Wow somehow got this out before finals week started. The response to this story has been much appreciated. Quite a bit of character development here, but as boring as it may seem, its still important. Thank you all again and I hope to write to you again soon! Much love, and enjoy.
There was nothing I hated more in the world than helplessness. Okay, that may not be entirely true, but the feeling of helplessness is one of my greatest fears. As a Christian that is sometimes a strange answer to fear, because with a God as infinite and powerful as ours than how can I be helpless? Well that's just the problem with being human. We don't have control, we have faith. I have lots of faith, yes, but we are flawed creatures. So that is why as my subconscious wandered and the ease and comfort from the woman's song slowly easing away as I returned to reality, I began to feel afraid. I could not remember what had come of us in the explosion. I had no memory of being saved, or if Legolas was safe. I was not even sure if I was alive. Although I did not fear death, I did fear the unknown, which goes back into my discomfort in being helpless. As my reality of thought slowly returned, so did the sensations of my body. They came tip-toeing in, knowing they were welcome and belonged but still unsure of taking their place. Think when you enter the home a friend you have known for a while, but you are just on the cusp of beginning a deep friendship. Being in their home is a strange thing. You know you are welcome but you can't quite sit at ease yet. This was how my awareness of my body returned. I became dimly aware that I was lying down, and once I desperate grasped on to that reality, more came flooding in. There were sounds but I could not make sense of them. I became aware of something soft under my head, which gave me more comfort than it should have, knowing I was not in immediate danger. The rest of my bodily aware came back more fully now, but I could still not open my eyes.
I was no stranger to blindness. I had gone through a traumatic eye infection that had left my blind for two week a few years ago, so while I did like control and knowing, I had taught myself in that time to trust and rely on other senses Rather than panic in the darkness, I focus instead on my sense of hearing. As one opens their eyes to see, I opened my ears to everything. Not just the actual sounds and words around me, but the way they were said, where they were said, the creaking of the room, the flow of the air, everything. Slowly, with this and a combination of the sensations beneath and around my skin, I started to piece together my reality.
I was laying on a bed or cot of some sort. There were at least three people in the immediate area, for it was not a closed room if it was inside. There was a slight breeze and the air was fresh. I felt a comfortable warmth from a mild amount of sunlight that was permeating around. All the voices had an accent and a light tone to them. Two were somewhat familiar, but before I could listen closer to, I realized that I could not understand their hushed and gentle words. I could almost recognize the language, but no sense came to the words. Maybe I was still not back fully enough for my brain to make sense of the words. There was a shift in the rooms balance as two pairs of footsteps left the room, and only one other person remained.
By this point I had assumed that I was not in immediate danger. I also found that there was a slight pressure around my head, which became more prominent as a throbbing grew behind my eyes. Right…I had been knocked out by a blow to the head. Must be a bandage. Remaining calm, I ran a list of question through my mind, trying to determine their importance so I might discern what my next course of action would be. I was now alone in an unknown place with an unknown person, not in immediate danger, but injured, still blind and unable to move, but aware of my body. Sure sounds like a coma, but I don't think comatose patients are quite this aware of everything. It just seemed like there was a thin barrier in mind that separated my thoughts from my actions. With nothing else to do or listen to, since the one remaining person was apparently just standing or sitting in the room waiting for something, I began to push against the thin wall in my mind.
It stretched and pushed against my will, but I felt that it could indeed be broken. With nothing else to focus my will on, I tore deep within myself to overcome my own mind. I felt for a moment what can only be described as my mind separating my brain as I dove back at the wall. Then, in a sudden release, the wall exploded, as did my world as my eyes flew open and I gasped in a deep breath, blinded of a different type but the sudden light. My breathing settled and the world above me came to focus. The sky was beautiful. My favorite scene lay above me, rich canopy trees gave ample shade, but the sunlight filtered through them in an enchanting way, giving a surreal glow and shape to everything. I felt a dip on the cot I was on and then in my field of vision another beautiful sight assaulted me. Had I not known any better but I would have it was angel, but it was a face I found far too familiar. With the sunlight casting a golden glow around their head and shoulders, concern, relief, and happiness sparking in clear blue eyes, and a gentle smile set on their face, I knew for certain now I was not in danger.
