*Author's note* I love Tolkien. In my opinion, he is one of the
best, if not THE best novelist I have ever read. However, with that said,
the man just could not write women. This is not a slam toward him, just an
undeniable truth. Women in LotR are more like goddesses than humans or
elves. Therefore, there is not much romance in LotR. I don't believe that
this means romance didn't happen in Middle-Earth; Tolkien just didn't write
it. We know hobbits were romantic - just look at Sam and Rosie's happy
family of 13. Men, of course, also embrace love and sex in their lives.
We know this, obviously, because we ARE, essentially, of the same race as
Tolkien's men. In regard to Elves, however, the subject is just not
brought up. So we readers are left to our own humble opinions. Mine is,
as you probably could guess, that Elves were just as romantic as the other
races, if not more. They, after all, had just as much emotion and passion
as men; Elves, though, had better control. I believe that they would enjoy
sex even more than the other races, because they would understand its
value. Elvish lovemaking would not be as raw or carnal as other kinds.
Instead, it would be a true sharing of being, and create an unbreakable
bond between the two participants. It would be much more enjoyable because
of this, and that's why even immortal beings would never tire of it. Feel
free to disagree with me if you like, but this is what I am basing my story
on. If you are by now quite disgusted with me, please read at least the
first paragraph and review my writing style and detail. If, on the other
hand, you still wish to venture into this work of mine, thank you. This
story takes place around the time of The Hobbit, and includes events from
the book. I suggest you read it before reading this, but it is not
essential. One further thing: please remember that I am not Tolkien, nor
can I write like him no matter how much I wish I could. Nevertheless, I
have attempted to retain the style of the books and dignity of the
characters. And now, without further ado, I hope you enjoy my story!
(Reviews would be appreciated, but, of course, it's up to you, dear
reader!)
He walked slowly and silently through Mirkwood, listening closely to the sounds of the snow-covered wood. Being a prince, it wasn't his duty to hunt, but he enjoyed the sport and it was good archery practice. Besides, they could always use more hunters in these cold winter months. He closed his eyes and advanced into the wild, uncharted brush, trusting sound and scent to guide his steps. A sound from far away in the woods suddenly caught his attention - a disturbance, something out of place in the still forest. He quickly raised his bow and fitted an arrow to the string, then began to close in. Whatever had made the strange noise wasn't aware of him yet, and he meant to keep it that way; he, though moving quickly, made no sound to disturb the natural setting. As he got closer, he became even more wary of the creature ahead of him. He was close, he could feel it, and he drew the arrow back, preparing to strike. He took one more step and looked out into the glade with his keen eyes. In the middle of the meadow on a small hill was a figure. It was sitting gracefully on the hillside away from him, and he could not make out exactly what it was, except that it was not an orc. Then he heard a soft sound, unlike that he had heard before and not in the least threatening. It was the mournful, childlike sound of weeping. He advanced rapidly now, confident that he was not in danger and yet still holding the arrow at ready. When he was no more than a dozen steps away, the being on the other side of the hill started and turned in surprise. It was a young woman, the last thing he had expected to see today. Brave men did not wander into Mirkwood very often, much less a lone woman. He opened his mouth to give her the standard 'who are you and what are you doing here' speech, but the words became stuck in his throat as he examined the creature before him. She was clothed in a ragged brown dress, which did little to either protect her from the cold or cover her from his piercing eyes. Her face was tear-stained and dirty, and her hair was a tangled brown mess. He saw despair in her eyes instead of the fear he had expected, despair and sorrow. She seemed a bit startled by his uniquely elvish appearance - the leather hunting attire, the richly decorated longbow (which he now dropped to his side, seeing she was unarmed), the long fair hair, and the clear blue eyes. As she met his gaze, he realized that she was silently begging him to speak first and offer his aid rather than forcing her to ask. He immediately respected her for that - even though she would freeze to death without help, she still kept her pride and honor. He came within a few paces of her and said, "Greetings. I am Legolas Greenleaf, son of King Thranduil and prince of Mirkwood, and if I can aid you in any way, I will do so," The woman's face formed into a half smile, and she was about to reply when she began shivering violently. In a flash, Legolas was by her side, just in time to catch her as she fainted dead away and fell gracefully into his arms. He placed one hand on her forehead and closed his eyes. He whispered, "You'll be all right, but we must get to my father's halls immediately. Come with me, and sleep peacefully until we arrive," Then he blew a warm breath on the sleeping girl's face and turned toward home, holding her gently in his arms.
