Note: I think I cleared everything up in the Prologue. This is a song fic
for A/L to Celine Dion's 'It's All Coming Back To Me Now'. None of these
are my characters. Legolas=Rogue, ok? I warned you, he is OOC in this fic!
This chapter is Legolas/Rouge's POV.
Shadows of Memories
Part 2
A.J. Matthews
*************
Present Day
*************
************************************************
There were nights when the wind was so cold
That my body froze in bed if I just listened to it
Right outside the window
There were days when the sun was so cruel
That all the tears turned to dust
And I just knew my eyes were drying up forever
I finished crying in the instant that you left
And I can't remember where or when or how
And I banished every memory you and I had ever made
***********************************************
I sat alone, as always. I liked it that way, for it gave me time to think about where I would head next. I, Rouge, was a solitary type of elf, who traveled from town to town. Though it could be said that I was a loner, I was also greatly feared. Very few had lived when they provoked me.
I was not unpleasant to look at, in black leggings and a dark green shirt. A black cloak with the hood hung over my Elven face, which was still young to behold, and my boots were black. A wisp of blond hair showed, and my slim, pale hand smoothed it back beneath my hood. I was still too thin, though.
I sighed softly, and stood. I just wasn't in the mood for this tonight. I walked out of the inn silently and made my way across the town in the pouring rain. I liked nights like this, for they made me forget my past.
That's when I heard the racket going on; another fight, obviously. I rolled my eyes. Didn't they have anything better to do than beat people up?
I walked over, grumbling softly under my breath. I saw a lone figure surrounded by numerous men with swords and knives.
The person was not a bad fighter; I could see that much. He defended himself well, dodging and slashing at them. I watched for a while to see who the victor would be.
There were many of the men and only one of him. He was tiring, I saw, as he took a slash in his side. He hissed softly, but ignored the pain. The mud was not helping matters at all.
It was then that I knew who the victor would be; the men would win, for he was now critically wounded and loosing blood.
I stepped forward and drew my long sword. "Care to even the odds?" I said casually. My green eyes flashed mercilessly, and my sword gleamed in the light.
The men froze and looked at me. Their eyes scanned me.
"Shit, it's that wandering stranger, Rouge!" one said in fear.
"Lets get out of here," another snarled. They bolted.
I allowed a brief smile to cross my face, before sheathing my sword. I walked over to the stranger and offered him a hand.
"Here," I said neutrally.
A hand grasped mine, and I pulled him to his feet.
"You are lucky I came along," I said. "That is one of the worst gangs in this town." I saw that he held his side and looked at me warily.
"Thank you," he said quietly. Rain had plastered his hair down.
I froze when I heard his voice and sighed. "How bad is your wound?"
In response, he winced in pain and blood flowed from it. "Pretty bad, I think."
"Typical," I said in a disgusted tone of voice. He looked at me in surprise. "Follow me," I said curtly.
He nodded and tried to follow me. The cut had hurt him badly, so I wound up half carrying him to my cave. We walked quietly together the entire time. I had better things to do with my time than take care of injured fighters.
After we had entered the cave, I bid him to sit down, as I lit a fire with some of the wood that I had brought into the cave earlier that day.
In the firelight, I could see him clearly. It was him; the one whom I had never expected to see again.
"Take your shirt off," I muttered, as I gathered herbs and clean cloths.
He removed his shirt. I gently cleaned the wound, and applied the herbs, finishing by binding it.
He watched me, with his eyes narrowed. "Have we met before?" he asked me finally.
"I do not think so," I said. "Why?"
"You seem- almost familiar to me," he murmured. "Someone I haven't seen for years."
'Tis probably the loss of blood from your wound,' I said, speaking in Elvish without thinking.
'You are an elf!' he cried.
'Everyone knows who I am,' I retorted back in Elvish. 'Rouge is my name. What is yours?'
'Strider,' he said. He frowned at me. 'Have I offended you in some way, Rogue?'
I rolled my eyes. 'If you had offended me, you wouldn't be hear to discuss it.' I replaced the herbs I had removed and sat down. 'How did you get yourself in such a fix? You look like you can hardly stand, let alone fight, Strider.'
'I was searching for someone,' he told me finally.
'Who, pray tell? Maybe I know them.' I watched him carefully.
'I do not think you would know him; he disappeared over twenty years ago.' Strider looked sad. 'His name was Legolas Greenleaf, the youngest son of King Thranduil of Mirkwood.'
'It doesn't sound familiar to me.' I sighed and switched back to English. "Why do you search for this particular elf?" I asked him.
"I need to fix a great wrong that was done," Strider said. "I was told he was around here."
"There are no other elves about in this area, except for myself." I looked at him.
"How did you come to be called Rouge?" Strider questioned. "Tis unusual for an elf."
"It suits me. I travel and live alone, and do not seek the company of others."
His hands reached out and grabbed my face. He turned it towards him, so his grey eyes gazed at my dull emerald eyes. "Who hurt you, Rogue?" he asked quietly. "I can see that you must have been happy once, but you were hurt by someone."