Immediately I felt a rush of gratitude and thanked God that he was alright, always fearing for the worst. A comfort settled over me, easing the unsettling feeling of being in the unknown, because now I had him. Finding my voice, I breathed out, "Legolas…"but before I could continue, he shook his head to quiet me. Slowly and gently he helped to ease me into a sitting position with one arm, my head throbbed and my world pitched, but we managed it somehow. He spoke now before I could, at the same time handing me a….water skin?
"It was only a matter of time before you were ready to let yourself wake. Please, Juliana, drink. We have much to discuss."
I took a careful and slow sip of water, well aware from experience what would happen if I guzzled it like my body wanted me too. Legolas watched my carefully, and after I took a few more sips while scanning my eyes around the area. I had never seen any place like this before. The ceiling was open, letting nature consume the aura of the room, while the walls were seemingly carved and beautifully crafted, yet flowed delicately into the surroundings. Part of mind offered an explanation to the surroundings, but turned that away, preferring to hear what Legolas had to say rather than make my own assumptions.
He sat next to me on the bed, watching my face, calculating something. I could almost hear his mind working and knowing he would spend far too long waiting to collect his thoughts (mostly because that is what I would do), I tenderly shifted my arm and hand until I felt my fingertips brush against his where they lay on his leg. Gingerly I curled my fingers onto his, and he then relaxed, allowing my hand to be the reassurance he needed to go on.
"Juliana, I am nearly at a loss of where to start, where to end, and where to put what in the middle. But you are safe, that much I can promise for a time. Maybe…maybe if I knew what you remember last that would give me a place to start."
While his voice was calm, I could tell there was an added element to it that was new to me. Something was not right. Something happened, something he was apprehensive to tell me. The truth would come out all in due time. "There was an explosion, I remember us being knocked down and then everything went black. Then there was singing….a woman singing….then I woke up here. Legolas, please, just tell me what happened. It'll be okay." I squeezed his hand and continued, "I'll be okay."
Taking a deep breath, he began. "Alright, well let's start with the events of the explosion. Juliana, as much as I had wished to assure you that the demon would not leave the forest, I had no way of knowing that for certain. And as it goes, it did leave. It followed us to your school, waiting for us. The explosion was it crashing through the structure. The stone crumbled around us, and you were knocked out at the explosion. I was lucky enough to only take a hit that knocked me down. I did my best to get you to cover before it was upon us, but it was almost too late by then. I went back for my bow and sword, and I had no choice but to engage the beast. I-I did not think either of us would be able to escape this time. I fought back though, fueled by seeing you laying in the rubble, bleeding. I felt the strength of my kind rush like flames through my body."
He clenched his jaw, closed his eyes, and stopped for a moment. His hand was tensed around mine now, and I was surprised by how much of a reaction he was having to this. Normally elves, and Legolas in particular, are quite reserved and in control of their emotions. I know everyone had their moments, but it was strange to see Legolas act so…so human. I started to gently rub his hand, circling the back with my thumb, trying to ease the stress building in his grip. After a moment, the tension began to recede, and after another breath, he reopened his eyes, and his composure was back.
"So yes, I fought. He kept pushing me back. I was losing ground, and every blow I block would take us two steps closer to where you lay and every blow I dealt only pushed us forward by one. I was beginning to get desperate, when I needed to get clever. It was the first time in my memory I thought I may not make it out of this fight. But the beast made a mistake. It had flung me to the side, and as I recovered, I noticed it was headed towards you with its blade like claws ready to attack. He was distracted, ready to kill. So I struck from behind, driving my sword up and through the base of his neck into his skull. The demon is not dead, it takes much more magic to destroy one of these beasts, but it was destroyed from this corporeal form, for now. It will need time to reform. It exploded into a shade, returning to the shadow. And you were safe, I was safe. It was all supposed to end. Juliana, please, you must understand, it didn't intend for this to happen this way. I hate how selfish I've been in all of this, and I'm so sorry. If I had known-"
I cut him off suddenly, feeling worry bubble up inside me. "Legolas…wait, slow down. What happened? What do mean you didn't want it to happen like this?"
