Legolas quickly noticed the girls long pointed ears. They, too, were delicate, but much longer than his own, or any other he had seen before. They did not look odd, but fit her face nicely. He was not sure of what language to speak to her, so he chose the common tongue.
"Are you hurt?" Instantly he chided himself for asking such a ridiculous question. At the same time he also chastised himself for abandoning Gimli and the ship to venture out to a specimen he was sure his eyes were tricking him with. Yet, he hoped that his eyes were not playing a cruel joke on him, but that the vision of desire was real.
Celeste gazed at him. His voice sent shivers down her spine, and she longed to hear him speak once more. His eyes revealed contemplation as they turned from dark to light brown. She knew the language he spoke. She was adept to all creature's languages even the common tongue spoken by the mortal humans. She replied, "No I am not, thank you for your concern." Unclear if he was an elf she refused to address him as one. Behind him she saw the wooden creature with the swan-head approach, and her eyes widened in apprehension.
Legolas turned his head warily afraid that when he looked to her again she would not be there, and his eyes had in fact concocted her all along. He saw his ship, and assumed Gimli had brought it to help with the rescue. Knowing that the girl appeared to be half fish flooded Legolas's mind with doubt. Obviously she did not need rescuing if she lived in the waters, yet he felt it strange that he had never seen a creature like her before.
He turned to face her, and in fact she was there looking at him questioning the gigantic thing that was slowly drifting towards them. Calmly he spoke to her, "That is my boat."
Unsure of what a boat was she looked at him confused, and then to the item he described in back of him, "a boat?" She asked. "What is a boat?"
Legolas, stifling the smile that was plaguing his face responded, "it is a magnificent vessel that privileges me to explore the sea. It is carved out of wood. Its swan head is mantled to the front of it, or correctly named the bow."
Celeste, once again, was at ease. She thought that if she had met him sooner perhaps she would not have ingested those phial's. She smiled brilliantly at him revealing two rows of bright white teeth. "Thank you for your wise knowledge, you are most helpful."
Boldly, Legolas asked her, in hopes to subdue his curiosity, "Forgive me for my boldness, Milady, but I have never seen a creature, beautiful creature," he made sure to interject, "as yourself before. I have traveled these waters for hundreds of years. Are you the last of your kind?"
Celeste opened her mouth to reply, but just as quickly stopped herself and her lips drew back together to seal her mouth. Knowing that it would not be wise to reveal her identity to him at once she moved closer to him.
Legolas's heart pounded at the close proximity. He could not help feeling excitement pulse throughout his body. He gulped down the lump that had hurled its way into his throat the closer her presence became. He could smell her now she was so close. She smelt heavenly like a field of wildflowers in the dewy morning. His eyes rolled back and closed as his thoughts drifted away.
Celeste smiled inwardly. She was gifted with empathy, and could sense even the slightest emotion strongly. She knew that he was intrigued by her. To her he was perfection. She wanted to reach out and touch him. She withheld her desire, and instead thought of a reply for him.
"What are you called?"
Legolas, clearly taken aback, spoke up, "My name? I am Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of the Greenwood." Tilting his head to the side he asked, "And you, do you have a name?"
She thought to herself, Legolas? That is elvish! Celeste's eyes shone brightly, for she was full of enthusiasm at the thought that she was right about her assumption of the creature in front of her.
Ignoring his question she remarked, "Are you an elf?"
Legolas's eyebrows knitted in confusion unsure of the source of her question. Allowing himself to answer her he stated, "Yes, that is correct."
Celeste's mind reeled at the notion of her encountering an elf, much less in the middle of the ocean. She was so excited, but tried hard to hide that from him. Instead she recalled the question he had asked prior to her blurting out asking if he was an elf.
Promptly she responded, "Forgive me, Legolas," saying his name slowly as if to savor every syllable of the words that bore his name, "I am called Celeste."
"Celeste." He whispered under his breath, fascinated with the way the "L" rolled off his tongue in a harmonious fashion. He thought to himself that it was a beautiful name, but lacked in beauty to bestow itself upon this glorious creature.
The ship was now very close to the two, and they heard a voice beckoning out to them, "Legolas!" Only eyes and bushy red hair appeared from over the railings of the giant vessel. The creature bemused Celeste, and she found it hard not to laugh.
Legolas turned his attention away from the dwarf that called out to him, and on to Celeste. Her laughter was delightful, and sounded sweet. He wanted to join in with her, but decided against it. He was more concerned with the thought that he was not willing to come to terms with: Having to leave Celeste, and return to the boat.
