Chapter Twenty-Five: Mellonim
A/N: Ah, September 9th FINALLY! GEEZ! I can't believe they did that to me, I mean, it was all a joke. It's not like I really was insulting anybody, I just wanted some laughs. I kind of a bit sick of the whole seriousness of the Light Bearer. You know, great story--fun to write, but I've got major writers block for where I'm at right now (Rohan) so this story will at least continue to Rohan. So yeah. I'm pretty sure I'll have all the spaces filled in by then and they'll all go off to Gondor! Woo! Anyway, enjoy until then, and then enjoy even more! I made this chapter really long, and I'll be posting more long chapters to make up for the wait!
…
When all had entered, the Company sat in chairs set for them before the Lord and the Lady. Aila and Frodo, however, sat awkwardly at the Lord and Lady's feet, slightly to the side, awaiting their next commands. Aila caught Legolas' eye and he smiled comfortingly at her, as she held nervousness in her eyes. She smiled in return and her nerve was alleviated.
"Here there are nine," said Celeborn, as he re-seated himself when the guests had sat as well. "Ten were to set out: so said the messages. But maybe there has been some change of counsel that we have not heard."
"Nay, there was no change of counsel," said the Lady, her voice clear and melodious.
"Alas!" said Aragorn. "Gandalf the Grey fell into shadow. He remained in Moria and did not escape."
"Tell us now the full tale!" cried Celeborn upon hearing this, despair growing in his bright eyes. With that prompt, Aragorn fell into the entire tale, and the rest of the Fellowship hardly listened, so close was it to their hearts. Aila paid no attention what-so-ever, not trusting herself to listen to the recount of Gandalf's demise once again. She felt terrible for those seated around her. Little did they know …
"It was a Balrog of Morgoth," said Legolas, when Aragorn had finished, and Aila looked up from her lap to see fear still in his eyes, dimming their light. "Of all the elf-banes the most deadly, save the One who sits in the Dark Tower."
"I did not know that your plight was so evil," said Celeborn, after a long silence. "Let Gimli forget my harsh words; I spoke in the trouble of my heart. I will do what I can to aid you, each according to his wish and need, but especially that one of the little who bears the burden."
"Your quest is known to us," said Galadriel, looking to Frodo. "As is yours," and she turned to Aila, a smile slightly playing across her shimmering lips. "But we will not here speak of it more openly. Yet not in vain will it prove, maybe, that you came to this land seeking aid, as Gandalf himself plainly purposed." She sighed, spoke some of the glory of Celeborn, who sat proudly at her side. "It was I who first summoned the White Council. And if my designs had not gone amiss, it would have been governed by Gandalf the Grey, and then mayhaps things would have gone otherwise.
"But this I will say to you: your Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while all the Company is true." Silence then reigned through the room, but it was not an awkward silence, but purposeful. Galadriel proceeded to lock each of the Company member's gaze in her eyes in turn. Aila watched nervously, wishing she could comfort her friends as Galadriel offered each something that they would want enough to leave the Company for. She prayed for them strength.
Watching, Aila saw Legolas locked into the Lady's wise glance, and his eyes widened visibly as Galadriel offered what he wanted most in his mind. Thoughtfully, she turned to see Galadriel, who had her eyebrows raised slightly in amusement, as though what Legolas wanted most pleased her. Turning back to Legolas, she saw him hold a nervous look before determination set his face. It seemed like hours before Galadriel finally relented and turned her gaze upon Sam, who shifted uncomfortably. She watched Sam for a moment, before she turned her head to meet Legolas' gaze. Blood rushed to his cheeks and he bent his head.
Aila knitted her eyebrows quizzically. There had been something in Legolas' eyes, but she had not enough time to recognize it. He seemed thoroughly embarrassed about what he wanted most, though. Aila almost felt bad for her poor friend.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled," Galadriel said musically, when she had finished her test. "Tonight you shall sleep in peace, but first we shall feast! For the day of Glory had come! We must give a grand welcome to the Light Bearer!" Rising to her feet, Galadriel pulled Aila with her and presented her before Celeborn. She blushed constantly as Galadriel spoke of her and Celeborn responded in shock, as did the other elves who were within the room. The other elves quickly ran off to announce the others that there would be a feast. Even in front of her friends, Aila felt embarrassed. "Come," and with that Galadriel pulled her by the hand to a great dining hall, where dwelled polished tables and wooden chairs.
One table, built of sturdy mallorn-tree, she supposed, faced the others and she supposed this was the High Table. At the center of which, two intricately designed chairs were set, one each for the Lord and the Lady. Everyone from the Company fell into place along this table. Galadriel sat to Celeborn's right, Aila to her right, and on her other side sat Legolas. Then came Gimli on the right, and Pippin. On Celeborn's left sat Aragorn, then Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Boromir.
Chattering elves filed into the hall, crowding in from the doors, interest and excitement on each of their faces as they wondered what the sudden feast was called for. Cooks also filed from the kitchen doors as they piled food of elven type upon the grand tables. After all of the elves had fallen in and they were staring hungrily at the good food piled before them, Galadriel stood and all of their chattering fell to nonexistence.
