Title: Diplomacy Part 28
Author: Arisma
Rating: R (for some naughty, naughty bits... and some foul language.)
Disclaimer: Legolas, Mirkwood, Thranduil... all of that is Tolkiens. I'm just taking them out to play with, cause they're shiny. I will put them back in the box, in the proper order, when I'm done. I also promise to wipe the drool off of Legolas and any excess that might have gotten on any of the other characters by proxy.
The basic concept of bladesingers and the title querimhinue is the property of WoTC, and I'm merely borrowing those too.
I do claim The Quel, both Nessar and A'Har as my own. Rhyalla, Kallo, Kailin, all mine. The waste, Tir Roac and all future 'non-canon' locations are the product of my mind as well. When I'm done with them I'll put them back in my own teeny box of creations, next to the cedar wood butterfly and the sculpy clay horns. (Don't ask.) If for some strange reason you'd like to borrow them or the settings, feel free to contact me and we'll work out details.
Feedback / Contact: Arisma_@hotmail.com
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She walked swiftly, nearly running through the rows between tents, the chill of the air still potent enough to make her skin pebble. As she ran the sun rose with exquisite slowness and with each moment the air around her warming from its touch. She slowed her steps as she approached their tent, her breathing a bit labored from the run. Just as she reached out to grasp the flap another snaked from the opposite direction, their hands colliding as their eyes swiftly found each other.
Instantly she dropped her hand, taking a small step back from the tent. "Hello, Kailin." she said softly.
He raised a hand, running it through his short cropped dark hair, grinning sheepishly. "Hi Rhya. How's it going?"
"Fine, everything is fine. Want to come in?" she asked, gesturing to the flap. He nodded, ducking in, holding it open for her to follow.
They entered the tent and saw Legolas, laying flat on his stomach on the floor, hands outstretched and an indifferent cathymin watching him from just beyond his reach. He made small kissing sounds, fluttering his fingers. "Come on boy, come here." he whispered, receiving naught but a disgusted look from the animal in return.
"Careful Leaf, that thing might nip you." said Kailin, smirking at having caught his friend in so undignified a position.
Golden eyes rotated to fix on him, the forehead crinkling as the long neck stretched towards him. Startled Kailin took a step backwards, raising his foot slightly as though preparing to stomp the creature. "Ip!" it cried, fixing him with a menacing glare.
"That thing talks?" he exclaimed, jabbing a finger in the animals direction.
"Apparently." replied Legolas, sitting up, scratching absently at his stomach. Rhya walked over, dropping a hand on the creatures head, receiving a sound very like a purr and an arch of the back to indicate his pleasure. She grinned at Legolas who stuck his tongue out in reply, waving a finger at the cathymin. "I see how it is, butter up the girl." he chided, receiving a blank golden stare in return.
Kailin merely chuckled, said in a low tone, "Guess he figured out who wears the pants in this house, err, tent."
Legolas merely shook his head, pushing himself up and walking towards Rhya. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight to his bare chest for a moment before bending to claim her lips in a tender kiss. "Where did you go?" he asked softly brushing a stray hair behind her ear.
"To see Kallo." she answered simply, placing another kiss to his lips before leaning into him in a comfortable gesture of love. He placed a kiss to her forehead and then lifted his gaze to rest on his friend who was warily eyeing the cathymin and being glared at in return. "To what do we owe the pleasure?" he asked, smiling at the way his friends dark blue eyes kept darting back to the miniscule animal.
"Just wanted to stop by, see how things were going." he said, taking a cautious step away from the doorway, edging around the glaring creature. "What the hell is that thing?" he queried, his nose wrinkled as though from a foul scent.
Rhya turned in his arms, leaning back against him, her voice amused. "It's a cathymin. I think he's decided to stay a while."
Kailin grimaced, edging further still and falling into the mounded pillows comfortably. "Well, if it's going to live here you might want to consider bathing it. It reeks."
"He does not!" cried Rhya indignantly, scooping up the animal and cradling him tightly to her. "You don't smell at all, do you Ip?" she cooed, scratching beneath his chin, the golden eyes slipping closed as a low purring sound filled the air.
"Would you look at that." said Legolas softly, his eyes fixed on the woman and animal, his heart shining through his eyes.
"I still say it smells." muttered Kailin sullenly.
Legolas chuckled lightly and settled down next to his old friend, watching as Rhya took the animal to the other side of the tent and emptied some water from a gourd into a low bowl. "Isn't she lovely?" asked Legolas quietly, his gaze fixed on his love as she moved about, tidying the tent.
"Truly." replied Kailin, leaning back further. A soft jingle of the bells announced the arrival of breakfast and Kailin sat up straighter, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. The women swept in soundlessly, bowing low as they laid the trays on the table, leaving as swiftly and silently as they had arrived.
