Author's note follows.
Chapter 21
It wasn't long before Legolas found out what Elewen had meant when she'd called her daughter a trickster. One day, they were walking together along a stream in the woods, just talking and enjoying the other's company. Legolas had brought a picnic lunch, and they stopped in a little clearing to eat. After they enjoyed a quiet lunch, Legolas dozed off for a few minutes. He woke a few minutes later to no trace of Sérina.
Legolas looked around for a minute, slightly concerned. He knew there was little chance of harm coming to her in Valinor, but it didn't make her disappearance less confusing. The remnants of their meal were still laid out on a blanket, and there were no footprints leading away in any direction. He stood up and looked closer for signs, walking closer to the river to get a better view of the clearing. He heard a giggle above him just an instant before cold water dropped onto his head. Sérina dropped out of the tree above him, laughing. Legolas sputtered for a moment, then wrapped her in a hug, getting her as wet as he could. Sérina just laughed, not at all surprised or even annoyed.
The fact that she'd expected him to get her wet frustrated Legolas, and after a moment's hesitation, he picked her up and walked toward the stream.
This did catch Sérina off guard, and she gasped as Legolas walked right into the stream until he was up to his knees in water. "Legolas, don't!" she squealed, expecting him to drop her into the water.
"I hope you think better of me than to drop a helpless maiden into a raging river without so much as a raft!" Legolas said melodramatically, laughing.
Sérina breathed deeply, trying to get her breath back. Just when she was finally convinced that he wasn't going to drop her and she began to relax, Legolas bent backwards and let both of them fall into the water. She screamed and coughed as she got a mouthful of water. Legolas pushed her into a sitting position so she wouldn't breathe in any more water.
"I didn't drop you," he said, grinning at her. Sérina just splashed him with a little water, but it didn't matter. They were both soaked, anyway. Legolas got up and offered her his hand, which she took somewhat doubtfully. Before she could walk away to get out of the stream, he leaned closer and whispered, "Your mother is not the only one who is known for practical jokes."
With that, Legolas walked out of the river, giving Sérina his hand as she climbed out, sodden skirts making her footing awkward. They picked up their picnic in silence. Sérina was so quiet Legolas wondered if she was angry with him. When they got their things bundled up, they walked back in silence.
Legolas and Sérina reached her home, and Legolas followed Sérina up to the house. Olórin was sitting outside, smoking a pipe and blowing smoke rings. He raised his eyebrows at the sight of them, still soaking wet. Sérina slipped inside quickly.
"Sit down, Legolas. I'd like to have a word with you. Care to smoke?"
"No, thank you."
"Nonsense. Here you go," Olórin said, producing another pipe. Legolas took the pipe, but didn't light it. He didn't really care for pipeweed, but he didn't mind it once in a while. He fiddled with it for a moment while Olórin made small talk. Legolas didn't know what the Maia was up to, especially after he'd brought Olórin's daughter home soaking wet, but the Maia didn't give any indication that anything was wrong. After a moment, Legolas lit the pipe, not wanting to seem ungrateful. He lifted it to his lips and took a deep puff, only to break out coughing. He doubled over with the coughing, looking up to see the Maia chuckling. A moment later, he heard laughter from inside the house, and Elewen and Sérina came out, Sérina now in a dry gown. Both women were laughing so hard they were crying.
"You didn't think I'd let you get off that easily, did you?" Sérina asked, brushing tears of laughter from her eyes. She handed him a cup of water, then sat down beside him as he tried to get his breath back.
"She may have learned much of it from her mother," Olórin said, "but that doesn't mean that I can't get in on it once in a while, too." He slapped Legolas on the back, which only made the coughing worse. "It'll pass in a minute."
"What was in that?" Legolas asked hoarsely once he was able to speak.
"Ah, I can't reveal all my secrets now, can I?" Olórin said.
Legolas nodded, knowing that he'd been had. Sérina stood up, taking the empty cup from him. "I need to finish drying off. I'll see you later. She leaned down and kissed his cheek, then disappeared inside, Elewen following.
Olórin leaned back, sighing. "I hope you aren't too annoyed with me, but I figured you'd managed to get her back when I saw her so wet. Besides water fights, how have things been going for the two of you?"
Legolas hesitated, and after a moment, Olórin saved him from trying to figure out what to say. "If you'd ready to ask for her hand, ask her. You have my blessing." Olórin leaned back on the bench, drawing on the pipe and blowing out a smoke ring, not looking over at Legolas. After all the uncertainty, as well as the matchmaking and scheming, he and Elewen had faced, Olórin didn't mind being 'persuasive' when it came to Legolas pursuing Sérina.
"I…I'll speak to her when I have an opportunity," Legolas said. His head was spinning at the abrupt change in the conversation, and his throat was still raw from whatever had been in the pipe.
"You do that, lad. That way, I may yet escape being pulled into many more of your pranks. I get enough of those from Elewen." With that, Olórin clapped his shoulder, stood up, and walked into the house.
A few days and a few tricks later, Legolas and Sérina went riding. When they stopped to rest, Sérina noticed that Legolas was nervous.
"Legolas, I'm not planning any tricks. You don't need to be so nervous," Serina said, trying to break the ice. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong," Legolas said, picking at an imaginary speck of dust on his clothes.
"No? Then why are you so preoccupied?"
"I'm just thinking." Legolas winced mentally. He hadn't meant to sound so sullen.
"About what?" Sérina reached over and turned Legolas' face so he was looking at her.
"The future," Legolas said. Sérina nodded him on, her hand still on his face. Legolas reached up and took her hand, then took a deep breath. "Will you marry me?"
Sérina stared at him for a moment. Again, he'd surprised her. She hadn't known what to expect, but this was certainly not it. After a moment, she nodded, then kissed him. After a long time, they broke the kiss, and Legolas held her for a long time, leaning his cheek on the top of her head.
Legolas and Sérina spent the rest of the day riding, but eventually it had to end, and he took her home.
The Elven community had been aware of the growing relationship between Legolas and Sérina, but news of their engagement seemed to spread like lightning. As slowly as most things moved in Valinor, it didn't take long to plan the wedding, and soon they were riding to Taniquetil, where Manwë hosted a wedding feast that rivaled the one held for Olórin and Elewen
~
While the Fourth Age, the Age of Men, continued in Middle Earth, the Elves of Valinor found their rest. For Elewen, Olórin, Legolas, Sérina, Elrond, Galadriel, and the others, it was a reminder that even when hope seemed forgotten, it was never lost.
~
A/N: Sorry to be so late posting this chapter. Thank you for reading and reviewing this story. If you liked this one, please check out my other stories (on this web site). I have a couple romance stories, including a couple crossovers. I have a couple ideas I'm working on, but nothing very concrete. I'm working on an original inspirational sci-fi and I have an outline for an Eldarion romance. I'm also toying with writing another MASH crossover (a serious one this time).
I appreciate all your input and I hope you've enjoyed the story! Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
Twin03