Chapter Six

"Legolas?" Haehithien asked again and for the first time since they left her room, he glanced up at her. It was a fleeting glance and she wasn't sure she liked it. "Legolas, I know something's bothering you. What is it?" He only shook his head in answer. "Legolas, please?"

He shook his head once more, but whispered, "I want for us to be together more than anything else, but I know that we can't. It's hard for me to explain why. I don't wish to hurt you, Haehithien. I know that if we continue down the path we've started, that will surely happen and there's no way to prevent it. I should never have kissed you, even if I had your permission. It was not my place to decide."

Haehithien looked at him in rejected confusion and his heart wrenched. "I – I don't understand," she said, and he was pained to see tears well up in her eyes. "I thought you loved me…were you lying. Did you say all that just to get me to go through the mind blocking? Or did you say it out of – of pity?" The word stuck in her throat. Anger welled inside her at the thought and Legolas saw her eyes change from deep blue to violet. "If that's was why, I don't want it. I don't need your pity!" she raged, and with that, she turned away, her countenance suddenly cold.

"No," Legolas said, as he looked from her back to the ground, suddenly ashamed of his words. He wished he could take them back. He sighed heavily as he realized that he had to tell her about Eletharanna and the promise his father had made. He had to tell her everything. "Haehithien," he whispered tentatively. "That wasn't why I said that. I do love you. You have to believe me." He sighed heavily when he saw that this didn't change her mood in the slightest.

"Haehithien," he said as he tried to take her in his arms, but she pulled away. "Haehithien, please listen," he whispered as he tried to take her in his arms once more. She didn't pull away this time, but Legolas felt like he was holding onto a block of ice. "It doesn't bother me that I know nothing of you. It – it's that you know nothing of me." He paused and she turned to look at him curiously. "What I mean to say is, when you were in the council meeting, you seemed to know everything about the reason we were there; you seemed to know everything about us," he paused.

This was it; he had to know. Swallowing hard, he said, "Well, now I'm asking, do you know anything about me? About my life before I came to live in Mirkwood?" He watched her as she slowly shook her head. He sighed heavily as he released her, "That's what I mean, you have no idea what happened in my life before I came to Middle Earth. It is that life that prevents us from being together…and I have no control over that."

Legolas got up and started pacing. Haehithien followed him with her eyes, feeling guilty that she had accused him of lying to her. Lowering her eyes, she whispered, "I'm sorry Legolas, but I still don't understand. What is this barrier between us?" Legolas pause in his pacing and looked down at her. She had drawn her knees up and was hugging them as she rested her head on them. It looked silly in that green dress Arwen had lent to her, but all he saw was how beautiful she was. He was glad to see that her eyes were back to their deep blue colour, and that she was no longer angry. He also noted that there was indeed confusion in her expression.

He wanted to go to her but held himself back and remained standing. He lowered his gaze and said quietly, "My father wants to ensure strong bloodlines. There is a High Elf family in Valinor whose daughter is very gifted. Her name is Eletharanna. She's a seer with telepathic abilities. We are to be wed upon my return to the Undying Lands of the Valar."

He raised his head and saw her nod slowly. She saw then that he truly had no control of this barrier. "How long have you been here?" she asked. "In Middle Earth I mean."

"I've been here over three thousand years. I was twenty-five winters old when we came here. I'm three thousand, eight hundred and seventy-five now." Legolas nearly laughed aloud at her shocked expression at this news. He sat down beside her and took her hands. "It appears that you did not know everything about us," he whispered with a smile. She swallowed dryly and nodded. He shifted, and releasing her hands, sat with his legs, bent at the knees, stretched out in front of him and propped himself up with his hands behind him.

"It appears that way, though I did know Elves are immortal," she said after a few moments. He looked at her in surprise. He thought everything would be locked in her mind, that she wouldn't remember anything about them. She saw his expression and smiled. "Don't worry; I don't remember anything about what is to happen. Legolas," she said and paused in thought, then continued slowly. "You should know," she said and he saw her look away and noticed that as she did, she was idly tracing circles in the grass with her finger. He knew it must be something important if it was making her this nervous. He though about saying something, but decided against it and just waited. She looked back at him after a while and said, "I still love you. I want to be with you, Legolas. Your future holds no sway over the present; I want to be with you as long as you'll let me."

