Disclaimer- Refer to Chapter One
A/N- Thank you all my reviewers. We are now coming to the part in the story I am sure you have all been waiting for. Thanks for sticking with me this far guys. It has taken a while to develop Legolas and Valia's relationship to anything close to love (20 chapters so far *eep*) so I want to thank you for putting up with everything until now.
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Stop Running Away
'You did what!' Isondil exclaimed. He should not have been so shocked. He knew Legolas had feelings for her, even if he stubbornly refused to admit it. It was hard to swallow back the laughter that was building dangerously close to exploding inside him.
'I was simply curious, nothing more,' Legolas replied with bewildered innocence.
'It will never cease to amaze me how you are so naïve when it comes to maidens, my friend. One would think you of all people would have more experience with them than most. How did you think she would interpret your touch?'
'I do not know. It is obvious I was not thinking.' Legolas turned to the mirror that hung above his washbasin and scowled at himself.
'You love her?' Isondil asked seriously. Legolas could not tell by the tone in his friend's voice whether it was a question he was supposed to reply to or not. He chose to think of it as rhetorical and remained silent as he ran an ivory comb through his wet tresses.
'Of course it is fairly clear,' Isondil continued when Legolas did not speak. 'Rumors usually are not as wholly unfounded as we like to think they are.' He wandered over to the tall window that afforded a pleasant view of the palace grounds and clasped his hands behind his back, knowing full well that he had gained Legolas' attention.
'What are you trying to hint at?' Legolas tugged at a knot in his hair with frustration and winced.
'You tell me.'
'I would not have asked you if I knew the answer.'
'I do not believe that.'
'You think I am being clever?'
'No, I think you are unwilling to admit you know full well what I was hinting at.'
'This conversation is ridiculous,' Legolas exclaimed. The heavy way in which he threw down the comb indicated to Isondil the agitation his comments had produced. He was all too familiar with the little idiosyncrasies in Legolas and knew not to force his friend to speak. Legolas would talk when he was ready, and until than it was pointless to push him for answers. Isondil stared out the window, his back still to Legolas to give the prince time to think without feeling threatened by another's presences.
Legolas sighed deeply and stared hard at himself in the mirror before beginning to deftly weave braids in his hair. The style rarely ever deviated and Legolas' hands had become so accustomed to the daily chore that he could easily turn his thoughts to other things without worrying about the tight plaits. For now that meant an examination of his relationship with Valia. Isondil had asked if he loved her, or stated that he did, Legolas still was not quite sure which it was. Did he love her? Love had never even entered his mind before; it was not something he pondered when in her company.
'I do not know what my feelings are, but I think they do not go any deeper than a keen friendship with her,' Legolas admitted aloud, securing one of his side braids before moving to the next.
Isondil let a small smile grace his face, but continued to look out the window. How many times had this happened during their long acquaintance? Legolas would be troubled by something and Isondil would make cautious inquiries only to be brushed aside by a stubborn prince who never wished to talk about it, declaring the conversation to be foolish. Isondil would not say anything, simply stay in the room and employ himself with some other activity until Legolas was ready to talk, which he always was in the end, without fail. Isondil could almost predict to the exact second when he would finally give in and share his burden, it had happened so often.
Smiling wider, Isondil observed a pair of tiny elflings chasing grasshoppers through the lush grass below. 'No deeper than keen friendship you say?'
'Yes. She was injured and I was concerned. If you had been hurt I would have been just as worried.'
'Perhaps,' Isondil conceded. 'But I do not think your hands would have been so eager to wander downwards if it were my back instead of hers,' he added with a smirk lost on Legolas since neither were looking at each other.
He had a point, and it was a good one at that. Legolas could not deny that if it had been any other elf, whether male or female, his hands would have stayed on the sore skin and only there. But that certainly did not mean he was in love with Valia either! After all, it was only mid fall and he had met her a short three months ago. That was hardly any proper time to really get to know a maiden, let alone fall in love with her. Never mind all the other elves like Isondil who knew almost instantly who their other half was. Legolas would not rush such a decision, even if Manwë himself came down from Taniquetil and informed him that Valia was the maiden Eru had destined him to be with.
'You make a convincing argument, Isondil, but I still do not think that touching her back should be equated with my being passionately in love with her.'
'If my memory serves me correctly, your description of the situation made your innocent touch sound far more like a caress.'
'It still means nothing,' Legolas responded with characteristic obstinacy.
'Than it means nothing,' Isondil concluded with a graceful shrug of his shoulders. He watched the little ones lunge at a grasshopper, but they were too slow to catch the tiny creature. 'However, she obviously held your actions to mean more than you do, otherwise her reaction would not make sense.'
Legolas paused and pondered the idea. The consequences of the suggestion, if a correct one, were troubling. 'What am I to do?' he asked, paling slightly at the idea of Valia thinking he loved her.
'I do believe you are intimidated by her,' Isondil observed. He smiled amusedly and turned his head enough to see his friend turn a pretty shade of pink in seconds.
'I am not,' objected Legolas, attacking his hair with renewed vigor. 'She is just an elf maiden.'
'That you have taken a fancy to,' Isondil added for him, looking at the perturbed elf from the corner of his eye.
'No!' denied Legolas.
