I Aear Cân Ven Na Mar
The Sea Calls Us Home
Chapter Three – Achas a Meleth

It was October, and the Mirkwood elves had been in Imladris almost a month. Anariel had taken on full-time tutelage in Lord Elrond's healing houses and quickly learned that while the volume of elves needing a healer's hands was certainly less than it was in the Woodland Realm, their hurts were far more complicated. When she was not in the Healing Houses receiving instruction from Lord Elrond or others, she was reading and taking extensive notes.

Legolas, for his part, was also taking advantage of the far-reaching knowledge of the elves in Imladris. Glorfindel had become a good friend to him, and often they had spent long hours of the day together, sharing various experiences and stories. This had all come to a halt when news reached Rivendell that things were amiss in Middle Earth. Legolas had been with Glorfindel and Elrond in the Lord of Imladris' study when news was received that The Nine – The Nazgûl – were abroad. This deeply troubled Elrond, as no one could account for the whereabouts of Aragorn and Mithrandir. Either or both were said to be aiding the bearer of some great burden to Imladris, so Elrond laid plans to send Glorfindel and others to look for them almost at once. Legolas could only suspect what this burden was, but he did not speak of it openly to anyone. Not even Lord Elrond.

The news of the departure of the Nazgûl lord who had been plaguing Mirkwood from Dol Guldur was a surprise, though. Legolas, Saelon, and Gelir spent time in counsel together discussing the significance of the Nazgûl's absence from Dol Guldur and whether or not it would be prudent to send some of their party back to alert the Elvenking. After seeking counsel with Lord Elrond on the matter, it was decided that waiting would be wise.

"There may yet be need to send riders abroad, and very few can travel openly against the Nine," Elrond had said grimly.

A day or so after Glorfindel's departure, Legolas found himself in the company of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins. The Halfling was apparently writing a book about his adventures through Mirkwood and beyond and wanted to sit down with the prince to "pick his brain." Legolas, having been fond of Bilbo since meeting him after the Battle of Five Armies, was happy to oblige. Their afternoon meetings continued over the next several days.

Sometimes, when she was done with her tutelage and note-taking, Anariel would seek the two out and join them to listen to Bilbo's stories. Such was the case on the afternoon of October 18th.

Anariel found Legolas and Bilbo each sitting on his own stone bench built into the wall that overlooked the Brunien flowing several yards below. The hobbit had his red book and was eagerly writing down the lyrics to the song Legolas was reciting for him. The prince sat facing Bilbo with one leg propped up on the bench. His intertwined fingers rested on the front of his knee as he gazed upwards, as if searching in the sky for the words that came next. Anariel smiled as she approached them from behind Legolas. She recognized the song he sang as the Lay of Amdír, the Sindarin Lord from Doriath who established the realm of Lórinand, now called Lothloríen.

So as not to disturb Bilbo, Anariel walked quietly over to the bench where Legolas was reclining and sat down close behind him.

Legolas sensed her presence before she approached and sat, but did not turn to face her or break his song. When he could feel her warmth behind him, he leaned back on her a little for support. Anariel drew closer to him as he sang and rested her arm on the wall behind her, letting Legolas rest against the crook of her arm with his shoulder. Her hand draped over the wall close to his knee, and Legolas reached over to brush the top of her hand with the back of his index finger.

Bilbo did not look up over his book, but arched an eyebrow and smiled, apparently having seen this interaction in his peripheral vision (limited though it had become). He did not look up until Legolas had finished the last stanza.

"Beautiful," Anariel said in a voice that only Legolas could hear. He turned his head and offered her a smile of thanks.

"Well, I do say, Prince Legolas, that was quite fascinating," Bilbo piped up as he finished the last word in his spidery script and looked up over his book, "even if you were distracted at the end." A sly smile was on his face and a twinkle was in his eye.

"Distracted?" Legolas laughed, "I promise you, my friend, I gave the Lay my full attention."

"Indeed," Bilbo replied in a low voice dripping in sarcasm. He leaned forward to give the book to Legolas for the prince to proofread, and his smile turned over into a frown of pain as his joints creaked in protest.

"Master Bilbo," Anariel said, inching forward in her seat as if to get up, "let me help you with that."

Legolas took the book and Bilbo waved his hand in the air as if to push away her worry. "Oh, now, I am not so old yet!" He exclaimed somewhere between a chuckle and a groan, sitting back down. Anariel hesitated and watched the hobbit carefully as he settled again.

"Besides," he said with a wink, "you look quite comfortable there."

Anariel found herself looking down at her boots and did not reply. She could not understand for the life of her why her face suddenly felt so hot.

Legolas seemed oblivious to this as he read over Bilbo's fine and wispy handwriting. He added an accent here and there, but the hobbit had gotten all of the Sindarin words down exactly as they should have been otherwise.

