Camille sighed as she sank down onto her bed in the chamber that was assigned to her, glad to finally have a proper bed to sleep in. It had been months since she had last slept in a proper bed, and to finally find one here was a great comfort. The others had arrived already, but she didn't go to them yet. She wanted to stay and watch over Eli. She only found out that the rest of the Fellowship was already in Caras Galadhon when Haldir came in and told her about it.
She smiled when she thought of him. Haldir… The Elven archer was quite a charmer, to say the least. She found him funny and endearing, in spite of the fact that he had seemed rather cold and hard when they first met near the Nimrodel. In the span of time that it took them to get from the Nimrodel outpost to the city, Camille had already considered him a good friend.
But she hadn't been prepared to meet Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. After Haldir had given his report, Galadriel suddenly called her by her name. During that time, she had been standing just outside the throne room, waiting for Haldir to finish and lead her to the infirmary, and when she heard a voice call her, she stepped forward. Celeborn greeted her with kindness, and told her not to worry, for Galadriel herself would be treating Eli. Then Galadriel looked at her, and seemed to probe into her mind. In her head, she could hear the Lady asking what she desired the most, and she found herself almost giving the answer vocally, "Love."
She lay down on her bed slowly, thinking about all that they had gone through, though her mind intentionally left out the part about Gandalf. It's too soon to think about that…
But her mind kept straying there, especially to what he had said to make her let go, the one concerning Legolas. And though you may not know it now, Legolas needs you the most. Without you he would fade into darkness. You are his light, child. You are to him as Earendil star is to the Elves. You are his sun and his moon, and if you were to disappear, he would have no reason to live.
^Mithrandir was right when he told you that.^
Camille sat up with a jerk, and noticed Lady Galadriel standing in front of her. "Is Eli okay?"
Galadriel nodded, and smiled at her in a kind manner, choosing then to speak in Westron. "She will be all right. She has used too much energy, that is all. She was not supposed to know how to call upon the Spirit itself until she was much stronger, but her emotions drew the power out before her body could respond properly to it." She drifted closer to Camille, and sat down beside her on the bed. "And her weak heart and lungs have been healed. They will trouble her no longer for the rest of her life."
Camille sighed, and closed her eyes. "Thank you, Lady Galadriel. You have made me feel a lot better."
The Lady smiled at her then. "Perhaps part of the burdens of your heart have been lifted, but I know that your spirit still carries pains that are not yet healed. Would you speak to me of these things?"
Camille cringed. What am I going to tell her? That I find myself torn between my heart and my head because Legolas has told me that he loves me? "It's very hard to explain…"
The Lady touched her gently on her back. "I shall try to understand then, dear child."
And so Camille began, pouring out everything that troubled her heart, from her fear of Orcs to Gandalf's death, and finally to her emotions for Legolas. And the whole while, Galadriel listened to her with a sympathetic ear, not saying anything, just listening.
When her outpouring was done, Camille realized that Galadriel had somehow managed to get her out of her soiled traveling clothes and into a beautiful white Elven-dress woven through with strands of silver and edged with tiny diamonds. She was sitting in front of a mirror, and her long hair was pulled back and away from her face but still left loose, while upon her forehead there now sat a many-rayed star of silver, held in place by a round band of the same metal. In the middle of the star was a large diamond, and it seemed to be a star unto itself as it caught the meager rays of the moonlight.
Camille gazed at herself in awe. What the… "Lady Galadriel, how…why-"
Galadriel's reflection smiled at her, and shook her head. "If there is one thing about love that you do not understand, it is its power to bridge any gap. Legolas may be an Elf, true, but that does not mean your love cannot be. Your love for him is as pure as starlight before the coming of the Shadow, and such a love cannot remain trapped forever. You have gone so long unloved, dear child. Go forth, and claim what destiny has set before you." With that, she raised her hand to indicate a small rope ladder that led down the tree. "Follow the path at the bottom of the ladder; it will take you to Cerin Amroth. Once you are there, wait for a while, and your destiny will find you."
