Of Quarrels and Women
by Ithilin Palandiriel
Feedback please: ithilinpalantir@netscape.net
Rating: R
(implied sex) Nothing graphic but if you are one of those squeamish sorts, please don't
bother reading this.
Summary:
Set about 20 years before Fellowship. Legolas and Aragorn argue about,
what else, women. Aragorn is captivated by Arwen and is ignoring the prince who has come to visit. Lord Elrond has adopted another human, or is she an elf that merely looks human. Or is she something else completely. Whatever she is, she has managed to wrap herself around the young prince's
heart. Friendship and love will be tested. (Bring tissues!)
Disclaimer: Though I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, Tolkien, I am very much indebted to him for his masterful creation of the races of Middle Earth.
Middle Earth will be returned to him with all its contents, perhaps a little the worse for wear, but nonetheless exactly as he put it on paper
and said "Ner!"
Nain aiyale Valinor, May it be I shall behold thee in Valinor.
Author's Note: None of my stories connect to each other in any way. I just like seeing how our friends react to the situations I put them in. However these two stories are the exception to this rule. The Young woman in this story is named Ithilin. She is not me, but by the Valar I wish I was her. Story
Characters get to have all the fun.
Of Quarrels and Women
Part one : First Meetings
"Aragorn!" The prince glowered at his human friend. "Honestly, Humans and their one track minds."
"Did you say something, Legolas?" The man asked distractedly as Arwen passed in front of the window.
Legolas rolled his eyes. He was actually surprised Aragorn hadn't drowned yet in the drool that was sliding down the human's chin.
"I'm really getting tired of repeating myself every time Arwen makes an appearance." The elf said in an exasperated tone.
"Hmmm?"
"Argh!" The elf cried, slugging his friend in the shoulder. "You are completely worthless when she's around."
Legolas picked up his quiver and shouldering his bow, stalked out. If he hadn't he might have actually killed Aragorn. Elves didn't behave this way, why did humans. What made it worse was the human didn't seem to notice the elf's frustration.
Once out in the summer evening, Legolas took the game trail that led to the waterfall. He needed a swim to clear his head. In the two days since his arrival at Imladris, the prince had been ignored by his friend. Now he was debating whether or not to return to Mirkwood.
The sunset on the waterfall was breathtaking. Purples, reds and golds danced on the spray. Legolas shed his tunic, jerkin and boots, opting to keep his breeches on in case anyone happened by and he wanted to avoid the embarrassment. Silently he slipped into the sun warmed water. It felt good against his skin. He felt some of his frustration ebb. He had never known was it was to be in love, nor was he likely to find out. Not that he hadn't had lovers. He had had quite a few over the centuries, but they never wanted anything permanent. Also being a prince, his marriage would be arranged by his family. It would never be the kind of all consuming love that stories spoke of, and he had heard plenty of stories. About men and women willing to die for one another. Did love like that really exist, he thought curiously.
Suddenly he heard a sound. On the slight breeze, his ears picked up a voice. He panicked slightly as it drew nearer. Quickly he hid himself behind an outcropping in the pool. As he watched, a young woman approached clad in breeches and a tightly laced bodice. Her long honey gold hair was bound away from her face in a thick braid. She was singing an old elvish tune often sung by courting lovers. Was she expecting to meet her lover here? Aragorn's brothers had told him that this was a favorite trysting spot. Yet he noticed that there was no answering song. Why, he mused. She was certainly pretty enough. Then he heard her laughter, gentle and sweet on the wind.
"So you think I'm pretty?" her elvish heavily accented and slightly stilted as though it was not her native tongue.
The prince cocked his head to one side. "You can hear my thoughts?" he asked slightly taken aback.
"Aye, my lord. Lord Elrond must have forgotten to warn you about me."
"Estel as well, it seems." The prince grumbled, swimming to shore.
"Do not let me interrupt your swim." She said as Legolas hoisted himself out of the pool, "I'm not meeting anyone, if that's what you're thinking. I was actually hoping you would let me join you."
"You knew I was here?"
The young woman smiled and nodded. "Not everyone knows to guard against me. Apparently, not all elves have the ability to sense thoughts. Or, it seems, to sense that they are being overheard."
Legolas chuckled, "Can you block thoughts?"
"I don't know. I'm still kind of new to this ability. I suppose it's possible."
"Come the water's warm and I would enjoy the company."
"Estel has deserted you for some bewitching elf maid?" she asked as she sat on the edge of the pool, dangling her feet in the water.
Legolas chuckled ruefully as he slid back into the pool, "He seems to forget that I exist with Arwen around."
