Disclaimer-Refer to Chapter One.
Thank you to all my reviewers. You guys truly are wonderful and keep me inspired to write this. What would I do without you?
O my! My friend's boyfriend works at Circuit City and got a demo DVD of the Two Towers. I got to watch it tonight! It was great! And free! Now when I am having withdrawal in about mid-April when the DVD is still not out for the general public, I can just borrow it from her to watch! You have to love people who have connections!
A/N-For those of you who have never read the Silmarillion, I do apologize for this chapter, as there are several references to it, and even some in previous chapters. If it does not make sense and you have questions, please feel free to email me or write them in your reviews and I will do my best to answer them.
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Starlight Above and Rolling Waves Below
Valia grasped Legolas' waist and buried her face between his shoulder blades. She could feel the rumble of laughter coming from deep within him, but she did not care and clung to him tighter as the ship began to roll in what Valia thought would surely dump their entire party into the sea.
'Valia, if you do not loosen your hold on me you will send both of us sprawling to the floor,' Legolas admonished with another laugh. The boat had now righted itself and Valia peeked her eyes open, hesitantly releasing her grip on him a little. 'Was she this clingy when you sailed from Middle- earth?' the Prince asked with humor.
'Even more so,' Elrond was quick to say. He had discarded the regal robes of his office for the day and wore a simple tunic of deep red which complimented his form. His clothing only added to his appearance of carefree ease as he sent a lopsided smile at Valia who refused to let go of Legolas. The Prince seemed to bear her presence with good humor, which was good since none of the others aboard the vessel would have welcomed the manner of her attentions.
'Do not tease her so, herven,' Celebrian admonished. She glided over to Elrond, her gait not in the least affected by the rocking of the boat, and was received in the welcoming arms of her lord.
'Ah, but you were not the one with her when we made our departure, nor was Legolas,' Elrond defended himself. 'You find yourself in the same position I was in so many years ago Legolas, only I fear that your case is far worse than mine.'
'How so?' asked Legolas merrily, delighted with the familiar feel of the rolling sea. It had been far too long since he had indulged in the desire to go sailing and was delighted when Elrond had suggested the impromptu day on the water. It was a break from the monotony of palace life. Even Valia's adhering to him as if her life would end when she let go could not dampen his spirits.
'Because the ship that carried us from the shores of Middle-earth was far larger than this one,' interjected Valia for Elrond. 'The waves did not toss us about with nearly the same violence that they do today and I was able to find my sea legs within a day.'
'She really does enjoy the water Legolas. Do not let her deceive you.' Elrohir called from the tiller of the ship where he stood to steer the crystal waves of the sea. He had insisted on guiding them out of the harbor until the larger sails could be lowered and one of the crewmen relieved him of his position.
'Of course I do,' Valia shot back, suddenly feeling courageous enough to let go of Legolas and teeter over to Elrohir. 'All Noldor love the sea.'
'But the Teleri, of which I am kin, feel the call of the sea greater than the Noldor do,' said Legolas. 'Is that not one of the reasons we were reluctant to travel to the Undying Lands when the Vanyar and Noldor willing tavelled to Aman? Even when the Teleri did travel to Aman they stayed near the sea, content to build their swan boats and explore the sea.' He walked over to the railing of the ship and closed his eyes, letting the salty spray of the waves caress his face and moisten the long strands of his golden hair.
'Indeed, you are correct, Legolas,' Tandir said from his seat. Gléwiel sat beside her husband with a contented smile on her face, loving rubbing tiny circles over her belly that was beginning to swell with the growing child within her. She had been delighted to find out several months ago that she was with child and her joy could only be matched by the happiness of the rest of her family.
'Our kin preferred to live under the light of the Two Trees, learning the lore and wisdom of the Valar, but the call of the sea was ever in our hearts as well,' Gléwiel said, finishing her husband's thought.
'But you are known for your writing and language skills are you not?' Isondil broke in. 'It was Fëanor who devised the letters we use today, not Thingol.'
'True,' Elrond commented, joining in the debate. 'But let it not be said that the Noldor are known only for their great love of knowledge for then it might as well be said that Telerin only excel at their great love of water and we know that is not true. The Teleri also possess the fairest singing voices of any elves.'
'I will attest to that,' said Silia from Isondil's side. 'Isondil has favored me with his singing upon my request and there is ever still the sound of the waves in his voice.'
'Then we shall have a song,' cried Elladan from the prow of the boat. Elladan and Tathiel, his lovely betrothed of the Vanyar, had not been made their presence known to the group since the expedition began. The lovers had quietly slipped away to stand at the prow where sprays from the waves shot into the air and fell upon them in a glistening rainfall.
'And what would you have me sing Lord Elladan?'
'I care not, only that you sing. Valia, perhaps you can convince Legolas to sing as well. Two Teleri voices joined together must surely be better than one.'
'I think you flatter me,' shouted Valia against the rising wind that began to grow stronger as the boat left the protective haven of the bay. 'I exert no special influence over the renowned Prince.'
'Did you hear that Legolas?' Tandir said, emphasizing his next words with a wink. 'My dear sister thinks you are renowned.'
'If you believe I am trying to flirt with Legolas by saying such things Tandir, I shall take it upon myself to warn your wife for I use the same exact word that you used to describe him last evening. Surely when you said it you were not flirting?'
Elrond laughed aloud at the playful banter. 'You have been put in your place Tandir. Admit defeat now before it is too late.'
'Never!' Tandir cried. 'I will beat you yet little sister and when I do, I shall make you declare to all who is the cleverest of Lord Ryland's children.'
'Do not hold your breath brother, or I fear you shall die from the wait and I do not think Gléwiel would appreciate it if I was responsible for killing the father of her child.'
'You are correct. I would not,' said Gléwiel, rubbing her abdomen again at the mention of the tiny elfling within her.
'We forget about music,' Elrond remarked, enjoying the steady rocking of the boat as they came to the open sea and Elrohir abandoned the tiller to another. 'I wish to hear the fabled singing of our elven kin. It has been long since the Teleri have graced my lands with their fair voices. Come Legolas, Isondil. Favor us with a song.'
'I gladly would however one thing I did not inherit with my Teleri blood is the gift of song. I consider myself Silvan, not Teleri and that is what I blame my lack of skills on,' Legolas said with a broad smile.
'I will not let you tell falsehoods to our generous hosts, Legolas,' objected Isondil.
'I tell no falsehoods. Among all the gifts the Valar chose to not bless me with, a musical voice was not one of them.'
'Indeed? Is that why you had all those elven maidens in a faint the last time you were persuaded to sing at one of our festivals? You claim it was because the sound was so awful? And all this time I had thought it was because they were swooning under the enchantment of your voice,' Isondil said dramatically.
'Do not remind me of that,' Legolas cringed. 'That was the first and only time I have ever been persuaded to sing in public.'
'This sounds like a promising topic,' Elladan observed, always interested in a good story. With a gentle tug on Tathiel's hand, he led her towards the loose clustering of elves. All had taken seats on various objects and seemed as eager to hear about the event as Elladan. 'Do tell us what your prince will not Isondil.'
