Chapter Seven

"What was it you had wanted to speak to me about?" Elrond asked, approaching Legolas in the courtyard late that night. Legolas stood up from the bench he had been sitting on.

"I…" He stopped. Elrond smiled and sat on the bench, motioning for Legolas to do the same.

"Go ahead."

"I apologize for bringing her here without your permission." Legolas said still standing and looking down at his hands.

"It is all right, Legolas. She belongs here with her people." Elrond said. They sat in silence for a few moments. "There is something else that troubles you."

"Not troubles." Legolas shook his head. She slowly changed his expression. "Exactly."

"Would you like to speak to me about it now, or trouble your mind about it until you can contain it no longer?" Elrond asked. Legolas took a moment to respond.

"I…I can not explain how strongly I feel towards her. It's as if when I'm with her nothing else is moving in the universe except her and me. There is not a moment that I have not thought of her since she looked upon me for the first time."

"You are in love." Elrond said, nodding. "Do you believe it is true?"

"I believe what my heart is telling me. Which is yes." Legolas said. "I want to be with her."

"Does she feel the same?" Elrond asked.

"She has not said." Legolas answered, looking back down at his hands.

"I think that is what you need to find out."

"I do as well."

Legolas walked into his bedroom, where Rose was sound asleep in his bed. The moonlight shone softly onto each of their faces, highlighting only a small portion of their features. Legolas gently sat on the bed beside her, running his fingers slowly through her hair. He softly spoke a prayer in elfish, hoping for no harm to come upon her as long as he was beside her. He bent down and gently kissed her temple. She sighed in her sleep, settling further into the covers. He smiled, and crawled into bed beside her, gently pulling her close to his body and falling into a deep peaceful sleep.

Legolas woke up the next morning alone in the bed. The sun was shining brightly onto his face and he slowly sat up, stretching. Arwen was sitting in the chair by the door.

"You slept late." She said. "Did you sleep the night before?"

"Yes I did, mother." Legolas said, and Arwen smiled. "Have you seen Rose?"

"She was out early this morning, just before the sun rose." Arwen answered. "Why is it you brought her here?"

"She is in danger where she lives. I wish to protect her." Legolas answered. "She is safe here, among her people."

"Her people are there as well, Legolas." Arwen said. "She is not of full elf."

"She might as well be." Legolas answered. "She acts very little like a human, and even more like an elf than some of those who live here."

"That is not the only reason for you bringing her here." Arwen said.

"You know me so well." Legolas said. "I wish for her to stay here because my heart begs for her love."

"She has made an oath to herself to never love."

"That is not what her heart tells her, it is what her mind tried to hide." Legolas answered. "It is the only thing that frightens her."

"It is something that can be changed." Arwen nodded, and then looked him in the eyes. "If she were to stay she could not go back."

"I am aware."

"Is she?" Arwen asked. Legolas stopped.

"She is not aware that I wish her to stay." He answered.

"And what are you waiting for?" Arwen asked. Legolas looked at her, and the two friends smiled at one another.

Legolas walked through the gardens, looking for Rose. When he found her, she had a bird in her hands, gently stroking its feathers. She spoke to it softly in elfish, and extended her hands as it flapped its wings and gently flew away. She turned around, seeing Legolas watching her from behind a row of plants. She smiled warmly at him as he walked around the flowered bushes. She had changed what she was wearing, and was now in a deep blue Elvin dress. Arwen had given it to her when Legolas was speaking to Elrond the night before.

"You look…" He trailed off, walking up to her. She smiled bashfully and looked down.

"That bad? Arwen said it would make it a little easier for me to blend in." Rose said.

"No, you look amazing." Legolas said. She looked up at him, and smiled. He gently kissed her, his hands on her sides. "And you blend in because you belong. You are among your people."

"I have never had a people to be among." She said softly.

"That is because you have not been with us." He said. He took one of her hands, walking her towards a more private part of the garden. "There is much I want to talk to you about today."

"I have all the time in the world." She smiled.

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