*~*Impelled by longing, mortals and the Fair Folk both strove to breach the
boundaries that separated them, and sometimes they succeeded. But not even
passion and affection were sufficient to keep open the invisible walls
between the two people. The stories of their love were almost always
pervaded by sorrow and filled with the pain of loss. ~ The Enchanted World.
"Fairies and Elves"*~*
THE FAERIE GOBLET
Chapter 12 ~ "Impelled by Longing"
Legolas saw her the moment he turned into the lane. Breathing a sigh of relief, he urged Aransûl into the dusty yard behind the little wooden house. The trip had taken far too long and he thought he'd burst from impatience, an emotion almost entirely foreign to the Eldar. He'd pushed Aransûl as hard as he dared and risked Gimli's good humor each morning as they set out. The dwarf had insisted on accompanying him, despite Legolas' protests. He suspected Gimli of keeping an eye on him.
Alede did not look up at their approach. The setting sun was in her eyes as she hung on the clothesline the most enormous pair of men's under drawers that Legolas had ever seen. He was immediately aware of how tired she looked. Not just the fatigue of caring for an invalid but the bone deep weariness that comes of heartache.
Legolas cast out his senses, trying to pick up any notes of her song. This close, she should not be able to hide it from him. But he could not hear her, instead picking up a mind as young and fresh as a blade of grass.
He smiled. *Good evening Faunlend* He sang the notes in his mind and the horse heard the greeting. She came to the door of her stall and neighed like thunder.
Alede looked up and their eyes met.
~ ~ ~
It seemed to Alede that time stood still, or perhaps her heart stopped beating. For when she looked up and beheld Legolas, the moment stretched into eternity.
Once she got over her shock, she noticed the most minute of details, the shadow of fatigue beneath his eyes, the faint smudge of dirt upon his cheek, one warriors' braid that had tangled in his collar. His face was the same, the youthful lines unchanged, though he'd obviously lost weight. But there was a firmness to his jaw now and a steadiness to his eyes that was different. He sat his horse with kingly grace and Alede realized that he had matured since she'd last seen him. Whether that maturity was due to the wisdom of rule or to some other strain, she knew not.
His clothing was different also. She'd become accustomed to Mirkwood's greens and browns. But now he wore leather breaches and a padded jerkin, almost as if he was going into battle. A cloak was about his shoulders also, though he'd pushed the hood back to reveal the stunning glory of his silver gold hair. The horse he sat was different and Alede supposed that Arod had finally succumbed to old age. This stallion had the bright eyes and knowing look of an Elvin horse.
Legolas' piercing gaze had not changed.
Alede quite suddenly became aware of her stained skirt and bodice and her dusty bare feet. At some point during her afternoon's work her hair had started to come out of its braid and twisted fiercely beside her face. Because she'd been working with only Baird for company after dinner, Alede had not bothered to clean up or fix her hair. She'd certainly not expected to have visitors.
She'd certainly not expected Legolas.
The stallion shifted a delicate hoof and Alede broke out of her reverie, broke out of her surprise and disbelief to notice that she'd dropped her laundry. Bending down she realized that Baird's underwear had fallen into the dust. Dirt clung to the damp fabric causing a muddy stain and the practical part of her brain told her that she'd have to wash it again. But quite suddenly another part of her brain took over.
*NO.*
Looking back up at Legolas, the part of her brain that wasn't practical, wasn't patient, wasn't nurturing and all the things that a good healer should be, suddenly that part of her became quite angry.
Fourteen years.
"Fourteen years," she whispered.
And then she spoke quite loudly. "Fourteen years and you have the nerve to ride up here as if you belong!"
"Alede . . ."
"Don't 'Alede' me! And don't you even dare think about getting off of that horse," she threw the muddy drawers on the ground again, stomping on them as she stormed up to Legolas. So wrathful was her approach Aransûl shied away from her. "Just go back to where ever it was that you came from!"
"Alede, I am sorry . . ."
"So am I! I'm sorry I ever laid eyes on you!" To her dismay, Alede suddenly burst into tears. Covering her face with her hands, Alede fled sobbing into the house.
Gimli grunted as the door banged shut.
"You've got quite a way with women, Legolas."
"Gimli?"
"Hmm?"
"Be quiet."
Gimli grunted again as Legolas dismounted. He had a bad feeling about this.
~ ~ ~
Legolas walked up to the house and entered without even pausing so intent was he on talking with Alede. He found himself in a rough little kitchen. Alede sat at a table, her head on her arms. She was crying so loudly that he could just barely make out the worried tones of the enormous man who stooped over her.
"What the." the giant began as he noticed Legolas' entrance. "Is this the one, Alede?"
She lifted her head, brushing her hair away from her tear streaked face, "Yes, he."
"You miserable cur!" the smithy roared, "What 'ave you done tae my woman?" Advancing on the elf he reached out a hand the size of a frying pan.
Alede leaped to her feet to shout a protest. The giant ignored her.
This is going to be interesting, Legolas thought as he dodged out of the way. A piece of furniture blocked his passage and he was forced to duck as a chair crashed against the wall over his head.
"What have you done now?" Gimli asked as he burst in the door to Legolas' rescue.
"I have not done anything!" Legolas shouted over the sound of splintering wood as Baird brandished the remains of the chair.
"You certainly haven't done anything," Alede retorted. "That's been the problem all along!"
The Elf didn't have time to reply. Baird rushed him again, this time kicking a small table at him. Legolas leaped over the table, nearly colliding with a wall in his escape. The house was much too small for a fight.
Baird suddenly noticed Gimli. The sight of an axe brandishing Dwarf seemed to enrage the smithy further. With a bellow, he charged Gimli.
"Gimli!" Legolas shouted. "Put your axe away! He's unarmed!"
"Unarmed?" the dwarf shouted back as he dove under a table to escape being crushed. "He's the size of a tree! I'll keep my axe right were it is!"
Giving up on Gimli who was escaping badger-like under the furniture, Baird turned once again to Legolas. The Elf considered his options in the few seconds that he had. He could end this fight in a moment if he were willing to injure Baird. But he did not feel right about attacking a man who had barely recovered from a broken leg. Not that it seemed to be hindering the giant as Legolas skipped out of the way of another bull like charge.
