Once again, I do not own any of Tolkien's characters, I only own my own so
please don't sue me! And sorry for how the last chapter was all bunched
together, I didn't type it like that. I'm sorry if this chapter does that
too
Chapter 3: Spiders part 1
Legolas awoke early again the next morning, something he didn't like to do very often. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he stood up and began to get dressed for the day. Before he left his chambers, he grabbed his bow, a quiver full of green arrows and his pack, all of which he slung onto his back. He slowly walked down to the royal kitchen, still half asleep. He didn't like to eat breakfast in the dining hall with all the nobles, he preferred to just grab some food right from the old cook, Nrynia, who worked in the kitchens.
"Morning Nyrnia," Legolas said groggily as he entered the kitchen, still yawning with sleepiness.
"Good morning, young prince," Nrynia responded, looking up at him from the bread dough she was kneading. "I am surprised to see you up so early, usually I don't see you until the sun is already high in the sky! You better not have come in here early hoping to steal some of my cookie batter. " Legolas smiled slightly at the old elvish woman.
"I am only hoping to get out of the palace before my father sees me this morning," he explained as he filled his pack with a few rolls and apples. "I wouldn't dream of stealing your cookie batter again, I simply don't want to have to sit through any more 4 hour long councils today." He made a face just thinking about having to sit in his father's study again for hours, listening to nothing but him talk about the dullest things in Middle Earth. Legolas kept this to himself, but he was also hoping to avoid Taraancaiel, perhaps if she didn't see him he wouldn't have to take her to see the spiders. Nyrnia chuckled as she continued to knead the dough with her fists.
"Ai, I can not blame you," she replied. "No offense to you, but I always said you were not cut out for the royal duties of a prince." Legolas grinned.
"Well, I guess that makes two of us then," he said wryly as he took a big bite out of a biscuit, dropping crumbs all over the floor.
"Legolas!" Nyrnia scolded, leaving her dough and going for a broom. "How can a prince such as yourself eat like a wild animal? Please be more careful, I just mopped this floor." She began to sweep the crumbs away, cursing quietly to herself. Legolas continued to eat his biscuit, more carefully of course, and Nyrnia returned to her bread dough when the kitchen door burst open. Nyrnia jumped with surprise then began to yell at Legolas who had just spit out a mouthful of half chewed biscuit onto the floor because he had been startled and was coughing and choking.
"Well, here you are, Prince Legolas," came an all too familiar voice and Legolas scowled as he continued to cough and splutter. "Your brother Encirthion told me I would find you here. I was beginning to think you were trying to get out of the deal you made with me yesterday by avoiding me. I am not so easily gotten rid of." Legolas turned around when he had stopped choking and saw the owner of the voice: Taraancaiel. She had her hands on her hips and was glowering at him from the doorway. He sighed exasperatedly and walked over to her.
"Lady Taraancaiel," he said quietly so Nyrnia wouldn't overhear him. "I do not think seeing the spiders is such a great idea. They are very fascinating, of course, but there are many other things of interest I could show you around the palace."
"Like what, Prince Legolas?" she asked, looking at him expectantly. Legolas thought for a moment and found he couldn't think of a single thing he would call interesting on the palace grounds, except for the archery ranges.
"Well," he began, looking around the kitchen, hoping he would think of something. "There are.er.trees.and um.some rather nice ponds." He looked up at Taraancaiel and saw she was not falling for it. "Alright, so there's nothing to do here, but I still don't think seeing the spiders is very wise."
"If you are scared, Prince Legolas, just tell me and I'll be more than happy to find the spiders on my own," Taraancaiel said coolly, giving him a sympathetic look. "I do not mind." Legolas was outraged that this elf- maiden was implying that he, a prince of Mikwood, was scared of a silly spider.
"I am most certainly not afraid!!" Legolas shouted, letting his temper get the best of him. "If you want to go, let us go right now!" Legolas stormed past Taraancaiel and out of the kitchen, leaving Nyrnia to stare after him in confusion. Taraancaiel smiled triumphantly, then curtsied to Nyrnia and took off after the fuming prince. She caught up to him and snickered softly as she watched him stomp down the hallway, fists clenched and face red with anger. "Are you coming?" he called back to her, stopping and turning to face the lady. "Do not tell me you are having doubts now, o fearless one." Taraancaiel's smile faded into a frown as she ran to walk beside Legolas.
"I am not having doubts, for your information," she spat, glaring up at him. "I was just admiring how noble you look walking like an angry goblin." Legolas growled and looked down at her, noticing she was now smiling again.
