Second Chances
By Sinful Starlet
Chapter Eleven - New beginnings
Disclaimer: I did the whole 'not mine' rant in the first part, so check there if you actually want to read a proper disclaimer.
Rating: PG-13
Author's note: Finally back! Apologies - finished my Dark Angel story that was eating away at my writing time, so I can finally get on with this and finish it! I'm on the home stretch now anyway. Things are resolved fairly quickly now, but it's still far from plain sailing - poor Legolas. You'd think that since I liked the character so much I'd be a little nicer to him, wouldn't you? Go figure! *SS*
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Chapter Eleven - New beginnings
Summary: Story continues. Legolas was all ready to leave Rivendell, sure that he had lost Arwen once and for all, but then she interrupted him. What can she say to make him realise the truth?
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"Arwen?" Legolas questioned, surprised by her appearance at such a late hour, but determined not to let the swell of emotions inside him show. "I came to see if you were alright," she said, her mind racing as she tried to think of something, anything to say - his very presence affected her so much. "You weren't at the meal tonight," she went on, avoiding his gaze and walking over to the window, catching only the slightest glimpse of the letter lying upon the desk. From the corner of her eye, she saw Legolas almost start towards her at that, guessing that he wished to hide the letter from her, but he checked himself at the last moment, and did not move.
"I know, I am sorry," he said, attempting to draw her attention away from the letter, wishing that he had thought to cover it, "you must apologise to your father for me, but I fear I was in little stomach for such a feast tonight". His voice and expression seemed oddly formal to her, and she turned quickly, trying to read his face for some sign of what was wrong, but it remained perfectly blank, masking whatever it was that he did not want her to see. She glanced down for a second, giving herself time to think of something to say, and it was only then that she caught sight of his travelling bags. "What's this?" she said, suddenly piecing it together - the bags, the letter on the table, his uneasy manner, "You're leaving aren't you?"
For the first time since she had entered that room, Legolas almost lost his control. The look in her eyes and the note of her voice as she spoke tore at his heart. "I…" he started, closing his eyes, unable to look at her anymore as he spoke, "…I have to. I am reconciled to your decision, Arwen - you must not blame yourself on that score. That said, I don't believe I can stay here any longer. I have written Lord Elrond a letter, detailing my news for the council, but I must now return to Mirkwood, indeed I was just about to leave as you arrived…". His words all came out in a rush, as he struggled to keep his voice level and even. Finally he trailed off, unable to say anything more. Arwen was utterly confused, miscomprehension colouring her features, "I don't understand," she said eventually, moving closer to him, but he simply shook his head and stepped away from her again, finally sitting down on the edge of the bed.
"I saw you, Arwen," he said, the last of his reserves threatening to give way, "tonight in the garden," he added when she didn't reply immediately. "I had thought to just while away some time before the meal, but then I was greeted with the sight of you and Aragorn". "I saw you kiss him, Arwen," he went on, his voice not bitter, just showing all the pain of acceptance, "clearly you had made your choice - I left at once and returned to this chamber". The realisation hit Arwen like a wave breaking over the rocks at high tide, and a single tear escaped her eyes as she understood what she had done. "No, Legolas, please," she said, her voice suddenly urgent and insistent, even with the tears blossoming at the edges of her eyes.
"You mistook," she said, desperate for him to understand the truth. "Yes, I kissed Aragorn - but only in farewell". Legolas' head snapped up in an instant, could that really be the truth? "Arwen?" he started, the question hanging in the air as his forehead creased in a frown. She moved closer to him, but this time he did not back away, just stayed where he was, sitting on the edge of the bed as she stopped in front of him, kneeling down so she could look up into his eyes. "You were right," she said at last, as another couple of tears rolled down her cheek, "I did make a choice tonight, but not the choice you thought". "I kissed Aragorn goodbye tonight," she went on, her voice paling as she said her next few words, "Legolas…I chose you…I love you".
She looked down, unable to hold his gaze any longer, but her reverie was broken as his hand moved to her chin, lifting her face while his other hand wiped away her tears. "Arwen," he said at last, his voice softer and more gentle than it had been all night, but his eyes still bathed in uncertainty, "I have waited for you to say those words to me, every day since we last parted, but I must ask you if you are sure". She looked up at him in confusion, not understanding what he was asking. "Are you certain that this is what you want?" he went on, hesitating for what seemed like an age before adding, "Are you certain that I am what you want?" Hearing those words and seeing the doubt that lay behind them, Arwen's eyes sent forth fresh floods of tears, and at first, she could make no reply.
Legolas' uncertainty made him read her response entirely wrongly again, but this time, he didn't get the chance to just walk off and leave. Arwen suddenly reached up, placing both hands on either side of his face, and when she spoke, it was slow and deliberate, needing to convince Legolas of the truth. "I have never been more certain of anything in my life, melethron-nin," she said, "if I had the choice to make a thousand times over, my answer would never be different". The last of Legolas' doubt fled in an instant, and he pulled her to him, sharing the sweetest kiss of their long lives. Neither of them said anything after that, only exchanging kisses and an unspoken expression of their love for each other, more complete at that moment than it had ever been before.
He didn't even remember either of them standing, only realising the fact when he finally broke their kisses, holding Arwen's gaze as he spoke again. "Not now, a'maelmin," he said, reaching for her hands, which had strayed from her sides to rake over the soft folds of the tunic covering his chest, "we have both lost too much to risk anything now". She knew exactly what he was talking about, and nodded her head, withdrawing her hands, linking her fingers in his. "We must go to your father," he said, pressing one final kiss to her forehead.
Right, I know that was pretty short, but it seemed like a good place to stop - too much emotional stuff, I can't handle it! Lol! Anyway, hope you liked it, and I'll hopefully be back with another update soon! *SS*