He let go of my hand and stepped away from the bed. He faced away from me, looking out a window in the carved walls I could not see from this angle. Although it probably wasn't in my best interest, I slid my legs off the bed and tried to start walking towards him. He heard my footsteps and turned around quickly, probably to get me to sit back down. (I really should not have been walking.) He covered the large distance between us in one long graceful stride. He opened his mouth to try and speak but I stopped him with a hand on his chest.
"Legolas. It's okay. You can tell me."
Closing his eyes again, he placed his hand over mine on his firm chest. He then lifted them both to his face and kissed the palm of my hand. "It's so selfish, that I am glad you are here. When the demon exploded, the gem I had not seen strung around his neck did not. It was the same gem that brought me to your world. As it fell, my momentum brought me through where the beast had been. Instinct drove me to dive for it. So I did. At the same time the building was beginning to crumble even more. I dove to catch both the gem and to protect you. I didn't think…I just acted. I let my emotions get the best of me, but I cannot find myself to regret it. I'm sorry Juliana. I truly am. This is not fair to you."
Starting to get a bit annoyed by his lack of answer and my growing worry, I pulled my hand from his and placed it on his cheek, turning his head to face me again. In his eyes I saw what I could not place before. It was fear. He was afraid of what I would do or say when he told me the truth. I looked in his eyes, as peacefully and comforting as I could, and I said the words I had said before that had seemed to comfort him.
"Legolas. I am with you."
He stared deep into me, through my eyes searching into my soul. He knew I meant every word I had said, as well as saw my growing trepidation. Finally, he said it.
"Juliana, my star, we are in Mirkwood. In my home."
I stood staring at him, knowing in my gut it was true and that my suspicions were correct. That does not stop the emotions that crashed into me then. What was to become of my life? How long would I be here, away from my friends and family, from my world? But among that sudden pang of homelessness, I felt something else. Elation, joy, excitement. My time for adventure was finally here, not in a way I could have ever imagined, but nonetheless, it was now. I was in Middle Earth, in Mirkwood, amongst elves, and magic, and so much more. I knew that I would desire to return home some time, but in that moment, I chose to accept that yes I would return home, but something greater than myself had arranged the events for me to be here. I would not lose sight of home and more importantly, myself, but I would make what I could of my time here.
Legolas took my silence as not a good thing, and went to pull away from me. I stopped him by pulling him closer for a hug. He seemed surprised, and was slow to return the embrace, but when he did, he buried his head in my neck. It seemed I was the one comforting him now, in a strange way.
"You saved my life," I said. "And I can't thank you enough for that. It will all turn out alright. There is a reason I am here. I will return home soon, once we find a way, but until then, I am here, and I am with you."
I was in Middle Earth. I could make this work, I would have to, for both our sakes. We held each other for a few more moments, both accepting the reality we were now in so that we could move forward. When we pulled away, I surprised myself by reaching up and doing the opposite I had done a few days ago. Gently I tucked Legolas' blonde hair behind his ear, lightly tracing its tip as I did so. A chill passed through him then, and when he leaned his head into my hand, letting out a contented sigh, I was struck by how surreal this moment was.
Above streamed soft warm light, imprinted as dancers amongst the shadow of the trees. There was safety here, under a canopy of trees, surrounded on all sides by creation. I could almost hear the earth singing around me in this sudden quiet moment. It was in the whisper of the leaves, the rustle of a river, it was everywhere, in a serenity that could not be matched. Truly in this moment, the music of the universe was being played. Legolas must have noticed a change in my attention, because he became very relaxed, entering the state of awareness I had stumbled upon. When he did, I felt him. His aura, I felt it enter into the music the world was playing in that moment. Just as I felt I could hear the trees and the wind and the river and even the light, I could now here him.
