Ella:
Legolas stayed on the opposite side of the camp. When I walked close, he walked farther. I sighed. Was there no in-between with him?
I sat down in a huff. Men.
Legolas:
Was I ever to understand Ella? When I was near her, she grew angry. Now, when I was giving her her requested space, she seemed to want to be close to me! Around but not hounding, that's what she'd requested, and what I'd given her. But she seemed even angrier today than she'd been last night.
Ugh. Women.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Returning
The early morning sun was peeking up over the tops of the mountains as I bent down near Edrolliel. I felt her forehead, noting with relief that her fever had disappeared. Standing, I went to find Elladan. He glanced up as I came near.
"Good morning, Rosriel."
"Good morning."
"How is Edrolliel this morning?"
"Much better," I replied. "Her fever is gone."
Elladan nodded with a smile. "I am glad to hear it. I have never gotten sick myself, being an elf you know, but I certainly can feel sorry for those who can become ill."
I smiled. "Yes, with human descent, I have gotten sick once, and it was not pleasent."
"Do you think Edrolliel can travel now then? It is about time that we rejoined the others and continued on our way."
Rejoin the others... Aldarion. My heart flinched. I was not angry at him for not speaking to me - I never had been able to hold a grudge - but I still felt hurt. But Elladan was right, we had been away for long enough. "I will see if she thinks she would be able to travel, if someone helped her walk."
Elladan nodded. "Yes, or we could build a chair for her, the way we did when Ella sprained her ankle."
I smiled. "I will go and see what she says."
~ Rosriel
"Good morning, Rosriel."
"Good morning."
"How is Edrolliel this morning?"
"Much better," I replied. "Her fever is gone."
Elladan nodded with a smile. "I am glad to hear it. I have never gotten sick myself, being an elf you know, but I certainly can feel sorry for those who can become ill."
I smiled. "Yes, with human descent, I have gotten sick once, and it was not pleasent."
"Do you think Edrolliel can travel now then? It is about time that we rejoined the others and continued on our way."
Rejoin the others... Aldarion. My heart flinched. I was not angry at him for not speaking to me - I never had been able to hold a grudge - but I still felt hurt. But Elladan was right, we had been away for long enough. "I will see if she thinks she would be able to travel, if someone helped her walk."
Elladan nodded. "Yes, or we could build a chair for her, the way we did when Ella sprained her ankle."
I smiled. "I will go and see what she says."
~ Rosriel
Saturday, April 25, 2009
I returned to the camp after a time. The others had fallen asleep. All but Legolas. He smiled as I approached.
"Thought I'd run away again, didn't you?"
"I thought it might be a temptation for you."
"Only because you make it so."
He frowned. "I...I should be the one to leave. I will leave. You--you rest now. When you awake, you'll be free of me."
"What? No, Legolas, that's not what I meant. Please...please don't go."
"I don't understand you, Ella. I'm trying to, but..."
I sat down. "I can't explain myself. But know that I want you here. Not hounding me the way you have been lately...but around."
Legolas nodded slowly.
"I don't want to hurt you. If leaving would help you..."
"I'll stay."
"I mean it, Legolas. I won't be offended if you need to leave."
"I said I'll stay." He spat the words out, frustration I'd seldom seen in him coming through.
I turned away, hiding my pained expression. I had no right to make him feel guilty. Not after what I'd done--most likely was still doing--to him.
"Thought I'd run away again, didn't you?"
"I thought it might be a temptation for you."
"Only because you make it so."
He frowned. "I...I should be the one to leave. I will leave. You--you rest now. When you awake, you'll be free of me."
"What? No, Legolas, that's not what I meant. Please...please don't go."
"I don't understand you, Ella. I'm trying to, but..."
I sat down. "I can't explain myself. But know that I want you here. Not hounding me the way you have been lately...but around."
Legolas nodded slowly.
"I don't want to hurt you. If leaving would help you..."
"I'll stay."
"I mean it, Legolas. I won't be offended if you need to leave."
"I said I'll stay." He spat the words out, frustration I'd seldom seen in him coming through.
I turned away, hiding my pained expression. I had no right to make him feel guilty. Not after what I'd done--most likely was still doing--to him.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
"Drink this," I said as I crouched down next to Erdolliel.
She gasped and I apologized for startling her. She looked at the drink I held out uncertainly.
"This has some herbs that will help numb the pain of your ankle, and make it easier for you to fall asleep."
"How did you know that it was hurting?" she asked as she took the cup and began to drink it.
I gave a slight grin, "It's broken."
Erdolliel grinned sheepishly, handed back the cup, and laid down to fall asleep; which she did in a short amount of time. As I sat back against a tree looking at Erdolliel, I remembered that it had been three days since I had had any sleep. With this knowledge, my head began to droop and within minutes I was asleep along with everyone else.
She gasped and I apologized for startling her. She looked at the drink I held out uncertainly.
"This has some herbs that will help numb the pain of your ankle, and make it easier for you to fall asleep."
"How did you know that it was hurting?" she asked as she took the cup and began to drink it.
I gave a slight grin, "It's broken."
Erdolliel grinned sheepishly, handed back the cup, and laid down to fall asleep; which she did in a short amount of time. As I sat back against a tree looking at Erdolliel, I remembered that it had been three days since I had had any sleep. With this knowledge, my head began to droop and within minutes I was asleep along with everyone else.
Alone
I sat quietly by the fire, my hair hanging limply and occasionally falling into my face. I watched them laugh and chat together....happy at last.
I noticed Aldarion leaving the camp and the look on Rosriel's face when he left without speaking to her. Her eyes gave her heart away for a brief instant. Dear girl...I hope he likes you too...
My attention turned to other things. I remembered that I was supposed to drink this stuff she had given me earlier. I lay back down after finishing and tried to curl up into a ball. My efforts were stopped by a sharp shooting pain in my ankle, and I remembered that I had broken it. Why? Then I checked myself. I am such a bad person. I can't even bear a little pain patiently.
The other girl...(I think her name was Ella)...got up and walked into the woods, carefully blending into the shadows. She seemed upset. I sighed... At least they have each other. I don't have anyone. Not even Aldarion and Anarion....
I noticed Aldarion leaving the camp and the look on Rosriel's face when he left without speaking to her. Her eyes gave her heart away for a brief instant. Dear girl...I hope he likes you too...
My attention turned to other things. I remembered that I was supposed to drink this stuff she had given me earlier. I lay back down after finishing and tried to curl up into a ball. My efforts were stopped by a sharp shooting pain in my ankle, and I remembered that I had broken it. Why? Then I checked myself. I am such a bad person. I can't even bear a little pain patiently.
The other girl...(I think her name was Ella)...got up and walked into the woods, carefully blending into the shadows. She seemed upset. I sighed... At least they have each other. I don't have anyone. Not even Aldarion and Anarion....
"What have you done to the stew?"
(Ooc--I hope you guys don't mind that I wrote this post from Aldarion's POV?)
Aldarion’s temper did not improve as he entered the main camp. The first sight that met his eye was Samdo holding up a ladleful of stew and shouting, and the others gathered around and gaping. And no wonder, for the stew was…. Aldarion looked closer. Glowing? How could stew glow? He glanced nervously around, fearing some sort of magic—and saw Lira sitting on a stump a little ways away from the others and clutching her side as she laughed, tears of hilarity running down her cheeks.
A pox on that girl! Even when wounded, she still disturbs the peace of the rest of us!
Lips tight, angry, he strode up to her. She stopped laughing when she caught sight of him, and looked almost—afraid.
Do I really look that angry? he wondered, the thought stopping his anger for a second. But not for long.
“What have you done to the stew?” he snapped, scowling at her. She shrank back, and he nearly restrained himself, but then her startlement and fear turned to anger, and she glared back at him.
“Everyone looked bored, so I thought I’d liven up their day—and their supper!—a little.”
She looked…. smug. And with the last words, she started laughing again, and it sounded rather like she was laughing at him. She glanced back at the scene around the pot and her laughter increased as Elohir arrived, stared at the stew, and then gingerly poked it with a rather strange look on his face.
“What did you put in it? Or did you do some magic to it?” Aldarion came near to shouting the last words. And then suddenly, he saw Lira’s eyes change. But she was looking past him. He followed her gaze, and saw his brother standing near the afflicted pot of stew, but not as close to the others. His eyes were on Aldarion, and they first looked startled and, for a second… guilty? Nervous? Apprehensive? but then frowning as he took in Aldarion’s raised voice and angry look. He made a move as if to stride over, when Elohir’s words caught him midstride, and he paused.
“What, the stew? Hmm. Some trickery of young Lira, I would guess.” And Elohir turned, his eyes searching the trees in the direction of Lira’s tent. But then he frowned as Samdo spoke up.
“No sir, she hasn’t been near it all evening.”
“Vila, then,” Elohir said wryly. “From all accounts, she’s just as bad, for all she’s the elder. Was she wandering around near it? Where is the girl?” He looked for her too, but Vila was nowhere to be seen.
“She did come over once…” Samdo said slowly “and asked when it would be ready… but she didn’t come closer than an arm’s length, and maybe not even that close. Of course, I wasn’t right next to it the whole time… but I’d have seen Miss Lira if she’d come near, her being wounded and supposed to stay in bed and all.”
Aldarion glanced at Lira and this time noticed that she was holding her side with a pained expression, not a laughing one. He began to feel rather ashamed, and moved a step away from her.
“If it was something magic-like she did, she wouldn’t have had to come near,” Samdo said doubtfully.
Elohir looked faintly amused. “No, it wasn’t magic. Just a packet of powder, that’s all she would have needed. I believe the stew’s safe to eat, though…” He looked around for Lira, and this time caught sight of Aldarion.
“You are back?” he asked, somewhat surprised, and glanced around, frowning, for the others.
“Rosriel is not injured; she only strayed too far away and then discovered an elf-girl who required her help. She—the elf-girl—is rather ill and so we decided it would be best not to move her until morning. I came back so the rest of you would not come looking for us, and to tell you that we’ve found Ella.”
A shriek from behind Aldarion startled everyone, including himself, and then Lira’s eager face poked around a branch that had hidden her from their view, and she said (or rather, shrieked) excitedly “YOU’VE FOUND ELLA????!!!”
The eyes of everyone there were instantly fixed on her.
Aldarion winced slightly, and nearly covered his ears. He contented himself with moving a few steps away from her.
“Yes,” he said shortly, not pleased to have young female elves shrieking in his ear. Seeing that everyone was waiting for more, he explained how Rosriel had caught up with Ella, who had not gone far, and how the others had found the two together.
“Now,” Elohir said, when Aldarion was finished speaking, the tone of wry amusement leaving his voice, “would you like to tell us, Lira, what exactly you put in the stew?”
Lira gazed innocently back at him.
A mistake, questioning her directly. She’ll only play innocent, and enjoy every minute of it.
“I?” she said sweetly. “Why, I wasn’t near it the whole evening, was I?”
Using his own words against him. He should know she overheard everything he said.
Elohir grimaced. “Tell us, then, is it still… edible?”
“Well, yes,” she admitted, but then added hastily, grinning, “but that’s just because I recognize the stuff, it doesn’t mean I was the one who put it in.”
Aldarion had long experience with telling whether one speaking was telling lies or truth, and this sounded like the truth to him. He glanced sideways at her, and caught the mischievous look in her eyes. Yes, he thought, it was the truth. But then who did put it in? Vila, most likely.
ruth.
And then he saw Lira’s eyes flick of to the side for just a second, and then quickly refocus on Elohir. Too quickly for it to have been just a normal look.
He glanced casually in the direction she had looked, and saw—Anarion.
Aldarion’s temper did not improve as he entered the main camp. The first sight that met his eye was Samdo holding up a ladleful of stew and shouting, and the others gathered around and gaping. And no wonder, for the stew was…. Aldarion looked closer. Glowing? How could stew glow? He glanced nervously around, fearing some sort of magic—and saw Lira sitting on a stump a little ways away from the others and clutching her side as she laughed, tears of hilarity running down her cheeks.
A pox on that girl! Even when wounded, she still disturbs the peace of the rest of us!
Lips tight, angry, he strode up to her. She stopped laughing when she caught sight of him, and looked almost—afraid.
Do I really look that angry? he wondered, the thought stopping his anger for a second. But not for long.
“What have you done to the stew?” he snapped, scowling at her. She shrank back, and he nearly restrained himself, but then her startlement and fear turned to anger, and she glared back at him.
“Everyone looked bored, so I thought I’d liven up their day—and their supper!—a little.”
She looked…. smug. And with the last words, she started laughing again, and it sounded rather like she was laughing at him. She glanced back at the scene around the pot and her laughter increased as Elohir arrived, stared at the stew, and then gingerly poked it with a rather strange look on his face.
“What did you put in it? Or did you do some magic to it?” Aldarion came near to shouting the last words. And then suddenly, he saw Lira’s eyes change. But she was looking past him. He followed her gaze, and saw his brother standing near the afflicted pot of stew, but not as close to the others. His eyes were on Aldarion, and they first looked startled and, for a second… guilty? Nervous? Apprehensive? but then frowning as he took in Aldarion’s raised voice and angry look. He made a move as if to stride over, when Elohir’s words caught him midstride, and he paused.
“What, the stew? Hmm. Some trickery of young Lira, I would guess.” And Elohir turned, his eyes searching the trees in the direction of Lira’s tent. But then he frowned as Samdo spoke up.
“No sir, she hasn’t been near it all evening.”
“Vila, then,” Elohir said wryly. “From all accounts, she’s just as bad, for all she’s the elder. Was she wandering around near it? Where is the girl?” He looked for her too, but Vila was nowhere to be seen.
“She did come over once…” Samdo said slowly “and asked when it would be ready… but she didn’t come closer than an arm’s length, and maybe not even that close. Of course, I wasn’t right next to it the whole time… but I’d have seen Miss Lira if she’d come near, her being wounded and supposed to stay in bed and all.”
Aldarion glanced at Lira and this time noticed that she was holding her side with a pained expression, not a laughing one. He began to feel rather ashamed, and moved a step away from her.
“If it was something magic-like she did, she wouldn’t have had to come near,” Samdo said doubtfully.