'I think so,' teased Isondil, making sure to watch his back. Isondil knew he was a well trained fighter and could defend himself admirably against many a foe, but he also knew his weaknesses. He was no match against Legolas and if he was going to provoke his friend he would be sure to stay out of his grasp.
'I am not,' growled Legolas, yanking on his hair so hard he grimaced. 'I warn you Isondil, do not test my patience on this issue.'
'Very well, are you done with your hair yet? I am hungry.'
'In a moment. I only have this one left.' Legolas indicated the braid in his hands and Isondil obliged him by turning away from the window to look since the elflings had just vanished from sight. The face of the elven prince visibly relaxed when Isondil changed the subject.
'I like Valia very much. She does not simper like most maidens and can carry her end of the conversation quite well,' Legolas admitted suddenly, surprising Isondil by his continuation of the conversation. 'But above a feeling of deep regard for her, you must not think.'
'You sound as if you are trying to convince yourself and not me.'
'Never mind. What of you and Silia?' Legolas inquired so Isondil had no time to make anymore uncomfortable observations.
'What of us?' asked Isondil, not sure what it was that Legolas exactly meant.
'Have you asked her to bind herself to you yet?'
'No.' Isondil said slowly.
'You cannot be thinking of waiting any longer than you already have. I know your impetuous nature. No doubt you already have the rings and have spoken with her parents.'
'You know me all too well,' Isondil said with a grin, leaning his shoulder against the hard wall as he crossed his arms. He fingered the silver rings underneath his tunic that were held secure around his neck with a thin chain.
'When do you plan on asking her?'
'When the time is right. Is that not the best time to do it? Come, enough of this talk of maidens and marriage. I am hungry. Let us go get something to stay my appetite.'
'Agreed.' Legolas stated resolutely, securing the last braid in his hair. All thoughts of love and blue eyed maidens were pushed aside as the two elves made their way to the main hall to meet the Lord and Lady of the palace for an early dinner.
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'He did what?' Silia asked. Not that it was that surprising. It was evident that Legolas had affection for Valia and she for him, but Silia knew all too well what Valia thought about love. Affection was one thing, love was another. Valia was willing to show true affection for her close friends, but to move anywhere beyond that was not an option with her.
'Do you think I reacted too strongly?' questioned Valia, threading a needle with dark green thread. She had Legolas' cloak spread out in her lap and was preparing to stitch up the tiny split in the fabric he had the audacity to call a tear.
'I do not know,' Silia said vaguely. She adjusted her position on the bed and looked at her hands.
'You do not know or you are not going to tell me?'
Silia held back the sigh her body was begging her to release. 'That all depends on what your feelings are for him Valia.' Ignoring the visible tensing in Valia's shoulders, Silia played with the edging on the fine cloak Valia had begun to repair. 'I cannot believe you of all people are actually sewing this for him.'
'Why?'
'Why? Open your eyes Valia! Do you realize what a power he exerts over you?'
'No more than I let him,' she said stubbornly.
Silia gave her a withering look. 'If any other elf would have handed you his cloak and demanded that you mend it you would have thrown it back in his face and refused to ever speak with him again.'
'That did not seem the best course of action when there was a sword pointed at my heart.'
'You love him.'
It was a statement, a rather random one at that, and Valia did not like the fact that there was no room for question or protest in her tone because if Valia was certain about anything, it was the fact that she was not in love with Legolas. The idea was absurd. She might as well have declared that Melkor had been a friend of the elves. How utterly preposterous!
'I do not think I should even give you the pleasure of a response to that.'
'There is no need to respond. It was not a question, just an observation.'
'A faulty one.'
'Not in the least.'
'I am not in love with Legolas, Silia!'
'I think you will have a hard time convincing me otherwise. You are in love with him, whether you are willing to see the truth in my statement or not.'
'Think what you will,' Valia said airily, changing her tactics. She resumed her sewing with vigor and the two friends remained silent until the last stitch was put in. Valia held up the garment and examined it critically. It had been several centuries since she had sewed anything at all. For all her years out of practice, Valia was fairly satisfied with her work. An elf would never be able to tell a tear had been in the fabric until they studied it closely, which few were likely to do besides Legolas himself. 'I am going to return this to its owner; would you like to accompany me?'
'Only if you promise me a chance to see Isondil.' Silia smiled at her friend when she rolled her eyes toward the sky.
'I think that elf has some sort of special powers that let him know when you are within a short distance of him. He always appears out of nowhere when you are in the same area as he is. If he does not come and see you while we are at the palace it will not be my fault, but his.'
'Let us be off then,' Silia said, springing to her feet. 'But first we must dress you in something better.'
'What is wrong with what I am wearing? There is always something wrong with what I am wearing,' sighed Valia. She looked down at her simple cotton gown, the color of a robin's breast and fingered the soft folds of the skirt.
'Nothing is wrong with it,' Silia assured. She grabbed Valia's hands and pulled her off the bed, twirling her around.
'What has gotten into you?' exclaimed Valia when Silia had stopped her wild spinning. 'You are acting like an elfling instead of a mature maiden soon to be married.'
Silia's eyes widened and she blushed the same vibrant color as Valia's dress. Ducking her head, she walked over to Valia's armoire and tried to cover her embarrassment with soft protests. 'Married you say? I am not soon to be married.' She punctuated her words by throwing open the wooden doors and eagerly dug into the collection of dresses, sifting her way to the back.
