Thanks to Neldluva for beta services. You did great!
Namarie mellon nin- thanks for your encouraging words. Spread the word!
Thanks to all my other wonderful reviewers!
Chapter Seven While she walked down the stone hallway, she thought about Lothestel. They were complete opposites at the time that they met. Lothestel was loud and opinionated. She spoke only with great respect to those she truly respected, whether they be peasant or royalty. She was the rule breaker. Niphredil had never done anything daring before in her life, and the first night she had met Lothestel, she had stolen the royal food to eat herself. Lothestel had a very big heart. She collected friends like she collected new pets. She took care of them, and made sure everything was all right. Lothestel was her best friend, and there was no body else she trusted more.
She had hardly knocked on the oak door before it was opened with a bang. Lothestel's (or Lothe as she called her) face appeared, and by the look on her face she was angry.
"Niphredil! You had better explain to me what is going on, or so help me Valar..."
"Shh! Of course! Just calm down, and let me come inside. I can't let anyone hear."
Niphredil made sure that all the windows were shut, and then she scanned the paintings for any moving eyes. The room looked safe. You could never be sure in the Palace of Mirkwood.
They sat down on the bed, and Lothestel started ranting.
"How! HOW COULD YOU HAVE A CHILD AND NOT TELL ME! We were supposed to be best friends!"
Her words of outrage brought the entire situation to reality. Her friend's rants became back round noise as she sorted through the events of the last few days. Everything was weighing down on her, and her mental barriers were stretched to their limits. She tried to stop the burning tears in her eyes, but they were inevitable as her vision began to blur with the oncoming tears. Lothestel noticed her tiny sniffs and immediately stopped ranting and stayed silent.
"He ruined it! He ruined everything!"
"Who is he?"
"Legolas!"
With that statement she buried her head in her friend's shoulder.
"He was so charming! Never said anything rude or mean to me. He did wonderful things for me. But one night he just- just seduced me. He said he loved me. He said that our love would go up with the stars. And I gave into him. And Lothe, do you know what happened?"
"What did happen Niphredil?"
"He made me feel like nobody ever has before. Do you remember the time you told me about you and the king's servant? It felt like that. I was floating on stars each and every time. I loved him with all of my heart. Lothe, he was so beautiful. And when I found out I was pregnant, I had my hopes. I wanted us to live together, and raise our child together. That very night before I was going to tell him, he told me about his hatred for elflings. How messy and disgusting they were. How they could not fend for themselves made him so annoyed. I was hurt so very badly, Lothe. I did not realize he was so young!"
"Do not worry, my friend. Do not let your heart be weary with these troubles. It will work out in the end."
"Oh Lothe! But you do not know the half of it! Did you see Legolas this morning?
"Of course I did! Everybody in the court was wondering about the bruise-" She suddenly gasped as it dawned on her, and then giggled. "Did you give him that?"
"He came into my room this morning."
"What did he say?"
"He wanted me back."
"What did you do?"
"I told him that he had had his chance, but he had ruined it by calling me a whore. Then when he saw that I was not relenting, he forced himself on me."
"He raped you? That dirty bastard! I'm going to find him and cut off his balls with a knife!" With that, Lothestel pushed herself off the bed, and marched towards the door. Niphredil ran after her and stopped her in her tracks.
"No! It was not that kind of forcing himself on me! He simply kissed me without my permission, but it made me so angry! He assumed that I was nothing without him, and he was my only hope for any chance at love. I shoved him out the door, and punched him to prove my point."
"Niphredil, you are – you are- different," she finished. "I just have a question. How did you keep your child hidden for so long?"
"Lothe, it was so very hard. I wore heavy clothing, and pretended that I was wearing the latest trend. In the end, I took to wearing black and binding my stomach a small amount. I did not show myself in public as much, and I ate overmuch at feasts, so I would have a reason for becoming plump. I was fortunate, as it was winter, and even though we do not feel the cold, that is a perfectly acceptable style to wear. I still do not know how nobody sensed Anor."
"The Valar must be with you."
"Indeed. Now do you understand?"
"I do. I just have one last question for you. What is the real character of Legolas like?"
Niphredil looked deep in thought for a moment, then spoke softly.
"Truly, my friend, I do not know. He is many things all at once."
She raised herself up, dried her tears, gave Lothe a hug, and glided towards the door.
"Thank you for listening Lothe. You always are so helpful. I could not ask for a better friend."
-
She extended her rest for a while longer. She walked through the garden, and finally came to the huge tree that served as her hiding spot. She had spent many an hour here, contemplating the fate of her and her child.
