*
The market place was Aunorey's favourite place in Mirkwood. Vendors and businessman galor came from all over Middle Earth to sell their merchandise here. Brightly coloured blankets and tapestries were strung along the wagons, dresses and shoes were laid out, and various ripe fruits and vegetables were kept together in large buckets and stands in a brilliant display.
Moving along, listening to her friends chatter on about what they had been up to lately, the men around them, and gossip, Aunorey kept to herself. She felt almost as though she was being watched, and nostalgia swept over her. The first night when Legolas had found her....
Aunorey blinked, keeping the memories at bay. She would see Legolas again maybe, but she knew that when she told her parents of her condition she would be sent away. She would go away to live with her Aunt Theresia, maybe.
Aunorey looked around for anyone who might be looking at her, watching her. She saw no one in particular in the huge crowd, and her eyebrows narrowed in wonder.
Aunorey was walking along when she spotted a dress made of green velvet with embroidered gold stitched along the hem and a matching gold sash. She gasped, tugging her friends along with her to admire the gowns. She picked up the sleeve, admired it, considered it. Suddenly, a flash of green the same shade as the gown caught her attention, and she saw a figure in a cloak moving in front of her, a couple yards away. Studying her. Aunorey's heart sped up, it couldn't be...
She turned back to the dress, ignored her beating heart though it hurt with how it pounded against her ribs. She opened her pouch and pulled out a bit of coins and paid for the green dress. When it was packaged, Aunorey slipped it inside the leather pouch she had slung over her side. The girls began to move again, down the long aisle before turning into another one.
Linwë spotted a huge display of embroidered slippers, and the group stopped again. Aunorey stood still, not daring to move, knowing she was being watched. She turned her head, and saw the green figure moving slowly through the aisle she had just come from. The figure's head was turned towards her, but shadowed by the hood. She saw him move and disappear behind the tapestries that blocked their view.
She began to move down the aisle, wanting to get away. She honestly didn't want to know who it was, because... well, she had no idea who it was.
Under the dark green cloak, Legolas wore brown leather boots and tan breeches, a white peasant shirt and a dark green vest embroidered with a darker green thread.
Legolas watched Aunorey, and he knew she saw him. He moved quietly behind her, he needed to speak with her. Just seeing her again made his heart clench rather painfully. Why was she avoiding him?
Sheer stubborness and will made him go after her. Sick of being told 'she's not here, my lord' and 'she will not accept visitors at this time, my lord' by Barlos every time he went to seek her out, and unable to see her otherwise, his pent up frustration with her was at it's boiling point, considering she kept moving away from him faster and faster. Truth be told, he was elated when he'd gotten that note telling him that she had actually gone out. Legolas had become rather desperate to see her, although he would never admit it.
He watched her buy a dress, and swore he would by her a thousand. He watched her touch and admire different things, and wanted them all for her.
His vision was suddenly blocked by a long, huge tapestry, and he moved quickly to the breaking point between the tapestries so he could see her. When he got there, he could only see her friends.
Narrowing his eyes, Legolas slipped over and into the other aisle. There was a huge crowd of people, and a slight dust rose from the hard packed dirt. He suddenly saw the navy blue cloak, the one he'd had his eye on that let him familiarize himself with her in this crowd. He moved quickly down to reach her, wondering why she was going so far alone, and made his way through the crowd, barely touching anyone. He noticed the strange looks some shoppers gave him because of the cloak, but he ignored them.
As soon as he was right behind Aunorey, he reached out and grabbed her wrist. Though his touch was gentle, it was like iron. He pulled her to him, her back pressing against his chest, and he had a sudden, painful release. This was a new kind of torture. He had no idea he'd missed her this much.
Pushing her forward slightly, he felt her tense. "Shh," he whispered as he pulled her past the vendors. He pulled her arm behind her back, not allowing her to turn around and pushed her to the end of the aisle and into the huge, dark orchard that lay beyond the large, outdoor shopping market.
He gripped her hand then, and pulled her into the deeper part of the trees. He reached up and pushed his hood back. His blonde hair spilled forth, and glinted gold in the sun that broke through the thick branches of the trees. His eyes looked almost a purple black in the darker light that shadowed his face. Aunorey turned around, and her beautiful face, that always seemed even lovelier every time Legolas saw her, mirrored her complete shock. He smiled wanly, not knowing what to say. He had planned this out so many times, but now that it was actually happening, he was speechless.
"Legolas..." Aunorey said hesitantly.
"Aunorey," Legolas said back. "Why've you been avoiding me?" He dropped her wrist.
Aunorey shrugged.
When she didn't answer after a few minutes, Legolas's eyebrows rose. "The least you could do is answer me," he said tersely.
"Don't use that tone with me," she said, narrowing her eyes.
"Aunorey," he said, his voice still gruff. He groaned, sighed, and let his face relax. He didn't touch her, not yet. They would at least talk. "I'm sorry."