Legolas grabbed a ladder that led up to the loft and started up it, only to have Baird grab his ankle and drag him down. As Legolas tumbled to the hard floor he heard Alede shouting.
"Legolas stop provoking Baird!"
The Elf wondered which of his actions had appeared provocative, the ducking or the falling.
"Baird, are you mad?" Alede screamed as the smithy reached for Legolas again. Legolas was taller and faster than the man and many times more deadly. Alede could only believe Baird's recklessness was due to ignorance. "He's an Elvin warrior, you could get yourself killed!"
Elvin warrior or no, Legolas didn't think he was giving a very good account of himself at the moment. He was about to remark on this when Baird caught up the fire poker and swung at him. That's when Alede decided to intervene. She ran at Baird and attempted to wrench the iron from him. But Baird, caught in the grip of his rage, shook her off so violently that she fell to the floor.
Quite suddenly, Legolas had had enough. He caught the poker bare handed the next time that it swung at him. Gimli harassed Baird from the rear, giving Legolas a chance to wrench the iron from the man's ham sized fists. The Elf tossed it to the side and slammed the heal of his hand into Baird's nose. The smithy stumbled backwards howling and Gimli neatly tripped him with the shaft of his axe. Legolas advanced on him, barely noting out of the corner of his eye that Alede had flown up the ladder.
Baird lay on his back, blood streaming from his nose and cursing at the top of his lungs. A monstrous fist lashed out and jerked Gimli off of his feet. Legolas leaped forward to rescue his friend but had to jump over a tree-sized leg first. He was about to deliver a kick of his own when the house suddenly shook and a noise like a thunderclap nearly deafened him.
"ENOUGH!" Alede shouted. She stood at the foot of the ladder. She'd smote the floor with her staff and glowed with the intensity of her magic. An eerie, unfelt wind caused her skirts to whip angrily around her legs.
"That will be quite enough of that," she said in a voice as cold as death.
Baird gaped at her in astonishment from his position on the floor. Obviously he'd never seen her perform any magic before and was amazed. Legolas was rather impressed himself. She'd improved since he'd seen her last. That thunderclap had almost knocked him off of his feet.
Legolas stepped across the stunned smithy and helped Gimli up.
Alede bowed to the dwarf. "Master Gimli, I am deeply sorry and very embarrassed that you were inadvertently embroiled in this conflict. If you will accept my apology I will take you to the local inn and arrange for accommodations for you for the night." She directed her gaze next to Baird. "I will return in a little while for my things. Obviously if you're well enough to fight, you are in no need of a healer."
"Alede." the man began. "I'm sorry, I didn't believe ya . . . I thought Elves were myths. I didn't know that 'e was real . . . the one 'o gave ya the locket and I didn't know ya really could work magic . . ."
"You didn't know because you never truly listened to me," Alede said angrily. Turning, she marched to the door, pausing only long enough to cast a glance over her shoulder at Legolas. Her eyes were filled with both fury and pain.
~ ~ ~
Nothing went according to Legolas' wishes that evening. His two attempts to speak with Alede at the inn both failed. The woman had developed an ability to avoid him that was nothing short of magical. When he did manage to corner her, she brushed past him squeezing her length between him and the doorframe. The opportunity he'd had to speak to her was lost while he was momentarily distracted by her softness.
At least he was certain of one thing. She was in no danger of dying. The brilliant light in her eyes spoke of fury not grief. Elrohir had been right. Alede had learned to live without him.
Legolas finally ended up down in the common room amidst the noise and the smoke, nursing a headache and a goblet of cheep wine and ignoring Gimli's accusing glare.
~ ~ ~
"Psst! Betsy!" Alede whispered after slipping in the back door of the inn. The bar maid whirled around in surprise.
"Alede! What are you doin' creepin' up on me like that? Gave me quite a fright."
"I'm sorry. But I need a room for the night. I'll be leaving in a couple of days after I purchase a pony and supplies." Alede grabbed Betsy's arm and pulled her back around a corner. She'd seen a dark cloak turn in their direction. Turning her attention back to Betsy, Alede said, "I've left Baird. He's in a state after what happened today . . ."
"I 'eard! The 'ole towns talkin' about the two strangers. Sounds like your Elf started quite the fight."
"He didn't start it," Alede said indignantly.
Betsy grinned and gave her a wink. "No matter 'o started it, the end results the same isn't it?" Betsy peeked around the corner into the crowded common room. "Your Elf's too 'andsome by 'alf. At least what I've been able tae see of 'im. 'e keeps 'is 'ead covered. No wonder you lost your 'eart to 'im. Though 'e's not very friendly," she added with a mischievous smile. "You've got your work cut out for ya."
Alede snorted and dragged Betsy back around the corner. "Listen, I need you to take Baird some supper tonight. This is your chance. He's furious with me, so you've got to make the most of it."
"Aye," Betsy winked, "I'll do that. Poor Baird will never know what 'it 'im."
Alede shook her head. How any woman could want that overgrown, bossy. She shook that thought from her head. If anyone could handle Baird, it was the pert barmaid. But Alede wasn't done with Betsy yet.
"Don't forget my room before you go off to consol Baird."
"I ain't forgot," Betsy replied hastily and called to one of the servant boys. " 'ere! Take Lady Alede's things up to the third floor. She'll be wantin' the room next tae the two strangers."
"No, I don't . . ." Alede hissed. But the boy had already grabbed her bags and carted them up the stairs. "Alright . . . well thank you. I suppose I'd better go talk to Legolas now," she said with some hesitation.
"Like that?" Betsy exclaimed as the wizardess started to push past her. "In a stained bodice and a torn skirt? You look like an old 'ag."
"Thank you very much!" Alede exclaimed. "I was busy today. Doing your man's chores, I might add. I didn't have time to put on fancy clothes and after Legolas showed up, Baird wasn't about to let me have a wash and a change!"
"Well, you've got time now," Betsy said firmly taking a hold of Alede's arm and dragging the protesting wizardess down the back hallway. "I'll just grab a couple o' things and then we'll go up and open your trunk. You've got that green dress finished right?"
