A huge big thanks to (big deep breath for long list!!): Jaded, Carneundomeiel, Elenya Tindomiel, Lynliss, Achoo, Skya, and especially to Celena (who took the time and interest to critique my epic size story and offer her brain as a beta). Thanks for all the reviews, cos there just what you need to keep you motivated. I never realised how important reviews were until I started writing (or something like writing!!) myself. Now I try to review everything I read. And now, chapter 13: does Leggies have a dark side (no!! BLASPHEMY!!)
(This is kinda loooong. Sorry)
Aragorn had left the Court of Galadriél not minutes before Nephryn, having gone there to speak with her after Galadriél had spoken with her. He'd changed his mind though, believing that she would go to Legolas for comfort and council. He walked now with heavy feet, meandering through the slowly thinning elf presence. This news was both a blessing and a curse. It complicated things infinitely and at the same time, it made their impossible task seem slightly less so.
He was unaware of anything around him until a slender figured brushed past him, running at speed. He looked up, squinting the early morning light and he could make out the stream of ebony hair that reeled around the fleeing figure as that of Nephryn's. Obviously she had not returned to Legolas as he'd assumed she would. Though he couldn't hope to catch her, he picked up his pace to a quick jog so that he might keep her in his sights.
To this end, he soon found himself sprinting at full tilt for the elf-maid, though shorter than him was light and fast. Suddenly, she disappeared from view. He slowed down and began to scan the surrounding areas for any sign of the young elf. Feeling the pinch of his brief run now, he walked up a small crest. They had ventured beyond the city now and tall mallorn trees were dotted all around, their wide canopy catching the beams of light and releasing them at random. The effect was breathtaking. The ground was spattered with light as though the ceiling above had been punched through with millions of tiny pinholes.
He was lost in the scenery until the heavy breaths of someone other than himself caught his ears. He crept forward slowly, and peaked over the low hedge at the swell of the crest. Below, hunkering down in the corner, Nephryn Istriél sat on her haunches, knees pulled up to her chest, dark tresses spilling over her shoulders obscuring the tears that he could hear. She rocked slowly back and forth, as though trying to conjure some comforting figure to soothe away her fears.
Aragorn was a man of many years and much experience. He'd seen many awful things but the sight before him broke his heart completely. So heavy a burden she had to bear, and so alone she was now. He wished that Arwen were here to offer the kind of comfort she most needed now. But she was not here, and so it fell to him.
Quietly he hopped over the thicket and edged down the steep bank. When he landed, his weight made the carpet of twigs and leaves rustle and the startled elf's head whipped up, frightened eyes darting over him with fear.
Aragorn held up both hands and met her panicked eyes with his own steady gaze. She relaxed visibly when she recognised him, but made no move to explain her reasons for being here or the cause of her tears.
In the end, it was he that had to break the silence.
"Galadriél spoke to me of the Mark of the Vessel."
Nephryn exhaled loudly at this, as though she'd hoped that this information would remain hers alone. She hung her head again, but did not cry. Her tears seemingly spent, she simply rocked back and forth trying to assimilate all that had happened.
When she spoke at last, it was with a reed-thin whisper.
"Are you angered that I must accompany you?"
Aragorn could not hold back the incredulous smile that broke his solemn expression. So like his Evenstar that she cared only for the well being of others when it was her own that ought to concern her. She looked on, confused and exasperated by his reaction.
"It is a serious matter that you choose to laugh on!" She muttered, frowning deeply.
Aragorn moved closer and leaned against the trunk of a fallen tree, mere feet away from where the elf sat.
"I am not angry at you for none of this is your doing. I am angry with those who would see fit to saddle you with such a loathsome burden. You have done nothing to deserve it. You have borne with dignity all that has befallen you in your lifetime. For that you have nothing but my respect and admiration."
Nephryn's green eyes widened at this and she inclined her head at the compliment.
"Thank you."