"I know that many are wondering what caused this sudden feast," she began, her voice even and slow. Her breaths were measured and she was obviously holding back some excitement. "It is a grand occasion, that we have been waiting upon for countless millennia. The Light Bearer has come!" Gasps broke the dead silence that followed. After a few moments, the elves began talking hurriedly and loudly to each other, Pulling on her once more, Galadriel grasped Aila's hand and Aila's was forced upwards.
She bowed her head against the gasps and applause that met her. Blood rushed to her cheeks and Celeborn began to rise as well in front of his subjects.
"Let the feast begin!" he cried, spreading his hands in front of him. Aila took full advantage of that moment to pull her hand from Galadriel's grasp, seating herself determinedly in her seat. Picking at the food on her plate, Aila didn't have much of an appetite, as she gazed around the hall, seeing many male elves staring at her. Galadriel seemed to notice this as well, so she turned to Aila and commented.
"Many of us have waited millennia for your coming. It also helps that you are beautiful," said Galadriel, smiling lightly down at Aila, who felt dwarfed under Galadriel's height. She wasn't too short herself, standing at 5'5", but the elves were always much taller than her. "I see love for you much closer than you would think," but Aila had hidden her face in her hands in embarrassment, so she did not see Galadriel's glance at Legolas, who was listening upon the conversation. "Within an arm's distance, even, I would say," joked Galadriel. Legolas turned his head towards Gimli, to hide the blush to took over his face. Aila pulled her head from her hands and, thinking Legolas was in conversation with Gimli, suspected nothing.
She tried desperately to get anything further from the Lady of the Wood, but Galadriel locked herself in conversation with her husband and Frodo. Frustrated, Aila sighed deeply and turned forward towards her plate, noticing that Legolas was no longer turned towards Gimli. They talked to each other for the rest of the feast, Aila's appetite returned. Mostly they joked and jested, teasing for something or another, leaving Gimli only the company of Pippin.
…
When the feast finally ended, Aila yawned, looking forward to falling asleep, but she was distressed to find several elves approach her. Many bowed, curtsied, and some even kissed the back of her hand. Blushing frequently, Aila smiled sleepily and yawned constantly, but the elves didn't seem to get the hint.
"Lady, what a pleasure it is to have you here is beyond the art of poetry or song!" one elf had declared. Shaking her head, Aila declined the compliment, trying to exert modesty, which pleased the elves even more, instead of deterring them. Off to the side, Aila saw the Company waiting for her to escape her legions of well-wishers so they could all get some sleep. Legolas, she saw, had a small smile playing across his lips, fully amused at the actions of the elves.
"What are you smiling at, dear Prince?" she asked mockingly, turning disgusted towards him. Several elves, catching the joke, looked up at Legolas, smiling slightly and they seemed to catch something in his deep blue eyes.
They bowed to him also and Aila saw her chance to escape back to the rest of the Company. Hiding behind Aragorn, Aila almost collapsed against his back, overcome with weariness. Legolas saw her collapse into Aragorn from the corner of his eye as he stood before the elves, wondering why they bowed to him. Excusing himself and the rest of the Company from the throng of elves, Legolas pulled Aragorn, who cradled Aila against him, back to where they were to sleep.
Down the long ladder they climbed and Aila had trouble keeping herself from falling off. There was a pavilion set up for them near the fountain and Aila fell right upon the couch that was set up for her. Setting her head upon the pillow, Aila closed her eyes and pulled the blanket up over her traveling clothes. Deep sleep took her almost immediately, but in the middle of the night she awoke to shuffling on a couch near her.
…
Legolas lay awake for a few hours more, listening to the tinkle of falling water, soothing him, but not enough for sleep. He had too much on his mind for rest. Constantly, he found himself wandering back to thinking about what Galadriel had offered him. Sure, it would have been great, everything that he wanted, but would he leave the Fellowship for it? To get what he wanted? What he needed?
It had taken all of his willpower to decline Galadriel's offer.
"Do not worry, Legolas," she had said to him, inside his own mind. "You will not have to choose between what I have offered you and the Fellowship. Fate will choose for you. She will choose for you." Unsettled by the Lady's vague answers, Legolas tossed and turned all night long, and after a few hours of thinking of this, he heard a soft whisper near his ear.
"Legolas? Is that you? Is there something wrong?" Aila's voice floated over the small trickle of the falling water, but none of the others, deep in sleep, heard her.
"No," he lied. Aila, concerned and able to see through his lie, stood drowsily from her couch and stretched for a moment, then came to sit at his side.
"Liar," she accused. Something within Legolas' chest swelled just to have her sitting there, her hair a slight mess and eyes half closed in drowse. How tired she must be, but she still came to make sure he was all right? The elf had been trying to shut her out, knowing that what he felt would never be returned. He didn't want to push her into anything, either. She was the Light Bearer, was she not? But Galadriel's offer still tempted him and his tongue swelled within his mouth and he found that he couldn't speak. Not that he could think of anything to say. He just stared up at Aila and found himself not able to shut her out anymore. "What is it, Legolas? Is it whatever Galadriel offered you in her little test?" His tongue swelling even further in surprise, Legolas simply nodded.
