We both laughed and continued walking.
"So tell me," I began "what have you been up to?"
After Jesses arrived I began to show him around the city. It was exciting to share my everyday life with my friend who seemed to be very interested in his new home. For as long as I had been in Mirkwood, I had been surrounded by nothing but flawless Elves. And now, I had not only a human but a very close friend (who happened to be rather attractive)
As we continued to walk through the city, we began to fill each other in on what had happened since we had last seen one another. Jesse talked about how he and his father had been part of the Gondorian Rangers, and how they had been traveling throughout the region.
"So you and your Ranger friends are the ork extermination team for Gondor?" I asked as we weaved our through the crowds.
"In a way," he laughed.
"Ooo!" I exclaimed pointing to a building that was surrounded by Elves that were obviously part of Mirkwood's military. "That's the best place in Middle Earth to get a stiff drink."
Jesse was silent for a few seconds, unsure of what to say.
"I thought you weren't the drinking kind" he looked at me in confusion.
"I'm not! Just this one time my friend and I snuck in after hours and got a little tiny weenie bit tipsy. Not enough to do any harm" I added.
We continued walking.
"It's like a pub or tavern I guess."
"A place for all the guys to hang out and relax after work." Jesse filled in for me.
"Exactly why I snuck in there after hours."
Jesse laughed again, but my mind had gone wandering into the past.
I remembered a time about six months ago when I was still learning the Elvish language, a group of Elleths who appeared to be my age, harassed me all day long. Keeping their distance, they made me the object of all their jokes and subject to their cruel amusement. When out of the blue, Legolas came and rescued me. We had been good friends ever since and had many adventures together. (One of which included sneaking into the tavern)
I sighed, wishing our friendship could have remained strong instead of dissolving like a cookie in a glass of milk.
"Something wrong?" Jesse asked seeing me dazed off.
"No, nothing's wrong." I lied.
"Victoria," he said, directing my attention ahead of us. A rider obviously from the palace was quickly approaching. I let go of Jesse's arm as the herald stopped in front of us.
"Jesse Callaway?" the blonde Elf asked.
"Yes,"
"King Thranduil requests you to come to the palace at once."
Jesse and I exchanged glances.
"He'll be there shortly." I answered.
The Elf rode off without another word.
"You're going to have to help me out on this one," Jesse admitted shrugging his shoulders and smiling. "Because I have no idea where the palace would be."
"Well, I have a pretty good idea." I suggested.
"Lead away O Wise One." He teased.
"Yes… master." I said imitating Igor.
We both laughed again as I led the way through the city.
"Whoa," Jesse exclaimed under his breath. "That's the palace?"
"It doesn't look like a palace to you?" I asked sarcastically.
"I just wasn't expecting something so…nice." He gawked at the incredible structure before us.
"Get used to the world of Elves," I muttered.
Simply put, it looked like a palace befitting the quality of Middle Earth's royal Mirkwood Elves in every small detail.
"I know it's beautiful, but I don't want to make you late." I reminded my friend.
Racing each other up the long marble steps we set foot onto the palace floor, passing large ivy covered pillars I continued to lead the way through the elegant building. Groups of Elves eyed Jesse curiously as we passed, but didn't seem to question me.
"You really know your way around." He observed, trying to keep up with me.
"Yes, I do. Now, my best guess is that if the king wants to see you, he'll probably be in the Royal Hall. But King Thranduil also likes to take this sort of business in his personal study."
"Are you trying to tell me you don't know where I am supposed to be going?" Jesse panicked.
"Hey! I thought someone would have met us by now to point us in the right direction."
My feet picked up a quicker pace.
"Hold on a second, whoa, slow down," Jesse grabbed my arm, pulled me to a stop and clasped his strong arms around my shoulders.
I exhaled, looking into his large black irises.
"Victoria, look." He said his voice calm. "I am as excited to be here as you are to have me here. But relax; you don't have to worry so much.
I looked down at the floor embarrassed by my worrisome behavior. Letting go of my shoulders Jesse gently raised my chin.
"Everything will be alright. I'm sure of it." He whispered.