She glanced around to make sure that nobody was there. When she was sure the garden was clear, she tucked her long dress underneath into the chemise she was wearing, and hoisted herself up onto the first branch. The wood felt rough, and she stared at the bark on her way to the top. Many tiny creatures clambered up with her as she strove to reach through the large green colored leaves. She watched the tree ants march in a line through various holes in the trunk. Squirrels scampered above her, and birds whirled in mating dances, tweeting sweetly.
As she reached the platform she had built, she called one down to her, and a tiny sparrow alighted upon her finger. She gave it a crumb she found in her pocket, and released him. He spiraled upwards, and she found herself wishing that she could fly away from all her problems, and have not a care in the world.
She was staring at the rosebushes contemplating life, when a pretty maiden ran into her eyesight. She was giggling, and she could see her beckoning to somebody. An elf ran onto the scene, and she smiled in remembrance of happier times. She turned to go down the tree, and give them their privacy, when she turned around to see whom it was. She smiled in remembrance of young love.
The smile on her face turned into an expression of shock as she looked to see who it was. Legolas. They were now at the base of the tree. She peered over the edge of the platform to see the maiden pushed up against the base up of the tree, and her face up towards the heavens, moaning in ecstasy as Legolas nuzzled her neck. Legolas had by now removed most of her dress. He looked around quickly to make sure nobody was around, and then lifted the maiden on to himself. Niphredil could no longer look, for it was very painful. She heard many moans, and when he was finished, she heard him grunt in satisfaction. She lay on the platform, and silent tears trickled down her face. Niphredil felt so betrayed. Had he not done enough to hurt her? He said he wanted her back. Was this how he showed his loyalty to her? Her heart was slowly breaking in two. She would have lain there all day, but she heard him say, "I know a very good place to continue this."
"Where?" the maiden giggled.
"Right in the tree above us," he said.
"Shall we go then?" the maiden said coyly.
"It would be my pleasure, lady," he said.
Niphredil's mind was racing. That dirty bastard! He was going to make love to somebody he barely knew in their special spot! She knew she had to act fast, and put jealous feelings next.
She needed to get off this platform without him seeing her. She saw him climbing up one way, so she decided to climb down the other way. She silently slipped off the post, and made her way down. She had almost made it when she heard a branch crack. She saw Legolas's head whip around the tree trunk, and stare her in the eyes. She stared at him, tears welling up in her eyes, and jumped the remaining distance and ran as far as her feet would carry her.
Namarie mellon nin- thanks for your encouraging words. Spread the word!
Thanks to all my other wonderful reviewers!
Chapter Seven While she walked down the stone hallway, she thought about Lothestel. They were complete opposites at the time that they met. Lothestel was loud and opinionated. She spoke only with great respect to those she truly respected, whether they be peasant or royalty. She was the rule breaker. Niphredil had never done anything daring before in her life, and the first night she had met Lothestel, she had stolen the royal food to eat herself. Lothestel had a very big heart. She collected friends like she collected new pets. She took care of them, and made sure everything was all right. Lothestel was her best friend, and there was no body else she trusted more.
She had hardly knocked on the oak door before it was opened with a bang. Lothestel's (or Lothe as she called her) face appeared, and by the look on her face she was angry.
"Niphredil! You had better explain to me what is going on, or so help me Valar..."
"Shh! Of course! Just calm down, and let me come inside. I can't let anyone hear."
Niphredil made sure that all the windows were shut, and then she scanned the paintings for any moving eyes. The room looked safe. You could never be sure in the Palace of Mirkwood.
They sat down on the bed, and Lothestel started ranting.
"How! HOW COULD YOU HAVE A CHILD AND NOT TELL ME! We were supposed to be best friends!"
Her words of outrage brought the entire situation to reality. Her friend's rants became back round noise as she sorted through the events of the last few days. Everything was weighing down on her, and her mental barriers were stretched to their limits. She tried to stop the burning tears in her eyes, but they were inevitable as her vision began to blur with the oncoming tears. Lothestel noticed her tiny sniffs and immediately stopped ranting and stayed silent.
"He ruined it! He ruined everything!"
"Who is he?"
"Legolas!"
With that statement she buried her head in her friend's shoulder.
"He was so charming! Never said anything rude or mean to me. He did wonderful things for me. But one night he just- just seduced me. He said he loved me. He said that our love would go up with the stars. And I gave into him. And Lothe, do you know what happened?"
"What did happen Niphredil?"
"He made me feel like nobody ever has before. Do you remember the time you told me about you and the king's servant? It felt like that. I was floating on stars each and every time. I loved him with all of my heart. Lothe, he was so beautiful. And when I found out I was pregnant, I had my hopes. I wanted us to live together, and raise our child together. That very night before I was going to tell him, he told me about his hatred for elflings. How messy and disgusting they were. How they could not fend for themselves made him so annoyed. I was hurt so very badly, Lothe. I did not realize he was so young!"
