*OMG!!! I forgot to add this chapter!!! I was just re-reading my fic and I realized that I had COMPLETELY left this chapter out!! I am SO sorry, my lovelies!! I beg your forgiveness!! Hope you like it……
** Disclaimer: Tolkein owns the peoples, places, and events in LOTR and I own the made up peoples and events. J.R.R. is (sadly) dead and I am alive, toying with his ideas like only a TRUE LOTR fan fic writer can! I would like to thank my shower for giving me the idea for this fic and I would like to thank J.R.R Tolkein for having a brilliant imagination and coming up with LOTR in the first place. Okay, an odd disclaimer I know, but what do you want from me? It's 3:00am and I am exhausted! *nods once* Exactly.
Confronting a Friend
The desert dishes had just been cleared and Lord Thranduil had bade his guests a good night. The Great Hall began to clear and Legolas took this opportunity to seek out Pellen. He scanned the room, his sharp elven eyes searching for his friend. He finally spotted him over by the terrace, Elladan and Elrohir flanking him. Legolas slowly pushed his way through the small crowd of elves that had gathered by the entrance to the hall. When he came upon Pellen and the twins, they stopped whatever it was they were discussing and greeted him.
"Ah, Legolas. I was just having the most interesting conversation with Elladan and Elrohir. We were discussing mortals, if you can believe that. It seems that, nowadays, no elven palace is complete without one." Pellen's voice was sardonic as he slowly sipped his wine and glanced in Legolas's direction.
Legolas sighed. He knew where this conversation was going and he didn't approve of it at all. He was exhausted and not really in the mood to listen to Pellen's sarcasm. "What are you talking about, Pellen?" He inquired.
It was Elrohir who spoke. "Pellen was telling us about your friend, Amariell. He told us that she is mortal who was raised by an elf. He remarked how interesting it was to have a mortal living among our people. I told him how Rivendell has Aragorn."
Legolas shot Pellen an angered look at the mention of his love, Amariell. How dare Pellen mention her to Elladan and Elrohir. She was none of his, or their, business.
Legolas said nothing, however, until Elrohir had finished speaking. He chose not to acknowledge what Pellen had said regarding Amariell and instead asked about Aragorn. "Ah yes, Aragorn. How is he fairing? It has been quite some time since I have spoken with him."
"He is doing quite well, actually. When I told him Elladan and I were coming here, he bide me give you his greetings. I would have given you his message earlier, but I didn't think your father's study was the most appropriate of places."
Legolas waved Elrohir's apology off. "No, you were quite right, Elrohir. I will have my chance to see him soon, in light of recent events."
At this, Pellen stopped his wine goblet halfway to his mouth and stared at his prince. "You are going to Rivendell, Legolas?"
Legolas nodded, deciding that now would be the best time to make his offer to Pellen. "Yes. I am accompanying Elladan and Elrohir there tomorrow morn, actually. I was hoping that you would join me on the journey. My father has given me orders to gather a party of four riders for my protection. I would like you to be one of them, Pellen."
Pellen inclined his head as an acceptance. "Of course, Legolas. I would be honored to ride with you to Rivendell. Have you decided whom the other three riders will be?"
Legolas nodded and took a sip of his wine. "Yes. I was thinking of asking Cäowen, Thaleon, and," he braced himself for his friend's reaction. "Amariell."
Pellen remained silent, simply staring at his friend. He didn't have to say anything for Legolas could tell exactly what he was thinking. Legolas, too, kept his mouth shut, deciding he didn't want to get into an argument with his friend in front of their guests.
Elladan, confused as to why there was sudden uncomfortable silence, took the opportunity to excuse himself. "I grow weary. I think I shall retire for the night. I will see you both tomorrow morn."
Elrohir nodded in agreement with his brother's suggestion. "Yes. I, too, grow weary. Get a lot of rest, Legolas and Pellen. Tomorrow's journey will start early and you will need to be well rested."
Legolas and Pellen murmured their goodnights to the twins, who turned and left the now empty hall. Pellen took the break in the silence to express to Legolas his feelings regarding the last choice for his party. "You want to travel all the way to Rivendell with Amariell as your guard? The girl can barely hit a moving target, Legolas. She will not be able to protect you."
