Chapter 5
Elven_Princess_2005
Thanks to:
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Isilwen: I looked and I looked for a good Sindarin/English dictionary, and I found a potential website, but as I said, I looked for a GOOD one. There aren't too many of those around. I've seen three different types of books for the trilogy: The Lord of the Rings. I don't know what book you have, but it's not in my appendices of "The Return of the King". Waldenbooks carries almost every Lord of the Rings book known to man; I even found a English to Elvish dictionary there. Here's the drawback: it was $26. I'm a high school junior that just doesn't have enough money. Asking my parents for extra doesn't help because, they siply say "no". Believe me, I've asked. I understand that there are two types of Elvish; however, all I've ever read in other fanfictions are what I have found and what I have in my story. I found a site that is really good for Elvish to English. It's: . I have a feeling though that it's not Sindarin.
I opened my door only to find Legolas lying on my bed, with his hands behind his head, which was on my pillows. "It's rude to enter another's room without permission," I stated.
"It's also rude to walk off in the middle of a conversation" he shot back.
"From my point of view, our conversation earlier was over. We had nothing more to discuss," I said, acting innocent.
"Acting innocent will not get you anywhere, Katherine. Neither will being naïve. It's foolish. I know you better than that," He told me.
"You think you know me that well," I stated simply. "In reality you know nothing about me"
"Because you won't give me the chance. You refuse to open up to me"
"I learned a long time ago, opening up to someone gets you in trouble and also gets you hurt"
"How can you go around life, bottling everything up inside of yourself? It's unnatural! You need companionship. It's a necessity of life"
"It maybe a necessity of your life, your highness, but it isn't in mine. Now would you please leave my room and leave me be?" I asked.
"No"
"What?" I asked.
"I said no"
"Why not?" I demanded.
"I'm not leaving until you tell me what is on your mind," He said.
"I'm not going to negotiate with you. If you will not leave then I will" I said, going for the door.
He shot off the bed, and grabbed my wrist. "Unhand me!" I hissed.
"You cannot run forever. It will catch up with you. I'm not the enemy as you are making me out to be. I don't wish to harm you, I only want to help you"
"If you wish to help me so badly, then leave me be"
"What are you so afraid of that you would recoil from the offered help of someone who cares about you?" He demanded.
"Because the last time I ever opened up to someone, they stabbed me in the back. I learned a long time ago to trust no one but yourself"
"You must lead a lonely life, if you believe that"
"DO NOT ever pity me! That is the one thing that I cannot stand. I'm not helpless. I can take care of myself and don't need people to look after me"
"No, if anything you've proven that you do need someone. If you're so keen on not trusting people, then fine; I can do nothing to change your mind, due to your stubbornness. But one day, you will need someone and they will not be there because you have pushed them away" Legolas said, exiting the room.
I closed the door behind him, locking it, so no one else could disturb me. I hated this. I hated the fact that he was right. I did need someone, but whom? Not Legolas, not after tonight's fiasco. I had no friendship with anyone of the people or elves here. So that left me, just me. I sank down to my bed, my head hitting the pillows. I felt tears roll down my face. I did nothing to stop them. I wanted them to come. I needed them to come. Pretty soon sobs racked my body. I couldn't stop. He hurt me so badly. I know he never meant to, but he did and I hated him because of it. I hated the truth that came out of his mouth. I heard a soft knock on my door. "Lady Katherine?" I questioning voice asked. It was Boromir. "Are you ill?"
I dried the tears from my eyes. "No, I'm fine" I called.
"You were not at dinner and Lord Elrond was worried"
"I'm fine, just not that hungry. I'm sorry if I worried anyone" I said.
"Will you be down tonight?" He asked.
"No. I'm going to go to bed soon"
"Alright. I hope you feel better"
All went silent. I was hours before I even got up from my bed. Sleep never came, even after I had changed into a nightgown. I sighed. I knew sleep would never come tonight. I stood up, dressing in my jeans and shot sleeve shirt that had been washed. I tied my tennis shoes and walked out of my room. I walked down the hall and down to the gardens. It was so serene and calm. Nothing like my life at the current moment. I think what hurt the most was when he said that he cared about me. No one else had taken the time to get to know me, or even start to care. Maybe because I never let them. I pushed them away with the way I acted and it started me thinking about a conversation I had had with Josh, on of my friends, not too long ago on the Internet. He was having problems with Kayla, again. He said, "It's a blessing to know that good people actually exist. It just pains me to admit that you are." I asked him "Why? Because of I way I act?"
