(a/n) Told 'ya I'd update. J sorry it took so long though….
A Midnight Stroll
The trio walked along a dirt path under a canopy of trees, heading towards the lake. As they neared it, Maris gasped, "I forgot! Merrin and Pippy asked me to find them some mushrooms. There're bound to be some around here somewhere. You two go and have fun. I'll watch from the banks once I get the mushrooms. Besides, the canoe usually only holds two anyway. Catch up with you later guys." She smiled and walked off into the woods.
Legolas called after her, // Maris, you're incredible!\\ He then turned to Rosie, "So milady, ready to go for a canoe trip?"
"Absolutely!" Rosie's heart skipped a beat. She was going in a canoe alone with Legolas! She glanced over to make sure that it wasn't just a dream. He still walked next to her, his silent steps worrying her that he might disappear.
"Don't worry little one. I won't disappear." Legolas smiled. "What's on your mind, Rosie?"
"Actually, I'm just a little surprised you knew what I was thinking. It's a little spooky." She admitted.
Legolas reached down and picked up the hobbit-maid. "So what else are you thinking?"
She wrapped her arms about his neck. "You know.."
The reached the lake. He placed Rosie in the boat, gave it a shove, then jumped into it, gracefully clearing the gap between the shore and the boat. He took up the oars and began to row.
******************************************************************
Maris found a patch of mushrooms beneath a tree. She quickly gathered them up and wrapped them into a small bundle with her cloak, then dashed off to the lake. She climbed up a tree and sat on a branch over looking the lake. Her keen eyes watched as the pair in the canoe drifted father out.
Legolas silently thanked Maris as he shifted closer to Rosie.
"The moonlight's really lovely, isn't it?" Rosie sighed.
"Just like you…" He murmured as he inched in closer.
She subconsciously leaned against his shoulder. He shifted slightly so that he could wrap his arm around her. She shivered and he gently pulled her closer. He smiled slightly, finding himself happier than he had been in almost a thousand years as Rosie slowly drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
"Legolas?" Rosie stirred. "Where are we?" She moved slightly, noticing how naturally his arm rested against her, how content and happy she was, and how natural being with him felt.
"We are still in the middle of the lake, although your father won't be happy with me for keeping you out so late." He reached for the oars and began to guide the canoe back to shore.
"Maris never showed up." Rosie remarked. "Where do you think she is?"
Legolas chuckled. "Of course not, silly. We're in the middle of a lake. I highly doubt that Maris would care to swim out to the canoe just to sit here. Its not exactly in her nature. Besides, she's been perched on that branch over there almost the entire time." He pointed to a tree on the shore and Rosie could barely detect a figure, one leg dangling from a branch, overlooking the lake.
As Legolas jumped ashore, Maris commented, "Nice night?"
He nodded as he turned to help Rosie out of the canoe. "She's asleep," he whispered softly. He reached down into the boat and gently lifted her up and cradled her in his arms. He smiled. "She seemed so tired. I guess all of the excitement wore her out."
Maris returned the smile as they began the walk back to the camp site.
A few moments into the walk, Legolas turned to Maris. // Can I talk to you? \\
Maris looked surprised. // Of course.\\
// Thank you, my friend. This is going to sound crazy, possibly insane,\\ he began. //But when I'm with Rosie, everything seems right. I feel like I can say whatever and do whatever and she won't care.\\
// I don't care what you do,\\ Maris shrugged.
// You're not making this any easier.\\
// You could always talk to me, why not about this?\\
// Well, I really think that I'm beginning to like Rosie.\\
Maris raised an eyebrow. // For all your near 3000 years and you're just now beginning to feel attractions?\\
Legolas blushed red. // No……It's just, I'm so used to people competing for me that I'm not quite sure what I'm doing.\\
Maris laughed softly as she gently brushed Rosie's silky curls away from her face. // She seems so little, so delicate. Like a flower, just beginning to bloom. Legolas,\\ she turned to face him. // Please be careful. This is going to sound so stupid, but I really don't want either of you getting hurt. You mean so much to me and I couldn't bear it if you did something that you would regret, even in Valinor…\\
Legolas was slightly startled by her sudden outburst of emotion. He had never seen her so upset. // Maris….\\
She looked at the ground, which seemed to get more interesting by the second. //I'm sorry.\\
He smiled. // That's alright. I guess I just saw a glimpse of the princess you're becoming. Don't hide it forever.\\ The pair reached the gate to Bag End. Legolas groaned. "Sam will never forgive us. He'll never let us take Rosie out again."
"Maybe he will. Could you forgive me if I woke her up?"
Legolas nodded. "Sure, I suppose."
"Good." Maris reached over and lightly shook Rosie, who moaned, opened her eyes, and, noticing that she was cradled in Legolas' arms, blushed and asked him to put her down, which he did, smiling. "Rosie, please listen to me. If you want your dad to let you go out with us again, you must be wide awake when you enter the house. Otherwise we may not be able to take you out again." Maris explained gently.
Rosie nodded. "What do you think I am, a little kid?" She shook her head a few times, bounced up and down, smiled and said, "I'm awake!" She led the way to her door and slowly, quietly, inched it open.
"ROSIE GAMGEE! WHERE HABE YOU BEEN?" The shrill, piercing voice of her mother, Rose Cotton Gamgee, echoed into the room.
Legolas and Maris stepped into the room and Maris shut the door. "Please forgive us," she bowed. "We asked Sam if we could take her out and we are now returning her back to you, safe and sound, Lady Gamgee."
Rose Cotton smiled, obviously pleased to be treated so regally. "Sam is actually out as well, with Merry and Pippin. They went to go speak with the royal council. He didn't tell me that Rosie was going out tonight. When he gets home I'm gonna…."
"Please, milady," Legolas interjected. "It is not Sam's fault that Rosie was out late; it is mine." Maris looked at him incredulously. "You see," he continued, "I promised to take Rosie and Maris out on a night canoe trip and I couldn't break my word to such special women, so we went canoeing. Please forgive me."
Rose thought it over. "Very well Legolas. Consider you and your friend forgiven." Rose took a better look at Maris. "Surely this cannot be the King's Maris.."
Maris bowed. "It has been a long time, Lady Gamgee." She glanced at Legolas. "I'm afraid 'tis late. We should be heading back to our tents. Quel du, Lady Gamgee. Namarie." She and Legolas filed out the door and disappeared into the darkness.
**********************************************************
Translations:
Quel du: good night
Namarie: Farewell.
(a/n) is this chappie long enough? It took me forever to type and I already have it written out on paper. Grrr! Oh well, please review and feel free to ask any questions. A very special thanks to Dreamality- I hope I got that right- For always reviewing and I'm sorry that I made you sad. This chappie should make you feel a little better…..I hope
~Maris