Disclaimer: Tolkien owns LOTR and all things Middle Earth, blah blah blah…
Chapter 19 – Alania Returns The Gift
Alania rolled over upon waking to see the elf propped up on his elbow watching her. It was very rare to wake up with him still sharing the bed. Smiling at this pleasant surprise, she stretched and yawned with joy. She was about to properly bid him a good morning when it occurred to her exactly how rare it was for him to welcome the morning with her after a night spent together. Knowing his continued presence in bed could not precede good news and recalling his promise of their talking this morning, she climbed out of bed without a word to him to dress and make ready for that conversation they needed to have.
Legolas watched as her face registered her every emotion upon waking until her pause just before kissing him. At that moment her expression became, for lack of a better term, non-descript. He was so used to reading her every thought from her body language that this calm pose was unnerving. For the first time with her, he had no idea what she was thinking and it occurred to him that Roxy had mentioned how much time Alania had been spending with Gandalf. Clearly she was under the wizard's tutelage as Gandalf had a gift for being unreadable. What purpose Gandalf had in taking her under his wing Legolas couldn't guess. To say he was displeased with this turn of events would be to understate it. He wanted Alania to remain the same woman he had first fallen for. This staid side to her was one he hadn't seen before and he was unsure how to handle it. Had it been there all along or was it new?
As she crossed the room for her clothing, she did nothing to cover her nakedness. The elf had a difficult time acclimating to this new attitude of hers while being distracted by her lack of covering. He was becoming aroused even as he scolded himself. Much as he would have liked to keep her in bed with him for a little while longer, he knew there was no avoiding their next conversation.
She quickly dressed and seeing the elf still lazily posed in the bed, pulled an armchair near it to face him. Not even aware she was doing it, Alania struck a casual, lazy pose in the chair and kept her face impassive. Leaning back in the chair and looking him dead in the eyes, she spoke with him emotionlessly. "Seeing as how you're still here this morning, and that you clearly made an effort to visit last night, I must assume that you're A) apologizing most sincerely, B) come as the bearer of bad news or C) both A and B. From what I've been hearing around here lately, I am going to guess that you are here with bad news. I say this because I believe that you think last night's apology and this most beautiful of gifts makes up for all the things you've done wrong lately. How close am I?"
Legolas sat up straight and stared at her. She most certainly was adept. "You are correct in your assumptions. I have some ill news" he replied. Seeing that she was waiting for him to continue, her face showing no reaction, he said "For the last few weeks we have received reports from scouts and messengers of an orc army slowly advancing towards my home. Though Mirkwood is well guarded, many of my people have traveled west these past few years and it will need reinforcements. I was unsure until a few days ago, but it seems that I am needed at home."
"When are you leaving?" she asked stoically.
Legolas attempted to gauge her thoughts, but she was unreadable. He found himself hesitating with his answer, an unusual thing for him. She continued to watch him as he stalled with her maintained calm demeanor. When still he did not answer, she said "Today then. And how long have you known you'd be leaving?"
"For some time now" he said. Legolas watched as Alania raised a single eyebrow and took a deep breath as she clasped her hands together and tucked them under her chin, her elbows resting on the arms of the chair. He waited as this information sunk in and waited for her expected explosion.
She sat looking at him, absorbing this news, her face still not showing any signs of emotion. Had Alania been conscious of her impervious expression, she would have lost all capability for it. Inside she was in a turmoil of feelings. Fury at him and fear for him combined with the hurt she felt that she was receiving this news at the very last moment. Her brain coped with these running emotions as quickly as possible, until she only felt resignation and disappointment.
Finally she sighed and sat up. She leaned forward and rested her arms on her knees. Giving Legolas a sad, resigned smile she asked "Am I to assume that I will be left here in Rivendell?"
"Alania, I would not even consider taking you with me. Much as I enjoy having you at my side, I would rest better knowing my little sprite was safe here" he answered.
Nodding her head, she pursed her lips and stood. Looking down at him, she absentmindedly ran a hand through his hair, playing with the ends of the strands. Legolas knew there was something else she would say and he waited for it. He was somewhat taken aback at how well she was reacting to his news. She was amazingly calm and he did not know what to make of it. He imagined it was that she understood his point of view and respected his decision. He smiled at her with the thought of how proud he was that this woman loved him. His smile was wiped off his face when she cupped his face in her hands, kissed him softly and removed the necklace he had given her the night before.
Alania watched his smile turn to shock and confusion as she put the necklace in his hand. Before he could say anything to her, she said "Just because I understand doesn't mean that makes it alright for you to ignore me, not tell me what's going on and then make decisions such as this without at least first conferring with me. That isn't to say I would be able to change your mind or that I would even want to try to influence your decisions. All I want is to be kept informed so that I feel I am involved in your life. As things stand between us right now, it seems to me that you are more fond of my body than my mind. While making love with you is most satisfying, it is not enough for me. I had been hoping that you would be different from the men in my past, but it seems that you are not. It may be that you respect me and enjoy speaking with me about many things, but you have no faith in me regarding things that are important to you. It doesn't matter what I feel for you now that this is clear to me. You are no longer welcome in my bed, elf."
She walked to the door, opened it and as she was about to leave she said "Perhaps when you learn that though males and females are not the same, they ARE equal, we can discuss this again. I will see you again before you leave to bid you farewell". Walking out, she silently closed the door behind her, leaving Legolas still in bed with his mouth agape.
******
More reviews please! Imaginary cookies will be distributed to all who click the button and give me a reason for writing. Thank you.