Elohir looked faintly amused. “No, it wasn’t magic. Just a packet of powder, that’s all she would have needed. I believe the stew’s safe to eat, though…” He looked around for Lira, and this time caught sight of Aldarion.
“You are back?” he asked, somewhat surprised, and glanced around, frowning, for the others.
“Rosriel is not injured; she only strayed too far away and then discovered an elf-girl who required her help. She—the elf-girl—is rather ill and so we decided it would be best not to move her until morning. I came back so the rest of you would not come looking for us, and to tell you that we’ve found Ella.”
A shriek from behind Aldarion startled everyone, including himself, and then Lira’s eager face poked around a branch that had hidden her from their view, and she said (or rather, shrieked) excitedly “YOU’VE FOUND ELLA????!!!”
The eyes of everyone there were instantly fixed on her.
Aldarion winced slightly, and nearly covered his ears. He contented himself with moving a few steps away from her.
“Yes,” he said shortly, not pleased to have young female elves shrieking in his ear. Seeing that everyone was waiting for more, he explained how Rosriel had caught up with Ella, who had not gone far, and how the others had found the two together.
“Now,” Elohir said, when Aldarion was finished speaking, the tone of wry amusement leaving his voice, “would you like to tell us, Lira, what exactly you put in the stew?”
Lira gazed innocently back at him.
A mistake, questioning her directly. She’ll only play innocent, and enjoy every minute of it.
“I?” she said sweetly. “Why, I wasn’t near it the whole evening, was I?”
Using his own words against him. He should know she overheard everything he said.
Elohir grimaced. “Tell us, then, is it still… edible?”
“Well, yes,” she admitted, but then added hastily, grinning, “but that’s just because I recognize the stuff, it doesn’t mean I was the one who put it in.”
Aldarion had long experience with telling whether one speaking was telling lies or truth, and this sounded like the truth to him. He glanced sideways at her, and caught the mischievous look in her eyes. Yes, he thought, it was the truth. But then who did put it in? Vila, most likely.
ruth.
And then he saw Lira’s eyes flick of to the side for just a second, and then quickly refocus on Elohir. Too quickly for it to have been just a normal look.
He glanced casually in the direction she had looked, and saw—Anarion.
Legolas had hardly left my side since our reunion. It was getting annoying. As though he were worried I'd run off again. Well, I wouldn't. At least, before I wouldn't. Now I might just to get away from his ever watchful eye!
"You've barely eaten, Ella," Legolas said.
"I'm not hungry. I'm going to go for a walk."
"Let me come with."
I shook my head quickly. "Please let me go alone, Legolas. I promise to return. But I need..." Peace.
Legolas nodded. "I understand."
"Thank you." At last I was alone and would have time to think. Yes, the past day or so Legolas had been getting on my nerves, but... I love him. I truly, deeply, love him. I'd said it out loud to Rosriel. I'd run it over in my head again and again. But I could never tell it to the one man who most longed to hear it. I couldn't. But why? I had no answer. I just knew I could not be the one to say it first...and I had lost all hope that he would ever repeat the sentiments.
What, then? Were we to live the rest of our lives like this? Always loving one another, yet never admitting it? Or would Legolas find another? I knew I would not. I had always loved Legolas, since I first knew what love was. Was my fate to watch him love another, while in secret my love continued to grow?
Oh why could I not be less stubborn? I slumped down and put my head in my hands.
"You've barely eaten, Ella," Legolas said.
"I'm not hungry. I'm going to go for a walk."
"Let me come with."
I shook my head quickly. "Please let me go alone, Legolas. I promise to return. But I need..." Peace.
Legolas nodded. "I understand."
"Thank you." At last I was alone and would have time to think. Yes, the past day or so Legolas had been getting on my nerves, but... I love him. I truly, deeply, love him. I'd said it out loud to Rosriel. I'd run it over in my head again and again. But I could never tell it to the one man who most longed to hear it. I couldn't. But why? I had no answer. I just knew I could not be the one to say it first...and I had lost all hope that he would ever repeat the sentiments.
What, then? Were we to live the rest of our lives like this? Always loving one another, yet never admitting it? Or would Legolas find another? I knew I would not. I had always loved Legolas, since I first knew what love was. Was my fate to watch him love another, while in secret my love continued to grow?
Oh why could I not be less stubborn? I slumped down and put my head in my hands.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
In a Foul Temper
Aldarion walked steadily onward, casting a glance up at the sun. It was now nearly midday and he had been traveling for several hours now. As he walked, his mood continued to blacken.
How could he have allowed himself to act the way he did? Deliberately ignoring Rosriel, not even bidding her a farewell. Were his secrets that important that he had to be rude? He knew without thinking that they weren't, and he hated himself for giving her the cold shoulder.
The truth was - he had started to grow fond of her. Fond enough to start to hope and wonder if possibly she might feel the same way. "Well, if I were her, I would not show any affection to one like myself. Dol lost lin Aldarion," he muttered.
Full of regret and anger at himself, Aldarion drew closer to the original camp, becoming more irritated and foul tempered as he did so.
How could he have allowed himself to act the way he did? Deliberately ignoring Rosriel, not even bidding her a farewell. Were his secrets that important that he had to be rude? He knew without thinking that they weren't, and he hated himself for giving her the cold shoulder.
The truth was - he had started to grow fond of her. Fond enough to start to hope and wonder if possibly she might feel the same way. "Well, if I were her, I would not show any affection to one like myself. Dol lost lin Aldarion," he muttered.
Full of regret and anger at himself, Aldarion drew closer to the original camp, becoming more irritated and foul tempered as he did so.
Why?
I waited for Aldarion to return from talking to the girl, I could not recall her name at the moment. I had several questions to ask him, but I feared he would be reluctant to answer them. I grew more certain that he would when he first turned back to say something else to the girl and then walked right past me. Was he trying to avoid me?
I got up to follow him, but stopped a few paces back when I saw him speak to Elladan. My ears caught their low conversation. Wait... Aldarion was going to leave? Well, I could certainly understand the thoughtfulness in relieving the others of their worries, but I had not thought we were planning to stay where we were for that much longer. A doubt crept into my mind... had he somehow guessed that I wished to question him and used this as an excuse to - the thought hurt - get away from me? I waited for him to finish speaking. I figured that if he was not running away from me, in a manner of speaking, he would say farewell before he left.
My heart sank as Aldarion left Elladan and began walking towards the edge of the camp without so much as a glance towards me, even though I had been close by. It sank still further when I saw him bid a farewell to Ella and Legolas before walking out of the camp. So he did wish to avoid me.
The knowledge was painful, and I turned away, trying to hide the tears that had sprung from the hurt in my heart.
~ Rosriel
I got up to follow him, but stopped a few paces back when I saw him speak to Elladan. My ears caught their low conversation. Wait... Aldarion was going to leave? Well, I could certainly understand the thoughtfulness in relieving the others of their worries, but I had not thought we were planning to stay where we were for that much longer. A doubt crept into my mind... had he somehow guessed that I wished to question him and used this as an excuse to - the thought hurt - get away from me? I waited for him to finish speaking. I figured that if he was not running away from me, in a manner of speaking, he would say farewell before he left.
My heart sank as Aldarion left Elladan and began walking towards the edge of the camp without so much as a glance towards me, even though I had been close by. It sank still further when I saw him bid a farewell to Ella and Legolas before walking out of the camp. So he did wish to avoid me.
The knowledge was painful, and I turned away, trying to hide the tears that had sprung from the hurt in my heart.
~ Rosriel
Questions Prefered Left Unasked
Aldarion saw Rosriel look up as his return. He saw a question in her eyes, and suddenly felt uncomfortable. After she had heard him cut off Nes- Erdolliel before she mentioned his father's name, he knew she would be curious as to why. Part of him wanted to tell her the truth, who his parents, his grandparents were - but the other part of him wasn't ready yet.
Abruptly her turned and went back to where Erdolliel was lying. He bent down so she could hear, speaking in a low voice. She looked suprised at his sudden return. "Erdolliel, the members of this Fellowship that I have joined, they do not know who mine and Anarion's parents are. Or who are grandparents are."
She nodded slowly. "You wish to keep it a secret?"
"Yes," he looked her in the eye. "I would."
"Alright then." She nodded again. "I will not give your secret away."
"Le hannon.*" He stood and walked back once again towards the smoldering campfire. Again Rosriel looked up at his approach, and this time he saw even more questions in her eyes. It was strange, how he could read her thoughts so clearly in her beautiful eyes. Yet they were questions that he did not want to have to answer - or refuse to answer. So swiftly he made up his mind.
He walked past Rosriel to stand by Elladan. The elf glanced at him, still with the same unfriendliness. Aldarion inwardly sighed as he spoke. "Elladan, I was thinking that it might be best if one of us returned to the main camp and let them know that Rosriel has been found, as well as Ella. They will be worried."
Elladan nodded, as if seeming suprised that Aldarion would think to think of such a think. "I presume you are volunteering?"
"Tancave**" Aldarion nodded. "Shall I also tell them that you shall all be slower in returning, as Edrolliel is unwell?"
"Edrolliel?" Elladan looked at her with curiousity. "Is that her name? Yes, you may tell them that."
"Very well then," Aldarion turned to go. "Namarie." He walked swiftly out of the camp, not even pausing to say farewell to Rosriel.
*thank you
** yes (certainly)
Abruptly her turned and went back to where Erdolliel was lying. He bent down so she could hear, speaking in a low voice. She looked suprised at his sudden return. "Erdolliel, the members of this Fellowship that I have joined, they do not know who mine and Anarion's parents are. Or who are grandparents are."
She nodded slowly. "You wish to keep it a secret?"
"Yes," he looked her in the eye. "I would."
"Alright then." She nodded again. "I will not give your secret away."
"Le hannon.*" He stood and walked back once again towards the smoldering campfire. Again Rosriel looked up at his approach, and this time he saw even more questions in her eyes. It was strange, how he could read her thoughts so clearly in her beautiful eyes. Yet they were questions that he did not want to have to answer - or refuse to answer. So swiftly he made up his mind.
He walked past Rosriel to stand by Elladan. The elf glanced at him, still with the same unfriendliness. Aldarion inwardly sighed as he spoke. "Elladan, I was thinking that it might be best if one of us returned to the main camp and let them know that Rosriel has been found, as well as Ella. They will be worried."
Elladan nodded, as if seeming suprised that Aldarion would think to think of such a think. "I presume you are volunteering?"
"Tancave**" Aldarion nodded. "Shall I also tell them that you shall all be slower in returning, as Edrolliel is unwell?"
"Edrolliel?" Elladan looked at her with curiousity. "Is that her name? Yes, you may tell them that."
"Very well then," Aldarion turned to go. "Namarie." He walked swiftly out of the camp, not even pausing to say farewell to Rosriel.
*thank you
** yes (certainly)
Monday, April 20, 2009
Don't Tell....Please?
"Lady Rosriel?" I called softly.
"Yes?"
"Could you tell Aldarion that I wish to speak with him?"
"I will." She went to Aldarion and spoke softly to him for a moment. I saw him glance at me and nod. He came over and sat down by my side.
"Lady Nessima, Rosriel says you wish to speak with me?"
"I am running Aldarion. Mama told me to. I don't know why, but do not call me Lady or Nessima from now on. My name shall be Erdolliel."
"Erdolliel...dark one?" He questioned my choice of a name.
"Yes. Dark one." I flipped my long black hair over my shoulder.
He nodded and was gone.... Gone back to Rosriel.... She smiled at him. What wonderful things have happened to him, since he's been with them?
"Yes?"
"Could you tell Aldarion that I wish to speak with him?"
"I will." She went to Aldarion and spoke softly to him for a moment. I saw him glance at me and nod. He came over and sat down by my side.
"Lady Nessima, Rosriel says you wish to speak with me?"
"I am running Aldarion. Mama told me to. I don't know why, but do not call me Lady or Nessima from now on. My name shall be Erdolliel."
"Erdolliel...dark one?" He questioned my choice of a name.
"Yes. Dark one." I flipped my long black hair over my shoulder.
He nodded and was gone.... Gone back to Rosriel.... She smiled at him. What wonderful things have happened to him, since he's been with them?
I'm not ready
As we all sat around the campfire under the starlit sky, chatting with each other when a dreaded question came up.
"So Turwethiel, I haven't been able to become very acquainted with you, yet. What's your background?" Rosriel asked this, and consequently the talk died down and everyone looked at me with interest.
I poked at the fire making sure that no emotion was displayed on my face, "I grew up in Greenwood, I'm a very distant cousin of Legolas, and I am now traveling with all of you." A very lame response, but I was not ready to tell the rest.
Ella said, "And what about your family?"
I shifted uncomfortably but still managed to keep any trace of emotion off my face, "Dead." With that, I grabbed my bow and arrows and walked away from the campfire as fast as I could, leaving everyone staring with puzzlement.
"Don't think badly of her," Legolas stated quietly, "she has been through much pain and suffering."
"When and how did they die?" Aldarion asked.
"It's not for me to share her past, but it was not long ago that it happened. I'll return with her shortly." With this, Legolas left the campsite to find her.
I had walked some distance when I stopped by a mighty tree and sunk to the ground at its base. I was not one for crying, but tears silently slid down my face. "Why did they have to ask that question? Will I ever get over what happened?"
Then I heard a gentle voice call out, "Turwethiel?"
I wiped my face with the back of my hand, "Over here Legolas."
He came over and sat next to me. "I know it's hard Turwethiel, but you will heal in time. It was not your fault you know."
"I know that. No one can help what orcs do,” I said this in a bitter tone, “but I can’t help wishing they were still alive. Hunting orcs in the forest with my brothers and getting into all sorts of fun adventures; being welcomed home by Father’s strong arms; and Mother…..beautiful Mother who taught me to be a true Elven lady.
“And being loved by Eruadan*?”
“Yes.”
"Sometimes it helps to talk about things we bottle up inside, and I have never heard you to tell the whole story, even though I know what happened."
"Maybe you're right, but not right now. Some other time.” I got up to go back, and Legolas got up as well.
