So….last chapter she miraculously came back to him. As this chapter title kind of gives away, lots of questions are asked, and answers are given. Few surprises along the way too. (Some of you may not like them. Hint, hint…)
You'll see what I mean. ^_^
~Lainfaer~
Morgaine of Ithil- Me, murdered? *Gulps nervously and backs away.* I'm sure Leggy'll look after me though! Heehee…
Thanks for reviewing. Keep reviewing, and I'll keep posting! ^_^
ElvenStar5- I understand about being too lazy to sign in! More on Beinlóth coming up. Thanks for reviewing. ^_^
Elerrina- Yep, 60 years. Well, he never went to Lothlórien before did he? A village of Elf-maidens is kinda cool, don't ya think? ^_^
Softballchick10290- I'm keeping writing, so please keep reviewing! I think Beinlóth is cool too. Not that I'm bragging of course…
Have a cookie! ^_^
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Chapter 13: Questions and Answers.
Legolas started to stand, but Beinlóth placed her hands
on his shoulders. She crouched down in front of him. Her hand drifted up to his
cheek, and her fingers played with his golden hair. "Miss me?"
"You…you're…alive," he stuttered.
"Alive and kicking," she replied, smiling.
"It was you," he said. "You led us here."
"You're slower then you used to be Legolas. Yes, it was me."
"Why didn't you just say?"
"It was much more fun this way." She sat up beside him. "So, how have you
been?"
He just glared at her. "You mean, all that searching I have done, all the time
I have spent looking for you, was in vain! You were here all along?"
"Of course it wasn't," she answered, looking at him. "You
found her?"
"Yes," he answered. "She is buried in Mirkwood." He looked her up and down. She
wore a white dress, decorated with a few beads and delicate lace. It had a
slight train, and the sleeves were flared at the ends. Her hair was still light
brown, but now had the sun-kissed touch that showed she had been outside a lot.
Her skin was still pale and perfect. His gaze travelled up to her eyes, and
found she was also looking at him. He turned away, embarrassed to have been
caught staring.
She turned his face back to hers. He looked up into those crystal eyes, and was instantly lost. She stroked his cheek. "I've missed you," she said softly.
"Why didn't you come to Mirkwood?"
"I couldn't"
"Why?"
"It's all too complicated to explain now. For a couple of years, I wandered
around the countryside with the horses, hunting for food and drinking from
rivers and streams. Then, a scout from Lothlórien found us. They took me in,
and healed me. They gave me clean clothes and stabled the horses. I had
returned to Milathon and raided my house. I had managed to find some food and
drink, and even some clothes. I took it all with me. I made a bag in the wild
with animal skin, and so carried all my things round in it. Time then passed so
quickly once I was in Lothlórien. Before I knew where I was, I had been there a
full ten years. I told my story to the Lady, and she gave me advice on what to
do. I looked into the mirror, and saw things happening that I cannot describe
now. But, after all that, I could not go to Mirkwood."
"But I don't understand," Legolas protested. "Why couldn't you come home, to
me?"
"Like I said, it is too complicated and boring to explain
on a beautiful evening like this. Look, are you going to ask me to dance or
not?"
"Of course I am. Would you like to dance my Lady?" he asked,
standing and offering her hand.
"It would be my pleasure my Lord," she answered, smiling. He led her out, and they danced together.
By now the rest of the Fellowship had returned to the table, but had left Legolas in peace to talk with his new 'lady friend' as Gimli so nicely put it. They watched as he walked out into the floor with the mysterious woman.
"Who is she?" Boromir asked Aragorn.
"I don't know," he answered, watching his friend pull the maiden in close, then release her again. He smiled to himself. "They obviously know each other quite well."
Beinlóth gazed up into Legolas' eyes as they danced. When she had met him in the stables all those years ago, he had seemed cold and stern. But now, she was seeing a completely different side to him. He was warm and friendly. She relished the feeling of his arms around her waist, and when he pulled her close to him in time with the music, she would get as close as she could.
//I can't be. I have always quite 'liked' him, but not this much, surely?//
The music slowed down, and so did they. She leant her head against his chest, and his arms encircled her waist once more. Hers snaked round his neck, and they swayed gently together. They forgot the problems of the past, and just concentrated on enjoying themselves.
The music ended, and the Elves clapped and cheered. Almost straight away, another tune started up, and the dancing carried on. But Beinlóth took hold of Legolas' hand, and led him away from the dancing, out of the clearing, into the surrounding trees.
They came to another smaller clearing, and sat together on a fallen log. Beinlóth leant against Legolas, and he placed his arm round her shoulders. They sat in silence for a while, gazing up at the stars twinkling high above them.
"Are you going to enter Lothlórien with us?" Legolas asked her.
She nodded. "Yes. It is time we returned back."
"Good, and then we can spend as much time together as possible."
She laughed. "Of course." She sat up and looked at him. "I have missed you," she told him again, taking his hand in hers.
He gently squeezed it. "And I have missed you. Can you even imagine the feeling of dread that passed through me when I arrived at Milathon to find it…not there any more!" She laughed. "In fact, it was still smouldering. We spent ages searching round for you, then followed the hoof prints out of the village to the clearing. We found Gwaloth, and I started to fear the worst. Then, we headed back to Mirkwood. But we came to the stream, and saw that many horses had been around, and found just one, small set of footprints. My heart lifted then, and we returned to Mirkwood. I went back again of course, to look again, but there were no signs of you anywhere."