"Do not worry, my friend. Do not let your heart be weary with these troubles. It will work out in the end."
"Oh Lothe! But you do not know the half of it! Did you see Legolas this morning?
"Of course I did! Everybody in the court was wondering about the bruise-" She suddenly gasped as it dawned on her, and then giggled. "Did you give him that?"
"He came into my room this morning."
"What did he say?"
"He wanted me back."
"What did you do?"
"I told him that he had had his chance, but he had ruined it by calling me a whore. Then when he saw that I was not relenting, he forced himself on me."
"He raped you? That dirty bastard! I'm going to find him and cut off his balls with a knife!" With that, Lothestel pushed herself off the bed, and marched towards the door. Niphredil ran after her and stopped her in her tracks.
"No! It was not that kind of forcing himself on me! He simply kissed me without my permission, but it made me so angry! He assumed that I was nothing without him, and he was my only hope for any chance at love. I shoved him out the door, and punched him to prove my point."
"Niphredil, you are – you are- different," she finished. "I just have a question. How did you keep your child hidden for so long?"
"Lothe, it was so very hard. I wore heavy clothing, and pretended that I was wearing the latest trend. In the end, I took to wearing black and binding my stomach a small amount. I did not show myself in public as much, and I ate overmuch at feasts, so I would have a reason for becoming plump. I was fortunate, as it was winter, and even though we do not feel the cold, that is a perfectly acceptable style to wear. I still do not know how nobody sensed Anor."
"The Valar must be with you."
"Indeed. Now do you understand?"
"I do. I just have one last question for you. What is the real character of Legolas like?"
Niphredil looked deep in thought for a moment, then spoke softly.
"Truly, my friend, I do not know. He is many things all at once."
She raised herself up, dried her tears, gave Lothe a hug, and glided towards the door.
"Thank you for listening Lothe. You always are so helpful. I could not ask for a better friend."
-
She extended her rest for a while longer. She walked through the garden, and finally came to the huge tree that served as her hiding spot. She had spent many an hour here, contemplating the fate of her and her child.
She glanced around to make sure that nobody was there. When she was sure the garden was clear, she tucked her long dress underneath into the chemise she was wearing, and hoisted herself up onto the first branch. The wood felt rough, and she stared at the bark on her way to the top. Many tiny creatures clambered up with her as she strove to reach through the large green colored leaves. She watched the tree ants march in a line through various holes in the trunk. Squirrels scampered above her, and birds whirled in mating dances, tweeting sweetly.
As she reached the platform she had built, she called one down to her, and a tiny sparrow alighted upon her finger. She gave it a crumb she found in her pocket, and released him. He spiraled upwards, and she found herself wishing that she could fly away from all her problems, and have not a care in the world.
She was staring at the rosebushes contemplating life, when a pretty maiden ran into her eyesight. She was giggling, and she could see her beckoning to somebody. An elf ran onto the scene, and she smiled in remembrance of happier times. She turned to go down the tree, and give them their privacy, when she turned around to see whom it was. She smiled in remembrance of young love.
The smile on her face turned into an expression of shock as she looked to see who it was. Legolas. They were now at the base of the tree. She peered over the edge of the platform to see the maiden pushed up against the base up of the tree, and her face up towards the heavens, moaning in ecstasy as Legolas nuzzled her neck. Legolas had by now removed most of her dress. He looked around quickly to make sure nobody was around, and then lifted the maiden on to himself. Niphredil could no longer look, for it was very painful. She heard many moans, and when he was finished, she heard him grunt in satisfaction. She lay on the platform, and silent tears trickled down her face. Niphredil felt so betrayed. Had he not done enough to hurt her? He said he wanted her back. Was this how he showed his loyalty to her? Her heart was slowly breaking in two. She would have lain there all day, but she heard him say, "I know a very good place to continue this."
"Where?" the maiden giggled.
"Right in the tree above us," he said.
"Shall we go then?" the maiden said coyly.
"It would be my pleasure, lady," he said.
Niphredil's mind was racing. That dirty bastard! He was going to make love to somebody he barely knew in their special spot! She knew she had to act fast, and put jealous feelings next.
She needed to get off this platform without him seeing her. She saw him climbing up one way, so she decided to climb down the other way. She silently slipped off the post, and made her way down. She had almost made it when she heard a branch crack. She saw Legolas's head whip around the tree trunk, and stare her in the eyes. She stared at him, tears welling up in her eyes, and jumped the remaining distance and ran as far as her feet would carry her.