Chapter Two:
Frodo watched as the she-elf silently stood back, and Legolas got to his feet.
Frodo was saddened that they hadn't stayed to talk. The site of the she-elf took was everything in his heart which described beauty and fairness. It hurt to see her leave. So, without really thinking, he got silently up and followed them.
Legolas and Orian walked to a moon-lit balcony looking over the elven city. "It has been long, MyLady." He finally whispered.
Orian turned to him, her face catching the moonlight. "Very long, my Prince."
Legolas looked down, a little embarrassed. "Call me Legolas, Orian. We were children together if you remember."
"I remember." Orian said quietly. "But we aren't children anymore."
Frodo watched as Legolas looked away. It was strange to see the elven prince so insecure. To Frodo, Legolas was the image of steadfastness and confidence. Frodo had never seen him flinch.
"I didn't happen to see your father when I entered into the city." Legolas said hesitantly. "I assume all is well with him?"
"All is well." Orian replied, still in that casualness which was so unnerving to her fellow elf. "He has traveled to the Undying Lands."
Legolas looked up. "And you didn't go with him?"
"I still have-" She paused, for the first time faltering. "Business in Middle-Earth."
Legolas shrugged. "What sort of buiesness?"
Orian laughed, and it was the sound so fine it might have been compared to a fresh stream bubbling over stones. "Still as nosy as ever?"
Legolas chuckled. "And you still as secretive as ever."
"I have to tell you that," Orian sighed heavily. "My father doesn't hate you as he once said."
The prince looked out over the vastness of the city.
"You are like his son." Orian whispered. "He saw that you would embark on this quest."
Legolas looked up into her eyes. "You know of Frodo and the Ring?"
Orian nodded. "You forget, I also have the gift of foresight."
"What did he leave for you to say to me?"
"He asks for your forgiveness." Orian answered. "And that he should have never blamed you." She paused. "He said Treannon's death was honorable, and that he died for his friend. A friend he should have never banned from his daughter's presence."
"Was this message all that has kept you on these shores?" Legolas asked quietly.
Orian didn't say anything for a long moment. "No." She answered. "I still love my brother's friend. But I do not know if he still loves me. After all, it has been a hundred years since we last spoke."
Legolas took Orian's slight, soft hands in his own. "He does."
For the first time, a real smile graced Orian's features.
"And he has never stopped." Legolas whispered, leaning close to her, their faces only inches apart. "And will never stop. Not even until the end of the world."
Orian looked into his eyes, even bluer than normal in the moonlight. His warm breath washed over her face, and then down her neck.
Legolas took one last step forward, and brushed his lips over hers. Orian wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in even closer. It was a real and deep kiss, which lasted a very long time.
When the kiss ended, a single tear streaked down Orian's cheek. Legolas wiped it away, his soft hand warm against her chilled skin. "Why is this?"
Orian laughed shakily, she rested her hand on his chest. "It's just, on the morrow you will leave. To face perils unknown. What if something happened to you?"
Legolas smiled. "Nothing will ever happen to me."
"How can you be so sure?" Orian asked, her dark eyes flashing.
"It's been a hundred years." Legolas answered. "Nothing in the universe could keep us apart after this. It would be too cruel." He smiled slightly, his eyes almost sad in their determination.
Orian smiled, just taking in the site of him. Blue moonlight was everywhere, reflecting off his blonde hair, and glimmering in his eyes. "Oh Legolas. My dear friend, I have missed you."
He kissed her on the forehead lightly, and then drew her into his tight embrace. "I love you, Lady Orian. I can only thank the Valar for this chance reunion. Or else without you I would have eventually faded into nothing."
Frodo only caught half of the conversation. He wished he'd learnt Elvish more fluently later. To him, most of the words were not understandable. Halfly because of their lowered voices, and their fast talking. But he got the important words here and there.
Turning away, Frodo began to walk towards his bed-place again. He had never fallen in love, and doubted he ever would. But what he knew that he had seen something never before seen by a mere Hobbit. The image of the two elves in the moonlight would stay with him forever, and he began to realize that he was beginning to love their race even more so than his uncle Bilbo. Hopefully, when this quest was over, he would be able to gaze on the Lady Orian again and the great elvish cities also.