Before we left he gave me a hug and said, “I’m ready when you want to talk, cousin.”
“Thank you.”
We began to walk back to camp.
~Turwethiel
*(Air-oo-ah-dahn) Elvish for Gabriel, which means Man of God
"So Turwethiel, I haven't been able to become very acquainted with you, yet. What's your background?" Rosriel asked this, and consequently the talk died down and everyone looked at me with interest.
I poked at the fire making sure that no emotion was displayed on my face, "I grew up in Greenwood, I'm a very distant cousin of Legolas, and I am now traveling with all of you." A very lame response, but I was not ready to tell the rest.
Ella said, "And what about your family?"
I shifted uncomfortably but still managed to keep any trace of emotion off my face, "Dead." With that, I grabbed my bow and arrows and walked away from the campfire as fast as I could, leaving everyone staring with puzzlement.
"Don't think badly of her," Legolas stated quietly, "she has been through much pain and suffering."
"When and how did they die?" Aldarion asked.
"It's not for me to share her past, but it was not long ago that it happened. I'll return with her shortly." With this, Legolas left the campsite to find her.
I had walked some distance when I stopped by a mighty tree and sunk to the ground at its base. I was not one for crying, but tears silently slid down my face. "Why did they have to ask that question? Will I ever get over what happened?"
Then I heard a gentle voice call out, "Turwethiel?"
I wiped my face with the back of my hand, "Over here Legolas."
He came over and sat next to me. "I know it's hard Turwethiel, but you will heal in time. It was not your fault you know."
"I know that. No one can help what orcs do,” I said this in a bitter tone, “but I can’t help wishing they were still alive. Hunting orcs in the forest with my brothers and getting into all sorts of fun adventures; being welcomed home by Father’s strong arms; and Mother…..beautiful Mother who taught me to be a true Elven lady.
“And being loved by Eruadan*?”
“Yes.”
"Sometimes it helps to talk about things we bottle up inside, and I have never heard you to tell the whole story, even though I know what happened."
"Maybe you're right, but not right now. Some other time.” I got up to go back, and Legolas got up as well.
Before we left he gave me a hug and said, “I’m ready when you want to talk, cousin.”
“Thank you.”
We began to walk back to camp.
~Turwethiel
*(Air-oo-ah-dahn) Elvish for Gabriel, which means Man of God
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Surprise Meeting
"No, you have been here for a while," I singled for Aldarion to bring me some food. "I heard you calling, but I only found you earlier today."
The girl looked puzzled. "I was calling you? But I do not remember..."
"Well," I hesitated, "I am not very sure, but, it was as if I could hear you, in my heart. I followed your call until I found you. I really do not know how to explain it."
"Oh," she looked puzzled. "Well, now that you mention it, I did call for help in my thoughts." She glanced at me with sudden amusement. "You don't happen to be a long lost sister, do you?"
I laughed merrily. "No, I don't think so! As far as I know, I only have one long lost sister, "I pointed out Ella, who was sitting near Legolas. "That is her there, her name is Ella. She is sitting next to our cousin, Legolas."
"Legolas?" She looked curious. "I think I have met him before, in Gondor. Legolas Greenleaf, from the Greenwood?"
I nodded, "Yes. That would be him." I looked up as Aldarion approached with some food. "Thank you Aldarion!"
He smiled, handing the food to me, and bowed. "Happy to serve you, my lady." He then looked at the girl we had found, and I saw surprise register in his face. "Lady Nessima?"
She looked surprised as well. "Aldarion? Aldarion, son of..."
"Yes," he cut her off. "I am that Aldarion. What are you doing so far from Gondor?"
I looked from one to the other, feeling just a surprised as the two looked. Aldarion knew this girl, Nessima he had called her. Well, if they were both from Gondor, then that was not to startling that they should have met before. Yet I was curious. Why had Aldarion stopped her from naming his father?
~ Rosriel
The girl looked puzzled. "I was calling you? But I do not remember..."
"Well," I hesitated, "I am not very sure, but, it was as if I could hear you, in my heart. I followed your call until I found you. I really do not know how to explain it."
"Oh," she looked puzzled. "Well, now that you mention it, I did call for help in my thoughts." She glanced at me with sudden amusement. "You don't happen to be a long lost sister, do you?"
I laughed merrily. "No, I don't think so! As far as I know, I only have one long lost sister, "I pointed out Ella, who was sitting near Legolas. "That is her there, her name is Ella. She is sitting next to our cousin, Legolas."
"Legolas?" She looked curious. "I think I have met him before, in Gondor. Legolas Greenleaf, from the Greenwood?"
I nodded, "Yes. That would be him." I looked up as Aldarion approached with some food. "Thank you Aldarion!"
He smiled, handing the food to me, and bowed. "Happy to serve you, my lady." He then looked at the girl we had found, and I saw surprise register in his face. "Lady Nessima?"
She looked surprised as well. "Aldarion? Aldarion, son of..."
"Yes," he cut her off. "I am that Aldarion. What are you doing so far from Gondor?"
I looked from one to the other, feeling just a surprised as the two looked. Aldarion knew this girl, Nessima he had called her. Well, if they were both from Gondor, then that was not to startling that they should have met before. Yet I was curious. Why had Aldarion stopped her from naming his father?
~ Rosriel
New Surroundings?
Where am I? And what is going on?? I heard a multitude of soft voices around me and tried to make out the words. It was all blurry. Then I saw a soft glow to my left. I squinted at it, trying to focus my eyes. It worked. Next, I tried to sit up. That didn't go so well. I jerked my body upwards but could not make it. With a loud groan I fell back to the ground.
Rosriel heard my groan and saw me try to sit up. She came over. "Are you feeling better?"
"Do you have any food?"
"I'll see."
"Thank you. Where are we? Have you moved me?"
"No, you've been here for a while..."
Rosriel heard my groan and saw me try to sit up. She came over. "Are you feeling better?"
"Do you have any food?"
"I'll see."
"Thank you. Where are we? Have you moved me?"
"No, you've been here for a while..."
I sighed. Legolas and I had not spoken since their arrival. He must hate me now. I would, if I were him. "Leggy?" I said quietly, staring at my hands.
He moved to clear a spot for me.
"Legolas I'm sorry. I handled things poorly."
"So did I, Ella. I should never have--"
"No. It is not your fault. I have no one to blame but myself. Your conduct was all that is good and proper, as it always has been. I reacted as a foolish child, and I am sorry."
"Ella, you're my closest friend. I need you around...please say you'll stay with us?"
I nodded. "I can't imagine why you still want me there, but yes, I'll stay." I winked. "I need you around too."
He moved to clear a spot for me.
"Legolas I'm sorry. I handled things poorly."
"So did I, Ella. I should never have--"
"No. It is not your fault. I have no one to blame but myself. Your conduct was all that is good and proper, as it always has been. I reacted as a foolish child, and I am sorry."
"Ella, you're my closest friend. I need you around...please say you'll stay with us?"
I nodded. "I can't imagine why you still want me there, but yes, I'll stay." I winked. "I need you around too."
Love and Pain
I saw the love but pain in Legolas's eyes. I knew what he would do. He would not force his affections on her; he would watch and wait. I knew the pain of losing love, but to have the love of your life with you but not return that love......I could not imagine. I wish he was still with me.....I wish......I forced my thoughts to the present moment. What had passed was past and could not be reversed.
“Rosriel. You lied,” I stated. “You promised to come straight back.”
Rosriel hung her head. “I’m sorry. But I felt an urge to help someone...or rather that someone needed my help.”
“Is that who the girl is?”
“Yes. Her ankle is broken and she has not fully woken up yet.”
Aldarion looked about. “We will stay here tonight. It is to late to travel now.”
We all nodded in agreement.
“Rosriel. You lied,” I stated. “You promised to come straight back.”
Rosriel hung her head. “I’m sorry. But I felt an urge to help someone...or rather that someone needed my help.”
“Is that who the girl is?”
“Yes. Her ankle is broken and she has not fully woken up yet.”
Aldarion looked about. “We will stay here tonight. It is to late to travel now.”
We all nodded in agreement.
Disapproving elves ruin everything....
I heard them talking, and knew I should try to listen, but I really couldn’t. I sat up for a moment, straining to hear, when I heard Anarion’s voice, but then I lay back, and stared blankly at nothing.
The dream I’d had last night still lingered with me, and I could not shake it off. Pieces of it wove through my conscious even as I tried to repress them.
The rustle in the bushes… the eyes… the feeling of fear… who could have followed me all this way? Someone who hates me…
I shuddered, and called quickly, “Vila?”
No answer. She was probably with the others. I sighed, wishing I had anything to distract my mind with.
I miss Ella.
The thought hurt, but it was a distraction, and a distraction was what I wanted.
Someone walked by, I could see legs passing. I shot a hand outside the tent swiftly and grabbed them.
“Lira?” It was Anarion, and he sounded surprised. He sat down next to me, and raised an eyebrow. I let go of his leg.
“I’m bored,” I informed him. “Tell me what is going on.”
He obliged. “Rosriel seems to have wandered off.”
Her, too? Who next? Vila? No, Vila wouldn’t leave me.
He saw my face, and added quickly, “She said she would return to the camp, but she has not as of yet, and we are rather worried for her. Legolas and Aldarion set off to look for her.”
“Oh,” I said.
He took this as an encouragement, and went on. “And Turwetheil seems to have gone followed them.” Something about this last statement seemed to amuse him, for his eyes were merry. But I was confused.
“Turwetheil?” I asked, puzzled. I could not put a face to the name.
“One of the new elves,” he explained, and I nodded.
There was a brief silence, and I said, finally, to fill it, “I am hungry.”
He smiled. “I am too. Samdo was making a stew, shall I see if it is ready, and if so, fetch you some?”
Now I was the one who smiled. “Certainly!” I said. “But do you know what would be even more appreciated?”
He looked a little wary at the mischievous look in my eyes.
“What would that be?” he asked anyway.
I reached under my pillow, fumbled around a little, and then pulled out a small packet, and held it out to him.
“Just empty the contents of this into the stew when no one’s looking.” I smiled imploringly at him, but he did not take it.
“What is in it?” His voice still sounded wary, actually, even more now.
“It won’t poison anyone, if that’s what you’re asking.” I smiled sweetly, and added thoughtfully, “And it’ll be more fun for you if you don’t know what it’s going to do ahead of time.”
He did not look very compliant, however, so I leaned toward him, put on hand on his arm, gazed pleadingly into his eyes, slipped the packet into his hand, and said softly, “Oh, please, Anarion! I promise it won’t ruin the stew! It would entertain me so much, and you can’t know how bored I have been! I would be forever grateful to you!”
He blinked at my rather obvious flirting, but his hand closed around the packet.
Vila is so much better at this than me....
Just then, Ellohir poked his head into the tent. “Anarion, would you—“ he began, and then broke off, staring at us. He looked slightly shocked.
And considering that mask-like elvish face, he’s probably a lot more than slightly shocked!
Anarion and I sat back away from each other quickly.
“Yes, Ellohir?” Anarion inquired.
Ellohir glanced at me, then said quickly, “We can talk outside.”
They left, but Anarion glanced back at me, saw my eyes fixed first on the packet hidden in his hand, than on his face, and winked. Unfortunately, Ellohir saw that too, and frowned at Anarion, pulling him quickly away.
I sighed.
Moral of the story—don’t flirt with Rangers when there are sharp-eyed, paranoid elves around.
I got up after a bit and made my way slowly and rather painfully to the campfire. It hurt, but I just had to see everyone’s faces when they saw the stew.
(Ooc--Please, NOBODY post anything about the stew until I post!!!!! ;))
The dream I’d had last night still lingered with me, and I could not shake it off. Pieces of it wove through my conscious even as I tried to repress them.
The rustle in the bushes… the eyes… the feeling of fear… who could have followed me all this way? Someone who hates me…
I shuddered, and called quickly, “Vila?”
No answer. She was probably with the others. I sighed, wishing I had anything to distract my mind with.
I miss Ella.
The thought hurt, but it was a distraction, and a distraction was what I wanted.
Someone walked by, I could see legs passing. I shot a hand outside the tent swiftly and grabbed them.
“Lira?” It was Anarion, and he sounded surprised. He sat down next to me, and raised an eyebrow. I let go of his leg.
“I’m bored,” I informed him. “Tell me what is going on.”
He obliged. “Rosriel seems to have wandered off.”
Her, too? Who next? Vila? No, Vila wouldn’t leave me.
He saw my face, and added quickly, “She said she would return to the camp, but she has not as of yet, and we are rather worried for her. Legolas and Aldarion set off to look for her.”
“Oh,” I said.
He took this as an encouragement, and went on. “And Turwetheil seems to have gone followed them.” Something about this last statement seemed to amuse him, for his eyes were merry. But I was confused.
“Turwetheil?” I asked, puzzled. I could not put a face to the name.
“One of the new elves,” he explained, and I nodded.
There was a brief silence, and I said, finally, to fill it, “I am hungry.”
He smiled. “I am too. Samdo was making a stew, shall I see if it is ready, and if so, fetch you some?”
Now I was the one who smiled. “Certainly!” I said. “But do you know what would be even more appreciated?”
He looked a little wary at the mischievous look in my eyes.
“What would that be?” he asked anyway.
I reached under my pillow, fumbled around a little, and then pulled out a small packet, and held it out to him.
“Just empty the contents of this into the stew when no one’s looking.” I smiled imploringly at him, but he did not take it.
“What is in it?” His voice still sounded wary, actually, even more now.
“It won’t poison anyone, if that’s what you’re asking.” I smiled sweetly, and added thoughtfully, “And it’ll be more fun for you if you don’t know what it’s going to do ahead of time.”
He did not look very compliant, however, so I leaned toward him, put on hand on his arm, gazed pleadingly into his eyes, slipped the packet into his hand, and said softly, “Oh, please, Anarion! I promise it won’t ruin the stew! It would entertain me so much, and you can’t know how bored I have been! I would be forever grateful to you!”
He blinked at my rather obvious flirting, but his hand closed around the packet.
Vila is so much better at this than me....
Just then, Ellohir poked his head into the tent. “Anarion, would you—“ he began, and then broke off, staring at us. He looked slightly shocked.
