(A.N. Okay, since the reviewer wasn't named.I'll answer the question here.
The veil of life, which Orian is going to give to Legolas, is actually life
put into a liquid potion. If Legolas is even within an inch of death, if he
drinks the potion, it will heal him. But since Orian has given him some of
her life, it has taken ten or twenty years off of her life span. Do you
understand? Sorry if it's a lil hard to get. Hope you enjoy!)
Chapter: (Sorry. I lost count.)
****Lothlorien****
The morning was new, but still the Fellowship were getting ready to leave the Golden Wood. Frodo had noticed that Legolas returned almost as soon as Aragorn and Gimli had awakened, but saw no sign of the Elven Lady. For a while he thought that perhaps he had been dreaming, and had not seen the vision of Lady Orian. However, he soon forgot about it, as any ring-bearing Hobbit would, when they were all called to a council with Lady Galadriel herself.
***Later***
Frodo looked once again at the fine gift of the Elven Star. He ran his fingers over the excellent crystal veil which contained the light of Earendil. Galadriel had said that it would light the darkest places when all other lights go out. Frodo wondered if he had would ever use it, and dearly hoped he wouldn't have to. Hobbits didn't like dark and damp places, or holes, or anything of the sort.
Suddenly, Pippen grabbed Frodo's arm hard. "What is it Pippen?" Frodo asked, putting the Light of Earendil away in one of his coat pockets. He glanced over at Pippen.
Pippen stared. "W-Who is it Frodo? Can you see her too, or am I just imagining it?"
Frodo looked up, and saw a she-elf coming to the river bank towards them. She wore flowing light-green robes, and a band of exquisitely-laced silver on her forehead. Her dark brown hair was pulled over her left shoulder, but even then it nearly touched the ground. Frodo smiled. "That's Lady Orian."
As if sensing Frodo and Pippen's stares, the elvish lady turned toward them for a moment and smiled quietly.
Pippen gaped with awe, all the while not letting loose of Frodo's arm. "I have to meet her, Frodo!" He gasped, taking a few steps closer. "We have to meet her!"
"Pippen wait!" Frodo managed to wrench Pippen's hand off his arm, but Pippen just kept on moving, stumbling over the river-bank. "Where are you going?"
Legolas put a bag full of elvish waybread into one of the swan-boats, and looked up to see Orian coming towards him. Despite his habit of letting his features show him as being ever-so-serious, Legolas smiled brightly. He walked over to meet her, his blue eyes shining.
"So you're going then?" Orian asked, as soon as he was close enough that they could have a relatively private conversation.
"Yes." Legolas answered, he paused.
"I see my aunt's gifts have been appreciated. I saw a couple of Hobbits wearing Elvish cloaks."
"I think they'll need them by the time this quest is over." Legolas replied. He took the bow from his shoulder and held it in his hands. "But they weren't the only ones bestowed with gifts."
Orian's green eyes looked at the craftsmanship of the bow and she smiled. "Excellently made." She said, glancing up at him, laughing. "I think many orcs will curse the day you got this bow."
Legolas chuckled, putting the weapon at it's rightful place at his back. "Very many orcs." He corrected.
Orian laughed again, then sighed.
All of a sudden, a small voice interrupted their conversation. "Greetings Lady Orian."
Orian looked down into the green eyes of Peregrin Took. "Greetings." Orian answered.
"Pardon me for interrupting." Pippen said. "But I couldn't resist meeting you, My Lady."
Legolas smiled. "Orian, this is Peregrin Took, of the Shire. Pippen, this is Lady Orien."
"Pleased to meet you, Lady Orian." Pippen said, bowing low. "Legolas has spoken of your beauty before Lady," He turned a little red. "He said you were prettier than the mountains, but I say you are more beautiful than the Shire, forests, and rivers in all of Middle Earth." Pippen fumbled, turning even a brighter red.
Orian smiled at him. "Thank-you for that compliment, Master Peregrin."
It was then that Frodo stumbled up.
"And this is Frodo Baggins of the Shire, and Ring Bearer." Legolas said, introducing him.
Orian looked at Frodo for a long moment. The Hobbit looked so small at the moment, and vulnerable. "Greetings Frodo." She said in a low voice.
"Greetings Lady Orian." Frodo said, his blue eyes looking up at her with a quiet wonder.
"And I am Sam." Said another, blonde-haired Hobbit, coming up from a few feet away and his eves-dropping. Coming with him was another Hobbit with a mischievous grin, and a keen Elf-Knife at his belt. "Gamgee. Samwise. But people call me Sam." Sam turned to his companion. "And this is Merry."
"Hello." Said Merry, grinning.