"Do you enjoy frustrating me?" Legolas asked, scowling fiercly at her. "Because from the way I see it, I'd say you do." Taraancaiel smiled mischievously.
"I do not know what you are talking about," she replied innocently. "I would never try to anger you purposely, Prince Legolas." Legolas shook his head, trying to shake off his anger. He feared he had finally found someone who was more exasperating than himself. The two elves walked side by side down the hallway, until a voice behind them called out to them.
"Legolas, Lady Taraancaiel!" boomed the loud voice. They turned around to see King Thranduil coming their way. "Where are you two off to so early this morning?" he asked, looking puzzled. "Legolas, you usually are never up this early!"
Legolas felt a wave a panic sweep through him, he couldn't tell his father where they were going, but the real problem was he didn't have a cover up story. "Um.we were just going..to..um.." the prince stuttered avoiding his father's eyes.
"Legolas has volunteered to show me around the palace grounds," Taraancaiel said, smiling sweetly up at the king. "He has been acting like a real gentleman."
Thranduil looked at Legolas, shock plainly visible on his face. "Has he?" he asked, almost as if he couldn't believe it. "Legolas, is this true?"
"Yes, yes it is, Father," Legolas answered, staring at the king nervously.
Thranduil continued to look at him suspiciously. "I suppose I will excuse you from this morning's council," he said after a moment of silence. "Make sure to be back by dinner, and stay out of trouble."
"Of course, your majesty," Taraancaiel said as she curtsied. She noticed Legolas still stood, biting his lower lip nervously, and elbowed him in the ribs.
"Ow!" he cried, shaken from his daze. He looked at Taraancaiel and she gave him a patronizing look. "Oh, yes, we will be careful, Father," he said quickly, bowing. Thranduil nodded slowly, then walked past them, continuing down the hall. Taraancaiel and Legolas waited for the king to leave their sight, then began walking down the hall again, toward the palace doors. "Whew, that was close!" Legolas said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Thanks for helping me out back there, that was incredible!"
Taraancaiel smiled. "Just one of my many talents," she said with a grin. She looked at him and noticed he was looking at her rather oddly. "What is it?" she asked, giving him a strange look in return.
"Nothing," Legolas said, looking away. "It's just, you're not really what I expected, being a lady and all. Cuephel would go crazy if he knew some of the things you do."
Taraancaiel scowled. "Cuephel," she spat, wrinkling her nose. "I am not going to marry him. My father will not choose my husband for me, I am my own master." Legolas could picture perfectly in his mind Cuephel's expression if he had been listening to his 'wife to be' talking just now. He couldn't help snickering and Taraancaiel glared at him. "What is so funny about that?" she asked, her eyes flashing with anger. "Do you think because I am a maiden I can not think for myself?"
"No, that's not why I was laughing," Legolas said quickly. "I was just wondering how someone could arrange so different people to be married."
Taraancaiel sighed sadly. "Yes, I think it's rather stupid," she replied. "I wish arranged marriages were never thought of." They reached the palace doors and left the palace, heading toward the main woodland path. Taraancaiel looked at the stables in the opposite direction then looked at Legolas. "Are we not riding?" she asked.
"Nay, we will have to travel on some very narrow paths," Legolas replied. "Horses would not be able to go on them." Taraancaiel nodded and they continued to walk on the path. When they were far away from the palace, Taraancaiel pulled her short bow from behind her back. Legolas hadn't even noticed it there before, her dark hair had been covering it.
"Finally, I can take this thing off my back," she said happily. "It was beginning to hurt."
"If it hurt, why did you keep it on your back?" Legolas asked, admiring the jewel encrusted bow.
"I'm.not supposed to have it." she answered, looking down to avoid his eyes. "Please do not tell anyone, Legolas," she added, looking at him with a pleading look in her green eyes. "My father forbade me to use a bow a century ago when my mother died, but I could not give it up. If he was to find out I was disobeying him.well, it wouldn't be very good to say the least. Please promise me you won't tell."
"I promise," Legolas answered. "If you don't mind me asking, how did your mother die?" Legolas immediately regretted asking the question when Taraancaiel looked down sadly. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to-"
"She was killed by orcs," Taraancaiel answered suddenly. "She and my father were on their way to Lothlorien when they were ambushed. My mother was a great warrior and she killed many orcs, but she was separated from my father and the guards.when they found her body it was too destroyed to even take back to bury. Ever since then my father forbade me and Aralondwen to use any weapons even though my mother being a warrior had nothing to do with her death." Legolas nodded sympathetically and they both remained silent for a while.
