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Note: ATTENTION!! This chapter is really rather slow…really slow actually. The ending however will open for some new fun stuff…Mwhahah! So please don't give up on me cause of this chatper, I know it sucks, sorry. Hope you can still bare reading it though!
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Now, FORWARD!
Chapter Four: The Sweetest Reality
"Never before have I seen such a look upon your face Legolas."
It was nearly a quarter's rise after dawn as Gimli spoke in an amused voice to his Elven friend. Gimli was a Dwarf in Elven halls, but he was not stupid. He would no more not notice he was standing on an Orc's head than not to notice the strange flame burning in the Elf's eyes this day.
"Dare I ask why?" the Son of Gloin asked with a smirk barely seen under his thick beard.
Legolas looked across the table to his friend. A smile pulled violently at his face but he tried, only in vain, to fight it. Finally he did smile, a full true smile; a kind that Gimli, no matter how long they had been friends, had seen before. "Long has something been lost to me…but in the depths of night and the tears of rain has it been returned."
Gimli eyed the Prince oddly before he laughed suddenly. "Puzzles and riddles you speak, I will not ask more. You will only confuse me Legolas. Just know my friend," the Dwarf stood, or rather dropped, off his chair and patted the Elf's arm as he walked by saying, "..it is truly a joy to see you like this."
Legolas glanced at the Dwarf's back as he walked along. He suddenly saw two Elven maidens and hurried his step calling out to them by name..What had happened since Legolas was gone the night before? With a laugh to himself and a shake of his head the Prince stood and walked idolly towards the East doors.
A strange un-named feeling swelled in him as he thought of the Dwarf's words. It grew, as did the smile on his face, as he thought of the very early morning's dwindling stars a hand full of hours ago.
The rain had stopped some time ago and the stars were coming out, only to dwindle in the sun's dawn. Legolas silently woke from his light sleep to find himself never moved from the position he had set himself in long ago; leaned against a smooth tree, out of the rain, with Syla leaning against him. She was sleeping at the moment and he did not move to wake her.
A warm breeze turned cool as it hit their wet clothing and he tried to warm his sideways embrace without waking her but Syla stirred then. Finding her clothes were still soggy from the rain he imagined she had woken up slightly confused because she tensed for a moment. She soon relaxed however and said, "How long have you been awake?"
He smiled slightly, "How did you know I was awake?"
"Your body is more tense when awake and not sleeping." She replied sleepily.
He nearly laughed at this, "Ah, I see. Not long love, not long."
She laughed softly at this. The songs of the night took over then and they sat in silence listening to what mostly only Elven ears could hear in those songs. Eventually Legolas felt Syla lax again and knew she was sleeping. He knew he should not keep her out in the night to sleep in soggy clothing. As he shifted she murmured something but did not wake. When an Elf was completely at ease, they could sleep through almost anything. Legolas was both pleased and slightly surprised by this.
The Prince wasn't sure if he liked the fact of how light she was as he gathered her in his arms and walked towards the city again. She was half way awake when he could see the city clearly through the trees. She had moved to be released but he only murmured for her to relax and she did, fully content in her position.
She had fallen back into a light sleep when Legolas reached her home. He glanced at the window to see familiar insides as to make sure this was where she still lived. He reached to open the door but found it locked and sighed.
"Still lock your doors to shadows in the night?" he asked slightly shifting Syla only to wake her
"Hm?" she opened her eyes to find where they were. "Oh." She sighed as well turning her face into his shoulder. "Can I not just sleep here?" she asked looking at him.
Legolas smiled, "Do not tempt me." He told her.
Shadowed by dawn she smiled and laughed slightly. She shifted to be free from his grasp and he gently let her down. As she reached into her cloak's pocket she breathed very quietly, "..Tell me this is not a dream Legolas." Slowly her eyes traveled back to his.
Secretly Legolas was thinking the same but smiled and put both hands on either side of her on the door she in front of. He braced forward, his lips close to her's, and whispered, "No dream could be sweeter than this."
Her disbelief seemed to slide away slightly and she smiled just before their lips met.
Legolas stopped barely short of walking flat into Aragorn as he was standing, and had been standing, in his path with a glint of mischief in his eyes. The Prince blinked in surprise and did not know what to do at first and he imagined he looked something like Aragorn did many months ago when he returned to Helm's Deep.
"You walk as if in a dream Legolas." Aragorn said, a smile playing at his features.
