Chapter Six
Later in the evening, after dinner was completed, Legolas escorted Echo through one of the many palace courtyards, by the light of the setting, red sun. He held her as close to him as he dared to…he hated to seem forward and turn her away from him…
"Gandalf says we must leave tomorrow," Legolas said softly. "He says we cannot risk travel by the light of the sun and thus must travel in darkness..."
Echo's emerald eyes misted over with tears. "I knew this time would come…I just wish it didn't have to be so soon. Things are…things are so much better with you here."
Legolas bit his lip. "Come with us then! You can travel with me to Rivendell and then on to Mirkwood – "
Echo touched her fingertips to his lips. "As much as I would love to, I cannot."
Legolas stopped walking and grabbed both of her hands. "I must say though…I believe you would be safer if you left Catalyncia."
"Perhaps I would, but it is my station to stay with my kingdom," Echo sighed. "I was not crowned Queen only to desert my people."
Legolas sighed sadly. "I don't want to leave you."
So much for not wanting to seem forward – he wanted to kick himself.
Echo stared at him in surprise and watched in wonder as he gently laced his fingers through hers. She raised her eyes to his and whispered, "Do you mean that?"
Legolas gently tilted her chin up and very softly murmured, "Im nira athrada uir an na tatya aselye…Echo…nin 'iritha norta as le an-uir. I will cross eternity to be a moment with you…Echo…my heart dwells with you forever."
He paused to take a deep breath, then shakily whispered, "Im meleth le. I love you."
Echo smiled brightly at Legolas and softly replied, "Im meleth le!"
Slowly, so he didn't ruin the moment he had yearned for so long, Legolas leaned over and very softly pressed his lips to hers. Holding her in his arms became his heaven, loving her became his paradise. He wished that he could have frozen time at that precise moment, so he could capture the feeling in his heart forever.
The kiss was short, but to Legolas was like a bolt of electricity shooting through his soul. When it ended, the two gently touched their foreheads together. He gently ran his fingers through Echo's silky hair and murmured, "Isn't there anyway I can convince you to come with us?"
Echo dreamily traced the delicate golden embroidery on Legolas's tunic. "I wish there was a way that I could…but, circumstances being as they are, they is no way."
Legolas held her close to him, taking in every splendid sensation. "There is always a way, melethril nin ."
They stared into each other's eyes for several moments, simply enjoying the comfortable silence and the feeling of being in each others arms. Finally, Legolas softly said, "There is something I want to give you."
Before Echo could say anything, Legolas quickly continued, "So you can think of me until I return to you."
From underneath his light blue tunic, he pulled a delicate golden chain, which hung around his neck. At the end of the chain was a small, fragile, crystal globe which was half filled with deep brown soil. The soil was that of his homeland, Mirkwood, and was something that he always carried with him. Long, long ago, his mother had given it him. She told him to always keep it to close to his heart, and there Mirkwood would always be. He remembered it like it was yesterday…though; it was slowly becoming difficult for him to remember his mother. Long ago he had forgotten the sound of her voice – now slowly the memory of her face was fading. The chain and its delicate globe were one of the last treasures he had from his mother…and because it was so special, he deemed it worthy to give to his Echo.
He carefully slipped the chain over Echo's head and pulled her hair through it. "It...it was my mothers. It's soil from our homeland…when you look at it, think of me…and my love for you."
Echo looked at the globe for a few moments, but before any words could escape from her lips, a loud voice from the shadows growled, "Your Highness. I believe that it is time that you retired for the evening."
Legolas inwardly groaned. The unmistakable voice belonged to Chelron.
The tall, dark, elf emerged from the shadows, frowning deeply at Legolas and Echo. The Queen made no move, but instead stated – with obviously forced calmness – "Once again, Chelron, I do not need your constant input on how I should conduct my every move."
"But as your head of security, I have much concern with these little midnight walks…" he paused and glared at Legolas. "…And with an escort of questionable means, nonetheless."
"I am not a child – "
Legolas gently touched Echo's arm. "It's alright. We yet have tomorrow."
Echo sighed and slowly trailed her fingertips across his hand. "Until tomorrow then, Legolas Greenleaf…my Prince of Mirkwood."
Legolas watched Echo – guided by the firm grasp of Chelron – disappear into the dimly lighted palace. The longer that he stayed in Catalyncia, the more that he grew to love Echo…and the more he grew to distrust Chelron.