Isondil took a fleeting glance of Legolas' before addressing Elladan. 'I would readily tell all the details to you if my loyalty did not lay with my prince. But alas, I must serve him and thus do not wish to gain his disapproval. He can be quite testy when he is pouting.'
'I do not pout,' said Legolas with a frown and everyone laughed.
'Whatever you say,' Isondil agreed with complacency and innocently rolled his eyes skyward, staring at the brilliant shade of blue as if he had never seen it before.
'I will not be satisfied until I hear this story,' Elrond spoke up.
'Yes,' Celebrian agreed from his side. 'You will not deny us the pleasure will you Legolas? Noldor love the recounting of lore, as you so aptly characterized us moments ago. We will not be satisfied until we have found out what happened.'
'How was I to know they would do what they did?' Legolas said in exasperation.
Interpreting that as permission to recount the tale, Isondil smiled and reveled in everyone's expectant eyes turned his way. He would make sure this story lived up to the curiosity it provoked.
'Well,' he began, clearing his throat, 'several years before Legolas was one of the nine walkers, King Thranduil decided that it was time Legolas chose a wife and marry.'
An uncontrollable snort escaped from Elrohir, causing Isondil to pause. 'Forgive me,' Elrohir gasped as a spasm of laughter shook him. 'This is proving to be interesting already. Do continue.'
Isondil nodded, a broad grin on his own face as he remember that night so long ago. 'When Legolas refused to go out and chose a maiden on his own, King Thranduil resolved to have a festival one summer night that we Mirkwood elves are so fond of. I think almost every maiden in the kingdom came that night when word was spread of what the true reason for holding the celebration was.'
'I cannot imagine why,' Elladan said with a knowing smirk. 'Tell us how many proposals of marriage you had that night Legolas.'
'I do not know. Only know that if I were a maiden, I would have been envied by all the other she-elves for the number of offers I had that nigh. It must have been more than even the most ambitious elves could wish for,' answered Legolas with a disgusted face.
'Yes, but that was not the best part,' Isondil said, doubled over with laughter at some memory. Composing himself, he wiped the moisture from his eyes that had developed from the force of his mirth.
'That was not my fault,' Legolas said darkly, obviously knowing what was causing his friend to fall into a fit of hysterics. That only sent Isondil into another bout of laughter, only this time harder. He began to gasp for breath as his shoulders convulsed with unbridled laughter. Legolas scowled, which increased the curiosity of all.
'Come Isondil, we must have this story,' Elrond said for everyone.
Holding up a hand to gain a moment of relief from the impatient elves, Isondil tried to curb the laughter welling up within him. He succeeded somewhat, and with a shake of his head, was able to start his tale again.
'King Thranduil introduced Legolas to a particular maiden he thought would be well suited for his son in marriage. Of course, being the gentleman he is, Legolas was forced to entertain her for the night. As the night wore on, she asked him for a song and he readily accepted.'
'I had no choice!' objected Legolas with indignation but his protest was dismissed with a wave from Isondil.
'He was given a small harp and placed upon the stump of a tree so that all would be able to see his performance. Everything would have been fine except he made the fatal choice of asking the lady he escorted what song she wished to hear.'
'How was I to know she would pick that song?' Legolas glowered, his brows lowering.
'Let me guess, she chose a love song, did she not?' guessed Tandir with a grin.
'But of course,' Isondil said, as if it were the most obvious thing in Arda, throwing Legolas a pointed look. 'The lady asked to hear the Lay of Leithian.'
Several groans escaped from the males in the party and Valia ducked her head to cover her smile. Everyone turned their attention to Legolas. 'I did not know any better!' he exclaimed, trying to defend himself. 'I was young and had not been in the company of many she-elves yet.'
'It was very evident, trust me,' Isondil assured. 'Naturally, our guileless Prince agreed and promptly began to play. No sooner had he plucked more than one chord, than all elves stilled to hear the music. I think that you could have heard a leaf hit the ground it was so silent, only the harp and wind making any music. You can only imagine what happened when he began to sing. Maidens began to drop like birds felled from the air. Legolas looked up from his instrument soon after he had begun to sing and I will never forget the look on his face. Utter perplexity and horror were mingled in his fair face. There was almost not a maiden standing by the end of the song and Legolas was barely able to squeak out the last verse.'
Elrond burst into unrestrained laughter, all semblance of his normally stately nature gone. 'And to think I made you one of the nine walkers. How could you have been so gullible Legolas?'
'I do not know, but I no longer am and that is why I have refused to ever sing in public again,' he stated emphatically, crossing his arms over his chest.
'But there is no one here you need worry about swooning at the sound of your voice, except perhaps Valia,' said Elrohir.
'The day I swoon when someone sings is the day I marry,' stated Valia simply, primly smoothing out the folds of her dress.
'It is settled then. We must hear from this fabled singer who is able to woo so many by his very voice,' proclaimed Elladan. 'And if he makes out dear Valia swoon, he shall have her for a bride.'
'Agreed,' Legolas proclaimed, much amused by the expression Valia sent to Elladan. 'But I do not appreciate you pawning off your unmarried she-elves on me. I get enough of that in my own kingdom.'
'You do not wish to have Valia if we were to offer her to you?' Elrohir asked with a subtle wink at the maiden in question.
'Yes are you saying you would not marry me?' asked Valia in feigned offense. 'What fault do you find in me that is so unpleasant?'
Legolas was stuck. How was he to answer such a question properly? If he made up a valid excuse, he would only offend Valia further and in all reality, he had no objection to marrying her. Of course, that was never an option due to the promise he had made her. However if he was honest and said there was no reason he would not want to marry Valia, she would be outraged. Not to mention all the teasing he would receive from now till the end of Arda.
'No elf should be forced to answer a question like that,' Gléwiel objected in defense of the prince.
'That is only too true,' Elrond concluded. 'A male elf can never escape with his life when those types of questions are put to him. I advise that you do not answer that Legolas and sing instead.'
'I believe I will take your wise advise Lord Elrond, if Isondil will be so kind as to accompany me.'
'Readily,' agreed Isondil, leaving Silia to stand beside his friend. 'What shall we sing?'
'A song about the sea. Sing of Alqualondë, the Haven of the Swans. It is appropriate, is it not? We ride the waves in the likeness of one of their ships of old.' All hailed Tathiel's idea a splendid one for her words were true. Legolas glanced at the prow of the boat and smiled. The neck of a white swan gracefully arched from the prow, painted with eyes of gold and jet. Yellow adorned the beak.
A glance between the two friends was all that was needed before their voices began to mingle together, singing of the shores of Alqualondë. Valia closed her eyes, careful to keep a firm hold on the railing of the ship lest she fall, and let the beautiful sound fill her ears. She had rarely been giving the pleasure of hearing another elven kind besides her own sing. Celebrian took too much after her mother to be considered of Teleri descent. Valia found the sound amazing, if that were a proper word to describe such glorious music.
Legolas and Isondil were singing louder now, casting a spell over their attentive listeners. Valia could not tell where their voices ended and the sound of the waves crashing against the boat began. The two were mixed together in perfect unity. It created a mesmerizing force that Valia could feel stir some hidden part deep within her. She felt the call of the sea rise in her heart and reveled in the joy it brought her.
