Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with LOTR or with Tolkien's work.......The characters of Findecáno Súrion, Enelya Cúthalion , Tathar Míriel, and Curufinwë Tinehtelë are my property however. ( I am aware of these names may have been used in one form or another by Tolkien - what I mean is that my characters may have borrowed/altered names - anything beyond that is pure coincidence in regards to character's personalities). In other words, it is the character's personality combined with (as far as I know) a unique name that I am laying claim on.... WARNING This may turn out to be very Mary Sue-ish and I have taken liberties with the original plot and story line.
Author's Note: I feel so bad about not updating sooner - you're gonna have to disregard what I said last chapter about updating once a week - it's not going to work that way. I'm going to try to update as soon as I can but it gets difficult when you're busy then when you do have the time, you suffer from massive writer's block. However, reviews help.
Thanks to Myri78, pottergirl101, and SilverUnicorn for reviewing!
Chapter 5: Her Sanctuary
Enelya couldn't believe her eyes - the noble prince of Mirkwood sat nearby on a rock and his eyes seemed glued to her. Why is he looking at me, she thought suspiciously. More to the point, why is he still here when everyone else has left? Still wary, Enelya looked closer at his face and bristled.
"Are you laughing at me or Aragorn?" She asked resentfully.
The smile left the prince's face and a hurt expression replaced it. " I would never laugh at you. Aragorn, maybe," he admitted with a small smile, "but not you. " After a brief pause, Legolas continued. " I was smiling because of you. You have such a joyous laugh that it brought a smile to my lips, a smile that has been absent for some time."
"Good line, Legolas, but it won't work on me - why don't you go try it on some other unsuspecting elf? Someone who would welcome your attentions, perhaps."
" Have I offended you in some way? If I have, you have my heartfelt apologies, Lady Enelya."
His hurt and bewildered tone sent shooting pains to Enelya's heart but she fought the shame, shame for making such a beautiful elf seem so sad and hurt. Still, Enelya didn't know how to respond to him so she turned to leave.
Just as Enelya was about to leave the clearing, she was stopped by a question.
"What has made such a beautiful young elf so hard and suspicious?"
"Why must princes be so nosy?" Enelya said as she turned around. "Why do you care about why I am the way I am, huh?"
"We will be traveling companions, I think that we should get to know each other, maybe even become friends....." Legolas trailed off with a small hopeful smile.
"NO!" Enelya responded instantly, angrily. " I don't need any more friends thank you very much."
Burnt by her rebuff, Legolas countered immediately, " Fine, well I don't wanna be friends with someone who is cruel and malicious. You feed off of the pain of others - I was only trying to be nice." Legolas got off his rock and melted into the trees - but not before Enelya saw the look on his face.
Enelya felt anguish course through her body when she saw the glimpse of his face.
"Why must I always cause pain to those I love?" She whispered to herself tearfully. "Because a little pain now will deter me from causing them more pain later." Broken hearted and woefully self-pitying, she walked over and sat down on the rock that Legolas had just been sitting on. The rock felt warm from the heat of his body, heat that her body absorbed as tears streamed down her face.
"Once, I would have willingly been his friend. Once I would have been the one to offer friendship. But once, I had something to give another person without taking more than what I have to give. Now, I am unable to protect my friends from evil - from myself." Enelya drifted back through her memories to a friend, long lost to Middle Earth. "He was once my friend - he had everything, and because of me, he lost it all. He lost his life." Enelya began to cry more as she thought back to the first day that she met her friend.
"Oh I'm sorry" responded a voice behind her. " I didn't know that anyone else knew of this place." Startled, a young Enelya stood up and turned around to see who had stumbled into her sanctuary.
Her sanctuary was merely a hidden stream with lush flowers and foliage growing about. A nearby outcropping of rock provided a perfect place to watch the stars or bath in sunlight. At the moment, sunshine poured through leaves and seemed to enrich everything with a healthy glow. Trees as old as time provided comfortable backrests for reading or writing, or just plain daydreaming. Here was where Enelya was beautiful, where anything and everything was possible and nobody ever looked down upon her or passed judgment on her. Here she read stories of old and new, here she wrote her own tales, tales with dwarves, dragons, and other creatures. She was free to be whomever she wanted to be. Here she was a noble warrior, a regal queen, a divine young noblewoman, a hardworking silversmith - here she always belonged. And no one else did. Certainly, not another elf.
The elf in question had long blond hair with startling blue eyes. His attire was somewhat disheveled, but nevertheless, a grin graced his face.
"Orc got your tongue?" He asked grinning.
"I---I---I didn't think anyone else knew of this place either." A small pause hung in the air as Enelya smiled shyly, "My name is Enelya Cúthalion."
"Tathar Míriel at your service milady," he said as he performed a small bow. He stood awkwardly, almost unsure of his presence there. Enelya saw what others didn't see in the eyes of the charismatic elf - loneliness and the need to belong somewhere. Maybe he could belong here too, she thought. Enelya gave Tathar a smile and knew instantly that she had a kindred spirit in this elf.
"I have not earned the title of lady, however I would like to earn the title of friend to Tathar Míriel." Enelya responded waiting his reaction, thinking that maybe he wouldn't want the friendship of female elf.
A smile graced his face, "It would be my honor to call such a beautiful elf my friend."
The two elves spent many hours getting to know each other that day. Their friendship continued to blossom as they found themselves in each other. It would be a friendship that would last to their very last days on Middle Earth.
That was the chapter - the reason why she is so mean to Legolas kinda came out in this chapter but it will become much clearer as the story goes on. Please review!