Camille looked at Galadriel with uncertainty for a moment, but then, she smiled, and nodded. What the heck, she knows more than I do. "I do not understand what you mean, Lady Galadriel, but you're smarter than I am, so I might as well obey. Thank you…for this." She waved her hand to indicate her outfit. With that, she turned on her heel, and climbed down the ladder, heading towards Cerin Amroth…and her destiny.
* * *
Galadriel couldn't suppress a soft girlish giggle when Camille had disappeared. She had always enjoyed putting lovers together, even when she was young, and it pleased her to know that it seemed this match of hers would succeed.
Though I know it is wrong to pair an immortal Elf with a mortal…but it does not matter. Love is what is most important here. But she was doing this not only for the fun of it but also to fulfill the ancient prophecy, and, more importantly, to ease the pain in the young girl's heart.
For she was listening to Camille's outpouring, and her heart had ached when she listened to her. So young, and yet she has felt enough pain to last a mortal lifetime. Galadriel felt that she somehow owed it to the child to alleviate that hurt, no matter how small her role would be in its curing.
Her mind made up, she now drifted down from the chamber via the proper way, walking down the steps and ladders with an ease and grace that was almost magical. For from her line came Celebrian, and from her came Arwen Undomiel, Evenstar of the Elves. She walked now through Lothlorien, bending her mind to finding a certain Elf-Prince from Mirkwood.
She found him soon enough. She approached him silently, so that not even the sensitive hearing of his Elvish ears could pick up the sound of her footsteps. He was sitting on the lower branches of a great mallorn, looking out towards the Nimrodel and singing softly to himself.
Galadriel smiled slightly as she recognized the words in his song. It was sad, and yet, beautiful, for it spoke of longing for the love of someone one could never have. Amongst the words, she caught the name "Eriol", and she knew that it was the name the Prince had given to his beloved, who now waited for him on Cerin Amroth. She spoke then, calling his attention, ^Your plight is a sad one, young Prince.^
Legolas started, and looked down. Galadriel noticed the hint of embarrassment in his face as he leaped down gracefully, and bowed to her. ^Forgive me for interrupting your walk, My Lady. I did not know you were here.^
Galadriel raised her hand in comfort. ^Nay, you have disturbed me not, son of Thranduil.^ She smiled then. ^Your song is a very sad one, as I said. I believe I could compare it to the song of Nimrodel.^
The Prince lowered his head modestly. ^I do not think it can be compared to so beautiful a song as the lay of Nimrodel.^
^But the meaning is the same, and that is what makes it so beautiful.^ Galadriel turned away from him then, gazing at the moon. ^You love a mortal, do you not, Legolas Greenleaf?^
She sensed a ripple of discomfort run through him, but he agreed. ^Indeed, I do, Lady Galadriel. But in my mind and in my heart, she is no mere mortal; she seems to be an Elf in the guise of one, or cursed to remain in a mortal vessel.^
Galadriel laughed gently, and she glanced at the Prince. ^I did not mean to point that out as a bad thing, Legolas. I only wondered if you could love her the way she deserves to be loved.
^She is a frail child. Though she may put up a front that seems stronger and tougher than mithril, that façade is only to hide the fragile and tender heart within. She calls out to a world that would not hear her, that would not love her. For it is upon love that her spirit thrives, and her heart overflows with it. She wishes to give her love, but she cannot do so, for fear has dammed it up within her.^
Legolas spoke then. ^But what shall I do? She claims that she cannot love me, though what reason she has for saying that, I do not know.^
^As I said, it is her fear that prevents her from loving you. Show her that she CAN love you. Release her from the cage that she has trapped herself in. Teach her, help her, to find the love that lies within her.^ Galadriel smiled, and turned away. ^Go now to Cerin Amroth. She awaits you there.^
* * *
Legolas walked down the pathway that led to the gates of Caras Galadhon. Along the way, he thought on what the Lady of the Galadhrim had told him about Camille. Is she truly trapped within a cage? She seems to be the true model of freedom…though perhaps that is just a façade once again. He sighed. Will there come a time when I can look upon her without being forced to see her though a mask? Ah, if only I could tear away those falsehoods and see her for the person she truly is!
