I've decided to write a new LOTR story completely different from my previous one, which I will probably take down when I get home from classes today or something. This new idea has been brewing in my head lately so I decided to give it a shot and see where this one will take me. I've always loved Legolas XD and I can't wait to see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug when it comes out Friday! Anyone else going to watch it? Orlando Bloom is coming back XD
Summary: Laeriel had no recollections of how she came to Rivendell. The only thing she knows is Lord Elrond raised her as his own. When the Council of Elrond is called forth to determine the fate of all Middle-Earth, Laeriel joins the Fellowship in hopes of unraveling the mysterious threads surrounding her past. What she discovers will threaten to rip apart the lives of those whom she holds dear...
Laeriel is one of the translations of my real name, the source I used for this is a website called Council of Elrond.
Reviews are welcome!
Constructive criticism also welcomed!
Anything else shall be ignored and used to heat my house (aka flames).
I hope you all like this new story!
Rating: T
Pairing: Legolas/OC
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Those With Courage
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Reunion
Laeriel found herself unable to sleep that night, excitement and anticipation at seeing Legolas making her too nervous to shut her eyes. Her bare feet made no noise as she walked the halls of her father's huge dwelling. Imladris was anything but small, and normal visitors would require a maid or servant to guide them through the halls, however the elf-maiden knew where she was going, her feet guiding her with every sure step. There was a beautiful garden tended to by the maids in the back of the large home, and Laeriel always found peace amongst the flowers. Her favorite past time involved sitting there in silence, surrounded by nothing but the scent of flowers, eyes roaming the vicinity. Whenever Legolas visited Imladris, they would spend an entire afternoon there, enjoying each other's presence. On occasions the elf-maiden would sing while the Prince of Mirkwood laid upon her lap, allowing her to brush his golden tresses gently.
Rounding the corner towards the garden which involved a set of steps, Laeriel was surprised to discover she was not alone.
Aragorn was standing there, eyes gazing upon the stars in the sky.
"Cousin Aragorn?" she called softly, stepping down onto the grass with her bare feet.
Her cousin blinked several times and turned his attention towards her. "Laeriel? Why are you still up at this hour of the night?"
"I could not sleep and decided to take a walk. What about you cousin Aragorn?"
"I felt the same. The Ring's presence here does not bode well for Lord Elrond," he admitted to his cousin, eyes locking onto hers.
"I have heard tales of the One Ring from Adar when I was young...it must be destroyed or Middle-Earth is doomed," Laeriel shuddered, remembering the horrific tales Elrond used to tell her about the ring of Sauron.
The ranger nodded. "That is why Lord Elrond has called the Council together."
"He will be here in one day's time," she confided to her cousin, hoping he wouldn't notice her blushing.
His eyes twinkled with delight. "I assume you mean Legolas?"
"Yes," she blushed even harder.
"I can tell you have missed him, and I am sure he misses you as well. You two are made for one another. Lord Elrond would be pleased if the two houses united through marriage of their children."
Laeriel bit her lips hesitantly. "Cousin Aragorn...do you think I am worthy?" she suddenly questioned.
"Worthy?" his brows furrowed together in confusion.
"Worthy...to be the wife of Legolas."
Placing a finger underneath her chin, Aragorn tilted her head up so he could look her in the eyes. "Why would you think you are not worthy to be his bride?"
"Because...I'm...I'm no one. I'm an orphan who was adopted and raised by Adar. I'm just a princess in name...I don't even know where I came from...or who I am."
His smile grew gentler," Legolas loves you for you Laeriel. He does not care about your past. You two practically grew up together haven't you? Why would you let this bother you now?"
She twisted the hem of her robe around her fingers, a habit of hers when she became nervous.
"Never think that Legolas doesn't love you for who you are."
Clasping his hand within her own softer ones, she realized how small hers was in comparison to his. "Do all Men have hands as big as yours?" she wondered, turning his palm about.
Aragorn threw his head back and laughed. "You have never seen another Man aside from me have you?"
"I never left Imladris except to travel to Mirkwood with Arwen and the twins."
"My dear cousin, there is much of Middle-Earth that I long to show you."
"Will you show me one day?" she asked hopefully.
"When peace has been restored. I will take you to Gondor and show you the realm of Men."
Her eyes flitted around, scanning the surrounding gardens carefully, before continuing. "I thought you turned from that path long ago cousin..."
"I did. I have no intentions of reclaiming what is mine by birthright. Not when I gave it up long ago to become a Ranger," he answered.
"Then how-"
"Get some rest Laeriel. Tomorrow will be a long day," Aragorn said, gently pushing her towards the stairs.
