Chapter 21
The next morning came, and so did a disgruntled Airedaeiel without Legolas. She thought back to when Legolas had left her after a few minutes and she refused to move, convinced that Legolas couldn't resist her and that he would come back. He never went closer than two hundred yards from her all through the night. Finally, she was so tired that she fell asleep on the ground. Without her knowing, Gimli felt sorry for her and quietly put a blanket on her.
Legolas had tried to find where Ethrin and Diamond was, but he couldn't. He looked around the whole place but couldn't find them. Finally, he had to go back to the main camp and spend the night there. He wondered if Ethrin's feelings were forever changed after this. He lay down and looked at the stars. Soon, he found the one star that Ethrin had been watching the night that he had confessed his love for her. Strangled at the thought that Ethrin might hate him now for all of eternity, he tried to sleep to let his thoughts rest, but Airedaeiel and Ethrin both kept on going into his dreams. He did not rest well that night.
The reason that Legolas couldn't find them was that Diamond had convinced Ethrin to climb up onto a tree so they could talk in peace and that nobody would find them there. So they had found a tree with branches so thick and so flat that they could lie on them comfortably without rolling off. There was a long silence before they began to talk.
"You know that Legolas would never leave you right? He loves you more than anything," Diamond said. Ethrin refused to meet her eyes.
"How would I know? An elf's heart yearns for beauty, and I know so because I'm an elf too. I know I would never betray Legolas, for he is different from all the others that have tried to love me deeply, and I have never loved those others back. I have only loved Legolas with this passion. How will I know that he feels the same way?" Ethrin replied quietly.
"He does. Besides, there are many things that a relationship has to go through, and you two probably don't have a strong one if you can't get past this. I know Frodo and I had to go through much before we trusted each other completely. I used to fear that he would go with another hobbit lass, but now I've pushed all those thoughts out of my mind. For you and Legolas it would most likely be the same."
"I am not his one and only, though. If I ever to get killed or am ever forced to leave him, how will I know that he wouldn't find another to replace me?"
"You are not very trusting are you?"
"Not when it comes to love. It has been so…hard for me. But it's not something to discuss now. The past is the past."
"And this will become the past soon anyway! He'll turn Airedaeiel down and then she'll be the one crying on the ground while he's there, holding you again."
"Elves don't show their feelings very well, unless it's to someone they trust with their lives and more. So I really doubt that she would be crying over Legolas."
"But Airedaeiel seems to be a bit spoiled by men to me. She'll probably be most devastated if she lost Legolas. He is a fine catch." Just then Legolas walked under the tree, and Ethrin hushed Diamond up. They watched as he looked around, as if he was trying to find something or someone. But after searching in the area for a couple minutes, he finally walked away. Ethrin let out her breath, as did Diamond.
"See, he's probably out searching for Airedaeiel. He probably accidentally lost sight of her," Ethrin said, eyes blazing with anger under her cloak.
"You are very stubborn," Diamond said, raising her eyebrow and her.
"And if I am? I think it's better to think the worst because then you can't get surprised and hurt; there's only the chance you will get surprised but be happy."
"Legolas was probably looking for you. I knew that I should have called out to him when he was looking around."
"No, I'd have been very angry if you had. Not at you, but just plain angry. I don't think I'm ready to talk to him just yet."
"Suite yourself." Diamond yawned and then lay down on the branches.
"You look tired. Just go to sleep. I'm tired too," Ethrin said, also lying down and closing her eyes.
"Are you sure?" Diamond asked, also closing her eyes.
"Uma yes," Ethrin replied, nodding. Diamond opened one eye and saw Ethrin nod. She understood and closed her eye again.
This time, the nightmare didn't come. Instead, the first time she and Legolas met played in Ethrin's mind.
