~Chapter Five
Drops of rain fell onto the back of my neck and slid down my back as I bent over to shove the blanket in the bag. Legolas was riding back across the field on the white horse with Cerin close behind them. I swung up onto her, the pack sliding down my arm and onto my shoulder. A crack of lightning not too far away made the horses jump. Cerin slid to a stop and refused to enter the woods. Legolas reined in his own horse and called to me through the rain. "Niphredil, hurry!" The rain fell harder, making it impossible to communicate. It was hard to see. I kicked Cerin's side just hard enough to make her go again. We rode through the woods slowly because it was hard to see. I could make out Legolas gesturing to me, though. I rode over to him.
"Niphredil!" he shouted over a crack of thunder. "There's not enough time to get back to Lothlórien! Is there anywhere nearby?"
I didn't hesitate to answer, "Yes! Follow me!" I turned Cerin and cantered towards my secret place. Cerin ran faster now because she knew the placement of every tree, every bump in the path from here. I could see a white blur behind us- Legolas. It took eternity for the trees to thin out and open into my little clearing. I pressed Cerin into a short-lived gallop and then slid off her, tying her to a tree branch with a length of rope. Legolas did the same and then hoisted himself onto the lowest branch. I climbed up, trying to get a glimpse of the talan above me. My hands slipped on the wet, moss-covered branches. The gold leaves fluttered off the tree, forced by the wind. My hair blew out of the rope that was holding it and flew around my face wildly. I hoisted myself onto the talan. Legolas climbed up and sat next to me on the small board. The branches I had arranged above offered meager protection from the wind and rain. I spread out the blanket from the pack I had forgotten to leave behind and stretched out on it. Legolas did too. All of a sudden I was aware of the intimate position we were laying in and decided to lay on my stomach instead of facing him. A blush crept up my cheeks and I hoped that Legolas couldn't see it in the darkness. I felt him shift beside me. I could feel the heat coming off his body and I felt embarrassed. What would my father say if he saw us now? What would Mother do?
Mother. The Mirror! What if she was watching now through the mirror? Panic almost stilled my heart and then sent it racing, beating twenty times faster than it should have been. I curled up into a fetal position, which was awkward because my knees then brushed Legolas's torso, but I tried to ignore it and instead focused on slowing my reeling heart. If Mother is watching, there is nothing I can do. There is nothing I can do, I repeated to myself over and over in a whisper.
"Niphredil?"
"Yes?"
"Did you say something?"
"No," I lied. I took a deep breath and shifted on the board, lying on my back. I felt Legolas's steady breathing and knew he was asleep. Soon I was gone too.
I woke in the most awkward position the next morning. My body was pressed against Legolas's, as if we had been kissing in our sleep. He opened his eyes slowly and I abruptly shut mine, pretending to be asleep. I was too embarrassed to be lying there awake in that position. Legolas moved his arm around my waist. He picked me up slightly, disentangling our misplaced limbs, and then laid me gently back down on the talan. I marveled at his gentleness, he touched me as if I was his wife or his daughter, someone he didn't want to hurt. I heard the rustle of leaves as he climbed back down the tree and then the murmur of his voice as he talked to the horses. A peek over the edge of the talan told me that Legolas had set Cerin and the white, nameless horse out for grazing. I slid over the edge of the platform, the pack and the blanket slung over my arm. I climbed down and landed deftly on the wet, dew-coated grass. Legolas came and stood next to me, gazing over the trees of the Naith of Lórien.
In a flash I remembered a dream I had dreamt last night. It had been a very strange dream and, blushing slightly, I figured that was the reason we had been in that awkward stance when we awoke. Legolas must have had a similar dream or else it was just coincidence. I looked through my pack once more to hide the redness of my cheeks from Legolas.
"We better move soon," said Legolas, looking at the horses grazing in the distance. "Your parents will be very worried."
"Yes," I agreed, a knot forming in my stomach. Legolas went and got the horses and we rode back through the forest. I hesitated when we came to Lothlórien. My parents would not be happy.
My prediction was correct. As soon as Cerin walked out of the forest Celeborn came down the stairs, looking like a rhinoceros on a charge. Galadriel was close behind him, almost tripping on the hem of his robe. Legolas slid down from his horse and so did I, rather awkwardly, because my legs were all of a sudden very stiff and paralyzed. My father's angry face danced before my eyes. I steadied myself by leaning on Cerin. I had never seen Celeborn so angry.
"Where have you been?" he barked, his eyes flitting between Legolas and me. "You've been gone since yesterday morning!" It was then I felt a true moment of fear. I could only imagine the thoughts passing through my father's head right now. "Did he make love to you?" Celeborn hissed, barely audible. I caught a glimpse of Legolas's face. He looked as if he had been slapped. I almost fainted at the absurdity of my father's question; it was ridiculous. Then again, we did spend the night together, but-
"No," said Legolas, stepping forward. There were so many emotions in his voice- surprise, fear, anger, and a wistful tone if it wasn't my imagination. Celeborn looked furious, not being able to tell if he was lying or not. Galadriel, hidden behind Celeborn all this time, stepped forward at that moment. She laid a white hand on her husband's arm. "They are telling the truth," my mother murmured into Celeborn's ear. My eyes widened, and a panicked glance passed between Legolas and I. Everything I was feeling was reflected in his eyes. My mother had seen it in the mirror. My breath came in short gasps as Celeborn whirled around and stomped back up the stone steps. My mother looked at me in a strange way, as if she knew something that I didn't, and then she followed my father back up the steps. I collapsed against Legolas's body, tears running down my cheeks. How could my father think that of me? Legolas supported me, his arm around my waist, murmuring into my hair. I tried to steady myself and regain my posture, and I met myself halfway, leaning on Cerin as she stood next to me.
A figure appeared from behind a tree. It was a Man from the Fellowship that I recognized as Aragorn. He held a glass in his hand and was stirring it with a stick. Legolas glanced at me and then went over to him. The two men exchanged soft words, glancing at me once in a while. I pretended to brush Cerin's mane as I strained to hear their conversation. After a minute they came over to me. Aragorn handed me a strange looking wooden mug.
"Here," he said, looking into my eyes. "Drink this, it will help you."
Too tired to ask questions, I drank what was in the cup and then handed it back to Aragorn. The potions had left me feeling less fatigued and better in general. I looked up at the Man. "I didn't know Men were such good healers," I said. Aragorn laughed softly and then glanced at Legolas, who was grinning also.
"Everything I know, I've learned from the Elves," he said. I smiled.
"Excuse me," I said, leading Cerin back to the stable. "I think I'm going to go back up to my room now."
Legolas nodded and waved his hand. I waved back.