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This chapter is shorter than my usual but I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 20 Mystery
"Why would you not invite the poor ellon in out the rain?" Elladan shook his head with a hint of laughter in his blue-grey eyes. Aerlinniel stood in the grand foyer feeling very cold in her wet clothes. Elladan had been finely dressed in a silver velvet tunic, black breeches and tall leather boots. A silver circlet sat upon his dark hair and in his hand, he carried a chalice of wine. The others must be having their pre-dinner drinks in the library with her father, she thought.
"I do not know," she confided feeling baffled. Feigning a reason was not in her nature; she was horrible at telling lies – even those that seemed harmless. How could she begin to explain the strange turn their afternoon had taken?
Elladan narrowed his eyes at her. "Everything alright?" Ever since she had been a small child, Elladan had an uncanny ability to detect her inner squirming and she had no will to stave him off.
"We had a difficult parting," she admitted softly. That was certainly the truth and yet her face felt clammy at the admission.
"Well, perhaps a little more time together will be welcomed then." He smiled sympathetically.
Aerlinniel nodded as a slow churn rolled within her stomach. Lindir would be returning with Legolas at any moment. Their quarrel and the pitiful way she allowed him to leave still lay fresh and heavy upon her mind and heart.
Elladan was not much for affection, and so it was more than a little out the ordinary for him to step close to her and offer a word of encouragement. "It will be alright, Lin. The time will go by fast and before you know it, you'll be back." He tilted his head to encourage her to lift her gaze and she found him smiling tenderly at her. "And, I wager your prince will be here waiting."
"The rain got the pair of you!" Velenya called as she briskly walked into the foyer and pulled the sibling's attention away. She looked around the foyer expectantly. "Where is Prince Legolas? Did he not come in with you?"
"We…parted," Aerlinniel motioned over her shoulder towards the door, "Lindir has gone to fetch him for dinner." She sounded like a confused child, making little sense.
Velenya bobbed her head in confusion.
Just then, the door to the Homely House opened and in walked Lindir and Legolas looking quite drenched from the rain despite Lindir's attempts at keeping them both dry.
"Prince Legolas, you came out of the rain to join us!" Elladan bellowed, raising his chalice.
Legolas snickered pulling his hood from his face. His eyes briefly flicked to Aerlinniel which caused her cheeks to burn.
"Good evening Elladan. I apologize for my appearance," Legolas greeted her brother as ellyn do – void of emotion and with a hint of sarcasm.
"It is only us!" Elladan waved his hand with a sympathetic grin. "Can we get these two a towel?" he said looking round for a footman.
"We are glad you have come. Forgive my sister, for not inviting you. I believe the rain has washed away her good sense." Tender Elladan had taken leave and the teasing opportunist had returned.
Legolas pursed his lips and bowed his head to avoid acknowledging Elladan's mocking of her.
A footman broke up the moment and relieved poor Lindir of his soaked blanket and offered the pair of elves a towel to dry off.
Elrond, Elrohir and Arwen appeared with drinks in hand, into the foyer to see what the commotion was about. Each was dressed impeccably as was their dinner tradition at Homely House.
"Glad to see the two of you made it home safe though by the looks of you both the ride was a bit wet," her father said looking rather amused.
Aerlinniel peeked over at Legolas who had his eyes paired on her father. She watched him as he bowed and earnestly implored, "Forgive me my lord, the rain set in before I could have her back. I apologize for our late arrival."
"Well, we are glad you are both safe and no worse for the wear. Let us get the two of you warm and dry so that you may join us for dinner." The elf lord turned his attention to his drenched butler. "Lindir, have Frendland see that the prince has some fresh clothes. And," Elrond said, stifling a laugh, "find yourself some warm clothes and a chalice of miruvor, mellon nin."
A crooked smile appeared upon Lindir's face and he nodded to Elrond. "Thank you, my lord. A little warmth would be most welcome."
Elrond smiled as his eyes danced with mirth at Lindir before he turned his gaze on Aerlinniel and Legolas. "Join us in the library when the two of you have refreshed yourselves." And with that, the elf lord and the rest of the family returned to the library.
Legolas looked over to Aerlinniel with a somber expression. She knew naught what to say but she offered him a slight smile and nod. Her heart felt a stark chill when he did not return the gesture, he merely gave her a subtle nod back. It was then that Aerlinniel realized two things about Legolas. She did not want to quarrel with him and that there was much she did not know about his nature; for she was uncertain at what he might be thinking.
Aerlinniel looked on as the prince was ushered away by a footman to a salon that was used for entertaining guests for tea. Aerlinniel knew the room well for she, her mother, and her sister would entertain there often.
"Come with me, my lady, we'll get you fixed up," Velenya called. Her dutiful maid guided Aerlinniel to her bedchamber and helped peel the wet clothes off her then dressed her in a simple pink velvet dress. The very pink velvet dress that she had met Legolas in naught but a week ago.
A churning in her stomach reminded her again how brief her time with Legolas had really been and how disastrous things had turned when their romance had only just begun to blossom. Why had her world come crashing in when there seemed to be such promise upon meeting Legolas? Had she made a misstep in her decision to follow her heart? Perhaps the Valar saw reason to stand in their way.
In that moment, she petitioned the Valar with a simple prayer. 'Guide my heart for I am in the dark and cannot see Your will.'
"My lady, your hair is lovely. Did your prince do this?" Velenya's question pulled Aerlinniel from her thoughts.
