Oltha an Ithilgal

Disclaimer: I do not own or claim ownership for either Sailor Moon or Lord of the Rings

CHAPTER 2

She ran swiftly through the grey sand dunes, gasping for air, each breath tearing its way painfully through her chest. She grasped her side tightly, shooting pains making her gasp and cry out. Her eyes stung sharply from the harsh, dry wind, wet tears escaping from the corners of her eyes to draw paths down her face. As she neared the top of the last rise, her toes caught on a rock hidden in the dust, her ankle twisting and buckling under her weight. She fell forward on her knees, her arms outstretched to catch herself, she cried out in pain and fear. Sensing the terror and deep suffering before her, rushing over her in waves, each one hitting harder then the last, she slowly raised her head, her mouth dry with dread. Her eyes widened in horror at the sight before her, and a desperate cry was torn violently from her throat, her mind numb with shock, and a heavy weight upon her heart.


Her horrified screams pierced the night air, as he bolted from the carven wood chair set outside her door, sending it crashing to the stone floor. He unlatched the wooden door and stepped inside the dark room. Silver moonlight poured in from the window, lighting the figure on the bed. She sat bolt upright, her long, lustrous waves fanned out on the white linens. She clasped the fabric on the chest of her ivory nightgown tightly, her knuckles white with the strength of her grasp. She continued to scream her heart-wrenching sobs, as tears freely fell from her wide, unseeing blue eyes filled with terror and deep sorrow. He rushed to her side, kneeling on the bed beside her, and taking her smooth shoulders in his hands, shaking her gently.


\"Awake my lady! It is but a dream!\" He cried out in Elvish.


Her haunted eyes snapped out of their horrified trance and shifted to look into his own. Her large, expressive eyes gazed into him, memorizing him with their intense colour, his mind dumb and drowning in their depths. He swallowed nervously, his heart missing a beat at the radiant beauty of her, and the pleading look in her eyes. She simply gazed into his dark grey-blue eyes, her eyes still reflecting the terrors of her dream, as silent tears sprung from her eyes, soaking her skin and the front of the nightgown.


He pulled her to him, pressing the side of her face against his warm, firm chest, and wrapping his strong arms around her to hold her protectively. His chest swelled with the spreading warmth of his heart, as he gently wiped the tears from her milky-white cheeks with his fingertips. She closed her eyes tightly, a quiet sob escaping her small mouth as she snaked her slender arms around his neck. He drew in a deep breath shakily at her touch, her scent filling him and enveloping him completely. He gently stroked her sterling silver mane reassuringly, as he began to sing softly, his beautiful voice calming her terrified mind and soothing her ravaged soul. She tightened her hold on him, snuggling closer to press herself against him, as her heartbeat gradually slowed. When her breathing was even and soft and her tense body relaxed, her arms loosening their hold from around his neck, he slowly lowered her sleeping form to the bed, releasing her from his tender embrace. A slight frown creased her fair brow and she whimpered in her sleep, reflexingly tightening her hold on him. He gazed down at her in slight confusion, studying her, the moonlight lighting her erethral face with its silver beams. Her face for the moment absent of fear and worry, her skin smooth, and her features appearing relaxed and content. He lay back into the soft white sheets warm from her body, and drew her close to his side, wrapping his arms around her, her head fitting perfectly into the groove joining his chest and shoulder. He took one last look at the woman in his arms, before he sighed in contentment and longing, as he lay watching over her sleep, his smoky grey eyes gazing beyond the darkness into elvish dreams.

