Chapter 3: Getting Settled
"This way, follow me," said Luinel, leading the Inu-gang down into a lower level of the palace. "The guest quarters are this way." She led them across a crossroads into short hall. There were four doors down that hall. "Do any of you wish to share rooms? I doubt that the child will be sleeping alone. That is why I chose this area. But do any of the rest of you wish to share rooms?" Miroku grinned lopsidedly and winked at Sango. She glared at him and stomped on his foot.
"HENTAI!" She shouted. Luinel giggled, watching Miroku jump around clutching his foot. Kagome just shook her head and smiled.
"Shippo will be staying with me. The rest of us will have our own rooms please," she requested. Luinel nodded.
"Alright then," she said. She pointed to the door she stood next to. "This is Lady Kagome's room. Across from it is Lord Inu Yasha's room. Lady Sango will be in the room next to Kagome's and Miroku's room is next to Inu Yasha's." She bowed. "I will now take my leave." Miroku stopped hopping around at once.
"Oh, miss Luinel? Before you go-" he took her hands. "Will you do me the honour of bearing my child?" Luinel quirked an eyebrow.
"I am afraid that is not possible. I have seen for myself that Elf-Human relationships bring nothing but sorrow." She paused. "Unless you hadn't even considered the need to have a relationship." Miroku remained silent. Luinel's eye twitched. Miroku smiled sheepishly. "You make me sick!" And with that she canned him. Hard. Miroku squeaked and dropped like a stone. Inu Yasha and Sango were clutching their sides laughing, tears streaming from their eyes. Kagome sweat-dropped.
"Baka," she muttered.
"I'm going now," Luinel said, pretending that Miroku wasn't even there. "I think that before retiring myself I shall go and check on Prince Legolas. I am friends with the head healer. Would you like me to inform as to his condition tomorrow morning?" Sango nodded.
"We would like that very much. I am sure that by then Miroku will be able to apologize," she said, glaring down at the monk curled up in a little ball at her feet. Said monk moaned.
Luinel's eyebrow shot up again. "Who?" she laughed and, waving left the corridor. Sango glared down at Miroku and kicked him.
"Get up!"
………………………………………………………………………………………………
"But Ada," Calengaladh said stepping forward and grabbing Thranduil's arm. "You cannot possible believe a word that they said. It's impossible, all of it!" He let go of his father's arm and bowed his head, aware that he had overstepped his boundaries.
Thranduil turned away from Calengaladh. He walked to the table and leaned against it. "I believe them because it is so impossible." Calengaladh shook his head.
"But what if it is a trap of the Dark Lord? He has tried to snare us before." Thranduil nodded grimly. He looked at the ceiling and sighed. "Father?"
"Do you honestly think Sauron would send spies to us that we would not trust? He would send someone that we would quickly befriend, someone we would seek guidance from. These people know nothing of the world that we live in. They are in no position to advise us on anything and I doubt that they would even try." Calengaladh still looked doubtful.
"They say that the one with the dog ears was able to defeat an entire battalion of Orcs with only a few swings of his sword. And that woman with the boomerang… did you see that thing? It's huge!" Thranduil chuckled.
"Yes, I saw it. It was kind of hard to miss don't you think?" He grew serious. "This is precisely why we do not want to make enemies of them. Besides, they saved Legolas. Can't you at least be grateful?"
"I will try Ada."
……………………………………………………………………………………………
"How is he?" Luinel asked, sticking her head through the door of the infirmary. Another She-Elf looked up from where she was bathing Legolas' face with a cool cloth.
"It's still too early to tell," the She-Elf said. "I am sorry Luinel." Luinel shrugged, trying unsuccessfully to look unaffected.
"It's alright Hithwen. I was just instructed to check on his condition so that I may inform both the King and his guests," she said nonchalantly. Hithwen saw through it in a second.