"Well done, Master Hobbit," Legolas said at length, "would you like me to give you the translation next?"

"Oh, well, thank you, but I think I shall give it a whirl myself first," Bilbo said, accepting the book back into his hands as Legolas gave it over to him. "I would like to ask you a question though."

"Anything, Master Bilbo," Legolas replied. Anariel noted the twinkle that had returned to the hobbit's eye as he smiled and asked:

"Is it not the tradition of elves to wear rings when betrothed?"

The Prince of the Woodland Realm stared at Bilbo, his brow knit in confusion and an incredulous smile upon his face at this odd inquiry.

"Under most circumstances, yes," Legolas replied, his words came out long and measured with caution.

"Well, I note that there is not a ring upon yours or your lady's hand," Bilbo replied motioning to where Legolas' hands were still intertwined upon his knee with Anariel's hand draped over the wall nearby. Almost instantly, Anariel sat up straight and withdrew her arm, putting both of her hands in her lap.

"Pardon?" Legolas almost sputtered in shock, reorganizing his position as well. He let his knee down and unconsciously moved an inch or two away from Anariel.

"Legolas," the elleth said. Legolas looked at her and saw a red blush upon her face, which was construed in an expression somewhere between amusement and embarrassment. The prince whirled back around to face Bilbo as realization smacked him in the face.

"You think we are betrothed?" The prince exclaimed.

"Well you should be if you aren't!" Bilbo laughed.

Legolas turned again to Anariel, looking at her in wide-eyed alarm as if she could supply him with an answer. The elleth could only stare at him in surprised amusement as she held her hand over her mouth, holding back her own set of laughter.

The prince opened his mouth as if to finally offer a reply, but his ears caught rumor of a commotion coming from the road leading to Imladris.

"Mithrandir! Mithrandir is come!" A voice cried out.

Anariel heard the voice as well and stood to get a better view of the bridge leading towards the Last Homely House. Legolas joined her on his feet and peered in the distance. Both elves were aware that Bilbo was admonishing them – probably for finding an excuse not to answer him – but they were focused on the road in the distance. After some time, surely enough, they spied a man walking with a quick stride onto the bridge.

"I seek Lord Elrond!" A voice belonging to Mithrandir called out.

"Hullo there!" Bilbo exclaimed, suddenly understanding the goings on as he spotted Gandalf.

Legolas turned to Anariel. He took one of her hands in his as he spoke in a low voice to her; "I should go to him and tell him our news, if I can," he said in apology.

Anariel smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "Go," she replied with a nod.

In spite of what he was sure Bilbo would say, Legolas could not resist placing a kiss on Anariel's hand before taking his leave. He turned, and was gone.

"Oh, sticklebats!" The hobbit exclaimed as he watched the prince go, "I should like to see Gandalf, too. But I suppose Prince Legolas has much more important things to discuss with him than I do, even if I am a very old friend," he added, shrugging.

Anariel chuckled and offered the hobbit her hand as he moved to stand. "Come, Master Bilbo. I shall take you to your chambers and send word to Mithrandir to find you there when he is free. Does that suit you?"

"I suppose," Bilbo muttered while his joints once again issued their protests to his movements, even as he leaned on Anariel for support. Once the hobbit was on his feet and steady, she walked slowly next to him up the lane. "And you be sure to tell the prince for me that he ought not make you wait so long," he added, waggling his finger at her as if he was scolding a child.

The elleth thought of all of the ways in which she could explain to Bilbo that betrothal and marriage were beyond them… but was unable to produce even one reason as to why they shouldn't. Flummoxed, Anariel frowned.

"I will, Bilbo," was all she could say.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

As it turned out, Mithrandir was not the only visitor to arrive that day. A party of dwarves, some of whom had been prisoners of the Elvenking prior to the Battle of Five Armies, arrived on Lord Elrond's doorstep later that afternoon. The Lord of Imladris saw them after he held counsel with Mithrandir for some time. Legolas, desiring not to interact with the newcomers, was forced to hover at a distance while the dwarves sat outside Elrond's study waiting for their turn.

The sun was setting when Mithrandir finally left Elrond's study. He greeted the dwarves warmly, but when they had disappeared behind the door to meet with Elrond, Legolas observed how quickly a shadow seemed to overtake the Istar. He walked over to a bench on the wall opposite Elrond's study and sat down with great force and what sounded like a groan. His staff rested in the crook of his elbow as he folded his arms over his chest, looking down and knitting his brows as if in deep and dark thought.

Legolas took a step out from behind the pillar where he had been tarrying, avoiding the dwarves. Mithrandir, if he noticed the elf at all, did not acknowledge him, so Legolas approached.

