I'm updating! I finally managed to catch up on all of my neglected fics, yay! I feel all happy now.
Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings or any of the characters…
Feast…Legolas…Father…Wizard…what could I do? I was just as clever as my brothers was I not; could I not be just as devious? Apparently I could not because nothing was coming to me, for some reason there was nothing that I could think of that would completely humiliate Legolas without leaving me to blame. The more I thought about it the more I could not for the life of me remember why exactly I was plotting against him, he had always seemed quite nice to me. Maybe it was my desire for my brothers to be proud of me which I knew they would if word reached them of my prank on Legolas. It had to be a good one.
Wait…I could use my 'feminine wiles' on him…and then…then what? I decided that the best idea was to start out with that and then come up with my plan along the way. Not such a wonderful idea as it turned out.
Making sure that I looked serene and demure, I placidly took my seat to my father's right. The old wizard sat to his left and Legolas sat next to Mithrandir. As the conversation between my father and Mithrandir grew more and more exclusive, the conversation between myself and Legolas grew. Time to start my plan.
"You look handsome tonight Legolas," lowering my eyelashes shyly I set down my goblet of wine.
Leaning forward slightly so only I could here he answered with, "Thank you milady, I had hoped that you would think so."
He had hoped…what!
"Trying to impress me?"
"Perhaps, I was hoping that maybe the rumors were false…"
What, what was he talking about, "Rumors, I have heard none."
"About you and Estel, I had heard that you two had a bit of a romance going on."
Oh. That rumor…which was actually true. "I erm, of course they are not true," laughing lightly I smiled at him in what I hoped was a seductive manner. "Why would I go and do something such as that when I knew that you were coming?"
What was coming out of my mouth, what was wrong with me…what was I playing at exactly. Things were going to get a bit out of hand; I needed to quickly come up with the rest of my plan. Seduce, then…nothing. There was not anything that I could do, unless…it was evil, oh so evil…but oh so funny.
"You know Legolas; I always thought that you were such the gentleman. Not like how my brothers think of you."
"And you dearest Arwen, I always fancied you as quite the beautiful elf maiden…" he leaned back in his seat and smiled at me.
This was all turning out wonderfully, now for the clincher.
"Youhave grownmuch more handsome."
"Is that so?" he was grinning now.
I took my time answering, "Yes, I believe it is."
A few moments later we found ourselves outside on a balcony…surrounded by those oh so annoying little white flowers. Which he promptly plucked from a vine and handed to me, needless to say he was a bit miffed when I promptly dropped them over the hand carved rail. "I detest them, sorry."
"All right then…" We stood there in awkward silence for a moment before he spoke again, "So Arwen, what exactly were you plotting?" Seeing the expression on my face he laughed, "Oh come now, do you really believe that I fell for any of that?"
Indignantly I raised an eyebrow, "Well, why should you not have?"
"Maybe because, while very seductive I must admit, you have two elder brothers who have obviously rubbed off on you. I know that there is no way on Middle Earth that you would ever be that forward with anyone. Except for maybe Estel," he winced when as I slapped his arm. Rubbing it he gave a mock glare, "That hurt you know."
"Good," I snapped.
He nudged me, "Well, what exactly was plan? Did it by any chance involve hair braiding and a night gown?"
Blushing I shook my head, "Actually no."
"Did it involve a bridge and a lake?"
"No."
He pretended to think about it, "Hmm…did it perhaps consist of a bed and rope?"
"You're such a naughty little elf you know," I honestly did not think that that was something Legolas Prince of Mirkwood would ever have said.
Shrugging he nudged me again, "All right then, I am officially at a loss. What were you planning?"
Trying to obscure the fact that my face was slowly turning the color of one of those miniature tomatoes I decided to tell him. "Well you see it basically consisted of me first seducing you using my wonderful 'feminine wiles,' then leading you back to my room where I would proceed to convince you to try on one of my dresses by telling you I needed to see how it looked on someone else."
"I find myself rather disappointed, is that all?"
"Erm…no, I was then going to erm…give you a lovely hairstyle…and then drag you to the great hall and tell my father that I caught you in my room trying on my clothes…and that you obviously have some odd fetish for women's clothes judging by what happened last time you came."
"Sorry to disappoint you dear Arwen but that would not have worked. First of all I would never have tried on a dress even with your pouting, second of all I would never have let you drag me out of that room, and finally well…never mind…your father might actually believe that fetish part."
Sighing I leaned against a pillar, "I suppose you are right, how do my brothers do it?"
"I have no idea, but it is not time for you to lose hope yet…you still have two weeks to figure out how to pull a prank on me."
In a week I could probably figure out something, and this time it would be good.
He turned to me, "So, what is this I hear about you and Estel, are the rumors true?"
Even though Legolas and I did not know each other all that well I felt that he was someone I could talk to. He reminded me of…well…he reminded me of my brothers for some odd reason. "Can we talk somewhere else?"
Looking puzzled he nodded, "All right then."
Lying down in the grass we gazed up at the stars, I knew that somewhere Estel and my brothers were doing the same thing. Looking at the stars that is, not spilling their hearts. Then again my brothers could be rather sappy at times.
"You and Estel?"
