Title: No turning back
Author: B-witched83uk (bwitched83uk@aol.com)
Rating: PG
Summary: Sequel to Luthien's flute. Aragorn, Arwen and the family visit Rivendell.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. The whole of Middle Earth belongs to Tolkien.
Dedication: Gionareth, thank you for the great idea for this chapter.
A/N: I maybe stole a line from First Knight don't pelt me with rotten fruit.
Chapter 4
A Perfect storm
Lothvain looked out the window at the howling winds and raging storm. "Perhaps we should look for her." He turned to Eldarion, who was sitting in quiet contemplation.
"She has been raised by an Elf, she knows what to do in a storm." Elladan went back to his book. "besides, there are plenty of places to find shelter here."
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Legolas laid Galadwen down on the wooden chaise lounge. She started to stir and moaned at the throbbing in her head. The rain outside was thumping down, making what Legolas was saying to her barely audible. The storm had come on quickly and not wanting to stay out in it, Legolas had brought her to a large gazebo, about a twenty minute ride from the last homely house
He sat down next to her, stroking her cheek in an attempt to rouse her. "Galadwen, come back to me."
She opened her eyes to see him smiling down at her. For a split second she couldn't remember what had happened and smiled back. Then the memories of the past seven years came flooding back. Galadwen sat bolt upright. It was a mistake, as a wave of nausea cascaded through her.
"How do you feel?" His voice was low, almost hypnotic. She simply continued to stare at him, as though if she turned away he would disappear.
"Galadwen?"
"I shall be fine. My head hurts a little but I shall be fine." She looked around her and for the first time realised where they were. Legolas noticed her shiver and he instantly took of his cloak.
He placed the warm wrap around her shoulders and rubbed her arms in an attempt to warm her. Galadwen couldn't help but smile as she looked up at him.
"I have worn this cloak before." She remembered the time he had rescued her from the dark sorcerer. She had been naked and shamed but he had comforted her and made her feel safe, he always did.
He gazed down at her and smiled. "I remember that night well, I had never known such anger or fear then I did when I found that man on-" Legolas's voice broke off, unable to say the words.
Galadwen could see the pain in his eyes as he continued to remember that night. He had told her he loved her, but what did that matter now. She was married. Happily married, she told herself. Galadwen tore her eyes away from his and looked at the ground.
"My husband will be worried." She glanced at him to see the reaction the mention of Lothvain would have on him. Like a typical Elf he sat emotionless.
"Galadwen, why did you marry that man?" He continued to look at the rain. She stiffened, unsure how to answer.
"What do you mean, why? Because I love him." She couldn't looked at him and so kept her eyes lowered. Legolas turned so that he was facing her.
"That is a lie, you said you didn't love him."
"When?" Galadwen looked straight at him now, her skin radiating a near intolerable heat.
"Earlier, after you came of the horse." His voice lost some of its coolness. She stood up and walked to the edge of the gazebo, just out of the rain's touch.
"I had just hit my head Legolas and I knew not what I was saying."
Legolas stood and came to stand behind her. He rested his hand on her shoulder, turning her to meet his gaze.
"Then why cant you look at me when you say that?"
She reluctantly lifted her head, still unable to meet his gaze, and felt a wave of pain flow over her.
"Tell me you don't still love me." His hand went under her chin to force her eyes to meet his.
"Why do you care anyway? You clearly don't love me or you would have stopped me from marrying Lothv-"
"If you knew the tr-" His voice was loud and angered as he began to answer. He broke off his words, closing his eyes to regain his composure.
Galadwen looked at him with wide eyes and frowned slightly in confusion. Her beautiful face showed its retained innocence. Legolas looked at her and saw the look of hope he had seen before.
"If I knew what?"
He couldn't tell her what had happened, it was best left in the past.
If he had of known that she still loved him, then fire and death could not have kept him away.
"It does not matter now, it is the past."
She kept her look of confusion. Her little pouted mouth was slightly swollen from the rain and he could no longer resist stroking his thumb over it. He felt her shiver and was sure it wasn't from the cold.
Gently he leant in and kissed her softly. They both knew that this was wrong and that they shouldn't be doing this. But then why did it feel so right, so natural. For a moment, Galadwen got lost in the kiss, the entire world went away.
She suddenly gasped and pulled away. Legolas watched her as she backed away from him, the feeling of loosing her haunting him all over again.
Legolas knew that she still loved him. She had kissed him with the need and passion as always she had. He closed the distance between them and put an arm around her waist.
"Tell me you don't love me." Part of him wanted her to say the words and mean them, to put him out of his misery.
"I don't." She couldn't meet his eyes again, something he picked up on.
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"I do hope Galadwen has found shelter from this storm." Arwen leaned back against her husband in bed. They had only just missed the downpour themselves.
"She will be fine, she is a grown woman now." He brushed his lips over her neck, making her tingle. Laying her head back on to his shoulder she sighed aloud.
"When are the men from Arnor coming?"
"The day after tomorrow, if their journey has been uneventful." He brushed his fingers through her hair, enjoying the softness against his rough hands.
He brought his mouth down to hers and slid his hand down her arm. A knock at the door made them both groan.
"Come in Silmai." Aragorn turned towards the door, knowing that it would be his youngest. The little girl came in shyly. She was wearing a long white nightdress and she was clutching a porcelain doll. Arwen opened her arms to lift the child up on to the bed.
"Silmai I thought you had grown out of his, wanting to sleep in with us whenever there was a storm."
The little girl turned her wide, mid night blue eyes on her father. The man she had well and truly wrapped round her finger.
"I have, it is not me who is scared of the storm, it is Persia." She held up the doll and smiled innocently at Aragorn. He laughed and took the doll, before tucking it in to bed next to him.
"Well if Persia is going to stay here then I suppose that you should too. She wouldn't like to be separated from you on a night like this."
Silma smiled wider and snuggled in her father's arms. Arwen shock her head, smiling with pride. "You may sleep with us tonight Tarien nin, but for tonight only."
*Little Princess*
She got in to bed next to her husband and daughter and laid her arm over them both.
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"You are lying. That was a kiss of a woman in love." Legolas stroked her face and brought his mouth to rest close to hers. She closed her eyes, allowing herself a brief moment to enjoy the sensations his closeness was having on her body before steeping away from him. She looked at him with pleading eyes.
"If you care for me at all, you will promise me something?" She was shaking with the need of him.
"Anything." Legolas hated to see the sorrow in her face and would do anything in his power to ease her pain.
"Promise not to kiss me again." She desperately tried to sound like she meant it but failed miserably. He came closer to her and looked deep in to her eyes.
He thought about it for a moment before sighing aloud.
"Very well, I did say anything. So I promise not to kiss you again." He took her hand in his and kissed it softly. "Until you ask me to."