And considering that mask-like elvish face, he’s probably a lot more than slightly shocked!
Anarion and I sat back away from each other quickly.
“Yes, Ellohir?” Anarion inquired.
Ellohir glanced at me, then said quickly, “We can talk outside.”
They left, but Anarion glanced back at me, saw my eyes fixed first on the packet hidden in his hand, than on his face, and winked. Unfortunately, Ellohir saw that too, and frowned at Anarion, pulling him quickly away.
I sighed.
Moral of the story—don’t flirt with Rangers when there are sharp-eyed, paranoid elves around.
I got up after a bit and made my way slowly and rather painfully to the campfire. It hurt, but I just had to see everyone’s faces when they saw the stew.
(Ooc--Please, NOBODY post anything about the stew until I post!!!!! ;))
Ella:
"I'll...I'll admit to him my feelings, when he expresses his own once more." I finally said. I looked up. "Oh...oh...oh..." Legolas and a couple others were walking towards us.
"What is it Ella?"
I pointed. "I don't believe I'm ready for this yet."
Rosriel squeezed my hand. "Shhh it will be all right."
I nodded, but was unconvinced.
~~~
Legolas:
My heart soared as I saw who we were approaching. It was her. "Ella!" I called. Ella, my love. Please never run from me again.
Ella did not look up. Was I wrong to want her friendship? Seeing her again made me want it now more than ever. So she could not love me; that did not matter. I would not make her uncomfortable with expressions of my own feelings again. I would live as I always had, never revealing the pain my own heart felt, whenever I saw her lovely curls bouncing toward me, whenever her gorgeous mouth turned up in a smile, or emitted a melodic laugh...I shook my thoughts away and focused on the present moment.
"I'll...I'll admit to him my feelings, when he expresses his own once more." I finally said. I looked up. "Oh...oh...oh..." Legolas and a couple others were walking towards us.
"What is it Ella?"
I pointed. "I don't believe I'm ready for this yet."
Rosriel squeezed my hand. "Shhh it will be all right."
I nodded, but was unconvinced.
~~~
Legolas:
My heart soared as I saw who we were approaching. It was her. "Ella!" I called. Ella, my love. Please never run from me again.
Ella did not look up. Was I wrong to want her friendship? Seeing her again made me want it now more than ever. So she could not love me; that did not matter. I would not make her uncomfortable with expressions of my own feelings again. I would live as I always had, never revealing the pain my own heart felt, whenever I saw her lovely curls bouncing toward me, whenever her gorgeous mouth turned up in a smile, or emitted a melodic laugh...I shook my thoughts away and focused on the present moment.
Found
"Turwethiel, what do you see?" Legolas called up into the tree where I was scanning the horizon.
"No sign of them.....wait! I see smoke of a camp fire in the north maybe three miles," I replied as a hurried down the tree.
"Let us fly like the wind then," Aldarion said as I lightly landed on the ground.
I ran in the direction I saw the smoke, leading the others who were close behind me. We soon came to the location and crouched to the ground.
Elladan observed, "There are three figures. Two sitting, one lying as if hurt."
"It's Ella," Legolas whispered to me.
I looked at him. He seemed to have a strange glimmer of.....could it be hope in eyes? I turned my attention back to the figures and finally recognized the other person, "And Rosriel."
Now knowing who they were we approached.
"No sign of them.....wait! I see smoke of a camp fire in the north maybe three miles," I replied as a hurried down the tree.
"Let us fly like the wind then," Aldarion said as I lightly landed on the ground.
I ran in the direction I saw the smoke, leading the others who were close behind me. We soon came to the location and crouched to the ground.
Elladan observed, "There are three figures. Two sitting, one lying as if hurt."
"It's Ella," Legolas whispered to me.
I looked at him. He seemed to have a strange glimmer of.....could it be hope in eyes? I turned my attention back to the figures and finally recognized the other person, "And Rosriel."
Now knowing who they were we approached.
"I..." I looked at my hands. "I thought he loved another--Lady Nessa. I convinced myself he did...that nothing could happen between us..."
"But now you know he loves you, Ella."
"I'm not sure I can believe it."
"You think he would lie to you? About something like that?"
"Not exactly, no. I suppose that is not what I meant. But...I can't believe it will work between us...after thinking he cared for me only as a friend for so long a time...well, I convinced myself I only cared for him as a friend as well."
"And yet..." Rosriel prodded.
"And yet it was never true. I love him. And I've loved him...since...since the first time I realized that while when Elrond looked at me it was only with pity, when Legolas looked at me it was with the love of a true friend."
Rosriel smiled. "You have to tell him, Ella."
I shook my head. "I can't. And you can't either. He can't know."
"What? Why not??"
I put my head in my hands. "He just can't."
Rosriel sighed. "I won't tell him. But you should."
"Someday, maybe."
"Will you come back with me?"
I nodded. "I miss being with you and the others. And...I really miss Legolas."
"I'm glad you'll be back. We've missed you too. Legolas especially wasn't handling it well. He'll be happy to see you again...whether or not you're ready to reveal your feelings to him."
"Thank you, dear sister."
"But now you know he loves you, Ella."
"I'm not sure I can believe it."
"You think he would lie to you? About something like that?"
"Not exactly, no. I suppose that is not what I meant. But...I can't believe it will work between us...after thinking he cared for me only as a friend for so long a time...well, I convinced myself I only cared for him as a friend as well."
"And yet..." Rosriel prodded.
"And yet it was never true. I love him. And I've loved him...since...since the first time I realized that while when Elrond looked at me it was only with pity, when Legolas looked at me it was with the love of a true friend."
Rosriel smiled. "You have to tell him, Ella."
I shook my head. "I can't. And you can't either. He can't know."
"What? Why not??"
I put my head in my hands. "He just can't."
Rosriel sighed. "I won't tell him. But you should."
"Someday, maybe."
"Will you come back with me?"
I nodded. "I miss being with you and the others. And...I really miss Legolas."
"I'm glad you'll be back. We've missed you too. Legolas especially wasn't handling it well. He'll be happy to see you again...whether or not you're ready to reveal your feelings to him."
"Thank you, dear sister."
Friday, April 17, 2009
Persuasion
"Afraid? What would I be afraid of?"
"Of your feelings."
"Rosriel, really. Why would I be afraid of my feelings?"
"Because of what they might mean to you. Sometimes people are afraid of their feelings because they do not want their lives to change. Sometimes they are afraid of their feelings because they fear that admitting them or acknowledging them might make them more vulnerable, more easily hurt." I turned away, giving her time to think. I focused my attention on the girl we had found. She appeared to be awake now, if you could call it that. Her eyes were still closed, but she gave the faintest flutter of her eyelids when I lifted my canteen to her mouth. Feeling her forehead, I noticed that it was rather warm. My brow furrowed, something needed to be done for her.
I glanced up at Ella's face, but it was hidden in the darkness. While I waited for Ella to speak, I searched the pouch I wore at my waist for an herb that would lessen the girl's fever. By the flickering firelight, I did find something and crushed it into the water. Then I moved the girl's head into my lap and tried to get her to drink as much of the liquid as she could.
We sat in silence. When the girl coughed, I moved the water skin down from her lips. I began combing her hair with my fingers, noting that her face was tense. Having my hair brushed always had helped me to relax, I hoped it would help her as well. I looked up as Ella spoke.
"Or," she said softly, "one may be afraid of one's feelings, for fear of giving another pain."
I looked at her keenly. "Ella, I do not believe that you feel nothing for Legolas."
She turned towards me. "Why do you say that?"
I smiled softly, glancing down at the girl and was pleased to see that she had indeed relaxed. "Well, we have grown rather close since we first met and we are sisters, which most likely helped me to read your face more easily. Legolas is a very dear friend to you, you said yourself that when in Rivendell others teased you for your curled hair, he alone defended you. That in itself would endear him to you." I thought, then went on. "The way you act around him, you always have a smile ready for him..." I laughed, "Well, almost always. You tend to ask his opinion first, before asking anyone elses. I have seen how you look so happy and blush when he gives you a compliment or says a kind word to you. And do you not remember how upset you were that first day he joined us when I ran up to him and gave him a huge hug?"
Ella giggled. "Oh my, yes! I was so silly! I recall that at the time, I could not even tell why I was so upset with you..." Her voice trailed off and she sat silently.
I waited patiently while she thought.
~ Rosriel
"Of your feelings."
"Rosriel, really. Why would I be afraid of my feelings?"
"Because of what they might mean to you. Sometimes people are afraid of their feelings because they do not want their lives to change. Sometimes they are afraid of their feelings because they fear that admitting them or acknowledging them might make them more vulnerable, more easily hurt." I turned away, giving her time to think. I focused my attention on the girl we had found. She appeared to be awake now, if you could call it that. Her eyes were still closed, but she gave the faintest flutter of her eyelids when I lifted my canteen to her mouth. Feeling her forehead, I noticed that it was rather warm. My brow furrowed, something needed to be done for her.
I glanced up at Ella's face, but it was hidden in the darkness. While I waited for Ella to speak, I searched the pouch I wore at my waist for an herb that would lessen the girl's fever. By the flickering firelight, I did find something and crushed it into the water. Then I moved the girl's head into my lap and tried to get her to drink as much of the liquid as she could.
We sat in silence. When the girl coughed, I moved the water skin down from her lips. I began combing her hair with my fingers, noting that her face was tense. Having my hair brushed always had helped me to relax, I hoped it would help her as well. I looked up as Ella spoke.
"Or," she said softly, "one may be afraid of one's feelings, for fear of giving another pain."
I looked at her keenly. "Ella, I do not believe that you feel nothing for Legolas."
She turned towards me. "Why do you say that?"
I smiled softly, glancing down at the girl and was pleased to see that she had indeed relaxed. "Well, we have grown rather close since we first met and we are sisters, which most likely helped me to read your face more easily. Legolas is a very dear friend to you, you said yourself that when in Rivendell others teased you for your curled hair, he alone defended you. That in itself would endear him to you." I thought, then went on. "The way you act around him, you always have a smile ready for him..." I laughed, "Well, almost always. You tend to ask his opinion first, before asking anyone elses. I have seen how you look so happy and blush when he gives you a compliment or says a kind word to you. And do you not remember how upset you were that first day he joined us when I ran up to him and gave him a huge hug?"
Ella giggled. "Oh my, yes! I was so silly! I recall that at the time, I could not even tell why I was so upset with you..." Her voice trailed off and she sat silently.
I waited patiently while she thought.
~ Rosriel
"You don't have to answer me if you'd rather not but...why did you run, Ella?"
Rosriel's question caught me off guard. Now that it came down to it, I couldn't be sure I had had a reason. "I don't know," I said slowly. "Legolas, he..."
Rosriel nodded. "He expressed his feelings to you."
"He told you?"
"I figured it out. Ella, you've always been close to Legolas. I just...I don't want this to be something that ruins your friendship."
"I don't either Rosriel, but..."
"But what, Ella? What's the real reason you left? Were you afraid?"
"Afraid? What would I be afraid of?"
"Of your feelings."
Rosriel's question caught me off guard. Now that it came down to it, I couldn't be sure I had had a reason. "I don't know," I said slowly. "Legolas, he..."
Rosriel nodded. "He expressed his feelings to you."
"He told you?"
"I figured it out. Ella, you've always been close to Legolas. I just...I don't want this to be something that ruins your friendship."
"I don't either Rosriel, but..."
"But what, Ella? What's the real reason you left? Were you afraid?"
"Afraid? What would I be afraid of?"
"Of your feelings."
Thursday, April 16, 2009
I Have Found Her
I had run on and on, following the call that I felt deep in my heart. And as I ran I pondered. Where did this call come from? Who was calling me? Could it be Ella? Was she hurt? No, I thought. I knew that it was not Ella, it was someone else.
The sun was getting lower and lower in the sky. I glanced up anxiously. The call was getting fainter, and I knew I had to find who ever it was soon, before dark. I quickened my pace and then stopped. Wait, what was that I had heard? Listening carefully, I heard a faint moan to my left. Stepping lightly, I walked towards the sound, then coming around a tree I spotted something. Someone. It was a girl, and she was lying on the ground as if in pain.
Quickly I knelt at her side, and laid my hand on her forehead. I spoke gently. "Hello? Can you hear me? You are very ill...and hurt too. I want to help you. Will you let me? Will you let my friends and I take care of you? My name is Rosriel." I saw her mouth move and bent down close. I heard a horse, faint whisper.
"Yes."
I sighed with relief. "Can you tell me what is wrong? Where does it hurt?" I waited for an answer. The girl's mouth moved feebly, but no sound came out. A tear slipped down her face. "There, there," I wiped the tear away. "It's alright. You don not have to say a thing. Just try to sleep and I will take care of you." She relaxed and I lifted my water skin to her lip, helping her get a small drink. Then I set about gathering wood for a campfire.
As I gathered bits of brush and twig I heard a rustle behind me. I stood and looked carefully around. My keen eyes caught the sight of a figure dropping quickly down behind some bushes. My breath caught in my throat. I could hardly believe my eyes. "Ella? Ella, come out! I saw you!"
Slowly she stood up. Tears filled my eyes as I ran to my sister and embraced her. She pulled away.
"Rosriel, I had to leave. I am sorry I did not say good-bye, but you must understand..."
I put my finger to her lips. "It is alright, really." I hesitated. "I understand, and if you still do not want come back, if you want to go on your way... that is alright with me."
Ella stared. "It - it is?"
I nodded. "Yes, if that is what you need to do. But for now, "I grabbed her hand. "Please, will you not spend the night with me? I would love to have another talk with you, and I need help." I re-gathered my kindling and began leading the way. "I found a young girl, she is very sick and injured I believe as well. I need help caring for her."
Ella nodded. "Of course I will help you. " She began building the fire as I examined the girl, who now appeared to be sleeping. I carefully felt her arms and legs, noticing that she winced when I touched her ankle. I looked up.
"Her ankle appears to be broken," I examined her further. "But other then that, she just seems to be dehydrated and I wager that she has not eaten in a few days."
Ella came over and knelt next to me. "Do you think she will be alright?"