"While this revelation might ease our task, you know as I do that it raises the risk also. But you are skilled, and you will be no burden to us. Indeed, we will be glad of your company, though I wish it were under different circumstances."
Nephryn said nothing to this. She sat perfectly still and gazed out into the forest, as though searching for some sign that this was a dream. Finding nothing to that end, she looked back to Aragorn, pulling back her long tresses with one hand.
"I am scared. I travelled long and fought hard to escape the clutches of the dark lord. My time spent there still haunts the recesses of my dreams. And now I must return there. I long for the comfort of my elf-love's arms but I cannot seek him out for he will draw out my plight. So I will go, but none save you will know the true purpose of my journey."
Aragorn's face darkened at this and he shook his head.
"I believe that Legolas has a right to know."
Nephryn's features hardened in resolve and she stood crossing her arms across her narrow frame.
"What right has he to a burden that does not involve him?"
"He loves you: unashamedly, unabashedly, unconditionally. Your well-being is his and his yours. You will have in him, a strength and comfort you will find nowhere else. I know because I found that same comfort with Arwen and were this journey not long and dangerous, I would have her with me always."
"I will tell him in my own time. You will not break you silence on this matter."
Aragorn simply nodded his assent; seeing that this was a matter that she would not budge on and feeling that this was the best compromise. He held a hand out to her, indicating that she should go with him.
"It is not safe here. Return to the city with me?"
They walked quickly toward the city, moving in silence, each caught up in thoughts of their impending. As she walked, Nephryn pondered the single positive aspect of the new plans: she would be with Legolas. They would face the darkness together and if she had to choose anyone with which to trust her life, it was him. If, Elbereth forbid, he died in battle, by the Valar she would follow him there to the Halls of Mandos. The noble, romantic ideas made her smile, despite her otherwise gloomy thoughts.
Aragorn escorted her to her chamber. Before parting, he placed a supporting hand of her slim shoulder.
"I know you wish to spare him from this unpleasant news but do not dismiss how much a shared burdened can be lightened. He will bear the knowledge with courage. He will be your anchor in the stormy seas ahead. This is his way, do not underestimate him."
Nephryn nodded, comforted because she believed what Aragorn said. He and Legolas were long time friends and the sincerity behind the man's words gave her heart. Gently, she pushed the door open and slipped into the room. Legolas sat on the bed, engrossed in one of her many texts on ancient elven theurgy. They'd long been her prized possession and she smiled to see him enthralled by them as she'd first been. Now she knew every page, every word, every description by heart and recited them in her sleep.
The elf-prince looked up and smiled openly when he saw her. As she walked over to him, she schooled her features carefully so as not to reveal any tumultuous feelings.
As she sat beside him, he pulled her close and she breathed in his warm scent, returning his firm embrace with equal vigour. He drew back and searched in her face, with clear bright eyes, for some hint of her meeting with Galadriél.
"You have news?"
Nephryn's gaze waned under his scrutiny and she fixed her eyes firmly on their entwined hands.
"Indeed," she murmured, unsure as to how she ought to break the news to him.
"Is it bad?"
The concern was immediately evident in his voice and his hands tightened around her own. She could not but look up to his face, if only to glimpse the love written so plainly on his face.
"That depends very heavily on what you deem bad news to be. I am to join your fellowship. When you depart Lothlorién, I shall depart with you."
As she spoke, the elf-maid's voice dwindled away to a whisper as though she were afraid of the backlash. Legolas's features were stilled. He held the slight elf-maid at arms length and he sifted for signs that this revelation was not as it appeared. A multitude of emotions skittered over his fair face: shock, confusion, anger, rage, and sadness.
At last, he released her, standing up and wandering over to the windows. He seemed mesmerized by the sights beyond, ignoring Nephryn completely. Still, she saw how his hands clenched until his knuckles boned white and his fists shook. His head was bowed, his fine flaxen locks falling over his face, shrouding the emotions that simmered there.
"You will not go."
