Hello again! Not many reviews…hissss. Ah well, maybe this time. Hope you like this! With that said, I present to you chapter forty-one of Lost in My Mind!
Italics represent thought…you know, I really need to organize these things. By next chapter, I'll have a list that tells which each thing will represent. Okay…
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Chapter 41- Show Them the Truth
"How are we going to get in there?"
"Hush."
"But my lady…"
"Be quiet!"
Two golden haired guards perked up at the sudden noise in the forest. They peered over the side of the walls, their sharp eyes piercing every shadow in the trees. One fingered the hilt of his sword anxiously while the other, older looking guard only watched. A bird called shrilly in the distance and they both sighed, relaxing their tension. With one last glance, they both turned away and resumed their idle chat. The older guard could not help but keep one ear fixed on the conversation and one on the happenings of the forest.
Turwaithiel scowled and took her hand away from Uhako's mouth. He glared at her and ran his hand through his silver locks in annoyance. His fingers got caught in a stubborn knot and he gritted his teeth.
"I don't understand how they can stand to have hair this long." He muttered but the maiden did not answer. Her dark blue eyes were fixed on the heavily guarded Muruien city of Banemera. It would be difficult indeed getting past the guards but it was not impossible.
"Be silent, Uhako." She whispered, "We cannot mess this up for our master."
With a snort, the man rolled his eyes and a bright light enveloped him. Turwaithiel watched him with mild curiosity and she smirked when a small, colorful bird appeared in his place. The creature quirked it's head at her and chirped softly. She watched as it spread its large wings and leapt into the air, sailing straight out of the forest and over the city walls. The guards did not even give the bird a second glance.
"Well, that was easy." Turwaithiel muttered under her breath and took the same form, sailing into the city after him.
Her beady eyes searched the ground for any sign of her companion and she caught him diving down behind a row of houses, his colorful feathers glinting in the sunlight. She followed him down to the ground and landed just as he returned to the form of Tarmikos. He crossed his arms and waited for her as she transformed as well. He smirked at her and she scowled. They did not need words to understand what each other were thinking: 'Now who's the smart one?' and a firm 'Shut up.'
"Alright, so now to the palace, right?" Uhako questioned as he fiddled with the feather tucked behind his pointed ear.
"That is correct." Turwaithiel replied, peeking out at the busy street, "But remember that you cannot speak to anyone. You're mute." He nodded.
"I know." He replied, also looking out, "What if someone stops us?"
"Then just keep quiet and let me take care of it, alright?" At his nod, the maiden took a deep breath and emerged out from behind the buildings with the man following behind her, his head down.
Almost immediately, cries of 'Hail Princes Ricamros and Tarmikos!' went up and Turwaithiel couldn't help but smile slightly at the attention. Sure, it wasn't exactly her they were praising bu till felt good. Trying to stay in character, she strode proudly down the center of the road with the occasional bow to the people. Uhako was struggling to hide a grin as he came up beside his lover.
"Getting a bit haughty, aren't you?" He snickered softly and was rewarded with a stern jab to the ribs.
"Hush!" She hissed out of the corner of her mouth, "You need to be silent lest someone hear you!"
But it was already too late.
"Mama!" A little girl cried, tugging on her mother's hand, "He said something! Prince Tarmikos said something!"
The chattering of the entire crowd seemed to die down and both 'princes' froze in their tracks, blood draining from their faces. Excited whispers went through the people and they watched their silent prince eagerly. The little girl who had announced the information was grinning, still tugging against her mother. Turwaithiel turned to face the male and, in an attempt to keep the act going, her eyes widened.
"Did you, brother?" She asked almost excitedly, "Did you speak?" Uhako looked between his lover and the people, eyes wide. A single drop of sweat rolled down his temple and he swallowed hard. Slowly, he shook his head to the negative. The little girl pouted at this.
"But I heard him!" She cried, "I know I did!" The woman holding her hand tightened her grip and pulled her back sternly.
"Hush, child. You are imagining things." She reprimanded and the girl looked on the verge of tears. Uhako sorely wished that he could just save her a punishment and speak but he knew that he would be the one in trouble if he did so. He kept his mouth shut, gazing at the little girl apologetically.
"Yes, my brother cannot speak and it is very unlikely he ever will again." Turwaithiel said to her, "You must have heard someone else." The maiden put her arm on Uhako's shoulder and pulled him gently, "Come along." She said softly. He grimaced slightly when he saw the angry shimmer in her eyes. He nodded once and she continued up the street. But before he followed her, his gaze returned to the little girl who still watched him sadly. His blue eyes darted around quickly, making sure no one was watching.
