Chapter 9

Legolas and Terrico sat outside of a cave. They had just finished talking with another dragon, and this one didn't like elves. Terrico shook her head and laughed. "I think that he is going to be the last dragon I approach before I know its gender." Legolas laughed as well. "He wasn't very happy with me, either. I think I made things worse." The two sat close together on a rock, laughing while trying to catch their breath. Terrico leaned back and was surprised that Legolas actually moved closer to her, and even put his arm around her. The two had never been alone together since Elrond's ball, and that had been cut short by Sealeaf's hatching. Legolas had become very much attracted to Terrico, and wanted to tell her. He never had time before because of Sealeaf. Terrico thought of Legolas and her feelings for him a lot. She decided that he was the one she wanted, and was fairly sure he felt the same way. She turned to him and looked in his eyes. The two didn't even need words, they instantly knew that they had the same feelings for each other. They leaned together, their lips gently touching. As they sat there, kissing, they were totally unaware of anything that was going on. At dusk, they finally headed back to Bag End. Legolas kept an arm around Terrico and told her over and over on the way back how happy he was that he had met her and how much he loved her. Their courtship was cut short quite suddenly when they passed Sam coming up the road. "Mister Frodo just got a very disturbing letter from Strider." Sam looked very worried. He held the rose gently, but at the same time they noticed that his hands were shaking. "There's goblins nearby, this rose proves it. Gandalf's looking for you, Terrico. He is worried about you. Strider's coming by soon, though. Sealeaf's crying for you, Legolas. I'm going to go find a place for this. Perhaps a bit of gardening before bed will calm me down." Legolas put his hand on Sam's shoulder. "Sam, you were just as brave as I was on your way to Mount Doom. I don't think that a few weak goblins should scare you!" Legolas smiled, trying to calm Sam. "Go to bed, Sam." Terrico's voice sounded very soothing to Sam. She gave Legolas's hand a small tug, and he followed her into Frodo's house. Frodo was sitting in a chair by the fire, Gimli was looking over maps, obviously troubled. Sealeaf chirped excitedly and leapt onto Legolas's shoulders. Legolas patted the dragon and set him down on the floor. "You're too big now to sit on my shoulders. You'll make me shorter than Gimli." Frodo looked over from his chair. His cat, a longhaired white tomcat, sat purring on his lap. Frodo looked very sad. "Aragorn sent a letter earlier. It's on the table, over there." Terrico picked up the letter and read it. "Gandalf's worried about me? That's odd. It must be serious. Goblins? That is NOT good." She read the part about the rose, "Legolas, was the rose very big when you found it?" Legolas gave her a questioning look. "Yes, it had spread throughout most of the forest, but it looked like many plants." Terrico sighed and put her head down. "I'd hoped I'd lost them." Legolas was about to question her, but he heard the far-off trumpets of Aragorn's men. "Aragorn's here. Perhaps he can explain further." Legolas and Terrico went outside, followed closely by Gimli. "Are you coming, Frodo?" Gimli asked the hobbit, who had not moved. "No, I think not, Gimli. I think that I will stay home this time, I have had too much adventure for one life." Gimli nodded. He understood that Frodo was tired, and that he would rather rest at home than go off again. Gimli doubted that the tired ringbearer could be of much help. "If we do go off, I'll make sure that all of your firewood is chopped up good and small for you, and I'll bring some more inside tonight." Gimli left and followed Legolas.