DISCLAIMER: I do not, and will not, ever own anything of these character's, places, or anything else besides my excuse-for-a-plot.^_^ I don't have any money, so you might as well not sue.
AUTHOR NOTE: WEEEE!! Heh..I enjoyed writing this chapter..there's a certain, tiny, litttllle bit of goodness in this one. Hope you enjoy! Thank you to all my reviewers, whom this story truly belongs too, and especially my buds at Forums4Fans Undying Love forum..you guys are the best. *huggles*
A Dark Sunrise
Chapter Nine: Fires Touch
Their sorrow was relentless, as is the way with elvish grief. It tore away at both of them, but only Arwen bore outward signs of her pain. Both crumbled when they thought they were alone, though only Legolas attempted to hide all trace of his sadness. He seemed, to an outside observer, the same as he had always been; silent and ever present, polite, ethereal, and never far from the queen. Those close to him saw the subtle changes, however. Always was he there for the Evenstar, to support her emotionally, to listen to her, until at last her silent tears ceased. Still, he had drawn himself back, put in place his stony wall of defences permanently; the boyish humour he had shown in the Quest all but gone.
He would gaze at the stars for hours and hours at a time; so long, in fact, that Aragorn would send men out to find him. And Arwen, Arwen who had seen his heart in the precious few moments in which he lowered his guards, had observed his sorrow laid bare, even when Aragorn himself did not see it. She did not know what to make of his silence, and so she waited for him to come to her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The people of Gondor had gradually come to realise that elves had at last departed. Thranduil and some of his folk still dwelled in Mirkwood, and some spoke of Celeborn joining him in his rule, but most thought these no more than rumours.
The people assumed this accounted for the queens 'illness' (as they called it), for they had heard strange tales of elves and their fragile hearts. Most believed it would pass with time; that there was no ill their great king could not heal. Only a very few watched the blond prince who stood in the shadows, and the way the queens dark eyes always searched for him, and knew the truth: Arwen Undomiel held onto life by a thread; a single bright thread anchored to the forest elf, and steadied by the king. Yet she was not without joy. Word came of the queens pregnancy, and it seemed, to the kingdoms relief, that the light shone once more in the bright eyes of the Undomiel.
The Gondorians were not far off the mark, in their assessment of the queen; Arwen felt better than she had in weeks. Already she could feel the ever so small, ever so delicate life which resided inside her. But all was not well.
Arwen saw the change in Legolas, but he would not speak of what troubled him so. It hurt the Evenstar even more to know that he distanced himself in particular from her. She feared she perhaps had said something to hurt him, for every time she drew near his impenetrable defences came up once more, and she despaired in discovering his hurt.
Once, she caught him sitting on the edge of the city, atop his pale stallion, his gaze fixed on the western horizon. It was then that she knew; her anchor grew restless.
He's going to leave me, she thought in sudden panic, Legolas will leave and I shall sink into grief too deep for me to conquer. Valar help me.
That night she spoke to Aragorn, entwining her hand in his, pleading with her beloved to order Legolas to stay. Aragorn did not answer, but lifted his free hand to brush her cheek.
'He truly has kept you here with me,' he said thoughtfully, and Arwen knew he did not mean physically. 'Your really here...I can see it in your eyes. You'll not break after all...' he smiled softly and seemed to remember her pleading words. 'No, my love, Legolas is not mine to command. He has only ever followed me of his own free will, and I think he would not take kindly to being ordered. He is not the care-free, innocent elf he once was.' He sighed, and stroked Arwen's flawless cheek, wiping away the little trails made by her tears. When he spoke, his words were so tender she thought perhaps he did understand the depths of elvish grief.
'I have watched you, day by day; seen you draw away from me in sorrow, seen your hurt at Legolas' distance. He loves you, my lady, and he surely would not want you to weep. Have no doubt: wherever he might go, however long he might stray, he would never leave you. His loyalty is perhaps his only weakness.' Aragorn smiled, and again Arwen marvelled at the noble strength that stirred in those gray eyes.
'Seek him out, and let him go.' His eyes became distant, and Arwen was at a loss to describe the emotion she saw in those eyes of his. 'Let him heal; we all have our demons to face. He will return to you.'
'And you, my lord.'
'Nay, lady, Legolas refuses the Call only for you.' He smiled again, kindly, and kissed her softly on the lips. 'Go to him.'
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The night was clear and cold when she saw him again. Arwen stood silent and still, her eyes fixed meditatively on the stars above, as she had done in years past. She was a thing of the stars herself, and she found comfort in their steadfast grace.