I ripped off the hem of my dress and finding a flat stick, began binding the girl's ankle. "I think so, if she gets something to eat." I looked up. "Did you bring any food supplies?"
Ella looked through her pouch. "A few things, but not something she could just swallow. And I'm not sure how to make a broth with what's around here." She glanced around. "Or should I say... what's not around here."
I sighed, looking down at the sleeping form. "Well, then I guess we shall have to wait until someone finds us." I half smiled. "I imagine Legolas is having a panic attack over my disappearance, and most likely everyone else is worried as well." I laid my hand on Ella's shoulder. "If anyone should show up, particularly Legolas, it is alright if you go on."
She nodded slowly. "I will decide that later."
We sat together in the growing darkness, watching over the injured girl, enjoying each other's company as only sisters could.
~ Lady Rosriel
The sun was getting lower and lower in the sky. I glanced up anxiously. The call was getting fainter, and I knew I had to find who ever it was soon, before dark. I quickened my pace and then stopped. Wait, what was that I had heard? Listening carefully, I heard a faint moan to my left. Stepping lightly, I walked towards the sound, then coming around a tree I spotted something. Someone. It was a girl, and she was lying on the ground as if in pain.
Quickly I knelt at her side, and laid my hand on her forehead. I spoke gently. "Hello? Can you hear me? You are very ill...and hurt too. I want to help you. Will you let me? Will you let my friends and I take care of you? My name is Rosriel." I saw her mouth move and bent down close. I heard a horse, faint whisper.
"Yes."
I sighed with relief. "Can you tell me what is wrong? Where does it hurt?" I waited for an answer. The girl's mouth moved feebly, but no sound came out. A tear slipped down her face. "There, there," I wiped the tear away. "It's alright. You don not have to say a thing. Just try to sleep and I will take care of you." She relaxed and I lifted my water skin to her lip, helping her get a small drink. Then I set about gathering wood for a campfire.
As I gathered bits of brush and twig I heard a rustle behind me. I stood and looked carefully around. My keen eyes caught the sight of a figure dropping quickly down behind some bushes. My breath caught in my throat. I could hardly believe my eyes. "Ella? Ella, come out! I saw you!"
Slowly she stood up. Tears filled my eyes as I ran to my sister and embraced her. She pulled away.
"Rosriel, I had to leave. I am sorry I did not say good-bye, but you must understand..."
I put my finger to her lips. "It is alright, really." I hesitated. "I understand, and if you still do not want come back, if you want to go on your way... that is alright with me."
Ella stared. "It - it is?"
I nodded. "Yes, if that is what you need to do. But for now, "I grabbed her hand. "Please, will you not spend the night with me? I would love to have another talk with you, and I need help." I re-gathered my kindling and began leading the way. "I found a young girl, she is very sick and injured I believe as well. I need help caring for her."
Ella nodded. "Of course I will help you. " She began building the fire as I examined the girl, who now appeared to be sleeping. I carefully felt her arms and legs, noticing that she winced when I touched her ankle. I looked up.
"Her ankle appears to be broken," I examined her further. "But other then that, she just seems to be dehydrated and I wager that she has not eaten in a few days."
Ella came over and knelt next to me. "Do you think she will be alright?"
I ripped off the hem of my dress and finding a flat stick, began binding the girl's ankle. "I think so, if she gets something to eat." I looked up. "Did you bring any food supplies?"
Ella looked through her pouch. "A few things, but not something she could just swallow. And I'm not sure how to make a broth with what's around here." She glanced around. "Or should I say... what's not around here."
I sighed, looking down at the sleeping form. "Well, then I guess we shall have to wait until someone finds us." I half smiled. "I imagine Legolas is having a panic attack over my disappearance, and most likely everyone else is worried as well." I laid my hand on Ella's shoulder. "If anyone should show up, particularly Legolas, it is alright if you go on."
She nodded slowly. "I will decide that later."
We sat together in the growing darkness, watching over the injured girl, enjoying each other's company as only sisters could.
~ Lady Rosriel
Ella:
The mountains were steep and the going was slow. Much slower than I had anticipated. I heard something. Closing my mind to all noises but this, I listened as I walked, then froze.
"My name is Rosriel..."
Surely she had not followed me here. Was there no place to hide?
Now I knew part of the reason the original fellowship had chosen the mines of Moria. The mountains were far too open.
The mountains were steep and the going was slow. Much slower than I had anticipated. I heard something. Closing my mind to all noises but this, I listened as I walked, then froze.
"My name is Rosriel..."
Surely she had not followed me here. Was there no place to hide?
Now I knew part of the reason the original fellowship had chosen the mines of Moria. The mountains were far too open.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Save Me...
Help! Someone......please....
This was agony. How would I ever be able to survive if I continued to hang in this black space, floating on nothing? I needed people, even if they would be my enemies in the end, I was relying on them.
Suddenly, I felt something...something soft and warm.... It was resting on what I assumed must be my forehead. It was so light...I could barely feel it. And then, a voice came drifting through my thoughts. A gentle, kind voice. It sounded like a little silver bell...
"Hello? Can you hear me? You are very ill...and hurt too. I want to help you. Will you let me? Will you let my friends and I take care of you? My name is Rosriel..."
I wetted my lips, straining to make my voice come from my throat. Finally, a hoarse whisper came: "Yes"
This was agony. How would I ever be able to survive if I continued to hang in this black space, floating on nothing? I needed people, even if they would be my enemies in the end, I was relying on them.
Suddenly, I felt something...something soft and warm.... It was resting on what I assumed must be my forehead. It was so light...I could barely feel it. And then, a voice came drifting through my thoughts. A gentle, kind voice. It sounded like a little silver bell...
"Hello? Can you hear me? You are very ill...and hurt too. I want to help you. Will you let me? Will you let my friends and I take care of you? My name is Rosriel..."
I wetted my lips, straining to make my voice come from my throat. Finally, a hoarse whisper came: "Yes"
I'm coming as well
As Aldarion, Legolas, and Elladan turned and rushed into the forest I slipped out of the campsite to follow them.
"I may be a she-elf, but my skill is just as good as any of theirs, and they might need it. I suppose my rather masculine skills are due to being the youngest of four......" I stopped my musings knowing that they would only bring about painful memories.
I swiftly and carefully followed them when suddenly Legolas halted the trio.
"What is it," asked Elladan?
"Nad no ennas*," Legolas replied, "or rather someone."
I froze. How did he know I had followed? Lately he seemed to read my thoughts, which was greatly annoying me.
"Teli breitho**, Turwethiel," Legolas said with a sigh.
I emerged out of the trees with my head held high, and approached them. "How did you know?"
"I expected it. It seems that ever since," he paused here catching my warning gaze, "well, it is like you to want to help those in danger.
"I don't know you well, Turwethiel, but I can tell that you are eager to be of service to Rosriel. You may come," Aldarion said.
I bowed in my thanks and we took up the search again.
*something is out there
**come out
"I may be a she-elf, but my skill is just as good as any of theirs, and they might need it. I suppose my rather masculine skills are due to being the youngest of four......" I stopped my musings knowing that they would only bring about painful memories.
I swiftly and carefully followed them when suddenly Legolas halted the trio.
"What is it," asked Elladan?
"Nad no ennas*," Legolas replied, "or rather someone."
I froze. How did he know I had followed? Lately he seemed to read my thoughts, which was greatly annoying me.
"Teli breitho**, Turwethiel," Legolas said with a sigh.
I emerged out of the trees with my head held high, and approached them. "How did you know?"
"I expected it. It seems that ever since," he paused here catching my warning gaze, "well, it is like you to want to help those in danger.
"I don't know you well, Turwethiel, but I can tell that you are eager to be of service to Rosriel. You may come," Aldarion said.
I bowed in my thanks and we took up the search again.
*something is out there
**come out
What to do?
I sat with Elanor near our campfire, occasionally getting up to stir at the stew I was making for dinner. I looked around again, everyone had been a bit quiet today, what with Miss Ella's disappearance, Miss Rosriel gettin' all mad at Legolas, Miss Lira still bein' unwell what with her broken arm and all. Yes, very quiet indeed.
Legolas had gone after Miss Rosriel - before Miss Turwethiel had come back an' told us that she'd wanted to be alone - and neither of them had come back yet. I figured that once they did though, we'd all sit down to talk about what to do next.
We all looked up as Legloas walked out of the trees, alone I noticed. Aldarion stepped forward.
"Rosriel, where is she? Did you find her?" he asked tersely.
Legolas nodded, his brow furrowed. "Yes I did. She said that she wished to be alone a while longer." He glanced back at the forest, as if puzzled about something. "She should be here soon, in the mean time, I believe we should discuss what to do."
"What is there to do?" Elena spoke. "From the sound of the note, it sounds as if Ella wanted to leave, and did not want anyone to follow her."
I nodded in agreement, and saw a few others nodding too, but Legolas' face had a stubborn look to it. "I cannot just let her wander about Middle-Earth alone!"
"I think she can take care of herself," Elladan voiced his oppinion.
"What did Rosriel think? Did you ask her what she wanted to do? She is Ella's sister after all." Anarion looked questioningly at Legolas.
Legolas hesitated, "She said she did not wish to look for Ella."
That puzzled me. Why wouldn't Miss Rosriel want to look for her sister? I shrugged, and spoke up slowly, "Well then, if that's what Miss Rosriel said, than I think it would be fine to not look for Miss Ella. Miss Rosriel is her sister and should know what her sister would want and could do. And seein' as Miss Rosriel has the closest connection with Miss Ella, if she's fine with lettin' her go then it seems as if we should be fine with it too."
Elena smiled. "Never argue with good hobbit sense." She looked keenly around at the rest. "I propose that we let Ella go and continue on her way."
Legolas looked frustrated, but complied. "Very well then. As soon as Rosriel returns then we will go on." He walked off to sit by himself.
I got up to put more wood on the fire, casting a glance at Legolas' stiff back. "It's as plane as the nose on your face Samdo Took that Mister Legolas doesn't plan on lettin' Miss Ella go off on her own, but there'd be no use in pointin' that out just yet," I muttered to myself. "Well, maybe when Miss Rosriel gets back she'll talk him out of it."
And so we waited for her to return. And waited, and waited, and waited, but there was still no sign of her. At last Aldarion turned to Legolas. "Legolas, did she say she would be gone this long? The sun is nearly setting!"
Legolas looked worried, "She said she would be along shortly, maybe."
"Maybe?" Aldarion looked closely at Legolas.
"Those where her words," Legolas spoke. "Could she have gone to look for Ella herself?"
"Yet you say that she said she did not want to follow her," Elena pointed out.
Legolas nodded, "She did, and very firmly too. No, I do not think she went after Ella. I know Rosriel well enough to know that when she speaks firmly, she just as firmly intends to stay by what she says."
"Then something must have befallen her, we must look for her." Aldarion stood up. "I will go, Legolas, you will come with me and Elladan as well. The rest of you should stay here." He looked to Elena who nodded.
"Be careful."
~ Master Samdo
Legolas had gone after Miss Rosriel - before Miss Turwethiel had come back an' told us that she'd wanted to be alone - and neither of them had come back yet. I figured that once they did though, we'd all sit down to talk about what to do next.
We all looked up as Legloas walked out of the trees, alone I noticed. Aldarion stepped forward.
"Rosriel, where is she? Did you find her?" he asked tersely.
Legolas nodded, his brow furrowed. "Yes I did. She said that she wished to be alone a while longer." He glanced back at the forest, as if puzzled about something. "She should be here soon, in the mean time, I believe we should discuss what to do."
"What is there to do?" Elena spoke. "From the sound of the note, it sounds as if Ella wanted to leave, and did not want anyone to follow her."
I nodded in agreement, and saw a few others nodding too, but Legolas' face had a stubborn look to it. "I cannot just let her wander about Middle-Earth alone!"
"I think she can take care of herself," Elladan voiced his oppinion.
"What did Rosriel think? Did you ask her what she wanted to do? She is Ella's sister after all." Anarion looked questioningly at Legolas.
Legolas hesitated, "She said she did not wish to look for Ella."
That puzzled me. Why wouldn't Miss Rosriel want to look for her sister? I shrugged, and spoke up slowly, "Well then, if that's what Miss Rosriel said, than I think it would be fine to not look for Miss Ella. Miss Rosriel is her sister and should know what her sister would want and could do. And seein' as Miss Rosriel has the closest connection with Miss Ella, if she's fine with lettin' her go then it seems as if we should be fine with it too."
Elena smiled. "Never argue with good hobbit sense." She looked keenly around at the rest. "I propose that we let Ella go and continue on her way."
Legolas looked frustrated, but complied. "Very well then. As soon as Rosriel returns then we will go on." He walked off to sit by himself.
I got up to put more wood on the fire, casting a glance at Legolas' stiff back. "It's as plane as the nose on your face Samdo Took that Mister Legolas doesn't plan on lettin' Miss Ella go off on her own, but there'd be no use in pointin' that out just yet," I muttered to myself. "Well, maybe when Miss Rosriel gets back she'll talk him out of it."
And so we waited for her to return. And waited, and waited, and waited, but there was still no sign of her. At last Aldarion turned to Legolas. "Legolas, did she say she would be gone this long? The sun is nearly setting!"
Legolas looked worried, "She said she would be along shortly, maybe."
"Maybe?" Aldarion looked closely at Legolas.
"Those where her words," Legolas spoke. "Could she have gone to look for Ella herself?"
"Yet you say that she said she did not want to follow her," Elena pointed out.
Legolas nodded, "She did, and very firmly too. No, I do not think she went after Ella. I know Rosriel well enough to know that when she speaks firmly, she just as firmly intends to stay by what she says."
"Then something must have befallen her, we must look for her." Aldarion stood up. "I will go, Legolas, you will come with me and Elladan as well. The rest of you should stay here." He looked to Elena who nodded.
"Be careful."
~ Master Samdo
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Ella:
I turned. There were the mountains. I'd seen them as I'd traveled with the fellowship. They would be going through Moria--just as the original fellowship did. They would not search for me elsewhere. I had to climb them, or return home. And as Rivendell never had seemed home to me... I took my first step onto the stony ground.
