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𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑭𝑰𝑽𝑬
❝ 𝒊𝒎𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒔 ❞
╚═══ -ˋˏ *.·:·.⟐.·:·.* ˎˊ- ═══╝
AS THE MORNING, WELCOMING SUN RISES upon the blue, blank sky and emits rays of light to fall on the trio of sea creatures, they awaken from the short slumber they gifted themselves with and hoisted their belongings back on their horses, and clear the shelter they resided in for comfort.
Vera, her plaited hair dangling to her stomach with stray strands blowing against the wind, watches the sunrise, letting her eyes illuminate with the now full sun. She could hear Corin and Neptune talk to each other quietly from the trees. The princess tries hard not to eavesdrop on their conversation as she softly brushes the mane of her darling horse.
"Hello, little friend." The horse neighs, his beady eyes gleaming at her. It seems that he didn't like being called 'little'. Vera giggles at this and pats him affectionately. "Yes, it doesn't seem like you're very little," she murmurs, gesturing to the tall head that was a foot taller than her and the horseback that reaches her neck. The white stallion whinnies in agreement. "It seems that I need to give you a name, seeing as you don't like the pet names." At the horse's approval of her request, she laughs. "But what to name you? I wonder..." As Vera tries various names to call her haste friend, Corin approaches her.
"Are you...talking to your horse?" Corin asks carefully, amusement evident in his tone. Vera smiles at him and nods, before whirling around to her horse, resuming her efforts to find a suitable name for the glorious animal.
"Yes," she answers. "Though, it does seem strange, doesn't it? I suppose it's my way of comfort," she continues, humming lightly at the assumption she created for herself. Corin moves to stand next to his friend and eyes her discreetly, wondering if it is his place to say what's in his mind.
Vera notes the conflict in his eyes and speaks up, "If you have to tell me something, Corin, you can, I won't get mad."
Corin bows regretfully. "It isn't my place, my Lady. Forget I said anything. I only meant to tell you that we're prepared to leave now, Your Majesty."
Vera frowns at the title her friend gives her and shakes her head. Letting go of the yet-to-be-named horse's white mane, she holds Corin's hands gently. "Tell me," she pushes, letting him gaze into her eyes. Her heartbeat slightly fastens at the sight of Corin looking like he did now but she merely shakes her head. She can't get caught in lost feelings, that was the past.
Corin releases a sigh, looking away from the familiar, caring eyes of his once very close friend. "It's...I worry for you, Vera," he finally lets out in quiet exasperation.
Vera shakes her head immediately, taking her arms from his grasp and turning away. "No, Corin. We can't go back to whatever it is we had. It was a long time ago and—"
"No, no, Vera, you misunderstand," Corin pleads. "I worry about this. This journey, this quest. I know your heart yearns for this, I know your heart and soul thinks you're ready for the journey but I fear for you!"
"Thinks?" Vera repeats, anger flashing in her eyes. Corin flinches, knowing he had made a mistake in angering Vera. The girl has a temper of a hot-head. "You doubt me?"
"No, I do not," Corin tries to cover up. He worriedly glances at Neptune, who only laughs at the sight of his horse neighing angrily at him for drowning in the water he conjures up. He isn't aware of the growing tensions with Vera, and Corin hopes he never catches light of it for his friend would have his head. "I just think you're inexperienced."
"Inexperienced?" Vera repeats once more, this time, her voice held more surprise than before. "I can very well handle a blade and arrow, Corin. I am trained and I was challenged by many experienced and talented swordsman and I have won, I know how to fight. You taught me that, do you not trust yourself?"
"Vera, listen," Corin firmly orders, ignoring the appalling look she shoots him at the order the guard gave to his princess. "I speak as someone who has experienced the bloodshed and death of battle, I speak as someone who's been on the verge of death and from the grasps of life, I speak as someone who knows. There will be blood, there will be war, and there will be death. Children, women, innocents. Are you ready to see their bodies on the ground, cold and lifeless? Are you ready to carry the burden of their deaths on your hand?"
As he speaks, his tone grows louder and stronger. He needs her to hear him, to listen, to understand. Vera doesn't falter as she stares him down with fury. She knows that he comes from a place of love for her, but the doubt he has over her head angers her. Vera understands, though, and he knows better than anyone about the responsibility of the quest, but as her job, it is normal for people to die for her. That's what queens have to go through. Does he not trust me? "What exactly are you trying to say, Corin. Other than the facts I am well aware of?" she demands.
