There will be one last section after this piece, hopefully, before I leave
on Friday. This is the last love chapter for a while now, I have completed
the transition between the two Elves. I hope to be able to publish the
next piece by tomorrow night; I have a test tomorrow so I will not be able
to write tonight, but I should be able to write tomorrow due to little
homework (thanks to vacation!). If the next piece isn't out tomorrow then
I am sorry for leaving at such a boring time in the plot.
Thanks again for the reviews! Galadriel of Lorien, I would like to ask you if you could tell me your pen-name because I would greatly like to read one of your own stories! I agree with your statement about Mary-Sue's and my fiction, but I just say "Not a Mary-Sue" in hopes of attracting readers who, like me, are annoyed with the usual Legolas romance with an OC. It seems that now all Legolas/OC romances are Mary-Sues, no matter how much you try and escape it. Thank you again!
****
ELVISH DIALOGUE: Le aphadar aen : You are being followed.
****
The following morning, Haemerethwen, with the help of a quiet Legolas, was able to stand up without much difficulty. The pain had relatively subsided during common movements, but she could not perform many of the movements necessary in defending herself. However, she pleaded with Legolas to allow them to continue to move on toward Rivendell, where they planned to consult with the twins Elladan and Elrohir, who had remained even though their father departed for Aman.
After Haemerethwen's announcement of her true feelings, Legolas was more inclined to welcome solitude than her company. Throughout the following days of their journey to the Caradhas, he barely spoke to her. With every passing minute that he ignored her, Haemerethwen's spirit depleted; she had hoped her declaration would allow Legolas to become more confident in also stating his hidden feelings, but instead she became witness to desperate silence. She had been wrong, horribly wrong; now she consistently felt anguish.
'What prompted me to release such delicate emotions?' she asked herself as she rode beside Legolas, 'My misleading hopes caused me to believe that he, too, suffered in the deprival of words. I temporarily lost control of my senses in this fantasy and now I remember why so little words I usually announce.' She peered over at the silent Legolas who pretended that he did not notice her prying eyes. She sighed in frustration; it was now almost five days since they had left the area where the Olog-hai had attacked, but to no avail did Legolas loosen his tongue.
The days were long in their journey before they would reach the mountains, but not terribly tiring. Little conversation caused both Elves to view their constantly changing surroundings. A warming sun welcomed them every morning and blessed them with an array of yellows, oranges and pinks at both morning and night. The subtle light pleased the two Elves in their solitude and it was usually during this time that Legolas would slowly open up and possibly spark up a conversation. However, these discourses were short and left Haemerethwen further confused and saddened.
They had reached and passed Anduin without trouble; no other foul creatures had surprised them, but the formidable thoughts of Thrakdreg still dwelled within Haemerethwen's mind. She would constantly swallow down that horrendous point of her past, but it always left her doubled-over with fears of the future. Through all moments of the journey, she continued to hear her brother's warning as she left Mithlond: "Le aphadar aen."
As the night began to fall over the traveling Elves a few hours later, her thoughts returned to the Prince. Staring up into the cloudy night, she questioned herself about Legolas' statement of how she could not control her emotions. 'Absurd!' she confidently thought. Then she heard Legolas silently sing to himself and, without her consent, she felt the strings of her heart being played again. Cursing in her mind, she cautiously peered at her companion.
Her eyes soaked in the radiance of his complexion as his mouth slowly sang the words; he sat straight upon his horse with his hands upon the horse's back, staring ahead of him as if he were confident of what lay beyond. His cloak was pushed back and his golden hair gleamed in its magnificence and behooved his slightly tan skin. The undulating shadows of the clouds caused one feature to become distinguishable and then another, allowing her to witness all the diverse beauties he contained. She quickly shifted her eyes when he slightly shuffled upon the horse's bareback, leaving her to listen to his melodic voice.
He paused and took in a deep breath, leaving her aching for him to continue. Releasing it, she recognized a sadness was also overcoming him.
"Must you stop?" she quietly asked while still looking forward.
"The song is finished," he answered, looking up to the stars with a frown upon his face.
"Sing another," she pleaded, turning her eyes upon him. Legolas shook his head.
"I have lost the inspiration," he stated. He then looked back to in front of him and again ignored her presence. She took her eyes off of him and frowned; through all of Legolas' stubbornness, her sadness was slowly transforming into irritation and anger. They continued to ride their horses for minutes longer, until Haemerethwen's patience was scrapped away.
