LEGOLAS FAN FICTION

TITLE: Where Love May Lead

AUTHOR: Emily Kinsman

RATING: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily Kinsman (emi_kins@yahoo.com)

SUMMARY: Prequel to Elenath. Legolas travels to Rivendell to meet his betrothed, but things do not work out as smoothly as his father and Lord Elrond had wished.

28.

"I will never understand, Elrond," said Gandalf, beginning to lose his patience that night in the library. "I will never understand why you insist upon controlling the lives of your family! You must let them choose their own destinies!"

"I cannot," said Elrond calmly. "They are so young and so easily swayed. That which I see clearly is but a fog to them."

"But surely you know that Elenath grows each day in her wisdom and grace! She should be trusted to-"

"Elenath!" Elrond chuckled. "She wants so desperately to leave Rivendell to see the wide word. What would happen if I let her go? What almost happened to her at the hand of the Orcs? She cannot see the danger. But I will protect her. You speak truly of her wisdom and grace, and so she shall stay in Rivendell to take the throne when I journey West."

"What if she does not wish to take the throne? What if she wishes to leave this place?"

Elrond sighed in frustration. "What consequence is it to you, Mithrandir? If I did not know you so well, I would say that you are becoming more and more meddlesome in your old age!"

"Meddlesome in my old-?" Gandalf shook his head, cutting himself off. "Elenath is my goddaughter, you pompous old Elf, and I happen to care very much about her."

"Forgive me, Mithrandir. I doubt not your affection and care for Elenath. But what true knowledge have you of my granddaughter? She has changed since you set her journeying on foolish adventures three hundred years ago."

"I think that she has not changed so much as you believe. Spend some time with her, my friend. You will see that her adventurous spirit and passion for travel have not decreased in the least. Now, if you will excuse me…"

***

Throughout the following weeks, Elrond did spend more time with his granddaughter and realized that her wanderlust had not decreased at all. However she had changed quite a bit in ways that he never would have guessed. There was certainly something different about the she-Elf. For one thing, he had caught her wearing silken gowns thrice in the past fortnight when no one had asked her to do so. She practically radiated happiness and it seemed to the Lord of Rivendell that she was somewhat less fierce than before. And, according to Thorondil, she had been rather distracted during training of late – a sure sign that something was wrong. Elenath had always loved the military arts. Why should she lose interest now when they should be more important than ever to her?

Elrond rested his chin thoughtfully against his hand. Of course! It must be that Elenath's training had become redundant and boring and that she needed a change. Simple enough. This kind of thing was easily remedied. He called his head servant over and whispered into the Elf's ear for a long while, thrilled that he had come up with such a perfect solution. Give her a change of training and a change of scenery as well. She would be back to her old self in no time and ready to take her place as heir to the throne of Rivendell. "There will be a banquet," said Elrond. "Send riders to Mirkwood and Lothlorien to bring representatives. I have an announcement to make." He dismissed the servant, then called him back. "Make sure that Haldir of Lothlorien is among those who gather. And escort him directly to my chambers upon his arrival."

***

"He is up to something," said Elenath with a sigh. She turned to her godfather. "He has that gleam in his eyes. Whose life is he meddling with now?"

"I am afraid it is yours, my dear. And his plans for you are not advantageous to-"

"Of course they would not be!" she interrupted. "When has he ever made plans for any of our lives that are helpful to what we want? Why can't he just stay away?" Taking Legolas' hand, she gripped it softly. "Gandalf, I love this Elf. Him and no other will I marry. By his side I will stay, or be alone for the rest of my days. I think that the time has come to tell my Grandfather, don't you? Then he can stop whatever ridiculous plan he has come up with now before it is too late!"

Legolas knelt beside her and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Melamin My Love, first Merethiel and I must make it known that we do not intend to marry."

"Legolas is right," said Gandalf. "Let him get used to the one thing before you tell him the other."

At that moment, Merethiel came sprinting into the courtyard. "Elenath! Elenath! You will never believe who has just come riding through the gates!"

The princess let go of Legolas' hand and stood, laughing at her cousin's disheveled appearance. "Calm yourself, Merethiel! Who? Who has come?"

"Haldir. From Lothlorien."

"Aule's Anvil! Merethiel, surely he has not-"

"I know not. But he arrived just moments ago and reported directly to Grandfather's chambers."

"What shall I do?" asked Elenath. "Shall I greet him? Or act as if I do not know he is here? Or-"

Just then, Thorondil galloped in, leading another horse behind him. "Come, Elenath. The Lady Galadriel approaches with a contingent from Lothlorien, and her Captain has ridden ahead. We must see her safely to the gates."

"Lady Galadriel?" she asked in wonder as she mounted the horse. As usual, Calmakil was already at her side and she donned her fighting gear as they went.

***

"That which your heart desires is almost within your grasp, Elenath of Rivendell…" A calming, quiet voice spoke in the princess' mind as they kept to the trees near the Lothlorien contingent. "But you must reach out to take hold of it, Child, or you will lose it." She caught a glimpse of the Lady through the trees, shimmering like sunlight upon water. Having been told that her great grandmother was both beautiful and powerful seemed an enormous understatement now. Longing to greet this magnificent Queen, she instead held her silence and scanned the forest for enemies, seeing only Haldir galloping at full speed toward them. Something was wrong. Elenath could feel it in the quivering of Calmakil.

She had learned to trust the Sword and drew it at once, revealing herself to the guests of her grandfather and awaiting the approach of Haldir. The tall, broad-shouldered Elf drew up short when he saw her there, stopping only a few feet away.

"Think you that I would harm my own Queen?" asked Haldir, outrage thick in his voice.

"I do not, my lord. Yet Calmakil signals danger to me and I have learned to trust the Blade." Her expression was carefully neutral; her tone confident; and she did not move from her position.

"Move aside."

"I will not unless the Lady grants you leave to approach."

Haldir's eyebrows sank into an angry vee; his blue-green eyes glinted with indignation. But Elenath saw something else there as well, buried deep. Approval? Admiration? She could not tell.

Calmakil tingled in Elenath's hand – not the painful burning that she remembered from Dimnarion's presence, but perhaps a lesser degree of that. Yet the sensation was not altogether unpleasant. She was not sure what the Blade was trying to tell her but she would not leave Galadriel's safety to chance.

"I give not my leave," the Lady spoke quietly, an amused gleam in her eyes, "unless Haldir can best Princess Elenath in a match. He – or she – who draws first blood wins. But I charge you be careful, for you are both dear to me."