As is oft in times of peace about a kingdom, the problems within may seem more terrible, more threatening and all the more luminous for the fact that they are the largest troubles experienced at the time. Such was the case within Rohan, and especially within Eomer. A week now he had spent in the company of Legolas, with each moment shared further illuminating the reasons why his wife would select the elf as a friend. He was both valiant and courteous, regal in his proportions and speech, but humble in manner when the occasion required him to be so. He held no high opinion of himself, though he held Altariel above all other esteem, doting upon her at times like a father upon a favourite child. But at other times...at other times, his attention to her was something more.
Eomer stood with his bow held lax, his last two arrows discarded on the ground by his feet. He watched as Legolas aimed - seemingly effortlessly - at the make-shift target quiet some yards away, and releasing his arrow, Eomer watched as it's head plunged directly into the absolute centre of the target.
" That is another mark on the tally, I believe." Legolas said happily as he walked away from the rough line the two men had drawn in the dirt to mark a shooting point. He stood beside Eomer for a moment, resplendent in his effortless victory over the King - surely he was less than speaking terms with common sense to challenge an elf to a round of targets?
Eomer smiled blithely and picking up an arrow he approached the shooting point. " Let us see if that tally can not be broken." He said slowly, trying to concentrate on the centre of the target. In his mind's eye the arrow had already left his bow and was plunging through the shaft of Legolas' where it was stuck in the centre of the target. But releasing the arrow he was brutally rebuffed, as its shaft plunged not into the centre of the target, but away over the edge. He stood scratching his head for a moment, wondering what had gone wrong.
Legolas stepped forward and patted Eomer's shoulder in a consolatory manner. " It seems a broken tally is not meant to be." He laughed lightly and lay his bow carefully down on the ground. He turned to look back at Medulsed in the centre of the city, from where they stood at the gates of Edoras, Medulsed seemed like a glimmering box of gold and dark wood. " Come, I shall collect the arrows and we shall return to Medulsed and see if your Lady can not provide a midday meal as reward to the winner." With that the elf jogged off towards the target and began plucking the arrows from the board.
Eomer ground his teeth, glaring at the elf. Why did Legolas bother him so? There seemed no fault, which could be attributed to Legolas, but all the same Eomer was aware that within his mortal body burned a deep dislike for Legolas. Something in his manner - most noticeable when Altariel was in their company - brushed Eomer in the wrong way, and often he found the silken voice of the elf made the little hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. It was as though some higher power were warning him to be weary of the elf, implanting within his mind a sense of foreboding that no good could come of such a friendship. Eomer was barely aware, in his broiling negativity, of picking up the arrow and fitting it to his bow.
Legolas stood at the target with his back towards Eomer, idly pulling the arrow heads from the target, trying to take as much time as he might, so as better to annoy Eomer, as this was often his desire in any exploit they entered into together...
But in a moment he turned, and flinging himself back against the target he looked down in mild horror at the arrow that had lodged it self into the target not a hair's breath from the exact point his head had been. Looking down at his arm he saw a thin rip in the sleeve of his tunic, the edges of the material stained slightly with fresh blood from where the arrowhead brushed his skin as it sped toward the target. Had he not the reflexes of an elf, he would not be musing over the destruction a favourite tunic.
He pulled the last of Eomer's thick and heavy red arrows from the target gruffly, snapping one in his hand as he turned back towards the King, who still stood holding his bow, flexing it periodically and grinning like an innocent fool.
" Stretching a bow so will only shorten its life." Legolas said through gritted teeth as he dropped Eomer's arrows, including the broken one, to the ground below his feet. He replaced his own safely to his quiver and began to walk towards Medulsed without waiting for Eomer's response.
Coming to the base of the wide stone stairs leading to the Great Hall he met Altariel. She looked fresh and lively in her usual pale coloured gown. Her hair was loose, only one thin braid decorated with tiny crystals hung in her hair, beginning from her left temple and ending with the rest of her hair somewhere around her hips. She smiled brightly at Legolas as she ran towards him.
" Welcome the victorious!" She said as she squeezed Legolas' hand affectionately before turning to welcome Eomer with a demure kiss. " I watched your contest from afar, though I do not know why Eomer would challenge you to such an event without consideration for your natural skill with a bow, nor without telling me."
Legolas shrugged and turned his steely stare to Eomer. " It was no great event." He said coldly.