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She awakened gradually, her mind still fuzzy from sleep, in a sensation of warmth and security. A musky scent of earth and skin warmed in the sun enveloped her. The comforting feeling surrounded her, healing her shattered soul and mind. A sense of belonging and content filled her heart as her long black eyelashes fluttered against her light cheekbones, and her eyes languidly opened to reveal sky blue eyes flecked with glimmering silver. Her hand and head rested on soft green-brown fabric of a tunic and strong arms golden from the sun wrapped around her, holding her close. Her gaze wandered, tilting her head slightly upwards, to find to her surprise, dark grey-blue eyes studying her. Her clear cheeks flushed prettily, slightly bashful at the close proximaty of him. She was lost in their grey-blue depths, the colour of steel or dark stormclouds. Her pink mouth opened slightly in wonder as she felt a soothing heat spread over her body. She pulled her sight away from his entrancing eyes with difficulty, to study the rest of him. His eyes were framed by thick, straight dark brows. His blonde hair bleached by the sun was swept off his smooth, high forehead. His straight flaxen hair intermingled with her own wavy bright tresses lying on the crisp white sheets. His nose was straight and well-formed, and beneath it, his lips were slightly pink and full, the corners upturnded in the hint of a smile as he observed her. His cheekbones were high, and his jaw strong and defined. Strands of pale hair at each temple were braided and tucked behind his perfectly formed ears that ended in a delicate point. She drew in a breath in awe, as she reached forward with her small hand to trace the shape of his ear. He shivered involuntarily, the pleasurable sensation tickling his ears and travelling up and down his spine. She looked down at his body pressed closely against hers, dressed in a pale green-brown tunic held with a leather belt at his waist, and the hem reaching to his upper thighs. His firm, muscled legs were covered in a form-fitting brown fabric that reached to his ankles, his feet left bare. She removed her gentle fingers from his ear to hesitantly grasp the fabric of the tunic experimentally between her fingers, testing the feel of it. Her eyes widened slightly at the strange sensation of the thick, slightly rough fabric. Her hand wandered to his leather belt, exploring the metal buckle and the small holes punched through the material. Her curiousity satisfied, she raised her bright eyes to regard his fair face again.


He valiantly tried to suppress the growing, spreading heat in his loins at her light, teasing touches. As she raised her head to lock gazes with him again, he drew in a breath sharply at the look in her eyes. Her cerulean eyes shimmering with hints of silver betrayed no coyness or flirtatious thoughts. Her large eyes held only innocence and curiousity, and a deep sorrow hidden in their blue depths. He inwardly groaned, his mind realizing that she had no thought of the effect she was having on him.


He cleared his throat audibly. \"Good morning, my lady. May I ask your name?\" He spoke to her in Elvish softly, being careful not to startle her.


She simply stared back at him without comprehension, or even a sign that she had heard him.


Remembering her round ears, he tried again in the common tongue. \"My lady. I am Legolas of Mirkwood. May I ask for your name?\" He spoke to her gently.


Still she lay silent, not responding. His brow creased in confusion, considering the mysterious woman. Although her stunning beauty and grace suggested an elvin heritage, I personally have never seen or heard of an elf with endless locks of silver and a curious golden cresent marking on a fair brow. Her strange appearance was already puzzling enough without consideration to her round ears of Man, instead of the pointed tips of an immortal elf that I would expect. Even though her round ears would have normally have classified her as the race of Man, her breathtaking appearance far outshone that of any mortal, and I admit, even most elvin ladies. And Man was known to have either black, brown, blonde or red hair, not the brilliant silver tresses that adorned this lady! Silver hair was unheard of for even his own people, let alone for Man! And the golden cresent marking on her brow! That is definately unheard of, a natural marking of gold upon skin. This lady is definately a strange mystery that falls beyond my knowledge and reasoning...


