Author's note ~ Thank you so much for the reviews! I love it! Please keep
them coming!
"Sun Star ~ Child of Light"
Chapter II ~ "Questions Answered"
Mirkwood Forest was just beginning to come to life. The sun had not yet made her appearance, but the sky to the east was slowly lightening from black to gray. Day was coming, and Legolas had questions to ask his father.
The corridors of the palace were mostly deserted, save for the elves guarding the royal family. They snapped to attention as the prince swept by them, intent on reaching his father's chambers quickly.
Finally, Legolas reached the oaken doors that barred the way into Thranduil's abode. He knocked sharply, hoping that his father was indeed awake. The guards eyed each other nervously, as the King did not often take kindly to being disturbed in the morning.
"Come in!" came a commanding voice that Legolas knew well, and could himself use when necessary.
Legolas pushed open the doors and walked into the lavish entryway. The doors swung silently closed behind him as he walked into his father's bedroom. "Atar," Legolas murmured, bowing his head in respect.
King Thranduil motioned for his youngest son to enter and sit. "You rarely visit me so early, my son," Thranduil smiled. "Is something troubling you?"
"Indeed, Father. Last night, as I slept, I met someone. She was unlike any Elf that I have ever seen, for I knew what she was at a glance, yet she had no idea." Legolas sat on a couch near to his father's chair. "I was hoping that you could help me unravel this mystery."
"What could she tell you of herself?" Thranduil asked, steepling his fingers and gazing at his son.
"Only her name, Anorel. And that for a thousand years, she has been in Barad-Dur, imprisoned by Sauron."
Thranduil's eyes widened with shock, an emotion rarely seen on his face. "You say she has been in Barad-Dur for a thousand years?" He stood, walking over to a window that faced the west. "Well, my son, you have found someone who has long been thought to be dead." Thranduil sighed, turning to face his son. "She is Elrond's youngest child, Legolas. Though how she has survived such torment is a mystery in itself."
Legolas sighed softly, watching the floor. "She knows nothing of the world outside of Mordor, save for a slim patch of Mirkwood's trees that she saw in her dreams last night. How is it that she came to be in Mordor at all?"
"Alas, Legolas, that story is wrought with pain and tears." Thranduil sat upon a couch that he had brought next to his son's. "And it will take most of the day to tell." Seeing the stubborn look on Legolas' face, he smiled. "But I can see that you are not to be dissuaded. Very well then, I shall tell it."
~~~~~~~~
Celebrien, wife of Elrond, turned one last time to the fair forest of Lothlorien. It had been her home for so long, and now she had to say good- bye yet again, for it was time for her to return to Imladris. Little did she know that the journey would be much longer and harder than she ever would have expected.
"Good-bye, Lothlorien," she murmured, unknowingly pressing her hand to her swollen abdomen. Celebrien had wanted her unborn daughter to know the Golden Wood before she was born, so that Anorel would feel a connection to Lothlorien.
"My lady, if we wish to make a fair distance today, then we should leave now," Glorfindel said softly, coming up behind her.
"Yes, I know," Celebrien sighed, turning and mounting her horse. "Elrond wishes for our speedy return. I can only hope that the journey is easy."
Glorfindel nodded with a small smile, mounting his own horse, and the small party moved off through the trees, aiming for the Misty Mountains.
That night was spent in the shadow of the mountains, and Celebrien was already ruing the trip. Her entire body ached, even though she was more than used to hard travel. It had been a normal part of her life for many years, but Celebrien had made a point of not traveling when she was pregnant. But when she set out from Rivendell three months ago, she had not known that she was pregnant.
Glorfindel kneeled before her, concern obvious on his face. "Are you all right, my lady?" he asked, remembering well Elrond's command to watch out for her.
"Yes, I am only tired," Celebrien said. "When will we reach Rivendell?"
"If we continue on this pace for the entire journey, then it should take no more than twenty days."
She sighed, leaning her head back against the tree she was sitting next to. "Twenty days. Thank you, Glorfindel." Once he had walked away, Celebrien spread out a blanket and lay on it, more willing sleep to come upon her then wanting it.
It was only a few hours later that she awoke. Orcs had come upon them in the night and were now wreaking havoc on the camp.
Celebrien gasped and pulled herself up off the ground. One moment, her guards seemed to be driving the Orcs away; the next, a giant cave troll thundered into the camp. The troll held a giant mace in one hand, and it swept through the mass of Orcs, not caring if its club struck Elf or Orc. Celebrien knew the instant that Glorfindel was knocked to the ground that the battle was over.
Then, everything went black.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thranduil sighed, leaning back against the couch. "Thirteen months later, Celebrien walked into Rivendell. I was there that day, and I remember well what happened. She tried for nearly a year to return to normal life, but for her, it was impossible. Elrond was able to heal her outer wounds, but not even his deep love for her could mend the hurts inside. The day she boarded a ship bound for the west, she told him of Anorel, and for years, Elrond searched diligently for her, hoping to find his youngest child still alive. To this day, I do not think that my friend has given up all hope."
