DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING OF LORD OF THE RINGS (sadly)! BUT I DO OWN FAY,
THE LADIES IMAYA AND SOARIA, ISARA, TECKA AND OTHER CHARACTERS THAT ARE NOT
J.R.R.TOLKIEN OR PETER JACKSON'S!!!!
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No shoutouts this chapter, okay guys? I just wanna get right to a good, quality fanfic here! =) Do you wanna know why I'm updating so uncharacteristically early? BECAUSE YOU LEFT SOOOOO MANY GREAT REVIEWS LAST CHAP!!!!!!! **CHEERS!!**
So to you thank you for your AWESOME reviews, here's ch.11-nice, LONG, and early!! Remember to leave some more happy reviews =) They make me so happy!! **Squeals girlishly**
REVIEW!!! ^.^
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Andra made her way out of the dining hall. The prince had certainly seemed interested in Fay, hadn't he? But why was that? Granted, they got along well as acquaintances, but they surely weren't anything more. They couldn't possibly be! He, an elvish prince, older than a millennia; she, a young, impulsive human with certain...self-esteem problems.
Why were human girls always so uptight over their appearance, anyway? It bothered Andra that they simply could not accept themselves. They were born that way for a reason. There was nothing more they could do than learn to live happily.
She arrived at servants' quarters. Quietly, she cracked Fay's door open. The young human was sleeping on her bed. But her rest was fitful. She had not even changed into her nightclothes. Instead, it seemed that she had flopped unceremoniously unto the mattress and fallen asleep-shoes and all. Her expression was solemn, and she tossed sporadically on her sides.
Andra stepped into the room, and lay a motherly hand on Fay's shoulder. "Fay, Fay wake up."
"Huh?"
"You should change into your pajamas, my friend. You must wear this uniform again when you get up in the morning. You don't want it to be wrinkled and creased." Andra pointed out.
"Wha'? Huh? Oh...yeah..." Fay murmured, slowly rising to her feet, and wiping her bleary eyes.
"Goodnight, Ellewen."
"Yeah...night."
Andra left the room, and turned towards her own. Her young friend did not fare well.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning, Andra bustled around the kitchen. The other maids were all chattering and giggling as they worked, but Andra's mind was heavily weighed with concern.
Fay's outburst the previous night had left a dent in her carefree attitude. The girl had been so happy and content when she had first arrived. But those few moments -which seemed ages ago-had changed everything.
"Andra! Honestly! What is so troublesome to you that it has distracted you from your work so often lately!?" Isara reprimanded, walking around and checking on each maid.
"I'm sorry, Madam RedRose. It is Fay... she is not well."
"Is that why she's still in bed?"
"Yes, ma'am, I hadn't the heart to wake her this morning." Andra admitted.
"I see. Well, than perhaps a bit of fresh air will help the girl, eh? How about you wake her up and go pick a few baskets of berries. It is a beautiful day." Isara suggested.
"I would, ma'am, but the mistresses forbade me from any outing privileges." Andra stated, her head bowed in shame.
"Nonsense," Isara waved her hand aside. "You and I both know that they don't pay any attention to their maids. It is not very likely that they would notice you out and about. And if by some ungodly chance they DO realize, you tell them that I gave you permission. All right?" Isara bargained.
"Thank you, ma'am! I shall go and wake Fay immediately! We'll get straight to work!" Andra vowed.
"Good. But I want you two back before dinner, you hear?"
"Yes, ma'am." Andra gave a small bow and hurried off to fetch Fay.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The two friends sat in the small berry patch. It was a secluded little area in the middle of the forest. In the distance was the dull roar of a waterfall, fed by a large river that was just down the path. The canopy of leaves overhead allowed a glowing, almost ethereal light to shine brightly.
The two of them sat on their knees, silently picking the berries. Fay was scowling, plucking the small orbs from their stems a little too harshly. Several had already squished between her fingers from the rough treatment, leaving her hands red and sticky-which made her all the angrier.
Andra, meanwhile, was pulling them with a graceful hand, watching Fay from the corner of her eye. This outing was supposed to help her friend, not let her brood!
Fay glanced at Andra, and saw her looking at her. She scowled harder, upset at being observed like that.
"Perhaps," Andra stood. "I shall go around the bend and see if I can find any blueberries." She suggested tentatively, desperately wanting to ease the thick tension that hung in the air.
"Yeah." Fay growled, her gaze having returned to the berry bush.
"Okay. I-I'm going now." Andra pressed, hoping to get Fay talking. When she got no reaction, she sighed and started down the path.
__________
Legolas and Gandalf made their way through the forest. They had left the rest of the Fellowship in the capable hands of Gimli and Aragorn so that they could talk.
