Chapter Twenty-six
Laurelin smiled, trailing her fingers through the same stream she often visited, looking around and thinking the beautiful place she had spent so much time in during her life was even more lovely than it had been before. So bright, the air filled with warmth and total comfort.
Sweet voices sang songs that reached her on the wind, the gentle breeze blowing softly and caressing her skin. There was something lulling in the soil, the water, even the very air. A soft touch on her hair made her tilt her head back and close her eyes in pleasure. Looking up she smiled to see Legolas standing just behind her, glancing around them in curiosity and uncertainty.
"Where are we, sweet?"
Frowning in confusion, she took one of his hands in hers, shaking her head. It was where they always came, wasn't it? But she had no real name to give it. Should it have a name, or was it alright to just think of it as the beautiful place?
"I...don't know. I've always come here. I think it's a place of peace and refreshment."
With furrowed brows, he looked back down at her after sweeping his gaze around them. "Valinor," he murmured. "I'm certain that is where we are, but I do not understand how, or even why." He met her eyes with a sober look. "You are dreaming, and I followed you when I heard you call to me. You sounded frightened, but you do not seem so now. I am glad of it."
Laurelin stood, trying to understand what he was talking about, but her memories felt fuzzy and distant. "I...can't remember." She slid her hands up his arms and rested them on his shoulders, smiling up at him. "But I'm glad you're here with me now, it feels..." she tilted her head, then nodded. "Right."
He looked around a final time, feeling wary, everything inside him tense as though expecting danger, which seemed odd when all was apparently peaceful, and Laurelin looking so happy and content. Not to mention the fact that they were in her dream, and no harm could come of a dream, could it? He pulled her closer against him, trying to ignore his instincts that continued to warn of some imminent threat. Legolas looked down at her, tightening his hold.
"Let us away. Come with me now, laich. I need to love you again." He lowered his head, staring into her bright green eyes with the luminous gold ring, and sought her lips. "Awake, and return to me," he breathed against her mouth, and kissed her.
When full awareness gradually woke her, she smiled, her eyes slowly opening to the feel of Legolas kissing her neck and tugging her leg up around his hip. She also realized that they were both naked.
"I thought I was wearing one of your shirts when I fell asleep last night." Her voice was still thick and heavy from disuse, and she didn't yet feel totally awake.
"You were." He moved his mouth across her chin before brushing his lips over hers, staring down into her amused eyes that half closed when he smoothly thrust up into her, rolling her fully beneath him."But you told me two days ago that you like me to wake you up this way, so I removed your clothing." He was still, content for that moment just to be inside her, before he started a lazy, unhurried rhythm.
"Oh, so you're just trying to do me a favor, huh?"
"Perhaps it is a mutual favor. I had a desperate need for you and could wait no longer. Do you remember your dream before you awoke?"
"Flip over," she whispered, sitting upright on him when he complied, resting her hands on his chest while she moved. She shook her hair back out of her face and met his gaze, smiling at the smoldering look of desire and admiration in his blue eyes when he placed his hands at her waist and watched her ride him. "I remember you were in my dream with me. Is that right?"
"Yes." He made no mention of her frightened call for him in his mind, which had caused him to seek her out in the first place. If she did not recall her nightmare, perhaps it was as well. He certainly had no desire for her to again experience the kind of terror he had felt from her while she slept.
"It was nice." She canted her hips, circling them in a way that she knew could drive him half out of his mind with pleasure, closing her eyes and smiling at his quickened breath and low moan.
"Laurelin, a-charo, avo dharo! Tíro nin." (Laurelin, again, don't stop! Look at me.)
She obeyed, opening her eyes and meeting his gaze again, smirking as she repeated her movements.
"Mibo nin," he murmured, pulling her down to reach his lips when she leaned closer to him for a kiss. (Kiss me.)
Sometime later, she lay in his arms, happy and their desire sated for the time being. He brushed her hair back from her face, continuing to run gentle fingers through it in a soothing manner.
"You understood everything I said to you in Sindarin," he mused. "I didn't use any English for quite a while."
She tilted her head back to look at him. "I remember most of what you told me those words meant before, but I admit I sometimes cheat and listen for the meaning of what you're saying straight from your head. It's still weird to be able to do that with you, but also really useful."
"Istol peded edhellen?" He smiled teasingly with dancing eyes. (Can you speak Elvish?)
She raised a brow with a haughty look. "Pedin edhellen. Well...sorta." (I speak Elvish.)
