oil. With a "whoosh" the torch lit and there was the sound of a bell ringing. That's Gimli, Legolas and Dunael, undoubtedly.
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A little later, in the throne room…
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"Gimli!" (That's Sam.)
"Sam!" (Gimli)
"Pippin!" (Legolas)
"Legolas!" (Pippin)
"Arwen!" (Merry)
"Merry!" (Arwen)
"Aragorn!" (Sam again)
"Oh, how wonderful to see you all!" said Pippin happily after all hugs had been exchanged.
"Rosie, dear, you look marvelous." Aragorn said as he kissed her hand. The young hobbitess blushed, "Oh, you're too kind, highness."
Baby Eleanor was swept into her godfather Legolas's arms and hugged, then given a candied chestnut to suck on. Eldarion was introduced to Merry and Pippin, while Dunael and Luthwen talked eagerly with Sam and Rosie. Gimli stood and watched, then noticed that Miriel had arrived and was watching from a corner.
"What's the matter lass, don't like conversation?"
Everyone turned, and Sam's smile became huge. "What, you have no hug for your godfather?" She came up and stooped down to hug him, breathing in his scent of earth and pipe tobacco. "Now, stand back and let me look at you." He smiled again, "Your godfather Frodo would be proud of you. Look how beautiful you are, just like your mother."
"Uncle Sam." She chided, and then whispered her thanks in his ear as she hugged him again.
"Faramir and Eowyn haven't arrived yet? And here we were thinking we'd be late." Pippin said.
"The passing from Ithilien to the city is still a little dangerous. The road hasn't been finished yet, so they must go through the woods. I expect they'll be here soon." Aragorn replied to ease Pippin's worried look. "Well, now, I assume you'd like to be shown to your quarters. Gimli, why don't you show them where to go? Girls, go and freshen up for lunch."
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(In the nursery)
"Oh Luthwen, isn't it exciting? All of us together again after four years?" Dunael said as her sister combed and braided her gold hair that was her pride and joy.
Luthwen took the last hair pin from her mouth, and put it into her sister's hair. "Well, I'm just glad that Gimli didn't start going on about Miriel learning swordplay."
"And what's wrong with that? Mama knows how to fight just as well as Papa. I've seen her! So why wouldn't the hobbits approve?" Dunael asked.
"I happen to agree with Dunael's reasoning. The hobbits know about swordplay as well as Mother and Father." Miriel said as she came in to the nursery, "Luthwen, would you do my hair?"
Luthwen sighed as her big sister sat down in front of her. "You can do your own, Miriel, if you only tried not wearing it up. You have such pretty hair."
"Not as pretty as yours or Dunael's. Mother says my hair is like Fathers'. 'Just as unruly as his, and impossible to tame.' Ouch, not so hard!"
"If you would sit still, I could do it. Oh, now look what you've made me do!"
The three sisters looked in the mirror at the tangled mess that was Miriel's chestnut-brown hair.
"Now, what's taking so long?" came a voice from the doorway. Dunael ran up to her mother, "Mama, Luthwen is trying to Miriel's hair, but it's not working!"
"Is it? Well, you and Luthwen go ahead to the dining hall. We'll join you in a minute."
The two ran out, and Arwen came over to her daughter and sat behind her, beginning to untangle her hair.
"Oh Mother, it's no use. Why do I even bother? I'll never be as beautiful as Luthwen or Dunael. Father will marry them off first, and I'll live the rest of my days as an old spinster while Eldarion rules." Miriel said dejectedly.
Arwen couldn't help but smile. "Now, now, don't talk like that—"
"Don't think I hear the courtier's daughter's whispering! I do! They call me the 'she-boy with ear points'!"
Her shoulders slumped. Arwen watched her oldest daughter, then put her hand on her chin and turned her face to look at her.
"Darling, you are beautiful. You just have to see it. Believe me, I was the same at your age."
'Mother, how can you say that? You were at least 300 years old at my age! How did you not see your beauty?"
"I was in Lothlorien, and I felt like such an outcast. Here were all these beautiful blonde maidens who were graceful and perfect, while I was a bumbling black-haired girl who thought she was too tall and skinny for her own good.
"But one day, your great-grandmother Galadriel told me that I just had to find the beauty inside. She told me to look into a mirror and see the good, not the bad. So I did. And imagine my surprise when I saw myself in that light. Darling, just believe in yourself, and you'll see the beauty that your father and I see."
Miriel smiled. She knew her mother was right. Now if she could only believe it. "Thank you Mother."
Arwen smiled and she put down the brush, "there. Your hair looks lovely. Now, we'd better go or your father's going to wonder where we are."
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YAAAHHH! 12/10/2004 7:56 AM