Suddenly, the song turned from its happy theme and a melancholy one was woven in. 'A lament for the Kinslaying,' Valia thought. Such beauty and cruelty, joy and sorrow, creation and destruction mixed within the same tale. Valia found herself contemplating the opposites in harmony within the song. She grieved that such misery had to be mixed with the splendor of the story, yet thought that in a way, it made the song all the more richer, adding to the depth and value of the tale. What would have happened if the elves of Alqualondë lived in their peaceful city of pearls, never experiencing loss, remaining forever in sweet innocence?
All good things must come to an end eventually, and so it was with the Silvan song as well. Legolas and Isondil let their voice drop to almost a whisper as their strains mingled with the sound of the sea once more. It took several moments before Valia realized the song was over. The final chord had died away almost unnoticed as the song of the sea itself held everyone's focus.
'Enchanting,' Tathiel sighed with pleasure, causing Valia to open her eyes again.
'Yes,' Gléwiel agreed. 'It has lulled my little one to sleep it was so peaceful.' The soon to be mother smiled softly as Tandir gently placed a hand over her abdomen.
'You modesty almost makes me ill Legolas,' added Elrohir. 'You claim you cannot sing, yet you and Isondil have held us all spell bound. However you did not sing well enough to make Valia swoon. A pity. I was looking forward to a betrothal feast. It has been so long since last I attended one.' A teasing gleam sprang into Elrohir's eye as his gaze darted to Valia.
'Do not seek to satisfy your lack of amusement here,' Valia said, gesturing to herself, 'for you will find yourself severely disappointed.'
'You are never a disappointment mellonamin,' Elrohir replied frankly. 'If you were not so set against marriage you would be the first I would consider for a partner.'
'I fear that you do not have the skill to handle her feisty nature Elrohir,' his father commented.
"I do not know about that,' Elrohir countered, raising a brow at Valia in question.
'Now I know you are just tormenting me,' said Valia, pushing her chin up in defiance and turning her consideration to the vast blue of the sea. 'I can hardly see the shore anymore!' she exclaimed with wonder, shielding her eyes from glare of the waning sun. The creamy sand of the Valinor manifested itself in a thin line across the horizon of the water. If she had been a human or a hobbit she would not have been able to see the land at all.
'You are right,' Elrond proclaimed in his commanding tone. 'It seems we have let the enchanting songs of our Silvan kin lull us into forgetfulness. As it is, we will not be able to reach the bay before nightfall. We must turn around now before we are lost in the darkness of the evening.' Striding to the mast, Elrond shouted up an order to turn the boat hard starboard.
Hands wrapped around Valia's waist and she turned her head to see Elrohir out of the corner of her eye. 'What do you say if we try to adapt your legs to the waves?'
'You will teach me?' Valia asked hopefully, grasping onto his arms.
'Yes, as soon as we are turned around. The rocking of the boat will be too strong for you while we are in the turn. Let us sit down until then,' Elrohir beckoned, pulling Valia to one of the benches. Valia sat impatiently as the boat began its slow change of course. It seemed to take forever. She quickly noticed that Elrohir had been right; the swelling of the waves hit the swan boat broadside while it began to circle, causing it to rock back and forth with forceful energy. Valia had a difficult enough time staying safely on her seat. She could not imagine how everyone else managed to stand while she could barely sit. Her eyes met with Legolas' who was walking with as much grace as ever as the boat began a deep plunge into the trough of a wave and came back up to begin scaling the crest.
'It is not fair that you can still be so elegant in your step in the midst of this,' Valia addressed him.
Laughter sprang into Legolas' eyes at her whiny tone. 'I have spent far more time on the sea than you have. Cheer up, Valia. The companion I sailed with could barley stand on his feet without the threat of falling over. You do far better than he did.'
'You traveled with a dwarf Legolas!' Valia cried in exasperation. 'If you think comparing my seafaring ability to that of a dwarf will cheer me, you are quite mistaken.'
'Some are born to sail the seas and others must learn the art,' was Legolas' vague reply. He walked away without a look back and settled himself near the prow of the boat with a satisfied smile.
'How did Elrond acquire this boat?' Valia asked with curiosity as her eyes followed the graceful curve of the swan's white neck just beyond the tall form of Legolas.
'He built it,' Elrohir said.
'Built it? Himself?' Amazement was clear in her voice as her eyes quickly flew over the length of the beautiful boat.
'Yes. You did not know that?'
'No. I did not know that Elrond was a craftsman. His skill is exquisite.' Her blue eyes were roaming the fine detail of the swan boat, imagining Elrond bent hard at work, lovingly putting the beautiful bird together piece by piece. All the handrails were embellished with carvings of swan feathers and the perfection of each feather told of the meticulous work that went into creating them. The detail of the railings alone amazed Valia.
'Did I hear my name?' Elrond asked, standing before her with an impish grin on his face. 'I see your critical eye is examining my workmanship. What do you think?'
'I am in awe. I thought it was wonderful when I first laid eyes on it, but to think that you have found the time to make such a masterpiece yourself is truly beyond my comprehension. Why did I not know you were working on this?'
'Because it has been a long process and I have only been able to escape my duties at the palace for tiny snatches of time. But finally she is done and I am able to enjoy her.' Elrond ran a slim hand over the intricate feathers and smiled to himself. Valia could see the pride in his eye as he examined his creation, almost with the look a parent would bestow on their child.
'When did you learn to build ships?' asked Valia.
'Ages ago, while I was still in Middle-earth and the threat of Sauron had not yet entered into the minds of elves. Ereinion taught me by his own hand.' A wistful expression shadowed the elven lord's face and he wandered a few paces away, his memories forcing thoughts of his present companions out of his mind. Valia cast a worried glance at his retreating form, but her fear was alleviated when Celebrian came to stand beside her husband and took his hand in her own in companionable silence.
Looking back at Elrohir, Valia was suddenly struck by the thought that the ship was calmly bobbing with the rising and falling of the waves once more. In an instant she was on her feet, pulling Elrohir up with her. 'It is time for my lesson!' she said brightly.
Elrohir laughed and tugged on her hand as he moved to the center of the gleaming deck. 'First, you need to relax. You are too tense and if you keep your knees locked like they are now, all it will take is a sudden dip of the ship and you will go falling to the ground with it.'
Valia nodded her head and squeezed her eyes shut, concentrating on relaxing. 'Better,' Elrohir encouraged, feeling her muscles loosen from her tight hold on him. 'Now, do not fight the sway of the boat. Move with it instead.' Slowly Elrohir stepped back from Valia, whose eyes flew up in panic at the loss of contact.
'What are you doing?' Valia cried frantically, desperately trying to grab at something to hold onto.
Legolas turned from his position at the prow when he heard Elrohir's loud laughter floating on the wind. He saw Valia's arms flailing about in a wild manner, trying to grab hold of Elrohir who stood just out of her reach. The boat plunged downwards just then, effectively causing Valia to loose her balance. She stumbled forward and gratefully latched onto Elrohir for support. However he had not been paying attention and her sudden weight threw him off balance, sending both of them to the deck in an ungraceful heap. Elrohir grunted when his head hit the hard floor and a second later the wind was knocked out of him when Valia landed directly onto his chest.