It had been Gandalf's suggestion to walk through the forest for some privacy. "We have important matters to discuss," He had said. "We do not need prying ears."
There had been an awkward silence since their departure from the palace. Gandalf was first to break it.
"What troubles you, my old friend? I have not seen you so depressed since....come to think of it, I've never seen you this upset." He stated.
Legolas heaved a sigh, plucking a small flower from the ground and twirling it between his idle fingers. "Women," He muttered. "Gimli's right; trouble always revolves around women." He declared, tugging the petals of the daisy in a most uncharacteristic way.
"How so?" Gandalf questioned.
Exhaling loudly, Legolas dropped the flower to the ground.
"Had someone finally caught your eye?" Gandalf asked, grinning in an almost knowing way.
Legolas gave a small chuckle. "Yes," He nodded. "Only problem is that it's the worst person I could have fallen for." He added.
The old wizard's face wrinkled with puzzlement. "The worst person? It's not a troll is it?" Gandalf teased slightly.
"Of course not, Mithrander! You know what I mean!"
"No; I don't. Please be so kind as to enlighten me." Gandalf smiled warmly, sitting down on an old stump, hunched over and leaning on his staff for support.
Legolas sat on the forest floor and sighed again. "Well, she has a head on her shoulders, is young and fair, and looks just like a woodland elf...."
"So what is the problem?" Gandalf asked, not joking anymore.
"She is not an elf; but human. In fact, in elven terms, she'd be considered a baby! And she doesn't have to, but she chooses to work as a servant!" He informed his old friend.
"She chooses to?" Gandalf pressed.
"Yes! It's not like she has to! She is lost from her home. No one's heard of it, and she doesn't know how to get back. After her rescue, I told her that she could live in the palace until we figured out how to get her home. But she chose to be a servant." Legolas finished, looking forlornly at his feet.
"Why does she wish to be a servant?" Mithrandir inquired. The elf prince shrugged.
"Honestly, Gandalf, I think it's to avoid me." He admitted.
"Oh come now," Gandalf lay a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Surely she is just..."
"No," Legolas shrugged the hand off. "I took a walk with her one morning, and I was going to ask her why she wanted to work, but we were interrupted. She left before I had another chance to reach her. Not only that, but there have been times when she was invited to be with us -like when you first came to Mirkwood. Aragorn and Gimli invited she and her friend to come along and greet you-but she keeps saying that she is indisposed. Really, Gandalf! She's shunning me!" Legolas confessed, finishing by throwing his face into his hands.
"Now why would anyone avoid you, my friend? You are nothing but loyal and kind! And as for this maid, Aragorn tells me that she danced with you. Surely she can't be avoiding you if you dance together?" Gandalf suggested comfortingly.
"Aragorn told you that? What else has he said!?" Legolas demanded.
Gandalf was surprised by this strange, incongruous behavior that his good friend was displaying. It was most unlike him; usually the elf was cool and collected, understanding and listening, but never quite adding his own input... Now he was near hysterical and the confessions were rolling out in waves. Perhaps keeping it in was becoming too much strain....
"Strider has told me nothing except that he thinks you and she have a chance together--- despite the odds." Gandalf added, seeing Legolas's mouth open in protest.
The elf sighed and rubbed his face wearily. "Than why won't she talk to me, Gandalf? I'm sick of stressing like this! I want to know." He stated finally.
"Sometimes the best thing isn't always the easy thing. If you just..."
Gandalf was interrupted by a sudden scream piercing the air. Both jumped up and turned towards the direction of the cry.
"Come on!" Legolas yelled, already pulling an arrow from his quiver and stringing it to the long bow that he brought everywhere. "This way!"
_______________________
Fay's head snapped up-distracted from her work. That scream-it had been Andra! She was sure of it!
Throwing the basket of collected red berries carelessly aside, she raced down the path that Andra had taken earlier that morning.
~What if she's hurt!?~ Fay thought, running madly ahead, ignoring the sticks and rocks that scratched at her as she raced through the forest. ~What if she's dead, and the last time I ever saw her was when I was so cruel this morning!?~ Guilt and panic surged through her system, spurring her faster.
She spotted the other berry patch from the corner of her eye, and tripped over her own feet in her haste to get there. Andra was sitting on the ground, her face distorted with a look of pain. Others were already there, but Fay paid them no mind. Scurrying through the leaves, she threw herself at her friend, wrapping her arms tightly around her neck.
"Andra! You're all right! THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE ALL RIGHT! I heard you scream, and I thought that you... I thought that..." Fay's voice choked on the sobs that began to wrack her body, and she sobbed into Andra's shoulder- just letting everything go.
It wasn't just the shock of hearing the screech, and finding her friend all right, but it was the rush of adrenaline that still had her shaking, and the grief that had built up over the last few weeks. It was all finally coming out-all of it in one big wave.