Legolas's mind cleared and he nodded fondly, "Though a dream would be pleasant, it could not be any more than reality is right now."
Aragorn raised a brow at this. "Can I assume you found Syla last night?" He asked as he and his friend turned to walk. Legolas only glanced at him briefly with a quick smile. The King of Man was quite pleased with this. "And from the looks of you, it doesn't look as though she slapped you or damaged you in any way."
"Your sense of humor, Estel, I am sure is entertaining to you." The Elf replied in his native tongue.
"And not to you?" the man replied in the same fashion.
After a brief moment they both laughed, something they had not freely done without heavy weight barring down on them in a very long time.
* * *
Syla tried to ignore the knowing stare from her very long time friend Telari as felt her eyes boring into her back as she was putting the finishing touches on a large painting. Telari herself did not say anything as she observed Syla. She could read every feature, every little detail, to the finest. She knew Syla better than Syla knew herself.
"That smile that plays your face; it is one I have not seen in some time."
Syla cleared her throat to stop the smile from spreading. "Is that so?" she asked ignorantly.
Telari ignored the act and moved further into the office gazing at the exceptionally large painting. "Must I ask you name that smile's vile origin or do I know its stench?" she said, her voice as sharp with the insult the Prince of Mirkwood as if he were there. She knew, she had known, but she also knew what had happened before.
"You do not need to ask, you know this." Syla replied, not ignoring the iciness. She took a breath and straightened looking at the detail she had just added as she said, "He has done nothing to you, you should not speak as if he is your enemey. He is a good Elf Telari and he has fought in many wars, you owe him your respect and loyalty."
Telari sighed heavily. "..He shattered you Syla."
The other Elven-woman was silent while she leaned down and detailed an anonymous face. Quietly she replied, "There is no need to remind me of that, I know plenty well."
"Do you?" Telari bit her tongue as she said it. Syla paused then continued, she hoped she was going to act as if she did not hear that. "I just…I do not want to see it happen again Sy."
The Keeper sighed as she observed her work. "It will not happen again."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because I am!" Syla exclaimed. Telari was slightly surprised by the outburst and looked at her friend for a moment. Syla sighed and added, "He loves me Tel. You did not see his eyes last night."
"Did he not love you before? Did I not see his eyes when he looked at you so long ago, to the brim and brink with love, but what did he do then?" Telari retorted. She wasn't trying to put her friend down, but she had seen her fall apart after Legolas had left and it was Telari who had picked her back up, but no matter how she tried she never put her back together. To see that Legolas had practically restored her in one night because of three words that he could easily break again was something she did not favor.
If she knew, really knew, that Legolas would not abandon Syla as he had before she would be more than happy for her friend. But he hadn't seen, no one had truly seen, what he had done. She watched and tried to help, but only in vain. She had watched as her friend slowly began to die. It was Telari who was there to find her bleeding and murmuring for the dead to come. It was not Legolas who had forced her to live, he had shoved her to die. This was how Telari saw what had happened in the past year and more and no one, not even Syla, could convince her otherwise.
"Do not try and rip this from me Telari." The Keeper said lowly.
"I am not ripping anything from you Sy! I am only trying to make sure that you are not going to be shoved to the side again on the whim of a few moments. Do not let him do that again." Telari pleaded.
"He will not do it again!" Syla cried, frustrated at her friend…but also at herself as doubts began to rise again within her.
"I saw what happened Syla. I did! You have fought for so long now just to get back to your life after Legolas, and Ni'Clarin, and-.." her words died as she did not say anymore. "Where was he when Ni'Clarin died?"
"He did not even know." She replied.
"Did not know? He went to Rivendell, the path on which your brother died, and he did not know?! Is this what he told you?" Telari questioned disbelieving. She was seeing everything her friend was not.
"I will not question him on such a thing. I have no reason to believe otherwise."
"No reason?! You trust him again after one night?!" Telari burst. She laughed bitterly, not at Syla, but at him even if he was not near enough to hear. "Are you listening to yourself? You go back to him and you probably will not make it past his next betrayal."
Syla did not move from her position at one of the large desks in the room as she was looking in something. Telari knew she had crossed a line when she braced her hands on the desk and slowly, slowly looked up to her; fair hair dangling forward. "Telari..You are my friend, and as my friend I am hoping that you will see that I am happy this way. You will see why I trust him so readily again, and you will also end this conversation you have started." She said very lowly. Syla did not like to argue with her friends at all, and when she knew she was dangerously close to saying anything she would regret this is was she would do. Warn them..
