Syah's Tears

Marien was showing Syah the palace during the King’s talk with Legolas, it was not until they were headed to the stables that he joined them. He smiled and greeted the two women and it was then that Syah noticed his clothing. Very Prince-like clothing.

I wonder if that’s what he is...she wondered as they continued to walk.

She also noticed that there was something behind the smile he gave her, something very close to worry. No, not worry. Nor concern. What was it then? Syah, through her trials and pains, had learned to read people as if they were an open book. It did not matter if they spoke a different language, for facial expressions, the emotions behind someone’s eyes, the way they held their bodies. All told a story. And if she ever had the opportunity, she realized, she would read Legolas like that. When he didn’t know she was watching. She knew he would never hurt her, that he would protect her in this strange land of theirs. That he was honorable and loyal and kind. Dutiful.

But what was he like when no one was looking? When he shut the world out and it was just himself. Wait, why was she wondering this? He was a stranger to her, she shouldn’t even be thinking about him like this. Wondering about him like this.

It must be this place, she thought. Things are a little jumbled. I’ll be back to myself in no time.

When they were inside the stables, Legolas stopped her in front of four stalls. He turned to her so she could see his face. *You may chose the horse you wish to ride from these four.*

It took a moment for Syah to realize that he was telling her to chose a horse. This she was excellent at. She had two of her own horses in her world, not to mention the stable full she owned for the camp. She walked closer to the horses and looked each of them over. Two were pure white, the color of fresh fallen snow. One was brown with a black mane. The last was a stallion, solid dark gray with black eyes. It was staring at her with far more then interest. He was challenging her to chose another but him, to dare ride another but him. He seemed to think, as Syah thought, that she could do no better then him.

She put a hand out to the horse, daring him to acknowledge her as his rider. She smiled when he nuzzled her palm then moved closer to her as if to hug her, with his neck turned so his head wrapped her back.

Syah turned back to Marien and Legolas. Gesturing to the horse, she said, “He’ll do.”

To her surprise the two laughed softly. Marien said something that Syah took to mean that the horse she chose was choosey himself. She had a horse like him at home. There was no other way to take the look on the female elf’s face. Her horse, Rutter, refused to let anyone he didn’t approve of ride him. Maybe this horse was the same way.

*I need to speak with Marien in private. I will return.*

Legolas’ expression was one that she had seen before, in the office of her mother’s lawyer when he needed to talk to her Aunt alone. Syah nodded and turned back to the horse.

After a few minutes she could feel eyes on her, watching her curiously. Legolas. He was trying to read her. But Syah was very good at being unreadable when she needed to be. Emotions and closeness were held aside for the people she let inside the walls she had built up over the years. Not that she was cold to the outside world, quite the opposite. She enjoyed giving and sharing, especially when it came to sharing the immense pleasure she got from the forests and wilderness. She was a kind, gentle person. But when Bane died, she had decided not to let anyone into her heart that close again. The pain of loss was too much to bare. She felt that these elves she was surrounded by were very observant, and very old. That they could probably see things and read people as well as she could, but she didn’t let that bother her. They would never see far enough inside of her that would tell them her past pains. She would never allow them to see beyond the walls.

And while she felt the sorrow of loneliness and the ache of wanting to belong to someone, as she had to her mother and her aunt and to Bane, she would never open that gate again. It was better to be truly alone then to let the floodgates of pain free. It just...was.

All through these thoughts, while she pet the horse who chose her, Legolas was observant of her actions. He knew she could feel his presence. Something about her stirred him. His father thought this stranger important, for a reason he chose not to disclose. She was a curious person. The trees spoke to her. She was well trained with horses, this he could tell. But it was the way the forest reacted to her that had him thinking. He had never seen a tree scoop a person up like that. To protect them no less. Who was she, this stranger? What gifts lay in her? Where did she come from?

It was obvious to him, an elf of almost three millennia, that this stranger was alone in the world. Her walls were clear for almost all keen eyes to see. But why were those walls there? Why had she shut herself off like that? She was a kind heart, a caring one. This he could tell. And the few times they had had eye contact he could see that she had been through the darkness of life far too many times. He wondered if the dark, lush green eyes that she had were once lighter, and clearer. And her name, Syah. What a beautiful name. Like a light breeze. A longing sigh.

