Author's note: Hi everyone! Yeah, another overdue update from me again. Sorry about that! Thanks for all the reviews! It's good to know that no one's given up on me yet. I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Rhovanion's Child by Shelly
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Elrond led them all deeper into the halls of his house, showing them where their rooms would be. She slid a glance over at Boromir, knowing he would take special notice of where hers would be located. However, if he allowed himself to become too jealous over her friendship with Legolas, it would not be a night filled with love but with accusations. But if he loved her as much as he claimed, then he would have to accept her for who she was, which she knew would be revealed soon enough.
Soon Elrond was called away on other matters, leaving her alone with the two men and an elf. Gandalf turned to her with a grave expression on his face. "I know you must be wearied from your journey, Elenariel, but I must ask that you come with me. There is much that needs to be discussed."
She looked over to Legolas and smiled, knowing that he must have told Gandalf to be careful not to use her real name around Boromir. "I am at your disposal then, Mithrandir," she said, turning towards Boromir and seeing his questioning gaze upon her.
"How long will you be?" he asked her as they walked away some distance.
"I'm not sure," she replied.
He brushed his hand across her cheek and into her hair, pulling her close to him as he didn't want to let her go just yet. "Please say you'll come to me afterwards," he breathed in her ear. Seeing her here amongst people she was more familiar with, he wondered if he was in any danger of losing her. While she was in Minas Tirith, there was no one else except Faramir for her to talk to. But here in Imladris it was different as he felt like the stranger here.
She laid her forehead against his shoulder as the weariness Gandalf spoke of descended upon her, and she wanted nothing more at that moment than to spend the night wrapped in his arms. But it had to be important if it couldn't wait till tomorrow at the council. "We both need our rest Boromir, and I doubt we'll get any if we're together," she replied with a bit of humor.
"I wasn't talking about that," he said in mock outrage. She looked up to see him smile, and he took advantage of it to give her a loving kiss. "Try not to have too much fun without me," he added as he released her.
She hadn't even left him yet and she already missed him, being that this would be the first time she would be away from him for any length of time. "I'll try not to," she replied as she left him to walk with Gandalf and Legolas. Looking back, she saw he was still standing there watching her and saw his lips move, telling her that he loved her. She replied the same to him then saw him no more as she continued on with her escort.
They led her to a secluded porch illuminated by the silvery autumn moonlight, which fell upon a single figure that waited for them there already. When she saw who it was, she came to a slow stop, unable to believe who it was standing there patiently. He turned to greet them, his own rugged features belying his own surprise at seeing her. "Aragorn," she breathed as she walked towards him to embrace him, tears glistening in her eyes as she didn't know what else to say to him.
He was just as speechless as he had worried for her during all the months they were apart, especially after he had seen the Black Riders that had haunted his steps while he had been leading the Hobbits here. He had known then that if they were here then Gondor had been unable to stop them, and he had wondered at what had become of Rhiannon.
It was then that he remembered the strange dream that he had had that night at the Prancing Pony and knew that that must've been what happened. "It's good to see you, Rhiannon," he told her finally. "It does me good to see you alive after all that has happened."
She drew away from him and gazed up into his eyes, the tears that had gathered in her eyes falling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry I failed you," she whispered. "It's my fault that they crossed the river."
"No, do not say that," he admonished her. "You couldn't have stopped them, not with an army of men. They are not of flesh and blood, but shadows and death, and they have only one purpose, and that's to find the ring. I'm relieved to know that Gollum is still in the hands of the elves of Mirkwood for there he could cause little trouble."
"That is why I have come here," Legolas spoke up. "Gollum is no longer a prisoner of Mirkwood."
They both turned to him with shocked expressions. "How did this happen?" Aragorn asked him as he stepped nearer to the elf.
"We were attacked by orcs during the summer and he escaped then to the south, past Dol Goldur where we do not go," he explained.
"Ease your fears, Aragorn," Gandalf spoke up. "I doubt that Gollum will cause any trouble. He still has fear in his heart for all he suffered while imprisoned in Mordor. He has no love for Sauron and may yet be of some help in some way."
