Chapter 12
Once his temper cooled, Legolas realized what he had said and regretted every word. Lorelein wasn't one to overreact often but he knew why she did. Lorelein tended to act tougher than she really is and always showed herself to be independent and defiant. Never one to take orders. But now she was forced to work as a servant, answering and following every plea and command tossed her way. She had given up her freedom just to be with him…and he let her down.
Legolas waited until his people set camp before searching for Lorelein. They had become too close of friends for them to throw their relationship away so easily. He was ready to apologize and do whatever it took to gain her forgiveness. Even if he didn't agree with her reaction.
"What are you looking for, Legolas?" Halin asked, looking in the direction where the young Prince was staring.
"A friend." He replied in a distracted tone.
"Lorelein?" Halin gave him a knowing look.
"Yeah. Have you seen her?"
"Legolas, you can't keep following the girl around. You're a Prince, she's a servant. You don't belong together. Your father is very lenient on you but we both know he won't approve of you two. Marrying a servant is just out of the question."
"I'm not going to propose to her, Halin. I'm just going to talk with her."
"Legolas, I know your father told me not to step in the middle of this but I can't watch you follow that maiden around like a sick puppy any longer. I'm not to tell you this but I will anyway. You need to either keep your relationship on a restrained limit or your father's going to prevent you from seeing her. "
"She probably doesn't even want to see my face right now, much less be my friend. So stop worrying."
"Good. Then let us go and--wait a minute. What?"
"Later. Just help me find her."
"What's going on?"
"Would you just help me find the girl? It shouldn't be that hard. She's the only brunette in our band of elves."
"Fine. What is your obsession with this child, anyway?"
"It's not an obsession." Legolas replied. Spotting Lorelein's mother, he began to make his way toward him.
"Then what do you call it?"
Legolas didn't answer. He jogged over and stepped in front of Anabrethil. Looking around, he took her by the wrist and whispered for her to follow him.
"Prince Legolas, what is the matter?" she asked, afraid of his reply.
"Have you seen Lorie?"
"Who?"
"Lorelein."
"Oh please Prince. Don't punish her. She doesn't know what she's done."
"What? No, no, no. I'd never do that. Do you know where she is?"
"Why must you know?"
Legolas gave her a surprised look. He did not expect for Anabrethil to question him so. She was usually so obedient and never asked why.
"I need to speak to her, that's why."
"I'm sorry Prince. I did not mean to be disrespectful but she asked for me to keep her location a secret. Especially from you."
"Why?"
"I-I'm not sure. She said something about needing time to herself, away from everyone."
Legolas felt his heart drop and fear rose into his eyes. She was going to run. He knew all along that she was on the verge of breaking down and it seemed that their argument had pushed her too far. She was fleeing from her problem. She was fleeing from him.
"Where is she? Tell me now." Legolas ordered, his voice more edgy and sharp than he planned it to be.
"I can't tell you."
"For Mirkwood's sake woman! I'm begging you to please tell me. This is no game and I do not have time to waste here."
"I will not break my daughter's trust, Legolas."
"If you don't and my assumption is correct than neither of us will see your daughter again. Now I'll ask you once more. Tell me!"
"I-I-What do you mean not see her again?" Anabrethil was confused and afraid now.
"I haven't time to tell you. Either answer my question or I will hunt her down myself."
"She's in the wood, down by the river." She informed him, pointing toward the edge of a dark wood.
Nodding his thanks, Legolas ran swiftly into the woods and to the river. There he found Lorelein lying on her stomach and looking forlornly into the still water in front of her.
Legolas sighed with relief.
"Lorie?"
She refused to take notice of him. Legolas went and sat down beside her, putting a hand at the small of her back.
"Lorie, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did."
She still did not answer.
"You were right, I was being shallow."
She snorted.
"Okay, extremely shallow."
She rolled her eyes and dipped her hand into the water.
"Lorie, speak to me."