"And now she has been found," Legolas said softly, gazing at his father. "Should I speak to Anorel of this? She knows so little of life outside Mordor, it may do her good."
Thranduil watched his son with a scrutiny born of many millennia on Middle Earth. "Listen to your heart in this matter, my son. I know not what you should do, or even what I should do about this. To know that his daughter was still alive would be a great gift to Elrond, but he would also want to free her from Barad-Dur. An impossible feat for even him right now."
Legolas smiled quickly, understanding forming in his mind. "Atar, she may free herself, given the time. If she were to be told that she does indeed have a family, then Anorel may escape on her own."
"Perhaps," Thranduil said. "But if what you say is indeed the case, then Anorel may not want to leave Mordor. It is the only home that she has ever known, despite the fact that she has been shown only pain and darkness there. Mordor is familiar to her, Elf or no. And she may well consider Sauron himself to be her father."
"But she knows that he is not! Anorel told me herself that she is not like him."
"She may know that he is not her true father," Thranduil conceded. "But he is all she has ever known."
Legolas groaned, laying his forehead in his hands. "I sincerely hope that that is not the case." He glanced at his father, remembering her injuries. "When I saw her, she had been harmed. Though she ignored it, the injuries seemed to be both recent and not."
Thranduil stood, laying his hands on his youngest son's shoulders. "Then we can only hope that she stays strong until her escape." He gave Legolas an encouraging smile and walked out.
Legolas watched his father leave, then slowly made his way out onto the balcony. The sun was now setting in the west, and he could not help but feel his hopes sink with it.
~~~~~~
Anorel screamed in pain as a spear shaft broke across her side, driving her broken ribs deeper. She dropped to her knees and coughed. Scarlet blood dripped onto the floor from a gash on her cheek, and waves of pain broke over her.
"Take her back and tend to her," a cold, malevolent voice ordered. "I want her to be fully healed as quickly as possible."
The Orcs dragged her back to her cell and roughly bound her ribs, ignoring the lesser injuries she had sustained that day. Once they left her to her pain, Anorel allowed a single tear to fall from her eyes.
Atar ~ father
(For those who don't know, Imladris is another name for Rivendell.) :) :)
I know, I know, what a really depressing and horrible way to end a chapter. Sorry! :) :) I know exactly where this is heading, though, so things will get better. I just don't know when. :) :) :)
Arwen
"Sun Star ~ Child of Light"
Chapter II ~ "Questions Answered"
Mirkwood Forest was just beginning to come to life. The sun had not yet made her appearance, but the sky to the east was slowly lightening from black to gray. Day was coming, and Legolas had questions to ask his father.
The corridors of the palace were mostly deserted, save for the elves guarding the royal family. They snapped to attention as the prince swept by them, intent on reaching his father's chambers quickly.
Finally, Legolas reached the oaken doors that barred the way into Thranduil's abode. He knocked sharply, hoping that his father was indeed awake. The guards eyed each other nervously, as the King did not often take kindly to being disturbed in the morning.
"Come in!" came a commanding voice that Legolas knew well, and could himself use when necessary.
Legolas pushed open the doors and walked into the lavish entryway. The doors swung silently closed behind him as he walked into his father's bedroom. "Atar," Legolas murmured, bowing his head in respect.
King Thranduil motioned for his youngest son to enter and sit. "You rarely visit me so early, my son," Thranduil smiled. "Is something troubling you?"
"Indeed, Father. Last night, as I slept, I met someone. She was unlike any Elf that I have ever seen, for I knew what she was at a glance, yet she had no idea." Legolas sat on a couch near to his father's chair. "I was hoping that you could help me unravel this mystery."
"What could she tell you of herself?" Thranduil asked, steepling his fingers and gazing at his son.
"Only her name, Anorel. And that for a thousand years, she has been in Barad-Dur, imprisoned by Sauron."
Thranduil's eyes widened with shock, an emotion rarely seen on his face. "You say she has been in Barad-Dur for a thousand years?" He stood, walking over to a window that faced the west. "Well, my son, you have found someone who has long been thought to be dead." Thranduil sighed, turning to face his son. "She is Elrond's youngest child, Legolas. Though how she has survived such torment is a mystery in itself."
Legolas sighed softly, watching the floor. "She knows nothing of the world outside of Mordor, save for a slim patch of Mirkwood's trees that she saw in her dreams last night. How is it that she came to be in Mordor at all?"
"Alas, Legolas, that story is wrought with pain and tears." Thranduil sat upon a couch that he had brought next to his son's. "And it will take most of the day to tell." Seeing the stubborn look on Legolas' face, he smiled. "But I can see that you are not to be dissuaded. Very well then, I shall tell it."
