Chapter Twelve - Continued Paths
Afterward, Legolas held Melriadora in his arms as they slept. He watched as her chest rose and fell with her breath as she relaxed to sleep. He smiled, and kissed her again.
Melriadora rolled over to face him, even though she could not see him she knew exactly where his face was. She wrapped her arms around him, "Legolas, I thought we decided to get some sleep?" She teased with a smile.
He laughed softly, "My apologies, I couldn't help myself."
Melriadora laughed, but then became very serious. "Legolas, I must ask you something. Will you tell the truth?" She asked.
He pulled her closer to him, sensing how important what she was about to say was to her, he nodded, then realizing that she could not see this, replied. "Of course, my love. It is not in my heart to lie to you." He told her.
"Has my skin been scarred?" She asked.
Legolas hesitated, the skin on her back while still smooth, was surprisingly only a little scarred. However, it was the one on her face that pained him to tell her of.
"Legolas, I must know." She said, her hands searching for his own.
He caught her hand and kissed it, running his thumb across her knuckle and studying the hand as he spoke. "Only a little." Legolas said. "On your back and slices on your arms." He hesitated, "And another on your face." He told her.
Melriadora's brow wrinkled in confusion. "My face? When did that happen?"
Legolas turned his face away, he knew he had to tell he, but he certainly didn't want to.
She sensed his discomfort. "Legolas?"
"Reymara gave me a potion that gave her my will." He hung his head in shame. "I gave you that scar. When I realized what I was doing I regained control, but not until after I did this to you. I cannot even begin to ask your forgiveness. For I know I will never forgive myself."
Melriadora turned his face back to face her own, "You may not be able to ask, but I can give you my forgiveness. In fact you must accept it, for your own sake. It was not you. Such potions can enslave even the strongest. In fact it is amazing that you managed to fight it at all." She kissed him. "I love you Legolas, and I forgive you."
He stared at her, "You are quick to forgive me." He commented. "But I hurt you, and I swore to you long ago that I never would."
Melriadora snuggled closer to him, inviting him to wrap his arms around her. He did so gladly, embracing her and caressing the soft flesh of her back. "Legolas, without you I would be dead right now. If Reymara had not killed me, my sadness would have. You saved me not only from Reymara, but from myself as well. Legolas, promise me you will always remember that I love you. No matter what happens, remember that."
He studied her perplexed, "Only if you return that promise, Melri."
She smiled, "Of course I do." She kissed him. "Now, we ought to sleep. Tomorrow is another day."
He laughed, "Melriadora, Priestess of the Isle is wise, and only a fool would refuse your advice."
She grinned, "I'll remind you of that later."
He kissed her bare shoulder and fell into a deep, comfortable sleep, with Melriadora still in his arms, her head resting on his chest. He wanted nothing more then to stay with her like this forever.
Melriadora waited, listening to the sound of Legolas breathing until it steadied. He was in a deep sleep. She could feel his heart beating in time with her own, she knew they had formed a deep bond, deeper now then before, and she wanted nothing more then to stay here in his arms. However, she had to leave. If she moved silently, as taught on the Isle, Legolas would not wake. She knew what she must do now do, and though she feared the future, she now had the strength to face it. She slipped out of his arms so quickly he did not realize she was gone. She felt around for her gown and pulled it back on, fumbling as she laced it. She had to move quickly before he woke up. She found her bag beside the bed and pulled it over her shoulder. She paused before she left and fingered the necklace that she still wore. Reymara had taken her symbol of the Isle, but the other necklace she always wore, the one Legolas had given her long ago, remained. She grasped her hand around its smooth silver form. It felt so warm against her hand, as if alive. Melriadora's hands shook as she searched for the clasp. When she unfastened it and held it in her hand for a moment, then she kissed it, and laid it on the bed, beside the sleeping Legolas. With that she slipped silently out of the room.
She stood still for a moment, listening. She then heard a faint neigh in the distance and followed the sound until she was certain she had reached the stable.
"My Lady? Is there something we can do for you?" A voice asked. It must be a stable hand.
"I need a horse. One that can find the Isle of the Silver Lake." She replied.
The stable hand paused, then replied. "I have just the animal." He then walked away and came back with a horse, placing the reins in Melriadora's hand. "This creature will know the way. His name is Dawnrider." He replied.
Melriadora ran her hand down the horse's back to become more familiar with the beast. She could feel him relax and smiled. "He will do well. Thank you." She mounted and whispered instruction into the horse's ear. With her command he took off into the morning light, toward her destiny.
When Legolas woke he felt well rested, but he suddenly jumped up with a start. Melriadora was gone. He quickly looked around her chamber. Her dress and bag were both gone, however lying beside him was her necklace he had given to her. He picked it up, he had given it to her as a symbol of his love for her, she would never have left it behind. Fear gripped his heart as he quickly dressed. In his heart he knew where she had gone, his bond with her was deeper now then ever before. He feared she had continued on her mission alone. Without her sight, she would surely be killed.