The young woman laughed. The sound made the young prince shiver with delight. His blue eyes sparkled in the fading light. He had never reacted this way to a woman, human or elf. Why her, why now?
"Race you to the waterfall!" she challenged as she jumped in beside him and splashed him playfully.
Before he could splash her, she disappeared under the water. Then he heard her musical laugh some distance away. She already had a head start. Quickly, he ducked under the silvery surface and kicking off the rocky side, sped through the water toward her.
Night spread her spangled scarf over the sky. Earendil shone brightly over the waterfall as the two young beings dragged themselves out of the pool and collapsed on the rocky shore.
"Ithilin," Legolas gasped, rolling onto his stomach so that he looked her in the eye. "How came you to Lord Elrond?"
"Hmmm. Now that's a really long story." She chuckled, tucking a strand of wet hair behind the prince's pointed ear. "Gandalf brought me here about two years ago from my homeland. For what purpose yet, I know not. But I'm beginning to think it worth it."
Without thinking he leaned into her touch, closing his eyes in pleasure.
"You like that way too much, my prince." She laughed at him.
Legolas chuckled, "I'll not deny it. It wouldn't do any good."
"I'll keep that in mind if I need to get your attention in the future."
"The only thing that would make me stop you, would be if there was someone else present." He laughed.
Ithilin sobered a little, "Why are you not so guarded with your emotions tonight? In the past you have been completely unreadable."
"Perhaps it is the company I am keeping tonight. Perhaps it is the night." He said running the back of his hand along the line of her jaw. "I know not."
He felt her pulse quicken beneath his hand. He was affecting her as much as she was him. This was not a good idea. They had just met. They barely knew each other. Besides, she was Lord Elrond's ward. He could not do this.
"Stop, please." She asked softly. "It is not that I do not welcome your touch. And it has nothing to do with you."
"I understand," he answered breathlessly, pulling away slowly. He was quickly getting lost in the dark pools of her eyes. "We have just met. It would not be right."
Ithilin nodded as she stood. Legolas gasped at the sight. The moon had risen, large and full, bathing his fair companion in its silvery light. Her name suited her very much at that moment, Ithilin, song of the Moon. Then it hit him, before him stood a young woman of immense power. Power beyond even the imaginings of the elves.
"I'm sure we have been missed by now."
If she had seen his reaction, she ignore it. He had seen her true self.
"Aye, my lady. We would not want them thinking ill had befallen us."
by Ithilin Palandiriel
Feedback please: ithilinpalantir@netscape.net
Rating: R
(implied sex) Nothing graphic but if you are one of those squeamish sorts, please don't
bother reading this.
Summary:
Set about 20 years before Fellowship. Legolas and Aragorn argue about,
what else, women. Aragorn is captivated by Arwen and is ignoring the prince who has come to visit. Lord Elrond has adopted another human, or is she an elf that merely looks human. Or is she something else completely. Whatever she is, she has managed to wrap herself around the young prince's
heart. Friendship and love will be tested. (Bring tissues!)
Disclaimer: Though I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, Tolkien, I am very much indebted to him for his masterful creation of the races of Middle Earth.
Middle Earth will be returned to him with all its contents, perhaps a little the worse for wear, but nonetheless exactly as he put it on paper
and said "Ner!"
Nain aiyale Valinor, May it be I shall behold thee in Valinor.
Author's Note: None of my stories connect to each other in any way. I just like seeing how our friends react to the situations I put them in. However these two stories are the exception to this rule. The Young woman in this story is named Ithilin. She is not me, but by the Valar I wish I was her. Story
Characters get to have all the fun.
Of Quarrels and Women
Part one : First Meetings
"Aragorn!" The prince glowered at his human friend. "Honestly, Humans and their one track minds."
"Did you say something, Legolas?" The man asked distractedly as Arwen passed in front of the window.
Legolas rolled his eyes. He was actually surprised Aragorn hadn't drowned yet in the drool that was sliding down the human's chin.
"I'm really getting tired of repeating myself every time Arwen makes an appearance." The elf said in an exasperated tone.
"Hmmm?"
"Argh!" The elf cried, slugging his friend in the shoulder. "You are completely worthless when she's around."
Legolas picked up his quiver and shouldering his bow, stalked out. If he hadn't he might have actually killed Aragorn. Elves didn't behave this way, why did humans. What made it worse was the human didn't seem to notice the elf's frustration.
Once out in the summer evening, Legolas took the game trail that led to the waterfall. He needed a swim to clear his head. In the two days since his arrival at Imladris, the prince had been ignored by his friend. Now he was debating whether or not to return to Mirkwood.
