How Legolas got his Braids
Chapter six
A Reluctant Heart
June 3, 616 Early Afternoon
"Legolas? Legolas don't play games with me today, I'm not in the mood. Legolas come out!"
She waited for a moment and then continued when no golden haired elves flitted from out of the trees. "It's hard enough knowing that you must leave in a few minutes, just come out here and say goodbye! Legolas I'm really losing patience and you know full well I have lots of patience to go around. Get the hell down here this instant."
"I'm not good at goodbyes." A whisper came, carried by the wind. Nenimë turned to the direction from which the voice came.
"It's only one summer. You'll be back before you know it."
"I wish." The whisper came, this time from a different direction, close by.
"There's something you aren't telling me."
"That phrase sounds familiar."
"What does that mean?" She twisted again. The voice was so close.
"You know what it means."
"Legolas!" A loud call came from the direction of the town.
"I have to go now!"
"Legolas! Wait yo must bid me farewell! Tell me what you are hiding from me! You never hide anything from me! Legolas?"
"Goodbye!"
She followed the voice, the slight rustle of the trees told her where to go and she followed their directions, gaining speed with every step.
For minutes, hours, days she ran, whispers followed her. Whispers, rustling, falling leaves.
Whispers.
Silence.
She stopped, her own breath harsh and sharp to her ears. She held her breath and waited. The fountain water was trickling in the clearing and she focused on stilling her wildly beating heart and made her breath blend with the eternal breathing of nature.
Two hands turned her to meet an azure gaze, almost cerulean with the uncertainty hidden within.
"I hate this. I'm awful at goodbyes." He said, a sad smile on his lips.
"It isn't goodbye for long." She said.
"I love you."
"You too."
She held on to him for a long time and he kissed the top of her head gently then pulled away.
"Namaarie, Legolas."
"Farewell. I shall see you as soon as the first leaf falls from the tree."
"My heart shall weep until it sees thee again." She whispered. He nodded and could not resist a chaste kiss to her soft lips before turning away and walking through the trees. She stood watching him go, her heart aching already from the loss of his embrace, his deep eyes, his silky golden hair and incandescent smile.
The trees carried loving whispers to her from him for a long time. The whispers swirled around her and pulled her, she aimlessly followed the whispers.
"You shall see me soon. I shall miss you. Love."
"Love."
"Sweet water and light laughter."
Water. The stream laughed at her, giggling and whispering and then laughing again as it passed her, looking back up at her, calling her. Whispering secrets in languages long forgotten as it continued its path to the sea.
She stepped into the water and smiled. The beauty of nature rushing to embrace her as warmth flowed through her body, then she began to sing. The river stopped its muttering to listen to her as she sang the song of creation that had led her to Legolas so long ago. The trees stopped whispering to her and smiled at the familiar tune, swaying towards her, brushing her skin then falling away.
She jumped when a male elf's voice began to sing with her and went silent. The forest stared at her, questioned her. She could not answer them she kept searching.
Legolas? No it was not Legolas. Nenimë knew his voice anywhere.
This voice sounded silky and smooth, like the trickle of the stream below her. She had heard that voice before( in a dream.
A vision.
In the dream there was always a tall beautiful male elf. He had golden hair that fell to his shoulders and was angled around his face. He had the biggest, clearest, bluest eyes and wore a silver jerkin with black leggings. She had only seen those clothes once in the waking light, and that was a messenger from Lorien across the Anduin.
Nenimë looked around. The voice stopped singing as she turned in circles trying to find the source or direction of the voice.
"Who is there? Show yourself!" Nenimë shouted to the voice.
"Calm yourself, lirimaer (Lovely one)." The voice said. Nenimë whirled and her silver hair flew out behind her. "Such a beautiful young elf should not be so distressed."
"Do not flatter me! I am not an average elf-maiden and were I not wearing this constraining dress I would fly through the trees and kill you for your cheek, so show yourself if you value your life." She said coldly. She was still not in the mood for games today. The trees were silent, waiting.
"I mean no harm to you, lirimaer. I only wanted to gaze at your beauty from afar." An elf stepped into the clearing and came to stand next to the stream. Nenimë whirled again and gasped. It was the very same elf that she dreamt of when she was younger.
"Who are you?"
"An elf who comes to seek his destiny. I have looked into the mirror of the Lady of light and there I saw an elf-maiden with silver hair and shining eyes that glowed under the moonlight. She was in my arms in a forest that was not so rich as Lorien but just as beautiful. So I have traveled for many days hoping to find the moonchild in the forests of Greenwood. Lo and behold here you stand before me though I hardly dare to believe you are this beautiful."
