Disclaimer- Refer to Chapter One
Thank you for all your reviews! The response to the last chapter was absolutely amazing. I think some of my silent readers emerged from the hazy land of anonymity to grace me with a review. It made me truly happy :)
A/N- About last chapter: If you have time please visit the AWARE site (Arming Women against Rape and Endangerment) found at www.aware.org to learn more about how to protect yourself against the possibility of rape, something that can happen to anybody.
Please forgive any grammar errors and the complete lack of sense this chapter makes. I have no beta for this story and edited it myself at one in the morning just so you guys could have it a day earlier than I said to expect it out.
One last thing, I assumed that there were tigers in Middle-earth *shrugs shoulders*
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Revelations of the Heart: Part Two
As if in answer to Valia's cry, hands that were stronger than his, stronger than the wild storm raging over his head, grabbed Garand with a force capable of bending his steel blade. He was ripped off of Valia with the same ease it took to pick a leaf off the ground and hurled an astonishing distance backwards, connecting with an unsympathetic tree on his dissent downwards. The unmistakable crunch of cracking ribs greeted him on impacting the ground.
Legolas kneeled next to Valia who had already scrambled up to a sitting position and grasped her torn undergarment together with a hand. Brushing a few of the tears off her terrified face, he frowned at the red welts and cracked lip, his visage darkening in an expression that made Valia herself tremble. He took a quick scan of the rest of her, relieved to see that no blood appeared anywhere besides her lip.
'You are alright?' he asked, looking into her eyes intently.
She nodded, turning her gaze downwards. A gentle squeeze of reassurance was applied to her arm before Legolas stood back up and stalked towards Garand, the tender warmth he felt only moments ago melting under the influences of passionate hate he had never experienced with such immensity. It threatened to consume his very soul into a raging inferno when he examined Garand groveling on the earth.
'Get up,' Legolas commanded.
Garand either did not hear him or was not capable of standing. He continued to clutch his ribs and moan, wallowing on the ground in his pain. Grasping his tunic, Legolas forced him off the ground and slammed him against a tree. 'You have chosen the wrong maiden to place your filthy hands on,' he stated.
'What is the matter Legolas?' Garand sneered; the Prince's threats seemingly not enough to scare him into silence yet. 'Are you jealous that you were not the first? We can share her you know?' Garand mistook the dimming in Legolas' eyes for desire and put on a charming smile despite the pain in his chest. 'You can have her as soon as I am finished with her,' he offered amiably. 'However, let me suggest something first.'
Legolas glanced down at the hand Garand placed on his shoulder and raised a brow in question, feigning interest. 'The lady is a little tigress despite her weak appearances. If you hold her down for me I would be more than happy to return the favor for you. There is no sense in wearing ourselves out more than we have to.'
The smile was wiped off Garand's lips by Legolas' fist and the Prince was satisfied to see that Garand's lip was now split in a worse fashion than Valia's. 'That was the wrong suggestion Garand.' He turned around swiftly and took Garand with him, sending him stumbling forward with a hard shove.
Some unidentifiable sound came from Valia, causing Legolas to quickly focus on searching for her. He saw her arms clinging around the trunk of a tree for support, watching what was happening with wide eyes. 'Valia, can you reach the bridge over the river?'
'Yes.' Why was he asking her something like that?
'Make for the bridge and I will come for you when I am done here.' Valia looked between the two elves uncertainly. 'Go Valia. I shall be fine.'
Legolas watched her until she turned around and lurched towards the bridge, the wind almost knocking her over with a strong gust. However, in his distraction he did not notice Garand gather himself off the ground and hurl his weight towards him. He slammed to the ground, pinned by Garand. It took little effort to maneuver his weight on top of Garand, rolling over so he was to the advantage now.
A few well placed punches, one expertly aimed at the sensitive upper half of Garand's ear were all that were needed to subdue the elf. But Legolas did not stop there, his anger taking control of his better half with disturbing ease as he continued to rain down blow after blow on the despicable creature who dared to hurt Valia.
If it were not for the disobedience of the she-elf, Garand would have been walking the Halls of Mandos that night. Valia had turned back from Legolas' ordered retreat in a fear not that Garand would be beaten senseless, but that Legolas would do something he would come to regret when his passions had cooled down a good deal. Her suspicion was proved right when Legolas effortlessly slipped a dagger from inside his leather boot and pressed it against the neck of a thoroughly defeated Garand.
'Legolas,' she called out sharply, racing towards him as fast as she could manage. She threw herself down next to him and grabbed his face between her hands, forcing him to look at her. 'Legolas stop.'
'No, I will not,' he refused. 'He does not deserve to live.'
'You would not be guilty of shedding the blood of your own kin. It is an offense worse than the one he has committed. Do not do this Legolas. You are better than that; you are better than he is. Put down your weapon.' Valia could find no indication in his features whether her words had any influence on him other than the fact that his frown seemed to grow deeper. His emerald eyes left hers to look down at Garand and she felt her heart sink with the loss of contact.
'He does not deserve any mercy Valia.'
His words produced a small spark of hope in Valia and she moved her hands to Legolas' arm to keep him aware of her presence. 'Please do not do this. He has not hurt me as greatly as you may think.'
This time it was her words that produced a reaction as Legolas quickly turned his gaze back to her, trying to see past the barriers in her eyes. 'What do you mean?' he asked warily, loosening his hold on the dagger's handle.
'I cannot tell you that Legolas,' Valia said cautiously, clinging to him tighter as her strength began to diminish with the vast energy it took to remain upright. 'But believe me when I say that he has not done nearly as much harm to me as you think he has.'
Legolas scowled, glancing back and forth between Valia and Garand. With a sigh, he brought the blade away from Garand's sensitive skin and attempted a half hearted smile of reassurance to ease Valia's discomfort. However, he was not done with Garand yet, and raising the handle above his head, he directed askilled blow to Garand's skull that sent the elf into the darkness of unconsciousness.
Valia's brow lowered at the action but was unable to express her displeasure by a silencing look from Legolas. She gingerly stood up, testing muscles that had begun to grow sore and ran her tongue lightly over her split lip. Watching her, Legolas stood as well and tried to steady her with a hand on her arm but it was pushed aside by the indignant lady who wanted none of his help. After all, she was not an elfling.
'Let me help you back to the palace,' Legolas offered, determinedly taking her arm again only to have it slapped away.
'No, I am quite capable of walking there without assistance Legolas.' She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to capture as much of her body heat as she could in the embrace.
'You are cold,' Legolas observed with worry, sending an anxious look towards the sky. 'Let me help you back Valia,' he reiterated, coming to stand close to her with a guarded expression as he scrutinized her.
'I am fine,' Valia insisted absurdly. She gulped back a wave of dizziness that almost drowned her in its swell and inhaled deeply, taking a few steps back to the main path. The tremor that ran up her legs was uncontrollable though, and to her disgust, Valia felt her knees begin to buckle under her.
Arms surrounded her falling figure and swept her up into Legolas' comforting embrace. 'You are not fine Valia. It is nothing to be ashamed of.'
'I am fine,' she said but her voice lacked the conviction it had the previous time. She resorted to shifting her weight in such a way that Legolas had to continually readjust his hold on her.
'Stop squirming Valia or I will drop you.' His words gave him a small reprieve which he took to his full advantage and in a few brief strides was sinking carefully to the ground to lean against one of the larger tree trunks in the immediate vicinity. His tenderness as he examined her face, running long fingers over her newly forming bruises nearly unraveled Valia. She looked up at him slightly in awe as he continued to stroke her injuries, muttering soft words of healing into the wind that were quickly carried away to the mountain of Manwë.
She laid her head on his shoulder and began to weep, at the same time scolding herself for such an overt display of emotions.
Legolas did not seem to mind however and cradled her close to him, encouraging her tears to be loosed freely. The crying did not stop after quite some time though, and Legolas began to grow concerned.
'You are safe, mellonamin. I am here and will not let anything more happen to you.' He angled a hand upward to massage her upper shoulders, which to his dismay did nothing to ease her fierce lament. 'Ai, Valia. Why do you cry so?'
'I am sorry,' she strangled out, forcing the sting of tears back. A tremor traveled through her in her attempt to stop her wails.
