Legolas and Aunorey walked hand in hand into Mirkwood. The huge city was awash with silver light from the moon. Lights were lit in the windows of the palaces, few people walked among the streets, all bowing to Legolas when they recognized him. Aunorey watched him nod back or raise his hand. She also watched his shoulders and his jaw tense the closer they got to their palace, and she reached out and rubbed her hand over his lower back.
Legolas sighed and looked down at her, giving a slight smile. "Sorry... I'm just... not looking forward to this."
Aunorey nodded, looking down at the ground as she watched her silk skirt swaying and her slippers peaking out underneath, next to Legolas's scuffed brown boots and green leggings. She smiled.
Suddenly she felt Legolas reach out and touch her shoulder. She looked up, realizing they were right outside of the main hall (a/n: if you've seen the movie, you know it's in the trees and there are hallways all over the place...). She watched Legolas quickly hand the reins to a young stable elf, who came running up. He then turned to her, placing his hands on her shoulders, looking at her. He leaned down and kissed her, and she felt his long hair flow over his shoulder and mingle with hers. She put her hands on his waist, but didn't push closer. Legolas pulled back, but not letting go of her, and Aunorey opened her eyes. Even in the dark, his eyes were glowing an odd blue. She smiled reassuringly, "This shouldn't be so scary."
"Yeah, well..." Legolas just smiled, grabbing her hand, and led her down the hallway. Stopping outside the door, he looked over at her, "Who do we want to see first?"
"Your parents."
Nodding, Legolas reached down and pushed the door open. They walked into the glass, wood and tile foyer. They walked down the steps and turned into the main room, where a servant came up. "Prince Legolas!" The elf bowed.
Legolas nodded, smiled, and patted the elf's shoulder. "Barlos." He said the word with meaning. Then, "Where are my parents?" He asked almost cautiously, but kept his shoulders straightened.
"Um, in their bedchamber, I believe."
Aunorey smiled at the man who looked at her, whose big eyes got even bigger, and his cheeks reddened. (A/N: He looks like the young (CUTE!) priest from Chocolat!) He bowed. "Lady Aunorey." Barlos then spun around and marched down an opposite hall to the bedchamber.
Legolas led her into the main, wide, open room, with many windows surrounded by silk. There was a table in the middle of the room by the farthest wall, which was made of stone, and plush seats. There were thick white marble columns with gold veining lining the room. Aunorey listened as Legolas's boots clicked against the tile flooring. They sat down, their thighs touching, hands intertwined, and listened as a shout came from the hall.
"He's home?!" Legolas's father, who bore a great resemble to Arowin's father. (A/N: she's in the movie.. can't remember her name. But if you don't know who the dad is.. he plays the agent in Matrix: Reloaded, too :). Oh, and we never really got to see or hear of Legolas's parents so I'm just making this up as I go along.. as usual.) Farlyn Greenleaf came into the room, wearing black breeches and a loose white peasant shirt, his long brown hair cascaded around his shoulders, and braided like Legolas's on the sides. His face was contorted with a mix of worry and relief, along with anger.
Mariya Greenwood came just a few seconds later, wearing a long, loose white dress that hung from her shoulders, with exquisite beading of tiny white pearls across the chest, the pearls almost matching her skin. Her blonde hair was up in a neat chignon, and Aunorey could see how blue her eyes were from across the room.
Legolas and Aunorey both stood up as his parents made their way into the room, and Legolas tightened his hand on Aunorey's, almost afraid as if she would tug away or disappear.
"Father. Mother." Legolas said.
His parents were silent for a moment, and Aunorey watched Farlan's eyes as he studied his sons and her's hands. It was broken when Legolas let go to hug his mother, who came and wrapped her arms around him. "Darling, finally. We were worried about you."
Farlan came over, kissed his son quickly on both cheeks, gave him a 'we'll talk later... alone' look and then straightened. "Aunorey Arrowin. You've caused a great deal of havoc, you know."
Aunorey nodded. "Yes, sir." She felt Legolas take her hand again, barely step forward, but she could tell he was defending her. She stepped up beside him, tugging slightly at his hand making it known it was way too early for any kind of defense. "I am sorry. I just... I had problems going on that are now no longer issues."
Mariya stepped up, placing a hand on her husband's shoulder. "Aunorey, all we care about is that you are home."