An astonished look came upon her face and she grinned when the 'prince' gave her a secretive wink. He placed his fingers to his lips to tell her not to speak and she nodded excitedly, biting her lips. He smiled softly, giving her one last glance, and he hurried after his companion.
As he neared the maiden, he could tell by her stiff posture that she was livid. She did have reason to, he supposed, but oh well. He felt a little better about himself, at least. When he came to walk beside her, he found her face had gone an angry red.
"I thought I told you not to speak." She growled dangerously and he frowned.
"Everything is fine now, love. No one found us out." He replied calmly.
"But you could have ruined the entire thing! All because of that blasted little brat and your idiocy!" The Muru's frown deepened and he crossed his arms.
"Do not speak of the girl that way. She did nothing wrong." Turwaithiel yelled out in agitation, throwing her hands in the air.
"Are you going soft on me, Uhako!" She cried, "Since when have you cared about the people in this pathetic city?" He did not reply, only glaring at the ruffled maiden. She snorted, rolling her eyes, and continued stalking towards the palace.
For the first time in his life, Uhako truly despised the Muru he called 'love'. He was half tempted to reveal their secret right then and there but he knew that he would be the one punished as well. One good deed would not make up for the ills he had committed at the orders of his master.
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Espenshade cooed softly as she flew above the heads of the silent elves. They had not spoken since the 'ordeal' and the falcon could tell both were suffering from it. The elleth had gone an almost deathly pale and the ellon had drawn his hood once more, casting dark shadows across his face. They walked a good distance apart from each other, both watching the ground as they passed. The Peregrine falcon could almost feel the friendship between them sizzle and snap as each moment passed them by.
Mostly, she was worried for the Crown Prince. He had not yet recovered from his experiences when he had been brought back to the living and is he continued to grieve, he may loose himself once more. If that happened, there would be no way he would be able to return. And chances are, he would be completely unwilling to do so anyway.
Iaurtondariel never looked up from the ground, letting her feet carry her. It still confused her to no end why she wasn't falling into despair like all elves did if refused their love. Maybe it wasn't love but just a silly infatuation? But love between elves is always true, she reminded herself, there was no in between. Perhaps she subconsciously knew that he was already taken by another but she just didn't want to accept it. She thought on it until her brain racked painfully in her head, and so she just took this as her explanation: she knew long ago but refused the truth.
A screech from the falcon overhead caused both elves to look up quickly. Without even realizing it, they had come upon the border of the dense forest in a matter of an hour. The elleth's eyes seemed light up at the sight of it and she smiled as one would upon returning home. Norui gazed into its depths wonderingly, his heart pounding at the idea of being under the trees once more. They watched as the falcon plunged into the trees, screeching loudly.
The Crown Prince looked over at the elleth in an almost nervous way and she returned the gaze. He smiled slightly at her and motioned towards the forest with his head.
"Ladies first."
Iaurtondariel smiled brightly and nodded her head in thanks, then hurried into the wood. Norui stood and watched until she disappeared into the thick vines. He cast one more gaze upwards to the sky, smiling, and then followed after the elleth.
He could hear her soft footfalls expertly navigating the forest and, much to his surprise, found himself falling behind. He was not used to such a humid and thick forest and so had trouble keeping his footing. He could still hear the excited screeching of the Peregrine falcon soaring above them and he laughed to himself. Only when he began to loose the trail of the elleth did he call out her name. He heard a faint shout in the distance and he hurried after her.
Not a few moments later, he saw her peeking out from behind some trees and he came to a halt, looking over her shoulder. Espenshade was perched on a branch and was prancing anxiously. About twenty feet away stood a tall wall of stone adorned by carvings of strange creatures. A few guards who paced back and forth on top of the wall patrolled a wooden gate. Much to the Crown Prince's amusement, the majority of them seemed bored out of their minds. Being this far in the forest, he doubted they were attacked very often.
"So now what?" He questioned softly, "How do we get in?"
"I don't know. Just walk up, I suppose." Norui quirked a brow.
"I highly doubt they will let two strangers in." He replied and she turned around sharply to glare at him.
"Strangers? You are the stranger here. This is not my first visit to the city, mind you." She retorted and he backed away a few steps.
"My apologies, my lady." She smirked at him and nodded.
"Alright, let's go then." And without another word, she stepped out of the forest and strode towards the wooden gate. Espenshade cackled and swooped off her perch, gliding over the walls without anyone noticing.
A fair-haired guard glanced down at the elleth as she approached and his brows raised. For the moment, he did not feel threatened though it was odd that a female would just appear out of the forest randomly. His brow raised even more when an ellon stepped out behind her.
"What business have you?" He called down to them, alerting his companions. They all looked up from their business and leaned over the wall to get a closer look at the pair. Iaurtondariel looked up at them, placing her hands on her hips.
