A/N: hey hey, me again. ^^ I'm glad you guys like this story so much, it makes me feel so happy! :)
A Sunset Love
Chapter 10: setting out
Legolas and Mithdelothwen held each other for a few more minutes before she spoke.
"I still need to get dressed, don't I?" She sniffed, but tried to laugh. Legolas smiled and got up.
"Are you sure you're alright? He didn't do anything, did he?" Legolas asked, concerned. Mithdelothwen shook her head.
"No, really.. I'm ok. Just a little.. scared. But, I'm fine." Mithdelothwen answered.
"I'll be waiting outside of your door." Legolas said reassuringly then left. Mithdelothwen took another moment to pull herself together, then chose a forest green long-sleeved turtle neck shirt, and a replica of the brown skirt she'd been wearing earlier. She fastened on a belt and pulled her boots back on and checked her appearance. She definitely needed to comb her hair! After combing quickly, she washed her face to rid it of the tears. She was about to leave when she remembered Legolas' knives were still in her room somewhere. She eventually found them, unharmed, but the one she had used to stab Enantoion with was covered with his foul blood.
Resisting the urge to throw up, she quickly washed the knife, sighing with relief when the blade was clean again. Opening her door, she found Legolas waiting patiently for her, just like he'd said. In his hands, he held her bow and a quiver of arrows.
"Your father gave them to me, to give to you." he said, handing them to her. After she had fastened the quiver of arrows on her back, she handed him back his knives.
"I'm glad you let me borrow these.. they came in handy." She admitted, as they walked down the stairs to find her father and bid him farewell.
"I told you so." Legolas smiled, then saw her father waiting for them.
"Mithdelothwen, my daughter. I am sorry to see you go, although I know you will be well taken care of. Her father smiled at Legolas. Mithdelothwen left Legolas' side to give her father a hug.
"Father... I will never forget you. Perhaps someday I shall return." She hinted, and gave her father a kiss on the cheek. Then, they left for Lothlorien, leaving behind the silver, gold and copper forest.
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Legolas was thinking about what Mithdelothwen had just said.
"Perhaps someday I shall return." Legolas was a little confused. He thought she would go back home once the fellowship was on the road again.
"Legolas? Why are so quiet?" Mithdelothwen asked, getting him out of his thoughts.
"Nothing.. nothing, my love." He assured, holding her close. After a moment of silence, Legolas spoke.
"I was so worried about you earlier. I was afraid I almost lost you." He whispered, almost too afraid to speak it louder. Mithdelothwen's eyes cast down to the floor as she answered.
"So was I. I know that if he had actually succeeded I would've died of grief and shame.. but I knew you would save me... you wouldn't let anything hurt me." She finished, smiling up at Legolas.
For the next few weeks, Mithdelothwen spent much time sharpening her fighting skills. For archery, she would have Legolas and Aragorn help her. When practicing with the sword, she would have Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas help her. Under their expertise, she was soon up to their level.
"Bravo!" Gimli cried, watching Mithdelothwen fighting with Boromir, knocking his sword from within his grasp.
"That was very good." Boromi admitted, not at all offended that he'd been beaten by a female.
I helped to teach her, so she'd better be able to beat me... he thought, rather proudly.
"That truly was an amazing battle, you two." Aragorn smiled, patting the two on their backs.
"Thank you." Mithdelothwen replied, slightly short of breath. Pippin offered her an apple, which she gratefully accepted. Aragorn then cleared his throat to get some attention.
"Men.. as you know, time grows short. In 3 days, we will leave for the road to Mordor."
Leaving for Mordor... Mithdelothwen thought, and made a decision. She'd been wondering about this, ever since she found out that she was betrothed to Legolas, and knew he was in the fellowship. Besides, some instinct in her was practically yelling at her to go, for reasons unknown.
"You will be leaving in 3 days?" Mithdelothwen asked. Everyone looked at her.
"Yes, that's right. You needn't worry, you'll be safe here in Lothlorien," Legolas started.
"I'm not going to stay here. Not that I dislike it here or anything... but why do you think I would ask for skills training?" Mithdelothwen asked. Legolas couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"You mean to say you've been planning to follow us?!" he wasn't angry.. but bewildered that she would want to go on a rather suicidal mission.
"No, I haven't been 'planning' this.. I just feel that I need to go.. I may have some purpose in this." She explained, but they didn't look convinced.
"Look, two elves are better than one! And, I could come in handy! I'm a healer elf!" She tried, hoping they would allow her to come along. She looked pleadingly at Aragorn, who sighed.
"Legolas, what do you think?" Legolas looked at him surprised.
"What do you mean?" Aragorn was naturally the 'leader' of their group, and he was asking him?!
"I wouldn't mind her going, as she has a point, about there being two elves... and she has amazing battle skills. But, she is 'your' responsibility." Mithdelothwen flared up.
"I'm his 'responsibility? Are all men so chauvinistic?"
"Mithdelothwen... you could get seriously hurt, or worse yet, killed. I don't want anything to happen to you." Legolas answered, gritting his teeth, to not cause a scene. Mithdelothwen eyed around her, then pulled Legolas over to the side.
"Oh, am I supposed to watch you go, and risk having you get killed then?" Mithdelothwen shot back, a little hurt that he seemed too over protective. He didn't have an answer for her.
"Legolas, you promised to protect me by life or death." She stated. Legolas nodded, unsure of what she was getting at.
"yes.. and?!" He asked rather impatiently. Mithdelothwen took his hand in hers, and held it to her heart.
"In return, I pledge the same promise. By my life or death, I will protect you, dearest Legolas." She owed, kissing the knuckles of his hand.
"Dire na talern ille, a 'too." [I will die for you, if needed.] Legolas looked into her eyes sadly.
"Do you know what you have done? You've practically thrown your life away." She shook her head.
"No. Not anymore than you have. By giving up my life for you, should it be needed, I wouldn't be 'throwing' my life away. It would serve a greater purpose.. like letting you survive." She whispered. Legolas sighed and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, she looked at her deeply.
"I will allow you to go, on one condition." she nodded slowly.
"You must come back alive, even if I do not." She raised an eyebrow. Legolas waited for her to say something. After she saw he wasn't going to let her go unless she agreed, she nodded. Legolas then turned to the rest of the fellowship, who was waiting for their answer.
"She will be coming on the fellowship's quest."
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A/N: Oh yay! She gets to journey far and wide... on a most dangerous and suicidal mission?
M: I am not!
L: Didn't I tell you so?
M: ¬.¬
please R/R!! ~08.05.02
