Disclaimer: You know the drill. The only character I own is Julia…at the moment.
Author's Note- I'm sorry this update was so tardy. First off I was without a compute for a couple of days and I couldn't get it finished in time and then when I actually had access to my computer Fanfiction wouldn't let me post anything *grumbles*. I hope you guys will forgive me, that you enjoy this chapter, and surprise me with a bunch of reviews. That would make me extremely happy *grins*
YeLLoSpRiNkOz- I'm doing my best. I'm always writing on this story and when I'm not writing I'm thinking about it.
kurleyhawk2- It's so cool being in the Author's seat. I always hated it when a lot of my favorite fan fiction author's left chapters off with a cliffhanger. Now I'm doing it. Mwahahaha! It's evil I know. I'll address Haldir's anger a bit later.
Jennifer Bloom- I'm so glad you're still interested. I have to say so am I lol. But, it's my story so I could be biased.
lilyana Turner- You're confused? Well that's not good. If you have any questions, as long as they don't give away the entire plot of the story lol, I would be glad to answer them. Just email me.
Chapter 6
When they reached the dining room they found the table surprisingly empty, save for the seats occupied by the fellowship, Lord Celeborn, and Lady Galadriel. But, on the table sat plate upon overflowing plate of well-prepared elven foods. Even with their stomachs filled with berries, Legolas and Julia both found themselves tempted by the mouth-watering aroma's filling the room.
"Julia, Legolas, how kind of you to join us in our feast. I trust you have not ruined your appetites?" Galadriel said, a small knowing grin upon her face.
Julia shook her head and stepped forward to take her seat next to her grandmother. "Even if we had I doubt we could turn away such alluring delicacies. It looks as if Ellessa and Duana have once more proved their superiority in the kitchen."
Legolas took his seat next to Gimli and ignored the curious look upon the dwarf's face. Instead his focus remained on Julia and the sudden change in her demeanor. It was as if, because she was now in the company of her grandparents, she was a completely different person.
That puzzled him. In fact, he found himself puzzled quite often when he was in her presence. At that moment she was changing once more. He watched as Haldir sat in the seat next to her, Julia's shoulders stiffened and she refused to look in his direction. Haldir's mannerisms towards Julia were also strange, as it had been since he'd found them in the woods.
Legolas frowned at that thought. Maybe there was more to Haldir and Julia than met the eye. The subtle look they'd shared as Julia lead the Fellowship to their sleeping area, the anger in his eyes as he'd found he and Julia eating berries, and now, the scowl upon his face as he saw Julia keeping her distance from him. It made Legolas think that perhaps there was something between the two. Something that he'd infringed upon when taking Julia for a hunt for berries through the woods.
He didn't know why, but the idea of Julia and Haldir having a relationship left a bitter taste in his mouth. He felt a harsh nudge in his side, dragging him away from his thoughts.
"Pay attention, lad." Gimlia whispered motioning with his head towards the Lord and Lady.
Legolas' eyes immediately turned towards his hosts, who were currently looking at him expectantly. "Please forgive me, my thoughts wandered for a moment."
Galadriel smiled. "There is nothing to forgive. I merely asked if you were feeling well, for you have not touched your food."
He looked down at his plate and noted that fact that his entire plate still remained in tact. "I am well, my lady. I am afraid I may have ruined my appetite this morning in a grove of berries."
Her eyes lit and Galadriel chanced a glance at her granddaughter. "Perhaps that is the same reason why Julia has not touched her food as well."
Julia blushed and nodded her head. "It is. I am sorry grandmother, but it had been so long since I'd tasted their sweetness." She could feel Haldir's gaze burning holes in to the back of her head, but she kept her sight on Galadriel.
Galdriel laughed and the sound of it was like the sweetest bells upon their ears. "You should have brought some to share with us."
Julia grinned. "Next time, I promise. I am sure Prince Legolas would not mind helping me find another bunch of berries." She said, turning her eyes for the first time since arriving in the dining hall, and meeting his.
He gave her a little side grin and nodded his head. "It would be my honor."
