A Dream Within Words
Chapter Six: Of Elves and Dæmon
Summary: A young and very imaginative Legolas soon discovers that dreams are not always formed at nighttime, and that even they can seem unbelievably real and just as dangerous than what they are assumed to be.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything or anyone associated with Lord of the Rings, nor with the Golden Compass. I get no profit from making this fan fiction. This is purely fan made. Also, the characters that I have created (meaning the brothers) are mine (duh), and I take great pride in them. If you so desire to borrow them, feel free to ask. - Large quotes by themselves in italics are words taken from the book, simply used for the dream like sequence. Everything else will be improved (to the best of my abilities). Italics with ' shall be thoughts.
A/N #1: Guess who got a reoccurring case of tendonitis in her knee as well as strained her meniscus while on vacation at Disney World? This girl, right here. Thus, I'm stuck at home when I'm not working, and lying around doing nothing. Well...not doing nothing, exactly, for I'm going to be trying to update the POOP out of this.
The night was cool as a gentle breeze blew over the rooftops and through open windows. It was nearing winter, a slight chill creeping through the wind as it moved. Sitting cross-legged, Legolas stared up into the sky, breathing in deeply and resisting the urge to shudder at the air around him. This certainly wasn't home. The air was not clean, the skies were not clear, and no stars seemed to exist past the murky clouds that hovered over the city. To be certain, they truthfully weren't clouds, but frankly, the young elf was in the wrong place, let alone era to understand smog. No, this was not home, and the realization of this only seemed to further impact him in his solace. To say he missed the trees was an understatement. To hear their voices and their kind whisperings and words of encouragement was something that was deeply missed. Sure, they had trees here on the Oxford campus (whatever that really was. All he really understood was that they were a cluster of buildings (homes?) with bossy people and others who considered themselves a higher class), but they were nothing like the trees at home.
He would teach them to speak, over time. They were slowly opening up to him. The young elf only hoped that they would be able to do so quickly so they could inform him of what had happened to Roger.
Roger...
The elf stood up from his spot on the roof, barely sparing a glance to the ground below as he deftly clambered down, trusting his hands and feet to lead him down a safe path from the walls of the college. Scale down one building, you've scaled them all. Not that the palace of the Elven-King was even close to being as easy to maneuver down as this place was, the things Legolas had learned concerning sneaking away came in handy in times such as these. Taking a careful look around from within the shadow of the building, he silently lept off, boots barely making a sound on the wet pavement below as he pulled up the hood to the jacket Roger had lent him and followed the road down. The lights from the lanterns on the road did little to illuminate the figures on the road, in a vehicle or otherwise.
However, all eyes seemed to attract to a gleaming white car that was parked in front of the place, a driver helping out someone from the backseat. Despite the lack of true lighting, it didn't take much for bright blue eyes to pick out certain traits. The expensive looking coat, the glimmer of jewels on the person hand, and, more specifically, the golden creature that deftly moved on the white coated person and rested on their shoulder. Legolas had been here long enough to identify this creature as a dæmon and most certainly not a pet of any kind.
Was there a difference? Besides the talking, Legolas seemed to think there wasn't anything else that was classified as 'special' about these creatures. Not that that didn't stop him from needing to find one as well. It was highly suspicious to not have one, as he was soon learning in his few days spent here.
As far as dæmon's went, this one left the others something to be desired. With it's shimmering golden coat and it's bright eyes, the elf stared, mesmerized by it. His feet moved slowly toward it, lured in by the creature as any other child would be. All too suddenly the feeling abandoned him as the creature in question turned to look at him, freezing the elf in his tracks and causing his blood to run cold. Never had a fear struck him so deep before and a slight shiver ran through his body. The hooded figure looked over at him as well before slowly making their way over. Slowly, the white hood fell from the persons head as their hands moved to lower it and she crouched a safe distance away from the elf whose hood remained up. A warm smile touched her ruby lips as she looked at him.
"Are you alright?" she asked him, her voice smooth as silk and loving as a parent. Upon receiving no response, she tiled her head lightly, her soft black hair brushing her cheek as she moved, looking to the golden monkey on her shoulder. "He didn't scare you, did he? He's a little wary of strangers..." As if on cue, the creature moved down her arm and stood behind her, her hand reaching out to absently stroke his soft fur, her eyes watching as the uneasiness left the child in front of her, slowly but surely. "Come now, there's no need to be afraid, dear. If you bring out your dæmon, i'm sure they'll come to be good friends." Still, she received no response, although it did not pass her notice that he continued to look at her dæmon with an immense amount of interest. They always did.
