Disclaimer: Tolkien owns everything recognizable, I don't.
AN: omg. I got a lot more reviews than I expected. I think I might turn into a review whore. This is great. I'm trying my very best to not squeal and dance around. I have to focus on my writing. Thank you! This chapter was extremely hard to write and it took me long time to organize everything and write what I wanted to.
Chapter 3: A Welcome Burden
Legolas was seated in his place minutes before the warning bell rang to indicate the start of the council. He saw three hobbits enter with Gandalf. While two of the hobbits sat on chairs, the third sat on the floor in a corner. The rest of the participants walked in and were introduced. There were many representatives of the different peoples of Middle-Earth. The man Legolas had seen the night before also present. Also, Galdor from the Grey Havens came in place of Cirdan, the Shipwright. Seated near him were two dwarves who looked alike, one was the younger version of the other. Legolas concluded that they were kin.
As the council started, Legolas tried to concentrate on the task at hand. Isildur's Bane had been found and it was their duty to destroy it once and for all. But when there were moments of contemplation and the crowd was silent, snippets of his time with Ninquelote crept into his mind. It took much of his willpower to stop himself from smiling.
The girl had been great company. She knew much of elven lore and did not hesitate to engage in some friendly competition. They had begun to compare each other's knowledge by quizzing the other on obscure topics of Elven history. The game had ended with a tie, but only after they both ran out of suitable questions. An Elf came to tell Legolas that the council was starting soon and he reluctantly left the library.
After hours of discussion, Elrond asked who was willing to take the One Ring to Mount Doom. One of the hobbits, Frodo, freely accepted the task. His servant, Samwise, was also chosen to accompany him. The council ended.
Legolas walked back to the library and found it a little tidier than when he left it. He saw Ninquelote sitting on a desk in front of a window. The desk had books, scrolls, quills, ink and plates scattered around it. She looked up from her work and when her eyes met his, a wide grin appeared on her face.
"You are back. I am so happy. You can help me finish recording the books alphabetically, then chronologically. When we are done recording, you can stack the rest of the books."
"I am sure you meant to say, 'It is lovely to see you again, Legolas. Please sit down and relax while I get you some food. I am so happy to see you. Not because I want you to help me with my tedious chore but because I am genuinely ecstatic to be in your company.' Was that what you really meant to say?"
"No."
"Ah, then it was wishful thinking on my part."
"Yes."
Clearly amused, Legolas grabbed the scroll she was working on and sat on the windowsill behind her. When he glanced down at the work, his smile grew wider. He had expected to see a list but found a sketch of an object that was half-tree and half-elf maiden. He decided to ignore the numerous comments forming in his head and gave the scroll back to Ninquelote.
"Drawing is a habit I had picked up from my brother. He was easily distracted but found that after a quick sketch, he could easily concentrate. I would have introduced you to Gildor but he left for the Grey Havens last month. He insisted that I stay and wait until I receive a message informing me to join him. I do hope he's safe."
"He is safer than we are."
"Legolas, what do you mean?"
"From the council, I learned that the One Ring has been found and it is here in Imladris. A halfling and his servant accepted the task to destroy it."
"Bilbo? But he is too old. Surely Elrond would not allow him to go on such a quest. He has led a long and hard life, uncommon to his people; he deserves to spend the remainder of his life in peace. He told me himself that his days of adventuring were over. Did anybody try to dissuade him? Was there anybody there who took enough pity on the dear old hobbit to accept the task for him?"
Through her tirade, Legolas tried to interject and tell her that Frodo and Sam were the ones who accepted the task but could not. Finally, she was not speaking but silently fuming and thinking unladylike thoughts. Legolas reached out his hand and gently caressed her face.
"It was not Bilbo, but his nephew Frodo, who is going on the quest."
Ninquelote quickly looked up to meet Legolas' eyes, her own filled with rage.
"Why did you let me think that it was Bilbo?"
"I tried, but you would not let me. You are quite the talker. I ask a simple question and your response is long and ends with a barrage of questions. Usually it changes our conversation so much, we start discussing a completely different topic."
"I apologize. I have grown to care for him, he is a dear friend."
"Do not worry, he is not going anywhere. Elrond is looking for able-bodied people to assist Frodo and Sam. He does not qualify."
"I have always wanted to travel to distant lands and to see the world of men, but not this way. If I had the courage, I would go. But I do not have the courage." She whispered the last sentence, almost as if she was speaking to herself.
Legolas gazed out the window and watched as the leaves on a nearby tree were stirred by the wind. Ninquelote's words echoed through his mind. 'If I had the courage.' His gaze never left the fluttering yellow leaves and did not shift when Ninquelote stood beside him. 'I have the courage.'
AN: This is a slightly revised version. Yeah, I didn't do much for 5 months.