Andra, surprised at having someone latched around her neck so suddenly, patted Fay's back awkwardly. "There, there," She soothed. "I'm just fine. I twisted my ankle, but I'm ok." She comforted.
Fay kept crying into Andra's shoulder for a while more, and everyone sat silently, gazing at their shoes politely. Finally, the young human drew back, wiping her puffy, red eyes on the back of her hand.
"Sorry," She apologized, her voice hoarse. A blush of embarrassment was already creeping up her cheeks. "I guess that I got a little carried away there-I'm just so glad that you're all right!"
"She'll be fine," Declared a wise old voice behind Fay. She turned, suddenly remembering that there were other people, and came face to face with an older gentlemen clutching a staff. "Your friend merely tripped and twisted her ankle." He explained.
Fay wiped her eyes again. "Pardon me, but...who are you?" She questioned.
He gave a hearty laugh and smiled. "I am Gandalf the Wizard, and you?"
"Fay." She answered.
"I trust you know Legolas?" Gandalf motioned to his left.
Fay's pulse picked up again, and her gaze jumped over. There indeed was Legolas. He looked sort of...solemn.
"Hello, Fay." He greeted. But his tone wasn't as light or airy as usual. In fact, it was bordering on apathetic.
"Hello." She replied, her eyes wide, but her tone serious as well.
Gandalf cleared his throat. He had realized long ago that this was the very maid that Legolas had been referring to. "I shall attend to Miss Andra, here." He headed towards her, and slung her arm around his shoulders, assisting her to walk -or limp, really- through the forest. It was quite the comical sight, as his other hand clutched a walking staff to support his own weight. It was similar to the blind leading the blind, or the coal calling the kettle black.
Fay snapped out of her reverie, and jumped up. "Nonsense, I'll help her." Fay made to take Andra's other arm.
"No," Her friend ordered sternly, pulling the spare limb to her chest. She had caught on to what Gandalf was doing... She agreed with his thinking; Fay and Legolas needed to talk-NOW.
"Gandalf and I are doing just fine. You have your own business to attend to." She inclined her head towards Legolas, who sat on the grass-watching the whole scene with a bored expression.
"We will be back at the palace when you are through." Gandalf informed them, and he and Andra turned and started to hobble back to the city.
Fay remained standing, even when they had disappeared beyond her line of vision. She hadn't the courage to turn around and face Legolas. All of her concerns from the past few weeks flooded back to her. She felt small- insignificant.
Swallowing, she remembered a time when she would have laughed if someone had told her that she'd be afraid to talk to the elf. But now, for some reason unknown to even her, he intimidated her.
"Why have you been avoiding me?" His voice cut through the air clearly.
She grimaced. He was trying to confront her peacefully, but his anger was getting the better of him. She turned, and jumped when she found him standing right there. Hadn't he been sitting a length away just a moment ago? Curse the silence of elves' feet!
She swallowed and got herself under control once more. "I-I'm not avoiding you." She intended to be firm-to tell him off... like her former self would have done. She wanted to be strong like that again. But even to her own ears, her tone sounded fake.
He took a step forward, and she took a step back. He sighed, and lay his hands on her shoulders to steady her. "Then why do you tremble at my touch? Why do you sound meek and afraid?" He had bent down slightly to lock eyes with her.
She wanted desperately to stare him down defiantly, but it was as he said. She was indeed shaking, and she couldn't keep his eye. She felt his fingers slip under her chin and forced her gaze up again.
"You are afraid of me." It was a statement.
She felt as though his piercing blue eyes could see into her very soul. She could not lie to him. Slowly, she nodded.
He tottered back, throwing his hands into the air exasperatedly. "WHY!? What have I done to you? Why do you fear me!?" He shouted, losing his patience.
She too, took a few steps backward. "I-I don't know." She admitted.
"Well if you don't, then who does!?" He demanded.
She could merely shake her head in ignorance. This was so unlike him! This was so unlike =her=!
"Is that why you wanted to become a servant!? To get away from me!?" He continued, his volume showing no signs of lowering anytime soon.
"N-no!" She cried. "That's not it at all!" She insisted, horrified that he would think that.
"Then what is it!?" He interrogated her further.
She hesitated. Should she tell him?
"Fine!" She shouted back, anger rising beside her terror. "It is you! Bad enough that I can't go home, that I'm stuck here with all of these, these...=perfect= elves! But no! Then you've got to come along and look at me like that! Like I'm worth something! You can't just leave me alone! You keep raising my hopes! I think maybe you're actually sincere, but how can you be!? No one could ever love someone like..."
She paused, realizing just how much had spilled from her mouth. She had only meant to say a little, enough to get him off her back, but then everything else had come flooding out.