Legolas walked past his friend, ignoring his snide remarks for the moment, and walked out onto the terrace. The night was cool and clear, a slight breeze rustled the leaves on the tathar trees just below the balcony. Pellen walked up next to Legolas, who had come to stand by the stone railing. He rested his hands now on the cold stone, waiting for the elf prince to speak. It was a few moments before Legolas did speak, but when he did, his voice was tired and irritated.
"Aside from the fact that you have no idea of Amariell's progress with archery, I know she cannot protect me all by herself. That's why I am asking you, Thaleon, and Cäowen to come as well." He turned now to his friend, brow furrowed. "What is it you have against her, Pellen? She is the sweetest and most endearing woman I have ever met. I love her greatly and I know that she returns my love equally. What I don't understand is what makes you hate her so."
Pellen closed his eyes. He did not want to have this conversation with Legolas. He did not want his friend to hate him. All the emotions from before, the jealousy and sadness that Pellen had been feeling ever since Amariell appeared, returned to him then. Before he could bite his tongue, the words were out of his mouth. "She does not love you, Legolas, she has an infatuation with you. She sees you as someone who is wiser than she, someone who can guide her and teach her. Amariell is young, even by a mortal's standards. Too young to know anything about love, much less the emotional bond that is the love elves share. She knows nothing about that."
Pellen's harsh words stung Legolas like a slap to the face. He had no idea that his friend felt this way about Amariell. He gaped at Pellen, his eyes full of hurt. That hurt soon turned into anger, however, as Legolas responded to his friends remarks. "Pellen, she was raised by elves. I would assume her father taught her the beliefs of our people where love is concerned. Regardless, you know nothing about Amariell or what she is capable of understanding. She has given you no reason to dislike her, yet you have done nothing but criticize her from day one. I can love whomever my heart desires, as can Amariell. Age has nothing to do with it, nor does race. So what if she's mortal and I'm an elf. What does that matter, Pellen?"
Pellen's voice was equally fierce. "I do not want you to die for her!" He slapped the cold stone railing with his hands. He turned away from Legolas because he did not want the other elf to see the great sadness and anger that lie within his dark eyes. Legolas, who was about to shout back, closed his mouth. Never, in all their thousands of years of friendship, had Legolas ever seen Pellen so angry or hurt. Then he thought about his friend's words and his anger dissipated, replaced by confusion.
Legolas regarded his friend's back. "Die for her? Who said anything about dying?"
"You mean to tell me that you, if the option was presented, you would not renounce your immortality to be with her?" Pellen turned a less than convinced look on Legolas. He had taken a deep breath and calmed himself a bit, but his tone still held a hint of anger.
Legolas spread his hands widely and answered. "What purpose would that serve? Besides, you know as well as I that it is impossible for me to do such a thing. The renouncing of one's immortality can only be done by the half elven. I am not half elf." He paused for a moment before continuing. "It's true I'm trying to find a way of extending her life by any means I can, but what you have said is an impossibility. I would have thought you knew that."
Pellen sighed and looked away from his friend. He stared down over the balcony to the small pond just below, watching the moon's reflection. "Yes, I do know that." He turned back to his friend. He looked Legolas in the eyes and laughed just a little. "It's just that, I see how much you love her. You have only known this girl for a little while, but I know how much she means to you. I'm just scared that, while you're searching for a way to extend her mortality, if you should come across something that could cut your immortality short, you might use it. You are my best friend, Legolas. You and I have been friends for almost three thousand years. The thought of you not being around for another three thousand scares me."
Legolas laughed a little as well and placed his hand on Pellen's shoulder. He turned his friend around to look him in the eye. His voice was soft as he spoke. "Now you know how I feel about losing Amariell. Now you know why I will do whatever it takes to see if I can extend her life. Even if it is possible, I promise you I will not cut my own life short. Besides, Amariell would never let me do that." He laughed and thumped Pellen's shoulder playfully. "I am afraid you are stuck with me for another three thousand years, my friend."
Pellen smiled, but then regained his composure. "I am sorry for my words, Legolas. I did not mean to upset you. I know how much you love Amariell. I know you will do what you can. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know."