In the morning, the whole company got together their things. They were about to leave when a grumpy Airedaeiel marched in, hair all messy and clutching the blanket. But when she saw Legolas, she gave him a big smile, and ran up to him, giving him a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. Her hand crept down his back and she tried to slip her hands into his pants when he grabbed her arm and threw her away from him. Airedaeiel looked up, surprised.
"Airedaeiel, stop it now! I do not love you and I do not like you trying to make me love you. I do not care for you in that way, and I am willing to be your friend if you would stop pressuring me to do things with you," Legolas said in a stern voice, his crystal blue eyes blazing down at her. Airedaeiel breathed hard as she watched him walk away. Then she caught sight of Ethrin, Diamond beside her, and gave a cry, tears running down her cheek. She flew at Ethrin, arms flying and nails trying to scratch Ethrin.
"You crazy witch! You have put a spell on him, haven't you! You have purposely made it so he would not love me, and love you instead! You wretched, wretched elf! Legolas would never be able to say those things to me if it weren't for your enchantment. Stop using magic to pursue people to love you, for you know I am prettier than you are; you know all others surpass you when it comes to beauty and grace! That's why you wear that cloak! I will not rip your hood off, for at least I have some sense of kindness, which is more than I can say for you!" Airedaeiel screamed, punching at Ethrin, trying to slap her. But Ethrin blocked all the blows, so Airedaeiel started pulling her hair. Ethrin grabbed Airedaeiel's wrists and then twisted them, causing her to let go. Airedaeiel stumbled, screaming, " you know you can't get love without your stupid magic tricks!"
Then she sat down and started kicking and screaming, tears running from her face. Diamond was there, trying to calm Ethrin down as the rest of the fellowship ran to the crazy elf and trying to quiet her down. They were afraid that the demons would here her wailing and come for them. But no demons were around, and Legolas was also there, trying to calm the blond elf-maiden down. His good heart would never let him be cruel to a person, no matter what the situation, but then she felt a hand grab his shirt and saw Airedaeiel's tear-streaked face looking at him, smiling.
"Dear prince Legolas, you do still love me dearly, don't you?" she asked sweetly, so sweetly that Legolas was afraid it would give him a toothache.
"No, Airedaeiel, I have to tell you again, I do not love you and I have never loved you. Ethrin has not put any magic spells on me, nor you, nor anybody else; she probably can't and even if she could, she wouldn't. Now would you please calm down," Legolas replied. But then Airedaeiel started crying and stamping her feet again while still sitting on the ground. Then she slapped him, and tried to punch him, but he grabbed her fist. She wailed again and let her arm go limp. Then Legolas quickly walked away and left Gimli, Aragorn, Laphaela, Arlena, and Glorfindel to calm her down. Frodo was sitting from afar, shouting at Airedaeiel to please calm down and try to keep her mind out of any more fantasies. These words triggered more wailing and screaming, and more tears. But finally even Aragorn and the others couldn't take it anymore, so they all left her alone. Seeing no one left to pamper her and try to talk to her, Airedaeiel grew even more furious and cried even more. But seeing that that didn't work, she just sat there and refused to move.
"See, Legolas did stand up for himself and tell him that he didn't love her. Which obviously means that he still loves you," Diamond said to Ethrin.
"Yes, but I have a feeling that Airedaeiel is still convinced I'm a witch of black magic that has bewitched Legolas to love me and no other. I wish she would leave us, but as long as Legolas is here, I doubt that she will leave us alone," Ethrin replied. Then she turned around and shot an arrow into the trees. There was a scream of rage as a wounded demon growled and circled Ethrin. Ethrin stayed in front of Diamond and braced for an attack.
"How wonderful," she thought, "a demon, as well as an annoying elf all in two days. When will I get a rest?" Then the demon's mouth opened as it jumped, claws out, towards Ethrin.
*PLEASE REVIEW! I really want to know what you think. Sorry I haven't been able to load up many more chapters; I had so much stuff to do I pretty much went crazy. I don't know when the next chapter will be up, though. It might even be for a few months, but just check back sometimes if you really want to read it.