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An elf could be impossible to find if he wished it, Frodo decided after spending half the morning looking for Legolas. Had he thought the elf was watching him? Or just Mornenêl perhaps; he hadn't seen much of her today either.
He had asked Sam, Merry and Pippin how to broach the subject; Merry and Pippin were still trying very hard to be chosen as additional members of the Fellowship and Sam might not think himself eloquent, but he had a way with words many a gentlehobbit could learn from. Merry agreed with Mornenêl; don't go seeking trouble before you have to. Sam agreed with Frodo--speak up now and be honest with the elf. Pippin wasn't sure either way; he thought perhaps this love business was far more trouble than it was worth.
Frodo gave up on wandering the halls; too much of any kind of activity still made him weak, and he didn't want to aggravate his wound. Instead he made his way to Bilbo's chamber where Sam and Bilbo were enjoying a chat about the gardens of Bag End and the improvements Samwise had made after Bilbo's abrupt departure. As Frodo sat down to join the conversation and share the tea and crumbcakes they had waiting for him, there came a knock at the door. Sam rose to open it and stepped back with a gasp, looking to Frodo with wide eyes.
"Sir L-Legolas, n-nice to see you! W-Won't you join us for some tea," Sam fumbled over the words of greeting, but he was rescued as Bilbo rose to greet his old friend.
"What a lovely surprise—do come in, sit down and have a cup of tea! You like it with honey, as I recall . . . " he bustled to the table to pour then hesitated when the elf made no move to enter.
Frodo rose and bowed. "My we be of service?"
Legolas's otherworldly eyes fell upon him. Was it imagination, or did Frodo see his eye twitch? A cold pit of fear settled in his stomach.
"I need to speak to you, Frodo, if you could take a moment. Please follow me."
Frodo swallowed, but nodded, assuring Sam, "Please keep the tea hot; I should return shortly . . . " his voice trailed off as he watched Legolas turn and begin walking, as smooth as a panther stalking prey.
Sam crossed his arms, glaring at Legolas's back. "If you need help, just holler, sir." The elf paused, half turning, and smiled, then continued walking.
Frodo patted Sam's arm with confidence he did not feel. "It's all right. I'll be back shortly."
He glanced at Bilbo as he exited and found the older hobbit staring at him shrewdly, his brow knotted. Frodo tried to smile and muttered, "Probably about the mission," before closing the door. He had to almost run to catch up with Legolas.
"What is this about?" he asked once he was alongside the elf. They were making their way down the guest wing towards the library—and the study rooms, Frodo thought with a pang.
Legolas glanced at him; hard glittering ice. "Several things," was all he said, before the opened the door to one of the studies.
Mornenêl was there.
Frodo felt himself go pale; he couldn't help it. Mornenêl's eyes revealed nothing, for they were downcast, but her entire posture was of defeat.
Well, Frodo would not be defeated easily.
"I love her, you know," he stated, holding his head up and looking Legolas in the eye. Legolas blinked, taken back, perhaps—it was difficult to tell. His manner softened a little as he sat down in one of the padded chairs and motioned for Frodo to take a seat as well; with great daring, Frodo sat next to Mornenêl on the couch.
Legolas sighed and shook his head. "You know it is quite impossible. Would you destroy her with that love? I was impressed by the tales of your accomplishments, Frodo, and by your strength of heart, but you cannot possibly understand the risk of what you are doing."
Frodo took a deep breath, nodding. "You are right; I do not understand. Mornenêl tells me it is all right that I spend time with her, that it will not anger her husband. As to your society, I know little, but if there is risk, isn't that a choice for Mornenêl and I to make?"
Legolas opened his mouth to retort, but Frodo stood and crossed to him to forestall it. He wished he had an idea how much Legolas knew of their relationship—had he searched out Mornenêl and interrogated her, or was he going off a basis of half-formed theories and observation? At any rate, Frodo would make one thing clear to him.
"I must first apologize to you, Legolas. I was looking for you this morning to discuss exactly this, but apparently you were quicker. I don't know what exactly you know, but I'm glad it is no longer a secret between us. If you had not found out I was going to tell you; there can be no deception between us if we are to work together."
Legolas scowled at him, his long fingers laced together under his chin as he listened. He gave sort of a half growl under his breath. "You make it very difficult for me to dislike you," he finally said, glaring, but there was a grim smile turning up the corners of his mouth.
Frodo smiled—he found it hard to dislike the elf as well. Certainly had their situations been reversed he might have taken the same actions. Legolas was only trying to protect Mornenêl, and some part of Frodo agreed she needed protection against him. He glanced at her, sitting far back in the couch, keeping out of the conversation. Her eyes were a confused tangle of hurt and hope. Frodo felt the urge to go to her, but resisted—he needed Legolas to see him as an equal, and it was better to face him on his feet.