Legolas:
Rosriel's utter refusal of help was hard, but it wasn't until after I'd walked back to the camp that I'd realized she'd begun to run in the completely wrong direction. Was I that difficult to be around?
Still, she'd given me hope, small and fading though it may be. Perhaps Ella did care. But why then would she run? It made no sense.
Either way, help or none, I had to find her. She needed these people, whether she realized it or not. If it would make it easier for her, I would return to Mirkwood when we were closer. Or immediately.
I sighed. I needed these people, too.
I turned. There were the mountains. I'd seen them as I'd traveled with the fellowship. They would be going through Moria--just as the original fellowship did. They would not search for me elsewhere. I had to climb them, or return home. And as Rivendell never had seemed home to me... I took my first step onto the stony ground.
Legolas:
Rosriel's utter refusal of help was hard, but it wasn't until after I'd walked back to the camp that I'd realized she'd begun to run in the completely wrong direction. Was I that difficult to be around?
Still, she'd given me hope, small and fading though it may be. Perhaps Ella did care. But why then would she run? It made no sense.
Either way, help or none, I had to find her. She needed these people, whether she realized it or not. If it would make it easier for her, I would return to Mirkwood when we were closer. Or immediately.
I sighed. I needed these people, too.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Desperation
I cannot escape my thoughts. I'm trapped here, floating in the darkness, waiting for someone to come...
Why has this happened to me? What will happen next?
Why has this happened to me? What will happen next?
A Call
Together Turwethiel and I began walking back towards the camp. We had just come in sight of it when I stopped. "Turwethiel, please go on ahead."
She looked at me quizzically. "What do you mean? I thought you said you were going to come back to the camp."
I shook my head. "I know, but... I am not ready just yet." I played with my necklace. "I need some time to think, to adjust."
Turwethiel nodded. "Yes, I can certainly understand that. What shall I tell them?"
"Just that I need some time to be alone."
I watched Turwethiel walk away and then turned back to the forest. I found myself wandering, and thinking, eventually sitting down beside a small stream and staring into it's bubbling waters. How I hoped that Ella was safe! I had sent word by the band of elves whom had rescued us from the orc attack that she had been found, and now I dreaded the thought of the anguish they might feel if something terrible happened to her - again. Yet I did not want to send word to them that she had left our company, for she might come back or maybe was even on her way to visit them.
My heart lifted at the thought and I hoped that Ella would go to visit our parents. How happy that would make them! I could picture the reception in my mind... a royal welcome for a princess of the Greenwood. I was sure that our uncle, King Thranduil would host at least one feast. I wished that I could be there, then reminded myself that I did not even know what Ella's plans had been. Still, the thought was comforting and I clung to it.
I started up as I felt a hand on my shoulder, heard a voice behind me, and whirled around. I gasped. "Legolas!"
He looked apologetic. "I am sorry Rosriel, I did not mean to startle you. I thought you heard me coming." He glanced at me carefully. "Would you prefer that I leave?"
I felt a slight twinge of irritation, had not I told Turwethiel to let them know I wanted to be alone? But then, perhaps Legolas had not been with the company. The thought occured to me that perhaps he had been worried about my flight into the forest and come to find me. "No, no. I do not mind." I saw that there was still a red mark on his face, and I blushed. "Legolas, can you ever forgive me? I am so sorry! I did not mean to, I was so upset..."
He nodded. "There is nothing to forgive." He smiled, taking my hand. "I am glad that you are safe, I was afraid you might be lost."
I burst into tears. My dear cousin! I had slapped him, yelled at him in front of the whole Fellowship, and he had still worried for my safety. I flung my arms around him "No, I am not lost."
He stepped back, looking a bit confused at my outburst. "Yes well," he glanced down. "I am afraid I have an apology as well," he took a deep breath. "I suspect it was because of me that Ella left. You were right, I did say something to her, but I would not have if I had known that this is how she would react. I am sorry."
I stared. What could he mean? An idea occured, I recalled how Ella had told me of Legolas' kindess to her when she grew up in Rivendell, how treated her so gently, had taken care of her the time she had hurt her ankle. "You told her you loved her, did you not?"
He looked surprised. "How did you know?"
I smiled. "Never put it past a woman to guess when a man is in love, particularily with her sister or friend." My smile faded, "Then she does not return your affections?"
"No, she seemed most upset when I told her, and now she has left..." he trailed off. "I believe I must have displeased her greatly."
I shook my head, "I do not believe that she does not return your feelings!"
Legolas looked up, startled.
I went on, "If she felt nothing for you, she would have told you and stayed, not run off as she did. No, she must either be uncertain of her feelings or there is something holding her back and so she left."
A look of hope entered Legolas' eyes. "Will you help me search for her?"
I was hesitating, on the verge of agreeing when suddenly something held me back. I knew with a deep conviction that I could not go with Legolas. "No," I replied, gently but firmly. "I can not."
His face fell, "Very well." He turned to go, then looked back. "Are you coming back to the camp?"
I was about to follow, when once again I felt that I could not. I paused. What was this? I knew not where it came from, but in my heart, I felt a call and I could not ignore it. For whatever reason, I could not go back to the camp. I shook my head. "I will be along shortly, maybe."
Legolas looked bemused, then nodded, looking at me closely. "Do not be long."
I did not answer as he turned and slowly walked away. I waited until he was out of sight and then began walking in the opposite direction. I did not know where I was being called, but I followed the way that seemed right. It felt like a call for help, an urgent call.
Quickening my pace, I hurried on.
~ Rosriel
She looked at me quizzically. "What do you mean? I thought you said you were going to come back to the camp."
I shook my head. "I know, but... I am not ready just yet." I played with my necklace. "I need some time to think, to adjust."
Turwethiel nodded. "Yes, I can certainly understand that. What shall I tell them?"
"Just that I need some time to be alone."
I watched Turwethiel walk away and then turned back to the forest. I found myself wandering, and thinking, eventually sitting down beside a small stream and staring into it's bubbling waters. How I hoped that Ella was safe! I had sent word by the band of elves whom had rescued us from the orc attack that she had been found, and now I dreaded the thought of the anguish they might feel if something terrible happened to her - again. Yet I did not want to send word to them that she had left our company, for she might come back or maybe was even on her way to visit them.
My heart lifted at the thought and I hoped that Ella would go to visit our parents. How happy that would make them! I could picture the reception in my mind... a royal welcome for a princess of the Greenwood. I was sure that our uncle, King Thranduil would host at least one feast. I wished that I could be there, then reminded myself that I did not even know what Ella's plans had been. Still, the thought was comforting and I clung to it.
I started up as I felt a hand on my shoulder, heard a voice behind me, and whirled around. I gasped. "Legolas!"
He looked apologetic. "I am sorry Rosriel, I did not mean to startle you. I thought you heard me coming." He glanced at me carefully. "Would you prefer that I leave?"
I felt a slight twinge of irritation, had not I told Turwethiel to let them know I wanted to be alone? But then, perhaps Legolas had not been with the company. The thought occured to me that perhaps he had been worried about my flight into the forest and come to find me. "No, no. I do not mind." I saw that there was still a red mark on his face, and I blushed. "Legolas, can you ever forgive me? I am so sorry! I did not mean to, I was so upset..."
He nodded. "There is nothing to forgive." He smiled, taking my hand. "I am glad that you are safe, I was afraid you might be lost."
I burst into tears. My dear cousin! I had slapped him, yelled at him in front of the whole Fellowship, and he had still worried for my safety. I flung my arms around him "No, I am not lost."
He stepped back, looking a bit confused at my outburst. "Yes well," he glanced down. "I am afraid I have an apology as well," he took a deep breath. "I suspect it was because of me that Ella left. You were right, I did say something to her, but I would not have if I had known that this is how she would react. I am sorry."
I stared. What could he mean? An idea occured, I recalled how Ella had told me of Legolas' kindess to her when she grew up in Rivendell, how treated her so gently, had taken care of her the time she had hurt her ankle. "You told her you loved her, did you not?"
He looked surprised. "How did you know?"
I smiled. "Never put it past a woman to guess when a man is in love, particularily with her sister or friend." My smile faded, "Then she does not return your affections?"
"No, she seemed most upset when I told her, and now she has left..." he trailed off. "I believe I must have displeased her greatly."
I shook my head, "I do not believe that she does not return your feelings!"
Legolas looked up, startled.
I went on, "If she felt nothing for you, she would have told you and stayed, not run off as she did. No, she must either be uncertain of her feelings or there is something holding her back and so she left."
A look of hope entered Legolas' eyes. "Will you help me search for her?"
I was hesitating, on the verge of agreeing when suddenly something held me back. I knew with a deep conviction that I could not go with Legolas. "No," I replied, gently but firmly. "I can not."
His face fell, "Very well." He turned to go, then looked back. "Are you coming back to the camp?"
I was about to follow, when once again I felt that I could not. I paused. What was this? I knew not where it came from, but in my heart, I felt a call and I could not ignore it. For whatever reason, I could not go back to the camp. I shook my head. "I will be along shortly, maybe."
Legolas looked bemused, then nodded, looking at me closely. "Do not be long."
I did not answer as he turned and slowly walked away. I waited until he was out of sight and then began walking in the opposite direction. I did not know where I was being called, but I followed the way that seemed right. It felt like a call for help, an urgent call.
Quickening my pace, I hurried on.
~ Rosriel
Where we are at...
Some people were asking where we are at. Currently, we are in Hollin, here:
Road begins climbing as it winds into the hills. Mountains are closer. 252 miles from start. 17 miles since last location.
Our route is mapped out in the "Where we are headed" on the sidebar, and so whenever I feel we've "walked" far enough or it's time to move on, I'll post our new location. 'k?
Our route is mapped out in the "Where we are headed" on the sidebar, and so whenever I feel we've "walked" far enough or it's time to move on, I'll post our new location. 'k?
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Ëarwen
I have to quit this blog. My mom says only 2, and I already have those! I am SO sorry, I really wanted to do this, but... Honor thy Father and thy Mother!
Anar kaluva tielyanna! Noro go hul, bado go Eru, mellon-nins!
Ëarwen Harethgalad
Anar kaluva tielyanna! Noro go hul, bado go Eru, mellon-nins!
Ëarwen Harethgalad
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Help
Okay, I need a little help. Where is everyone, who is everyone, where are we, and so forth. Could we all just leave comments in on this post so that I (and perhaps others) could figure out who everyone is and where everyone is. Thanks!
Weakness
Food...I need food...at least a root or something...
I dragged myself through the woods. Finally, after much time, I reached a spring. But there was nothing to eat. I couldn't remember what roots were safe.
There must be a road somewhere....it's my last hope...even if the ones I'm running from find me...
With the last bit of strength I had left, I half crawled, half dragged myself into a clearing. Glancing around, I realized that there was a wide footpath or else a very narrow road running through it.
Thank the stars....
And I passed out.
I dragged myself through the woods. Finally, after much time, I reached a spring. But there was nothing to eat. I couldn't remember what roots were safe.
There must be a road somewhere....it's my last hope...even if the ones I'm running from find me...
With the last bit of strength I had left, I half crawled, half dragged myself into a clearing. Glancing around, I realized that there was a wide footpath or else a very narrow road running through it.
Thank the stars....
And I passed out.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Lira.....is not in a good mood
I woke up to a chilly gray sky that promised rain, and poked my head out of the tent I lay in to stare at it. I felt much improved, but still rather weak. As it turned out, one of the orcs had hit me rather hard in the side, but in the excitement of the fight, I hadn’t thought it more than a bruise, and so had been as surprised as Aniron when it broke upon later, after the fight.
No one was in sight. I craned my head farther out, and looked around for Rosriel or Ella, or Vila. Or Aniron. But I couldn’t see anyone. I sighed, and lay back, staring bleakly into space. There was nothing I hated more than not being able to move, get up, walk. I hated being dependant on others, who always forgot about me. And of all things, I hated being left alone most. It was always the secret fear that hid itself beneath everything I said, did.
And now I was alone. I always ended up alone. And Vila wasn’t even here. I wanted Vila. I didn’t want Aniron. I didn’t want him to see me being so weak and childish.
I curled up sulkily, my side suddenly hurting more. Stupid, stupid orcs!
I heard footsteps suddenly, and peeked out of the tent. It was Aniron, and he had Elladan and Elohir with him. Good, maybe they could do something about my stupid wound.
“Lira. You’re awake,” Aniron said, surprised.
I turned my head away and refused to acknowledge his existence.
“I wouldn’t have left you without telling you if you’d been awake,” Aniron said, thinking I was angry. I let him go on thinking that. It was better than for him to realize I’d been crying. I hated crying.
Elohir cleared his throat slightly, and Aniron stepped aside. The two busied about my wound, and when they were done, I felt much better. And the fact that I’d managed to wipe the tears off my face without any of them noticing also helped restore my good mood.
“Where’s Vila?” I asked Aniron.
“I haven’t seen her,” he answered, and I frowned angrily. Some sister!
“Ella, then? What about Rosriel?”
“I saw Rosriel just a little while ago. She was with a newcomer who seems to have joined our fellowship,” he answered. But he looked away while he was speaking.
“And Ella?” I pressed, suddenly suspicious.
He exchanged quick glances with Elladan and Elohir, and they shook their heads just slightly. They were hiding something from me. I tried to sit up.
“Has she been hurt?? I haven’t seen her since the orcs attacked! Has she—she isn’t—?” my voice choked up, and I couldn’t question them further.
“No, no!” Aniron assured me hastily. “She made it through the fight without any injuries. She’s quite well.”
“Then what?” I practically screamed, and Aniron grimaced.
“She’s—gone,” he said, without looking at the twins, who looked disapproving.
“What??!!!” I couldn’t have heard him right. I tried to get up.
“Hold her down!” I heard one of the twins hiss, and Aniron pushed me firmly back down, where I lay trembling.
“She left last night,” he said quietly.
“B-but w-why?” I whispered, feeling the tears coming despite myself.
He was still holding me down, and I closed my eyes and pretended he was embracing me. It helped, but I hardly hold back a snicker when I wondered what Elladan and Elohir would think if they knew what I was thinking! Or Legolas…
“I don’t know,” he said gently.
