Princess Rose
© 2002 Chew Yuin-Y
[ Disclaimer: I don't own any of the following characters/elements except Princess Rose Stephanie Nnylney and Summerland. ]
Part I
It was a bright sunny day. The birds were singing and even the flowers seemed to look more cheerful than usual. It was on this fine sunny day that Rose Stephanie Nnylney, Princess of SummerLand, chose to take a walk through the Sunlit Woods.
Skipping gaily over the well-worn path, she noticed another path leading westwards, deeper into the Sunlit Woods. It piqued her curiosity. And as it always happens in stories, Rose’s curiosity got the better of her and she followed the path.
At first, nothing was really very different about it except that it went in a different direction. Deeper and deeper into the Sunlit Woods she went. Was it her imagination or were the trees taller and larger than usual? Soon Rose became aware that the wood did not have the same feel as before. It was somehow more mysterious… More exciting… And yet there was a feeling of calm underneath. She came to a clearing and stopped. She looked around –
And found herself face to face with the sharp point of an arrow.
Rose started and gasped. Her gaze moved from the arrowhead to the archer. The archer was a tall man, golden-haired and very handsome. She then saw two more men – both also just as tall, handsome and golden-haired as the archer. One, clad in grey, said something to her in a queer, melodious language.
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand,” she said, noticing with some surprise that they all had pointed ears.
The third Elf – for that was what they were – who wore garments of green and brown, spoke. “He said you breathe so loud his archers could shoot you in the dark.”
“Oh.” Rose was at quite a loss for words. She had a vague idea that she ought to be somewhat insulted by that comment.
“What brings you here, little maid?” said the Elf. “And what is your name?”
“I’m Rose. Rose Stephanie Nnylney.” Somehow, she felt that her being a princess would mean nothing to these men, who had such awe-inspiring bearings and looks.
“Rose? It sounds like a Hobbit name,” he said.
The Elf in grey interrupted him, sounding firm. He nodded.
“We must take you to see the Lady now, for you are trespassing in Lórien.”
“Um, o-kay,” said Rose, uncertainly. She was definitely not in the Sunlit Woods anymore.
“You must be blindfolded,” said the Elf. “It is a rule.” He held out a cloth to cover her eyes with. Rose made no argument, knowing that when in another’s territory, it was wisest to follow their customs. She was led through the woods with great care and found it amazing that she never once stumbled over anything. Then she heard a gruff voice speak.
“Hail, Legolas! What have you and Haldir brought back?”
“A young stranger, so it seems,” said the Elf who had spoken to her. “Where is Aragorn?”
“I am here, Legolas. What is it?”
Her blindfold was removed and she blinked in wonder. Beside her stood the Elf called Legolas. There was also a short, stocky man with a long beard and rough looks as well as a man who had a decidedly regal bearing about him.
“Who is this?” said the man, looking at her.
“She says her name is Rose,” said Legolas. “We found her wandering in the forest not far from here.”
“Well, little one,” said Aragorn, bending down. “Tell me – where have you come from?”
“SummerLand.”
“SummerLand? There’s no such place!” said the Dwarf, eyeing her suspiciously.
“Perhaps it is another name for Rohan, Gimli,” suggested Legolas. “Her features are not unlike the Men of Rohan.”
“That is true,” admitted Aragorn.
“Unlikely,” growled Gimli, still looking doubtfully at her.
A lady, tall and fair of face, came up to them and informed them that the Lord and Lady wished to see the newcomer.
When she set eyes on the Lady, Rose instantly lost her tongue. She had never seen anyone as magnificent and lovely as the Lady Galadriel, resplendent in a gown of white and silver. Her long hair cascaded down, framing her beautiful face in gold. Her husband, Celeborn, was no less handsome than any of the other Elves Rose had seen so far. In her opinion, these people – the Elves, or whoever they were – were an exceedingly good-looking race.
“Who are you, child?” queried the Lady. Wise and gentle eyes looked into Rose’s brown ones. Her answer was followed by more questions, the same as asked by Aragorn. Rose quickly tired of giving the same replies over and over again but it was clear to her that they were just as puzzled about where she came from as she was about what had happened to her.
