Author's Notes: Thank you to everyone that's been reading and reviewing so far! I just wanted to answer a few questions that seem to be popping up from some of you. This story will be quite long, I'm not sure how many chapters but for the amount of stuff I want to put in it, I'd say it'll be at least thirty...I hope that's not too long for anyone :-)
Second of all, a lot of you keep begging me not to kill Haldir off, I will not answer this question because that would give away the story...and where is the fun it that? But I will say is expect the story to take some major twists and turns along the way, some for good, some for bad. What I'm going for here is an emotional story, I feel if I can make a reader laugh or cry, or even smile; I'm doing my job as a writer. So with all that said and done, I give you chapter fifteen....
~ I have updated the end of this chapter, because I feel that Legolas' part got a bit short changed. I have added the conversation he had with his father before he left for Lorien.
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Those You Love
A Letter Home
By Celebrian
Dearest Brother,
It's been a couple of weeks since you've left Lorien and I know you told me when I was ready to come home to contact you. But I'm not asking you to come and get me; I just wanted to let you know that I'll be staying in Lorien. I'm not sure for how long, maybe forever. All I know is that I'm in love with this forest, with its beauty, with its people, and with its customs. The Lord and Lady have been so gracious to me by letting me dine with them a few nights and spending time teaching me about the ways of the Elves. It's funny, I've been an elf all my life and I never knew there was so much more to us. I spent time in Galadriel's glade the other night with her. She told me about how the ways of the Old Days were before the Dark Days. It must have been amazing to live back in those times! But I'm rambling now.....
How is father? Is he still stressing about whatever it was before we left for Lorien? I hope not, I wish I were there to comfort him in these times. Please send him my love. How are you doing? I hope you haven't locked yourself away in your room as well. I know you must be nervous about this quest that you are supposed to join when the day comes. Galadriel and Celeborn have faith in you and so do I. What ever is to come, I know you will do your very best and succeed in doing so.
Now that I have said all that, there is something else I need to tell you. I've spent days thinking on how I was going to word this but all the words I could think of made no sense when I wrote them down on paper, so I will tell you it straight forward, tell it like it is. I know that you told me to stay away from the March Warden Haldir. I know you think he is a bad influence, that he's snooty, arrogant, and only cares for himself. It isn't true Legolas. I knew there was something more to him the very first time I saw him. I could look past his outward brashness and see inside his soul. I could tell that inside he felt alone and a bit sad, that he had a kind and caring heart but was just too afraid to show it. I knew it true that night when he escorted me back to my flet after we ate with Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. We talked and started out to have a good conversation until I had said something that made him get flustered. He quickly went from being nice back to his stone could-self again and he quickly took me back to my flet without so much a word. I know this is going to sound silly but at that moment I knew I loved him. I knew he was my eldar. Even though he was pushing me away, I loved him.
That night I could not sleep, I didn't know how to deal with all these new emotions that had woken inside me. I felt so horrible because I loved him so much, but he didn't show any interest in me. I didn't know what I was going to do. What if he could never return my love? Love is a two ways, both must love each other in order for it to work and I didn't know how I would deal with it if he did not love me back. I did not sleep that entire night and when the morning light had shone through my window I finally dragged myself out of bed and began to ready to see you. Then there was a knock at my door and when I answered it, it was a sentry holding some books that the March Warden had promised me. I had teased him the night before that I wanted the books delivered to me tied with a pink satin ribbon, of course when I told him that he made some snide remark. But the remarkable thing was that when the sentry handed me those books...there was a pink ribbon that bound them together. I wanted to cry because to me it showed that he did care. Do you think the march Warden would have gone to all that trouble if he didn't care?
On my way to visit you I bumped into Haldir and I thanked him for the books and the ribbon. He tried to act like he didn't care but I could tell that he was glad that I liked the books. There was an awkward silence between us, our eyes locked on to each other and we could not look away. Finally it was I that broke the silence and told him that I was going now. Just as I walked away he yelled for me and when I came back to him, he invited me for a lesson on Lorien down by the Nimrodel. I tried to tell myself it was just a lesson, but I couldn't help myself from thinking that it could be more. I'm sorry I kept this from you, I hope you aren't furious with me.
That night I went for my lesson though it didn't turn out to be a lesson at all...at least not the one I thought he was going to teach me. Instead I ended up teaching him a little bit about love. Now before you go thinking that I'm about to tell you some kind of beautiful fairytale love story, I just want you to know that it isn't so. We got into a huge argument about love and how he thought it was only for fools. He absolutely irritated me so much I had to leave. I even wished I had taken your advice and never got involved with him. Now this is where it might be a bit of a fairytale. We both where mad and we traded some unpleasant remarks and both went storming off. I turned around when I thought of something else I was going to say to him, but accidentally collided into him. Our eyes met again and we both looked at each other for the longest time, until I felt like I had no control over myself and made the move to kiss him. We kissed and I knew for sure that he was my soul mate. I could just tell from his energy that passed through my body. I knew he was the one that I was supposed to share my life with. I know you think I'm crazy....
After our kiss we returned to the riverside and sat down. No words passed our lips; we were both so nervous and didn't know what to do next. I knew we couldn't stay like this all night so I began to ask him a few questions and he slowly asked me a few as well. Things started to pick up and we felt more comfortable with each other again. We talked for a while and then he did something that I never would have guessed. I hope you are sitting down...