"Oh, mellonim," she sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, and Legolas could tell that she fought sleep. "I saw your face when she offered you whatever she did, and it must have been something that you really wanted, though I won't ask you what, because it's none of my business, is it? What I can say is, what Sam was offered, he will receive, when this is all over. What Boromir was offered will be his bane, though if you leak word of that, I will kill you. I do not know what the others were offered, but I am sure that they will receive their greatest want, and I dearly hope you do, too."
"You know not what you say," Legolas said, tearing his eyes from her face, finding his voice once more. "If you knew, you would be humbled." All the more confused now, Aila reached a hand up to rub sleep from her eyes. While she was massaging her eyes, she had a sudden vision of the room she had encountered within Legolas' mind, and the portraits were restored. Then the vision was gone, she saw only a brief flash. It seemed to her that the portraits had even more color and vivacity than they ever had before. Pulling her hands from her face, Aila looked into Legolas' eyes, her stomach faintly fluttered and she wondered if she had eaten too much at the feast. A sudden urge overtook her and she reached down and pulled her friend in a hug, hoping against hope to comfort him.
Legolas was surprised by the sudden hug from Aila. She wormed her arms under his shoulder blades and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her upper body lay down on top of him but her feet remained on the grass. She squeezed him tightly to her and he awkwardly returned the hug, resting his head upon her shoulder as she did the same.
"Legolas," she whispered in his ear, her breath playing upon the sensitive tip, causing a shiver of pleasure to shudder his body. "You've been my guardian angel and you've comforted me so much, and I know you'll continue to do so. I just hope that I can comfort you just as much. I owe you so much." She made as if to pull away from him, stifling a yaw, but Legolas found himself pulling her back to his chest and whispering.
"Don't leave me." Even as he said it, he wished he could have taken it back, or gone back those few seconds to prevent himself from saying it. He slapped himself mentally, wondering what Aila would do next. Surprisingly, he felt her smile into his shoulder.
"I would never leave you," she whispered, and his heart leaped into his throat, but plummeted once again as she finished her sentence, "mellonim." Mellonim. He released her from the hug and she kissed his cheek as she got up. "You are my guardian angel." With that, she stood up and drowsily walked back to her couch, pleased with herself in comforting Legolas.
But she had not comforted him, but left him even more confused than he had been before. He had come to dread the times when she called him 'friend'. A few months ago, he had loved it, somehow it pleased his ear every time she called him 'mellonim', but that seemed faraway and distant--those times that they had shared with Arwen and Aragorn in Rivendell. How could Aila love him, though? The way that he loved her?
*I can never admit my love for her,* he thought. *But I cannot stop loving her.* He felt he had little choice, however, to do anything other than accept the friendship and swallow his feelings.
…
The remaining days they spent in Lorien, Legolas did not spend much time with the Company, save meals when he returned to eat and talk with them a little. The rest of the time, he was away with the Galadhrim, even sleeping away from the companions after the first night.
"Would you join me, Aila?" he had asked in the early morning when she had first waked that first morning they spent in Lorien.
"No, I don't want to have legions of elves drooling over me," she said, disgusted. Even sticking her tongue out and distorting her face for laughing purposes. "But take Gimli, he will be willing to see the Galadhrim."
"Why do you stress friendship between myself and Gimli?" he asked curiously. Smiling slightly at him, Aila closed her eyes for a few seconds, wondering how to word her answer.
"It has been much too long since Elf and Dwarf were companions." She left it at that, and turned to go, but Legolas put a restraining hand on her shoulder. Aila turned back towards him, eyebrows raised slightly.
"Are you sure you do not wish to join me?" For a second, Aila felt guilty because Legolas obviously wanted her to go with him, but she smiled again and shook her head.
"No, Legolas. I grow tired of people hanging on the fact that I'm supposed to be the Light Bearer or whatever."
"Light Bearer or whatever!" Legolas exclaimed. "Do not say it like that, Aila. You can't understand how long some of these elves have waited, everyday they watched for the Light Bearer to come through Arwen's mirror. Holding their breath every time news came in from Rivendell. And finally you have come; and Behold! Can you blame them for being overly excited?" *I was one of them* he thought. *I waited everyday for news from Arwen that the Light Bearer had come through the mirror. And here you are …*
"I suppose I cannot, but I am going to hang back away from the crowds for a while and just hang out with these guys," she gestured towards the Company. Aila knew that he accepted her answer, but still wanted her to accompany him.
"There is so much you will miss out on," were his final words on the subject.
"I think that somehow I'll manage and not die here of boredom, Legolas." He looked quite frustrated but he took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead before brushing past her and calling to Gimli.
"Gimli, come, I shall be your guide along the paths of my kindred city." Still standing where she had been seconds ago, Aila heard Gimli stand behind her, grunting good-bye's to the Company. Elf and dwarf passed her again and Aila avoided the gaze of Legolas as he turned his head when he passed.
