Felicita Stared up at the ceiling in her bedroom she had been doing this for most of the night after realising she had no desire to sleep. So instead she listened to the sweet song of the birds and the river flowing and watched the dawn arrive her mind was racing with thoughts of meeting the council or more precisely meeting dwarves and a rush of excitement took over her body making her restless. Rustling under her soft and silky sheets, she turned and leaned on her elbow, towards the large window overlooking the city and observed the elves bustling around preparing for the council rooms everyone was oddly on edge. Maybe it was because we rarely had guest that weren't elves for it had been a long time since dwarves had entered Rivendell.
She let her mind wandered thinking about how odd Argon had been since he returned with the hobbits he had been awdarked and oddly distant from Arwen and She could see it was upsetting her, She wondered why he would let the issue of the upcoming war come between there love. The hobbits had been the only good company and she would miss them dearly and wished they could stay forever, they were less uptight then the elves company . Even her brothers hadn't been around to tease her much.
She had met Frodo and had found him at first to be quiet but as she spent more time with him his company had grown on her and he also expressed a wish to travel. Telling her about Bilbo adventures with the dragons and she could see the yearning in his eyes to go on adventures.
The heavy oak door open reliving Arwen already dressed and looking beautiful. She had always felt ugly in comparison to Arwen classic and enviable features. Her own feature seemed strange and foreign in comparison.
"Time to get up sleepy" Arwen said in her calm voice. Making her way over to where she lay sprawled out in her bed.
"How can you be so happy, when it's the morning" she grumbled into her pillow never being much of a morning person, even if she was excited for the day.
"Come on the council coming and you need to be ready"Arwen insisted.
"Okay but only for you, what time do we need to be ready for?" She asked her voice still groggy from sleep.
"Soon so get out of bed" arwen said using her authoritative tone. Though it wasn't particularly scary.
Clambering ungracefully out of her comfy cocoon and shivering against the cold, morning breeze. She snatched up her robe, which was tossed carelessly on the floor.
Arwen was already laying a dress out for her, on the chair. She got closer to it and inspected what she would wear that day, it was a light blue gown and she could see it glistening, due to the sequins embroidered on.
"Put it on" arwen said.
She drew her arms up and put the dress
over her head feeling the fine silk material slipping over her body. Then Arwen laced up the back of the dress and sucking herself in so the corset would be tight.
"Aren't you going look at it" Arwen asked .
In truth she was nervous to see her appearance, as she always felt silly in such fine dress.
But she walked over to the mirror , in spite of the nervousness. She glanced at her reflection and saw that at the top of the dress it went up against her neck, cupping it and then tracked down her body in a v shape to where her was waist and was there was silky fabric beneath the v shape. The sleeves billowed out to her wrist and a silk belt was tied around her waist extenuating it. Flaring out at the the bottom and tiny crystal where on it. The Blue was brighter up close making her eyes sparkle a crystal green and the blue of it set off her golden skin tone nicely. For the first time in her life she felt less like the ugly stepsister and more beautiful in her own right. As there was no point denying that she looked pretty and exotic in the dress.
One part of her felt like a princess the other part of her was saying that she was pretending to be something she wasn't, after all she
was no lady or gentlemen daughter only someone who lord elrond had taken pity on. Her own self doubt made her think that everyone would think she was a fraud.
Arwen lead her over to the gold dressing table, where she began combing gently through her long dark locks until they were perfectly straight and silky. Placing, a silver tiara embed with the most beautiful diamonds on top of her hair and putting on her necklace on her and jewels on her fingers.
"There we go, you look beautiful" Arwen compliment. Whether or not she was lying felicita would never know.
She took comfort for her familiar necklace hanging around her neck, as the rings seemed to only way her small fingers down. But she still admired the beauty especially one, that had a simple silver band and leaf shapes trailing up her fingers, to her it was the most beautiful one.
"Thank you for your help, I don't think I would've been able to make this tiara lay straight on my help without you" felicita said sincerely to Arwen, giving her a grateful smile.
"It's what I'm here for now we must make our way downstairs to greet the council " Arwen replied with.
"Yes of course, I am excited to make the accoutences of dwarves" she said chuckling knowing most elves where said to despise dwarves but she was curious about them.
They made there way through the corridors of rivendell, till they were at the bridge ready to greet their guest. Her father and brothers were already there, looking as regal as ever adorned with their jewels and crowns.
It felt strange that the fate of the ring lay in the people who were set to arrive.
"You both look beautiful, I am very proud you to have two daughters who have both brains and beauty" her father comment. She knew his sentiments were honest.
"Well haven't you got all dressed up, you do look very pretty little sister trying to impress someone " teased elhori.
"No I did it father and to make a good impression upon the guest and anyway I always wear dresses what's the difference" she replied to his teasing. It had been no choice of hers to wear the jewels, after all.
"Maybe she wishes to find a suitor in the party, perhaps a woodland elf is what our sister desires" elladen joined in. His laughed and light in his eyes showed he was not serious, though it still irked her.
"I have no interest in such thing so save it for someone who cares for your taunting" she snapped in return.
" Someone feisty today it seems we've hit a sore spot, we would not let you be taken by any man or elf sister do not worry" elhori said.