Legolas caught her chin with his fingers and tilted her face towards him. The stain of tears on her cheeks had a strange effect he had never felt before on his heart and all he could do was press his burning lips to her cool forehead. He clasped her to him in an attempt to calm himself rather than her. Conflicting emotions were coursing through him in a wild dance that threatened to drive him insane. He stroked her ruined hair that he had meticulously crafted into a design earlier that day. 'I would do anything you asked of me, dear heart,' he told her.
His words elicited another shudder from Valia, who went lax in his arms once the trembling passed through her.
To make her feel as protected as he was capable of, Legolas scooted her closer against him so she was able to lay her head on his chest. He continued to run his hands through her hair, letting the strands of gold slip through his fingers as he gently rocked her back and forth.
He concentrated on determining what strange emotion it was that swelled inside of him with such passion. He had never experienced the feeling before. It seemed both exhilarating and painful at the same time, a mix of almost every feeling he could think of. Joy, sorrow, pleasure, hurt, bliss, and misery were all encompassed in the surge of that single, unidentifiable sensation. Every movement from Valia sent a heightened strength to its ardor, her very breathing increased its fervor until Legolas felt that he would surely burst at the pressure welling up inside him.
He quickly dismissed worry as the cause. Worry had occurred too many times in his life to be equated with the new feeling. He had worried for Isondil many times before and never felt quite like this, though Legolas was sure that worry was mixed into the cacophony of emotions that made up the new one. What could it be then if it was not worry?
Pity? No, he had pitied many others before. Rage? The emotion was too volatile to be the one he felt. Sadness? Hurt? Anger? Fear? They were all dismissed as quickly as he named them off in his head until he came to the final option on his list. Love.
Dare he think that he had finally found the one thing that had always been lacking in his life since coming to the Valinor? It had avoided his grasp with the same cunning as the morning fog, visibly present yet never conquerable; forever out of reach. Legolas had a sudden memory of a night under the stars not long ago. He recollected the way his heart had raced when Valia laid down beside him on Elrond's swan boat, but he had long ago attributed the reaction to his excitement at seeing Eärendil appear while on the sea.
And then he thought of the way seeing her in the library made him smile each morning. How every time she pressed her lips to his cheek the entire world ceased to exist till she pulled away again. All the gifts he had bought for her and the time he had gladly devoted to her training. His fierce protectiveness whenever Garand had risked showing himself when Legolas was with her. The fact that one smile from her could transform his foul mood into pure joy. How delighted he had been to see his hairpin in her hair that morning. The amazing feeling of being allowed to run his fingers through her hair and place his mark upon her with his braids.
His eyes widened at all the memories and the nameless sentiment grew in strength with each new recollection. How had he been so blind to his true feelings? His incompetence to discover what really lay behind all those cherished memories shamed Legolas, the famed archer of Mirkwood, one of the nine walkers who had discerned many dangers before anyone else was ever attentive to their existence. Yet he had failed to see the most obvious of his feelings.
He loved Valia.
The revelations produced a beautiful smile on his lips as he continued to sway Valia to the internal strains of music that played in his soul. He loved Valia with his entire being. He felt like shouting it to all of Valinor in blissful triumph, laughing on the mountaintops in elation and relief. Love for her seemed to radiate to the tips of his fingers as he admitted the reality of his feelings and he began to tingle with the truth of the discovery. In his joyous abandon, he prepared to sit Valia upright and declare to her with the utmost certainty that he loved her and needed her more than the very air he breathed. In fact, he was certain that she was the air he breathed. Until now, he had never grasped what it meant to live. He would tell her all of this; let her know that she was his air, his life; that if she denied him herself, it would surely be his death. There would be no air left for him to survive with if she did not consent to bless him with her love.
And that is when Legolas, prince of elves, remembered his promise to Valia.
The thought caused his breath to catch painfully in his throat and he was aware that his heart stopped beating for several seconds, only to start its rhythm again in throbbing pumps that pushed blood through his veins in excruciating waves. His breathing became shallow when he realized that he would indeed be deprived of Valia's love, his magnificent air, and had no choice in the matter. She had determined at the very beginning of their relationship that there would be no talk of love. She had been wiser than he had to acknowledge the chance. And so she had made him swear to never give his heart to her, for she would only break it if it were offered. All was hopeless in the face of that truth. Life no longer held joy for him if he could not have her love. Death would be more welcome than going on each day knowing that she lived in the world but did not love him.
Valia stirred, adjusting herself into a more relaxing position; completely ignorant of the agonizing torture she was causing the one who held her safe against the fears of the night. Legolas looked down at Valia who now held his life in her hands unknowingly and settled his gaze on her lips. They had been pressed to his cheek untold times over the past months and Legolas recognized that with every kiss she had poured meaning into him. He could survive on her kisses alone, he realized.
It occurred to him then, that it was possible for him to live without her love as long as she was in his life. All he needed was her sweet life- giving presence to sustain him and strengthen him through the day. If he knew that she walked the same ground he did each day and was warmed by the same sun he was, then he would be able to survive. Because Valia lived, he would live also.
Large droplets of water fell from the sky to bathe Legolas and Valia with their purity. The clouds wept their heavy load for the two elves wrapped in each others embrace that night. The soft rain splashed to the earth, creating a sad song of mourning and joy as it poured itself into the ground for the two children of Iluvatar. It was a song of pity for all the maiden had to endure that night and sympathy for the elven prince who discovered feelings he had no hopes would be returned, yet would continue on despite it.
Legolas looked down at Valia, his Valia, and flushed a deep red, as rich as the red blood that had flowed from her broken lip. The rain had drenched her hair, her skin, her white shift which was now of no use to her. All her skin that lay hidden underneath the fabric was revealed and Legolas found that he could not breathe as his eyes wandered over her body. He tried to look away, sensible enough to realize that such behavior was not appropriate for an elf of royal blood and breeding, but all his attempts were in vain.
She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen; the very beauty that had been embodied in Arwen Evenstar paled in laughable comparison to Valia. His eyes caressed her curves, drinking her loveliness in with unquenchable desire. He had been right to compare her to a gem for she was as exquisite as the most precious jewel to ever see the glorious light of Anar.
A silent prayer of thanks was sent to Iluvatar for blessing him with the amazing treasure that lay in his arms.
His sudden stilling combined with the corresponding tightening of his arms sent Valia on the alert and she quickly swiveled her head around, trying to see if Garand was stirring and had caused Legolas to react thus. When she saw him still lying unmoving on the ground, she turned to look up at Legolas.
'What is wrong?' she asked, seeing his already crimson face turn brighter, almost glowing in its force. Even the delicate points of his ears were colored an intense shade of red.
'The rain...' he attempted to explain, but was too mortified to go on further and too embarrassed at having been caught looking.
Valia's face contorted into confusion and her eyes moved to the sky, blinking in the falling sheet of water. She quickly lowered her head to rest against Legolas' chest when the drops of water began to sting her eyes. She observed the dark bruises that were beginning to form on her thighs; thighs that she should not have been able to see. Valia suddenly realized why Legolas was so flustered and would have sprung out of his arms if he did not have a firm hold on her. Instead she curled herself into a tight ball and moaned into his chest, her own face rapidly matching his in color as she squeezed her eyes shut.
She felt Legolas shift beneath her and his arms momentarily released their hold on her, only to wrap around her again as they pulled something else about her. Peeking an eye open, she saw he had draped his cloak over her figure, hiding the telltale signs of the rain beneath a thick layer of fabric.
'We must get you out of this rain,' he said. 'I need to put you on the ground for a moment Valia. Will you be alright?'
In answer, she struggled out of his arms and let him help her lean back against the tree trunk. Making sure she was alright, he moved to Garand, placing a finger on his neck to feel his pulse. Judging from the large welt that had begun to develop where Legolas hit him with his dagger and the steady rate of his pulse, Legolas was fairly satisfied that he would not be gaining consciousness in the near future. Once Legolas was back at the palace, he would let Elrond know what had happened and members of the guard, an elite group of warriors still in practice despite being in the Valinor, would be sent to collect Garand.
Legolas stood, picking up Valia's discarded dress on his way back to her and dropping it into her lap. He then hoisted her into his arms, and with an affirmative indication that she was comfortable, swiftly started towards the palace.
They had covered almost half the distance to their destination when Valia suddenly went rigid in Legolas' arms and he lost his grip on her legs, sending her plummeting to the ground. Thankfully, Legolas was fast enough to circle her waist with his hands and she was prevented from ever hitting the hard earth. He tried to pick her up again but she was uncooperative.