I looked at him and chose my words carefully. "One I loved betrayed me. I have had many hardships in my life."
"Tis sad that you live your life alone, Rouge. The one you loved must have meant much to you. Did the one return your love?" he asked curiously.
"I believed so," I said. "But that was a lifetime ago, Strider." I looked at him. "You should rest while you can. I will be leaving this area in the morning." Indeed I would, for I would not stay around this place now that rumors were spreading that I was here.
"Why?" Strider inquired.
"I travel a lot," I said. I bit my lip, and indulged my curiosity just this once. "If you found your friend, what would you tell him?"
Strider thought for a few moments. "I would tell him two things, Rouge. First, that I am sorry. He'll never know how sorry I am."
I raised my eyebrows slightly. "And second?"
"Second, I would tell him that I still loved him, even after all of this time." Strider's eyes looked sad and lonely.
"Oh," I said. "Your friend must be a good person, then."
"The best," Strider said. He yawned.
"You may have my blankets tonight. I will stand guard." I stood and walked to the cave entrance, sitting on the rock beside it.
Strider didn't argue, which meant that he was either exhausted or in pain. He stretched out on my blankets and fell asleep rather quickly. I ventured in long enough to cover him with a blanket. I ever so softly touched his face, before returning to the cave entrance.
I cursed myself for letting him still affect me, even after all of this time. I'd held him in my arms and touched his bare chest once more. Longing and need had filled me as it had used to whenever I was him. I was weak; that was why I still responded to him.
Half forgotten memories were returned slightly, memories of lying in Aragorn's arms through cold nights. Happy times, with laughter and cheer. But I could not recall any of the details.
*******************************
But when you touch me like this
And you hold me like that
I just have to admit
That it's all coming back to me
When I touch you like this
And I hold you like that
It's so hard to believe but
It's all coming back to me
(It's all coming back, it's all coming
Back to me now)
********************************
I let myself swim in the few memories I had. We'd made love many times, in many places. I remembered scarcely any of it. Most of my memories had faded away by now.
*******************************
There were moments of gold
And there were flashes of light
There were things I'd never do again
But then they'd always seemed right
There were nights of endless pleasure
It was more than any laws allow
Baby baby
*******************************
I looked over at 'Strider'. He would never know what I'd been through for years after leaving. After all, I had gained what I needed to survive alone. And yet, sometimes I wondered if I hadn't lost the best part of myself when I was imprisoned in slavery. I pulled my sleeves up to my elbows and looked at my wrists. I saw the scars from where I'd tried to kill myself years earlier.
Then I heard a choking gasp behind me.
To be continued
Shadows of Memories
Part 2
A.J. Matthews
*************
Present Day
*************
************************************************
There were nights when the wind was so cold
That my body froze in bed if I just listened to it
Right outside the window
There were days when the sun was so cruel
That all the tears turned to dust
And I just knew my eyes were drying up forever
I finished crying in the instant that you left
And I can't remember where or when or how
And I banished every memory you and I had ever made
***********************************************
I sat alone, as always. I liked it that way, for it gave me time to think about where I would head next. I, Rouge, was a solitary type of elf, who traveled from town to town. Though it could be said that I was a loner, I was also greatly feared. Very few had lived when they provoked me.
I was not unpleasant to look at, in black leggings and a dark green shirt. A black cloak with the hood hung over my Elven face, which was still young to behold, and my boots were black. A wisp of blond hair showed, and my slim, pale hand smoothed it back beneath my hood. I was still too thin, though.
I sighed softly, and stood. I just wasn't in the mood for this tonight. I walked out of the inn silently and made my way across the town in the pouring rain. I liked nights like this, for they made me forget my past.
That's when I heard the racket going on; another fight, obviously. I rolled my eyes. Didn't they have anything better to do than beat people up?
I walked over, grumbling softly under my breath. I saw a lone figure surrounded by numerous men with swords and knives.
The person was not a bad fighter; I could see that much. He defended himself well, dodging and slashing at them. I watched for a while to see who the victor would be.
There were many of the men and only one of him. He was tiring, I saw, as he took a slash in his side. He hissed softly, but ignored the pain. The mud was not helping matters at all.
It was then that I knew who the victor would be; the men would win, for he was now critically wounded and loosing blood.
I stepped forward and drew my long sword. "Care to even the odds?" I said casually. My green eyes flashed mercilessly, and my sword gleamed in the light.
The men froze and looked at me. Their eyes scanned me.
"Shit, it's that wandering stranger, Rouge!" one said in fear.
"Lets get out of here," another snarled. They bolted.
I allowed a brief smile to cross my face, before sheathing my sword. I walked over to the stranger and offered him a hand.
"Here," I said neutrally.
A hand grasped mine, and I pulled him to his feet.
"You are lucky I came along," I said. "That is one of the worst gangs in this town." I saw that he held his side and looked at me warily.
"Thank you," he said quietly. Rain had plastered his hair down.