Nenimë blushed slightly. "Your name?"
"Oh of course. My name is Aldeon of Lorien, son of Filit, sentinel of the Lady. Yours?"
"Nenimë Ithilhin, daughter of Menelinya. I speak not of my father for he has disgraced our family."
"How?" Aldeon asked, cocking his head to the side slightly. That small movement made his hair fly out and swing back to his head. A piece of the golden hair fell across his face.
Nenimë stared for a moment and then looked down uncomfortably. "That is none of your concern."
"You have a beautiful necklace." Aldeon said, reaching out to touch it.
Nenimë instinctively grabbed his wrist before he touched it. He looked taken aback and she gazed at his eyes and held his wrist very tight. She squeezed harder and his face contorted into a grimace of pain.
"You're hurting me." He finally whimpered. Nenimë sneered and let go then turned around. He lightly placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I know who you are and why you have come but I do not wish for you to be here now." She said, shrugging off his hand.
"What do you mean? If the mirror says it, it is our destiny to be together."
"I know what you saw in the mirror. Is it possible it was another elf?" She pleaded. Why didn't she want to give in? Her visions had been so vivid and so beautiful. She wanted nothing more than for them to come true.
There was something here that wasn't right. Her heart ached for him, ached for true love that was opening its arms to her, calling to her. But there was something else that held her heart away from him, caused her to hesitate. She looked up into his big eyes and saw herself in them. Aldeon smiled and moved his hand to touch her face.
"You are the one I saw. Yet you seem to know I would come. How?" He said all this while gently caressing her face with his thumb. Nenimë smiled and leaned into the hand, and suddenly remembered.
She opened her eyes and jerked her head back out of his hand, backing away from Aldeon.
Legolas.
She remembered that winter morning years ago when she had been so warm and comfortable on his chest. He had caressed her cheek just like Aldeon, but with even more gentleness and care. She remembered his eyes, how they had changed while he sat there with her face in his hand. They had become bluer and deeper than before that day.
Legolas? No, he could not be the thing holding her back, holding her heart. She did not love him, it was out of the question.
Suddenly Nenimë tripped over a small rock and fell back. She closed her eyes, waiting to hit the shallow water, but instead two strong arms caught her. When she opened her eyes Aldeon was leaning over her, both arms underneath her, supporting her.
For a moment time seemed to stop, the stream stopped flowing, the wind stopped blowing, and their hearts stopped beating. Their eyes locked and they both gasped simultaneously.
Time resumed and Nenimë stood up slowly. They ended up chest to chest and simply stood there, eyes still locked together.
Nenimë blinked as she remembered being this close to Legolas the day after they had met. She had been embarrassed then and had jumped back from the closeness. Now she wanted to be even closer to this elf.
Was it possible Nenimë had finally found her soul mate? Her mind told her this was the one, he was her future. Her heart was still holding back.
Aldeon twisted his hand so that their fingers laced together and closed the distance between them, pressing their chests together. Nenimë turned a deaf ear to her heart and leaned against Aldeon.
Aldeon put one arm around Nenimë's waist, caressing the small of her back. He leaned down slowly and captured her lips in a soft kiss.
Screams erupted from her heart, jolts of painful electric warnings and revolt. She silenced them and gave in.
They stood there with their lips touching gently for what seemed like an eternity. Nenimë hesitantly opened her mouth under his, deepening the kiss slightly.
They melted together, eyes closed, world spinning around them. Nenimë brought one arm around his neck and deepened it further. They somehow realized they didn't need breath just now. They brought their entwined hands up between them and then broke the contact.
Aldeon put his other arm around her back and pressed her even closer to him. Nenimë let her hand rest on the small of his back. The world disappeared around them as they became lost in the moment, lost in themselves.
Finally they slowly parted. The earth came crashing back to them almost painfully as both of them gasped for breath and opened their eyes.
Nenimë gazed into Aldeon's eyes. His eyes showed what she didn't feel(
He wasn't her soul mate. Her mind had joined her heart during the kiss when the jolts finally reached her brain, awakening her from the childlike dream of a prince coming to take her away and live forever with him in his castle.
No this was too surreal, too much like a fairytale. There is no happily ever after. It simply did not exist.
They had just met. Even if the mirror and her visions showed it, it didn't have to come true.
"I have waited for you, Nenimë."
Nenimë looked down uneasily. She was still in his arms, but she felt guilty.
