Seriously. Why am I on the story alerts and favorites pages of so many people who've never reviewed?
The link to my other story, which several people have asked about, is on my profile if it works... grr...
Chapter 9: Lord Elrond's Influence
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In due time they arrived at Imladris. One of the elf- guards hurried off to fetch Lord Elrond.
He greeted them in the garden. Elizabette curtsied and Legolas bowed. He looks just like I imagined, Elizabette thought.
Elrond led them to his library. There he asked Elizabette to explain who she was and where she had come from.
When she had completed her tale, he nodded slowly. Elizabette had brought along the items from her trunk and she showed him the family tree.
Lord Elrond studied it for a few minutes. "This is correct," he said, "to here." He tapped Elráy's name. "I know not about this-" he tapped Aicamacil and Laurëwen. "Yet that does not mean that it is incorrect. I thought that my brother Elráy was killed in battle. Yet this tells me that that is not true. It surprises me."
Elizabette took the Star of Eärendil out of her pocket. "My Lord," she said, "My father's letter tells me that this necklace was from my grandmother, Celewen."
Elrond looked long at the necklace. "Mithril," he said. He sighed, "I met Celewen only once, at Elráy's wedding. She wore a necklace wrought into the shape of a star. I think that this is the same." He handed it back to Elizabette. "Does this hold the power that you need to heal the disease?"
"Yes, My Lord. When I put it on a power rushes into me and I can heal the disease.
Elrond nodded slowly. After a moment, he turned to Legolas. "I have not seen you since the crowning of King Elessar, Legolas. How do you fare?"
Legolas sighed. "I am fine," he said.
Elrond watched him for a moment, then said, "How did you foresee King Thranduil's illness, Elizabette Elénwen?"
"It came to me in a dream, My Lord," replied Elizabette softly. She glanced at Legolas but he avoided her gaze.
"How many days since he fell ill?" asked Elrond of Legolas.
Legolas' breath caught in his throat. "Four days, My Lord," he answered.
Elrond's face was somber. "Legolas," he said, "I am afraid that you will never see your father alive again."
Legolas glared at Elizabette, who dropped her head into her hands and closed her eyes.
"Yet this is not Elizabette's fault," Elrond continued sternly.
Neither Elizabette nor Legolas moved. After a moment, Elrond nodded to Elizabette. "Thank you," he said. "I had long wondered about the disappearance of my brother. I shall speak with you later."
Elizabette rose and curtsied before leaving. She walked down to the garden and sat on a bench half- concealed by a tall plant.
Is Legolas correct? she asked herself. Should I have told him before?
No, came Súláríl's voice. You were correct. Legolas will realize that.
Elizabette closed her gray eyes, oblivious to the beauty of the garden.
---
Legolas watched Lord Elrond silently. Elrond was examining the sword that Elizabette had left.
"Do you know where this comes from?" he asked Legolas.
Legolas shook his head. "No, My Lord."
Elrond turned it over. "This is the sword of Eärendil, my father. Long did I wonder where it had gone. This, if nothing else, tells me that Elizabette's tale is true."
He sighed. "If I am correct, you and Elizabette have a disagreement." He looked hard at the elf.
Legolas frowned. "She did not tell me when she dreamed of my father's death."
"What could you have done if you had known?"
"I would have stayed with my father."
"You cannot help him. Only Elizabette has the power."
"Then I would have made her stay."
"Have a care, Legolas. She would not have done so."
Legolas looked up, anger smoldering in his blue eyes. "My father is all that I care about."
"Is that true? Think carefully."
Legolas closed his eyes. After a moment, he said, "It is now. I used to care about Elizabette but I do no longer. She angered me by refusing to return to Mirkwood."
"Are you certain that you care not about her?"
Legolas did not reply.
"You took you anger out on her two days ago," continued Elrond.
"Yes," Legolas admitted, "I did. I regretted it afterwards, but I could not take it back."
Elrond sighed. "Legolas," he said, "I perceive things more clearly than you know. Elizabette did not tell you of this because she did not wish to cause you pain. She was not certain that it would happen. Now you can understand her own pain for her family.
"She needs you, Legolas, and you need her. You have a task to complete- together. Neither of you can complete it alone. If if is not done, the race of elves on Middle- Earth will fail." He stood. "Think on this," he said. "You may go."
---
Elizabette was still sitting in the garden when she heard light approaching footsteps. She looked up. An unfamiliar elf was coming towards her.
"Lord Elrond wishes to speak with you in his library," he told her.
Elizabette returned to the library. She knocked lightly on the door.
"You may enter," came Elrond's voice from within. Elizabette entered and curtsied neatly. She was rather relieved to see that Legolas was gone.
