*Back from camp, everybody! And I got nine reviews on my first chapter!
Yippee! Okay, one was a flame, and if she ever reviews again I will kill
her, but otherwise, everything was wonderful!
*Okay, if the next couple of chapters seem way awkward, it's because I don't really have the plot figured out until after the War of the Ring is over, which is when the real romance starts! Oh, and about ten chapters in, I steal a scene from the fantastic movie Kate & Leopold, so just warning you.
*And sorry, but Deidre's feelings aren't going to get sorted out -that- easily. When romance is involved, it takes a while, but it's worth it, trust me. Meanwhile, you get about three chapters that cover the war (and I go with the movie for Helm's Deep, but with a twist..Haldir didn't lead the Elvish forces alone, no, not by a long shot).
*And I leave time between scenes, so if time change (like going from Deidre's arrival in Lorien, then back in time to Imladris and the morning after Deidre and Legolas's conversation, then forward again to Deidre and Galadriel's conversation) confuses you, read this chapter carefully, and maybe take an asprin or two.
***********
"Grandmother!" Deidre exclaimed, dismounting and running to Galadriel.
"Back so soon?" She asked teasingly. "Let's get your fellow messengers settled and the news delivered, and then we can talk, just the two of us."
***********
Legolas spent the rest of the night in the garden, sitting motionless on a stone bench. Aragorn found him the next morning with his head in his hands, thinking.
"Hello, Legolas?" Aragorn asked, waving his hand in front of his friend's face.
Legolas looked up. "Hello," he said weakly.
"What's wrong? You weren't at breakfast, and when I asked around, no one had seen you since late last night. Why do you look so depressed?"
"Rejection."
"What do you mean?"
"I told the maiden I love how I felt about her, and she muttered some excuse, then dashed out of the gardens like I was an orc or something!"
"So apologize to her."
"I can't. She left with the party of messengers to Lorien this morning, and she's not coming back to Imladris until the war's over, if then."
"Maybe you should ask Lord Elrond for advice. I mean, from what Elladan and Elrohir told me that their mother told them, he certainly got rejected enough by maidens when he was younger."
Legolas laughed sarcastically. "What a brilliant idea! He's the last person I'd ask for advice, especially considering that he knows the maiden rather well. I just wish she hadn't run away, even though I know it's how she deals with things."
Wait a sec, Aragorn thought. The maiden is close to Elrond and runs away frequently. Who do I know that fits that description? "You should've known that an outburst was not the way to show Deidre you love her, Legolas."
"I know, but I wasn't really thinking. Wait, how do you know that I'm in love with Deidre? I haven't told anyone! Have you been reading my journal again?"
"You have a journal? Never mind, won't go into that subject. But I just put two and two together. That, and you were staring at her throughout the council yesterday, except for a few miraculous occasions when you managed to focus on something besides her."
"I was not staring at her the whole time!"
"Yeah, right."
"I wasn't! And even if I was, you're always staring at Arwen!"
"I'm betrothed to her, you dolt! It's okay if I do that!"
The loud arguing continued for several hours, and unbeknownst to Legolas and Aragorn, Elladan and Elrohir were listening in on the entire conversation from behing a very large bush.
"Sweet Valar!" Elrohir whispered. "I was right! Oh, Deidre's going to hate us when we see her next!"
"I wonder how Ada would react if we told him?" Elladan pondered.
"Hopefully not as bad as he did when we told him about Aragorn and Arwen, but anyway, let's wait until the Fellowship leaves," Elrohir replied. "In the meanwhile, Legolas wouldn't be too mad if we told the hobbits about it, right? It's not like they can't keep secrets," he said, grinning evilly. After two thousand years, he would have his revenge at last!
*******
Deidre and Galadriel finally found time to talk later that evening, in Deidre's bedroom. "What are you running from this time?" Galadriel asked.
"Who says I'm running from anything? I came here for two reasons: one, with things the way they are in Imladris, I'd give my sanity three weeks before I'm on the roof and singing the Lay of Nimrodel in my nightgown, and two, I'd rather wait this whole thing out here, with you and Grandfather."
"Are you sure there isn't another reason?"
"No, of course not!" Deidre protested, then gave in. "Okay, there is. As you already know, Legolas Thranduillion was chosen as the representative for the Elves in the Fellowship. Well, it's been a long time since I've last seen him, and we were friends when I stayed in Mirkwood that one time, but now, seeing him again.." Deidre's voice trailed off.
"You're unsure of how you feel about him?" Galadriel suggested.
"Exactly. And then what happened in the garden the night before I left, well, that complicates the matter immensely."
"Why? What happened?"
Deidre sighed. "H-he told me he loved me."
"And what did you say in return?"
"Nothing at first. I just gaped at him until what he has said sunk in, then muttered something about getting some rest and fled. Now I realize that was horribly stupid, but I wasn't really thinking anything but 'Oh Valar, this can't be happening!' I mean, I swore never to fall in love!"
"Well, you're going to have to face your feelings, Deidre. You just might be in love with him, after all."