"How is she?" Legolas asked his father. The mysterious girl had been taken into the care of Leida, the head nurse of the wood elves, as soon as Legolas had arrived with her. He had not seen or heard anything in the hours since then.
"She is asleep, or so I am told. It is well for her that you heard her in the forest, for she was nigh unto death when Leida began her care. It is well for her, I say, but is it well for us? She will recover in time, Leida says, but it could take months. She has been hungry and cold many nights before this one. My guess is that she was exiled from her homeland and left to starve in the woods. If this is so, and her enemies knew she was here, it might bring conflict and violence to us. We cannot risk that, not with evil and war on the horizon. She is a danger to us," the king replied slowly, with the voice of one who sees darkness and death in the future.
"She also could have become lost in the forest, or-" Legolas began.
"And even that would bring men here! My son, men are trouble. They are too quick and emotional in their decisions. Do you not know their legends about our fair people? About how we hunt and kill children who stray near the borders? Or our vicious wars, or our insufferable elvish pride? They are best left alone," Thranduil snapped coldly.
"I know you are looking toward our people's future, father, but I believe that if we only went amoung men more often, they would not think such foul things of us," Legolas said.
"Your beliefs are well known to me. Nevertheless, the girl is a hazard," Thranduil answered.
"So what do you propose we do with her, father?" Legolas asked.
"We will return her to health and send her on her way," the king replied.
"But she'll never find her way out!" Legolas exclaimed.
"You have heard my decision. Leave me now, I am weary," Thranduil commanded.
"Yes, father," Legolas said, turning and exiting the room. He understood well what his father was saying, and knew it was a very sensible point of view, but he could not seem to get the girl's fair face out of his mind. Even starving, dirty, and nearly dead, she had been very pretty...very pretty. He wandered off to his chambers, full of thought.
She opened her eyes in a warm, cozy, underground room. "Where am I?" Aida asked aloud.
"You are in the royal halls of Thranduil, King of the Wood Elves, and very lucky to be alive!" said a feminine voice nearby. "My name is Leida, Thranduil's personal healer. You are in good hands, and will be back to normal soon," she said as she bustled around the room, doing this and that.
"Why...how did I get here? The last thing I remember is smiling at that hunter, what was his name? Oh, yes, Legolas. Then a sensation like a warm, summer breeze, and then darkness," Aida recalled.
"Legolas carried you here, over nearly twenty miles of woodland terrain. You owe your life to him. This summer breeze you speak of...I suppose Legolas must have had the presence of mind to use the method taught to us long ago by one of the Eldar. It is simply a warm breath blown onto the face of one in need, and will sustain them for a few hours. It is only used if the healer has great need, however, because it is very tiring. It's amazing that Legolas managed to administer the healing and still have strength left to bear you here. He must have sensed something important about you, though I can't imagine what." Leida said. She left the room for a moment and returned carrying a steaming goblet, which she handed to Aida. "Drink this down. It will help bring the life back into you," she said, laughing quietly to herself.
"Thank you." Aida replied as she took the beautiful cup. She sipped it at first, but when she had gotten a taste of the richly spiced hot wine, she drank the rest in one long draught. "It's wonderful!" she exclaimed, looking up at Leida.
"Yes, it is, dear. Sleep now, and I will return in a few hours to see if you will be fit to attend dinner," Leida said as she walked out and shut the heavy wooden door.
Aida smiled at the odd elf's words and then took a good look at her surroundings. She was laying in a big four-post bed with white curtains draped all around. There was a gorgeous wardrobe in one corner, a dressing table with a looking glass, and a nightstand by the bed with a lovely candle arrangement. The room was decorated in dark reds and rich forest greens, reminding her of the deep woods from whence she had come. She didn't know much about elven culture, but this didn't look like a temporary guest room to her. It was likely that she would be staying with the elves for quite a while, then. She hadn't told them yet, though, that she didn't have anywhere to go. Saddened but ever optimistic, she fell asleep.