Legolas was quiet for a long time, deep in thought over what she had said. She was right; he realized that now. Nothing that was to happen when he returned to Valinor mattered now. "I want to be with you, too, more than anything. It's just that yesterday morning, when you awoke, you reminded me of what awaits me. It made me angry, because my father never took my feelings toward Eletharanna into account. I thought you were a seer like she is. It was only after the council decided to block your memory and you awoke that my anger truly dissipated. Now I know that you were truly sent by Ilúvatar."

Legolas looked at her and she smiled warmly. Slowly, his resolve melted away. He no longer cared about the promise his father had made, or that she was mortal and he wasn't. All he cared about was Haehithien and he knew he wanted her in his life for as long as possible. His decision was made, and it gave him a warm feeling. Excitement filled him, and he grabbed her hands startling her. "You know what? I don't care anymore," he said beaming. "I don't love her, I never even liked her. It's you I love, and I want to see your smiling face every time I turn around. My father was wrong not to think of my feelings before deciding my future. He'll learn that my future is mine to make."

Haehithien couldn't help but laugh with joy, and her laughter was music to Legolas' ears. "Haehithien," he said softly, drawing her hands to his left breast. "You sing to my heart. Now that I am with you, I know I could not stand my life without you in it." She smiled at him and he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I've never been so happy as I am at this moment," he said as he caressed her face and drawing her near, kissed her lips, nose, and forehead, and then held her to him. The sky had already begun to lighten. Legolas looked up, and then rose. He offered his hand to Haehithien and drew her to her feet. "It's probably time to get you back, you'll need your rest, and in truth, only have today. We'll be leaving tomorrow." Haehithien nodded as they headed back to the Last Homely House.

When they reached her room, Legolas kissed her on the cheek and whispered, "I'll let you rest…My Lady," but when he turned to go, Haehithien grasped his hand once more. He turned to her curiously and asked, "Y – you want me to stay?" Haehithien smiled and nodded. Legolas followed her into the room, feeling awkward for the first time, as she led him over to the bed and turning him to face her, had him sit down. "W – wait, my lady…" he said nervously.

She looked at him curiously for a moment, and then laughed. "It's ok," she said softly and gave him a quick kiss. "I don't bite." With that, she left him sitting on the bed, and picking up a light, lavender garment, went were Legolas wasn't able to see her, to change. Legolas' jaw dropped when she came back into view. The lavender garment barely came to her mid-thigh and, he gulped, it was sheer.

He jumped from the bed like a spring when she sat down next to him and crossed her legs, which made the garment even shorter. What's Arwen doing with something like that, he wondered. Haehithien looked at him oddly, but then smiled. Is she planning something, he though. He knelt beside the bed in front of her and took her hands gently. She looked at him puzzled, but he didn't look at her for a moment. He just stared at her hands as he gently rubbed their backs with his thumbs. "It's not that I think you'll bite me," he said, and though he thought his comment sounded funny, not to mention the image it brought to mind, he didn't laugh, although he smiled slightly. "It's just…" he said then paused as he looked up at her fathomless blue eyes that were watching him curiously. He looked away again and whispered, "I've never been with anyone before." Looking back at her, he continued, "My father wouldn't allow it. He wanted me to be pure when I wed Eletharanna. I don't know what's expec --," Haehithien silenced him with a finger to his lips.

"Shh," she whispered. "Legolas, I don't expect anything from you. I'm not asking for anything else to happen between us right now, than what already has. I just want you to lie with me. To be honest, I fear the morrow." He looked at her quizzically, and she said, "I am afraid of the events yet to happen, events that I can no longer recall. I've found solace in your arms. All I ask is that you lie with me so that I may find peaceful sleep. As for this," she said looking down and fingering her clothing, "I couldn't be comfortable in that dress and this is all I have to sleep in." She smiled slyly and looked at Legolas again. "Unless, of course, you'd rather I was naked." She laughed then as she saw Legolas' wide-eye expression. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding," she said with a laugh and kissed him softly. "So," she asked as she pulled away. "Will you stay?"

