"The Voice" by Celtic Woman and a piece of "Come Little Children" from Hocus Pocus

Chapter 27

"The King and the Versifier, Part 2"

Legolas was over the moon and couldn't be happier having her there. He talked animatedly with her about the places she had been, the songs she learned and ones she wrote herself, even some of the people she had met. The prince was very excited to hear about meeting Gandalf the Gray.

"Tell me; is everything on him really gray?"

Torshar giggled slightly, "His hat is really more of a blue than a gray but he lets everyone think it's gray." This made the archer laugh until the king clapped twice to get his attention.

"Legolas, why don't you take our guest to her room? I am sure she is tired after her long journey." Thranduil suggested. The prince happily obliged and led the young woman away to a room overlooking the throne room.

"I hope this room is to your liking, Lady Torshar…" the blond Elf stated bashfully, making the minstrel smile.

"It is perfect, thank you. I look forward to your celebration tonight."

The prince nodded and smiled, "As do I, my lady…" and without another word, the archer left the room. Torshar gazed around the room as sunlight shone through the tree's canopy from above and seemed to create stained glass on the multicolor tiled floor. The young Dwarf was so lost in the intricacy of the room that she did not notice the king darkening her doorway until he cleared his throat, making her jump.

"I did not mean to startle you, my lady." The monarch stated truthfully.

A blush crept to the bard's face as she curtsied respectfully, "I should have been paying more attention to my surroundings… Forgive me for not noticing you earlier."

This made the Elf smile, "No need to worry, my dear. I stopped by to see if you needed anything."

Truthfully, Torshar needed a dress that was Elvish enough to wear to the celebration, "To be perfectly honest, Your Majesty… I find myself in need of a dress for tonight's performance…" Before she could continue any further, three Elf women entered the room giggling. Thranduil smirked playfully as they surrounded the Dwarf woman and began to take her measurements as well as question her about what materials she like and was comfortable in.

Quickly, and quietly, escaping the room of chattering women, the Elf king retired to his room to begin getting ready, though his mind was on the female Dwarf he had encountered in the woods.

Shortly after sunset, every Elf man, woman, and child gathered in the courtyard; excited to begin the celebration. Thranduil stepped out in an Autumn red robe with designs of a massive tree and falling leaves in gold dust with a cherry wood crown with a few red, orange, yellow, and brown leaves. The women worshipped him, the men envied him, the children wanted to be him. It made Torshar laugh as she waited behind a sheer red curtain on a pedestal.

It was doubly exciting for the versifier to be present for prince Legolas' birthday because it also signaled the changing of the leaves festival to begin. The entertainment consisted of herself and four instrumentalists which made Torshar feel slightly more at ease; due to the fact that she had never been invited to such a prestigious event.

Her outfit consisted of an ankle length gown made of maroon, olive green, brown, and pale yellow material, a brown corset at the top, accented with olive green off-the-shoulder cuffs, and finished off with brown silk flats. Her moon white hair was curled all the way down her back decorated with berries, leaves, and flowers, the braids in front of her shoulders were untouched due to her insistence. All-in-all she felt beautiful; more so than she had in years.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I welcome you to the Autumn Festival and Prince Legolas' Birthday Celebration! Another year has come and gone for us and we are strong as ever. Now, I present my son, Legolas." Thranduil announced and moved over as the archer stepped up onto the stage dressed in a pair of brown leather boots, dark beige pants, and an olive green tunic, accented with a brown and silver belt around his waist.

The prince smiled and waved as the crowd cheered, "Thank you, father… And thank you everyone for preparing such a breathtaking festival." He smiled widely, "Now, enough talking! Enjoy the festivities!"

The crowd applauded and cheered as a couple of fireworks went off, signaling the beginning of the celebration. But before everyone dispersed to go do the various activities, a sweet song began to fill the air.

"I… Hear your voice… On the wind….
And I… Hear you call out my name…" the crowd turned to face the pedestal with the red curtain as it drew back, causing people to gasp and murmur in surprise at the Dwarf woman laying in wait.
'Listen my child', you say to me,
'I am the voice of your history,
Be not afraid, come follow me,
Answer my call and I'll set you, free…'
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain,
I am the voice of your hunger and pain,
I am the voice that always is calling you,
I am the voice… I will remain…
I am the voice in the fields when the summer's gone,
The dance of the leaves when the Autumn winds blow,
Ne'er do I sleep throughout all the cold winter long,
I am the voice that in springtime will grow…" Torshar smiled as the musicians took over and it allowed the versifier to step down and greet the birthday boy, "Good to se you, Your Highness! You look wonderful!"

"As do you, Lady Torshar! Please, call me Legolas. My title is too formal."

Before she could respond she heard her queue coming up, "Hold that thought. I am the voice that will always be,
Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields,
I am the voice of the future,
Bring me your peace,
Bring me your peace and wounds, they will heal,
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain,
I am the voice of your hunger and pain,
I am the voice that always is calling you,
I am the voice… I am the voice of the past that will always be,
I am the voice of your hunger and pain.
I am the voice of the future…
I am the voice,
I am the voice,
I am the voice,
I am the voice…." As she held the last note, the crowd began to applaud. When the music ended so did her voice and she smiled at the Elf prince, "I hope I can make this day special for you, Legolas."