Not an hour later, she awoke with a start. She felt hot, hot and energetic, as she hadn't felt in a long while. She wanted to get out and do something, anything, romp in the woods or sing or dance. As she stood up and went quickly to the door, she felt her legs nearly give out beneath her. At that moment she knew she was feeling the effects of the elvish draught. "So they only want to give me the desire to live life again, not the ability to do it. They knew I was in danger of giving up hope. Clever," Aida said aloud.
"Clever, yes. It works well, but perhaps it is a bit cruel, to give people false hope." said a voice. Aida turned and saw Legolas Greenleaf standing in the chamber. "Greetings again, fair maiden! You're looking much better. Leida has worked her magic again," her said, coming toward her. Aida now saw that there was another, smaller door to her room. Legolas must have entered that way.
"Hello, master elf. It seems odd that I know your name and you do not know mine. It is, simply, Aida. No more, no less. I have heard you accomplished great deeds on my behalf, but alas, I was asleep and do not remember them! Let us sit and recall these past events, and perhaps you can tell me more about my current residence, and perhaps I will tell you more about myself," Aida said.
"Yes, I should like to know why you were in Mirkwood at all! Not many of your kind venture in these days," Legolas replied. They sat in two exceedingly comfortable chairs (the king spared no expense for his halls, and even an normally unused room was given the royal treatment) facing one another. There was an awkward silence.
"Well, first of all, where does that door lead?" Aida asked.
Legolas averted his gaze. "It connects to my chambers," he said, slightly embarrassed. "You see, since I brought you here, you're something of my responsibility. My father...well, he doesn't like humans very much, and... Besides, I was worried. I was afraid you were going to die and not even leave me a name to remember, so I wanted you to be close," Aida looked at him gratefully, silently thanking him for caring. He nodded and asked, "What is your story, Aida? How did you end up alone and lost in the forest?"
Aida opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly time seemed to stop, and a vision hit her. She saw herself in a passionate embrace with the elf- prince, kissing, touching, and loving him with all her heart. Then Aida saw the Legolas in the vision turn and look straight at her, as if she were really there at that moment, witnessing these things. The love in his eyes was unmistakable, as well as the lust. Aida held that look until the vision ended and reality came back upon her.
"Aida? Are you all right? Should I send for Leida?" Legolas was asking her worriedly. Aida didn't answer, but instead looked deeply and intensely into his eyes. She was not surprised, somehow, at what she discovered there.
'Funny', she thought to herself, 'I didn't think elves believed in love at first sight.' "No, thank you, I'm all right. I just...I don't know. I feel a bit strange. Maybe, with your leave, I will sleep again. We can continue our discussion later, perhaps?" she asked.
"Of course. And, Aida...the visions are a side effect of the draught. They tend to be quite...rousing, don't you think? Well, pleasant dreams, Aida," Legolas said, leaving through the side door and suppressing a naughty smile (yes, he was an elf, but he was still undeniably male). Aida tried to think for a while, but weariness overcame her and she fell into sleep, dreaming again and again about her handsome rescuer.
A few hours later, Leida entered Aida's room. The girl was in a deep slumber - not surprising. She walked silently to the bed, and picked up the empty goblet that was sitting on the nightstand. Suddenly, her charge began to move restlessly and murmur unintelligibly. Leida could only pick out one breathless word, but that one was enough: "Legolas...." She smiled to herself. The drink was doing its work, and it was certainly not the first time visions of the prince had been a side effect. On the other hand, it wouldn't do to have him walk into the room and catch Aida in one of her erotic fantasies. Leida moved briskly to the small side door and slid the lock into place. Satisfied, she left Aida to her sleep.
Legolas sat in his bedchamber thinking about the recent events, and the girl in the next room. He had seen the way she looked at him. There was lust in that gaze, and though it was probably just an effect from the draught, it could very possibly be real. Elves were firm believers in destiny, and knew that things men scoffed at, such as love at first sight, had true meaning. He was fairly sure that she was seeing him in those draught-visions, and could be dreaming about him right now...what if something did happen between them? There had been three elven women in history who had given up their immortality for a man, but it had never been done the other way around: it was unheard of. 'Most likely it will resolve itself in time,' he thought. Mind totally at rest, he lay down and began to sleep.
"What is it, father?" Legolas asked Thranduil after being summoned the next morning.
