Disclaimer: Don't own LOTR, never have, never will. Don't make money from this, never have, never will.
Author's note: well, I have most of the story planned out, just a few details here and there. And it's all written down on my notebook, so I wont' forget.
Also, thanks to all the great reviewers out there, thanks for your kind and understanding words.
I also wanted to say that, school's starting this Monday, it sucks, I know. It might take me a while to update the chaps, but I'll do it ASAP, and I'll try to work on it everyday, little by little. Thanks once again for understanding. (I hope you do)
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The Swan Princess and the Horse Lord
Lothiriel POV
With the wind blowing through my hair, I felt almost as if I was actually free from all the distress I was in. my hair was coming loose from its knot, and I was laughing so naturally. Not one of those smiles or laughs that were forced because some noble had just said something comical. Snowfoam was galloping so fast, galloping away from the city where my troubles lay. The sand kicked up against my breeches, as we rid on the beach.
My heart felt so free, but my head told me I wasn't and that this feeling was just one I tried to fool myself with. I wanted so badly for this feeling to last, to last for a lifetime, but this would never be so, I was a princess, and princesses have duties to perform, and names to uphold.
These thoughts sadden me, and I was no longer laughing, or even smiling. I indicated form Snowfoam to slow down, my happiness dying for the moment.
I find it intriguing that my mood could change just as quickly as the weather at sea could be calm and smooth a moment, but windy and stormy the next. I probably had to do with my temperament. My father always told me I was too quick to anger, and slow to cool, but it was also a trait he once treasured in my mother. She was always so spirited, and she loved the sea, just as I do. How I missed her. She would never have let Ada agree to this courtship. In fact, Naneth would have reprimanded him for even thinking of something like that.
Snowfoam had stop, sensing my change in mood, and shook her head a bit, as if asking me why I was sad. A small smile touched my lips, glad for Snowfoam's company. He's mother was Eälagos, my Naneth's horse.
I slid off the Snowfoam's back, and onto the sand. Taking off my boots, and putting it aside on the sand, I looked up to Snowfoam and patted him on the nose.
"It's nice to finally ride with you again, my friend," I said, looking Snowfoan in the eye. He blinked at me, and nudged my shoulder, as if comforting me. "Thanks for that, mellon nin." I whispered to him. At that moment, it was as if Snowfoam was the only creature which understood me.
Then I sat down on a small boulder, then same one I sat on whenever I was troubled. I thought about my situation, how to work my way out of it, what Naneth would advice me. Then I remembered a time when I had an accident, and what she'd said to guide me. I was six, and she was still with me.
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flashback+
The door creaked open as I looked in, making sure that Elphir was not in. I knew he was having lessons now, but I had to be safe. I stepped into his room, his neat room. Elphir was always one for details, making sure everything was in order.
I walked over to his table, and clambered onto his chair, searching his table for the wooden ship. It was not big, about one-and-a-half hands in length, but was beautiful. It was skillfully painted, with designs on the mast, and the hull. The wood was very finely crafted and smoothed. Its fine details probably what attracted Elphir.
I leaned forward to touch it, but lost my balance and crashed forward. Grouping for something to stop my crash. My hand came into contact with the table, shaking it. I steadied myself, but I spotted the beautiful little ship balancing on the edge of the table, and then, falling over the edge.
"No!" I gasped. I couldn't believe my eyes. I looked under the table and there the ship was, broken. Its masts were in pieces, and the hull, now two separate pieces.
The next thing I knew, I was on my mother's lap, tears spilling out my eyes. I said how sorry I was. I asked her forlornly what to do.
"My dear little Riel, don't cry. Crying will not reverse time, nor will it fix the ship. There are two things you can do Riel. You can leave the situation as it is, and feel regretful about it later, or you can do something about it now Change it, fix the situation to suit you." I looked up to her, and she had that twinkle in her eye. I frowned and asked her what she meant.
"Riel, you can have Elphir scolded you for your carelessness," she paused, but continued when I looked up to her, shaking my head. "Or you can apologize to him and give him something to show how sincere and sorry you are."
"Maybe I could glue the ship together again, and give it to him." I suggested hopefully.
"Actually, I was thinking more of a kiss and a hug, but I like your suggestion better." Naneth replied, smiling at me. I like her smile. It was so divine, and I felt safe when she smiled, like everything was going to be alright. And I trusted her, and her smile.
end flashback+
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When I gave Elphir the pieced-together-ship, he was speechless. His face had a very unique expression. It was like he wanted didn't want to believe that this was his wooden ship, so his' mouth was half open, speechless at what to say, but he was angry too. His frown was also one frown I never saw. It was like he was trying to look properly at the ship, and he was also angry at me, so his frown was like a squint and a frown together. His face a pinkish colour from his rising ire, and probably the lack of air, as he had taken in a gasp, an not let it go yet, while his mind was registering that fact that his ship was reassembled by his little sister.