"In love?" Deidre asked incredulously. "With Legolas? Why did you that?"
Galadriel laughed. "Seeing you like this is like reliving my younger days. Except when your grandfather first confessed his love to me, I passed out cold. Even worse than running away!"
"Things were different then. I mean, you were in love with grandfather at the time, and you hadn't just seen him again for the first time in over a thousand years! Though it's not like Legolas isn't handsome, and smart, and funny, and nice to be around. Ungh! Why can't I just forget about him like I did the other guys who tried to court me? Which reminds me, did Haldir's arm and nose heal all right after I broke them? He should've known better than to try and kiss me, but I wouldn't want him to suffer permanent damage, unless it was his ego. He is rather egocentric."
"Haldir's arm healed fine, but his nose still is a little crooked. Don't worry, I think you taught him a lesson he'll never forget. But maybe the reason you can't fprget about Legolas is that you don't want to forget. Deidre, I want you to sort your feelings out so that by the time the Fellowship passes through Lorien, you'll be able to give him a decent answer, understood?"
"Y-what? The Fellowship is going to pass through here? How do you know that?"
"I don't know, but considering Gandalf, and considering our location, it seems like a logical choice."
Deidre thought for a second. "Look, I can't guarantee anything, but I'll try to have my feelings sorted out by then, all right? I mean, that gives me a month or two." And it took me six months to sort out the whole family thing, and this thing is hopelessly more complicated, but I can at least try. Hopefully I'll have everything straight by the time this whole ring business is over.
"Thank you, Deidre. Good night," Galadriel said as she left.
" 'Night," Deidre replied.
*********
"So, how did the talk with Deidre go?" Celeborn asked when Galadriel got into bed.
"As best as can be expected. Legolas Thranduillion told her that he loved her, and she's hopelessly confused about her feelings for him. I don't envy the time she'll have trying to sort out how she feels."
"Hopefully, everything will turn out all right. I mean, it did for us, and you took almost a whole year to get your feelings sorted out. I just hope Legolas is patient. If Deidre's anything like you when it comes to getting feelings straight, he'll have to wait a while. Though I would've waited eternity for you," he added.
"I know," Galadriel said, kissing Celeborn on the cheek. "I know."
******
*Whaddaya think? Please review!
*Next chapter: The hobbits tease Legolas, and the Fellowship arrives in Lorien, where Legolas gets a blast of cold air (but he still doesn't give up! Let's all applaud his tenacity! Trust me, it's worth it. It's definitely worth waiting for.)
*Oh, and for the dates of when I'll be on vacation or at camp, see the bottom part of my bio.
*Okay, if the next couple of chapters seem way awkward, it's because I don't really have the plot figured out until after the War of the Ring is over, which is when the real romance starts! Oh, and about ten chapters in, I steal a scene from the fantastic movie Kate & Leopold, so just warning you.
*And sorry, but Deidre's feelings aren't going to get sorted out -that- easily. When romance is involved, it takes a while, but it's worth it, trust me. Meanwhile, you get about three chapters that cover the war (and I go with the movie for Helm's Deep, but with a twist..Haldir didn't lead the Elvish forces alone, no, not by a long shot).
*And I leave time between scenes, so if time change (like going from Deidre's arrival in Lorien, then back in time to Imladris and the morning after Deidre and Legolas's conversation, then forward again to Deidre and Galadriel's conversation) confuses you, read this chapter carefully, and maybe take an asprin or two.
***********
"Grandmother!" Deidre exclaimed, dismounting and running to Galadriel.
"Back so soon?" She asked teasingly. "Let's get your fellow messengers settled and the news delivered, and then we can talk, just the two of us."
***********
Legolas spent the rest of the night in the garden, sitting motionless on a stone bench. Aragorn found him the next morning with his head in his hands, thinking.
"Hello, Legolas?" Aragorn asked, waving his hand in front of his friend's face.
Legolas looked up. "Hello," he said weakly.
"What's wrong? You weren't at breakfast, and when I asked around, no one had seen you since late last night. Why do you look so depressed?"
"Rejection."
"What do you mean?"
"I told the maiden I love how I felt about her, and she muttered some excuse, then dashed out of the gardens like I was an orc or something!"
"So apologize to her."
"I can't. She left with the party of messengers to Lorien this morning, and she's not coming back to Imladris until the war's over, if then."
"Maybe you should ask Lord Elrond for advice. I mean, from what Elladan and Elrohir told me that their mother told them, he certainly got rejected enough by maidens when he was younger."
Legolas laughed sarcastically. "What a brilliant idea! He's the last person I'd ask for advice, especially considering that he knows the maiden rather well. I just wish she hadn't run away, even though I know it's how she deals with things."
Wait a sec, Aragorn thought. The maiden is close to Elrond and runs away frequently. Who do I know that fits that description? "You should've known that an outburst was not the way to show Deidre you love her, Legolas."
"I know, but I wasn't really thinking. Wait, how do you know that I'm in love with Deidre? I haven't told anyone! Have you been reading my journal again?"