He replied, "The way you act it all a front and you do a good job on most people but like we both know I know what you think and feel"
He was right. Everything he said was right. We got into it deeper and deeper. Besides Josh, Legolas has been the only one who has been able to read me. And Legolas has only known me a few short days. I haven't spent much time with him. I've been too busy. I used it as an excuse, but it worked. Truth was I knew Elves were wise beyond their years. I didn't want to become close for fear that he and I would actually connect. I have always said that I like being alone and I never lied about it. I couldn't get close and in truth I knew why. I was afraid. But what if this is my home now? What if I never get home? Am I doomed to never have truth or love? I knew without truth there could be no love. "Could you not sleep either?" I heard a voice ask.
I looked up from my thoughts and saw Legolas in front of me. "I slept just fine. I just needed some air" I lied.
He shook his head. "Please don't lie to me," He pleaded.
"I'm not in the mood to argue with you"
"I'm not going to argue with you. I just wish for the truth. Lying doesn't suit you"
For the second time in just a few short hours, I felt the tears come down my face. "You want the truth so badly?" I asked, my voice cracking. "I'm frightened," I said.
"Why?"
"Because you care for me. I don't want that. It hurts and I don't know why. You're better off not caring about me"
"Don't say that"
"Why not? It's true"
"No, it's not. I promise you, that I will not get hurt, nor will I harm you" Legolas said.
"You can't make a promise you cannot keep"
"What makes you think I cannot keep it?" he asked.
"There are uncontrollable factors in life. You can't control every aspect of your life. No one can"
"You need to take a gamble or you'll always end up alone"
That statement did it. Jamie said something very similar to me a few months ago. He and I were good friends, and he was a bit hard to understand, but he and I would get into stuff and he said to me one day "If you never take a gamble, you'll always end up alone"
Tears fell from my eyes. He walked closer to me. "Don't cry," He said.
"Why should I? Don't I have the right to?"
"Tears should never be on a face as beautiful as yours" He commented.
I smiled, and moved my head to the side. "Look at me" He commanded.
I didn't move. "Look at me, please"
My head turned around and I looked at his deep blue eyes. "What do you feel?" He asked.
I went to back away, but found his arms and encircled my waist. "I…I don't know" I told him.
"Finally an honest answer" he said.
"Legolas, please, let me go?" I asked.
"Trust me. I will not harm you," he whispered.
"I don't know that" I said, barely audible.
"Yes you do. You just need some reassurance. No matter what, I'm always going to be here for you"
"Then don't. I don't need people looking after me! I can take care of myself," I told him.
"Yes, you can. But I wonder how long it's going to last. If you're coming with us to Mordor, you need to rely on others beside yourself"
"So you say. I don't need anyone but myself. We've been over this"
"Yes, we have, and I still don't believe it"
"Why not?" I asked.
"Because every time I look upon your face and into your eyes, I see a pleading in them that only comes from being alone and wanting help. You need help, I see it and whether you want to admit it or not, it's true"
"Then ignore it," I said to him, simply.
"I really wish I could, but I can't"
"Why not!?" I demanded.
"I don't know!" He shouted. "I don't know why I cannot ignore it! Sometimes I wish I could; I really do, but I can't. When I look at you, I see a young woman, who's lost her way in the world. Someone who's afraid and troubled"
"Well, in case you haven't noticed my life is very troubled" I said, starting to walk off.
"You can't run forever"
"Watch me" I hissed.