She felt his presence suddenly, and realised he had probably been watching her for quite some time. He had revealed himself to her; one did not see or hear Legolas, unless he chose to be seen or heard.
'What do you see in the stars, Legolas? My mind is clouded of late.' The lithe elf stepped out of the shadow of a nearby birch, and was bathed in the silver moonlight. Arwen gazed at him, almost jealously- the elven light would gradually fade in her, but never would it leave this one; there it burnt strong and steady as an ocean tide, a lone candle in her darkness.
He did not speak for a long time, but only stood with his head thrown back, his gaze fixed unblinkingly among the heavens.
'The stars say many things, my lady. But mainly they speak of an age past, and of the age to come.' He turned suddenly, his eyes focusing on hers so sharply she looked away.
'Middle-Earth is in a time between times. It stands on a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two ages. Your strive in vain to look beyond the heights.' Arwen was startled by his wise words, but the blond elf's face remained passive, his words toneless. 'From the voiceless lips of the unreplying elves there comes no hope; but in this time of darkness, I see a spark- I see a path among many possible paths, which men might take. Will they have the wisdom to choose the right one? The way is narrow.' He was turned away from her now, and she was confused by the meaning of his words. What path? Legolas turned to see her brow furrowed, and his mouth quirked into a smirk.
'I'm sorry to have spoken, Undomiel. I'll leave you to your thoughts.'
'No.' Arwen spoke before Legolas could turn, and her small hand gripped his forearm. 'You speak of paths,' she said slowly, her eyes fixed on the trees over Legolas' shoulder. 'Do you really mean my path? Strange, that even among all this despair, I do not regret my choice. It is not good to dwell on what might have been.' Arwen cast a long look at Legolas, and he barely kept himself from blushing at her implications.
'I did not speak of your choice, Evenstar,' he said softly, gently removing his arm from her grip. 'Though perhaps I question my own.' He said no more on the matter, and Arwen decided to press the issue.
'And what choice was that? That you would sail and leave me here alone with no light at all?' He did smile then, genuinely, and almost laughed as well.
'Not everything pertains to your personal feelings, fair one! I have my own grievances, my own hurts, and one above all others, which you will never know.' She studied him, but let it rest, remembering Aragorn's words: We all have our demons to face. What was this demon that pained the lithe elf so?
'You grow restless. I can see it, I have seen it. Only tell me one thing... will you return?' Her words were frustrated, but not so frustrated that they masked her hurt. Legolas tried to touch he shoulder, but she shrugged him off angrily.
'I am not going to sail, if that is what you ask. Gimli has returned to Gondor. I will go with him, and we will see the great Fangorn Forest, and the Glittering Caves, and then I will return.' He lowered his voice. 'I will come back before your son is born.'
'My son?'
Legolas did not reply, but gathered her in his arms, this once, before he set out on his journey. He could only hope that this time apart would heal his heart of its passion.
He could not say at what point this embrace, which began as one of simple farewell, turned into something quite different. Both recognised the moment of danger; Legolas instinctively tried to draw back out of her arms, but she tightened them, just for an instant, and his hesitation passed. He looked curiously at her.
'Just once,' she said so softly, none but an elf could catch the words. His hands, so steady when drawing his bow, trembled slightly when the brushed her cheek, and touched her eyelids, and nose, and lips. She stood frozen under his touch, willing but passive; straining to keep her fire from boiling over uncontrollably. Her eyes flew open when his lips brushed hers, but still she did not move. She only took a deep breath, overwhelmed by the heady scent of this elf before her, mingling with the crisp fall air.
At last he stepped back, and she let him though it pained her terribly, and he seemed not at all embarrassed; only sorrowful. And he was more beautiful even than she had ever seen him; at once sad and joyful, powerful yet overcome by his strange unknown weakness.
He tilted his head to her, formal once again, and breathed, 'I will come.' and he was gone. Plucked as though from thin air, as always, leaving the dumb struck queen with a hand to her burning lips, staring at he spot where he had stood but a moment before.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
AUTHOR NOTES: Well, hopefully you liked that alright...I've been longing to get in a little kiss, however small. And this is not the end. What is Legolas' demon? His weakness? You shall soon find out.*claps hand in insane glee*
REFERENCES: Yah I was all unoriginal and I went and took some lines from places besides my head.
'Middle-Earth is in a time between times. It stands on a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two ages. Your strive in vain to look beyond the heights. From the voiceless lips of the unreplying elves there comes no hope;....' - this is from a speech made by Humanist Robert Green Ingersoll at his brothers grave. I modified it.
'He could not say at what point this embrace, which began as one of simple farewell, turned into something quite different. Both recognised the moment of danger;...' - this one is taken from 'Son of the Shadows' by Juliet Marillier(good book..good series). Once again, I changed it slightly.