Aunorey smiled at Mariya. Mariya always caused Aunorey to feel inadequate, too dark, too clumsy. Mariya was serene, with fair skin and hair blonder than her sons, and a voice like a siren's. She moved as though she was gliding on water, but she also spoke her mind and knew how to laugh. It was no wonder she was queen of such an extraordinarily beautiful place.
Farlan looked back at his wife, then took her hand and gesturing with his other that they all sit. Farlan looked back and forth between Aunorey and Legolas. "So," he finally said. "What exactly is going on? What happened?"
Legolas looked at Aunorey, who, in return, looked at him. They both looked down then back at his parents. Legolas grinned and said cheerfully, "Father, mother, I am in love."
Mariya smiled, Farlan's gaze turned to disbelief, and Aunorey whitened. "With...?" Farlan inquired.
"Aunorey."
Farlan sent Aunorey a questioning glance, his mouth slightly open. She nodded, and watched Farlan's eyes open wide, and then he collapsed against the seat. "Well, my, my, my, mother of... I never, ever thought I'd see the day. See, Mariya," he slightly knudged his wife, "I told you all that teasing when they were little was love."
Aunorey and Legolas looked at each other while Mariya started laughing. After she quieted down, she asked, "What happened on your trip? All the others, except for Mariu, returned almost two weeks ago."
Legolas looked around, still unbelieving he was home, before answering. "Well, see... How long were we gone?"
"Almost a month and a half."
Legolas's brows raised just a bit, and he smiled. "Love at first sight," he said to himself, and then began to explain. "Well, I met up with Aunorey in Sea Cairn at Lampy's Inn, where she was going to be staying. It took her a couple of days to be persuaded to even leave the inn. We made our journey home until we happened upon Mariu at the Forest of Glennwood... and, he ended up dead." Legolas cleared his throat.
"Dead?" His parents inquired at once.
"Yes. I..." He looked down at Aunorey. "I killed him." He said honestly, looking back at his parents. "He tried to kill me and Aunorey."
Aunorey nodded.
Farlan nodded for him to go on. Legolas's lips tightened, and Aunorey watched a vein pump in his neck. His hand tightened on hers. "He called her a whore, among other things, and why he would say such things I wouldn't understand. Aunorey and I were camping out in the Forest because it was the quickest way home, and on one of those nights Mariu..." He paused, his jaw clenching.
"Kidnapped me and almost killed Legolas." Aunorey went on, noticing it was difficult for Legolas. "He... I don't know, he was sick. Legolas was healed by sirens, though, and has but only a few scars. Nothing serious."
Farlan looked at his wife curiously before looking back at them. "You are home, and you are safe. That is all that matters. Thank you, Aunorey. I think we had best get Varione and Arion over here quickly. We will all talk later."
Aunorey nodded and when his parents rose and turned, she felt Legolas lean down and kiss her forehead, then rest his jaw upon her forehead. "It will be okay."
Aunorey let out a breath. "I know my parents will be happy to see me... but what's going to happen... I don't know." She clutched Legolas's forearm, feeling the warm skin under his shirt. "Something will."
Legolas's eyes narrowed in concern, and he studied the top of Aunorey's bowed head. She was fidgeting, which was rare for her, and when she finally looked up at him, her green eyes were full of worry.
Legolas wanted to hold her more than anything at that moment, but he heard hurried footsteps and looked behind her. Varione and Arion stood, white faced, in the foyer. Aunorey and Legolas stood up, and Legolas felt Aunorey's grip tighten painfully as tears entered her eyes.
Varione and Arion rushed forward, taking their daugher away from Legolas, wrapping their arms around her. Varione began to cry. "Mother. Papa." Aunorey said, tears began to stream down her face, too.
Legolas stood back, with his parents by his side, and watched Aunorey reunite with her parents.
"I'm sorry." Aunorey was whispering to her parents. When they finally realized where they were, they stopped and turned towards the Greenleaf's, Aunorey and Varione whiping at their eyes.
"Farlan." Arion and Farlan embraced, and Varione and Mariya kissed each other's cheeks, gratitude and thanksgiving filling the air. Legolas and Aunorey were the only two who stood apart, staring at each other. Aunorey's head was tilted down, but her eyes, still shiny with tears, were locked on Legolas's, who was smiling at her.
In what seemed like slow motion, Aunorey was gently prodded out of the room, her mother's and at her back. She turned her head, looking at Legolas as though it were her last time, and he stood still, staring at her, watching her leave, as his parents flocked to him, and began to talk.
