Title: Luthien's flute

Author: B-witched83uk (bwitched83uk@aol.com)

Rating: PG

Summary: Aragorn, Arwen and the family travel to Lothlorien after receiving a mysterious letter from Celeborn.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. The whole of Middle Earth belongs to Tolkien.

Chapter 14

Over before it started

Aragorn held on to his wife as though his life depended on it. "Oh sorry, am I hurting you?" He moved his hand to gently cradle the life growing inside Arwen's womb. She giggled at his excitement and worry and placed her hands either side of his cheek.

"I am fine, the baby is fine." She assured him.

Aragorn's eyes widened and small drops of silver began to form. He looked at Arwen now with so much love and endearment that her own eyes began to well.

"You have given me so much over the years mela nin. I can not even begin to show you how happy you have made me." He pressed his mouth softly to hers. Arwen's arms wrapped themselves round his neck, pulling him in for a deeper kiss.

A hard knock at the door interrupted them and they both groaned at being intruded on. "Come in" Aragorn let go of his wife and turned toward the door.

"I am sorry to bother you Ada but it is late and I thought I ought to ask your permission." Galadwen had a strange look on her face. Aragorn wondered if she already knew their happy news.

"Galadwen, my darling girl. Your Naneth and I would-" Aragorn was stopped by Arwen's hand on his back. She gently shock her head to let him know that it was their secret for a little longer. "Galadwen, ask our permission for what?"

Galadwen eyed her parents warily, trying to work out why her father was beaming from ear to ear.

"Legolas was speaking about a clearing in the woods. He said it has a beautiful view, so I asked him to show it to me. He insisted I ask your permission first."

Arwen wondered why her daughter hadn't met her eyes once since entering the room.

"Of course, that is fine. I trust that Legolas will take good care of you." Aragorn pulled Arwen to him and smiled lovingly. With a final look at her parents, who were showing even more public affection then usual, she left in search of Legolas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I have been in this place many a time, it becomes more stunning every year." Legolas held out his hand for Galadwen to take, so she didn't slip on the rocks in the shallow river they were now crossing. His skin was strangely soft, quite unlike the hand of any man she had touched. They made their way across the river and began walking slowly up a small hill.

"Of course, as I told you, it is a much more breathtaking view in the light of day. Why did you not wish to wait until then?" Galadwen fell in to step next to him and kept her eyes on the ground.

"I suppose I just wanted to spend time with you." Her honest and bold words were out and she couldn't take them back, not that she really wanted to. Legolas stopped and looked at her. He placed his fingers under her chin, forcing her head up to look at him. Legolas had seen that look before. He knew that the girl had a crush on him and he knew he should do something to stop it, but what?

He kept his hand where it was and looked at her with pity and care. "Galadwen, I enjoy spending time with you also. Your Ada and I have known each other for many a year. Your Naneth and I even longer. I am a lot older then you are and a trusted friend of your family" He looked in to her deep star lit eyes and his heart went out to her. "Do you understand what I am saying?"

Galadwen spoke not a word. She continued to simply look at him, making him feel some what uneasy. She certainly had feelings for him, she hadn't wanted a man to kiss her so badly in her whole life. He wasn't a man though, he was an Elf. A being of grace. But he had a certain sparkle in his eye, a look that made her wonder if he secretly didn't want the same thing.

Legolas moved his hand to her cheek, so cold and lovely, like fresh snow on the day it fell. Galadwen turned her head so that her mouth was against the palm of his hand. He could feel her breath, warm and sweet. A fire ran through him then, one he hadn't felt for a painfully long time.

Almost instantly he gently pulled his hand away. "You clearly don't understand!" He turned away and closed his eyes in frustration.

"You said I was beautiful. Did you lie?" Galadwen couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't comprehend how bad Legolas was feeling at having sexual feelings for Aragorn's daughter. Legolas turned to face her.

"You are beautiful! I will not lie to you and tell you that I do not feel for you, but as I said I am a lot older then you."

Galadwen walked closer to him, a frown still etched on her brow. "I understand that but you look no older then my brother."