Looking at his reflection in the water, she could see his pleading eyes. Right then she felt a great temptation to just crawl into his lap and cry herself to sleep. She was confused, hurt, and stressed and her heart ached from abandoning him and all that he was willing to give her. She knew by leaving him she would be throwing away his comforst, his trust, his friendship…and his love.
Then a new anger rose within her. Why did she want him so much? Why was he so important to her? He was just a spoiled Prince who was sheltered from all inconvenience. He's used to getting what he wanted. He assumed that she would forgive him.
Tears filled her eyes once more and she flung her arm out of the water. Standing up, she glared at him.
"Why do you assume that I will forgive you so easily? That your words are enough to make me forget all that you've put me through?" she screamed. Though she tried to keep her voice strong and under control, it came out hoarse and weak. Mentally, she was breaking down.
"I came here to ask you for forgiveness. I never assumed anything, Lorelein." He replied. In her eyes he could see pain, fear, and apprehension. The calm, giddy, curious elf that he once knew had fallen apart and lost herself in a hectic life of confusion and uncertainty.
"What do you want from me, Legolas? My entire life, all I've tried to do if find family and a place to call home. My entire life, Legolas. And now I find family and they're not family. They're strangers. I find a home and it's not home. It's just a new environment that I must adjust to live in. And then I finally find you and now I feel as if I can't even handle having a friend. I can't take needing someone. Every time I depend on someone else, I end up losing them. I can't go through that again. I won't."
Standing up, Legolas lifted her chin so they made eye contact.
"You're right, you won't go through that again. I won't leave you, Lorie. I promise you."
"How do you know that, Legolas!? Tell me now! How can you predict what may come in the future? You don't know! Don't promise me what you aren't certain of."
"Lorelein, listen to me! You came here to join with our people. And in doing that you are one of my people. My people, Lorelein. And no one but my father or I have the authority to remove you from here. We are your family, Lorie. This is your home. You belong here." Softening his voice, he looked at her sincerely. "You belong with me."
She closed her eyes, warm tears burning her skin. Violently shaking her head back in forth, she tried her best to break free.
"No, no, no! You can't! I can't! No. Legolas, no!" Tears streamed freely down her cheeks as she wept. "Never could that be true. Don't you see that? Your father would never let it be. Don't fool yourself and don't try to fool me. It would never work."
"Lorie…"
"No!" it was all she would say. Unable to continue her struggle with him, she gave in and cried. She cared for him. It was something she knew for some time but refused to accept it. Now, while she's in the most frail emotional condition, she hears the words that she longed to hear and dreaded the most.
"Lorie, please. I-I can't let you leave. I refuse to. I care for you, Lorie. Don't you see that? It's not just that I want you here. I need you here."
"It will never work." She whispered hoarsely.
"I'll make it work." He replied. "Now come. Let's get you back to camp. You and your mother can sleep with Halin tonight. That way I can keep watch on you and make sure you'll be okay. We'll discuss this later on but right now you need rest."
Helping her back to camp he did as he said and convinced Halin to let her and her mother stay a night with him. Grabbing a blanket he had Lorelein lay down and close her eyes. Then, gently covering her, he stroked her cheek gently.
"You'll be fine until tomorrow?"
She nodded wearily.
"Do you want me to stay until you fall asleep or will you be okay?"
"No, I'll be fine. You're probably in enough trouble already."
"Are you still angry with me?"
"I don't know."
Legolas nodded his head.
"I'll speak to you tomorrow. Don't worry about working. If anyone asks, I gave you the day off."
"Okay."
"Goodnight, Lorie."
"Goodnight, Legolas."
When she closed her eyes, he sighed. He has no intention of telling her that he cared for her earlier. The thought of caring for her as more than a friend never occurred to him beforehand. But even now he didn't deny it. 'Why deny what is in your heart?' his mother always told him. Never had he cared so deeply about someone as he did with Lorelein and he felt that maybe it was time he did. Maybe it was time he finally cared…finally loved.
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Too much? Tell me what you think of this chapter. I'm not so sure about it and I'm thinking of editing it.
