DISCLAIMER: All of you know
perfectly well that I own nothing of this- not the character's, not the
places...I only own the love story, and that is all.
AUTHORS NOTE: I think that I will have maybe 2-3 more chapters after this one, before Aragorn kicks the dust. Is that all right? Do you think I should have more? Less? Please let me know, whether by review or email or whatever. I think this story may be about 6 more chapters long, not including an epilogue, so I'm trying to pace things out. Anyway, please tell me what you think.
A Dark Sunrise Chapter Ten: Return
As the sun broke over Gondor the following morning, Arwen resisted the urge to rise and run to the stables to beg Legolas not to leave. Instead she lay stiffly in bed, her eyes drilled into the window ledge, watching the suns rays creeping over the edge, warming the stone, sweeping steadily towards the bed in which Aragorn and her lay. She could almost imagine the blond elf, his head tilted back for a moment to catch the sun; yes, she could see the exact expression on his face. How long would it be before she could observe that sight again? Months? A year? She drove her mind away from the elf, and concentrated on her husbands hand, which was resting protectively over her still-flat belly. She smiled slightly. Maybe I won't be so lonely after all.
She could not, however, forget the fire of Legolas' lips.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
If Gimli wondered at Legolas' silent mood that morning, he did not voice his thoughts. That was, perhaps, why Legolas was so comfortable with the dwarf. The dwarves were generally a bawdy race, but it seemed that Gimli was an exception. The silence suited Legolas perfectly; he who was accustomed to no more company than the wilderness offered, he who had never been skilled at expressing himself. Aragorn thought him an enigma, Arwen thought him secretive, but to Gimli, he was only Legolas.
And so that morning, as Legolas prepared Gimli's horse (for the dwarf was not tall enough to tack his own animal up) he was left to his quiet thoughts. You would not know, from his expressionless face, that things were different from what they had been a day ago. Yet they were. Legolas could not, would not, face Aragorn after what he had done the night before. He had touched the Evenstar, kissed her, in a way no one but Aragorn had a right to. It had been a selfish action; a little luxury he had allowed himself before leaving. Not that he regretted it. His actions simply gave him yet another reason to leave with Gimli. Time; that was what Arwen and he needed. Surely a simple kiss would be forgotten by the queen the moment he was gone. Surely.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Time passed, and Arwen grew heavy with child, to the kingdoms delight. Aragorn was convinced that the child would be a boy, though secretly Arwen wished for a girl. It was a strange mood she was in these days; she was both more happy and more sad than ever before. The coming baby granted her a happiness she had not known since her long ago days as an elfling. Yet her day drew near, and still there was no word of Legolas, and this weighed heavily on her heart.
Time had passed slowly, as she had expected, since the clear day that Legolas and Gimli had departed. Aragorn had been deeply hurt at Legolas' farewell, or lack thereof. Legolas had never been one to leave without warning, and his behaviour confused the king. But Arwen knew. She had known the moment his lips touched hers that he would leave with dawn's breaking; that he would be gone long before his friend and king awoke. Did he regret his actions? Perhaps. Did she? Strangely enough, not at all. It had felt right, so right to have him kiss her. To kiss Aragorn was to come home; warm, inviting, comfortable. To kiss Legolas, even for a moment, was to see distant lands, to taste the air and woods and wilderness. More than anything, kissing Legolas conjured visions of the sea she had never seen. Kissing Legolas, she felt the crashing waves; the roar of them as they broke on weathered rock, the unbridled spirit of it. It was exhilarating, but not in the way one feels exhilarated when doing something wrong. Truly, she felt no guilt.
And every time she thought of his kiss, his farewell, she remembered his words, I will come. Yes, she was certain that he would, but would he come in time to be near when her child was born? She did not think so. Alas, no elves would be close when her child arrived; it would not be blessed with the light of the elder. For hers, she had noticed with despair, had fled with her peoples leave.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Legolas rode hard, sensing the Evenstar's time drew near, and Gimli puffed along on his little mare behind. Still, he would never be one to ride a horse to exhaustion, and so they stopped and rested each night, though often he seemed to stand gazing into the night and not to sleep at all.
When at last they arrived in the white city, Legolas knew he had come too late. The people of Minas Tirith whispered at the blond elf's return (for they thought he had sailed with the rest), especially in the company of a dwarf. But even this excitement could not distract them from the chatter of the queens new son, Eldarion.
His promise weighed on his shoulders as he made his way up to Arwen's room. I will come back before your son is born. He had lied. Legolas winced silently, taking no notice of the knight who was escorting him, and staring openly.