Telari sighed heavily. "If it makes you happy…" she said quietly, "then I suppose I will leave it be. I just do not understand why Logiene across the way would not make you just as happy." She brought up the gentle-elf who had it in for Syla for some time now.
Syla only shook her head however, "I do not, and could not, love him as I do Legolas."
Telari did not say anything then nodded. She knew Syla was still fuming about the conversation and tilted her head before leaving the room. Syla looked at the now vacant space where Telari once was. Doubts still churned in her. One voice was yelling at her that she was being niave and falling too fast, the other was screaming at her for even thinking of doubting Legolas.
She was so caught into her thoughts she did not hear another person enter the office. She snapped her head to the sound of someone cleaing their throat. At first Syla did not understand why the visitor was there but then she smiled. Her voice slipped to her native language as she greeted the Elf with a pleased smiled, "Long has it been since I stood in your presence my friend."
"Long it has been…Far too long." Arwen replied a smile claiming her gentle features as she spoke to a long time friend.
* * *
"For a time I thought you were hiding from me."
Arwen jumped in surprise. Damn Aragorn and his Elvish-like walk. He was one of the few that could sneak up on her…though it had taken him some time to learn.
Syla, however and who she had been sitting and talking with for some time now, found the look on her face extremely amusing and laughed. She had seen the man coming behind the Evenstar but had said nothing and he had given her a grateful look. It had been long since she had seen Aragorn. Longer than even seeing Arwen. He had changed a bit. The times of war lined his strong face, but his eyes remained the same.
"Thank you, Syla, for not warning me and finding this incrediably amusing." Arwen said in mock tartness as Aragron smiled and kissed her swiftly on the cheek for she was 'shunning' him.
"There is no need for a warning when there is no threat to warn about." Syla replied.
"Ah, and she is right. Why would you need a warning from the man you love?" Aragorn asked as the wooden bench swing continued to flow back and forth with its two seaters.
Arwen smiled and Syla shook her head, not loosing the smile she had, and looked to Aragorn. "Aragorn, Son of Arathorn..and new King of Man says rumor, you dare show yourself to me after such a long absence and no word?"
"Be ashamed before her…as I was." Arwen said strongly then added the last bit.
Aragorn did not quite know where this wave of playfulness had come in on the Elven-woman he loved, but he did not mind in the least. Too long had she been burdened with the troubles of war of men and then the sending of her people. Too long had it been for both of them to laugh as they were now.
The King straightened his shoulders and said in his most humble voice, "Forgive my wrongs of you, Lady Syla. As I am here before you I beg your fogiveness." He bowed lowly and then rose again.
The laughing that occurred after that did not stop for some time. Arwen, for one, found what he just did quite hilarious. And the look of trying to keep a straight face afterwards as they laughed at him was priceless. He finally relented then and allowed himself to laugh at his own misfortune of finding these two together again. He had long fogotten what it was like as he gathered they had too.
As the laughing drew quieter Arwen stood to reassure her husband-to-be that not all was his fault for the outburst. When the kiss she had given him broke he looked to Syla and said, "So it is you, once more Syla, who has made a very good friend of mine very happy again."
Syla's eyes sparked and she shrugged slightly, "I suppose if you want to favor me for his actions I cannot stop you."
"Ah, no favoring Syla, pure truth. I saw him earlier this morning. Longer since I last saw you have I seen his face as light as 'twas this morning." Arwen replied.
The other Elf just smiled a little. "The gift of happiness from the other then is mutual."
"I am pleased to hear that." Aragorn said most seriously. He had heard from others what had happened with Syla last night. He had not brought it up when he spoke to Legolas that morning for he was unsure if he knew, or even wanted to think about it. Aragorn knew he, himself, would not want to speak, think, or be told of such things if it concerned Arwen.
Syla suddenly took a deep breath and stood, "As good as it is to see the two of you, I must get back to the Keep."
"You would work their day and night if you could." Arwen told her.
"Yes, I believe I have on many occasions." Syla smiled. "But do not make yourselves strangers. Forgiveness is not always given as easily on the second time of the same mistake."
"Trust in me, Syla, more than our shadows will be around now things have settled." Aragorn replied.
