Just a brief encounter...
That was all she wanted before he finally departed on the journey to destroy the ring that controlled all others, and would hopefully allow peace to rule the land once more.
She was well aware of the dangers and unfavorable circumstances the fellowship may - will find themselves in. The same, stomach aching danger that her newly betrothed would also find himself in.
Her sun kissed cheeks were lightly flushed as she rushed through the hooded woodlands that surrounded the kingdom of Mirkwood, the evening sun filtering through the wooded canopies, bouncing off the brown hair that flowed almost majestically behind her. Her lithe fingers of her right hand clutched tightly onto the wooden bow that she had drawn out in practice just moments before.
Archery was her comfort, a pastime that pulled her closer to her betrothed, even if he was as far as the Misty Mountains.
The bowstring was taunt against the slim body of her arrow, her left arm pulled back passed her left, peaked ear. Just as she were to release the arrow into the clothed target that laid several feet before her, her attention shifted to the messenger that seem to appear suddenly beside her.
"My lady," the young elf greeted, bowing his body lightly, his flaxen hair falling around his shoulders, "My lord, Legolas, is to be seen off with his company at the Northern Gate," the messenger straighten his posture, to have his teal eyes met with the brown ones of the armed maiden that stood before him. He chose his next words carefully, chewing lightly on his bottom lip, "He has sent for you, Linreil, my lady...He wishes to have you see him off as he departs."
Linreil's soft features relaxed gently, her heart lightly fluttering. She took a few steps towards the messenger that seemed to tower over her. She gently took his forearm into her hand, squeezing it lightly as a smile pulled at the corners of her rosy lips. "Thank you," she whispered to him before sprinting on the path she assumed he took to reach her, her steps light and airy.
Her breath began to hitch slightly in the lithe column that was her throat.
She knew, deep within herself, that this could very well be their last goodbye. She knew that, as did Legolas himself. But neither dwelt on that, the very thought tumbled from Linreil's heart to the depth of her stomach.
Surely, he'll come back. He was the son of Thrandril, Prince Legolas of Mirkwood. And she, was his newly announced wife-to-be, although, the fire of their affection for one another burned longer than neither were willing to admit.
Finally, the Northern Gates of Mirkwood came into her keen view at the end of the wooded pathway she tread.
Her brown eyes immediately caught onto the image of her Prince, preparing to mount his white, majestic horse.
Her sweat laden face pulled back into a small smile. She had made it, even by a fraction of a moment.
"Legolas," she breathed out as she emerged from the wooded pathway. The breathy whisper was enough to earn his attention. His chiseled face pulled back in a relieved smile as he took in the image of the she-elf that stood before him and his small company of elven escorts.
"Linreil," he responded, just as lightly.
Linreil took a few steps forward as her betrothed swung a leg over, dismounting his chosen horse.
"I was afraid that I would miss you, just by a moment," she admitted between light pants of her breath.
Legolas smiled lightly as his hands rose to cup her face. He drew close to her, planting a chaste kiss onto her forehead. "Worry not, I would not have left before I met with you. Even if it were just for a brief moment."
Linreil looked up at him, her lips pulling back in a smile although her eyes did not. They were ridden with worry and fear.
She knew he was more than capable, if not the best warrior in all of Mirkwood. But the danger that laid beyond the safe woods of Mirkwood.
She was terrified for him, and he sensed it so easily.
"Worry for me," Legolas whispered to her, his cool breath fanning over her tan features. "Worry for me so that when I return, your happiness will abound more than it did on the day we met."
Linreil let out an airy laugh as she looked down between them at her hands, one of which still held loosely onto her wooden bow and arrow. She looked up again into the never ending sea that were Legolas' eyes.
"Kiss me," she uttered almost silently. It was a request that was sudden, and took even Legolas by surprise. "Kiss me," she repeated, almost pleadingly.
His lips pulled back into a small smile, his warm hands raising again to cup her face. He complied fully, taking her full rosy lips into an intimate kiss, despite being in the company of the two escort elves.
As he finally pulled away, a single tear fell from Linreil's closed eyes before she opened them to look up at his eternally serene features. The lightly callused pad of his thumb wiped the crystal like teardrop from her cheek.
"I will worry for you then," she finally agreed. Although, both she and the prince knew she needed no outside reason to do so.
Legolas pulled her into a tight embrace, causing her face to nest itself into his chest. She silently took in a deep sigh of his scent, one that has grown so familiar to her now – one that seems to calm her even now. "Ci veleth e-guilen. Na lû n'i a-goveninc." He uttered to her, his cool forehead resting on the nook of her neck.
"Gi melin, Legolas."
After a few more moments spent in each others embrace, Legolas finally pulled away. His hands fell from her face to her warm hands, holding them as he took steps back before they finally fell from his hands.
"Na lû n'i a-goveninc," he repeated before he once again mounted his horse.
Linreil nodded, her free hand raising to ghost over her lips that were still warm from the heat of his own.
It was a brief encounter that proved to barely be enough for her to content with until his unannounced return on a silent autumn night, eight changed of the seasons later.
Translations
Ci veleth eguilen – You are the love of my life.
Gi melin, Legolas – I love you, Legolas.
Na lû n'i a-goveninc – Until we meet again.