If she stayed with this elf, it would not be fair to either of them. She had already mislead him by giving into his kiss.
Aldeon's eyes searched her when she looked back up. She blinked a few times and then simply leaned back into his chest. He embraced her and then whispered,
"Did you not wait for me?"
Nenimë flinched at the question she dreaded he would ask. She didn't look up or speak. She made the decision and nodded once, not having the courage to look at his face.
When she felt his body tense in excitement and happiness a tear fell down her cheek. She reached up and wiped it away then backed away from his embrace.
"I should get home. Where are you staying?" She said.
"Nowhere, I am constantly wandering through the woods."
"Meet me here tomorrow at the same time then." She said, still not meeting his eyes.
"My heart cannot be parted from you that long." He pleaded, reaching out and gently placing a loose piece of silver hair behind her ear.
*Only Legolas can touch my hair* She shook the hair back into her face.
"If I can wait that long then you can too. Be strong, Aldeon of Lorien, fain heart never won." She said, and accepted the gentle kiss he placed on her brow.
She then turned and ran into the forest, only pausing to pick up her thin leather shoes.
Aldeon watched long until he could no longer see Nenimë's silver hair shining between the trees, and sighed, turning away to wander through the woods. *****
Very flowy in the beginning. I like the beginning but I never did like Aldeon. This chapter, no matter how much I work on it, never turned out right. This is the best it is going to get. Even though I hate it, deal with it!
Where does the line "fain heart never won" come from? Its from a play, maybe my buddy underthesky will know.
Thanks to:
Brazgirl: I didn't draw the fanart! I wish I could draw that well! But yeah they are awesome. Dawnlyn has a few great fan arts on fullbloom. I'm glad you like fluff, this is full of it.
Kitten: Cara's original name was Lilithil. I changed it after half of the story was done and I missed a few spots. I'm sorry, I fixed them I think.
Radiion: no reviews are annoying! (except that one that said "this belongs in the toilet along with you" that was just funny and pathetic.)
Elf Goddess: Your name is too long lol. Anyways I have up to chapter 11 written, 13, 14, and 15 started, and an ending and possible sequel planned. I don't know how long this going to be.
Underthesky: Finally you came back! Lol thanks for the nice reviews.
And thanks to Crystal too.
June 3, 616 Early Afternoon
"Legolas? Legolas don't play games with me today, I'm not in the mood. Legolas come out!"
She waited for a moment and then continued when no golden haired elves flitted from out of the trees. "It's hard enough knowing that you must leave in a few minutes, just come out here and say goodbye! Legolas I'm really losing patience and you know full well I have lots of patience to go around. Get the hell down here this instant."
"I'm not good at goodbyes." A whisper came, carried by the wind. Nenimë turned to the direction from which the voice came.
"It's only one summer. You'll be back before you know it."
"I wish." The whisper came, this time from a different direction, close by.
"There's something you aren't telling me."
"That phrase sounds familiar."
"What does that mean?" She twisted again. The voice was so close.
"You know what it means."
"Legolas!" A loud call came from the direction of the town.
"I have to go now!"
"Legolas! Wait yo must bid me farewell! Tell me what you are hiding from me! You never hide anything from me! Legolas?"
"Goodbye!"
She followed the voice, the slight rustle of the trees told her where to go and she followed their directions, gaining speed with every step.
For minutes, hours, days she ran, whispers followed her. Whispers, rustling, falling leaves.
Whispers.
Silence.
She stopped, her own breath harsh and sharp to her ears. She held her breath and waited. The fountain water was trickling in the clearing and she focused on stilling her wildly beating heart and made her breath blend with the eternal breathing of nature.
Two hands turned her to meet an azure gaze, almost cerulean with the uncertainty hidden within.
"I hate this. I'm awful at goodbyes." He said, a sad smile on his lips.
"It isn't goodbye for long." She said.
"I love you."
"You too."
She held on to him for a long time and he kissed the top of her head gently then pulled away.
"Namaarie, Legolas."
"Farewell. I shall see you as soon as the first leaf falls from the tree."
"My heart shall weep until it sees thee again." She whispered. He nodded and could not resist a chaste kiss to her soft lips before turning away and walking through the trees. She stood watching him go, her heart aching already from the loss of his embrace, his deep eyes, his silky golden hair and incandescent smile.
The trees carried loving whispers to her from him for a long time. The whispers swirled around her and pulled her, she aimlessly followed the whispers.
"You shall see me soon. I shall miss you. Love."