Legolas's low monotone broke the thick silence. Beneath the words, grim fortitude boiled. When he turned to her at last, his clear blue eyes were tinged with black rage.
"Who insists that you would undertake such a task?"
Nephryn was truly frightened as she watched him pace the length of the room like an incensed animal, caged only by a self-restraint born out of age. She sucked in deep breaths, as much to soothe her own frayed nerves as to cool the blistering tension. She licked her chaffed lips, watching nervously as he fixed her with a glare meant to draw the truth from her.
"No one insists."
At this, he relaxed slightly breaking his long stare.
"Then you will not go," he muttered softly, slowly regaining a grip on the turmoil within him.
"I must. No one insists, and yet it is necessary."
Legolas growled angrily, thumping one fist against the wall. He breathed loudly, as though preparing to pounce.
"Why must you be so stubborn!? How could it be necessary that you accompany us?"
"I cannot yet say," she murmured weakly, her lilting voice defying his loud, insistent tones. As the words left her lips, she saw hurt flash beneath the anger on his face, and knew instantly that he'd taken her need for secrecy as mistrust on her part.
"Do you not trust me?? Even after all that has happened?" he implored. Her small hands clenched into fists and she tried to keep the anger from surfacing in her voice, for even though she knew he was hurt by her silence, his words were meant to bring out the truth.
She looked up sharply, hurt and resentment flashing in her eyes.
"You know that it is never that! I entrusted my body and soul to you the day we met! Don't question my loyalties, just to draw unwilling truths from me. Such devices do not become you Legolas, and I thought you respected me more than that!"
As quickly as the rage had carried in her voice, it was gone and her eyes fell to the floor once more. As the silence gripped them like a raging fever, she sat unmoving on the bed, refusing to be baited into answering. She infuriated him! Did she not see what a ridiculous proposal this was?? White rage washed over him and he felt swamped completely by the need to keep her safe. She'd become the lifeblood that sustained him and she wished to put herself in harms way!
"You cannot go. I will not allow it," his gentle voice belied his firm words as he stood over her.
As the harsh instruction registered with her, Nephryn felt a fury burn within her. With those words, Legolas had become the very thing she'd fled from for so long. The perfidy and betrayal were so achingly clear to her that it took all her strength to suppress a sob. She stood and drew herself to her full height. She was almost eye-to-eye with him and she regarded him with eyes of liquid emerald. The slight elf-maid tilted her chin up and spoke softly.
"The very day I met you, you promised that I was my own keeper. You would believe now that you have my trust that you could exercise such power over me? You are no better than the White Devil!! I will speak with you no further until you address me with the respect I thought I'd earned long ago."
She did not wait for a response for she knew none would be forthcoming. He was enraged, like she'd never before witnessed. She'd not even considered that such a gentle elf would be capable of such wrath. As she walked her entire body began to tremble uncontrollably. It seemed that, though never had so many allies surrounded her, she was utterly alone. Not in all her long months at Mordor or Isengard had that been so. She was alone in her own home. The bitter irony brought stinging tears to her eyes and minutes later, they tumbled freely once more.
OK, sorry about that. Things were going way too well, not even my life is that perfect. Besides, Legolas is all the more real if he has a pout every now and then. So now the question is: will things get better or has their "relationship" changed forever?? Look out for "The Great River", coming soon to an archive near you.
Yeah ok. Its coming to this archive, in the next week. Jeez, I was just trying for a little suspense and enthusiasm. You lot are a right funny bunch. I can see you all right now. Ha ha, you mutter sarcastically. Ya well, be nice or there won't be a chapter 14. OK????
P.S. On a more practical note: my life has gotten a little more routine now, so you can expect an update every five days or so, unless there's huge delay, or a big cliffhanger. I'll let ya know…
Sorry also for the epic length author's note. I just don't know when to stop. Ya know me. Ok, I'll stop now.
Whoops, sorry. Getting carried away now. Just remember to read and review. Ok. I'm really stopping now. Sorry…