An hour later, Legolas stopped and sat down on a fallen tree, pulling his pack from his back. Taraancaiel stopped and looked at him. "Why are we stopping?" she asked. "Are we near the spiders lair?"
"Nay, the spiders dwell a little further from here," Legolas answered, taking an apple out of his pack. "We stopped because I'm getting hungry." He took a big bite out of the apple and Taraancaiel rolled her eyes impatiently.
"I'm going to have a look around while you stuff your face," she said as she wandered of the path.
"Alright, but do be careful," Legolas called after her. "If anything should happen to you, it will be my fault!" Legolas sat and ate in peace for about ten minutes when a shrill squeal rang out from the forest. Recognizing Taraancaiel's voice, he jumped to his feet and began to sprint in the direction the cry had come from, leaving his bow and pack behind. "Lady Taraancaiel, are you alright?" Legolas asked urgently when he saw her. "What is the matter?" Taraancaiel turned to him, smiling widely.
"Look, Legolas!" she exclaimed, pointing to a huge shimmering spider web in front of her. "Isn't it beautiful?" Legolas gazed at Taraancaiel, seeing her in a new light. She was genuinely smiling now, and he realized she was quite pretty, even beautiful. It was hard to see her true beauty when she was constantly scowling and pouting, but now he could plainly see why so many elves had asked for her hand. He would have said Aralondwen was by far the prettier of the two, but now he had a different view on the Lady Taraancaiel.
"Yes it's gorgeous," he replied, not even looking at the web. "Let's get back to the path now, there could be spiders near." When Taraancaiel did not respond, he looked down at her and noticed she was looking intently at something, but he couldn't see what.
"Legolas," she said, excitement in her voice. "I see a spider, look, it's right over there!"
Ok, another chapter done! Please give opinions, suggestions, review, etc or email me at demoness33@hotmail. I really like it when people review ^^ And I'd like to give a really BIG thanks to treehugger for all the positive feedback you've given me, I really really appreciate it, and I love your story, In the Hall of the Wood Elf King ^-^ That's all for now, and I'll try to get a new chapter up as soon as possible, but it might not be until next weekend cuz I have drivers training all this week.
Chapter 3: Spiders part 1
Legolas awoke early again the next morning, something he didn't like to do very often. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he stood up and began to get dressed for the day. Before he left his chambers, he grabbed his bow, a quiver full of green arrows and his pack, all of which he slung onto his back. He slowly walked down to the royal kitchen, still half asleep. He didn't like to eat breakfast in the dining hall with all the nobles, he preferred to just grab some food right from the old cook, Nrynia, who worked in the kitchens.
"Morning Nyrnia," Legolas said groggily as he entered the kitchen, still yawning with sleepiness.
"Good morning, young prince," Nrynia responded, looking up at him from the bread dough she was kneading. "I am surprised to see you up so early, usually I don't see you until the sun is already high in the sky! You better not have come in here early hoping to steal some of my cookie batter. " Legolas smiled slightly at the old elvish woman.
"I am only hoping to get out of the palace before my father sees me this morning," he explained as he filled his pack with a few rolls and apples. "I wouldn't dream of stealing your cookie batter again, I simply don't want to have to sit through any more 4 hour long councils today." He made a face just thinking about having to sit in his father's study again for hours, listening to nothing but him talk about the dullest things in Middle Earth. Legolas kept this to himself, but he was also hoping to avoid Taraancaiel, perhaps if she didn't see him he wouldn't have to take her to see the spiders. Nyrnia chuckled as she continued to knead the dough with her fists.
"Ai, I can not blame you," she replied. "No offense to you, but I always said you were not cut out for the royal duties of a prince." Legolas grinned.
"Well, I guess that makes two of us then," he said wryly as he took a big bite out of a biscuit, dropping crumbs all over the floor.
"Legolas!" Nyrnia scolded, leaving her dough and going for a broom. "How can a prince such as yourself eat like a wild animal? Please be more careful, I just mopped this floor." She began to sweep the crumbs away, cursing quietly to herself. Legolas continued to eat his biscuit, more carefully of course, and Nyrnia returned to her bread dough when the kitchen door burst open. Nyrnia jumped with surprise then began to yell at Legolas who had just spit out a mouthful of half chewed biscuit onto the floor because he had been startled and was coughing and choking.
