Chapter 26:
There was a celebration feast prepared in the Great Hall. Legolas and Valéa walked hand-inch and up to the King and Arwen, both of them bowing.
Aragorn chuckled. "I don't really think that is necessary?" He said to them as they straightened.
Valéa sent her brother a smug smile. "I've been telling you for years, you'd be too good at this whole 'King' thing."
Aragorn laughed. "I still don't believe you."
"We'll see." Valéa grinned.
Aragorn suddenly turned more serious. "Legolas, may I have a word?"
Legolas nodded and left with him, after dropping a chaste kiss on Valéa's forehead. The black-haired elleth smiled as Arwen raised an eyebrow. "What do you suppose that is all about?" Valéa asked.
Arwen smiled knowingly as the two of them watched their partners converse. "Probably warning him."
Valéa blinked and frowned. "About what?"
"He's probably warning Legolas that if he hurts you, he'll hunt him down, or something like that. It's what brothers do."
Valéa laughed. "See, I would say the same to you, but I know you don't need to be told. Also, I know you'd never hurt him anyway."
Arwen smiled. "Women were always the wiser ones."
"I wouldn't necessarily agree with that," came a familiar voice from behind Valéa. She turned and grinned at Boromir.
"Nice to finally see you out of bed," she teased.
Boronia rolled his eyes. "I didn't see you faring much better after the battle. What was it, an arrow in the shoulder?"
Valéa nodded. "At least I wasn't put out of action."
"How is your shoulder, by the way?" Aragorn asked as he and Legolas rejoined them.
Valéa shrugged. "It's been better."
Aragorn rolled his eyes. "Thank you, I really needed to be told that," he grumbled sarcastically.
Valéa stiffened. Her powers had picked up the taste of someone cold and sour walking into the room. She turned her head and watched as a man with long, dark hair walked through the hall, looking like a commoner. Valéa quickly excused herself and began pushing through the crowd to reach him. She paused, before sighed. She sent a brief mental message to Legolas. 'If you're watching this, I'm sorry, but it's necessary.'
She slowly neared the man, trying to be discreet about it. Their eyes met, and Valéa sent him what she hoped to be a shy smile. He sauntered up to her. "Now what would a beautiful elf such as yourself be doing here?" He asked in a gravelly voice.
Valéa smiled. "King Elessar is a good friend of mine. Like a brother, in fact."
He raised an eyebrow. "Is he really? I would very much like to meet him."
Valéa made a show of pursing her lips. "Oh, I don't know if that's..." She trailed off.
The man sent her a horrid smile, but it was clearly intended to look innocent. "Ah, it's not like I'm gonna do anything."
Valéa frowned. "Well, alright then." She gave him another smile and began leading the way up to her friends. The look she sent them told them everything they needed to know.
Valéa stepped aside to let the man forward. He knelt on one knee and bowed, giving Valéa both the time and the excuse to grab the knife tucked into her boot and hold it against his neck. He stilled instantly. "What madness is this?!" He demanded.
"You are no friend of the King's," Valéa hissed back. "You intend ill upon him and, like I said before, he is like a brother to me."
The man suddenly wrenched Valéa's arm away and lunged for Aragorn. He didn't get far, though, because Boromir had unsheathed his sword and plunged it into the man's chest. All around them, the people had gone quiet. Aragorn turned to his closest guard. "Clear away the body," he ordered quietly.
The guard nodded and, with the help of another, picked the man off the floor and took him elsewhere. Valéa sighed. "Well, that certainly wasn't festive." She muttered to herself. She then walked away from the King and pushed her way through the crowd. She need air, and solitude. Since no one followed her out, it seemed her friends knew that.
...
Legolas, Gimli and Valéa were sat atop their horses. They were leaving for Mirkwood today, and Aragorn and Arwen were seeing them off. It had been a month since Aragorn's coronation, and a week and a half since their wedding. Valéa smiled at them both.
"Keep in touch, will you?" She asked her brother. "I'll visit when I can."
Aragorn nodded and pressed a box into her hands. Valéa opened it and raised an eyebrow at him. It was a silver headdress - one of elvish design - and wasn't too different from the one Arwen wore for their wedding. "Just keep hold of it. I have a feeling it will come in handy," Aragorn said with a wink. Valéa blinked her confusion, but Aragorn just smirked and said nothing.
While he spoke with Legolas, Arwen spoke to Valéa. "What you have with Legolas is beautiful, Valéa." She said, grasping the elleth's hand. "Don't let anything pull you apart."
Valéa smiled down at her friend. "I won't."
Arwen nodded approvingly and then stepped back, having already spoken to Gimli and Legolas. Aragorn stood beside her a few seconds later. "Have a safe journey." He told them.