"You have a journal? Never mind, won't go into that subject. But I just put two and two together. That, and you were staring at her throughout the council yesterday, except for a few miraculous occasions when you managed to focus on something besides her."
"I was not staring at her the whole time!"
"Yeah, right."
"I wasn't! And even if I was, you're always staring at Arwen!"
"I'm betrothed to her, you dolt! It's okay if I do that!"
The loud arguing continued for several hours, and unbeknownst to Legolas and Aragorn, Elladan and Elrohir were listening in on the entire conversation from behing a very large bush.
"Sweet Valar!" Elrohir whispered. "I was right! Oh, Deidre's going to hate us when we see her next!"
"I wonder how Ada would react if we told him?" Elladan pondered.
"Hopefully not as bad as he did when we told him about Aragorn and Arwen, but anyway, let's wait until the Fellowship leaves," Elrohir replied. "In the meanwhile, Legolas wouldn't be too mad if we told the hobbits about it, right? It's not like they can't keep secrets," he said, grinning evilly. After two thousand years, he would have his revenge at last!
*******
Deidre and Galadriel finally found time to talk later that evening, in Deidre's bedroom. "What are you running from this time?" Galadriel asked.
"Who says I'm running from anything? I came here for two reasons: one, with things the way they are in Imladris, I'd give my sanity three weeks before I'm on the roof and singing the Lay of Nimrodel in my nightgown, and two, I'd rather wait this whole thing out here, with you and Grandfather."
"Are you sure there isn't another reason?"
"No, of course not!" Deidre protested, then gave in. "Okay, there is. As you already know, Legolas Thranduillion was chosen as the representative for the Elves in the Fellowship. Well, it's been a long time since I've last seen him, and we were friends when I stayed in Mirkwood that one time, but now, seeing him again.." Deidre's voice trailed off.
"You're unsure of how you feel about him?" Galadriel suggested.
"Exactly. And then what happened in the garden the night before I left, well, that complicates the matter immensely."
"Why? What happened?"
Deidre sighed. "H-he told me he loved me."
"And what did you say in return?"
"Nothing at first. I just gaped at him until what he has said sunk in, then muttered something about getting some rest and fled. Now I realize that was horribly stupid, but I wasn't really thinking anything but 'Oh Valar, this can't be happening!' I mean, I swore never to fall in love!"
"Well, you're going to have to face your feelings, Deidre. You just might be in love with him, after all."
"In love?" Deidre asked incredulously. "With Legolas? Why did you that?"
Galadriel laughed. "Seeing you like this is like reliving my younger days. Except when your grandfather first confessed his love to me, I passed out cold. Even worse than running away!"
"Things were different then. I mean, you were in love with grandfather at the time, and you hadn't just seen him again for the first time in over a thousand years! Though it's not like Legolas isn't handsome, and smart, and funny, and nice to be around. Ungh! Why can't I just forget about him like I did the other guys who tried to court me? Which reminds me, did Haldir's arm and nose heal all right after I broke them? He should've known better than to try and kiss me, but I wouldn't want him to suffer permanent damage, unless it was his ego. He is rather egocentric."
"Haldir's arm healed fine, but his nose still is a little crooked. Don't worry, I think you taught him a lesson he'll never forget. But maybe the reason you can't fprget about Legolas is that you don't want to forget. Deidre, I want you to sort your feelings out so that by the time the Fellowship passes through Lorien, you'll be able to give him a decent answer, understood?"
"Y-what? The Fellowship is going to pass through here? How do you know that?"
"I don't know, but considering Gandalf, and considering our location, it seems like a logical choice."
Deidre thought for a second. "Look, I can't guarantee anything, but I'll try to have my feelings sorted out by then, all right? I mean, that gives me a month or two." And it took me six months to sort out the whole family thing, and this thing is hopelessly more complicated, but I can at least try. Hopefully I'll have everything straight by the time this whole ring business is over.
"Thank you, Deidre. Good night," Galadriel said as she left.
" 'Night," Deidre replied.
*********
"So, how did the talk with Deidre go?" Celeborn asked when Galadriel got into bed.
"As best as can be expected. Legolas Thranduillion told her that he loved her, and she's hopelessly confused about her feelings for him. I don't envy the time she'll have trying to sort out how she feels."
"Hopefully, everything will turn out all right. I mean, it did for us, and you took almost a whole year to get your feelings sorted out. I just hope Legolas is patient. If Deidre's anything like you when it comes to getting feelings straight, he'll have to wait a while. Though I would've waited eternity for you," he added.
"I know," Galadriel said, kissing Celeborn on the cheek. "I know."
******
*Whaddaya think? Please review!
*Next chapter: The hobbits tease Legolas, and the Fellowship arrives in Lorien, where Legolas gets a blast of cold air (but he still doesn't give up! Let's all applaud his tenacity! Trust me, it's worth it. It's definitely worth waiting for.)
*Oh, and for the dates of when I'll be on vacation or at camp, see the bottom part of my bio.