A few more moments passed before she took a few steps forward, the creature following behind her. Still offering a warm smile to the hooded boy, the dark haired woman crouched down. "What's your name, boy?"
"Len..."
Her smile grew warmer and her eyes seemed to brighten at this. "Hello, Len," she said warmly, still watching him watch her dæmon. "Do your parents know you are out?" It was slight, but the hesitation did not go unnoticed, although she refrained from doing anything on it as he finally shook his head. "I see. You know, Len, it's not safe to be traveling about at night. I'm sure your parents are very worried about you." Immediately, bright blue eyes met hers and the woman had to refrain from a gasp as their eyes connected. Wide, innocent, deep eyes seemed to bore to her and she was momentarily stunned, probably appearing just as entranced as the boy had been about her beloved golden dæmon. With a blink, the spell was over and she remembered who she was.
"Where do you live, Len? I'm sure I have enough time to escort you back to your family."
"In the.." what had Lyra continually called it again? Oh! "The college, Milady," came an immediate response from her, the boys voice soft and light, causing the woman to blink, momentarily stunned. Certainly not the sort of wording she had expected from a place like this. He didn't appear to be from any outstanding family, judging by his clothing, yet...well...his bearing seemed to tell another story. Nevermind. If he was from the college, she was sure to find out more.
With a smile, she gently moved her head, the monkey slowly coming out from behind her and moving to stand in front of the boy. "Do you like him, Len?" she asked, causing his eyes to move from her and back to the creature, nodding slowly before becoming more official. Her smile grew as he crouched down as well to the creature, reaching into his pocket for a piece of bread Lyra had given him earlier in the day while they had been moving about with the other children from the town. With a look to the woman, the monkey slowly moved it's hand, making sure not to make contact with the boy and waited for him to drop the piece of bread. As Legolas did so, something highly unexpected happened.
He began to pet her dæmon.
Both the creature and the mortal froze, the woman's throat tightening and her chest constricting as she watched in horror. The creature froze in shock as well, it's skin almost rippling under Legolas's features. The elf noticed the stiffness and stillness and looked up, retracting his hand slowly. "Milady...are you well?" he finally asked her, concern lacing his voice.
As if on cue, the woman snapped out of it and slowly stood, looking down at him with an unnerving wonder. "Yes, dear...yes, I am well." The smile she offered him wasn't as strong as before, yet it seemed to work for the guilt that had flashed through the boy seemed to have ebbed away.
"Mrs. Coulter?"
A voice from the doorway grabbed their attention and the dark haired woman in question held out her hand, her dæmon using it as a stepping pad and climbing up gracefully onto her shoulder. "I will be there in just a moment." The soothing allure in her voice was back as she looked back at the young man she had been speaking with. "It was lovely meeting you, Len. I do hope to see you again soon." With her customary smile in place, she pat the boy on the head, her gloved hand meeting the material of his hood before she elegantly walked away.
As elegant as any mortal could walk, at any rate.
"Mrs. Coulter is lovely, en't she, Pan?!
Lyra was practically jumping up and down on the bed in excitement as her dæmon chirped above her, flying around in circles like a canary hopped up on one too many sugar stalks. Legolas, meanwhile, was sitting on the floor near the bed, trying to calm down a small bird in his hands that he had found on the side of the road, it's wing broken. He had a compilation of strips of cloth (kindly donated by Lyra, not so kindly given up by her clothing's standards) and sticks of varying size and thickness in an attempt to make a makeshift splint. This certainly wasn't the first time he had done something like this, and he would make sure that it wouldn't be the last.
"Ya shouldda seen her, Legolas! Her eyes were so pretty and her lips were bright, bright cherry red that made her look so fancy and she was smarter than all the other boring college ladies 'ere. Oh, oh! And her dæmon! He looked so soft, and his fur shone so brightly!" With an exuberant thump, the young girl landed on her stomach, peering over Legolas's shoulder, frowning as he looked over at her and inched to the side slightly to avoid her prying eyes. The battle of her trying to constantly look over his shoulder and he escaping her ended as his shoulder was pressed against the wall and her body awkwardly clambered over the pillows and against the headboard.
"Are you listenin' to me?"
"My apologies...were you saying something?"
With a huff, Lyra flopped onto her back, lifting her legs up and allowing Pantalaimon to perch on her feet, chirping merrily. "You shoulda seen her, Legolas..."
"Av-'osto, tithen pen. Tullen tye-rehtien." (Don't be afraid, little one. I am here to help you.) A slow smile crept on his face as the small creature in his hand lessened it's wiggling, it's eyes blinking and head gently jerking around to get a look at the room. Gingerly, the elf moved the wing and bound it before looking at Lyra. "Goheno nin. Who?" (Forgive me).