The two men set about filling their plates as Rhya took a portion from each and put it in a bowl beside the water, the little animal wasting no time in breaking his fast. With a smile she watched him dine then crossed to sit by her lover, watching as both he and Kailin ate heartily. Around a mouthful of bread Kailin asked, "So when's your turn, Rhya?"
"My turn for what?" she queried, picking small amounts from he platters before her.
"Well, for morning duties. I figured now that you've been here a while you'd have been put in rotation." She looked at him blankly and he continued. "You know, they gather in the mornings, ........preparing the days food, cooking?" As she obviously was unaware he switched his gaze to Legolas. "Aren't you joining the hunting parties?"
The prince merely shrugged his shoulders, continued chewing.
"Sweet Eru what have you two been up to that you don't know about these things yet?" he asked, dumbfounded. The pair in question looked to the floor, Rhyallas face turning a delicate shade of pink. "Sweet Valar, cut it out. I don't want to know."
They ate in silence for another moment before he continued, "Well, you should go see Caledan about getting on the rolls. They're nice people but they won't let you stay forever if you don't start pulling your weight."
Rhya looked to him, her brow knit in confusion. "Stay? Aren't we going back to Mirkwood?" her gaze switched to Legolas and he grimaced, swallowing his mouthful harder then was necessary.
"I've been meaning to talk to you about that..." he began, reaching over to clasp her hand.
"My gods, you haven't even told her yet?" exclaimed Kailin, looking at his friend in horror.
"Haven't told me what?" she asked, her face growing frightened.
Legolas reached to cradle her cheek, casting a dark glare at Kailin. "Be calm love. We won't be going back to Mirkwood after all. I was thinking we could try to make a life together here instead."
Again her brow crinkled in dismay, "So, we'll be bonded here then?" she asked, confused.
"Bonded? What do you mean, bonded?" queried Kailin, his voice calm, even.
Legolas pulled his love tight to him, meeting his friends eyes squarely. "Rhya has consented to be my wife." he said, his lips curling into a small smile.
Kailin sat silently for a moment before veritably leaping to his feet. "Of all the harebrained... You can't be serious... Are you out of your minds?" he cried, his face reddening.
Legolas met his glare with a calm look, his face impassive. "We are in love." he said simply, as though that would explain everything.
"I know you're in love." replied Kailin, his tone scathing. "The entire world knows your in love. But aren't you forgetting a few things here?"
"Such as?" enquired Legolas, still calm, no anger at all apparent in his demeanor.
"Let's see... first, you have no place to live. Sure the A'Har will let you stay here if you want but you'll have to get off your ass, or out of hers, more accurately, and start earning your keep. Second, if you bond with her you can't ever go home. Ever, Legolas. That's a very long time for the likes of us. Have you thought of that?" he shouted, his face red with anger.
"I've weighed my options. I know the consequences and I am happy with my decision." Legolas remained Zen like in his calm.
"Goddamit, leaf!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. He turned his gaze on Rhya, his eyes boring into her. "And what about you? It's not enough for you that he's been taken prisoner and hauled to the ends of the earth you're going to let him give up all he's ever known for you as well?"
Before he registered the movement she was standing before him, her eyes glittering as they glared up at him. "He's made his choice and so it will be. I didn't know we couldn't return to Mirkwood but even if I had I would not have denied him."
"Of course not!" he shouted "You are getting just what you wanted. A pet prince to see to your every whim. Of course you wouldn't deny him."
"A pet? Is that what you think he is to me?" she advanced on him slowly, not caring that she stood a half foot shorter. " He's my life, Kailin. He's the one I wake for and the one I breathe for. I'm sorry you can't understand our love, but by the gods you will not tarnish it either."
"Your love?" he sneered "Your love! You don't even know who he is! He doesn't know who you are! You're in love with being in love, the both of you! I'm sorry to have to shatter this little world you've been living in but its time you both faced the facts."
"We have all of eternity to get to know each other as you think we should. We're well aware of the facts, Kailin. It's not your place to remind us." stated Legolas, his voice low with warning.
"All of eternity? Have you forgotten that there's a very bad man out there just itching to get his hands on the two of you? I haven't! Not my place? Maybe not, but no one else is saying it! Caledan is too serene, you two are too love struck and Kallo is moping like a little boy who's lost his best toy! There's no one left but me. IF you want to hate me, do it, but I want you to think before you do this."
He flung his hands into the air, his voice rising in volume. "And what happens if you bond with her and the big bad comes back and takes her again? What if he finishes what he started? I know its not something you want to think about, but its a possibility."
