They halted just as dusk set in and they climbed out of their saddles. "We cannot rest for long. But we must do so, if only for a short time." Gandalf said, watching the others climb stiffly from their saddles. Aria got down slowly from her steed, but did not move immediately towards the ground in sleep. Instead she stood standing, Noron's head gently burrowed in her shoulder. Aria watched as Aragorn sat down beside on the ground, Gimli sat down and lay down, almost asleep. Legolas did not sit down, his eye keenly on the figure of Aria. But she did not receive his gaze as she usually did, but she shied away from it, causing distress in the heart of Legolas. He walked quietly over to Aria, placing his hand upon her shoulder.
Even as he did this, Aragorn stood stiffly and walked to the side of Gandalf who stood a little ways off, leaning against his staff. "Gandalf, I need to ask your council on a matter that plagues me." He said quietly. Gandalf turned to him and nodded. "It is on the matter of Aria and Legolas. I suspect that perhaps, they have grown to feel for each other in a different way than they have before." Gandalf nodded, his eyes meeting Aragorn's. "And you suspect that this will impede the journey?" He asked. Aragorn did not speak for a moment, he simply let his eye fall upon the figures of Aria and Legolas, standing together. "I have long suspected it, but I have said nothing. I could not speak of it to anyone else." Gandalf nodded and pulled out his pipe, lighting it and blowing wisps of smoke in the air.
"I understand your feelings, but I do not think that this relationship, if it is even taking place, will impede your journey. In fact I believe it will make it stronger." He murmured. "How so?" Aragorn asked. "Elves are not like Mortal Men. They do not fall headfirst into love and then fish themselves out of it. Love of another is a passion, another passion that they hold deep in their hearts, such as their passion for nature, for battle, those such things. But love of another is regarded as the greatest passion to possess." Gandalf stopped a moment to blow a smoke ring, then continued. "An Elf takes love seriously. He does not act on the spur of the moment, but waits, regards his decisions, ponders his heart before he does anything. In Elven lore, there is a belief that the Elves hold to be true. They believe that they are only born with half a heart, and until they find their partner, they shall never have a whole one. That is why there is such deliberation on their part." Gandalf paused, his gaze flickering over the two Elves standing together.
"An Elf professing his love to another is a very wonderful thing, but at the same time dangerous." Gandalf continued. Aragorn cocked his head in confusion. "Why is this?" He asked. "Because, if the one that they offer their heart to does not feel the same as they, that Elf may never love another, for he has given his heart to one. For Elves there is but one partner in their life and if that one does not feel the same, well, they have no second chance because in their mind, they believe there is no second chance. They have professed their love to one. In fact beside being slain in battle, heartbreak is the only other way to kill an Elf. And it has happened many times. Many times." Gandalf said quietly. "And what if the Elf says yes?" Aragorn asked. Gandalf's face lit up with an endearing smile. "Then their hearts are bound together, throughout all the ages."
During this time, Legolas had spoken to Aria, in gentle tones. "What are you doing Aria? I sense your hesitation." He whispered gently, his hand on her shoulder. Aria could not look at him in the face for several minutes, but when she finally did, her eyes were glistening and she spoke to him in her native tongue. "I cannot stay here. I must go." Legolas' eyes widened and his fingers grasped her shoulder as she moved to turn away. "Why? Is it merely because of your sister's words, or of your own accord?" He asked, in his own language. "I have contemplated this fate many times. I must take this road, for it beckons me, first softly, then loudly. I must go on to Isengard. I cannot go to Theodin first." Legolas raised his eyebrows and his eyes were filled with worry. "You would risk your life because of your impatience?" He asked softly.
"It is not my impatience that spurs me on, but a feeling in my heart." She replied. Legolas did not speak, but his eyes spoke volumes. His hand that rested on her shoulder loosened, but instead of falling from it, his fingers gently reached out to touch one curl that lay beside it. Aria's eyes widened at his action, but she did not move from his touch as his hand gently lifted and grasped her fingers. "I must speak with you before you depart then, on a matter that has been rankling my heart for many days." He murmured, his eyes never leaving her face. "What is it?" She whispered, her heart beginning to beat faster, though she knew not why. "I have not known until recently, that my heart desired one to complete it. I knew not when I found you crying in Rivendell that my heart would feel this way. I knew not when we played together as children among your kin's courts of Rivendell that this feeling would come upon me. But when you left Rivendell for your own courts, my own feelings surprised myself as my heart cried out for you, even after you had gone."
"I know now that I cannot resist the cries that my heart makes when you are not near. Aria," He whispered, his hands grasping hers tightly. "Aria, I offer you something, that once given, cannot be taken back. I offer to you, my heart." Legolas whispered, his head almost touching hers. Aria shrunk from his gaze, her heart now throbbing beneath her chest. She suddenly became aware of everything, every touch, every breath besieged her conscience, the gentle grip of his hands upon her own, the sweat that mingled between their fingers, the urgency and hope that rested in the oceans of his gaze. "I now ask you Aria, do you feel the same as I?" He whispered urgently. Aria gazed deeply into his eyes, trying to feel, to understand the yearning of her own heart. "I choose you Legolas, your heart to be united with mine, until the end of the ages." She whispered, her eyes meeting his own. He closed his eyes in relief and rested his forehead against her own gently.
From a few feet away, Gandalf and Aragorn watched the scene, a small smile playing on Gandalf's lips. He turned to Aragorn and nudged him. "Watch this." He whispered, raising his hands gently, motioning to the blossomed trees around the two. He gently blew the air and rested his hands. As Legolas gently placed his lips against Aria's own, pale pink and pure white petals fell around them. Though they barely noticed, the sight caused great pleasure to Gandalf as he watched. The picture was stunning, the two Elves, though both tired from their journey, their clothes tattered from their travels, but their hands clasped together, their lips locked gently, as the petals covered them and the ground almost likened to snow. Its pure beauty caused Aragorn to remain speechless, and the roused Gimli's eyes to widen. Finally Legolas stepped back, his hands still holding hers. "I will see you again. Be safe, do not let harm come to you, or it will be my own death." He whispered, placing his tender hand gently on her pale face. "I would never do anything to hurt you or jepordize your life." She replied, as she climbed Noron, her hand still holding Legolas'. Legolas smiled gently and whispered to her in his own tongue.
Auta i lómë! (The night is passing!)
And she returned his smile, whispering fervently,
Aurë entuluva! (The day shall come again!)
They stared deep into each others eyes for a moment before Aria whispered to him, "Namarie". Then she rode off into the dark, towards Isengard, never once looking back. Gandalf turned to Aragorn. "You need not worry of this love endangering this mission, for both remain true for the sake of the other." Gandalf murmured gently as he watched the Elf disappear into the night. Legolas stood alone in the dark, his hand outstretched as if trying to reach for her, though she stood not there.
************************************************************************