"A party of dwarves has just been brought in by a group of our people. They would not tell me anything of their business in our lands, and so have been taken into captivity," the king replied. "This is the standard treatment of trespassers, and it got me to wondering. This girl you found...she was no different from the dwarves in any way - except you were the one who brought her in. Therefore, she has received special care. In my view, this is in no way fair; we imprison one party, yet pamper another, and all on the whim of royalty. Is this the way things would be under your rule, my son?"
"No, father. I would not imprison the dwarves; rather, I would treat them as guests and gain their friendship and trust," Legolas slowly replied.
"Befriend dwarves? Such a thing cannot be possible, and I certainly will not see it attempted! They would repay our kindness with treachery, for they are governed by greed alone!" Thranduil passionately answered.
"I understand your caution, father, but the world is changing. I have seen it - the world beyond Mirkwood, I mean. Here, we do not change. We have grown still, and have unknowingly fallen behind the times. There is evil awakening, an evil which is so great, all divisions between the races must be set aside; otherwise, all will be lost," said Legolas.
Thranduil looked at his son, studying him closely, as he had not in many a year. There were cares there that he had not carried in the past, and the light of wisdom was in his eyes. His words had cut through the king's barriers, and pierced his very heart. For a moment, hope rose before Thranduil eyes and showed him a nobility and wisdom he had never dreamed of. He saw, in that moment, what Iluvatar had intended for Middle- Earth, what it had the potential to be.... Then the vision faded, and left only himself to decide. Legolas sensed all this, and looked at his father with a new hope for the future, willing him to make the right choice. But old habits are hard to break, and old prejudices even harder. These had been festering for thousands of years, and, in the end, came out the stronger.
"Get out of my sight, you insolent boy. You dare to tell me what to believe! Leave me!" cried Thranduil. Legolas, hopes dashed, closed his eyes to the sight of his father. "Don't make me throw you out myself, boy!" the king said threateningly, giving his son a hateful look. Legolas drew himself up and threw his father an icy stare. Then, without a word, he left the throne room.
Aida tossed and turned in her exquisite feather bed, dreaming once more and moaning loudly in her sleep. Suddenly, she awoke and sat straight up in bed. She looked around the room frantically for a moment, as if expecting to find someone else there. Gradually regaining her senses, she took a deep breath, and her formerly racing heartbeat began to slow. Finding her entire body covered with sweat, she threw off the stifling blankets and stood up. She was feeling stronger than she had in a long time, longer than she cared to remember. For some time, she just stood there, relishing the newfound health. Then she began to explore her wardrobe. To her immense pleasure, she found a beautiful mahogany gown that matched her eyes perfectly, then began to dress. Eventually it occurred to her, almost as an afterthought, that she was incredibly hungry. When food is consistently scarce, one eventually learns not to think about it. Now that she was in royal company, she assumed food would no longer be a problem. Opening the main door to her room, she stepped out into the passageway. She looked left, then right, then decided it didn't matter and set off to the left. Since this was a palace, there was bound to be food in both directions. Just then, an elf with downcast eyes came quickly striding around the corner, almost running, and bumped right into her. Both of them went flying, and Aida suddenly found herself lying on the floor underneath a very familiar elf-prince. This was starting to look quite a bit like one of her dreams.... "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't see you...." Legolas said after a few moments. He had still been in an icy mood from the encounter with Thranduil, but one sight of Aida just melted him. Aida still said nothing...she was wondering how long whatever they had drugged her with was going to last. She didn't know, though, if she wanted it to go away quickly or last forever.... Right now, she felt as if she belonged in his arms. "Aida?" asked Legolas, worried at her silence.
"I'm fine..." she said vaguely, still distracted. Shaking her head as if to clear it, she said, "Perhaps, though, we should find a more proper position in which to talk? I mean, what would happen if we were found like this?"
"Most likely, someone else would fall on top of us. But you're right, I don't know what I'm thinking," Legolas replied, standing quickly. He began straightening his rumpled clothes and running his hands through his hair.
Aida laughed and asked, "Aren't you going to help the lady up?" Legolas smiled and turned back to her. Then, instead of merely extending a hand, he bent, wrapped his arms around her, picked her up, and set her on her feet.
"That's not quite what I had in mind...." Aida said with a laugh.