A gentle knock upon the door of Laeriel's sleeping chamber awoke the elf-maiden from her slumber. Wrapping a thin blanket around her slender frame, she walked over to the door and opened it a crack, surprised to find her sister Arwen standing there.
"Arwen? What's the matter?" she stepped back to allow her inside.
"Legolas will be arriving shortly dear sister. Shouldn't you be preparing for his arrival?" she asked with a girlish grin.
Laeriel blinked.
Then her eyes cleared.
"He's arriving today? Adar said he won't be arriving until tomorrow!"
"I anticipate that, in his eagerness to see you, he has chosen to leave earlier than we thought."
"Will you help me get ready?"
"Isn't that why I came here?"
A while later the two sisters departed from Laeriel's chambers and made their way towards the guarded gates of Imladris. Arwen had pulled her younger sister's golden locks back into a braid, wrapping two strands around her head, tying them at the ends, leaving the rest as a curtain around her shoulders. A robe of light green rustled about her legs as she walked. A small silver belt was wrapped around her waist, with the ends dangling about in front of her, and the sleeves of her robe whispered with every slight movement she made. Her sandaled feet making the barest of noises as she glided down the hall with her sister beside her.
"How do I look?" she asked for the fifth time, staring down at herself.
Arwen laughed at her sister's reaction. "You are fine my dear. Legolas will be very happy to see you dressed as a maiden for once."
Laeriel could not argue with her there.
The younger elf-maiden preferred clothing which gave her the utmost of movements, and only wore feminine clothes on special occasions such as this, therefore it was a bit uncomfortable for her to be seen as a female elf, instead of the warrior maiden everyone in Imladris knew her for.
"Here we are," Arwen nodded at one of the guards, who opened the gates for the sisters.
They stood there for a while wrapped in nothing but thin shawls, and then their ears picked up the distant yet unmistakable sounds of a horse's hooves galloping towards the gates. Laeriel immediately felt anxious as she gripped Arwen's hand for support. It had been many years since she had last seen the Mirkwood Prince, since he was always busy helping his father rule over his realm.
"Relax Laeriel," Arwen said with a soft chuckle.
A beautiful black mare came pounding into view, and riding atop was none other than the one elf Laeriel longed to see more than anyone.
Legolas Greenleaf.
Pulling the mare to a stop in front of the two elf-maidens, the rider quickly dismounted and lowered the hood from his face, revealing the unchanged face of the Prince of Mirkwood.
"Legolas!" Laeriel embraced him tightly, not caring if the guards and her sister were watching.
Taken aback slightly by her sudden reaction, the Prince merely smiled and folded his arms over the small of her back. "I missed you too Laeriel," he breathed in her ear.
"Come inside and rest from your journey Legolas, you must be weary, your horse and that of your companions will be tended to by the stable master," Arwen said, noticing three other elves riding into view.
Legolas turned towards his companions and spoke softly to them, and then faced the sisters again. "It's been a while since I last paid a visit to Lord Elrond."
"Adar is waiting inside," Laeriel pulled on his hand, guiding him towards the gate.
Arwen chuckled.
"Le suilon, Lord Elrond, Adar sends his regards" Legolas bowed deeply to the ruler of Imladris.
Elrond smiled and beckoned for the young elfling to rise. "Your presence is always welcome here, Legolas Greenleaf, son of King Thranduil."
"It has been a while since I paid a visit to Imladris."
"Too long has it been indeed," agreed the ancient healer.
The doors to the hall opened and Aragorn appeared with Arwen right behind. The two friends clasped shoulders firmly, unspoken words exchanged through their eyes, and Laeriel could tell Legolas missed her dear cousin's companionship.
"You've arrived earlier than expected. The Council isn't expected to convene until later today," he said to him.
Legolas's eyes drifted over to the younger elf-maiden. "I came to see Laeriel."
"Nothing could keep you two apart it seems," joked the ranger with a small chuckle.
"I agree with Estel," added Elrond.
Laeriel turned towards her father. "Adar...do you mind if we?..."
"Of course not my dear. Just return in time for the midday meal, for Legolas is needed at the Council afterwards."
She was already gone before Elrond could finish his sentence.
Arwen went to stand beside her father and intended. "She really loves him doesn't she?"
"I foresee a union between the House of Elrond and Thranduil," the ancient elf mused.
"Their love for one another is strong and genuine."
Laeriel pulled Legolas towards the garden of Imladris and sat herself down in the center of a field of flowers, her silken robe spreading around her like a blanket. The Prince of Mirkwood also sat and laid his head across her lap, smiling up at her while soft fingers gently caressed his golden tresses. They remained like that for a long time, just quietly enjoying one another's presence.
"How does your father fare back in Mirkwood?" she asked, running a finger down to his jaw and back up to his temple.