Corin sighs deeply. "Don't go."
"Excuse me?" Vera exclaims in offense. "I know what I have to do, Corin. This was a decision given to me by the council and I will do this, for my people, for my subjects. They wouldn't have chosen me if they didn't trust that I can do this. I will not be told by someone who doesn't know the responsibility of the throne and the heaviness of the crown. Yes, there will be death and war, but I swear to the Valar and Eru himself that no harm will fall on Middle Earth, and I will protect my people!"
Vera let out heavy breaths of annoyance at the guard, who looks down in defeat. She didn't know it but a small smile of pride fills his face for a short moment, honor filling his heart at the sight of a queen before her, but it disappears once he looks up in bitterness.
"Vera, I'm speaking because I care for you. As a friend, as your subject. What will your mother do, or your brother, when news returns that you are dead? The people you want to protect will lose hope and crawl in despair. Their Princess will be gone forever and no one left to take the throne. The only person who can pass it from you to another is you. Atlantis will have no ruler! What then, huh?" His tone of voice drips with menace and desperation.
Vera clenches her jaw. Letting her final words fall from her mouth, she swiftly turns away from the shocked guard and mounts the horse with grace and strength. "You were right. It isn't your place to speak."
Soon, the trio leave the clearing and continue their journey to Rivendell. Vera stays behind, her horse trotting happily behind the two men as she tries to clear her head and diminish her awakened anger. Her eyes stay glued on her horse's mane as he bounces cheerfully in an attempt to help his owner. Vera doesn't notice her companion's attempts, her head burying deeper in her mind. She didn't like to admit it but the words hurt.
Though it was spoken with impatience, it held some truth. What if she didn't make it back? She knows the laws of her kingdom and she knows of the risks of battle. Contrary to everyone's belief, Vera is well acquainted with death and the miseries of war. Fear bubbles in her chest at the thought of leaving her family behind, and leaving her people unprotected against darkness and evil like this. It's terrifying, and suddenly, the pressure of her quest rests on her shoulders again.
Neptune, who rode merrily in between Corin — who leads in front to navigate — and Vera, is quite aware of the tension between the two but decides not to mention anything, in fear that his sister would blow up. Instead, he slows his pace down to trot beside Vera. Nudging her elbow, he snaps her out of his thoughts and flashes her a smug smile, pretending to be unaware of the growing rigidity between the guard and his sister. Shocked, Vera attempt her best smile for her little brother to keep him from worrying, and proceeds to make conversation after hours of not talking. "Good morning."
"Good morning?" Neptune voices out. "Is it not noon?!"
Vera observes the sun through the thick leaves of the green forest above her. "Oh," she mutters. "Must've been lost in thought, I guess."
"Speaking of," the boy drawls out. "May I have a peek at what my dear sister is thinking about?"
Vera sighs. She smiles at his expectant face and his childish ways. She isn't daft, the princess knew that her brother just wants to keep her happy and smiling before arriving at Rivendell. So, she tells him. "I...am unaware."
Neptune blinks. "Unaware? Well, that's not new, you were always a little daft — sorry, unaware of what?"
"What to think anymore," she admits. At the questioning glance thrown at her, she clarifies, "Corin said some...things and it plagues my thoughts. I don't know what would happen if I don't succeed in this. There's a chance I'll fail, that I'll only let danger come to our people. Neptune, I don't know what I would do if I failed everyone."
Neptune shrugs. "Then don't. Don't lose hope; don't forget who you are, and why you are here. Have faith and trust that everything will be alright. Tis your only option. Besides, my sister doesn't let failure blind her and she certainly isn't going to let something as dim as orcs keep her people from living their life."
Vera lets out a giggle at her brother's words, nodding understandingly. "And what if I die? What if Atlantis is left with no one to rule?"
Neptune merely sighs. "It won't happen, Vera. Not ever, not now. Atlantis will have its queen and I will get my sister back."
Vera smiles sadly.
"Thanks for cheering me up," Vera tells him nicely, ignoring the annoyed huff her horse made at his unnoticed attempts of keeping her happy.
"Anytime. Though, you should know, Vera, try not to provoke anyone. I would like to get you back but I prefer you to be in one piece. I can imagine how horrid it would be for your arm sitting on the throne of Atlantis and ordering servants to help—OW! Vera, what is wrong with you?!"