He came out of his deep thoughts to find her radiant face inches from his own, her sweet, hot breath on his lips. Her large blue-silver orbs gazed into his darker ones, as her eyes instantly brightened and her delicate mouth broke into a sweet smile, the brightness of which dazzled him. He blushed slightly in embarassment, realizing the softness and warmth of her shapely body pressed up along the length of him. He rose elegantly from the bed and offered the lady his hand. She placed her smaller hand in his own, as she stood before him. Her lustrous hair slipped off the bed, the softly curled ends reaching to her slim, white ankles hidden by the long white sleeping gown. He took her in, amazed by the length of her silky locks. Her blue eyes suddenly widened as she felt around her neck, searching for something obviously important to her. She quickly turned, to frantically search amongst the bedlinens in panic. Realization dawned on him, at what she must be searching for. He turned to the carven wood dresser set up against the smooth stone wall, with handles of wrought mithral, pulling a small drawer open to reveal a smooth, perfectly symmetrically round, white crystal, that shone with hints of silver tones in its depths. It was linked to a long, fine silver chain. He turned to find her on her hands and knees, searching under the bed for her precious possession. At the sound of his step, she turned to look at him, rising from the stone floor. As her sight dropped from his face to the object in his hands, her eyes instantly brightened in relief and joy, her full pink mouth smiling sweetly. He stepped behind her, lifting her silky tresses to link the silver chain around her neck. He watched her, amused, as she grasped the silver crystal protectively, that reached on its length of silver chain to just below her breast.


\"My lady?\" He tried again in the common tongue.


She turned to smile gratefully at him, without response. A mysterious lady indeed... He motioned towards a carven wood chair before the dresser, on which a pale lavender dress was draped. He also showed her to the bath in the adjoining room. She nodded, understanding, as he left the room, soundlessly pulling the wooden door shut behind him.

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When she emerged from the room, his appraising eyes took her in. Her freshly scrubbed skin was slightly pink and glowing, her natural scent of vanilla and jasmine making his head swim. Her clean silver tresses shone more brilliantly and clearly than before, sparkling in the sunlight coming in through the large window in the hall. Her hair was divided neatly into two sections down the middle of her head, and then swept up into high buns on either side of her head, with a thick section of wavy silver escaping from each bun, to reach to her knees, the ends softly curling. Her soft fringe of curling silver bangs rested against her brow, framing the golden cresent sigal. He studied her bizarre hairstyle with surprise, finally deciding that it suited the lady perfectly. The round buns resting high on her head almost giving her an adorable appearance of the ears of an hare, and the long silver streams of hair escaping the buns, and her exposed long, slim white neck giving her an elegant and refined air. Curling tendrils at her temples had slipped out of the buns to frame her face, and also hide the round tips of her ears, for all appearances now an elvin lady. She still wore her double pearl drop earrings and her small pearl bracelet on her right wrist. The silver crystal on the thin chain hung \'round her neck reached to just below her bust. The colour of the light lavender dress complemented her silver locks and intense blue eyes perfectly. The gown had a modest square neckline with form-fitting long sleeves that flared out at the elbow and the longest point reaching to her knees. The empire waist tucked snugly under her bust, and the rest of the floor-length dress draped over her lithe body loosely, the light fabric billowing from the slight breeze in the corridor. She walked barefoot, her small toes peeking from beneath the dress as she walked, having ignored the lavender silk slipper-shoes left for her on the chair with the dress.


He offered her his arm, and her face brightened as she understood, linking her slim arm through his. He led her down a smooth passageway carved into the grey rock, sloping slightly downwards into underground caverns. The lit torches hung along both sides of the bright tunnel made her pearly silver tresses flash and shimmer in the gold-red light. He watched her silently out of the corner of his eye as she tread softly at his side, marvelling at her beauty. As they walked down the stone tunnel, ignoring the many intersecting passages joining the hall they were walking down, they were passed by many elvin people that first bowed or nodded, acknowledging their prince, then scrupulously observed the strange and mysterious lady on his arm. She openly stared at them all curiously, her cerulean eyes flecked with silver wide, and her full pink mouth drawn into a smile, charming everyone that looked upon her. Finally they reached a wide entranceway, flanked on either side by smooth stone pillars with intricate interwoven designs carved into them. He paused for a moment with her in the doorway, before speaking quietly at her ear.


