Chapter 2: Journey Homeward
Morning came quickly, as the orange sun rose between the highest two trees, awakening Ariel from her slumber. Two hands came to her eyes to wipe a stray hair from her face. Legolas's hand. Ariel looked up at him intently, as he massaged her face softly, like silk.
He was already fully dressed, and nearly all of his supplies were placed back into their original carrier. Ariel sat up, to sit by Legolas, who was hunched down beside her. He had a small smile upon his lips, at her adoring morning expression.
She said to him: "Legolas, it is early in the morn, and yet I feel still exhausted. Have I not time to wash even, yet you smile!" She pushed his arm playfully, when her laughed out loud.
He responded: " Princess, I have taken liberty to awaken you, so that you would still have limited time to bathe." This time, it was she who smiled at his remark.
She said: " I thought none, that an elf, you would forget not to call me princess. I thank you for mercy on a poor girl, who feels yet dirty."
He said: " I greatly apologize, Ariel.now you feel no want to be dirty, so now go wash, for we run out of time. There nearby is a spring to bathe in."
She said: "Thank you, Legolas." Legolas directed Ariel to the spring. It was a small lake of white, sparkling water. It looked so beautiful, as they hovered around the edge, gazing into the liquid. Legolas's eyes went wide with wonder, as he peered over the edge; he hadn't noticed the absence of Ariel.
Ariel had slowly backed away, to be behind him, and with one motion, she pushed Legolas over the edge. For some unknown reason, he looked prepared, as if he had known all along what Ariel was planning, but what she had not planned, was Legolas's hand grabbing her own, and sent her flying over the small cliff as well. Together they fell, until they both splashed into the stream.
Ariel looked at Legolas underwater, and together they came up for a breath of air, as the warm water surrounded them. Ariel was fixing to swim away, when Legolas, grabbed both of her arms, and pulled her to him. Legolas began to swim to more shallow water to be able to stand up, with Ariel still in his arms. Soon, Legolas was able to stand up, and as he did, he still held Ariel in his arms, and in one swift motion, their lips were pressed together in a deep kiss. Ariel wrapped her legs around Legolas's waist, as their kiss depend.
When Ariel finally broke the kiss, both gasped for a breath of air. Legolas looked upon the young girl, adoringly, and without second thoughts, brought his lips down to hers again. Legolas's arms went around Ariel's waist, as her arms went around his neck.
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Legolas gathered the princess in his strong arms, as he carried her out of the water. Her arms stayed around his neck, as she looked at his gleaming face. He was truly beautiful. How could he love I, she wondered bitter-sweetly.
Legolas was truly overjoyed. He now was certain that she too loved he. He once again unpacked a blanket to dry the girl. He wrapped her into a large one, and cradled her in his ready arms. Ariel could not keep smiling at him. He was truly wonderful.
She said: "Legolas, when shall we begin homeward? We are quite behind schedule already."
He began rocking her as he did when she was but a wee babe. He said: "Soon quite, melamin [my love]." The 'melamin' took the princess totally off guard, and she could not mask the surprise.
She said: "Why, do you call me such an endearment?"
He responded, gazing into his love's eyes: "You care not to be called my love? I call you only what I feel for you, Ariel. Nothing else."
She said: "I me, Legolas, I secretly desire to be called such by you, but nay. I cannot be called such, nor felt as such, for I am betrothed to else." Ariel's smile faded into sadness. She was quite ashamed to be in love when she was signed to someone else.
Legolas was silent. One part of him wanted to cry out: "Alas, dearest Princess Ariel, by contract, I am in fact to be your husband." Yet, he wished to contain such news until later. He was however much shocked that she was unfamiliar to her own husband. He stayed mute.
"Princess," he began, "we must begin to travel to our destination, for I fear that your parents must be quite alarmed with your absence." Ariel nodded silently. She agreed in her mind. Why was life so unfair?! Why could she not marry whom she loved so dear?
The two quickly cleared the area, and began on their way. Ariel sat in front of Legolas, so his arms wrapped around her waist to direct the reigns. Legolas had one arm on the leather, and one on Ariel's stomach to keep her from falling, when the horse picked up pace. It was no worry for Ariel, however. She was used to riding faster. Thanks were due to her father for that.
As the two neared the kingdom, Ariel could clearly see her friend, and maid Silmarien awaiting her arrival. As she was close enough to speak to, Ariel ordered the horse to halt.
Silmarien dashed towards them, and spoke clearly: "I me, princess, your king and queen await quite in worry. King and wife are angry; you gave them quite a scare, being away for so long. Hurry you must! Ride swiftly, friend, and master." Ariel smiled down at her dear friend, and thanked her for her news.
"I thank you, Silmarien." And they rode off. Once the two reached the stables, Ariel leaped from the animal, and took off towards the palace entry. Legolas tied the reigns to the horse, and followed eagerly.
Ariel pushed with great difficulty the heavy, wooden door. Inside was many guests, and her parents on their throne, speaking to their advisors openly. As she pushed guests aside, all went silent, and moved out of the way, watching her with eyes of eagles. Her father discontinued his speech to his advisor and stood. Arwen did the same. Ariel was terribly aware of her appearance, by the way her mother looked at her. She halted in front of the couple, and remained silent.
"Daughter," Aragorn spoke softly with concern, at the frail girl upon him, "where have you been, your mother and I worried nonstop about you. We sent troops."
"I went looking for prince Legolas as you instructed, and found him late at night."
"And I talked her into camping with me. It was very late, and she looked so cold and hungry. It was quite my fault." Legolas spoke from behind he. Aragorn grinned at the elf, and almost ran to greet him. He gave Legolas a tight hug. "Is this true Ariel?" Arwen piped up, coming to hug her daughter.