'If you can make assumptions about me, then I am allowed to do the same for you. If Isondil does not ask you to become his betrothed before he and Legolas leave, I shall be very surprised. It is already mid fall. They must return to King Thranduil before the planting season in the spring or all the information Legolas collected will be of naught.' Valia flopped onto her bed and relaxed into the silky fabric, looking up at the mural of Telperion and Laurelin painted on her ceiling. 'He will ask you before he leaves. I am sure of it.'
'Do you think so?' Silia asked hesitantly, emerging from the armoire with a dress in her hands.
'Yes. But you must promise me something Silia.'
'What?'
'I want to be at the wedding.'
As if Valia had to ask. She would be invited to the wedding as surely as the event being discussed would happen. 'I will invite you, but only if you do something for me,' Silia said.
'What?!' gasped Valia, raising her head off her bed so she could see her friend. She found a wide grin on her face and a familiar gleam in her eye. Valia groaned and let her head fall back to the bed. 'You know how much I detest wearing those. If Iluvatar wanted me to be a peacock he would have made me one.'
'You exaggerate Valia. This is not a gaudy dress. It is what most maidens of your station would wear when they wished to be comfortable for the day.'
'You cannot call that comfortable,' spat Valia, pointing at the dress in Silia's hands. It was a rich purple and the taffeta fabric was tailored in graceful curves to accentuate Valia's figure. 'I do not mind wearing dresses Silia, what elven maiden would object? But that? Do not make me where that!'
'Yes, you must. The color suits your complexion perfectly and it has been far too long since you last wore anything that enhanced your form. Do not give me that look Valia; I will have no protests today. Come, I will help you get ready. Take the clasp out of your hair,' commanded Silia.
Before Valia could either protest or obey her friend's instructions, Silia descended upon her, pulling her up off the bed and forcing her into the dress she had picked out. After making sure all the folds were in their proper place and being satisfied that no unwanted wrinkles showed, Silia turned her attention to Valia's hair. She pulled the characteristic clasp out and quickly ran a brush through her honey-blond locks, twining only two small braids together to complete the style.
'There, you are perfect!' Silia beamed, stepping back to admire her work.
'I do not see the point in dressing me up. We are only going to the palace and there is no special occasion for such a fancy dress.'
'Valia!' Silia said sharply. 'I do not want to hear anymore of your protests. That dress is what normal she-elves wear everyday. Now let us go.' Silia latched onto Valia's arm and dragged her out of the room, not stopping as her friends remonstrations echoed down the hall.
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Legolas was doing an admirable job of forgetting about Valia. He had just sat down to eat and was having a pleasant chat with Celebrian about a new horse Elrond was going to buy for her. All thoughts of Valia were pushed aside easily until she materialized before their table in the company of Silia.
'Valia, what are you doing here?' Elrond asked pleasantly, rising from his seat to greet the ladies. 'You will join us will you not? I assume that neither of you have had dinner yet.'
'No, we have not. I came to return Legolas' cloak to him but we would be delighted to stay for dinner.'
'Are you sure you have nowhere else to be?' Elrond scanned Valia's clothing and hair and looked at the maiden questioningly.
'She has no prior engagement, my lord,' Silia answered for her. 'I pleaded with her to wear something a bit more flattering tonight and she agreed to let me dress her.'
'She blackmailed me,' countered Valia seriously, making all the elves at the table smile. No doubt that was the only way Valia would have agreed to the torture of wearing a dress that complimented her.
'Well, we owe you our thanks than Silia. She looks lovely.' Celebrian stood and walked around the table to take Valia's arm. 'Come sit down my dear.' Silia walked to stand beside Isondil who was placed to the left of Elrond and Legolas moved down one position so Valia could sit between Celebrian and him who were seated to Elrond's right.
'Your cloak, my lord.' Valia curtsied to Legolas and held out his clothing for him to take. He smiled and took it from her before draping it over the chair beside his.
'How did you come into the possession of Legolas' cloak?' Celebrian asked, sitting down so that everyone else could be seated as well.
'There was a tear in it and I asked Valia to mend it for me,' Legolas answered for her.
'It appears Silia is not the only one who enjoys telling falsehoods. He held me at the point of his sword and demanded that I repair it for him,' corrected Valia.
'You did not have to accept,' Legolas countered.
'I thought it better than being bereft of my head and sent to the Halls of Mandos.'
'I would not have killed you Valia.'
'Somehow I do not believe you, especially when I tried to protest and you increased the pressure on my neck!'
'I would not have hurt you,' Legolas said, becoming slightly agitated that she appeared to not trust him.
Valia glowered at him. 'No? You do that to every maiden you come across than? Knock her onto the ground, claim her to belong to you, and then force her to mend your clothing at the threat of dismemberment?'
'Ah, young love,' Elrond observed with an amused smile, twining his fingers with Celebrian's.
'We are not in love!' Legolas and Valia cried in unison. Elrond's remark ended their debate and the two elves both looked down at the table with distressed faces. Celebrian squeezed her husband's hand and turned her twinkling eyes to his, a silent message passing between the married couple.
