Chapter 19 – Leaving Ithilien

Every morning they would ride together and every afternoon they would watch the sunset from the talan. Even when amongst the company now they would sit together, murmuring and laughing and even hold each others' hands. Everyone could guess what had occurred between them.

On the last night of her stay in Ithilien, Legolas took Fuineth for a walk after the evening meal as was their wont at times. The rest of the company were deep in discussion and song in the halls and Fuineth and Legolas knew their absence would not be noted or minded.

Legolas led her to what had become one of their most frequented spots: the glade with the bench by the stream that he had declared early in her visit as one of his favourites places.

They sat side by side, laughing and talking of nothing of great import till Fuineth finally said, "The other night, my lord, before that first sunset we watched together, you did not speak to me at all after the meal though I could see you watching me closely throughout it. In truth I was worried lest you were upset with me or else were trying to withdraw a little before I left."

He smiled, "Forgive me, Fuineth. I had already come to a decision about us, but it was too soon for me to talk to you of it, so great was the turmoil inside me. I could not trust myself to speak to you coherently or without great passion. I am sorry if I upset you."

She shook her head, "No, my lord, it is perfectly alright. I merely wondered at it that was all." He nodded.

Then he looked at her, holding her hand in his, "You know when I think back on all the time we have know each other, I know now that I have loved you from the first."

She blushed a little now but he continued, "It is true. Those moments when I realised you might have come to harm were when I felt it most. The dance in Minas Tirith.." She gasped a little and looked away as he spoke. "Forgive me, but you must know I was desperate then when I thought you might be harmed. I am only glad I was there to help you."

She nodded, looking back at him, "And so am I, my lord."

"When you fell from Dunnwair and you did not move.. Ai, my lady, that was the worst cut of all. I knew in that moment what you meant to me."

She looked at him and could see his eyes wet, and she held a hand to his face and stroked his cheek, "Then thank the Valar I was safe."

He nodded, "I do. I do every day, Fuineth. Truly I do." He leaned forward and kissed her gently. "In Edoras I felt it too."

She looked at him now, uncertain as to whether she wanted him to talk about such things.

"That morning when you readied Dunnwair and were leaving. I could see you had been crying. I guessed what had occurred. My rage was such I could barely contain myself if truth be told."

She looked astonished, "You were there my lord?"

He nodded, smiling now, "You did not see us? Aragorn, Gimli and I were all outside the Meduseld. They did not see you, but I did. I did not realise at first what you were doing. It was only when you mounted and rode down the hill that I realised you were leaving, or attempting to do so. I was about to leap down the stairs and stop you when your brother came out shouting after you."

She smiled now, "You would have stopped me?"

"Of course. Without a moment's hesitation."

There was a pause as she looked at him, "But that would have meant you explaining how you knew me, how you knew why I was leaving, would it not? You would have done that for me?"

He nodded, smiling at her still, "Of course. Just as you allowed yourself to be forced from Edoras for my sake, so I would have allowed my shame to be known for yours."

She embraced him then, pressing her face into his chest and holding him round his waist.

He stroked her hair. "Did you not realise that even then I felt for you? How much you had moved my heart by the kindness you had shown me?" He pulled her away from him so he could look into her eyes, "I still burn with rage for what was done to you. I knew. I guessed. But when I heard it in Osgiliath..." His voice trailed off and his eyes were dark and blazing now.

Fuineth was looking down once more, "I tried to tell her."

He could hear her voice shaking. "Tell her?"

"That morning. I tried to tell her, to explain what she had done." He felt his jaw tighten and he pulled her close to him once more as she continued, "I knew she had used too much. I tried to explain... She wouldn't listen, would not let me finish."

He nodded and said quietly, "She could have killed me with the dose she gave me, did you know that?" He felt her stiffen slightly and then hold him tighter still.

She said quietly, "No. I knew she had made you very ill, but not that."