His sounds were conveyed to my memory and senses as colors, as they usually are when I listen to music. A sound becomes associated with a color, and with that color comes an emotion, an aura. Interestingly enough, this was something I often would accidently do, generate colors to associate with people based on the emotions they give off. Legolas sounded and felt to me in this time, not surprisingly, a rich green, fluid and speckled with soft light. The outer edges of the green faded effortlessly into a clear blue. Closer towards the center, as the green became more saturated, richer earthly tones would pulse in and out. This was his essence. This was the truth behind who he really was, raw and uncut.
Snapping out of this state, the colors rushed away from me, although the scene around me persisted. Legolas still stood in front of me, and he slowly opened his eyes.
"Juliana, did you just connect into the auras? I thought you might have begun to, but when I did I did not see yours, only my own. What did you see?"
I looked at him curiously, "I only saw one other aura, but I assumed it was yours, green and earthly. There was a song of a tree growing in the forest, consuming the warm rich tones of the earth. I did not see my own aura, I did not know I could."
Now he paused in thought before continuing. "What you described is what I also saw. In this state you can always see or hear your own aura as well as others. I wonder if…. Galadriel may know. Speaking of whom, she was here earlier, before you awoke. I do believe she is wanting to speak with you before her return to Rivendell. Come, you should not be standing yet."
At this he ushered me back to the bed, which I did not protest, as already I was feeling the strain on my body. Settling back onto the bed, berated myself for not asking this sooner.
"Legolas, wait, have you healed well enough? Did you get injured again, your story of the fight did not seem pleasant."
He shook his head and replied, "Nothing that a nights rest did not fix. It was mostly fatigue and bruising. The cut from before is nothing but a slight discoloration now. It is quite difficult to injure an elf substantially without the proper weapons and skill. The demon may have been strong and fast, but so am I. So worry not, I still feel a slight stiffness a few places, but by the end of the day I will be fully recovered. Now, my star, rest. Galadriel will speak with you when you awake again, but you need more time. Tomorrow you will be well enough to leave this care facility, and there is much I wish to show you."
Agreeing, content that he was well and aware I needed my rest still, I slid down lower, settling in to drift away again. "I never thought I would be one for nicknames, but I think "my star" might work, just from you. Go handle what you need to Legolas, I will be alright."
He smiled then and as I drifted off, I heard him say, "My place for now is here, with you." Then I fell back into the world of music and color, nature singing a lullaby as old as creation itself.
Legolas' POV
How lucky was I to have met Juliana on this quest. Yes, I had known a great friend would come out of this endeavor, but I had not imagined it would be like this. There is a true bond between companions in times such as these, and despite her being from another world and another life completely, this bond was stronger than those ever before. Surely she would have been a great addition to the Fellowship, I know already that the hobbits would have deeply appreciated her compassion and quick wit, as would have I. But even now, as she lay in rest on this cot, in my kingdom, my home, I felt her as a part of me. Once I was sure she had drifted away comfortably into sleep, I rose, going to speak with Galadriel who was doubtlessly nearby.
I found her not far from the recovery wing (we did not often have need of medicine and healing, but this recovering area offered a place of rest for those who needed it after conflict), speaking with friends not seen in years. Sensing my approach, she bid them well, and glided over to me.
"You have spoken with her," she stated, more so than asked. "She took the news well, yet something unsure still remains with you. What is it?"
"My lady, she can See. Effortlessly, it seems. The Sight was not something I learned to comfortably immerse myself in for years, and yet she has done it. Not only that, but something seems to be off with it. It was almost like she could not see her own aura, and strange enough, when I reached into it, I could only see my own. My first thought was neither of us could see her aura because she is human, but in that case she shouldn't be able to See at all. Do you know of any other times a human was gifted with the Sight?"
She smiled softly down at me, replying "All beings have the ability to reach into their surroundings and See beyond their corporeal forms. Not all beings, however, are centered enough with themselves and the world to do so. So yes it is possible for a human to possess this ability, as it is for a dwarf, or hobbit, or any other thing, it is just the elves who can do so most notably."
"Yes, but why could either of us only see my aura? Doe she not have one in this world?"
