I would like to apologize to any who read the former Chapter 2, I did not realize that I had left out a substantial chunk of the story. As always I do not own anything "Lord of the Rings" related..just Marie/Arianell and whatever semblance of a plot light this might contain. Elvish will be in italics since asterisks don't work here. Please Review. Unless you review I won't know if I should bother putting up more chapters ;) -yup that's as close to bribery as I'll get for now.
Marie let out a hiss of pain as she gingerly touched the wound and walked to the bush where he had lain her dress. Suddenly she was aware of a figure behind her and spun around to come face to face with an attractive male elf. "Marie" she looked past the elf and could see Elzar walking back down the path, his face trained on the ground "I have something for ye, if ye be decent." Marie picked up the dress and held it over herself as she walked forward, the elf hiding behind the bush. "I'm decent" Elzar smiled and handed her a mug "Lothien" he spat "Said to drink it, I'm to make sure you do." Marie looked at him puzzled "Crash course in Elvish culture lassie. Drink up." Marie did and soon found herself cursing in Sindarin, Elzar's eyebrows raised "Sorry" she stammered "Don't know what came over me...that stuff is vile!" she handed him back the cup as he laughed "Aye it is."
Marie walked back to the bush and layed the dress down, picking up the underdress she was about to pull off her bra when the Elf she had seen in the tree stood up suddenly. "Shit" she cursed as he cocked an eyebrow "You scared theBe-jebbers outta me! Oh, I mean; I am sorry M'Lord, you have startled me." Marie curtsied slightly as the Elf laughed quietly "Dress quickly, so we may speak" and with that he turned around. Arianell Struggled into her underdress and leggings and began to put the dress on but found she couldn't "Begging your pardon M'Lord" the Elf turned towards her but diverted his eyes when he saw she was just in her 'underwear' (albeit the elven version) "I cannot seem to dress myself" He laughed "What?" she grinned at him as he came to stand by her "You were eavesdropping, surely you heard. I am not from around here. I am not accustomed to such intricate dresses." The Elf bowed "Then Arwenamin, it would be my pleasure to assist you." Deftly he pulled the dress over her head and down her figure as she placed her arms in the sleeves. With great speed he laced the back and tied it before tying the sleeves at the elbows. "There" he smiled, stepping back to admire his work, carefully tucking a bit of underdress in at her shoulders. "It's beautiful" Marie breathed, looking over her shoulder at the corset-type lacings. "I did not tighten it too much did I?" "No" she replied smiling "It's perfect, did you get much practice?" "Practice?" "Dressing Women?" the Elf blushed and laughed lightly "Uh...Oh M'Lady I did not introduce myself" he bowed "Legolas Greenleaf, Elven Archer of Mirkwood, at your service...?" "Lady Arianell Marian at yours, Prince Legolas." "Ah, my title precedes me" the Archer's eyes sparkled "Pity." Marie laughed as Lothien and Elzar quickly appeared down the path. Legolas' eyes narrowed as he tensed, face steel and muscles taunt. At that moment Marie knew in an instant he would not hesitate to kill them, and her, if he deemed it necessary. "My Lord" Arianell (Marie) bowed to Lothien, "Forgive my delayed presence. It seems one of the Mirkwoodian Archers has discovered our encamptment. He has just now introduced himself." Marie hoped her lies were working, for some reason she had a sudden urge to make sure she saw this thing through. "Lord" she looked towards Legolas, who had cloaked himself in shadow, "This is Lord Lothien and Lord Elzar, my escorts to the court of King Thranduil. They have guided me thus far on my journey." Marie's smile was bitter. Lothien could not contain his disbelief at her words but she could tell they were working. "Well...yes...Ahem, A pleasure, I am sure. Ma..." Marie smiled, "Please Lady Ariannell is fine, you do not need to use my last name." She turned to Legolas "It is a custom in our region to address an unwed maiden by her last name, thus his slip. He was about to call me Marian but forgets I am now betrothed." Legolas winked at her, knowing full well he wasn't the one she was leading on. Lothien smiled "Forgive me, Lady Arianell."
Legolas had, thankfully, taken his leave of them without any explanations or introductions beyond "M'Lord." As he melded into the darkness he had whispered that he would see her soon "Marie" he had smiled. His voice alone gave her chills. Arianell collapsed in a heap next to the fire "You two owe me." she looked between Lothien and Elzar "You realize that don't you?" "Yeah and what do you want us to give you? For all we know it's your fault that Mirkwoodian Archer was there in the first place. You didn't give him a 'taste' did you?" Arianell's face blanched "You would dare imply that I...you, you Bastard! You dare to take me from my home by force, inflict unwanted changes to my character and my physical person and then besmudge my name! I am outraged!" Arianell stood and, dress and all, climbed a tree "I shall sleep up here tonight!" she called down as Lothien chuckled, turning back to the fire "Yup, she's an elleth now." Elzar looked at him, puzzled "Potion, she'll be a bit temperamental."