"I…I do not know. I care for him a great deal, more than I have ever cared for another person. It is just, complicated."
Turning his face so that he could look at me I could tell that he was confused, "But why? If you care for him…"
"He is human," the moment it was out of my mouth I realized that was exactly the point my father had been trying to make. Though I had denied that it was an issue, I realized that it was.
"And? I have met him he seems just as good as any elf."
"And, how can I love a man who will one day grow old and…die. While I will live long after he has passed, I will be forced to watch him age. No good can come of it, what of Luthien and Beren?" What was I saying? That was exactly what my father had been telling me.
Suddenly I realized that maybe what my father had been saying he had been saying for a reason. It was not because he was against humans in any way; it was because he understood the trials that we would face. The trials that I was not sure we could overcome. Even if I did love him, which I still was not quite sure about, would that love be strong enough?
"Arwen, if you love him then why should you not be with him? Yes Luthien and Beren faced many trials and heartbreak, but think of it. They loved each other Arwen, they loved each other more than anything in the world and to them that love was worth it."
He was right of course. "But how do you decide that? How do you know whether or not you love someone so much that you would be willing to risk everything for them?"
"Trust me, you will know."
That had to have been the most enigmatic answer he could have given. "Care to explain?"
"Not really," he groaned as her fist connected with his arm, "Will you please stop that? Violence is not the way for a lady like you to behave now is it?"
"You can not possibly expect me to be satisfied with that, what did you mean by I will know? How will I know?"my voice went up an octave and he winced.
"All right if say you had a choice between going to the Undying Lands, where you will live happily among the other elves, or stay here with Aragorn in a land filled with darkness…which would you choose?"
That was a completely ridiculous example, like that could ever happen. "Legolas that does not even make sense, why exactly would we be sailing to the Undying Lands? And why would the land be filled with darkness?"
Sighing he looked over at me, "Just answer the question Arwen, it is only an example."
"You could at least choose a probable one," I grumbled, but I thought about it anyhow. "I am assuming my father is going to the Undying Lands?"
"All of the elves are going," he replied.
All the elves leaving. I live in a place free of war and hatred, a place of peace and beauty. Or I could stay here, surrounded by humans and dwarves…but I would have Estel. "I…I think I would have to choose the Undying Lands."
"Then you are not in love with him," Legolas stated matter of fact.
This confused me, how did I feel about Estel then…if it was not love then what was it. It was clear that he loved me after the flower, the meleuireb, he had left on my bedside table. Love eternal…that was what the flower signified, and to give one meant that you were willing to bond yourself to that person. It was no light matter and Estel had to have known the significance of the gesture. I knew that if Estel was faced with a question of say, jumping into Mt. Doom in order to save me or say becoming King of Gondor, he would go with jumping into Mt. Doom…
Estel loved me more than I loved him. But I did love him…did I not? I mean, I had never before had feelings for anyone the way I felt about him. Feelings that made me want to be near him at all times…feelings that made me care for him more than I should. Then why was it that I had just opted to sail to the Undying Lands rather than stay with Estel when Estel would risk his life for me? Oh what was I thinking, these things were not actually real… "Legolas you now have me thoroughly confused…I hope you are quite satisfied."
"What do you mean?"
"Estel loves me more than I love him!" I gave him my Mt. Doom theory but he just gave me a blank look.
"Arwen, for one thing I highly doubt that anyone wants to be King of Gondor."
Obviously Legolas was slightly naïve, "Everyone wants to be king."
"Not King of Gondor because that would involve taking on Denethor, you know, the crazed Steward…no one wants to do that."
"Let us say for the sake of argument that Denethor was not there and Estel for some reason or the other was about to be crowned king. However, I for some odd reason will die unless he throws himself into the fires of Mt. Doom…he would pick Mt. Doom over a throne." Hmm…I was starting to sound just a tad melodramatic.
Legolas was now looking at me as if I had gone mad, good thing I was used to it by now. "Well…you see…wait, and you said that my theory was improbable?"
"Hollen li anto, it doesn't matter really, I am just trying to make a point," I snapped.
"At least try to make a point that actually makes sense."
Rolling onto my stomach I buried my head in the grass, "My point is that Estel is in love with me and I have no idea whether or not I love him back…" I mumbled…only to get a mouthful of dirt. Spitting it out I turned my head to find Legolas shaking his sadly.
"Arwen, I've no idea what you just said but whatever it is, you need to relax. You and Estel just met, maybe when he comes back you can get to know him a bit better and then decide."
In my heart I knew that it would not be necessary, because deep deep down…I knew that even though right now I was unsure and, hewas the only man that I would ever truly love. Well…you know, love love...
"Thank you Legolas, I think you may have actually helped me."
"Glad to know…and Arwen?"
"Yes?"
"I may just have to tell Estel about how you tried to seduce me."
Lucky for him he managed to roll out of the way before I could reach him.
And end of chapter! Hope you guys enjoyed it, I'll try to update as soon as possible but I don't know how soon that'll be. I have a good excuse this time though, I managed to get a part in the school musical despite the fact that I can't sing, and it's at the end of this month so the rehearsal schedule is crazy and I basically won't have a life for the next four weeks. So once I get my life back I promise I'll update and if I can somehow squeeze time in before that I will.
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