\"Before us is the elvinking\'s throne room, my father Thranduil, King of the Elves of Northern Mirkwood. Do not be frightened, as I will be close by you at all times, my lady. My father will know what action should be taken regarding your plight.\"


Although not understanding his words, she clearly understood the meaning of the seriousness of his tone and his hushed voice. She straightened immediately, standing tall and holding her head high and proud, the aura of a great queen coming over her. He observed this change with wonder and sense of the truth of the mysterious woman, then they stepped over the threshold and into the large room. The great hall had a vaulted ceiling high above their heads and pillars hewn of stone. Torches were fastened to the walls, giving off a red-gold light. The melodic singing and voices of the elves filled the air, echoeing softly in the high vaulted ceiling. Her silver-blue eyes took in the scene greedily, in their curiousity and awe. A proud man with long golden-blonde hair, and a wreath of berries and red leaves upon his head, sat on a carven wood throne, holding a large oak staff in his hand. As she studied him, she recognized his familiar dark, stormy grey-blue eyes. As they approached the throne, the elvinking turned from his hushed discussion with a travel-worn elf, to study his son, his dark eyes grim and serious.


\"Legolas, my son. How went your hunt?\" He questioned, his booming voice filling the great hall with its strength.


\"I was not successful in my hunt for the white hart, my lord. However, my lady here,\" he replied, inclining his head towards the woman standing beside him. \"Has proven to be a far more valuable find.\"


The elvinking turned his head to study the woman on his son\'s arm with interest, noting her unusually long and silver-tinted tresses and the golden cresent mark upon her fair brow.


\"And what is the fair lady\'s name?\" He asked her in a slightly gentler tone, his voice still full of its strength and vitality.


Almost reluctantly, the king looked from the entrancing maiden to his son as Legolas spoke. \"Unfortunately, the lady has not spoken a word since I have found her injured and unconcious in the forest. She does not seem to understand a word of either Elvish or the common tongue, and will not answer. I see that you have taken note of her unusual appearance. She has the beauty and grace of an elvin lady, though her silver hair and the golden marking on her brow is unheard of. At night she is troubled by dreams from which she wakes in great fear and sorrow.\" Legolas paused, as he felt all eyes in the throne room upon him. \"Most puzzling and troubling of all, my lord, is that she has not the pointed ears of our kindred, but instead the round ears of Man.\"


All the merry singing, talking and eating had halted at the fascinating tale told by their prince, the heavy silence filling the room, as they turned their eyes upon the mysterious maiden standing regally at his side. At his last words, they all stared at her, disbelieving. Feeling their sharp, inquistive eyes upon her, she began to nervously play with her silver locks, subsequently tucking loose strands that had fallen from her buns behind her ears, revealing their smooth, round tips for all to see. The elvinking studied the strange woman thoroughly with his searching dark grey-blue eyes, and coming to a decision, he spoke, his voice loud and reverbrating through the heavy silence.


\"Step forward, my lady.\" He spoke to her in Elvish.


His brow creased in annoyance as she neither complied or responded to his summons.


He spoke again, in the common tongue, \"Step forward, my lady.\"


Still no answer from the fascinating and attractive woman standing tall before him. Seeing that either she did not understand either language, or that she was being insolent and refused to answer to him, he ignored her, questioning Legolas on her discovery, and everything he had observed about the mysterious lady. He gazed upon her once more, looking into her large blue eyes, reading the expresssion in them, searching for answers to his questions. Her gaze did not falter, as she withstood his scutiny with strength and refineness. Seemingly satisfied with what he had found, the elvinking turned to Legolas, motioning him closer.


He spoke softly under his breath into Legolas\' ear, \"I have received word from Lord Elrond. He bids me to come, or to send a proper representative of the kingdom of Northern Mirkwood, for an important council being held in Rivendell in nearly a moon from now. He requested that the upmost haste and secrecy is taken in this matter. I have chosen you, my son, to attend this council in Rivendell in my absence. Also bring to Lord Elrond tidings of Smeagol\'s escape. This strange lady shall accompany you, to seek Lord Elrond\'s wisdom in her plight.\"