20JenWinchester12: I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Moviegirl46: Legolas is just the sweetest thing ever lol.

lotrjesusfreak: That was exactly what I was thinking when I wrote that! I guess I channeled some Suzanne Collins!


Chapter 9

Iasbelin let herself into her home carefully. Legolas entered behind her and stared at the dark talon. It was a beautifully constructed home but the emptiness and abandonment of it made it feel cold and uninviting. Iasbelin placed her small bag on the oak table and walked over to the windows to open the curtains. The main room immediately filled with light and almost made the home seem habitable. Legolas stood awkwardly waiting for Iasbelin to tell him what needed to be done.

"I suppose we should go upstairs and start sorting through things." Iasbelin sighed. Legolas nodded and Iasbelin grabbed her bag off the table. They walked up the stairs and Iasbelin threw her bag carelessly into her room before standing at a closed door. "It is odd for me to know that I am the only sibling left." Iasbelin reflected while looking at the two closed doors. "I always knew I would be the last to leave home but I never knew it would be like this."

"Life is a mysterious thing." Legolas interjected. Iasbelin nodded and took a deep breath. She wrapped her hand around the door knob carefully and turned it slowly. It took all her strength to push open the door and walk into the threshold. Halchon's room was simply. He had a bed, a dresser, a large bookshelf, and a desk. The book shelf was filled to the brim with books from all across Middle Earth. There were book in the ancient Elvish tongue, books in Dwarf runes, books in the common tongue, and books even in Orcish. Halchon had always been a scholar along with his warrior heart. Legolas noticed Iasbelin walk over to the small closet and so he followed her. Iasbelin opened the closet and revealed many dresses and things that had belonged to an elleth. "Was your brother married?" Legolas asked, eyeing the dresses.

"Yes, his wife sailed about twenty years ago after one hundred and fifty years of marriage. They were deeply in love but the call of the sea was too much for her so she left. Halchon decided to move back in with us until he chose to sail. Then my sister left for Rivendell to marry Callon fifty years ago and I have been here my entire life." Iasbelin explained. She shut the closet door and went over to the book shelf.

"I assume your sister is older than you?" Legolas inquired.

"She is fifty years older than I and Halchon was one hundred and five years older than me." Iasbelin explained.

"She is about my age then." Legolas said. Iasbelin nodded and returned her attention to the book shelf.

"I am not sure how to start." Iasbelin admitted.

"What do you wish to do with his things?" Legolas asked.

"I will give them to my son when I have one and then he will give them to his son." Iasbelin replied.

"Then I would suggest taking his weapons and keeping them in good condition but storing them so they do not tarnish. His books should be kept where they are now but arrange them by tongue. Also, I would suggest taking his clothes and storing them for your sons." Legolas stated. Iasbelin sighed a breath of relief.

"I am so glad to have you here." Iasbelin smiled sadly. Legolas smiled back at her. She would never know how much he loved being around her. Iasbelin walked over to a rack in the corner of the room and stared at the Elven swords and bows. She had no idea what to do with them or even how to take care of them. Legolas could see how lost she was and went over to help.

"Do you have any cloth or linen that we could use wrap them in?" Legolas asked. Iasbelin nodded and turned on her heel to go find some linens to wrap Halchon's weapons in. Legolas couldn't help but notice how her hips swung as she walked out of the room. Maybe he was helping this elleth for more reasons than her brother. Iasbelin came back in shortly with some linens and gave them to Legolas. She went over to one of his swords and attempted to pick it up. Legolas snickered and placed the linens on the bed. "They are quite heavy aren't they?" He teased. Iasbelin huffed and stepped away.

"I bet it is just as difficult for you to pick them up." She said. Legolas picked up one of the swords with ease and set it on the bed. Iasbelin eyed him and shook her head. "Show off." She mumbled.

"Just years of training, my friend." Legolas chuckled. Iasbelin rolled her eyes and picked up a bow from the rack.

After a while they had all the weapons wrapped in linen and they were ready to move them out of the room.