I headed towards the city gates. I hiked up a trail I had found on my way to the river. After walking uphill, I reached a point that overlooked a lot of Rivendell. I sighed and looked up at the stars and the moon. I stayed there for several hours. "Why can't I tell him? Why can't I tell him about my past? About why I can't trust people? It would be so much simpler on my life. There's just something about him. He confuses me, but at the same time, makes me feel safe and wanted. Something I haven't felt in a long time. At the same time, I'm supposed to be going with The Fellowship to destroy the Ring. Wish me luck on that part. I know what's going to happen, and two innocent good people are going to die. One of which I don't know yet, but I will, while the other is a friend for lack of a better word. No, not a friend, an acquaintance is the better term. If I make it to Amon Hen and Helm's Deep that is. Great, just great. How am I supposed to help? That freaky woman, who I have identified as an Elf, I just don't know her name, said I was suppose to help the people. What people? Oh this is just dandy!" I declared.
I felt better after my little outburst so I just sat there for hours and it was dawn before I realized it, but I didn't return. I didn't move. I couldn't. I couldn't face Legolas, not now. After the sun had peeked over the mountains, was when I started heading back. I hadn't slept all night and that didn't leave me in too good of a mood. I changed quickly and swallowed my pride by going to breakfast. Breakfast went by very slowly. It was torture. I ignored Legolas as best I could and we didn't say anything to each other. We looked at each other on a few occasions, but for some reason, I couldn't read him. His eyes were hard and cold. It almost made me winch in pain. As soon as it was over, I excused myself and went down to the training grounds. I took out a long sword and got into position. My training left me with little skills with the sword and I had seen some movies to know a little bit about what I was doing. But my training stopped years and the movies are fake, which left me with nothing. I moved, slicing through the air in different directions. I stopped to take a breather when I heard clapping behind me. I turned to see Gandalf standing under the roof. "How is the young Elear doing today?" he asked.
"Amin caela n'noa"
"So you speak Elvish" Gandalf said.
"I little" I lied, again.
"You pronunciation and knowledge of the words is beyond a novice, Lady Katherine. Why must you lie?"
"Truth is truth, mellonamin. I only know a little bit. I have learned more being here in Rivendell among the Elves"
"You and Legolas seem to be getting closer. What is going on between you?" He asked.
"You didn't come out here for small talk, Gandalf. Why don't you ask me what you want to ask me?"
He sighed heavily. "You know what is to happen. That doesn't make this journey any less dangerous. I don't think you should accompany the Fellowship"
"I'm not afraid of fighting for what is right. I won't stand by and watch helplessly, knowing what is going to transpire. I refuse that option as I always have. Regardless of the fact he and I are on each other's nerves constantly, that won't stop me from helping him. I have to help. I cannot stand by. Just knowing that I can at least try and save him is enough. If I cannot do it, at least I know I tried, instead of sitting on the sidelines and watching like some pedestrian. I refuse to be helpless. If I don't help the guilt of an innocent man dying is on my conscience" I told him plainly.
"Sometimes I wonder if Boromir is correct in saying that this quest is not the place for a woman, and then you and I converse, and I realize that you belong with the Fellowship. Cormlle naa tanya tel'raa " Gandalf walked off.
"He is correct you know?" I heard a voice behind me say.
I spun around to see Aragorn leaning against a post. "Maybe so" I said.
"You have nothing to say?" He asked.
"What is there to say?
"You keep too many secrets. They will come out sooner or later," Aragorn said.
"I keep secrets because it is necessary and I know they will come out. I do not fear that. It is nothing that will get me killed" I shot back.
"Or so you think" He said, leaving.
"Great. Damn him" I said, shoving the sword in the scabbard. "Freaking nuts. One little conversation and it destroys my train of thought"
"Are you alright Lady Katherine?" I turned to see Boromir.
"I'm fine, just a bit distracted"
"Why?"
"Nothing that concerns you. Just a few things plague my mind"
"Would you care for a spar?" Boromir asked.
I smiled. "Sure, I need to blow off some steam"
I pulled the sword out of the scabbard, and threw the sheath to the side. I walked to the end of the training ground and faced Boromir. We circled each other several times, no one making a move to attack. I wasn't too sure of how he fought. I knew he was good; he was a trained warrior. I on the other hand, was a kid. No training, no experience, no strength. Well, if worse comes to worse, I know a few things he doesn't. I knew a little bit of karate. That gave me somewhat of an upper hand. I could disarm him, but I saw the dagger in its sheath and I knew he had one in his boot, for I saw the hilt of it. I knew that if I did indeed win this small sparring match it would be but a small victory. Boromir was still a warrior, but he didn't have the speed that the Elves do. Thank God I thought.