"Why do you torture me so?" she angrily asked, directing her slanted eyes at him. Legolas sighed in frustration and impatiently peered at her.
"A bit of an exaggeration," he replied and then turned his eyes off of her. She stiffened in her seat and vehemently stated:
"You focus on specificity, dear Prince, but ignore the lingering question." She paused and then pointed her finger at him accusingly. "You! You and your pride! I never asked to feel these emotions towards you and I never meant to degrade you and your Royalty by admitting this feeling."
"Pride?" he spat back at her, "What knowledge do you contain involving pride? How can you possibly assume that pride reasons out my silence?"
"Provide me another reason then," she challengingly declared, "All I witness is your daily silence, which offers me nothing."
"I am confused," he angrily answered, locking his blue eyes upon her.
"What have you to be confused over?" she irritably queried. He paused at this question and she watched as his face slowly changed from resentment to sadness. Looking away from the furious she-Elf, his thoughts returned to the complex emotions soaring throughout his mind and heart. Haemerethwen's blazing fury slightly dimmed when his returning eyes reflected the fear she felt as well.
"I do not understand," he began, swallowing hard, "These powerful thoughts strangle such loving emotions; revelation cannot occur within my stubbornness." He paused, glancing around the area and then placing his view upon her. "Could I reciprocate what you confess? Yes. . . and, no. What lies within my troubled heart speaks of bewilderment and the complexity is unbearable, leaving me perplexed and irritated." Haemerethwen simply peered at the Elf as he tried to enunciate his inner feelings, questioning what he was revealing.
"I lack comprehension, Haemerethwen, in this subject," he stated while gritting his teeth, "And I search within myself for the underlying reason for this confusion, for this new emotion. But it points to what I fear." He deeply sighed and looked down at his hands.
"What is it you fear?" she slowly asked. Not looking up, he replied:
"I fear what you might one day offer me: love." Startled, she pulled her horse closer to his and whispered:
"How can you fear love, Legolas?" He looked upwards and swallowed, trying to grasp onto his emotions while admitting them as well.
"I do not fear love in general," he answered, "I have found love in many other instances and I have mostly welcomed the privilege of such. Yet, you offer a form of love I have no previous experience with and I fear the future holds no luck for us." He looked up at her, his blue eyes dimming.
"I have not yet offered my love," she stated, "What makes you think such a slight emotion will morph into so deep a one?"
"I do not know," he blatantly replied, "But something hidden within passionately whispers such beautiful temptations that I cannot discard or believe to be false. Can you not hear it within yourself?" Haemerethwen smiled at him and nodded.
"The future will reveal much," she said, grabbing hold of his cold hand.
"Aye, but I cannot base my future on subtle whisperings of the soul," he stated, "And you shall not either." Her smile changed into a frown of sadness as she understood what Legolas meant.
"Shall I continue to progress or should I remain static?" she questioned.
"Progress, but do not allow your heart to flutter on whimsical notions. Question your mind before your heart and slowly the future will become discovered. We shall not become enveloped in an emotion that offers only temporary security, and I shall continue to consider my fear and whether it is able to be overcome."
"Why?" she asked, dropping her grip upon his hand, "Why must you be the pessimist and rely only objective thoughts?"
"I am realistic," he answered with a hint of annoyance. She smiled at him once more.
"No," she argued. He looked at her and tilted his head slightly sideways.
"No?" he repeated.
"You deny reality and live in a protective illusion," she stated, "If you were realistic then you would accept the nature of love and its course. Instead, you fear it and thus ignore it." She paused and looked at him turn his eyes away as he searched for a different reason. "Idealizing love aids you in forgiving yourself for your rejection of me. You tell me to ignore the incessant pounding of my heart, but I will not allow it. Not when you reveal that same occurrence within your own troubled heart. Listen to the subtle cries within, but combine it with the knowledge of your mind. This leads to revelation and understanding, something that you continually deny." She looked at him carefully as he sighed.
"I have listened to these inner voices, which constantly cry for me to accept what beginning you offer. Yet, the thoughts also remind me that it will only be a beginning-nothing more," he looked at her again, his blue eyes piercing hers, "This is no revelation, it is yet another depressing thought of how love will abandon me."
"Your mind knows me not," she soothingly replied.
"Then neither does my heart!" he cried and then paused, "It is too confusing, Haemerethwen." She looked at him, her grey eyes offering a sanctuary from his unpleasant thoughts.