All eyes turned to the two elves as Legolas approached the tangled mass of arms and legs. 'Are you two alright?' he asked, pulling Valia up so that Elrohir could breath. The elf was on his feet in an instant, adjusting his rumpled clothing with a disgusted look.
Elrohir caught Legolas' gaze and smiled. 'Perhaps you would like to try teaching her instead,' he suggested to the elven prince who looked on the verge of tears from his suppressed laughter. 'I doubt you will get any farther than I have with her.' Brushing his tangled hair out of his face, Elrohir walked off, effectively leaving the clumsy elven maiden with Legolas.
The Prince took Elrohir's challenge and spent several hours trying to help Valia find her sea legs. Proving to be far more patient than Elrohir had been, Valia submitted to Legolas' commands and found him to be an excellent teacher. Just as the sun started to sink below the horizon staining the wispy clouds in brilliant shades of pink and orange, Valia was finally able to walk the entire length of the ship on her own. It was slow progress for most, but Valia was proud she was able to even walk by herself without falling flat on her face. Her legs had begun to grow sore with all the tumbles she had taken that day and she decided that she should end her practice with her major accomplishment just performed. She was able to easily make her way to the mast of the ship now that the boat had pulled into the bay and the swan bobbed up and down on docile waves. Peering above the sun bleached fabric of the sails, Valia was able to spot the crow's nest high above.
'Brave enough to climb up?' Legolas asked at her side, breaking her reverie.
'Bravery is not the issue,' retorted Valia, settling her eyes on him.
'Is it not? Then what keeps you on the ground?'
'This dress does, my dear prince. You cannot honestly expect me to climb up there in clothing like this.'
'I suppose not,' he replied languidly, allowing his eyes to skim her figure. What she said was true. Her long skirt would only be a hindrance in the climb up. If she were more experienced on the sea, it would not have mattered, but the extra fabric would be too much of a danger for a fledgling climbing the mast.
'Do you keep clothing on board Lord Elrond?' Legolas called out, scanning the deck of the ship for signs of the elven lord. Valia saw his eyes grow wide when they came to rest on Elrond and he quickly ducked his head. Looking where he had been, Valia found Elrond slowly moving back from his tight embrace with Celebrian, an amused light in his eyes.
'Indeed, I do,' he responded, a smile spreading across his lips when he turned to the embarrassed prince. 'Why do you ask?'
'Valia would like to climb to the crow's nest and I would help her up, but she is not dressed properly.'
'I left some clothing here the last time we went sailing,' Celebrian said. 'Follow me Valia. I am sure we can find something for you to wear.' The two she-elves disappeared below deck, coming up a few minutes later with Valia attired in a fashionable set of ladies leggings and tunic.
'We must hurry,' Legolas told her as he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the mast. 'You climb up first and I will follow close behind in case you slip. Keep a firm grip on the wood. If you feel yourself beginning to fall, try to take hold of one of the ropes.'
Valia nodded to show she understood and immediately began her climb upward. Despite the fact that she could feel the swaying of the ship grow stronger the farther she ascended, Legolas' instructions were not needed. She safely made it to the tiny platform and hoisted herself through the railing, followed closely by Legolas.
'The sun is about to set,' whispered Legolas in hushed reverence. It was not so much the disappearance of the light that fascinated him, but what would follow the dimming of the bright orb. 'Lay down Valia,' he demanded suddenly, himself already taking a comfortable position on the ground.
'Where would you have me lay?' Valia asked skeptically, eyeing the minute space left.
'Here of course,' answered Legolas, patting the wood next to him. Valia's eyebrows rose in response and she crossed her arms, refusing to lower to the tiny spot. With a sigh, Legolas reached out and gave one of her oversized leggings a tiny tug. 'I think you know me well enough by now to realize I will not bite,' he teased. That gained him an unladylike scowl but he smiled when she slowly sank down beside him and lay down on her back. The two were crammed next to each other. Valia was so squished the she could feel Legolas' every intake of breath.
'What is so important that we must be crowded together on this uncomfortable floor?' she asked in annoyance when Legolas said nothing.
'Seeing Eärendil appear in the sky.'
'I have seen him sail the sky many times before,' Valia was quick to assured him.
'But never with the waves below you and the song of the sea all around you.' Legolas was right. In her entire journey from Middle-earth to the Blessed Realm she had not once stayed above deck to watch Eärendil's ship appear in the night sky. 'Look for it there,' Legolas said, pointing into the darkening sky.
Valia trained her eyes where he pointed. Several seconds crept by without anything happening and she began to wiggle in irritation.
'Calm yourself or your thrashing shall send us both falling to our deaths,' said Legolas, staying her movement with a hand on her shoulder.
Just then the last ray from the sun slipped below the horizon and a bright twinkling appeared. The star was more breathtaking than the purest diamond. To look at it made Valia think that there was nothing left in Arda more like the mingling light of Telperion and Laurelin than the light of Eärendil.
'The evening star,' Valia sighed in delight, letting the sound of the waves fill her ears as the star's radiance filled her eyes. It truly was magical, made even more wonderful by her keen elven connection with the stars and sea.
'Well?' Legolas asked, turning his head to look at her. 'Was the displeasure of being crammed next to me worth the experience of seeing that?'
'I cannot lie,' said Valia with a grin and she also turned her head to look at Legolas, her nose almost touching his they were so close. 'Elves who can sit by the sea every day and watch the evening star appear in the night sky are blessed by Ilúvatar. Elentári was kind to the Eldar when she took the silver dew from the vats of Telperion to prepare for our coming.'
'She was indeed,' echoed Legolas, watching Valia turn her gaze back to the shinning stars emerging against the darkening sky. Their light was mirrored in the blue depths of her eyes and Legolas found himself staring at the stars reflected in her rather than the real ones above him.
'Look, I see Valacirca,' Valia said softly. 'The Sickle of the Valar.' Legolas followed the point of her slender finger to the cluster of seven stars, placed in the void as a sign of things to come.
And so the minutes crept by, the two elves laying side by side and pointing out familiar stars as they materialized in the inky blackness. It launched Legolas into a detailed description of his favorite childhood memory, sitting underneath the stars with his mother each night before she departed to the Halls of Mandos. One story led to another and the friends lost all concept of time as they shared all their fondest recollections with each other and watched the stars Varda created appear in the night sky.
'Legolas! Valia!' Elrond shouted up from the deck of the ship. Valia gingerly rolled onto her stomach and peeped over the edge of the platform, making out the form of Elrond in the darkness that had descended.
'Yes?' Valia called down.
'We are waiting for the two of you to come down so that we may begin the journey back to the palace. We have been docked for quite a while now,' he called up with a tinge of annoyance, but Valia could see the smirk on his fair face. 'What have the two of you been doing up there to make you so forgetful of the time?'
'Nothing,' replied Valia. 'We shall be down in a minute.' Getting up on her knees, Valia glanced down at Legolas who was looking up at her, the dazzling starlight now reflected in his own bright green eyes. Valia could not help but smile at him, her peace reflected in the delicate curve of her lips. 'Come on,' she said and suddenly disappeared from his view, slowly climbing down the thick mast.
