A/N: I am back! (Finally)Sorry for the long wait between chapters and thankyou for your patience but I am back now and will endeavour to update more frequently. Please take the time to leave a review and let me know what you think!
Kieana's POV
"Thank-you for accompanying me to the stables, I didn't want to admit it in front of the others but I'm not entirely sure I'd be able to find my way there by myself." I say.
"Oh I'm sure you would manage quite well, Haldir has often told me how good you are at finding your way, he says you are one of the best trackers in Lothlorien." Legolas says.
"When did he say that?" I ask.
"The last time your brothers visited Mirkwood." he replies. "He is very proud of you mellon-nin. Rumil and Orophin too, they all love you very much."
"I miss them. It's hard being away from them and not knowing how they are." I say softly.
"You will see them again." he says reaching out and wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
"How do you know that? It is not going to be easy defeating Saruman and his forces, we could all perish in the attempt." I say.
"Yes we could. But we would be re-united with our loved ones in the halls of Mandos." he says.
"I know that is what we were taught as elflings but do you truly believe it?"I ask unable to keep the sceptical tone out of my voice.
"Yes I truly believe it." he responds.
"May I ask why?" I enquire.
"I believe it to be true because if it is not then I have no hope of seeing my mother again" he says softly.
"Oh Legolas I'm so sorry, here I am talking about missing my brothers who I will probably see quite soon and you're facing eternity without your mother." I say
"There is no need to apologize, I miss my father and friends at home too it is only natural to miss those we love." he says taking my hand and leading me into what I am assuming is the stable.
"Is this what all stables look like?" I ask looking around in awe at the intricately carved wooden beams lining the walkway and the horses peering out of their stalls at us as we pass.
"The stables at home are a little different but they all have stalls, horses and a couple of store rooms for food and equipment." he replies.
"It's beautiful." I say reaching out to stroke the neck of a horse who has thrust his head out of his stall beside me.
"I think he can smell the apples you brought" Legolas comments with a smile.
"If I'd known there were so many horses here I would have brought more." I say "Do you think the others would notice if we just stayed here with the horses instead of going back to the hall?"
"Mithrandir would definitely notice even if Aragorn and Gimli didn't." he says.
"Not a lot gets passed him." I concede. "Ok we'll go back, but I want to visit Talagor and make sure they're treating him right."
"Talagor?" Legolas asks "That sounds like a Sindarin name."
"It is. I renamed him when Lord Eomer gave him to me. I cannot remember the name the horse lords gave him but he responds well enough to his new name."
"They gave him to you? To keep even after our time here is up?" he asks.
"He's a little highly strung and no one was able to get near him after his rider was slain by the Uruk-hai who took the haflings. But he allowed me to ride him so Eomer decided to give him to me." I explain.
"My horse at home is the same, he drives the stable hands mad sometimes because he refuses to let anyone near him save for my father and I." he says.
"My brothers tell me that your father rides an Elk, but I have never been sure if that was true or just one of their jokes." I comment.
"I assure you it is perfectly true, his name is Satar." he says.
"Your father gave him a Quenya name?" I ask.
"He did, he and I often use Quenya in the palace if we wish to speak in private, my mother spoke it fluently and taught it to me as an elfling, it's one of the ways ada and I keep her memory alive." he says softly.
"This horse is impossible! Just set it free." an exasperated voice says as we enter the stables. At the end of the line of stalls two stable hands are trying in vain to get Talagor into a stall, both growing more frustrated with every failed attempt.
"He belongs to one of Mithrandir's companions, we were asked to take care of them won't the King be upset if we lose one of his guests horses?" another voice asks.
"I think he would be more upset if we neglected our duties while trying to wrangle an unruly steed." the first voice responds.
"We should probably lend them a hand." I comment.
"I think that would be wise." Legolas confirms "Allow me to help."
"Sorry he's a little high strung, I really should have brought him here and tended to him myself."I say making my way down to the two men.
"This is your horse?" the first man asks not sounding convinced.
"Yes, I am one of the companions that came here with Mithrandir." I say.
"But you're a woman." the second one says.
"Yes I am, what of it?" I ask.
"It is not customary for women to ride horses and fight." he responds.
"Well I was never really one to follow the customs of my people, my father was captain of the guard and my three older brothers followed in his footsteps. I am trained in the art of healing but I always preferred my defensive training so when the time came to chose my position I decided to join the guard with my brothers." I say.
"Forgive me my lady but may I ask where you hail from?" the first man asks.
"I am from Lothlorien." I reply with a smile. "My name is Kieana."
"You're an elf?" he asks.
"I am." I confirm "allow me to take over with Talagor, as I said he is quite high strung and hard to handle." I add turning to take the rope of the horse only to discover that he is already in his stall nuzzling Legolas who is speaking to him softly in elvish.
"Well you seem to have everything under control here so if you will excuse us we must get back to work." the first man says.
I smile and nod at them before letting myself into the stall and patting Talagor affectionately on the neck "De athe mellon nin. He seems to like you."
"He is noble steed, he reminds me of Léraórë, the same kind of temperament. I remember one time he broke out of his paddock and came looking for me in the palace...ada was not impressed when he came wondering into the banquet hall and started eating the carrots off the plate of Lord Elrond." Legolas says.
"I hope to meet him one day." I say before I can stop myself. "Umm...if I'm ever in Greenwood that is." I add hastily.
"You are welcome to visit Greenwood anytime." Legolas replies with a smile.
"Careful Princeling I may just take you up on that offer." I say returning his smile.
"I hope that you do." he says.
"Ah there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you two!" a gruff voice says and Gimli appears on the other side of the stall door arms crossed over his chest. "What are you doing in there? The counsel is about to begin we are all waiting for you in the hall."
"Sorry, we just wanted to check on the horses." Legolas says grinning at me.
"Hmph well he seems fine to me." Gimli says leaning on the stall door and eying Talagor warily. "So are you two coming or do I have to come in there and drag you away from the creature?"
"There's no need for that Gimli, we're coming now." I say giving Talagor one last pat on the neck before letting myself out of the stall followed by Legolas.
"We've been looking for you two for ages! You really should tell someone where you're going next time." he says.
"You were all busy eating and we haven't been gone that long." I protest.
"You've been gone almost two hours, we finished eating more than an hour ago." Gimli says.
"We must have lost track of time." I murmur to Legolas as we follow the dwarf back up the steps and into the golden hall where some twenty men are standing assembled around the large wooden table at the foot of the throne.
"There you are finally! Where did you two go? We've been waiting for you." Gandalf growls.
"We were tending the horses, Talagor was giving the stable hands trouble." Legolas replies.
"Elves and their horses, always holding up proceedings." Aragorn chuckles to himself.
"What was that Estel? Elves holding up proceedings? I seem to recall a young boy once upon a time setting a fire in the gardens of Imladris out of boredom leading to the postponement of an important meeting between the Lords of the elven realms." Legolas retorts.
"Aragorn! I am shocked! I thought you were above that kind of behaviour." I say fixing him with amused grin.
"Elladan and Elrohir made me do it." Aragorn protests.
"Sure they did. " Legolas responds elbowing his friend.
"Enough you two, let us focus on the matters at hand, there will be plenty of time for your bickering later." Gandalf says in an authoritative tone, trying to sound annoyed with his companions the twinkle in his eye the only hint of his underlying amusement at the banter between the two friends.
A/N: Thanks for reading sorry again for the long wait between chapters...I have been overseas visiting family and friends but I am back now! Hope you liked the chapter please leave a review and let me know what you think!
Elvish translations
De athe mellon nin – Thankyou my friend.