“Come now, she looks exhausted!” said a new voice that Rose had not yet heard. She turned and saw a man – shorter than herself – about three or four feet tall with hairy feet. He looks rather jolly and kind, she thought. Next to him was another just like him, but that one looked a bit more tired than he should be; as if he was carrying some great burden.
After the unbelievably good-looking Elves, the noble Aragorn and the wise and most beautiful Galadriel, these two were a bit of a relief for Rose. At least they had a more down-to-earth look.
“Let her rest,” said the little man. “You can see that she’s tired and dazed enough.”
“The good Samwise speaks true,” said Galadriel.
“Hobbits are the most practical people,” commented Aragorn with a smile. “They never fail to be pragmatic in any situation.”
“I will have a place made ready for her,” said the Lady. “Meanwhile, you, Sam, can have charge of this young child.”
“With pleasure, ma’am.” Sam trotted over to her and took her hand. “Come. You look like you need a good, long rest. Doesn’t she, Mr Frodo?”
The other Hobbit smiled. “That she does, Sam. Well, Rose – that’s your name, isn’t it? – Sam and I will take you around a bit. We don’t know Lórien very well, though.”
“That’s all right. And thank you very much, Mr Sam,” said Rose. “Thank you too, Mr Frodo.”
“Ah, no need for that!” Sam said. “Just call me ‘Sam’, if y’please. Do you mind if I call you Rosie? You remind me of Rosie Cotton back in the Shire.”
“I do?” Rose smiled. “I’m afraid I’m not acquainted with your people or your lands but I’ll take that as a compliment. Call me Rosie if you like. I don’t mind.”
As Sam and Frodo led her around, she gazed in ever increasing wonder at the place. She barely heard anything Sam said but drank in the beauty of Lothlórien.
Suddenly Rose realised that Sam and Frodo were no longer with her. She swung round. The trees, the wood – all had changed! The atmosphere was different. The air was more damp and humid. The trees looked different too. Now it was rather like a tropical rainforest.
Deciding that standing in one spot and gaping at the flora wouldn’t help at all, the princess walked on. All of a sudden something zipped past her and blasted a hole in the nearest tree. She took a step backwards in shock. A furry hand reached out and pulled her into the undergrowth. Before she had time to cry out, another hand covered her mouth, silencing her.
She turned her head in an effort to see her captor. She saw what looked like a child-sized teddy bear covered in dark brown fur. The ‘teddy bear’ chattered something in its own tongue. Then it peered out through the leaves of the bushes, looking around. Rose tried to look as well but could see nothing significant.
The ‘teddy bear’ released its hold on her. She turned to face it. It babbled unintelligibly but its actions indicated that she should follow it. With nothing to lose, Rose followed the black-eyed creature.
After what seemed to her like ages of alternately walking and crawling through the bushes, Rose found herself standing in the middle of what looked like a village. But most of the little buildings were up in the trees. There were smaller ‘teddy bears’ running around and playing on the ground. Several bigger ones – adults, she presumed – were talking at the foot of a large tree.
Her little guide spoke and all attention was immediately riveted to her. One of the other adults chattered back. More ‘teddy bears’ appeared from the other houses in the trees, looking curiously at her.
Then out of one stepped a tall, brown-haired man. He wore a black vest open over a white shirt and black pants and boots. Next to him was a very tall being, covered in long brown fur. The two looked at her in surprise for a few moments. .
Without turning around, the man called, “Leia.”
A woman with dark brown tresses falling down her back emerged from the house. “What is it, Han?” Following his gaze, she saw Rose, who looked quite lost and was feeling more than a little queasy. “Why, it’s just a girl!”
Leia came to her. “Who are you?” Rose, dumbstruck by all the sudden changes, said nothing. “Don’t worry. We won’t hurt you.”
“As long as you don’t hurt us,” Han muttered. Leia shot him a stern glare and he shrugged.
“Ignore him. He’s like that,” said Leia. “I’m Princess Leia – from Alderaan. That’s General Han Solo and his friend, Chewbacca.” She indicated the hairy sentient beside the man. “He’s a Wookiee.”
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