'It seems you have been persuaded quite often over the past few months to dress outside of your usual fashion, Valia.' Elrond brought up a new topic of conversation and took a sip of his wine as he observed her over the rim of his goblet. 'Are you planning on making it a daily habit?'
'I am not going to tell you something like that. A maiden has to keep some semblance of mystery about her.' Valia thanked the servant who placed a bowl of soup in front of her and looked up with a teasing smile adorning her lips. The sudden change in her temperament did not daunt Elrond or Celebrian at all. They had become accustomed to Valia's volatile mood swings when she became angered and had quickly learned how to best distract her from her dark thoughts.
'How is your family Valia? Gléwiel must be ready for the baby to be born by now,' said Celebrian.
'I think Tandir is growing more impatient than she is.'
'That does not surprise me. I can remember when we were expecting the twins Elrond was near wild with impatience. He kept pacing up and down the halls so much I thought he would wear a hole in the wooden floors.' Celebrian laughed as a tinge of pink colored her husband's smooth cheeks.
'He will not have to wait much longer. The elfling is expected in four more months, at the beginning of spring.'
'And you will enjoy being an aunt?'
'Very much,' Valia said enthusiastically. 'I have always loved elflings. It will be nice to have one in our house. It has been many years since Earuviel was young.'
'I can imagine you will make a wonderful mother when you are married,' Isondil commented. 'Your children will have a sweet disposition tempered with your carefree independence.'
Elrond's spoon fell from his hand and clattered onto his plate. 'Excuse me,' he murmured, starring into the bowl of soup intently. Isondil glanced from him to Celebrian who had paled several shades whiter and cleared her throat. 'Did I say something wrong?' Isondil asked in confusion, looking at Valia and then to Silia. Silia reached over and drew his hand into her own lap, folding it between her hands in comfort.
'No, you said nothing wrong,' Valia assured him. However, her voice sounded oddly strained. 'Thank you for dinner Elrond, Celebrian, but I need to go home now or my family will wonder what has happened to me.'
Elrond looked up at Valia and Legolas saw a flicker of something pass in his eyes. 'Thank you for having dinner with us, aier. I will see you tomorrow.'
Valia nodded and made a swift exit, her movements belying the fact that she was not affected by what Isondil said. Only a few moments passed before Legolas also stood and excused himself. Without waiting for a response he strode away from the table and ran after Valia once he was in the hall.
'Valia, wait,' he called to her back, but she did not stop or slow her pace.
'What is wrong?' asked Legolas, grabbing her shoulders and spinning her around when he was able to catch up with her.
'Nothing,' Valia said. She pulled out of his grasp and moved down the hall again without a look back.
Legolas sprinted after her with determination and stopped her again, making sure to hold her securely. 'Do not run away from me mellonamin! Tell me what it is that troubles you so. You are hurt; I can see it in your eyes.'
'Nothing is wrong with me,' protested Valia, struggling without success to break free of Legolas' hold. 'Let go of me!'
'No.' Legolas narrowed his eyes and examined Valia's face with care. 'What is wrong?' he repeated, brushing a few tendrils of loose hair from her face. Valia stopped her struggling and made no resistance when he cupped her chin in his hand and lifted her face up. 'Stop running away all the time Valia. Tell me what you are trying to hide from. Surely you do not need to hide from me.' His voice was gentle and Valia felt her mouth open to tell him everything. His green eyes were compelling her to pour out her problems, her past to him, and her body was responding of its own volition.
Fortunately, Valia's mind finally started to work and she snapped her mouth shut before she said anything foolish. 'I am fine Legolas. You do not need to worry about me.' She reached up and stroked his cheek with a smile. 'Do not worry about me mellon. I am fine,' she promised, trying to make the concern in his eyes dissipate. Rising on her toes she placed a kiss on his warm cheek.
'Walk you home?' he asked, still not convinced that what happened at the table was nothing, but deciding it was best to let it pass for now.
'I would be delighted, ernil.' Valia took his proffered arm and made a mock obeisance.
'You look lovely today Valia,' Legolas said as they walked. 'I like your hair down. It reminds me of a waterfall.' He took a strand and wove it through his fingers.
'A dirty waterfall,' Valia said wryly, pausing her steps to extricate her hair from his hand.
'No, a waterfall of gold,' replied Legolas, tilting his head and claiming another lock of hair as his own.
'Legolas...'
'No.' he said, placing a slender finger on her lips to silence her. 'I am not trying to woo you Valia. I simply meant it as a compliment from one friend to another. Accept it for what it is and do not fling it back in my face.'
Valia nodded her head. 'Thank you,' she said quietly.
'You are welcome.' Legolas smiled and brushed her hair behind her shoulder. He resumed their stroll towards Valia's home, a happy smile on his face as he listened to Valia talk about whatever her heart desired.
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*Manwë - Lord of the Valar
* Taniquetil- the highest mountain in Arda, home of Manwë
*Melkor- First Dark Lord of Middle-earth
*Telperion and Laurelin- The two trees of the Valinor. Gave light to all the Valinor before they were destroyed.
*Eru/Iluvatar- The One, God of Middle-earth
*aier- small one/ short one; in this case small one (an endearment)
*mellonamin- My friend (informal)
*mellon- friend
*ernil- prince
Well, I hope you guys enjoyed that after the long wait. Too bad fanfiction had to shut down. Please leave your email address if you review so I can send you a thank you!