He chuckled and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I suppose it doesn't really matter what language I speak to you in now, since you can hear the meaning in my thoughts, regardless."
Laurelin snuggled closer, running a hand across the firm muscle of his chest as she loved to do when they laid together in the amazing afterglow of their lovemaking.
"Shall we try and depart for Minas Tirith tomorrow, my sweet?"
She sighed and turned her face enough to be able to kiss his chest. "I guess if we really have to. After five days of having you all to myself, I think I've become completely addicted to the um...frequency of..."
"Our incredible loving?" He finished with a cheeky smile.
Laughing softly, Laurelin nodded. "Yep, exactly. I teased you about not being able to wait until we stop for the day, but I think I might be the one that's gonna struggle the most with that. You've turned me into some insatiable thing with your unbelievably mind-blowing skills."
Reaching for her hand on his chest, he laced their fingers together, smiling at her much smaller hand held by his own larger one. "There is no reason we cannot stop for breaks if we feel so inclined."
"Sex breaks?" She gave him a disbelieving look that made him smirk.
"Our desires for one another are an appetite, like any other. Would you think it strange to stop for food and drink as we travel?"
"No, I guess not." Tilting her head, she reached her hand down and gripped him, running her fingers up and down his length and found him half-hard, as he always seemed to be since they married. "Since you're my very favorite thing to eat now, it's nice to know you won't make me starve for very long at a time."
"I'm your favorite thing to eat?" he echoed laughingly.
She half sat up and turned to look at him with a teasing smile, running her eyes across his naked body laid out beside her on their bed. "Well, you are the most delicious snack of an elf to ever live. I declare I could put you on a plate and sop you up with a biscuit, like honey."
He sat up, his smile growing more faint and his eyes assuming a look of hungry intensity. He ran his fingers up her bare leg and through the damp folds of her sex. "This is my honey, and my wine. I can grow drunk on the taste of you alone, laich, and that is exactly what I wish to do. Lie back and let me worship you."
Laurelin bit her lip to stifle her hesitant smile. "Now? You don't want to go eat some breakfast first?"
Legolas pushed her back with gentle pressure and a quirked brow. "Yes, right now. I want my mouth on you more than any breakfast, for this is my greater appetite. Surrender yourself to me, little wife. I have come to greatly crave your shy and sweet submission to my desires."
She blushed at his words, settling against the pillow. "I guess when you put it that way… But I get to have you under my power later, and I won't take no for an answer either."
He stroked his long, slender fingers around the narrowest part of her ankle, nudging her legs further apart with an intense look, smirking up at her as he settled between her thighs. "I wouldn't dream of saying no to you." Closing his eyes briefly while he inhaled her fragrance, he stared up at her with a look that never failed to make her shiver on the inside; like pure, distilled Legolas, without any filters or veneer of politeness to hide what he really felt. Lowering his head, he kissed her inner thigh. "I want to make my lovely siren sing."
At the first brush of his mouth against her, she sucked in a sharp breath and gripped the bedding tightly with both hands. "I really hope you're ready, cause I think you're about to get a whole damn opera."
His amused chuckle was the last thing she heard before she was lost in the cloud of drugging pleasure only he could bring her to, and her own helpless sounds in response.
The following day, Laurelin visited the royal family to say her farewells, while Legolas saw to preparing their horses with what they would carry with them. Alassë walked Laurelin back to the stables, catching her up on what had been happening during the days she and Legolas had been secluded together.
"But why was Catherine so sad when she hugged me? Did something bad happen?"
Wrapping an arm around Laurelin's, Alassë sighed and nodded. "Yes, very bad from my sister's point of view. The day after your betrothal feast..." She paused and grinned. "Which was apparently also your wedding feast..." She laughed when Laurelin rolled her eyes and blushed, muttering under her breath.
"Hey, blame your brother. He was the one who was impatient. I didn't exactly expect to get married the same night as the party. But what about Kitty?"
Alassë smirked and shook her head. "Father told Tirion he is not allowed to court Catherine until she is nearer to being of age."
Laurelin gasped, her eyes turning sad. "She has to wait until she's a hundred years old?" she asked in disbelief.
"Not quite, but close. Father said since we are half elves, we will be full adults at seventy-five, so that is how long Tirion and Kitty have to wait before they can move on to formal courting and betrothal."
Releasing a gusty sigh, Laurelin shook her head. "That seems so unfair when I'm already married to Legolas, and I'm not even thirty years old. Not quite. I'm pretty much the same as y'all too, being half elf and half human. Did Kitty mention that to your dad?"