Once his temper cooled, Legolas realized what he had said and regretted every word. Lorelein wasn't one to overreact often but he knew why she did. Lorelein tended to act tougher than she really is and always showed herself to be independent and defiant. Never one to take orders. But now she was forced to work as a servant, answering and following every plea and command tossed her way. She had given up her freedom just to be with him…and he let her down.
Legolas waited until his people set camp before searching for Lorelein. They had become too close of friends for them to throw their relationship away so easily. He was ready to apologize and do whatever it took to gain her forgiveness. Even if he didn't agree with her reaction.
"What are you looking for, Legolas?" Halin asked, looking in the direction where the young Prince was staring.
"A friend." He replied in a distracted tone.
"Lorelein?" Halin gave him a knowing look.
"Yeah. Have you seen her?"
"Legolas, you can't keep following the girl around. You're a Prince, she's a servant. You don't belong together. Your father is very lenient on you but we both know he won't approve of you two. Marrying a servant is just out of the question."
"I'm not going to propose to her, Halin. I'm just going to talk with her."
"Legolas, I know your father told me not to step in the middle of this but I can't watch you follow that maiden around like a sick puppy any longer. I'm not to tell you this but I will anyway. You need to either keep your relationship on a restrained limit or your father's going to prevent you from seeing her. "
"She probably doesn't even want to see my face right now, much less be my friend. So stop worrying."
"Good. Then let us go and--wait a minute. What?"
"Later. Just help me find her."
"What's going on?"
"Would you just help me find the girl? It shouldn't be that hard. She's the only brunette in our band of elves."
"Fine. What is your obsession with this child, anyway?"
"It's not an obsession." Legolas replied. Spotting Lorelein's mother, he began to make his way toward him.
"Then what do you call it?"
Legolas didn't answer. He jogged over and stepped in front of Anabrethil. Looking around, he took her by the wrist and whispered for her to follow him.
"Prince Legolas, what is the matter?" she asked, afraid of his reply.
"Have you seen Lorie?"
"Who?"
"Lorelein."
"Oh please Prince. Don't punish her. She doesn't know what she's done."
"What? No, no, no. I'd never do that. Do you know where she is?"
"Why must you know?"
Legolas gave her a surprised look. He did not expect for Anabrethil to question him so. She was usually so obedient and never asked why.
"I need to speak to her, that's why."
"I'm sorry Prince. I did not mean to be disrespectful but she asked for me to keep her location a secret. Especially from you."
"Why?"
"I-I'm not sure. She said something about needing time to herself, away from everyone."
Legolas felt his heart drop and fear rose into his eyes. She was going to run. He knew all along that she was on the verge of breaking down and it seemed that their argument had pushed her too far. She was fleeing from her problem. She was fleeing from him.
"Where is she? Tell me now." Legolas ordered, his voice more edgy and sharp than he planned it to be.
"I can't tell you."
"For Mirkwood's sake woman! I'm begging you to please tell me. This is no game and I do not have time to waste here."
"I will not break my daughter's trust, Legolas."
"If you don't and my assumption is correct than neither of us will see your daughter again. Now I'll ask you once more. Tell me!"
"I-I-What do you mean not see her again?" Anabrethil was confused and afraid now.
"I haven't time to tell you. Either answer my question or I will hunt her down myself."
"She's in the wood, down by the river." She informed him, pointing toward the edge of a dark wood.
Nodding his thanks, Legolas ran swiftly into the woods and to the river. There he found Lorelein lying on her stomach and looking forlornly into the still water in front of her.
Legolas sighed with relief.
"Lorie?"
She refused to take notice of him. Legolas went and sat down beside her, putting a hand at the small of her back.
"Lorie, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did."
She still did not answer.
"You were right, I was being shallow."
She snorted.
"Okay, extremely shallow."
She rolled her eyes and dipped her hand into the water.
"Lorie, speak to me."
