Disclaimer: Legolas is not mine. The Fey are. At least I think.
The city that spread out before Legolas was something beyond his comprehension. It was, with a word, magical looking. Every single building looked like it was made of glass or crystal, with sunlight glinting off the rounded corners of the buildings. Despite this none of the buildings looked transparent. Beyond the city was a wide plain that reminded Legolas of the land of Rohan, but there was something about it that seemed more real and at the same time unreal.
A road began a few strides before them made of stone so smooth as if made by dwarven craft.
"Down this way?" he asked, pointing to the road. Falinor nodded. The road felt like earth under his feet but sounded like stone. It was not a comfortable feeling.
Everything around him seemed to be sending him vibes of something being off, of something not natural and yet at the same time perfectly natural. The horses' hooves struck like flint against steel with sparks. At least the black one's did. His own horse trod with clacking noises.
Buildings seem to grow out of the landscape, starting small at the edges of the city and slowly growing taller. This too seemed so organic and natural that it rung wrong. The people in the city were even more unbelievable. Falinor was perhaps the most normal looking. They were of every color and shape imaginable. He saw some that looked like orcs and others like elves, but their skins were in shades he didn't think were possible. Some were glowing; others had wings like birds, dragons or insects. Some had eight hands and one or two he saw had the parts of an animal attached to them.
Legolas could almost do nothing but stare. Fortunately the black horse seemed to know where home was and pushed a head, eager to be home. The lost elf followed the horse, trusting his own to follow.
All of the strange creatures stared at them. At their strange procession. He couldn't tell what they were saying, though. Even his elven hearing couldn't help with this. But they sounded shocked and yet excited about something.
The end of the road turned out to be the gates of a fine palace. Two guards stood in the way of the black horse, which stamped its hooves against the ground in irritation. These guards looked more like Falinor. They were dressed in armor though, with tall halberds in their hands.
They took one look at Falinor and tried to hide smiles.
"Did the little bird finally get caught?" one of them asked. Neither seemed to notice Legolas. Falinor snarled a little.
"I did what I was told to do. Unlike some I could speak of."
The guard that had spoken, glowered back, anger flashing in his eyes, "Don't speak to me like that half breed. I'll have your handler bring you to heel quick enough."
"Enough," Legolas snapped, channeling his father in one of his really bad moods. "Stop your bickering. It is pointless. I wish an audience with your queen. If you can not help me with this, then find me someone who can."
His voice got the guards attention, and they both snapped to.
"Of course M'lord, I'll send for someone right this instant," the guard that hadn't spoken yet said before turning and running away. The other guard stepped back and let Legolas and the horses through. A liveried stabled hand ran up and took the custody of the black horse before looking at Falinor and the strange horse.
"Are you going to let me down?" Falinor asked.
"Of course." He pulled a knife free and cut the other's bonds before helping him off the horse. Falinor wasn't able to stand on his own and so he leaned against Legolas. At least he did up until a regal man similar to Falinor dressed in leathers reminiscent of a human's hunting outfit came out. Then Falinor stiffened and leaned against Legolas' horse that still stood patiently in the same spot.
From Falinor's reactions, Legolas guessed that this man was Fallinor's handler. Whatever that meant. He smiled broadly and in such away that Legolas immediately didn't trust him.
"My lord, forgive the guards and my pet. I'm sure any wrongs that have been made can be made right and quickly. Please let me welcome you to the palace of the Queen of the Fey. She has been eagerly awaiting your appearance, but begs off an audience until after you've had a chance to rest."
The man's speech clinched Legolas' dislike and mistrust of the man. No one he could trust would claim another living being such as Falinor as a pet. Falinor, on the other hand, had gone over to the man and stood quietly, like an obedient dog.
"The only wrongs that need to be righted now are that I would like to go home."
"Of course. And that need shall be attended to, of course. But not now."
"And why not?"
"Because now is not a good time." There was something in his voice that made Legolas leery of pushing the conversation further.
"Perhaps you are right," he said. "It has been a long day. I would like time to rest."
"Of course you would. If you would care to follow me?" He bowed and indicated that Legolas should precede him.
Putting on his best court face and trying to act as his father would in this situation, Legolas walked in the direction indicated. The unnamed man –elf – he supposed, with ears like that. They all could be elves, of some sort (what sort he couldn't begin to fathom). Though he was glad that they weren't elves of his sort. In any case the elf fell into step next to him, Falinor trailing behind.
"I'm afraid I didn't get your name, sir." Legolas said, as they walked up the steps to the palace. The elf smiled at him.
"I am Lord Halkins, keeper of the Queen's Falcon," he said giving Legolas a short bow.
"Legolas of Mirkwood," Legolas returned, deciding to keep his royalty a secret for now. It wasn't something that he felt that should be spread around at this time, better to just be a normal elf. "The Queen's Falcon?" that sounded like a title.
Halkins gestured to Falinor. "The Queen's Falcon. She sends him out hunting for things and in between those times, someone has to keep him."
"He can't keep himself?"
The response to that was hearty laughter. Apparently this was a funny idea. Legolas wish that he knew why. Falinor didn't seem to be paying any attention.
"Do you like our little falcon? He could keep you company if you'd like?"
Legolas looked back at Falinor, who looked frightened at this concept. "I don't think so," he said. Falinor immediately looked less frightened.
"No?" Halkins looks a bit disappointed. "Ah, well, I suppose I'll just have to keep him entertained myself."
Now Falinor just looked resigned. Stranger and stranger. After all, why would a lord need to keep his pet or servant entertained? This was starting to feel like a chess game, except that Legolas couldn't see all the pieces on the board. He had a feeling that the queen was still the one piece that had to be watched out for. They were the most unpredictable, after all.
The palace, Legolas noticed as the walked into it deeper, was made out of a pinkish marble. It had white swirls and looked almost like strawberry cream. There were great tapestries placed on the walls depicting dragons and creatures that Legolas couldn't identify, horses with horns, half eagle half cat creatures and hundreds of others. Some looked like the Oliphants that he had heard stories about. The pictures with dragons in it appeared to be fierce battles … and for some reason Legolas found himself rooting for the dragon.
Paintings of great hunts were also in the halls that they walked through. Great lords and ladies wearing armor and on noble looking steeds rode after hounds with red ears and red eyes. The prey of these hunts were often humans. Terrified, frightened humans who looked as if they didn't have a chance in their life to survive those wild hunts.
Lord Halkins noticed Legolas staring at the paintings and smiled. "The Hunt is a favorite past time of the King. He is always looking for new people to join in it."
"It looks…interesting," Legolas said. It was the best he could come up with. He felt that there could definitely be a way that he would end up as the next prey if he wasn't careful.
"It is." He paused at a door, "Here are some rooms that you may use. Falinor will stay to make sure everything is as you want. He's very obedient." He opened the door and gestured for Legolas to step inside.
Legolas got the impression of a vast well decorated room before the door shut behind him. Spinning around he saw Falinor standing meekly in by the door. The door was shut and he didn't doubt it was locked. They wouldn't want him wandering around by himself and Falinor was to serve as his guardian.
Well, they would discover exactly how difficult it was to keep a Mirkwood elf, especially when he didn't wish to be kept.
Next Chapter: The Castle, the Court and Caution