"I can't imagine how," Aragorn scoffed. "At least the ring is safe here in Rivendell, for the time being at least."
"And who knows how long that will be?" Gandalf replied. "Sauron is not alone in his efforts to rule Middle Earth. Saruman is building armies for him as well, and it is likely that the world cannot survive the might of them both. The ring is not safe anywhere, but that is something that will be discussed at the council tomorrow. For now we all need our rest as the night grows long. I bid you all a good night," he said as he left them alone.
"No doubt Rhiannon is eager to return to her lover as well," Legolas teased, and she gifted him with an embarrassed glare.
This surprised Aragorn as he faced her with crossed arms and a smile upon his face. "Indeed? And who is the lucky man?" he asked.
She felt strange discussing Boromir with someone she had once thought she loved. "He is the Steward's son, Boromir," she replied.
His eyebrows rose as he remembered the Captain from his previous visits to Minas Tirith. "Does he know who you are?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
"No, he doesn't know everything," she replied. "I have told him all that I can about myself, all but my real name and lineage."
"I can see where that would be a problem," he mused. "But you have to tell him soon, Rhiannon, before he finds out some other way. He needs to hear it from you."
She sighed, feeling a heavy weight upon her shoulders. "I know, and I will soon. But not tonight. I am too tired to fight with him tonight."
"At least not in the way you want us to think," Legolas put in slyly with a smirk.
"Legolas, you are being unusually dense tonight!" she growled, glad that the night hid her flushed face.
He laughed as he embraced her. "I am sorry. It is just that I have missed you so, Elenariel. And it warms my heart to see that you have finally found someone to share yours with." He felt a hand on his shoulder and knew that Aragorn was leaving to give them both some time together alone.
She was content to let him hold her for a while as this was the closest thing to home for her. She missed the trees of Mirkwood and the underground caverns that she used to run through when she was a child. Thranduil was like a father to her, Legolas like a brother, and she wondered why she had never seen the Prince in any other way. Perhaps it was because she had known him ever since she was born and was immune to the beauty that she knew that other elven females swooned over.
Looking up at him, she tried to see him as others did, and she had to admit that he was handsome with the moonlight shining upon his hair and face. But there was nothing else there, and she merely saw him as Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood and lifelong friend. Then her thoughts wandered to another elf that guarded the borders of Lorien, and she wondered how Haldir was doing.
Seeing her deep in thought, he touched her cheek softly. "You appear to be troubled," he said. "Need to talk?"
She sighed. "I am just tired," she said. "And I miss Mirkwood."
He smiled. "Have you thought about what will happen after tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," she said, looking away. "Tomorrow will decide a lot of things, so it is impossible to think beyond then. Boromir may not even see me in the same way, may not even love me anymore."
"Or he may forgive you," he pointed out.
"I doubt that. He is a proud man, Legolas, and knows that one day he will be the Steward after his father. Right now his life will progress as those before him, until Aragorn takes it away from him. All his life he has been preparing for that, and it will be taken from him. How else can he handle it but badly?"
"Then if he chooses to shut you from his heart, it is his loss," he said. "The love you both have for one another is too great to just throw away over something as petty as pride."
She turned her gaze to his and smiled. "I guess we'll just see what tomorrow brings," she said, leaning forward to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Legolas, for being there for me so many times. I don't know what I would've done without you."
He laughed softly. "I'm sure you would have managed just fine," he replied. "Now go and get some sleep...or at least try to," he added with a wink.
She sighed and shook her head, leaving to walk back to her room and wondering if she should stop by Boromir's. She was tired so she decided that she would spend tonight in her own bed, but when she got there she saw by the moonlight that shone through the balcony that someone was already in her bed. And she had to smile as he had tried his best to try and make it look like he wasn't there. It was just plain impossible to hide anyone as big as he was.
Quickly discarding her clothing, she eased into bed like she didn't know he was there. And suddenly she was wrapped in his warm embrace as he curled his heated body around her cold one. "I see you're back," he breathed against her neck before kissing it softly.
She smiled. "And I see you're in my bed again," she replied as she turned in his arms. And it was a while before either of them slept.