Legolas only smiled and extended an arm, saying, "Would the lady like an escort to dinner?"
Aida slipped her arm through his and said, "That would be wonderful, my lord." They walked off together down the hall. Aida was enjoying the closeness, and this time it had nothing to do with that unusual elvish wine. It was just that she hadn't had a friend in so long...no one she could trust, and no one who truly cared about her. Legolas...he really cared about her. She felt it in the way he gently cradled her arm, heard it in his smooth, caring voice, and saw it when she looked into his piercing eyes. Oh, how she had longed for this over the long years...but it was not to be. Even now, nothing was certain. She could not stay in the elvish palace forever. 'Stop it'! she scolded herself. 'Stop ruining this for yourself! Stop thinking of the future! LIVE NOW!' Aida lifted her head, and forced her down-turned eyes to look up. As she did this, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders...she didn't have to worry about anything for a long time, and now she finally realized it.
He walked slowly and silently through Mirkwood, listening closely to the sounds of the snow-covered wood. Being a prince, it wasn't his duty to hunt, but he enjoyed the sport and it was good archery practice. Besides, they could always use more hunters in these cold winter months. He closed his eyes and advanced into the wild, uncharted brush, trusting sound and scent to guide his steps. A sound from far away in the woods suddenly caught his attention - a disturbance, something out of place in the still forest. He quickly raised his bow and fitted an arrow to the string, then began to close in. Whatever had made the strange noise wasn't aware of him yet, and he meant to keep it that way; he, though moving quickly, made no sound to disturb the natural setting. As he got closer, he became even more wary of the creature ahead of him. He was close, he could feel it, and he drew the arrow back, preparing to strike. He took one more step and looked out into the glade with his keen eyes. In the middle of the meadow on a small hill was a figure. It was sitting gracefully on the hillside away from him, and he could not make out exactly what it was, except that it was not an orc. Then he heard a soft sound, unlike that he had heard before and not in the least threatening. It was the mournful, childlike sound of weeping. He advanced rapidly now, confident that he was not in danger and yet still holding the arrow at ready. When he was no more than a dozen steps away, the being on the other side of the hill started and turned in surprise. It was a young woman, the last thing he had expected to see today. Brave men did not wander into Mirkwood very often, much less a lone woman. He opened his mouth to give her the standard 'who are you and what are you doing here' speech, but the words became stuck in his throat as he examined the creature before him. She was clothed in a ragged brown dress, which did little to either protect her from the cold or cover her from his piercing eyes. Her face was tear-stained and dirty, and her hair was a tangled brown mess. He saw despair in her eyes instead of the fear he had expected, despair and sorrow. She seemed a bit startled by his uniquely elvish appearance - the leather hunting attire, the richly decorated longbow (which he now dropped to his side, seeing she was unarmed), the long fair hair, and the clear blue eyes. As she met his gaze, he realized that she was silently begging him to speak first and offer his aid rather than forcing her to ask. He immediately respected her for that - even though she would freeze to death without help, she still kept her pride and honor. He came within a few paces of her and said, "Greetings. I am Legolas Greenleaf, son of King Thranduil and prince of Mirkwood, and if I can aid you in any way, I will do so," The woman's face formed into a half smile, and she was about to reply when she began shivering violently. In a flash, Legolas was by her side, just in time to catch her as she fainted dead away and fell gracefully into his arms. He placed one hand on her forehead and closed his eyes. He whispered, "You'll be all right, but we must get to my father's halls immediately. Come with me, and sleep peacefully until we arrive," Then he blew a warm breath on the sleeping girl's face and turned toward home, holding her gently in his arms.
"How is she?" Legolas asked his father. The mysterious girl had been taken into the care of Leida, the head nurse of the wood elves, as soon as Legolas had arrived with her. He had not seen or heard anything in the hours since then.
"She is asleep, or so I am told. It is well for her that you heard her in the forest, for she was nigh unto death when Leida began her care. It is well for her, I say, but is it well for us? She will recover in time, Leida says, but it could take months. She has been hungry and cold many nights before this one. My guess is that she was exiled from her homeland and left to starve in the woods. If this is so, and her enemies knew she was here, it might bring conflict and violence to us. We cannot risk that, not with evil and war on the horizon. She is a danger to us," the king replied slowly, with the voice of one who sees darkness and death in the future.