"We seek entrance into the city of Banemera, my lords. Our companions reside here and we would like a visit with them." She shouted up to them and watched as they whispered quickly to one another.
"What are your names?" The same one called.
"This is Lord Norui, Prince of Mirkwood, and my name is Iaurtondariel." She replied. Suddenly, a grin formed upon one of the younger guards and laughed.
"Ai, I cannot believe it!" He cried, "It has been a long time, my lady Iaurtondariel!"
The elleth studied the young Muru for the longest time before her eyes widened and she grinned. Norui only watched on in confusion, as did the other guards, at this exchange.
"Letefa!" She laughed, "It has been so long! And look how much you've grown since I've seen you last!" The young Muru grinned and nodded, his golden hair flailing wildly about his head.
"It has been a while, my lady." He said, "Don't worry, we'll let you in."
And true to his word, the gates soon swung open and Iaurtondariel smiled, heading inside the city. The Crown Prince scratched the back of his neck in puzzlement, and then followed her quickly.
The gates shut behind them with a thud and, with a wave of her hand towards the still grinning Muru, elleth and ellon strode into the bustling streets of Banemera. Norui was immediately lost in the chattering crowds, finding himself unused to the large amounts of people. He watched as the elleth strode swiftly down the street and everyone seemed to clear away from her. Perhaps she was well known here or maybe it was just out of decency for a new guest.
But then why was he being shoved around like luggage, he thought with a grunt. An older woman brushed by his shoulder and he stumbled slightly, only to almost loose his balance as two children ran between his legs, laughing cheerfully. He glared after their retreating backs and he found himself wishing he were still out in the wild. At least, it was quiet and peaceful there.
He weaved through the people as politely as he could- though they didn't seem too concerned about politeness- while still keeping an eye on Iaurtondariel. Her pace had slowed slightly and her gaze became ensnared on a stand filled with silver jewelry and gems. The ellon rolled his eyes as she eagerly hurried over to it while a grin formed upon the lips of the young shopkeeper. He scoffed under his breath.
Ellyth…
The chattering and bickering of the people began to grow on his nerves as he passed them by and towards the elleth. As he came closer, the jewels on the cart came into clearer view and he began to understand why she was attracted to the stand. Even he was intrigued by the artifacts displayed. Chains of gold and silver hung down from the overhang of the display and elaborate bracelets in the shape of strange creatures were scattered almost carelessly in the front and rings encrusted with giant stones sat in the far back. Pendants were abundant, each depicting some elaborate scene, as well as curious hoops of gold.
The young Muru who ran the shop was a very interesting character, the ellon decided as he came into full view. His curly dark hair cascaded down to only his shoulders and was adorned with various colored beads. The same hoops on display were pierced in his ear in various places, going all the way up to the tip. He had almond shaped blue eyes that were accented by elegant dark eyebrows and a full grin was upon his lips, showing off his straight teeth. He was clad in an oversized tunic and a pair of black breeches while a thin black cord was hung around his neck. His glittering eyes focused on the Crown Prince as he came beside the elleth and he placed his hands behind his back, rocking back onto his heels.
"How may I help you, my lord and lady?" He said exuberantly. Norui quirked a brow at the man but said nothing. Iaurtondariel was too absorbed examining the pieces to notice, which seemed to please him even more, "I'm sure by the looks of you, you would have some spare change to use on some trinkets such as these."
"We are merely travelers, my lord." The ellon replied, "Came in from the north."
"Ah, foreigners then!" He beamed, "Haven't had any of those in a long while, my lord. Actually, no, I take that back. A large group of elves, a man, and a wizard passed by yesterday, I think it was. The princes were taking them to the palace but I can't imagine why. A curious bunch, they were."
Norui's eyes widened at the realization of the words from the overly cheerful merchant. Sure, he expected them to be here but at the idea of reuniting with his comrades….well, he became uneasy. What if they didn't accept him or believed him a fraud? Someone who only looked like him, nothing more. He swallowed hard, then shook the thought away. Of course not, they'd recognize him right away. Maybe a little shocked but excited nonetheless. He hoped.
"Aye, elves!" The Muru babbled on, almost to himself, "A couple of pretty ladies in there as well, my lord. Perhaps you'll meet up with one, you being an elf as well. Wouldn't mind meeting one myself, either." A cheeky grin made its way onto his face and the Crown Prince suddenly had the desire to punch his teeth out. The merchant would have no idea he was related to some of those 'pretty ladies' but he still felt a fire ignite at his words. Instead, he stiffly smoothed his own ruffled feathers.
"Perhaps but until that time, we must depart." He put a hand on Iaurtondariel's shoulder, "Come on, we have business to take care off." The elleth looked up from the necklace she was examining and frowned slightly from him.