Aunorey crossed her arms over her chest, studied Legolas. She sighed too, gave up. "I'm sorry, too. For the way I've been acting..." She released her arms, held out a hand to make a point, "But how do you expect me to act, Legolas, when you ask me how did I get myself pregnant? How did I make that happen?" Her voice was accented more than normal, thicker with emotion, but it was soft and floating. (A/N: Think Dagmara Dominczyk (sp?) Mercedes from The Count of Monte Cristo.)
Legolas firmed his lips. "Oh... Well, what did you expect me to say? I was shocked! That was the last thing I was expecting, Aunorey!"
"Yes, but still!" She said, trying to make him realize how much it hurt her. "I at least expected..." she paused, dropped her hand. "I don't know what I was expecting. Just not that."
Legolas studied her back. Gods, he loved her. His eyebrows raised at that thought, because it came so unexpectedly. Well, truth be told, he did. He might as well say it. He raised his hands, "Aunorey, I'm sorry. Really. I didn't mean for it to sound like that... It's just. You know me," he gave a weak smile, "Leave it up to me to say or do the wrong thing at any given moment." He took a step forward so there was less space between them, and she looked up at him. He gently placed his hands on her upper arms. "Please, please..." His eyes were pleading, because this was all he felt. "Please help me make this work. Make us work."
Aunorey stared at him, before gasping out "Legolas" and wrapping her arms around his waist.
Legolas smiled as he put his face in her hair. His arms came up to wrap around her shoulders, and all he could do was hold her. "Am I forgiven?" He said after a few moments.
Aunorey nodded. "Am I? For acting so rudely?"
"It was understandable," Legolas teased, laughing as Aunorey pulled back to give him a disgusted look. "Darling, I would forgive you anything." He decided now would be as good a time as any, so he became suddenly serious. "Aunorey, you probably already knew I was going to ask you this a time ago, but I figure I might as well do it now." He clasped both of her hands in his larger ones, causing them to be one big fist. "No more fighting, no more arguments. Well, for now," he added with a grin, "And no more questions. You already have my ring, you've already have me," he said the words quietly, slowly, and yes, he gazed into her eyes, "Will you marry me?"
Aunorey's eyes went huge. Startled like a nervous deer's. "Will I?" She laughed, and her eyelids lowered a bit. "Of course I will," she laughed, reaching up and wrapping her arms back around his neck to bring his face down to hers. "All you had to do was ask..." She kissed him.
He drew back, his hands at her waist. "As if you ever gave me the chance."
Both laughing, they kissed.
The market place was Aunorey's favourite place in Mirkwood. Vendors and businessman galor came from all over Middle Earth to sell their merchandise here. Brightly coloured blankets and tapestries were strung along the wagons, dresses and shoes were laid out, and various ripe fruits and vegetables were kept together in large buckets and stands in a brilliant display.
Moving along, listening to her friends chatter on about what they had been up to lately, the men around them, and gossip, Aunorey kept to herself. She felt almost as though she was being watched, and nostalgia swept over her. The first night when Legolas had found her....
Aunorey blinked, keeping the memories at bay. She would see Legolas again maybe, but she knew that when she told her parents of her condition she would be sent away. She would go away to live with her Aunt Theresia, maybe.
Aunorey looked around for anyone who might be looking at her, watching her. She saw no one in particular in the huge crowd, and her eyebrows narrowed in wonder.
Aunorey was walking along when she spotted a dress made of green velvet with embroidered gold stitched along the hem and a matching gold sash. She gasped, tugging her friends along with her to admire the gowns. She picked up the sleeve, admired it, considered it. Suddenly, a flash of green the same shade as the gown caught her attention, and she saw a figure in a cloak moving in front of her, a couple yards away. Studying her. Aunorey's heart sped up, it couldn't be...
She turned back to the dress, ignored her beating heart though it hurt with how it pounded against her ribs. She opened her pouch and pulled out a bit of coins and paid for the green dress. When it was packaged, Aunorey slipped it inside the leather pouch she had slung over her side. The girls began to move again, down the long aisle before turning into another one.
Linwë spotted a huge display of embroidered slippers, and the group stopped again. Aunorey stood still, not daring to move, knowing she was being watched. She turned her head, and saw the green figure moving slowly through the aisle she had just come from. The figure's head was turned towards her, but shadowed by the hood. She saw him move and disappear behind the tapestries that blocked their view.
She began to move down the aisle, wanting to get away. She honestly didn't want to know who it was, because... well, she had no idea who it was.
Under the dark green cloak, Legolas wore brown leather boots and tan breeches, a white peasant shirt and a dark green vest embroidered with a darker green thread.
Legolas watched Aunorey, and he knew she saw him. He moved quietly behind her, he needed to speak with her. Just seeing her again made his heart clench rather painfully. Why was she avoiding him?