******************
She's going to tell him soon, but how will he take it? Or will she be unable to tell him herself? Thanks for reading everyone! C-ya!
Rhovanion's Child by Shelly
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Elrond led them all deeper into the halls of his house, showing them where their rooms would be. She slid a glance over at Boromir, knowing he would take special notice of where hers would be located. However, if he allowed himself to become too jealous over her friendship with Legolas, it would not be a night filled with love but with accusations. But if he loved her as much as he claimed, then he would have to accept her for who she was, which she knew would be revealed soon enough.
Soon Elrond was called away on other matters, leaving her alone with the two men and an elf. Gandalf turned to her with a grave expression on his face. "I know you must be wearied from your journey, Elenariel, but I must ask that you come with me. There is much that needs to be discussed."
She looked over to Legolas and smiled, knowing that he must have told Gandalf to be careful not to use her real name around Boromir. "I am at your disposal then, Mithrandir," she said, turning towards Boromir and seeing his questioning gaze upon her.
"How long will you be?" he asked her as they walked away some distance.
"I'm not sure," she replied.
He brushed his hand across her cheek and into her hair, pulling her close to him as he didn't want to let her go just yet. "Please say you'll come to me afterwards," he breathed in her ear. Seeing her here amongst people she was more familiar with, he wondered if he was in any danger of losing her. While she was in Minas Tirith, there was no one else except Faramir for her to talk to. But here in Imladris it was different as he felt like the stranger here.
She laid her forehead against his shoulder as the weariness Gandalf spoke of descended upon her, and she wanted nothing more at that moment than to spend the night wrapped in his arms. But it had to be important if it couldn't wait till tomorrow at the council. "We both need our rest Boromir, and I doubt we'll get any if we're together," she replied with a bit of humor.
"I wasn't talking about that," he said in mock outrage. She looked up to see him smile, and he took advantage of it to give her a loving kiss. "Try not to have too much fun without me," he added as he released her.
She hadn't even left him yet and she already missed him, being that this would be the first time she would be away from him for any length of time. "I'll try not to," she replied as she left him to walk with Gandalf and Legolas. Looking back, she saw he was still standing there watching her and saw his lips move, telling her that he loved her. She replied the same to him then saw him no more as she continued on with her escort.
They led her to a secluded porch illuminated by the silvery autumn moonlight, which fell upon a single figure that waited for them there already. When she saw who it was, she came to a slow stop, unable to believe who it was standing there patiently. He turned to greet them, his own rugged features belying his own surprise at seeing her. "Aragorn," she breathed as she walked towards him to embrace him, tears glistening in her eyes as she didn't know what else to say to him.
He was just as speechless as he had worried for her during all the months they were apart, especially after he had seen the Black Riders that had haunted his steps while he had been leading the Hobbits here. He had known then that if they were here then Gondor had been unable to stop them, and he had wondered at what had become of Rhiannon.
It was then that he remembered the strange dream that he had had that night at the Prancing Pony and knew that that must've been what happened. "It's good to see you, Rhiannon," he told her finally. "It does me good to see you alive after all that has happened."
She drew away from him and gazed up into his eyes, the tears that had gathered in her eyes falling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry I failed you," she whispered. "It's my fault that they crossed the river."
"No, do not say that," he admonished her. "You couldn't have stopped them, not with an army of men. They are not of flesh and blood, but shadows and death, and they have only one purpose, and that's to find the ring. I'm relieved to know that Gollum is still in the hands of the elves of Mirkwood for there he could cause little trouble."
"That is why I have come here," Legolas spoke up. "Gollum is no longer a prisoner of Mirkwood."
They both turned to him with shocked expressions. "How did this happen?" Aragorn asked him as he stepped nearer to the elf.
"We were attacked by orcs during the summer and he escaped then to the south, past Dol Goldur where we do not go," he explained.
"Ease your fears, Aragorn," Gandalf spoke up. "I doubt that Gollum will cause any trouble. He still has fear in his heart for all he suffered while imprisoned in Mordor. He has no love for Sauron and may yet be of some help in some way."