"Yes, My Lord?" she asked.
"You may be seated." He indicated a chair.
As she seated herself, he said, "From your mind I perceive that you hold memories of your early life that torment you. It seems to me that these have been worse than usual since you started to heal the disease."
"Yes. That is true, My Lord."
"And yet, it seems to me also that Legolas has some power that can help you."
"He seems to, My Lord."
Elrond smiled slightly. "You need not be so formal, Elizabette. You are my great- niece, after all."
Elizabette smiled. "You believe my story?"
"I do." He picked up the sword. "This was my father's sword. You would not have had it if you were not some relation to him." He handed it to her. "Keep it. It will be useful."
Elizabette frowned slightly. "Do you know what Legolas' power over me is?"
Elrond nodded. "I do," he said. "But I shall not tell you. You will discover soon enough."
"Does Legolas know?"
"Not yet. He will soon learn." He sighed. "Elizabette, I know that these memories torment you, and I think that their power over you will grow less if you speak of them to someone. I will not press you to tell me, but I wish you to know that you can trust me."
Elizabette said nothing, but she looked long at Elrond. She seemed to be searching for something within him.
"You have Celewen's eyes," he said after a moment. "They were the first thing that I noticed about her."
"I do?" asked Elizabette, surprised.
"Yes," said Elrond with a smile.
After a moment Elizabette nodded slowly. "I shall tell you," she said.
She told him of her last memories of her mother, and of her father. She had been with her father at the moment that he died. She shivered as she told Elrond of this.
When she spoke of Elráy, he listened carefully. A shadow of pain crossed his face as she told him of her grandfather's death.
She spoke of memories that she did not know that she had even retained.
It was a long, pain- filled hour, and afterwards she remembered little of it. When she had told all that she could remember, Elrond stood and embraced her. "You have carried much in your mind for long years, Elizabette," he said. "I think that it has helped you to tell me."
Elizabette nodded slightly. "It has," she said. "Thank you."
When she left, she returned to the garden.
---
Legolas sat in a bench in Elrond's garden. The escort of elves were nowhere to be seen but he expected that they were somewhere nearby, perhaps in the forest. He closed his eyes. Elrond had given him much to think about.
Am I certain that I do not care about Elizabette? he thought. Should I not care? She has helped my people... But what are they when my father is ill?
Silrocca broke into his thoughts. Do not be selfish, cundunya. This had to happen.
Why?
Soon you will understand. She withdrew and would say no more.
Legolas' thoughts were interrupted by soft footsteps drawing near. He looked up. Elizabette approached, her face wet with tears. When she saw the elf she abruptly turned and headed away.
"Elizabette! Wait!" Legolas called after her. She paused but did not turn.
"Elizabette, come back," he called again. He had felt pain when she left as she saw him.
She turned slowly. "Why should I?" she asked icily.
"Please, Elizabette. I wish to speak with you."
She came over to him hesitantly. "Yes?" she asked.
"Elizabette," he said, "I am sorry. Elrond spoke to me and said that it was not your fault. He has foresight and he knew that this would happen. I am sorry that I said that your family did not matter."
Elizabette looked at him carefully. "Yes," she said after a moment. "I understood why you said that, yet it still cut me."
Legolas rose. "Can you not forgive me?" he pleaded. "I am sorry. I did not mean it."
Elizabette watched him thoughtfully. After a moment, she replied, "You did mean it at the time, but you regret it now. Yes, I can forgive you, for now you do understand."
Legolas nodded. "I understand why your memories tormented you," he said.
Elizabette sat on the bench, pulling Legolas down beside her. "Something troubles you," she said.
"Elrond told me that together we have a task to do," he replied.
Elizabette nodded slowly. "Yes," she said. "I suppose that it is to destroy the source of the disease."
Legolas looked at her in surprise. "Do you think so?" he asked.
Elizabette nodded. "I do," she replied. "I think that the source is somewhere in Mirkwood, as I told you before. We must find it and destroy it forever."
Legolas frowned slightly. "How do we do that?"
Elizabette shook her head, curls sliding on her shoulders. "I know not," she said. "I know only that it is important."
She leaned against him and he slipped an arm around her waist. "I am sorry," she whispered softly.
"Do not be," he replied. "We were both at fault."
---
That evening there was a feast and a celebration. Elizabette saw no occasion but eventually she gathered that these festivities were common in Imladris.
She wore the dress of purple velvet with jewels set into it. She had brought it along. Her golden brown curls contrasted against the soft velvet of the dress.
She sat at the high table near Elrond. Legolas sat a few places away from her. The food was delicious and there seemed to be no end to it. Elizabette spent most of dinner speaking with Elladan and Elrohir, Elrond's sons, who were seated near her. Their conversation was interesting and she learned much.