"We can put them in my room. I have an empty chest that was my mother's." Iasbelin said. Legolas nodded and followed her into her bedroom. They placed the weapons in a large chest at the end of Iasbelin's bed and shut the lid tightly. Legolas looked around Iasbelin's room and found it to be much like Halchon's, there were books every where. Legolas could barely maneuver around her room because there were so many books. "I am sorry. I haven't gotten a chance to clean up in here. I know it's filthy." Iasbelin said.

"It's fine. You have a love of books?" Legolas asked.

"Yes, they were always there for me when no one else was." Iasbelin said as she attempted to pick some of the books off the floor. "Most of them I stole from my brother's room and never gave back." Iasbelin picked up one book that chronicled the story of Luthien and her lover Beren. "He used to read me this story every night before I went to bed. I was infatuated with her story and how much she loved Beren. I always hoped to marry someone who loved me as much as Beren loved Luthien." Iasbelin remembered.

"Every ellon loves his wife as much as Beren loved Luthien." Legolas interjected. Iasbelin looked up and smiled at him.

"Tis a great dream to have." She replied.

"Tis not a dream, Iasbelin, tis a reality." Legolas replied. Iasbelin looked at him intently. Legolas took a step closer to her. She wished she could marry an ellon as caring and loving as Legolas.

"We need to go sort the books." Iasbelin said when she became uncomfortable with the situation.

"Of course." Legolas replied. They made their way back to Halchon's room and began working on the book shelf. They worked in silence for some time. Iasbelin had to ask a few times what language the book was in or where he had put all the Sindarian books. Iasbelin couldn't help but feel sad the entire time they were going through the books. She remembered reading most of them with her brother.

After three hours or so the Elves were done sorting the books. It was nearly dinner time and Iasbelin offered to make Legolas dinner. They walked down into the main living space and Legolas sat down at the table. He did not know how to cook at all so he doubted he would be much help to Iasbelin in the kitchen. He would probably just make things worse. After a half an hour Iasbelin came out with a simple soup and some bread.

"Sorry for the meagerness of the food. This was all I could find in the cupboards." Iasbelin said as she scooped some soup into a bowl.

"Do not worry about it." Legolas replied. Iasbelin smiled and sat down at her place she looked at the seat next to Legolas with sad eyes. That had been Halchon's spot.

"How are the preparations for the festival coming along?" Iasbelin asked.

"They are coming along well. My father is stressed as usual with the preparations but they will come along fine." Legolas replied.

"I have always loved the spring-time festivals, though, this will be the first year I go without my family." Iasbelin responded. Legolas nodded his head and looked sadly at the elleth.

"It will be good for you. It will help take your mind off of things." Legolas answered. Iasbelin nodded. She knew he was right. the rest of the dinner conversation was polite and light. When Legolas was done eating he helped Iasbelin clean up and told her that he was expected home soon.

"Would you like me to stay with you tonight?" Legolas asked when they were finished cleaning.

"No, I believe I will be fine. You have done enough already. Go home and get some rest." Iasbelin answered.

"Are you certain you do not wish me to stay? It is your first night back here." Legolas replied.

"I am certain. Thank you, though." Iasbelin smiled.

"I will be back at first light to check on you." Legolas said as he walked towards the door.

"I'll be expecting you." Iasbelin smiled. Legolas reached the door and abruptly turned to face Iasbelin. He looked a little nervous and Iasbelin took a few steps towards him.

"Iasbelin, I was wondering if you would do me the honor of accompanying me to the festival." Legolas asked. Iasbelin smiled.

"I would be my honor, my Prince." Iasbelin said as she hugged him. Legolas let out a sigh of relief and hugged her back. Iasbelin was the first to pull away. She ushered him out the door so he could be on his way home. "Good night, Legolas." She called as he walked away from her talon. He waved back and disappeared down the road. Iasbelin turned back to her dark home and took a deep breath. It was going to be a difficult night.


A/N: Please leave a review!