"He misses you," Legolas replied.
The elf-maiden laughed at this. "I thought King Thranduil dislikes me because I would always steal you away from him whenever I went to visit?" she arched an eyebrow at the young Prince.
"He may act like that on the outside, but he has a soft spot for you inwardly. Adar hopes to forge a union between our houses through marriage."
She blushed.
"Do you not wish for a marriage?" Legolas sat up to look at her.
"I do but...am I worthy of becoming your wife?" she murmured the last part softly, it would have been inaudible if Legolas hadn't been an elf with excellent hearing.
Capturing her hand in his just as she was about to continue her caresses, the Mirkwood Prince looked her in the eyes. "Why would you think you are unworthy of becoming my wife?" he questioned, frowning slightly at her.
"We all know my past is a mystery...I was merely adopted by Adar. I have no real standing here nor anywhere else. I'm nothing more but an orphan who happened to be taken in by the greatest elven healer in all of Middle-Earth...I...I do not feel worthy enough to become the bride of a Prince such as yourself."
Now that he understood what was bothering her, Legolas softened his expression, cupping her face with one palm and gently stroking her cheek with one thumb. "Do not think of yourself as unworthy to become my wife Laeriel. We have loved each other for thousands of years, from the very first day Lord Elrond introduced me to you when I came to Imladris, I made it my mission to win you over," he smiled at her.
"The favor of an elf-maiden is not so easily won," she teased, flicking a finger at his forehead.
His fingers laced themselves through hers. "It appears this elf-maiden gave her heart to me long ago," he whispered against her ear.
"Do you really not mind my past?" she hesitantly asked.
"Who you are or where you came from does not matter to me Laeriel," Legolas reached into the fold of his cloak and withdrew something, holding it out to her in his outstretched palm.
It was a pendant.
A pendant made of mithril, encasing a blue sapphire in the middle, with the crest of the House of Thranduil etched into the metal flower holding the gem in place. Laeriel had never seen anything so beautiful in her life before, except for the Evenstar pendant her sister wore around her neck. Taking it from the Prince's hand, the elf-maiden carefully examined the pendant.
"Nadeth left that for me before she passed away, for the one I intend to be my bride," he explained, taking it back to clasp around her neck.
She pulled her hair out of the way and allowed him to affix it, watching as the pendant came resting just above the hollow of her throat.
"It's beautiful," she murmured while running a finger down the length of the jewel.
Wrapping his arms around her waist to bring her closer against him, Legolas pressed a kiss against her temple. "Will you give me the honor of becoming my bride for eternity? Until both of us join the Valar?"
Tears welled up in the corner of her eyes as she nodded. "Yes," she breathed, quickly blinking them back.
"Well look who it is, if it isn't our sister and our favorite playmate from Mirkwood."
Laeriel made a mental note to shoot her brothers full of arrows later for interrupting this precious moment.
Legolas was unperturbed by this. "Elladan, Elrohir, can't you two not bother us for once?" he growled dangerously.
The twins laughed and pushed each other on the shoulder before disappearing from view.
"Can I borrow your bow?" the elf-maiden muttered.
"For what purpose?"
"So I can shoot my brothers for interrupting us," she growled, narrowing her eyes at the place where they vanished.
The Prince of Mirkwood laughed.
When the two elves returned inside to the dining hall for the midday meal, they were greeted by Aragorn and Arwen, whom were helping set up the table in preparation. Laeriel glanced around and noticed her father was nowhere in sight. She was hoping to tell him the good news about her betrothal to Legolas, and wanted to get it out of the way.
"Where is Adar?" she asked Arwen.
"He went to his study to discuss something with Gandalf," her sister answered.
Blue eyes widened in delight. "Mithrandir is here? Arwen, you did not tell me this!"
"You did not ask."
"I will go find Adar, for I have something important to tell."
She rushed out of the dining hall, leaving an amused Legolas behind as he went to help his friend set the table. Aragorn noticed the smile on his face, and inched closer to him. "I see she was wearing your necklace. I take it you've asked her?" his eyes sparkled with excitement for his friend.
"Of course I did. I see the Lady Arwen already gave you her heart long ago," Legolas stared pointedly at the Evenstar pendant hanging out of Aragorn's leather armor.
"It's about time Legolas," Arwen said, resting a hand atop her beloved.
"Lord Elrond will be pleased," agreed the Prince.
Scurrying up a flight of stairs leading towards the corridor overlooking the waterfall, Laeriel's heart began to pound faster against her chest, excitement coursing through her immortal body. Her father's enormous lodging barely had, if any, doors and those that did were always unlocked -save for the private chambers- so it was fairly easy to find both Elrond and Gandalf standing in the middle of the study, having a conversation between themselves. Not wanting to intrude upon their talk, the elf-maiden hid behind a pillar and peered out, her sensitive ears picking up the muffled words.