"Betsy, it doesn't matter. I'll wash, but I really don't care how I look. I'm so angry with Legolas . . . OUCH! LET GO OF ME!"
~ ~ ~
Alede emerged from her room half an hour later. Her skin was bright pink from scrubbing and from Betsy's last minute instructions. She plucked at the bow on the front of her blouse, trying to hitch it up so that the sleeves covered her shoulders. The initial courage she'd had when she'd purchased the blouse had disappeared now that she had it on and a generous portion of her chest was on display.
"Now leave that alone," Betsy scolded slapping Alede's hands away. "Leave it off of your shoulders. A man could go a long way without seein' such lovely skin or cleavage like yours."
"I feel like I'm naked. Does my scar show?" Alede asked worriedly. Betsy had wanted to paint her face with pigments as well, but Alede would have none of that.
"Not a bit," Betsy said. "Now donna forget what I told ya. Be charming with his friend, but pay no never mind tae him. Now go!"
Betsy gave Alede a bit of a shove and the wizardess stumbled to a halt as she stepped out into the large common room. She could see Legolas and Gimli off in a dark corner but couldn't move. She was terribly conscious of the low cut blouse and the bodice that Betsy had cinched up until she could barely breathe. It displayed her breasts more than Alede had ever done before. Worse than her appearance was the knowledge that she'd be deceiving Legolas, something she'd also never done before.
Glancing back, she saw Betsy making shooing motions at her. Alede turned back around, saw several of the men at the bar looking her over appreciatively. Resolve suddenly hardened in Alede's spine.
"I am daughter of the Istari," she whispered to herself fiercely. "I am a servant of the Valar. I am the equal of any Elvin prince, certainly the equal of Thranduil's youngest!" With those words she yanked the sleeves of the blouse up firmly over her shoulders, tipped her chin up and swept regally into the room.
~ ~ ~
"May I join you?"
Legolas did a double take at the woman standing beside his table. He'd heard her approach, but wasn't prepared for the sight. It was Alede, yet it wasn't. She looked down at him, proud and aloof, her eyes flashing with barely contained emotion. Her hair had been pulled up with a bright ribbon and combs. Gold tendrils had escaped to curl at her throat. She wore an ivory blouse that dipped far lower than anything he'd ever seen her wear and her cheeks and lips were blushed from the heat of the room.
Legolas had never seen her look more beautiful or more dangerous. Across the table, Gimli's eyebrows raised in surprise.
Before the moment could become uncomfortable, Legolas indicated the bench beside him. "Please, join us."
"Thank you," and Alede deliberately turned away, pulling a chair up to the end of the table instead of taking the seat beside Legolas. Gimli narrowed his eyes at the obvious insult, but they popped back open again as Alede sat down and one side of her blouse slid off of her shoulder baring an expanse of creamy skin. Alede took no notice of it.
"I beg your pardon, Master Gimli, for my behavior this afternoon," Alede said turning to face the Dwarf. "I did not mean to involve you in such a personal affair."
Gimli, caught unaware, mumbled a reply. He was fully prepared to hate this woman for the trouble she'd obviously caused Legolas. But the Elf had admitted that it was he, who had been negligent and caused the harm. Gimli didn't know what to think. There was something very straightforward about Alede that he'd liked when he'd first met her all those years ago. Perhaps he'd have to wait and see what developed.
Alede watched the Dwarf sit back thoughtfully and turned her attention to both of them.
"So, what brings you to Bree?"
"We came seeking advice," Legolas began, deciding to come straight to the point. He did not wish to speak of personal matters in front of Gimli and Alede was obviously in no mood for it either. "A creature came to Minas Tirith carrying a goblet that appears to have magical qualities."
"A magic goblet?" Alede echoed incredulously. She turned twinkling eyes to Gimli and winked at him. "How many cups of wine did he have before he decided the goblet was magical?"
Gimli, caught once more unaware, couldn't help a small smile.
"I did not drink from it," Legolas said irritably. "At least not intentionally."
"Oh . . . not intentionally." Alede shared a knowing look with the dwarf.
"And it has markings on it," Legolas persisted in a deadly tone, irritated by her joking, "that indicate that it came from the 'Land of Shadows'."
"Oh dear," Alede sobered immediately and dropped her teasing manner.
"And what Legolas means when he said he did not drink from it," Gimli began, finally coming to his friend's aid, "is that the goblet was left in Elrond's library and then suddenly appeared at the table without any visible means of transportation."
"Did it cause you any harm?" Alede asked, showing the first signs of warmth toward Legolas that he'd seen all day.
"Nay, but your father felt that my talisman, the one you made for me," he reminded her with a look that made her toes curl uncomfortably, "had deflected a powerful spell."
"Perhaps," Alede said worriedly, "you'd better tell me the whole story."
Legolas relayed the tale of the goblet up to his arrival at the Glittering Caves. At that point Alede turned with apparent relief to Gimli and the dwarf picked up the tale.
Legolas remained silent, needing time to observe Alede. Obviously she played some game, though what it was he did not know. He knew she was angry, furiously so. But this haughty aloofness was unlike her. The emotions appeared forced. Her demeanor toward the dwarf was exactly the opposite. She was so friendly she was practically flirting with Gimli, but even that seemed forced.
If she would only open up to him, let him hear her song . . . But it was obvious that she blocked Legolas with all of her will.
His gaze drifted from the tight stressful lines around her mouth and eyes down to the locket on her chest. After the nature of their greeting, he was surprised to see that she still wore it. But the emerald sparkled as brightly as ever.
The delicate ruffles of the blouse accented her curves and the other sleeve had slipped off so that both shoulders were bare. He had never seen her looking so sensual before and as she shifted in her seat, Legolas caught the scent of heather. Was that was the game she played, seduction?
*Oh Alede, you need not tempt me.*
Alede's hand moved unconsciously to the locket as she listened intently to Gimli. Legolas watched her caress it almost as if it were a touchstone. The gesture was completely natural.
But if she thought of it as a touchstone, what did it guard her from? Loneliness, he wondered? How often had he needed one himself?