"She also could have become lost in the forest, or-" Legolas began.
"And even that would bring men here! My son, men are trouble. They are too quick and emotional in their decisions. Do you not know their legends about our fair people? About how we hunt and kill children who stray near the borders? Or our vicious wars, or our insufferable elvish pride? They are best left alone," Thranduil snapped coldly.
"I know you are looking toward our people's future, father, but I believe that if we only went amoung men more often, they would not think such foul things of us," Legolas said.
"Your beliefs are well known to me. Nevertheless, the girl is a hazard," Thranduil answered.
"So what do you propose we do with her, father?" Legolas asked.
"We will return her to health and send her on her way," the king replied.
"But she'll never find her way out!" Legolas exclaimed.
"You have heard my decision. Leave me now, I am weary," Thranduil commanded.
"Yes, father," Legolas said, turning and exiting the room. He understood well what his father was saying, and knew it was a very sensible point of view, but he could not seem to get the girl's fair face out of his mind. Even starving, dirty, and nearly dead, she had been very pretty...very pretty. He wandered off to his chambers, full of thought.
She opened her eyes in a warm, cozy, underground room. "Where am I?" Aida asked aloud.
"You are in the royal halls of Thranduil, King of the Wood Elves, and very lucky to be alive!" said a feminine voice nearby. "My name is Leida, Thranduil's personal healer. You are in good hands, and will be back to normal soon," she said as she bustled around the room, doing this and that.
"Why...how did I get here? The last thing I remember is smiling at that hunter, what was his name? Oh, yes, Legolas. Then a sensation like a warm, summer breeze, and then darkness," Aida recalled.
"Legolas carried you here, over nearly twenty miles of woodland terrain. You owe your life to him. This summer breeze you speak of...I suppose Legolas must have had the presence of mind to use the method taught to us long ago by one of the Eldar. It is simply a warm breath blown onto the face of one in need, and will sustain them for a few hours. It is only used if the healer has great need, however, because it is very tiring. It's amazing that Legolas managed to administer the healing and still have strength left to bear you here. He must have sensed something important about you, though I can't imagine what." Leida said. She left the room for a moment and returned carrying a steaming goblet, which she handed to Aida. "Drink this down. It will help bring the life back into you," she said, laughing quietly to herself.
"Thank you." Aida replied as she took the beautiful cup. She sipped it at first, but when she had gotten a taste of the richly spiced hot wine, she drank the rest in one long draught. "It's wonderful!" she exclaimed, looking up at Leida.
"Yes, it is, dear. Sleep now, and I will return in a few hours to see if you will be fit to attend dinner," Leida said as she walked out and shut the heavy wooden door.
Aida smiled at the odd elf's words and then took a good look at her surroundings. She was laying in a big four-post bed with white curtains draped all around. There was a gorgeous wardrobe in one corner, a dressing table with a looking glass, and a nightstand by the bed with a lovely candle arrangement. The room was decorated in dark reds and rich forest greens, reminding her of the deep woods from whence she had come. She didn't know much about elven culture, but this didn't look like a temporary guest room to her. It was likely that she would be staying with the elves for quite a while, then. She hadn't told them yet, though, that she didn't have anywhere to go. Saddened but ever optimistic, she fell asleep.
Not an hour later, she awoke with a start. She felt hot, hot and energetic, as she hadn't felt in a long while. She wanted to get out and do something, anything, romp in the woods or sing or dance. As she stood up and went quickly to the door, she felt her legs nearly give out beneath her. At that moment she knew she was feeling the effects of the elvish draught. "So they only want to give me the desire to live life again, not the ability to do it. They knew I was in danger of giving up hope. Clever," Aida said aloud.
"Clever, yes. It works well, but perhaps it is a bit cruel, to give people false hope." said a voice. Aida turned and saw Legolas Greenleaf standing in the chamber. "Greetings again, fair maiden! You're looking much better. Leida has worked her magic again," her said, coming toward her. Aida now saw that there was another, smaller door to her room. Legolas must have entered that way.
"Hello, master elf. It seems odd that I know your name and you do not know mine. It is, simply, Aida. No more, no less. I have heard you accomplished great deeds on my behalf, but alas, I was asleep and do not remember them! Let us sit and recall these past events, and perhaps you can tell me more about my current residence, and perhaps I will tell you more about myself," Aida said.