The sunset on the waterfall was breathtaking. Purples, reds and golds danced on the spray. Legolas shed his tunic, jerkin and boots, opting to keep his breeches on in case anyone happened by and he wanted to avoid the embarrassment. Silently he slipped into the sun warmed water. It felt good against his skin. He felt some of his frustration ebb. He had never known was it was to be in love, nor was he likely to find out. Not that he hadn't had lovers. He had had quite a few over the centuries, but they never wanted anything permanent. Also being a prince, his marriage would be arranged by his family. It would never be the kind of all consuming love that stories spoke of, and he had heard plenty of stories. About men and women willing to die for one another. Did love like that really exist, he thought curiously.
Suddenly he heard a sound. On the slight breeze, his ears picked up a voice. He panicked slightly as it drew nearer. Quickly he hid himself behind an outcropping in the pool. As he watched, a young woman approached clad in breeches and a tightly laced bodice. Her long honey gold hair was bound away from her face in a thick braid. She was singing an old elvish tune often sung by courting lovers. Was she expecting to meet her lover here? Aragorn's brothers had told him that this was a favorite trysting spot. Yet he noticed that there was no answering song. Why, he mused. She was certainly pretty enough. Then he heard her laughter, gentle and sweet on the wind.
"So you think I'm pretty?" her elvish heavily accented and slightly stilted as though it was not her native tongue.
The prince cocked his head to one side. "You can hear my thoughts?" he asked slightly taken aback.
"Aye, my lord. Lord Elrond must have forgotten to warn you about me."
"Estel as well, it seems." The prince grumbled, swimming to shore.
"Do not let me interrupt your swim." She said as Legolas hoisted himself out of the pool, "I'm not meeting anyone, if that's what you're thinking. I was actually hoping you would let me join you."
"You knew I was here?"
The young woman smiled and nodded. "Not everyone knows to guard against me. Apparently, not all elves have the ability to sense thoughts. Or, it seems, to sense that they are being overheard."
Legolas chuckled, "Can you block thoughts?"
"I don't know. I'm still kind of new to this ability. I suppose it's possible."
"Come the water's warm and I would enjoy the company."
"Estel has deserted you for some bewitching elf maid?" she asked as she sat on the edge of the pool, dangling her feet in the water.
Legolas chuckled ruefully as he slid back into the pool, "He seems to forget that I exist with Arwen around."
The young woman laughed. The sound made the young prince shiver with delight. His blue eyes sparkled in the fading light. He had never reacted this way to a woman, human or elf. Why her, why now?
"Race you to the waterfall!" she challenged as she jumped in beside him and splashed him playfully.
Before he could splash her, she disappeared under the water. Then he heard her musical laugh some distance away. She already had a head start. Quickly, he ducked under the silvery surface and kicking off the rocky side, sped through the water toward her.
Night spread her spangled scarf over the sky. Earendil shone brightly over the waterfall as the two young beings dragged themselves out of the pool and collapsed on the rocky shore.
"Ithilin," Legolas gasped, rolling onto his stomach so that he looked her in the eye. "How came you to Lord Elrond?"
"Hmmm. Now that's a really long story." She chuckled, tucking a strand of wet hair behind the prince's pointed ear. "Gandalf brought me here about two years ago from my homeland. For what purpose yet, I know not. But I'm beginning to think it worth it."
Without thinking he leaned into her touch, closing his eyes in pleasure.
"You like that way too much, my prince." She laughed at him.
Legolas chuckled, "I'll not deny it. It wouldn't do any good."
"I'll keep that in mind if I need to get your attention in the future."
"The only thing that would make me stop you, would be if there was someone else present." He laughed.
Ithilin sobered a little, "Why are you not so guarded with your emotions tonight? In the past you have been completely unreadable."
"Perhaps it is the company I am keeping tonight. Perhaps it is the night." He said running the back of his hand along the line of her jaw. "I know not."
He felt her pulse quicken beneath his hand. He was affecting her as much as she was him. This was not a good idea. They had just met. They barely knew each other. Besides, she was Lord Elrond's ward. He could not do this.
"Stop, please." She asked softly. "It is not that I do not welcome your touch. And it has nothing to do with you."
"I understand," he answered breathlessly, pulling away slowly. He was quickly getting lost in the dark pools of her eyes. "We have just met. It would not be right."
Ithilin nodded as she stood. Legolas gasped at the sight. The moon had risen, large and full, bathing his fair companion in its silvery light. Her name suited her very much at that moment, Ithilin, song of the Moon. Then it hit him, before him stood a young woman of immense power. Power beyond even the imaginings of the elves.
"I'm sure we have been missed by now."
If she had seen his reaction, she ignore it. He had seen her true self.
"Aye, my lady. We would not want them thinking ill had befallen us."