| Chapter Four: She wanted to scream. For one moment, one that lasted for all of eternity, she wanted to scream, scream, and continue to scream until she had scared away all the elves of Rivendell. Just screech like a banshee, or a Ringwraith, and send the locals running. But of course she wouldn’t because it was unladylike to act in such a way. Or perhaps not so much unladylike, as rude. But then, the whole day had just been bad, from the failure of the Autumn Path trap to the unbelievably evil surprise that had been waiting for her the moment she had returned home. “Well, I will say that he does seem to be a rather handsome one…” Elenuviel had murmured the moment she had entered their room. And upon seeing her disheveled sister she had paused, nose upturned. “Rolling in the mud again?” Kahl sighed inwardly as she plopped down on her sister’s bed. “The soil, actually-“ “Off my bed, you harpy!” Kahl shot to her feet and silently trudged over to her own bed only to collapse once more in a heap onto her own bed. “Oh, Elen, what an absolutely horrid day…” and, as if only then hearing her sister, “Who is a rather handsome one?” Elenuviel turned away from the mirror, her golden hair floating through the air at her gesture. “My betrothed! I finally only today caught a good look of him and he is rather beautiful. Not so much as me, per say, but I can appreciate his face…” she shrugged cheerfully. Kahl blinked. “You…you saw him? Today? You spoke to him?” she stuttered, sitting up slowly. Her sister let out a giant sigh as she lifted the terrible pink brush to her hair and began to run it through the silken strands. “Kahl, really, we’ve had a talk about your words running together. You really must learn to have the words in your head before speaking them. If you speak without thinking of them they run together and you sound like even more of a fool than usual-“ “Did you or did you not see him today?” Kahl screeched at her furiously. Elenuviel paused halfway through a combing. “Yes, you little twit! You really should listen, also, when I speak. I did see him but I did not speak to him. Imagine me, speaking to a lowly visiting elf, even if he is my betrothed! I can’t have that. That’s downright insane. But he is a very pleasant thing to look at it-“ Kahl flung herself back onto her bed, pulling her pillow up and over her eyes. “But you did not speak to him?” she asked succinctly. Her sister looked at her as if she was indeed a twit. “Kahelumien,” she said in a threatening growl. “If you won’t listen to half the words I say, do not ask me anything!” And she whirled back around to face the mirror, brushing her hair viciously. “All I did was ask if you had spoken to the elf-“ Kahl grumbled, removing the pillow a bit and rising slightly. “And no!” Elen shrieked at her, whirling once more. A crimson blush rose in her pale cheeks and she flung the brush at her sister furiously. “I did not speak to him! We did not exchange words! I was merely going to visit Arwen and there he was, speaking with her. Of course I did not know at the time and he was so rude, speaking to Undomiel as if I weren’t even there so when I finally announced that I was indeed there he ran off.” She shook her head. “At least he knows his place.” Yes, indeed. On a throne in Mirkwood… Kahl picked up the brush where it had hit her square in the forehead and she massaged the small bruise absentmindedly. “So, what you are saying is, you did not even tell him who you were? Or that you were betrothed?” Elenuviel stared at her for a long time, her expression blank. And then, without another word she turned and strode out of the room, blond hair bouncing as haughtily as her frame. Kahl stared after her in silence, the brush clutched in her hand and she paused only for a moment after she heard the door to their room close behind her sister. Springing to her feet she placed the brush upon their dressed and immediately followed her sister’s path, leaving the room. She needed to find Arwen. Now. “Arwen! Oh, Arwen!” she cried an hour later after finally finding the elven princess. Or the Queen now, of Man. She waved cheerfully at the woman and quickly hopped up, hands clasping demurely behind her back. “May I ask you a question, dearest Arwen?” “Of course you may,” Arwen nodded graciously. Kahl hesitated before her, feigning shyness. “How long have you known Aragorn?” she asked. Arwen tilted her head at the strange question, face slowly frowning. “A