"She did, but Father said you and Legolas had unique and special circumstances that made any kind of delay impossible."
Raising a bemused brow, Laurelin sighed again, thinking the main difficulty between her and Legolas was they each had a bad case of jump-your-bones-itus. But maybe it was more than that. She wasn't an all-powerful, future-seeing elf like the king, so it was possible there were other factors too.
"Well, that just sucks. Maybe it's a good thing Legolas and I are going away for a while. It might make it worse for Kitty to have to see us together when she's been ordered to wait."
"Perhaps. I really couldn't say." Alassë shrugged as they reached the stable, then turned and threw her arms around Laurelin in an enthusiastic hug. "I know I shall miss you, so please do not stay gone forever. I should like to go to Minas Tirith myself, if only to see some new place and get away from...certain people."
Laurelin gave a low whistle and chuckled. "I'm guessing you're referring to a specific tall, blonde captain I saw you dancing with the other night? It looked like you were having a pretty heated discussion."
Alassë crossed her arms and scoffed. "He's impossible. I won't waste time thinking about him. While you are gone, I will work on further improving my fighting skills, and then it's possible Father may allow me to accompany you and Legolas if you decide to travel again. I should dearly love to get out of this kingdom, for at least a few years."
Smiling faintly, Laurelin nodded in understanding. "When you have a case of wander lust, there's no cure for it but to travel. Maybe we can sweet-talk your daddy into letting you come with us on one of our trips. Legolas mentioned he wanted to travel for a while, so I know this won't be the only time."
"Thanks, Grace," Alassë said with a grin. "That's something I can look forward to." She pecked a quick kiss to Laurelin's cheek and then hurried over to hug Legolas beside the horses before she walked back toward the halls with a wave. "Have a good trip, you two, and watch out for orcs and thieves!"
Laurelin went further into the stables and smiled as she hugged her father. "Bye, Daddy. I'll miss you while I'm gone."
"And I shall miss you, daughter." He looked out of the stables where Legolas waited, dressed in his travel clothes and with all of his usual weapons on him. "But I know your bond-mate will care for you and keep you safe on your journey."
Pulling back, she looked up into his eyes, the same green as her own and smiled. "Le melin, Ada." (S. I love you, Daddy.)
"Le melin, iell." (I love you, daughter.) He rested a hand against her cheek with a pleased look. "You are starting to learn Sindarin?"
She tilted her head and grinned. "A little. Mostly I just pick it out of Legolas' head."
Thurindir's brows rose in faint surprise. "Truly? You have an exceedingly strong bond, then. That is a surprise, although perhaps not so much, considering Prince Legolas is the son of King Thranduil and Queen Calarien, both exceptionally gifted elves. I am glad of this, for your sake."
Standing on her tip toes, she kissed her father's cheek, smiling as she heard Legolas speak in her mind.
Come, my heart. We must away, and my father wishes to bid you farewell.
Looking behind her, she hurried her steps when she saw King Thranduil standing beside Legolas, talking. She felt a rush of love and affection for them both. It was amazing that two such incredible, powerful and totally bad-ass elves were her family, in addition to her own wonderful father. How had she managed to get so lucky?
Thranduil turned at her approach, reaching for her shoulders to rest his big hands there, and staring deep and searchingly into her eyes. He smiled with a pleased look a moment later and bent and kissed her forehead.
His voice sounded clearly in her head. Your bond with Legolas is strong and deep. This will be a great comfort for you in all the days that lie before you.
Laurelin blinked in surprise, staring curiously up at him. Is this something new since Legolas and I are married now, or can you just speak to me this way because you're a super elf?
His mouth quirked up on one side in amusement. I could speak in your mind at any time if I so choose due to my own gifts, but as you have my wife's blood and are also my son's bond-mate, we share additional connections that make communicating with you in this way nearly effortless.
She glanced over at Legolas who watched them with crossed arms and a slight smile, making her smile in return. Your dad is so fuckin' cool, I can hardly wrap my mind around it. Legolas laughed aloud as she met the king's ancient regard again, and Thranduil smirked.
She bit her lip and blushed, realizing she must have said that to both elves, instead of just to Legolas as she intended. "Oops," she muttered, her blush deepening when the Elvenking pinched her cheek in a surprisingly playful move before his hands fell away from her.
If ever you have need of me, Laurelin, call to me in this way and I will hear you.