"But these things are beautiful. Do you think we could…?"
"We don't have any money, my lady, come." He answered gently and made to walk away. She scowled.
"Perhaps you don't, my lord, but I do." Norui watched on in disbelief as she withdrew from her pack a small leather pouch. She withdrew two silver coins and held them out to the elated merchant, "Will this do, my lord?" She asked him and he nodded quickly.
"You are most generous, my lady! That is more then enough, thank you!" He exclaimed, taking the coins and stuffing them into his own pouch. The elleth grinned and took the silver chained necklace from the stand and fastened it around her neck. A polished emerald stone sat in the middle and was surrounded by smaller silver gems. She nodded her thanks to the Muru and returned to the endless streams of Muruien. Norui could only gape at her retreating back before hurrying after her once more.
Once more, he found himself battling against the people that seemed determined to keep him from leaving their 'clutches'. He was about to give up and wander the streets when the crowd seemed to diminish and Iaurtondariel was standing there waiting for him as she marveled at her new treasure. She smiled weakly at him when he came to her side and he quirked a brow.
"Since when did you have that much money?" He questioned more harshly then he intended.
"Since we left my home back beyond the mountains." She answered, "You just never asked if I had any."
She smirked at his disgruntled face.
"That being done, I say we continue on to the palace. If the princes were leading them, then they are residing in the King Judeqir's halls, no doubt. I'm sure they'll let us in." She said. The ellon scoffed.
"I doubt that." He said and she glared.
"I am the one who has visited this city before, not you. So if you plan to see your family again, I suggest you be quiet and just follow me."
A fierce anger welled up inside of him at that comment and he opened his mouth to release his fury at her. Never before had anyone spoken to him like that- excluding his father- and lived to tell the tale. Had he not been in the right mind, he probably would have struck her but his upbringing as a prince told him otherwise. So instead of taking a drastic measure, he merely breathed deeply and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Fine. Lead the way." He said stiffly between his teeth. The elleth's green eyes narrowed further and, without another word, started off in the direction of the looming palace.
His eyes widened at the sight of the grand building but he did not say anything to the elleth. For the moment, he was content to just scowl at her back. He didn't know why but he suddenly found the dark haired elleth irritating and insufferable. Perhaps it was the gap that had been placed between the two with the 'confession' but he didn't plan on losing any sleep over it.
He was even more shocked when he saw her go straight up to the doors of the palace and let herself in, without even a warning. Guards were not even posted at the doors and this made the Crown Prince uneasy. He whistled shrilly and a few moments later, he felt the Peregrine falcon land upon his shoulder. She cackled softly in his ear, then chewed on the ends of his hair. And as he passed through the great doors of the palace, his stomach did a sudden flip in uneasiness.
Dear Valar, he was about to see his family again! The ones who thought he had perished in the mountains and he was going to see them again! What was he supposed to do? Or say? It certainly could not be as easy as, 'Oh yes, here I am!'
He suddenly wished that he paid attention to Lord Glorfindel when he told his story of returning to Middle Earth.
Another cackle from the falcon brought him back to his senses and he looked up to find Iaurtondariel had already disappeared into the winding halls. His eyes widened and, listening for the light footsteps, hurried down a corridor in search of her.
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Leneya burst into the room while balancing a single cup of steaming liquid on a serving tray. Her breaths came out in uneven huffs as she came to the bedside and placed the tray on the nightstand. Judeqir snatched up the cup quickly and turned to the worried companions sitting around the bed.
"Sit him up, he needs to drink this." He commanded and they did so without question. Elladan's head lolled to the side and he moaned softly, his face steadily becoming redder from the fever. Elrohir laid him back against the pillow and supported his head as the King lifted up the ailing ellon's chin.
"What will that do, my lord?" Arwen questioned, tears brimming in her eyes. She was barely aware of the comforting hands of Estel circling on her back, "Will it save him?"
"It will bring down the fever for sure." The silver haired Muru responded, "But I cannot be so sure whether it will help him to escape the one possessing him. It happens rarely and so there has been no need to fully develop a remedy for it."
"Is he…is he going to die?" Melyanna breathed, fighting back the tears that streamed down her cheeks. The King hesitated for a moment, frowning deeply, before pouring the brew down the ellon's throat. He swallowed easily and without a fuss.
"My lady…" He began, not even meeting the eyes of the company. He bit his lip until he felt a trickle of blood, "No, of course not. We won't let him."
Tarmikos and Ricamros stood by the door, watching with sorrowful eyes at their newfound friends. It troubled them to know that their ailment was because of their own people. They should have killed the beast that attacked them so many years before when they had the chance but didn't, pitying the man. That was a huge mistake, they found. They only wished there was something they could do besides stand there idly.
