The sun was barely beginning to set as Legolas arrived back to the
riverside. He was significantly warmer because by this time, his clothes
weren't damp anymore. Linteanna had asked him about that earlier because he
really did not look his best. He blew the question off and told her it
wasn't important. He started to question her about the elf she was
fighting, but their conversation was shortened. They both realized what
time it was. Linteanna still had to dress for the party, and Legolas had
somewhere to be.
He traveled back through the trees and the forest. He immediately went to the water to take a sip. He could not get the previous situation out of his head. His anger was still apparent and he thought about the idiot who would dare touch his sister. He paced back and forth, thinking about what do to with him. He stopped as he heard something.
There was a light, soft sound. It was the crackling of several leaves. They were crunching under someone's feet. He turned to the direction it was coming from, and he saw her coming, the one who had caught his attention. He felt as if he was in another world when he laid eyes upon her. 'Oh she is radiant,' he silently said. She wore a stunning white gown, and the paleness of her skin magnified her purity. He thought she looked so fragile and delicate. He was amazed by the length of her hair. She had unbraided it all, and now it hung down her shoulders and her back. The setting sun added sparkles to each strand of hair as the rays of light shone on them.
Legolas was frozen by her presence, and he felt like he could stand there for days and watch her. She slowly walked towards him and stopped by his side. For a moment they stood silent, only watching the sunset. Finally the young elf said in a whisper, "It is beautiful, is it not?" Legolas turned to her and grabbed her hand.
"Not as beautiful as you," he whispered back. All of a sudden he had the urge to kiss her, and he did. He pressed his lips against hers, and ran his other hand through her hair. It was a sweet and tender kiss, filled with innocence and affection.
It caught the young elf off guard completely, but she did not reject it. She felt her face burn with surprise, and reluctantly broke their kiss after a moment or two. She became flustered and light-headed and didn't know what to say when she looked at him. Legolas noticed this, and he was feeling a bit dizzy himself, but he ignored it. He saw that her face was flushed and suddenly he wondered if he had made the right decision.
"Malady, I apologize. I-I know that was wrong of me, I did not mean to offend you…"
She held up her hand and said, "No, no! Tis quite alright. You did not offend me." Her heartbeat was at an outrageous speed, and she felt like there were butterflies in her stomach. She tried to fan herself to try and calm down, but that wasn't helping. Legolas stepped forward and started fanning her also.
"Are you alright?" He was becoming worried because she was acting quite strange.
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm wonderful actually." She leaned forward and they kissed again. This time Legolas was the one to be a little surprised, but he returned the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulders for support, because her legs felt like they would give out at any moment. Legolas slid his arms around her waist, and without breaking the kiss they fell to the ground. But once they had landed, the young elf started giggling, so Legolas opened his eyes. She then started laughing loudly and dug her face into the side of his neck. He immediately thought to himself, 'What did I do to make her laugh!?'
Legolas smiled and questioned, "Is there something wrong? What did I do?"
She pulled away from him and went on laughing. "Nothing, nothing at all. But just…how did we come to be in this situation? I mean…for some reason I feel like I have known you for ages, but I have only known you for a few hours. And look at us," she laughed, "Please excuse my laughing, but I guess it is a defense mechanism for times where I really do not know what to say."
"Oh…I see. Well, I used to always hear two stories about love in my younger days; the first one is that you meet someone and then after a while, the feelings start to change – you are friends first, but then it grows into love; the second is that love is instantaneous. Love at first sight. I guess that is our case," he sighed.
"I guess…I've never known love like this before. It is completely different, but in a good way," she said.
"I know, but just remember to breathe. Your face is turning red again," he teased. They both moved on their sides so that they were facing each other, and they propped their heads in their hands. The ground felt soft all of a sudden, and it made them want to stay there forever. They stared at each other for what seemed to be hours. But they didn't care.
Legolas felt like he was still in that other world. This elf was so much different than the others he had been with. The others had often hurt him, because they wanted him for his royalty and riches, and he was not too quick to forget that. But she was definitely different. He felt it. He thought it comforting that she didn't know where he was from, or who his family was. He thought that if she knew, her feelings would change towards him.
He placed a light kiss on her cheek, and traced the side of her face with his finger. She took his hand, and gently kissed his palm. "Come now, let us talk," she said.
Legolas smiled. "Yes, let us talk."
The young elf studied his face, and then said, "What is your name?"
Alarm and panic flew into his eyes. He wasn't expecting that question. He swallowed and tried to deflect the question. "Why is a name so important?"
"Because," she started, "It's yours. I want to know!" she laughed.
Legolas was trying to think of a way around it. "Well, if it is so important, then what is yours?"
The young elf knew that he was running from the question now, so she decided to play along. She knew that she would eventually find out.