“And without bidding farewell to any of us?” Or had she bid farewell to everyone but me because they didn’t want to disturb me? The thought upset me so much I nearly burst into tears on the spot.
“She left a note for Rosriel.” He hesitated, and then added, “Rosriel is very upset as well.”
I pushed the tears back, and stared with an unfriendly look as I could manage at the twins, until they took their leave. Aniron stayed.
“I’m sorry, Lira. You’re not the only one hurt by her leaving like this.”
I pretended not to hear, and folded my arms tightly, pulling away from him. Now that the shock had faded, I was beginning to be angry at Ella. That was easier. But some of his words sank in, and I looked at him.
“Rosriel is, of course,” I said finally, and he glanced away again.
“Of course,” he agreed. He always looked away from me when he was hiding something. What this time?
“Well?” I said, and he glanced back, startled.
“You’re hiding something,” I accused him. He blinked.
“Legolas seemed quite upset as well,” he said finally.
Legolas?
I couldn’t concentrate for long on this interesting fact, though. My thoughts kept going back to the same thought—How could Ella leave like this? Aniron noticed my distraction, and sat down silently beside me. I grimaced, and he noticed that too. “Do you want me to go?” he said, starting to get up. I did and I didn’t.
“No—yes—oh just stay where you are!”
He sat back down.
“You’re angry, now,” he said, studying my face. I shifted, and turned it away from him, and he was silent.
“Not at you,” I said finally, not wanting him to misinterpret my silence.
“At her?”
“Yes.”
I was silent a moment longer, and then suddenly, words came tumbling out of me.
“I shouldn’t be this angry at her, this hurt…. I know it’s not my fault she left… I know she didn’t leave because of me… not like the others—” I cut my words off quickly. I’d said far too much.
“Do you know why she left?” I said hastily, but Aniron was not so easily distracted. “The others?” he said, a touch of hesitance in his voice, as though he knew he was entering unknown territory.
I didn’t intend to tell him anything, I meant to keep silent or change the subject, but the words just poured out of me.
“I never can keep friends for long. They always leave. They always tell me I’m crazy and their mothers don’t want them to be friends with me because I’m always leading them into trouble. It’s gotten so bad that wherever I go, no one, elf or man, girl or boy will even speak to me beyond bare politeness, and their parents are as bad. It’s the same for Vila. Our parents are ashamed of us. They sent us off to Queen Arwen in hopes we could settle down and start anew, but too many people already knew us there, and the ones who didn’t were told by those. So—that’s the real reason we joined this Fellowship. Now you know.”
I wouldn’t look at him.
“Surely, you must be exaggerating,” he said in astonishment. “I am sure there must be some willing to give you a second chance!”
“Or a third, or fourth….” I agreed, not looking at him, and trying to hide the bitter note in my voice. But he did not sound convinced when he spoke.
“You cannot convince me that all are so unkind! There must be some who think kindly of you.”
“And those are the obedient ones who obey their parents and stay away from us,” I agreed.
“But you are only two young elven maids playing pranks!”
“Who would have thought so many people would have taken offence to having their hair died the color of a rainbow?” I agreed. He couldn’t hold back his laughter.
“It started with the fireworks, I suppose,” I said thoughtfully. “And ‘borrowing’ things… and…um, yes. A lot of things. A reputation is a reputation, and it grows in telling.
“Fireworks?” he said. “No, don’t tell me, please. And kidnapping people with curly hair?”
“Oh, that was only a few times.” I brushed the reference off.
“Only a few times…” he said dryly.
I glanced over at him, saw the stifled laughter on his face, and managed a shaky laugh myself.
No one was in sight. I craned my head farther out, and looked around for Rosriel or Ella, or Vila. Or Aniron. But I couldn’t see anyone. I sighed, and lay back, staring bleakly into space. There was nothing I hated more than not being able to move, get up, walk. I hated being dependant on others, who always forgot about me. And of all things, I hated being left alone most. It was always the secret fear that hid itself beneath everything I said, did.
And now I was alone. I always ended up alone. And Vila wasn’t even here. I wanted Vila. I didn’t want Aniron. I didn’t want him to see me being so weak and childish.
I curled up sulkily, my side suddenly hurting more. Stupid, stupid orcs!
I heard footsteps suddenly, and peeked out of the tent. It was Aniron, and he had Elladan and Elohir with him. Good, maybe they could do something about my stupid wound.
“Lira. You’re awake,” Aniron said, surprised.
I turned my head away and refused to acknowledge his existence.
“I wouldn’t have left you without telling you if you’d been awake,” Aniron said, thinking I was angry. I let him go on thinking that. It was better than for him to realize I’d been crying. I hated crying.
Elohir cleared his throat slightly, and Aniron stepped aside. The two busied about my wound, and when they were done, I felt much better. And the fact that I’d managed to wipe the tears off my face without any of them noticing also helped restore my good mood.
“Where’s Vila?” I asked Aniron.
“I haven’t seen her,” he answered, and I frowned angrily. Some sister!
“Ella, then? What about Rosriel?”
“I saw Rosriel just a little while ago. She was with a newcomer who seems to have joined our fellowship,” he answered. But he looked away while he was speaking.
“And Ella?” I pressed, suddenly suspicious.
He exchanged quick glances with Elladan and Elohir, and they shook their heads just slightly. They were hiding something from me. I tried to sit up.
“Has she been hurt?? I haven’t seen her since the orcs attacked! Has she—she isn’t—?” my voice choked up, and I couldn’t question them further.
“No, no!” Aniron assured me hastily. “She made it through the fight without any injuries. She’s quite well.”
“Then what?” I practically screamed, and Aniron grimaced.
“She’s—gone,” he said, without looking at the twins, who looked disapproving.
“What??!!!” I couldn’t have heard him right. I tried to get up.
“Hold her down!” I heard one of the twins hiss, and Aniron pushed me firmly back down, where I lay trembling.
“She left last night,” he said quietly.
“B-but w-why?” I whispered, feeling the tears coming despite myself.
He was still holding me down, and I closed my eyes and pretended he was embracing me. It helped, but I hardly hold back a snicker when I wondered what Elladan and Elohir would think if they knew what I was thinking! Or Legolas…
“I don’t know,” he said gently.
“And without bidding farewell to any of us?” Or had she bid farewell to everyone but me because they didn’t want to disturb me? The thought upset me so much I nearly burst into tears on the spot.
“She left a note for Rosriel.” He hesitated, and then added, “Rosriel is very upset as well.”
I pushed the tears back, and stared with an unfriendly look as I could manage at the twins, until they took their leave. Aniron stayed.
“I’m sorry, Lira. You’re not the only one hurt by her leaving like this.”
I pretended not to hear, and folded my arms tightly, pulling away from him. Now that the shock had faded, I was beginning to be angry at Ella. That was easier. But some of his words sank in, and I looked at him.
“Rosriel is, of course,” I said finally, and he glanced away again.
“Of course,” he agreed. He always looked away from me when he was hiding something. What this time?
“Well?” I said, and he glanced back, startled.
“You’re hiding something,” I accused him. He blinked.
“Legolas seemed quite upset as well,” he said finally.
Legolas?
I couldn’t concentrate for long on this interesting fact, though. My thoughts kept going back to the same thought—How could Ella leave like this? Aniron noticed my distraction, and sat down silently beside me. I grimaced, and he noticed that too. “Do you want me to go?” he said, starting to get up. I did and I didn’t.
“No—yes—oh just stay where you are!”
He sat back down.
“You’re angry, now,” he said, studying my face. I shifted, and turned it away from him, and he was silent.
“Not at you,” I said finally, not wanting him to misinterpret my silence.
“At her?”
“Yes.”
I was silent a moment longer, and then suddenly, words came tumbling out of me.
“I shouldn’t be this angry at her, this hurt…. I know it’s not my fault she left… I know she didn’t leave because of me… not like the others—” I cut my words off quickly. I’d said far too much.
“Do you know why she left?” I said hastily, but Aniron was not so easily distracted. “The others?” he said, a touch of hesitance in his voice, as though he knew he was entering unknown territory.
I didn’t intend to tell him anything, I meant to keep silent or change the subject, but the words just poured out of me.
“I never can keep friends for long. They always leave. They always tell me I’m crazy and their mothers don’t want them to be friends with me because I’m always leading them into trouble. It’s gotten so bad that wherever I go, no one, elf or man, girl or boy will even speak to me beyond bare politeness, and their parents are as bad. It’s the same for Vila. Our parents are ashamed of us. They sent us off to Queen Arwen in hopes we could settle down and start anew, but too many people already knew us there, and the ones who didn’t were told by those. So—that’s the real reason we joined this Fellowship. Now you know.”
I wouldn’t look at him.
“Surely, you must be exaggerating,” he said in astonishment. “I am sure there must be some willing to give you a second chance!”
“Or a third, or fourth….” I agreed, not looking at him, and trying to hide the bitter note in my voice. But he did not sound convinced when he spoke.
“You cannot convince me that all are so unkind! There must be some who think kindly of you.”
“And those are the obedient ones who obey their parents and stay away from us,” I agreed.
“But you are only two young elven maids playing pranks!”
“Who would have thought so many people would have taken offence to having their hair died the color of a rainbow?” I agreed. He couldn’t hold back his laughter.
“It started with the fireworks, I suppose,” I said thoughtfully. “And ‘borrowing’ things… and…um, yes. A lot of things. A reputation is a reputation, and it grows in telling.
“Fireworks?” he said. “No, don’t tell me, please. And kidnapping people with curly hair?”
“Oh, that was only a few times.” I brushed the reference off.
“Only a few times…” he said dryly.
I glanced over at him, saw the stifled laughter on his face, and managed a shaky laugh myself.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Ëarwen (AY-er-when) Harethgalad (HAR-eth GAL-ad)
Ëarwen stood looking uncomfortable.
"Look, I'm sorry, but we can't stay here," she said suddenly.
Turwethiel looked up, astonished. "Ëarwen!" she said, shocked.
The half-elven girl looked abashed. "I did not mean it that way," she said, glancing apologetically at Rosriel. "But I hear something, and it is headed this way."
"What 'something'?" sniffed Rosriel, trying to gain her compusure.
"I don't know, but it is not good, whatever it is," said Ëarwen.
Rosriel was now convinced that Ëarwen was only half-elven. She lacked their usual tact. 'Well, at least they ALMOST all have tact,' she muttered to herself.
"Yes, Legolas can be a bit blunt," said Ëarwen. Rosriel blushed furiously.
For being a half-elf she really had good hearing.
Turwethiel stood up, one hand still on Rosriel's shoulder.
"We must go, I am afraid," she said, "for Ëarwen's hearing is keen, and seldom wrong."
Rosriel nodded and stood also. She felt very short between the two tall warriors on either side.
She noticed that Ëarwen wore a soft blue tunic over deerskin pants, and tall deerskin boots.
Her forearms were bound with warg skins tied with leather thongs, and her creamy hair was tied behind her at the top with another leather thong. Her eyes seemed to see much more than her mouth mentioned. Rosriel also noticed that she too carried a bow and arrow, but seemed more fond of the two sticks hanging by sheaths at her sides. They were about two and a half feet long, silver, and each end was a double-edged blade. "They are called Khelehb sticks, which means Silver sticks," explained Ëarwen, noticing Rosriel's glance. "I prefer them to my bow."
"Oh," said Rosriel. "Are you related to Turwethiel?" she asked.
Ëarwen shook her head. "No, merely good friends. I am the granddaughter of Glorfindel."
Rosriel stood, shocked, then said in a rush "You mean the same elf who is said to be one of the firstborn and who prophecied that no man could kill the witchking!?"
Ëarwen nodded. "The same. He resides at Rivendell with Elrond."
Rosriel nodded. "I knew that."
"We must be off, quickly, as in 'now,'" said Ëarwen, giving Rosriel a slight shove.
With a small glare, Rosriel began walking quickly, trying to stay even with the two tall girl's strides.
"Look, I'm sorry, but we can't stay here," she said suddenly.
Turwethiel looked up, astonished. "Ëarwen!" she said, shocked.
The half-elven girl looked abashed. "I did not mean it that way," she said, glancing apologetically at Rosriel. "But I hear something, and it is headed this way."
"What 'something'?" sniffed Rosriel, trying to gain her compusure.
"I don't know, but it is not good, whatever it is," said Ëarwen.
Rosriel was now convinced that Ëarwen was only half-elven. She lacked their usual tact. 'Well, at least they ALMOST all have tact,' she muttered to herself.
"Yes, Legolas can be a bit blunt," said Ëarwen. Rosriel blushed furiously.
For being a half-elf she really had good hearing.
Turwethiel stood up, one hand still on Rosriel's shoulder.
"We must go, I am afraid," she said, "for Ëarwen's hearing is keen, and seldom wrong."
Rosriel nodded and stood also. She felt very short between the two tall warriors on either side.
She noticed that Ëarwen wore a soft blue tunic over deerskin pants, and tall deerskin boots.
Her forearms were bound with warg skins tied with leather thongs, and her creamy hair was tied behind her at the top with another leather thong. Her eyes seemed to see much more than her mouth mentioned. Rosriel also noticed that she too carried a bow and arrow, but seemed more fond of the two sticks hanging by sheaths at her sides. They were about two and a half feet long, silver, and each end was a double-edged blade. "They are called Khelehb sticks, which means Silver sticks," explained Ëarwen, noticing Rosriel's glance. "I prefer them to my bow."
"Oh," said Rosriel. "Are you related to Turwethiel?" she asked.
Ëarwen shook her head. "No, merely good friends. I am the granddaughter of Glorfindel."
Rosriel stood, shocked, then said in a rush "You mean the same elf who is said to be one of the firstborn and who prophecied that no man could kill the witchking!?"
Ëarwen nodded. "The same. He resides at Rivendell with Elrond."
Rosriel nodded. "I knew that."
"We must be off, quickly, as in 'now,'" said Ëarwen, giving Rosriel a slight shove.
With a small glare, Rosriel began walking quickly, trying to stay even with the two tall girl's strides.