And suddenly, a thought came to the silent Muru. He may not have the ability to speak but that did not mean he was slower then his brother.
Quickly, he nudged his the Muru beside him with his elbow to get his attention. The older prince glanced over at him slowly and his eyes widened slowly in realization at one simple hand gesture: two thumbs hooked together, the fingers flapping in the air.
Ricamros inhaled sharply and turned his gaze to his father who still tended to the unconscious ellon. The prince hurried over to him, tapping him on the shoulder. Judeqir glanced over at him questioningly.
"How much time does he have before he succumbs?" He questioned softly, "If he doesn't respond to the brew."
"A few days perhaps." The king answered just as softly and with sadness, "Why?"
He did not get a response as his older son dashed out of the room, his twin quickly in tow. He watched in confusion, then turned back to his patient when he heard another groan. His lips thinned; this was not going well.
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Their strides were evenly matched and their feet made no noise on the polished floors. Silver manes billowed out like banners in the wind, cloaks flapping wildly about their bodies. A fierce determination had se elf upon their hearts to find the one they knew could save the dark haired ellon. She had to be close, they could sense it, and they would find her no matter how long it took.
It still amazed Ricamros how his brother could come up with a solution so quickly. He began to understand why he was such an accomplished commander in the armies, even though he was forever mute. He had his own ailments, yes, but they did not effect him as much as Tarmikos's did. And for that, he admired him.
They sped through the halls, ignoring the shocked outcries from the citizens they passed. They would stop for nothing…until a woman they had never seen before stepped directly into their path, unaware of the collision about to happen.
With a startled gasp, the older twin grabbed on to his brother's sleeve instinctively in an attempt to come to a quick halt. The lady looked up with wide, green eyes and she froze in her tracks. She did not even move as they came to a screeching stop in front of her, balancing precariously over her on their toes. They continued to stare in shock at one another, all unsure of quite how to repair this awkward situation.
Sure, it is just as simple as stepping away with an 'excuse me' but let's just say that our young Muruien princes aren't that bright.
"Um…" The lady began slowly, "Good morning?"
Tarmikos cleared his throat and brought himself back down to his feet, pulling down his brother- who was busy staring at the ground- as well, then studied to new face before him. The maiden was clad in a travel-worn, grayish tunic that came down to her mid-thighs with dark leggings. Her hair, though slightly tousled and knotted, was of dark brunette that fell down to her shoulder blades in soft curls. Slight amusement and shock were still evident in her emerald eyes. She was very beautiful, the silent Muru concluded, but not for him, obviously.
He gave her a quick smile, then stepped out of her path with a nod. Ricamros continued to stand dumbly in front of her, not daring to move his eyes from the stone floor, and the younger twin rolled his eyes. He pulled his brother away quickly, grinned at the lady, and hurried around the corner with his brother in tow.
Only to nearly run into yet another person they did not recognize.
This time, it was an ellon with mahogany hair twisted into simple braids and eyes much the same color as the lady's. He was clad in a hunter green tunic with grey leggings. The hilt of a sword poked out from beneath the folds of his thin cloak. Upon his shoulder sat a golden Peregrine falcon, quirking its head in amusement at the startled Muruien.
It took a moment for it to register in their minds but when it did, the twins broke into huge grins. Their gazes fixed expectantly on the falcon who cackled. The ellon quirked his brow, glancing between the two curiously, then cleared his throat.
"May I help you, my lords?" He questioned and Tarmikos nodded exuberantly. He pointed to the falcon, then motioned for it to follow. With a curious cackle, the creature glided off the ellon's shoulder and landed on Ricamros's silver head. He grunted in annoyance. The elf looked even more confused before at this exchange but before he could ask any questions, the pair turned and sped back from where they came from.
With a cry of shock, Norui stomped forward after them, "What are you doing!" He shouted but they ignored him as they disappeared around another corner, "Come back here!"
Only the sound of their quick footsteps reached his ears and he felt his blood boil. He was barely aware of Iaurtondariel standing next to him, still frozen in her spot. All of a sudden, the ellon was even less prepared to meet his family once again, especially his young brother. He intended on reuniting him with his beloved falcon but now that those 'kind' people had taken her away, he refused to go forward until Espenshade was returned.
"My lady," He said stiffly, "Would you happen to know who those gentlemen were?"
"I am not sure." She replied softly, swallowing hard, "I do not remember seeing them before."
"Then come on, we are going to teach them some manners." He growled, then stormed off in the direction of the retreating Muruien. The elleth blinked once, watching him leave, then followed after him.
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I wonder who that was, Tarmikos thought offhandedly as he ran along side his identical brother, he seemed awfully flustered. Oh well.