Rhya paled and looked at Legolas uncertainly, fear making her eyes shine. His lips pressed into a thin line and he spun on Kailin, his voice rising as well. "Damn you! You come into our home, our home! You come here as a friend and this is what you do? Don't think I haven't thought of that, don't think she doesn't wonder that same thing all the time. But whatever time we have, and I pray it will be forever, but whatever is granted us will be ours. I'm not going to give up today for fear of tomorrow." He walked over and wrapped his arms around a now sobbing Rhya, her small hands rising to clutch his shoulders as he kissed the top of her head.
"I think you should go." Kailin flinched at the hurt in his friends tone, noting that he refused to meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry I care, okay? I'm sorry I can't see the logic in this. It seems madness to me, and you just haven't been yourself. Just wait, okay? Maybe give it some time, see what happens..."
Legolas released her, spinning angrily to face the dark haired elf. "Why should we wait? Every minute we could lose each other, so why wait? Do you think in a month I will not love her? A year? A century? How long do you think until I stop loving her?"
Kailin met his eyes sullenly, his face slack. "I don't know, leaf, and maybe neither do you. Maybe you're in such a rush to bond with her because you are afraid that if you don't you'll drift apart once you actually have to speak to one another. Maybe you're afraid that there really isn't anything between you outside the bedroom."
With a low growl Legolas made to rush the other elf, stopped short by a small body darting between them. "Move, Rhya." he growled, looking over her head with eyes of fire.
"No, Legolas. You two mustn't fight, not over this, not over me. Please. Don't do anything you'll regret." her voice was plaintive, soft with the tears streaking down her face.
"So he can say anything he wants, do anything he wants and I'm just supposed to smile as he pisses on everything I love? To hell with him! If he can't accept my choices, to hell with him." As he spoke tears dripped from his eyes, anger, confusion and a mountain of suppressed fears rising to the fore.
"I've never been anything but supportive of you! I traipsed across half the world to save your sorry ass! If you can't accept my concern for what it is, to hell with you! I can't believe you're going to give away your life for someone you barely know!" tears pooled in Kailins darker eyes as well, though he dashed them away before they could fall. "I just want what's best for you!"
"She is what's best for me, Kailin. You still don't believe I love her. We'll never see eye to eye until you accept that." He stepped back, leaving a clear line between Kailin and the door, his intent obvious.
The dark haired elf started for the exit then turned back his eyes anguished. "Leaf, please. I know you love her. I know it. But if you do this, you can never go home. Never. Remember the wishing well? The hollow in the great tree? Remember all those things. If you do this they will only be memories, never more than that. Are you sure you want to do this?" His voice was tinged with desperation and Legolas walked to him, wrapping his arms tightly around his friend.
"I know Kailin. I know. I wish it could be different. But I can't live without her, don't you see that? Even if I didn't bond with her I could never leave her, and she deserves at least my vow, whatever its worth." Legolas spoke softly, his words heartfelt.
Kailin sniffed slightly and pushed away form him, running a hand across his eyes. They stood together a moment, silent. "Why's it got to be so hard?" he asked finally, his voice small.
Legolas smiled softly, his eyes filled with sorrow. "Anything worth having is worth fighting for. I will miss it too, Kailin, but this is how it has to be. For better or worse."
"If that's really how this is, if you've really thought this over, then I have no choice but to stand beside you, as I always have." He shrugged his shoulders, looking sheepishly at them both.
"We have thought, and this is how it is. I know it won't be easy, but few things worth having are. I pick my fights carefully, and I won't lose this one." his voice was filled with surety and Kailin chuckled to hear it.
"Of course not, cause I'll be right there beside you to pull you out of harms way." Legolas chuckled and pulled his friend into another hug, smiling softly.
"No one I'd rather have there." he replied.
Kailin turned, meeting Rhyas eyes, "Forgiven?" he asked, taking her hand in his own.
"Everything you said was said with his interest in heart. I can't fault you for wanting what is best for him. I just wish you'd see that is what I want as well." she said simply, pulling him into a hug.
He released her after a moment, stepping back. "Well, I think I've wreaked enough havoc here, I smell happiness somewhere nearby... better go quash it." He finished with a wink and headed for the door.
"Come back soon?" asked Rhya, shyly.
"Of course!" he answered. his face splitting into a roguish grin. "If I start another fight then smooth it over I might get another hug and next time I might let my hands wander a bit!"
"Do it and you'll pull back a stump." she said dryly, lacing her arm around Legolas' waist.
"Feisty!" he exclaimed, nodding to Legolas and casting a glare at Ip, snoozing in the corner through the ruckus before ducking out the door, shaking his head. Walking slowly he made his way towards his tent, stopping at the last minute and switching directions, coming to rest before a pale grey tent, thinking for a moment before ducking beneath the flap.
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A/N-
Big thank yous to kapaali and tamara for reviewing.
Hope to hear from you all... let me know what you are thinking.
~Arisma~
I have never thought of writing for reputation and honor. What I have in my heart must come out; that is the reason why I compose.
Ludwig von Beethoven (1770 - 1827)