Disclaimer: Me not Tolkien! The objects carven on the box Legolas give Eressa are kind of taken from some rings I've seen on tv and in magazines. They have hands and hearts and crowns that represent all them things…but the stars representing eternity are my idea! And so is the poem Legolas carved into the inside of the box lid!
************Chapter 41****************
The four days leading up to Eressa's eighteenth birthday passed quickly. Legolas had persuaded her to bring him down some paper and writing materials so that he might write a letter to Eredor explaining how he planned to escape. Aleka again helped the trio by convincing a guard that she was Eredor's woman and delivered the note to him. He and Legolas discussed the contents on the afternoon of the fourth day during lunch.
"I've already marked my door." Eredor said, very quietly as they entered the mess hall and got their food, but he knew Legolas could hear.
"What does the mark look like?" The elf asked.
"Well, I cut myself this morning and…"
"You cut yourself?" Legolas said. "Why?"
"Blood doesn't wash off easily, Legolas." Eredor said with a smile, holding up his palm to show Legolas the red line cut across it. "Don't worry about me. It's just a small cut. I don't know what I would have used to mark the door otherwise."
Legolas sighed and then nodded for his friend to continue.
"I cut myself and then this morning when the guards let me out I brushed the palm of my hand against the door. It left a long mark. You should be able to see it clearly." Eredor explained. He then looked up, a nervous tone to his voice. "When do you plan to escape, Legolas?"
"As soon as possible." Legolas answered. "But not too soon."
"Lord Haveth is coming soon," Eredor told his friend. "There's a great chance that one of us—or both—will be put into the ring. If one of us is hurt…or worse…we won't be able to pull it off."
"How many days before his arrival?" Asked the elf.
"From what I've heard, he'll be coming as soon as the finishing touches are put on the new arena—in a few days." Eredor said grimly.
Legolas's face fell. "We won't be able to prepare in time." Legolas concluded. "We'll have to make for escape after Lord Haveth arrives."
Eredor looked at his friend. "But what if one of is put into the ring and is injured…or killed?" His eyes shined with worry.
Legolas gave him a sharp look with his ice blue eyes. "I won't let anything go wrong."
Eredor sighed and scratched a mark into the wooden table with his fingernail. "I hope you are right. But maybe we'll get lucky, and it will snow before Lord Haveth arrives."
Legolas's head shot up. "Why would that help us?"
Eredor smiled slightly. "You can't hold matches in the snow, and the public doesn't want to sit in it."
Legolas's mouth curved up a bit. "Maybe we will get lucky. Snow will come soon. I feel it."
Eredor raised his eyebrows. "Another trait of the elves, no doubt?"
"Yes." Legolas said, sipping a bit of his soup. "Yes it is."
***********
Aleka took her scissors and cut along the line she'd drawn on the fabric with chalk. The girls were once again working heavily, trying to finish an outfit for Lord Curdolin.
"That man is so tall…it uses so much fabric just to makes some trousers for him." Aleka sighed.
Eressa smiled but didn't answer. She was busy stitching buttons onto a shirt.
"Sometimes I wish I could just stop…" Continued Aleka. "And do what I want to do for a while."
Eressa looked up. "You could still, Aleka. You could escape with Legolas, Eredor and I. We have to come up through the palace to escape anyway, and we could easily meet you somewhere."
Aleka looked at her friend sadly. "Yes, I could. But then what? I'm not like you, Eressa. I don't have the need to be free."
"I don't have a…a great need for it either." Eressa countered.
"You do. You have a need to be free with Legolas." Aleka said. "I know you do. I can see it."
Eressa smiled softly, but that smile soon faded when suddenly she felt her stomach turn. She groaned and placed her hand over her mouth.
"Eressa? What's wrong?" Aleka asked, placing her scissors down.
Eressa shook her head. "It's nothing, Aleka. I've just not felt very well the last few days, that's all."
"What is the matter with you? Should you see a doctor?"
"No—it's just a little stomach ache." Eressa lied. In reality she felt like she was going to vomit. "Would you excuse me?"
The younger girl got up and rushed to the door, turning left down the hall and going towards the servant bathrooms were. Aleka got up and followed her to the door and watched her.
I hope she isn't getting ill…she thought.
Suddenly, she heard a sound from behind her, and spun around. Immediately her face twisted into an expression of disgust. It was that wretched girl, Celda.
"Shouldn't you be working, Aleka?" She asked with mock sweetness, grinning.
Aleka stood up straighter. "Shouldn't you be working, Celda? Instead of slinking around the halls of the palace like the snake you are?"