"Well, here you are, Prince Legolas," came an all too familiar voice and Legolas scowled as he continued to cough and splutter. "Your brother Encirthion told me I would find you here. I was beginning to think you were trying to get out of the deal you made with me yesterday by avoiding me. I am not so easily gotten rid of." Legolas turned around when he had stopped choking and saw the owner of the voice: Taraancaiel. She had her hands on her hips and was glowering at him from the doorway. He sighed exasperatedly and walked over to her.
"Lady Taraancaiel," he said quietly so Nyrnia wouldn't overhear him. "I do not think seeing the spiders is such a great idea. They are very fascinating, of course, but there are many other things of interest I could show you around the palace."
"Like what, Prince Legolas?" she asked, looking at him expectantly. Legolas thought for a moment and found he couldn't think of a single thing he would call interesting on the palace grounds, except for the archery ranges.
"Well," he began, looking around the kitchen, hoping he would think of something. "There are.er.trees.and um.some rather nice ponds." He looked up at Taraancaiel and saw she was not falling for it. "Alright, so there's nothing to do here, but I still don't think seeing the spiders is very wise."
"If you are scared, Prince Legolas, just tell me and I'll be more than happy to find the spiders on my own," Taraancaiel said coolly, giving him a sympathetic look. "I do not mind." Legolas was outraged that this elf- maiden was implying that he, a prince of Mikwood, was scared of a silly spider.
"I am most certainly not afraid!!" Legolas shouted, letting his temper get the best of him. "If you want to go, let us go right now!" Legolas stormed past Taraancaiel and out of the kitchen, leaving Nyrnia to stare after him in confusion. Taraancaiel smiled triumphantly, then curtsied to Nyrnia and took off after the fuming prince. She caught up to him and snickered softly as she watched him stomp down the hallway, fists clenched and face red with anger. "Are you coming?" he called back to her, stopping and turning to face the lady. "Do not tell me you are having doubts now, o fearless one." Taraancaiel's smile faded into a frown as she ran to walk beside Legolas.
"I am not having doubts, for your information," she spat, glaring up at him. "I was just admiring how noble you look walking like an angry goblin." Legolas growled and looked down at her, noticing she was now smiling again.
"Do you enjoy frustrating me?" Legolas asked, scowling fiercly at her. "Because from the way I see it, I'd say you do." Taraancaiel smiled mischievously.
"I do not know what you are talking about," she replied innocently. "I would never try to anger you purposely, Prince Legolas." Legolas shook his head, trying to shake off his anger. He feared he had finally found someone who was more exasperating than himself. The two elves walked side by side down the hallway, until a voice behind them called out to them.
"Legolas, Lady Taraancaiel!" boomed the loud voice. They turned around to see King Thranduil coming their way. "Where are you two off to so early this morning?" he asked, looking puzzled. "Legolas, you usually are never up this early!"
Legolas felt a wave a panic sweep through him, he couldn't tell his father where they were going, but the real problem was he didn't have a cover up story. "Um.we were just going..to..um.." the prince stuttered avoiding his father's eyes.
"Legolas has volunteered to show me around the palace grounds," Taraancaiel said, smiling sweetly up at the king. "He has been acting like a real gentleman."
Thranduil looked at Legolas, shock plainly visible on his face. "Has he?" he asked, almost as if he couldn't believe it. "Legolas, is this true?"
"Yes, yes it is, Father," Legolas answered, staring at the king nervously.
Thranduil continued to look at him suspiciously. "I suppose I will excuse you from this morning's council," he said after a moment of silence. "Make sure to be back by dinner, and stay out of trouble."
"Of course, your majesty," Taraancaiel said as she curtsied. She noticed Legolas still stood, biting his lower lip nervously, and elbowed him in the ribs.
"Ow!" he cried, shaken from his daze. He looked at Taraancaiel and she gave him a patronizing look. "Oh, yes, we will be careful, Father," he said quickly, bowing. Thranduil nodded slowly, then walked past them, continuing down the hall. Taraancaiel and Legolas waited for the king to leave their sight, then began walking down the hall again, toward the palace doors. "Whew, that was close!" Legolas said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Thanks for helping me out back there, that was incredible!"
Taraancaiel smiled. "Just one of my many talents," she said with a grin. She looked at him and noticed he was looking at her rather oddly. "What is it?" she asked, giving him a strange look in return.
"Nothing," Legolas said, looking away. "It's just, you're not really what I expected, being a lady and all. Cuephel would go crazy if he knew some of the things you do."