We had gained a small audience of Elves. I noticed Aragorn back, against the same pillar. He didn't look too happy, then again, he never did. He always looked too serious.
Boromir was the first to advance. He slashed to the right and I blocked. He went for the left, I blocked, my head, blocked again. Only this time, he was pushing down on my sword. I felt my knees buckle and I went down on my right one. I quickly balanced myself and kicked him in the back of the knee. He fell to the ground, muttering something that sounded like "cheater". I smiled and stood back up, quickly, mind you.
I learned from my fight, if you could call it that, with Legolas the day before. I learned from that not to make fun of your opponent. I kept my mouth shut. I was never one to make the same mistake twice. He stood up too, but I noticed he kept a little bit of distance. He held his sword out in front of him. Mistake number one. I thought. With his sword out in front, it was it an easy target to kick it out of his hands. I took a step toward him and he didn't back up, which was good. I need to get relatively close in order for this to work. I pivoted on the ball of my left foot while holding my right foot out. My heel connected with his hands and his sword went flying.
I heard gasps and murmur among the ground. I moved away from him. I saw his sword. It was at the side of the training grounds. He and I both knew that if he went after it, it wouldn't be a smart move.
I smiled. He took out his daggers. He slowly advanced on me. He went to slash my face, but I quickly ducked beneath the dagger attack. As soon as the dagger was out of my range, I stood back up and moved back. I don't know how it happened, but my arm was grabbed, and I was swung around. He let go and I fell to the ground. I was a bit dizzy as I stood up. I went to pick up my sword, but he kicked it away. I felt cold steel against my neck. He took the blade and gently picked my head up. "You're a good opponent" He commented
"Thank you" I said.
I shot my hands up, grabbing his hand that held the dagger. I pulled it away from my neck and pulled him off balance. "You don't give up do you?" He asked.
"Never have and never will," I told him.
He came closer and I backed up. I pivoted on my left foot again and kick one of his daggers out of his hands. I regained my balanced and pivoted on my right foot, kicking the dagger out of the other hand. "This isn't going anywhere. What do you say about a stalemate?" He asked.
"Deal" I said, relaxing my muscles.
"I have to say, it's been a while since I've had a good spar. We should do it again," Boromir said, smiling.
I went over and picked up my lost sword, sheathing it. The crowd of Elves, Men and Merry and Pippin started to disperse. "You're footing was a little off while you were holding your sword" Aragorn said.
I smiled. "I think I did very well considering I've had no training," I told him.
He took a step back. "You did all that and had no training?" He asked.
"I've never needed to fight, but that doesn't mean I don't know how. I know things that would boggle your mind," he said.
"I didn't know you knew how to fight" Aragorn said.
"Where I come from, you need to know how to fight. Like here it's a necessity. Only the fighting where I come from is completely different," I said.
"So I've seen," Strider said.
"What I did was nothing compared to what other people can do," I told him honestly.
I heard shouted and screaming. Something like "let me go!" It was female and it sounded pissed to say the least. I knotted my face up in concern. "What's going on?" I asked.
"I don't know" he responded.
I took off to where I heard the shouting. It was close to the city gates. I halted when I saw who was causing the commotion. There were arrows pointed at her; several of them actually. "Dartho!" I shouted to the Elven Warriors.
Some Elves relaxed and some, well, pulled tighter on their bowstrings. "Kela, now" I ordered.
"Mani naa essa en lle?" one of the Elves said.
"She doesn't speak Elvish. She's human," I told him.
"Obviously" The Ithredruil said.
"Auta miqula orqu" I told him. "Stephanie what are you doing here?" I asked.
"Katie, I don't know where here is," she said.
"We found here by the river boarder," someone said.
"I know her. She's no spy or danger to you or anyone else for that matter. It would be a waste of an arrow to shoot her," I told them.
"That means a lot to me"
"But it's true" I smiled. "Come on. Let's go see Elrond," I said.