Looking at his reflection in the water, she could see his pleading eyes. Right then she felt a great temptation to just crawl into his lap and cry herself to sleep. She was confused, hurt, and stressed and her heart ached from abandoning him and all that he was willing to give her. She knew by leaving him she would be throwing away his comforst, his trust, his friendship…and his love.
Then a new anger rose within her. Why did she want him so much? Why was he so important to her? He was just a spoiled Prince who was sheltered from all inconvenience. He's used to getting what he wanted. He assumed that she would forgive him.
Tears filled her eyes once more and she flung her arm out of the water. Standing up, she glared at him.
"Why do you assume that I will forgive you so easily? That your words are enough to make me forget all that you've put me through?" she screamed. Though she tried to keep her voice strong and under control, it came out hoarse and weak. Mentally, she was breaking down.
"I came here to ask you for forgiveness. I never assumed anything, Lorelein." He replied. In her eyes he could see pain, fear, and apprehension. The calm, giddy, curious elf that he once knew had fallen apart and lost herself in a hectic life of confusion and uncertainty.
"What do you want from me, Legolas? My entire life, all I've tried to do if find family and a place to call home. My entire life, Legolas. And now I find family and they're not family. They're strangers. I find a home and it's not home. It's just a new environment that I must adjust to live in. And then I finally find you and now I feel as if I can't even handle having a friend. I can't take needing someone. Every time I depend on someone else, I end up losing them. I can't go through that again. I won't."
Standing up, Legolas lifted her chin so they made eye contact.
"You're right, you won't go through that again. I won't leave you, Lorie. I promise you."
"How do you know that, Legolas!? Tell me now! How can you predict what may come in the future? You don't know! Don't promise me what you aren't certain of."
"Lorelein, listen to me! You came here to join with our people. And in doing that you are one of my people. My people, Lorelein. And no one but my father or I have the authority to remove you from here. We are your family, Lorie. This is your home. You belong here." Softening his voice, he looked at her sincerely. "You belong with me."
She closed her eyes, warm tears burning her skin. Violently shaking her head back in forth, she tried her best to break free.
"No, no, no! You can't! I can't! No. Legolas, no!" Tears streamed freely down her cheeks as she wept. "Never could that be true. Don't you see that? Your father would never let it be. Don't fool yourself and don't try to fool me. It would never work."
"Lorie…"
"No!" it was all she would say. Unable to continue her struggle with him, she gave in and cried. She cared for him. It was something she knew for some time but refused to accept it. Now, while she's in the most frail emotional condition, she hears the words that she longed to hear and dreaded the most.
"Lorie, please. I-I can't let you leave. I refuse to. I care for you, Lorie. Don't you see that? It's not just that I want you here. I need you here."
"It will never work." She whispered hoarsely.
"I'll make it work." He replied. "Now come. Let's get you back to camp. You and your mother can sleep with Halin tonight. That way I can keep watch on you and make sure you'll be okay. We'll discuss this later on but right now you need rest."
Helping her back to camp he did as he said and convinced Halin to let her and her mother stay a night with him. Grabbing a blanket he had Lorelein lay down and close her eyes. Then, gently covering her, he stroked her cheek gently.
"You'll be fine until tomorrow?"
She nodded wearily.
"Do you want me to stay until you fall asleep or will you be okay?"
"No, I'll be fine. You're probably in enough trouble already."
"Are you still angry with me?"
"I don't know."
Legolas nodded his head.
"I'll speak to you tomorrow. Don't worry about working. If anyone asks, I gave you the day off."
"Okay."
"Goodnight, Lorie."
"Goodnight, Legolas."
When she closed her eyes, he sighed. He has no intention of telling her that he cared for her earlier. The thought of caring for her as more than a friend never occurred to him beforehand. But even now he didn't deny it. 'Why deny what is in your heart?' his mother always told him. Never had he cared so deeply about someone as he did with Lorelein and he felt that maybe it was time he did. Maybe it was time he finally cared…finally loved.
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Too much? Tell me what you think of this chapter. I'm not so sure about it and I'm thinking of editing it.