As soon as he was dressed he dashed through Rivendell to find Lord Elrond. He found him in the library. He looked up when Legolas entered.
"Melriadora-?"
"Gone." Lord Elrond stood up to face the Prince. "She left on horseback this morning, on a horse that would know the way to the Isle. Our only one that knew the way."
Legolas felt as if the words had struck him in the face. She couldn't be gone; it wasn't possible. How could she do this to him? Well, if she thought this is what she must do, he would follow her. He knew he could not allow her to face whatever would come alone.
"Lord Elrond, I must follow her. I have need of your fastest horse, if you are willing to part with it." He asked giving the elf Lord a small bow.
Elrond nodded, "Of course, Prince Legolas. You must leave immediately, if you wish to catch her." He told him, "And I wish you luck."
Legolas quickly went to get the horse. He would have to ride hard, and use his best tracking skills to find her. He knew he would find her however, their bond was strong, and no distance could break that.
* * * * * * * * * * *
A/N- Sorry about the wait! I had two tests Friday and then I went home. I was planning on posting from my house but my parents surprised me with a car! Yay!!!!!!! I got a car!!! I wasn't expecting it at all! They didn't tell me a word about the car! But surprise! I got a car! Hehe! So I've spent my entire weekend cruising around my hometown getting the hang of the gearshift! Yeah buddy! Hehe! I'm excited! I'm STILL excited! Hehe, of course I didn't get to bring it back with me because of a mighty snowstorm that hit Virginia and stranded most people at home! Hey, it canceled classes, I'm not complaining! I'll just bring my awesome car back later! Go car! Hehe! Sorry, I've been telling EVERYONE about it! When I was home I was calling people who I hadn't spoken with since high school and telling them about my car! Anyway! This chapter seemed short.... but I think most are with this story! Hope you enjoyed!
Thanks to all the AWESOME reviewers! Your reviews made me almost as happy as when I got my car! Almost because I went from a '86 station wagon, to a '99 cavalier! WOOHOO!!! I'm really excited about this, can you tell?
Now, shameless begging!
If you review I will give you a ride in my NEW totally awesome car! Or when I take over this planet I will give you some land where ever you want! So it's a win/win situation! You can't lose! So go on, click the button!
Afterward, Legolas held Melriadora in his arms as they slept. He watched as her chest rose and fell with her breath as she relaxed to sleep. He smiled, and kissed her again.
Melriadora rolled over to face him, even though she could not see him she knew exactly where his face was. She wrapped her arms around him, "Legolas, I thought we decided to get some sleep?" She teased with a smile.
He laughed softly, "My apologies, I couldn't help myself."
Melriadora laughed, but then became very serious. "Legolas, I must ask you something. Will you tell the truth?" She asked.
He pulled her closer to him, sensing how important what she was about to say was to her, he nodded, then realizing that she could not see this, replied. "Of course, my love. It is not in my heart to lie to you." He told her.
"Has my skin been scarred?" She asked.
Legolas hesitated, the skin on her back while still smooth, was surprisingly only a little scarred. However, it was the one on her face that pained him to tell her of.
"Legolas, I must know." She said, her hands searching for his own.
He caught her hand and kissed it, running his thumb across her knuckle and studying the hand as he spoke. "Only a little." Legolas said. "On your back and slices on your arms." He hesitated, "And another on your face." He told her.
Melriadora's brow wrinkled in confusion. "My face? When did that happen?"
Legolas turned his face away, he knew he had to tell he, but he certainly didn't want to.
She sensed his discomfort. "Legolas?"
"Reymara gave me a potion that gave her my will." He hung his head in shame. "I gave you that scar. When I realized what I was doing I regained control, but not until after I did this to you. I cannot even begin to ask your forgiveness. For I know I will never forgive myself."
Melriadora turned his face back to face her own, "You may not be able to ask, but I can give you my forgiveness. In fact you must accept it, for your own sake. It was not you. Such potions can enslave even the strongest. In fact it is amazing that you managed to fight it at all." She kissed him. "I love you Legolas, and I forgive you."
He stared at her, "You are quick to forgive me." He commented. "But I hurt you, and I swore to you long ago that I never would."
Melriadora snuggled closer to him, inviting him to wrap his arms around her. He did so gladly, embracing her and caressing the soft flesh of her back. "Legolas, without you I would be dead right now. If Reymara had not killed me, my sadness would have. You saved me not only from Reymara, but from myself as well. Legolas, promise me you will always remember that I love you. No matter what happens, remember that."
He studied her perplexed, "Only if you return that promise, Melri."