Apparently becoming aware of his gaze, Alede dropped her hand back onto the table. But the movement had called Legolas' attention to her scar. It had healed flat and was barely visible. Most humans would never see it except in good light. But Legolas' keen Elvin eyes traced the jagged white line down into the downy ruffles, remembering the horrible day when she'd received it . . .
Legolas started when Gimli kicked him under the table and he realized that the dwarf and the wizardess were both looking at him expectantly.
"What did the hobgoblin look like?" Gimli repeated with some irritation.
Recovering quickly, Legolas began to describe the creature when inspiration hit. What he needed more than an identification of the creature right now was to be alone with Alede.
"Alede, do you have quill and parchment so that I might sketch it for you?"
"Yes, of course. But . . ." She seemed to realize what he was thinking and rose from her seat quickly. "My quills are buried at the bottom of my trunk and I do not wish to unpack them when I will be leaving so soon. When we reach Rivendell there will be ample time to sketch the creature. And now, if you'll excuse me, I wish to retire. It has been an eventful day." With a swirl of emerald skirts, she left them.
Legolas rose to detain her, but Gimli caught his wrist.
"We've drawn enough attention to ourselves today. Let her go."
Legolas reluctantly sat down again and watched Alede leave the common room. At the doorway to the back halls, she paused and glanced back. Her lower lip was caught fetchingly between her teeth and one hand lay delicately on the locket. Her eyes held Legolas' for only a moment then she whirled away and was gone.
~ ~ ~
"Women are trouble," Gimli warned stomping around their room as Legolas sat down with parchment and quill he'd borrowed from the innkeeper.
"And that woman," Gimli gestured toward the wall that separated their room from Alede's, "is more trouble than most! Mark my words!"
"Hush my friend. She will hear you."
"It would be well if she did!" Gimli roared. "It is about time she realized the pain and grief she has caused you."
"And what about the pain and grief which I have caused her?" Legolas asked quietly.
"You never asked her to fancy you! Why can she not turn her attention to some other Elf and leave you alone?"
Legolas' pensive mood left him for a moment. He never wasted an opportunity to jest with his friend and the banter would help to ease his own torment. "I would have thought by now you would have realized how irresistible I am to women."
"Irresistible! Mmph! Women may fall for your pretty face. Though why is beyond me . . ."
"Perhaps it is because my face does not frighten them . . ."
"That maid was not frightened of me," Gimli protested about a long ago event which Legolas brought up regularly to vex him. "She was merely overcome by my burliness!"
"Oh, is that what it was? I thought she had been overcome by your disdain for bathing . . ."
"At least she did not try to slap my face," Gimli reminded him.
"She did not slap mine either!" Legolas corrected him.
"Only because you ducked in time."
"Gimli," Legolas sighed, "as fascinating as this conversation is . . ."
"You started it."
"Very well, I will end it. I need to write this letter to Alede."
"That woman is trouble, I tell you!"
"You said that already," Legolas reminded him dipping the quill in the pot of ink.
"And I say again that it is not your fault that Alede is in love with you!"
"Is it not?" Legolas asked. "If I had truly wished to send her away, to discourage her, I certainly could have. But I did not. I even encouraged her. I admit that I have been both flattered and fascinated by her attentions."
"But surely you do not lack for female admirers, Legolas. Despite what I said earlier . . ."
"Nay, I do not lack for admirers," Legolas said with a sigh, "or for women eager to warm my bed. But you forget my friend," and he looked up at the Dwarf with an expression that was mixed with embarrassment and frustration, "how young I am. Even the women of my own generation are centuries older than I. They make for an interesting dalliance, but as a companion . . ." Legolas shook his head, "I yearn for someone who shares my wonder of the world still, someone who could share my thoughts and dreams and does not sour them with weary wisdom."
Gimli went very still. "You are not thinking of a permanent . . . Legolas!" he cried in alarm. "You are not thinking of marrying Alede, are you?"
Legolas shook his head, smiling at Gimli's obvious horror. "I am much too young for marriage. Few of my people have married before the age of four thousand years."
Gimli sighed and collapsed into a chair. "I am relieved to hear it. But I still think it would be wise to stay away from Alede until that time."
"I have stayed away from her. And I will continue to do so. That is what is best for her." Then he added quietly, "If I could but convince my own treacherous heart that it is best for me as well."
~ ~ ~
Much later that night, as Alede slept fitfully in her narrow bed, a silent figure slipped into her room and placed a folded piece of parchment on her blankets. It paused just long enough to finger a golden curl upon the pillow before drifting stealthily back out the window. The moonlight caught the glisten of unshed tears in Legolas' eyes as he cast one more glance back at the sleeping wizardess.
~ ~ ~
Alede found the letter as soon as she awoke and stumbling out of bed, walked quickly to the window to unfold it in the growing light of dawn. As Alede read Legolas' fine script her eyes widened in surprise and then mounting horror. Covering her mouth with her hand, she tried to silence her sob of regret.
"Oh no . . ."
~ ~ ~
A/N: I know, a nasty place to leave you. *grins evilly* Find out what that letter said in chapter 13, "The Power of Words" coming soon! :D
And extra special thanks to Thecla who caught a possible plot pitfall that I had created in chapter 11. (Whew! Try saying that five times really fast! :) Not only did she slay the Writing Belrog, she also gave me a very accurate psychoanalysis on our favorite Elf. :D Thanks to her help chapters 11 - 16 should make a bit more sense than when I first wrote them.
Jade: Keep that sundae in the freezer for me. I may be needing it soon.;)
Jocelyn: You brought up an excellent point which I keep forgetting to address. Alede's horse, Faunlend is now 21 years old, a bit "long in the tooth". But knowing how clever Elves are and how superb their horses are, I've decided that Elvin horses probably live much longer . . . say, about 200 years or so. (Actually, I'm just trying to come up with a clever way of disguising my mistake. Did it work? :D )
Ithilien: Thank you! You're absolutely right, I've been calling Legolas' amulet a talisman! As you said it so very well . . . "a talisman is a charm used to cast spells, and an amulet is one used to ward them off" I had forgotten the distinction! If it matters to anyone, I can go back and correct it. But if no one cares, I'll just be lazy and not correct my blunder. :D Sorry about that!
