FOR DISCLAIMER, SEE CHAPTER ONE :]
A/N- This chapter drags a little bit, and it's short but the next one is better I PROMISE!!! It may take me a while to update after this cuz I'm working on another Legolas love story, and I also have school lol. Thanks for all the great reviews!!!
Chapter Eight: Promises and Preparations
The next day, Alatariel was feeling considerably better. She was strong enough to walk by herself; but even so, Legolas stayed by her side constantly. Alatariel was in the middle of eating her breakfast when a knock was heard at her door. Legolas answered the door to find an elderly woman with a kind smile on her face.
"Lady Alatariel, I have drawn a bath for you down the hall if you wish to follow me," said the woman.
A true smile passed over Alatariel's face in what seemed like the first time in forever.
"Please, lead the way!" she said happily.
Legolas began to follow Alatariel out the door but she stopped him. "I am not in need of your protection now, dear Legolas," she said, smiling playfully at him.
"I will wait for you in your quarters then, milady," he said, and went back into her room.
About an hour later, Alatariel returned to her room to find Legolas sleeping in his chair. "Dozing off on me, are you now?" questioned Alatariel with a wry smile.
Legolas awoke at the sound of her voice and admitted to falling asleep. He was surprised to find her in battle clothes. Her tunic was made out of a dark green fabric and it clung loosely to her body; her pants were made out of a tougher fabric and were dark green as well. Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight braid that ran down her back. Her ensemble was completed by her cloak, which was fastened by her Lorien brooch.
"Why are you dressed as if you are going into battle?" Legolas inquired.
Alatariel sighed and looked at him, "I am going with you and the men to Helm's Deep. I am fighting with you."
At hearing this, Legolas sprang up from his chair and placed his hands on her shoulders, "You will not fight with us. I do not want to risk loosing you again. If anything, you should go with us to work as a healer. But you are not going to fight," he ordered.
"I have already spoken to Theoden, who apologized profusely to me, and he informed me that they will have plenty of healers at Helm's Deep. Yet, there are not enough soldiers. I will be of help to you," she sighed, looked up into his blue eyes and continued, "Legolas, you cannot keep me under your wing forever. I greatly appreciate you staying by my side so far, but..." she faltered, "You cannot stop me from doing this."
"You are right, I cannot," replied Legolas. "But promise me one thing. Promise me that you will not leave my sight. I beg of you, Alatariel, promise me this."
She smiled at him and hugged him, "It would not be my wish to ever leave your sight. I promise."
Alatariel gathered up all of her things from the room, and then she and Legolas began to make their way outside. Their horses were waiting.
Once outside, Eomer spied Alatariel and rushed over to her. He was slightly intimidated by the fact that the elf prince was still by her side, but even so, he approached her.
"Milady, I wish to express to you my deepest and most sincere apologies. If you choose not to accept them, I will not blame you. But it would settle my heart if you did," he said to her, and bowed.
"Your apology is accepted, I do not hold you accountable for what happened to me," she said, and smiled at him.
He thanked her, and was then summoned to his horse.
"Are you strong enough to ride?" Legolas questioned her, with concern in his voice. "For if you are not, you may ride with me."
"I believe I am strong enough," she replied as Bristuel was led to her.
Legolas smiled, and then, in a single graceful motion, he swept her off her feet and set her on her horse. He smiled at her and held her hand in his own, and kissed it. He then rushed over to his own horse, and with Gimli seated behind him, and urged Arod, his horse, on. Alatariel did the same. She remembered her promise to Legolas, and rode not far from him. She watched his long blonde hair whip at his face while he was riding. She saw the determination in his eyes, and sensed no fear in his stout heart. It was then that she realized that she was clearly, truly, and unexplainably in love with him.
A/N- This chapter drags a little bit, and it's short but the next one is better I PROMISE!!! It may take me a while to update after this cuz I'm working on another Legolas love story, and I also have school lol. Thanks for all the great reviews!!!
Chapter Eight: Promises and Preparations
The next day, Alatariel was feeling considerably better. She was strong enough to walk by herself; but even so, Legolas stayed by her side constantly. Alatariel was in the middle of eating her breakfast when a knock was heard at her door. Legolas answered the door to find an elderly woman with a kind smile on her face.
"Lady Alatariel, I have drawn a bath for you down the hall if you wish to follow me," said the woman.
A true smile passed over Alatariel's face in what seemed like the first time in forever.
"Please, lead the way!" she said happily.
Legolas began to follow Alatariel out the door but she stopped him. "I am not in need of your protection now, dear Legolas," she said, smiling playfully at him.
"I will wait for you in your quarters then, milady," he said, and went back into her room.
About an hour later, Alatariel returned to her room to find Legolas sleeping in his chair. "Dozing off on me, are you now?" questioned Alatariel with a wry smile.
Legolas awoke at the sound of her voice and admitted to falling asleep. He was surprised to find her in battle clothes. Her tunic was made out of a dark green fabric and it clung loosely to her body; her pants were made out of a tougher fabric and were dark green as well. Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight braid that ran down her back. Her ensemble was completed by her cloak, which was fastened by her Lorien brooch.
"Why are you dressed as if you are going into battle?" Legolas inquired.
Alatariel sighed and looked at him, "I am going with you and the men to Helm's Deep. I am fighting with you."
At hearing this, Legolas sprang up from his chair and placed his hands on her shoulders, "You will not fight with us. I do not want to risk loosing you again. If anything, you should go with us to work as a healer. But you are not going to fight," he ordered.
"I have already spoken to Theoden, who apologized profusely to me, and he informed me that they will have plenty of healers at Helm's Deep. Yet, there are not enough soldiers. I will be of help to you," she sighed, looked up into his blue eyes and continued, "Legolas, you cannot keep me under your wing forever. I greatly appreciate you staying by my side so far, but..." she faltered, "You cannot stop me from doing this."
"You are right, I cannot," replied Legolas. "But promise me one thing. Promise me that you will not leave my sight. I beg of you, Alatariel, promise me this."
She smiled at him and hugged him, "It would not be my wish to ever leave your sight. I promise."
Alatariel gathered up all of her things from the room, and then she and Legolas began to make their way outside. Their horses were waiting.
Once outside, Eomer spied Alatariel and rushed over to her. He was slightly intimidated by the fact that the elf prince was still by her side, but even so, he approached her.
"Milady, I wish to express to you my deepest and most sincere apologies. If you choose not to accept them, I will not blame you. But it would settle my heart if you did," he said to her, and bowed.
"Your apology is accepted, I do not hold you accountable for what happened to me," she said, and smiled at him.
He thanked her, and was then summoned to his horse.
"Are you strong enough to ride?" Legolas questioned her, with concern in his voice. "For if you are not, you may ride with me."
"I believe I am strong enough," she replied as Bristuel was led to her.
Legolas smiled, and then, in a single graceful motion, he swept her off her feet and set her on her horse. He smiled at her and held her hand in his own, and kissed it. He then rushed over to his own horse, and with Gimli seated behind him, and urged Arod, his horse, on. Alatariel did the same. She remembered her promise to Legolas, and rode not far from him. She watched his long blonde hair whip at his face while he was riding. She saw the determination in his eyes, and sensed no fear in his stout heart. It was then that she realized that she was clearly, truly, and unexplainably in love with him.