Chapter 11: The Nightingale Of The Moonlit Waters
"Let's give future king of Mirkwood a chance to speak…ha ha ha." Legolas spat as he walked through the gardens with only the moonlight to guide him. He never felt so humiliated about his present royal position before… "Come to think of it, It was always because of Lailomeiel I get humiliated." He thought. Even though he felt like he want to give Lailomeiel a dose of her own medicine… he couldn't. There was something new about her that he cannot even slight her like he did before, it was not because they were older elves, more mature and less childish than they were living together as siblings in Mirkwood 1,500 years ago. She still is the same old Lailomeiel but whenever she's around, she's different, she wasn't the Lailomeiel he once knew, all he know is that he already lost his sister that day she left for the Great Lands.
Legolas continued to walk until he reached the hidden lagoon, it was where he used to spend his rare time relaxing and thinking about almost everything in middle earth. He looked at the deep steel waters that reflected the moon and the stars ahead, he stood there transfixed and listened to the sounds of the night… Until he heard someone singing… Legolas frowned, now who was it to dare takeover his privacy? He frowned; maybe he was just imagining things… "Legolas, just a pigment of your imagination." As he tried to convince himself about the voice, but then the voice grew near… and nearer… the voice, like the nightingales singing on a misty morning. The voice, in which Legolas distinguished belonged to a female one, who was singing a rather sad tune.
Legolas grew curious of where the sound came from, the sound that seem to be heartrending but hauntingly beautiful, he followed the sound until he reached the ledge. To his surprise, he saw a woman sitting on the swing that hung from the largest branch of a tree. She was singing one of the most haunting songs he had ever heard. He tried to hide behind the largest tree he could find but unfortunately stepped on a twig, which caused a sound loud enough for the woman to draw back. "Damn!" Legolas mumbled to himself.
"Legolas, you do want me to die in fright, do you or do you naught." The woman said as she turned around to where the sound came from.
"Lailomé?" Legolas was stunned; he had no idea that the sound came from Lailomé! "Why are you following me?" He asked, now he knew his private sanctuary wasn't exclusive only to him.
"Following you? No, Legolas, I used to come here whenever I am here in Rivendell."
"This used to be your sanctuary too, if I am not mistaken."
"Yes, it is indeed." She replied as she started to lightly sway herself in the swing.
Legolas reckoned that she was serious, he had never heard her this serious before, not ever. The clouds finally gave way for the moonlight to shine on the clearing; Legolas can see her more clearly, perfectly transfixed with what he was seeing. Lailomé was wearing her hair down, without anything on it, she was also wearing her dress that night during Elrond's special dinner, she stood there perfectly framed with the milieu and the soft moonlight. To Legolas' surprise, he found her smiling at him; her eyes mirrored the night sky… "What do you find so amusing?" her tone gave off no hint of mischief, only curiousness… and softness? Legolas thought, she was Lailomé and yet she wasn't.
"You in my refuge." He said, calmly. He chose his words and his tone as not to give any meaning of it.
"Part of life, Legolas. You can never know who steps in when you know it."
"Yes Indeed, part of life… but I never thought that we had the same idea."
Lailomé stood from where she was sitting, causing the swing to rock slightly back and forth.
"You are safe in your own haven now, Oh I mean our haven." She said as she walked towards him.
"Don't I get my goodnight kiss?" He asked as she was about to head back to her room.
"If you would give me one, then I might reconsider." She said with a grin and a naughty glint in her eyes.
Legolas sensed this and said "Then perhaps I may walk my fair lady home." As he took her hand and led her way through the darkness.
"If you don't mind my curiosity, since when have you found out about this place?"
Lailomeiel sighed. He sure just don't give up. She thought. "One thousand, five hundred years ago to be exact, I came here, before the Great Lands to visit Uncle Elrond, I was so sad to be away from you guys and so I decided to run away, but I couldn't. I got lost, and I found this place. From then on, whenever I feel something bad or anything like that, I come here. Satisfied?"
Legolas eyed her sternly then he gave in. "Satisfied."
The next day… Aragorn knocked Legolas off the terrace as part of the hobbit's "dare."
"I knew it, Aspiring King of Mirkwood is a sloppy one."
"Oh you filthy human!" Legolas snarled as he jumped on the unprepared Aragorn.
