Greetings!
Here is the next chapter. I think it will be about another 5 chapters before Ava goes to Rivendell, so please be patient.
Tiranniel – Thank you so much for the review. Hope you enjoy this chappie as well.
Watergoddesskasey – Thanks for both of your reviews. Much appreciated!
High Guardian – OMW, haha so cool om nog `n Suid Afrikaner op FF te kry. Jy is die heel eerste een! Dankie vir die review! Die Oranje Rivier = True story!
Ava was sitting one the soft elven bed in her tallen. It was quite a lovely little room. It was a bit high up in the tree for Ava's liking, but the wooden steps that spiralled up to it were sturdy and safe enough. It was a long day and after Haldir escorted her to the steps of her room, Ava was met by a handmaiden that led her to a place where she could bathe. After being out in the wild for so long without a proper bath, Ava ensured in scraping her skin red to remove the stench and dirt. She also washed her hair twice and combed it through several times to remove the stubborn tangles. After all the cleaning and scrubbing and grooming were done, she dressed into clothes the elves gave her. It was a beautiful blue dress with silver trimmings, it was a bit too long, but Ava bunched it up in her hands on her way back to the tallen. When she arrived there was a platter of food on the table near the bed. Cheese, Bread, Fruits and cold meat. It was divine!
After eating Ava eyed the three bags in the corner of her room, one large duffle bag, a medium sized back pack and a satchel. There was also a bedroll and a cooking pot. She smiled, Haldir was right, I don't travel light.
She glanced over to the end of the bed where she sat and picked up the night dress the elves gave her. It was long, frilly, and a light pink. Sigh
Ava stood up and walked over to the duffel bag. She threw the night dress over a nearby chair and retrieved her pyjama shorts and top from the bag. Elven dresses were pretty, but Ava could not imagine sleeping in such a long dress in this heat.
She quickly slipped into her nightwear and slid in between the sheets of the bed. A contempt sigh escaped her lips when she lay her head down on the pillow. Soft, clean, comfy…bliss, were her last words as she drifted off to sleep.
Legolas marched through the palace kitchen in search of Miruvor to fill his flask. He did not wish to sleep this night and needed the mead to keep him awake. He would not have needed it, but two weeks is a bit of a stretch, even for an elf.
He wondered how humans could get drunk on a drink that only seemed to revitalised elves. He heard about Ava's little trip with the mead by one of the elves in Vadinar's command. News travels fast. Besides, he could have come to that conclusion on his own after he received an empty flask back.
Legolas opened one of the wooden barrels that was placed in the back of the room, but was only met with a reddish wine. He closed the lid and proceeded with another two barrels only to find the same contents within. Wine…
Legolas smirked to himself, how drunk would Ava get if she drank elvish wine? If even elves could get intoxicated by this drink a human would not even last after one glass…
Legolas walked to the opposite side of the room and continued his search through the barrels. He slammed the last lid down and then proceeded to the kitchen's scullery. He started rummaging through all the bottles, containers, barrels, flasks, jugs, tubs and jars, but came up empty handed.
Frustrated he sat down at one of the wooden chairs and placed his elbows on the table counter with his chin in his hands.
Too much emotions and memories for one day, he though miserably. He did not wish to be reminded of his home and his old life.
A honey cake on the table caught his eye and first glancing over his shoulder, Legolas quickly stole a piece. He was almost sure this cake was meant for one of the sentries as a birthday gift, but at this moment the depressed elf did not care.
The cake was sweet and sticky. It was delicious and Legolas felt his mood slightly improve, but only for a fraction of a time. There was just one thing that will help clear his thoughts now, he decided.
Greedily cutting another larger piece from the cake, Legolas left the kitchen.
As the sun steadily rose from its depth, welcoming Middle -Earth with a new day, Ava slowly gained consciousness from her deep slumber. The white elven sheets were tangled around her body in a very uncomfortably way and the strangled feeling was quickly becoming unbearable. She sighed loudly and reluctantly heaved herself from the bed to unravel her from the tight position of the suffocating sheets. After successfully removing the entrapment, Ava flopped back into the bed and hugged one of the big puffy pillows. A satisfied smile lingered on her face as she thought of continuing her blissful dream.
She can't remember the last time she had slept this peacefully. She was just about to drift back to sleep when a knock on her door disturbed her. Go away, she thought angrily, but the nock only came again, a bit louder this time. For a moment she deliberated if she could just ignore it, but after the impatient, annoying person behind the door rapped it again, she knew she would not be able to sleep again.
She stood from the bed and stumbled to the door, opening it with a frustrated sigh.
Haldir stood waiting with a pleasant smile on his face, but when he saw in what Ava was dressed he hastily turned his back to her. His face red at seeing her legs all the way up to her thighs! Tanned, smooth legs! He could not believe she would answer the door so scantily clad.
"Oh, come on. Are you also pretending to not notice how inferior my body is compared to yours?" Ava asked when she realised what was happening.
"What? Why would you say something like that?" Haldir asked stunned, but still did not turn to face her.
"When Legolas saw me similar to this he said that…he said…oh, never mind it's not important. Let me dress in something else. Wait here" Ava closed the door and hurried to her duffel bag. Stupid old fashioned elves…
In the meantime Haldir's thought outside was rushing with confusion. What did Legolas say? When did he see her in so little clothing? Was he attracted to Ava? Was I attracted to Ava? Maybe a little, she was beautiful, but nothing serious. Besides, Vadinar has proposed a silent bet…again….
