The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey Edition (IN EDITING)

First Gaze (Unseen)

Aria’s pierced blue eyes gazed down at the long metallic bow in her hands that carried the most outstanding form and details made by hand. She remembered, even though she was only a child how she used to sit and watch the Elves make the weapons so easily and so quickly. The Elves making the weapons every once in a while used to throw Aria a quick and friendly smiles, and they would tell her that once she had grown both physically and mentally, that they would make her a bow of her very own. That was a promise and the promise had been fulfilled.

Aria graced her thumb down the stiff string that was carefully attached to both bent ends of the bow. She smiled to the many memories that suddenly had struck her, staring into the forest of Mirkwood, listening to the birds chirp and sing their echoing song. She was sitting upon one of the staircases of her father’s kingdom, simply staring out, not moving and not making a single sound. She had known already about her father and brother trying to find her all morning, but she wouldn’t let it bother her at the moment. It would not be much fun if she let them find her instantly; so once she heard another echoing sound which didn’t come from the birds but from her people somewhere up in the great buildings behind her, she took off again, her bow in hand, two blades shoved into leather belts strapped around each one of her thighs. Her fish braids in her dark hair blew around in the soft breeze in the forest and her silver coloured feather-light dress stroke carefully over her body. She carefully ran up the staircase, her footsteps not making a single sound. She had thought she had gotten away with her hiding when all of a sudden a very familiar face dived down in front of her, making her flinch.

“Vanima! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Legolas had his legs wrapped around a branch above their heads and he was now hanging upside down in front of her, his white hair falling straight down. He had clearly earned his father’s silver-coloured hair, whilst Aria had earned their mother’s auburn.  

“You found me”, Aria smirked, telling him in their language. Her brother’s deep blue eyes that were surprisingly even bluer than her own; softly glistered and his face turned into a wide smile before he shifted his body around, released the grip around the thick branch and landed onto his feet without any effort. His height towered over Aria, although he was the youngest and she always felt so tiny next to him.

“Father’s looking for you”, Legolas hissed, taking Aria’s bow out of her hands and holding it above his head so that his sister could not reach it. She sighed, looking around over the great detailed pillars that carried the kingdom up high. The rock rolled through the cave-like kingdom and the water billowed beneath them whilst the sunrays that sipped through the large holes in the cave lit the water up like shimmering gold.

“Well, I’m not looking for him so tell him you didn’t see m-“

Legolas cut her off,

“He said ‘please’.” Legolas’ expression looked genuine as he stared at Aria who unbelievably stared back, not believing that her father had actually asked nicely.

“Are you sure?” whispered Aria.

“I’m sure.”

Without a word, Aria sprinted away into the halls, across the bridges underneath the high-roofed Elven kingdom with her brother right in her heels.

Although their father was very wise and very understanding, at times he wasn’t always very kind. He had always used to favourite Legolas above Aria. He never mentioned it but as Aria was smart, she understood it because it was obvious. Thranduil had always wanted a son, but got Aria instead, with other words – she was a mistake and he wasn’t too happy about his first child. But once Legolas arrived to the world, everything about his life made sense and Aria finally understood that she was never in her father’s wishes. She was lucky she was even born with royal blood.