AN: omg. I got a lot more reviews than I expected. I think I might turn into a review whore. This is great. I'm trying my very best to not squeal and dance around. I have to focus on my writing. Thank you! This chapter was extremely hard to write and it took me long time to organize everything and write what I wanted to.
Chapter 3: A Welcome Burden
Legolas was seated in his place minutes before the warning bell rang to indicate the start of the council. He saw three hobbits enter with Gandalf. While two of the hobbits sat on chairs, the third sat on the floor in a corner. The rest of the participants walked in and were introduced. There were many representatives of the different peoples of Middle-Earth. The man Legolas had seen the night before also present. Also, Galdor from the Grey Havens came in place of Cirdan, the Shipwright. Seated near him were two dwarves who looked alike, one was the younger version of the other. Legolas concluded that they were kin.
As the council started, Legolas tried to concentrate on the task at hand. Isildur's Bane had been found and it was their duty to destroy it once and for all. But when there were moments of contemplation and the crowd was silent, snippets of his time with Ninquelote crept into his mind. It took much of his willpower to stop himself from smiling.
The girl had been great company. She knew much of elven lore and did not hesitate to engage in some friendly competition. They had begun to compare each other's knowledge by quizzing the other on obscure topics of Elven history. The game had ended with a tie, but only after they both ran out of suitable questions. An Elf came to tell Legolas that the council was starting soon and he reluctantly left the library.
After hours of discussion, Elrond asked who was willing to take the One Ring to Mount Doom. One of the hobbits, Frodo, freely accepted the task. His servant, Samwise, was also chosen to accompany him. The council ended.
Legolas walked back to the library and found it a little tidier than when he left it. He saw Ninquelote sitting on a desk in front of a window. The desk had books, scrolls, quills, ink and plates scattered around it. She looked up from her work and when her eyes met his, a wide grin appeared on her face.
"You are back. I am so happy. You can help me finish recording the books alphabetically, then chronologically. When we are done recording, you can stack the rest of the books."
"I am sure you meant to say, 'It is lovely to see you again, Legolas. Please sit down and relax while I get you some food. I am so happy to see you. Not because I want you to help me with my tedious chore but because I am genuinely ecstatic to be in your company.' Was that what you really meant to say?"
"No."
"Ah, then it was wishful thinking on my part."
"Yes."
Clearly amused, Legolas grabbed the scroll she was working on and sat on the windowsill behind her. When he glanced down at the work, his smile grew wider. He had expected to see a list but found a sketch of an object that was half-tree and half-elf maiden. He decided to ignore the numerous comments forming in his head and gave the scroll back to Ninquelote.
"Drawing is a habit I had picked up from my brother. He was easily distracted but found that after a quick sketch, he could easily concentrate. I would have introduced you to Gildor but he left for the Grey Havens last month. He insisted that I stay and wait until I receive a message informing me to join him. I do hope he's safe."
"He is safer than we are."
"Legolas, what do you mean?"
"From the council, I learned that the One Ring has been found and it is here in Imladris. A halfling and his servant accepted the task to destroy it."
"Bilbo? But he is too old. Surely Elrond would not allow him to go on such a quest. He has led a long and hard life, uncommon to his people; he deserves to spend the remainder of his life in peace. He told me himself that his days of adventuring were over. Did anybody try to dissuade him? Was there anybody there who took enough pity on the dear old hobbit to accept the task for him?"
Through her tirade, Legolas tried to interject and tell her that Frodo and Sam were the ones who accepted the task but could not. Finally, she was not speaking but silently fuming and thinking unladylike thoughts. Legolas reached out his hand and gently caressed her face.
"It was not Bilbo, but his nephew Frodo, who is going on the quest."
Ninquelote quickly looked up to meet Legolas' eyes, her own filled with rage.
"Why did you let me think that it was Bilbo?"
"I tried, but you would not let me. You are quite the talker. I ask a simple question and your response is long and ends with a barrage of questions. Usually it changes our conversation so much, we start discussing a completely different topic."
"I apologize. I have grown to care for him, he is a dear friend."
"Do not worry, he is not going anywhere. Elrond is looking for able-bodied people to assist Frodo and Sam. He does not qualify."
"I have always wanted to travel to distant lands and to see the world of men, but not this way. If I had the courage, I would go. But I do not have the courage." She whispered the last sentence, almost as if she was speaking to herself.
Legolas gazed out the window and watched as the leaves on a nearby tree were stirred by the wind. Ninquelote's words echoed through his mind. 'If I had the courage.' His gaze never left the fluttering yellow leaves and did not shift when Ninquelote stood beside him. 'I have the courage.'
AN: This is a slightly revised version. Yeah, I didn't do much for 5 months.