'We must go back Legolas,' she yelled above the storm, hanging onto his shoulders for support.
'I do not understand what you are talking about Valia,' he shouted back.
'We need to go back!'
Legolas shook his wet head and forcibly picked her back up and held her tightly while she tried to extricate herself. 'Let me go,' she cried, slamming her curled hands into his chest, but to no avail.
'We cannot go back Valia. We must get you to the palace as soon as possible.' His firm pronouncement drained what little color was left out of Valia's cheeks and her head bowed to rest against Legolas' chest as she began to cry.
Her violent trembling sent Legolas' heart into a furious race of concern and he anxiously looked down at her. 'What is wrong Valia!' He hoped he was not the cause of this new outburst. He could not bare the guilt of harming the one who was so valuable to him, dearer than anything or anyone that existed.
'He took your pin,' she sobbed into his chest. She was well aware of the irrationality of the thought and almost laughed at herself that of all the things that had happened, she was crying about the loss of her pin. Yet the idea that it was back with Garand was distressing and she was angry with herself that she forgot to get it, and angry at Legolas that he would not let her go back to get it, and angry at Garand for taking it in the first place.
'It is alright Valia,' Legolas soothed, rubbing her tender back in an attempt to calm her down. 'I will make sure someone retrieves it for you. I will do so myself if no one else will.'
'You promise?' she asked, letting her head fall back to rest against his arm so that she could see him.
'On my honor as heir to my father's throne,' he assured her. It was apparently a convincing oath, for her sobbing discontinued almost instantly as her head drooped back to its original place. She was quiet for the remainder of their journey back to the palace, and Legolas assumed she had drifted off to a well needed sleep. Her silence allowed him time to think of his newly discovered emotions, though it did him little good in determining what he was to do with them. All he could conclude was that he loved Valia, he would always love Valia, and if she never returned that love he would content himself with staying by her side until the end of the world, offering her anything she ever asked of him and readily accepting whatever she deigned to generously bestow on him.
By the time Legolas gained the front stairs of Elrond's palace, Valia and he were thoroughly drenched, despite his best efforts to shield her from the rain. The doors burst open on their own accord when Legolas came to them, and he entered inside, giving the servant a grateful nod.
There were several other servants bustling around the halls and many scurried off in different directions when they saw the Prince holding a bruised Valia in his arms. Now that he had reached shelter, Legolas stood in the entrance hall, dumbfounded as to what course of action he should take first. Fortunately, he was not required to make a choice when the lord of the palace appeared, clothed as if he had been planning to brave the elements outside.
'What has happened?' Elrond asked, rushing to Legolas' side and placing a hand on Valia's forehead.
'Garand has tried to rape her. He would have succeeded if I had not heard her screams for help.'
Elrond's face darkened and a look formed over the elven lord's features that had made many a man and elf quake at the sight. 'Where is he?' he demanded.
'In the forest on the north side of the palace, not more than thirty paces from the meeting of the main path and the river.'
Elrond gave a curt nod and turned on his heels to call for a company of guards to follow him.
'Lord Elrond,' called Legolas, staying his mission with his words. Obliging him, Elrond turned around partially to look back at the Prince. 'He has Valia's hairpin somewhere. Valia said he took it from her. She was rather distraught at the loss when she realized we had left it behind but I thought it wiser to send someone back for it later.'
Elrond nodded again in understanding. 'I will make sure to find it. Take Valia to her chamber and I will send for Celebrian before I leave. She will help get Valia changed and tend her injuries.' Not wanting to waste any more time, Elrond tread down the hallway, sped by the fires of immortal anger. Legolas watched him leave before turning down a small side hall towards Valia's chambers.
He was met at her door by Celebrian who had already lighted the candles in the sitting area and the bedroom. She brushed the hair away from Valia's forehead to scan her wounds. However, it was her hair that arrested Celebrian's attention the most; a tangled mess of uncharacteristic braids and twists that had not been there that morning. She raised a questioning brow at Legolas but he only dropped his gaze back down to Valia.
'Put her on the bed and I will see to her care,' instructed Celebrian, who moved into the hall to retrieve the herbs she would need for Valia's bottom lip.
Legolas was surprised to find that Valia was wide awake when he lay her down on her bed. She stared up at him with bright blue eyes that threatened to drive Legolas insensible with longing for her. She tried to smile at him; wincing at the pain it caused her lip. 'I will be alright,' she whispered in reassurance, slipping her fingers around his hand to give him a squeeze.
'You worried me Valia,' he admitted, running his free hand along her braids.
'I am sorry.'
'Do not be. It was not your fault.'
Valia shook her head, and despite his protests, she propped herself up into a sitting position against her headboard. 'You tried to warn me but I was too stubborn and foolish to listen.'
'You cannot blame yourself for what happened Valia,' he objected, dropping to his knees beside her bed so he could see her face better. His mind cautioned him not to scare her away by being imprudent, but his heart won out and he reached a hand up to lovingly stroke her cheek. The innocent caress quickly turned into an exploration of her face as he began to trace her hairline and the bridge of her nose, running his hand over her eyebrows, finding the silky skin entrancing.
'What are you doing?' Valia asked with wide eyes when his fingers hovered over her lips. His eyes darkened when he felt her breath on his skin, sending a sudden qualm into Valia's mind. She quickly moved her head out of the direct reach of his hands, staring down intently at Legolas' cloak wrapped around her and shifting nervously on the bed.
Legolas had no time to answer her question. Celebrian walked into the room with a pitcher of hot water and a concoction of ground herbs. Swiftly standing up, Legolas retreated into the sitting area and the door was shut securely behind him, baring him from the sight of Valia. The thought of leaving her for any period of time did not bode well with him, so instead of going to his own chambers he contented himself with pacing nervously about Valia's sitting room, toying with the decorations she had on the tables and shelves and anxiously picking up random books spread throughout the room only to place them back down when he read the titles with unseeing eyes.
Why had he been so stupid? There had been fear in Valia's face when he began moving his hand over her features. He should have been happy to simply brush his hand over her cheek or cease his roaming when she was obviously uncomfortable. But no! Being the foolish elf he was, he did not control his actions and now he had upset her, the maiden he had discovered only a little while ago as his love. His air. His other half. He had scared her and she did not need any new problems to deal with after enduring the lustful desire of Garand.
Garand. The name presented an entirely different problem, making the muscles in Legolas' lean arms tense. If it had not been for Valia's presence and pleadings on behalf of her tormentor, Legolas was sure he would have beaten him to unconsciousness, or even worse. The bruises he had inflicted on Valia were more than just physical, and Legolas was infuriated that he could not protect her from Garand.
Legolas was aware of the soft murmuring coming from inside Valia's bedroom, but he could not distinguish the words. Moving restlessly to a window, he drew back a gauzy curtain, producing a slight rustling, and looked out to find the storm still raging, sending down a torrent of rain he was sure could fill the sea itself due to the sheer volume. He hoped Elrond had found Garand already.
The faint sound of dripping met his ears and glancing down, Legolas noticed a puddle of water forming around his feet from his soaked clothing. Though he was loath to do so, he made a mad dash to his chambers and tore off his wet tunic and leggings, replacing them with a dry pair that was far more comfortable than his formalwear he wore in the day. He was back in Valia's sitting room as fast as possible for an elf but was disappointed to see the state of the room and door that separated Valia from him had not changed.
Sinking into a chair, Legolas played with the pages of a book on the nearby table, flipping through pages in a haphazard fashion. It was useless to try and read the words; they were all a confusing blur to him. He sighed in exasperation when Celebrian did not emerge from the bedroom in what Legolas would have wagered was half the night. He contented himself with drumming his fingers against his knee as an outlet for his frustration and nearly bolted from his chair when the distinct click of the doorknob was heard.
Celebrian emerged, closing the door most of the way behind her and walked over to an overly anxious Legolas who gripped the armrests of his chair in an attempt to bridle his emotions. He did an admirable job of putting on a passive face as Celebrian pushed back her silver hair from her eyes. 'Valia wishes to see you Legolas.'
That was all it took to send Legolas springing from his chair and bolting for the door, leaving an amused Celebrian to blow out a few candles and go see if her husband had returned yet.