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Please review and leave an email address or log in so that I can send you a thank you and comment on what you said : ) Thanks!
Thank you to all my reviewers. You guys truly are wonderful and keep me inspired to write this. What would I do without you?
O my! My friend's boyfriend works at Circuit City and got a demo DVD of the Two Towers. I got to watch it tonight! It was great! And free! Now when I am having withdrawal in about mid-April when the DVD is still not out for the general public, I can just borrow it from her to watch! You have to love people who have connections!
A/N-For those of you who have never read the Silmarillion, I do apologize for this chapter, as there are several references to it, and even some in previous chapters. If it does not make sense and you have questions, please feel free to email me or write them in your reviews and I will do my best to answer them.
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Starlight Above and Rolling Waves Below
Valia grasped Legolas' waist and buried her face between his shoulder blades. She could feel the rumble of laughter coming from deep within him, but she did not care and clung to him tighter as the ship began to roll in what Valia thought would surely dump their entire party into the sea.
'Valia, if you do not loosen your hold on me you will send both of us sprawling to the floor,' Legolas admonished with another laugh. The boat had now righted itself and Valia peeked her eyes open, hesitantly releasing her grip on him a little. 'Was she this clingy when you sailed from Middle- earth?' the Prince asked with humor.
'Even more so,' Elrond was quick to say. He had discarded the regal robes of his office for the day and wore a simple tunic of deep red which complimented his form. His clothing only added to his appearance of carefree ease as he sent a lopsided smile at Valia who refused to let go of Legolas. The Prince seemed to bear her presence with good humor, which was good since none of the others aboard the vessel would have welcomed the manner of her attentions.
'Do not tease her so, herven,' Celebrian admonished. She glided over to Elrond, her gait not in the least affected by the rocking of the boat, and was received in the welcoming arms of her lord.
'Ah, but you were not the one with her when we made our departure, nor was Legolas,' Elrond defended himself. 'You find yourself in the same position I was in so many years ago Legolas, only I fear that your case is far worse than mine.'
'How so?' asked Legolas merrily, delighted with the familiar feel of the rolling sea. It had been far too long since he had indulged in the desire to go sailing and was delighted when Elrond had suggested the impromptu day on the water. It was a break from the monotony of palace life. Even Valia's adhering to him as if her life would end when she let go could not dampen his spirits.
'Because the ship that carried us from the shores of Middle-earth was far larger than this one,' interjected Valia for Elrond. 'The waves did not toss us about with nearly the same violence that they do today and I was able to find my sea legs within a day.'
'She really does enjoy the water Legolas. Do not let her deceive you.' Elrohir called from the tiller of the ship where he stood to steer the crystal waves of the sea. He had insisted on guiding them out of the harbor until the larger sails could be lowered and one of the crewmen relieved him of his position.
'Of course I do,' Valia shot back, suddenly feeling courageous enough to let go of Legolas and teeter over to Elrohir. 'All Noldor love the sea.'
'But the Teleri, of which I am kin, feel the call of the sea greater than the Noldor do,' said Legolas. 'Is that not one of the reasons we were reluctant to travel to the Undying Lands when the Vanyar and Noldor willing tavelled to Aman? Even when the Teleri did travel to Aman they stayed near the sea, content to build their swan boats and explore the sea.' He walked over to the railing of the ship and closed his eyes, letting the salty spray of the waves caress his face and moisten the long strands of his golden hair.
'Indeed, you are correct, Legolas,' Tandir said from his seat. Gléwiel sat beside her husband with a contented smile on her face, loving rubbing tiny circles over her belly that was beginning to swell with the growing child within her. She had been delighted to find out several months ago that she was with child and her joy could only be matched by the happiness of the rest of her family.
'Our kin preferred to live under the light of the Two Trees, learning the lore and wisdom of the Valar, but the call of the sea was ever in our hearts as well,' Gléwiel said, finishing her husband's thought.
'But you are known for your writing and language skills are you not?' Isondil broke in. 'It was Fëanor who devised the letters we use today, not Thingol.'
'True,' Elrond commented, joining in the debate. 'But let it not be said that the Noldor are known only for their great love of knowledge for then it might as well be said that Telerin only excel at their great love of water and we know that is not true. The Teleri also possess the fairest singing voices of any elves.'
'I will attest to that,' said Silia from Isondil's side. 'Isondil has favored me with his singing upon my request and there is ever still the sound of the waves in his voice.'
'Then we shall have a song,' cried Elladan from the prow of the boat. Elladan and Tathiel, his lovely betrothed of the Vanyar, had not been made their presence known to the group since the expedition began. The lovers had quietly slipped away to stand at the prow where sprays from the waves shot into the air and fell upon them in a glistening rainfall.
'And what would you have me sing Lord Elladan?'
'I care not, only that you sing. Valia, perhaps you can convince Legolas to sing as well. Two Teleri voices joined together must surely be better than one.'
'I think you flatter me,' shouted Valia against the rising wind that began to grow stronger as the boat left the protective haven of the bay. 'I exert no special influence over the renowned Prince.'
'Did you hear that Legolas?' Tandir said, emphasizing his next words with a wink. 'My dear sister thinks you are renowned.'
'If you believe I am trying to flirt with Legolas by saying such things Tandir, I shall take it upon myself to warn your wife for I use the same exact word that you used to describe him last evening. Surely when you said it you were not flirting?'
Elrond laughed aloud at the playful banter. 'You have been put in your place Tandir. Admit defeat now before it is too late.'
'Never!' Tandir cried. 'I will beat you yet little sister and when I do, I shall make you declare to all who is the cleverest of Lord Ryland's children.'
'Do not hold your breath brother, or I fear you shall die from the wait and I do not think Gléwiel would appreciate it if I was responsible for killing the father of her child.'
'You are correct. I would not,' said Gléwiel, rubbing her abdomen again at the mention of the tiny elfling within her.
'We forget about music,' Elrond remarked, enjoying the steady rocking of the boat as they came to the open sea and Elrohir abandoned the tiller to another. 'I wish to hear the fabled singing of our elven kin. It has been long since the Teleri have graced my lands with their fair voices. Come Legolas, Isondil. Favor us with a song.'
'I gladly would however one thing I did not inherit with my Teleri blood is the gift of song. I consider myself Silvan, not Teleri and that is what I blame my lack of skills on,' Legolas said with a broad smile.
'I will not let you tell falsehoods to our generous hosts, Legolas,' objected Isondil.
'I tell no falsehoods. Among all the gifts the Valar chose to not bless me with, a musical voice was not one of them.'
'Indeed? Is that why you had all those elven maidens in a faint the last time you were persuaded to sing at one of our festivals? You claim it was because the sound was so awful? And all this time I had thought it was because they were swooning under the enchantment of your voice,' Isondil said dramatically.
'Do not remind me of that,' Legolas cringed. 'That was the first and only time I have ever been persuaded to sing in public.'
'This sounds like a promising topic,' Elladan observed, always interested in a good story. With a gentle tug on Tathiel's hand, he led her towards the loose clustering of elves. All had taken seats on various objects and seemed as eager to hear about the event as Elladan. 'Do tell us what your prince will not Isondil.'