I giggled then, amused at his expression. He had looked to me and his frown deepened to…I don't know, it just deepened. I liked that frown, it was not an angry frown, but I never saw it again. He became too serious after Naneth died. He changed to become a man, a soldier, and the heir to the Lordship of Dol Amroth, but after doing that, he was no longer the carefree brother he was. I sighed.
All of us changed. We had to continue with life, and leave that behind us, but I sometimes still imagine my mother being alive, and how she would laugh, and smile her beautiful smile.
"You can leave the situation as it is, and feel regretful about it later, or you can do something about it now Change it, fix the situation to suit you."
Her advice came back to me. I certainly did not want to marry Lord Lanus, so I figured; I had to change to situation. Change it to suit me. But how? At least this was just a courtship, not a betrothal. I knew that courtships always led to betrothals, but it was not confirmed yet. And when it was not confirmed, I still had a chance. I could not let a mere courtship get in the way of my happiness, my life. I had to do something about it.
I let my mind travel a bit, thinking up strange reasons that maybe Lord Lanus could suddenly be stricken with a fatal wasting disease, that made him die, and I was free. But I couldn't bring myself to actually really wish that, I did not want bad to befall him. I sat there for a while, but then decided I had better head back. It was almost time for the evening meal and Ada would be worried that I was gone for so long.
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After brushing Snowfoam down, and making sure he had settled in nicely, I went back to my room. Ala had drawn a bath for me, and I soaked in it for a long time, as if my troubles would permeate out of me and into the water. I didn't want to meet Ada anytime soon, so I tried to stall. Taking my time to dry myself, to change into the gown she had laid out, and to do my hair. She chose a green gown, which complimented my dark hair nicely, and it had embroideries on the sleeves, which were long and flowing. This was strange, this was a formal gown, something I wore when there were guests in, but there wasn't. Not that I knew off. I wore my hair down, thinking that this was just a family dinner, and needed no dressing up. When I was done, I checked myself in the looking glass, and saw that I was presentable enough.
I heard an impatient knock on my door.
"What is it?" I asked, recognizing Amrothos' knock.
"You are keeping us waiting Riel, hurry up we have some… some company waiting for us. It seems we will be dining with Lord Lanus and his company." He answered. I paused in my steps to the door, Lord Lanus? I could not go out to meet him like that, my gown was too complimenting, and my hair was not, unattractive enough.
"I'll be out soon, Amrothos" I shouted back. I picked a plain grey dress, which had a straight cut and braided my hair into one long braid. I rushed and did not care to adjust the dress properly. Checking my reflection, in the looking glass, I thought, Perfect! I was looking so plain, Lord Lanus would surely like a more attractive women to court.
I opened the door and stepped out into the corridor, Amrothos gaping at my choice of attire. He offered his hand, and we made our way to the dining hall.
"I though your hand maid picked out the green dress, with the unbelievably long sleeves. Why are you wearing this?" he questioned. I imitated Erchirion's devilish grin, and he caught on, raising and eye brow before nodding his head.
"How is your hand? I asked, concerned, "I'm sorry for what I did."
He waved his hand and shrugged, signifying that his hand was fine and that the apology was accepted.
We reached the dining hall, and I paused for a while, gripping Amrothos' hand. I turned to look at him and he turned to face me, raising both his eye brows this time.
"I don't want to seem, attractive or smart, or beautiful, or anything of that sort in front of Lord Lanus." I said, checking his reaction. He was grinning amusedly. "So," I continued "I need you to help me in this task." Now, he was smiling widely.
"Of course Riel, anything to help you if embarrassing you is what you want me to do." He answered. I opened my mouth to say that I did not want him to embarrass me. I wanted him just to, make me seem boring and useless, and unattractive, but he cut my off. "Now Riel, I believe my arm needs some circulation, so if you would please let go of it for a while, I think I'll survive"
I looked down and realized that I was still griping him arm. I let go, and smiled sheepishly, murmuring my apologies.
"Riel, we should not stall to long, Ada would get suspicious." He said, before offering me his other arm and them leading me to the dining hall.
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Wow, another chapter. I hope this is longer. Well it is actually, about 300 words longer. Anyway, hope you guys like it. I was just trying to show her thought process and her feelings about her mother in the first part. So I hope it worked.
Give me feed back on whatever you have to say. Flames, comments, tips, pointers, anything. You can even just say one word which describes this chap. Just give me reviews. Thanks
Btw, school's starting tomorrow, and I have to prepare for Open house and all, so please be patient in waiting for my later chaps. You can flame me to vent your fustrations also. this shows how much need to know on my readers. Just to get a scope and view of what was going on in your head when your reading this chap. thanks again
Shadows of Moonlight…….