"Quite moma. Quite true."
Morning came quickly, as the orange sun rose between the highest two trees, awakening Ariel from her slumber. Two hands came to her eyes to wipe a stray hair from her face. Legolas's hand. Ariel looked up at him intently, as he massaged her face softly, like silk.
He was already fully dressed, and nearly all of his supplies were placed back into their original carrier. Ariel sat up, to sit by Legolas, who was hunched down beside her. He had a small smile upon his lips, at her adoring morning expression.
She said to him: "Legolas, it is early in the morn, and yet I feel still exhausted. Have I not time to wash even, yet you smile!" She pushed his arm playfully, when her laughed out loud.
He responded: " Princess, I have taken liberty to awaken you, so that you would still have limited time to bathe." This time, it was she who smiled at his remark.
She said: " I thought none, that an elf, you would forget not to call me princess. I thank you for mercy on a poor girl, who feels yet dirty."
He said: " I greatly apologize, Ariel.now you feel no want to be dirty, so now go wash, for we run out of time. There nearby is a spring to bathe in."
She said: "Thank you, Legolas." Legolas directed Ariel to the spring. It was a small lake of white, sparkling water. It looked so beautiful, as they hovered around the edge, gazing into the liquid. Legolas's eyes went wide with wonder, as he peered over the edge; he hadn't noticed the absence of Ariel.
Ariel had slowly backed away, to be behind him, and with one motion, she pushed Legolas over the edge. For some unknown reason, he looked prepared, as if he had known all along what Ariel was planning, but what she had not planned, was Legolas's hand grabbing her own, and sent her flying over the small cliff as well. Together they fell, until they both splashed into the stream.
Ariel looked at Legolas underwater, and together they came up for a breath of air, as the warm water surrounded them. Ariel was fixing to swim away, when Legolas, grabbed both of her arms, and pulled her to him. Legolas began to swim to more shallow water to be able to stand up, with Ariel still in his arms. Soon, Legolas was able to stand up, and as he did, he still held Ariel in his arms, and in one swift motion, their lips were pressed together in a deep kiss. Ariel wrapped her legs around Legolas's waist, as their kiss depend.
When Ariel finally broke the kiss, both gasped for a breath of air. Legolas looked upon the young girl, adoringly, and without second thoughts, brought his lips down to hers again. Legolas's arms went around Ariel's waist, as her arms went around his neck.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Legolas gathered the princess in his strong arms, as he carried her out of the water. Her arms stayed around his neck, as she looked at his gleaming face. He was truly beautiful. How could he love I, she wondered bitter-sweetly.
Legolas was truly overjoyed. He now was certain that she too loved he. He once again unpacked a blanket to dry the girl. He wrapped her into a large one, and cradled her in his ready arms. Ariel could not keep smiling at him. He was truly wonderful.
She said: "Legolas, when shall we begin homeward? We are quite behind schedule already."
He began rocking her as he did when she was but a wee babe. He said: "Soon quite, melamin [my love]." The 'melamin' took the princess totally off guard, and she could not mask the surprise.
She said: "Why, do you call me such an endearment?"
He responded, gazing into his love's eyes: "You care not to be called my love? I call you only what I feel for you, Ariel. Nothing else."
She said: "I me, Legolas, I secretly desire to be called such by you, but nay. I cannot be called such, nor felt as such, for I am betrothed to else." Ariel's smile faded into sadness. She was quite ashamed to be in love when she was signed to someone else.
Legolas was silent. One part of him wanted to cry out: "Alas, dearest Princess Ariel, by contract, I am in fact to be your husband." Yet, he wished to contain such news until later. He was however much shocked that she was unfamiliar to her own husband. He stayed mute.
"Princess," he began, "we must begin to travel to our destination, for I fear that your parents must be quite alarmed with your absence." Ariel nodded silently. She agreed in her mind. Why was life so unfair?! Why could she not marry whom she loved so dear?
The two quickly cleared the area, and began on their way. Ariel sat in front of Legolas, so his arms wrapped around her waist to direct the reigns. Legolas had one arm on the leather, and one on Ariel's stomach to keep her from falling, when the horse picked up pace. It was no worry for Ariel, however. She was used to riding faster. Thanks were due to her father for that.
As the two neared the kingdom, Ariel could clearly see her friend, and maid Silmarien awaiting her arrival. As she was close enough to speak to, Ariel ordered the horse to halt.
Silmarien dashed towards them, and spoke clearly: "I me, princess, your king and queen await quite in worry. King and wife are angry; you gave them quite a scare, being away for so long. Hurry you must! Ride swiftly, friend, and master." Ariel smiled down at her dear friend, and thanked her for her news.
"I thank you, Silmarien." And they rode off. Once the two reached the stables, Ariel leaped from the animal, and took off towards the palace entry. Legolas tied the reigns to the horse, and followed eagerly.
Ariel pushed with great difficulty the heavy, wooden door. Inside was many guests, and her parents on their throne, speaking to their advisors openly. As she pushed guests aside, all went silent, and moved out of the way, watching her with eyes of eagles. Her father discontinued his speech to his advisor and stood. Arwen did the same. Ariel was terribly aware of her appearance, by the way her mother looked at her. She halted in front of the couple, and remained silent.
"Daughter," Aragorn spoke softly with concern, at the frail girl upon him, "where have you been, your mother and I worried nonstop about you. We sent troops."
"I went looking for prince Legolas as you instructed, and found him late at night."
"And I talked her into camping with me. It was very late, and she looked so cold and hungry. It was quite my fault." Legolas spoke from behind he. Aragorn grinned at the elf, and almost ran to greet him. He gave Legolas a tight hug. "Is this true Ariel?" Arwen piped up, coming to hug her daughter.
"Quite moma. Quite true."