"Remember my offer," she whispered, grabbing onto his arm, "But I ask for no response. All I ask is for friendship; if a stronger relationship proceeds it then it will be through our complementing desires." There was a slight pause as Legolas took in her words, then he replied:
"Friendship it is."
Thanks again for the reviews! Galadriel of Lorien, I would like to ask you if you could tell me your pen-name because I would greatly like to read one of your own stories! I agree with your statement about Mary-Sue's and my fiction, but I just say "Not a Mary-Sue" in hopes of attracting readers who, like me, are annoyed with the usual Legolas romance with an OC. It seems that now all Legolas/OC romances are Mary-Sues, no matter how much you try and escape it. Thank you again!
****
ELVISH DIALOGUE: Le aphadar aen : You are being followed.
****
The following morning, Haemerethwen, with the help of a quiet Legolas, was able to stand up without much difficulty. The pain had relatively subsided during common movements, but she could not perform many of the movements necessary in defending herself. However, she pleaded with Legolas to allow them to continue to move on toward Rivendell, where they planned to consult with the twins Elladan and Elrohir, who had remained even though their father departed for Aman.
After Haemerethwen's announcement of her true feelings, Legolas was more inclined to welcome solitude than her company. Throughout the following days of their journey to the Caradhas, he barely spoke to her. With every passing minute that he ignored her, Haemerethwen's spirit depleted; she had hoped her declaration would allow Legolas to become more confident in also stating his hidden feelings, but instead she became witness to desperate silence. She had been wrong, horribly wrong; now she consistently felt anguish.
'What prompted me to release such delicate emotions?' she asked herself as she rode beside Legolas, 'My misleading hopes caused me to believe that he, too, suffered in the deprival of words. I temporarily lost control of my senses in this fantasy and now I remember why so little words I usually announce.' She peered over at the silent Legolas who pretended that he did not notice her prying eyes. She sighed in frustration; it was now almost five days since they had left the area where the Olog-hai had attacked, but to no avail did Legolas loosen his tongue.
The days were long in their journey before they would reach the mountains, but not terribly tiring. Little conversation caused both Elves to view their constantly changing surroundings. A warming sun welcomed them every morning and blessed them with an array of yellows, oranges and pinks at both morning and night. The subtle light pleased the two Elves in their solitude and it was usually during this time that Legolas would slowly open up and possibly spark up a conversation. However, these discourses were short and left Haemerethwen further confused and saddened.
They had reached and passed Anduin without trouble; no other foul creatures had surprised them, but the formidable thoughts of Thrakdreg still dwelled within Haemerethwen's mind. She would constantly swallow down that horrendous point of her past, but it always left her doubled-over with fears of the future. Through all moments of the journey, she continued to hear her brother's warning as she left Mithlond: "Le aphadar aen."
As the night began to fall over the traveling Elves a few hours later, her thoughts returned to the Prince. Staring up into the cloudy night, she questioned herself about Legolas' statement of how she could not control her emotions. 'Absurd!' she confidently thought. Then she heard Legolas silently sing to himself and, without her consent, she felt the strings of her heart being played again. Cursing in her mind, she cautiously peered at her companion.
Her eyes soaked in the radiance of his complexion as his mouth slowly sang the words; he sat straight upon his horse with his hands upon the horse's back, staring ahead of him as if he were confident of what lay beyond. His cloak was pushed back and his golden hair gleamed in its magnificence and behooved his slightly tan skin. The undulating shadows of the clouds caused one feature to become distinguishable and then another, allowing her to witness all the diverse beauties he contained. She quickly shifted her eyes when he slightly shuffled upon the horse's bareback, leaving her to listen to his melodic voice.
He paused and took in a deep breath, leaving her aching for him to continue. Releasing it, she recognized a sadness was also overcoming him.
"Must you stop?" she quietly asked while still looking forward.
"The song is finished," he answered, looking up to the stars with a frown upon his face.
"Sing another," she pleaded, turning her eyes upon him. Legolas shook his head.
"I have lost the inspiration," he stated. He then looked back to in front of him and again ignored her presence. She took her eyes off of him and frowned; through all of Legolas' stubbornness, her sadness was slowly transforming into irritation and anger. They continued to ride their horses for minutes longer, until Haemerethwen's patience was scrapped away.
"Why do you torture me so?" she angrily asked, directing her slanted eyes at him. Legolas sighed in frustration and impatiently peered at her.