"Yes, I should like to know why you were in Mirkwood at all! Not many of your kind venture in these days," Legolas replied. They sat in two exceedingly comfortable chairs (the king spared no expense for his halls, and even an normally unused room was given the royal treatment) facing one another. There was an awkward silence.
"Well, first of all, where does that door lead?" Aida asked.
Legolas averted his gaze. "It connects to my chambers," he said, slightly embarrassed. "You see, since I brought you here, you're something of my responsibility. My father...well, he doesn't like humans very much, and... Besides, I was worried. I was afraid you were going to die and not even leave me a name to remember, so I wanted you to be close," Aida looked at him gratefully, silently thanking him for caring. He nodded and asked, "What is your story, Aida? How did you end up alone and lost in the forest?"
Aida opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly time seemed to stop, and a vision hit her. She saw herself in a passionate embrace with the elf- prince, kissing, touching, and loving him with all her heart. Then Aida saw the Legolas in the vision turn and look straight at her, as if she were really there at that moment, witnessing these things. The love in his eyes was unmistakable, as well as the lust. Aida held that look until the vision ended and reality came back upon her.
"Aida? Are you all right? Should I send for Leida?" Legolas was asking her worriedly. Aida didn't answer, but instead looked deeply and intensely into his eyes. She was not surprised, somehow, at what she discovered there.
'Funny', she thought to herself, 'I didn't think elves believed in love at first sight.' "No, thank you, I'm all right. I just...I don't know. I feel a bit strange. Maybe, with your leave, I will sleep again. We can continue our discussion later, perhaps?" she asked.
"Of course. And, Aida...the visions are a side effect of the draught. They tend to be quite...rousing, don't you think? Well, pleasant dreams, Aida," Legolas said, leaving through the side door and suppressing a naughty smile (yes, he was an elf, but he was still undeniably male). Aida tried to think for a while, but weariness overcame her and she fell into sleep, dreaming again and again about her handsome rescuer.
A few hours later, Leida entered Aida's room. The girl was in a deep slumber - not surprising. She walked silently to the bed, and picked up the empty goblet that was sitting on the nightstand. Suddenly, her charge began to move restlessly and murmur unintelligibly. Leida could only pick out one breathless word, but that one was enough: "Legolas...." She smiled to herself. The drink was doing its work, and it was certainly not the first time visions of the prince had been a side effect. On the other hand, it wouldn't do to have him walk into the room and catch Aida in one of her erotic fantasies. Leida moved briskly to the small side door and slid the lock into place. Satisfied, she left Aida to her sleep.
Legolas sat in his bedchamber thinking about the recent events, and the girl in the next room. He had seen the way she looked at him. There was lust in that gaze, and though it was probably just an effect from the draught, it could very possibly be real. Elves were firm believers in destiny, and knew that things men scoffed at, such as love at first sight, had true meaning. He was fairly sure that she was seeing him in those draught-visions, and could be dreaming about him right now...what if something did happen between them? There had been three elven women in history who had given up their immortality for a man, but it had never been done the other way around: it was unheard of. 'Most likely it will resolve itself in time,' he thought. Mind totally at rest, he lay down and began to sleep.
"What is it, father?" Legolas asked Thranduil after being summoned the next morning.
"A party of dwarves has just been brought in by a group of our people. They would not tell me anything of their business in our lands, and so have been taken into captivity," the king replied. "This is the standard treatment of trespassers, and it got me to wondering. This girl you found...she was no different from the dwarves in any way - except you were the one who brought her in. Therefore, she has received special care. In my view, this is in no way fair; we imprison one party, yet pamper another, and all on the whim of royalty. Is this the way things would be under your rule, my son?"
"No, father. I would not imprison the dwarves; rather, I would treat them as guests and gain their friendship and trust," Legolas slowly replied.
"Befriend dwarves? Such a thing cannot be possible, and I certainly will not see it attempted! They would repay our kindness with treachery, for they are governed by greed alone!" Thranduil passionately answered.
"I understand your caution, father, but the world is changing. I have seen it - the world beyond Mirkwood, I mean. Here, we do not change. We have grown still, and have unknowingly fallen behind the times. There is evil awakening, an evil which is so great, all divisions between the races must be set aside; otherwise, all will be lost," said Legolas.