"Thanks, Dad, I will." She moved toward him and he bent down, anticipating her so she could easily kiss his cheek. After Legolas lifted Laurelin onto Arod's back, he turned to his father and embraced him. Thranduil rested a hand on Legolas' shoulder.
"I know I do not need to tell you to stay vigilant as you journey. There are creatures of darkness that continue to roam that will be drawn to you both. Together and bonded, you are more a beacon to such things than ever before." From beneath his robes, the king pulled a small bundle and handed it to Legolas with a significant look toward Laurelin. Nodding in understanding as he immediately saw what was wrapped in the cloth, he smiled.
"Thank you, Adar. We will venture cautiously and see you upon our return."
"Or perhaps even sooner than that," Thranduil replied with a mysterious smile, then turned and walked back toward the halls.
Securing the bundle to Wynsang beside all the rest of their things he carried, Legolas mounted behind Laurelin and set Arod to a slow walk. As they made their way through Greenwood, they were quiet for a while.
Laurelin thought of their friends they would be reunited with when they reached Minas Tirith and grinned in eager anticipation, wondering what it would be like to see Aragorn as a king. With these thoughts in mind, she started to sing as they continued between a walk and a slow trot.
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
~o~
"From the ashes, a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."
Legolas brushed his lips against her temple in a light kiss. "Did you learn that from Aragorn?"
She nodded, turning to look at him. "Yes, I heard him singing it real quietly in front of the fire one night in Meduseld. I liked it, so I wrote it down so I wouldn't forget."
"I think it would please him if you sang it for him."
"You think so?" She wrapped both of her hands around one of his, turning pensive. "I guess singing for kings is what I do. Tell me what Minas Tirith looks like."
He pulled her more firmly against him and leaned down to kiss her neck, then proceeded to describe the city of white stone in detail, from the layout of the different levels, to the people who lived there, holding her captivated.
"I heard a good bit about it while I lived in Rohan, but I wasn't sure I'd ever get the chance to go and see it myself."
"And now you shall. I think you will enjoy it there. At least for a time. There aren't nearly enough trees and living things there to truly satisfy an elf. When you long for the trees, I can take you to Ithilien."
"Where is that? Still in Gondor?"
Legolas nodded. "Yes, it is not terribly far from Minas Tirith. There are some woods there in South Ithilien that are truly lovely and would grow moreso were there elves nearby to tend them. I did have a thought. You mentioned perhaps being open to starting a new settlement, and if you like Ithilien, we might even look to that in the future."
"Our very own hippie commune, you mean?" She tilted her head back, laughing when he winked in a perfect imitation of her, with a slight nod.
"Just so. I thought that might please you."
Laurelin sighed happily, pulling his head down so she could reach his lips for a kiss. "Why are you so good to me?"
He brushed his nose against hers with a tender smile. "I love you, utterly. Your happiness makes mine, just as I know my happiness completes yours."
Leaning her head back against his chest, she continued to stare up into his eyes, so very in love with him and getting lost in the blue depths of his gaze and the vivid memories of their past five days locked away together.
Legolas inhaled slowly, his hand tightening around hers. "And now with you looking at me in such a way, I already want to stop and make love to you, and we are barely two hours from my father's halls. What you do to me, sweet fire of my heart."
A trilling whistle like a bird-call sounded, making Legolas lift his head and glance up with a suddenly attentive look. "A patrol," he murmured against her ear. A sharp shout in Elvish came from further ahead, making the prince frown. He stopped Arod and slipped down to the forest floor, pulling his bow from his back. "Stay here, and I will return shortly. I want to be sure there is no danger ahead."
Nodding and curling her fingers into Arod's mane, Laurelin watched him jump from limb to limb until he was high up in the trees and then moved beyond her sight. Looking around at the vibrant, beautiful trees, she felt pleased to be surrounded by such beautiful woods. Glancing down, she smiled, looking at the rings on her fingers and tracing them thoughtfully. Arod made a low whinny and started to dance nervously to the side, making her clutch his mane tighter and frown, petting him to calm him.
"Hey boy, what's wrong, huh? Do you smell something?"
He turned toward their right and took off like a shot, obviously spooked, and Laurelin shrieked and clung onto him desperately, completely baffled to see Wynsang also running with them, looking wild-eyed and just as spooked as Arod.