Legolas didn't know how to make her understand, if possible her innocence and naivety was making her even more endearing.

"What do you think your father would say if he knew of this conversation? He would knife me as I slept!"

She simply smiled at him. "I believe my father would understand better then any other what it is to fall for an Elf."

Legolas laughed a little, still looking in to her eyes. "Yes, I suppose he would at that" His tone turned serious again, making Galadwen's heart go cold.

"This still cant happen Galadwen. We should speak no more of this. Pretend we never spoke of this."

She closed the small gap between them and reached her hand to his face. His initial instinct was to move away but something held him to the spot.

"I don't think I can." She spoke in almost a whisper. This was happening so fast, it was ridicules that she would be having such strong feelings so soon, but then again her father had told her all about the magic of the Elves and how he had fallen in love with her mother the day they met.

"I think I am in love with you." She blurted it out before her mind had a chance to word what she was thinking properly. She realised how silly she must sound. He must think her no more then a child with a crush.

Legolas sighed and ran his hand over his face. "Please don't say that Galadwen. You are young and no not what love is."

Galadwen looked at him hurt and angry. "Do not speak to me as though I am a child! Do you think I want to feel this way? I have a desire for you that frightens me. And when you look at me through those icy eyes I can tell that the desire is in your blood also."

He hated himself for hurting her but he knew no other way to stop her feelings. Just as he opened his mouth to tell her that he felt nothing for her she began to cry. She placed her head in to her hands and sobbed.

"Oh Galadwen, please do not cry. I am not worth your tears." He walked closer and brushed the hair from her wet face. Slowly she lifted her head to look at him. He didn't know if it was love he felt for the young Princess but at this moment he would do anything to ease her sorrow.

Legolas continued to hold her gaze, desperately trying to stop himself from doing what he was about to do. She looked at him with a look of such painful love, he knew the only way to take her pain. His hand went under her chin and he pulled her mouth softly to his. She closed her eyes and let the aching ebb. He only wished to calm her but once he felt the warmth of her lips he realised that he had desperately wanted to kiss her.

Galadwen's arms went round his neck, pulling his mouth deeper on to hers. Legolas had never kissed someone who was partly human. She kissed with a need and passion he had never known. It was wonderful, she felt wonderful. He hadn't expected to respond to her in such a way.

Aragorn!

Legolas suddenly had a thought and he pulled away from Galadwen. She looked at him shocked. He turned away from her, reprimanding himself for giving in to his human like lust. He turned on her, suddenly cold and more in control of his feelings.

"Galadwen that was a mistake. I am sorry, It should never have happened. I think it best that I leave this place under first light. I merely meant to stop you from crying, I want nothing more from you then friendship." He began to walk back down the hill, expecting her to follow him.

Galadwen didn't move, standing hurt and angry. Legolas turned to face her.

"Come on, we should get back to Lord Celeborn's hall." His tone was unfeeling.

She scowled at him before walking with determination. She passed him in a blind fit of rage and stomped through the river, caring not that she was soaking them both. Suddenly she span round and came face to face with him.

"I think, seeing as you are so clearly heartless and care for none but yourself, that you probably shouldn't visit Minas Tirith any time soon. You clearly think that playing with a person's emotions is sport of some kind!" She turned again and made her way back. Legolas stood there for a while, looking after her as she went. He would take her harsh words and let her think what she wanted. It was better that she hate him. Better for all concerned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arwen stood at her window, watching Legolas make his way back. It was clear to her that they were both upset and she was sure she knew why. She knew not if it was this place, the home in which her Grandmother long dwelt, that heightened her senses. She knew that there was a deeper kind of caring between the two. She glanced toward her sleeping husband and instinctively ran her hands over her flat stomach. "Oh dear silma hin" she thought to her unborn child.

*Star lit child*

"Lets hope your father doesn't find out."

Legolas sat below the window, a look of anguish upon his youthful face. Arwen felt sorry for him, for she knew first hand what it was to love a mortal. To want to protect them from this world. Estel had been just twenty years when Arwen feel in love with him. She had been in the exact same position that Legolas now found himself.

"Oh dear indeed."