"Mithfalmawen," she whispered. He closed his eyes and repeated her name.
"It is almost as lovely as you are," he said.
"Why, thank you good sir," she said as she kissed his hand once again. "Now, tell me yours."
He started to feel trapped, and this could be seen in his eyes. Mithfalmawen sat up, and watched him closely. "What is it that you fear? Why can you not tell me your name?"
He sat up also, and with a tinge of desperation in his voice, he said, "You might think me different when you know who I am."
"Why do you think this?" she questioned.
He sighed. "Because. It has happened every single time. Prior experiences cloud my mind, I guess."
She placed both of her hands on the sides of his cheeks, and brought her face close to his. "I am not like the others, Legolas."
He started to say something, but then he leaned back in shock when he realized what she had said. "You've known the whole time? And you did not say anything?" he asked.
"Not the entire time…Before I came to meet you here, I saw your sister, Linteanna, who I had known previously, and my father mentioned that her brother, Legolas, had come along also. I noticed the resemblance between you two, and I made the assumption."
"So you knew then, and your feelings did not vary…in any way?"
"No, Legolas. I just want you to know that I will love you for who you are on the inside. That's all that matters to me."
He suddenly felt a bit of relief. He sighed and said, "Thank you. That means a lot to me…" and his voice slowly trailed off. Then he also felt embarrassed and ashamed that he supposed she would be the same as the others. He turned away and did not look her in the face because he thought she would be disappointed in him. "Forgive me, malady. My past…is too troubling."
"Then I have a solution," Mithfalmawen started. She crawled back in front of him, and pulled his chin up. "Do not live in the past. We are in the present. Keep your head up for the future." She grinned and gave him a peck on the lips. "And guess what?" she said as she stood up before him.
"What is that, malady?"
"We have a party to attend!" She twirled around where she was standing, and then bowed graciously before him.
"Ah yes, the party. I have almost forgotten. But I have one question before we go."
"Proceed," she grinned.
He pointed down to her feet, which we even paler than the rest of her skin. "Your shoes. You have none! That is strange…"
"No, no, no!" she giggled, "It is the other way around. You will catch many eyes at the party if you do not take these boots off." She bent down to his feet and started to untie the laces. He protested, but once she had gotten one off and flung it behind her into the river, he realized there was no use. When she removed the other, she sighed in victory. "There we are. Now we are ready to go." She helped him up, and again they met face to face. She could not resist tasting his sweet lips once again, and they were enveloped in yet another kiss, but this time it was filled with passion and love. And with hands intertwined, they made their way back to the main of the city where the celebration had begun.
He traveled back through the trees and the forest. He immediately went to the water to take a sip. He could not get the previous situation out of his head. His anger was still apparent and he thought about the idiot who would dare touch his sister. He paced back and forth, thinking about what do to with him. He stopped as he heard something.
There was a light, soft sound. It was the crackling of several leaves. They were crunching under someone's feet. He turned to the direction it was coming from, and he saw her coming, the one who had caught his attention. He felt as if he was in another world when he laid eyes upon her. 'Oh she is radiant,' he silently said. She wore a stunning white gown, and the paleness of her skin magnified her purity. He thought she looked so fragile and delicate. He was amazed by the length of her hair. She had unbraided it all, and now it hung down her shoulders and her back. The setting sun added sparkles to each strand of hair as the rays of light shone on them.
Legolas was frozen by her presence, and he felt like he could stand there for days and watch her. She slowly walked towards him and stopped by his side. For a moment they stood silent, only watching the sunset. Finally the young elf said in a whisper, "It is beautiful, is it not?" Legolas turned to her and grabbed her hand.
"Not as beautiful as you," he whispered back. All of a sudden he had the urge to kiss her, and he did. He pressed his lips against hers, and ran his other hand through her hair. It was a sweet and tender kiss, filled with innocence and affection.
It caught the young elf off guard completely, but she did not reject it. She felt her face burn with surprise, and reluctantly broke their kiss after a moment or two. She became flustered and light-headed and didn't know what to say when she looked at him. Legolas noticed this, and he was feeling a bit dizzy himself, but he ignored it. He saw that her face was flushed and suddenly he wondered if he had made the right decision.
"Malady, I apologize. I-I know that was wrong of me, I did not mean to offend you…"
She held up her hand and said, "No, no! Tis quite alright. You did not offend me." Her heartbeat was at an outrageous speed, and she felt like there were butterflies in her stomach. She tried to fan herself to try and calm down, but that wasn't helping. Legolas stepped forward and started fanning her also.
"Are you alright?" He was becoming worried because she was acting quite strange.
