"Faelwen, where did you find the elleth?"
"Hîr vuin, she was being attacked by a colossal spider. I had to save her."
"Her intent was to collect herbs. You will send her back until she has completed the task."
"An ngell nîn! She is wounded." I showed the king the massive gash on the elf's forearm.
"Û-" the king starts.
"Ada, man cerig?" A calm voice spoke behind me.
I spun my head around to see the prince walking pristinely up to the throne.
"Legolas" I breathed under my breath. Thank the Valar.
"Ada, let Faelwen and I fetch the herbs. The young elleth is wounded. She needs a healer.
I gave a Legolas a 'Thank you so much' look; and he seemed to noticed because there was a smile playing on his lips as his eyes flicked to me and then back to the king.
The King gritted his teeth and grudgingly nodded. Legolas was about to pull me away when I shot him a look. He'd obviously forgotten about Briar.
I took her by the hand and led her away to the Healers room. I knocked on the door and led her in. The healers eyes widened at the wound on her arm and took her in immediately.
I was about to leave when I heard Briar's little voice speak behind me. "Faelwen?" I turned around and quizzically looked at her. "Yes, sweetheart?" "Where are you going?" She was scared. I could tell.
"I'm going to go and collect the herbs for you. You stay here and rest, mellon nín. I'll be back soon." I said as kindly and gently as I could, knowing Legolas was waiting impatienly outside.
I smiled warmly to her and closed the door. I was met with Legolas' gentle blue gaze, staring softly into my soul.
"Oh, cund vien, your eyes get more mesmerizing everytime I look at them. I chuckle slightly as I say it.
He grins and hugs me tightly and I return it, breathing in his familiar scent. "Faelwen, agoreg vae. I would not have been able to handle a small elfling like you did."
He snorts softly at his own words. My cheeks turn ever so slightly pink as I listen to his remark. "Years of practise." I chuckle and hold him closer, tighter. Not wanting to ever leave his embrace.
I quickly remember the task at hand and slowly break away from his grasp. A flicker of sadness and longing cross both of our eyes but is soon gone as remember what we have to do.
--- --- ---
We collect our horses from the stables and set out into the forest. There is a lingering silence between us that is only broken by the horses occasionally snorting.
I try to make conversation.
"Sooooo, where have you been all week? I've barely seen you around." I ask tentatively. "I could ask you the same question." He shrugs it off. "What do you mean?" I'm always around.
"What I'm trying to say is that I've missed you. I haven't seen you much lately. What happened to the old times, Faelwen? When we were young. Careless."
His words hit me like cold water. Memories flash through my head of when we were a young elleth and ellon, running through the forest, caring about nothing expect each other.
A smile plays gently on my lips as I flick back through my memories, and I can tell he's doing the same.
"What herbs are we looking for?" Legolas finally asks.
"Ú-iston. Sage, rosemary, chamomile?"
Legolas nods.
"I think there's a field of sage up here," he says, taking one hand off the reins to point ahead of us.
Sure enough, as we get closer, a blooming field of sage comes into view. I hop off my mare and collect 30 pieces of it.
I hand them to Legolas who places them in his saddlebag. I spot some rosemary not far off so decide to run and get it.
I took out one of my daggers and cut it at the root.
As soon as I lifted it from the ground, my eyes were met with a horrifying sight. A dead Mereas.
Legolas must have heard my scream because he was by my side within seconds. He nearly fell off his horse at the sight.
A dead, or rather, murdered, as the poor beast was lying in a pool of it's own blood; Mereas was so rare I doubt even Lord Elrond or the Lady Galadríel have seen one.
Finally, Legolas speaks.
"This can only mean one thing..." his voice trails off.
Those beautiful blue eyes that were so warm and welcoming only minutes before have turned hard and cold.
"Ungoliant has awoken."
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wow this chapter was so fun to write! Hope you enjoyed x
Elvish translations:
Hîr vuin: My lord
An ngell nîn: Please
Û: No
Ada: Father
Man cerig: What are you doing
Mellon nín: My love
Cund vien: My prince
Agoreg vae: You did well
Ú-iston: I don't know
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Mereas are a breed of northen wild horses.