Another thing that caught his attention was that his normally exuberant twin had suddenly gone speechless. His first thought was that maybe almost colliding with the lady embarrassed him but he didn't seem the type. Considering the maiden, she did seem awfully familiar, now that he thought about it. Perhaps she had lived in the city when she was younger. She had the same features of a girl he once knew when he was but a child but he couldn't place the name. Ah well, it would come to him later.
He was suddenly aware of the quickly approaching footsteps behind him. Without even having to look back, he knew it was that ellon they took Espenshade from. Oh well, let him run, he thought, not his falcon anyway.
The doors to the chambers where Elladan lay ill came into view and Tarmikos felt his chest well up with pride: no one else thought to seek out Espenshade. As if sensing the need for her help, Espenshade screeched and jolted ahead. The twins increased their pace as they neared and shoved the doors open, slamming against the wall. With another screech, the falcon swooped into the room, leaving two panting Muruien outside to deal with the elves that were still hot on their tail.
Everyone in the room jolted at the sudden noise and looked up with wide eyes. First, their gazes found the silver haired princes leaning against the wall and then the golden streak that burst into the room. Upon recognition, Legolas leapt up from his spot beside the bed with his jaw hanging.
"Espenshade!" He cried elatedly, watching her land upon the bed, "Where have you-"
He paused in his sentence to watch with wide eyes as a familiar white beam formed in the falcon's mouth and splashed upon the still lips of the ellon on the bed. Her muscles visibly tightened and strained under her golden feathers, her wings outstretched to their maximum. Whatever she was doing, it was obvious doing so put tremendous stress on her small being. The young ellon began to worry that she may not come out of this one unscathed.
The King of Banemera was in a state of shock completely different then that of the ellon's. He figured that his sons had something planned to help but not…this. Where had they found her? She couldn't have just been in the palace the whole time, could she have? At the moment, he wasn't sure if he wanted to hug his twins or strangle them.
Ricamros and Tarmikos watched on curiously as the falcon did her work. Small, identical smiles broke upon their lips and the older Muru placed his hand upon his brother's shoulder. The other one simply grinned at him, quite pleased with his 'genius' mind. But their pleased moods were suddenly interrupted when they were swung around quickly and thrown against the wall. Their blues eyes met the emerald ones of that ellon.
"So we meet again, my lords." He hissed, glaring. Tarmikos rolled his eyes while Ricamros quirked his brow.
"Good morning." He said, bowing his head as best as he could, "Forgive us for our actions but we needed to borrow your friend for a moment."
"It would have been most decent of you if you had have asked first before plucking her from my shoulder and darting away." Norui retorted. At this, both princes narrowed their eyes.
"And it would be most decent of you, my lord, to release the last remaining princes of this household."
Norui studied the two identical Muruien for a moment, a scowl still on his features. Being a prince himself, he knew that he always used that 'argument' against the people of his own home in order to get his way but, suddenly, he didn't like the idea of it being turned against him. A smirk grew upon the lips of Ricamros and his scowl deepened.
"Why should a prince of Mirkwood bow to the princes of a city very people know the name of?"
Even more confusion filled the ellon's body as the twins' eyes widened in shock. They seemed to cower slightly beneath him and he was not sure if he should be pleased with himself or worried. What happened to bring upon the sudden change?
"A prince of Mirkwood?" The Muru questioned, "Then that would make you brother to Legolas, right?"
"You know him?" Norui swallowed hard, his eyes widening. If they knew him, that means he would be in the palace somewhere. Anxiousness and uncertainty suddenly coursed through him, "How?"
"We escorted him and his companions here not two days ago." Ricamros replied, "If you wish to see him, he is in that room." He pointed towards the open doors.
Slowly, the ellon released his grip on the Muruien and stepped away. Unbidden, his feet shuffled over to the doorway and he peeked in. Sure enough, the entire group was gathered around the bed, watching anxiously as Espenshade worked her magic. His eyes first landed upon his two sisters who stood by each other, tears trailing down Melyanna's cheeks. The ellon frowned at this and he wished for nothing more then to go to her and wrap his arms around her, whispering soothing words to her. He knew not what has caused her distress but even so, he wished to help.
Then his eyes landed upon his younger brother and a soft smile came upon his lips. Out of everyone, he missed him the most despite the trouble he always caused. He chuckled lightly at the expression on Legolas's face; his eyes were so wide as he watched his beloved falcon, Norui feared that the young prince's eyeballs would roll out of his head. He looked like he was about to run over and smother the bird in his embrace.
Once again, nervousness came upon him and he stepped away from the door. He was not ready to meet his family again, not yet. He needed more time to come to grips that he was alive again, no longer in Mandos's Halls with his mother. He was elated to be back again, he supposed, but just not ready to face everyone. He turned to the awaiting Muruien again and smiled slightly.
