Chapter 14: Feasting.
They rode hard back to Edoras after leaving Isengard, Eowyn greeted them on the top of the hill at Theoden's home. Brief greetings, and congratulations given, Eowyn took her hand after she dismounted. "Come, let's get you cleaned up for the feast." She pulled her away from Legolas, who merely gave her a soft smile and a nod.
She smiled back, and allowed herself to be pulled along into Eowyn's chamber where a hot bath waited for her. "You did all of this for me?"
"You are one of Rohan's heroes. Of course we did it for you." She started helping her get her chain mail , weapons and dress off before pushing her toward the tub. "take the time you need. All will wash before the feast. I laid a gown out for you, you look roughly the same size I am, it should fit."
Alexandra smiled back at her, and finished undressing and climbed into the tub, sighing as the hot water seeped into her skin, relaxing her muscles. For a long time she lay there letting the water soak into her, when she noticed that a soft fragrance of roses was coming from the water. "Soap?" She asked Eowyn who lingered inside the door.
"What?"
"Did you put soap in the water?" She asked.
"Oh, yes." the blonde smiled apologetically. "I noticed you and Legolas. What happened between you?"
"I'm not entirely sure to be honest." She paused for a moment to sink under the water and wet her hair down before surfacing and lathering her hands up to wash her hair. "We're supposed to talk tonight. Probably after the feast. Though to be honest, I would much rather skip the feast and be with him all night."
Eowyn smiled. "I know the feeling."
Alexandra sighed as she massaged her scalp, working the soap into her hair. "Eowyn, I know you love Aragorn... but you know his heart belongs elsewhere."
She nodded. "For now. But perhaps in time he will forget her?"
The brunette dipped the soap into the water washing the rest of herself quickly as the water was starting to cool. "Possibly." She didn't want to diminish her new friend's hope, though she knew that loving an elf wasn't something you could just set aside for a mere mortal. It was no offense to the woman at all, but she knew that if she ever got back to New York, no man would compare to Legolas, who had already stolen her heart.
The dress Eowyn had given her was beautiful. Soft purple velvet that gave a little to form to her torso snugly, long flowing white bell sleeves draped down her arms, the skirt matched the sleeves, a slight lilac embroidery was decorated along the edge of the bodice moving down the flowing skirt. She would never compare herself of any of the women she had met in Middle earth, but when she looked into the mirror at herself, the fire dried hair straight and clean, flowing down to the middle of her back, an inch of the sides braided and pulled back, fastened on the back of her head, the rest left down. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her lips plump and seemingly ready to be kissed at any moment. But in that moment, she allowed herself a slight vanity. She thought she looked beautiful. Eowyn agreed whole heartedly, and even smiled widely as she escorted her into the hall where Aragorn Gimli and Legolas sat, waiting for her.
The last was freshly washed, and wore a long tunic and pants in a light blue that complimented his eyes, and made her breath catch in the back of her throat. "You look beautiful." He whispered as she approached him.
She smiled and flushed slightly, looking away from him. "I could say the same about you." her voice caught, and her blush shone brighter as she heard Gimli chuckle. She looked up at Aragorn and smiled warmly. "Have I gotten to tell you how glad I am you are with us?"
he smiled back at her. "I don't think you have. Though I must reply that I am the one that is glad. If you would have went into the caves with the other women, I doubt our victory would have gone as well as it did."
"You would have survived. I know you would have." she said, trying not to take any credit for the outcome of the battle.
"Not to mention, lass, the total you achieved." Gimli interjected. "Bested all of us I'd say."
Legolas raised an eyebrow as he looked down at her. "Did you now?"
"Ah ha! You haven't told him then?" The dwarf laughed.
"One ninety seven." She looked away from them, embarrassed.
Aragorn's eyes flashed in surprise. "Did you now?" he laughed as Gimli grumbled something un-intelligible. "Well that alone is cause for celebration!" he smiled and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Alexandra, may I have a word with you in private?"