Later in the evening, after dinner was completed, Legolas escorted Echo through one of the many palace courtyards, by the light of the setting, red sun. He held her as close to him as he dared to…he hated to seem forward and turn her away from him…
"Gandalf says we must leave tomorrow," Legolas said softly. "He says we cannot risk travel by the light of the sun and thus must travel in darkness..."
Echo's emerald eyes misted over with tears. "I knew this time would come…I just wish it didn't have to be so soon. Things are…things are so much better with you here."
Legolas bit his lip. "Come with us then! You can travel with me to Rivendell and then on to Mirkwood – "
Echo touched her fingertips to his lips. "As much as I would love to, I cannot."
Legolas stopped walking and grabbed both of her hands. "I must say though…I believe you would be safer if you left Catalyncia."
"Perhaps I would, but it is my station to stay with my kingdom," Echo sighed. "I was not crowned Queen only to desert my people."
Legolas sighed sadly. "I don't want to leave you."
So much for not wanting to seem forward – he wanted to kick himself.
Echo stared at him in surprise and watched in wonder as he gently laced his fingers through hers. She raised her eyes to his and whispered, "Do you mean that?"
Legolas gently tilted her chin up and very softly murmured, "Im nira athrada uir an na tatya aselye…Echo…nin 'iritha norta as le an-uir. I will cross eternity to be a moment with you…Echo…my heart dwells with you forever."
He paused to take a deep breath, then shakily whispered, "Im meleth le. I love you."
Echo smiled brightly at Legolas and softly replied, "Im meleth le!"
Slowly, so he didn't ruin the moment he had yearned for so long, Legolas leaned over and very softly pressed his lips to hers. Holding her in his arms became his heaven, loving her became his paradise. He wished that he could have frozen time at that precise moment, so he could capture the feeling in his heart forever.
The kiss was short, but to Legolas was like a bolt of electricity shooting through his soul. When it ended, the two gently touched their foreheads together. He gently ran his fingers through Echo's silky hair and murmured, "Isn't there anyway I can convince you to come with us?"
Echo dreamily traced the delicate golden embroidery on Legolas's tunic. "I wish there was a way that I could…but, circumstances being as they are, they is no way."
Legolas held her close to him, taking in every splendid sensation. "There is always a way, melethril nin ."
They stared into each other's eyes for several moments, simply enjoying the comfortable silence and the feeling of being in each others arms. Finally, Legolas softly said, "There is something I want to give you."
Before Echo could say anything, Legolas quickly continued, "So you can think of me until I return to you."
From underneath his light blue tunic, he pulled a delicate golden chain, which hung around his neck. At the end of the chain was a small, fragile, crystal globe which was half filled with deep brown soil. The soil was that of his homeland, Mirkwood, and was something that he always carried with him. Long, long ago, his mother had given it him. She told him to always keep it to close to his heart, and there Mirkwood would always be. He remembered it like it was yesterday…though; it was slowly becoming difficult for him to remember his mother. Long ago he had forgotten the sound of her voice – now slowly the memory of her face was fading. The chain and its delicate globe were one of the last treasures he had from his mother…and because it was so special, he deemed it worthy to give to his Echo.
He carefully slipped the chain over Echo's head and pulled her hair through it. "It...it was my mothers. It's soil from our homeland…when you look at it, think of me…and my love for you."
Echo looked at the globe for a few moments, but before any words could escape from her lips, a loud voice from the shadows growled, "Your Highness. I believe that it is time that you retired for the evening."
Legolas inwardly groaned. The unmistakable voice belonged to Chelron.
The tall, dark, elf emerged from the shadows, frowning deeply at Legolas and Echo. The Queen made no move, but instead stated – with obviously forced calmness – "Once again, Chelron, I do not need your constant input on how I should conduct my every move."
"But as your head of security, I have much concern with these little midnight walks…" he paused and glared at Legolas. "…And with an escort of questionable means, nonetheless."
"I am not a child – "
Legolas gently touched Echo's arm. "It's alright. We yet have tomorrow."
Echo sighed and slowly trailed her fingertips across his hand. "Until tomorrow then, Legolas Greenleaf…my Prince of Mirkwood."
Legolas watched Echo – guided by the firm grasp of Chelron – disappear into the dimly lighted palace. The longer that he stayed in Catalyncia, the more that he grew to love Echo…and the more he grew to distrust Chelron.