'Valia?' Legolas asked quietly, slowly approaching the bed she was in. A single candle resting on her bedside table gave of a dim glow of light, softening the diminished bruises on Valia's face. Her legs were tucked underneath her covers, and a thick robe was wrapped around her frame for the sake of propriety.
The silence that came from her was taken as a bad sign by Legolas and he hesitantly made his way over to the bedside, sure that she was angry with him for his exploring touches. However, Valia patted the edge of the bed in invitation when he was close enough and he gladly accepted her offered seat.
'I want to thank you for coming to my aid Legolas,' she began hastily, taking his hand between both of hers and clasping it tightly.
'You do not need to thank me Valia. I am only glad I found you in time.' He returned her grip by curling his fingers around her fingers, unable to stop himself from rubbing his thumb over her flesh.
'How did you know?' murmured Valia.
'I did not,' he admitted, confusing her into looking up at him curiously. 'I felt strangely unsettled when I thought of you making your way back home when the storm began.'
'You braved a thunderstorm to see if I made it home safely because you felt "unsettled" in some way?' she asked skeptically.
Her question posed a difficult dilemma for Legolas. How was he to tell her that he had somehow felt her unease; he had somehow sensed it hovering around him as if it held a physical form? And then how would he explain that he thought it was because of the love he harbored for her that he was capable of sensing her distress? His wrinkled brow made Valia smile and she ducked her head.
'I called for you,' she admitted, sobering at the disturbing images the confession produced. Legolas started at her admission. He thought it had only been a deep longing on his part that she had whispered his name in her time of greatest need; that of every name she could have called on, it had been his that she chose to comfort herself with.
Valia mistook his silence for discomfort at her revelation and silently cursed herself for telling him such a thing. She dropped his hand, aware that he must think her to be flirting like the maidens he detested so much. But she was only able to loose one of her hands since he still held a firm grasp on her other. His grip tightened slightly and he turned to her with a radiant smile that left her speechless in its brilliance.
'I heard you,' he whispered.
She lowered her eyes, suddenly embarrassed at having admitted such a thing to him. She could feel the bed shift underneath her as Legolas moved and she found him unexpectedly close to her, placing a kiss on her hairline.
'You should rest,' he said, brushing her hair over her shoulder and stroking her cheek one last time before leaning over to blow out the candle. The absence of light filled Valia with an unfounded dread and she inhaled slightly as tears began to prickle her eyes.
'May you have sweet dreams tonight, mellonamin,' Legolas said, oblivious to her strange reaction. He pressed another kiss to her forehead and lingered over the skin, enjoying the warmth that radiated from her.
'Do not leave me,' Valia begged through a constricted throat, clutching at his tunic when he began to pull away. 'Please stay.' The darkness troubled her and she needed Legolas' physical presence, anyone's for that matter, to help her make it through the night.
Legolas succumbed to her petition without a fight, rather pleased to have her wanting him to stay with her, though more than a little surprised. He quickly stood and threw her covers aside, bending down to scoop his love up into his arms for the second time that night before she had time to change her mind.
'What are you doing?' she asked. Her pale face dipped down to Legolas' shoulder as she waited for him to answer.
'I cannot stay in your room all night Valia. Surely you must be aware of the scandal it would cause in the morning.' He laughed, deep rumbling echoing the thunder outside, and Valia could feel her cheeks heat into a fine shade of rosy pink. She buried her face into Legolas' tunic and garbled something unintelligible into the soft fabric, warmed a comfortable temperature by the Prince's body heat. He smiled down at her affectionately, a look that was lost on her, and cradled her closer to him as he strode out of her chamber to find an appropriate spot to spend the night with her.
He settled on the library, hoping the familiar surroundings would bring her some comfort. Lowering her into one of the large chairs, filled to a comfortable plumpness with feathers, he wrapped a blanket that was draped over the chair's back around her shoulders and ran a finger along the curve of her forehead with gentleness.
The fire needed tending to and it was to that task that Legolas turned his attention next, taking several minutes to find all that he needed to start a suitable blaze. The happy dancing of the flames cheered his heart slightly, and he twisted around to see the firelight flickering on Valia curled up into a ball, waiting for Legolas to join her.
He was by her side the next instant, somehow maneuvering himself underneath her and depositing her into his lap in one fluid motion. She began to protest, rather unnerved at sitting with him in such an intimate way, but he would harbor no complaints and shushed her with a commanding look. The snapping of the fire eased her discomfort enough to allow Legolas to guide her head to rest against his neck. He began singing to her when she was against him and his musical abilities were rewarded with her relaxing her entire weight into him.
Another song started as soon as the first was over and all would have been fine if Valia had not draped an arm around Legolas' neck, unconscious of the effect being wrapped inside the blanket with her would have on him. His muscles tightened instinctively and it took all his control to not falter over the notes he sang. Warm fingers began massaging the tense muscles in his neck, and Legolas hid the shudder that ran through him by settling further into the chair. Her ministrations were sensitizing every fiber in his being. The blanket covering them was doing an excellent job of keeping her heat and scent trapped against him, assaulting him relentlessly to add to the pleasant experience. Her breath tickled his neck every time she exhaled and a moan escaped his tightly shut lips when his song came to an end.
He felt Valia's shoulders shake with hidden laughter as she sighed and scooted closer to his comforting warmth. Her body pressed against his proved to be his undoing and he was rendered unable to start another song. Instead, he tightened his hold on her slender waist and buried his head in her hair, now free of his braids and twists, combed into the silky waterfall he loved so much.
'Why have you stopped?' she asked through a voice thick with sleep. 'Sing another song,' she requested, lifting her head to look at him with pleading eyes.
Her voice brought him out of his ecstasy enough to smile at her and place yet another kiss in her hairline before obliging her with another song. She happily settled against him again, needing no coaxing on his part and was treated to a private exhibition of numerous songs that Legolas had never dared to sing in front of a maiden since the night he had felled an entire festival of them with his voice.
Legolas decided that sitting up all night with Valia in his lap was not the best decision he had ever made as it was taking all his willpower not to blurt out a profession of his undying love to her then and there. He moved her back in his arms to tell her that they should both return to their separate chambers but found that she had fallen asleep, her eyes shining with an alluring light from the fire. The slow rise and fall of her chest should have alerted him long ago, but it had somehow escaped the comprehension of his mind. The thought of waking her was something Legolas would not think to do. He was thankful that the chair was large enough to easily accommodate him in a relaxed position. Placing a kiss on Valia's brow, he sighed contentedly and leaned his head back to fall asleep in his turn. His last coherent thought was that he held the most precious jewel of the Valinor in his arms and she had been the one to ask him for the pleasure.
That was how Elrond and Celebrian found them several hours later, resting in the comfort of each others arms in front of the dwindling glow of the fire. Elrond wrapped his own arms around his wife and pulled her close, kissing her temple and resting his head atop hers while he looked at the idyllic scene. 'He knows now,' Elrond whispered to his wife.
His lady turned in his arms, clasping her hands around Elrond's waist so she could place her head against his chest. The steady beating of his heart lulled Celebrian into a fitful sigh and she snuggled closer to him, trying to conform her body to his. 'And what makes you so sure of his heart, herven?'
'I saw the understanding in his eyes when he brought her in. He glowed with pure love for her Celebrian.'
'I do not doubt you. Are you not Elrond the wise?' She leaned back in his embrace to marvel at the contours of his face, running her smooth hand over his pronounced cheekbones, drifting down to message the base of his ear. A shudder ran through him at her touch and he dropped his forehead to hers with closed eyes.
'You are troubled,' she whispered.
'Who would not be? Can we not protect her even here in the Valinor Celebrian? Is her life one that is fated to torment every time a little happiness decides to smile on her?'
'It is not your job to protect her meleth-nin.' Celebrian cupped his face between her hands and looked up into his eyes. Lips full of intense emotion were pressed against Celebrian's lips, trying to gain comfort from the calm she exuded.
'Help me to forget,' he muttered into her ear, moving lower to place a kiss on her jawbone. Celebrian entwined her hands around his neck as he picked her up off the ground and with a final look back at the slumbering couple, departed to his bedchambers with a compliant Celebrian nestled against him.