Celda gasped at the insult. "You'll pay for that! I know what you and that little whore have been planning, Aleka, and I'll not hesitate to tell!"
Aleka's eyes grew wide. What had Celda been doing out here in the middle of the day? Eavsdropping? Could she know about the escape plan?
"You don't know anything about us." Aleka shot back. "Stop pretending you do. Now get out of here, or I'll find one of the guards to escort you."
Celda huffed out a curse, and then shot Aleka one last dirty look, but she turned and walked back around the corner. Aleka held her breath.
Eressa has to know this. She thought with worry. She has to know that someone suspects something of us.
Turning in the opposite way Celda had gone, she followed in the way Eressa had previously run.
She found her young friend kneeling over a bucket in the servant's bathroom.
"Eressa!" She said. "Are you alright?"
Eressa groaned and slowly got up. "No, Aleka. I don't think I am."
Aleka looked worriedly at her friend and then at the contents of the bucket. "We should get you to a nurse." She said quickly. "They'll give us something for that."
Eressa nodded and clutched her stomach. "Some medicine would be nice." She agreed.
Aleka extended her hand and Eressa took it. "Come on. I have something else to tell you."
************
That night Legolas lay on his bed, waiting impatiently for Eressa to arrive. Today was her birthday, and he had finally finished her gift. What a painstaking task it had taken to carve it! His hands and fingers would be sore for a month.
"But for Eressa, it's worth it." He thought aloud. Sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he reached under it and pulled out Eressa's finished birthday present. It wasn't much, but it was all he could give her for now.
When we escape I'll take Eressa and Eredor home with me as the royal guests. He thought. And Eressa can have whatever she desires.
Carefully placing the present in the center of his blanket, he wrapped it up. Turning his head through his window, he saw the sunset against the shadows of the buildings around the mansion. The first snow would be coming soon. He could smell it in the air. It could come as early as tonight.
Legolas frowned. He hoped that would not happen. And yet, he did. If it snowed, there was a good chance he and Eredor wouldn't have to risk fighting in the new arena. But if that happened, it would become colder. And it was cold enough in his cell without the help of snow. What would happen once the snow started to fall? Legolas was sure he could endure it, but Eressa could become sick, even die if she was exposed too much.
Legolas shivered. Not from the cold, but from the thought of Eressa…dying. He suddenly found himself very sad. If he couldn't handle the thought of Eressa dying now, how on earth would he handle it years from now, when Eressa was old and going to die for certain?
Pulling his knees up to his chest, Legolas sighed. Eressa would be arriving soon, and he didn't want to be in a glum mood for her birthday.
His lover came shortly after sunset. Legolas turned to her with a smile as she entered, but she didn't return it. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
"Eressa, what is it?" He said as soon as the guards closed the door behind her, getting up and approaching her.
Eressa's face was a mixture of worry and distress. "Another working girl knows of our plan to escape, Legolas! Aleka spoke with her this morning and she threatened to tell Lord Curdolin!"
Legolas's eyes widened. "She overheard some conversation of yours with Aleka?" He guessed, and Eressa nodded.
"I'm sorry, it's ruined everything!" She pleaded, suddenly pushing herself into his chest, desperate for some comfort. "I'm sorry, Legolas!"
"Exactly how much did she overhear?" The elf asked, wrapping one arm around her.
Eressa paused. "Aleka just said she knew we were planning something and was going to tell."
"She didn't specifically say she knew we planned to escape from this place?"
"No." Eressa hugged Legolas tightly, hoping he could forgive her.
Legolas frowned and pondered for a moment. "Eressa…this girl, was she one of the ones that teased you about being with me…before?"
Eressa turned her head and looked up at him. "Yes…her name is Celda…and I'm certain she positively hates me. Aleka said she called me a whore."
Legolas frowned deeper. He didn't like Eressa being called a thing like that, especially since she was not one, though it would seem like it to others who didn't know of their love.
"Eressa, melamin…" Legolas began, prying himself from her grasp and looking her straight in the eye. "It could be possible that this girl simply wanted to threaten you in some way…and made up a nasty lie."
"I realized that." Eressa said. "But I still worry."
Legolas managed a fake smile. Eressa was right to worry. But he wouldn't let her know that. "Don't worry." He breathed. "I won't let anything happen."
Eressa half-heartedly returned the smile and embraced Legolas again. "I know."
In her heart, Eressa still was terribly worried. Not just for her, but for Legolas and her brother as well. She didn't know what happened to slaves that were caught trying to escape, but it could not be good. And why did Legolas seem so certain and confident despite all this? Could it be an act? Could it be that being an elf made him underestimate the security of men? She hoped not. For now she just had to trust in him.