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm wonderful actually." She leaned forward and they kissed again. This time Legolas was the one to be a little surprised, but he returned the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulders for support, because her legs felt like they would give out at any moment. Legolas slid his arms around her waist, and without breaking the kiss they fell to the ground. But once they had landed, the young elf started giggling, so Legolas opened his eyes. She then started laughing loudly and dug her face into the side of his neck. He immediately thought to himself, 'What did I do to make her laugh!?'
Legolas smiled and questioned, "Is there something wrong? What did I do?"
She pulled away from him and went on laughing. "Nothing, nothing at all. But just…how did we come to be in this situation? I mean…for some reason I feel like I have known you for ages, but I have only known you for a few hours. And look at us," she laughed, "Please excuse my laughing, but I guess it is a defense mechanism for times where I really do not know what to say."
"Oh…I see. Well, I used to always hear two stories about love in my younger days; the first one is that you meet someone and then after a while, the feelings start to change – you are friends first, but then it grows into love; the second is that love is instantaneous. Love at first sight. I guess that is our case," he sighed.
"I guess…I've never known love like this before. It is completely different, but in a good way," she said.
"I know, but just remember to breathe. Your face is turning red again," he teased. They both moved on their sides so that they were facing each other, and they propped their heads in their hands. The ground felt soft all of a sudden, and it made them want to stay there forever. They stared at each other for what seemed to be hours. But they didn't care.
Legolas felt like he was still in that other world. This elf was so much different than the others he had been with. The others had often hurt him, because they wanted him for his royalty and riches, and he was not too quick to forget that. But she was definitely different. He felt it. He thought it comforting that she didn't know where he was from, or who his family was. He thought that if she knew, her feelings would change towards him.
He placed a light kiss on her cheek, and traced the side of her face with his finger. She took his hand, and gently kissed his palm. "Come now, let us talk," she said.
Legolas smiled. "Yes, let us talk."
The young elf studied his face, and then said, "What is your name?"
Alarm and panic flew into his eyes. He wasn't expecting that question. He swallowed and tried to deflect the question. "Why is a name so important?"
"Because," she started, "It's yours. I want to know!" she laughed.
Legolas was trying to think of a way around it. "Well, if it is so important, then what is yours?"
The young elf knew that he was running from the question now, so she decided to play along. She knew that she would eventually find out.
"Mithfalmawen," she whispered. He closed his eyes and repeated her name.
"It is almost as lovely as you are," he said.
"Why, thank you good sir," she said as she kissed his hand once again. "Now, tell me yours."
He started to feel trapped, and this could be seen in his eyes. Mithfalmawen sat up, and watched him closely. "What is it that you fear? Why can you not tell me your name?"
He sat up also, and with a tinge of desperation in his voice, he said, "You might think me different when you know who I am."
"Why do you think this?" she questioned.
He sighed. "Because. It has happened every single time. Prior experiences cloud my mind, I guess."
She placed both of her hands on the sides of his cheeks, and brought her face close to his. "I am not like the others, Legolas."
He started to say something, but then he leaned back in shock when he realized what she had said. "You've known the whole time? And you did not say anything?" he asked.
"Not the entire time…Before I came to meet you here, I saw your sister, Linteanna, who I had known previously, and my father mentioned that her brother, Legolas, had come along also. I noticed the resemblance between you two, and I made the assumption."
"So you knew then, and your feelings did not vary…in any way?"
"No, Legolas. I just want you to know that I will love you for who you are on the inside. That's all that matters to me."
He suddenly felt a bit of relief. He sighed and said, "Thank you. That means a lot to me…" and his voice slowly trailed off. Then he also felt embarrassed and ashamed that he supposed she would be the same as the others. He turned away and did not look her in the face because he thought she would be disappointed in him. "Forgive me, malady. My past…is too troubling."
"Then I have a solution," Mithfalmawen started. She crawled back in front of him, and pulled his chin up. "Do not live in the past. We are in the present. Keep your head up for the future." She grinned and gave him a peck on the lips. "And guess what?" she said as she stood up before him.
"What is that, malady?"
"We have a party to attend!" She twirled around where she was standing, and then bowed graciously before him.
"Ah yes, the party. I have almost forgotten. But I have one question before we go."
"Proceed," she grinned.
He pointed down to her feet, which we even paler than the rest of her skin. "Your shoes. You have none! That is strange…"
"No, no, no!" she giggled, "It is the other way around. You will catch many eyes at the party if you do not take these boots off." She bent down to his feet and started to untie the laces. He protested, but once she had gotten one off and flung it behind her into the river, he realized there was no use. When she removed the other, she sighed in victory. "There we are. Now we are ready to go." She helped him up, and again they met face to face. She could not resist tasting his sweet lips once again, and they were enveloped in yet another kiss, but this time it was filled with passion and love. And with hands intertwined, they made their way back to the main of the city where the celebration had begun.