few years now,” she replied thoughtfully. “I see. And how long have you known Legolas?” Arwen paused again. “Quite a few years also…” “And in the entire time you’ve known the Prince of Mirkwood, has he ever married?” The elven princess shook her head. “No, not at all.” “And in all the time that you’ve known the Prince and he has never married, has he ever fallen in love with an ugly, barbaric and stupidly annoying elf?” Kahl asked innocently. Arwen’s eyebrows shot up into her hairline. “No, I can’t say he has although quite honestly-“ “Then what in blazes does he see in Elenuviel?” Kahl suddenly shrieked, effectively bringing Arwen to a wide-eyed start. “Does he even understand that she can quite easily kill him in his sleep? Does he not understand? Does anyone understand that my sister is dangerous and can not be allowed to live?” Arwen gazed at her as she screeched, her expression one of understanding. “You’ve seen Legolas, then?” she questioned with a gentle nod. With a sigh Kahl leaned forward and plopped her head on Arwen’s shoulder. “Comfort me.” The elven queen patted her on her head. “There, there, Kahelumien.” And softly, she said, “If it makes you feel at all better, Legolas did not even know who she was. We were right here when she burst in on us and being such a sweet person he broke right off in the middle of his sentence to greet her and once I mentioned his name to her she practically went insane, ranting about how he was following her everywhere, stalking her-“ “I want him to stalk me…” Kahl murmured miserably. “Of course you do…” “But he doesn’t even know I exist,” Kahl whined. “Or maybe he does but he only knows me as that elven girl he nearly shot in the back the day of the celebration in the Hall of Fire.” “The day of the mess with Narya?” “The same.” “Poor Kahelumien…” Arwen patted her some more. Kahl sighed and sniffled. “But I only wish for him to see me as myself. I do not wish to be in my sister’s shadow always. And he is such a sweet person, isn’t he?” “Very sweet.” “So, if I were to wish to speak to him, to meet with him, what should I say?” she asked, sounding as if she was ready to beg. She spoke into Arwen’s shoulder, her voice coming out in muffled whines. Arwen hesitated. “Tell him anything you want. He really is quite an easygoing person. And he’s quite charming. Even if you bored him half to death he would treat you quite courteously.” Arwen nodded reassuringly. Slowly, Kahl straightened, her eyes red and puffy. She sniffled once more, her eyes averted, and she said, “So, if I told him that my sister was half mortal, would he hate me for lying?” “Not at all,” Arwen shook her head. “But I should warn you that he will find it strange that you speak of your sister with him when he doesn’t even know they are properly betrothed. Perhaps it would be better to steer the conversation away from all that drivel and instead turn your conversation to other things. Things about yourself, your interests. But do not forget that he should not be listed as one of the things you are interested in. You will scare him off faster than your sister.” Kahl nodded, taking in all the information. “And what should we talk about?” she asked with a small pout. Arwen paused, mulling over the question. “Talk about…the weather here in Rivendell.” “It never changes…”Kahl murmured warily. “Or…” Arwen continued, “ask him about the Fellowship and the War of the Ring. I’m sure that will have the two of you talking for hours.” She nodded, seemingly proud of herself at hr suggestion and she smiled cheerfully at Kahelumien. “Do you really think he will tell me everything about the One Ring?” Arwen nodded once more. “Especially now that you can’t steal the One Ring from anyone, it should all be fine. Just don’t mention the fact that you were sent off to Lothlorien for trying to walk off with Vilya and Nenya.” “You ruin all my fun, Arwen.” The elven queen smiled tenderly at the girl. “I’m only trying to make sure you end up with the elf of your dreams.” Kahl smiled at her, feeling light inside from her words and feeling the warmth her smile emanated. And after a moment she frowned. “We are talking about Legolas still, aren’t we?” Arwen smiled sympathetically and walked off, leaving Kahl wondering if the sympathetic smile had been for Kahl or for Arwen herself. |
| All images and works done/altered by ShiNoFuriko and TasogareBan. Please do not steal and always give credit to where it is due. |