Vera didn't exactly mean for Neptune to fall off his horse, but once his body hurt the ground with a humorous thud, she couldn't help but laugh. Gleeful sounds of tinkling happiness elicits from the princess, as she watches her little brother struggle to stand after she pushed him off.
"Sorry, dear Brother," she apologizes but by the grin on her flawless face, he could tell it was a lie. "I think you slipped. Come, let me help you." Vera hops off her horse joyfully, striding over to pick her brother up from the floor with a toothy grin. Her hair falls in front of her as she bends down, the clicking of her heels against the forest leaves leaving an echo. Taking her hand, Neptune uses his might to take his sister down with him but is stopped as Corin yells from a thin valley.
"Stop! We're here!"
The two royals look at each other for a moment before clumsily standing and mounting their horses to reach Corin's awed figure. Through the narrow opening of a mountain, they pass by quickly to arrive where Corin stood. Halting the horses, Vera lets out a gasp of amazement at the sight in front of her.
Rivendell is, in one word, divine. Mountains guard it protectively from danger, the flow of elegant waterfalls pinning against the stones to lead to a lustrous river. Trees cover the perimeter, looming over the bewildering structure. The falling forms of glistening water brought Vera the comfort and warmth of home, making her miss the water. Atop a secluded, vast piece of rock that stretches out, sits an incredible sight of a building. While Vera has seen many different palaces and kingdoms under the water, she had yet to see any on land. Admittedly, Rivendell isn't nearly the size of Atlantis but the gracious building of the home of Elrond brought Vera awe. It truly is a glorious sight.
Corin snaps out of his wonderment first, taking the lead once more and guiding his horse through the slim path leading to the town of elves. Vera snaps out of her shock and trots behind Corin, touching the waters coming from the waterfall and watching as it shapes around her hand gracefully, following it before dropping. Vera can't remember the last time she touched water she didn't drink and sighs in content at the familiar feeling of her power; the strength of her home filling her.
Soon, Vera and her comrades enter the archways of Rivendell and cross the bridge to their destination. Amongst her awe, she scarcely detects the incoming presence of an elf approaching them carefully. Neptune nudges her softly and motions to the elf. Vera guards herself slowly, eyeing the welcoming face of the ellon. She had never met another creature who didn't belong to the sea and she didn't know what to think of the elf in front of her. The long, silky, soft hair that covers the ellon's shoulders catches her attention first as her mouth opens slightly. She didn't expect elves to have such nice hair and felt a tug of jealousy. Her hair could never.
Despite her inner excitement, Vera doesn't forfeit her cold expression.
The man before her held her gaze, smiling warmly but respectfully at his visitors. Vera watches him carefully, wondering if he is a threat to her kind. Though the creature before her was admirable and graceful in every way -from the way he stands and the grace of his movements to the ringing in his voice and twinkle of his smile - she couldn't help but feel protective.
Dismounting her horse, she steps to the elf. "Am I wrong to assume that you are Lord Elrond?"
The elf chuckles, bells ringing along with the soft sound, and nods. "No, I am afraid not. Welcome to Rivendell, Your Highness."
"Oh, please," Vera smiles. "No need for formalities. Just call me Vera."
Elrond nods respectably. "Very well, then, Vera. We are honored to have your presence here. Thank you for your attendance. May I ask, what is your relation to Queen Marella?"
Vera coughs politely, putting her hand out. "I am Marella's next of kin." Elrond eyes her hand strangely. "You shake it."
Confused, Elrond brings a finger to Vera's soft hands and shakes it lightly in curiosity. Judging by the amused look in her eyes, he guesses he did it wrong. "Come," he gestures, leading them up a staircase with their horses left to be tended by elves. Vera follows graciously, hiding a smile at the serious faces of Neptune and Corin.
Their previous banter and fun jokes were long gone under the presence of Lord Elrond. Like guards, they took their jobs seriously and kept a straight face.
"You are quite early, Lady Vera. The meeting will not commence until later on through the next months, I hope you do not mind. You will be staying in the guest wing, along with your companions. I hope your stay is welcoming. If you need anything, feel free to come to me."
Elrond showed them the facilities and the open areas available for the newcomers to attend to, and important destinations where meetings will commence or trainings will undergo. Soon, he leads them to their secluded rooms in which they would stay in. The three foreigners watch Lord Elrond bow before taking his leave gracefully. Once he was out of eyesight, Neptune turns to Vera.
"He's strange."
"You're one to talk," is all Vera mutters back before disappearing to her room to freshen up, leaving an offended Neptune and a sniggering Corin in her wake.