Of the Wind Chapter 11: Legolas is Missing, a lord of the rings fanfic

Chapter 11

Morning Mists

A/N:: Ugh… this chapter was such a trial to write. So many different revisions. It had to be changed and changed again and I'm still not satisfied! So here's the finished product. It will get better, I promise! Usual disclaimers apply and hopefully enjoy!

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Laera eyes fluttered open and she smiled at the blue sky outside of the cave. Rising, she made her way to the mouth and took in a breath of moist air. The damp earth smelt of rain and crystal beads fell from leaves catching the light and falling like stars. Flowers were blossoming, wood creatures were mending what damage the storm had done to their home, and birds sang merry songs as if to celebrate the dawning of a new day. It was a beautiful, different world and Laera could feel her spirits rising already.

Suddenly Laera realized she smelt like she had been rolling in some dirt and her hair felt tangled and messy. All of a sudden, Laera greatly longed for a nice, long, bath. She didn't mind being messy and dirty and smelly… it was the fact that Legolas had seen her looking like some wild girl. She decided she would ask Legolas if they would come upon a spring, lake, or body of water of some sort. Laera turned away and went to wake Legolas who she supposed was still sleeping.

Upon reentering the cave, Laera realized something wasn't right. Closer inspection confirmed her suspicions. Legolas was not in the cave. Taking the corner of his blanket between her fingers, she peered under to make sure. Nope, no Legolas under there. Frowning, she gazed about her surroundings in search for a body, panic rising in her throat. Where was he? At a second look around the cave, she noted his bow and quiver were also missing.

Breathing heavily, she ran outside, looking frantically for the missing Elf. No Legolas in sight. Twisting her head from left to right, she decided to take a new direction… look up. Turning her gaze upward, she scanned the boughs of the trees, trying to catch a glimpse of golden hair or a pale face. "Where can he be?" she said softly. She would have called out, but then again, she didn't want to attract anyone who may want to cause an Elven maid harm.

Every kind of horrible scenerio ran through Laera's head as she decided to expand her search. She trudged through the forest, filling her shoes with mud and bruising her legs as she heedlessly crashed through stubborn branches in her way. A glint of gold sparkled through the trees, as if beckoning her that way. Hope rising in her chest, Laera sped up her pace, not caring about the physical pain her walking through the forest was causing her. A few feet a away, Laera heard the sounds of waves gently falling upon a shore. The glint of gold had been the sunlight reflecting off of the water!

She also heard other sounds. Sounds of a body moving through the water, the splash of a hand diving within it's depths, the drip of water sliding off of a lock of hair. She didn't need to come closer to figure out who it was. Ducking beneath a shrub, Laera peeked over it's edge to make sure.

In the water, bathing quietly was Legolas. She had always thought him handsome, but there, as the water cascaded off of his bare chest and muscular arms, as he cupped the water in his hands to rinse his face clean of the dirt and mud from days past, she realized he was beautiful.

Laera felt so happy he was safe and not eaten alive by hungry orcs that she let out a sigh of relief. She was so blown away by that image of him, she didn't remember to keep quiet. Slapping a hand against her mouth, Laera ducked beneath the bushes, cursing her thoughtlessness. It didn't dawn on her that by doing so, she was making much more noise.

Startled, Legolas bent low in the water, so that only his eyes and the top of his head was visible. He suddenly wished he hadn't left his clothes hanging on the branch of a tree. He also wished he had not decided to bathe completely nude. But then again, there weren't supposed to be orcs around these woods. He wasn't sure about peeping toms, however. "Who is there?" he called out. Whoever it was, he obviously had been seen. It would do him no good just to crouch in the water until the intruder had left.

She shut her eyes. Finally, she decided to just show herself. She rose slowly, her cheeks burning. "It…it is just me, Legolas," she called. "I am sorry, Legolas," she stammered, "but I woke up and you were not in the cave… and I worried. I am not here just to gawk… although it may look that way… I… uh… I think you look great… there in the water," she blurted out. Why did she feel the need to share that piece of information with him?

Despite his uncomfortable-ness, Legolas laughed. Laera looked so mortified you would have thought it was she he had walked in on.

He sighed with reprieve and began to make his way to the shore. "No! Stay right there," she ordered, turning away. Shutting her eyes, she blindly turned and began to walk in the direction in which she came. "Alright! You can come out now! Uh… sorry… again!" Breathing heavily, she stumbled back to the cave where she waited, not without a bit of dread, for the return of Legolas.

Legolas could not help but smile as he waded out of the small body of water. It astonished him to see Laera so flustered. She had said she was worried about him… Just how worried had she been? Although he did not like the idea of Laera being distressed, it was not an unpleasant thought to know she cared about him. He chuckled as he slipped on his clothes and made his way back to the cave.

When Laera saw him arriving, she rose and averted his gaze. "I apologize again, Legolas. I was not spying on you. Do not think me a thinker of tainted thoughts… but, oh… I did not mean…" she faltered.

Laera watched in horror at the fond smile that crept over his face. She sadly misinterpreted it as a look of smug satisfaction. "If that is what you are thinking, Legolas, then you really do not know me at all," she started, turning away with fury in her eyes.

Legolas's smile turned into a look of wonder. How did he do it? How had he managed to anger her again? Yes… he really did not know Laera. How he yearned to understand her ways! Maybe then he would comprehend her sudden changes of disposition. "Alright," he said calmly. "What have I done now?"

Laera whipped around and glared. "Oh, funny how you appear to have no idea. For one so arrogant you are greatly skilled in the pretence of ignorance!"

The last fragile thread that had held Legolas's composure finally snapped. "What is wrong with you? Why do you get so angry at me over nothing?" he demanded.

"I do not know!" Laera shouted back, throwing her hands in the air in vexation. Now faced with the question, she was shocked to find that she really didn't know. "It is just you, I suppose. Something about you that gets me as livid as I do." She walked to a stone and sat upon it heavily. Resting a chin on her hand, she continued, "I do not hate you Legolas. You are actually quite an agreeable and enjoyable person to be around. It is just…I do not know…" she sighed.

"We would have made a disastrous married couple," Legolas said quietly. "Especially at the age of nine…" he added. To his amazement, Laera's features broke into a smile and she began to laugh heartily. It was then the humorous side of what he had just said hit him and he, too, began to laugh. Soon, the two were laughing through tears. Feelings of embarrassment and resentment slipped out of Laera's mind to be replaced by fond memories and pleasant thoughts. Legolas forgot momentarily of Laera's seemingly unjust outlook on him and laughed until his sides were sore. The forest rang with their laughter... not one of them caring if an orc heard them or not.

A small bird perched and his missus perched on a tree not too far away. They had watched the whole scene

and shared bemused smiles. For it was not laughter that they heard, but the sound of ancient barriers being broken.

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