A/N: Sorry this part took so long. Typing fics out isn't really fun when college intrudes into life. And when I said "moons" in the previous chapter, I meant days. My apologies.
LessonsSeven: Mid-Summer's Eve
Legolas awoke ere dawn broke, and at once, he felt something different in the air and in the tree he had rested in. Ever since that time a couple of weeks ago when Shalane had rejected him, he had taken to the woods and only entered her room for meals.
He frowned as he tried to identify what was wrong, and then realized—Mid-Summer's eve. He had been in this particular world for almost two months. Yet, that alone should not have gnawed at him like that.
The mirror, something told him. Go to the mirror.
Well over 3000 years of living on instinct had taught him to trust it, and he leapt lightly down from the tree and ran over the grass, climbing up the roof and making slight noises as he entered Shalane's room to let her know of his presence.
Being a light sleeper, Shalane awoke and sat up. "What's wrong?"
"I do not know," Legolas admitted, "but I should be grateful for the use of your mirror."
"Go ahead." The girl cocked a quizzical head at him.
Legolas nodded his thanks and stood before the dresser mirror. Nothing happened at first, then as if a mist parted, the surface of the mirror shimmered to show water, and green trees beyond.
Shalane came to stand beside Legolas, and her eyes widened in shock as she saw not their reflections, but water and trees, She reached out hesitantly, and touched the mirror.
There was a slight tension as if a soft invisible membrane existed, and she felt the coolness of water at the tips of her fingers; she snatched her hand back in alarm, droplets of water dripping onto the floor.
Legolas looked at her. "Do you believe me now, lady?"
"I—I—" Shalane shook her head vehemently, as if to clear it. "I—I'm sorry for doubting you."
"There is no harm done." Legolas stood staring at the image in the mirror, but made no move to leave.
"You're…not going back?" The teen ventured.
"I come not of this earth, yet…" He left his sentence unfinished, and took a step towards her, "I am held here."
Shalane allowed herself to be taken into his arms and receive his lips on hers.
She ran from the woods, disbelieving that one so fair could like her; for long years, few had cared for her but her parents and a few teachers in school, and now someone she had known for only a short time said he cared.
But her heart had told her that Legolas was not lying, and his words and feelings were sincere. Yet, she had remained afraid, and shunned his presence.
Long did she gaze out from her window to the woods ever since her reaction to his revelations, hoping to catch a glance of him, but not wanting to talk.
She loved him, but was afraid, and her fears held her back.
"Do you really have to leave?" She asked when Legolas drew away.
"Aye," he said, and his eyes held sorrow. "Pardon me for kissing you against your wishes."
"No, Legolas," Shalane said softly. "Don't apologize." And she grabbed him down for another kiss.
The Elf, who had lived many years more, felt the emotions Shalane could not speak, and he knew that she loved him in return but was afraid. And at that moment, souls met and bonded.
"I leave my bow here with you, hiril nîn," he said. "Do not weep," he thumbed her tears away, "for friendship and love shall pierce different realms."
"I dunno about that, Legolas." She shook her head. "It feels so painful."
"Aye, for love and pain comes oft together." He reached behind his neck and unclasped a necklace. A pendent delicately carved in the shape of a leaf, with the greenest emerald set in its center, hung on it. "Take this as well, and do not grieve, for you shall be ever in my heart."
Shalane nodded and reached around Legolas to her table, picking up the picture frame containing a photograph of her. "Here, you take this. Just don't let it touch water, or it'd fade."
"My thanks, meleth nîn, yet even if it fades, my memory of you shall not." Legolas caressed her face briefly, then pulled away and walked over to the mirror, reaching out. He turned partly back to the girl when his fingers were a few inches away from the mirror. "In dreams, meleth nîn."
The sun's first rays shot into Shalane's room and hit the mirror, just as the moon rose on the other side, so that sunlight and moonlight met, and consumed Legolas in their brilliance.
***
Legolas felt his senses slowly return to him, and he blinked in the rays of Ithil. He turned in haste to the waters of the lake, but already the image of Shalane was starting to fade.
Ere he could do aught else, water became water again, shimmering in the moonlight, and Legolas sighed, raising his face to Varda's stars and singing a song of lament in his fair voice.
"Legolas!" A voice interrupted him.
"Arauial." Legolas acknowledged the lone Elf, then saw more with her, and frowned. "Why do you lead so many of our people out in the night?"
"You disappeared for many months and we thought danger had befallen you, for you sent no word," another Elf named Arsulë said.
"We had just started to search Southern Mirkwood and heard your voice. Whiter did you go and what strange garb is this?"
"Nay," Legolas said, "ask me not, for I will speak naught of it. Come, let us return." He started to walk in silence, hand gripping the picture frame tightly.