Neither heard the words coming out of their parents' mouths.
The connection was all that was important.
Aunorey prayed it would last.
Legolas sighed and looked down at her, giving a slight smile. "Sorry... I'm just... not looking forward to this."
Aunorey nodded, looking down at the ground as she watched her silk skirt swaying and her slippers peaking out underneath, next to Legolas's scuffed brown boots and green leggings. She smiled.
Suddenly she felt Legolas reach out and touch her shoulder. She looked up, realizing they were right outside of the main hall (a/n: if you've seen the movie, you know it's in the trees and there are hallways all over the place...). She watched Legolas quickly hand the reins to a young stable elf, who came running up. He then turned to her, placing his hands on her shoulders, looking at her. He leaned down and kissed her, and she felt his long hair flow over his shoulder and mingle with hers. She put her hands on his waist, but didn't push closer. Legolas pulled back, but not letting go of her, and Aunorey opened her eyes. Even in the dark, his eyes were glowing an odd blue. She smiled reassuringly, "This shouldn't be so scary."
"Yeah, well..." Legolas just smiled, grabbing her hand, and led her down the hallway. Stopping outside the door, he looked over at her, "Who do we want to see first?"
"Your parents."
Nodding, Legolas reached down and pushed the door open. They walked into the glass, wood and tile foyer. They walked down the steps and turned into the main room, where a servant came up. "Prince Legolas!" The elf bowed.
Legolas nodded, smiled, and patted the elf's shoulder. "Barlos." He said the word with meaning. Then, "Where are my parents?" He asked almost cautiously, but kept his shoulders straightened.
"Um, in their bedchamber, I believe."
Aunorey smiled at the man who looked at her, whose big eyes got even bigger, and his cheeks reddened. (A/N: He looks like the young (CUTE!) priest from Chocolat!) He bowed. "Lady Aunorey." Barlos then spun around and marched down an opposite hall to the bedchamber.
Legolas led her into the main, wide, open room, with many windows surrounded by silk. There was a table in the middle of the room by the farthest wall, which was made of stone, and plush seats. There were thick white marble columns with gold veining lining the room. Aunorey listened as Legolas's boots clicked against the tile flooring. They sat down, their thighs touching, hands intertwined, and listened as a shout came from the hall.
"He's home?!" Legolas's father, who bore a great resemble to Arowin's father. (A/N: she's in the movie.. can't remember her name. But if you don't know who the dad is.. he plays the agent in Matrix: Reloaded, too :). Oh, and we never really got to see or hear of Legolas's parents so I'm just making this up as I go along.. as usual.) Farlyn Greenleaf came into the room, wearing black breeches and a loose white peasant shirt, his long brown hair cascaded around his shoulders, and braided like Legolas's on the sides. His face was contorted with a mix of worry and relief, along with anger.
Mariya Greenwood came just a few seconds later, wearing a long, loose white dress that hung from her shoulders, with exquisite beading of tiny white pearls across the chest, the pearls almost matching her skin. Her blonde hair was up in a neat chignon, and Aunorey could see how blue her eyes were from across the room.
Legolas and Aunorey both stood up as his parents made their way into the room, and Legolas tightened his hand on Aunorey's, almost afraid as if she would tug away or disappear.
"Father. Mother." Legolas said.
His parents were silent for a moment, and Aunorey watched Farlan's eyes as he studied his sons and her's hands. It was broken when Legolas let go to hug his mother, who came and wrapped her arms around him. "Darling, finally. We were worried about you."
Farlan came over, kissed his son quickly on both cheeks, gave him a 'we'll talk later... alone' look and then straightened. "Aunorey Arrowin. You've caused a great deal of havoc, you know."
Aunorey nodded. "Yes, sir." She felt Legolas take her hand again, barely step forward, but she could tell he was defending her. She stepped up beside him, tugging slightly at his hand making it known it was way too early for any kind of defense. "I am sorry. I just... I had problems going on that are now no longer issues."
Mariya stepped up, placing a hand on her husband's shoulder. "Aunorey, all we care about is that you are home."
Aunorey smiled at Mariya. Mariya always caused Aunorey to feel inadequate, too dark, too clumsy. Mariya was serene, with fair skin and hair blonder than her sons, and a voice like a siren's. She moved as though she was gliding on water, but she also spoke her mind and knew how to laugh. It was no wonder she was queen of such an extraordinarily beautiful place.