"Aila," Aragorn cried, once Legolas and Gimli were out of sight. "Come over and sit with us. Join the conversation, mellonim." Turning around and smiling as she went, Aila sprawled across the grass and spoke lightly with her friends. After little more than an hour an elf approached them, clad in green leggings similar to those of Legolas and a black cloak.
"Light Bearer," he said, turning towards Aila, interrupting her speech with Aragorn, Boromir, and the hobbits. "The Lady Galadriel requests you attend her." Taking leave of her friends, gazing apologetically at them, who smiled in return, Aila followed the elf up the ladder many yards until she came once again upon the house of Celeborn and Galadriel. The cloaked elf held the door for her and bowed as she entered. Upon her throne, sat Galadriel, looking serenely upon Aila immediately after she entered.
Galadriel stood up to greet Aila and Aila, unsure of any elvish protocol, she curtsied. Galadriel let out a small laugh which rang melodiously through the hall.
"Your curtsy seems awkward and unrehearsed, Light Bearer."
"Well, I never curtsy where I come from, Lady." Galadriel's blond eyebrows raised slightly in question but she asked nothing.
"I have brought you here to speak with you, Light Bearer, do you have any idea on what?"
"Uh--on this whole Light Bearer deal, I guess. Am I right?" Galadriel smiled slightly at Aila's informality, her sentences were choppy and not thought through. Taking Aila's hand, she led her back down the ladder and past the pavilion, into a grove of trees. There resided a solitary bench, carved stone like those that were in Rivendell, but it seemed odd and out of place, so singularly man-(or elf)-made against the beauty of nature. It seemed like two beautiful worlds clashing horribly.
"This," said Galadriel, "is my library." Aila looked around to see books or scrolls, or something, but saw nothing but trees, dirt, and leaves. Several flowers splattered the ground, but this was no garden. The flowers were wild and untamed.
"I do not see anything, Lady," she said, "or I am blind."
"Light Bearer," she laughed, "you must learn to look up when you are within a city of the Galadhrim." Her gaze raising towards the sky, Aila saw a flet in a tall tree above their heads. "Sit, Bearer, upon the bench while I retrieve a document I believe may interest you." Nodding in consent, Aila walked towards the solitary stone bench and seated herself upon it, awkwardly sitting as she watched Galadriel ascend into the tree. After only a few minutes of staring around her and at her feet, Aila heard faintly Galadriel's footsteps as she came down the stair.
"This," she said as she came, "is the Prophecy of the Light Bearer. I thought it might intrigue you." Accepting the scroll that Galadriel handed her, Aila cautiously began to unroll it.
"I trust you can find your way back," Galadriel said, beginning to walk away. "I have other matters to attend to." Re-rolling the scroll, Aila got up as well.
"You may trust me to find my way back, but I don't. I will come with you back to the pavilion and then I will allow you to go on your way." Nodding, Galadriel regarded Aila for several moments, before walking serenely away, Aila in tow.
"Have you found yourself love, yet, Light Bearer?" The question surprised Aila, and she wouldn't have thought it a polite question, but this was an elven queen who asked her. One of the people of whom she was supposed to be the salvation.
"No," she answered truthfully. "I find myself more cautious than ever, when I have the lives of an entire race in my hands. And a beautiful race at that."
"Do not be too cautious, Lady Aila," she responded and Aila was surprised to hear Galadriel use her name. "But do not walk blindly into love, either. Listen to your feelings. I know that as a Mind Walker, it is difficult for you to listen to your heart, but pay attention to what people say to you, especially your close friends, and you will find what they mean behind their tone and their eyes. Not every answer can be solved in the mind. Never allow your mind to rule your love, for then the destruction of the elves is inescapable. And do no analyze that prophecy too closely, it is older than me and prophecies have a tendency to be slightly off."
By this time Aila had arrived at the pavilion and she said farewell to Galadriel and rejoined the
Company seated around the fountain, laying on the grass and sitting upon the water's edge. She tucked the scroll away within her pack and joined them in a meal, Gimli and Legolas having returned. Aila suddenly remembered that Legolas had said he would show her the Light Bearer prophecy before, but they never got around to it …
"We've been summoned to the chamber of Celeborn again this evening. We will leave when the sun reaches its sixth zenith." (A/N: What I'm trying to say is 6:00 is weirdo-elf terms. Oh well, close enough.)
…
A/N: Isn't this an AMAZINGLY long chapter? OH, and EVERYBODY CHEER FOR ME! I got the Flight Sergeant position, and our flight is called the Alpha Panthers. Sounds cool, huh? So yeah. An upperclassman is our flight commander, but I figured he was going to be commander anyway. So I took roll in the beginning of the day, and then I turned to salute him and report the missing cadets, but my elbow hit the white board because I was too close. So I had to do a little left step and then salute, which I forgot to take my pencil out of my right hand, so my salute was warped. It was TERRIBLE! But I'll get it. Plus I have to learn how to carry the guide-on, a small flag on a long pole. Yeah, what fun. But aren't you so proud of me? Me and my LOOONNG chapter?