A/N- Thank you all my reviewers. We are now coming to the part in the story I am sure you have all been waiting for. Thanks for sticking with me this far guys. It has taken a while to develop Legolas and Valia's relationship to anything close to love (20 chapters so far *eep*) so I want to thank you for putting up with everything until now.
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Stop Running Away
'You did what!' Isondil exclaimed. He should not have been so shocked. He knew Legolas had feelings for her, even if he stubbornly refused to admit it. It was hard to swallow back the laughter that was building dangerously close to exploding inside him.
'I was simply curious, nothing more,' Legolas replied with bewildered innocence.
'It will never cease to amaze me how you are so naïve when it comes to maidens, my friend. One would think you of all people would have more experience with them than most. How did you think she would interpret your touch?'
'I do not know. It is obvious I was not thinking.' Legolas turned to the mirror that hung above his washbasin and scowled at himself.
'You love her?' Isondil asked seriously. Legolas could not tell by the tone in his friend's voice whether it was a question he was supposed to reply to or not. He chose to think of it as rhetorical and remained silent as he ran an ivory comb through his wet tresses.
'Of course it is fairly clear,' Isondil continued when Legolas did not speak. 'Rumors usually are not as wholly unfounded as we like to think they are.' He wandered over to the tall window that afforded a pleasant view of the palace grounds and clasped his hands behind his back, knowing full well that he had gained Legolas' attention.
'What are you trying to hint at?' Legolas tugged at a knot in his hair with frustration and winced.
'You tell me.'
'I would not have asked you if I knew the answer.'
'I do not believe that.'
'You think I am being clever?'
'No, I think you are unwilling to admit you know full well what I was hinting at.'
'This conversation is ridiculous,' Legolas exclaimed. The heavy way in which he threw down the comb indicated to Isondil the agitation his comments had produced. He was all too familiar with the little idiosyncrasies in Legolas and knew not to force his friend to speak. Legolas would talk when he was ready, and until than it was pointless to push him for answers. Isondil stared out the window, his back still to Legolas to give the prince time to think without feeling threatened by another's presences.
Legolas sighed deeply and stared hard at himself in the mirror before beginning to deftly weave braids in his hair. The style rarely ever deviated and Legolas' hands had become so accustomed to the daily chore that he could easily turn his thoughts to other things without worrying about the tight plaits. For now that meant an examination of his relationship with Valia. Isondil had asked if he loved her, or stated that he did, Legolas still was not quite sure which it was. Did he love her? Love had never even entered his mind before; it was not something he pondered when in her company.
'I do not know what my feelings are, but I think they do not go any deeper than a keen friendship with her,' Legolas admitted aloud, securing one of his side braids before moving to the next.
Isondil let a small smile grace his face, but continued to look out the window. How many times had this happened during their long acquaintance? Legolas would be troubled by something and Isondil would make cautious inquiries only to be brushed aside by a stubborn prince who never wished to talk about it, declaring the conversation to be foolish. Isondil would not say anything, simply stay in the room and employ himself with some other activity until Legolas was ready to talk, which he always was in the end, without fail. Isondil could almost predict to the exact second when he would finally give in and share his burden, it had happened so often.
Smiling wider, Isondil observed a pair of tiny elflings chasing grasshoppers through the lush grass below. 'No deeper than keen friendship you say?'
'Yes. She was injured and I was concerned. If you had been hurt I would have been just as worried.'
'Perhaps,' Isondil conceded. 'But I do not think your hands would have been so eager to wander downwards if it were my back instead of hers,' he added with a smirk lost on Legolas since neither were looking at each other.
He had a point, and it was a good one at that. Legolas could not deny that if it had been any other elf, whether male or female, his hands would have stayed on the sore skin and only there. But that certainly did not mean he was in love with Valia either! After all, it was only mid fall and he had met her a short three months ago. That was hardly any proper time to really get to know a maiden, let alone fall in love with her. Never mind all the other elves like Isondil who knew almost instantly who their other half was. Legolas would not rush such a decision, even if Manwë himself came down from Taniquetil and informed him that Valia was the maiden Eru had destined him to be with.
'You make a convincing argument, Isondil, but I still do not think that touching her back should be equated with my being passionately in love with her.'
'If my memory serves me correctly, your description of the situation made your innocent touch sound far more like a caress.'
'It still means nothing,' Legolas responded with characteristic obstinacy.
'Than it means nothing,' Isondil concluded with a graceful shrug of his shoulders. He watched the little ones lunge at a grasshopper, but they were too slow to catch the tiny creature. 'However, she obviously held your actions to mean more than you do, otherwise her reaction would not make sense.'
Legolas paused and pondered the idea. The consequences of the suggestion, if a correct one, were troubling. 'What am I to do?' he asked, paling slightly at the idea of Valia thinking he loved her.
'I do believe you are intimidated by her,' Isondil observed. He smiled amusedly and turned his head enough to see his friend turn a pretty shade of pink in seconds.
'I am not,' objected Legolas, attacking his hair with renewed vigor. 'She is just an elf maiden.'
'That you have taken a fancy to,' Isondil added for him, looking at the perturbed elf from the corner of his eye.
'No!' denied Legolas.