Chapter 19 – Alania Returns The Gift
Alania rolled over upon waking to see the elf propped up on his elbow watching her. It was very rare to wake up with him still sharing the bed. Smiling at this pleasant surprise, she stretched and yawned with joy. She was about to properly bid him a good morning when it occurred to her exactly how rare it was for him to welcome the morning with her after a night spent together. Knowing his continued presence in bed could not precede good news and recalling his promise of their talking this morning, she climbed out of bed without a word to him to dress and make ready for that conversation they needed to have.
Legolas watched as her face registered her every emotion upon waking until her pause just before kissing him. At that moment her expression became, for lack of a better term, non-descript. He was so used to reading her every thought from her body language that this calm pose was unnerving. For the first time with her, he had no idea what she was thinking and it occurred to him that Roxy had mentioned how much time Alania had been spending with Gandalf. Clearly she was under the wizard's tutelage as Gandalf had a gift for being unreadable. What purpose Gandalf had in taking her under his wing Legolas couldn't guess. To say he was displeased with this turn of events would be to understate it. He wanted Alania to remain the same woman he had first fallen for. This staid side to her was one he hadn't seen before and he was unsure how to handle it. Had it been there all along or was it new?
As she crossed the room for her clothing, she did nothing to cover her nakedness. The elf had a difficult time acclimating to this new attitude of hers while being distracted by her lack of covering. He was becoming aroused even as he scolded himself. Much as he would have liked to keep her in bed with him for a little while longer, he knew there was no avoiding their next conversation.
She quickly dressed and seeing the elf still lazily posed in the bed, pulled an armchair near it to face him. Not even aware she was doing it, Alania struck a casual, lazy pose in the chair and kept her face impassive. Leaning back in the chair and looking him dead in the eyes, she spoke with him emotionlessly. "Seeing as how you're still here this morning, and that you clearly made an effort to visit last night, I must assume that you're A) apologizing most sincerely, B) come as the bearer of bad news or C) both A and B. From what I've been hearing around here lately, I am going to guess that you are here with bad news. I say this because I believe that you think last night's apology and this most beautiful of gifts makes up for all the things you've done wrong lately. How close am I?"
Legolas sat up straight and stared at her. She most certainly was adept. "You are correct in your assumptions. I have some ill news" he replied. Seeing that she was waiting for him to continue, her face showing no reaction, he said "For the last few weeks we have received reports from scouts and messengers of an orc army slowly advancing towards my home. Though Mirkwood is well guarded, many of my people have traveled west these past few years and it will need reinforcements. I was unsure until a few days ago, but it seems that I am needed at home."
"When are you leaving?" she asked stoically.
Legolas attempted to gauge her thoughts, but she was unreadable. He found himself hesitating with his answer, an unusual thing for him. She continued to watch him as he stalled with her maintained calm demeanor. When still he did not answer, she said "Today then. And how long have you known you'd be leaving?"
"For some time now" he said. Legolas watched as Alania raised a single eyebrow and took a deep breath as she clasped her hands together and tucked them under her chin, her elbows resting on the arms of the chair. He waited as this information sunk in and waited for her expected explosion.
She sat looking at him, absorbing this news, her face still not showing any signs of emotion. Had Alania been conscious of her impervious expression, she would have lost all capability for it. Inside she was in a turmoil of feelings. Fury at him and fear for him combined with the hurt she felt that she was receiving this news at the very last moment. Her brain coped with these running emotions as quickly as possible, until she only felt resignation and disappointment.
Finally she sighed and sat up. She leaned forward and rested her arms on her knees. Giving Legolas a sad, resigned smile she asked "Am I to assume that I will be left here in Rivendell?"
"Alania, I would not even consider taking you with me. Much as I enjoy having you at my side, I would rest better knowing my little sprite was safe here" he answered.
Nodding her head, she pursed her lips and stood. Looking down at him, she absentmindedly ran a hand through his hair, playing with the ends of the strands. Legolas knew there was something else she would say and he waited for it. He was somewhat taken aback at how well she was reacting to his news. She was amazingly calm and he did not know what to make of it. He imagined it was that she understood his point of view and respected his decision. He smiled at her with the thought of how proud he was that this woman loved him. His smile was wiped off his face when she cupped his face in her hands, kissed him softly and removed the necklace he had given her the night before.
Alania watched his smile turn to shock and confusion as she put the necklace in his hand. Before he could say anything to her, she said "Just because I understand doesn't mean that makes it alright for you to ignore me, not tell me what's going on and then make decisions such as this without at least first conferring with me. That isn't to say I would be able to change your mind or that I would even want to try to influence your decisions. All I want is to be kept informed so that I feel I am involved in your life. As things stand between us right now, it seems to me that you are more fond of my body than my mind. While making love with you is most satisfying, it is not enough for me. I had been hoping that you would be different from the men in my past, but it seems that you are not. It may be that you respect me and enjoy speaking with me about many things, but you have no faith in me regarding things that are important to you. It doesn't matter what I feel for you now that this is clear to me. You are no longer welcome in my bed, elf."
She walked to the door, opened it and as she was about to leave she said "Perhaps when you learn that though males and females are not the same, they ARE equal, we can discuss this again. I will see you again before you leave to bid you farewell". Walking out, she silently closed the door behind her, leaving Legolas still in bed with his mouth agape.
******
More reviews please! Imaginary cookies will be distributed to all who click the button and give me a reason for writing. Thank you.