He felt the rage burn stronger within in him now. So she had been told all that long ago and she had not wanted to hear. It made her behaviour in Osgiliath seem all the more outrageous. "I will have my revenge," he said, his voice quiet with his anger, "For your sake as much as my own."

She looked up at him now, the tears still wet upon her cheek. "Revenge? But how?"

He looked at her, not sure he should have said anything. He flushed a little now. And she pulled back further from him, catching a glimpse of the embarrassment in his eye.

"My lord?"

She was smiling a little now. She had not seen him look quite so ill at ease before.

He coughed, went a bit pinker and then mumbled, "It was the Queen's idea."

Her eyebrows shot up, "Queen Undomiel's? What was her idea?"

He looked at her, closed his eyes and sighed, "You might be shocked by what I am about to say, but you needs must know."

Even his ears had gone pink by now. She was intrigued. "Very well, my lord, I shall prepare myself." And she straightened her back a little, dropped her gaze and put on her most serious face. Legolas laughed, and she smiled.

"Well, let me start with this question. How did your brother know about the effect of oak leaves on elves, or even our ears?"

It was her turn to blush now and he smiled to see it.

"Now, Lady Fuineth, we are to be married and in marriage there should be no secrets, no shame, no shyness," he laughed.

She could not look at him, but she said quietly, "I think you might be able to guess, my lord."

He laughed once more, "I think I can, indeed it appears his experiences are common knowledge in Rivendell so I hear from Elladan and Elrohir!"

She looked up at him now, mouth open, "What?! Túveren would be mortified!"

Legolas laughed, "Not at all. Such is the way of things, is it not?"

He held her hand and spoke more gently now, "Well, Fuineth, while your brother told you of such things.." he noticed the flush deepen on her cheek as he spoke, "..did he ever mention something called the Cauldron Ceremony?"

There was a pause.

She looked puzzled.

Legolas could feel himself blushing furiously now and was not sure which he would prefer: that she did not know and he could explain in just general terms, or that she would know and he would not have to say anything at all.

She looked at him, her brows still furrowed, "I am sure I have heard of it, my lord, but I cannot remem.."

He watched as her expression changed from one of puzzlement to realisation and then turned bright red as she hurriedly dropped her gaze.

He decided that this was probably better than his having to explain it.

Her voice came quiet, "You were to invite her to this?"

"Yes."

"And this was the Queen's idea?"

"Yes. She was as angry as I was, as you were and are, Lady Fuineth. Were it not for the fact that everything would have been made public she would have wished for her to have been publically shamed then and there in Osgiliath when it all came out."

Fuineth nodded. She could see how it would make Eowyn understand the enormity of what she had done.

Then she suddenly realised something. When her gaze met Legolas's he could see a slight distance in her eyes and he grew concerned.

"You were planning to take part in this yourself, my lord?"

Her voice was matter of fact but this was a problem and he knew it.

"Well, yes, but as host I would have to..."

She snorted, and he raised his eyebrows. This wasn't going well.

"..And added to which, at the time we.. I was.. we were not about to marry, Fuineth," he ended, trying to sound as gentle as he could. He knew this was going to be difficult to explain. She nodded though she would not look at him and held her hands tight in her lap.

"Fuineth," he raised her chin so he could see her eyes which were tear- filled and full of hurt, "It is absolutely out of the question now. You must know that. It will still take place, but I will not be a part of it. Her lesson will still be learned."

She said nothing and he put his arms around her, kissing her on her brow as he did so.

"Forgive me, my lady, I perhaps should have explained things better. I did not mean to upset you." He pulled back a little to look at her as he continued, "Know you are the only one I have ever loved; the only one to have moved my heart. Gerich 'úr nîn, Fuineth. Si a ui. Bain nín. Meleth nín."

She looked up at him, her face glowing with pleasure. She knew he had just used a phrase, in Sindarin, from the Quenya elvish wedding promise.

"A hir bain, gerethin ant lîn ned inden sui mîr. Le annon inden, si a ui. Non melethrin lín, Legolas."