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*Anar- the sun
*mellonamin- my friend
* Manwë- Greatest of the Valar
*herven- husband
*meleth-nin- my love/ lover
Leave an email address so that I can send you a thank you for your review :)
Thank you for all your reviews! The response to the last chapter was absolutely amazing. I think some of my silent readers emerged from the hazy land of anonymity to grace me with a review. It made me truly happy :)
A/N- About last chapter: If you have time please visit the AWARE site (Arming Women against Rape and Endangerment) found at www.aware.org to learn more about how to protect yourself against the possibility of rape, something that can happen to anybody.
Please forgive any grammar errors and the complete lack of sense this chapter makes. I have no beta for this story and edited it myself at one in the morning just so you guys could have it a day earlier than I said to expect it out.
One last thing, I assumed that there were tigers in Middle-earth *shrugs shoulders*
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Revelations of the Heart: Part Two
As if in answer to Valia's cry, hands that were stronger than his, stronger than the wild storm raging over his head, grabbed Garand with a force capable of bending his steel blade. He was ripped off of Valia with the same ease it took to pick a leaf off the ground and hurled an astonishing distance backwards, connecting with an unsympathetic tree on his dissent downwards. The unmistakable crunch of cracking ribs greeted him on impacting the ground.
Legolas kneeled next to Valia who had already scrambled up to a sitting position and grasped her torn undergarment together with a hand. Brushing a few of the tears off her terrified face, he frowned at the red welts and cracked lip, his visage darkening in an expression that made Valia herself tremble. He took a quick scan of the rest of her, relieved to see that no blood appeared anywhere besides her lip.
'You are alright?' he asked, looking into her eyes intently.
She nodded, turning her gaze downwards. A gentle squeeze of reassurance was applied to her arm before Legolas stood back up and stalked towards Garand, the tender warmth he felt only moments ago melting under the influences of passionate hate he had never experienced with such immensity. It threatened to consume his very soul into a raging inferno when he examined Garand groveling on the earth.
'Get up,' Legolas commanded.
Garand either did not hear him or was not capable of standing. He continued to clutch his ribs and moan, wallowing on the ground in his pain. Grasping his tunic, Legolas forced him off the ground and slammed him against a tree. 'You have chosen the wrong maiden to place your filthy hands on,' he stated.
'What is the matter Legolas?' Garand sneered; the Prince's threats seemingly not enough to scare him into silence yet. 'Are you jealous that you were not the first? We can share her you know?' Garand mistook the dimming in Legolas' eyes for desire and put on a charming smile despite the pain in his chest. 'You can have her as soon as I am finished with her,' he offered amiably. 'However, let me suggest something first.'
Legolas glanced down at the hand Garand placed on his shoulder and raised a brow in question, feigning interest. 'The lady is a little tigress despite her weak appearances. If you hold her down for me I would be more than happy to return the favor for you. There is no sense in wearing ourselves out more than we have to.'
The smile was wiped off Garand's lips by Legolas' fist and the Prince was satisfied to see that Garand's lip was now split in a worse fashion than Valia's. 'That was the wrong suggestion Garand.' He turned around swiftly and took Garand with him, sending him stumbling forward with a hard shove.
Some unidentifiable sound came from Valia, causing Legolas to quickly focus on searching for her. He saw her arms clinging around the trunk of a tree for support, watching what was happening with wide eyes. 'Valia, can you reach the bridge over the river?'
'Yes.' Why was he asking her something like that?
'Make for the bridge and I will come for you when I am done here.' Valia looked between the two elves uncertainly. 'Go Valia. I shall be fine.'
Legolas watched her until she turned around and lurched towards the bridge, the wind almost knocking her over with a strong gust. However, in his distraction he did not notice Garand gather himself off the ground and hurl his weight towards him. He slammed to the ground, pinned by Garand. It took little effort to maneuver his weight on top of Garand, rolling over so he was to the advantage now.
A few well placed punches, one expertly aimed at the sensitive upper half of Garand's ear were all that were needed to subdue the elf. But Legolas did not stop there, his anger taking control of his better half with disturbing ease as he continued to rain down blow after blow on the despicable creature who dared to hurt Valia.
If it were not for the disobedience of the she-elf, Garand would have been walking the Halls of Mandos that night. Valia had turned back from Legolas' ordered retreat in a fear not that Garand would be beaten senseless, but that Legolas would do something he would come to regret when his passions had cooled down a good deal. Her suspicion was proved right when Legolas effortlessly slipped a dagger from inside his leather boot and pressed it against the neck of a thoroughly defeated Garand.
'Legolas,' she called out sharply, racing towards him as fast as she could manage. She threw herself down next to him and grabbed his face between her hands, forcing him to look at her. 'Legolas stop.'
'No, I will not,' he refused. 'He does not deserve to live.'
'You would not be guilty of shedding the blood of your own kin. It is an offense worse than the one he has committed. Do not do this Legolas. You are better than that; you are better than he is. Put down your weapon.' Valia could find no indication in his features whether her words had any influence on him other than the fact that his frown seemed to grow deeper. His emerald eyes left hers to look down at Garand and she felt her heart sink with the loss of contact.
'He does not deserve any mercy Valia.'
His words produced a small spark of hope in Valia and she moved her hands to Legolas' arm to keep him aware of her presence. 'Please do not do this. He has not hurt me as greatly as you may think.'
This time it was her words that produced a reaction as Legolas quickly turned his gaze back to her, trying to see past the barriers in her eyes. 'What do you mean?' he asked warily, loosening his hold on the dagger's handle.
'I cannot tell you that Legolas,' Valia said cautiously, clinging to him tighter as her strength began to diminish with the vast energy it took to remain upright. 'But believe me when I say that he has not done nearly as much harm to me as you think he has.'
Legolas scowled, glancing back and forth between Valia and Garand. With a sigh, he brought the blade away from Garand's sensitive skin and attempted a half hearted smile of reassurance to ease Valia's discomfort. However, he was not done with Garand yet, and raising the handle above his head, he directed askilled blow to Garand's skull that sent the elf into the darkness of unconsciousness.
Valia's brow lowered at the action but was unable to express her displeasure by a silencing look from Legolas. She gingerly stood up, testing muscles that had begun to grow sore and ran her tongue lightly over her split lip. Watching her, Legolas stood as well and tried to steady her with a hand on her arm but it was pushed aside by the indignant lady who wanted none of his help. After all, she was not an elfling.
'Let me help you back to the palace,' Legolas offered, determinedly taking her arm again only to have it slapped away.
'No, I am quite capable of walking there without assistance Legolas.' She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to capture as much of her body heat as she could in the embrace.
'You are cold,' Legolas observed with worry, sending an anxious look towards the sky. 'Let me help you back Valia,' he reiterated, coming to stand close to her with a guarded expression as he scrutinized her.
'I am fine,' Valia insisted absurdly. She gulped back a wave of dizziness that almost drowned her in its swell and inhaled deeply, taking a few steps back to the main path. The tremor that ran up her legs was uncontrollable though, and to her disgust, Valia felt her knees begin to buckle under her.
Arms surrounded her falling figure and swept her up into Legolas' comforting embrace. 'You are not fine Valia. It is nothing to be ashamed of.'
'I am fine,' she said but her voice lacked the conviction it had the previous time. She resorted to shifting her weight in such a way that Legolas had to continually readjust his hold on her.
'Stop squirming Valia or I will drop you.' His words gave him a small reprieve which he took to his full advantage and in a few brief strides was sinking carefully to the ground to lean against one of the larger tree trunks in the immediate vicinity. His tenderness as he examined her face, running long fingers over her newly forming bruises nearly unraveled Valia. She looked up at him slightly in awe as he continued to stroke her injuries, muttering soft words of healing into the wind that were quickly carried away to the mountain of Manwë.
She laid her head on his shoulder and began to weep, at the same time scolding herself for such an overt display of emotions.
Legolas did not seem to mind however and cradled her close to him, encouraging her tears to be loosed freely. The crying did not stop after quite some time though, and Legolas began to grow concerned.
'You are safe, mellonamin. I am here and will not let anything more happen to you.' He angled a hand upward to massage her upper shoulders, which to his dismay did nothing to ease her fierce lament. 'Ai, Valia. Why do you cry so?'
'I am sorry,' she strangled out, forcing the sting of tears back. A tremor traveled through her in her attempt to stop her wails.
