To Hide a Princess

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter 14

I wake up again later in the afternoon to find myself cosy under the sheets, all tucked in. I don't remember falling asleep like this...Legolas must have come back in while I was asleep. I'm thankful that I didn't have to talk to him. Grateful for small blessings.

I'm still in my clothes so there's no need to change. Stretch and slowly wake up further, my senses coming alive again. As I wake I notice a harp in the corner of my room. That wasn't there before. Legolas must have brought it in. Beside it is a small white harpsichord with a flute on it. How does he know I love music? I never told him this, I would remember if I did say.

I approach the instruments and run my hands over the harp. It's a beautiful instrument. I play a quick scale. The sound is the purest, most sweet sound. It's perfect. I begin to play a lullaby and sing softly the words my mother sung so long ago.

One hundred thousand stories ago,

When time in sands went by,

And flying through the looking glass,

Gwelais fy gwir gariad,

But live a lie and sing for more,

And sigh a thousand songs,

Eternal yet impossible,

Gwelais fy gwir gariad.

It is a heart breaking song of an impossible love in times gone by. It makes me think of everything I have lost. And that's a lot. I continue to play more of the songs of old, bringing back more images of my old life. I can still hear Oro's light chuckle and see Earwen's sweet smile. A light, lively song brings back the times when Lenwe and Camthalion would play fight. They would be so protective of me even though I could defend myself just as well as them. They were still protective though, treating me like their own precious jewel. They were at my side as soon an a man even looked at me in the wrong way.

All these memories are making me emotional so I stop the deep thinking and just get lost in my music. I change to the harpsichord, lightly paying the delicate instrument. I feel the melody caress me and the deeper base notes keeping me steady. My reverie is suddenly broken by a delicate feminine cough.

I turn to see a beautiful dark haired woman, her robes gracefully draped over her slender body as she stands in the doorway. I faintly recognise her from somewhere but I can't tell quite yet. I wonder how long she has been here.

"Legolas was right, you do play beautifully. Quite the musician." Her voice matches her appearance. Calm and delicate, like a lullaby. Beautiful. At this point I realise two things. Firstly she has been here long enough to hear me and secondly where I recognise her from. How silly of me. His is the woman I saw Legolas speaking to down at the waterfall. The girl I think he loves. Just seeing her here is like another stab in my heart. I simply nod my head with a slight smile in response. She smiles back at me.

"So you're my brother's soul mate? He's been going insane looking for you."

Wait brother? What is this? But they look so different! That must mean they're not in love?

"He's you brother?" I ask confused but with hope. I'm determined to escape and resist him but nature makes me need him still. I hate being dependant on people and weak. I haven't survived up until now through love and fairy tales. Arwen clearly notices my eyes light up, as hard as I try to resist it as she smirks a little.

"Not by blood but he may as well be. We are as close as siblings. He's a good man you know, he will treat you well. He's been waiting to find you forever."

Then the other thing she says hits me in the face. Soul mate? I refuse to be his soul mate!

"I am not his soul mate." I say sternly. She only looks at me smirking and raises her eyebrows. Why do I feel like a scolded child without her even speaking?