Chapter Fourteen
There were no more tears to be shed. He felt empty inside. Linetta had taken his heart with her.
Legolas was alone again. He sat on the log before the flowing waterfall. His eyes burned from the salt tears. How could he have let his happen? He had never failed at saving someone from orcs. During the War of the Ring, yes, many died, but he had prevented many.
This was different. She did not even fight the orcs.
He remembered the last words she had spoken, "I've been better". At least she was out of pain. He shouldn't have let her stayed. As much as he loved her, her death could have been prevented. He still wished he could say 'I love you' one more time, to kiss her lips, wrap his arms around her, see her smile.
~~~
He returned Moonstar to the field and headed towards the palace only to run into Amrod, his father's assistance who had helped him when he arrived with Linetta.
"Forgive me for not proper courtesy, but Legolas! Where have you been?"
"Not now. I do not care what my father wants me to do," he walked around Amrod.
"No, my prince. I believe you will want to run when I tell you this." Legolas eyed him curiously. "She has awoken!"
It took a couple seconds to sink in and he realized that Amrod would not fool him. "How? When?" he asked.
"Humans can fool you. They seem immortal to wounds. Now run! She has been waiting for you!"
"Thank you," he yelled over his shoulder as he ran to the palace.
Rushing into the room, he saw someone beside the bed with their back facing him. Walking closer, he realized it was his father and Linetta was asleep.
"Alas! She tried to wait for you, but the herbs made her drowsy."
"What are you doing here?"
"You do not want her alone, do you? Healers are poor company and you were no where to be found."
"You wanted to stay with her?"
"I am sorry. After what you said I thought a lot about when I met your mother. You are right. I taught you to marry who you love and if I did not let you I'd be going against my teaching. Please forgive me."
Just then, Linetta's eyes opened slightly. "Linetta!"
The king looked at her then stood. "I will give you time alone," and he promptly left.
Legolas sat where his father had been.
"Legolas," a smile crept up her face. "Where have you been?"
"Forgive me. I was angered, but we mustn't worry about that now."
"He told me."
He told her. He searched her face for emotions toward that conversation, but found none.
"Do not worry," she whispered the pain in her face again.
"It is you I worry about. I wish I could take your pain."
"Kiss it better?"
~~~
"Linetta, it is too soon for this."
"Nonsense. You are being overprotective, Legolas." Her legs gave way as she tried to stand. He caught her and held her up. "Okay, maybe it is too soon, but I cannot stand being in here any longer."
She looked at him, waiting for him to object. His arms were loosely embracing her. He leaned down and kissed her deeply.
A little giggle escaped her as she said, "You have odd timing. Is that a yes?" He kissed her again as he picked her up and draped her in his arms. He carried her out of the palace to the garden.
He laid her in the grass and sat beside her.
"Thank you."
"I will do anything for you, my love."
~~~
There were no more tears to be shed. He felt empty inside. Linetta had taken his heart with her.
Legolas was alone again. He sat on the log before the flowing waterfall. His eyes burned from the salt tears. How could he have let his happen? He had never failed at saving someone from orcs. During the War of the Ring, yes, many died, but he had prevented many.
This was different. She did not even fight the orcs.
He remembered the last words she had spoken, "I've been better". At least she was out of pain. He shouldn't have let her stayed. As much as he loved her, her death could have been prevented. He still wished he could say 'I love you' one more time, to kiss her lips, wrap his arms around her, see her smile.
~~~
He returned Moonstar to the field and headed towards the palace only to run into Amrod, his father's assistance who had helped him when he arrived with Linetta.
"Forgive me for not proper courtesy, but Legolas! Where have you been?"
"Not now. I do not care what my father wants me to do," he walked around Amrod.
"No, my prince. I believe you will want to run when I tell you this." Legolas eyed him curiously. "She has awoken!"
It took a couple seconds to sink in and he realized that Amrod would not fool him. "How? When?" he asked.
"Humans can fool you. They seem immortal to wounds. Now run! She has been waiting for you!"
"Thank you," he yelled over his shoulder as he ran to the palace.
Rushing into the room, he saw someone beside the bed with their back facing him. Walking closer, he realized it was his father and Linetta was asleep.
"Alas! She tried to wait for you, but the herbs made her drowsy."
"What are you doing here?"
"You do not want her alone, do you? Healers are poor company and you were no where to be found."
"You wanted to stay with her?"
"I am sorry. After what you said I thought a lot about when I met your mother. You are right. I taught you to marry who you love and if I did not let you I'd be going against my teaching. Please forgive me."
Just then, Linetta's eyes opened slightly. "Linetta!"
The king looked at her then stood. "I will give you time alone," and he promptly left.
Legolas sat where his father had been.
"Legolas," a smile crept up her face. "Where have you been?"
"Forgive me. I was angered, but we mustn't worry about that now."
"He told me."
He told her. He searched her face for emotions toward that conversation, but found none.
"Do not worry," she whispered the pain in her face again.
"It is you I worry about. I wish I could take your pain."
"Kiss it better?"
~~~
"Linetta, it is too soon for this."
"Nonsense. You are being overprotective, Legolas." Her legs gave way as she tried to stand. He caught her and held her up. "Okay, maybe it is too soon, but I cannot stand being in here any longer."
She looked at him, waiting for him to object. His arms were loosely embracing her. He leaned down and kissed her deeply.
A little giggle escaped her as she said, "You have odd timing. Is that a yes?" He kissed her again as he picked her up and draped her in his arms. He carried her out of the palace to the garden.
He laid her in the grass and sat beside her.
"Thank you."
"I will do anything for you, my love."
~~~