Startled, she looked up into his eyes, slightly scared. "I... yes." she looked up at Legolas then who wasn't looking pleased with his friend, but allowed him to lead her away for a moment as the hall began to fill with people. "Alexandra, I know that you have strong feelings for Legolas, but I warn you now, it is not easy."
"What isn't?" she asked.
"Loving an immortal. They continue on long after you perish. Thinking about Arwen living on long after I had died... it's what made me leave and accept that she needed to move on to the Grey Havens. Take care with your heart, Alexandra. I have accepted responsibility for you while you are here, sort of a guardian, if you will have it, and I do not want to see you or my friend hurt." He said, his eyes boring into hers.
She sighed and nodded., "I understand, and I accept your guidance. But as you should know, you cannot help who you..." She hesitated and looked in Legolas' direction, a soft smile coming to her lips. "Love."
Aragorn nodded. "I will leave the rest up to the both of you then. I have said my peace."
She nodded and moved to stand beside Legolas, she raised her glass in the toast Theoden called for, and stuck close by Legolas, not truly of her own accord, as he would barely allow her out of his sight for more then a few moments at a time. She couldn't contain her amusement as Gimli challenged him to a drinking game, and laughed outwardly as Eomer handed the first pints over to the contestants.
He looked pointedly at her after the conditions were made, and said, "No cheating either."
she laughed and held her hands up. "I swear, I won't hold him up. I doubt he'll need it."
Ten pints later, and Gimli was swaying, while Legolas stood firmly on the spot taking the next pint like it was his first. Gimli, the alcohol was effecting greatly as he completely lost his manners, reliving himself of gas on both ends, not bothering to excuse himself, rather, he laughed loudly at his own behavior.
After a large pile of cups were stacked on the table, Legolas finally spoke. "I feel something. A slight tingling in my fingers." he looked back at her seeing her smirk. "I think it's effecting me."
Gimli laughed loudly ans spoke, slurred then. "What did I say? He can't hold his liquor." Then his eyes crossed, and he fell backward off the stool, unconscious.
She quickly moved over to him, and pressed her fingers to his wrist where she felt the steady but quick heart beat. "he's still alive at least."
Eomer laughed as Legolas shrugged, "Game over." her attention was captured then by the young voices of Merry and pippin singing and stomping on top of a table, which was where she drifted then, clapping along with the song, giggling as they finished, and Merry tipped the pint far back to get the last drop out.
Once she finished clapping to applaud the hobbits on their performance, she felt long delicate fingers sliding against her own, clasping their hands together as Legolas moved up beside her. "Shall we walk and talk now?"
She smiled up at him and nodded, looking toward Aragorn for a moment before turning. "Let's."
He led her out of the hall, pulling a couple of capes from hooks just inside the door, wrapping one around her shoulders, and the other around his own, then returned his hand to hers. They stood in silence for a long time, the full moon above reflecting the perfect features of the elf to her eyes. The moon making his blue eyes seem crystal clear her her. Finally after long moments, he spoke softly, brushing the backs of his fingers against her cheek. "You know that I am immortal, Alexandra. Any romance between us would be too difficult and painful."
She shook her head. "No, I don't want to hear it. There are ways around that!"
"The only way would be for me to give up my immortality."
"NO!" She said, startled. "I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that."
"Then what would you have us do?" he asked, his eyes tender.
She hesitated for a moment. "I could perform a spell. I'm a witch after all. And a pretty powerful one if I could transport myself here. Surely I could perform a spell that would grant me immortality as well."
He sighed, "Alexandra it would be against all laws of nature."
She shook her head. "No. it would be true, it would be for love. Sauron did it didn't he? If his eye watches middle earth still after thousands of years? How did he do it?"
Legolas shook his head. "He made the One Ring, Alexandra, but that would corrupt."
She shook her head. "No, I don't mean forging anything. I mean taking something that already exists. I would do it for love. Surely your Valar would grant me the one wish I have to stay with you."