Altariel cocked an eyebrow, but chose to ignore the light tension between the two men. Men will compete, she told herself fondly, but stopped in her thought when she noticed the cut along Legolas' arm. " Perhaps I am yet mistaken and this was no contest, but an attack?" She said mockingly, raising a hand to Legolas' arm.
Eomer set his jaw squarely and moulded his eyes into an appearance of contrived innocence. " My Lady?" He said questioningly.
Altariel frowned at her husband, not recognising the harsh tint at the edge of his voice, almost like anger. " I wish to find the blame for this wound, though it seems slight enough, it is strange all the same between two so skilled in the game of archery."
Legolas smiled and took Altariel's hand in his own, though he did not meet her eyes, but Eomer's. Theirs was a silent struggle, stretching between them, but barely noticed by Altariel. " No attack, my Lady, but bad aim on the part of my opposition."
Altariel chose not to comment, but simply released Legolas' hand and followed Eomer as he turned sharply on his heel and disappeared off into the distance.
*
Legolas was sitting alone in his room that evening when he heard a knock at his door. He ignored it for a moment while continuing the task of repairing the rip in his sleeve. But again the knock was heard, and this time he caste aside the project, hurling the offending article against the wall as he walked towards the door.
" What errand have you?!" He said gruffly as he pulled open the door. He was surprised to see Altariel standing before him, her face a study of surprise.
" No errand to warrant an obvious intrusion. I will leave you." She said shortly, turning to leave.
Legolas caught her wrist and pulled her towards the door. " I am sorry, but craft has never been my calling, though it serves me right for being proud." He said, almost as an after thought. Altariel stood silently by, held still by Legolas' grip on her arm. " I am sorry, please come in." Legolas said finally. He stepped aside as Altariel moved past him into the room.
They both stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, trying desperately to ignore the forced cordiality of the situation. Although it had been little more than a week since Legolas' arrival in Rohan, it had been a week in which little time had been left for either to share company together without the watchful stare of attendant or Eomer. Legolas had been most startled to open the door and find Altariel, for it had seemed that in the last week she had not sought him out once, but preferred to speak with him in the presence of her husband, almost as though she were afraid to speak with him by herself.
" Are you in any pain?" Altariel said suddenly, pointing to Legolas' arm. Her voice seemed to echo loudly against the walls, even though she had intended the words to by subtle.
Legolas shook his head. " No, it is merely a scratch, though a mysterious one at that."
" I fear at times my husband's temper does entirely govern him." Altariel said apologetically. " Were heated words exchanged?"
" None."
Altariel nodded and looked away, suddenly and acutely aware of the fact that Legolas wore no shirt. She walked to the window, looking for any detail in the cool, night landscape that would divert her attention from his smooth, pale skin. At her feet she saw the crumpled mess of his half-repaired tunic, and picking it up she began to work away at it, happy to have the distraction.
Legolas smiled to himself at Altariel's reaction to his undress, but made no attempt to set right the situation. With some amount of amusement he watched her at the window as she artfully focused on her task. He took a step towards her, smiling again as she turned from him.
" How fortunate I am, to have a Queen repairing my clothes for me." He whispered, coming to stand behind Altariel. His hands slipped against her arms, but she made no move, spoke no protest at his closeness.
" Knowing it is my husband's fault, I feel some responsibility-" Altariel stammered, trying with some futility to concentrate on the needle and cloth in her shaking hands.
" Why must you waste yourself defending him?" Legolas said, cutting her off. He closed his eyes and felt his palms graze against the bare skin of her neck, he tangled his fingers up in her hair like birds caught in a net, feeling just as helpless. " I see you daily, but you have no said a word to me at his command." He said in a hurt tone.
Altariel closed her eyes, feeling a hot tear slide down her cheek. " I defend not his actions, but my love, and do not as he commands, but as he asks."
" Aha! So he has asked this of you - to neglect a guest." Legolas said, his eyes and Altariel's flying open at his exclamation. He stepped back, leaving Altariel feeling first manipulated and now deprived by his touch. " I did not know this much, but your words just now confirm my suspicions."
Altariel bit the threads off the knot as she finished repairing the rip. She tossed the tunic to Legolas - though he did not put it on - and sat down at the table. " You are no mere guest, Legolas, and as such I thought you would not need constant minding, though obviously I was wrong, if in your idleness you have turned to such unfounded suspicion."