"Like what?" He asked softly, advancing towards her. She retreated, stopping only when her back hit the trunk of a tree.
"Even if y-you actually felt that way about me, it could never work," She whispered. "Don't make me think that we've got a chance when we don't! It's impossible! And there's too much else on my mind for me to be thinking about stupid, ridiculous things like that!"
He gazed into her eyes, as though searching for the full truth in their depths. He placed his hand on her cheek. "What are you talking about?" He asked, his brow furrowed with puzzlement.
Despite her strongest attempt to stay strong, to be vigilant, a tear slipped down Fay's cheek. Looking even more confused, Legolas swiped it away with his thumb. "Fay?" He murmured her name, asking what was going on. But the whisper of his voice was all that it took for her resolve to crumble.
She bit her lip, and reached up, forcing his hand away and rubbing her eyes. Tears were spilling forth and she was furiously brushing them away.
Hesitantly, all anger forgotten, Legolas drew her into his arms, patting her hair comfortingly. She let herself weep onto his chest for a moment, then realized where she was. Quickly, she shoved herself from his embrace. "No!" She muttered fiercely, sobs still hitching in her throat.
Frowning he caught her hand, and pulled her closer, despite her struggles. His other hand lay itself on her cheek again. He pulled her to him, and settled on the forest floor. She sat near him, looking down, no longer struggling but still crying.
"Fay, please, what is wrong?" He asked tenderly. He caught her eye, and she swallowed, unable to look away.
Fay heaved a sigh. "Things here are...just so. And so much of me has changed; it...it scares me. I mean, I never used to worry about how I looked, but then...well all you elves are so PERFECT that it's hard for any human -especially a young, teenage human girl-not to feel...inferior. I mean, well... Do you remember when my hair was all those different colors?" Fay asked suddenly, glancing up instead of looking ashamedly at her lap.
"Yes," Legolas gave a very small chuckle. "It's hard to forget them."
"Well, the colors have faded out. But I look back on it now, and I realize that I was trying so hard to be different, and it frightens me that now I wish so hard to be the same-to be as beautiful as the elves I'm surrounded by. And, and I used to be so strong-willed! None of this mushy 'talk out your feelings' crap that I'm doing even now! No! I never would have put up with this before!" She paused and breathed deeply, collecting herself. "I feel so different...like I'm someone else now-I'm not 'me' anymore. It, it terrifies me." She revealed, another sob hitching in her throat.
He wrapped his arms around her again. "People change, Fay. That's the way things are. If you think you are changing for the worst, look through my eyes. You are beautiful and intelligent. I am so happy that you walked into my life. Every day and night, I can't stop thinking about you. I..."
"Please stop." Fay whispered. "You don't mean any of that. I can't understand why you would want to waste your time with someone like me. I am so..."
She was cut short when his lips locked on hers. Startled, she jumped back, eyes wide. Her fingers traced her lips for a moment; they tingled slightly.
"That is just it," He murmured. "You are not ugly, you are not heinous. You are wonderful!" He gripped her shoulders and shook her. "Why can't you see it, Fay? You are witty and intelligent! The sun is jealous of the way your beauty shines so bright! I love you!"
"No, no you don't!" She whispered, her eyes closed tightly as more tears escaped. She was shaking her head wildly. "Even if you did mean that,"
"I do!" He insisted.
She kept talking as though he hadn't said anything. "Even if you did mean that, you and I...we could never be together! I am a human! You are an elf! I would die, and if you love me like you say that you do, your heart and soul would shatter!"
"Than I shall give up my immortality!" He said firmly.
"Then you would die first, and I would be left with the broken heart! You are older, Legolas. If you were human, you would be dead already!" She shrieked, tears streaming down her face.
"Fay,"
"No! I can't do it, Legolas! Please! Please just stop!" She sobbed hysterically.
"But Fay, I..."
"STOP! Please! I just want to go home!" She stood, backing away from him.
He stood as well. "But I..."
"No!" Tears still running down her face, she turned and ran into the growing darkness of the evening.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Ok. In most of my chapters, this one too, there have been a few mistakes. Like, I don't know if there really is a waterfall in Mirkwood, but Rivendell has two-so why not? Or the berries-I'm sure they have those too, lol. And yes, I knew that an elf wouldn't trip, but she......had a lot on her mind. And I know there were a lot of typos, again, sorry. But please just ignore any of those little glitches ^.^
And I'm sorry that this chapter was SOOOOOOOO Mary Sue-ish, but I wanted the elf to DOOOO something. For some reason, this chapter was incredibly hard to write. I re-did it FOUR times. And then I got myself in a fix and it came out like a Mary Sue!! I'M SOOOOOOOOO SORRY!!!