She smiled, "Of course I do." She kissed him. "Now, we ought to sleep. Tomorrow is another day."
He laughed, "Melriadora, Priestess of the Isle is wise, and only a fool would refuse your advice."
She grinned, "I'll remind you of that later."
He kissed her bare shoulder and fell into a deep, comfortable sleep, with Melriadora still in his arms, her head resting on his chest. He wanted nothing more then to stay with her like this forever.
Melriadora waited, listening to the sound of Legolas breathing until it steadied. He was in a deep sleep. She could feel his heart beating in time with her own, she knew they had formed a deep bond, deeper now then before, and she wanted nothing more then to stay here in his arms. However, she had to leave. If she moved silently, as taught on the Isle, Legolas would not wake. She knew what she must do now do, and though she feared the future, she now had the strength to face it. She slipped out of his arms so quickly he did not realize she was gone. She felt around for her gown and pulled it back on, fumbling as she laced it. She had to move quickly before he woke up. She found her bag beside the bed and pulled it over her shoulder. She paused before she left and fingered the necklace that she still wore. Reymara had taken her symbol of the Isle, but the other necklace she always wore, the one Legolas had given her long ago, remained. She grasped her hand around its smooth silver form. It felt so warm against her hand, as if alive. Melriadora's hands shook as she searched for the clasp. When she unfastened it and held it in her hand for a moment, then she kissed it, and laid it on the bed, beside the sleeping Legolas. With that she slipped silently out of the room.
She stood still for a moment, listening. She then heard a faint neigh in the distance and followed the sound until she was certain she had reached the stable.
"My Lady? Is there something we can do for you?" A voice asked. It must be a stable hand.
"I need a horse. One that can find the Isle of the Silver Lake." She replied.
The stable hand paused, then replied. "I have just the animal." He then walked away and came back with a horse, placing the reins in Melriadora's hand. "This creature will know the way. His name is Dawnrider." He replied.
Melriadora ran her hand down the horse's back to become more familiar with the beast. She could feel him relax and smiled. "He will do well. Thank you." She mounted and whispered instruction into the horse's ear. With her command he took off into the morning light, toward her destiny.
When Legolas woke he felt well rested, but he suddenly jumped up with a start. Melriadora was gone. He quickly looked around her chamber. Her dress and bag were both gone, however lying beside him was her necklace he had given to her. He picked it up, he had given it to her as a symbol of his love for her, she would never have left it behind. Fear gripped his heart as he quickly dressed. In his heart he knew where she had gone, his bond with her was deeper now then ever before. He feared she had continued on her mission alone. Without her sight, she would surely be killed.
As soon as he was dressed he dashed through Rivendell to find Lord Elrond. He found him in the library. He looked up when Legolas entered.
"Melriadora-?"
"Gone." Lord Elrond stood up to face the Prince. "She left on horseback this morning, on a horse that would know the way to the Isle. Our only one that knew the way."
Legolas felt as if the words had struck him in the face. She couldn't be gone; it wasn't possible. How could she do this to him? Well, if she thought this is what she must do, he would follow her. He knew he could not allow her to face whatever would come alone.
"Lord Elrond, I must follow her. I have need of your fastest horse, if you are willing to part with it." He asked giving the elf Lord a small bow.
Elrond nodded, "Of course, Prince Legolas. You must leave immediately, if you wish to catch her." He told him, "And I wish you luck."
Legolas quickly went to get the horse. He would have to ride hard, and use his best tracking skills to find her. He knew he would find her however, their bond was strong, and no distance could break that.
* * * * * * * * * * *
A/N- Sorry about the wait! I had two tests Friday and then I went home. I was planning on posting from my house but my parents surprised me with a car! Yay!!!!!!! I got a car!!! I wasn't expecting it at all! They didn't tell me a word about the car! But surprise! I got a car! Hehe! So I've spent my entire weekend cruising around my hometown getting the hang of the gearshift! Yeah buddy! Hehe! I'm excited! I'm STILL excited! Hehe, of course I didn't get to bring it back with me because of a mighty snowstorm that hit Virginia and stranded most people at home! Hey, it canceled classes, I'm not complaining! I'll just bring my awesome car back later! Go car! Hehe! Sorry, I've been telling EVERYONE about it! When I was home I was calling people who I hadn't spoken with since high school and telling them about my car! Anyway! This chapter seemed short.... but I think most are with this story! Hope you enjoyed!
Thanks to all the AWESOME reviewers! Your reviews made me almost as happy as when I got my car! Almost because I went from a '86 station wagon, to a '99 cavalier! WOOHOO!!! I'm really excited about this, can you tell?
Now, shameless begging!
If you review I will give you a ride in my NEW totally awesome car! Or when I take over this planet I will give you some land where ever you want! So it's a win/win situation! You can't lose! So go on, click the button!