"Woah, boys, woah! Slow down, Arod." She tried to coax the horse to slow, but he just kept running, and the next thing she knew, a branch she hadn't seen coming pushed her right off the horse's back and to the ground, knocking the wind out of her. She laid still and tried to take stock of just exactly what hurt, moving her shoulder gingerly and feeling a painful twinge there. After a minute it eased, and she pushed herself upright cautiously and looked around. Arod was long gone, but she could see Wynsang walking slowly back to where she lay.
The trees around her seemed unnaturally quiet, and there wasn't a single bird twittering or any usual forest noise. "That's weird," she muttered, finally climbing to her feet and dusting her riding dress off, glad she had worn a deep blue color that would do a good job of hiding dirt, after her roll around on the ground. Wynsang stopped beside her, but nickered with eyes that still looked fearful.
"Hey, darlin', it's okay. Just us and the trees here. I don't know what got into Arod. I don't suppose you could go get him for me, could you?"
Wynsang stomped his front hoof and tossed his head to express his opinion, making Laurelin smile. "Well, it wasn't very gentlemanly of him to run away with me like that, then just keep going when I fell off, was it?" Her horse raised and lowered his head in a nod, and she leaned forward and kissed his nose affectionately.
"Since it's just you and me, I guess we better try and go back the way we came so Legolas can find us." Planting her hands on her hips, she looked around, turning back to face where she thought they had been before. "Come on, Wynsang, I'll just walk and you follow me." Her horse followed behind her for the first ten minutes they walked, then he snorted in warning and got in front of her, blocking her when she tried to continue.
Frowning, she looked at his sweet brown eyes, trying to figure out what he was trying to tell her. "You...don't want me to go that way?" He nickered softly and she nodded. "Alright." She turned to the side. "How about we go this way?" When he followed her again, she thought maybe he was trying to keep her from danger and smiled at what an amazing horse he was when she heard a strange chittering noise all around her, almost like the cicadas from back home in the summertime. The sharp crack of a branch snapping overhead had her spinning, and she screamed at the giant black thing coming toward her rapidly. Laurelin turned and ran as fast as her legs would take her away from what she didn't believe she had actually seen. Was she maybe just stuck in nightmares and this was some new variation?
"Holy shit!" she screamed again when she caught a flash of black out of the corner of her eye right before she was knocked down onto her belly. The memory of the terrifying night with the orcs returned to her in stark clarity, and she growled in sudden anger and turned over onto her back, becoming frozen in fear again at the enormous spider now creeping more slowly toward her. It's black eyes seemed to be locked to her, and she heard her breath starting to heave in and out rapidly as panic suffused her. She was going to fucking die, just like in her dreams! A yell of denial tore from her throat right as all hell broke loose.
Wynsang screamed and charged the massive spider, aiming his sharp hooves for it at the same time arrows rained down from above. Gaining her feet, Laurelin ran in the opposite direction of the spider as though hell's hounds were nipping at her heels, a terrified shriek spilling from her as she was tackled and rolled across the ground and shoved beneath something heavy.
"Get the fuck off of me," she growled and shoved against the weight with all her might, determined she wouldn't die from being crushed by some unknown thing if she could help it. After a moment, the weight disappeared and she was hauled to her feet by a very familiar elf.
"Apologies, lady, but you were running straight for another spider, and I needed to get you out of the line of fire while your husband killed it."
"Langion?" she gasped, seeing the dead spider just beyond where she stood. With a frightened moan, she backed away from it, only to see another and another. They were lying dead all around her and she could feel the sick fear and panic taking over her body again. "I can't….I have to…I need to..." She covered her face with both hands, trying to block out the very things from a lifetime of nightmares while she tried to keep control of herself, but it was a battle lost, and she crumpled in a dead faint.
With lightning reflexes, Langion managed to catch her before she hit the ground, and swung her up into his arms. Searching the trees for Legolas, he turned toward him in relief when he felt his hand on his shoulder. "She lost consciousness."
"I saw," Legolas said grimly. "Thank you for protecting her to allow me to kill the others." Stowing his bow across his back, he took Laurelin from Langion with a worried look.
"I took care not to injure her, but I do not know if she was possibly wounded before I reached her and that might account for her swoon?"
Legolas shook his head, his brows puckered with concern. "Laurelin has no injuries. She fainted from terror. Even now, I can still feel it strongly from her."
"Will you take her back to the halls to recover? I can assist you if you require it," Langion offered quietly.