AUTHOR NOTE: WEEEE!! Heh..I enjoyed writing this chapter..there's a certain, tiny, litttllle bit of goodness in this one. Hope you enjoy! Thank you to all my reviewers, whom this story truly belongs too, and especially my buds at Forums4Fans Undying Love forum..you guys are the best. *huggles*
A Dark Sunrise
Chapter Nine: Fires Touch
Their sorrow was relentless, as is the way with elvish grief. It tore away at both of them, but only Arwen bore outward signs of her pain. Both crumbled when they thought they were alone, though only Legolas attempted to hide all trace of his sadness. He seemed, to an outside observer, the same as he had always been; silent and ever present, polite, ethereal, and never far from the queen. Those close to him saw the subtle changes, however. Always was he there for the Evenstar, to support her emotionally, to listen to her, until at last her silent tears ceased. Still, he had drawn himself back, put in place his stony wall of defences permanently; the boyish humour he had shown in the Quest all but gone.
He would gaze at the stars for hours and hours at a time; so long, in fact, that Aragorn would send men out to find him. And Arwen, Arwen who had seen his heart in the precious few moments in which he lowered his guards, had observed his sorrow laid bare, even when Aragorn himself did not see it. She did not know what to make of his silence, and so she waited for him to come to her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The people of Gondor had gradually come to realise that elves had at last departed. Thranduil and some of his folk still dwelled in Mirkwood, and some spoke of Celeborn joining him in his rule, but most thought these no more than rumours.
The people assumed this accounted for the queens 'illness' (as they called it), for they had heard strange tales of elves and their fragile hearts. Most believed it would pass with time; that there was no ill their great king could not heal. Only a very few watched the blond prince who stood in the shadows, and the way the queens dark eyes always searched for him, and knew the truth: Arwen Undomiel held onto life by a thread; a single bright thread anchored to the forest elf, and steadied by the king. Yet she was not without joy. Word came of the queens pregnancy, and it seemed, to the kingdoms relief, that the light shone once more in the bright eyes of the Undomiel.
The Gondorians were not far off the mark, in their assessment of the queen; Arwen felt better than she had in weeks. Already she could feel the ever so small, ever so delicate life which resided inside her. But all was not well.
Arwen saw the change in Legolas, but he would not speak of what troubled him so. It hurt the Evenstar even more to know that he distanced himself in particular from her. She feared she perhaps had said something to hurt him, for every time she drew near his impenetrable defences came up once more, and she despaired in discovering his hurt.
Once, she caught him sitting on the edge of the city, atop his pale stallion, his gaze fixed on the western horizon. It was then that she knew; her anchor grew restless.
He's going to leave me, she thought in sudden panic, Legolas will leave and I shall sink into grief too deep for me to conquer. Valar help me.
That night she spoke to Aragorn, entwining her hand in his, pleading with her beloved to order Legolas to stay. Aragorn did not answer, but lifted his free hand to brush her cheek.
'He truly has kept you here with me,' he said thoughtfully, and Arwen knew he did not mean physically. 'Your really here...I can see it in your eyes. You'll not break after all...' he smiled softly and seemed to remember her pleading words. 'No, my love, Legolas is not mine to command. He has only ever followed me of his own free will, and I think he would not take kindly to being ordered. He is not the care-free, innocent elf he once was.' He sighed, and stroked Arwen's flawless cheek, wiping away the little trails made by her tears. When he spoke, his words were so tender she thought perhaps he did understand the depths of elvish grief.
'I have watched you, day by day; seen you draw away from me in sorrow, seen your hurt at Legolas' distance. He loves you, my lady, and he surely would not want you to weep. Have no doubt: wherever he might go, however long he might stray, he would never leave you. His loyalty is perhaps his only weakness.' Aragorn smiled, and again Arwen marvelled at the noble strength that stirred in those gray eyes.
'Seek him out, and let him go.' His eyes became distant, and Arwen was at a loss to describe the emotion she saw in those eyes of his. 'Let him heal; we all have our demons to face. He will return to you.'
'And you, my lord.'
'Nay, lady, Legolas refuses the Call only for you.' He smiled again, kindly, and kissed her softly on the lips. 'Go to him.'
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The night was clear and cold when she saw him again. Arwen stood silent and still, her eyes fixed meditatively on the stars above, as she had done in years past. She was a thing of the stars herself, and she found comfort in their steadfast grace.
She felt his presence suddenly, and realised he had probably been watching her for quite some time. He had revealed himself to her; one did not see or hear Legolas, unless he chose to be seen or heard.