"Be it so Aragorn. Good day to you both, and do attempt to steer clear of trouble." Syla said, tilting her head slight before turning about and moving away.
"Trouble?" Arwen said quietly to only Aragorn in Elven.
He looked at her, "Stars would wonder where she got such an idea." He replied in the same language. Arwen smiled at his 'serious' but dripping with sarcasm like tone.
* * *
Syla sighed listening to the noise outside. Who was making such a racket on an Elven steed? She listened as the shoes of the animal scraped the stone road outside. The horse was dancing around under its rider no doubt, but what Elven rider would not know how to control one's own horse?
…Unless, of course, it was intentional.
With a slight frown she was ready to shoe Logiene away, but as she opened the balcony doors she was pleasantly surprised to see a very handsome Elven Prince on a familiar grey-white horse. He stopped the dancing steed and smiled up at her.
"Have you never been sought out for a ride at your balcony's ledge Lady Syla?" Legolas asked.
She smiled and leaned forward on the stone rail, "Oh, occasionally, but that was long ago." They both remembered full well the first time he was under this balcony, though it was certainly not the last. Same steed, same love, different day, different time.
"Wish to join me then?" he asked.
Syla pretended to think on this, "I..am not sure if I remember how to jump from this balcony onto such a horse."
Legolas smiled further as he sidepassed the horse to stand slightly away from the somewhat high balcony. He looked up at her expectantly and she sighed. This was not the attire to jump onto a horse and ride…but…
Ripping her dress on both sides next to her legs and up to her knees, she gracefully vaulted onto the rail. Legolas backed his horse slightly and waited. Syla shook her head a little to herself thinking she was insane yet again for doing this, and dropped off the rail onto the horse's back behind the saddle.
She knew he would do it, as soon as she was on the horse always took off. Both riders were surprised he remembered, but alas he did and off they went. Syla would have toppled off the back had she not wrapped her arms around her fellow rider.
She laughed as she ducked to the side and away from Legolas fine whipping hair to look over his shoulder as they rode into the forest, curious eyes of those near watching with a familiar feeling.
* * *
Aragorn watched as King Thranduil entered the peaceful gardens the King of Man was in, awaiting his betrothed. The look on the Elven King's face was not a pleasant one and when he spotted the man he quickly made his way over. Aragorn had a general idea about what he was upset with. It was nearly dusk now and Legolas had not returned from what Gimli had called earlier, 'Foolish Elven frolocking on a horse with a she-elf,'. That was barely after mid-day.
"Aragorn, Son of Arathorn, you have known my son long." Thranduil said as he approached, not bothering with a greeting in the least.
"The majority of my life, yes." Aragorn replied.
"You know him well enough, and you know his actions even better. Tell me, why is it no matter my arguing he returns to this..this..plain folk woman elf?"
Aragorn was rather shocked. He had imagined the King had come out here wondering where his son was, and when he found out he would send such and such to find him and rant all along the way. From his voice now he actually sounded more distressed and confused than anything. Perhaps the time of Legolas being next to death in war had made his father see that his son's happiness was worth more than his own.
The man cleared his throat, "Well…It is quite obvious my Lord." He glanced at the Elf to make sure he was listening. When he was Aragorn continued, "He loves her."
Thranduil sighed and paced frustrated. Never before had Aragorn seen the strong Elven king pace as if anxious. The Elf had ever been able to mask his feelings, if any for Aragorn questioned that for a time, but now he was openingly showing his confusion…and what was more, he was asking a man for his opinion. "She is merely a Keeper Aragorn! Surely he can see that. He deserves a…another Royal. An Elven of more noble blood than she."
"Legolas knows she is 'merely a Keeper' my Lord, but he does not see that as a fault." Aragorn replied.
"And with all due respect neither should you." Arwen's voice surprised him, but it did little to the King. He doubted he knew she was there, but he did not mind.
"He is wasting away much time on her when he could find the-"
"The Elven he loves? He does love her King Thranduil. Can you not see that? You married an Elven of your status, as did my father, but not all High Elves such as yourself find love in the same water." Arwen glanced at Aragorn. He hinted a smile to her, then looked back at the contemplating King.
Thranduil sighed and shook his head, "I received word he was miserable when he left. I did not get the chance to see him that day…I suppose he was miserable because of what he did the night before. What I wanted him to do."