"That's Lord Elrond," the Ithredruil said.
"Excuse me. Let's go see Lord Elrond," I said, trying to hold back on the sarcastic tone of my voice.
It didn't work. "Watch your tongue, Edan!" The Ithredruil sneered.
"What? I was correcting myself," I said, innocently.
"Do not play us for fools! We are not mortal, so we can see right through your fake innocence"
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever!" I said, trying to walk away.
Ithredruil grabbed my arm. "Release me!" I hissed.
"Or what?" He asked.
"Ithredruil" Aragorn wanred.
His grip loosened on my arm and he finally released me. "Come on Steph" I said.
She followed me down the road and to the palace. "What was the commotion?" Legolas asked.
He seemed to be in a better mood and he acted like he cared. "We have another visitor. Stephanie meet Legolas. Legolas meet Stephanie" I introduced them.
Which in a way was bad. Stephanie, I knew was nothing but a…well…slut. Everyone at school knew it, but they didn't. "I heard something that sounded like go kiss an orc. What happened?" He asked.
I laughed. It was the first time since I had arrived at Middle Earth. "Well, Ithredruil was a little rude and I told them to go away. He spoke to her in Elvish, which she doesn't know; and I told them that. I did tell him to go kiss an orc. I told her that we were going to see Elrond. Ithredruil corrected me by saying "Lord Elrond" and he's not on my good side right now" I said.
"Who is on your good side?" he asked.
"Very few people right now. I have a feeling Gandalf knows what I'm doing here, but he won't say anything, so he's not on my good side," I told him, pouting.
"Sulking isn't going to help that issue," he told him.
"Dolle naa lost" I told him.
"Oio naa elealla alasse'" He said, sarcastically.
"Oh, you love me and you know it!" I said.
"Aye, sometime I do. Then again, sometimes I wonder why. Oh well, I'll see you at dinner tonight" he said, walking off.
"Grrrr! He makes me so angry sometimes" I said, leaving me to wonder if he meant it when he agreed to loving me. "Come on. Let's go see Elrond"
We walked down the hallway towards Elrond's study. I knew he would be there. I knocked. "Come in" Came a muffled voice from inside.
"I'm sorry for interrupting, but we have a problem" I said.
"What kind of problem?" He asked.
I pulled Stephanie inside the study. "This kind of problem. Her name is Stephanie and yes I do know her," I told him.
"How did you get here?" Elrond asked.
"I don't know. All I know is that I was sleeping outside on the porch and I woke up near a river. The people who brought me here weren't too pleased. They had arrows stuck in my face" Stephanie explained.
"Glad to see I wasn't the only one" I commented drying.
Elrond gave me a disapproving look. "Well, Lady Stephanie, I see the only thing we can do is let you stay. Gandalf is still unable to find a way to send Katherine home. Until then, you are welcome to stay at Rivendell" Elrond said.
"All right" she said.
"Thank you" I said, bowed and walked out of the room.
"You have manners here," She said.
"I've always had manners. Back on Earth I had no need for them, seeing as everyone was rude to you. Besides, he's royalty, a king. He deserves respect," I told her simply.
"And other people don't?" She questioned.
"If people show me respect, then I will respect them in return. If you do not respect me then, I do not respect you" I told her.
"People don't show you respect because they don't care"
"I know that"
"What makes this place so different. Why did your attitude do a 180? You act like your years older. You're calmer and mellowed out more. Thank God, but still"
"Things in life cannot be controlled. I learned that the hard way, but I made the best out of a bad situation"
"So you respect everyone here?"
"Some more than others, but yes"
"What about him?" she asked, pointing to Ithredruil.
"I respect him, I just don't like him. You don't have to like someone to respect them or what they do"
"You sound so wise" She said.
"Come with spending your time among wise people. Everyone I talk with is wise. Some more than others, but wise nonetheless. The Elves are the epitome of wise," I said.
"And we're in Elf land?" she asked.
"Elvish Land" I corrected. "But yes. There are three major lands. Rivendell, Mirkwood, and Lothlórien. There are smaller ones as well probably, but i do not know them"
"What did they ask me earlier?"