A/N: Ah, September 9th FINALLY! GEEZ! I can't believe they did that to me, I mean, it was all a joke. It's not like I really was insulting anybody, I just wanted some laughs. I kind of a bit sick of the whole seriousness of the Light Bearer. You know, great story--fun to write, but I've got major writers block for where I'm at right now (Rohan) so this story will at least continue to Rohan. So yeah. I'm pretty sure I'll have all the spaces filled in by then and they'll all go off to Gondor! Woo! Anyway, enjoy until then, and then enjoy even more! I made this chapter really long, and I'll be posting more long chapters to make up for the wait!
…
When all had entered, the Company sat in chairs set for them before the Lord and the Lady. Aila and Frodo, however, sat awkwardly at the Lord and Lady's feet, slightly to the side, awaiting their next commands. Aila caught Legolas' eye and he smiled comfortingly at her, as she held nervousness in her eyes. She smiled in return and her nerve was alleviated.
"Here there are nine," said Celeborn, as he re-seated himself when the guests had sat as well. "Ten were to set out: so said the messages. But maybe there has been some change of counsel that we have not heard."
"Nay, there was no change of counsel," said the Lady, her voice clear and melodious.
"Alas!" said Aragorn. "Gandalf the Grey fell into shadow. He remained in Moria and did not escape."
"Tell us now the full tale!" cried Celeborn upon hearing this, despair growing in his bright eyes. With that prompt, Aragorn fell into the entire tale, and the rest of the Fellowship hardly listened, so close was it to their hearts. Aila paid no attention what-so-ever, not trusting herself to listen to the recount of Gandalf's demise once again. She felt terrible for those seated around her. Little did they know …
"It was a Balrog of Morgoth," said Legolas, when Aragorn had finished, and Aila looked up from her lap to see fear still in his eyes, dimming their light. "Of all the elf-banes the most deadly, save the One who sits in the Dark Tower."
"I did not know that your plight was so evil," said Celeborn, after a long silence. "Let Gimli forget my harsh words; I spoke in the trouble of my heart. I will do what I can to aid you, each according to his wish and need, but especially that one of the little who bears the burden."
"Your quest is known to us," said Galadriel, looking to Frodo. "As is yours," and she turned to Aila, a smile slightly playing across her shimmering lips. "But we will not here speak of it more openly. Yet not in vain will it prove, maybe, that you came to this land seeking aid, as Gandalf himself plainly purposed." She sighed, spoke some of the glory of Celeborn, who sat proudly at her side. "It was I who first summoned the White Council. And if my designs had not gone amiss, it would have been governed by Gandalf the Grey, and then mayhaps things would have gone otherwise.
"But this I will say to you: your Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while all the Company is true." Silence then reigned through the room, but it was not an awkward silence, but purposeful. Galadriel proceeded to lock each of the Company member's gaze in her eyes in turn. Aila watched nervously, wishing she could comfort her friends as Galadriel offered each something that they would want enough to leave the Company for. She prayed for them strength.
Watching, Aila saw Legolas locked into the Lady's wise glance, and his eyes widened visibly as Galadriel offered what he wanted most in his mind. Thoughtfully, she turned to see Galadriel, who had her eyebrows raised slightly in amusement, as though what Legolas wanted most pleased her. Turning back to Legolas, she saw him hold a nervous look before determination set his face. It seemed like hours before Galadriel finally relented and turned her gaze upon Sam, who shifted uncomfortably. She watched Sam for a moment, before she turned her head to meet Legolas' gaze. Blood rushed to his cheeks and he bent his head.
Aila knitted her eyebrows quizzically. There had been something in Legolas' eyes, but she had not enough time to recognize it. He seemed thoroughly embarrassed about what he wanted most, though. Aila almost felt bad for her poor friend.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled," Galadriel said musically, when she had finished her test. "Tonight you shall sleep in peace, but first we shall feast! For the day of Glory had come! We must give a grand welcome to the Light Bearer!" Rising to her feet, Galadriel pulled Aila with her and presented her before Celeborn. She blushed constantly as Galadriel spoke of her and Celeborn responded in shock, as did the other elves who were within the room. The other elves quickly ran off to announce the others that there would be a feast. Even in front of her friends, Aila felt embarrassed. "Come," and with that Galadriel pulled her by the hand to a great dining hall, where dwelled polished tables and wooden chairs.
One table, built of sturdy mallorn-tree, she supposed, faced the others and she supposed this was the High Table. At the center of which, two intricately designed chairs were set, one each for the Lord and the Lady. Everyone from the Company fell into place along this table. Galadriel sat to Celeborn's right, Aila to her right, and on her other side sat Legolas. Then came Gimli on the right, and Pippin. On Celeborn's left sat Aragorn, then Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Boromir.
Chattering elves filed into the hall, crowding in from the doors, interest and excitement on each of their faces as they wondered what the sudden feast was called for. Cooks also filed from the kitchen doors as they piled food of elven type upon the grand tables. After all of the elves had fallen in and they were staring hungrily at the good food piled before them, Galadriel stood and all of their chattering fell to nonexistence.