I froze when I heard his voice and sighed. "How bad is your wound?"
In response, he winced in pain and blood flowed from it. "Pretty bad, I think."
"Typical," I said in a disgusted tone of voice. He looked at me in surprise. "Follow me," I said curtly.
He nodded and tried to follow me. The cut had hurt him badly, so I wound up half carrying him to my cave. We walked quietly together the entire time. I had better things to do with my time than take care of injured fighters.
After we had entered the cave, I bid him to sit down, as I lit a fire with some of the wood that I had brought into the cave earlier that day.
In the firelight, I could see him clearly. It was him; the one whom I had never expected to see again.
"Take your shirt off," I muttered, as I gathered herbs and clean cloths.
He removed his shirt. I gently cleaned the wound, and applied the herbs, finishing by binding it.
He watched me, with his eyes narrowed. "Have we met before?" he asked me finally.
"I do not think so," I said. "Why?"
"You seem- almost familiar to me," he murmured. "Someone I haven't seen for years."
'Tis probably the loss of blood from your wound,' I said, speaking in Elvish without thinking.
'You are an elf!' he cried.
'Everyone knows who I am,' I retorted back in Elvish. 'Rouge is my name. What is yours?'
'Strider,' he said. He frowned at me. 'Have I offended you in some way, Rogue?'
I rolled my eyes. 'If you had offended me, you wouldn't be hear to discuss it.' I replaced the herbs I had removed and sat down. 'How did you get yourself in such a fix? You look like you can hardly stand, let alone fight, Strider.'
'I was searching for someone,' he told me finally.
'Who, pray tell? Maybe I know them.' I watched him carefully.
'I do not think you would know him; he disappeared over twenty years ago.' Strider looked sad. 'His name was Legolas Greenleaf, the youngest son of King Thranduil of Mirkwood.'
'It doesn't sound familiar to me.' I sighed and switched back to English. "Why do you search for this particular elf?" I asked him.
"I need to fix a great wrong that was done," Strider said. "I was told he was around here."
"There are no other elves about in this area, except for myself." I looked at him.
"How did you come to be called Rouge?" Strider questioned. "Tis unusual for an elf."
"It suits me. I travel and live alone, and do not seek the company of others."
His hands reached out and grabbed my face. He turned it towards him, so his grey eyes gazed at my dull emerald eyes. "Who hurt you, Rogue?" he asked quietly. "I can see that you must have been happy once, but you were hurt by someone."
I looked at him and chose my words carefully. "One I loved betrayed me. I have had many hardships in my life."
"Tis sad that you live your life alone, Rouge. The one you loved must have meant much to you. Did the one return your love?" he asked curiously.
"I believed so," I said. "But that was a lifetime ago, Strider." I looked at him. "You should rest while you can. I will be leaving this area in the morning." Indeed I would, for I would not stay around this place now that rumors were spreading that I was here.
"Why?" Strider inquired.
"I travel a lot," I said. I bit my lip, and indulged my curiosity just this once. "If you found your friend, what would you tell him?"
Strider thought for a few moments. "I would tell him two things, Rouge. First, that I am sorry. He'll never know how sorry I am."
I raised my eyebrows slightly. "And second?"
"Second, I would tell him that I still loved him, even after all of this time." Strider's eyes looked sad and lonely.
"Oh," I said. "Your friend must be a good person, then."
"The best," Strider said. He yawned.
"You may have my blankets tonight. I will stand guard." I stood and walked to the cave entrance, sitting on the rock beside it.
Strider didn't argue, which meant that he was either exhausted or in pain. He stretched out on my blankets and fell asleep rather quickly. I ventured in long enough to cover him with a blanket. I ever so softly touched his face, before returning to the cave entrance.
I cursed myself for letting him still affect me, even after all of this time. I'd held him in my arms and touched his bare chest once more. Longing and need had filled me as it had used to whenever I was him. I was weak; that was why I still responded to him.
Half forgotten memories were returned slightly, memories of lying in Aragorn's arms through cold nights. Happy times, with laughter and cheer. But I could not recall any of the details.
*******************************
But when you touch me like this
And you hold me like that
I just have to admit
That it's all coming back to me
When I touch you like this
And I hold you like that
It's so hard to believe but
It's all coming back to me
(It's all coming back, it's all coming
Back to me now)
********************************
I let myself swim in the few memories I had. We'd made love many times, in many places. I remembered scarcely any of it. Most of my memories had faded away by now.
*******************************
There were moments of gold
And there were flashes of light
There were things I'd never do again
But then they'd always seemed right
There were nights of endless pleasure
It was more than any laws allow
Baby baby
*******************************
I looked over at 'Strider'. He would never know what I'd been through for years after leaving. After all, I had gained what I needed to survive alone. And yet, sometimes I wondered if I hadn't lost the best part of myself when I was imprisoned in slavery. I pulled my sleeves up to my elbows and looked at my wrists. I saw the scars from where I'd tried to kill myself years earlier.
Then I heard a choking gasp behind me.
To be continued