Celeborn's face held no emotion as his gaze moved to his granddaughter. "It is interesting to see how well my granddaughter has made her mark on one of the members of the fellowship, however, should we not bring such discussions to a halt and bring focus onto the issue at hand?"
Julia quickly received his reprimand and though it made her uncomfortable to do so, she remained quiet. She caught her grandmother's eyes and saw what looked like sympathy before Galadriel turned to look at the fellowship and began to speak.
"It is time for the fellowship to decide what path to take next." Her eyes settled on Aragorn. "You know what lies ahead it will be your decision to make."
"My lady, without Gandalf how are we to decide what our next choice of action must be? He did not share with me what to do if he was ever lost to the fellowship."
There was a nervous energy vibrating from the creatures surrounding the table. It was evident that they were scared, afraid of what the future would hold without their gray leader.
"Gandalf was our hope." Frodo spoke the words that remained only thoughts in the minds of his companions. "He fell saving our lives leaving us in complete confusion. Other than knowing to come to the trees of Lorien, we have no idea what to do without Gandalf."
Julia could see the pain in Frodo's eyes as he spoke of the old wizard and knew that his pain was a mirror of her own. She understood completely the feeling of loss and uncertainty of their future, for she had those thoughts and feelings as well. She was about to give him a few choice words of comfort when in their stead; she heard the words of her grandfather in her ears.
"The ending destination of the task at hand is still to destroy the ring of fire in the depths of Mordor. The path that you take is your decision." He saw their questioning looks and continued. "It is a regretful thing to lose such companion, however, Gandalf made his own decisions and while it is unfortunate that his life was lost, our attention must not waver from the end result of this quest. Many will fall along the way of this journey."
Julia felt something inside of her snap as she sat there and allowed his words to truly sink in. She felt a powerful rage building in her mind, it left a bitter taste in her mouth, but she was at her limit. It was one thing to be the subject of her grandfather's animosity, but to hear him speak of Gandalf in such a passive manner enraged her. Julia knew she could handle his words if they were directed towards her, but Gandalf? No. She could not and would not stand for that.
"I am not believing what I'm hearing. Can you really be so viciously cold?" A shock filled silence followed her choice words, but she didn't give a care at that moment. "Can you truly forget the bond you held with Gandalf so quickly and chuck it up to the fact that he is one of the many who will be lost along the way?"
Haldir placed his hand on her shoulder in an effort to calm quiet her down. "Julia…"
She jerked her arm away from his touch. "No!" She exclaimed loudly causing those in her company, including her grandparents to wince. "I will not remain silent anymore." Her hands slammed down on the table. "I have wracked my brain trying to understand why I mean so little to you. But that confusion is only a fraction of what I'm feeling right now."
Her eyes narrowed in on her grandfather's face and for once she held no fear of him in her mind. Her anger was over powering those, now weak in comparison, emotions. She was almost at her breaking point, the point of no return and she wasn't planning on stopping herself anytime soon.
"Gandalf was loyal to you. Never in my childhood did he say anything against you, nor would he allow me to do so. He did everything you ever asked of him, which includes taking care of the granddaughter you never wanted."
As her tirade continued those of the fellowship watched nervously, knowing it wasn't their place to be here, but unwilling to turn away and give the family the space they needed to work things out.
Legolas watched the anger continue to wash of Julia and felt his heart break for her. Her words were making things a lot clearer for him, though he wished that she did not have these troubles or that he could take care of them for her. But, as he remained focused on her form, he realized there was nothing he could do for her until she had gotten all of her frustrations out.
Aragorn stood up hesitantly causing Julia's attention to focus on him. "Perhaps we should leave you to this, we do not belong in this discussion." He suggested politely, much to the distress of the young hobbits, who found it somewhat entertaining to watch the scene play out.
Julia shook her head. "With all do respect, my Lord, that is nonsense. You have every right to be here. You need to know who you're dealing with." Her voice lowered to a civil tone as she answered Aragorn, but immediately her barriers went right back up when her eyes focused once more on Celeborn.
His eyes held anger, yet he held his temper in check as spoke. "They know who I am, child. Though it is clear to me that you seem to have forgotten."