THE FAERIE GOBLET
Chapter 12 ~ "Impelled by Longing"
Legolas saw her the moment he turned into the lane. Breathing a sigh of relief, he urged Aransûl into the dusty yard behind the little wooden house. The trip had taken far too long and he thought he'd burst from impatience, an emotion almost entirely foreign to the Eldar. He'd pushed Aransûl as hard as he dared and risked Gimli's good humor each morning as they set out. The dwarf had insisted on accompanying him, despite Legolas' protests. He suspected Gimli of keeping an eye on him.
Alede did not look up at their approach. The setting sun was in her eyes as she hung on the clothesline the most enormous pair of men's under drawers that Legolas had ever seen. He was immediately aware of how tired she looked. Not just the fatigue of caring for an invalid but the bone deep weariness that comes of heartache.
Legolas cast out his senses, trying to pick up any notes of her song. This close, she should not be able to hide it from him. But he could not hear her, instead picking up a mind as young and fresh as a blade of grass.
He smiled. *Good evening Faunlend* He sang the notes in his mind and the horse heard the greeting. She came to the door of her stall and neighed like thunder.
Alede looked up and their eyes met.
~ ~ ~
It seemed to Alede that time stood still, or perhaps her heart stopped beating. For when she looked up and beheld Legolas, the moment stretched into eternity.
Once she got over her shock, she noticed the most minute of details, the shadow of fatigue beneath his eyes, the faint smudge of dirt upon his cheek, one warriors' braid that had tangled in his collar. His face was the same, the youthful lines unchanged, though he'd obviously lost weight. But there was a firmness to his jaw now and a steadiness to his eyes that was different. He sat his horse with kingly grace and Alede realized that he had matured since she'd last seen him. Whether that maturity was due to the wisdom of rule or to some other strain, she knew not.
His clothing was different also. She'd become accustomed to Mirkwood's greens and browns. But now he wore leather breaches and a padded jerkin, almost as if he was going into battle. A cloak was about his shoulders also, though he'd pushed the hood back to reveal the stunning glory of his silver gold hair. The horse he sat was different and Alede supposed that Arod had finally succumbed to old age. This stallion had the bright eyes and knowing look of an Elvin horse.
Legolas' piercing gaze had not changed.
Alede quite suddenly became aware of her stained skirt and bodice and her dusty bare feet. At some point during her afternoon's work her hair had started to come out of its braid and twisted fiercely beside her face. Because she'd been working with only Baird for company after dinner, Alede had not bothered to clean up or fix her hair. She'd certainly not expected to have visitors.
She'd certainly not expected Legolas.
The stallion shifted a delicate hoof and Alede broke out of her reverie, broke out of her surprise and disbelief to notice that she'd dropped her laundry. Bending down she realized that Baird's underwear had fallen into the dust. Dirt clung to the damp fabric causing a muddy stain and the practical part of her brain told her that she'd have to wash it again. But quite suddenly another part of her brain took over.
*NO.*
Looking back up at Legolas, the part of her brain that wasn't practical, wasn't patient, wasn't nurturing and all the things that a good healer should be, suddenly that part of her became quite angry.
Fourteen years.
"Fourteen years," she whispered.
And then she spoke quite loudly. "Fourteen years and you have the nerve to ride up here as if you belong!"
"Alede . . ."
"Don't 'Alede' me! And don't you even dare think about getting off of that horse," she threw the muddy drawers on the ground again, stomping on them as she stormed up to Legolas. So wrathful was her approach Aransûl shied away from her. "Just go back to where ever it was that you came from!"
"Alede, I am sorry . . ."
"So am I! I'm sorry I ever laid eyes on you!" To her dismay, Alede suddenly burst into tears. Covering her face with her hands, Alede fled sobbing into the house.
Gimli grunted as the door banged shut.
"You've got quite a way with women, Legolas."
"Gimli?"
"Hmm?"
"Be quiet."
Gimli grunted again as Legolas dismounted. He had a bad feeling about this.
~ ~ ~
Legolas walked up to the house and entered without even pausing so intent was he on talking with Alede. He found himself in a rough little kitchen. Alede sat at a table, her head on her arms. She was crying so loudly that he could just barely make out the worried tones of the enormous man who stooped over her.
"What the." the giant began as he noticed Legolas' entrance. "Is this the one, Alede?"
She lifted her head, brushing her hair away from her tear streaked face, "Yes, he."
"You miserable cur!" the smithy roared, "What 'ave you done tae my woman?" Advancing on the elf he reached out a hand the size of a frying pan.
Alede leaped to her feet to shout a protest. The giant ignored her.
This is going to be interesting, Legolas thought as he dodged out of the way. A piece of furniture blocked his passage and he was forced to duck as a chair crashed against the wall over his head.
"What have you done now?" Gimli asked as he burst in the door to Legolas' rescue.
"I have not done anything!" Legolas shouted over the sound of splintering wood as Baird brandished the remains of the chair.
"You certainly haven't done anything," Alede retorted. "That's been the problem all along!"
The Elf didn't have time to reply. Baird rushed him again, this time kicking a small table at him. Legolas leaped over the table, nearly colliding with a wall in his escape. The house was much too small for a fight.
Baird suddenly noticed Gimli. The sight of an axe brandishing Dwarf seemed to enrage the smithy further. With a bellow, he charged Gimli.
"Gimli!" Legolas shouted. "Put your axe away! He's unarmed!"
"Unarmed?" the dwarf shouted back as he dove under a table to escape being crushed. "He's the size of a tree! I'll keep my axe right were it is!"
Giving up on Gimli who was escaping badger-like under the furniture, Baird turned once again to Legolas. The Elf considered his options in the few seconds that he had. He could end this fight in a moment if he were willing to injure Baird. But he did not feel right about attacking a man who had barely recovered from a broken leg. Not that it seemed to be hindering the giant as Legolas skipped out of the way of another bull like charge.