Legolas smiled brightly and, again, thumped Pellen's shoulder. "Thank you, my friend. That means a lot to me. And I am happy that you will accompany me to Rivendell, despite your feelings toward Amariell."
Pellen nodded as Legolas let go of his shoulder. "Of course I will ride with you, my Prince. I will go with you wherever you ask."
"I am very glad to hear you say that, Pellen. I want you to know that I am sorry I have not discussed Amariell with you before now. I did not know you felt so strongly about her."
Pellen shook his head and waved off Legolas's apology. "No, Legolas. You do not owe me any apologies. You do not owe me any explanations either. I understand now how much she means to you. I see her in a new light and I am going to apologize for all my harsh words to her over the months. It was not right of me to treat her in such a manner."
Legolas shook his head. "But if we had discussed things before, perhaps we could have avoided any ill feelings. And I do owe you both an apology and an explanation. You are my best friend, Pellen. Amariell or no Amariell, nothing will ever break the bond that you and I have shared since childhood. I want you to like Amariell just as much as I do, for I believe she is the one whom I will marry. It would break my heart if I was torn between my love and my best friend."
Again Pellen shook his head and looked at Legolas, his face apologetic. "Legolas, you know I would never ask you to choose between us. Besides, a mortal woman who can steal the heart of an elf prince can't be all that bad, can she?"
Legolas laughed at this and Pellen joined in. The two friends watched the stars as they glittered above them and chatted about trivial things for a few minutes. Then Pellen remembered the question he meant to ask Legolas before they had started talking about Amariell.
He turned to the elf prince now, his demeanor serious. "I meant to ask you before, Legolas, why are we going to Rivendell?"
At first Legolas did not answer his friend. He simply stared out at the small pond below, trying to think of the best way to tell Pellen the disturbing news. "Do you remember the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Pellen?"
Pellen nodded. "Yes. Well, I remember my father telling me about it. I was not born yet, so all I know is come form what my father has told me. It was the battle where the mortal, Isildur, took the ring of power from the Dark Lord Sauron after destroying him. Lord Elrond was at that battle, was he not?"
Legolas nodded, but said nothing. Pellen continued. "Why do you bring it up? What does a three thousand year old battle have to do with us traveling to Rivendell?" He asked curiously.
"Pellen, the One Ring has been found. The shadow that has been ever growing out of Mordor is now moving over our home and it threatens to consume and destroy all that we hold dear. Sauron wishes to take back the ring and we cannot let that happen. We are going to Rivendell to attend the Council of Elrond. There it will be decided the best course of action for dealing with this awful news."
Pellen's mouth was agape as he listened to Legolas. "So it's true then?"
"Is what true?"
"What I have heard. There has been talk of such an event. The ring of power being found, the meeting of a council that has not been called for thousands of years, the gathering of elves, men, and dwarves in Rivendell. The palace is alive with gossip. I didn't think it genuine until Elladan and Elrohir arrived and now you tell me it is so. What I don't understand is what the meeting of the Council will accomplish? How can we destroy an evil that has no form?"
Legolas looked to Pellen now and saw the fear in his friends eyes that he, himself, felt deep within. He wanted to reassure his friend, but he knew he could not. "I am not certain, my friend. The answer lies in the destruction of the One Ring, that much I know. How the ring will be destroyed is something that only the Council can answer. That is why we must go to Rivendell." Legolas stood, for he and Pellen had set themselves down on the stone of the balcony. He brushed his leggings off and looked again at his friend.
"I must go see Amariell. I promised her I would come to her after supper and now I must go to her with the troubling news. I will ask her to ride with us, but I do not know if she will."
Pellen stood and brushed himself off as well. He smiled at Legolas. "You know she will follow you, just as I. I will retire now and see you in the morn, my dear friend." The two elves embraced and Pellen retreated back into the palace. Legolas turned and walked down the stairs of the balcony. He walked to the stables behind the palace and took out his steed. He mounted the beautiful white horse and whispered in its attentive ears their destination. With lightening speed, the horse shot forward and carried his master to the door of his beloved.
*Not too shabby for a voided chapter is it?? Clicky, clicky my precioussseessssss…