Rosriel and Turwethiel
I ran after Legolas. "Legolas, wait! Let me find Rosriel. I can relate with how she is feeling better than you can," I said quietly.
Legolas stopped, thought a moment, nodded his head, and turned back to camp. Taking a deep breath I pushed on into the forest.
"Rosriel! Rosriel come back!" I went a little further to find her curled up, crying by a tree stump.
"Rosriel, don't cry so. Ella would not want it."
"Why did she leave?! It's all Legolas's fault! I just found a link to my family that I always wanted and....and...." she looked up suddenly, "....and who are you to know about such things?! You are a complete stranger!!" Rosriel's eyes flashed but still tears spilled over.
I took a deep breath and sat down next her. "Rosriel, I know that I am a stranger to you, but I do know about such things as losing family."
She looked at me now differently and sniffed, "What do you mean"
I shuffled uncomfortably. I did not want to let her know my past, it was still too real and too personal to me. "You will just have to trust me that I know. I am sure Ella had her reasons, you will just have to trust that she loves you and you will see her again someday."
"You think I will?"
"I believe so. Let's go back to camp, Legolas deserves an apology."
Rosriel cringed, but got up anyway. We began to walk back when she asked, "Are you joining our group, Turwethiel?"
"I believe so. Is that alright with you?"
Rosriel looked uncertain for a moment. After all, Turwethiel was a stranger, and a rather mysterious she-elf. But she seemed to be a skilled warrioress, and understanding of others needs. "It's fine with me," Rosriel finally said.
They continued on until they reached the camp.
(continue on whoever wants! :))
Legolas stopped, thought a moment, nodded his head, and turned back to camp. Taking a deep breath I pushed on into the forest.
"Rosriel! Rosriel come back!" I went a little further to find her curled up, crying by a tree stump.
"Rosriel, don't cry so. Ella would not want it."
"Why did she leave?! It's all Legolas's fault! I just found a link to my family that I always wanted and....and...." she looked up suddenly, "....and who are you to know about such things?! You are a complete stranger!!" Rosriel's eyes flashed but still tears spilled over.
I took a deep breath and sat down next her. "Rosriel, I know that I am a stranger to you, but I do know about such things as losing family."
She looked at me now differently and sniffed, "What do you mean"
I shuffled uncomfortably. I did not want to let her know my past, it was still too real and too personal to me. "You will just have to trust me that I know. I am sure Ella had her reasons, you will just have to trust that she loves you and you will see her again someday."
"You think I will?"
"I believe so. Let's go back to camp, Legolas deserves an apology."
Rosriel cringed, but got up anyway. We began to walk back when she asked, "Are you joining our group, Turwethiel?"
"I believe so. Is that alright with you?"
Rosriel looked uncertain for a moment. After all, Turwethiel was a stranger, and a rather mysterious she-elf. But she seemed to be a skilled warrioress, and understanding of others needs. "It's fine with me," Rosriel finally said.
They continued on until they reached the camp.
(continue on whoever wants! :))
(If y'all don't mind, since Ella is no longer with the fellowship but I'd still like to be an active writer here, I'll sort of take over Legolas now. That doesn't of course mean that the rest of you can't write him in wherever you see fit or anything like that. Just that I'll be writing stuff that includes his point of view & not Ella's)
Legolas:
Gone? How? The realization that Ella's leaving was probably my doing stung worse than the slap Rosriel had just given me.
Rosriel! Where had she run off to? It was bad enough having one lady I cared for gone, two would be intolerable. "Rosriel! Rosriel please come back." I ran in the direction she had gone. "I need your help," I said in case she was listening. "To find Ella."
~~~
Ella:
I ran as far as I could, and when exhaustion made running no longer an option, I walked. I no longer know where I am. I don't know how far from the fellowship I have come. I only know morning has come, and I am too tired to go further. I know I must continue onwards if I do not wish for the fellowship to find me--and find me they will if Legolas has any say in it--but an hour or two of sleep won't put me at too great a risk. With a clearer head, perhaps I shall know better what direction I am headed.
Legolas:
Gone? How? The realization that Ella's leaving was probably my doing stung worse than the slap Rosriel had just given me.
Rosriel! Where had she run off to? It was bad enough having one lady I cared for gone, two would be intolerable. "Rosriel! Rosriel please come back." I ran in the direction she had gone. "I need your help," I said in case she was listening. "To find Ella."
~~~
Ella:
I ran as far as I could, and when exhaustion made running no longer an option, I walked. I no longer know where I am. I don't know how far from the fellowship I have come. I only know morning has come, and I am too tired to go further. I know I must continue onwards if I do not wish for the fellowship to find me--and find me they will if Legolas has any say in it--but an hour or two of sleep won't put me at too great a risk. With a clearer head, perhaps I shall know better what direction I am headed.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Ëarwen Harethgalad
Suddenly beside Turwithiel there appeared another figure.
She had sorrel hair and light blue eyes.
"Greetings," she said to the two dumbfounded sisters.
"My name is Ëarwen Harethgalad. I am half-elven, although I chose mortality." Her ears were pointed, but she was obviously not full elvish.
"Oh, okay," said the two, looking happy and blank at the same time.
Turwithiel grinned.
(sorry this was so short, I need to go over the thing again! But the main point is, I GOT IN!! YAY!) (I'll delete this once you've seen it, if you like :)
She had sorrel hair and light blue eyes.
"Greetings," she said to the two dumbfounded sisters.
"My name is Ëarwen Harethgalad. I am half-elven, although I chose mortality." Her ears were pointed, but she was obviously not full elvish.
"Oh, okay," said the two, looking happy and blank at the same time.
Turwithiel grinned.
(sorry this was so short, I need to go over the thing again! But the main point is, I GOT IN!! YAY!) (I'll delete this once you've seen it, if you like :)
Once again, my sister is gone
I opened my eyes slowly and rolled over, catching a glimpse of the sun rising over the mountain peaks. I looked heavenward, not a cloud in the sky! A perfectly lovely day for walking, talking to my dear sister Ella and making the new members of fellowship feel welcome.
As I got to my feet, smooth piece of birch bark fluttered down from the sash about my waist. I bent and picked it up. It was addressed with my name at the top. Curious, I began reading. Why would someone leave me a note?
Mara mesta, my sister. I must leave you and our friends now. I do not plan on returning, but I hope I will see you again someday. I am not sure where I shall go, and I need to be alone, please do not follow me. I hope you understand. Ná Elbereth veria le, ná elenath dín síla erin rád o chuil lín.
I stared at the note, hoping against hope that what I read was an illusion, a dream. I read it over and over again, my hands beginning to tremble. Ella, my sister, she could not have disappeared again! I had to follow her! There were skilled trackers amongst the Fellowship, Aldarion, Elrohir or Legolas....
Legolas. Could he have been the reason my dear sister had left? I recalled how he had upset her not too long ago when he had tried to reveal her curled hair without her consent. My face flushed angrilly. I would kill him if he was behind this!
My emotions flew faster than my thoughts, provoking me to I run towards where Legolas was sleeping in the manner of the elves. I grabbed his shoulders and shook him, waking him from his thoughts. "You did this! I know it!" I shoved the letter in his bewildered face, starting to sob. "It is your fault that Ella left!"
He stared in disbelief. "Ella, she, has left?" His voice trembled.
"Do not pretend that you are clueless!" I was beyond caring that the rest of the camp had awoken and was staring at the scene I was causing. "I am sure it was you! You are always upseting her! And now she has left!"
His face flushed, from a guilty concience I thought. "Rosriel, you must calm yourself."
"Calm myslef?" I stared at him. My voice grew quieter and cracked. "I just found my sister, a part of my family that I have always wanted and never had, and now she has just left! Gone in the night!" My voice began rising again. "And you tell me to calm myself?"
I could see the hurt in his eyes, from what I knew not, yet his face took on the most annoying expression of patience. "Yes I am. You are making a scene and a fool of yourself."
At that moment I hated my cousin so much that I lost my head and did something I had never done to anyone, ever. I raised my hand and slapped his face just as hard as I could. I caught my breath. What had I just done? I stared at the red mark on Legola's cheek, feeling everyone's eyes on my back. I stepped back, feeling so ashamed of myself that I wished I could vanish into the ground. Then I turned and ran off into the trees, as fast and as far away as I could.
~ Rosriel
As I got to my feet, smooth piece of birch bark fluttered down from the sash about my waist. I bent and picked it up. It was addressed with my name at the top. Curious, I began reading. Why would someone leave me a note?
Mara mesta, my sister. I must leave you and our friends now. I do not plan on returning, but I hope I will see you again someday. I am not sure where I shall go, and I need to be alone, please do not follow me. I hope you understand. Ná Elbereth veria le, ná elenath dín síla erin rád o chuil lín.
I stared at the note, hoping against hope that what I read was an illusion, a dream. I read it over and over again, my hands beginning to tremble. Ella, my sister, she could not have disappeared again! I had to follow her! There were skilled trackers amongst the Fellowship, Aldarion, Elrohir or Legolas....
Legolas. Could he have been the reason my dear sister had left? I recalled how he had upset her not too long ago when he had tried to reveal her curled hair without her consent. My face flushed angrilly. I would kill him if he was behind this!
My emotions flew faster than my thoughts, provoking me to I run towards where Legolas was sleeping in the manner of the elves. I grabbed his shoulders and shook him, waking him from his thoughts. "You did this! I know it!" I shoved the letter in his bewildered face, starting to sob. "It is your fault that Ella left!"
He stared in disbelief. "Ella, she, has left?" His voice trembled.
"Do not pretend that you are clueless!" I was beyond caring that the rest of the camp had awoken and was staring at the scene I was causing. "I am sure it was you! You are always upseting her! And now she has left!"
His face flushed, from a guilty concience I thought. "Rosriel, you must calm yourself."
"Calm myslef?" I stared at him. My voice grew quieter and cracked. "I just found my sister, a part of my family that I have always wanted and never had, and now she has just left! Gone in the night!" My voice began rising again. "And you tell me to calm myself?"
I could see the hurt in his eyes, from what I knew not, yet his face took on the most annoying expression of patience. "Yes I am. You are making a scene and a fool of yourself."
At that moment I hated my cousin so much that I lost my head and did something I had never done to anyone, ever. I raised my hand and slapped his face just as hard as I could. I caught my breath. What had I just done? I stared at the red mark on Legola's cheek, feeling everyone's eyes on my back. I stepped back, feeling so ashamed of myself that I wished I could vanish into the ground. Then I turned and ran off into the trees, as fast and as far away as I could.
~ Rosriel
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Farewell...in not so many words
I couldn't handle any goodbyes. I know they would also contain pleas for me to stay, and I wouldn't be able to refuse.
So I'm simply leaving. I don't yet know where I'm headed. The only continuing thought I have is that I must go someplace far away from these people. These people I call my friends. These people I've learned to love.
I take a deep breath, grab my belongings, and slip away, unnoticed as I'd hoped. I turn and look one last time upon the sleeping members of the fellowship. Each one has endeared themselves to me in some special way, even the newest members. My eyes rest on Legolas' form. I shake my head as though to rid myself of the image, and trudge onward.
"Namarie," I mouth. "And may you all stay safe and joyful."
So I'm simply leaving. I don't yet know where I'm headed. The only continuing thought I have is that I must go someplace far away from these people. These people I call my friends. These people I've learned to love.
I take a deep breath, grab my belongings, and slip away, unnoticed as I'd hoped. I turn and look one last time upon the sleeping members of the fellowship. Each one has endeared themselves to me in some special way, even the newest members. My eyes rest on Legolas' form. I shake my head as though to rid myself of the image, and trudge onward.
"Namarie," I mouth. "And may you all stay safe and joyful."
Awake...
I noticed something sharp digging into my back and realized that I had been laying there for a while. What happened? I couldn't remember. Sitting up slowly, I reached for my belt. The little dagger that I had strapped there was gone. Suddenly, the memory jolted me wide awake. They knocked me down...then, they must have stolen Tiri Huor! Ay... I grabbed a tree branch to pull myself up, but a seering pain forced me to the ground again. My ankle must have been broken. The middle of nowhere...no people....not even a road...wait....is there a road somewhere near here? If I can only get to the road, then someone will find me.... Rolling over on my stomach, I began to crawl.
I was walking through the forest wondering what I should do next. Should I ask permission to join them? It's not like I have anything to go back to. With a heavy sigh I tried to block out the haunting memories when I spied Legolas.
"You look terrible, cousin," I stated.
Legolas looked up with sad eyes, "You know, we are so far apart we really can't even be considered cousins."
I shrugged. "What's wrong? Ella?"
"Yes. She doesn't love me......but love her more than anything."
I slowly nodded my head knowing what he meant, "Yeah.....I know."
"I'm sorry Turwethiel."
"It's okay. You're the only one who knows what I went through, and what I still hold deep within my heart."
"What are your plans now?"
"Well, I was wondering that myself. I don't have anywhere to go really."
"Why don't you travel with us?"
"Do you think they would accept me? They don't know me."
"You look terrible, cousin," I stated.
Legolas looked up with sad eyes, "You know, we are so far apart we really can't even be considered cousins."
I shrugged. "What's wrong? Ella?"
"Yes. She doesn't love me......but love her more than anything."
I slowly nodded my head knowing what he meant, "Yeah.....I know."
"I'm sorry Turwethiel."
"It's okay. You're the only one who knows what I went through, and what I still hold deep within my heart."
"What are your plans now?"
"Well, I was wondering that myself. I don't have anywhere to go really."
"Why don't you travel with us?"
"Do you think they would accept me? They don't know me."
What's the Elvish Word for "Uffda"?
Things have gotten awkward around here. I never thought I'd want to be out of Legolas' presence, but...it's not easy being around him. Not that he's doing anything to make it thus. The simple knowledge that me being here is causing him pain--hide it as he may--well...
I have all but made a decision. I'm not quite sure how to go about doing it, but I believe it will be best for everyone. Well, everyone but me. I've never liked being on my own.
I have all but made a decision. I'm not quite sure how to go about doing it, but I believe it will be best for everyone. Well, everyone but me. I've never liked being on my own.
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