'What do you see in the stars, Legolas? My mind is clouded of late.' The lithe elf stepped out of the shadow of a nearby birch, and was bathed in the silver moonlight. Arwen gazed at him, almost jealously- the elven light would gradually fade in her, but never would it leave this one; there it burnt strong and steady as an ocean tide, a lone candle in her darkness.
He did not speak for a long time, but only stood with his head thrown back, his gaze fixed unblinkingly among the heavens.
'The stars say many things, my lady. But mainly they speak of an age past, and of the age to come.' He turned suddenly, his eyes focusing on hers so sharply she looked away.
'Middle-Earth is in a time between times. It stands on a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two ages. Your strive in vain to look beyond the heights.' Arwen was startled by his wise words, but the blond elf's face remained passive, his words toneless. 'From the voiceless lips of the unreplying elves there comes no hope; but in this time of darkness, I see a spark- I see a path among many possible paths, which men might take. Will they have the wisdom to choose the right one? The way is narrow.' He was turned away from her now, and she was confused by the meaning of his words. What path? Legolas turned to see her brow furrowed, and his mouth quirked into a smirk.
'I'm sorry to have spoken, Undomiel. I'll leave you to your thoughts.'
'No.' Arwen spoke before Legolas could turn, and her small hand gripped his forearm. 'You speak of paths,' she said slowly, her eyes fixed on the trees over Legolas' shoulder. 'Do you really mean my path? Strange, that even among all this despair, I do not regret my choice. It is not good to dwell on what might have been.' Arwen cast a long look at Legolas, and he barely kept himself from blushing at her implications.
'I did not speak of your choice, Evenstar,' he said softly, gently removing his arm from her grip. 'Though perhaps I question my own.' He said no more on the matter, and Arwen decided to press the issue.
'And what choice was that? That you would sail and leave me here alone with no light at all?' He did smile then, genuinely, and almost laughed as well.
'Not everything pertains to your personal feelings, fair one! I have my own grievances, my own hurts, and one above all others, which you will never know.' She studied him, but let it rest, remembering Aragorn's words: We all have our demons to face. What was this demon that pained the lithe elf so?
'You grow restless. I can see it, I have seen it. Only tell me one thing... will you return?' Her words were frustrated, but not so frustrated that they masked her hurt. Legolas tried to touch he shoulder, but she shrugged him off angrily.
'I am not going to sail, if that is what you ask. Gimli has returned to Gondor. I will go with him, and we will see the great Fangorn Forest, and the Glittering Caves, and then I will return.' He lowered his voice. 'I will come back before your son is born.'
'My son?'
Legolas did not reply, but gathered her in his arms, this once, before he set out on his journey. He could only hope that this time apart would heal his heart of its passion.
He could not say at what point this embrace, which began as one of simple farewell, turned into something quite different. Both recognised the moment of danger; Legolas instinctively tried to draw back out of her arms, but she tightened them, just for an instant, and his hesitation passed. He looked curiously at her.
'Just once,' she said so softly, none but an elf could catch the words. His hands, so steady when drawing his bow, trembled slightly when the brushed her cheek, and touched her eyelids, and nose, and lips. She stood frozen under his touch, willing but passive; straining to keep her fire from boiling over uncontrollably. Her eyes flew open when his lips brushed hers, but still she did not move. She only took a deep breath, overwhelmed by the heady scent of this elf before her, mingling with the crisp fall air.
At last he stepped back, and she let him though it pained her terribly, and he seemed not at all embarrassed; only sorrowful. And he was more beautiful even than she had ever seen him; at once sad and joyful, powerful yet overcome by his strange unknown weakness.
He tilted his head to her, formal once again, and breathed, 'I will come.' and he was gone. Plucked as though from thin air, as always, leaving the dumb struck queen with a hand to her burning lips, staring at he spot where he had stood but a moment before.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
AUTHOR NOTES: Well, hopefully you liked that alright...I've been longing to get in a little kiss, however small. And this is not the end. What is Legolas' demon? His weakness? You shall soon find out.*claps hand in insane glee*
REFERENCES: Yah I was all unoriginal and I went and took some lines from places besides my head.
'Middle-Earth is in a time between times. It stands on a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two ages. Your strive in vain to look beyond the heights. From the voiceless lips of the unreplying elves there comes no hope;....' - this is from a speech made by Humanist Robert Green Ingersoll at his brothers grave. I modified it.
'He could not say at what point this embrace, which began as one of simple farewell, turned into something quite different. Both recognised the moment of danger;...' - this one is taken from 'Son of the Shadows' by Juliet Marillier(good book..good series). Once again, I changed it slightly.