'I think so,' teased Isondil, making sure to watch his back. Isondil knew he was a well trained fighter and could defend himself admirably against many a foe, but he also knew his weaknesses. He was no match against Legolas and if he was going to provoke his friend he would be sure to stay out of his grasp.
'I am not,' growled Legolas, yanking on his hair so hard he grimaced. 'I warn you Isondil, do not test my patience on this issue.'
'Very well, are you done with your hair yet? I am hungry.'
'In a moment. I only have this one left.' Legolas indicated the braid in his hands and Isondil obliged him by turning away from the window to look since the elflings had just vanished from sight. The face of the elven prince visibly relaxed when Isondil changed the subject.
'I like Valia very much. She does not simper like most maidens and can carry her end of the conversation quite well,' Legolas admitted suddenly, surprising Isondil by his continuation of the conversation. 'But above a feeling of deep regard for her, you must not think.'
'You sound as if you are trying to convince yourself and not me.'
'Never mind. What of you and Silia?' Legolas inquired so Isondil had no time to make anymore uncomfortable observations.
'What of us?' asked Isondil, not sure what it was that Legolas exactly meant.
'Have you asked her to bind herself to you yet?'
'No.' Isondil said slowly.
'You cannot be thinking of waiting any longer than you already have. I know your impetuous nature. No doubt you already have the rings and have spoken with her parents.'
'You know me all too well,' Isondil said with a grin, leaning his shoulder against the hard wall as he crossed his arms. He fingered the silver rings underneath his tunic that were held secure around his neck with a thin chain.
'When do you plan on asking her?'
'When the time is right. Is that not the best time to do it? Come, enough of this talk of maidens and marriage. I am hungry. Let us go get something to stay my appetite.'
'Agreed.' Legolas stated resolutely, securing the last braid in his hair. All thoughts of love and blue eyed maidens were pushed aside as the two elves made their way to the main hall to meet the Lord and Lady of the palace for an early dinner.
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'He did what?' Silia asked. Not that it was that surprising. It was evident that Legolas had affection for Valia and she for him, but Silia knew all too well what Valia thought about love. Affection was one thing, love was another. Valia was willing to show true affection for her close friends, but to move anywhere beyond that was not an option with her.
'Do you think I reacted too strongly?' questioned Valia, threading a needle with dark green thread. She had Legolas' cloak spread out in her lap and was preparing to stitch up the tiny split in the fabric he had the audacity to call a tear.
'I do not know,' Silia said vaguely. She adjusted her position on the bed and looked at her hands.
'You do not know or you are not going to tell me?'
Silia held back the sigh her body was begging her to release. 'That all depends on what your feelings are for him Valia.' Ignoring the visible tensing in Valia's shoulders, Silia played with the edging on the fine cloak Valia had begun to repair. 'I cannot believe you of all people are actually sewing this for him.'
'Why?'
'Why? Open your eyes Valia! Do you realize what a power he exerts over you?'
'No more than I let him,' she said stubbornly.
Silia gave her a withering look. 'If any other elf would have handed you his cloak and demanded that you mend it you would have thrown it back in his face and refused to ever speak with him again.'
'That did not seem the best course of action when there was a sword pointed at my heart.'
'You love him.'
It was a statement, a rather random one at that, and Valia did not like the fact that there was no room for question or protest in her tone because if Valia was certain about anything, it was the fact that she was not in love with Legolas. The idea was absurd. She might as well have declared that Melkor had been a friend of the elves. How utterly preposterous!
'I do not think I should even give you the pleasure of a response to that.'
'There is no need to respond. It was not a question, just an observation.'
'A faulty one.'
'Not in the least.'
'I am not in love with Legolas, Silia!'
'I think you will have a hard time convincing me otherwise. You are in love with him, whether you are willing to see the truth in my statement or not.'
'Think what you will,' Valia said airily, changing her tactics. She resumed her sewing with vigor and the two friends remained silent until the last stitch was put in. Valia held up the garment and examined it critically. It had been several centuries since she had sewed anything at all. For all her years out of practice, Valia was fairly satisfied with her work. An elf would never be able to tell a tear had been in the fabric until they studied it closely, which few were likely to do besides Legolas himself. 'I am going to return this to its owner; would you like to accompany me?'
'Only if you promise me a chance to see Isondil.' Silia smiled at her friend when she rolled her eyes toward the sky.
'I think that elf has some sort of special powers that let him know when you are within a short distance of him. He always appears out of nowhere when you are in the same area as he is. If he does not come and see you while we are at the palace it will not be my fault, but his.'
'Let us be off then,' Silia said, springing to her feet. 'But first we must dress you in something better.'
'What is wrong with what I am wearing? There is always something wrong with what I am wearing,' sighed Valia. She looked down at her simple cotton gown, the color of a robin's breast and fingered the soft folds of the skirt.
'Nothing is wrong with it,' Silia assured. She grabbed Valia's hands and pulled her off the bed, twirling her around.
'What has gotten into you?' exclaimed Valia when Silia had stopped her wild spinning. 'You are acting like an elfling instead of a mature maiden soon to be married.'
Silia's eyes widened and she blushed the same vibrant color as Valia's dress. Ducking her head, she walked over to Valia's armoire and tried to cover her embarrassment with soft protests. 'Married you say? I am not soon to be married.' She punctuated her words by throwing open the wooden doors and eagerly dug into the collection of dresses, sifting her way to the back.