"Aye, he did," she murmured stepping in front of the large mirror to see Legolas' handiwork. Despite the rain, the flowers maintained their blooms and not one looked wilted.
Aerlinniel turned before the mirror so that she could see all the flowers that he had placed in her hair. The magic of that moment melted away much of the disease she had been feeling. Legolas had been romantic and tender for much of the day. It had only been when they had spoken of her leaving that their quarrel began. Perhaps that was all it had been, she wondered. The pressure of saying goodbye when they had just found one another. His remarks about her working were insensitive, yes. But might she have blown them out of proportion?
An overwhelming urge to see Legolas came over her. She must try and speak with him before their dinner so that they could reconcile otherwise the dinner would be terribly awkward.
"Well, I shall have to thank the prince for his handiwork. What a romantic gesture, my lady," Velenya said leaning her head toward Aerlinniel as she fussed with arranging the braid over her shoulder – just so.
….
Aerlinniel made her way quickly down the steps and through the foyer and into the narrow hall where the salon was located that Legolas had been escorted to. Lightly, she rapped upon the door.
"You may enter," Legolas called.
Aerlinniel opened the door and found that the room was dimly lit with faint firelight and only a few candles. She froze in the doorway when she found that in the center of the room Legolas stood, without his tunic, wearing nothing more than his breeches.
"Forgive me," she said looking away. "I hoped to speak with you before we joined the others. I will await you in the hall." She made to leave, inching herself back out the door.
Legolas stepped forward. "You may speak with me now, unless my appearance offends you, in which case I will meet you after I have dressed," he said with a firm eagerness.
Aerlinniel peaked up at him as she lingered at the door a moment, then she peered down the hall before stepping into the room and closed the door softly behind her.
"You wish to speak with me?" He stepped closer, his visage and tone unreadable which she found rather unnerving.
"Aye," she whispered.
She studied his void-like gaze which reminded her of his unpredictable nature. How could she feel so deeply for him in such a short span of time? Her heart felt as if she had known him all of her life and yet she could not predict his actions or guess at what he was thinking or feeling. Knowing him better would make speaking with him ever so much easier than the reality of it.
He was still such a mystery.
A brisk knock came upon the door causing both their heads to pivot at the untimely interruption.
Aerlinniel immediately felt her heart race at the thought of being discovered with the prince in his present state of undress.
"Prince Legolas, I have brought you some dry clothes," Frendland called from behind the door.
"Just a moment," Legolas called walking to the door which sent Aerlinniel into more of a panic. When he reached her, he whispered, "Stand behind the door."
Legolas angled the door so that Frendland could not see her. "I have brought you a few additional items to aid in your grooming. May we enter?" Aerlinniel's breath hitched when she realized another servant had come with Frendland.
Legolas pulled the door back to shield where she stood and gestured for her to move further behind the door. Frendland and the servant set the fresh clothes and other items along with a basin of water upon a side table.
"You should find the water is refreshingly warm, my lord," Frendland said placing a towel, soap, and comb beside the basin. "Shall I assist you with dressing?"
"No, thank you, Frendland. That will not be necessary," Legolas answered without a measure of flap. His posture was proud and relaxed. He was uncanny, she thought. Like a boy one moment and quite princely in another.
Is there anything else that you require, my lord?" Frendland gestured for the other servant to take their leave. "Anything at all?" Frendland asked as he lingered in the doorway.
Legolas eyed the pile of things and shook his head. "No, thank you. I have everything I need."
After Frendland had left, Legolas shut the door and turned round and confided in obvious relief, "That was close."
"I should go," Aerlinniel exhaled but made no move to leave. His steel blue gaze seemed to immobilize her.
"But you wanted to speak with me," he murmured tilting his head causing his hair to fall over his bare left shoulder.
"I do -" Her chest tingled and her throat began to constrict.
"Shall I put my tunic on?" He said with a contrite smile.
Aerlinniel exhaled shaking her head. She attempted to speak but no words came.
Legolas stepped closer so that she could see the whites of his eyes and the rise and fall of his chest.
The dimness of the room and the smell of his musk, the ivory of his skin - now burned into her mind – leaving her disoriented. What was it she wanted to say? She could not cipher a sentence.
Rallying her wits, she cleared her throat. "Our afternoon did not end well and I feel we must reconcile things before we join the others," she reasoned braving to look him square in the eye.
"Agreed."
In that moment, voices were heard in the foyer. It was her father greeting a guest. They both shared a sobering look at one another. Legolas backed away and eyed the door warily as Elrond's voice seemed to draw nearer.
"Velenya, if you are here, then where is Aerlinniel?" They heard her father say.
"My lord, she left her chamber at least ten minutes ago. Did she not join you in the library?" Velenya answered confused.
Aerlinniel surmised her father and Velenya had dipped into the hall to have a private conversation or they were about to check in the very room they were in. She bit her lip and hoped the latter was not the case.
"No. I have not seen her or Legolas," her father said pensively.
Aerlinniel went ghostly pale as she looked at Legolas. "I must leave. We shall have to find another time in which to speak."
Legolas nodded with certainty in his eyes.
Aerlinniel waited a moment until it seemed safe to slip out unnoticed. Before she opened the door, she cast her anxiety aside and took Legolas' hand. "I am glad you came back," she whispered and met his gaze with earnest affection.
Legolas smiled; the first glimmer of warmth she had seen since they had arrived back. She left the room with her spirits lifted thinking that they might reach an accord before she left.
I wonder who has come to dinner?
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