Haldir asked me to marry him.
I was more than shocked, I had only known him for a couple of days and he was asking me to marry him. I didn't even know anything about him nor did he know anything about me. Now I know I just told you that I knew he was my eldar, the one I am supposed to share my life with but the thought of being married just scared me. There were things I wanted to do, places I wanted to see; and getting married and being a wife would just tie me down. I told Haldir that it was too soon for us. I told him that he probably didn't mean to ask me to marry him, that it was probably just his emotions getting the best of him. Well, he didn't take to that very well and he snapped at me, calling love foolish again. He told me that he took back everything he said to me and he didn't want to be with me and then he stormed off, leaving me alone.
I walked slowly back to my flet and didn't sleep again that night. The events just kept replaying over and over in my head. I was so mad at him but yet I still loved him. How could I not, he is my eldar after all. Through all my tears, I came to a realization, I knew that I'd never be able to travel Middle-earth. It was just a fantasy, and even if I could I would be too afraid to do it. Then another realization came to me and this made me not mad at Haldir anymore, but mad at myself. Here I had a wonderful Elf, who wanted to take care of me, who wanted to love me, and give me everything he could. And I turned him away. I broke his heart. The first time he feels love and I make him feel horrible. No wonder why he was always scared to get close to someone. His worst fears came true.
I wanted to marry him, I loved him. But would he take me back? I left my flet quickly and went to go look for him. I didn't know if he would talk to me ever again but I was going to give it a try anyways. I found him keeping watch at the borders and he did speak with me. At first our conversation was not going so well but I began to tell him how I was wrong and how I wanted to marry him if he still wanted me. He looked a bit shocked but he was pleased. He proposed to me again and this time I said yes.
I know this is all very sudden and I know you don't trust Haldir but please Legolas, please don't be upset. I love Haldir and he loves me. I would like for you to attend our wedding if you can, and father is invited too, but I assume he can't make it with all that is happening back in Mirkwood.
Our wedding is to take place next week. The time and date is written at the bottom of this letter. Please say you'll come. Please be happy for us. I love you brother.
Love,
Lutheriel
Legolas kept reading the last few lines over and over again. "How could she do this? This is crazy...she knows Haldir for all a couple of weeks and they are going to get married?! Oh, I'll come all right but it won't be to congratulate them. I have to reason with Haldir...I have to ask him to keep away from her, she's too young to get married..." Legolas thought as he laid the letter on the table and walked out the door to tell his father of his departure.
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Legolas walked into Thranduil's chamber, throwing his hand that held the letter up in the air. "Well it's official...Lutheriel has gone mad!"
Thranduil, who was engrossed in a conversation with his advisor, slowly looked up at his son's outburst. He furrowed his eyebrows a little. "Legolas?" He asked. "Come and sit. What is this news your bring?"
"I can't sit, father..." Legolas paced back and forth, crumbling the letter in his hand. He stopped and turned to Thranduil. "Remember that Haldir I spoke about?"
"Yes."
"Well, he and Lutheriel are getting engaged...no not engaged...married." He corrected himself. "They skipped the engaged part entirely and are going from acquaintances to married.... It's absurd!!" Legolas threw his hands up in the air and sat down next to his father.
Thranduil scratched his forehead. "I presume that this bothers you?" The King smiled at the reaction of his son's face.
Legolas's mouth dropped open and he gave his father a blank stare. "Are you saying that you are not the least bit shocked or upset?"
Thranduil shook his head. "I do agree with you at some extent but Lutheriel is old enough to make her own decisions, Legolas. I know my daughter well enough for her to make the right choice." He folded his hands and gave his son a slight smile. "This Haldir...why does he bother you so much?"
"Father, he is arrogant and....and...he..." Legolas couldn't think of anymore words to describe Haldir, at least no words that could be said in public to describe him.
Thranduil laughed. "That's all?"
"Father you're not taking this very seriously!" Legolas said getting a slight red in the face. "Your daughter is getting married!"
"You've told me and to be completely honest...I am happy for her. You can't protect her forever Legolas. She's not little anymore and she has a right to pick her mate. If Haldir is the one that she has picked, there is nothing we can do to stop it." The King's face grew serious. "Do you honestly believe that Haldir would hurt your sister in any way?"
Legolas grew silent as he thought about the question. Haldir did have a bad attitude and he was quick to temper but Legolas couldn't really picture him hurting his sister at all. Celeborn and Galadriel trusted Haldir, and if they trusted him with protecting Lorien, then Haldir would certainly protect his own wife. Legolas sighed. "No father, I don't believe Haldir would hurt Lu. I just think this is too sudden."
Thranduil nodded. "Go to Lorien my son. Talk to Haldir and Lutheriel, if you wish, maybe offer your advice to them. If they refuse to listen to it, there is nothing you can do but to be happy for them. You don't have to like Haldir but maybe in time you will come to learn he isn't as bad as you have pictured him. Just remember.... You don't know him well either." The King stood up and motioned for Legolas to stand. He put his arms around him and gave him a fatherly hug. "Please tell your sister, that I wish I could see her get married but I have serious business to tend to here. Tell her that I love her."
Legolas nodded. "I will father." He smiled one last time and then he began to walk out of the chamber room. He was still going to try and talk Haldir and Lutheriel out of getting married, but maybe his father was right. Maybe he should just be happy for the both of them.
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To be continued in 'Confrontations'