"Gandalf, Sauron's forces are massing in the east," her father's voice was tense. "His eye is fixed on Rivendell. And Saruman, you tell me, has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin."
Laeriel furrowed her eyebrows together. The White Wizard Saruman has betrayed them? That cannot be. He was one of the Maya, just like Gandalf is. Why would he turn and join forces with Sauron at a crucial time like this? As much as she wanted to interrupt, Laeriel knew she couldn't. Their conversation weighed more heavily than that of her simple announcement.
"His treachery runs deeper than you know," the deep and soothing voice of Gandalf replied. "The foul craft of Saruman has crossed orcs with goblin-men. He's breeding an army in the caverns of Isengard. An army that can move in sunlight, and cover great distance at speed. Saruman is coming for the ring," the wizard finished solemnly.
The elf-maiden shivered involuntarily as she remembered the goblins which dared attack Imladris three hundred years ago. It was a horrible battle, many lives, many dear friends, were lost that day, and Laeriel swore to never let another die after that incident. The fact that a new breed of monsters, brandishing sharp weapons, will come tearing through the gates of her beloved home, was beyond unthinkable.
"This evil cannot be concealed by power of the elves," her father hissed angrily. "We do not have the strength to fight both Mordor and Isengard."
Silence.
For a while Laeriel thought they had finished their conversation, but then Gandalf came shuffling into view, onto the veranda overlooking the waterfall. He had but to turn and spot where she was hiding, but thankfully her father was not done with his words.
"Gandalf, the ring cannot stay here," her father's stern voice said.
The soft neighing of foreign horses, not those belonging to Imladris, from the distance momentarily distracted Laeriel. No foreign visitors have traveled here in the past hundred years, who were these mysterious strangers?
"This peril belongs to all Middle-Earth. They must decide how to end it," Elrond came to stand beside his friend. "The time of the Elves is over. My people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we've gone? The Dwarves?" A hint of sarcasm was audible in her father's voice. "They hide in their mountain seeking riches. They care nothing for the trouble of others."
The wizard turned. "It is in Men that we must place our hope," he said in a weary voice at last.
"Men. Men are weak. The race of Men is failing. The blood of Númenor is all but spent. Its pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of Men the ring survives," her father left the balcony as he spoke, Gandalf following closely behind. "I was there Gandalf. I was there, three thousand years ago when Isildur took the ring. I was there the day the strength of Men failed."
The elf-maiden knew her father's greatest regret was not stopping Isildur from taking the ring on that fateful day.
"I led Isildur into the heart of Mount Doom where the ring was forged. The one place it could be destroyed. It should have ended that day but evil was allowed to endure. Isildur kept the ring," her father faced Gandalf again, completely oblivious to her presence. "The line of kings is broken. There is no strength left in the world of Men. They are scattered, divided, leaderless," he finished.
"There is one who could unite them," Gandalf murmured softly.
'Cousin Aragorn...but he wants nothing to do with that path.' she thought to herself.
"He turned from that path long ago," confirmed her father.
Unable to contain herself any longer the elf-maiden stepped out from behind the pillar, surprising her father and the wizard, the former whom was smiling in delight at his daughter, the serious look gone from his face.
"Laeriel, what brings you here?" he asked with a warm embrace.
"I was hoping to tell you something important," she answered.
Gandalf shuffled over and smiled at her. "Lady Laeriel, still as beautiful as I remember."
"Mithrandir, it has been too long since we've last spoken," Laeriel bowed her head to the wizard.
Elrond chuckled. "Now what is it you wish to tell me?"
Instead of speaking her words the elf-maiden simply took out the pendant from around her neck, allowing her father to study it briefly before a wider smile broke out on his face.
"Legolas Thranduilion gave you that didn't he?"
She nodded nervously, her voice suddenly gone from her throat.
"Ah. I must congratulate you then my dear friend," Gandalf said.
"A union between the House of Elrond and Thranduil is a good omen indeed," her father remarked.
The trio were interrupted with more whinnying from down below as the gates opened to allow strange horses in.
"It would appear our friends have all arrived," the ancient healer observed, peering over the balcony into the courtyard below.
"The dining hall has been prepared," Laeriel said helpfully.
"Good. Then let us dine together and discuss this later on."
They left the study and headed for the dining hall.
To be continued...
Review?
How is it so far?
Good? Bad? Like it? Hate it?
Do leave me a review with your thoughts!
I look forward to hearing what you think!
Thank you to those who reviewed the first chapter~ I hope you continue to do so from hereon out!
This chapter is for you guys~