"Don't lie Luinel. I can see how this is tearing you up inside. You and I have been close friends for centuries, even before I married your brother. My marriage to Vanaaduial only brought us that much closer. I know you well mellonamin. You can't pull the wool over my eyes no matter how you can fool everyone else… You can't fool yourself either." Luinel sighed.
"You're right," she said sadly. "I can't." She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. Hithwen got up and put her arms around her friend comfortingly.
"Do not worry mellonamin," Hithwen said soothingly. "The other healers and I shall not let him slip from us without a fight. We will do everything we can to make sure that he completely recovers. Besides, Legolas is strong, he is fighting too. He still has a strong chance at life. All you have to do is believe in him."
"Hmmmmm… believe huh? I think I can do that."
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Kagome pushed open the door of her room and look inside. Her jaw nearly hit the floor. "Hey guys! Take a look at this room! It's ENORMOUS!"
The others followed her into a room. Shippo voices everyone sentiments. "Woooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh! Cool!"
"This is the size of a house!" said Sango, walking around the room. "And this is just Kagome's room. Could all of our rooms be like this?"
"Can you imagine the size of the King's room if these are just the guest quarters?" Miroku said with wonder. Kagome flopped down on her bed.
"Mmmmmmmmm, yes, this is nice," she said, hugging the feather pillow. She almost fell asleep right then and there. But then she got the feeling that she was being watched. She looked up and sweat-dropped. The others were standing next to the bed, staring down at her. "You guys can leave any time you know!" she yelled. Muttering to themselves, the rest of the Inu-gang left the room, except for Shippo, of course. Said Kitsune snuggled up next to her and shut his eyes.
"It's nice to be in a real bed again," Shippo yawned sleepily. Kagome nodded into her pillow.
"You said it," she mumbled as she drifted off into dreamland.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Kagome awoke to the sound of footsteps in her room. Startled, she jumped out of her bed like a shot. She found Luinel walking out of a small room connected to hers. Kagome assumed it was the bathroom. Luinel bowed, blushing. "I am sorry if I woke you Lady Kagome, that was not my intent."
"It's no problem," Kagome said with a wave of her hand. "But what are you doing in here?"
"I was preparing you a bath milady," replied Luinel, gesturing at the room behind her. "You will find towels in there as well." She paused for a second, as if thinking something over. "Would you like to try Elven dress? It would be something new, and perhaps you would not be stared at so much if you wore a longer skirt." Kagome laughed, she liked Luinel. For a serving girl she was rather bold. Most servants would not dare say anything that might offend a guest of the king. It was not a bad idea anyway, now that Kagome thought about it. She was always open to new experiences. And she rather liked the long flowing gowns that she saw the Elven women wearing.
"That would be lovely Luinel." She got out of the bed and picked up Shippo, who was just stirring awake. She stopped at the doorway to the bathroom and turned to face the serving girl who had moved to the wardrobe. "Oh and Luinel? You don't have to call me Lady Kagome. It's too formal." Luinel nodded and went back to work.
Kagome was impressed by the size of the bathroom. It was nearly the size of her bedroom back home. The tub in the center of the room was nearly pool sized. She stepped up beside it and inhaled the steam. She sighed happily, the scent of lavender and other flowers filled her senses, completely relaxing her. She undressed and stepped into the tub. Shippo did the same and hopped in after her. "This place is so cool!" Shippo laughed splashing about.
"Yes," Kagome agreed. There were definitely worse places that Naraku could have sent us. But I still miss home."
"So do I," Shippo said. "But I have nothing to fear with you and Inu Yasha to protect me." They sat talking like that for a while, just soaking in the water. They washed and got out. The towels were so soft and still warm somehow. Kagome assumed it was some sort of domestic Elf magic. After all, she didn't really know what the Elves were capable of. Warm towels were probably a simple matter. Shippo dressed himself and ran out of the bathroom. Kagome peeked out of the door after him.
"Luinel, do you have any clothes picked out for me yet?" she asked. Luinel nodded and handed her a dress. I shall help you with sashes and such things when you come out. For now, just put this on. Kagome nodded and went back in the bathroom.