Legolas grabbed a ladder that led up to the loft and started up it, only to have Baird grab his ankle and drag him down. As Legolas tumbled to the hard floor he heard Alede shouting.
"Legolas stop provoking Baird!"
The Elf wondered which of his actions had appeared provocative, the ducking or the falling.
"Baird, are you mad?" Alede screamed as the smithy reached for Legolas again. Legolas was taller and faster than the man and many times more deadly. Alede could only believe Baird's recklessness was due to ignorance. "He's an Elvin warrior, you could get yourself killed!"
Elvin warrior or no, Legolas didn't think he was giving a very good account of himself at the moment. He was about to remark on this when Baird caught up the fire poker and swung at him. That's when Alede decided to intervene. She ran at Baird and attempted to wrench the iron from him. But Baird, caught in the grip of his rage, shook her off so violently that she fell to the floor.
Quite suddenly, Legolas had had enough. He caught the poker bare handed the next time that it swung at him. Gimli harassed Baird from the rear, giving Legolas a chance to wrench the iron from the man's ham sized fists. The Elf tossed it to the side and slammed the heal of his hand into Baird's nose. The smithy stumbled backwards howling and Gimli neatly tripped him with the shaft of his axe. Legolas advanced on him, barely noting out of the corner of his eye that Alede had flown up the ladder.
Baird lay on his back, blood streaming from his nose and cursing at the top of his lungs. A monstrous fist lashed out and jerked Gimli off of his feet. Legolas leaped forward to rescue his friend but had to jump over a tree-sized leg first. He was about to deliver a kick of his own when the house suddenly shook and a noise like a thunderclap nearly deafened him.
"ENOUGH!" Alede shouted. She stood at the foot of the ladder. She'd smote the floor with her staff and glowed with the intensity of her magic. An eerie, unfelt wind caused her skirts to whip angrily around her legs.
"That will be quite enough of that," she said in a voice as cold as death.
Baird gaped at her in astonishment from his position on the floor. Obviously he'd never seen her perform any magic before and was amazed. Legolas was rather impressed himself. She'd improved since he'd seen her last. That thunderclap had almost knocked him off of his feet.
Legolas stepped across the stunned smithy and helped Gimli up.
Alede bowed to the dwarf. "Master Gimli, I am deeply sorry and very embarrassed that you were inadvertently embroiled in this conflict. If you will accept my apology I will take you to the local inn and arrange for accommodations for you for the night." She directed her gaze next to Baird. "I will return in a little while for my things. Obviously if you're well enough to fight, you are in no need of a healer."
"Alede." the man began. "I'm sorry, I didn't believe ya . . . I thought Elves were myths. I didn't know that 'e was real . . . the one 'o gave ya the locket and I didn't know ya really could work magic . . ."
"You didn't know because you never truly listened to me," Alede said angrily. Turning, she marched to the door, pausing only long enough to cast a glance over her shoulder at Legolas. Her eyes were filled with both fury and pain.
~ ~ ~
Nothing went according to Legolas' wishes that evening. His two attempts to speak with Alede at the inn both failed. The woman had developed an ability to avoid him that was nothing short of magical. When he did manage to corner her, she brushed past him squeezing her length between him and the doorframe. The opportunity he'd had to speak to her was lost while he was momentarily distracted by her softness.
At least he was certain of one thing. She was in no danger of dying. The brilliant light in her eyes spoke of fury not grief. Elrohir had been right. Alede had learned to live without him.
Legolas finally ended up down in the common room amidst the noise and the smoke, nursing a headache and a goblet of cheep wine and ignoring Gimli's accusing glare.
~ ~ ~
"Psst! Betsy!" Alede whispered after slipping in the back door of the inn. The bar maid whirled around in surprise.
"Alede! What are you doin' creepin' up on me like that? Gave me quite a fright."
"I'm sorry. But I need a room for the night. I'll be leaving in a couple of days after I purchase a pony and supplies." Alede grabbed Betsy's arm and pulled her back around a corner. She'd seen a dark cloak turn in their direction. Turning her attention back to Betsy, Alede said, "I've left Baird. He's in a state after what happened today . . ."
"I 'eard! The 'ole towns talkin' about the two strangers. Sounds like your Elf started quite the fight."
"He didn't start it," Alede said indignantly.
Betsy grinned and gave her a wink. "No matter 'o started it, the end results the same isn't it?" Betsy peeked around the corner into the crowded common room. "Your Elf's too 'andsome by 'alf. At least what I've been able tae see of 'im. 'e keeps 'is 'ead covered. No wonder you lost your 'eart to 'im. Though 'e's not very friendly," she added with a mischievous smile. "You've got your work cut out for ya."
Alede snorted and dragged Betsy back around the corner. "Listen, I need you to take Baird some supper tonight. This is your chance. He's furious with me, so you've got to make the most of it."
"Aye," Betsy winked, "I'll do that. Poor Baird will never know what 'it 'im."
Alede shook her head. How any woman could want that overgrown, bossy. She shook that thought from her head. If anyone could handle Baird, it was the pert barmaid. But Alede wasn't done with Betsy yet.
"Don't forget my room before you go off to consol Baird."
"I ain't forgot," Betsy replied hastily and called to one of the servant boys. " 'ere! Take Lady Alede's things up to the third floor. She'll be wantin' the room next tae the two strangers."
"No, I don't . . ." Alede hissed. But the boy had already grabbed her bags and carted them up the stairs. "Alright . . . well thank you. I suppose I'd better go talk to Legolas now," she said with some hesitation.
"Like that?" Betsy exclaimed as the wizardess started to push past her. "In a stained bodice and a torn skirt? You look like an old 'ag."
"Thank you very much!" Alede exclaimed. "I was busy today. Doing your man's chores, I might add. I didn't have time to put on fancy clothes and after Legolas showed up, Baird wasn't about to let me have a wash and a change!"
"Well, you've got time now," Betsy said firmly taking a hold of Alede's arm and dragging the protesting wizardess down the back hallway. "I'll just grab a couple o' things and then we'll go up and open your trunk. You've got that green dress finished right?"