Legolas caught her chin with his fingers and tilted her face towards him. The stain of tears on her cheeks had a strange effect he had never felt before on his heart and all he could do was press his burning lips to her cool forehead. He clasped her to him in an attempt to calm himself rather than her. Conflicting emotions were coursing through him in a wild dance that threatened to drive him insane. He stroked her ruined hair that he had meticulously crafted into a design earlier that day. 'I would do anything you asked of me, dear heart,' he told her.
His words elicited another shudder from Valia, who went lax in his arms once the trembling passed through her.
To make her feel as protected as he was capable of, Legolas scooted her closer against him so she was able to lay her head on his chest. He continued to run his hands through her hair, letting the strands of gold slip through his fingers as he gently rocked her back and forth.
He concentrated on determining what strange emotion it was that swelled inside of him with such passion. He had never experienced the feeling before. It seemed both exhilarating and painful at the same time, a mix of almost every feeling he could think of. Joy, sorrow, pleasure, hurt, bliss, and misery were all encompassed in the surge of that single, unidentifiable sensation. Every movement from Valia sent a heightened strength to its ardor, her very breathing increased its fervor until Legolas felt that he would surely burst at the pressure welling up inside him.
He quickly dismissed worry as the cause. Worry had occurred too many times in his life to be equated with the new feeling. He had worried for Isondil many times before and never felt quite like this, though Legolas was sure that worry was mixed into the cacophony of emotions that made up the new one. What could it be then if it was not worry?
Pity? No, he had pitied many others before. Rage? The emotion was too volatile to be the one he felt. Sadness? Hurt? Anger? Fear? They were all dismissed as quickly as he named them off in his head until he came to the final option on his list. Love.
Dare he think that he had finally found the one thing that had always been lacking in his life since coming to the Valinor? It had avoided his grasp with the same cunning as the morning fog, visibly present yet never conquerable; forever out of reach. Legolas had a sudden memory of a night under the stars not long ago. He recollected the way his heart had raced when Valia laid down beside him on Elrond's swan boat, but he had long ago attributed the reaction to his excitement at seeing Eärendil appear while on the sea.
And then he thought of the way seeing her in the library made him smile each morning. How every time she pressed her lips to his cheek the entire world ceased to exist till she pulled away again. All the gifts he had bought for her and the time he had gladly devoted to her training. His fierce protectiveness whenever Garand had risked showing himself when Legolas was with her. The fact that one smile from her could transform his foul mood into pure joy. How delighted he had been to see his hairpin in her hair that morning. The amazing feeling of being allowed to run his fingers through her hair and place his mark upon her with his braids.
His eyes widened at all the memories and the nameless sentiment grew in strength with each new recollection. How had he been so blind to his true feelings? His incompetence to discover what really lay behind all those cherished memories shamed Legolas, the famed archer of Mirkwood, one of the nine walkers who had discerned many dangers before anyone else was ever attentive to their existence. Yet he had failed to see the most obvious of his feelings.
He loved Valia.
The revelations produced a beautiful smile on his lips as he continued to sway Valia to the internal strains of music that played in his soul. He loved Valia with his entire being. He felt like shouting it to all of Valinor in blissful triumph, laughing on the mountaintops in elation and relief. Love for her seemed to radiate to the tips of his fingers as he admitted the reality of his feelings and he began to tingle with the truth of the discovery. In his joyous abandon, he prepared to sit Valia upright and declare to her with the utmost certainty that he loved her and needed her more than the very air he breathed. In fact, he was certain that she was the air he breathed. Until now, he had never grasped what it meant to live. He would tell her all of this; let her know that she was his air, his life; that if she denied him herself, it would surely be his death. There would be no air left for him to survive with if she did not consent to bless him with her love.
And that is when Legolas, prince of elves, remembered his promise to Valia.
The thought caused his breath to catch painfully in his throat and he was aware that his heart stopped beating for several seconds, only to start its rhythm again in throbbing pumps that pushed blood through his veins in excruciating waves. His breathing became shallow when he realized that he would indeed be deprived of Valia's love, his magnificent air, and had no choice in the matter. She had determined at the very beginning of their relationship that there would be no talk of love. She had been wiser than he had to acknowledge the chance. And so she had made him swear to never give his heart to her, for she would only break it if it were offered. All was hopeless in the face of that truth. Life no longer held joy for him if he could not have her love. Death would be more welcome than going on each day knowing that she lived in the world but did not love him.
Valia stirred, adjusting herself into a more relaxing position; completely ignorant of the agonizing torture she was causing the one who held her safe against the fears of the night. Legolas looked down at Valia who now held his life in her hands unknowingly and settled his gaze on her lips. They had been pressed to his cheek untold times over the past months and Legolas recognized that with every kiss she had poured meaning into him. He could survive on her kisses alone, he realized.
It occurred to him then, that it was possible for him to live without her love as long as she was in his life. All he needed was her sweet life- giving presence to sustain him and strengthen him through the day. If he knew that she walked the same ground he did each day and was warmed by the same sun he was, then he would be able to survive. Because Valia lived, he would live also.
Large droplets of water fell from the sky to bathe Legolas and Valia with their purity. The clouds wept their heavy load for the two elves wrapped in each others embrace that night. The soft rain splashed to the earth, creating a sad song of mourning and joy as it poured itself into the ground for the two children of Iluvatar. It was a song of pity for all the maiden had to endure that night and sympathy for the elven prince who discovered feelings he had no hopes would be returned, yet would continue on despite it.
Legolas looked down at Valia, his Valia, and flushed a deep red, as rich as the red blood that had flowed from her broken lip. The rain had drenched her hair, her skin, her white shift which was now of no use to her. All her skin that lay hidden underneath the fabric was revealed and Legolas found that he could not breathe as his eyes wandered over her body. He tried to look away, sensible enough to realize that such behavior was not appropriate for an elf of royal blood and breeding, but all his attempts were in vain.
She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen; the very beauty that had been embodied in Arwen Evenstar paled in laughable comparison to Valia. His eyes caressed her curves, drinking her loveliness in with unquenchable desire. He had been right to compare her to a gem for she was as exquisite as the most precious jewel to ever see the glorious light of Anar.
A silent prayer of thanks was sent to Iluvatar for blessing him with the amazing treasure that lay in his arms.
His sudden stilling combined with the corresponding tightening of his arms sent Valia on the alert and she quickly swiveled her head around, trying to see if Garand was stirring and had caused Legolas to react thus. When she saw him still lying unmoving on the ground, she turned to look up at Legolas.
'What is wrong?' she asked, seeing his already crimson face turn brighter, almost glowing in its force. Even the delicate points of his ears were colored an intense shade of red.
'The rain...' he attempted to explain, but was too mortified to go on further and too embarrassed at having been caught looking.
Valia's face contorted into confusion and her eyes moved to the sky, blinking in the falling sheet of water. She quickly lowered her head to rest against Legolas' chest when the drops of water began to sting her eyes. She observed the dark bruises that were beginning to form on her thighs; thighs that she should not have been able to see. Valia suddenly realized why Legolas was so flustered and would have sprung out of his arms if he did not have a firm hold on her. Instead she curled herself into a tight ball and moaned into his chest, her own face rapidly matching his in color as she squeezed her eyes shut.
She felt Legolas shift beneath her and his arms momentarily released their hold on her, only to wrap around her again as they pulled something else about her. Peeking an eye open, she saw he had draped his cloak over her figure, hiding the telltale signs of the rain beneath a thick layer of fabric.
'We must get you out of this rain,' he said. 'I need to put you on the ground for a moment Valia. Will you be alright?'
In answer, she struggled out of his arms and let him help her lean back against the tree trunk. Making sure she was alright, he moved to Garand, placing a finger on his neck to feel his pulse. Judging from the large welt that had begun to develop where Legolas hit him with his dagger and the steady rate of his pulse, Legolas was fairly satisfied that he would not be gaining consciousness in the near future. Once Legolas was back at the palace, he would let Elrond know what had happened and members of the guard, an elite group of warriors still in practice despite being in the Valinor, would be sent to collect Garand.
Legolas stood, picking up Valia's discarded dress on his way back to her and dropping it into her lap. He then hoisted her into his arms, and with an affirmative indication that she was comfortable, swiftly started towards the palace.
They had covered almost half the distance to their destination when Valia suddenly went rigid in Legolas' arms and he lost his grip on her legs, sending her plummeting to the ground. Thankfully, Legolas was fast enough to circle her waist with his hands and she was prevented from ever hitting the hard earth. He tried to pick her up again but she was uncooperative.