~~~~~~~~
Celebrien, wife of Elrond, turned one last time to the fair forest of Lothlorien. It had been her home for so long, and now she had to say good- bye yet again, for it was time for her to return to Imladris. Little did she know that the journey would be much longer and harder than she ever would have expected.
"Good-bye, Lothlorien," she murmured, unknowingly pressing her hand to her swollen abdomen. Celebrien had wanted her unborn daughter to know the Golden Wood before she was born, so that Anorel would feel a connection to Lothlorien.
"My lady, if we wish to make a fair distance today, then we should leave now," Glorfindel said softly, coming up behind her.
"Yes, I know," Celebrien sighed, turning and mounting her horse. "Elrond wishes for our speedy return. I can only hope that the journey is easy."
Glorfindel nodded with a small smile, mounting his own horse, and the small party moved off through the trees, aiming for the Misty Mountains.
That night was spent in the shadow of the mountains, and Celebrien was already ruing the trip. Her entire body ached, even though she was more than used to hard travel. It had been a normal part of her life for many years, but Celebrien had made a point of not traveling when she was pregnant. But when she set out from Rivendell three months ago, she had not known that she was pregnant.
Glorfindel kneeled before her, concern obvious on his face. "Are you all right, my lady?" he asked, remembering well Elrond's command to watch out for her.
"Yes, I am only tired," Celebrien said. "When will we reach Rivendell?"
"If we continue on this pace for the entire journey, then it should take no more than twenty days."
She sighed, leaning her head back against the tree she was sitting next to. "Twenty days. Thank you, Glorfindel." Once he had walked away, Celebrien spread out a blanket and lay on it, more willing sleep to come upon her then wanting it.
It was only a few hours later that she awoke. Orcs had come upon them in the night and were now wreaking havoc on the camp.
Celebrien gasped and pulled herself up off the ground. One moment, her guards seemed to be driving the Orcs away; the next, a giant cave troll thundered into the camp. The troll held a giant mace in one hand, and it swept through the mass of Orcs, not caring if its club struck Elf or Orc. Celebrien knew the instant that Glorfindel was knocked to the ground that the battle was over.
Then, everything went black.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thranduil sighed, leaning back against the couch. "Thirteen months later, Celebrien walked into Rivendell. I was there that day, and I remember well what happened. She tried for nearly a year to return to normal life, but for her, it was impossible. Elrond was able to heal her outer wounds, but not even his deep love for her could mend the hurts inside. The day she boarded a ship bound for the west, she told him of Anorel, and for years, Elrond searched diligently for her, hoping to find his youngest child still alive. To this day, I do not think that my friend has given up all hope."
"And now she has been found," Legolas said softly, gazing at his father. "Should I speak to Anorel of this? She knows so little of life outside Mordor, it may do her good."
Thranduil watched his son with a scrutiny born of many millennia on Middle Earth. "Listen to your heart in this matter, my son. I know not what you should do, or even what I should do about this. To know that his daughter was still alive would be a great gift to Elrond, but he would also want to free her from Barad-Dur. An impossible feat for even him right now."
Legolas smiled quickly, understanding forming in his mind. "Atar, she may free herself, given the time. If she were to be told that she does indeed have a family, then Anorel may escape on her own."
"Perhaps," Thranduil said. "But if what you say is indeed the case, then Anorel may not want to leave Mordor. It is the only home that she has ever known, despite the fact that she has been shown only pain and darkness there. Mordor is familiar to her, Elf or no. And she may well consider Sauron himself to be her father."
"But she knows that he is not! Anorel told me herself that she is not like him."
"She may know that he is not her true father," Thranduil conceded. "But he is all she has ever known."
Legolas groaned, laying his forehead in his hands. "I sincerely hope that that is not the case." He glanced at his father, remembering her injuries. "When I saw her, she had been harmed. Though she ignored it, the injuries seemed to be both recent and not."
Thranduil stood, laying his hands on his youngest son's shoulders. "Then we can only hope that she stays strong until her escape." He gave Legolas an encouraging smile and walked out.
Legolas watched his father leave, then slowly made his way out onto the balcony. The sun was now setting in the west, and he could not help but feel his hopes sink with it.
~~~~~~
Anorel screamed in pain as a spear shaft broke across her side, driving her broken ribs deeper. She dropped to her knees and coughed. Scarlet blood dripped onto the floor from a gash on her cheek, and waves of pain broke over her.
"Take her back and tend to her," a cold, malevolent voice ordered. "I want her to be fully healed as quickly as possible."
The Orcs dragged her back to her cell and roughly bound her ribs, ignoring the lesser injuries she had sustained that day. Once they left her to her pain, Anorel allowed a single tear to fall from her eyes.
Atar ~ father
(For those who don't know, Imladris is another name for Rivendell.) :) :)
I know, I know, what a really depressing and horrible way to end a chapter. Sorry! :) :) I know exactly where this is heading, though, so things will get better. I just don't know when. :) :) :)
Arwen