"Thank you, my lords." He said, "Forgive my actions towards you, I was already in a foul mood and your interruption seemed to spark it even more. May I ask your names?"
Both silver haired princes perked up with grins on their faces, "I am Ricamros and my brother is Tarmikos." He replied, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Prince Norui." The ellon jolted slightly at the mention of his name but he shrugged it off; Legolas probably mentioned it earlier. He watched as the silent Muru nudged his brother in the ribs with a grin and Ricamros returned it with his own grin, "Excuse, my lord, I meant Prince Noruion."
A shiver ran up the ellon's spine at the name and he gritted his teeth; alright, Legolas was never say that! Who was it then? Norui cleared his throat stiffly, fighting back the twitch that was sure to come. Oh, how he despised that name!
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Legolas watched on anxiously as his falcon put all her strength into healing the ellon. He could not fathom how her powers could possibly rid Elladan of the Muru but, obviously, it was possible. He also began to wonder how she managed to show up at just the right time. What was she doing out there? Was she following along the whole time? No matter what she had been doing, he was elated that she had returned. If she had have been healing the dark haired ellon, he probably would have rushed over to her and squeezed her in happiness.
A few more moments passed and the 'magic' began to dwindle. Espenshade's small body began to quake under the stress of the healing and once the beam of light dissipated, her legs collapsed underneath of her. She gave a heavy sigh, then fluttered away to the headboard and shut her eyes. Everyone turned their attention back to Elladan but he did not look any different to their eyes. They looked back to Judeqir questioningly but he only sighed, massaging his forehead.
"Now, we must wait. Her healing powers will help to bring him out of this state so he should be awake by nightfall. By thankful your falcon showed up when she did; he did not have a very great chance of survival." The companions smiled gratefully at him, bowing their heads and whispering their words of thanks. He merely shrugged with a small, casual smile on his lips, then turned and strode from the room.
As soon as the door clicked shut, all eyes spun to the golden haired prince expectantly. Legolas glanced between them all, swallowing hard with wide eyes. He shrugged.
"What?" He said meekly and Lothron's lips turned up into a smirk.
"Since when did Espenshade have healing powers?" She asked, crossing her arms. The prince grinned sheepishly.
"I discovered it long ago after an attack on the borders, I think it was." He replied.
"So is that how you were able to heal so quickly after that warg incident?" Elrohir added quickly, moving to sit beside his brother on the bed. The golden haired ellon only nodded.
"It would have been very helpful if you let us know that, Legolas." The Crown Princess said, "We could have prevented so many things."
"Like what? After that, we never had need to use it. I only used her one other time, when Jaimea and I were driven off that cliff."
The group did not let their gazes drop from him, studying him with scrutinizing eyes. He shuffled anxiously under their stares, flinching every time he made eye contact. Finally, after a few more moments of uneasiness, the company grinned at him and turned away to do their own business. Legolas quirked his brow at their behavior but said nothing, not wishing to being more questioning upon himself.
But suddenly, a strange feeling came upon him. Not anxiety, mind you, but comfort and a sense of welcoming. For a moment, he thought it Espenshade's return but realized it could not- he had had this feeling before, as well as his two sisters. The night he had awoken suddenly, he has a strange sensation in the pit of his stomach and now it was back.
And it seemed to be drawing him towards the corridor.
Glancing quickly between his companions, he sidled over towards the door and as he did so, the feeling grew stronger. His heart leapt in his chest and he bit his lips, placing his hand to rest on the frame of the door. He took one more look at the group, then stepped out quickly into the corridor.
Only to be meant with the startled gazes of the Muruien princes. The sense slowly began to fade until it vanished into nothing. A frown settled upon his lips and he rested his head against the wall, sighing heavily. He felt empty once more.
Ricamros cleared his throat softly, trying to catch the ellon's attention. Legolas looked up at him with defeated eyes questioningly. The Muru was about to open his mouth to speak but was cut off at the sound of hurried footsteps. The golden haired prince sat up and looked down the hall but the Muru only turned away quickly, settling his bright eyes on the floor. Within a few moments, a dark haired elleth turned the corner.
Legolas gasped at seeing her and she froze, staring at him with wide eyes. The ellon's heart leapt in his chest and he grinned widely at her, coming to stand before her. Her green eyes only stared into his in shock.
"It is a pleasure to meet you again, my lady Iaurtondariel." He greeted, "We have very much missed your company." She hesitated for a moment, before giving him a small smile.
"I was right on your tail the whole time. I did not mean to worry you, my lord." She struggled to conceal her discomfort.
"Where did you go?"
"No where in particular; just some things that I needed to take care of."
