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Morning arrived, and Legolas awoke. He looked around in surprise, he was still in the wood. They had fallen asleep there, in each other's arms. Gimli will be mad if he awakes and we are not there, he thought to himself. So he woke up Liria with a soft kiss on her brow. Green eyes gazed at him, and she smiled.
Legolas stood, "We need to get back before Gimli wakes up, or he will be in a temper." He went to pull Liria up, then stopped. "Tell me the truth, can you walk? If you lie, I will know."
Liria sighed, she knew she would never be able to lie to Legolas again, even when her own pride stood in the balance. Still, she would never let him think her incompetent. "It hurts, but I am sure I can walk on it. If I have gone this far, surely one more day will not cause more harm."
Legolas frowned, and he looked like he was in a mind to pick her up and carry her whether she liked it or not, but she added, "Please let me try on my own, Legolas. If it becomes too much, I will let you know."
Legolas reached down and pulled her to her feet, steadying her when she stood. "As soon as there is any pain, you will let me know." It was not a statement, more like a command, and for a moment Liria's pride reared up. Legolas saw Liria's eyes flash and start to darken, but she checked it and they lightened to the shade of green he loved so much. She simply nodded.
They started back to their makeshift camp, slowly, Liria grabbing another branch to walk with. When they got back, Gimli was still asleep and Legolas went to wake him. Liria stood still, not trusting herself to sit for fear she would be unable to get back up. Quickly, Gimli and Legolas broke camp and they were once again ready to hit the trail. They would be in Mirkwood by the end of the day.
"Are you ready to see my fair home?" Legolas asked Gimli.
Gimli nodded shortly, "I have come to trust your taste in things," he said, though he looked less than thrilled to be going. It was not the fact that they were going to yet another forest, but that he would be surrounded by elves. He could not expect all of them to be like Legolas, he doubted that he would feel completely comfortable again until he was on his way to his own home, with Legolas hopefully at his side.
Gimli suddenly looked at his friend, he had just had a startling revelation. It was obvious that he and Liria were lovers, perhaps they would want to be married. If that was the case, he would not want to leave his home again. This could be their last adventure together! Gimli swallowed with trepidation, the Fellowship would truly be broken then, and he would lose his best friend. Gimli's step grew heavier, wanting to prolong them reaching Mirkwood, Legolas' final destination.
Legolas was aware that Gimli had settled into a slight depression, but he did not know what could have brought it about. He finally guessed that he maybe feared what kind of reception he would receive at Mirkwood. He need not worry about such a thing, the elves would be forever gracious and hospitable to him for helping their prince. But he knew he would not be able to convince Gimli of this until they got there and he knew it for himself, so Legolas remained silent. Instead, he focused on Liria struggling by on his other side. Her breath was haggard from exertion, and her weight was heavily upon the branch. But she did not complain, and Legolas had agreed to not intervene until she said anything, even though he well knew that she would not until her leg fell off. This was the main problem in their relationship, he knew, but had no idea on how to improve on it since he himself was guilty of it.
The day wore on, and Mirkwood neared. They were perhaps five miles away from its borders. Liria continued to struggle in silence, but the pain was really starting to get to her. She had been using the leg too much without rest in between. She struggled blindly on through a haze, and many times she had to struggle to regain focus when objects began to swim before her. The only thing that kept her going was Legolas at her side. She knew that he could sense what she was feeling, but was trying not to intervene out of respect for her wishes.
Another mile passed and Liria stumbled. She tried to regain her balance with her walking stick, but it was Legolas' hand that stayed her. He looked at her anxiously, silently hoping that she would finally leave her pride and let him help her, but she said not a word, nor would she meet his eyes. She would not let him see the shade of muddy yellow she knew they must be.
They went on for a few more yards when Liria finally toyed with the idea of asking for Legolas' help. She had gone on far enough, Mirkwood was near, she would not be that much of a burden. More agonizing paces went by, and Liria made up her mind. She turned slightly towards Legolas and opened her mouth to speak, then knew nothing.
