NOTE: this chapter was inspired from an RPG I am in with a good friend of mine from Council of Elrond, where she is playing Legolas. As always, thanx for the wonderful reviews!

Chapter Twenty-three: Legolas' Fear

The following morning dawned bright and clear. Legolas was awake, observing the sleeping maiden in his arms. Síriel's head was rested over his heart, one hand on the left side of his chest, the other, her right hand, held fast to the sheets underneath a nearby pillow. It was an interesting thing, he thought to himself, to see a half Elf asleep. Her eyes were closed only half the time, while the other half they were open. Her copper-red hair spilled from her back onto his chest. His hands idly traced the curves of her body. She looked so innocent in her release.

As the sun slowly climbed higher in the sky, Legolas felt that it was time to wake his sleeping beauty. Gently he nudged her with his chin.

"Síriel…Síriel…" he whispered.

She stirred slightly.

"Awake, cuil nín (my life)." he said softly, rubbing her shoulders.

Síriel's emerald eyes fluttered open to behold Legolas smiling down at her lovingly. He brushed back the hair from her face.

"Elbereth! Am I this late in rising?" she exclaimed, looking out of the windows and seeing the sun already positioned in the sky.

Legolas laughed softly. She drew herself off of him and stretched. The previous night's memories were still fresh in her mind. Truthfully, she had been anticipating being sore and unable to walk, but because Legolas had been so gentle with her, this was not a worry.

They bathed together and then dressed. Síriel noticed that despite the smile on Legolas' face, there was a look of anxiety in his eyes.

"Is something wrong? Did I displease you?" she asked him.

He looked at her questioningly.

"Why do you ask? Naught is wrong. You pleased me." he told her.

"Because your eyes tell me what your smile does not." she replied.

He chuckled and drew her in a strong embrace.

"Estelio nin (trust me). There is nothing for you to fear." he told her smoothly.

They went together to the Dining Hall and found it fairly empty. Most of the Elves were still resting from the previous night's drinking. King Thranduil was present, and he smiled in greeting at the pair.

"I hope you had a wonderful night yesterday." he told Síriel.

She smiled and blushed slightly.

"It was, aran nín, though I must admit I was surprised." she said.

The trio ate the morning meal together without any interruptions. The Elves who were present did not seem fully awake. Even though their eyes were open, Síriel knew they were resting. It amused her quite a bit.

After the morning meal, Celebrindal and Síriel's fellow rafters appeared and took her away from Legolas to celebrate her coming of age. Though Síriel asked him to join them, he declined the request.

"Legolas, tell me what troubles you." Thranduil told him.

"How do you know I am troubled?" he asked.

"Your eyes, ion nín, they give away your feelings."

Legolas shook his head amidst a chuckle.

"Countless have told me." he said.

They went to Thranduil's private sitting room to speak.

"I know not how or where to begin." Legolas said.

"Well, you must begin somehow." his sire said.

"It began last night, as I was with Síriel—"

"So you spent the night together, then? You fear she conceived?"

Legolas' face flushed.

"We did, but that is not my fear." he said quietly.

"I had a feeling you would. Continue." Thranduil said, smiling.

"After she fell asleep, I began to think, adar. I love her very dearly, and there is no other maiden I wish to spend the rest of my life with but her. Yet I fear doing so at the same time."

Thranduil looked at him, slightly puzzled.

"Why?" he asked.

Legolas took a deep breath and began to pace the room.

"It has to do with the death of naneth (mother), adar. I loved her more than anything in the world, and I still do. I cannot tell you how much grief I felt over her death. I still grieve her death. Then, I nearly lost you after her death. I saw you grieve. You were so heartbroken your demeanor changed. But I am not here to reproach you for that. I myself changed as well. After experiencing that, I resolved to close my heart and never love any maiden. I did not wish to inflict the same pain upon myself once more and suffer to see my beloved pass away, nor my children, if I were to have any. That is why I took to fighting, and to avenge the death of naneth. This is my fear, adar: I fear to take the chance and risk having my heart break again, and then perish myself." Legolas said slowly.

Thranduil was silent as he listened to his son speak. He thought that the speech he had given last night at The Choosing was astounding, but this…this was incredible. He had never known that Legolas was touched this much by his mother's death. He knew that Legolas was quite saddened, for he was quite close to his mother, closer to her than he was to him, but he had never known precisely the extent of his sadness. And his son had seen him grieve! This disturbed Thranduil somewhat, for he tried to hide his feelings from everyone. Yet, what was most astonishing was the fact that Legolas was afraid to wed Síriel, lose her, and suffer the same pain again, only to later die himself of a broken heart. If this was not proof of his undying love for her, Thranduil did not know what was proof. The older Legolas got, the more startling he was.

"I know not how to respond." Thranduil began.

Legolas smiled weakly.

"I can only express my utter amazement. Firstly, the speech you gave yesterday at The Choosing in defense of your love for Síriel was utterly astounding. I could sense your passion for her through your words, and I am glad you put them in their proper places. You are much deeper and harder to predict than I thought you were. I did not know that your mother's death affected you this much. I thought I hid my own grief well enough, but it seems I am wrong. You have done it much more thoroughly than I have, Legolas. You just proved, once again, how much you love Síriel. It is not weakness; rather, it is bravery. You are facing your fear. This much I will tell you: there is little danger that you will lose Síriel. The giant spiders who killed your mother are a threat no longer, thanks to your diligent effort powered by your vengeance." the King said.

Legolas looked at his sire.

"You urge me to wed her, then?" he said quietly.

Thranduil rose and placed his hands on Legolas' shoulders.

"You have my blessings." Thranduil told him. "There is nothing to fear. May you fill her life with naught save happiness!"

Legolas smiled broadly at his sire.

So it was when Síriel met Legolas in the corridors, he almost cried out in utter joy upon seeing her. She was puzzled by his actions.

"Is something wrong?" she asked him, searching his eyes.

He only smiled lovingly at her.

"Gerich veleth nín." he told her, before kissing her passionately.

Sindarin Translation:

Gerich veleth nín: you have my love