Legolas shook these thoughts from his mind. He had a journey to make, and she had to go with him. How was he to tell her of this? It was clear to him that she could read a person just as well as an elf. From his own observation of her in the forest and of what Marien had told him. All he needed to do was convey it into an expression and she could pick up the meaning of his words. Though, it might take more than a few minutes but she would come to understand the words he was speaking.

He walked up beside her, standing to the side of the horse she had chosen. He pet the horse for a moment. The stallion had let only the King ride him, and that was only once. From his behavior Legolas could tell that the horse was going to let Syah ride him, and he was going to give her no problems. When Syah turned to him and waited for him to speak, he saw that behind her eyes was a calmness. A calmness one only obtained when you have seen too much and have become content with where life throws you.

Syah raised her eyebrows when she saw Legolas studying her. She knew that he saw the calmness of her eyes. That not only had she finally come to terms with being in a new place but also where life had taken her. She also saw one other thing...he couldn’t see beyond her walls. “Legolas...”

He shook his head slightly, then looked back at her. *We are to leave here tomorrow morning. We have to journey to Rivendell.”

How many times had she seen that look since her mother’s death. They were leaving this place. She nodded in understanding.

*It is an important journey. It will be dangerous at times.*

That one took her longer, but she got the meaning of his words none the less. “I can defend myself.”

Legolas wasn’t sure what she said but the immediate look of someone who could deal with anything came across her face. He nodded to her. *We need to go see my father. Come with me.*

“Aphado nin?” Syah said as she walked by him towards the stable doors. She looked back at him while he walked to her.

Legolas smiled. She was a fast learner. “Aphado nin.”

They walked to the throne room and Syah suddenly felt...small. The King rose to greet her and she stopped walking. Legolas looked so much like him. She knew in an instant that her gut had been right. He was a Prince.

The King reached the slightly shocked woman and smiled. “i eneth nín, Thranduil.”

“Syah,” she finally managed.

*My son...* the king confirmed at the look in her eyes.

Syah looked towards Legolas for a brief moment then back at the King. He handed her something that was wrapped in a green cloth.

* For you, my lady.*

She hesitantly took the gift from the King. She carefully drew the cloth away. Her eyes grew round when she saw the sword before her. It was amazing. Bane had left her a sword when he died, one he inherited from his father, but it was nothing like the one in her hands. She put it in her hand, cupping the handle and, stepping away from the King and Legolas, turned it expertly from back to front. Getting used to feel of it, the weight of it. She turned back to the King when she lowered it to her side. “Thank you.”

The King raised his hand. *Think nothing of it. It is a gift.*

*One she apparently knows how to use,* Legolas said, giving her a look of approval.

The King knew he had been right about Syah. Her eyes spoke volumes to him. She was kind and giving, but life had thrown her too many losses for one her age. And that made her older than what she really was. She was a treasure, and he was sure that Elrond would see this also. How she came to be among them, how she came into this world was not important. Getting her to Elrond safely was important. And the sword of his father would help do that. The rest was up to his son, Hathol and Aras.

Syah wrapped the sword back in the cloth, then looked to King and Legolas. Not knowing what to do or say she waited for one of them to move. Why had he given this to her? She would contemplate and think over the day’s events when she was back in her room. For now Syah waited for one of them to move.

*Have a safe journey, my lady. Son, take care of her.*

Having said that, he left the room. Syah looked to Legolas, waiting for him to do something now.

Legolas spoke when he saw how uncomfortable she was starting to get in the silence between them. Though, he knew it was because they were in the Throne Room that this was happening. He knew she was perfectly comfortable in silence when she was outside the palace. *Aphado nin *

Syah smiled and followed him out of the room. She spent the rest of the day letting Legolas show her the rest of the palace. It was strange how comfortable she was with him. A Prince no less. Boy had she pegged him right, she smiled to herself. She knew he could see her walls, as could the King, but that didn’t seem to bother them. Curious, yes, but it didn’t bother them. And she was glad because she was beginning to relax around Legolas, like she was with Greg- Bane’s partner in the camp. Not close enough to break the walls, but a friend none the less. And in only a few hours that had happened. It was this place, this world. It felt familiar, but she wasn’t sure how.

She was not afraid of what life just tossed her way. No, she knew she was here for a reason. But what was it? And why did the King look at her as if she were a gift that just dropped into their world’s lap?

At the end of the day, Syah was pleased when Legolas finally walked her to her room, after dinner. She was tired and needed sleep. The elves had a journey ahead of them...and she was going with them.