Orian returned the smile.
"Legolas come now, we must be going." Called Aragorn who was coming from the lake-side, along with Boromir. Soon both men were standing beside Legolas, and Aragorn nodded to Orian. "Lady Orian."
"Aragorn." Orian nodded back to him. It was then she noticed that she was practically surrounded by the Fellowship of the Ring. All except the dwarf, who had already gotten into one of the boats and didn't dare venturing out because he knew the water would go over his head.
"Greetings Lady." Boromir said, giving her a soft smile.
Orian looked at him much the same way she had Frodo, but this time with more concern than anything else. "Greetings." She said quietly.
Boromir tried not to notice her hesitance towards him, supposing it was just all elven women's reaction to him. Even though his heart knew differently.
"Legolas." Aragorn said, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "It's time to leave."
"So it is." Legolas answered. "Go to the boats. I will be there shortly."
Aragorn nodded.
"Come Little Ones." Boromir said, and noticed that Pippen was still agog. "Come on Pippen."
Orian watched as the rest of the Fellowship got into the white Swan-boats, which would carry them down the River Anduin.
"Be watchful of the human." Orian whispered, making sure that none of Legolas's friends could hear. "He will betray the Ring Bearer."
"I know." Legolas answered. "The One Ring has already tempted him in the Misty Mountains."
Orian looked up at Legolas, her green eyes shining with unshed tears. "So now we must part again."
Legolas took in a deep breath. "Yes. Although I wish that it was different."
"No." Orian said, taking his hand and placing something into it. "You must go with Frodo, and the heir of Gondor. But I want you to have this."
Legolas opened his hand, and saw a tiny crystal veil attached to a fine golden chain. He knew what it was instantly. "I can't take this." He said softly.
"It's mine to give to whomever I wish." Orian whispered. She placed the golden chain around his neck.
Legolas took hold of Orian's hands, his own dwarfing hers. "It would be better if you traveled to the Undying Lands." He whispered to her. "Leave this place before the War to End All."
"I will not leave without you." Orian answered.
"You have seen what is going to happen Orian." Legolas replied. "You know the danger."
"And I will face the danger with my kinsmen the same as you." Orian answered.
"Orian please." Legolas objected, but Orian looked up at him, placing her hand over the pendant he now wore.
"If I leave I will leave in three months time." She said. "I have instructed Lazaro to follow you. I suspect you will be reunited at the Rohan planes."
"Are you sure of your gift?" Legolas asked, meaning the veil of life.
"I am sure Legolas." Orian answered. "You already have my heart."
"I will return to you." Legolas whispered. "And I will return your gift."
Orian smiled up at him, resting her hand on his chest.
Legolas leaned in, lightly brushing his lips over hers in a kiss. When the kiss ended he stayed close for the last instant, feeling the softness of her cheek against his own. "Goodbye My Lady." He took a few steps back, and smiled. "I'll be back at war's end."
"And I will be waiting for you." Orian answered, returning his smile.
With that, Legolas turned, and waded out into the river. He tucked the priceless gift under his shirt, and then got into one of the swan-boats. Rejoining the Fellowship.
Orian raised her hand in farewell, as the Fellowship of the Ring floated down the River Anduin. Her fear was great for the Ring Bearer, Middle Earth, and most of all, the Prince of Mirkwood. But somehow new that before the quest was over, she would be meeting them again.
***The River Anduin***
The small company floated down the river in silence, passing Lady Galadriel and several others who waved farewell from the shore.
Suddenly, Pippen sighed, lying back and looking up at the sky. "What is it Pip?" Merry asked, who was sitting behind him in one of the swan-boats. He had never seen his cousin act this way and it was somewhat unnerving. "Are you sick?"
"No." Pippen answered dreamily. "I'm in love."
Merry rolled his eyes. "With who? Lady Orian?"
"Yes." Came the even dreamier reply. "Isn't she so beautiful?"
Merry nodded. "Oh yes. As elves go."
"But I wonder how old she is." Pippen suddenly asked.
"I would guess in her hundreds." Merry said. "That's just a guess, judging from Bilbo's tales ya know."
"Oh." Pippen sighed. "And Legolas is in love with her too."
"And she's nearly three times your size." Merry put in.
"Well there's that too." Pippen blinked, a slight smile curving his lips. "I guess I wont get in the way." He turned around to Merry. "I don't think it would have worked out between her and me anyway."
Merry tried to keep a strait face. "I guess not Pip."
Legolas chuckled, turning around to glance at the two Hobbits in the boat behind the one he was riding in. Due to his keen elvish hearing he had heard the whole thing. Even now he felt the cool crystal veil against his chest, and smelled the scent of Lothlorien in the air. But there was also a sense of dread drawing near, as if something was traveling over the lands in their wake.