Wynsang walked up and nickered, nudging Laurelin's head gently in the prince's arms. "You are a fine protector, Wynsang," Legolas praised him. "She will be well soon, do not fear for her." The horse breathed a soft breath in Laurelin's face in apparent affection.
"Her horse well loves her," Langion observed, adjusting his daggers at his waist.
Shifting her more securely in his arms, Legolas gave a slight nod. "He was gifted to her by King Théoden of Rohan, before his death in battle. She values Wynsang greatly, as the king was as a father to her." Tilting his head back, Legolas gave a long, high whistle to call Arod to him.
"She seems to easily gain the regard of princes and kings wherever she goes," Langion said with a teasing smile.
Acknowledging the comment with a small smile of his own, Legolas looked down on her pale face. "She has the love of the King of Gondor as well."
Langion's brows climbed in surprise. "Are you certain you will not take her back to the halls, perhaps your father may..."
"No," Legolas replied with a sharp shake of his head. Arod trotted up and Legolas handed Laurelin back to Langion and mounted, then reached to take her into his arms once more, settling her in front of him. "We will be free of the woods soon, then I will find someplace to camp and tend to her well before dark. Thank you again for your assistance, my friend. It is very strange the spiders should target Laurelin specifically, but my father did warn me that dark things would be drawn to us. Perhaps this might have been what he was referring to."
Surveying the dead creatures around them, the captain rested his gaze on his lifelong friend holding his bond-mate protectively. "Safe journey, my friend. I was glad to be of use to you and your lady wife." Langion bowed with his hand to his heart. "I will look forward to your return."
"You can keep an eye on Alassë in my absence," Legolas said innocently, nudging Arod to walk away from the many dead spiders.
Langion gave an amused laugh. "I somehow feel she would not appreciate that, but I shall attempt it, at least from a safe distance. Farewell!"
Legolas spoke to Arod to increase his speed, eager to get Laurelin out of the trees and into the open. If there were more spiders, he wanted to avoid them if possible, especially with her unconscious and vulnerable as she was.
While they rode, he tried to offer his comfort and love as a balm to her ragged and frantic emotions that continued to radiate to him, all her fear and desire to flee.
"I am with you, my love," he whispered against her ear. "You are safe now. I will allow nothing to harm you."
A moment later, she gasped and opened her eyes, looking around them wildly, relaxing slightly when she saw they rode peacefully in a more open area, out of the thick forest. "I...had a bad dream," she said as much to herself as him.
"No," he replied in a gentle tone. "The spiders were real, Laurelin, but you were never in any danger. I will always protect you from harm. Have faith in me."
"I do. But..." She gave him a chagrined look. "Those spiders...real?" At his nod, she closed her eyes and rubbed a hand across her eyes. "I've had nightmares of being killed by an enormous spider creature my entire life, since I was little. Except it was much bigger than those we saw earlier, and more...I dunno, evil, I guess."
"I will allow nothing to harm you," he repeated with a fierce look. "I do not want you to fear so." Drawing a calming breath, he decided what should be done, looking back down to meet her uncertain eyes. "We shall stop for the night in a few hours, then there is something my father sent for you, two fighting knives. You will learn to use them, and I will teach you."
She gnawed the inside of her cheek, thinking she had never seen Legolas look so determined about anything. "Alright. I'm pretty sick of being unable to defend myself anyway. I really wanted to punch that ugly fucker in its nasty black eyes earlier. Sure wish I had my gun."
Legolas' expression relaxed slightly at her easy agreement, one side of his mouth lifting when he imagined his small lady in fisticuffs with a spider. "I would rather you use a knife than your fists, I think."
Turning slightly more toward him, she wrapped her arms around one of his, laying her head back against his chest. "Langion knocked me down so hard, he's lucky I didn't punch him. Actually, I think I may have actually hit him to try to get him off of me. He's heavier than he looks."
"I'm sorry if he hurt you, he was only doing as I asked."
Laurelin shrugged. "He didn't really hurt me, just surprised me." She lifted her head and tapped her hand on Arod, just beneath his mane. "But you and me are going to have a talk when we stop, Arod. I think we need to get a few things straight between us."
The horse made no outward sign of having heard her, and they settled into riding quietly for a time, Legolas making plans for later that evening when they stopped to make camp. He was actually looking forward to teaching her to fight, and then to having her in his arms after. There were certainly some benefits to traveling alone. He kissed the top of her head and swept his gaze across the area they rode through, ever alert for danger.
Poem quoted by J.R.R. Tolkien and set to music by Yolanda Mott
~o~