Isondil took a fleeting glance of Legolas' before addressing Elladan. 'I would readily tell all the details to you if my loyalty did not lay with my prince. But alas, I must serve him and thus do not wish to gain his disapproval. He can be quite testy when he is pouting.'
'I do not pout,' said Legolas with a frown and everyone laughed.
'Whatever you say,' Isondil agreed with complacency and innocently rolled his eyes skyward, staring at the brilliant shade of blue as if he had never seen it before.
'I will not be satisfied until I hear this story,' Elrond spoke up.
'Yes,' Celebrian agreed from his side. 'You will not deny us the pleasure will you Legolas? Noldor love the recounting of lore, as you so aptly characterized us moments ago. We will not be satisfied until we have found out what happened.'
'How was I to know they would do what they did?' Legolas said in exasperation.
Interpreting that as permission to recount the tale, Isondil smiled and reveled in everyone's expectant eyes turned his way. He would make sure this story lived up to the curiosity it provoked.
'Well,' he began, clearing his throat, 'several years before Legolas was one of the nine walkers, King Thranduil decided that it was time Legolas chose a wife and marry.'
An uncontrollable snort escaped from Elrohir, causing Isondil to pause. 'Forgive me,' Elrohir gasped as a spasm of laughter shook him. 'This is proving to be interesting already. Do continue.'
Isondil nodded, a broad grin on his own face as he remember that night so long ago. 'When Legolas refused to go out and chose a maiden on his own, King Thranduil resolved to have a festival one summer night that we Mirkwood elves are so fond of. I think almost every maiden in the kingdom came that night when word was spread of what the true reason for holding the celebration was.'
'I cannot imagine why,' Elladan said with a knowing smirk. 'Tell us how many proposals of marriage you had that night Legolas.'
'I do not know. Only know that if I were a maiden, I would have been envied by all the other she-elves for the number of offers I had that nigh. It must have been more than even the most ambitious elves could wish for,' answered Legolas with a disgusted face.
'Yes, but that was not the best part,' Isondil said, doubled over with laughter at some memory. Composing himself, he wiped the moisture from his eyes that had developed from the force of his mirth.
'That was not my fault,' Legolas said darkly, obviously knowing what was causing his friend to fall into a fit of hysterics. That only sent Isondil into another bout of laughter, only this time harder. He began to gasp for breath as his shoulders convulsed with unbridled laughter. Legolas scowled, which increased the curiosity of all.
'Come Isondil, we must have this story,' Elrond said for everyone.
Holding up a hand to gain a moment of relief from the impatient elves, Isondil tried to curb the laughter welling up within him. He succeeded somewhat, and with a shake of his head, was able to start his tale again.
'King Thranduil introduced Legolas to a particular maiden he thought would be well suited for his son in marriage. Of course, being the gentleman he is, Legolas was forced to entertain her for the night. As the night wore on, she asked him for a song and he readily accepted.'
'I had no choice!' objected Legolas with indignation but his protest was dismissed with a wave from Isondil.
'He was given a small harp and placed upon the stump of a tree so that all would be able to see his performance. Everything would have been fine except he made the fatal choice of asking the lady he escorted what song she wished to hear.'
'How was I to know she would pick that song?' Legolas glowered, his brows lowering.
'Let me guess, she chose a love song, did she not?' guessed Tandir with a grin.
'But of course,' Isondil said, as if it were the most obvious thing in Arda, throwing Legolas a pointed look. 'The lady asked to hear the Lay of Leithian.'
Several groans escaped from the males in the party and Valia ducked her head to cover her smile. Everyone turned their attention to Legolas. 'I did not know any better!' he exclaimed, trying to defend himself. 'I was young and had not been in the company of many she-elves yet.'
'It was very evident, trust me,' Isondil assured. 'Naturally, our guileless Prince agreed and promptly began to play. No sooner had he plucked more than one chord, than all elves stilled to hear the music. I think that you could have heard a leaf hit the ground it was so silent, only the harp and wind making any music. You can only imagine what happened when he began to sing. Maidens began to drop like birds felled from the air. Legolas looked up from his instrument soon after he had begun to sing and I will never forget the look on his face. Utter perplexity and horror were mingled in his fair face. There was almost not a maiden standing by the end of the song and Legolas was barely able to squeak out the last verse.'
Elrond burst into unrestrained laughter, all semblance of his normally stately nature gone. 'And to think I made you one of the nine walkers. How could you have been so gullible Legolas?'
'I do not know, but I no longer am and that is why I have refused to ever sing in public again,' he stated emphatically, crossing his arms over his chest.
'But there is no one here you need worry about swooning at the sound of your voice, except perhaps Valia,' said Elrohir.
'The day I swoon when someone sings is the day I marry,' stated Valia simply, primly smoothing out the folds of her dress.
'It is settled then. We must hear from this fabled singer who is able to woo so many by his very voice,' proclaimed Elladan. 'And if he makes out dear Valia swoon, he shall have her for a bride.'
'Agreed,' Legolas proclaimed, much amused by the expression Valia sent to Elladan. 'But I do not appreciate you pawning off your unmarried she-elves on me. I get enough of that in my own kingdom.'
'You do not wish to have Valia if we were to offer her to you?' Elrohir asked with a subtle wink at the maiden in question.
'Yes are you saying you would not marry me?' asked Valia in feigned offense. 'What fault do you find in me that is so unpleasant?'
Legolas was stuck. How was he to answer such a question properly? If he made up a valid excuse, he would only offend Valia further and in all reality, he had no objection to marrying her. Of course, that was never an option due to the promise he had made her. However if he was honest and said there was no reason he would not want to marry Valia, she would be outraged. Not to mention all the teasing he would receive from now till the end of Arda.
'No elf should be forced to answer a question like that,' Gléwiel objected in defense of the prince.
'That is only too true,' Elrond concluded. 'A male elf can never escape with his life when those types of questions are put to him. I advise that you do not answer that Legolas and sing instead.'
'I believe I will take your wise advise Lord Elrond, if Isondil will be so kind as to accompany me.'
'Readily,' agreed Isondil, leaving Silia to stand beside his friend. 'What shall we sing?'
'A song about the sea. Sing of Alqualondë, the Haven of the Swans. It is appropriate, is it not? We ride the waves in the likeness of one of their ships of old.' All hailed Tathiel's idea a splendid one for her words were true. Legolas glanced at the prow of the boat and smiled. The neck of a white swan gracefully arched from the prow, painted with eyes of gold and jet. Yellow adorned the beak.
A glance between the two friends was all that was needed before their voices began to mingle together, singing of the shores of Alqualondë. Valia closed her eyes, careful to keep a firm hold on the railing of the ship lest she fall, and let the beautiful sound fill her ears. She had rarely been giving the pleasure of hearing another elven kind besides her own sing. Celebrian took too much after her mother to be considered of Teleri descent. Valia found the sound amazing, if that were a proper word to describe such glorious music.
Legolas and Isondil were singing louder now, casting a spell over their attentive listeners. Valia could not tell where their voices ended and the sound of the waves crashing against the boat began. The two were mixed together in perfect unity. It created a mesmerizing force that Valia could feel stir some hidden part deep within her. She felt the call of the sea rise in her heart and reveled in the joy it brought her.
