Look at who is here early!
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Chapter 6- Elleths and Ellons
A breeze passed through the open window and Nendir touched his face gently as he gazed back in the mirror. Just as had happened a few nights before, his reflection cast someone that was not himself. His black and white hair blew out behind him like a banner in the wind and his silver eyes glinted in the light. The slits that were his pupils narrowed and he gritted his teeth, showing his fangs. Faint, red lines had also made their appearance on the sides of his face.
"How can this be me?" He thought aloud, "What is happening?" His long fingernails traced the marks on his face and he frowned, "Such strange things are happening of late."
His thoughts then strayed to his brother, Legolas, who was still in the Healing Wing. The Crown Prince had not heard of anything from the healers so he assumed that he was still alive. He had overheard Artanis, one of the healers, and his father discussing the youngest prince. It was a horrible time indeed for the family.
Shouts outside his room brought him back to the present and he furrowed his brow. He left the bathing chamber and poked his head out of the door. A few scattered lords or ladies whizzed by his head with joyous looks on their faces. He stepped out and tightened the belt on his robe. A young elleth passed by him and stopped suddenly.
"My lord!" She shouted excitedly, bowing quickly, "Come quickly!" She then continued her run. Nendir quickly fell into step with her.
"My lady, what is happening?" He asked.
"It is Prince Legolas! He is awake!"
It took a moment for those words to register in his head. Slowly, a wide grin formed on his lips and his pace quickened. Soon, he surpassed the elleth and, despite his usual calmness and composure, gave a great whoop and threw his hands up in the air. The elleth laughed as the prince disappeared around the corner.
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Legolas laughed as his two sisters kissed him profusely all over his face. Their arms were wrapped around his body, hugging him in pure happiness. He tried as best as he could to push them away but his laughter was his downfall. At the foot of the bed, Norui was hooting and bouncing in rejoice of his brother's sudden recovery. His mother and father stood hugging each other tightly with tears of joy streaming down their faces, never letting go.
The door burst open to reveal a grinning Nendir and without a word, he sprang upon the bed to join his siblings. Thranduil and Ithilwen laughed at his antics and his laughter rang through the Healing Wing. All who heard the melodious sound smiled as they continued with their daily business.
But this happiness was to be short lived.
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A lone figure swept stealthily down the corridor of the Mirkwood Palace like a shadow. He had a light and airy appearance but his aura gave off a feeling of malice and ill-intent. The shadows masked his face and when ever he passed by a window, the moon's light caused his eyes to shimmer and his robes to flicker. His foot steps were silent and nimble. He could only be an elf. He created not a sound except for the soft flapping of his clothing.
He stopped outside a wide doorway. He glanced around before pushing the doors open silently. Light streamed through the room and a single beam landed on the face of one elven lord. Taking one last glance around, the elf entered the room and closed the door behind him with a soft click.
He slowly approached the bed and looked down. The lord slept on his back with his eyes half opened in elf-fashion and a she-elf lay beside him with one arm over his chest. The strange elf's eyes narrowed. Lord Curufinwë, the King's head advisor, and his lady, Nienna, slept peacefully.
The elf's fingers flexed as he glared at the couple. Hatred and anger flashed through his glowing eyes and his hand snapped to his belt. The unmistakable ring of metal sliding against metal sang out and echoed off the walls.
Moon light flickered on the dagger and revealed small elvish script along the edge. The elf paused to look at this and he read it over and over in his mind. Finally, he growled and raised the dagger above his head.
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Legolas laughed quietly when Ithilwen poked him playfully in the stomach. He walked with his hands outstretched for he had a blindfold over his eyes and the Queen steered him carefully with her hands.
"Naneth, where are we going?" He asked, grinning.
"You will see. You need to meet someone." She responded and the prince fidgeted with anticipation.
"Will I like this person?"
"I hope so, Legolas."
Happiness radiated off of his body and Ithilwen smiled at his anxiousness. She pulled some doors open and began a long trek up the stairs. Legolas furrowed his brow.
"Naneth, where are we? I do not recognize where we are." The elleth chuckled.
"You will see, just be patient." He growled but she poked him again, emitting some more laughs. Finally, the two came to a door and Ithilwen stopped her son. "Wait here. Do not take off the blindfold. I must be sure they are…suitable for company." She said with a smirk. He nodded and she went in.
Once again, she was in the hidden room, home of Lord Daeron and his lady. She smirked when she heard the lord's deep voice.