Thranduil looked at his son, studying him closely, as he had not in many a year. There were cares there that he had not carried in the past, and the light of wisdom was in his eyes. His words had cut through the king's barriers, and pierced his very heart. For a moment, hope rose before Thranduil eyes and showed him a nobility and wisdom he had never dreamed of. He saw, in that moment, what Iluvatar had intended for Middle- Earth, what it had the potential to be.... Then the vision faded, and left only himself to decide. Legolas sensed all this, and looked at his father with a new hope for the future, willing him to make the right choice. But old habits are hard to break, and old prejudices even harder. These had been festering for thousands of years, and, in the end, came out the stronger.
"Get out of my sight, you insolent boy. You dare to tell me what to believe! Leave me!" cried Thranduil. Legolas, hopes dashed, closed his eyes to the sight of his father. "Don't make me throw you out myself, boy!" the king said threateningly, giving his son a hateful look. Legolas drew himself up and threw his father an icy stare. Then, without a word, he left the throne room.
Aida tossed and turned in her exquisite feather bed, dreaming once more and moaning loudly in her sleep. Suddenly, she awoke and sat straight up in bed. She looked around the room frantically for a moment, as if expecting to find someone else there. Gradually regaining her senses, she took a deep breath, and her formerly racing heartbeat began to slow. Finding her entire body covered with sweat, she threw off the stifling blankets and stood up. She was feeling stronger than she had in a long time, longer than she cared to remember. For some time, she just stood there, relishing the newfound health. Then she began to explore her wardrobe. To her immense pleasure, she found a beautiful mahogany gown that matched her eyes perfectly, then began to dress. Eventually it occurred to her, almost as an afterthought, that she was incredibly hungry. When food is consistently scarce, one eventually learns not to think about it. Now that she was in royal company, she assumed food would no longer be a problem. Opening the main door to her room, she stepped out into the passageway. She looked left, then right, then decided it didn't matter and set off to the left. Since this was a palace, there was bound to be food in both directions. Just then, an elf with downcast eyes came quickly striding around the corner, almost running, and bumped right into her. Both of them went flying, and Aida suddenly found herself lying on the floor underneath a very familiar elf-prince. This was starting to look quite a bit like one of her dreams.... "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't see you...." Legolas said after a few moments. He had still been in an icy mood from the encounter with Thranduil, but one sight of Aida just melted him. Aida still said nothing...she was wondering how long whatever they had drugged her with was going to last. She didn't know, though, if she wanted it to go away quickly or last forever.... Right now, she felt as if she belonged in his arms. "Aida?" asked Legolas, worried at her silence.
"I'm fine..." she said vaguely, still distracted. Shaking her head as if to clear it, she said, "Perhaps, though, we should find a more proper position in which to talk? I mean, what would happen if we were found like this?"
"Most likely, someone else would fall on top of us. But you're right, I don't know what I'm thinking," Legolas replied, standing quickly. He began straightening his rumpled clothes and running his hands through his hair.
Aida laughed and asked, "Aren't you going to help the lady up?" Legolas smiled and turned back to her. Then, instead of merely extending a hand, he bent, wrapped his arms around her, picked her up, and set her on her feet.
"That's not quite what I had in mind...." Aida said with a laugh.
Legolas only smiled and extended an arm, saying, "Would the lady like an escort to dinner?"
Aida slipped her arm through his and said, "That would be wonderful, my lord." They walked off together down the hall. Aida was enjoying the closeness, and this time it had nothing to do with that unusual elvish wine. It was just that she hadn't had a friend in so long...no one she could trust, and no one who truly cared about her. Legolas...he really cared about her. She felt it in the way he gently cradled her arm, heard it in his smooth, caring voice, and saw it when she looked into his piercing eyes. Oh, how she had longed for this over the long years...but it was not to be. Even now, nothing was certain. She could not stay in the elvish palace forever. 'Stop it'! she scolded herself. 'Stop ruining this for yourself! Stop thinking of the future! LIVE NOW!' Aida lifted her head, and forced her down-turned eyes to look up. As she did this, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders...she didn't have to worry about anything for a long time, and now she finally realized it.