Migitmoocow: Mirkwood and the elves who live there are always fun to write about.
the little vampire lover: Glad you like it. Here's the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own "The Hobbit."
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Recap:
"Did you really think those twigs would do you any good?"
Chapter 3: Elves of Mirkwood.
Sarah turned to face Legolas, the elf that had dropped down from above them.
"Desperate situations call for desperate solutions," Sarah said. "When your back is against the wall, you do what you can with whatever you have."
Legolas lowered his bow.
"You would have been dead in less than a minute. Why were you in these woods unarmed in the first place?"
"We don't know how we got here and we don't know why," Sarah replied. "We're lost. We were trying to find a way out when the spiders attacked."
"How does an elf become lost in the kingdoms of her kin?"
"Elf?"
"Sarah!" Edana exclaimed. "What happened to you?"
Sarah reached up to touch her ears. Instead of the normal, human shape, they felt pointed. She pulled a bit of her hair forward and saw that it was now the same shade of pale blond as Legolas'. Though she couldn't see them, Sarah would bet her eyes, normally a shade of hazel, were now blue. She turned to her cousin and her jaw dropped.
"What happened to me? What happened to you?"
Edana's hair was now a bright red at the top of her head, getting lighter the further down it grew until it was a very pale shade of yellow. Her ears were still the same, so she wasn't an elf. What caught Sarah's eyes were Edana's; they were a dark, golden yellow color.
The girls hadn't been able to notice these details in the dark, but now, with the light, their transformations were clear as day.
"You will have time to admire each other's looks later," Legolas said. "For now, you will return to the palace with us. The king does not allow trespassers, but we do not imprison our own kind, so perhaps he will make an exception for you and your friend."
The elves started moving, with Legolas going to the front of the line. The girls were put in the middle of the group.
"You're not going to search us?" Edana asked.
"If you had been carrying any weapons," Legolas called back to her, "you would not have attempted to defend yourselves with branches that would be as harmless to a spider as a flower petal.
The other elves laughed and Edana shrugged, seeing the point Legolas made.
"What's the date?" Sarah asked out of curiosity.
"February 9, year 2502 of the Third Age," Legolas answered. Sarah began to mentally create a timeline of what Middle Earth history she knew so she that would have some idea of where they were at. The rest of the journey was made in silence.
The sun was beginning to set when the group reached the palace gates. Sarah and Edana were practically sleep-walking, so they didn't notice much of their surroundings. Their movements were almost robotic. Legolas handed them off to two elf maids that were made responsible for baths, new clothes, and beds to sleep in that night. He then went to report to the king.
Baths were first. Sarah and Edana might have fallen asleep in the warm water, but the elves had lit scented candles with a strong fragrance that was meant to keep them awake. The girls were each given sponges and cloths, soap, shampoo, and combs.
"Would you like any assistance?" one of the elves asked.
"No, thank you," Sarah replied. The elves told them to call if they needed anything, then left the girls to their own devices.
Sarah and Edana had taken plenty of baths together when they were younger, and they had developed a sort of system, so they knew what to do. First, Sarah would wash Edana's hair while Edana washed her face, and then Edana would wash Sarah's hair while Sarah took care of her face. Next, Sarah would wash Edana's back while Edana washed her arms and torso, and then vice versa. After that, they would each wash their own legs and feet.
Once they were done washing, they would get out and dry themselves off. Sarah would then comb out and braid Edana's hair, Edana then doing the same for Sarah. The system worked quite well for them, and baths together didn't take them very long. At least it kept them awake.
Both girls were too tired to talk, so their bath was much quieter than other times. They didn't even comment on how long each other's hair had grown. What had normally gone just past their shoulders now went down past their waists. It didn't really surprise them, considering the other physical changes.
The only conversation the entire time happened when Edana was washing Sarah's back and had pushed her hair to the side, revealing her neck.
"When did you get a tattoo?" Edana asked, confused. Sarah hated the idea of tattoos.
"I never got a tattoo," Sarah said, also confused.
"Well, then that's the most detailed birthmark I've ever seen," Edana said. "Though I'm pretty sure I've never seen a birthmark like this before."
"What birthmark?" Sarah asked.
"You've got a mark right here on the back of your neck," Edana informed her. "It kind of looks like some sort of Celtic knot with an elk's head in the middle."
"Celtic knot? Elk's head?"
"Yeah. Like the kind of knot we see on merchandise at renaissance fairs, and Thranduil's elk."
Sarah frowned. As far as she knew, she had never had a birthmark of any kind on the back of her neck. Certainly not one so detailed that it was mistaken for a tattoo. She didn't reply, and the silence returned.
The girls finished their bath and got out, finding fresh towels waiting for them. They dried off quickly and then each wrapped a towel around them. They took their turns sitting down while the other did their hair. They were too tired to do anything more than a simple three-strand braid.
As soon as Edana had finished Sarah's hair, the two elves returned with undergarments and night dresses. They left to allow them to get dressed privately. The girls dressed and then left the baths, walking into the simple guest bedroom with two beds that was attached to the baths. The girls each took one of the beds and were asleep before their heads hit the pillows.
Sarah woke up to the familiar smells of fresh bread and cut fruit. She sat up, yawned and stretched, and looked over at Edana's bed, only to find it empty. She looked around to see Edana seated at a small table with two chairs, two sets of dishes and silverware, and a tray of food.
"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," Edana said after sipping a red drink that Sarah really hoped was nothing alcoholic, knowing the elves' love of wine. "Relax. It's just juice. C'mon. You must be starving. I know I was."
Sarah's stomach chose that moment to let out a very loud growl. She smiled as Edana laughed, then joined her at the table. They had just finished their breakfast of fruit, bread, cheese, and pomegranate juice when the door opened. The same two elves from last night walked in, each carrying a bundle of colorful fabric.
"The king has requested your presence," one of them said. "Prince Legolas will take you to him when you are properly dressed."
They handed each of the girls an elaborate dress and asked if they would like any assistance. The girls politely refused, wishing rather to figure out the gowns by themselves. It was actually easier than they thought it would be, with the two of them working together. After they were dressed, they took the braids out of their hair and combed through it. They walked out when they were done and were greeted by Legolas.
As they walked, Legolas gave them some advice for when they met the king.
"Try not to antagonize or anger him. Definitely do not insult him. He is already suspicious of you both. Answer his questions clearly and to the best of your ability, even if you are unsure of the answer. Pay attention to what he is saying and do not interrupt him, even if what he says makes you want to slap him."
"I'm guessing that sort of thing happens a lot?" Edana commented as Sarah hid a smile.
"More times that he knows."
They entered the throne room, and Legolas gestured for the girls to walk in front of him now. Sarah and Edana held hands as they made their way across the walkway and up the stairs to where the Elvenking of Mirkwood sat upon his throne.
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So what did you think of this one? Please leave me a review.
Next up, Thranduil!