They finally arrived before the heavily carven door, which Legolas knew to be hers, and the knight pushed it open without taking his eyes from Legolas. Taking a deep breath, the elf stepped passed him, and there she was. She sat at the window, the sun washing over her fair features, turning her raven locks to chocolate. In her arms lay her child, fast asleep, his little fists balled under his chin. Arwen's eyes were closed against the sun, and Legolas was loathe to break the picture of utter peace which was in her face. It was a rare thing for elves to be so peaceful; but then, Legolas thought to himself, the Evenstar is no longer an immortal.
When he shook himself from his thoughts, the queen was watching him and he found, to his surprise, that he could not read her expression. He walked softly to her side and knelt by the window, but he did not touch her. No words were passed; he simply gazed into her eyes, searching their depths, apologising in his quiet way. She may not have been an elf anymore, but she still understood the silent language of them, and she saw his pain at his late arrival. She placed her fingers on his lips, silencing any words, and then lowered her hand to tenderly stroke her sons sleeping cheek.
'So you wish to hold him?' Legolas didn't particularly, but she was already placing the little bundle in his arms, and his hands curved to cradle him.
Little Eldarion shifted and began to wake, but a soft word from Legolas set him at ease. He was so delicate! Legolas feared he might crush him in his arms, but it seemed his body knew well enough how to handle the baby.
'He looks just like your father,' he said quietly, when Eldarion opened his eyes and lay blinking at the blond elf. They were storm grey. Arwen said nothing, but when Legolas looked up he saw her eyes were shining with tears.
'How I miss him...' she breathed, and now she reached a hand out to tentatively touch his cheek, as though she wasn't sure he was really there. 'I missed you. I felt...alone. Even with Aragorn here, I missed the elves. And you most of all.'
Legolas smiled, and let her touch him, before placing the baby back in her arms. His hand came out, it neared her face, and it seemed he would touch her. He dropped it before he touched her however, and his face was only a little pained.
'I never left, Arwen.' He turned and was gone, but Arwen was content. Legolas was with her, and all was well.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
OK, so once again, please, PLEASE review! At least tell me what you think I should do about the number of chapters between this one and Aragorn's death. Please? Thank you for reading...I hope you like it so far; yes, I know Legolas/Arwen don't seem to be, uh, progressing much, but give them time. I promise to stick another LONGER kiss in the next chapter. I just think it would be out of character if they moved any faster than they are now. So anyway, please review, and I'll get on the next chapter as quickly as possible!
-- Red Dragon
AUTHORS NOTE: I think that I will have maybe 2-3 more chapters after this one, before Aragorn kicks the dust. Is that all right? Do you think I should have more? Less? Please let me know, whether by review or email or whatever. I think this story may be about 6 more chapters long, not including an epilogue, so I'm trying to pace things out. Anyway, please tell me what you think.
A Dark Sunrise Chapter Ten: Return
As the sun broke over Gondor the following morning, Arwen resisted the urge to rise and run to the stables to beg Legolas not to leave. Instead she lay stiffly in bed, her eyes drilled into the window ledge, watching the suns rays creeping over the edge, warming the stone, sweeping steadily towards the bed in which Aragorn and her lay. She could almost imagine the blond elf, his head tilted back for a moment to catch the sun; yes, she could see the exact expression on his face. How long would it be before she could observe that sight again? Months? A year? She drove her mind away from the elf, and concentrated on her husbands hand, which was resting protectively over her still-flat belly. She smiled slightly. Maybe I won't be so lonely after all.
She could not, however, forget the fire of Legolas' lips.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
If Gimli wondered at Legolas' silent mood that morning, he did not voice his thoughts. That was, perhaps, why Legolas was so comfortable with the dwarf. The dwarves were generally a bawdy race, but it seemed that Gimli was an exception. The silence suited Legolas perfectly; he who was accustomed to no more company than the wilderness offered, he who had never been skilled at expressing himself. Aragorn thought him an enigma, Arwen thought him secretive, but to Gimli, he was only Legolas.
And so that morning, as Legolas prepared Gimli's horse (for the dwarf was not tall enough to tack his own animal up) he was left to his quiet thoughts. You would not know, from his expressionless face, that things were different from what they had been a day ago. Yet they were. Legolas could not, would not, face Aragorn after what he had done the night before. He had touched the Evenstar, kissed her, in a way no one but Aragorn had a right to. It had been a selfish action; a little luxury he had allowed himself before leaving. Not that he regretted it. His actions simply gave him yet another reason to leave with Gimli. Time; that was what Arwen and he needed. Surely a simple kiss would be forgotten by the queen the moment he was gone. Surely.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Time passed, and Arwen grew heavy with child, to the kingdoms delight. Aragorn was convinced that the child would be a boy, though secretly Arwen wished for a girl. It was a strange mood she was in these days; she was both more happy and more sad than ever before. The coming baby granted her a happiness she had not known since her long ago days as an elfling. Yet her day drew near, and still there was no word of Legolas, and this weighed heavily on her heart.