**ahem** Well please review, and PLEASE don't tell me how Mary Sue-ish it was, because I already know, and I'm beating myself up for it.
REVIEW!
Thanks,
~* ElfPilot *~
No shoutouts this chapter, okay guys? I just wanna get right to a good, quality fanfic here! =) Do you wanna know why I'm updating so uncharacteristically early? BECAUSE YOU LEFT SOOOOO MANY GREAT REVIEWS LAST CHAP!!!!!!! **CHEERS!!**
So to you thank you for your AWESOME reviews, here's ch.11-nice, LONG, and early!! Remember to leave some more happy reviews =) They make me so happy!! **Squeals girlishly**
REVIEW!!! ^.^
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Andra made her way out of the dining hall. The prince had certainly seemed interested in Fay, hadn't he? But why was that? Granted, they got along well as acquaintances, but they surely weren't anything more. They couldn't possibly be! He, an elvish prince, older than a millennia; she, a young, impulsive human with certain...self-esteem problems.
Why were human girls always so uptight over their appearance, anyway? It bothered Andra that they simply could not accept themselves. They were born that way for a reason. There was nothing more they could do than learn to live happily.
She arrived at servants' quarters. Quietly, she cracked Fay's door open. The young human was sleeping on her bed. But her rest was fitful. She had not even changed into her nightclothes. Instead, it seemed that she had flopped unceremoniously unto the mattress and fallen asleep-shoes and all. Her expression was solemn, and she tossed sporadically on her sides.
Andra stepped into the room, and lay a motherly hand on Fay's shoulder. "Fay, Fay wake up."
"Huh?"
"You should change into your pajamas, my friend. You must wear this uniform again when you get up in the morning. You don't want it to be wrinkled and creased." Andra pointed out.
"Wha'? Huh? Oh...yeah..." Fay murmured, slowly rising to her feet, and wiping her bleary eyes.
"Goodnight, Ellewen."
"Yeah...night."
Andra left the room, and turned towards her own. Her young friend did not fare well.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning, Andra bustled around the kitchen. The other maids were all chattering and giggling as they worked, but Andra's mind was heavily weighed with concern.
Fay's outburst the previous night had left a dent in her carefree attitude. The girl had been so happy and content when she had first arrived. But those few moments -which seemed ages ago-had changed everything.
"Andra! Honestly! What is so troublesome to you that it has distracted you from your work so often lately!?" Isara reprimanded, walking around and checking on each maid.
"I'm sorry, Madam RedRose. It is Fay... she is not well."
"Is that why she's still in bed?"
"Yes, ma'am, I hadn't the heart to wake her this morning." Andra admitted.
"I see. Well, than perhaps a bit of fresh air will help the girl, eh? How about you wake her up and go pick a few baskets of berries. It is a beautiful day." Isara suggested.
"I would, ma'am, but the mistresses forbade me from any outing privileges." Andra stated, her head bowed in shame.
"Nonsense," Isara waved her hand aside. "You and I both know that they don't pay any attention to their maids. It is not very likely that they would notice you out and about. And if by some ungodly chance they DO realize, you tell them that I gave you permission. All right?" Isara bargained.
"Thank you, ma'am! I shall go and wake Fay immediately! We'll get straight to work!" Andra vowed.
"Good. But I want you two back before dinner, you hear?"
"Yes, ma'am." Andra gave a small bow and hurried off to fetch Fay.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The two friends sat in the small berry patch. It was a secluded little area in the middle of the forest. In the distance was the dull roar of a waterfall, fed by a large river that was just down the path. The canopy of leaves overhead allowed a glowing, almost ethereal light to shine brightly.
The two of them sat on their knees, silently picking the berries. Fay was scowling, plucking the small orbs from their stems a little too harshly. Several had already squished between her fingers from the rough treatment, leaving her hands red and sticky-which made her all the angrier.
Andra, meanwhile, was pulling them with a graceful hand, watching Fay from the corner of her eye. This outing was supposed to help her friend, not let her brood!
Fay glanced at Andra, and saw her looking at her. She scowled harder, upset at being observed like that.
"Perhaps," Andra stood. "I shall go around the bend and see if I can find any blueberries." She suggested tentatively, desperately wanting to ease the thick tension that hung in the air.
"Yeah." Fay growled, her gaze having returned to the berry bush.
"Okay. I-I'm going now." Andra pressed, hoping to get Fay talking. When she got no reaction, she sighed and started down the path.
__________
Legolas and Gandalf made their way through the forest. They had left the rest of the Fellowship in the capable hands of Gimli and Aragorn so that they could talk.
It had been Gandalf's suggestion to walk through the forest for some privacy. "We have important matters to discuss," He had said. "We do not need prying ears."
There had been an awkward silence since their departure from the palace. Gandalf was first to break it.