To Be Continued.
Frodo watched as the she-elf silently stood back, and Legolas got to his feet.
Frodo was saddened that they hadn't stayed to talk. The site of the she-elf took was everything in his heart which described beauty and fairness. It hurt to see her leave. So, without really thinking, he got silently up and followed them.
Legolas and Orian walked to a moon-lit balcony looking over the elven city. "It has been long, MyLady." He finally whispered.
Orian turned to him, her face catching the moonlight. "Very long, my Prince."
Legolas looked down, a little embarrassed. "Call me Legolas, Orian. We were children together if you remember."
"I remember." Orian said quietly. "But we aren't children anymore."
Frodo watched as Legolas looked away. It was strange to see the elven prince so insecure. To Frodo, Legolas was the image of steadfastness and confidence. Frodo had never seen him flinch.
"I didn't happen to see your father when I entered into the city." Legolas said hesitantly. "I assume all is well with him?"
"All is well." Orian replied, still in that casualness which was so unnerving to her fellow elf. "He has traveled to the Undying Lands."
Legolas looked up. "And you didn't go with him?"
"I still have-" She paused, for the first time faltering. "Business in Middle-Earth."
Legolas shrugged. "What sort of buiesness?"
Orian laughed, and it was the sound so fine it might have been compared to a fresh stream bubbling over stones. "Still as nosy as ever?"
Legolas chuckled. "And you still as secretive as ever."
"I have to tell you that," Orian sighed heavily. "My father doesn't hate you as he once said."
The prince looked out over the vastness of the city.
"You are like his son." Orian whispered. "He saw that you would embark on this quest."
Legolas looked up into her eyes. "You know of Frodo and the Ring?"
Orian nodded. "You forget, I also have the gift of foresight."
"What did he leave for you to say to me?"
"He asks for your forgiveness." Orian answered. "And that he should have never blamed you." She paused. "He said Treannon's death was honorable, and that he died for his friend. A friend he should have never banned from his daughter's presence."
"Was this message all that has kept you on these shores?" Legolas asked quietly.
Orian didn't say anything for a long moment. "No." She answered. "I still love my brother's friend. But I do not know if he still loves me. After all, it has been a hundred years since we last spoke."
Legolas took Orian's slight, soft hands in his own. "He does."
For the first time, a real smile graced Orian's features.
"And he has never stopped." Legolas whispered, leaning close to her, their faces only inches apart. "And will never stop. Not even until the end of the world."
Orian looked into his eyes, even bluer than normal in the moonlight. His warm breath washed over her face, and then down her neck.
Legolas took one last step forward, and brushed his lips over hers. Orian wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in even closer. It was a real and deep kiss, which lasted a very long time.
When the kiss ended, a single tear streaked down Orian's cheek. Legolas wiped it away, his soft hand warm against her chilled skin. "Why is this?"
Orian laughed shakily, she rested her hand on his chest. "It's just, on the morrow you will leave. To face perils unknown. What if something happened to you?"
Legolas smiled. "Nothing will ever happen to me."
"How can you be so sure?" Orian asked, her dark eyes flashing.
"It's been a hundred years." Legolas answered. "Nothing in the universe could keep us apart after this. It would be too cruel." He smiled slightly, his eyes almost sad in their determination.
Orian smiled, just taking in the site of him. Blue moonlight was everywhere, reflecting off his blonde hair, and glimmering in his eyes. "Oh Legolas. My dear friend, I have missed you."
He kissed her on the forehead lightly, and then drew her into his tight embrace. "I love you, Lady Orian. I can only thank the Valar for this chance reunion. Or else without you I would have eventually faded into nothing."
Frodo only caught half of the conversation. He wished he'd learnt Elvish more fluently later. To him, most of the words were not understandable. Halfly because of their lowered voices, and their fast talking. But he got the important words here and there.
Turning away, Frodo began to walk towards his bed-place again. He had never fallen in love, and doubted he ever would. But what he knew that he had seen something never before seen by a mere Hobbit. The image of the two elves in the moonlight would stay with him forever, and he began to realize that he was beginning to love their race even more so than his uncle Bilbo. Hopefully, when this quest was over, he would be able to gaze on the Lady Orian again and the great elvish cities also.
To Be Continued.