"I know that many are wondering what caused this sudden feast," she began, her voice even and slow. Her breaths were measured and she was obviously holding back some excitement. "It is a grand occasion, that we have been waiting upon for countless millennia. The Light Bearer has come!" Gasps broke the dead silence that followed. After a few moments, the elves began talking hurriedly and loudly to each other, Pulling on her once more, Galadriel grasped Aila's hand and Aila's was forced upwards.
She bowed her head against the gasps and applause that met her. Blood rushed to her cheeks and Celeborn began to rise as well in front of his subjects.
"Let the feast begin!" he cried, spreading his hands in front of him. Aila took full advantage of that moment to pull her hand from Galadriel's grasp, seating herself determinedly in her seat. Picking at the food on her plate, Aila didn't have much of an appetite, as she gazed around the hall, seeing many male elves staring at her. Galadriel seemed to notice this as well, so she turned to Aila and commented.
"Many of us have waited millennia for your coming. It also helps that you are beautiful," said Galadriel, smiling lightly down at Aila, who felt dwarfed under Galadriel's height. She wasn't too short herself, standing at 5'5", but the elves were always much taller than her. "I see love for you much closer than you would think," but Aila had hidden her face in her hands in embarrassment, so she did not see Galadriel's glance at Legolas, who was listening upon the conversation. "Within an arm's distance, even, I would say," joked Galadriel. Legolas turned his head towards Gimli, to hide the blush to took over his face. Aila pulled her head from her hands and, thinking Legolas was in conversation with Gimli, suspected nothing.
She tried desperately to get anything further from the Lady of the Wood, but Galadriel locked herself in conversation with her husband and Frodo. Frustrated, Aila sighed deeply and turned forward towards her plate, noticing that Legolas was no longer turned towards Gimli. They talked to each other for the rest of the feast, Aila's appetite returned. Mostly they joked and jested, teasing for something or another, leaving Gimli only the company of Pippin.
…
When the feast finally ended, Aila yawned, looking forward to falling asleep, but she was distressed to find several elves approach her. Many bowed, curtsied, and some even kissed the back of her hand. Blushing frequently, Aila smiled sleepily and yawned constantly, but the elves didn't seem to get the hint.
"Lady, what a pleasure it is to have you here is beyond the art of poetry or song!" one elf had declared. Shaking her head, Aila declined the compliment, trying to exert modesty, which pleased the elves even more, instead of deterring them. Off to the side, Aila saw the Company waiting for her to escape her legions of well-wishers so they could all get some sleep. Legolas, she saw, had a small smile playing across his lips, fully amused at the actions of the elves.
"What are you smiling at, dear Prince?" she asked mockingly, turning disgusted towards him. Several elves, catching the joke, looked up at Legolas, smiling slightly and they seemed to catch something in his deep blue eyes.
They bowed to him also and Aila saw her chance to escape back to the rest of the Company. Hiding behind Aragorn, Aila almost collapsed against his back, overcome with weariness. Legolas saw her collapse into Aragorn from the corner of his eye as he stood before the elves, wondering why they bowed to him. Excusing himself and the rest of the Company from the throng of elves, Legolas pulled Aragorn, who cradled Aila against him, back to where they were to sleep.
Down the long ladder they climbed and Aila had trouble keeping herself from falling off. There was a pavilion set up for them near the fountain and Aila fell right upon the couch that was set up for her. Setting her head upon the pillow, Aila closed her eyes and pulled the blanket up over her traveling clothes. Deep sleep took her almost immediately, but in the middle of the night she awoke to shuffling on a couch near her.
…
Legolas lay awake for a few hours more, listening to the tinkle of falling water, soothing him, but not enough for sleep. He had too much on his mind for rest. Constantly, he found himself wandering back to thinking about what Galadriel had offered him. Sure, it would have been great, everything that he wanted, but would he leave the Fellowship for it? To get what he wanted? What he needed?
It had taken all of his willpower to decline Galadriel's offer.
"Do not worry, Legolas," she had said to him, inside his own mind. "You will not have to choose between what I have offered you and the Fellowship. Fate will choose for you. She will choose for you." Unsettled by the Lady's vague answers, Legolas tossed and turned all night long, and after a few hours of thinking of this, he heard a soft whisper near his ear.
"Legolas? Is that you? Is there something wrong?" Aila's voice floated over the small trickle of the falling water, but none of the others, deep in sleep, heard her.
"No," he lied. Aila, concerned and able to see through his lie, stood drowsily from her couch and stretched for a moment, then came to sit at his side.
"Liar," she accused. Something within Legolas' chest swelled just to have her sitting there, her hair a slight mess and eyes half closed in drowse. How tired she must be, but she still came to make sure he was all right? The elf had been trying to shut her out, knowing that what he felt would never be returned. He didn't want to push her into anything, either. She was the Light Bearer, was she not? But Galadriel's offer still tempted him and his tongue swelled within his mouth and he found that he couldn't speak. Not that he could think of anything to say. He just stared up at Aila and found himself not able to shut her out anymore. "What is it, Legolas? Is it whatever Galadriel offered you in her little test?" His tongue swelling even further in surprise, Legolas simply nodded.