"Shippo, Kagome is not your mother is she?" Luinel asked. Shippo shook his head and moved to the edge of the bed. Luinel sat down next to him.
"No, my parents were both killed by a pair of Youkai called the Thunder Brothers. She and Inu Yasha defeated the Thunder Brothers and they've protected me ever since."
"They seem to be very kind people. Here have this," Luinel said, handing Shippo a sweet.
"Kagome's really nice. Inu Yasha can be a real jerk sometimes, but he saves me whenever I am in danger." Kagome came out of the bathroom and held up her arms helplessly.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" she asked desperately. Luinel laughed and got up to help her. She took the ribbons dangling from Kagome's shoulders and crisscrossed them around her upper arms, tying them just above her elbows. Luinel also tied a silk sash loosely about Kagome's waist.
"There we are," Luinel said, nodding with satisfaction. "You look lovely La- Kagome," she said, catching herself. "Now come over here to the vanity and I'll do your hair too."
"Why are you doing all this for me?" Kagome asked, sitting at the vanity.
"I have a feeling that you and I will be great friends Kagome. And you are so beautiful! I don't get to dress up the guests most of the time. Most of them bring their own clothes. Heh heh…" Luinel giggled. She began to brush Kagome's hair. "Oh my! Your hair is so thick! It's lovely." Her fingers moved nimbly through Kagome's hair braiding and plating it in complicated patterns. "Your man will be pleased I should think."
Kagome blinked. "My… man?" Luinel paused in her styling.
"Yes. Is Inu Yasha not your man? I could see the looks of love that you two were giving each other. It was quite obvious." Kagome turned beet red.
"Well he's not exactly… my man," Kagome answered slowly. "He still loves Kikyo." Luinel resumed her work on Kagome's hair.
"Ah, who is Kikyo?"
"I am told that I am her reincarnation. Fifty years ago, Inu Yasha and Kikyo were deeply in love. Inu Yasha was even going to become mortal so that they could live out their lives together. But then because of Naraku traps they were made to believe that they had betrayed one another. Naraku had mortally wounded Kikyo in the guise of Inu Yasha. With the last of her strength she bound Inu Yasha to the Sacred Tree. He remained there for fifty years until…"
"Until you removed the arrow and the spell. I was listening when you told Thranduil, remember? Wait… is Kikyo that woman who was resurrected with a body made of bones and grave soil? Then she is an abomination!"
"Even so Inu Yasha cannot stop loving her. He has tried, or so he has told me," Kagome said, shaking her head sadly.
"Hmmmm… a piece of your soul resides in Kikyo?" Luinel asked thoughtfully. Kagome nodded. "Then I believe that I have the answer. You and Inu Yasha are soul mates. The reason that Inu Yasha still runs back to Kikyo is that the soul resides within her as well. But the majority of the soul still resides within you. So you should be the one that he chooses, though I doubt that if nothing is done that he will ever stick to that choice. Something should be done, it is not healthy for a heart to be so torn, nor for a soul to remain fractured. What Kikyo has is no life, it would be merciful for someone to kill her."
"But what should I do?" Kagome asked desperately. She had never actually sought advice on her problem with Inu Yasha before. Her mother had preferred not to meddle, and to let her solve it for herself. Luinel finished Kagome's hair after placing some small jewels in it.
The Elf remained silent for a moment. Then she picked up a pendant that matched Kagome's dress and hair and placed it about the girl's neck. "Go to Inu Yasha. Tell him how you truly feel. Tell him how strongly you love him."
Kagome stood suddenly. There was a strong look of determination in her face. "Thank you Luinel. That's exactly what I'll do." Squaring her shoulders, she went out to find Inu Yasha.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
AN: Oooooooooooooh, Kagome's gonna get hers! grins evilly Uber mushy scene coming right up. Review! If you do you'll get… umm… umm… you're very own Kirara clone! That's right, ride in style! Hahahahaha! chokes Ahem, right.