"Love."
"Sweet water and light laughter."
Water. The stream laughed at her, giggling and whispering and then laughing again as it passed her, looking back up at her, calling her. Whispering secrets in languages long forgotten as it continued its path to the sea.
She stepped into the water and smiled. The beauty of nature rushing to embrace her as warmth flowed through her body, then she began to sing. The river stopped its muttering to listen to her as she sang the song of creation that had led her to Legolas so long ago. The trees stopped whispering to her and smiled at the familiar tune, swaying towards her, brushing her skin then falling away.
She jumped when a male elf's voice began to sing with her and went silent. The forest stared at her, questioned her. She could not answer them she kept searching.
Legolas? No it was not Legolas. Nenimë knew his voice anywhere.
This voice sounded silky and smooth, like the trickle of the stream below her. She had heard that voice before( in a dream.
A vision.
In the dream there was always a tall beautiful male elf. He had golden hair that fell to his shoulders and was angled around his face. He had the biggest, clearest, bluest eyes and wore a silver jerkin with black leggings. She had only seen those clothes once in the waking light, and that was a messenger from Lorien across the Anduin.
Nenimë looked around. The voice stopped singing as she turned in circles trying to find the source or direction of the voice.
"Who is there? Show yourself!" Nenimë shouted to the voice.
"Calm yourself, lirimaer (Lovely one)." The voice said. Nenimë whirled and her silver hair flew out behind her. "Such a beautiful young elf should not be so distressed."
"Do not flatter me! I am not an average elf-maiden and were I not wearing this constraining dress I would fly through the trees and kill you for your cheek, so show yourself if you value your life." She said coldly. She was still not in the mood for games today. The trees were silent, waiting.
"I mean no harm to you, lirimaer. I only wanted to gaze at your beauty from afar." An elf stepped into the clearing and came to stand next to the stream. Nenimë whirled again and gasped. It was the very same elf that she dreamt of when she was younger.
"Who are you?"
"An elf who comes to seek his destiny. I have looked into the mirror of the Lady of light and there I saw an elf-maiden with silver hair and shining eyes that glowed under the moonlight. She was in my arms in a forest that was not so rich as Lorien but just as beautiful. So I have traveled for many days hoping to find the moonchild in the forests of Greenwood. Lo and behold here you stand before me though I hardly dare to believe you are this beautiful."
Nenimë blushed slightly. "Your name?"
"Oh of course. My name is Aldeon of Lorien, son of Filit, sentinel of the Lady. Yours?"
"Nenimë Ithilhin, daughter of Menelinya. I speak not of my father for he has disgraced our family."
"How?" Aldeon asked, cocking his head to the side slightly. That small movement made his hair fly out and swing back to his head. A piece of the golden hair fell across his face.
Nenimë stared for a moment and then looked down uncomfortably. "That is none of your concern."
"You have a beautiful necklace." Aldeon said, reaching out to touch it.
Nenimë instinctively grabbed his wrist before he touched it. He looked taken aback and she gazed at his eyes and held his wrist very tight. She squeezed harder and his face contorted into a grimace of pain.
"You're hurting me." He finally whimpered. Nenimë sneered and let go then turned around. He lightly placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I know who you are and why you have come but I do not wish for you to be here now." She said, shrugging off his hand.
"What do you mean? If the mirror says it, it is our destiny to be together."
"I know what you saw in the mirror. Is it possible it was another elf?" She pleaded. Why didn't she want to give in? Her visions had been so vivid and so beautiful. She wanted nothing more than for them to come true.
There was something here that wasn't right. Her heart ached for him, ached for true love that was opening its arms to her, calling to her. But there was something else that held her heart away from him, caused her to hesitate. She looked up into his big eyes and saw herself in them. Aldeon smiled and moved his hand to touch her face.
"You are the one I saw. Yet you seem to know I would come. How?" He said all this while gently caressing her face with his thumb. Nenimë smiled and leaned into the hand, and suddenly remembered.
She opened her eyes and jerked her head back out of his hand, backing away from Aldeon.
Legolas.
She remembered that winter morning years ago when she had been so warm and comfortable on his chest. He had caressed her cheek just like Aldeon, but with even more gentleness and care. She remembered his eyes, how they had changed while he sat there with her face in his hand. They had become bluer and deeper than before that day.
Legolas? No, he could not be the thing holding her back, holding her heart. She did not love him, it was out of the question.