He had now wandered past the gates, and was now making his was towards Cerin Amroth, where the golden elanor and pale niphredil bloom for all eternity. Earendil star shone high above him, and it seemed to almost outshine the moon, for it too was out that night. They cast their silvery beams upon the crest of the hill, and through the trees, he thought he caught the sight of something sparkling.
His curiosity drawing him forward, he slowly climbed up the hill, making sure not to make a single sound, and stepped past the inner ring of mallorn trees to the clearing within. And he thought that he had suddenly stepped into a song.
Nimrodel… Legolas shook his head and closed his eyes, trying to clear his thoughts. This cannot be! Nimrodel was lost to Elven-kind long ago… He opened his eyes again, and looked harder. He quickly realized that it was not Nimrodel, but someone different, and, he believed, someone far more beautiful than the Elf-maiden of legend.
Beneath the combined light of the moon and Earendil star stood Camille, clad in a flowing dress of pure white with threads of silver and tiny diamonds along the edges of the collar, sleeves and hem. Her dark hair was pulled back from her face, but still fell over her shoulders in auburn rivers. A shining star was bound upon her brow, and seemed to cast light upon everything within range, as though it was a true star that had fallen from the heavens and was placed upon a circlet to grace her with beauty. She stood there, her face tilted upwards to look upon the heavens, while in her hand was a small bloom of elanor shining golden between her slender fingers.
For a while, Legolas stood there, stunned. Has she finally revealed what she truly is, as a star upon this earth, he wondered to himself. Unable to contain himself any longer, he stepped forward, softly calling her name in Elvish, ^Eriol.^
* * *
^Eriol.^
Camille jerked the moment she heard the voice. It was one she knew all too well, having heard it not just in her waking hours, but sometimes in her dreams as well. Legolas… She turned slowly to the left, and gazed upon the Elf-Prince of Mirkwood. He was staring at her, his mouth parted slightly in what she recognized as a look of amazement. Blushing, she lowered her head to gaze upon the flowers of elanor and niphredil that grew in the grass beneath her feet. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
He responded to her, his voice holding quiet amazement. "How can I not? For you have appeared to me as a star would if it had fallen upon this world and taken the form of the Eldar! For a moment I almost thought I had strayed into some strange dream, and I was looking upon Nimrodel herself…"
Camille giggled. "Nimrodel…you shouldn't compare me to her; I'm not as beautiful as she is."
Legolas reached out, and caught her hand in his, the petals of the elanor she had plucked a while ago trapped between their palms. "Why do you say such a thing of yourself, Camille? Why do you always refuse praise when it is given to you?"
"Because I know I don't deserve it." She tried to pull away from Legolas, but he held her hand tight. "Legolas please let me go."
The Elf Prince shook his head, his blue eyes holding a determined glint. ^Nay, I shall not.^
Camille felt her eyes widen, and she tasted panic at the back of her mouth. She tugged harder, attempting to pull away. "Please Legolas…"
He spoke then. ^The Lady of the Wood told you to come here, did she not?^
Camille stopped struggling then. How did he know of that? "Yeah, she did."
^And she told you to come here, and that your destiny would come to you, did she not?^
"Yes-" Suddenly, realization dawned on her. Oh my God… "Legolas, are you-"
Legolas smiled kindly at her. "Do you not remember what the Prophecy of the Summoners said? 'Fairer than any yet to be seen/ One shall be a mighty Queen.' Have you ever thought it possible that it was YOU being referred to?"
Camille was frozen in her spot as Legolas drew her into an embrace. He sighed then, a sound that matched the whispering of the wind. ^Ah, my love! Long have I desired to hold you in my arms like this, but you have shunned me, you have pushed away my love for you! Tell me, why is it so?^
"I'm afraid, Legolas," Camille admitted quietly. "I'm afraid of loving, because I think that if I fall in love, I'll just end up having my heart broken in the end." She shivered then as one of Legolas' hands strayed down to the small of her back, while the other moved to her chin, tilting her head upwards so that she was staring straight at Legolas' ocean blue eyes.