Haldir heard the door behind him open and an outlandishly clad Ava emerged. She was wearing strange, very tight fitting, dark blue breaches and a bright green, short-sleeved top with "Levis" written in black letters in the common language. She was wearing sandals and her toenails were painted red!
"What?" Ava asked when Haldir eyed her quizzically. She wanted to wear shorts, but then on behalf of the elves she settled for jeans.
"You have odd attire" Haldir finally managed to say and then asked "What does 'Levi' mean?"
"I think it was someone's name; the guy who invented jeans"
"Jeans?" It sounded strange coming from an elf's mouth.
Haldir watched as Ava pointed to her breaches. Odd…
"Why would you wear an inventors name on your clothing? Do you work for him?"
Ava burst out laughing and Haldir's mouth lifted at the one corner at her mirth, though he knew not why.
"You know, I have no idea why we wear name-brands" she said and then added before he could ask what name-brands were "So, why did you wake me?"
Haldir's half smirk turned into a full blown grin now. His face looked…impish?
Can an elf look impish?
"I have noticed that you and Legolas do not get along very well…"
"Yes…"
"And I thought that maybe the following occurrence might be humorous to you"
"What occurrence?"
Haldir smiled and turned "Follow me"
They walked side-by-side through the elven city and soon Ava realised that Haldir was leading her to the stables. He opened the door for her and stood aside. Ava gave a quick glance in his direction, still noticing the smile and entered the building.
The stable smelled like horses, hay and wood. She blinked a few times, adjusting her eye s to the dim light, but still saw nothing out of the ordinary. She was just about to ask Haldir what was supposed to be funny when a familiar male voice from the back of the stable called.
"Na man anug, Haldir?"
Ava rolled her eyes.
"You know, I've told you once before that you should stop speaking to me in your language" Ava declared to the phantom Legolas.
There was a slight pause, an elvish word that sounded a lot like a cuss again and finally the words "Fine, come here"
Ava walked to the back of the stable and neared Orion's stall. The horse stood with its back to the small stall door, his head turned upwards. Ava followed his gaze and her eyes widened when she saw the horse's fixation.
Perched on a small wooden ledge in the corner of the stall sat a very frustrated looking Legolas. His feet were lightly dangling from the sill, just out of reach from Orion's mouth. His hands were steadied on either side of him, giving the impression that he might jump anytime soon.
"What are you doing?" Ava breathed.
"Admiring the view" Legolas snapped sarcastically.
"Ok…"
Ava felt a presence to her right and saw Haldir standing at her side. "Your little friend here seemed to have trapped the Mirkwood elf into a tight corner. For the whole night perhaps…"
"Early morning" Legolas corrected
"Why? What did you do?" Ava asked Legolas and placed one of her hands on her hip. Orion gave an aggravated snort and still stared at the elf.
The elf clenched his jaw and shot her a disgusted look.
"What did I do? I'm stuck like a caged animal by your possessed beast here and you asked what I did? "
"Well, Orion would never behave like this for no reason…"
"Well, he did. I came here last night from the kitchen to ride Gilenwath, but upon entering the stall I only realised to late that they must have moved her, because all that was here was….was this…" he motioned with one of his hands to Orion.
"You came from the kitchen?" Ava asked
"Yes, that's what I said."
"Did you bring anything with?"
"A piece of Honey-cake. Why?"
Ava clasped her hand to the side of her head and shook it. "What did you do with the Honey-cake?"
"I ate it while waiting for your monster to leave. Why?"
Ava let out a snicker and walked over the stall door. She opened the latch and stepped inside to face Orion. "Hey, beastie" she said affectionately "If I promise to give you some honey later, do you promise to let the nasty elf go?"
"Hey! I'm not -"
"Shut-up, Legolas" Ava snapped and said in a crooning voice to the horse "So, will you?"
Orion pressed his nose against Ava's cheek en she rubbed the patch just above it. "It's safe to get down now, Legolas."
Once outside Legolas stormed out head of Ava and Haldir, his hair flipping over her shoulder and his muscles tight with anger and humiliation.
"I never would have thought a man to be so scared of a horse!" Ava laughed and Haldir gave a small smile.
"I heard that!" Legolas yelled in front of them and twisted around, kicking up dust "I was not afraid, but in a position I could not defend myself!"
"Then pray tell me, dear elf, how you would have defended yourself if you could have?" Ava asked sweetly with one hand placed on her hip again; a trait both elves noticed about her. Haldir, the quiet elf he was, was merely observing the two. Perhaps Ava was enjoying the mortification of the elf to much…and surely she will regret it later. Legolas is a very proud elf, he thought.
Legolas narrowed his eyes and gave a slight sneer "I would have shot the beast…"
He spun on his heels and left.
Ava's face went pale as the blood drained from her face. Would he actually shoot Orion if he had his bow? Like in kill him? Or wound him? He looked cruel enough…
"Ava, Legolas would not do something like that, he was just provoking your anger…" Haldir soothed. He knew Legolas, as with all elves, that he would never harm animals. Elves treasured them too much.
Nasty, elf…Ava thought and not for the last time.
"Come, take a stroll with me through the gardens" Haldir offered her his arm and placed one hand behind his back in a very gentlemanly way.
Ava linked their arms and let Haldir lead her through the tree city once more.
Elvish Translation:
Na man anug, Haldir? – Where did you go to, Haldir?
Yes, I know my chapters should be longer, but I'm just so busy lately. Work, study, wedding etc, etc…but I will try with the next one!
If you guys have any cool wedding ideas, please give them to me. I'm clueless!
Thank you so much for all the reviews and favourite story alerts!
Love,
The Poet