"My lady, what ever should we do with you?" He said and the lady giggled, "You have been a very bad girl lately." Ithilwen cleared her throat. There was a pause and then a frustrated growl. There was a squeaking of the mattress and Lord Daeron poked his head out from behind the canopy. He glanced at the Queen and rolled his eyes. "Do you purposely intrude on us while we are busy or is it just a coincidence?" He asked, annoyed.
"Nay, my lord, I just happen to come at the right time. Or rather the wrong time." She said with a giggle.
"What do you need this time?" He asked.
"I need to thank you."
The lord gave her a curious look and disappeared behind the drapes again. Ithilwen heard some quiet whispers between the couple and Daeron finally emerged again. Much to the Queen's relief, he was still clad in his garb though he did appear quite tousled. He swung his legs off of the bed and slowly approached her.
"Why must you thank me?" He asked, smoothing out his clothing. He raked his fingers through his loosely hung hair in an attempt to remove the tangles. Ithilwen chuckled and he gave her a mock glare.
"Legolas is safe and sound." She said and the lord smiled understandingly.
"One moment, my lady." He said hurriedly and bounded back to the bed. He once again disappeared behind the draperies. More whispers streamed out to the elleth's ears and she smiled. Daeron pulled the curtains back a little and smiled at the Queen, beckoning her to come over.
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Legolas rocked back and forth on his heels. He heard some talking from inside the room but it was muffled by the door. He still had his blindfold on and was growing increasingly bored with waiting. Finally, the door opened.
"Legolas, you may take off your blindfold." His mother's voice said and he gratefully did so. In Ithilwen's arms was a bundle of soft cloth and she cradled it in her arms. "My son, this is Espenshade; your savior." A golden head popped out of the bundle and looked around curiously. Legolas quirked his head.
"But she is a falcon." He said and she nodded.
"Yes but she is special. She saved your life." The falcon hopped out of Ithilwen's arms and promptly flew over to Legolas's shoulder. The prince glanced at her and she chirped softly, then gently nibbled on the point of his ear. He laughed.
"She is beautiful, Naneth. Is she yours?"
"Nay," She smirked at the bird, "She belongs to Lord Daeron." Legolas furrowed his brow.
"Who?" Ithilwen smiled and took Espenshade back.
"You will see in time." He narrowed his eyes playfully and the Queen laughed. Legolas opened his mouth to speak but was cut off.
A blood-curdling scream echoed through the palace.
Ithilwen gasped and instinctively drew Legolas closer to her body. The prince clung to her shirt, reverting back to his elfling ways. Espenshade suddenly became very alert and her golden eyes darted around nervously.
"Naneth?"
"Hush, Legolas." She said and brought his head against her chest.
Another scream rang out, this one more horrifying then the first. Legolas heard his mother's heart beat quicken.
"Legolas, take Espenshade and go inside." Ithilwen commanded softly and placed the falcon on the ellon's shoulder then opened the door.
"But, Naneth…"
"Legolas, just do it. Do not leave this room under any circumstances. Only when I come to get you will you leave." She nudged him in the door and leaned down to kiss his cheek. "Do not leave, my son." He looked into her eyes and nodded after a while. She smiled and then hurried down the stairs.
Legolas watched her leave and then turned around and closed the door behind him. Espenshade flew from his shoulder and landed upon the post on the bed. The prince watched her for a bit until a door opened.
A tall lord with silver hair stepped out with a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. He glanced over at the prince and stopped abruptly. His hands went automatically to the towel and pulled it closer to his body. Espenshade whistled but it went unnoticed.
"Um…" He mumbled, "Can I help you?" Legolas averted his gaze to the floor.
"I am sorry, my lord, but my Naneth- I mean the Queen told me to stay here. Something has happened." The prince replied.
"Alright, your Highness." The other lord said, "My name is Daeron." He bowed slightly, "Just make yourself at home." He strode back into the room from whence he came.
Legolas glanced around and then strode to the bed. Espenshade flew down to greet him and he gently stroked her ruffled feathers. She chirped softly and nibbled on the ends of his braids. Finally, Daeron emerged from the bathing chamber and was finishing up buttoning his tunic. The prince sat quietly on the bed and the lord joined him. They sat in uncomfortable silence.
"So, Prince Legolas, how are you?" He shrugged in response, "Find any good elleths lately?" Daeron asked teasingly. This emitted a smirk from Legolas.
"Nay, my lord, I have not." The young elf replied, shuffling his feet. Once again, silence reigned. Only the soft cackling of Espenshade could be heard.
"I am sorry for not being good company, your Highness, but I am not good with children." Legolas's head shot up.
"Child! I am no child!" He retorted.
"Oh? How old are you?"
"I am nearing my two thousandth begetting day." Daeron nodded.
"Yet you are still considering young to many. Especially to me."