Taraancaiel scowled. "Cuephel," she spat, wrinkling her nose. "I am not going to marry him. My father will not choose my husband for me, I am my own master." Legolas could picture perfectly in his mind Cuephel's expression if he had been listening to his 'wife to be' talking just now. He couldn't help snickering and Taraancaiel glared at him. "What is so funny about that?" she asked, her eyes flashing with anger. "Do you think because I am a maiden I can not think for myself?"
"No, that's not why I was laughing," Legolas said quickly. "I was just wondering how someone could arrange so different people to be married."
Taraancaiel sighed sadly. "Yes, I think it's rather stupid," she replied. "I wish arranged marriages were never thought of." They reached the palace doors and left the palace, heading toward the main woodland path. Taraancaiel looked at the stables in the opposite direction then looked at Legolas. "Are we not riding?" she asked.
"Nay, we will have to travel on some very narrow paths," Legolas replied. "Horses would not be able to go on them." Taraancaiel nodded and they continued to walk on the path. When they were far away from the palace, Taraancaiel pulled her short bow from behind her back. Legolas hadn't even noticed it there before, her dark hair had been covering it.
"Finally, I can take this thing off my back," she said happily. "It was beginning to hurt."
"If it hurt, why did you keep it on your back?" Legolas asked, admiring the jewel encrusted bow.
"I'm.not supposed to have it." she answered, looking down to avoid his eyes. "Please do not tell anyone, Legolas," she added, looking at him with a pleading look in her green eyes. "My father forbade me to use a bow a century ago when my mother died, but I could not give it up. If he was to find out I was disobeying him.well, it wouldn't be very good to say the least. Please promise me you won't tell."
"I promise," Legolas answered. "If you don't mind me asking, how did your mother die?" Legolas immediately regretted asking the question when Taraancaiel looked down sadly. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to-"
"She was killed by orcs," Taraancaiel answered suddenly. "She and my father were on their way to Lothlorien when they were ambushed. My mother was a great warrior and she killed many orcs, but she was separated from my father and the guards.when they found her body it was too destroyed to even take back to bury. Ever since then my father forbade me and Aralondwen to use any weapons even though my mother being a warrior had nothing to do with her death." Legolas nodded sympathetically and they both remained silent for a while.
An hour later, Legolas stopped and sat down on a fallen tree, pulling his pack from his back. Taraancaiel stopped and looked at him. "Why are we stopping?" she asked. "Are we near the spiders lair?"
"Nay, the spiders dwell a little further from here," Legolas answered, taking an apple out of his pack. "We stopped because I'm getting hungry." He took a big bite out of the apple and Taraancaiel rolled her eyes impatiently.
"I'm going to have a look around while you stuff your face," she said as she wandered of the path.
"Alright, but do be careful," Legolas called after her. "If anything should happen to you, it will be my fault!" Legolas sat and ate in peace for about ten minutes when a shrill squeal rang out from the forest. Recognizing Taraancaiel's voice, he jumped to his feet and began to sprint in the direction the cry had come from, leaving his bow and pack behind. "Lady Taraancaiel, are you alright?" Legolas asked urgently when he saw her. "What is the matter?" Taraancaiel turned to him, smiling widely.
"Look, Legolas!" she exclaimed, pointing to a huge shimmering spider web in front of her. "Isn't it beautiful?" Legolas gazed at Taraancaiel, seeing her in a new light. She was genuinely smiling now, and he realized she was quite pretty, even beautiful. It was hard to see her true beauty when she was constantly scowling and pouting, but now he could plainly see why so many elves had asked for her hand. He would have said Aralondwen was by far the prettier of the two, but now he had a different view on the Lady Taraancaiel.
"Yes it's gorgeous," he replied, not even looking at the web. "Let's get back to the path now, there could be spiders near." When Taraancaiel did not respond, he looked down at her and noticed she was looking intently at something, but he couldn't see what.
"Legolas," she said, excitement in her voice. "I see a spider, look, it's right over there!"
Ok, another chapter done! Please give opinions, suggestions, review, etc or email me at demoness33@hotmail. I really like it when people review ^^ And I'd like to give a really BIG thanks to treehugger for all the positive feedback you've given me, I really really appreciate it, and I love your story, In the Hall of the Wood Elf King ^-^ That's all for now, and I'll try to get a new chapter up as soon as possible, but it might not be until next weekend cuz I have drivers training all this week.