Sheer stubborness and will made him go after her. Sick of being told 'she's not here, my lord' and 'she will not accept visitors at this time, my lord' by Barlos every time he went to seek her out, and unable to see her otherwise, his pent up frustration with her was at it's boiling point, considering she kept moving away from him faster and faster. Truth be told, he was elated when he'd gotten that note telling him that she had actually gone out. Legolas had become rather desperate to see her, although he would never admit it.
He watched her buy a dress, and swore he would by her a thousand. He watched her touch and admire different things, and wanted them all for her.
His vision was suddenly blocked by a long, huge tapestry, and he moved quickly to the breaking point between the tapestries so he could see her. When he got there, he could only see her friends.
Narrowing his eyes, Legolas slipped over and into the other aisle. There was a huge crowd of people, and a slight dust rose from the hard packed dirt. He suddenly saw the navy blue cloak, the one he'd had his eye on that let him familiarize himself with her in this crowd. He moved quickly down to reach her, wondering why she was going so far alone, and made his way through the crowd, barely touching anyone. He noticed the strange looks some shoppers gave him because of the cloak, but he ignored them.
As soon as he was right behind Aunorey, he reached out and grabbed her wrist. Though his touch was gentle, it was like iron. He pulled her to him, her back pressing against his chest, and he had a sudden, painful release. This was a new kind of torture. He had no idea he'd missed her this much.
Pushing her forward slightly, he felt her tense. "Shh," he whispered as he pulled her past the vendors. He pulled her arm behind her back, not allowing her to turn around and pushed her to the end of the aisle and into the huge, dark orchard that lay beyond the large, outdoor shopping market.
He gripped her hand then, and pulled her into the deeper part of the trees. He reached up and pushed his hood back. His blonde hair spilled forth, and glinted gold in the sun that broke through the thick branches of the trees. His eyes looked almost a purple black in the darker light that shadowed his face. Aunorey turned around, and her beautiful face, that always seemed even lovelier every time Legolas saw her, mirrored her complete shock. He smiled wanly, not knowing what to say. He had planned this out so many times, but now that it was actually happening, he was speechless.
"Legolas..." Aunorey said hesitantly.
"Aunorey," Legolas said back. "Why've you been avoiding me?" He dropped her wrist.
Aunorey shrugged.
When she didn't answer after a few minutes, Legolas's eyebrows rose. "The least you could do is answer me," he said tersely.
"Don't use that tone with me," she said, narrowing her eyes.
"Aunorey," he said, his voice still gruff. He groaned, sighed, and let his face relax. He didn't touch her, not yet. They would at least talk. "I'm sorry."
Aunorey crossed her arms over her chest, studied Legolas. She sighed too, gave up. "I'm sorry, too. For the way I've been acting..." She released her arms, held out a hand to make a point, "But how do you expect me to act, Legolas, when you ask me how did I get myself pregnant? How did I make that happen?" Her voice was accented more than normal, thicker with emotion, but it was soft and floating. (A/N: Think Dagmara Dominczyk (sp?) Mercedes from The Count of Monte Cristo.)
Legolas firmed his lips. "Oh... Well, what did you expect me to say? I was shocked! That was the last thing I was expecting, Aunorey!"
"Yes, but still!" She said, trying to make him realize how much it hurt her. "I at least expected..." she paused, dropped her hand. "I don't know what I was expecting. Just not that."
Legolas studied her back. Gods, he loved her. His eyebrows raised at that thought, because it came so unexpectedly. Well, truth be told, he did. He might as well say it. He raised his hands, "Aunorey, I'm sorry. Really. I didn't mean for it to sound like that... It's just. You know me," he gave a weak smile, "Leave it up to me to say or do the wrong thing at any given moment." He took a step forward so there was less space between them, and she looked up at him. He gently placed his hands on her upper arms. "Please, please..." His eyes were pleading, because this was all he felt. "Please help me make this work. Make us work."
Aunorey stared at him, before gasping out "Legolas" and wrapping her arms around his waist.
Legolas smiled as he put his face in her hair. His arms came up to wrap around her shoulders, and all he could do was hold her. "Am I forgiven?" He said after a few moments.
Aunorey nodded. "Am I? For acting so rudely?"
"It was understandable," Legolas teased, laughing as Aunorey pulled back to give him a disgusted look. "Darling, I would forgive you anything." He decided now would be as good a time as any, so he became suddenly serious. "Aunorey, you probably already knew I was going to ask you this a time ago, but I figure I might as well do it now." He clasped both of her hands in his larger ones, causing them to be one big fist. "No more fighting, no more arguments. Well, for now," he added with a grin, "And no more questions. You already have my ring, you've already have me," he said the words quietly, slowly, and yes, he gazed into her eyes, "Will you marry me?"
Aunorey's eyes went huge. Startled like a nervous deer's. "Will I?" She laughed, and her eyelids lowered a bit. "Of course I will," she laughed, reaching up and wrapping her arms back around his neck to bring his face down to hers. "All you had to do was ask..." She kissed him.
He drew back, his hands at her waist. "As if you ever gave me the chance."
Both laughing, they kissed.