Julia's jaw locked and she found the tears welling up in her eyes before she could stop them, but she quickly swallowed those tears and gave a jerky nod of her head, finding her voice again and cursing herself when it came out a bit shaky.
"I have always known who you are, Grandfather. It is you who have neglected to know who I am, not that you ever cared to find out." She took a deep breath and looked at him nothing, but contempt and hatred in her eyes, her voice now void of emotion. "You don't even care that I lost someone desperately close to me. Someone who helped to raise me when you refused." She saw her grandmother's frown appear instantaneously following her words, but she had one more thing to say. "Gandalf was more apart of my family, more of a grandfather to me, than you are or ever will be."
She stood up proudly and nodded respectfully towards the fellowship. "I apologize for interrupting your breakfast. If you'll excuse me."
A collective sigh was released as those surrounding the table watched her leave. As soon as the doors shut behind her, Legolas was out of his seat in an effort to follow. He hadn't made it very far when he felt a hand grasp his arm and turn him around forcibly.
"I think it would be best if you left her alone."
Legolas' eyes met Haldir's and he frowned. "She doesn't need to be alone. She needs someone to support her and out of the two of us, at this moment I'd say I'm the better choice."
"You don't know anything about Julia's wants or needs." Haldir's voice held a quite anger.
"Haldir, let him go to her." Galadriel said without even glancing in his direction and without question he listened, freeing Legolas' arm and allowing him to go after Julia.
"Well…that was interesting." Pippin said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. He received a slap to the back of his head.
"Shut up, Pip!" Merry whispered harshly as they left the table and began to shuffle their way out of the dining hall, forgetting about the mornings events and going on with their hobbit lives.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She wasted no time in making it to her favorite spot in the woods. The moment her bottom rested on the soft grass underneath her tree, the same tree she had woken up beneath that morning, she felt a growing sense of regret at her actions. She wasn't sorry for speaking her true feelings, but she was ashamed of the fact that she hadn't controlled herself enough to speak the words rationally and with less yelling.
It had all seemed so right at the time, but now thinking back on it, it had been a mistake. She shouldn't have said any of those things in front of her grandmother or anyone else who had been at the table, excluding her grandfather. The words she had spoken were correct, she had no doubt about that, but she should have waited until they were alone and without an audience.
Her eyes burned with the need to cry, but she ignored it and folded her arms across her chest. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the tree, concentrating on taking deep breaths to calm her nerves.
"I thought I might find you here."
Julia almost let out a groan at the sound of Legolas' voice as her face felt flush with embarrassment.
"This probably isn't the best time to talk to me." Her lip quivered uncontrollably and she swallowed. "I'm a mess."
He didn't listen to her mild efforts to remain alone; instead, he took his seat in front of her, scooting close until their knees touched.
"Yes, you are, but it is to be expected. It has been a busy morning." His hand reached up and in a slow comforting motion, he moved her hair to the side and cupped her face. "Are you alright?"
She looked into his eyes and saw true concern in them. Julia also saw something that she did not expect. In his deep blue orbs she saw that he cared. He actually cared about her and was trying his best to comfort her. The sudden revelation brought her emotions back to the surface and she found herself facing the tears once again. This time she let them come.
"Not really." Her voice shook badly as she placed her hands over her faced and began to sob softly.
Legolas didn't hesitate to pull her into his arms, where she immediately wrapped her arms around his body and buried her face into his chest, allowing him to comfort her. It was a big step on Julia's part. Under normal circumstances she would never have allowed anyone to see her in such a way, but it was different with Legolas. He made her feel like it was all right to be who she was. She didn't have to act any certain way to please him.
It as nice to actually lean on someone for a change. To allow that person to peel away some of the burdens of her heart and give her room to breathe. She let out a brief sigh as his arms tightened around her and she found herself unwilling to move from his arms.
"Why are you doing this?" Her words came out as more of a whisper, but he heard her clearly.
"Because you need me to."
And it was that simple. He held her in his arms, she rested her head against his chest, and there they remained for the rest of the afternoon. Forgetting for the time being that anything had happened that morning and just allowing themselves the peaceful calm that they brought out of each other.
There we have it everyone. Another chapter done. Feedback please!