"Mithrandir," he called, walking towards the wizard. It took him a moment, but Gandalf arched an eyebrow and turned his head to peer up at the prince.

"Ah, Prince Legolas. Lord Elrond told me you were here with news," he said finally.

"Yes, I've – "

"I have news of my own, but I believe we shall have the opportunity to divulge it to one another in time," Mithrandir interrupted. A grin appeared on his face, as if to assure Legolas that he meant no offense. The smile disappeared as quickly as it came, overtaken by the shadow of the wizard's worry.

"Something troubles you," Legolas observed.

"Indeed," Mithrandir replied, "dark are the days ahead for the free folk of Middle Earth."

The prince stood there in quiet contemplation. Anything that troubled Mithrandir should have been enough to give even the oldest, wisest, and sturdiest elf pause. Even without the Istar's foreboding speech, Legolas could easily see the winds in Middle Earth turning against all those who wished to be free of Sauron and his minions. Legolas thought of his family back in the Woodland Realm; of his niece and nephew, his brothers and father, and of Anariel. He found himself compelled to speak.

"If there is something I can do, Mithrandir…" he began, not knowing exactly what he could offer. The Istar peered up at him again and fixed his eyes on the prince's. There was a sudden flash of keenness in his gaze and then he smiled again.

"There may yet be a time when your skills will be needed, Legolas Thranduilion. We will call upon you when the time comes," The wizard assured him. Legolas, flattered, smiled back and was about to reply when Mithrandir rose from his seated position and clapped a hand on the prince's shoulder as he spoke again, "and now, I believe there is an old friend of ours here who I am anxious to see. I hope Master Bilbo has not been teasing you too much about the time he spent in your father's halls."

"Indeed, he has," Legolas laughed, "he is ever the trouble-maker."

"Good, good," the wizard chortled as he stepped away, "I shall see you soon, Prince Legolas."

As he watched Mithrandir walk away, Legolas' thoughts turned to the question the hobbit had asked him earlier in the day. With a sigh, he plopped down on the bench and held his head in his hands for a moment. A low humming noise of dwarves speaking with Lord Elrond wafted through the air and reached his elven ears as Legolas thought about his predicament.

Legolas had still not told Anariel the true depth of his feelings for her. In practical terms, they had only been courting – and unofficially at that – for two months and since arriving in Imladris they had scant time together. They had come to an unspoken agreement to keep their attachment between themselves and would meet in the evening shadows after meals or time in the Hall of Fire. Legolas did not think they had been careless with this unsaid rule, even if he did find it difficult at times to keep his eyes off of Anariel. But, apparently, there were some things too obvious; at least to Bilbo Baggins. And if these things were obvious to a hobbit, were they not also obvious to Anariel?

The prince shifted as he sat and rested his elbows upon his knees and held his chin in his hands as he wondered. Did Anariel know? Did she feel the same bond to Legolas as he felt for her? He had never asked; afraid to let her know of his true feelings. He was dead certain that he would never love another the way he loved Anariel. She was his best friend and if he could just be near her for all of his days that would satisfy him. But Legolas feared the future and what it should bring.

An image of his mother flashed in front of his memory, and he somehow knew instantly what he must do. With a deep breath, Legolas stood and went to go find his beloved.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Anariel, at that moment, was sitting on the balcony outside her chamber, repairing the hem of the dress she wore in the Healing Houses. Dusk was fading into night. Taking a break from her needle-work, the elleth gazed towards the West to see the sun disappearing under the tree line in the distance. She wondered how long Legolas would be occupied with Mithrandir, and if he would seek her out after his meeting. She sighed and returned to her stitching as she thought.

It had been rather obvious to her that Legolas was shaken by Bilbo's suggestion that the two ought to have been betrothed. Anariel, for her part, had found the initial suggestion rather hilarious, but as she thought on it, she was startled to discover that her feelings about Legolas had taken a turn.

Legolas has been her closest companion for many years. Her mind traveled the paths of her memories of him; the day they first met, the many hours the shared in Mirkwood's library telling stories, the first time they danced… She had suspected that after the Battle of Five Armies that something had changed. It was the way he gazed at her in those moments as he had held her after the battle. She had seen it in his eyes. And in that moment, she had felt a change in her feelings toward him as well, but she had not known at the time what it meant. So much had happened in the interim that she hadn't had time to process it.

The thought of the length of time that had passed since she had stolen away in the night to follow Legolas' party caused Anariel to pause and ponder. Oh how the elves in Mirkwood would be gossiping by now – her healer friends had always teased her about Legolas and now that they were gone together there would be no reprieve. This mattered to her little, though. The only elf's approval she sought was her father's. Sometime after arriving in Imladris, a caravan of men bound for Lake Town happened upon Lord Elrond's home, and Anariel asked them to carry a letter to the Elvenking's halls assuring her father of her safety. She desired her father's approval of Legolas for reasons she was only beginning to understand.