"Eressa?" Legolas asked after the long hug between them was broken. "I…uh…Happy Birthday."
Eressa blinked and then smiled. She had almost forgotten today was the day she turned eighteen!
"Thank you," She replied shyly as Legolas led her to the bed and they both sat down upon it.
Legolas reached to his side and picked up his bundled blanket and set it on his lap. He began unfolding it slowly and Eressa realized there must be something inside of it. Her birthday present! She was so excited, she forgot all about Celda's threats. She'd never received a birthday present before.
"I've been working on this for a long time…" Legolas mumbled, half to her, half to himself. "I hope you like it."
The elf unwrapped the last of the blanket and Eressa gasped. Legolas picked up the wooden object and held it out to her. She took it, grinning broadly.
In her hands she held a small, intricately carven wooden box. On the front of it Legolas had carved a pair of hands, holding a heart shape up together. On top of the heart there was a crown. And behind it all he had carved stars…and inside each star there was a small, shining bead!
"Where on this earth did you ever get beads, Legolas?" Eressa asked, beaming.
"I found them." Legolas said, perfectly honest. "I found them attached together in a necklace in the arena a few days ago and decided it would be a good idea to use some of the beads to decorate the box."
"What was a necklace doing in the middle of the arena?" Eressa inquired.
"The old arena, not the new one." Legolas clarified. "I'm not sure, but perhaps they were thrown into the ring after a fight and not collected afterward. I've seen people throw things like that into the ring after fights."
"Oh…it's so beautiful, Legolas!" Eressa gushed, hugging him tightly and kissing him.
"That's not all." The elf said. "Take another look at it."
Eressa frowned and examined the box again, even opening it, but it was empty. "I don't see anything."
Legolas leaned in closer to her. "The carvings have meaning." He said. "The hands represent friendship. The heart represents love. And the crown represents loyalty."
"And the stars?" Asked Eressa.
"They represent eternity." Legolas finished with a soft smile and a glint in his eye. "Now look inside."
Eressa raised her eyebrow. "I already have." She said, knowing the box contained nothing.
"Here." Legolas said, taking the box gently from her hands and removing the lid. He turned it over, and to her surprise, there were elven inscriptions carved on the inside.
"What do they say?" She asked him, leaning in for a closer look.
"It's an old elvish song." Legolas explained. "It's a bit sad, but…" His voice trailed off, and he stared at the lid with a tiny smile.
Then, looking up at Eressa, his smile grew wider. "I'll read it for you, if you want."
"I would like that very much." Eressa replied, grabbing hold of his arm and pulling him closer.
Legolas bit his lip and then smiled at his young lover once more, and then leaned slowly in and kissed her forehead. Then he began to read:
"Here we are now at the edge of the Earth.
What can be said to those who have already gone?
What can be heard, if not the silence?
What can be seen, if not the dawn?
What can be felt, if not the pain?
What can be found, if not the lost?
What can be ended, if not the beginning?
What can be dying, if not the living?"
"That's…beautiful." Eressa said, taking the box and it's lid from Legolas. "But you are right…it is rather sad."
There was an odd silence that hovered between the two of them for a moment, and for the first time in what seemed like ages, Legolas didn't know what to say to Eressa.
"I…do you like your gift?" He asked shyly after a while.
Eressa blinked. "Of course I do!" She said, smiling and hugging him. She pulled back and looked into his eyes. "I wouldn't know what I'd put in it, though. It's so precious."
Legolas reached into her hair and she felt him pull out the comb he had made for her out of her long tresses. "I meant it to be big enough to hold this." He said about the comb, opening the box and placing it inside. It fit, with some room to spare.
Eressa beamed. "This is wonderful, Legolas!" She said, kissing him. "I won't treasure anything more than this box and the comb—except you."
Legolas smiled widely. "I'm very glad to hear that, melamin." He leaned forward and kissed her deeply. "Happy Birthday, Eressa. I love you."
"I love you too, Legolas." Eressa returned, pressing him as close as she could. The box she held in her hands, however, posed a problem, and she quickly set it down.
As she just finished doing so, Legolas quickly grasped her aroung the waist and spun her around in his arms, so that Eressa found herself being cradled much like a child. Legolas chuckled and pressed his forehead against hers, then kissed her.
Eressa laughed too, and eagerly kissed him back, turning her body so that she sat on his lap facing him. Legolas began kissing her throat and neck when she suddenly stopped him.
