By popular request, a scene in which Legolas tells Thaliniel that he's joining the Fellowship
Secret Scene #6: Legolas Says Goodbye
The sun's last rays of light broke through the trees, casting long shadows across the immaculate grounds of Rivendell when Legolas returned to his room after Lord Elrond's secret council, after being summoned to stay behind by Mithrandir and Lord Elrond to discuss his possible inclusion among the Fellowship.
In truth, the prince felt honored to be chosen. Honored and slightly nauseous, the latter feeling coming from the knowledge that he would leave Thaliniel behind in Rivendell. He did not want to leave her, that was true enough, but even more so, he dreaded telling her he was going.
They were best friends, had been so ever since he had sworn to protect her during their journey to find her little sister many years ago. They had both been so young and foolish then, but the love they discovered for one another and the bond they forged together was real and enduring.
He stepped into the shade of the open hallway, the light filtering in behind him to illuminate the white stone of the walls and pillars, and at the far end, waiting for him, brightened in the evening sun was Thaliniel.
His wife rushed forward eagerly, shielding her eyes from the bright light with one hand. "Goodness!" she exclaimed. "I thought they were never going to let you go!"
She took his hand in hers and reached up to press a kiss to his cheek. "Do you want a minute to freshen up before dinner?" she asked, tugging him toward their room.
Legolas allowed himself to be drawn into their chambers, listening half-heartedly to her happy chatter about the afternoon she had spent in Lord Elrond's library. It was only when he shut the door behind him then sagged against the frame that she realized her husband was not his usual cheery self.
"Legolas?" she asked softly.
Her eyes, brown, warm and trusting, met his. The effect was enough that Legolas nearly walked out the door right then and headed back to Lord Elrond's table to recant his oath to join the Fellowship. How could he leave her? Then he recalled the look on the young hobbit's face when he volunteered to take the ring to Mordor, to see it destroyed, to free their lands of Sauron's dominion. In the face of such unselfishness, how could he now only think of himself?
"I—" he began weakly and then the words came out in a rush, "I volunteered for a dangerous task, Thaliniel, at the council meeting today."
She regarded him curiously, for it was rare for her usually sunny-dispositioned husband to be rattled so. "A dangerous task, Legolas? Well, when do we leave?"
He shook his head forlornly, dreading the words he would say: "No, you don't understand," he told her, his voice breaking. "You must stay here. This quest, Thalinel? It is too perilous, too risky."
Too risky. Even for him. A trek deep into the heart of the enemy's lands to Orodruin was no small undertaking. Watching her face as he told her briefly of what his journey would entail, Legolas could tell when the meaning behind his words began to form in her mind. He knew her well enough to gauge her moods, to know that the slight set of her lips meant that tears were not far away.
Pulling her into his arms, Legolas pressed a single kiss against the warm slope of her neck and felt her arms tighten around him. She was his comfort, his rock—she always had been. His friend, his best friend. The one to whom he told all of his fears and hopes. His hands drifted from her waist to her back, where the long fall of her hair was warm and soft against his fingers.
'I am sorry," he whispered. "Sorry that I pulled you into this."
"I am sorry too," she said back to him, leaning against the solid strength of his chest and his arms around her.
He threaded his fingers through her hair, memorizing the way she felt against him in that moment, the gentle curve of her neck, the exact color of her hair in his hands, and her scent, fresh like the spring rain after it swept through her father's old vineyard.
They did not go to dinner that night. Instead they curled up together in front of the fire, holding each other, talking over what Legolas' leaving with the Fellowship would mean.
Thaliniel would stay with Lord Elrond. The path back over the Misty Mountains had become too treacherous according to the returning scouts. He did not know when he would return but trusted the Lord of Imladris to keep her safe.
"But Legolas, what of your father? When we do not return, what will he think?" Thaliniel asked, craning her neck to look up at him.
Her prince leaned back on his pillow and stared at the flames for a moment. "My leaving will be hard on him. I know it will. As surely as I know that our forest will face attack if it comes to war."
"Narylfiel will be there with him," she told him. "She has always been a comfort to your father."
Legolas mulled over her words. "That's true," he agreed. "I am glad I made her return from the southern border before I left. She has always had a way with him."
"Have you ever wondered if my sister and your father..." Thaliniel left her words unsaid as an image wavered in her mind, of Narylfiel and Thranduil together on the settee in front of the fire in the shared sitting room; her head rested on his shoulder and they spoke together in low murmured tones, and then later the king's rare musical laugh rang down the hall.
"What?" Legolas asked.
"Never mind," she said, her eyes softening as she watched the way the warm light of the fire made her prince's hair gleam like gold, her beautiful Legolas. She was not ready to give him up, would not be ready to watch him leave, whether it was in three weeks or a thousand years. She never wanted to be parted from his side. He had become as much of a part of her as her own beating heart.
"Legolas?" she said after a beat and straightened up, angled her body enough that she was facing him.
"Hmm?" he asked.
"I think..." she hesitated until his eyes met hers. "I want a baby."
"Did you say..." Legolas cleared his throat, eyed her carefully, "a baby?"
She nodded earnestly, picked up his hand in hers. "I know we've talked about it. And Legolas, I know the timing is terrible, but—"
Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she moved back into his arms, wrapping hers tightly around his chest, burying her face against the softness of his hair and his broad shoulder. His arms went around her, firm and reassuring.
Legolas held her like that for a moment, or perhaps for an hour, just held her in his arms, his warm solid body against hers like a balm to her quiet anguish. Thaliniel wanted a baby, his child to carry and hold, to love and protect. They had talked about it plenty, and their resounding conclusion was that there would always be time for starting a family later.
Only now...
Legolas did not need his wife to finish her sentence. The unspoken truth weighed on his heart ever since he swore to protect the Ringbearer. There might not be a later for him, and Legolas knew from the ache in her eyes that Thaliniel worried this was a quest from which her husband might not return.
"Thaliniel," he whispered against her hair. She lifted her head from his shoulder to meet his eyes. "Thaliniel, if you want a baby, then that's what I want too."
She blinked, eyes and lashes still wet. "Really?"
Legolas nodded and then brushed his thumb across her cheek to clear the traces of her tears. Thaliniel wanted a baby, a child of their own—love and wonder and hope stirred in his heart at the thought. He leaned in and kissed her, his lips slow and warm against hers.
Wordlessly, he picked her up and carried her to their bed. There, Legolas comforted his beloved well into the night.
Author's note: Aww. There will always be a soft spot in my heart for the prince of the Woodland Realm. Well, friends, there is one more secret scene to post and Kingsfoil will be all wrapped up!
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