'We must go back Legolas,' she yelled above the storm, hanging onto his shoulders for support.
'I do not understand what you are talking about Valia,' he shouted back.
'We need to go back!'
Legolas shook his wet head and forcibly picked her back up and held her tightly while she tried to extricate herself. 'Let me go,' she cried, slamming her curled hands into his chest, but to no avail.
'We cannot go back Valia. We must get you to the palace as soon as possible.' His firm pronouncement drained what little color was left out of Valia's cheeks and her head bowed to rest against Legolas' chest as she began to cry.
Her violent trembling sent Legolas' heart into a furious race of concern and he anxiously looked down at her. 'What is wrong Valia!' He hoped he was not the cause of this new outburst. He could not bare the guilt of harming the one who was so valuable to him, dearer than anything or anyone that existed.
'He took your pin,' she sobbed into his chest. She was well aware of the irrationality of the thought and almost laughed at herself that of all the things that had happened, she was crying about the loss of her pin. Yet the idea that it was back with Garand was distressing and she was angry with herself that she forgot to get it, and angry at Legolas that he would not let her go back to get it, and angry at Garand for taking it in the first place.
'It is alright Valia,' Legolas soothed, rubbing her tender back in an attempt to calm her down. 'I will make sure someone retrieves it for you. I will do so myself if no one else will.'
'You promise?' she asked, letting her head fall back to rest against his arm so that she could see him.
'On my honor as heir to my father's throne,' he assured her. It was apparently a convincing oath, for her sobbing discontinued almost instantly as her head drooped back to its original place. She was quiet for the remainder of their journey back to the palace, and Legolas assumed she had drifted off to a well needed sleep. Her silence allowed him time to think of his newly discovered emotions, though it did him little good in determining what he was to do with them. All he could conclude was that he loved Valia, he would always love Valia, and if she never returned that love he would content himself with staying by her side until the end of the world, offering her anything she ever asked of him and readily accepting whatever she deigned to generously bestow on him.
By the time Legolas gained the front stairs of Elrond's palace, Valia and he were thoroughly drenched, despite his best efforts to shield her from the rain. The doors burst open on their own accord when Legolas came to them, and he entered inside, giving the servant a grateful nod.
There were several other servants bustling around the halls and many scurried off in different directions when they saw the Prince holding a bruised Valia in his arms. Now that he had reached shelter, Legolas stood in the entrance hall, dumbfounded as to what course of action he should take first. Fortunately, he was not required to make a choice when the lord of the palace appeared, clothed as if he had been planning to brave the elements outside.
'What has happened?' Elrond asked, rushing to Legolas' side and placing a hand on Valia's forehead.
'Garand has tried to rape her. He would have succeeded if I had not heard her screams for help.'
Elrond's face darkened and a look formed over the elven lord's features that had made many a man and elf quake at the sight. 'Where is he?' he demanded.
'In the forest on the north side of the palace, not more than thirty paces from the meeting of the main path and the river.'
Elrond gave a curt nod and turned on his heels to call for a company of guards to follow him.
'Lord Elrond,' called Legolas, staying his mission with his words. Obliging him, Elrond turned around partially to look back at the Prince. 'He has Valia's hairpin somewhere. Valia said he took it from her. She was rather distraught at the loss when she realized we had left it behind but I thought it wiser to send someone back for it later.'
Elrond nodded again in understanding. 'I will make sure to find it. Take Valia to her chamber and I will send for Celebrian before I leave. She will help get Valia changed and tend her injuries.' Not wanting to waste any more time, Elrond tread down the hallway, sped by the fires of immortal anger. Legolas watched him leave before turning down a small side hall towards Valia's chambers.
He was met at her door by Celebrian who had already lighted the candles in the sitting area and the bedroom. She brushed the hair away from Valia's forehead to scan her wounds. However, it was her hair that arrested Celebrian's attention the most; a tangled mess of uncharacteristic braids and twists that had not been there that morning. She raised a questioning brow at Legolas but he only dropped his gaze back down to Valia.
'Put her on the bed and I will see to her care,' instructed Celebrian, who moved into the hall to retrieve the herbs she would need for Valia's bottom lip.
Legolas was surprised to find that Valia was wide awake when he lay her down on her bed. She stared up at him with bright blue eyes that threatened to drive Legolas insensible with longing for her. She tried to smile at him; wincing at the pain it caused her lip. 'I will be alright,' she whispered in reassurance, slipping her fingers around his hand to give him a squeeze.
'You worried me Valia,' he admitted, running his free hand along her braids.
'I am sorry.'
'Do not be. It was not your fault.'
Valia shook her head, and despite his protests, she propped herself up into a sitting position against her headboard. 'You tried to warn me but I was too stubborn and foolish to listen.'
'You cannot blame yourself for what happened Valia,' he objected, dropping to his knees beside her bed so he could see her face better. His mind cautioned him not to scare her away by being imprudent, but his heart won out and he reached a hand up to lovingly stroke her cheek. The innocent caress quickly turned into an exploration of her face as he began to trace her hairline and the bridge of her nose, running his hand over her eyebrows, finding the silky skin entrancing.
'What are you doing?' Valia asked with wide eyes when his fingers hovered over her lips. His eyes darkened when he felt her breath on his skin, sending a sudden qualm into Valia's mind. She quickly moved her head out of the direct reach of his hands, staring down intently at Legolas' cloak wrapped around her and shifting nervously on the bed.
Legolas had no time to answer her question. Celebrian walked into the room with a pitcher of hot water and a concoction of ground herbs. Swiftly standing up, Legolas retreated into the sitting area and the door was shut securely behind him, baring him from the sight of Valia. The thought of leaving her for any period of time did not bode well with him, so instead of going to his own chambers he contented himself with pacing nervously about Valia's sitting room, toying with the decorations she had on the tables and shelves and anxiously picking up random books spread throughout the room only to place them back down when he read the titles with unseeing eyes.
Why had he been so stupid? There had been fear in Valia's face when he began moving his hand over her features. He should have been happy to simply brush his hand over her cheek or cease his roaming when she was obviously uncomfortable. But no! Being the foolish elf he was, he did not control his actions and now he had upset her, the maiden he had discovered only a little while ago as his love. His air. His other half. He had scared her and she did not need any new problems to deal with after enduring the lustful desire of Garand.
Garand. The name presented an entirely different problem, making the muscles in Legolas' lean arms tense. If it had not been for Valia's presence and pleadings on behalf of her tormentor, Legolas was sure he would have beaten him to unconsciousness, or even worse. The bruises he had inflicted on Valia were more than just physical, and Legolas was infuriated that he could not protect her from Garand.
Legolas was aware of the soft murmuring coming from inside Valia's bedroom, but he could not distinguish the words. Moving restlessly to a window, he drew back a gauzy curtain, producing a slight rustling, and looked out to find the storm still raging, sending down a torrent of rain he was sure could fill the sea itself due to the sheer volume. He hoped Elrond had found Garand already.
The faint sound of dripping met his ears and glancing down, Legolas noticed a puddle of water forming around his feet from his soaked clothing. Though he was loath to do so, he made a mad dash to his chambers and tore off his wet tunic and leggings, replacing them with a dry pair that was far more comfortable than his formalwear he wore in the day. He was back in Valia's sitting room as fast as possible for an elf but was disappointed to see the state of the room and door that separated Valia from him had not changed.
Sinking into a chair, Legolas played with the pages of a book on the nearby table, flipping through pages in a haphazard fashion. It was useless to try and read the words; they were all a confusing blur to him. He sighed in exasperation when Celebrian did not emerge from the bedroom in what Legolas would have wagered was half the night. He contented himself with drumming his fingers against his knee as an outlet for his frustration and nearly bolted from his chair when the distinct click of the doorknob was heard.
Celebrian emerged, closing the door most of the way behind her and walked over to an overly anxious Legolas who gripped the armrests of his chair in an attempt to bridle his emotions. He did an admirable job of putting on a passive face as Celebrian pushed back her silver hair from her eyes. 'Valia wishes to see you Legolas.'
That was all it took to send Legolas springing from his chair and bolting for the door, leaving an amused Celebrian to blow out a few candles and go see if her husband had returned yet.