"What troubles you, my old friend? I have not seen you so depressed since....come to think of it, I've never seen you this upset." He stated.
Legolas heaved a sigh, plucking a small flower from the ground and twirling it between his idle fingers. "Women," He muttered. "Gimli's right; trouble always revolves around women." He declared, tugging the petals of the daisy in a most uncharacteristic way.
"How so?" Gandalf questioned.
Exhaling loudly, Legolas dropped the flower to the ground.
"Had someone finally caught your eye?" Gandalf asked, grinning in an almost knowing way.
Legolas gave a small chuckle. "Yes," He nodded. "Only problem is that it's the worst person I could have fallen for." He added.
The old wizard's face wrinkled with puzzlement. "The worst person? It's not a troll is it?" Gandalf teased slightly.
"Of course not, Mithrander! You know what I mean!"
"No; I don't. Please be so kind as to enlighten me." Gandalf smiled warmly, sitting down on an old stump, hunched over and leaning on his staff for support.
Legolas sat on the forest floor and sighed again. "Well, she has a head on her shoulders, is young and fair, and looks just like a woodland elf...."
"So what is the problem?" Gandalf asked, not joking anymore.
"She is not an elf; but human. In fact, in elven terms, she'd be considered a baby! And she doesn't have to, but she chooses to work as a servant!" He informed his old friend.
"She chooses to?" Gandalf pressed.
"Yes! It's not like she has to! She is lost from her home. No one's heard of it, and she doesn't know how to get back. After her rescue, I told her that she could live in the palace until we figured out how to get her home. But she chose to be a servant." Legolas finished, looking forlornly at his feet.
"Why does she wish to be a servant?" Mithrandir inquired. The elf prince shrugged.
"Honestly, Gandalf, I think it's to avoid me." He admitted.
"Oh come now," Gandalf lay a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Surely she is just..."
"No," Legolas shrugged the hand off. "I took a walk with her one morning, and I was going to ask her why she wanted to work, but we were interrupted. She left before I had another chance to reach her. Not only that, but there have been times when she was invited to be with us -like when you first came to Mirkwood. Aragorn and Gimli invited she and her friend to come along and greet you-but she keeps saying that she is indisposed. Really, Gandalf! She's shunning me!" Legolas confessed, finishing by throwing his face into his hands.
"Now why would anyone avoid you, my friend? You are nothing but loyal and kind! And as for this maid, Aragorn tells me that she danced with you. Surely she can't be avoiding you if you dance together?" Gandalf suggested comfortingly.
"Aragorn told you that? What else has he said!?" Legolas demanded.
Gandalf was surprised by this strange, incongruous behavior that his good friend was displaying. It was most unlike him; usually the elf was cool and collected, understanding and listening, but never quite adding his own input... Now he was near hysterical and the confessions were rolling out in waves. Perhaps keeping it in was becoming too much strain....
"Strider has told me nothing except that he thinks you and she have a chance together--- despite the odds." Gandalf added, seeing Legolas's mouth open in protest.
The elf sighed and rubbed his face wearily. "Than why won't she talk to me, Gandalf? I'm sick of stressing like this! I want to know." He stated finally.
"Sometimes the best thing isn't always the easy thing. If you just..."
Gandalf was interrupted by a sudden scream piercing the air. Both jumped up and turned towards the direction of the cry.
"Come on!" Legolas yelled, already pulling an arrow from his quiver and stringing it to the long bow that he brought everywhere. "This way!"
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Fay's head snapped up-distracted from her work. That scream-it had been Andra! She was sure of it!
Throwing the basket of collected red berries carelessly aside, she raced down the path that Andra had taken earlier that morning.
~What if she's hurt!?~ Fay thought, running madly ahead, ignoring the sticks and rocks that scratched at her as she raced through the forest. ~What if she's dead, and the last time I ever saw her was when I was so cruel this morning!?~ Guilt and panic surged through her system, spurring her faster.
She spotted the other berry patch from the corner of her eye, and tripped over her own feet in her haste to get there. Andra was sitting on the ground, her face distorted with a look of pain. Others were already there, but Fay paid them no mind. Scurrying through the leaves, she threw herself at her friend, wrapping her arms tightly around her neck.
"Andra! You're all right! THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE ALL RIGHT! I heard you scream, and I thought that you... I thought that..." Fay's voice choked on the sobs that began to wrack her body, and she sobbed into Andra's shoulder- just letting everything go.
It wasn't just the shock of hearing the screech, and finding her friend all right, but it was the rush of adrenaline that still had her shaking, and the grief that had built up over the last few weeks. It was all finally coming out-all of it in one big wave.
Andra, surprised at having someone latched around her neck so suddenly, patted Fay's back awkwardly. "There, there," She soothed. "I'm just fine. I twisted my ankle, but I'm ok." She comforted.