Suddenly, the song turned from its happy theme and a melancholy one was woven in. 'A lament for the Kinslaying,' Valia thought. Such beauty and cruelty, joy and sorrow, creation and destruction mixed within the same tale. Valia found herself contemplating the opposites in harmony within the song. She grieved that such misery had to be mixed with the splendor of the story, yet thought that in a way, it made the song all the more richer, adding to the depth and value of the tale. What would have happened if the elves of Alqualondë lived in their peaceful city of pearls, never experiencing loss, remaining forever in sweet innocence?
All good things must come to an end eventually, and so it was with the Silvan song as well. Legolas and Isondil let their voice drop to almost a whisper as their strains mingled with the sound of the sea once more. It took several moments before Valia realized the song was over. The final chord had died away almost unnoticed as the song of the sea itself held everyone's focus.
'Enchanting,' Tathiel sighed with pleasure, causing Valia to open her eyes again.
'Yes,' Gléwiel agreed. 'It has lulled my little one to sleep it was so peaceful.' The soon to be mother smiled softly as Tandir gently placed a hand over her abdomen.
'You modesty almost makes me ill Legolas,' added Elrohir. 'You claim you cannot sing, yet you and Isondil have held us all spell bound. However you did not sing well enough to make Valia swoon. A pity. I was looking forward to a betrothal feast. It has been so long since last I attended one.' A teasing gleam sprang into Elrohir's eye as his gaze darted to Valia.
'Do not seek to satisfy your lack of amusement here,' Valia said, gesturing to herself, 'for you will find yourself severely disappointed.'
'You are never a disappointment mellonamin,' Elrohir replied frankly. 'If you were not so set against marriage you would be the first I would consider for a partner.'
'I fear that you do not have the skill to handle her feisty nature Elrohir,' his father commented.
"I do not know about that,' Elrohir countered, raising a brow at Valia in question.
'Now I know you are just tormenting me,' said Valia, pushing her chin up in defiance and turning her consideration to the vast blue of the sea. 'I can hardly see the shore anymore!' she exclaimed with wonder, shielding her eyes from glare of the waning sun. The creamy sand of the Valinor manifested itself in a thin line across the horizon of the water. If she had been a human or a hobbit she would not have been able to see the land at all.
'You are right,' Elrond proclaimed in his commanding tone. 'It seems we have let the enchanting songs of our Silvan kin lull us into forgetfulness. As it is, we will not be able to reach the bay before nightfall. We must turn around now before we are lost in the darkness of the evening.' Striding to the mast, Elrond shouted up an order to turn the boat hard starboard.
Hands wrapped around Valia's waist and she turned her head to see Elrohir out of the corner of her eye. 'What do you say if we try to adapt your legs to the waves?'
'You will teach me?' Valia asked hopefully, grasping onto his arms.
'Yes, as soon as we are turned around. The rocking of the boat will be too strong for you while we are in the turn. Let us sit down until then,' Elrohir beckoned, pulling Valia to one of the benches. Valia sat impatiently as the boat began its slow change of course. It seemed to take forever. She quickly noticed that Elrohir had been right; the swelling of the waves hit the swan boat broadside while it began to circle, causing it to rock back and forth with forceful energy. Valia had a difficult enough time staying safely on her seat. She could not imagine how everyone else managed to stand while she could barely sit. Her eyes met with Legolas' who was walking with as much grace as ever as the boat began a deep plunge into the trough of a wave and came back up to begin scaling the crest.
'It is not fair that you can still be so elegant in your step in the midst of this,' Valia addressed him.
Laughter sprang into Legolas' eyes at her whiny tone. 'I have spent far more time on the sea than you have. Cheer up, Valia. The companion I sailed with could barley stand on his feet without the threat of falling over. You do far better than he did.'
'You traveled with a dwarf Legolas!' Valia cried in exasperation. 'If you think comparing my seafaring ability to that of a dwarf will cheer me, you are quite mistaken.'
'Some are born to sail the seas and others must learn the art,' was Legolas' vague reply. He walked away without a look back and settled himself near the prow of the boat with a satisfied smile.
'How did Elrond acquire this boat?' Valia asked with curiosity as her eyes followed the graceful curve of the swan's white neck just beyond the tall form of Legolas.
'He built it,' Elrohir said.
'Built it? Himself?' Amazement was clear in her voice as her eyes quickly flew over the length of the beautiful boat.
'Yes. You did not know that?'
'No. I did not know that Elrond was a craftsman. His skill is exquisite.' Her blue eyes were roaming the fine detail of the swan boat, imagining Elrond bent hard at work, lovingly putting the beautiful bird together piece by piece. All the handrails were embellished with carvings of swan feathers and the perfection of each feather told of the meticulous work that went into creating them. The detail of the railings alone amazed Valia.
'Did I hear my name?' Elrond asked, standing before her with an impish grin on his face. 'I see your critical eye is examining my workmanship. What do you think?'
'I am in awe. I thought it was wonderful when I first laid eyes on it, but to think that you have found the time to make such a masterpiece yourself is truly beyond my comprehension. Why did I not know you were working on this?'
'Because it has been a long process and I have only been able to escape my duties at the palace for tiny snatches of time. But finally she is done and I am able to enjoy her.' Elrond ran a slim hand over the intricate feathers and smiled to himself. Valia could see the pride in his eye as he examined his creation, almost with the look a parent would bestow on their child.
'When did you learn to build ships?' asked Valia.
'Ages ago, while I was still in Middle-earth and the threat of Sauron had not yet entered into the minds of elves. Ereinion taught me by his own hand.' A wistful expression shadowed the elven lord's face and he wandered a few paces away, his memories forcing thoughts of his present companions out of his mind. Valia cast a worried glance at his retreating form, but her fear was alleviated when Celebrian came to stand beside her husband and took his hand in her own in companionable silence.
Looking back at Elrohir, Valia was suddenly struck by the thought that the ship was calmly bobbing with the rising and falling of the waves once more. In an instant she was on her feet, pulling Elrohir up with her. 'It is time for my lesson!' she said brightly.
Elrohir laughed and tugged on her hand as he moved to the center of the gleaming deck. 'First, you need to relax. You are too tense and if you keep your knees locked like they are now, all it will take is a sudden dip of the ship and you will go falling to the ground with it.'
Valia nodded her head and squeezed her eyes shut, concentrating on relaxing. 'Better,' Elrohir encouraged, feeling her muscles loosen from her tight hold on him. 'Now, do not fight the sway of the boat. Move with it instead.' Slowly Elrohir stepped back from Valia, whose eyes flew up in panic at the loss of contact.
'What are you doing?' Valia cried frantically, desperately trying to grab at something to hold onto.
Legolas turned from his position at the prow when he heard Elrohir's loud laughter floating on the wind. He saw Valia's arms flailing about in a wild manner, trying to grab hold of Elrohir who stood just out of her reach. The boat plunged downwards just then, effectively causing Valia to loose her balance. She stumbled forward and gratefully latched onto Elrohir for support. However he had not been paying attention and her sudden weight threw him off balance, sending both of them to the deck in an ungraceful heap. Elrohir grunted when his head hit the hard floor and a second later the wind was knocked out of him when Valia landed directly onto his chest.