Legolas placed his finger over her lips, and smiled down at her. "You would do it for..."
She stopped once she realized what she said, and turned bright red. "Legolas, I do... I can't imagine going home, and even trying to manage half of the love for anyone else then I feel for you. Don't you...?"
he sighed, and nodded. "I do care greatly for you, Alexandra. Far more then I have ever cared for anyone. But I do not wish I risk your goodness for the sake of you becoming immortal. Promise me we will find another way then. Promise me."
She shook her head. "there would be no other way, and I am not going home. I'm not leaving you, ever. I can't. We find something... Mithril... a Mithril chain, it's unbreakable, stronger then diamonds. If I cast a spell over it, to hold my mortality..."
His eyes lit up. "You might have something. I hope you will not be planning to do this soon?"
She shook her head. "No. Not until the war is over at least."
he nodded. "We will put the question to Elrond then. Let us not speak of your mortality anymore this night." He brought his hands up to either side of her face, resting his forehead against hers, and took deep breaths, his breathing was so slow she felt like she was suffocating when she tried to match her breathing patterns to his. "You are very beautiful tonight."
She blushed and put her hands over his forearms, "that's the ale talking."
He chuckled. "While some men and dwarves will be effected by the toxins in ale, it is not something that effects me as easily. I speak the truth, Alexandra. Every bit of you is beautiful, not just tonight, while this side of you is very appealing, even in the heat of battle you are beautiful to me. I do not want to be without you ever."
It wasn't quite 'I love you.' but for her it was just as good. "I will survive through everything this war throws at us if only to stay beside you."
"I fight for you." he leaned in toward her, brushing his lips against her cheek then her forehead, and down to the other cheek. Her breath faltered and caught in her throat, his lips felt like butterfly's wings against her skin, her face turned, hoping to follow and capture his lips with her own, but he pulled his lips back, and she could finally breathe again.
It came back to her in a rush, and she smiled softly. "You make me forget."
"Forget what?"
"To breathe!"
He laughed. "I will try not to do that again."
"Please don't. I definitely don't mind it." She smiled. "Can I try something?"
He furrowed his brow in confusion. "What is that?"
"Don't think I'm too forward. It's how things are done in my world." She waited for him to shake his head before she leaned up on her tip toes, placing her hands on his shoulders. She felt his arms wind around her back, holding her to him, and she pressed her lips to his jaw line, moving up slowly, her touch as light as his had been, to the corner of his mouth. She stopped for only a moment until she felt him turn his face slightly to her, and she leaned in her lips meeting his softly, so softly she wasn't even sure she was kissing him until he leaned into her, his hand coming up to rest on her cheek. The kiss completely took her breath away, but it was the most innocent, most tender kiss she'd ever had in her life. It made everything right, everything fit, every question she ever had about why she was brought to this place was completely answered and understood. She was brought here for him. And he was here for her. Only her. Nothing else mattered but him, and who they could be together.
He broke the kiss first, lingering over her lips for a moment, before she felt those lips pull up into a smile. "I see what you mean."
"Legolas, I love you." she whispered against his lips.
"And I you Melamin. My love."
She smiled and wrapped her arms around him, holding onto him tightly. She felt his hands moving up and down her back, holding her to him for a long moment until she heard the party breaking up, and voracious villagers moved back to their homes from the keep. More long and silent minutes passed until he finally released her, and sighed. "You must get some rest, Melamin."
She nodded slowly in agreement. "Yes."
"I will be here in the morning. I promise."
"Aren't you coming?"
He laughed softly. "Melamin, I do not need as much sleep as you. I will keep watch tonight."
She nodded, and moved into the keep, settling into the room with the rest of the Fellowship, choosing to stay near Gandalf, of whom she viewed as a father figure. Everyone in the room was fast sleep, snoring as she settled onto her bedroll. She wrapped the cloak around herself tightly, and breathed in the scent of Legolas still on it, found the comfort she needed, and quickly fell fast asleep.