Time had passed slowly, as she had expected, since the clear day that Legolas and Gimli had departed. Aragorn had been deeply hurt at Legolas' farewell, or lack thereof. Legolas had never been one to leave without warning, and his behaviour confused the king. But Arwen knew. She had known the moment his lips touched hers that he would leave with dawn's breaking; that he would be gone long before his friend and king awoke. Did he regret his actions? Perhaps. Did she? Strangely enough, not at all. It had felt right, so right to have him kiss her. To kiss Aragorn was to come home; warm, inviting, comfortable. To kiss Legolas, even for a moment, was to see distant lands, to taste the air and woods and wilderness. More than anything, kissing Legolas conjured visions of the sea she had never seen. Kissing Legolas, she felt the crashing waves; the roar of them as they broke on weathered rock, the unbridled spirit of it. It was exhilarating, but not in the way one feels exhilarated when doing something wrong. Truly, she felt no guilt.
And every time she thought of his kiss, his farewell, she remembered his words, I will come. Yes, she was certain that he would, but would he come in time to be near when her child was born? She did not think so. Alas, no elves would be close when her child arrived; it would not be blessed with the light of the elder. For hers, she had noticed with despair, had fled with her peoples leave.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Legolas rode hard, sensing the Evenstar's time drew near, and Gimli puffed along on his little mare behind. Still, he would never be one to ride a horse to exhaustion, and so they stopped and rested each night, though often he seemed to stand gazing into the night and not to sleep at all.
When at last they arrived in the white city, Legolas knew he had come too late. The people of Minas Tirith whispered at the blond elf's return (for they thought he had sailed with the rest), especially in the company of a dwarf. But even this excitement could not distract them from the chatter of the queens new son, Eldarion.
His promise weighed on his shoulders as he made his way up to Arwen's room. I will come back before your son is born. He had lied. Legolas winced silently, taking no notice of the knight who was escorting him, and staring openly.
They finally arrived before the heavily carven door, which Legolas knew to be hers, and the knight pushed it open without taking his eyes from Legolas. Taking a deep breath, the elf stepped passed him, and there she was. She sat at the window, the sun washing over her fair features, turning her raven locks to chocolate. In her arms lay her child, fast asleep, his little fists balled under his chin. Arwen's eyes were closed against the sun, and Legolas was loathe to break the picture of utter peace which was in her face. It was a rare thing for elves to be so peaceful; but then, Legolas thought to himself, the Evenstar is no longer an immortal.
When he shook himself from his thoughts, the queen was watching him and he found, to his surprise, that he could not read her expression. He walked softly to her side and knelt by the window, but he did not touch her. No words were passed; he simply gazed into her eyes, searching their depths, apologising in his quiet way. She may not have been an elf anymore, but she still understood the silent language of them, and she saw his pain at his late arrival. She placed her fingers on his lips, silencing any words, and then lowered her hand to tenderly stroke her sons sleeping cheek.
'So you wish to hold him?' Legolas didn't particularly, but she was already placing the little bundle in his arms, and his hands curved to cradle him.
Little Eldarion shifted and began to wake, but a soft word from Legolas set him at ease. He was so delicate! Legolas feared he might crush him in his arms, but it seemed his body knew well enough how to handle the baby.
'He looks just like your father,' he said quietly, when Eldarion opened his eyes and lay blinking at the blond elf. They were storm grey. Arwen said nothing, but when Legolas looked up he saw her eyes were shining with tears.
'How I miss him...' she breathed, and now she reached a hand out to tentatively touch his cheek, as though she wasn't sure he was really there. 'I missed you. I felt...alone. Even with Aragorn here, I missed the elves. And you most of all.'
Legolas smiled, and let her touch him, before placing the baby back in her arms. His hand came out, it neared her face, and it seemed he would touch her. He dropped it before he touched her however, and his face was only a little pained.
'I never left, Arwen.' He turned and was gone, but Arwen was content. Legolas was with her, and all was well.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
OK, so once again, please, PLEASE review! At least tell me what you think I should do about the number of chapters between this one and Aragorn's death. Please? Thank you for reading...I hope you like it so far; yes, I know Legolas/Arwen don't seem to be, uh, progressing much, but give them time. I promise to stick another LONGER kiss in the next chapter. I just think it would be out of character if they moved any faster than they are now. So anyway, please review, and I'll get on the next chapter as quickly as possible!
-- Red Dragon