The four hobbits, Frodo, Sam, Merry & Pippin all burst into an horrendous laughter as so was Gandalf and Gimli as they watched Legolas and Aragorn as an orc and a cave troll in the hall.
"What was all that commotion?" Arwen said to Lailomé as they were walking in the hallways.
Aragorn was heading towards the door when Legolas was already headed towards him, at the same time, Lailomé opened the door, Aragorn took a step by his left causing Legolas to head straight to Lailomé! Suddenly, there was a loud "thud" by the doorway. The next thing Lailomé heard was a loud banging sound, Arwen's scream and the hobbit's laughter.
All Legolas can say was her name as he looked down the elf beneath him.
"What by Elbereth's name is this?" Elrond retorted as he swept down towards the two fallen elves.
"Legolas?" was all the dazed Lailomé could make of with the elf lying on top of her. "What in the?"
Legolas looked down at the elf beneath him, her eyes questioning, she, half dazed by the fall and half surprised, could only look back at him with disbelief.
"I am dreadfully sorry Lei." He said as he stood and helped her up.
Lailomé stood up, smoothed her dress and nodded. What happened was so fresh in her mind and that she could still feel his weight on her body.
"What happened?" Elrond asked again.
"Legolas was supposed to "land" on Aragorn but Aragorn evaded him, just then, Lady Lailomé opened the door and Legolas landed on her instead of Aragorn." Pippin bellowed.
"Indeed." Elrond replied as he raised his eyebrow and looked at Legolas then to Lailomé. "I suppose Pippin spoke the truth?"
"Yes, Elrond, The hobbit did spoke the truth." Gandalf interjected as he stepped forward, still with a funny glint in his eyes.
"I don't want any of this to happen again, am I understood?"
All of them nodded at Elrond's stern voice of disapproval.
"Lailomé, would you come with me." Elrond said, looking directly at Lailomeiel's eyes.
"It is not her fault." Legolas protested.
"No, Legolas, it isn't about the recent incident."
Lailomeiel looked at Elrond puzzled, she didn't see him this serious before. "Have I done anything wrong?" she asked.
"No, Lailomeiel, Thranduil asks you to come too, it is rather very important and should be discussed in private." He said, looking directly at Legolas.
"Is it business or personal?"
"I suggest we discuss go to the study, will you excuse us…"
Legolas looked at the parting images of Elrond and Lailomeiel in the hallway, he too, can still feel the warmth of her body a while ago, he thought. The hobbits walked toward Legolas and Arwen who was outside in the hallway and looked at the parting elves…
"She sure is deadmeat." Sam sniggered.
"Sam!" Arwen glared at him.
Elrond closed the oak doors as soon as Lailomé stepped inside the room.
"Come closer dear." Thranduil beckoned his daughter to come near the balcony.
"Is there something wrong father?" She asked as she smoothed her still rumpled dress.
"Nay, there is nothing wrong, with your old father."
"Anyway, why am I here?"
"Well, my lady, it's because I am here."
Lailomeiel spun around, a big smile came across her face, then was followed with a frown.
"What are you doing here Briarvale? I thought you would take care of the Great Lands while I'm gone… oh no Is there anything wrong? Do I have to…
"Hush, hush my lady nothing's wrong with something?" Briarvale chuckled. "You worry too much."
Lailomeiel turned around, he also found Elrond and Thranduil smiling gaily.
"Symptoms of a future Queen." Elrond muttered.
"Then why are you here?
Elrond coughed to make his presence be known; Lailomeiel get the gist that there would be a serious conversation to follow, of what she does not know.
"So, what are we going to talk about?" she asked, her spirit of lightheartedness is evident in her manner of speaking.
"About your future." Elrond replied, giving emphasis on the word your.
Lailomeiel suddenly caught her breath, that tone of Elrond sure meant something and she knew it wasn't good. Thranduil noticed her dumbfounded that he decided to take the lead of the conversation.
"Lailomeiel, before you found out the truth about yourself, you know from that time on… I became your real father…"
"Future?"
"Yes, indeed, Briarvale, Elrond, Galadriel, some high elves and I already arranged your future." He said as-a-matter-of-factly.
"I don't understand… what future?"
"Your marriage." Thranduil finished.