"We'd better not tonight, Legolas." She said sadly, knowing she would disappoint him. "I haven't felt very well today."
Legolas narrowed his eyes in concern. "You're ill?" He asked quickly. Had she become sick already?
Eressa nodded. "I suppose. My stomach has been giving me trouble."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Legolas said. "Do you need to see a doctor?"
"No…it passed, but I still don't feel quite like myself." Eressa muttered, running a hand through her long hair. "I'm sorry, Legolas."
Legolas smiled lightly. "You don't have to be sorry, Eressa…you can't help when you become ill. Besides…this is the season that most humans start to become sick, isn't it?"
"Yes…the winter is the worst time for many of us." Eressa said with a giggle.
Legolas ran his hands up and down her arms, which were covered by nothing but a thin sleeve. "It's not because of the cold, it is? Because you've been down here with me?"
Eressa frowned, but then lightened up. "No, I don't think so. It's been cold down here for a long while and I only started feeling sick today."
Legolas looked at her and his eyes glinted with worry. "I've heard some illnesses take a long time to appear. Are you sure you will be alright?" He asked softly.
Eressa smiled and clasped both side of his face in her small hands. She kissed him once, very softly. "Yes. This is normal for my race. I got sick last year too. It will past in a few days."
Legolas's worry disappeared, at least for the time being, as soon as her lips touched his. "Shall we sleep then?"
Eressa frowned. "Well, I was hoping that you could tell me of my brother…how are the escape plans coming?"
"Not so well, unfortunately." Legolas sighed. "I wanted to get out before Lord Haveth arrived, but now it seems that it will not be possible."
"He'll be here in 3 days, I heard." Eressa offered.
"That's not time enough for us to prepare." Legolas said. "But if Eredor or I are set to fight and one of us is injured then it will delay the escape even longer."
Eressa slid off his lap and watched the elf as his eyes stared at the wall at the opposite side of the room. He looked sad…but angry…and worried. The combination of emotions scarring his face was enough to make Eressa want to give up the plan entirely. She hated to see Legolas like this. She wanted to see him smile.
"You'll find a way, Legolas." She said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know you will."
Legolas turned his head, but didn't smile at her. His hand when up and clasped over the hand she had place on his shoulder and squeezed it tightly. But his expression didn't change.
"Legolas, smile for me…please?" Eressa asked. "I want to see you smile, not grieve for things that haven't yet happened."
Finally Legolas allowed the first flicker of a smile to light up his face. He turned completely towards Eressa and held out his arms to hold her. She accepted his embrace willingly.
"I know you are right." He said, his voice barely audible in her ear.
Eressa smiled and snuggled into his chest, his warm body contrasting much with the chilling air that filled the small cell.
She felt Legolas's arm unwrap from around her body and reach for the blanket that was lying by the bedside. They both gently laid down together and Legolas drapped the blanket over both of them.
"Goodnight, melamin." Legolas said musically, kissing the tip of Eressa's nose.
Eressa smiled and said her goodnights also. Her mind was buzzing with thoughts…about the escape plan, Celda's threat, her wonderous birthday gift, and most of all, Legolas. However, with the cold night air swirling around her to one side and the elf's warm body pressing against her from the other, she soon fell fast asleep.
*************Personal thingy*************
AN: I bet you guys are just shaking in your seats and yelling "I know why Eressa's sick!" Well, you can continue thinking that way, but I, as always, will keep my mouth shut.
Also,You guys must all be sick of the romance by now. Sorry if this chapter isn't as good as some others. I don't feel really satisfied with it, but maybe if I read it again later I'll change my mind. I happen to do that a lot. Anywhoo, back to the reviews…
Elainor: More is coming! Thanks!
Legolas_gurl: Yes, my New Year was great, and I hope yours was good too! Thank you! And good luck with submitting your stories! Thanks!
Minuet1: Yes…I know Leggy isn't a half-elf. That's the beauty of it! And if there's only one line of half-elves in middle earth (Elrond and Arwen of course) why can't Legolas start the second one. Whoops…just gave something away. I will say no more.
Minuet1 (again): Wow. Long review. Thank you for your compliments on my battle scenes and characters. I just have a vivid imagination, that's all. But about the town Legolas is imprisoned in…well, he has no idea where he is, so I thought it would be best that the reader wouldn't know where he is either. That's why I didn't state exactly where it was in middle earth. You'll find out exactly were it is in the second or third installment in the story (it's gonna be a trilogy). I suppose I was a little off when I said Legolas was 2,889 and still young. But if you think about it, Galadriel and Celeborn have been around for a VERY long time…longer than middle earth has even…so it makes sense that Legolas is still pretty young, even if he's nearing his third millennia. I suppose I should have said he was more like a adult elf though. Thanks for making me aware of that. About his past lovers…Tolkien wrote about elves and sex? Gee wiz, tell me which book! I want to read that!! And about Eressa being a virgin at 17…yeah, a little old but if she had been like 14, some readers might go "Ew, gross!" And yes, her being a virgin was to highlight her vulnerability. Thanks for the advice!