Farlan looked back at his wife, then took her hand and gesturing with his other that they all sit. Farlan looked back and forth between Aunorey and Legolas. "So," he finally said. "What exactly is going on? What happened?"
Legolas looked at Aunorey, who, in return, looked at him. They both looked down then back at his parents. Legolas grinned and said cheerfully, "Father, mother, I am in love."
Mariya smiled, Farlan's gaze turned to disbelief, and Aunorey whitened. "With...?" Farlan inquired.
"Aunorey."
Farlan sent Aunorey a questioning glance, his mouth slightly open. She nodded, and watched Farlan's eyes open wide, and then he collapsed against the seat. "Well, my, my, my, mother of... I never, ever thought I'd see the day. See, Mariya," he slightly knudged his wife, "I told you all that teasing when they were little was love."
Aunorey and Legolas looked at each other while Mariya started laughing. After she quieted down, she asked, "What happened on your trip? All the others, except for Mariu, returned almost two weeks ago."
Legolas looked around, still unbelieving he was home, before answering. "Well, see... How long were we gone?"
"Almost a month and a half."
Legolas's brows raised just a bit, and he smiled. "Love at first sight," he said to himself, and then began to explain. "Well, I met up with Aunorey in Sea Cairn at Lampy's Inn, where she was going to be staying. It took her a couple of days to be persuaded to even leave the inn. We made our journey home until we happened upon Mariu at the Forest of Glennwood... and, he ended up dead." Legolas cleared his throat.
"Dead?" His parents inquired at once.
"Yes. I..." He looked down at Aunorey. "I killed him." He said honestly, looking back at his parents. "He tried to kill me and Aunorey."
Aunorey nodded.
Farlan nodded for him to go on. Legolas's lips tightened, and Aunorey watched a vein pump in his neck. His hand tightened on hers. "He called her a whore, among other things, and why he would say such things I wouldn't understand. Aunorey and I were camping out in the Forest because it was the quickest way home, and on one of those nights Mariu..." He paused, his jaw clenching.
"Kidnapped me and almost killed Legolas." Aunorey went on, noticing it was difficult for Legolas. "He... I don't know, he was sick. Legolas was healed by sirens, though, and has but only a few scars. Nothing serious."
Farlan looked at his wife curiously before looking back at them. "You are home, and you are safe. That is all that matters. Thank you, Aunorey. I think we had best get Varione and Arion over here quickly. We will all talk later."
Aunorey nodded and when his parents rose and turned, she felt Legolas lean down and kiss her forehead, then rest his jaw upon her forehead. "It will be okay."
Aunorey let out a breath. "I know my parents will be happy to see me... but what's going to happen... I don't know." She clutched Legolas's forearm, feeling the warm skin under his shirt. "Something will."
Legolas's eyes narrowed in concern, and he studied the top of Aunorey's bowed head. She was fidgeting, which was rare for her, and when she finally looked up at him, her green eyes were full of worry.
Legolas wanted to hold her more than anything at that moment, but he heard hurried footsteps and looked behind her. Varione and Arion stood, white faced, in the foyer. Aunorey and Legolas stood up, and Legolas felt Aunorey's grip tighten painfully as tears entered her eyes.
Varione and Arion rushed forward, taking their daugher away from Legolas, wrapping their arms around her. Varione began to cry. "Mother. Papa." Aunorey said, tears began to stream down her face, too.
Legolas stood back, with his parents by his side, and watched Aunorey reunite with her parents.
"I'm sorry." Aunorey was whispering to her parents. When they finally realized where they were, they stopped and turned towards the Greenleaf's, Aunorey and Varione whiping at their eyes.
"Farlan." Arion and Farlan embraced, and Varione and Mariya kissed each other's cheeks, gratitude and thanksgiving filling the air. Legolas and Aunorey were the only two who stood apart, staring at each other. Aunorey's head was tilted down, but her eyes, still shiny with tears, were locked on Legolas's, who was smiling at her.
In what seemed like slow motion, Aunorey was gently prodded out of the room, her mother's and at her back. She turned her head, looking at Legolas as though it were her last time, and he stood still, staring at her, watching her leave, as his parents flocked to him, and began to talk.
Neither heard the words coming out of their parents' mouths.
The connection was all that was important.
Aunorey prayed it would last.