Fay kept crying into Andra's shoulder for a while more, and everyone sat silently, gazing at their shoes politely. Finally, the young human drew back, wiping her puffy, red eyes on the back of her hand.
"Sorry," She apologized, her voice hoarse. A blush of embarrassment was already creeping up her cheeks. "I guess that I got a little carried away there-I'm just so glad that you're all right!"
"She'll be fine," Declared a wise old voice behind Fay. She turned, suddenly remembering that there were other people, and came face to face with an older gentlemen clutching a staff. "Your friend merely tripped and twisted her ankle." He explained.
Fay wiped her eyes again. "Pardon me, but...who are you?" She questioned.
He gave a hearty laugh and smiled. "I am Gandalf the Wizard, and you?"
"Fay." She answered.
"I trust you know Legolas?" Gandalf motioned to his left.
Fay's pulse picked up again, and her gaze jumped over. There indeed was Legolas. He looked sort of...solemn.
"Hello, Fay." He greeted. But his tone wasn't as light or airy as usual. In fact, it was bordering on apathetic.
"Hello." She replied, her eyes wide, but her tone serious as well.
Gandalf cleared his throat. He had realized long ago that this was the very maid that Legolas had been referring to. "I shall attend to Miss Andra, here." He headed towards her, and slung her arm around his shoulders, assisting her to walk -or limp, really- through the forest. It was quite the comical sight, as his other hand clutched a walking staff to support his own weight. It was similar to the blind leading the blind, or the coal calling the kettle black.
Fay snapped out of her reverie, and jumped up. "Nonsense, I'll help her." Fay made to take Andra's other arm.
"No," Her friend ordered sternly, pulling the spare limb to her chest. She had caught on to what Gandalf was doing... She agreed with his thinking; Fay and Legolas needed to talk-NOW.
"Gandalf and I are doing just fine. You have your own business to attend to." She inclined her head towards Legolas, who sat on the grass-watching the whole scene with a bored expression.
"We will be back at the palace when you are through." Gandalf informed them, and he and Andra turned and started to hobble back to the city.
Fay remained standing, even when they had disappeared beyond her line of vision. She hadn't the courage to turn around and face Legolas. All of her concerns from the past few weeks flooded back to her. She felt small- insignificant.
Swallowing, she remembered a time when she would have laughed if someone had told her that she'd be afraid to talk to the elf. But now, for some reason unknown to even her, he intimidated her.
"Why have you been avoiding me?" His voice cut through the air clearly.
She grimaced. He was trying to confront her peacefully, but his anger was getting the better of him. She turned, and jumped when she found him standing right there. Hadn't he been sitting a length away just a moment ago? Curse the silence of elves' feet!
She swallowed and got herself under control once more. "I-I'm not avoiding you." She intended to be firm-to tell him off... like her former self would have done. She wanted to be strong like that again. But even to her own ears, her tone sounded fake.
He took a step forward, and she took a step back. He sighed, and lay his hands on her shoulders to steady her. "Then why do you tremble at my touch? Why do you sound meek and afraid?" He had bent down slightly to lock eyes with her.
She wanted desperately to stare him down defiantly, but it was as he said. She was indeed shaking, and she couldn't keep his eye. She felt his fingers slip under her chin and forced her gaze up again.
"You are afraid of me." It was a statement.
She felt as though his piercing blue eyes could see into her very soul. She could not lie to him. Slowly, she nodded.
He tottered back, throwing his hands into the air exasperatedly. "WHY!? What have I done to you? Why do you fear me!?" He shouted, losing his patience.
She too, took a few steps backward. "I-I don't know." She admitted.
"Well if you don't, then who does!?" He demanded.
She could merely shake her head in ignorance. This was so unlike him! This was so unlike =her=!
"Is that why you wanted to become a servant!? To get away from me!?" He continued, his volume showing no signs of lowering anytime soon.
"N-no!" She cried. "That's not it at all!" She insisted, horrified that he would think that.
"Then what is it!?" He interrogated her further.
She hesitated. Should she tell him?
"Fine!" She shouted back, anger rising beside her terror. "It is you! Bad enough that I can't go home, that I'm stuck here with all of these, these...=perfect= elves! But no! Then you've got to come along and look at me like that! Like I'm worth something! You can't just leave me alone! You keep raising my hopes! I think maybe you're actually sincere, but how can you be!? No one could ever love someone like..."
She paused, realizing just how much had spilled from her mouth. She had only meant to say a little, enough to get him off her back, but then everything else had come flooding out.
"Like what?" He asked softly, advancing towards her. She retreated, stopping only when her back hit the trunk of a tree.