'If you can make assumptions about me, then I am allowed to do the same for you. If Isondil does not ask you to become his betrothed before he and Legolas leave, I shall be very surprised. It is already mid fall. They must return to King Thranduil before the planting season in the spring or all the information Legolas collected will be of naught.' Valia flopped onto her bed and relaxed into the silky fabric, looking up at the mural of Telperion and Laurelin painted on her ceiling. 'He will ask you before he leaves. I am sure of it.'
'Do you think so?' Silia asked hesitantly, emerging from the armoire with a dress in her hands.
'Yes. But you must promise me something Silia.'
'What?'
'I want to be at the wedding.'
As if Valia had to ask. She would be invited to the wedding as surely as the event being discussed would happen. 'I will invite you, but only if you do something for me,' Silia said.
'What?!' gasped Valia, raising her head off her bed so she could see her friend. She found a wide grin on her face and a familiar gleam in her eye. Valia groaned and let her head fall back to the bed. 'You know how much I detest wearing those. If Iluvatar wanted me to be a peacock he would have made me one.'
'You exaggerate Valia. This is not a gaudy dress. It is what most maidens of your station would wear when they wished to be comfortable for the day.'
'You cannot call that comfortable,' spat Valia, pointing at the dress in Silia's hands. It was a rich purple and the taffeta fabric was tailored in graceful curves to accentuate Valia's figure. 'I do not mind wearing dresses Silia, what elven maiden would object? But that? Do not make me where that!'
'Yes, you must. The color suits your complexion perfectly and it has been far too long since you last wore anything that enhanced your form. Do not give me that look Valia; I will have no protests today. Come, I will help you get ready. Take the clasp out of your hair,' commanded Silia.
Before Valia could either protest or obey her friend's instructions, Silia descended upon her, pulling her up off the bed and forcing her into the dress she had picked out. After making sure all the folds were in their proper place and being satisfied that no unwanted wrinkles showed, Silia turned her attention to Valia's hair. She pulled the characteristic clasp out and quickly ran a brush through her honey-blond locks, twining only two small braids together to complete the style.
'There, you are perfect!' Silia beamed, stepping back to admire her work.
'I do not see the point in dressing me up. We are only going to the palace and there is no special occasion for such a fancy dress.'
'Valia!' Silia said sharply. 'I do not want to hear anymore of your protests. That dress is what normal she-elves wear everyday. Now let us go.' Silia latched onto Valia's arm and dragged her out of the room, not stopping as her friends remonstrations echoed down the hall.
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Legolas was doing an admirable job of forgetting about Valia. He had just sat down to eat and was having a pleasant chat with Celebrian about a new horse Elrond was going to buy for her. All thoughts of Valia were pushed aside easily until she materialized before their table in the company of Silia.
'Valia, what are you doing here?' Elrond asked pleasantly, rising from his seat to greet the ladies. 'You will join us will you not? I assume that neither of you have had dinner yet.'
'No, we have not. I came to return Legolas' cloak to him but we would be delighted to stay for dinner.'
'Are you sure you have nowhere else to be?' Elrond scanned Valia's clothing and hair and looked at the maiden questioningly.
'She has no prior engagement, my lord,' Silia answered for her. 'I pleaded with her to wear something a bit more flattering tonight and she agreed to let me dress her.'
'She blackmailed me,' countered Valia seriously, making all the elves at the table smile. No doubt that was the only way Valia would have agreed to the torture of wearing a dress that complimented her.
'Well, we owe you our thanks than Silia. She looks lovely.' Celebrian stood and walked around the table to take Valia's arm. 'Come sit down my dear.' Silia walked to stand beside Isondil who was placed to the left of Elrond and Legolas moved down one position so Valia could sit between Celebrian and him who were seated to Elrond's right.
'Your cloak, my lord.' Valia curtsied to Legolas and held out his clothing for him to take. He smiled and took it from her before draping it over the chair beside his.
'How did you come into the possession of Legolas' cloak?' Celebrian asked, sitting down so that everyone else could be seated as well.
'There was a tear in it and I asked Valia to mend it for me,' Legolas answered for her.
'It appears Silia is not the only one who enjoys telling falsehoods. He held me at the point of his sword and demanded that I repair it for him,' corrected Valia.
'You did not have to accept,' Legolas countered.
'I thought it better than being bereft of my head and sent to the Halls of Mandos.'
'I would not have killed you Valia.'
'Somehow I do not believe you, especially when I tried to protest and you increased the pressure on my neck!'
'I would not have hurt you,' Legolas said, becoming slightly agitated that she appeared to not trust him.
Valia glowered at him. 'No? You do that to every maiden you come across than? Knock her onto the ground, claim her to belong to you, and then force her to mend your clothing at the threat of dismemberment?'
'Ah, young love,' Elrond observed with an amused smile, twining his fingers with Celebrian's.
'We are not in love!' Legolas and Valia cried in unison. Elrond's remark ended their debate and the two elves both looked down at the table with distressed faces. Celebrian squeezed her husband's hand and turned her twinkling eyes to his, a silent message passing between the married couple.
'It seems you have been persuaded quite often over the past few months to dress outside of your usual fashion, Valia.' Elrond brought up a new topic of conversation and took a sip of his wine as he observed her over the rim of his goblet. 'Are you planning on making it a daily habit?'