"Oh, mellonim," she sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, and Legolas could tell that she fought sleep. "I saw your face when she offered you whatever she did, and it must have been something that you really wanted, though I won't ask you what, because it's none of my business, is it? What I can say is, what Sam was offered, he will receive, when this is all over. What Boromir was offered will be his bane, though if you leak word of that, I will kill you. I do not know what the others were offered, but I am sure that they will receive their greatest want, and I dearly hope you do, too."
"You know not what you say," Legolas said, tearing his eyes from her face, finding his voice once more. "If you knew, you would be humbled." All the more confused now, Aila reached a hand up to rub sleep from her eyes. While she was massaging her eyes, she had a sudden vision of the room she had encountered within Legolas' mind, and the portraits were restored. Then the vision was gone, she saw only a brief flash. It seemed to her that the portraits had even more color and vivacity than they ever had before. Pulling her hands from her face, Aila looked into Legolas' eyes, her stomach faintly fluttered and she wondered if she had eaten too much at the feast. A sudden urge overtook her and she reached down and pulled her friend in a hug, hoping against hope to comfort him.
Legolas was surprised by the sudden hug from Aila. She wormed her arms under his shoulder blades and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her upper body lay down on top of him but her feet remained on the grass. She squeezed him tightly to her and he awkwardly returned the hug, resting his head upon her shoulder as she did the same.
"Legolas," she whispered in his ear, her breath playing upon the sensitive tip, causing a shiver of pleasure to shudder his body. "You've been my guardian angel and you've comforted me so much, and I know you'll continue to do so. I just hope that I can comfort you just as much. I owe you so much." She made as if to pull away from him, stifling a yaw, but Legolas found himself pulling her back to his chest and whispering.
"Don't leave me." Even as he said it, he wished he could have taken it back, or gone back those few seconds to prevent himself from saying it. He slapped himself mentally, wondering what Aila would do next. Surprisingly, he felt her smile into his shoulder.
"I would never leave you," she whispered, and his heart leaped into his throat, but plummeted once again as she finished her sentence, "mellonim." Mellonim. He released her from the hug and she kissed his cheek as she got up. "You are my guardian angel." With that, she stood up and drowsily walked back to her couch, pleased with herself in comforting Legolas.
But she had not comforted him, but left him even more confused than he had been before. He had come to dread the times when she called him 'friend'. A few months ago, he had loved it, somehow it pleased his ear every time she called him 'mellonim', but that seemed faraway and distant--those times that they had shared with Arwen and Aragorn in Rivendell. How could Aila love him, though? The way that he loved her?
*I can never admit my love for her,* he thought. *But I cannot stop loving her.* He felt he had little choice, however, to do anything other than accept the friendship and swallow his feelings.
…
The remaining days they spent in Lorien, Legolas did not spend much time with the Company, save meals when he returned to eat and talk with them a little. The rest of the time, he was away with the Galadhrim, even sleeping away from the companions after the first night.
"Would you join me, Aila?" he had asked in the early morning when she had first waked that first morning they spent in Lorien.
"No, I don't want to have legions of elves drooling over me," she said, disgusted. Even sticking her tongue out and distorting her face for laughing purposes. "But take Gimli, he will be willing to see the Galadhrim."
"Why do you stress friendship between myself and Gimli?" he asked curiously. Smiling slightly at him, Aila closed her eyes for a few seconds, wondering how to word her answer.
"It has been much too long since Elf and Dwarf were companions." She left it at that, and turned to go, but Legolas put a restraining hand on her shoulder. Aila turned back towards him, eyebrows raised slightly.
"Are you sure you do not wish to join me?" For a second, Aila felt guilty because Legolas obviously wanted her to go with him, but she smiled again and shook her head.
"No, Legolas. I grow tired of people hanging on the fact that I'm supposed to be the Light Bearer or whatever."
"Light Bearer or whatever!" Legolas exclaimed. "Do not say it like that, Aila. You can't understand how long some of these elves have waited, everyday they watched for the Light Bearer to come through Arwen's mirror. Holding their breath every time news came in from Rivendell. And finally you have come; and Behold! Can you blame them for being overly excited?" *I was one of them* he thought. *I waited everyday for news from Arwen that the Light Bearer had come through the mirror. And here you are …*
"I suppose I cannot, but I am going to hang back away from the crowds for a while and just hang out with these guys," she gestured towards the Company. Aila knew that he accepted her answer, but still wanted her to accompany him.
"There is so much you will miss out on," were his final words on the subject.
"I think that somehow I'll manage and not die here of boredom, Legolas." He looked quite frustrated but he took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead before brushing past her and calling to Gimli.
"Gimli, come, I shall be your guide along the paths of my kindred city." Still standing where she had been seconds ago, Aila heard Gimli stand behind her, grunting good-bye's to the Company. Elf and dwarf passed her again and Aila avoided the gaze of Legolas as he turned his head when he passed.