"Ah, I see." The ellon said, still grinning, "Would you like to come see the others?" The elleth shook her head, smiling, then stepped back.
"Perhaps later, my lord." She replied, "But I would like to rest up a bit, if it isn't too much difficultly." A disappointed look came across his face but it quickly disappeared, being replaced with a wide smile and he nodded.
"Of course, I understand. I am sure Ricamros and Tarmikos can help you with that." He said, motioning to the silent princes behind him. The silent Muru smiled at her but Ricamros showed no sign of noticing her. Tarmikos motioned for her to follow him, outstretching his arm for her and she smiled uneasily. She gave another short glance to Legolas before taking the offer and striding away down the hall. And only one thought passed through her mind…
Why did that blasted Norui run!
IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI
The day passed them by quickly and most of it was spent in Elladan's chambers. They were only half aware of the soft chatter of people passing in the halls and the sun slowly setting behind them. A soft glow was set in the room, casting shadows in the corners, and a small fire had been built up in the hearth. The crackling of the flames was the only sound in the room and it brought comfort to all present.
The ailing ellon showed little signs of recovery, except for the occasional moan of discomfort. They all wished for nothing more then to be able to bring him back to the light and help fight the demon but they believed in the words of the king. He would pull through- he had to.
Espenshade had awoken once again and was feeling quite lethargic. It seemed like it had been ages since she had used such powers but she would recover in time. For the mean time, she was content to sit in her master's arms, chewing slowly on a thin piece of meat as the golden haired prince's fingers trailed slowly down her back. The heat from the fire was comforting to her sore form.
The two Muruien princes had returned after bringing Iaurtondariel to her room though they could never find the other ellon who had run off so suddenly. The older twin wanted to say something but every time he found the opportunity, he was jabbed harshly in the ribs by his brother. It surprised them both how much they had taken to the small company. They thought it would have been a simple escort, like so many times before, the group would do their business and be off. But now, they felt like they never wanted them to leave. Such an amusing bunch, they commented.
"How much longer do you think he will be under this state?" Arwen asked softly, sitting gently on the bed. Ricamros shrugged.
"I am not sure but you should not worry yourself over it. He will be just fine now that the falcon has tended to him."
"How did you know that she possessed such ability, my lord?" Estel questioned, "We did not even know of it until we saw it. Except Legolas, of course."
The Muru opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it and they could all tell he wanted to say something. But something kept him from doing that and it intrigued them even more.
"My lord? Will you tell us?" He asked again, drawing his knees up to his chest.
"I-I don't know if I should…" Ricamros hesitated, running his hands through his silver locks. Tarmikos watched him expectantly, tugging anxiously at the sleeves of his tunic.
"It cannot possibly be that great a deal." Arwen persisted, "Please?"
"Well, I-"
"If you cannot do it, my son, then I will."
Everyone jolted slightly at the new voice and turned their attention to the king who stood in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. A firm glare was set upon his lips and the twin princes cowered slightly.
"But Father-"
"Silence, Ricamros, you know it must be said." Judeqir retorted firmly and the younger Muru made no signs of defiance.
"What is this about, my lord?" Lothron questioned, moving to sit beside her brother. Espenshade shuffled in agitation in Legolas's arms.
"You will know soon enough." He replied, "Now, Espenshade, let them know."
The falcon hissed fiercely, ruffling her feathers.
"Do it!"
"My lord, please-" Legolas started only to be cut off once more.
"Now, Espenshade!"
She screeched shrilly, creating a painful ring in the ears of those in the room. She spread her golden wings and soared swiftly to the nightstand, knocking off a few items in the process. Another screech echoed in the room.
"You know the law, Espenshade! Now let them see!"
A heavy silence fell over the room and all but the king and falcon seemed unaffected by it. The intensity nearly crackled in the air and everyone had only one desire and that was to get out as quickly as possible. Even Elladan, who still lay unconscious, seemed troubled.
And that is when it happened- when the life of one golden haired prince twisted in a way he could never imagine. Something so painful and incredible that he could not even dream of it.
Ever so slowly, a golden light formed around her, nearly blocking her from sight. And he could do nothing but watch as his long time friend and savior transformed right before his very eyes.
XX
There you go! Sorry it took so long. I've been really busy helping to direct my school play so I didn't really have much time…sorries. Not the best chapter but oh well. I try. :) Hope you liked it and I'll try to get the next one out as soon as possible! Thanks for reading! And PLEASE, people, REVIEW! I'm getting hungry for reviews!
Oh, and I drew a few pictures of some of the characters so if any one wants to see them, let me know in your review and I'll email it to you!
And thank you so, so much, Ty, for betaing! It is so much appreciated::glomps:D
Until Next Time,
Manwathiel