"A bit of an exaggeration," he replied and then turned his eyes off of her. She stiffened in her seat and vehemently stated:
"You focus on specificity, dear Prince, but ignore the lingering question." She paused and then pointed her finger at him accusingly. "You! You and your pride! I never asked to feel these emotions towards you and I never meant to degrade you and your Royalty by admitting this feeling."
"Pride?" he spat back at her, "What knowledge do you contain involving pride? How can you possibly assume that pride reasons out my silence?"
"Provide me another reason then," she challengingly declared, "All I witness is your daily silence, which offers me nothing."
"I am confused," he angrily answered, locking his blue eyes upon her.
"What have you to be confused over?" she irritably queried. He paused at this question and she watched as his face slowly changed from resentment to sadness. Looking away from the furious she-Elf, his thoughts returned to the complex emotions soaring throughout his mind and heart. Haemerethwen's blazing fury slightly dimmed when his returning eyes reflected the fear she felt as well.
"I do not understand," he began, swallowing hard, "These powerful thoughts strangle such loving emotions; revelation cannot occur within my stubbornness." He paused, glancing around the area and then placing his view upon her. "Could I reciprocate what you confess? Yes. . . and, no. What lies within my troubled heart speaks of bewilderment and the complexity is unbearable, leaving me perplexed and irritated." Haemerethwen simply peered at the Elf as he tried to enunciate his inner feelings, questioning what he was revealing.
"I lack comprehension, Haemerethwen, in this subject," he stated while gritting his teeth, "And I search within myself for the underlying reason for this confusion, for this new emotion. But it points to what I fear." He deeply sighed and looked down at his hands.
"What is it you fear?" she slowly asked. Not looking up, he replied:
"I fear what you might one day offer me: love." Startled, she pulled her horse closer to his and whispered:
"How can you fear love, Legolas?" He looked upwards and swallowed, trying to grasp onto his emotions while admitting them as well.
"I do not fear love in general," he answered, "I have found love in many other instances and I have mostly welcomed the privilege of such. Yet, you offer a form of love I have no previous experience with and I fear the future holds no luck for us." He looked up at her, his blue eyes dimming.
"I have not yet offered my love," she stated, "What makes you think such a slight emotion will morph into so deep a one?"
"I do not know," he blatantly replied, "But something hidden within passionately whispers such beautiful temptations that I cannot discard or believe to be false. Can you not hear it within yourself?" Haemerethwen smiled at him and nodded.
"The future will reveal much," she said, grabbing hold of his cold hand.
"Aye, but I cannot base my future on subtle whisperings of the soul," he stated, "And you shall not either." Her smile changed into a frown of sadness as she understood what Legolas meant.
"Shall I continue to progress or should I remain static?" she questioned.
"Progress, but do not allow your heart to flutter on whimsical notions. Question your mind before your heart and slowly the future will become discovered. We shall not become enveloped in an emotion that offers only temporary security, and I shall continue to consider my fear and whether it is able to be overcome."
"Why?" she asked, dropping her grip upon his hand, "Why must you be the pessimist and rely only objective thoughts?"
"I am realistic," he answered with a hint of annoyance. She smiled at him once more.
"No," she argued. He looked at her and tilted his head slightly sideways.
"No?" he repeated.
"You deny reality and live in a protective illusion," she stated, "If you were realistic then you would accept the nature of love and its course. Instead, you fear it and thus ignore it." She paused and looked at him turn his eyes away as he searched for a different reason. "Idealizing love aids you in forgiving yourself for your rejection of me. You tell me to ignore the incessant pounding of my heart, but I will not allow it. Not when you reveal that same occurrence within your own troubled heart. Listen to the subtle cries within, but combine it with the knowledge of your mind. This leads to revelation and understanding, something that you continually deny." She looked at him carefully as he sighed.
"I have listened to these inner voices, which constantly cry for me to accept what beginning you offer. Yet, the thoughts also remind me that it will only be a beginning-nothing more," he looked at her again, his blue eyes piercing hers, "This is no revelation, it is yet another depressing thought of how love will abandon me."
"Your mind knows me not," she soothingly replied.
"Then neither does my heart!" he cried and then paused, "It is too confusing, Haemerethwen." She looked at him, her grey eyes offering a sanctuary from his unpleasant thoughts.
"Remember my offer," she whispered, grabbing onto his arm, "But I ask for no response. All I ask is for friendship; if a stronger relationship proceeds it then it will be through our complementing desires." There was a slight pause as Legolas took in her words, then he replied:
"Friendship it is."