The Prince's voice was serious and hushed. ^You have no need to feel such fear, my love. I would not break your heart, not even if the world should demand it of me. I love you too much to hurt you in so cruel a manner. For we Elves know the pain that can be caused by a broken heart; immortal as we are, it is the only other thing that can kill us. We are untouchable by age and the ravages of disease, but we are not spared from a deathblow in battle…and the ache of a heart that has been shattered to pieces. And our immortal lives only make it all the more unbearable.
^But I love you as I have never loved before, Eriol. Only now do I understand what love truly is, and I shall only know it if it is your love that I have.^
Camille shook her head, tears coming to her eyes. I have to remind him…he can't throw his whole life away like this… "Legolas, have you forgotten? I'm only mortal; I'll die in the end if you love me. And I don't want to break your heart that way, all the more so now that I know Elves can die of broken hearts. And I'll be going back to my own world. Don't love me Legolas, please, don't."
Legolas smiled sadly at her. ^It is too late, Eriol. For I loved you when I saw you, and there is nothing you or I can do to change it. And even then, I would not change this feeling even if I was to have the One Ring for myself. What does it matter if you are mortal? I shall surrender my immortality and live with you as an ordinary mortal. I would rather live one lifetime with you, than live an eternity deprived of your love.^ He sighed again, leaning closer to her. ^Do not fear love, Eriol. For I love you…for all eternity.^
Camille gulped, and closed her eyes, her tears trickling out of them and moving down her cheeks. "Legolas, I don't want you to throw your life away like this. You can't, you-" Her words were cut short when Legolas leaned down to her, and kissed her on her slightly open mouth. She froze then, her mind numbed by the action that had caught her completely by surprise. But slowly, as the sweet sensation finally overrode the shock, she found her eyes closing, and her body melting into his, seeking his warmth against the cold night air. She felt like she was floating in a dream she had long denied herself, a dream that was always waiting for her, but she always blocked it from her mind.
His kiss was slow and gentle, seeking only to tell her of his emotions for her, not to derive pleasure from his actions. But Camille knew that pleasure was but part and parcel of this, and she felt it coursing through her entire body in pulsing waves of electricity.
Legolas moved away from her then, his lips just a fraction of an inch away from hers. Camille stared into his eyes, and was lost in their deep blue depths. ^By this kiss I bind myself to you, Camille Selvitar, forever. Now, only death may tear you away from me.^
Camille sighed, and pressed her cheek against his chest. "And I am yours, Legolas Greenleaf." She closed her eyes, and felt her tears of joy spring from them as she spoke the three words she had longed to say to him from the moment he confessed his feelings for her in Rivendell…
"I love you."
* * *
Boromir clenched his fist, attempting to wrestle back his control as he looked on at the scene that lay before him. Down in Cerin Amroth, he could see Legolas and Camille, kissing each other beneath the light of the moon and Earendil star.
The Lady has made her choice, he thought miserably. His mind brought back Gandalf's words by the campfire, Boromir of Gondor, she was not meant for you. ……I feel that their destiny lies elsewhere. Camille's destiny does not lie with yours.
He slowly turned his back to the scene, intending to head back to the place where the Fellowship would sleep. Unable to resist the temptation, he looked over his shoulder, getting one last glance at the scene that had unfolded before him. Love her well, Legolas. I entrust her heart to you now. With that, he looked away, and joined the rest of the Fellowship, his heart broken beyond healing.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: AWWWWWWW!!! Wasn't that just SWEET?!?!?! I know, it's so sweet that some of you probably feel like brushing your teeth right after reading it, but what the hell?!?! This is the stuff I'm GOOD at! Hmmm rereads Boromir bit… Okay, I have the funny feeling that I'm going to get roasted by Boromir fans for that last bit, but…I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF!!! Boromir HAD to have some insight on the whole thing, right?! Anyway, on with the story! We'll move a little forwards in time, to the moment when the Fellowship leaves Lothlorien. What will happen to Eli and Camille now? What sort of parting words will Galadriel have for them? Read on to find out!