Lailomeiel laughed. This is a joke… she thought, this gotta be a big joke…
"And to which unlucky man am I going to spend all eternity with?"
"With me." Said the elf as he marched out from his hiding place.
Lailomeiel remembered him as Isendor Windspell, the elf Elrond introduced last night.
Lailomeiel took the matter lightly, she knew this is a joke, well at least that's what she put in her mind. There is no way I'm gonna fall from this mean joke…
"And you've been standing there for how long? Oh…" she said as she jokingly slapped her head, "How foolish am I to ask… you've been there long enough to join the prank?"
Isendor bowed down to the high elves before him, he took Lailomeiel's hand and kissed it.
"Oh… my… God… all of you speak the truth? Don't you?" she asked, her words shook…
"Yes indeed child, but it is for the best…"
Lailomeiel laughed hard…. "And you do expect me to believe all this nonsense I believe?"
All the three old elves looked at her as if she just came out from the insane asylum, she laughed hard, she even felt that Isendor, for once, went nuts…
"Nay, child this is no nonsense… nor this a laughing matter." Thranduil said sternly. This sudden outburst caused Lailomeiel to stop from her false laughter. She stood up, as if time stood still, questions, speculations all swirled in her mind, like a whirlwind, all her thoughts are there first and then it was gone… she felt lethargic; that tone meant the truth, and she had no choice…
"Perhaps it would be better if I am to leave you all." Isendor said as he bowed and went out the study.
"Isendor, is a great noble man, his late parents and I made arrangements for you two a many centuries ago…"
Lailomeiel doesn't want to hear another word about her betrothal, she felt like she wanted to jump from the balcony, or to vanish into thin air, she knew her happy complete days are over.
"Everything has a price, isn't it?" she whispered.
"Child, Isendor is the best person for you, we have all decided him on you."
But Lailomé won't heed Thranduil's words, she is indeed a headstrong, hardheaded and willful lady, and she won't give up, well, not that easily.
"But Father I do not love him." She wailed, her begging eyes met her father's stern ones, tears started to fall from her grey eyes.
"We already gave word. I am terribly sorry, but I am sure, you will be happy with him."
Tears rolled down her cheek, Thranduil bent down so that he would face Lailomeiel's sad face.
"There is nothing for you to fear, Isendor is a favorable young man, I am sure he would be a very good husband to you, so please…" he begged her as he wiped her tears and held her shaking hands which seem to lose her warmth.
"Please, accept him."
"But Father, Amin gorgamin ho."
Amin Gorgamin Ho – I fear him.
Legolas continued to walk until he reached the hidden lagoon, it was where he used to spend his rare time relaxing and thinking about almost everything in middle earth. He looked at the deep steel waters that reflected the moon and the stars ahead, he stood there transfixed and listened to the sounds of the night… Until he heard someone singing… Legolas frowned, now who was it to dare takeover his privacy? He frowned; maybe he was just imagining things… "Legolas, just a pigment of your imagination." As he tried to convince himself about the voice, but then the voice grew near… and nearer… the voice, like the nightingales singing on a misty morning. The voice, in which Legolas distinguished belonged to a female one, who was singing a rather sad tune.
Legolas grew curious of where the sound came from, the sound that seem to be heartrending but hauntingly beautiful, he followed the sound until he reached the ledge. To his surprise, he saw a woman sitting on the swing that hung from the largest branch of a tree. She was singing one of the most haunting songs he had ever heard. He tried to hide behind the largest tree he could find but unfortunately stepped on a twig, which caused a sound loud enough for the woman to draw back. "Damn!" Legolas mumbled to himself.
"Legolas, you do want me to die in fright, do you or do you naught." The woman said as she turned around to where the sound came from.
"Lailomé?" Legolas was stunned; he had no idea that the sound came from Lailomé! "Why are you following me?" He asked, now he knew his private sanctuary wasn't exclusive only to him.
"Following you? No, Legolas, I used to come here whenever I am here in Rivendell."
"This used to be your sanctuary too, if I am not mistaken."
"Yes, it is indeed." She replied as she started to lightly sway herself in the swing.