Morning arrived, and Legolas awoke. He looked around in surprise, he was still in the wood. They had fallen asleep there, in each other's arms. Gimli will be mad if he awakes and we are not there, he thought to himself. So he woke up Liria with a soft kiss on her brow. Green eyes gazed at him, and she smiled.
Legolas stood, "We need to get back before Gimli wakes up, or he will be in a temper." He went to pull Liria up, then stopped. "Tell me the truth, can you walk? If you lie, I will know."
Liria sighed, she knew she would never be able to lie to Legolas again, even when her own pride stood in the balance. Still, she would never let him think her incompetent. "It hurts, but I am sure I can walk on it. If I have gone this far, surely one more day will not cause more harm."
Legolas frowned, and he looked like he was in a mind to pick her up and carry her whether she liked it or not, but she added, "Please let me try on my own, Legolas. If it becomes too much, I will let you know."
Legolas reached down and pulled her to her feet, steadying her when she stood. "As soon as there is any pain, you will let me know." It was not a statement, more like a command, and for a moment Liria's pride reared up. Legolas saw Liria's eyes flash and start to darken, but she checked it and they lightened to the shade of green he loved so much. She simply nodded.
They started back to their makeshift camp, slowly, Liria grabbing another branch to walk with. When they got back, Gimli was still asleep and Legolas went to wake him. Liria stood still, not trusting herself to sit for fear she would be unable to get back up. Quickly, Gimli and Legolas broke camp and they were once again ready to hit the trail. They would be in Mirkwood by the end of the day.
"Are you ready to see my fair home?" Legolas asked Gimli.
Gimli nodded shortly, "I have come to trust your taste in things," he said, though he looked less than thrilled to be going. It was not the fact that they were going to yet another forest, but that he would be surrounded by elves. He could not expect all of them to be like Legolas, he doubted that he would feel completely comfortable again until he was on his way to his own home, with Legolas hopefully at his side.
Gimli suddenly looked at his friend, he had just had a startling revelation. It was obvious that he and Liria were lovers, perhaps they would want to be married. If that was the case, he would not want to leave his home again. This could be their last adventure together! Gimli swallowed with trepidation, the Fellowship would truly be broken then, and he would lose his best friend. Gimli's step grew heavier, wanting to prolong them reaching Mirkwood, Legolas' final destination.
Legolas was aware that Gimli had settled into a slight depression, but he did not know what could have brought it about. He finally guessed that he maybe feared what kind of reception he would receive at Mirkwood. He need not worry about such a thing, the elves would be forever gracious and hospitable to him for helping their prince. But he knew he would not be able to convince Gimli of this until they got there and he knew it for himself, so Legolas remained silent. Instead, he focused on Liria struggling by on his other side. Her breath was haggard from exertion, and her weight was heavily upon the branch. But she did not complain, and Legolas had agreed to not intervene until she said anything, even though he well knew that she would not until her leg fell off. This was the main problem in their relationship, he knew, but had no idea on how to improve on it since he himself was guilty of it.
The day wore on, and Mirkwood neared. They were perhaps five miles away from its borders. Liria continued to struggle in silence, but the pain was really starting to get to her. She had been using the leg too much without rest in between. She struggled blindly on through a haze, and many times she had to struggle to regain focus when objects began to swim before her. The only thing that kept her going was Legolas at her side. She knew that he could sense what she was feeling, but was trying not to intervene out of respect for her wishes.
Another mile passed and Liria stumbled. She tried to regain her balance with her walking stick, but it was Legolas' hand that stayed her. He looked at her anxiously, silently hoping that she would finally leave her pride and let him help her, but she said not a word, nor would she meet his eyes. She would not let him see the shade of muddy yellow she knew they must be.
They went on for a few more yards when Liria finally toyed with the idea of asking for Legolas' help. She had gone on far enough, Mirkwood was near, she would not be that much of a burden. More agonizing paces went by, and Liria made up her mind. She turned slightly towards Legolas and opened her mouth to speak, then knew nothing.