Anariel was so engrossed in her thoughts and her stitching that she did not hear Legolas wander up the stairs to where she was seated. He stopped short of going to her and watched as the last of the sun's rays danced upon her features. Her rose colored dress fluttered at her feet in the slight breeze as did her partially pulled-back hair. His heart sighed at the sight of her.

Feeling Legolas' presence, Anariel finished a stitch and then looked up, and a warm smile crossed her lips.

"There you are," she said. The elleth deposited her work upon the bench where she was situated and then rose to greet Legolas, who met her and gathered her into his arms. He embraced her tightly.

"Hello," Legolas spoke softly into her ear.

"Hello indeed," Anariel replied as she returned his embrace. She was a little disappointed he didn't kiss her. In the far reaches of her mind, worry that Bilbo's suggestion had chilled their relationship nagged at her. "Come, sit with me," she said, taking his hand and leading him back to where she had been seated previously.

He sat down on the bench beside her with more distance between them than he would have normally liked, but his heart was beating so furiously he was afraid Anariel would be able to feel it. Legolas was determined. He met her eyes.

"There is something I must say," he began, "something, I have kept from you too long."

Anariel took a breath and bit her lip. The look in Legolas' eyes was unlike any other she'd ever seen. It was as if the prince dreaded what he must say. Immediately, she feared that Bilbo's words had caused him to have second thoughts. She wanted to interrupt him and assure him that she was in no hurry, but Legolas pressed on.

"I must first apologize, for I have broken my promise to be open with you," he said, looking away from her momentarily. His mind had wandered across the memories of Anariel from the night Gollum fled. That night seemed like an age away now. "I have not fully shared the depths of my feelings for you. But not without reason," he said as he returned to meet her gaze. The confusion on Anariel's face was abundant. Her blue eyes were swirling with questions and her brow was knit in deep thought. She had – whether consciously or no – taken a clump of her dress that lay across her lap up in her hands as was clenching it tightly. She was nervous.

Gently, Legolas reached out and took one of her hands. He felt her freeze under his touch. He inched closer to her and stroked her hand with his thumb, hoping to alleviate some of her concern as he continued.

"Aside from my family, I have been alone for all of my life, Anariel," he said, still steadily holding her gaze. She continued to stare at him with an expression which plainly showed her confusion. "Much of my life has been spent observing loneliness and worry. I have seen my father cope with eternal separation from his wife, and I have seen my niece, nephew, and sister-in-law suffer in my brother's absence. And my mother," he paused to swallow, surprised by the sudden wave of sadness that washed over him as he spoke of Almwen, "though I did not know her, I feel her absence acutely. The pain I see – that I feel – is more than I could bear to pass on to another."

"Legolas," Anariel said in a hushed voice. A shiver ran up the prince's back when she spoke his name. He reached out and caressed her face with his unoccupied hand.

"Especially one whom I love," he said.

Anariel's mouth dropped open and she gasped in surprise. She had expected something quite different from this conversation.

"You have had my heart since the day you were injured in the Battle of Five Armies. Truly, I suspect it has been much longer, but I did not realize it until then. I have not said so because I cannot guarantee what the future holds for either of us, but if you will allow me, I will fight for it. For us," Legolas finally confessed. His words were quiet and expectant; more like a request than a declaration and hoping for a positive response.

Tears that Anariel could not explain formed in her eyes. A warm, happy sensation spread throughout her body as she could feel her spirit calling out to Legolas', and suddenly every thought in her mind fell into place. She loved him back. She knew without reservation they belonged to one another.

Slowly, a smile broke across Anariel's lips. She inched closer to Legolas and rested her unoccupied hand on top of Legolas' in her lap.

"I love you, Legolas," she finally replied in a quiet, but determined, voice, "and I will love you always." The tears in her eyes finally spilled over her cheeks and for some reason she found herself laughing.

Legolas released her hands and reached up to hold her face. Gently, he leaned over and kissed her. Everything around them was lost as they kissed and embraced under the light of the night's first stars. He felt a tug on his feä as they kissed, and recognized with some surprise that Anariel's spirit was calling out to his. With nearly no effort, he let her in and their feär swirled together. The resulting sensation was wonderful and overwhelming; they could both feel the love they had for each other as though it was as tangible as the bench where they sat or the feel of each others' skin. It was the most intimate connection either had known.

NOTES

1. "Achas a meleth" is Sindarin for "fear and love."

2. The Lay of Amdír: You can find out more about Amdír, also referred to as Malgalad, in The History of Galadriel and Celeborn, The Unfinished Tales.