To Be Continued!! (I hope you enjoyed. I'll update A.S.A.P)
Chapter: (Sorry. I lost count.)
****Lothlorien****
The morning was new, but still the Fellowship were getting ready to leave the Golden Wood. Frodo had noticed that Legolas returned almost as soon as Aragorn and Gimli had awakened, but saw no sign of the Elven Lady. For a while he thought that perhaps he had been dreaming, and had not seen the vision of Lady Orian. However, he soon forgot about it, as any ring-bearing Hobbit would, when they were all called to a council with Lady Galadriel herself.
***Later***
Frodo looked once again at the fine gift of the Elven Star. He ran his fingers over the excellent crystal veil which contained the light of Earendil. Galadriel had said that it would light the darkest places when all other lights go out. Frodo wondered if he had would ever use it, and dearly hoped he wouldn't have to. Hobbits didn't like dark and damp places, or holes, or anything of the sort.
Suddenly, Pippen grabbed Frodo's arm hard. "What is it Pippen?" Frodo asked, putting the Light of Earendil away in one of his coat pockets. He glanced over at Pippen.
Pippen stared. "W-Who is it Frodo? Can you see her too, or am I just imagining it?"
Frodo looked up, and saw a she-elf coming to the river bank towards them. She wore flowing light-green robes, and a band of exquisitely-laced silver on her forehead. Her dark brown hair was pulled over her left shoulder, but even then it nearly touched the ground. Frodo smiled. "That's Lady Orian."
As if sensing Frodo and Pippen's stares, the elvish lady turned toward them for a moment and smiled quietly.
Pippen gaped with awe, all the while not letting loose of Frodo's arm. "I have to meet her, Frodo!" He gasped, taking a few steps closer. "We have to meet her!"
"Pippen wait!" Frodo managed to wrench Pippen's hand off his arm, but Pippen just kept on moving, stumbling over the river-bank. "Where are you going?"
Legolas put a bag full of elvish waybread into one of the swan-boats, and looked up to see Orian coming towards him. Despite his habit of letting his features show him as being ever-so-serious, Legolas smiled brightly. He walked over to meet her, his blue eyes shining.
"So you're going then?" Orian asked, as soon as he was close enough that they could have a relatively private conversation.
"Yes." Legolas answered, he paused.
"I see my aunt's gifts have been appreciated. I saw a couple of Hobbits wearing Elvish cloaks."
"I think they'll need them by the time this quest is over." Legolas replied. He took the bow from his shoulder and held it in his hands. "But they weren't the only ones bestowed with gifts."
Orian's green eyes looked at the craftsmanship of the bow and she smiled. "Excellently made." She said, glancing up at him, laughing. "I think many orcs will curse the day you got this bow."
Legolas chuckled, putting the weapon at it's rightful place at his back. "Very many orcs." He corrected.
Orian laughed again, then sighed.
All of a sudden, a small voice interrupted their conversation. "Greetings Lady Orian."
Orian looked down into the green eyes of Peregrin Took. "Greetings." Orian answered.
"Pardon me for interrupting." Pippen said. "But I couldn't resist meeting you, My Lady."
Legolas smiled. "Orian, this is Peregrin Took, of the Shire. Pippen, this is Lady Orien."
"Pleased to meet you, Lady Orian." Pippen said, bowing low. "Legolas has spoken of your beauty before Lady," He turned a little red. "He said you were prettier than the mountains, but I say you are more beautiful than the Shire, forests, and rivers in all of Middle Earth." Pippen fumbled, turning even a brighter red.
Orian smiled at him. "Thank-you for that compliment, Master Peregrin."
It was then that Frodo stumbled up.
"And this is Frodo Baggins of the Shire, and Ring Bearer." Legolas said, introducing him.
Orian looked at Frodo for a long moment. The Hobbit looked so small at the moment, and vulnerable. "Greetings Frodo." She said in a low voice.
"Greetings Lady Orian." Frodo said, his blue eyes looking up at her with a quiet wonder.
"And I am Sam." Said another, blonde-haired Hobbit, coming up from a few feet away and his eves-dropping. Coming with him was another Hobbit with a mischievous grin, and a keen Elf-Knife at his belt. "Gamgee. Samwise. But people call me Sam." Sam turned to his companion. "And this is Merry."
"Hello." Said Merry, grinning.
Orian returned the smile.
"Legolas come now, we must be going." Called Aragorn who was coming from the lake-side, along with Boromir. Soon both men were standing beside Legolas, and Aragorn nodded to Orian. "Lady Orian."
