Chapter 14: Immortal Love
The next afternoon, everyone had dinner in the throne room at the long, marble table. After dinner, Lothriel retired to her room for the night. A few minutes after she went to her room, Heidi, as always, came to check on her.
"Shall I draw you a bath, miss?" Heidi asked when she got to the room.
"Yes, that would be nice." Lothriel answered.
Heidi scurried into the bathroom and ran some warm water in the tub and poured a small pitcher of milk in the water. Milk poured into a bath would help to moisturize Lothriel's skin and keep it fresh. She also lit a couple scented candles on the ledge beside the tub. When the bath was all ready, she went back into the bedroom.
"Your bath is ready, miss. I fixed you a nice milk bath to keep your skin fresh." Heidi said.
"Thank you." Lothriel said, standing up.
She went into the bathroom and took her dress off and layed it across the rocking chair in front of the sink. She walked over to the tub and slowly eased herself into the warm water, her tense muscles melting away. She relaxed in the water for a few minutes and got a washcloth off the ledge and wet it. She rubbed a cake of soap into the washcloth, working up a nice lather and began scrubbing her body. When her body was clean, she proceeded to wash her hair with the sweet-smelling shampoo that was homemade by some of the maids. When she was through scrubbing her hair, she dunked her head under the water and ran her fingers through her hair to rinse the suds out of it. When she was all clean, she stood up and unfolded one of the towels set on the edge of the tub for her she layed it out on the floor for something to stand on. She then go another towel to dry off on. She felt refreshed and clean when she was done drying off. After her bath, Lothriel put of a baggy, white shirt that came down to just below her elbows and just above her knees and a pair of light blue gauchos.
She half sat, half layed on her love-seat writing in her journal while Heidi gently brushed the tangles out of her long, flowing sea of golden-brown hair. Several minutes passed before either of them said anything.
"Pardon me for asking, miss, but are you married?" Heidi asked.
"No, are you?" Lothriel asked.
"Oh, goodness no, miss. What boy would be interested in a lowly maid?" Heidi said.
"Why did you ask if I was married?" Lothriel asked.
"Oh, no reason. I'm just surprised that a lady as kind and gentle and beautiful as you isn't married." Heidi said, "Will you ever marry?"
"Well, if a nice man comes along..." Lothriel said.
"Well...Master Greenleaf--he's a nice man, if it's not too bold to say." Heidi said.
"Yes, he is." Lothriel said, pausing from her writing and smiling sheepishly.
"I believe he quite fancies you, miss." Heidi said, "You know, people are beginning to talk."
"They are?" Lothriel asked, as she shut her book and turned around to face Heidi, "What are they saying?"
"Some of them say that you two make a smart match." Heidi replied.
"Really?" Lothriel asked.
"Yes. Other say that you two spend your days performing unspeakable acts of desperate passion on the parlour floor." Heidi said, smiling.
Both Heidi and Lothriel laughed at this.
"Quite scandalous." Lothriel giggled.
This brought on another wave of laughter from them. After the laughter and conversation, Heidi finished brushing Lothriel's hair and turned down her bed for her.
"If you won't be needing anything else, miss, I'll go in to supper." Heidi said.
"Oh, well enjoy yourself." Lothriel said.
Heidi curtsied and left, shutting the door behind her. Lothriel stayed up for some time after that. Lothriel reclined on her love-seat, reading a book. The room was dimly lit by the candles dotted around the room. A sweet aroma filled the air from the burning candles. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Lothriel put a marker in her book and went to answer the door. She opened it and saw Heidi standing there.
"Pardon the intrusion, miss, but Master Greenleaf wishes for you to meet him at the entrance of the gardens." she said.
"Okay, just give me a minute." Lothriel said, shutting the door.
She changed out of her sleeping clothes and into a beautiful gown. The gown was made out of a soft, very very subtly detailed white material. The sleeves were loose-fitting and wide around her wrists. The torso of the dress was semi-close-fitting. The skirt was long, floor-length, and flowing. The neckline dipped low into a subtle half-diamond shape. There was gold filigree around the neckline, bottoms of the sleeves, and the bottom of the skirt.
She exited the palace and walked across the Citadel to the entrance of the royal garden. The air was cool and clean; the night sky was clear and the moon shone brightly down upon the Pelennor Fields and the White City. Legolas was waiting at the entrance of the garden when Lothriel arrived.
"My Lady, would it please thee to join thy lord for a walk this night?" Legolas asked, bowing and jokingly pretending to be proper.
Lothriel decided to go along with this 'proper' game.
"Yes, it would please thy Lady greatly." she answered smiling and taking Legolas's outstretched hand.
Legolas and Lothriel walked leisurely through the garden, arms linked closely together at their sides. They commented back and forth about how beautiful the night was and how nice each other looked.
"My Lady, would you mind if I ask you a very important question?" Legolas asked.
"Well, I won't know until I hear it." Lothriel answered.
Legolas halted walking and stood in front of her, holding both her hands in both of his.
"Lady Lothriel, you are the most beautiful, kind woman I have ever known and..." Legolas knelt down in front of her and held upa beautiful, silver Elvish ring beset by a pure green stone, "Would you do me the great honor of becoming my bride?"
Lothriel's hand flew to her mouth as she tried to stifle a gasp.
"Oh, Legolas...yes! Yes!" she said, tears of utter joy forming in her eyes.
Legolas smiled and slid the ring onto her left ring finger. He stood up and her and Lothriel twined their arms around one another, kissing deeply and passionately...
A/N: I told you I would make the next chapter longer. I hope you like it!