"No, Legolas. You could see her aura. And you could see your own. They are one and the same. Your souls sing for one another, reaching out to the other for completion. When our world was sung into being, there are fragments of the same melody that transcended this world and exist also in her world. The music that created the energy that exists in both of you is the same. You complete each other."
I was silent, shocked and uncertain of what to say next. Was it truly possible to share the same aura? Certainly this would explain much about our fast developing bond. Even now, it has been strengthened, for I had a subconscious awareness of her being near.
"But what does this mean for us? She has to return to her world at some time, and a time will soon come when I cannot leave here for much longer. The time for me to take my place on the throne is fast approaching. Does our future hold no hope? Even now I feel myself returning to my best state, but without her, I fear it will not stay or reach its full capacity. She truly does complete me, and I her. Where do we go from here?"
Stilling my concern with a hand to my shoulder, Galadriel spoke. "That is yet to be seen Legolas, but be calmed, for all will run its course, even if it not an easy one. This is a journey you will take together to find where the end lies. Even I cannot yet see the end, for too much in unknown. But this I do know. You still have much to learn from one another in your time together here. Communicate to each other and listen well, for your souls and minds together is what will get you through this. Now I wish to speak with her….alone. You may sit with her until she awakens again, but when she does, I will take over for a time. Plus there are a few things the Captain of the Guard would like to discuss with you now that you have returned. It has been quite some time, and a few things require your experience and expertise. Tarry not! Go, your presence gives her strength in her healing."
And so I went back to Juliana's room to keep her company as she slept. Before she awoke the first time, she has been asleep for nearly two days, held in slumber by Galadriel to preserve her strength and heal her well. As soon as I had recovered well enough I had positioned myself to rest by her side. Our like energies healing and restoring one another faster than normal, even for an elf.
I had not told her the extent of my injuries. Yes I was healed well and good, but the fight surely had taken its toll on me. Entering her room, seeing her in rest, peaceful, alive, and recovering, was enough to rid me of these thoughts. As she slept, I sat next to her on the bed, sides pressed together, her head against me. I let my vision slip into the world of the Sight to watch what had previously been my own aura, but was not ours combined, swirl and move with a melody that was sung only by our souls together. There was completion, harmony, oneness. There was home. In this moment, I knew the answer to Galadriel's question.
Where does your heart lie Legolas?
The answer was right here with me. My heart lies with her. With Juliana. With my star.
Juliana POV
When I awoke, it was much smooth and less disorienting than the first time. The first thing I realized was my head no longer hurt and second was that I was extremely comfortable. When I opened my eyes, I knew why. I was situated so that back and head were resting on Legolas' chest and while one arm rested on my lap, the other on my free side was covered by his, and our finger were intertwined. I smiled to myself and tilted my head back to look at him. He was not looking at me but was reading a book he had balanced on his one hand. Feeling my move he looked away from it and down to me.
With one hand he closed the book and then smiled. "Good morning. How are you faring?"
Pretending to stretch a stiffness out of my neck I replied, "I feel almost all better, but there is a crick in my neck from being so cramped on this bed."
Not missing my jest or even a beat, he countered, "Yes, I'm having trouble getting comfortable myself, someone is taking up all the space."
"Yeah someone is." At this I heaved my weight on him and effectively sent him tumbling of the bed, albeit ever in his elven grace.
Laughing clear as a bell, he sprung up from the floor and placed the fallen book on a counter. "As it seems you have your wits about you, I would like to leave you in the hands of someone you would be intrigued to meet. I have other affairs to check into, but I will send her your way."
I had shifted to where I was sitting on the bed with my legs crossed, and I nodded to him in understanding. I was about to reply when he stepped forward swiftly and in bending down placed a light but secure kiss on my forehead. Now instead of replying, I simply just smiled again at him, Legolas still standing very close to me.
"I will return as soon as I can, my star."
Before I could ask why he had referred to me as such for the second time now, he had strode from the room in grace. In his leaving, I picked up the book he had been reading, at first not recognizing the words on the cover, for they were in what I assumed to be the elegant curling script of the elves. Just as the letters seemed to start lifting off the page and morphing into a cursive English, someone entered the room, breaking my concentration, and subsequently startling me.
