FADE TO LOVE By Angelica
Chapter 4. Painting the Heart
The Prince of Mirkwood went to his cupboard and pulled out the items he had purchased the day before.
Placing them all on his bed, he pulled the various odd shaped parcels toward him and begun to unwrap them eagerly; the urge to put their contents to use was overwhelming. First he took out the stiff parchment and then he brought out the charcoal that he would practice with as the artisan had advised.
He took both items out into the garden that adjoined his rooms and sat down upon the grass then leaned the canvas against the trunk of a tree. He closed his eyes and thought of his Lady, picturing everything about her face that he could, again just as he had been told to do.
Then he opened his eyes and began sketching, not thinking, just allowing his hand to go where it willed, at all times only seeing the Lady's face in front of him.
When he finally felt the need to stop he looked at what he'd produced and was surprised that although not perfect it was definitely a likeness although it lacked the realities of life that could be seen in his subject's own face.
He continued on until lunchtime when there was an impatient knock on his door as he heard Gimli swear, "Why Master Elf have you got the door locked, has your room suddenly become a holy place for elves?"
Legolas sighed and quickly returned to his room and hid the drawings he had done under the bed as he called out in a slightly annoyed tone, "Nay, Master Dwarf, but is it too much to expect that I would be allowed my solitude within the confines of my own room."
With that he went over to the door unlocked it, then stood in the doorway making it clear there would be no invitation to come in. "Well, Gimli, now you have disturbed my peace, what is it that you require of me?" Legolas asked straining to keep his tone polite.
Gimli for his part was completely surprised by his friend's mannerism, but decided he should get on with what he came for. "I only came to let you know it is time for the midday meal and Lady Arwen has arranged a picnic for all of us in the King's Gardens. She has even managed to get Aragorn some time off, so he can join us. She sent me to come and collect you." He replied gruffly.
" Very well, I will join you shortly as I wish to clean up and change my clothes first." The elf responded politely. It was then that Gimli noticed that the normally immaculate elf had smudges of black on his hands, the sleeves of his tunic and the front of his leggings.
Not wishing to have his head bitten off again, the dwarf nodded and turned away, filing this observation away to consider later.
Thus a routine evolved over the next week, Legolas would spend the majority of the day in the garden sketching, having raided the kitchens before breakfast to collect some fruit to eat and something to drink during the day. He would clean up and change his clothes as sunset approached then make his way to Lady Sunset's room, having made sure the drawings were safely hidden and the door was locked.
After he would put in an appearance at dinner, but did not eat much and quickly grew tired and unable to concentrate. The noise and conversations going on around him only served to irritate him and he would soon as possible make his excuses and retire for the night.
At the beginning of the next week, Legolas awoke with a start and looked around to find himself back in his room. He rubbed his eyes as a feeling of dismay came over him at his actions of the previous night.
He recalled how he had arrived at the door as usual and after knocking several times had grown more than just concerned, but for the sake of propriety he had warned anyone in the room that he was entering, he had been so relieved to find her unharmed and apologetic.
He knew that his affection for the lady had been growing day by day, but the thought that he could have lost her, left him on edge as they made their way to the window.
While he stood next to her breathing in her beauty, he couldn't help himself he had gently pulled her to rest against his chest, then sought out her hands and rested them across her stomach with his own covering them. He drank in the scent of her hair and the feel of her skin where it touched his. But it had been the small sigh that had finally had him turning her in his arms and kissing her, tasting her lips and committing that moment to memory.
Suddenly realising that he had overstepped the boundaries, he had let go of her, apologised and left the room.
Deciding that there was one thing he could determine for sure, he got dressed and went in search of his best friend for the answer to his question.
He found the man in his study looking as though he needed rescuing from the many reports stacked on the desk in front of him. He looked up as Legolas having knocked and been granted entry, closed the door and came to sit in the chair in front of the desk.
"Legolas, I was just thinking I haven't had a chance to catch up with you for a while and your timing as usual is perfect. I could really do with a break from affairs of state. How are you my friend?" King Elessar of Gondor, better know to his friends as Estel or Aragorn smiled over at the elf in front of him.
"I am well, my friend, I do not wish to interrupt you, but I have a question that cannot wait. However if it is too personal I will understand."
Legolas noticed a look of surprise and curiosity settle on the ex-ranger's face.
"Of course, Legolas, we have no secrets from each other, what is it that is troubling you that you need an immediate answer?" Elessar asked his apprehension clear in his voice.
Legolas stopped to gather his courage, for the answer to his question that would make or break his heart.
"Elessar, how did you know that Arwen was the woman you wanted to spend your life with?" There it was out and could not be taken back.
Elessar who had been in many an awkward situation with his life-long friend could honestly say that this was one he could never have imagined being in. To say he was shocked was probably an understatement and it took everything he had not to show this on his face, lest Legolas take offense and leave. Instead he stood up and moved to another part of the room to retrieve a chair which he placed next to his friend, taking this time to think about how to answer the query.
"Ah! That my friend is a question that has been asked by many a man and woman throughout the ages no matter what race.
In my own case it was when Arwen had returned to visit her family after her time in Lorien, of course my foster family had spoken of Arwen often enough that I already had an inkling of what she was like including how beautiful she was. But when our eyes met it was as though I had found something I didn't even know that I was looking for and in a place I least expected. In that moment I fell in love with her and she told me later that it was the same for her. It was as if we became connected and I knew that our hearts would be entwined forever afterwards." As Elessar finished speaking it was as if he was back in that moment.
Not wishing to disturb his friend, Legolas quietly as only an elf could stood and left the room, now sure that what he had wished for had indeed been granted to him.