"I'm sorry Legolas. I really wanted to go to Mirkwood,
but I just couldn't. If I had, then we would both have been in danger."
"Why?"
"Its something to do with my
past. I can't explain it very well myself, but the Lady knows the full story.
It's all rather confusing. Apparently my parents had something to do with it."
"Ok, don't say any more. I think I have heard this story. It is said that your
grandmother went through the same that you have been. She did get back to
Mirkwood, but she had completely changed. A curse hangs over your family,
doesn't it?"
She nodded. "Yes. If I had returned to Mirkwood, then the
ones I cared about could be hurt. I could not put you in danger."
"You care about me?"
"You are the only Elf I have ever known apart from Gwaloth. Well, when I was in
Milathon anyway. Of course I cared about you. When my grandmother returned to
Mirkwood, she did not know of the curse. She had a son, my father, who married
my mother. They had me, and the curse hangs over me. Father was killed in
battle, and only then did my grandmother become fully aware of the curse. She
went over the Sea, and grandfather went with her. Only my mother and I were
left. Then she was killed, and I was taken away. But, even though she knew all
the dangers, Gwaloth came after me and rescued me from the Orcs, sort of. The
curse was then on her, and she knew that if she ever returned to Mirkwood, she
would either die herself, or I would. So she kept me in Milathon to protect
me."
"And she did the right thing, even though it meant her losing her own life," Legolas said, stroking a stray hair out of her eyes that were shining with unshed tears. "I have heard the rumour of your family's curse, but did not know if it did actually exist. Now I know the truth."
"I have only known it since my arrival in Lothlórien. At first, I didn't believe it, but over time, I have come to accept it. But, I have something to tell you…" her voice faltered and she looked at the ground.
He lifted her chin to face him. "What is it?" he asked softly.
"I want to go to Valinor."
He stared at her, eyes wide with unbelief. "Val…Valinor? But…why? Why do you want to go there? You're not even 100 years old yet."
"I would have gone earlier, but I wanted to see you
again." One tear trickled down her face, and she quickly brushed it away. She
refused to cry in front of him. "I have made my choice Legolas," she continued,
looking at him defiantly. "I wish to see my parents again. They are waiting for
me, in Valinor. There is nothing for me on Middle-Earth, nothing at all. I have
no family, and no real home. I cannot return to Mirkwood, as my loved one will
be hurt. Lothlórien is beautiful yes, but it is not my real home. I have been
alone for the past 60 years. Legolas, I cannot continue like this. I need to be
with my family."
"You won't be alone," he assured her, taking her hand in both of his. "You've
found me now, and I will not let you be alone."
"No, you have other duties now," she answered. "Very soon, after you have
rested in Lothlórien, you will continue on your journey. Your duty stands with
the Fellowship now, not me anymore." She removed her hands from his grasp and
stood up.
"No, I won't let you," he argued, standing up next to her and taking her hand again. "Beinlóth please, don't leave me again. So long I have waited to find you. I made a promise to your mother, and to your father, a promise that I intend to keep. I cannot let you go, not yet."
"What promise?" she asked, facing him, the tears still shining.
"To look after you," he answered simply, letting go of her. "To protect you, and make sure no harm ever came to you. I know I've been absolutely rubbish at it so far, but now that I do have you, I am going to make up for it. That is why you cannot go yet. You may wish to see your parents again, and I do not blame you. I want more than anything to see Gwaloth and Gwirnaru again, but it is not my time yet, nor is it yours. Please Beinlóth, you have to understand. I need you." Those last three words echoed around Beinlóths' head.
"I need you, I need you…"
"Need me?" she repeated, confusion clouding her expression.
He nodded, and when he spoke, his voice was thick with unshed tears. "Yes, I need you. Happy now? You've got my confession. I need you. More than anything else. Ever since I saw you in the stables, I felt something for you. In fact, even when you were a baby, a tiny child, I knew there was something special between us. I know that sounds ridiculous, but its true. In fact, do you want the whole truth?" His voice rose. He could feel the anger welling up now. How could she just abandon him now, after all this time?
"I love you Beinlóth! I am in love with you!" He glared at her for a moment more, then stormed away.
She stared after him, her heart pounding in her chest. He loved her? No, this couldn't be right. How could he love her? She started to run after him.
He was running by now. He had to get away from her. How could such a beautiful moment be spoiled so easily? Why did she have to leave for Valinor, why must she leave him again? He ran on, the bushes clawing at his tunic. At one stage, he tripped and fell to his knees. For a couple of moments, he just knelt there, his hands clenching into fists, the dirt staining his hands and fingers. He struggled to his feet and kept running, tears burning in his eyes.
//It is said that Elven love is true and instant. It is true then. Ever since the beginning, I knew we were going to be very special friends, maybe something even closer. But why did I have to tell her like that? Just blurt it out? Well done Legolas, you've really put your foot in it this time!//
He headed away from the singing and dancing. He wanted to be alone, needed to be alone. He eventually stopped, out of breath because of the anger and sadness inside him. He collapsed to the floor, and leant against a tree. The moonlight reflected the tear trails down his fair cheeks.
And he just sat there, gazing at the moon.
*Dodges various objects thrown by some readers.*
Yes, I know, it's turned into a Legomancy kind of story. SORRY!
I'm having a weird day today, and felt like having another bit of romance in a story. If you don't want a Legomance, then go read Sleeping Dangerously. No romance, promise! ^_^
Please review, as they are all appreciated. Just…no flames, please? Pretty please with Pippin on top? ^_^
~Lainfaer~