Legolas sat down opposite Altariel now, clasping his hands together on the table in front of him. " Is it unfounded? I had expected you to tell the truth, Altariel, though obviously that was unfounded."
" My loyalty must be to my husband-"
" No," Legolas said firmly. " Your loyalty should be to yourself, and I do not know as such how you have come to such an end."
Altariel looked up in alarm. " What end is that?"
Legolas rolled his eyes, waving the offence in Altariel's question away. " You misinterpret my words. I see clearly the love you hold for Eomer, and laying aside the animosity with which he has come to regard me - now do not be offended by those words, for remember at this time we speak truth - I see he is at roots a good man, no less worthy of your love than...than myself."
" What, in my conduct, has planted such a distaste for me within your voice then?" Altariel said.
Legolas sighed heavily. " The words I gave you in Lorien I would not repeat unless the response were ensured to be alternate, for to high a ransom did I pay for them the first time. But as such, I would say they are as clear in your mind as they are in my own, if not slightly weaker for the fact you do not hold me in such high esteem as I do you." He paused and ran his fingers along the edge of his chin, " I came to Rohan at your bidding, to meet your King - who has shown me little courtesy beyond the want of necessity- and only so I might look once more upon that face that is fairest to me. Your father appointed me before he died, to look after his children and to see to the best of my body, that they were happy, before I might reclaim my life and time, and go where I willed. Your sisters and brother I have seen come safely into their lives, and the tale of Arwen Undomiel I need not relate. And so I ask you now, Altariel, are you happy in where you have come?" His words were grave and heavy on his tongue, knowing he placed too importance on the response of Altariel.
She considered his words for a moment, leaning back in her chair, her fingers slipped up under her sleeve and felt the smooth, reassuring presence of the ring. She raised her eyes to look at Legolas once more. " I am content. Though for my part I have brought you to Rohan for selfish purpose, my happiness I did think it would ensure to have one so close to my past, but it pains me to cause discontent, as I do see before me. Therefor I promise that my attention will belong more often to your voice and company."
Legolas waved her comment away, pulling his eyes from Altariel's gaze. " It matters little the promises you would make, there is only one I would here happily, and not prophet is needed to predict the impossibility of that event." His words her cryptic and harsh.
" It matters little? Is this the art of word that high esteem rewards me?"
" I did not care to tell you this news in such a way...have you spoken of late with Gimli?" Legolas said suddenly.
Altariel shook her head.
" He sent word to me not two days since, of the majesty that the Lossefalme has achieved in it's homely port, and the fact that Gimli's final arts have been completed. I am to leave for my return to Ithilien come the morning, and as little the promises in Rohan matter little. Now do you understand?"
Altariel bit her lip to fight back tears, but did not lower her head, instead staring bravely into the eyes of Legolas. " It seems that we are ever coming to a flight of some sort, you and I. Twice I have flown from your side, the last a near escape before you yourself left Rivendell. As such I expected no more than brief goodbyes from you, ere your time came to leave for Ithilien. Though I did not think it would be so soon." She stood up and carefully slid her chair under the table neatly. Legolas remained seated, but followed her every move.
He agreed with Altariel, and in doing so felt a strange lethargy wash over him. " I would not have it so, but fate does not deal kindly to all."
Altariel nodded silently. She walked slowly around the table and coming to stand before Legolas she considered what farewell she could give him. For what could one say when confronted by the prospect of loosing a friend for an eternity? She knew only one. She bent to the ground, kneeling before him. She looked deep into his eyes, running her hand through his hair and along the line of his strong jaw. She kissed his sweet lips, not knowing from whose eyes a salty tear did slide, but feeling it's weight land on her throat.
Legolas' hands itched to pull Altariel closer to him, but he resisted. And when that kiss had ended, and her fingers no longer lingered on his skin, he had no words, and simply turned from her to hold his head in his hands and close his eyes.
Altariel slipped quietly from the room with no words. She laid her hand against the great horse on the door, and wept silently. Altariel recalled the words of Celeborn, and felt anew the sensation that had periodically swept over here since standing before Legolas on that path in Rivendell. It is folly to love the elves, she thought bitterly, hating Celeborn briefly for having warned her of this fact, for being warned she felt all the more wretched when knowing she did love an elf.
***