"I'm not worried about being stolen away maybe it would be a happy change from being with you two " she said sarcastically hopefully the conversation was over.
"Are you excited to meet elves from a different realm little sister" said Elladen.
"I suppose it would be interesting but not so much now" she said, not letting off her own excitement. She has always, wondered what the mirkwood elves,though they probably weren't as fun or entertaining as the hobbits.
"I think I see them coming" she announced after a minute or two of standing there looking out on the horizon and listening to the chatter. A group of people where in the distant as far as she could see and with the use of her elvish vision, she could tell that they where not elves has they where to stocky and short and there ears did not point but were too tall to be dwarves. It had been the first time she had seen a man other than Argon and they were clearly had different origins from him as there sandy coloured hair and they wore fine clothes.
"They are the men of Gondor and they are a proud race" her father said.
"They look it" she commented.
As they approached she noticed the awe in their eyes after all imaldrais was a breathtaking place and she often took it for advantage. But she also see arrogance and conceit in their eyes. Though they did not have the natural grace of the elves.
There leader took a step forward and address her father in a polite and formal manner. Though she did not listen to this instead she focused on their actions.
The men of Gondar made her uneasy there, stares made her apprehensive as they gazed at her and her sister, she had never liked attention it felt like people were judging her. Though her sister did not mind as much, she had grown accustomed to it, through Felicita didn't think she would ever.
After that the dwarves came and despite there haughty tone, for elves and dwarves had a long history,she found she preferred them to the looks the men gave her and they looked more friendly . They were still waiting on the elves and the wizard and she could feel herself growing restless with boredom, as she often did, not being the patientest of people.
She began to plait strands of her hair out of pure boderm.
"Stop playing with your hair you'll ruin my work" Arwen snapped.
Huffing in response and now wishing she was back with the hobbits and she knew her bored expressions wads knowing probably travelling to her face.
"The woodland elves are coming and it seems Legolas Thaudrail leads there company". Elladen announced.
Squinting, into the distance to see the elves ,however she still could not see them due to her half elven blood, which did not permit her to see as far. Only making out figures. She had heard quite a lot about the prince of mirkwood from her family and how close he was to Argon. He was said to be a fearful warrior and a great leader, which had always made her a bit scared of meeting him. For she knew not every elf would be as expecting of her, as they were in imaldrais.
Now seeing them cross the threshold of the city, they rode on three beautiful horses and wore plain murky green cloaks that shrouded there faces though she could see there blond hair beneath them. Compared to the men there clothing was a lot less extravagant.
The first elf dismounted his horse with grace and confidence he looked very majestic she could tell just by his tall and broad stature and proud posture. As he turned around she noticed his noble features from his high cheekbones, strong jaw and piercing blue eyes. He had a very serious expressions on his face that made her wary of him and a exquisite but lethal bow on his back. The other two elf shared similar attributes, although they looked less elegant or regal. Though he had yet to look at her.
"Mae govannen Legolas Thranduil prince of Mirkwood "Lord Elrond said bowing his head in respect, then extending his hand as a welcome,
"Hanath lee Lord Elrond" he said also bowing head in civility. The engage felt very formal in her opinion.
"I trust your journey was not to trouble" Lord Elrond inquired.
"No more than expected in these times and nothing we could not handle" Legolas said with an air of arrogance, though his voice was low but there was a hint of teasing in it.
"What creature would dare to enter a battle with the great Prince" mocked Elladen, his face was beaming from delight of seeing his friend, Felicita noticed.
"It is good to see you old friend" Legolas said breaking his serious expression and embracing elladen in a brotherly hug.
"And you to elrohi I have missed your company"said Legolas.
Arwen approached him to extending her hand out to him and smiling and looking as radiant as ever.
Feeling very awkward amongst this rennuation of old friends and she had never been very good with meeting new elves especially ones of noble blood and she had not had much practice ethier. So she stood there fitiching not knowing whether or not to speak. Until her father spoke for her. Making her feel even more like a child.
"This is my other daughter Felicita" he said,. Even though it was obvious she was not his daughter considering the fact that his wife was in valar and they look considerably different to be father and child. So he might as well of said adopted or not introduced her at all. As now all eyes where upon her and all the attention made her very uneasy, everyone awaiting her response as she had been known to be rude in the stare was the worst of all before she had not noticed it but now he was looking directly at her with piercing eyes and she could almost feel his scrutiny.
"It is a pleasure to meet you" he said, his voice sounded appealing and polite and he smiled down at her.
Smiling a set smile in return and bowing her head in respect though she could not meet his gaze. It was all she could muster up despite usually being quite talkative. Maybe it was his royal background that made her feel on edge or the fact that he was so much taller than her making her feel minuscule and intimidated by his presence she also felt something else but couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.
She forced herself to turn away from him and instead looked out into the distant waiting for one other of the conuncill had arrived, Gandalf She could still remember the first time she met Gandalf, she was six and at first she had been afraid and intrigued by the wise old man but then he had shown her his fireworks. which she watched in complete awe, enjoying the bright colours and when he had to leave she'd clung on to his robe begging him to stay longer. Though she was a child no longer.