All eyes turned to the two elves as Legolas approached the tangled mass of arms and legs. 'Are you two alright?' he asked, pulling Valia up so that Elrohir could breath. The elf was on his feet in an instant, adjusting his rumpled clothing with a disgusted look.
Elrohir caught Legolas' gaze and smiled. 'Perhaps you would like to try teaching her instead,' he suggested to the elven prince who looked on the verge of tears from his suppressed laughter. 'I doubt you will get any farther than I have with her.' Brushing his tangled hair out of his face, Elrohir walked off, effectively leaving the clumsy elven maiden with Legolas.
The Prince took Elrohir's challenge and spent several hours trying to help Valia find her sea legs. Proving to be far more patient than Elrohir had been, Valia submitted to Legolas' commands and found him to be an excellent teacher. Just as the sun started to sink below the horizon staining the wispy clouds in brilliant shades of pink and orange, Valia was finally able to walk the entire length of the ship on her own. It was slow progress for most, but Valia was proud she was able to even walk by herself without falling flat on her face. Her legs had begun to grow sore with all the tumbles she had taken that day and she decided that she should end her practice with her major accomplishment just performed. She was able to easily make her way to the mast of the ship now that the boat had pulled into the bay and the swan bobbed up and down on docile waves. Peering above the sun bleached fabric of the sails, Valia was able to spot the crow's nest high above.
'Brave enough to climb up?' Legolas asked at her side, breaking her reverie.
'Bravery is not the issue,' retorted Valia, settling her eyes on him.
'Is it not? Then what keeps you on the ground?'
'This dress does, my dear prince. You cannot honestly expect me to climb up there in clothing like this.'
'I suppose not,' he replied languidly, allowing his eyes to skim her figure. What she said was true. Her long skirt would only be a hindrance in the climb up. If she were more experienced on the sea, it would not have mattered, but the extra fabric would be too much of a danger for a fledgling climbing the mast.
'Do you keep clothing on board Lord Elrond?' Legolas called out, scanning the deck of the ship for signs of the elven lord. Valia saw his eyes grow wide when they came to rest on Elrond and he quickly ducked his head. Looking where he had been, Valia found Elrond slowly moving back from his tight embrace with Celebrian, an amused light in his eyes.
'Indeed, I do,' he responded, a smile spreading across his lips when he turned to the embarrassed prince. 'Why do you ask?'
'Valia would like to climb to the crow's nest and I would help her up, but she is not dressed properly.'
'I left some clothing here the last time we went sailing,' Celebrian said. 'Follow me Valia. I am sure we can find something for you to wear.' The two she-elves disappeared below deck, coming up a few minutes later with Valia attired in a fashionable set of ladies leggings and tunic.
'We must hurry,' Legolas told her as he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the mast. 'You climb up first and I will follow close behind in case you slip. Keep a firm grip on the wood. If you feel yourself beginning to fall, try to take hold of one of the ropes.'
Valia nodded to show she understood and immediately began her climb upward. Despite the fact that she could feel the swaying of the ship grow stronger the farther she ascended, Legolas' instructions were not needed. She safely made it to the tiny platform and hoisted herself through the railing, followed closely by Legolas.
'The sun is about to set,' whispered Legolas in hushed reverence. It was not so much the disappearance of the light that fascinated him, but what would follow the dimming of the bright orb. 'Lay down Valia,' he demanded suddenly, himself already taking a comfortable position on the ground.
'Where would you have me lay?' Valia asked skeptically, eyeing the minute space left.
'Here of course,' answered Legolas, patting the wood next to him. Valia's eyebrows rose in response and she crossed her arms, refusing to lower to the tiny spot. With a sigh, Legolas reached out and gave one of her oversized leggings a tiny tug. 'I think you know me well enough by now to realize I will not bite,' he teased. That gained him an unladylike scowl but he smiled when she slowly sank down beside him and lay down on her back. The two were crammed next to each other. Valia was so squished the she could feel Legolas' every intake of breath.
'What is so important that we must be crowded together on this uncomfortable floor?' she asked in annoyance when Legolas said nothing.
'Seeing Eärendil appear in the sky.'
'I have seen him sail the sky many times before,' Valia was quick to assured him.
'But never with the waves below you and the song of the sea all around you.' Legolas was right. In her entire journey from Middle-earth to the Blessed Realm she had not once stayed above deck to watch Eärendil's ship appear in the night sky. 'Look for it there,' Legolas said, pointing into the darkening sky.
Valia trained her eyes where he pointed. Several seconds crept by without anything happening and she began to wiggle in irritation.
'Calm yourself or your thrashing shall send us both falling to our deaths,' said Legolas, staying her movement with a hand on her shoulder.
Just then the last ray from the sun slipped below the horizon and a bright twinkling appeared. The star was more breathtaking than the purest diamond. To look at it made Valia think that there was nothing left in Arda more like the mingling light of Telperion and Laurelin than the light of Eärendil.
'The evening star,' Valia sighed in delight, letting the sound of the waves fill her ears as the star's radiance filled her eyes. It truly was magical, made even more wonderful by her keen elven connection with the stars and sea.
'Well?' Legolas asked, turning his head to look at her. 'Was the displeasure of being crammed next to me worth the experience of seeing that?'
'I cannot lie,' said Valia with a grin and she also turned her head to look at Legolas, her nose almost touching his they were so close. 'Elves who can sit by the sea every day and watch the evening star appear in the night sky are blessed by Ilúvatar. Elentári was kind to the Eldar when she took the silver dew from the vats of Telperion to prepare for our coming.'
'She was indeed,' echoed Legolas, watching Valia turn her gaze back to the shinning stars emerging against the darkening sky. Their light was mirrored in the blue depths of her eyes and Legolas found himself staring at the stars reflected in her rather than the real ones above him.
'Look, I see Valacirca,' Valia said softly. 'The Sickle of the Valar.' Legolas followed the point of her slender finger to the cluster of seven stars, placed in the void as a sign of things to come.
And so the minutes crept by, the two elves laying side by side and pointing out familiar stars as they materialized in the inky blackness. It launched Legolas into a detailed description of his favorite childhood memory, sitting underneath the stars with his mother each night before she departed to the Halls of Mandos. One story led to another and the friends lost all concept of time as they shared all their fondest recollections with each other and watched the stars Varda created appear in the night sky.
'Legolas! Valia!' Elrond shouted up from the deck of the ship. Valia gingerly rolled onto her stomach and peeped over the edge of the platform, making out the form of Elrond in the darkness that had descended.
'Yes?' Valia called down.
'We are waiting for the two of you to come down so that we may begin the journey back to the palace. We have been docked for quite a while now,' he called up with a tinge of annoyance, but Valia could see the smirk on his fair face. 'What have the two of you been doing up there to make you so forgetful of the time?'
'Nothing,' replied Valia. 'We shall be down in a minute.' Getting up on her knees, Valia glanced down at Legolas who was looking up at her, the dazzling starlight now reflected in his own bright green eyes. Valia could not help but smile at him, her peace reflected in the delicate curve of her lips. 'Come on,' she said and suddenly disappeared from his view, slowly climbing down the thick mast.
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