"...Huh?" Blinking like a sloth, the two held eye contact before she quickly rolled onto her stomach, causing Pan to chirp indignantly before landing on her head, the both of them watching the elf. "Oh! Mrs. Coulter!"
"Oh...I met her, and her...her..."
"Her dæmon?"
"Yes. He's very soft and fluffy."
"You touched her dæmon?!"
The elf jolted at this, murmuring apologies before looking at Lyra and the rapid shifting Pantalaimon, his hands moving over the bird in his hands protectively yet retaining his ginger hold. "Yes...I was feeding him some bread and...I just reached out and pet him-"
"You en't s'posed to do that, Legolas! You don't ever touch someone's dæmon!" the young girl yelled at him, obviously very livid with the very thought that he had done such a careless and forbidden! He should have known better, to be honest, and the very thought of anyone, let alone the elf touching her dear Pan filled her with such anger and fear. Everyone knew that it was something you didn't do. Touching someone's dæmon was a taboo, as frowned upon as walking over carpet in mud ridden shoes or going to a church man and telling them that God didn't exist.
As taboo as no longer believing in elves or trying to turn them into goblins.
He watched as Lyra's own dæmon took the form of a wolf pup, curling protectively next to her, ears lying back and a whimpering growl escaping his teeth. Legolas slowly stood up, backing up to the wall and looking at the two. "I didn't know," he told her, his tone going to the defensive as he watched her, an almost indignant look flaring in his eyes. He didn't do anything wrong, as far as he was concerned. "I don't have one." he soon told her, an almost haughty look developing in his expression as he watched her. Her reaction was almost satisfactory. Understanding filtered in as her eyes went from his hands to the hurt bird's wing, and back to his arm, almost as if expecting him to be hurt as well. As he showed no signs of pain, however, or even a remote understanding of the sheer horror of what he had done, her look slowly gave way to pity.
This wasn't something he was expecting, and slowly the very Thranduilion look he had been giving also leaked into something akin to uncertainty. It was never a good thing when people gave you that look, as if you had lost something you loved dearly.
Moving back into a sitting position, her hands greedily reached out to Pantalaimon who fully complied, nestling into her lap as her fingers ran through his coarse hair. "I'm sorry, Legolas...I...I forgot."
The apology threw the young elf off guard, his eyebrows knitting together and thumbs gently brushing over the small figure in his hands in a gentle, soothing motion. After a few moments he shrugged and sat back down, one hand moving to wave off the apology as a sign of 'no harm done'. Truthfully, he didn't understand why she was sorry. Unless, of course, it was for the outburst, but frankly, the boy didn't think it really had anything to do with that. The sort of sorry she had given him was one that his father had said when he asked where his mother was. Or when he asked his brothers when they might go visit their mother in the 'place beyond Middle Earth'. It had happened so long ago that the elf barely remembered her, but any time the question arose in his mind he was given the fare same sympathetic answer with the very same sad smile and the very same look in their eyes.
Pity.
After a few moments of silence, Lyra huffed – a clear indication that she was searching for something to say, yet ultimately hoping someone else would find it first- before finally speaking. "So...what're you doing?"
"Petting a bird."
The answer alone caused Lyra to stare blankly at her friend who, after a few moments of feeling eyes bore into his shoulder, looked up once more, mild annoyance reflecting in his eyes. He tilted his head in question, his short tresses brushing against his neck as the two held a companionable stare down.
"Why didja bring a bird in here for?" she finally asked, propping her elbows up on her knees and resting her cheeks in her hands, causing her face to pucker slightly and eliciting a musical laugh from her friend on the ground.
"Because she was hurt and all alone...and...well.." looking at the bird, he grew sheepish, yet continued to smile fondly at it. "I was hoping that she would be my friend and pretend to be my dæmon. I'm not as close to birds as my brother is...yet..."
Lyra beamed at this, clapping her hands together happily and causing the dæmon in her lap to give a slight whine of annoyance, pawing at her in an effort to return her arms to their original spot, the urge to practically melt into his human deeply rooted within him at the moment. All this talk of people not having dæmon was very unnerving business, you see.
"I think that's a wonderful idea!" continued Lyra, giving Pan a gentle bop on the head while watching the elf. "You can teach her how to steal shiny things,"
"Or plant seeds in people's food,"
"Or their beds,"
"Or land on their heads,"
"Or go to the bathroom on their coats."
"Or pass letters back and for-...Lyra, that is a very indecent thing to say..."
Laughter bubbled up between the two before immediately hushing, making sure that their noise hadn't been heard by the rest of the house. It was exceptionally late now, and although the need to sleep was slowly creeping up on Lyra, she was far too excited to worry on it too much. Still, as their laughter died down, the elf stood up (carefully, mind you, so as not to frighten the precious animal in his hands) before sitting on the bed next to Lyra, crossing his legs together.