Samwise the Strong: Haha! Yes, that is pretty funny! Have you posted that on your URL? Cuz I'd like to read the rest of that. Sorry I've not been a very active member, but with X-mas and all I got really busy! Thanks!
Starknight: Today has been a good day for me too! This is what's happened, or what is gonna happen:
*Wore Legolas t-shirt to school, made all other girls jealous
*Got another Orlando poster from Brittney M!
*Orlando's gonna be on Entertainment Tonight and Jay Leno and I'm gonna tape it!
I'm also looking forward to read your one-shot fic for LotR! I'm working on mine still. Well, thank you Louise!
Nirobie: Yeah, I can't wait until some of Orlando's other movies come out cuz then I'm gonna have to go see them like 8 times! Heheh! Thanks a bunch! Lucky you, got a big family. I only have four cousins. In all! Doesn't that suck?
XxDarkgoddessxX: Hey! My X-mas was grand, of course. I also got tons of Orlando stuff! I got three posters! My walls are covered!! Hehe! I've seen RotK three times and me and all my friends are gonna get together and see it again this weekend! But only after we've gone over to my house and watched the first two movies! Isn't that the best! Thank you very much! Well, I guess now everybody knows about Eressa now that she's "sick". Darnit, I wanted to keep it a secret. But when you make your two characters have sex, then I guess people just assume….And oh, I've got tons of ideas in this head of mine, dear…half of which will never be written or typed down because if they were discovered I would be shipped off to a mental hospital pronto! Heheh! And your four year old cousin's crush on Orli isn't pathetic, it's cute! Everyone should have a crush on Orlando! I don't know how you couldn't! Thanks again!
darkAngel36: Thank you! I wanted to go to one of them movie marathons, but they didn't have one in my town. *pouts* So sad. Oh well.
breeNbloom: Thank you! Well, for the Song of the White Wood, it has nothing to do with this story, so you can go ahead and read it once I've posted it! Thank you again!
Crystal Snowflakes: I'm so happy for you and you new boyfriend! As long as you update sometime, I'm cool. I'm patient. Thank you, Crystal!
itaridle-elenastar: Thank you thank you thank you! But no, I do still envy that oliphaunt! At least it died with Legolas on top of it! I would die just because he was on top of me, so he wouldn't have to kill me! Hehe! Thank you!
The Noble Platypus: Yes…boulders. I can't tell you what I'm planning…but I'm keeping the shield. And building a stone barrier. And a bomb cellar. Ugh. I hate it when the internet does that. Our old computer used to do that all the time…thank god we got a new one! This one is good and I can even download stuff! Yay! Thank you for the compliments concerning the love scenes. Helps me a lot! Makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside! You just wait though…the boulders will come rolling in any chapter now! *prepares shield* Oh, and a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too!
ElvenStar5: Yes…massage…I think I'll have him give me another one, and then maybe a sponge bath…GAH! Bad thoughts…bad thoughts…sorry! Thank you! And yeah, Legolas never gets dirty in the movie, but not even he can stay clean when your fighting wargs and people and never taking baths for like, months! But I wanted him to be clean again, so he is! Thanks!
Deana: Thank you! I reviewed one of your stories (a lot) on your bio page! I really like the way you write!
DiamondTook3: Thank you! Hoped you like this chappy! Next one will be up by Monday night, as always!
Whitecoyote: I know! Legolas was so heavenly and hot at the end of that and I practically died!! AHAHAH!! I'm trying to get to the action part as soon as possible!
Me: (stops by the cell that's labeled "Haldir". Pulls out key and opens door, at the same time pulling out a chocolate bar.) Here, Haldy! Here boy!
Haldir: (trots up panting with tongue wagging out…much like a dog)
Me: (holds up chocolate) Go find Legolas and Pippen, boy! Go find them and fetch them for me!
Haldir: (throws head back and howls) Scooby-Rwoody-Doo! (races down the hall with me in hot pursuit)
Your turn!!
Yuna, Lady of Light: Why is this person coming after you? Gosh, that's mean! Well, thank you bunches, and good luck with getting this person off your tail!!
Truffles: Um…thanks?