A/N: I'll leave it a surprise as to Legolas and Kalen's fate. I had an idea of how I was going to end this, but I just wanted to see how everyone else felt and to see if we agreed. Thanks for your opinion. You know what belongs to me and what belongs to Tolkien.
"Will you walk with me, My Lady? I wish to learn more of your adventures".
Gimli's gruff voice had broken the silence that hung heavily in the air. Calanagariel nodded her agreement to the dwarf, and much to Kalen's surprise, reached for his hand. She could never have imagined such a sight possible; her mentor touching the hand of a dwarven male, but here it was before her.. Calanagariel gave a roguish smile before glancing at the elf prince.
"Yes, Master Gimli, I would be delighted. We will leave the two of you to catch up on things".
Legolas grinned. It appeared that Gimli had met his match in the elf warrior, and she was proving to be just as crafty . There was chattering as Gimli and Calanagariel walked down the corridor engaged in private conversation of their own, and Kalen brought her eyes upward; meeting his. Their gaze lasted but a brief moment, and out of discomfort, she quickly looked away.
"Shall we walk"?
Nodding her approval, she followed him down the opposite end of the corridor. They walked until at last, they had arrived at the door leading to Lord Elrond's gardens. Legolas directed her to a seat and stood in front of her, fidgeting with his hands as he stood there. The last week had been spent in deep thought, and there had been many battles raging within his mind. He had pondered much, but now that the time had come to give his thoughts voice, he found himself no closer to confidence than he had been before that moment.
"Kalen, I know we have not had much time to truly know one another, but.."
"I suppose my little 'side adventure' put a damper on things, didn't it"? Kalen interrupted with a laugh, and Legolas smiled. Her sense of humor might prove to make things a little easier, and he began to feel as if he might be able muster the courage to speak his mind.
"Yes, your little adventure did hinder many things. However, it did allow me a chance to do much thinking about myself. There have been many powerful things to deal with, and I'm unsure that I have dealt with them successfully".
Legolas inhaled deeply and then released his breath. He found himself at a crossroads, and his future would be affected no matter which road he chose to take. Why was this so difficult a task? He had been many strange places and had seen many gruesome battles, none of which had filled him with the type of fear that overtook him now. His future was riding on the words that he chose, and he wanted to choose them carefully.
It was apparent that he had much on his mind, and puzzlement began to appear on her face. It troubled her to see her friend in such a state, and his alien expression began to bring an uneasiness that she had never felt before.
"Are you going to speak, or am I to be left in suspense until my every wound has healed"?
She smiled at him and placed a hand on his, trying to ease both he, and his words.
"I had no elaborate speech planned, so the words I speak now come only from my heart".
"Your heart"? She paused , "I know what you would say, but I do not wish the guilt that I bear over losing Nevaria to be doubled by your heavyhearted declaration of sorrow".
Kalen withdrew her hand. The look of confusion on his face mirrored the confusion that he felt in his heart, and he cocked one of his eyebrows. After a few moments of silent pondering, he finally realized what she had implied and then smiled with slight amusement.
"Nevaria? I cannot deny that I grieve at her passing, but I am more grieved by this unspoken feeling that has overcome my heart and will not release it".
"'Tis not like you to speak in riddles, so far as I have known you. Are you feeling well"?
Closing his eyes, he drew another breath. This was proving to be harder than he had expected, but having already made the decision that all things were to be revealed before they would leave this place in Lord Elrond's garden, he pressed onward.
"It appears that Eru has thought to change my path of life, and it seems that it has been so since the day of our first meeting".
"Speak clearly so that I may understand what it is you would have me hear, Legolas, for I do not understand".
Could she not understand what his words spoke of? Legolas grimaced and wondered silently if it had it been this hard for Aragorn to woo the Evenstar when he had finally made up his mind to do so.
"Please, just listen to me speak. If I do not say these things now, I may lose my nerve".
And he knew that he would. For the first time in his life, the brave and mighty Prince of Eryn Lasgalen was in danger of losing both nerve and heart, at the very same moment.