"Aila," Aragorn cried, once Legolas and Gimli were out of sight. "Come over and sit with us. Join the conversation, mellonim." Turning around and smiling as she went, Aila sprawled across the grass and spoke lightly with her friends. After little more than an hour an elf approached them, clad in green leggings similar to those of Legolas and a black cloak.
"Light Bearer," he said, turning towards Aila, interrupting her speech with Aragorn, Boromir, and the hobbits. "The Lady Galadriel requests you attend her." Taking leave of her friends, gazing apologetically at them, who smiled in return, Aila followed the elf up the ladder many yards until she came once again upon the house of Celeborn and Galadriel. The cloaked elf held the door for her and bowed as she entered. Upon her throne, sat Galadriel, looking serenely upon Aila immediately after she entered.
Galadriel stood up to greet Aila and Aila, unsure of any elvish protocol, she curtsied. Galadriel let out a small laugh which rang melodiously through the hall.
"Your curtsy seems awkward and unrehearsed, Light Bearer."
"Well, I never curtsy where I come from, Lady." Galadriel's blond eyebrows raised slightly in question but she asked nothing.
"I have brought you here to speak with you, Light Bearer, do you have any idea on what?"
"Uh--on this whole Light Bearer deal, I guess. Am I right?" Galadriel smiled slightly at Aila's informality, her sentences were choppy and not thought through. Taking Aila's hand, she led her back down the ladder and past the pavilion, into a grove of trees. There resided a solitary bench, carved stone like those that were in Rivendell, but it seemed odd and out of place, so singularly man-(or elf)-made against the beauty of nature. It seemed like two beautiful worlds clashing horribly.
"This," said Galadriel, "is my library." Aila looked around to see books or scrolls, or something, but saw nothing but trees, dirt, and leaves. Several flowers splattered the ground, but this was no garden. The flowers were wild and untamed.
"I do not see anything, Lady," she said, "or I am blind."
"Light Bearer," she laughed, "you must learn to look up when you are within a city of the Galadhrim." Her gaze raising towards the sky, Aila saw a flet in a tall tree above their heads. "Sit, Bearer, upon the bench while I retrieve a document I believe may interest you." Nodding in consent, Aila walked towards the solitary stone bench and seated herself upon it, awkwardly sitting as she watched Galadriel ascend into the tree. After only a few minutes of staring around her and at her feet, Aila heard faintly Galadriel's footsteps as she came down the stair.
"This," she said as she came, "is the Prophecy of the Light Bearer. I thought it might intrigue you." Accepting the scroll that Galadriel handed her, Aila cautiously began to unroll it.
"I trust you can find your way back," Galadriel said, beginning to walk away. "I have other matters to attend to." Re-rolling the scroll, Aila got up as well.
"You may trust me to find my way back, but I don't. I will come with you back to the pavilion and then I will allow you to go on your way." Nodding, Galadriel regarded Aila for several moments, before walking serenely away, Aila in tow.
"Have you found yourself love, yet, Light Bearer?" The question surprised Aila, and she wouldn't have thought it a polite question, but this was an elven queen who asked her. One of the people of whom she was supposed to be the salvation.
"No," she answered truthfully. "I find myself more cautious than ever, when I have the lives of an entire race in my hands. And a beautiful race at that."
"Do not be too cautious, Lady Aila," she responded and Aila was surprised to hear Galadriel use her name. "But do not walk blindly into love, either. Listen to your feelings. I know that as a Mind Walker, it is difficult for you to listen to your heart, but pay attention to what people say to you, especially your close friends, and you will find what they mean behind their tone and their eyes. Not every answer can be solved in the mind. Never allow your mind to rule your love, for then the destruction of the elves is inescapable. And do no analyze that prophecy too closely, it is older than me and prophecies have a tendency to be slightly off."
By this time Aila had arrived at the pavilion and she said farewell to Galadriel and rejoined the
Company seated around the fountain, laying on the grass and sitting upon the water's edge. She tucked the scroll away within her pack and joined them in a meal, Gimli and Legolas having returned. Aila suddenly remembered that Legolas had said he would show her the Light Bearer prophecy before, but they never got around to it …
"We've been summoned to the chamber of Celeborn again this evening. We will leave when the sun reaches its sixth zenith." (A/N: What I'm trying to say is 6:00 is weirdo-elf terms. Oh well, close enough.)
…
A/N: Isn't this an AMAZINGLY long chapter? OH, and EVERYBODY CHEER FOR ME! I got the Flight Sergeant position, and our flight is called the Alpha Panthers. Sounds cool, huh? So yeah. An upperclassman is our flight commander, but I figured he was going to be commander anyway. So I took roll in the beginning of the day, and then I turned to salute him and report the missing cadets, but my elbow hit the white board because I was too close. So I had to do a little left step and then salute, which I forgot to take my pencil out of my right hand, so my salute was warped. It was TERRIBLE! But I'll get it. Plus I have to learn how to carry the guide-on, a small flag on a long pole. Yeah, what fun. But aren't you so proud of me? Me and my LOOONNG chapter?