The three of them nodded, and then Valéa and Legolas turned their horses towards the city gates - which were open and waiting for them - and kicked them into a canter. They left the city of Minas Tirith in high spirits.
...
Legolas insisted they make a stop in Lothlórien, and Gimli was eager to agree. Valéa smiled at Legolas' consideration, and the three of them entered the Golden Wood three weeks after departing from Minas Tirith. Their welcome was much friendlier than the previous one, and Haldir led them with a kind smile through the woods. Valéa held Legolas' hand the whole time, fighting back a smile when Gimli muttered something about being a third wheel.
The three of them were taken before the Lord and Lady. Galadriel embraced Valéa when they met, and smiled widely at her. "I am glad you're safe." She said kindly.
Valéa bowed her head. "Thank you, hiril vuin." She replied.
Galadriel smiled and then turned to Legolas and Gimli. Lord Celeborn approached Valéa. "I can feel that you have made much progress with your magic."
Valéa nodded. "Ada taught me."
Celeborn smiled. "A part of me always knew he was not gone. It would take more than a balrog of Morgoth to kill Gandalf."
Valéa laughed. "I agree with you there." She said cheerfully.
Galadriel appeared next to Valéa and placed her warm hands on the elleth's shoulders. He eyes drifted over all of them. "I have asked for rooms to be prepared for each of you." She said with a smile that Valéa could only describe as sly. She instantly became worried. Lady Galadriel was planning something, and she wasn't sure she liked not knowing what it was.
...
Valéa sat humming by the river. She was forcing herself to visit the water now, trying to overcome her fear of it. Legolas suddenly moved to sit by her. He wrapped and arm around her shoulder against him, allowing for Valéa to lean her head against his shoulder. "How long do we plan on staying here?" Valéa asked.
Legolas awkwardly shrugged. "As long as we want, I suppose. Although we do both want to go to Mirkwood, for our own reasons."
Valéa smiled. "That's true. I think I'd like to meet your father when we arrive."
Legolas chuckled. "And I've no doubt you will. Since we're together now, he'll want to meet you."
Valéa nodded absently. She sighed. "I love you, Legolas," she whispered. It was the first time she had spoken those words to him, and she could feel the anticipation churning in her stomach as she waited for his answer.
Legolas didn't even hesitate. "I love you too." He replied. He placed a quick kiss to her temple, and then just held her. Valéa smiled to herself. Love. When your heart melts like butter on a hot day at the sight of someone. When you feel lightheaded and free. When you ache to be with them. That is love. And that was what she was feeling.
It was almost dark by the time they pulled apart. "We should be getting back." Valéa said, getting to her feet.
Legolas nodded. "I'll find someone to lead me to my room." As they reached the clearing that lead to Valéa's bedroom, he held her arms gently and kissed her lips. Valéa smiled against him and kissed him back. It wasn't a long kiss, but it didn't need to be. "I'll see you in the morning." Legolas whispered, before leaving with a quick squeeze of her arms.
Valéa watched him retreat, before walking up to her room. She ignored the bed for the moment and instead walked over to her window, staring out over what had been her home for so long. She turned her head when she heard two pairs of footsteps coming nearer. She frowned. Hang on a moment...
The door opened, and - surprise, surprise - Legolas stepped in. Valéa sighed. So this was Galadriel's plan. Legolas froze upon seeing her, before he smiled an amused smile and shook his head. "I had a feeling Lady Galadriel would try to pull something like this." Legolas said as he placed his bow and quiver on the floor beside hers. He looked around. "Is this your room?"
Valéa nodded, never letting her eyes leave him. "This has been my room for as long as I can remember."
Legolas walked up to her and encircled the elleth in his arms. "It's very nice," he said, before kissing her hotly on the lips. Valéa took a moment to regain herself, before kissing back. Her hands ran up and down the length of his muscled arms, which in turn held her waist gently.
She pulled away and then just hugged him, closing her eyes in contentment.
"We should probably retire for the night," Valéa said, walking over to her wardrobe to get her nightdress. She laughed when she saw their were clothes for males in there as well.
She pulled out her dress and then shyly asked Legolas to avert his gaze. He did so without argument. Such a gentleman...
When she was done, Valéa climbed into bed and closed her eyes, promising not to open them while Legolas changed. She looked at him when he climbed into the bed with her. He now wore a loose white shirt and soft grey breeches. She snuggled up to him and he wrapped his arms around her, running his fingers through her hair slowly.
"Sleep well, Valéa." He murmured against her head.
Valéa replied with a tired-sounding, "You too." She was asleep before she could comprehend any response he may have made.
Sorry about all the breaks... :/
Okay, hope you liked this update. They'll be in Mirkwood next chapter, hopefully.
BIG BIG thanks to all my followers, favouriters, reviewers and just viewers. Over 19,000 now! (Came back from my holiday and I think my jaw hit the floor). Xxx