Legolas nodded, and rising to his feet, said, "Well, if you're going to get comfortable, I am, too. Well, as much as I can anyway." With that, he removed his boots and after sitting on the bed again, unplaited his long, blond hair so that it fell about his shoulders and down his back. Feeling relieved, though still awkward, Legolas lay next to Haehithien on the bed. Soon, however, he relaxed as she curled up in his arms with her head on his chest and soon slept peacefully while she twined her fingers in his hair.

Gandalf walked down the hall toward the woman's chamber four hours later. He assumed Legolas would be there with her since he had not seen the Elf since the blocking was completed. He arrived at the door, and after knocking lightly, waited for it to open. Carefully, so as not to wake her, Legolas disentangled himself from Haehithien and reluctantly, got to his feet and answered the door after drawing the curtains around the bed. Legolas and Gandalf smiled at each other and hugged. "How are you my friend and more importantly, how is she?" Gandalf asked after they broke their hug.

"I'm doing ok," Legolas said as he allowed the wizard to enter. "She's doing wonderfully. In fact, she woke not long after you left. We went for a walk in the gardens. She's been asleep for a few hours now."

Gandalf smiled as he watched Legolas glance back over his shoulder at her sleeping form as he said this. "Good, good. Have you told her of your feelings for her?" he asked as he looked curiously at Legolas.

Legolas nodded. "Can we talk outside?" he asked as he gestured toward the door Gandalf had just entered. The wizard nodded and Legolas closed the door behind them. "Gandalf, there's a problem. I told Haehithien…"

"Who?" Gandalf asked at a loss. "Oh, has she remembered her name?"

"No," Legolas said. "I gave it to her."

"Oh," Gandalf said. "Well, please go on, you told her…"

"I told her about Eletharanna," Legolas answered.

"Oh," Gandalf said quietly, as realization hit him.

"Gandalf, have you forgotten the promise my father made in Valinor?" Legolas asked then sighed in exasperation. "I'm betrothed! I'm to wed Lady Eletharanna," Legolas said with a look of anguish on his face, then sighed in defeat, his shoulders hunching. "Besides, the girl's mortal. She can't go with us when we leave Middle Earth."

Gandalf looked at his friend sadly. "Legolas, my friend, you dwell on the future and are forgetting to live in the present. Eletharanna has not been in your life for over three thousand years. As for the girl's mortality, we don't know what reward Ilúvatar will grant her when this is over. Also, I think you should speak with Lady Arwen before we depart if you are still troubled." Legolas looked at Gandalf curiously. "I can say nothing more. I was asked to keep a secret, and so I shall," Gandalf said. "If you like, I'll watch over the girl while you go speak with her." Legolas nodded and turned to leave while Gandalf entered Haehithien's room and sat down at her bedside.

At that very moment, Boromir was on the hunt for the woman Legolas had brought to Rivendell with him. Boromir was truly taken with her, and did indeed lust after her. With my luck, the Elf has already soiled her, he thought to himself. Why should he, Boromir, son of the steward of Gondor, not be given the chance to win the girl's affections? Boromir now waited stealthily below the veranda of the girl's room. It had taken him until this morning to discover which room in Elrond's home was hers. He had wandered around all night looking for them and this morning had seen Legolas and the woman returning from the gardens.

He snuck a peek into the room when he heard the door open and close and saw Gandalf and Legolas talking. Quickly, he ducked out of sight. Soon, he heard the door open and close once more, and all was quiet. He rose and looked in the window. There she was, and all alone. Boromir looked around nervously to see if anyone was watching. He was just about to climb over the wall and enter her room when he saw the door open again. Drat! He had waited too long. Quickly, he ducked back out of sight. Blast that old fool, he thought angrily as he ran off.