He gasped in pleasure. It was the first time she had managed to call him simply 'Legolas' without him prompting her, and what she had said to him had moved him deeply.

He kissed her then. Passionately.

He held her face in his hands and plundered her lips with his till she felt faint. As his hand crept round her neck to bunch into her hair she could feel his tongue against her mouth as her lips parted, grazing against her tongue slightly till at last her released her, gazing into her eyes once more.

"You have no idea how much I love you," was all he said before he held her close to him once more.

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The next morning as she was readying to leave, a knock came upon her chamber door. "Come in," she said and turned to see who it was.

Legolas bowed slightly, "Lady Fuineth. Forgive my intrusion, but I wished to give you this before you leave. You promised me, did you not, and it would please me greatly if you are still willing to do so." He was holding out a green tunic to her, of the style he wore when traveling and riding.

She nodded and smiled, taking it from him. "Of course, my lord, I shall pack it straight away so it is not forgotten."

He stepped towards her and took her hand, then taking the tunic from her and throwing it behind her onto the bed, he put his arms around her. He kissed her on the tip of her nose.

"I shall miss you, you know, even though I know we shall see each other once more in a few days time. Those days will be the longest I have ever known, I know it."

She laughed and stroked his cheek, "I will miss you too, but as you say will shall see each other soon enough, my lord."

He groaned, "Will you not call me 'Legolas', Fuineth? Please, I beg you."

She blushed a little, "Forgive me. It takes a little getting used to." She looked up at him, "Legolas."

He grinned and turned his head to kiss her fingers. "Better. Much better. Now you had better finish readying, the others are already making their way outside and the horses are ready."

She nodded. He did not move. She laughed.

"You will have to release me if I am to pack away your tunic, my lor... Legolas."

He grinned, "I know. But just one moment more, I beg you."

She smiled as he kissed her, pulling her even closer to him as his arms wrapped tighter around her waist. Her hands ran into his hair and round his neck as they embraced and then separated.

He grinned and walked over to the door. "Yes, I will miss you very much."

When she came out of the halls she found Dunnwair already saddled. Legolas and his stewards were saying their farewells to the guests. Elladan and Elrohir were already mounted. Fuineth embraced many of the elves she had got to know well during her stay, and others kissed her hand.

She swiftly climbed in the saddle and turned to find Legolas on Arod beside her. Seeing her surprise he smiled, "I will walk with you to the edge of the forest." She smiled. And as they set off the two hung back a little, walking their steeds quietly side by side as they had done now so many times during her stay.

All too soon it seemed to them the trees began to thin and at last they reached open ground. Legolas called his farewells to the group, embraced Aragorn once more atop his horse and they set off toward the fords at Osgiliath.

Fuineth hesitated, turning in her saddle to look at him once more. Legolas drew Arod beside her so they were now so close their legs were touching. He held out his hand for hers.

"I will see you soon, Fuineth."

She nodded, struggling to hold back the tears, "Le darthathon, Legolas."

He smiled. "Do not cry, meleth nín, let me remember you smiling in these next few days apart." He leant forward to her, and she to him, and they kissed one last time. "Navaer, Fuineth."

"Navaer, Legolas."

She urged Dunnwair forward, trotting to catch up with others already a little way ahead. When she had joined them she turned to see the tall figure astride his horse watching her as she left. They neared a hill and some trees about which the path bent, and she turned one last time. The figure raised his hand to her, and she raised hers in return as Dunnwair took her past the hill and they were lost to each others' sight.

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gerich 'úr nîn = you have my heart

si a ui = now and always

bain nin = my beautiful (one)

meleth nín = my love

a hir bain = o beautiful lord

gerethin ant lîn ned inden sui mîr = I shall hold your gift in my heart like a treasure

le annon inden = I give you my heart

non melethrin lín = I (f) love you

hiril nin = my lord

le darthathon = I will wait for you