"Betsy, it doesn't matter. I'll wash, but I really don't care how I look. I'm so angry with Legolas . . . OUCH! LET GO OF ME!"
~ ~ ~
Alede emerged from her room half an hour later. Her skin was bright pink from scrubbing and from Betsy's last minute instructions. She plucked at the bow on the front of her blouse, trying to hitch it up so that the sleeves covered her shoulders. The initial courage she'd had when she'd purchased the blouse had disappeared now that she had it on and a generous portion of her chest was on display.
"Now leave that alone," Betsy scolded slapping Alede's hands away. "Leave it off of your shoulders. A man could go a long way without seein' such lovely skin or cleavage like yours."
"I feel like I'm naked. Does my scar show?" Alede asked worriedly. Betsy had wanted to paint her face with pigments as well, but Alede would have none of that.
"Not a bit," Betsy said. "Now donna forget what I told ya. Be charming with his friend, but pay no never mind tae him. Now go!"
Betsy gave Alede a bit of a shove and the wizardess stumbled to a halt as she stepped out into the large common room. She could see Legolas and Gimli off in a dark corner but couldn't move. She was terribly conscious of the low cut blouse and the bodice that Betsy had cinched up until she could barely breathe. It displayed her breasts more than Alede had ever done before. Worse than her appearance was the knowledge that she'd be deceiving Legolas, something she'd also never done before.
Glancing back, she saw Betsy making shooing motions at her. Alede turned back around, saw several of the men at the bar looking her over appreciatively. Resolve suddenly hardened in Alede's spine.
"I am daughter of the Istari," she whispered to herself fiercely. "I am a servant of the Valar. I am the equal of any Elvin prince, certainly the equal of Thranduil's youngest!" With those words she yanked the sleeves of the blouse up firmly over her shoulders, tipped her chin up and swept regally into the room.
~ ~ ~
"May I join you?"
Legolas did a double take at the woman standing beside his table. He'd heard her approach, but wasn't prepared for the sight. It was Alede, yet it wasn't. She looked down at him, proud and aloof, her eyes flashing with barely contained emotion. Her hair had been pulled up with a bright ribbon and combs. Gold tendrils had escaped to curl at her throat. She wore an ivory blouse that dipped far lower than anything he'd ever seen her wear and her cheeks and lips were blushed from the heat of the room.
Legolas had never seen her look more beautiful or more dangerous. Across the table, Gimli's eyebrows raised in surprise.
Before the moment could become uncomfortable, Legolas indicated the bench beside him. "Please, join us."
"Thank you," and Alede deliberately turned away, pulling a chair up to the end of the table instead of taking the seat beside Legolas. Gimli narrowed his eyes at the obvious insult, but they popped back open again as Alede sat down and one side of her blouse slid off of her shoulder baring an expanse of creamy skin. Alede took no notice of it.
"I beg your pardon, Master Gimli, for my behavior this afternoon," Alede said turning to face the Dwarf. "I did not mean to involve you in such a personal affair."
Gimli, caught unaware, mumbled a reply. He was fully prepared to hate this woman for the trouble she'd obviously caused Legolas. But the Elf had admitted that it was he, who had been negligent and caused the harm. Gimli didn't know what to think. There was something very straightforward about Alede that he'd liked when he'd first met her all those years ago. Perhaps he'd have to wait and see what developed.
Alede watched the Dwarf sit back thoughtfully and turned her attention to both of them.
"So, what brings you to Bree?"
"We came seeking advice," Legolas began, deciding to come straight to the point. He did not wish to speak of personal matters in front of Gimli and Alede was obviously in no mood for it either. "A creature came to Minas Tirith carrying a goblet that appears to have magical qualities."
"A magic goblet?" Alede echoed incredulously. She turned twinkling eyes to Gimli and winked at him. "How many cups of wine did he have before he decided the goblet was magical?"
Gimli, caught once more unaware, couldn't help a small smile.
"I did not drink from it," Legolas said irritably. "At least not intentionally."
"Oh . . . not intentionally." Alede shared a knowing look with the dwarf.
"And it has markings on it," Legolas persisted in a deadly tone, irritated by her joking, "that indicate that it came from the 'Land of Shadows'."
"Oh dear," Alede sobered immediately and dropped her teasing manner.
"And what Legolas means when he said he did not drink from it," Gimli began, finally coming to his friend's aid, "is that the goblet was left in Elrond's library and then suddenly appeared at the table without any visible means of transportation."
"Did it cause you any harm?" Alede asked, showing the first signs of warmth toward Legolas that he'd seen all day.
"Nay, but your father felt that my talisman, the one you made for me," he reminded her with a look that made her toes curl uncomfortably, "had deflected a powerful spell."
"Perhaps," Alede said worriedly, "you'd better tell me the whole story."
Legolas relayed the tale of the goblet up to his arrival at the Glittering Caves. At that point Alede turned with apparent relief to Gimli and the dwarf picked up the tale.
Legolas remained silent, needing time to observe Alede. Obviously she played some game, though what it was he did not know. He knew she was angry, furiously so. But this haughty aloofness was unlike her. The emotions appeared forced. Her demeanor toward the dwarf was exactly the opposite. She was so friendly she was practically flirting with Gimli, but even that seemed forced.
If she would only open up to him, let him hear her song . . . But it was obvious that she blocked Legolas with all of her will.
His gaze drifted from the tight stressful lines around her mouth and eyes down to the locket on her chest. After the nature of their greeting, he was surprised to see that she still wore it. But the emerald sparkled as brightly as ever.
The delicate ruffles of the blouse accented her curves and the other sleeve had slipped off so that both shoulders were bare. He had never seen her looking so sensual before and as she shifted in her seat, Legolas caught the scent of heather. Was that was the game she played, seduction?
*Oh Alede, you need not tempt me.*
Alede's hand moved unconsciously to the locket as she listened intently to Gimli. Legolas watched her caress it almost as if it were a touchstone. The gesture was completely natural.
But if she thought of it as a touchstone, what did it guard her from? Loneliness, he wondered? How often had he needed one himself?