Suddenly Nenimë tripped over a small rock and fell back. She closed her eyes, waiting to hit the shallow water, but instead two strong arms caught her. When she opened her eyes Aldeon was leaning over her, both arms underneath her, supporting her.
For a moment time seemed to stop, the stream stopped flowing, the wind stopped blowing, and their hearts stopped beating. Their eyes locked and they both gasped simultaneously.
Time resumed and Nenimë stood up slowly. They ended up chest to chest and simply stood there, eyes still locked together.
Nenimë blinked as she remembered being this close to Legolas the day after they had met. She had been embarrassed then and had jumped back from the closeness. Now she wanted to be even closer to this elf.
Was it possible Nenimë had finally found her soul mate? Her mind told her this was the one, he was her future. Her heart was still holding back.
Aldeon twisted his hand so that their fingers laced together and closed the distance between them, pressing their chests together. Nenimë turned a deaf ear to her heart and leaned against Aldeon.
Aldeon put one arm around Nenimë's waist, caressing the small of her back. He leaned down slowly and captured her lips in a soft kiss.
Screams erupted from her heart, jolts of painful electric warnings and revolt. She silenced them and gave in.
They stood there with their lips touching gently for what seemed like an eternity. Nenimë hesitantly opened her mouth under his, deepening the kiss slightly.
They melted together, eyes closed, world spinning around them. Nenimë brought one arm around his neck and deepened it further. They somehow realized they didn't need breath just now. They brought their entwined hands up between them and then broke the contact.
Aldeon put his other arm around her back and pressed her even closer to him. Nenimë let her hand rest on the small of his back. The world disappeared around them as they became lost in the moment, lost in themselves.
Finally they slowly parted. The earth came crashing back to them almost painfully as both of them gasped for breath and opened their eyes.
Nenimë gazed into Aldeon's eyes. His eyes showed what she didn't feel(
He wasn't her soul mate. Her mind had joined her heart during the kiss when the jolts finally reached her brain, awakening her from the childlike dream of a prince coming to take her away and live forever with him in his castle.
No this was too surreal, too much like a fairytale. There is no happily ever after. It simply did not exist.
They had just met. Even if the mirror and her visions showed it, it didn't have to come true.
"I have waited for you, Nenimë."
Nenimë looked down uneasily. She was still in his arms, but she felt guilty.
If she stayed with this elf, it would not be fair to either of them. She had already mislead him by giving into his kiss.
Aldeon's eyes searched her when she looked back up. She blinked a few times and then simply leaned back into his chest. He embraced her and then whispered,
"Did you not wait for me?"
Nenimë flinched at the question she dreaded he would ask. She didn't look up or speak. She made the decision and nodded once, not having the courage to look at his face.
When she felt his body tense in excitement and happiness a tear fell down her cheek. She reached up and wiped it away then backed away from his embrace.
"I should get home. Where are you staying?" She said.
"Nowhere, I am constantly wandering through the woods."
"Meet me here tomorrow at the same time then." She said, still not meeting his eyes.
"My heart cannot be parted from you that long." He pleaded, reaching out and gently placing a loose piece of silver hair behind her ear.
*Only Legolas can touch my hair* She shook the hair back into her face.
"If I can wait that long then you can too. Be strong, Aldeon of Lorien, fain heart never won." She said, and accepted the gentle kiss he placed on her brow.
She then turned and ran into the forest, only pausing to pick up her thin leather shoes.
Aldeon watched long until he could no longer see Nenimë's silver hair shining between the trees, and sighed, turning away to wander through the woods. *****
Very flowy in the beginning. I like the beginning but I never did like Aldeon. This chapter, no matter how much I work on it, never turned out right. This is the best it is going to get. Even though I hate it, deal with it!
Where does the line "fain heart never won" come from? Its from a play, maybe my buddy underthesky will know.
Thanks to:
Brazgirl: I didn't draw the fanart! I wish I could draw that well! But yeah they are awesome. Dawnlyn has a few great fan arts on fullbloom. I'm glad you like fluff, this is full of it.
Kitten: Cara's original name was Lilithil. I changed it after half of the story was done and I missed a few spots. I'm sorry, I fixed them I think.
Radiion: no reviews are annoying! (except that one that said "this belongs in the toilet along with you" that was just funny and pathetic.)
Elf Goddess: Your name is too long lol. Anyways I have up to chapter 11 written, 13, 14, and 15 started, and an ending and possible sequel planned. I don't know how long this going to be.
Underthesky: Finally you came back! Lol thanks for the nice reviews.
And thanks to Crystal too.