The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 5

Legolas waited patiently on the end of his bed. Filgree had spoken very little to him since the incident in the Library earlier although Legolas was sure his tutor had so much to speak of. Legolas felt suddenly guilty. His beloved mentor had obviously suffered through his persistence about his coming of age. He was old enough to know better than to pester his father about anything and he regretted having ever told Filgree of his frustration about his father’s inattentiveness about the season. Sighing heavily Legolas stood from the bed and wandered idly over to the mirror to glance once again at his appearance. Filgree had seen to it that his father wishes for Legolas’ immaculate dress were carried out to perfection. The purple and silver robe he wore had been made a few seasons ago for a festival in the village and while Legolas thought it over the top for a simple dinner Filgree had convinced him that his father expected only the best. Swallowing hard Legolas shifted the intricate silver circlet awkwardly on top of his head. He hated wearing the sign of his distinction, for it only served to make people stare at him like he was a stranger to these lands. Idly Legolas tucked a stray braid back behind his pointed ear. Between them Filgree and Legolas had braided his hair into a new and unusual style for the occasion and despite the fact he liked how his hair looked, Legolas knew he was all in vain. The two elves he’d spied from the stairs earlier were far more exquisite and interesting than he was. The blonde particularly seemed to hold so much wisdom and experience within his gaze that Legolas found himself sighing at his reflection wishing his father would allow him to formally meet the two Imaldris elves but there was little chance of that. His father detested any messengers from the last homely house, and was always weary of them being spies. Legolas had little chance of meeting any visitors to the house, and that chance as even more remote now that the two elves had been identified as being from Rivendell. A gentle knock at the door sent Legolas spinning around to face his visitor and smiled as Filgree pushed the tapestry aside and stepped into the bedroom. Filgree was dressed just as immaculately as Legolas was, in a blue tunic and leggings his dark hair braided and loosely clasped back in a simple shell clip.

“You look very well Legolas, I shall say your father will be proud of you.” Legolas blushed a little under his tutors praise and although he took comfort in the smile having returned to Filgree’s face he knew there was still troubled waters beneath the façade of the elder elf.

“Thank-you, you look very well too. Has father called for dinner yet?” Legolas’ voice trailed off as Filgree nodded easily. It had been two months at least since Legolas had been allowed to dine with the rest of the family. Since the war began he’d not been permitted to dine with his family as their table was always graced by someone of importance in the campaign to defeat Sauron but now the war had ended he’d been allowed the briefest of meals with his family again.

“Come let us not keep them waiting.” Filgree stepped aside from the tapestry and gestured for Legolas to step through first. Normally tutor and student would be easy with one another, their positions above one another forgotten in friendship. It was only during occasions such as this did Filgree fall into his place below the youngest prince of Mirkwood. Walking a step behind the young prince Filgree followed Legolas down the stairs and into the main foyer of the palace. The doors to the great hall were already open and the smells of food and chatter of people greeted the pair who came to a halt a few meters in front of the entrance to the hall. Legolas sighed heavily as he glanced nervously back at his tutor. His father had gone all out for this feast and there seemed to be quite a few more guests inside the hall than Legolas remembered seeing with the two elves he had spied on in the hall. “Take a deep breath and walk confidently in, head up. Bow to your father and move off to the right side of him. I will follow you in and join you there.” Legolas nodded at Filgree’s guidance. His tutor had sensed his apprehension and had calmed it immediately with a comforting hand upon his shoulder before urging the young prince to enter the hall. Filgree took a deep breath and closed his eyes momentarily as he heard the hall fall silent as Legolas stepped into view. The prince had had little dealings with formal events but Filgree had faith his young charge would cope. Letting his held breath out slowly Filgree straightening his back and quickly followed Legolas into the hall, it was going to be a very difficult evening.

TBC.....Sorry its taken a while to update it's just that I had so much uni stuff to do.