"Mrs. Coulter seemed rather nice when I met her," he mentioned, bringing up the topic of her desire. "I haven't...met very many mortals. My father had warned me about their race, and...while he said not a lot of them were kind...I have yet to meet one that was unkind. What happened while you were away?"
Finally! An opening in which she could begin her magnificent storytelling! It wasn't a long story, unfortunately, and she certainly could have dragged it on for a very, very, very, long time, sharing in Mrs. Coulter's adventures and quests she had been on, talking about how intelligent she was and how it's possible that she'd probably know how to find Legolas's home, and has probably been there before (which, admittedly, got the elf a bit excited, too). Of course, she was quick to assure her friend that she didn't say anything about his sudden appearance in the crypt. "Not till I know more. I can't go 'round tellin' her everything at once, although I'm sure she'd be helpful," at this point, Lyra was beside herself with excitement. "That's not even the best part, though," she said, practically bouncing up and down on the bed.
"Mrs. Coulter is offerin' to let me be her assistant and go to the North an' she's going to teach me all sorts of things!"
Legolas stared. "...You're...leaving?"
"Not now, silly. Prob'ly in a couple of years. I'll tell you more after breakfast tomorrow," yawned the girl, mildly attempting to impress her friend and ease his worries.
A couple years, however, did not ease the worries of an elf. A couple years was nothing. The only time a couple years came into play when settling a matter was over some sort of trade with Lake Town. Legolas hadn't seen the twin sons of Elrond in a couple years. That's how short of a time frame that was, in his eyes at least.
"You're going to help me find a way back home before you do...right?" he finally asked her, looking towards her in hopes of finding what he had been looking for: reassurance. Her care-free attitude to the situation helped him relax, his shoulders slowly relaxing away from the hunched position they had taken only moments prior. The look didn't stop the growing pit of uncertainty in his stomach, but for now...visual relaxation would be alright.
Her 'of course' was obstructed by a large yawn, Legolas taking it as a cue to either snuggle into the bed with her and sleep, or exit the room for a rest period. Tonight, however, he opted to go outside for a bit.
"En't you goin' to bed?" asked the girl as she tucked herself in, lifting the covers so Pan could contribute in warming her up, the two of them looking expectantly at him.
"No...I'm going to stay up a bit more. Talk to Caladwen a bit longer and try to see the stars..."
"You're not going to be cold?"
The question in turn caused him to tilt his head gently in response, the beginnings of a mysterious sort of smile lighting his lips before he moved out the window and up onto the roof once more. The girl shrugged in her sheets, her arm draping over Pantalaimon as they both moved to get warm.
"I wonder how Mrs. Coulture's dæmon felt when he touched her."
The two shivered at the idea. "He didn't seem hurt or nothing...or 'fraid or anythin' weird. We can ask him tomorrow."
Unfortunately, it was that night that Lyra had been called into the Master's study while Mrs. Lonsdale packed away the young girls things as quickly as possible.
It was only after she'd said goodbye to the few servants who were up, and to Mrs. Lonsdale, that she remembered Roger. (Chapter Four: The Alethiometer)
TBC
A/N #2 :
Nebelkind: ...Suuurely nearly two years isn't tooo much of a stretch in writing...right? ...aheh. I'm so sorry. OTL – I'll try to be on my best behavior when updating this. .
Theobsessor: A Legolas story without archery? That'd be like be updating on time. Something completely unheard of! I'm not sure if you are following this anymore, but if you are, I'll do my best update. I already have plans for Legolas and archer set up for later chapters. c: And ohhohoho, very excellent question. Guess you'll have to stick around and find out!
Kairan1979: My thoughts exactly. I also think it might be beneficial to Lyra to have someone who is the complete opposite of her, for I feel both characters could bring out the best in each other.
Anon: I'm glad you like it. I honestly had this put aside in some dusty corner of my mind until I saw your review. If you're still around, here you go! c:
A big thank you to those who have stuck with this or added this to their watchers list. I know this is probably a very big surprise. Back in '11 I /did/ have a reason for being gone, but then the reason vanished and I had no excuse or reason to put this off, although I did. So, here is to all of those that keep with this, whether they remember or not, and I hope you continue to enjoy it. c: I also apologize for the grammar errors and hope that you bare with me. I don't have Microsoft Word anymore and it's 1:20am, and I'm going to be lazy tonight and submit this without reading over it. The next chapters won't be as horrific...hopefully.
Reviews are appreciated and make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
- Inwe.