Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original Lord of the Rings characters that are present in this fanfic. This is written out of my own interest and I don't mean to insult JRR Tolkien's work. Thank you )
"Legolas!" Thealtuwen cried, sitting up in the misty twilight hours of the morning. Her chest rose and fell quickly, her breaths short and sharp. Closing her eyes and calming her worries, she let her feet touch the cool stone floors. Gliding towards one of the many open windows of her bedchamber, Thealtuwen thoughtfully surveyed the view of Rivendell.
The silence of the elvish town was serene. The other fair beings of the city were still in deep slumber. The rhythm and song of the rivers running throughout Rivendell seemed slower and quieter, like gentle breaths as if they too, were sleeping. Not a single bird graced the sky neither did their songs ring clear over the rooftops. A gentle fog hung over the haven, slightly blurring the landscape. Thealtuwen was the only being that had seemed to have a woken.
Letting the sweet smelling air fill her lungs, she closed her eyes as the breeze played amongst her wavy, ebony locks. Thealtuwen moved her hand towards her neck. There, she felt the smooth metal chain beneath her fingertips. Tracing the chain, her hands met the familiar touch of the pendant that hung around her neck. Thealtuwen smiled softly, her eyes still closed as she caressed the texture of the necklace. It gave Thealtuwen a sense of comfort and safety that it was there.
Theatluwen began to trace the shape of the ornament, taking care to feel the grooves, where each jewel was set in with care and where the face of the silver was smooth. The necklace seemed to resemble the likeness of a flower. It was set with white jewels and deep sapphires, resembling Thealtuwen's eyes. The blossom was surrounded by elvish designs unmistakably the stem and the leaves. It had a graceful twirl at the very bottom of it, where another sapphire was set.
Opening her eyes, Thealtuwen began to angle her small treasure in the sparkling young light of the slowly rising sun, beginning to overpower the soft mist. As the radiance reflected off the necklace, colorful designs danced upon Thealtuwen's fair features. She smiled, only for her happiness to fade once more into dismay. Her reoccurring nightmare had plagued her mind ever since she rode into Rivendell seeking refuge.
The visions of her escape from Mirkwood were always the same: vivid and fast paced, only to awake in a cold sweat and her face drenched in tears. In the midst of confusion and misunderstanding, she was forced to leave the one she loved behind as she fled, the feelings of urgency and fear of what may happen returning to her. Thealtuwen knew then and even now that she could not bear to be trapped in that impenetrable darkness again. To be kept in a steel cage and deprived from the sunlight and from the only wonderful thing she had found in her life of blind shadows: Mirkwood's young prince, Legolas. Thealtuwen sighed with sadness, tears threatening to spill from her eyes as the memory of her beloved crossed her thoughts. If she had not run the very moment she did, they would have left her in that prison to diminish for a crime she never committed.
The sun had fully risen into the jewel blue sky, dissolving the low hanging clouds and bathing the beautiful refuge with a golden glow. The rivers began to sing rhythmically as it turned the many bends and currents, running under the bridges and through other waterways. Somewhere in the forest, a bird serenaded another in a never-ending song. Thealtuwen could now see other elves kindly conversing with one another, seeming to glide across the grounds with ease, their robes and gowns flowing behind them.
Thealtuwen silently hummed a small melody to herself as she just stood, leaning against one of the many elegant stone pillars that surrounded her bedchamber. A figure, silently entered, yet she did not remain unnoticed. Having felt the presence in the room, Thealtuwen turned her head towards the entranceway. Arwen Undómiel stood in the doorframe, quietly observing her friend.
"Mae govannen, Galad." Thealtuwen said, her voice unnaturally quiet.
"As to you, Elen." Arwen answered, slowly approaching Thealtuwen, who had turned to once again watch the inhabitants of Rivendell go about their lives. "What seems to be upon your mind that seems to withdraw you from the day?" Arwen asked. Thealtuwen did not realize how long she had remained in her chambers.
"You know they will not have given up that easily." Thealtuwen said in a whisper, her gaze set upon a golden haired elf maiden who now sat beside the river, dipping her hand into the cool, sparkling water. "They are searching for me. Eventually they shall come here and take me away…to that cage they built for they're own." Thealtuwen said darkly. She said this as if it was meant to be. As if this was her fate, and it could not be changed.
"But you will not let them. My father will not let them." Arwen said, now across from Thealtuwen, but Thealtuwen did not meet Arwen's eyes.
"And what will Lord Elrond say? That I am innocent? Will they're King believe his word?" Thealtuwen said with a hint of exasperation, but she kept her voice calm. There was more to the subject that Thealtuwen wished to say, but knew that now was not the time.
"My father works in mysterious ways." Arwen said.
"Lord Elrond is wise. But what if his wisdom is not enough to bargain for my freedom?" Thealtuwen said her eyes filled with sadness. "I have suffered and endured enough to know that it shall take much more than council to change King Thranduil's mind." Thealtuwen whispered, meeting Arwen's gaze. "Enough talk of doomed fate. Let us enjoy what the day has left to offer and perhaps I shall tell you more tales of my past." Thealtuwen said with a soft smile.
Arms linked with one another's, they emerged into the brilliant sunlight. Soon, all thought of lost loves, sadness and crime was forgotten, replaced with light laughter, radiant smiles and talk of many bright memories. Thealtuwen all too soon forgot her worries and gave into the pleasant company of her dear friend. Tracing the outline of her precious trinket, Thealtuwen began to reminisce of younger days…in far off places…with a friend…of promises never to be broken.
Thealtuwen became silent and looked off into the distance, her thoughts traveling over the treetops, past the Misty Mountains, past many other lands to a realm of men, where fields of gold shimmered in the afternoon sun. Where highly prized horses and their straw haired lords pranced through the city. Where a young woman Thealtuwen would never forget, reminisced about the elf maiden that held the other half of their secret promise…of their oath that was never to be broken.