"May I ask your age?" The lord chuckled.
"Let us just say that I am very old." He said, "Older then I look."
"Then you are of the Eldar yet you do not have the presence of one." Legolas said, watching him closely and curiously. Daeron smiled at him.
"Nay, I am not an elf."
"Then how do you live so long? Are you immortal?" The lord shook his head, still smiling at the inquisitive prince.
"I am not immortal either. I will die one day but that will be a very long time from now. I am actually still considered what Men would call 'teens'." He explained and Legolas nodded.
"But could you please tell me how old you are?" Daeron thought for a moment, seemingly counting on his fingers. Espenshade squealed slightly and Daeron looked up at her.
"No, Espenshade, I won't lie." He said, rolling his eyes. Legolas quirked his eyebrow in curiosity but said nothing. The lord remained silent for a few more moments, then turned to the prince.
"I will be seven thousand and sixty three on June the twentieth. That is Lotesse Edrasath in your tongue, I believe." Legolas's eyes widened. "That is equivalent to an eighteen year old in Men's years."
"But you cannot be that old! You look so young!" Daeron smirked.
"I know. I still have many years ahead of me though; about fifty thousand."
"You might as well be an elf! I probably would have been killed in that time!" Legolas exclaimed and the other lord laughed merrily.
"As long as you keep yourself out of trouble then you will be there to see my last breath." The prince remained speechless as he stared into his elder's navy eyes that seemed to spark and crackle with old memories and thoughts.
"Forgive me for speaking to you so informally, my lord, I did not realize your age otherwise I would have treated you with more respect." Daeron laughed again.
"Please, Legolas, do not think that way. It is I who should be speaking formally to you and not the other way around. You are prince, after all." Legolas opened his mouth to speak but found nothing to say. The lord laughed again. "Come, the hour grows late and we should sleep." He stood and called to Espenshade who swept swiftly onto his outstretched arm. Legolas popped up.
"I can sleep on the lounge chair so you can have the bed." He said but Daeron shook his head.
"Nay, you can have the bed and I will take the chair." Legolas opened his mouth to decline but the lord held up his hand. "I insist." Reluctantly, the prince nodded.
"Alright, if you are positive." He sat back down on the bed, pushing the curtains away, "If my Naneth should come, please wake me." Daeron nodded and Legolas laid down.
"Will do, Legolas," He turned, but stopped, "Oh, one more thing."
"Yes?" The prince saw the lord blush crimson.
"Your parents have talked to you about elleths and ellons, right?" Legolas quirked his head. "Well, I mean about elleths and ellons when they fall in love." He still looked utterly confused.
"You mean when they kiss? I knew about that already." Daeron slapped his head in exasperation.
"Take that and multiply it to even greater extremes."
"Um, marriage?"
"No!" The lord began to pace as Legolas watched him confusedly. Daeron ran a hand through his silver hair and came up to the prince. He leaned down and whispered something in his ear. Suddenly, the elf's eyes widened and paled slightly.
"Oh, that." He gulped, "Right. What about it?" Daeron's face was cherry red.
"Well, you see, I have a lady of my own now and we have been 'intimately' engaged, you might say, for a while. We act like a pair of newlyweds even though we aren't." He said slowly, "So if you wake up to some…unpleasant noises…do something that will catch my attention and we will stop." He finished and looked down to his feet. Legolas's face was completely flushed, "But I can assure you that you will not have to worry about this. I believe that she is attending to errands outside of the palace this night." He tried to amend the situation.
"I-I understand." With that, the prince threw himself on the bed, facing away from the lord. Daeron sighed quietly, trying to take control of his nerves, and then went to lay down on the lounger. He stared up at the ceiling and he soon heard the soft breathing of the prince, asleep.
He ran his hand over his fair face and sighed. Thoughts of his love ran through his mind and he glanced up at Espenshade who was perched on the headrest of the bed. He made a soft clicking sound with his tongue, catching the bird's attention.
Espenshade flew over to him and perched herself on his knee. Daeron smiled at her ans stroked her chest. She cooed in response, closing her eyes, and the lord laughed quietly.
He soon drifted into a pleasant slumber filled with dreams of his beloved.
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There you go! I think this one is short and I tried to lengthen it but this was all I could do. Hopefully the speediness makes up for it.
Swasti- Heh, well, that wouldn't be fun if I told you now would it? Lol. Thank you for that compliment. Put me on the spot to make sure every chapter is perfect though, lol. I hope you like this one. And, since you said 'the suspense was killing you', I figured I would get this up much earlier then intended. Plus, this was already to go so why not? Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Until Next Time,
Manwathiel