'I am not going to tell you something like that. A maiden has to keep some semblance of mystery about her.' Valia thanked the servant who placed a bowl of soup in front of her and looked up with a teasing smile adorning her lips. The sudden change in her temperament did not daunt Elrond or Celebrian at all. They had become accustomed to Valia's volatile mood swings when she became angered and had quickly learned how to best distract her from her dark thoughts.
'How is your family Valia? Gléwiel must be ready for the baby to be born by now,' said Celebrian.
'I think Tandir is growing more impatient than she is.'
'That does not surprise me. I can remember when we were expecting the twins Elrond was near wild with impatience. He kept pacing up and down the halls so much I thought he would wear a hole in the wooden floors.' Celebrian laughed as a tinge of pink colored her husband's smooth cheeks.
'He will not have to wait much longer. The elfling is expected in four more months, at the beginning of spring.'
'And you will enjoy being an aunt?'
'Very much,' Valia said enthusiastically. 'I have always loved elflings. It will be nice to have one in our house. It has been many years since Earuviel was young.'
'I can imagine you will make a wonderful mother when you are married,' Isondil commented. 'Your children will have a sweet disposition tempered with your carefree independence.'
Elrond's spoon fell from his hand and clattered onto his plate. 'Excuse me,' he murmured, starring into the bowl of soup intently. Isondil glanced from him to Celebrian who had paled several shades whiter and cleared her throat. 'Did I say something wrong?' Isondil asked in confusion, looking at Valia and then to Silia. Silia reached over and drew his hand into her own lap, folding it between her hands in comfort.
'No, you said nothing wrong,' Valia assured him. However, her voice sounded oddly strained. 'Thank you for dinner Elrond, Celebrian, but I need to go home now or my family will wonder what has happened to me.'
Elrond looked up at Valia and Legolas saw a flicker of something pass in his eyes. 'Thank you for having dinner with us, aier. I will see you tomorrow.'
Valia nodded and made a swift exit, her movements belying the fact that she was not affected by what Isondil said. Only a few moments passed before Legolas also stood and excused himself. Without waiting for a response he strode away from the table and ran after Valia once he was in the hall.
'Valia, wait,' he called to her back, but she did not stop or slow her pace.
'What is wrong?' asked Legolas, grabbing her shoulders and spinning her around when he was able to catch up with her.
'Nothing,' Valia said. She pulled out of his grasp and moved down the hall again without a look back.
Legolas sprinted after her with determination and stopped her again, making sure to hold her securely. 'Do not run away from me mellonamin! Tell me what it is that troubles you so. You are hurt; I can see it in your eyes.'
'Nothing is wrong with me,' protested Valia, struggling without success to break free of Legolas' hold. 'Let go of me!'
'No.' Legolas narrowed his eyes and examined Valia's face with care. 'What is wrong?' he repeated, brushing a few tendrils of loose hair from her face. Valia stopped her struggling and made no resistance when he cupped her chin in his hand and lifted her face up. 'Stop running away all the time Valia. Tell me what you are trying to hide from. Surely you do not need to hide from me.' His voice was gentle and Valia felt her mouth open to tell him everything. His green eyes were compelling her to pour out her problems, her past to him, and her body was responding of its own volition.
Fortunately, Valia's mind finally started to work and she snapped her mouth shut before she said anything foolish. 'I am fine Legolas. You do not need to worry about me.' She reached up and stroked his cheek with a smile. 'Do not worry about me mellon. I am fine,' she promised, trying to make the concern in his eyes dissipate. Rising on her toes she placed a kiss on his warm cheek.
'Walk you home?' he asked, still not convinced that what happened at the table was nothing, but deciding it was best to let it pass for now.
'I would be delighted, ernil.' Valia took his proffered arm and made a mock obeisance.
'You look lovely today Valia,' Legolas said as they walked. 'I like your hair down. It reminds me of a waterfall.' He took a strand and wove it through his fingers.
'A dirty waterfall,' Valia said wryly, pausing her steps to extricate her hair from his hand.
'No, a waterfall of gold,' replied Legolas, tilting his head and claiming another lock of hair as his own.
'Legolas...'
'No.' he said, placing a slender finger on her lips to silence her. 'I am not trying to woo you Valia. I simply meant it as a compliment from one friend to another. Accept it for what it is and do not fling it back in my face.'
Valia nodded her head. 'Thank you,' she said quietly.
'You are welcome.' Legolas smiled and brushed her hair behind her shoulder. He resumed their stroll towards Valia's home, a happy smile on his face as he listened to Valia talk about whatever her heart desired.
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*Manwë - Lord of the Valar
* Taniquetil- the highest mountain in Arda, home of Manwë
*Melkor- First Dark Lord of Middle-earth
*Telperion and Laurelin- The two trees of the Valinor. Gave light to all the Valinor before they were destroyed.
*Eru/Iluvatar- The One, God of Middle-earth
*aier- small one/ short one; in this case small one (an endearment)
*mellonamin- My friend (informal)
*mellon- friend
*ernil- prince
Well, I hope you guys enjoyed that after the long wait. Too bad fanfiction had to shut down. Please leave your email address if you review so I can send you a thank you!