"What are your intentions?" Legolas asked, and Frodo forced himself to concentrate solely on him.
"I am leaving in less than two months, and I do not know if I shall return. You perhaps have ages to find and enjoy a partner, but time for me flows very swift; especially now. I intend to spend what time I may with your cousin, then bid her farewell. Even if I do return, I know there can be nothing lasting for us, but it is my wish to bring happiness to her for the short time that I am able. She makes the decisions when I see her, and under what restrictions. If she wishes me to be secretive, I will--I abide entirely by her wishes." Frodo watched the play of emotions cross Legolas's face as he spoke--the elf was skilled at controlling his emotions, but not perfect, and Frodo could see he still resented Frodo's presence. This had to be resolved, and soon--even if he didn't join the fellowship it would be a poison in his mind to have wronged a potential ally. They needed all the allies they could get in these dark times.
Legolas scowled again, his dark brows coming together as his gaze shifted from Mornenêl to Frodo and to Mornenêl again.
"It is true," she finally spoke. "He would not have lain with me but that I asked." She gave a mirthless chuckle. "Even then he took much convincing."
Frodo felt the blood rush to his face. So Legolas knew that too. No wonder he was scowling. He forced himself to stand still and wait for a response.
Legolas hissed, hitting the arm of the chair with his fist. "It is not *natural*--two races like this, regardless of circumstances! Hah! It would be like-like--" he threw up his hands. "Like me and a dwarf."
Frodo checked himself before he could grin--the image was amusing. "In the house of Elrond, I don't think you can really use the argument of cross racial relationships," he returned.
Now Legolas did smile, nodding defeat. "Too true." He shook his head. "It still isn't right. Just the fact it has to be kept hidden should tell you that. I won't hear anyone--not even the *Ringbearer*--" he emphasized this and all the responsibilities it entailed--"tarnishing the reputation and moral integrity of my *very* dear cousin. You are already planning to leave her. Do it now. Spare both yourselves the pain of leaving when you are both more deeply involved, and spare her the social stigma and scandal of having a relationship with what--I regret to say--is still considered a lesser race by most elves." He looked hard at both of them.
"End it. Now."
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TBC
A/N: um, since I'm not making any money on this it may be difficult to pay therapy bills, Tech Dust--but thanks for the review! I'll do my best to keep writing and satisfy your needs. (evil grin) This chapter can't be helping any!
An elf could be impossible to find if he wished it, Frodo decided after spending half the morning looking for Legolas. Had he thought the elf was watching him? Or just Mornenêl perhaps; he hadn't seen much of her today either.
He had asked Sam, Merry and Pippin how to broach the subject; Merry and Pippin were still trying very hard to be chosen as additional members of the Fellowship and Sam might not think himself eloquent, but he had a way with words many a gentlehobbit could learn from. Merry agreed with Mornenêl; don't go seeking trouble before you have to. Sam agreed with Frodo--speak up now and be honest with the elf. Pippin wasn't sure either way; he thought perhaps this love business was far more trouble than it was worth.
Frodo gave up on wandering the halls; too much of any kind of activity still made him weak, and he didn't want to aggravate his wound. Instead he made his way to Bilbo's chamber where Sam and Bilbo were enjoying a chat about the gardens of Bag End and the improvements Samwise had made after Bilbo's abrupt departure. As Frodo sat down to join the conversation and share the tea and crumbcakes they had waiting for him, there came a knock at the door. Sam rose to open it and stepped back with a gasp, looking to Frodo with wide eyes.
"Sir L-Legolas, n-nice to see you! W-Won't you join us for some tea," Sam fumbled over the words of greeting, but he was rescued as Bilbo rose to greet his old friend.
"What a lovely surprise—do come in, sit down and have a cup of tea! You like it with honey, as I recall . . . " he bustled to the table to pour then hesitated when the elf made no move to enter.
Frodo rose and bowed. "My we be of service?"
Legolas's otherworldly eyes fell upon him. Was it imagination, or did Frodo see his eye twitch? A cold pit of fear settled in his stomach.
"I need to speak to you, Frodo, if you could take a moment. Please follow me."
Frodo swallowed, but nodded, assuring Sam, "Please keep the tea hot; I should return shortly . . . " his voice trailed off as he watched Legolas turn and begin walking, as smooth as a panther stalking prey.
Sam crossed his arms, glaring at Legolas's back. "If you need help, just holler, sir." The elf paused, half turning, and smiled, then continued walking.
Frodo patted Sam's arm with confidence he did not feel. "It's all right. I'll be back shortly."
He glanced at Bilbo as he exited and found the older hobbit staring at him shrewdly, his brow knotted. Frodo tried to smile and muttered, "Probably about the mission," before closing the door. He had to almost run to catch up with Legolas.
