Chapter 4: Music

Rachel listened to the three friends talk, throwing out a comment every once in a while. She found every thing they said very interesting, although she didn't know many of the people that they were discussing. She stayed with them until everyone moved out to a different hall.

She then went back and walked with Linwë and her other friends.

"Where are we? I've never been here before, have I?" Rachel questioned.

"I do not believe that I showed you this place. It is the Music Hall. It is here that we hold our dances. On that stage is where the singers perform. Then in the back of the hall is where the story tellers sit," Linwë explained.

"Okay..." Rachel looked around and felt dwarfed by the many elves that surrounded her. She didn't know where to go or what to do. She finally decided to take a seat on one of the chairs arranged around the walls of the room.

Soon, once most of the elves were in the hall, the singing began. Rachel secluded herself while all of the other people started to sway or dance to the music. The voices were amazing. Once Rachel concentrated on the music, it didn't really matter that she couldn't understand the words. She could still tell what they were singing about. Beautiful pictures formed in her head of waterfalls and forests. Of lovely people and of their gods. After a bit it changed and they began singing songs of destruction and death. During those songs, the elves stood, unmoving. Rachel didn't want to picture those, so she turned her attention elsewhere, into her own mind. She sat and thought about all that had happened to her, and what she could do about it.

Soon again, the songs reverted to their old joyful melodies. Rachel, who had always enjoyed music, found herself tapping her foot along with the beat. She watched as the elves seemingly floated around the floor. She recognized Legolas who danced with quite a few maidens during the night, and also Gildor who seemed to linger closer to the wall. Amras danced only with Linwë. Their eyes were shining as they glided across the floor.

Rachel found herself wrapped in a blanket of voice and melody. She shut her eyes and concentrated on the images in her mind. She could understand that they were about love and cheerful things. The elves had a talent for painting pictures with their words and songs.

"My lady, would you care to dance?" Gildor asked politely, holding his hand out to her.

Rachel accepted, taking his hand slowly. She allowed him to pull her to her feet then lead her around the floor.

"They are singing about the beauty of the world when it was first created and the love that they have for nature. Soon the songs will begin to tell tales of heroes," Gildor described.

"The songs are beautiful. I've never heard anything like this before. I could stay here forever."

"As would many of us. Yet we realize that we must get on with our lives. It would be amazing if we could remain in peaceful times so that we may have banquets like this more often."

He led her back to her seat as the song came to an end, then left her to her own thoughts.

She was beginning to fall asleep when another offer came to her to dance. This time it was Legolas.

"I do not believe that we have gotten to know each other well. Most of the elves here have been here for quite a long while so I know them. Would you care to dance, Rachel?"

"I'd be honored," she replied, trying to be polite to the prince.

Prince Legolas swept her around the dance floor with ease. It was easy for her to dance with him. He didn't move too fast, or do any complicated moves that she didn't know how to do. Yet while she had been sitting it seemed like he was one of the best dancers in the hall.

"What is your family like?" he asked.

"Well... they're nice. I have a little brother, who gets on my nerves sometimes, but I think most siblings do at one time or another. My dad is kind of strict. He doesn't let me do a lot of things. My mom has quite the temper if you catch her on a bad day."

Legolas questioned her about her home and life where she was from. Rachel answered as best she could without giving too much away. She wasn't sure if she could trust him yet. She wanted to tell Linwë but that would have to wait until tomorrow, she supposed.

After she danced with Legolas she left the hall and headed toward her room. She undid her hair and let it fall. She then put on a nightdress that Linwë had provided her. She hung up the dress that she had worn, then fell into bed, falling asleep the moment she closed her eyes.

That night Rachel dreamt of dancing on the clouds with her boyfriend, Kyle, during the sunset. When she looked down at herself though, she realized that she wasn't Rachel. She was someone else that she didn't recognize.

Rachel woke the next morning to the sound of people moving around outside her door. She dragged herself out of bed, washed, dressed, then walked out into the hall.

Linwë was in that hall so Rachel went over to her.

"What's going on?"

"There was a spider attack last night," Linwë explained quickly. "The strange thing is that the orcs attacked also, and the spiders did not attack them."

"Is everyone alright?"

"No. That is why we are all here. There were only five survivors out of the twenty that were defending us. Amras, Gildor, Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli. The other fifteen were slaughtered. The five that lived are all wounded badly. The healer's are working in their rooms which are down this hall."

"Will they be alright?" Rachel questioned. "Why did only those five survive?"

"We know not if they will survive. I suppose that those five survived because they had the most experience fighting. The others were being trained and it was their first night on the guard. That is why there were twenty when they attacked."

Emiliana: It's okay that it took so long. I know you were at camp. I'm glad you liked it.

Anaclaime: Sorry that it took me so long to update. Hope you liked it.

Rayame: It's okay that it took you longer than normal to review. I'm glad that my story isn't as boring as the fair. Congrats on the blues.

WHR and Wolf's Rain fan: A Witch Hunter Robin and Wolf's Rain fan obviously. I haven't seen Wolf's Rain, but Witch Hunter Robin is great! I didn't go gaga over Legolas in the movie. I liked him in the books better. He's just quiet and observant. Also, Boromir dies, Aragorn, Sam, Merry, and Pippin get married I believe, Frodo and Gandalf leave and Gimli is a dwarf. I am making a story about a Gimli romance. In the books and movies though, Legolas is quiet and observant. He doesn't say much but he plays a major part. Thanks for the review! Oh, by the way, I don't think that there will be much blood or violence. This is more drama then that.

Thanks for reading everyone! I hope you enjoy this chapter as well! I'll try to update sooner but I'm going to be gone next week on vacation.

-Elerrina