'Valia?' Legolas asked quietly, slowly approaching the bed she was in. A single candle resting on her bedside table gave of a dim glow of light, softening the diminished bruises on Valia's face. Her legs were tucked underneath her covers, and a thick robe was wrapped around her frame for the sake of propriety.
The silence that came from her was taken as a bad sign by Legolas and he hesitantly made his way over to the bedside, sure that she was angry with him for his exploring touches. However, Valia patted the edge of the bed in invitation when he was close enough and he gladly accepted her offered seat.
'I want to thank you for coming to my aid Legolas,' she began hastily, taking his hand between both of hers and clasping it tightly.
'You do not need to thank me Valia. I am only glad I found you in time.' He returned her grip by curling his fingers around her fingers, unable to stop himself from rubbing his thumb over her flesh.
'How did you know?' murmured Valia.
'I did not,' he admitted, confusing her into looking up at him curiously. 'I felt strangely unsettled when I thought of you making your way back home when the storm began.'
'You braved a thunderstorm to see if I made it home safely because you felt "unsettled" in some way?' she asked skeptically.
Her question posed a difficult dilemma for Legolas. How was he to tell her that he had somehow felt her unease; he had somehow sensed it hovering around him as if it held a physical form? And then how would he explain that he thought it was because of the love he harbored for her that he was capable of sensing her distress? His wrinkled brow made Valia smile and she ducked her head.
'I called for you,' she admitted, sobering at the disturbing images the confession produced. Legolas started at her admission. He thought it had only been a deep longing on his part that she had whispered his name in her time of greatest need; that of every name she could have called on, it had been his that she chose to comfort herself with.
Valia mistook his silence for discomfort at her revelation and silently cursed herself for telling him such a thing. She dropped his hand, aware that he must think her to be flirting like the maidens he detested so much. But she was only able to loose one of her hands since he still held a firm grasp on her other. His grip tightened slightly and he turned to her with a radiant smile that left her speechless in its brilliance.
'I heard you,' he whispered.
She lowered her eyes, suddenly embarrassed at having admitted such a thing to him. She could feel the bed shift underneath her as Legolas moved and she found him unexpectedly close to her, placing a kiss on her hairline.
'You should rest,' he said, brushing her hair over her shoulder and stroking her cheek one last time before leaning over to blow out the candle. The absence of light filled Valia with an unfounded dread and she inhaled slightly as tears began to prickle her eyes.
'May you have sweet dreams tonight, mellonamin,' Legolas said, oblivious to her strange reaction. He pressed another kiss to her forehead and lingered over the skin, enjoying the warmth that radiated from her.
'Do not leave me,' Valia begged through a constricted throat, clutching at his tunic when he began to pull away. 'Please stay.' The darkness troubled her and she needed Legolas' physical presence, anyone's for that matter, to help her make it through the night.
Legolas succumbed to her petition without a fight, rather pleased to have her wanting him to stay with her, though more than a little surprised. He quickly stood and threw her covers aside, bending down to scoop his love up into his arms for the second time that night before she had time to change her mind.
'What are you doing?' she asked. Her pale face dipped down to Legolas' shoulder as she waited for him to answer.
'I cannot stay in your room all night Valia. Surely you must be aware of the scandal it would cause in the morning.' He laughed, deep rumbling echoing the thunder outside, and Valia could feel her cheeks heat into a fine shade of rosy pink. She buried her face into Legolas' tunic and garbled something unintelligible into the soft fabric, warmed a comfortable temperature by the Prince's body heat. He smiled down at her affectionately, a look that was lost on her, and cradled her closer to him as he strode out of her chamber to find an appropriate spot to spend the night with her.
He settled on the library, hoping the familiar surroundings would bring her some comfort. Lowering her into one of the large chairs, filled to a comfortable plumpness with feathers, he wrapped a blanket that was draped over the chair's back around her shoulders and ran a finger along the curve of her forehead with gentleness.
The fire needed tending to and it was to that task that Legolas turned his attention next, taking several minutes to find all that he needed to start a suitable blaze. The happy dancing of the flames cheered his heart slightly, and he twisted around to see the firelight flickering on Valia curled up into a ball, waiting for Legolas to join her.
He was by her side the next instant, somehow maneuvering himself underneath her and depositing her into his lap in one fluid motion. She began to protest, rather unnerved at sitting with him in such an intimate way, but he would harbor no complaints and shushed her with a commanding look. The snapping of the fire eased her discomfort enough to allow Legolas to guide her head to rest against his neck. He began singing to her when she was against him and his musical abilities were rewarded with her relaxing her entire weight into him.
Another song started as soon as the first was over and all would have been fine if Valia had not draped an arm around Legolas' neck, unconscious of the effect being wrapped inside the blanket with her would have on him. His muscles tightened instinctively and it took all his control to not falter over the notes he sang. Warm fingers began massaging the tense muscles in his neck, and Legolas hid the shudder that ran through him by settling further into the chair. Her ministrations were sensitizing every fiber in his being. The blanket covering them was doing an excellent job of keeping her heat and scent trapped against him, assaulting him relentlessly to add to the pleasant experience. Her breath tickled his neck every time she exhaled and a moan escaped his tightly shut lips when his song came to an end.
He felt Valia's shoulders shake with hidden laughter as she sighed and scooted closer to his comforting warmth. Her body pressed against his proved to be his undoing and he was rendered unable to start another song. Instead, he tightened his hold on her slender waist and buried his head in her hair, now free of his braids and twists, combed into the silky waterfall he loved so much.
'Why have you stopped?' she asked through a voice thick with sleep. 'Sing another song,' she requested, lifting her head to look at him with pleading eyes.
Her voice brought him out of his ecstasy enough to smile at her and place yet another kiss in her hairline before obliging her with another song. She happily settled against him again, needing no coaxing on his part and was treated to a private exhibition of numerous songs that Legolas had never dared to sing in front of a maiden since the night he had felled an entire festival of them with his voice.
Legolas decided that sitting up all night with Valia in his lap was not the best decision he had ever made as it was taking all his willpower not to blurt out a profession of his undying love to her then and there. He moved her back in his arms to tell her that they should both return to their separate chambers but found that she had fallen asleep, her eyes shining with an alluring light from the fire. The slow rise and fall of her chest should have alerted him long ago, but it had somehow escaped the comprehension of his mind. The thought of waking her was something Legolas would not think to do. He was thankful that the chair was large enough to easily accommodate him in a relaxed position. Placing a kiss on Valia's brow, he sighed contentedly and leaned his head back to fall asleep in his turn. His last coherent thought was that he held the most precious jewel of the Valinor in his arms and she had been the one to ask him for the pleasure.
That was how Elrond and Celebrian found them several hours later, resting in the comfort of each others arms in front of the dwindling glow of the fire. Elrond wrapped his own arms around his wife and pulled her close, kissing her temple and resting his head atop hers while he looked at the idyllic scene. 'He knows now,' Elrond whispered to his wife.
His lady turned in his arms, clasping her hands around Elrond's waist so she could place her head against his chest. The steady beating of his heart lulled Celebrian into a fitful sigh and she snuggled closer to him, trying to conform her body to his. 'And what makes you so sure of his heart, herven?'
'I saw the understanding in his eyes when he brought her in. He glowed with pure love for her Celebrian.'
'I do not doubt you. Are you not Elrond the wise?' She leaned back in his embrace to marvel at the contours of his face, running her smooth hand over his pronounced cheekbones, drifting down to message the base of his ear. A shudder ran through him at her touch and he dropped his forehead to hers with closed eyes.
'You are troubled,' she whispered.
'Who would not be? Can we not protect her even here in the Valinor Celebrian? Is her life one that is fated to torment every time a little happiness decides to smile on her?'
'It is not your job to protect her meleth-nin.' Celebrian cupped his face between her hands and looked up into his eyes. Lips full of intense emotion were pressed against Celebrian's lips, trying to gain comfort from the calm she exuded.
'Help me to forget,' he muttered into her ear, moving lower to place a kiss on her jawbone. Celebrian entwined her hands around his neck as he picked her up off the ground and with a final look back at the slumbering couple, departed to his bedchambers with a compliant Celebrian nestled against him.
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*Anar- the sun
*mellonamin- my friend
* Manwë- Greatest of the Valar
*herven- husband
*meleth-nin- my love/ lover
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