"Aragorn." Orian nodded back to him. It was then she noticed that she was practically surrounded by the Fellowship of the Ring. All except the dwarf, who had already gotten into one of the boats and didn't dare venturing out because he knew the water would go over his head.
"Greetings Lady." Boromir said, giving her a soft smile.
Orian looked at him much the same way she had Frodo, but this time with more concern than anything else. "Greetings." She said quietly.
Boromir tried not to notice her hesitance towards him, supposing it was just all elven women's reaction to him. Even though his heart knew differently.
"Legolas." Aragorn said, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "It's time to leave."
"So it is." Legolas answered. "Go to the boats. I will be there shortly."
Aragorn nodded.
"Come Little Ones." Boromir said, and noticed that Pippen was still agog. "Come on Pippen."
Orian watched as the rest of the Fellowship got into the white Swan-boats, which would carry them down the River Anduin.
"Be watchful of the human." Orian whispered, making sure that none of Legolas's friends could hear. "He will betray the Ring Bearer."
"I know." Legolas answered. "The One Ring has already tempted him in the Misty Mountains."
Orian looked up at Legolas, her green eyes shining with unshed tears. "So now we must part again."
Legolas took in a deep breath. "Yes. Although I wish that it was different."
"No." Orian said, taking his hand and placing something into it. "You must go with Frodo, and the heir of Gondor. But I want you to have this."
Legolas opened his hand, and saw a tiny crystal veil attached to a fine golden chain. He knew what it was instantly. "I can't take this." He said softly.
"It's mine to give to whomever I wish." Orian whispered. She placed the golden chain around his neck.
Legolas took hold of Orian's hands, his own dwarfing hers. "It would be better if you traveled to the Undying Lands." He whispered to her. "Leave this place before the War to End All."
"I will not leave without you." Orian answered.
"You have seen what is going to happen Orian." Legolas replied. "You know the danger."
"And I will face the danger with my kinsmen the same as you." Orian answered.
"Orian please." Legolas objected, but Orian looked up at him, placing her hand over the pendant he now wore.
"If I leave I will leave in three months time." She said. "I have instructed Lazaro to follow you. I suspect you will be reunited at the Rohan planes."
"Are you sure of your gift?" Legolas asked, meaning the veil of life.
"I am sure Legolas." Orian answered. "You already have my heart."
"I will return to you." Legolas whispered. "And I will return your gift."
Orian smiled up at him, resting her hand on his chest.
Legolas leaned in, lightly brushing his lips over hers in a kiss. When the kiss ended he stayed close for the last instant, feeling the softness of her cheek against his own. "Goodbye My Lady." He took a few steps back, and smiled. "I'll be back at war's end."
"And I will be waiting for you." Orian answered, returning his smile.
With that, Legolas turned, and waded out into the river. He tucked the priceless gift under his shirt, and then got into one of the swan-boats. Rejoining the Fellowship.
Orian raised her hand in farewell, as the Fellowship of the Ring floated down the River Anduin. Her fear was great for the Ring Bearer, Middle Earth, and most of all, the Prince of Mirkwood. But somehow new that before the quest was over, she would be meeting them again.
***The River Anduin***
The small company floated down the river in silence, passing Lady Galadriel and several others who waved farewell from the shore.
Suddenly, Pippen sighed, lying back and looking up at the sky. "What is it Pip?" Merry asked, who was sitting behind him in one of the swan-boats. He had never seen his cousin act this way and it was somewhat unnerving. "Are you sick?"
"No." Pippen answered dreamily. "I'm in love."
Merry rolled his eyes. "With who? Lady Orian?"
"Yes." Came the even dreamier reply. "Isn't she so beautiful?"
Merry nodded. "Oh yes. As elves go."
"But I wonder how old she is." Pippen suddenly asked.
"I would guess in her hundreds." Merry said. "That's just a guess, judging from Bilbo's tales ya know."
"Oh." Pippen sighed. "And Legolas is in love with her too."
"And she's nearly three times your size." Merry put in.
"Well there's that too." Pippen blinked, a slight smile curving his lips. "I guess I wont get in the way." He turned around to Merry. "I don't think it would have worked out between her and me anyway."
Merry tried to keep a strait face. "I guess not Pip."
Legolas chuckled, turning around to glance at the two Hobbits in the boat behind the one he was riding in. Due to his keen elvish hearing he had heard the whole thing. Even now he felt the cool crystal veil against his chest, and smelled the scent of Lothlorien in the air. But there was also a sense of dread drawing near, as if something was traveling over the lands in their wake.
To Be Continued!! (I hope you enjoyed. I'll update A.S.A.P)