The female elf who entered was obviously Galadriel, for I did not believe that any other elf could give off the same sense of wisdom and love that she did. In general she just seemed to be so full of light, and connected to a world beyond ours. (I now use the term world loosely in light of recent events.) The first thing I notice in a person are their eyes and their energies. He energy was like nothing I had ever been around before, and I knew it wasn't an elf thing, because while Legolas did have a peculiar energy to me, it was not like this, it was not beyond.
It was the eyes that really threw me for a loop. Now often people describe eyes as being like crystals, simply just meaning they are clear, but now I use it because her eyes were truly like a blue white crystal, clear, piercing, and they seemed to move and reflect in the light, almost as if another light from another dimension was passing through them. Maybe this was where she gained her other sight, the sight beyond.
Not entirely sure what proper etiquette was for meeting someone of her stature, especially because I surely didn't bow to Legolas, I merely smiled and dipped my head to her in recognition before introducing myself.
"I'm sure you already know a great deal about me, but I am Juliana. You must be Galadriel. I've read a lot about you and heard much from Legolas about you. It is an honor to meet you."
She smiled back, in a tender gentleness that seemed to penetrate the soul. "Yes dear one, I am who you say I am. I know much of who you are, but not all, for it seems that you are full of surprises. Come, let us sit and talk. Legolas will return after he has taken care of some matters of state that require his experience. His absence has been more trying than we had predicted."
I took a seat on the bed from where I had stood up and she placed herself on a chair near the bedside. Again I was awed by the elegance and poise she offered to the room, completely shifting the feel from something of an enchanted beauty to a mystic beauty. We sat for a moment in silence, looking at each other. It was not in a threatening way, just more of trying to gauge each other. There was nothing hostile or uncomfortable about it. When the silence was broken, it was not by me.
"Have you heard the myth that all beings are formed from stardust? That each of us when the universe was created retained a spark or essence from the star we were born from?"
I nodded but added into that, "Yes I've heard that before. I'm not sure how much I fully believe. In my faith, our God created us from dust, which some could argue the parallels that are there. I understand you have a different spin on the creation story as well."
"Yes we have an account that some could actually still take to be another way of reading your Christianity. We believe our world was sung into existence by our God. The two accounts between our world are largely compatible, as the one Tolkien found. But I bring up the stardust example as a way to possibly explain what I am about to tell you, although your knowledge of music may very well allow for another explanation."
I wasn't entirely sure where she was going at this point but going along for the ride prompted her to continue. When she did, there were many things answered, but also many questions.
"So you are saying that the reason I can only see one aura when I'm around Legolas is because we share the same energies? I get the whole, 'we fell from the same star so we are of the same substance' thing, but I never really believed in soulmates. I mean that's basically what this is, isn't it? Why we have such an immediate connection, an ease with each other. It makes sense I guess, it explains a lot honestly, I just have a hard time believing something like is real. I mean, yeah I believe God has a plan for us, I just never really thought to extend that to something like this."
She regarded me with appreciation now. "You are very wise for one so young. You are an adult in your world but merely a child to us. The time of space and creation transcends that of our own constructs of time, so it is possible you two are of the same energies, despite the difference in age. It would also seem to explain why you have always had a heart and mind of someone older. The essence inside of you just had to lay in wait longer to come into being than Legolas' did, but that is of no consequence. So yes, I truly do believe you are 'soul mates' as you put it. But this does not just retain to love and romantic interest, for that all comes with time, and as I know you are both quite patient in those regards. This has to do with finding yourself in each other. This is a type of love and companionship that helps you define who you are by being completed in each other. It is about finding someone to love the light and the dark inside of you, and through that love, gradually bring you freedom from the dark."
With that she rose, gazing down at me still. "I see this has brought some conflict to your mind. Do not fear, my child. Legolas too has conflictions through it all. Communicate these, and from them you will see much into the heart of the other. Rest well the remainder of this day, for soon you may be needed for your skills in more than just academia. The demon will return. When it does, I know it in your nature not to shy away, so it would be in everyone's best interest that you be prepared."
