Silent Words, Comfort me
Author's note: Thank you thank you thank you everyone who's reviewed chapter 1. Honestly, I intended this to be a one-off fic but due to all the really nice reviews I've received, I've decided to continue. Hope I didn't ruin everything by putting in this chapter.
Hmm, think the characters are a little ooc in this one, but really, this is just a prelude to the next chapter - where all the fun begins…though I seriously wonder if I can bring myself to write anything beyond a little slap and tickle.
This one's set about a month after the Ring has been destroyed. It's still slash, but mere hints. Enjoy.
Standard disclaimers apply.
Chapter 2
Legolas stifled a yawn, and nodded absently to the courtier in front of him. He wondered if it could get any worse than this; the night was young, the entertainment dull and the company…suffice to say that the only one who's companionship he desired was seated at the high table an ocean away.
Given his status as Prince of Mirkwood, Legolas would normally have been entitled a place by Aragorn's side. Yet tonight, the heir of Gondor and Arnor was surrounded by priests and ministers of the state, in preparation for the most momentous, or rather the only, coronation of the millennium, which was to be held the next day.
Gently disentangling the over-eager noblewoman's arm from his own, Legolas' eyes darted back and forth over the various exits from the Great Hall, desperately searching for an escape from the dreary banquet. Just then, the whisper of a name caught his attention.
"…the Lady Arwen…"
Amid the raucous voices raised at the banquet, Legolas picked out those of two gossiping courtiers, straining to hear more of the conversation taking place a table away.
"…beautiful woman…a lovely couple…"
"…arriving tomorrow at dawn…"
The words rocked Legolas in his seat. How could he have forgotten? Turning to the gushing noblewoman still rattling away at his side, he managed to compose himself enough to interrupt her gently, saying, "The Lady Arwen… she is arriving tomorrow?"
The question threw her off for a moment, but she quickly rallied, and said excitedly, "Oh yes, as well as her entourage of Rivendell elves. It's all very exciting you know, what with the wedding to be held as part of the coronation ritual. Of course, I personally feel it's all too rushed, but who knows with elves? Oh dear, I'm so dreadfully sorry, I really didn't mean it to come out that way. But as I was saying…"
By this time, Legolas had heard everything he considered to be of import and let the rest of her words pass by him like water over rock. He had expected Arwen to come of course, but he had not expected the wedding to be held so soon, or even for her to arrive for perhaps another month.
What does it matter? You knew you'd have to leave him sooner or later. he told himself reproachfully.
But why oh why couldn't have been later? asked a traitorous voice in his head.
Squelching that thought as firmly as he could, Legolas sank back into his seat, brooding over an untouched cup of wine. Twirling the long stem between his fingers, he wondered what he would do next. While he had meant it when he'd told Aragorn that Arwen would not mind, a tryst between two lonely souls was a very different thing from…
From what? he asked himself. In truth, what had Aragorn sought from his arms but comfort in lean times? And with Arwen's return, surely he would now turn to her.
And then what? Would he ask him to leave? Probably not, the man was too polite for the brisk dismissal of a former paramour. And yet, that same misplaced sense of honour would no doubt make him uncomfortable in Legolas' continued presence. Perhaps, it would be in everyone's best interests if he simply left of his own accord.
But still…clutching at the evenstar worn hidden under his tunic, Legolas refused to ask himself that one question.
What if?
~
Lost as he was in his own thoughts, Legolas started at the touch of a heavy hand clamped onto his shoulder.
"Well now," came a familiar growling voice thick with suppressed mirth, "It isn't everyday I get to catch one of the fair folk unawares."
"Gimli!" Legolas cried happily, turning to face him, "I haven't seen you all evening, what have you been up to?"
"Oh, this and that," said the dwarf, pulling a chair over and seating himself by the elf's side, much to the displeasure of a certain noblewoman. "My cousin's leaving for the caverns below Helm's Deep tomorrow and we had to give him a proper send-off." He winked conspiratorially and indicated the spread laid out before them, "The fare of Men is a little too tame for our tastes."
Gimli stretched out with a relieved sigh and continued, "Ahh, Helm's Deep…No other cave I've ever seen can even begin to rival its beauty. The moment I described it to him, he insisted on taking off immediately. I'd have gone with him too, but what with the coronation and all…"
"Gimli," Legolas interrupted in sudden inspiration, clutching at the dwarf's arm, "Do you remember how, on the quest to destroy the Ring so many moons ago, I promised to visit the caverns of Helm's Deep in your company if you would come with me to Fangorn?"
"Yes, but I don't see what that has to do with this…"
"It has everything to do with it," Legolas replied, not realising that his voice had sunk to a harsh whisper, "I would go now, Gimli. Let us go with your kinsman to that place; surely if it is as remarkable as you have made it out to be, you must miss it dearly."
"Well, not that you mention it, I guess I do," Gimli looked worriedly into the elf's troubled eyes, "But surely we can't go now. There'll be plenty of time later when Aragorn has been crowned and the Lady Arwen sits at his side."
A brief flash of pain passed through the murky green depths of Legolas' eyes, though he hid it well enough a moment later. If Gimli hadn't been watching the elf so intently, he'd have missed it altogether.
So that's what this is all about. the dwarf thought, his expression softening. Ai, foolish Prince, that way lies heartbreak.
"Listen to me Legolas," Gimli said gently, patting the hand which the elf still laid upon his arm, "You don't have to do this, there are other ways."
"I…I don't know what you're talking about."
Glancing meaningfully at Aragorn, Gimli said, "You didn't think I was blind, did you? Or deaf? Any fool can see how the two of you feel about each other. So what's the problem? I thought you elves were rather more liberal about such things than the rest of us unenlightened folk."
Legolas sighed resignedly and threw his hands up in surrender. "I never could keep anything from you, could I?" he said, "Arwen is no ordinary elf my friend. Even if she were willing, her father would consider it a grave insult for me to remain by Estel's side. And in this fragile time of peace, the Edain need all the good will they can get."
Pausing a moment, he continued wryly, "Besides, for all that he spent his first score years amongst us, Estel is not an elf, and his notion of what is honourable and what is not is somewhat different from our own."
Mulling over his words, Gimli said, "Still, surely you do not have to leave tonight; Lord Elrond would not mind if you stayed for the wedding."
Legolas looked at him then, a sad smile across his face, "But I would."
Gimli paused, staring once more into the elf's eyes. Decided, though sorrowed, by the resolve he saw there, he nodded his head. "I will inform the my kinsman that we leave with him at dawn."
Relief and gratitude flooded through the elf, and he relaxed for the first time that night. "My thanks Gimli, I have never been more grateful to be able to call you friend. One last thing," he said, looking over his shoulder as he moved to leave the banquet, "promise me you will not tell him."
Defeated, Gimli nodded again, and watched the elf exit the hall.
Love makes fools of the best of us. he thought sadly, shaking his head at that proud, stubborn back.
© ai 2002. Tell me if you liked it.