"Your son is happy King Thranduil, and he has gone through much more than the next man to be that way. Do not take it from him, leave him to love who he wishes." Aragorn told him.
Thranduil looked at the two for a moment. His eyes settled on Arwen as he said in Elven, "Your father is an Elven Lord I much respect Evenstar, I can see by your eyes he made the right blessing by you…perhaps I will take his unspoken advice."
Arwen smiled and the King turned away without another word. Aragorn looked to her with surprise still written on his face. Never would he have guessed such a conversation would occur with the three of them.
"Times change my love, the people in it are not always forgotten with it." She told him. Her many years speaking out.
"Come." Aragorn said, offering his hand that she readily slid her's into. "Let us walk."
* * *
The sun shadowed three figures into one as a horse and two riders stood on a raised area of land, just near the edge of the outer most boundary of Mirkwood to the West. The huge flaming giver of light dipped into the horizan very slowly as if wanting to give light just longer than normal to watch these two.
Syla rested her chin on Legolas's shoulder as the color of orange and gold streamed over their faces as they watched the setting sun. Her arms were still wrapped around him and he had only one hand with the reins of the patient horse and other other clasped over her's. The comfort of her body to his was something he had only dreamed to feel again.
A breeze stirred and a strand of hair slid from behind her to dance over her face and lay over his shoulder. The birds were slowing their day's word and the insects of the night were taking over as the sun dipped ever further down.
Legolas closed his eyes as she said quietly in their beautiful language, as if not to disrupt the scenary around them, "I love you."
"Never more could I love one more than I you, die I now or an eternity from now." He told her in the same fashion.
She kissed him on the cheek for this and he tightened his strong hand on her's. "I missed you so.." she murmured.
"Miss me no more, for I am here with you, and here I will stay." He replied.
"I always thought of you." She said suddenly. "Last night, when you asked if I thought of you, I thought of you constantly..no matter if I was angry with you or not."
Legolas opened his eyes to watch the sun. Gently he reached up and ran two gentle fingers along the scar on her neck. Though the initial horror was gone, the feeling of guilt remained strong. What would have happened had he lost her then? If he had not been able to redeem himself as he had now..he would have soon followed her he knew in his heart.
"How could I have done what I did?" he muttered quietly.
Syla had no answer for him, she did not know, that was an answer he would have to find. Though she knew he wanted the answer that neither them, nor the sun had right now, she did not want him to think on it now. "You have done great things, Legolas of Mirkwood. Many great things..In war and not."
Silently Legolas questioned that, burning scars from that war she spoke of flamed to life in him, but he did not say anything about it. "The sun lies low, we should go back to the city before night."
Syla nodded into his shoulder and the Prince lowered his hand back to the reins and turned his horse back towards home. Syla glanced back at the sun as they trotted down the slope. The breeze warmed as they entered the deeper forest again.
Legolas frowned as he noticed how his horse tensed. The faithful steed's ears twitched and he snorted. The Elf allowed him to continue into a slow canter as he looked about, senses alert. Small noises such as leaves russeling and branches moving caught his awareness. Gently he urged the horse a little faster. It wasn't long before the breeze brought a stentch with it. He knew that smell..Orcs..no Uruk-Hai. Uruk-Hai had slipped past Mirkwood borders and from the sound of the trees and the noise that was not meant to be heard, there was at least a cluster of them.
"Legolas?" Syla questioned as he sped the horse up again, almost to an all out sprint.
"Hold on tight love." He told her. The slow realization that he did not have his bow, quiver, or really any means of defense besides a single short blade on his belt made him tense. Worry grew as the scent got stronger and now Syla could smell its odor as well.
Legolas lowered his hands with the reins and urged the steed into a sprint as the thought of the many men Orcs had killed, him without a means of defense, and Syla behind him all came together. He felt her tense and dread rose deep in him as a loud, not necessarily near by, voice cried out in obvious rage, "Prince of Mirkwood!!"
…They were still fifteen or twenty minutes' hard sprint away from the city…
- - -
So??? I know it was incrediably boring but the end is going to give way to a lot more..FINALLY! HAHAH! *laughs evily* Thanks again for all the reviews!! *Hugs again and does let go* Oh, right, I gotta let you guys go so you can review again don't I? lol. *Lets go timidly* You are going to review right??? Next chapter will be out soon, especially if reviews keep flowing!! YAY! Love you guys!
D.Night
P.S. …Reviews…please?? *Grins*