Arianell could not contain her amazement at the halls she was being led through. She had known Elven craftsmanship to be beautiful but the craftsmanship bestowed to the caverns of Mirkwood was dazzling. Although most of the passages were underground, for fear of Orc or other creatures' invasion they did not carry the damp feeling she knew to belong to caves. Curenntly she was running her slender fingers over the intricate carvings on one of the support pillars. "I trust everything is to your liking?" Arianell jumped at the voice "Lord Legolas" she lowered her own and peered into the shadow behind the pillar. "My how you startled me!" Lothien, thinking she was still just admiring the carvings on the pillar called out to her "Arianell. Elzar and I will now meet with King Thranduil...you are to be escorted to your room." Arianell nodded at him "I trust you will see you look your best for the feast tonight?" "Of course M'Lord" Arianell bowed lowed, those around her thought it of respect but Lothien knew she was mocking him. "Good, see to it." A maid walked over to her as the rest of the procession continued with Lothien and Elzar "M'Lady if you will follow me." Arianell prepared to walk with the maid when Legolas stepped from the shadow. "I will take her." The maid covered her shock and bowed low "M'Lord it is not propper." "Alani, you have known me since my youth, since when have I been 'proper'?" The woman laughed, "Very well Legolas, but if word gets to your Father do not run to me." "If word gets to my Father you will be the only one I run to!" The woman walked away, shaking her head. "That's Alani" Legolas explained to Arianell, "She's something like a mother to me." Arianell smiled up at him "Now, M'Lady where are your things?" "Why M'Lord" she grinned, "You know I have none but this." She spread her dress out. "Indeed, well that is soon changed." Briskly he walked away, quickly motioning for Arianell to follow.
"Is your room to your liking?" "Liking?" Arianell gasped as she tried to take in every detail "How could I not like it!" Legolas laughed, obviously pleased, "I'm glad" he muttered, under his breath as he turned to leave. "Legolas" he turned back "What am I supposed to wear tonight?" He laughed "What you have on is fine." Arianell gasped and spread her skirt, "But, but look at it! You can't expect me to impress King Thranduil in this do you?" Her eyes widened in fear, "Lothien will kill me!" Legolas knew she wasn't joking...and she did have a point, her dress was terribly soiled. "What did you do meleth-nin, wrestle with an Orc?" "I climbed a tree" he laughed, "In that dress? You amaze me." Arianell blushed before smiling "What was I to do?" she did not notice she keptresorting to'Common Speech' "Lothien insulted me." Anger flashed in Legolas' eyes "What did he do?" "I guess it really wasn't anything that big. He suggested...well he said...he assumed you and I were...uh." "Oh." Legolas noticed Arianell's discomfort "M'Lady" he lifted her chin "He insulted your honor, you were right to be angry with him." She weakly smiled at him as he lost himself in her eyes, wondering if he could fall for her afterall. 'Now for a dress' he turned away quickly, trying to settle his racing heart.
Arianell threw the doors to the balcony open, Lothien would be up at any moment to escort her to the feast and she didn't know if she was ready to meet 'her betrothed'. She wondered if Legolas would treat her any differently afterwards, and why she had to impress King Thranduil. She hoped she wasn't marrying him, from what she had heard he was a strict man...like his son only in looks. His son, deep down she hoped to the Valar it was his son. Otherwise what good would it be to her to stay here, to stay in Middle Earth? Quickly she walked to the balcony and gazed at the sunset "By the Valar, what have the fates gotten me into?" "Hopefully an Adventure" she turned to see Legolas standing by her "How did you..." He pointed to the balcony to the right of hers "That's my room..the balconies are only a few feet apart." She smiled at him "And to what do I owe this impromtu and welcome visit?" "I wanted to apologize for not being at the feast tonight" Arianell's face fell, there goes him being her betrothed. With his apology went every hope she ever had for living an enjoyable life. 'Oh' was all she could stammer. "I really don't like these things, you see. And..well...I must go now." and with that abrupt explanation Legolas turned and walked to the edge, Arianell barely registered it when he jumped to the other side and entered his room, leaving the door opened behind him. She stood there, in a trance, until Lothien's pounding on the door snapped her out of it. "I thought you had bailed on me love, what took you so long?" "Forgive me" Arianell muttered "I am feeling out of sorts". "And looking it. You haven't gone and fell in love have you?" "Would it matter if I had?" Arianell felt as if her heart weighed more than the misty mountains themselves."Good point" Lothien, oblivious to her plight escorted her down the hallway, not noticing the ruefull look she cast Legolas' door. In his room Legolas smiled, and cursed the fates for making him be so cruel.
Note: I know it's fallen, I did that on purpose Lothien isn't that smart, for an Elf