After the feast, all of the elves went into the Hall of Fire. Elizabette expected singing and storytelling, for she had read about it in the Lord of the Rings, but instead, there was a dance. She sat at a table in a corner, watching the other dancers.
Legolas was nowhere to be seen. She looked at the other people who were not dancing. She watched a tiny man with curly gray hair for a time. She was quite certain that he was not an elf. After a few minutes, she realized who he must be. Bilbo Baggins, the Ring- finder. She was amazed.
He must be ancient, she thought. Súláríl broke into her thoughts.
Do not be rude, he said. It seems amazing to you that you can see him, he added in a gentler tone.
Yes. In my world he is a character in a book. As are Legolas and Elrond, she added.
Am I not in the book?
No, I do not think so; you are too young, she replied.
Súláríl snorted.
---
Legolas sat in the quiet of Silrocca's stall. She lay on the ground beside him.
What do you think of Imladris? he asked. It has changed since last we were here.
Yes, she replied, a shadow of sorrow hangs over everyone. Why do you not go to the merrymaking? she asked after a moment. I believe that Elizabette is lonely.
How do you know that?
Would you not be? After a time, she said, Legolas, you are glad that Elizabette forgave you.
Yes. Elrond was correct; I do need her.
Silrocca said, You should go to her. She is lonely. Súláríl tells me.
I shall. After a moment Legolas stood and left quietly.
He saw Elizabette immediately as he entered the Hall of Fire. She sat at a table in the corner, staring at the wall as if deep in thought. A single curl had slipped over her face and she did indeed appear lonely.
He went over to her and took a chair. "Elizabette," he said softly. "Are you all right?"
She started and turned away from the wall. "I am fine," she replied. She pushed her curls out of her face. Legolas saw that a tear glimmered in her eye.
"Do not cry," he said softly.
Elizabette blinked the tears away. "I did not mean to," she said. "I spoke with Lord Elrond this afternoon. I told him of my memories."
"Do you feel better now that you told him?" Legolas asked quietly.
"Yes. I do." She looked at him with a half- smile on her face.
Legolas looked out at the dancers. "Do you want to dance?" he asked.
Elizabette shrugged. "I do not know how."
"I shall show you." He stood and took her hand. She followed reluctantly.
Legolas led her to a place on the dance floor. He put one hand on Elizabette's waist, and caught her other hand. "Watch the others," he instructed.
Elizabette watched for a moment, then she and Legolas began to dance. Elizabette struggled with the steps for a time but she began to understand until she did not have to think about it.
Elrond watched them with a smile. He was pleased that Legolas had taken his counsel. Elizabette had looked quite lonely. He had figured that she had not really wished to dance, but she appeared to be enjoying herself.
After a few dances, they returned to their table. "Do you know where the horses are?" Elizabette asked Legolas.
"Yes, I was with Silrocca," he replied.
"Can you show me where I can find Súláríl?"
Legolas glanced at her clothes. "Do you not wish to change into something else first?"
Elizabette shrugged. "It takes too long," she replied, smiling. "I shall be careful."
Legolas led her to the stables. Where are you, Súláríl? she asked.
Turn left, he replied. Elizabette saw him looking over his stall door. She held out her hands to him. He nuzzled them gently.
That is a nice dress, he said into her mind.
Thank you. I shall have to be careful of it.
She opened the stall door and slipped inside. Legolas entered Silrocca's stall, across the aisle.
Did you enjoy the dance? asked Súláríl.
Yes. It was very interesting.
Have you forgiven Legolas completely then?
Yes, I believe so.
---
Legolas and Elizabette walked back to the house together. Elizabette felt that now that they understood each other, they had become closer. She felt more safe and secure when Legolas was nearby. He slipped his arm around her waist. She smiled at him.
"Legolas, do you know how much you have helped me?" she asked him softly.
"You have helped me also," he replied. "You have shown me that my father is not the most important thing."
"But he is to you," said Elizabette.
Legolas looked over at her. "Almost," he said. "Not quite."
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Thanks for reviewing:
IwishChan, Navaer Lalaith: I get where you're coming from with the name, and it makes sense, but I don't personally think that it has that much of an impact on the story, Yellow Peanutbutter Ruler: You're right- I never analyzed them that way, but it's totally true. Since I absolutely suck at poetry, my Legolas won't be singing much though... ;) Celtic Cross, yeah, they're kinda acting like teenagers, now that I realize it, meri, Eternal Hopes, bandgeeks101: The link's on my profile, if it came up... thanks! Kelso Queen of Genovia, Jr8action.