The blond archer smiled and gently took both of her hands in his, "Your presence alone has made it special, my lady." He whispered and gently kissed her knuckles, "Now, go and enjoy yourself." And then he vanished into the crowd; leaving a blushing Torshar in his wake.

The party was a complete success and one that the versifier would never forget. Music, dancing, food, games, everything reminded her of the summer and winter festivals in Valtek when she was a child as she walked away and began to explore. While she blindly roamed the halls and corridors, she did not notice the Elf king following at a safe distance; just in case she had a hidden blade beneath her gown. He could not understand what pulled him to her but he was determined to make her his.

Just as Torshar was about to turn back to retire for the evening, she came upon a moonlit garden. The first Autumn moon was full so its rays shone down and made the Lunar Lilies and Aqua Roses begin to bloom. The versifier could not tear her gaze away because the beauty could be a once-in-a-lifetime sight to behold. Her feet carried her further into the open plot as her fingers glided over the soft petals of the lilies and the sweet scent of the roses filled her nostrils.

A small stream flowed through the center of the oasis and passed by an ancient looking maple tree that had leaves that were beginning to turn with a small bench at its base. Torshar smiled as she hopped over the stream, sat down beside the running water beneath the tree, and slipped her fingers into the water, humming.

"Come little children, I'll take thee away,
Into a land of enchantment,
Come little children, the time's come to play,
Here in my garden of shadows…" the moon child smiled at the old story her mother used to tell her and her brothers on stormy nights to scare them. As she got lost in the memory, Thranduil approached and cleared his throat as he came into the moonlight.

Torshar looked up quickly and almost made a grab for her knife, until she realized who it was that had joined her, "Your Majesty… What brings you here?"

The king chuckled, "I followed the music. What do you think of the festival? I understand it was your first." He asked as he approached and carefully crossed the stream.

"It truly is an event to partake in if given the chance. I appreciate your invitation greatly."

"Thank my son. He was determined to have you attend and perform." The monarch chuckled as he sat down on the bench beside her.

Torshar stood, feeling uncomfortable and curtsied, "Forgive me, Your Majesty-"

"Thranduil, when we are alone, please…"

"… Thranduil, I am sorry but I must retire so I can get an early start in the morning. Good night." She stated respectfully and turned to leave the garden but was stopped by the Elf's warm hand gently grabbing hers.

"The festival last a few more days… Please stay… It would mean the world to Legolas and myself if you stayed…" the king pleaded. Her eyelids closed as her heartbeat picked up in her chest hearing the monarchy's plea.

"Very well, Thranduil…" she started as she turned to face him, "I will stay until the end of the festival…"

The next few days were confusing for the young Dwarf because after she would finish performing her set at the festival; Thranduil would take her on long walks around the palace of in the woods. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the one-on-one time with the king… It was just that she did not want to give him the wrong impression of their "relationship", if you could call it that.

Of course destiny would decide to throw a horseshoe into this predicament and only make it worse… On the final night of the festival Thranduil had requested that Torshar be dressed in a shimmery white gown with her hair in curls, a silver cinclet around her head, and simple white shoes on her feet. After her set, the versifier was led by a brunette Elf that she did not recognize, to the moonlit garden she had found on her first night and a smiling Elf king.

"Thank you for staying for the entire festival, Torshar. It has been a pleasure to have you."

She curtsied, "The pleasure has been mine, Thranduil… Truly, I could not have asked for more… It was wonderful…" the response came out a little nervous as the Elf offered her a hand, which she took, and allowed herself to be led to the bench under the maple tree.

The Elf king cleared his throat before turning to her, "Torshar throughout the festivities… I have been… Watching you from a distance… You… Light up my world when you smile… When you laugh… When you sing… That is why…" he reaches behind him and produces a small, ornate box of wood and silver as he slides from the bench to his right knee.

"Lady Torshar of Whurrak… Will you be my wife?" and he opened the box to reveal a necklace of gems that appeared to be made of pure starlight, along with hundreds or thousands of smaller gems at the bottom of the box.

Torshar was stunned for a moment to say the least, but slowly regained her voice, "T-Thranduil, I am touched by this, truly I am… But…"

"Is it not enough? I can get you more gems if you desire."

"No… Your Majesty… I am grateful that you would consider me worthy of such an honor as to spend the rest of my life with you-"

"I can give up my immortality and we can be together."

"But I am afraid I must decline… I am truly sorry, King Thranduil…" the minstrel apologized, leaned forward and kissed the king's forehead, slowly stood, and left; leaving the Elven monarch alone in the garden.

The next morning as she packed to leave, the moon child noticed both dresses, pairs of shoes, cinclet, and box of jewels were sitting on the desk/vanity along with a note, 'Dearest Torshar,

Take these as reminders of your time at the Autumn Festival. Please accept the gems as my apology for last night… I realize now that my actions were inappropriate and I pray you will forgive me. I hope that one day our paths will cross again…

Until Then,
Thranduil' the versifier read the note a couple of times, crumpled it up, packed the box and clothes into another bag then left the Greenwood; hoping to never return.

A knock woke Torshar from her walk down Memory Lane, "Dinner, Dwarf." Came Legolas' voice as he shoved a tray into the room with his foot then closed and locked the door once more. Torshar sighed, got up from the bed, came over to the tray, picked it up and set it on the desk/vanity, not feeling very hungry until she saw the note sticking out from under the plate.

She quickly pulled it out and opened it, "Be ready in the morning. –C.L."