Legolas reckoned that she was serious, he had never heard her this serious before, not ever. The clouds finally gave way for the moonlight to shine on the clearing; Legolas can see her more clearly, perfectly transfixed with what he was seeing. Lailomé was wearing her hair down, without anything on it, she was also wearing her dress that night during Elrond's special dinner, she stood there perfectly framed with the milieu and the soft moonlight. To Legolas' surprise, he found her smiling at him; her eyes mirrored the night sky… "What do you find so amusing?" her tone gave off no hint of mischief, only curiousness… and softness? Legolas thought, she was Lailomé and yet she wasn't.
"You in my refuge." He said, calmly. He chose his words and his tone as not to give any meaning of it.
"Part of life, Legolas. You can never know who steps in when you know it."
"Yes Indeed, part of life… but I never thought that we had the same idea."
Lailomé stood from where she was sitting, causing the swing to rock slightly back and forth.
"You are safe in your own haven now, Oh I mean our haven." She said as she walked towards him.
"Don't I get my goodnight kiss?" He asked as she was about to head back to her room.
"If you would give me one, then I might reconsider." She said with a grin and a naughty glint in her eyes.
Legolas sensed this and said "Then perhaps I may walk my fair lady home." As he took her hand and led her way through the darkness.
"If you don't mind my curiosity, since when have you found out about this place?"
Lailomeiel sighed. He sure just don't give up. She thought. "One thousand, five hundred years ago to be exact, I came here, before the Great Lands to visit Uncle Elrond, I was so sad to be away from you guys and so I decided to run away, but I couldn't. I got lost, and I found this place. From then on, whenever I feel something bad or anything like that, I come here. Satisfied?"
Legolas eyed her sternly then he gave in. "Satisfied."
The next day… Aragorn knocked Legolas off the terrace as part of the hobbit's "dare."
"I knew it, Aspiring King of Mirkwood is a sloppy one."
"Oh you filthy human!" Legolas snarled as he jumped on the unprepared Aragorn.
The four hobbits, Frodo, Sam, Merry & Pippin all burst into an horrendous laughter as so was Gandalf and Gimli as they watched Legolas and Aragorn as an orc and a cave troll in the hall.
"What was all that commotion?" Arwen said to Lailomé as they were walking in the hallways.
Aragorn was heading towards the door when Legolas was already headed towards him, at the same time, Lailomé opened the door, Aragorn took a step by his left causing Legolas to head straight to Lailomé! Suddenly, there was a loud "thud" by the doorway. The next thing Lailomé heard was a loud banging sound, Arwen's scream and the hobbit's laughter.
All Legolas can say was her name as he looked down the elf beneath him.
"What by Elbereth's name is this?" Elrond retorted as he swept down towards the two fallen elves.
"Legolas?" was all the dazed Lailomé could make of with the elf lying on top of her. "What in the?"
Legolas looked down at the elf beneath him, her eyes questioning, she, half dazed by the fall and half surprised, could only look back at him with disbelief.
"I am dreadfully sorry Lei." He said as he stood and helped her up.
Lailomé stood up, smoothed her dress and nodded. What happened was so fresh in her mind and that she could still feel his weight on her body.
"What happened?" Elrond asked again.
"Legolas was supposed to "land" on Aragorn but Aragorn evaded him, just then, Lady Lailomé opened the door and Legolas landed on her instead of Aragorn." Pippin bellowed.
"Indeed." Elrond replied as he raised his eyebrow and looked at Legolas then to Lailomé. "I suppose Pippin spoke the truth?"
"Yes, Elrond, The hobbit did spoke the truth." Gandalf interjected as he stepped forward, still with a funny glint in his eyes.
"I don't want any of this to happen again, am I understood?"
All of them nodded at Elrond's stern voice of disapproval.
"Lailomé, would you come with me." Elrond said, looking directly at Lailomeiel's eyes.
"It is not her fault." Legolas protested.
"No, Legolas, it isn't about the recent incident."
Lailomeiel looked at Elrond puzzled, she didn't see him this serious before. "Have I done anything wrong?" she asked.
"No, Lailomeiel, Thranduil asks you to come too, it is rather very important and should be discussed in private." He said, looking directly at Legolas.
"Is it business or personal?"
"I suggest we discuss go to the study, will you excuse us…"
Legolas looked at the parting images of Elrond and Lailomeiel in the hallway, he too, can still feel the warmth of her body a while ago, he thought. The hobbits walked toward Legolas and Arwen who was outside in the hallway and looked at the parting elves…
"She sure is deadmeat." Sam sniggered.