She begun to leave the room, but I stopped her suddenly with a question. "Wait, but I still wonder. How is it that I was able to speak Elvish before? And just earlier the letters on this book began to make sense to me. How is that possible?"
Smiling deeply from within her eyes, Galadriel answered, or rather questioned back, "What is it that leads a bird to sing, or a fish to swim? Is it not their nature to do that which is in the capacities of their soul? Think not on it more than it is worth, for to question the function of ones soul to is question the Creator Himself."
And with that, she was gone, taking with her the mysticism of the room, returning to it the raw essence of nature. Deciding not to question, but rather to investigate, I picked up again the book, and after some time the words on the front shifted to my understanding. I was struck speechless at the title. Beyond all faculty my mind could process there could be no way that this was the book. The content in itself was not significant at the moment, but the mere existence of it in this world was. It was my favorite book. The Giver was staring back at me. Quickly I flipped through the pages, confirming that this was one and the same. This book was one I have read every year since fifth grade, one that I was in the process of memorizing. It was extremely dear to my heart for the hope and journey it takes you through. In that moment I took Galadriel's advice and stopped questioning. Turning back to the first page, I began to read.
Legolas found me in this very room several hours later, still deep into the book, although now I was perched in one of the trees cascading upward from the room surroundings. How seamlessly architecture turns to nature here. I was nearly done with the book by this time, for it is not especially long, and even though I noticed when Legolas had entered, I did not stop reading. I was surprised however that Legolas did not try to interrupt me at all. He simply lifted himself up into the tree as well and made himself comfortable as I continued to read, finishing the last chapter, hanging on the last words as they still resonated in my mind, no less emotional than the first time I chanced upon the book. When I closed the cover, I looked at Legolas, aware now he had been watching me the entire time.
"How did you know?" I asked quietly.
He looked at me questioningly. "Know what?"
I handed him the book and explained, "This book…it's my favorite. I've read it countless times. How is it here? Did you know it was my favorite?"
Now he looked slightly taken aback. "No I did not know, though I am surely not surprised. Funny though, how these things go, for it too is my favorite book. When I have a desire to read but not a premonition as to what, it is my safety net. How it is that even books seem to transcend the realms?"
"Speaking of which, I assume you also spoke to Galadriel before she came to me. You, sir Legolas are a complete dork. 'My star'? I've never been one for pet names, but I think given the circumstances of our relationship I might have to let that one slide."
Looking up to the sky, he let out a laugh and then shifted so he could face me fully from our branches. "Well yes, because for all purposes and circumstances known, you have been and will continue to be my star, the light in my night, the burning behind my heart, and the spark within my soul. I trust Galadriel has told you of what we suspect and know?"
Smiling stupidly at his ridiculous phrases, I simply nodded my head rather than spoke, fearing if I opened my mouth I would laugh myself right out of this tree. I am not a girl for constant mushy declarations, but Legolas seemed to have no trouble at all being obscenely cheesy.
Noticing my comical grin, Legolas understood my amusement directed at him, and subsequently decided that I should be taught a lesson in "laughing at the king". Down from the tree we both slid, laughing and trying to wrangle the other in an affectionate bout. We landed on the ground, uncensored laughter bursting from us both. We lay side by side, mesmerized by the setting sun in all of its glory that was above us through the trees. A stray leaf fell, landing in Legolas' shining hair. Reaching over, I brushed it out, but continued to lightly run my fingers through his soft hair, twisting it around and through my fingers. A chill passed through him as I accidently skimmed his ear. To this he reached to his head and found my hand, gently pulling it lower and intertwining our fingers.
It was like this that we lay for quite some time, basking in the beauty of the sky and trees, sides together, hand joined, hearts beating as the same. Just as the first stars began to peak through the canopy above, I felt myself drift peacefully back into sleep, taking my last needed rest from injury. Legolas brushed his thumb over the back of my hand, drawing little patterns, as he then began to softly hum a melody my ears had never heard before. My heart however, had.