"What is this about?" he asked once he was alongside the elf. They were making their way down the guest wing towards the library—and the study rooms, Frodo thought with a pang.
Legolas glanced at him; hard glittering ice. "Several things," was all he said, before the opened the door to one of the studies.
Mornenêl was there.
Frodo felt himself go pale; he couldn't help it. Mornenêl's eyes revealed nothing, for they were downcast, but her entire posture was of defeat.
Well, Frodo would not be defeated easily.
"I love her, you know," he stated, holding his head up and looking Legolas in the eye. Legolas blinked, taken back, perhaps—it was difficult to tell. His manner softened a little as he sat down in one of the padded chairs and motioned for Frodo to take a seat as well; with great daring, Frodo sat next to Mornenêl on the couch.
Legolas sighed and shook his head. "You know it is quite impossible. Would you destroy her with that love? I was impressed by the tales of your accomplishments, Frodo, and by your strength of heart, but you cannot possibly understand the risk of what you are doing."
Frodo took a deep breath, nodding. "You are right; I do not understand. Mornenêl tells me it is all right that I spend time with her, that it will not anger her husband. As to your society, I know little, but if there is risk, isn't that a choice for Mornenêl and I to make?"
Legolas opened his mouth to retort, but Frodo stood and crossed to him to forestall it. He wished he had an idea how much Legolas knew of their relationship—had he searched out Mornenêl and interrogated her, or was he going off a basis of half-formed theories and observation? At any rate, Frodo would make one thing clear to him.
"I must first apologize to you, Legolas. I was looking for you this morning to discuss exactly this, but apparently you were quicker. I don't know what exactly you know, but I'm glad it is no longer a secret between us. If you had not found out I was going to tell you; there can be no deception between us if we are to work together."
Legolas scowled at him, his long fingers laced together under his chin as he listened. He gave sort of a half growl under his breath. "You make it very difficult for me to dislike you," he finally said, glaring, but there was a grim smile turning up the corners of his mouth.
Frodo smiled—he found it hard to dislike the elf as well. Certainly had their situations been reversed he might have taken the same actions. Legolas was only trying to protect Mornenêl, and some part of Frodo agreed she needed protection against him. He glanced at her, sitting far back in the couch, keeping out of the conversation. Her eyes were a confused tangle of hurt and hope. Frodo felt the urge to go to her, but resisted—he needed Legolas to see him as an equal, and it was better to face him on his feet.
"What are your intentions?" Legolas asked, and Frodo forced himself to concentrate solely on him.
"I am leaving in less than two months, and I do not know if I shall return. You perhaps have ages to find and enjoy a partner, but time for me flows very swift; especially now. I intend to spend what time I may with your cousin, then bid her farewell. Even if I do return, I know there can be nothing lasting for us, but it is my wish to bring happiness to her for the short time that I am able. She makes the decisions when I see her, and under what restrictions. If she wishes me to be secretive, I will--I abide entirely by her wishes." Frodo watched the play of emotions cross Legolas's face as he spoke--the elf was skilled at controlling his emotions, but not perfect, and Frodo could see he still resented Frodo's presence. This had to be resolved, and soon--even if he didn't join the fellowship it would be a poison in his mind to have wronged a potential ally. They needed all the allies they could get in these dark times.
Legolas scowled again, his dark brows coming together as his gaze shifted from Mornenêl to Frodo and to Mornenêl again.
"It is true," she finally spoke. "He would not have lain with me but that I asked." She gave a mirthless chuckle. "Even then he took much convincing."
Frodo felt the blood rush to his face. So Legolas knew that too. No wonder he was scowling. He forced himself to stand still and wait for a response.
Legolas hissed, hitting the arm of the chair with his fist. "It is not *natural*--two races like this, regardless of circumstances! Hah! It would be like-like--" he threw up his hands. "Like me and a dwarf."
Frodo checked himself before he could grin--the image was amusing. "In the house of Elrond, I don't think you can really use the argument of cross racial relationships," he returned.
Now Legolas did smile, nodding defeat. "Too true." He shook his head. "It still isn't right. Just the fact it has to be kept hidden should tell you that. I won't hear anyone--not even the *Ringbearer*--" he emphasized this and all the responsibilities it entailed--"tarnishing the reputation and moral integrity of my *very* dear cousin. You are already planning to leave her. Do it now. Spare both yourselves the pain of leaving when you are both more deeply involved, and spare her the social stigma and scandal of having a relationship with what--I regret to say--is still considered a lesser race by most elves." He looked hard at both of them.
"End it. Now."
-------
TBC
A/N: um, since I'm not making any money on this it may be difficult to pay therapy bills, Tech Dust--but thanks for the review! I'll do my best to keep writing and satisfy your needs. (evil grin) This chapter can't be helping any!