"They asked you your name," I said.
"It wasn't a language that I recognized"
"Because it is one that you do not know. It's Elvish"
"And you know it?"
"Some of it. Not a not. I few simple words. "Dartho" means "hold". 'Kela" means "go away". "Auta miqula orqu" means "go kiss an orc", which is a big insult" I told her.
"What did you and Legolas say?" She asked.
"Dolle naa lost?" I asked.
She shook her head yes. "It means your head it empty""
"What about the one he said?"
"Oio naa elealla alasse' means, "ever is thy sight a joy". You can be serious with or very sarcastic. When he said it, it was sarcastic"
"Elves seem so serious. Do they ever smile?"
"Yes, but sometimes their faces are impassive and emotionless. Which makes them good warriors, but it doesn't rub off in normal living. They're a fun loving race," I explained.
"This is amazing," She said.
"And you don't know half of it" I murmured.
"What the other half?" I jumped at the voice.
"Elrohir, I swear to God, if you do that again, I'm going to have your head on a silver platter" I threatened.
"What? Sneak up on you? I heard we had another Edan here and I wanted to meet here," he said.
"Edan?" Stephanie asked.
"Human" I translated.
"Elrohir this is Stephanie. Stephanie this is Elrohir, Son of Elrond and twin to Elladan. Speaking of which where is the troublesome little Elf?" I asked.
"Valor only knows. He gets into too much trouble, and for someone who never grew up with Elves, you know a lot of our language," Elrohir said.
"I know many things. Some of which that have not come to pass," I said, sadly.
"You are a Elear?" He asked.
"Yeah" I said.
"What's Elear?"
"Visionary"
She gave me a questioning look. "Mystic, clairvoyant, oracle, seer, that kind of thing"
"How long did it take you to learn Elvish?" Elladan asked.
He walked up behind Elrohir. "Not long. It's an easy language considering"
"I came to tell you, brother, that lunch is in an hour," Elladan said.
"Thank you" Elrohir said.
"Lunch?" Stephanie asked. "I'm starving. Let's go," She said, taking off running.
"Stop, you don't know where the dining hall is" I told her.
"Well where is it already?" She asked, impatiently.
"We have to get you cleaned up right now. Lunch is an hour away. We have plenty of time," I told her.
"Are you going to skip lunch today, arwenamin?" Elladan asked.
"Don't worry, I'll be there," I told them.
"You skip lunch?" Steph asked.
"Lady Katherine skips many meals," Elrohir said.
"Why?" She asked.
"Uncontrollable forces of life" I told her, my tone telling her to drop the subject.
She caught the hint and followed me to my room. I got her cleaned up and gave her a dress. I laid it on the bed and told her I would meet her in the dining hall, after giving her directions. I took my dress and walked down to Arwen's room. I knocked on the door and when no one answered, I entered. I quickly changed, not wanting anyone to enter while I was changing.
I slid on my shoes and exited the room, clad in the dress I was wearing earlier. I went back to my room and placed my clothing in the dresser. I exited the room, and quickly made my way to the dining hall. Stephanie had already gotten there and was in deep conversation with Boromir. I sat down and waited for lunch to begin. Legolas, who sat beside me, was talking with Gandalf. Aragorn joined in and soon were in deep discussion about the quest. I knew we'd be leaving December 25, Christmas Day. Soon lunch was served, and I ate. It wasn't much; my stomach could hold down a lot. I was beginning to thin out. If I had known all I would have to do is stop eating to lose weight, I would have done so long ago. I laughed at myself.
I was never thin, but I wasn't fat. I looked good the way I was, but losing about twenty pounds wouldn't hurt. I'm that type of person.
Author's Note: Here's Chapter 5. I hope you enjoyed it. Chapter 6 should be out in about a week. Remember to Read and Review.
Elvish Translations:
Elear - Visionary
Amin caela n'noa - I don't know
mellonamin - my friend
Dartho - hold
kela - go away
mani naa essa en lle - what is your name
auta miqula orqu - go kiss an orc
Edan - human
Dolle naa lost - your head is empty
Oio naa elenlla alasse' - ever is thy sight a joy