Apparently becoming aware of his gaze, Alede dropped her hand back onto the table. But the movement had called Legolas' attention to her scar. It had healed flat and was barely visible. Most humans would never see it except in good light. But Legolas' keen Elvin eyes traced the jagged white line down into the downy ruffles, remembering the horrible day when she'd received it . . .
Legolas started when Gimli kicked him under the table and he realized that the dwarf and the wizardess were both looking at him expectantly.
"What did the hobgoblin look like?" Gimli repeated with some irritation.
Recovering quickly, Legolas began to describe the creature when inspiration hit. What he needed more than an identification of the creature right now was to be alone with Alede.
"Alede, do you have quill and parchment so that I might sketch it for you?"
"Yes, of course. But . . ." She seemed to realize what he was thinking and rose from her seat quickly. "My quills are buried at the bottom of my trunk and I do not wish to unpack them when I will be leaving so soon. When we reach Rivendell there will be ample time to sketch the creature. And now, if you'll excuse me, I wish to retire. It has been an eventful day." With a swirl of emerald skirts, she left them.
Legolas rose to detain her, but Gimli caught his wrist.
"We've drawn enough attention to ourselves today. Let her go."
Legolas reluctantly sat down again and watched Alede leave the common room. At the doorway to the back halls, she paused and glanced back. Her lower lip was caught fetchingly between her teeth and one hand lay delicately on the locket. Her eyes held Legolas' for only a moment then she whirled away and was gone.
~ ~ ~
"Women are trouble," Gimli warned stomping around their room as Legolas sat down with parchment and quill he'd borrowed from the innkeeper.
"And that woman," Gimli gestured toward the wall that separated their room from Alede's, "is more trouble than most! Mark my words!"
"Hush my friend. She will hear you."
"It would be well if she did!" Gimli roared. "It is about time she realized the pain and grief she has caused you."
"And what about the pain and grief which I have caused her?" Legolas asked quietly.
"You never asked her to fancy you! Why can she not turn her attention to some other Elf and leave you alone?"
Legolas' pensive mood left him for a moment. He never wasted an opportunity to jest with his friend and the banter would help to ease his own torment. "I would have thought by now you would have realized how irresistible I am to women."
"Irresistible! Mmph! Women may fall for your pretty face. Though why is beyond me . . ."
"Perhaps it is because my face does not frighten them . . ."
"That maid was not frightened of me," Gimli protested about a long ago event which Legolas brought up regularly to vex him. "She was merely overcome by my burliness!"
"Oh, is that what it was? I thought she had been overcome by your disdain for bathing . . ."
"At least she did not try to slap my face," Gimli reminded him.
"She did not slap mine either!" Legolas corrected him.
"Only because you ducked in time."
"Gimli," Legolas sighed, "as fascinating as this conversation is . . ."
"You started it."
"Very well, I will end it. I need to write this letter to Alede."
"That woman is trouble, I tell you!"
"You said that already," Legolas reminded him dipping the quill in the pot of ink.
"And I say again that it is not your fault that Alede is in love with you!"
"Is it not?" Legolas asked. "If I had truly wished to send her away, to discourage her, I certainly could have. But I did not. I even encouraged her. I admit that I have been both flattered and fascinated by her attentions."
"But surely you do not lack for female admirers, Legolas. Despite what I said earlier . . ."
"Nay, I do not lack for admirers," Legolas said with a sigh, "or for women eager to warm my bed. But you forget my friend," and he looked up at the Dwarf with an expression that was mixed with embarrassment and frustration, "how young I am. Even the women of my own generation are centuries older than I. They make for an interesting dalliance, but as a companion . . ." Legolas shook his head, "I yearn for someone who shares my wonder of the world still, someone who could share my thoughts and dreams and does not sour them with weary wisdom."
Gimli went very still. "You are not thinking of a permanent . . . Legolas!" he cried in alarm. "You are not thinking of marrying Alede, are you?"
Legolas shook his head, smiling at Gimli's obvious horror. "I am much too young for marriage. Few of my people have married before the age of four thousand years."
Gimli sighed and collapsed into a chair. "I am relieved to hear it. But I still think it would be wise to stay away from Alede until that time."
"I have stayed away from her. And I will continue to do so. That is what is best for her." Then he added quietly, "If I could but convince my own treacherous heart that it is best for me as well."
~ ~ ~
Much later that night, as Alede slept fitfully in her narrow bed, a silent figure slipped into her room and placed a folded piece of parchment on her blankets. It paused just long enough to finger a golden curl upon the pillow before drifting stealthily back out the window. The moonlight caught the glisten of unshed tears in Legolas' eyes as he cast one more glance back at the sleeping wizardess.
~ ~ ~
Alede found the letter as soon as she awoke and stumbling out of bed, walked quickly to the window to unfold it in the growing light of dawn. As Alede read Legolas' fine script her eyes widened in surprise and then mounting horror. Covering her mouth with her hand, she tried to silence her sob of regret.
"Oh no . . ."
~ ~ ~
A/N: I know, a nasty place to leave you. *grins evilly* Find out what that letter said in chapter 13, "The Power of Words" coming soon! :D
And extra special thanks to Thecla who caught a possible plot pitfall that I had created in chapter 11. (Whew! Try saying that five times really fast! :) Not only did she slay the Writing Belrog, she also gave me a very accurate psychoanalysis on our favorite Elf. :D Thanks to her help chapters 11 - 16 should make a bit more sense than when I first wrote them.
Jade: Keep that sundae in the freezer for me. I may be needing it soon.;)
Jocelyn: You brought up an excellent point which I keep forgetting to address. Alede's horse, Faunlend is now 21 years old, a bit "long in the tooth". But knowing how clever Elves are and how superb their horses are, I've decided that Elvin horses probably live much longer . . . say, about 200 years or so. (Actually, I'm just trying to come up with a clever way of disguising my mistake. Did it work? :D )
Ithilien: Thank you! You're absolutely right, I've been calling Legolas' amulet a talisman! As you said it so very well . . . "a talisman is a charm used to cast spells, and an amulet is one used to ward them off" I had forgotten the distinction! If it matters to anyone, I can go back and correct it. But if no one cares, I'll just be lazy and not correct my blunder. :D Sorry about that!