"Sam!" Arwen glared at him.
Elrond closed the oak doors as soon as Lailomé stepped inside the room.
"Come closer dear." Thranduil beckoned his daughter to come near the balcony.
"Is there something wrong father?" She asked as she smoothed her still rumpled dress.
"Nay, there is nothing wrong, with your old father."
"Anyway, why am I here?"
"Well, my lady, it's because I am here."
Lailomeiel spun around, a big smile came across her face, then was followed with a frown.
"What are you doing here Briarvale? I thought you would take care of the Great Lands while I'm gone… oh no Is there anything wrong? Do I have to…
"Hush, hush my lady nothing's wrong with something?" Briarvale chuckled. "You worry too much."
Lailomeiel turned around, he also found Elrond and Thranduil smiling gaily.
"Symptoms of a future Queen." Elrond muttered.
"Then why are you here?
Elrond coughed to make his presence be known; Lailomeiel get the gist that there would be a serious conversation to follow, of what she does not know.
"So, what are we going to talk about?" she asked, her spirit of lightheartedness is evident in her manner of speaking.
"About your future." Elrond replied, giving emphasis on the word your.
Lailomeiel suddenly caught her breath, that tone of Elrond sure meant something and she knew it wasn't good. Thranduil noticed her dumbfounded that he decided to take the lead of the conversation.
"Lailomeiel, before you found out the truth about yourself, you know from that time on… I became your real father…"
"Future?"
"Yes, indeed, Briarvale, Elrond, Galadriel, some high elves and I already arranged your future." He said as-a-matter-of-factly.
"I don't understand… what future?"
"Your marriage." Thranduil finished.
Lailomeiel laughed. This is a joke… she thought, this gotta be a big joke…
"And to which unlucky man am I going to spend all eternity with?"
"With me." Said the elf as he marched out from his hiding place.
Lailomeiel remembered him as Isendor Windspell, the elf Elrond introduced last night.
Lailomeiel took the matter lightly, she knew this is a joke, well at least that's what she put in her mind. There is no way I'm gonna fall from this mean joke…
"And you've been standing there for how long? Oh…" she said as she jokingly slapped her head, "How foolish am I to ask… you've been there long enough to join the prank?"
Isendor bowed down to the high elves before him, he took Lailomeiel's hand and kissed it.
"Oh… my… God… all of you speak the truth? Don't you?" she asked, her words shook…
"Yes indeed child, but it is for the best…"
Lailomeiel laughed hard…. "And you do expect me to believe all this nonsense I believe?"
All the three old elves looked at her as if she just came out from the insane asylum, she laughed hard, she even felt that Isendor, for once, went nuts…
"Nay, child this is no nonsense… nor this a laughing matter." Thranduil said sternly. This sudden outburst caused Lailomeiel to stop from her false laughter. She stood up, as if time stood still, questions, speculations all swirled in her mind, like a whirlwind, all her thoughts are there first and then it was gone… she felt lethargic; that tone meant the truth, and she had no choice…
"Perhaps it would be better if I am to leave you all." Isendor said as he bowed and went out the study.
"Isendor, is a great noble man, his late parents and I made arrangements for you two a many centuries ago…"
Lailomeiel doesn't want to hear another word about her betrothal, she felt like she wanted to jump from the balcony, or to vanish into thin air, she knew her happy complete days are over.
"Everything has a price, isn't it?" she whispered.
"Child, Isendor is the best person for you, we have all decided him on you."
But Lailomé won't heed Thranduil's words, she is indeed a headstrong, hardheaded and willful lady, and she won't give up, well, not that easily.
"But Father I do not love him." She wailed, her begging eyes met her father's stern ones, tears started to fall from her grey eyes.
"We already gave word. I am terribly sorry, but I am sure, you will be happy with him."
Tears rolled down her cheek, Thranduil bent down so that he would face Lailomeiel's sad face.
"There is nothing for you to fear, Isendor is a favorable young man, I am sure he would be a very good husband to you, so please…" he begged her as he wiped her tears and held her shaking hands which seem to lose her warmth.
"Please, accept him."
"But Father, Amin gorgamin ho."
Amin Gorgamin Ho – I fear him.