"Even if y-you actually felt that way about me, it could never work," She whispered. "Don't make me think that we've got a chance when we don't! It's impossible! And there's too much else on my mind for me to be thinking about stupid, ridiculous things like that!"
He gazed into her eyes, as though searching for the full truth in their depths. He placed his hand on her cheek. "What are you talking about?" He asked, his brow furrowed with puzzlement.
Despite her strongest attempt to stay strong, to be vigilant, a tear slipped down Fay's cheek. Looking even more confused, Legolas swiped it away with his thumb. "Fay?" He murmured her name, asking what was going on. But the whisper of his voice was all that it took for her resolve to crumble.
She bit her lip, and reached up, forcing his hand away and rubbing her eyes. Tears were spilling forth and she was furiously brushing them away.
Hesitantly, all anger forgotten, Legolas drew her into his arms, patting her hair comfortingly. She let herself weep onto his chest for a moment, then realized where she was. Quickly, she shoved herself from his embrace. "No!" She muttered fiercely, sobs still hitching in her throat.
Frowning he caught her hand, and pulled her closer, despite her struggles. His other hand lay itself on her cheek again. He pulled her to him, and settled on the forest floor. She sat near him, looking down, no longer struggling but still crying.
"Fay, please, what is wrong?" He asked tenderly. He caught her eye, and she swallowed, unable to look away.
Fay heaved a sigh. "Things here are...just so. And so much of me has changed; it...it scares me. I mean, I never used to worry about how I looked, but then...well all you elves are so PERFECT that it's hard for any human -especially a young, teenage human girl-not to feel...inferior. I mean, well... Do you remember when my hair was all those different colors?" Fay asked suddenly, glancing up instead of looking ashamedly at her lap.
"Yes," Legolas gave a very small chuckle. "It's hard to forget them."
"Well, the colors have faded out. But I look back on it now, and I realize that I was trying so hard to be different, and it frightens me that now I wish so hard to be the same-to be as beautiful as the elves I'm surrounded by. And, and I used to be so strong-willed! None of this mushy 'talk out your feelings' crap that I'm doing even now! No! I never would have put up with this before!" She paused and breathed deeply, collecting herself. "I feel so different...like I'm someone else now-I'm not 'me' anymore. It, it terrifies me." She revealed, another sob hitching in her throat.
He wrapped his arms around her again. "People change, Fay. That's the way things are. If you think you are changing for the worst, look through my eyes. You are beautiful and intelligent. I am so happy that you walked into my life. Every day and night, I can't stop thinking about you. I..."
"Please stop." Fay whispered. "You don't mean any of that. I can't understand why you would want to waste your time with someone like me. I am so..."
She was cut short when his lips locked on hers. Startled, she jumped back, eyes wide. Her fingers traced her lips for a moment; they tingled slightly.
"That is just it," He murmured. "You are not ugly, you are not heinous. You are wonderful!" He gripped her shoulders and shook her. "Why can't you see it, Fay? You are witty and intelligent! The sun is jealous of the way your beauty shines so bright! I love you!"
"No, no you don't!" She whispered, her eyes closed tightly as more tears escaped. She was shaking her head wildly. "Even if you did mean that,"
"I do!" He insisted.
She kept talking as though he hadn't said anything. "Even if you did mean that, you and I...we could never be together! I am a human! You are an elf! I would die, and if you love me like you say that you do, your heart and soul would shatter!"
"Than I shall give up my immortality!" He said firmly.
"Then you would die first, and I would be left with the broken heart! You are older, Legolas. If you were human, you would be dead already!" She shrieked, tears streaming down her face.
"Fay,"
"No! I can't do it, Legolas! Please! Please just stop!" She sobbed hysterically.
"But Fay, I..."
"STOP! Please! I just want to go home!" She stood, backing away from him.
He stood as well. "But I..."
"No!" Tears still running down her face, she turned and ran into the growing darkness of the evening.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Ok. In most of my chapters, this one too, there have been a few mistakes. Like, I don't know if there really is a waterfall in Mirkwood, but Rivendell has two-so why not? Or the berries-I'm sure they have those too, lol. And yes, I knew that an elf wouldn't trip, but she......had a lot on her mind. And I know there were a lot of typos, again, sorry. But please just ignore any of those little glitches ^.^
And I'm sorry that this chapter was SOOOOOOOO Mary Sue-ish, but I wanted the elf to DOOOO something. For some reason, this chapter was incredibly hard to write. I re-did it FOUR times. And then I got myself in a fix and it came out like a Mary Sue!! I'M SOOOOOOOOO SORRY!!!
**ahem** Well please review, and PLEASE don't tell me how Mary Sue-ish it was, because I already know, and I'm beating myself up for it.
REVIEW!
Thanks,
~* ElfPilot *~