"I can't imagine how," Aragorn scoffed. "At least the ring is safe here in Rivendell, for the time being at least."
"And who knows how long that will be?" Gandalf replied. "Sauron is not alone in his efforts to rule Middle Earth. Saruman is building armies for him as well, and it is likely that the world cannot survive the might of them both. The ring is not safe anywhere, but that is something that will be discussed at the council tomorrow. For now we all need our rest as the night grows long. I bid you all a good night," he said as he left them alone.
"No doubt Rhiannon is eager to return to her lover as well," Legolas teased, and she gifted him with an embarrassed glare.
This surprised Aragorn as he faced her with crossed arms and a smile upon his face. "Indeed? And who is the lucky man?" he asked.
She felt strange discussing Boromir with someone she had once thought she loved. "He is the Steward's son, Boromir," she replied.
His eyebrows rose as he remembered the Captain from his previous visits to Minas Tirith. "Does he know who you are?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
"No, he doesn't know everything," she replied. "I have told him all that I can about myself, all but my real name and lineage."
"I can see where that would be a problem," he mused. "But you have to tell him soon, Rhiannon, before he finds out some other way. He needs to hear it from you."
She sighed, feeling a heavy weight upon her shoulders. "I know, and I will soon. But not tonight. I am too tired to fight with him tonight."
"At least not in the way you want us to think," Legolas put in slyly with a smirk.
"Legolas, you are being unusually dense tonight!" she growled, glad that the night hid her flushed face.
He laughed as he embraced her. "I am sorry. It is just that I have missed you so, Elenariel. And it warms my heart to see that you have finally found someone to share yours with." He felt a hand on his shoulder and knew that Aragorn was leaving to give them both some time together alone.
She was content to let him hold her for a while as this was the closest thing to home for her. She missed the trees of Mirkwood and the underground caverns that she used to run through when she was a child. Thranduil was like a father to her, Legolas like a brother, and she wondered why she had never seen the Prince in any other way. Perhaps it was because she had known him ever since she was born and was immune to the beauty that she knew that other elven females swooned over.
Looking up at him, she tried to see him as others did, and she had to admit that he was handsome with the moonlight shining upon his hair and face. But there was nothing else there, and she merely saw him as Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood and lifelong friend. Then her thoughts wandered to another elf that guarded the borders of Lorien, and she wondered how Haldir was doing.
Seeing her deep in thought, he touched her cheek softly. "You appear to be troubled," he said. "Need to talk?"
She sighed. "I am just tired," she said. "And I miss Mirkwood."
He smiled. "Have you thought about what will happen after tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," she said, looking away. "Tomorrow will decide a lot of things, so it is impossible to think beyond then. Boromir may not even see me in the same way, may not even love me anymore."
"Or he may forgive you," he pointed out.
"I doubt that. He is a proud man, Legolas, and knows that one day he will be the Steward after his father. Right now his life will progress as those before him, until Aragorn takes it away from him. All his life he has been preparing for that, and it will be taken from him. How else can he handle it but badly?"
"Then if he chooses to shut you from his heart, it is his loss," he said. "The love you both have for one another is too great to just throw away over something as petty as pride."
She turned her gaze to his and smiled. "I guess we'll just see what tomorrow brings," she said, leaning forward to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Legolas, for being there for me so many times. I don't know what I would've done without you."
He laughed softly. "I'm sure you would have managed just fine," he replied. "Now go and get some sleep...or at least try to," he added with a wink.
She sighed and shook her head, leaving to walk back to her room and wondering if she should stop by Boromir's. She was tired so she decided that she would spend tonight in her own bed, but when she got there she saw by the moonlight that shone through the balcony that someone was already in her bed. And she had to smile as he had tried his best to try and make it look like he wasn't there. It was just plain impossible to hide anyone as big as he was.
Quickly discarding her clothing, she eased into bed like she didn't know he was there. And suddenly she was wrapped in his warm embrace as he curled his heated body around her cold one. "I see you're back," he breathed against her neck before kissing it softly.
She smiled. "And I see you're in my bed again," she replied as she turned in his arms. And it was a while before either of them slept.
******************
She's going to tell him soon, but how will he take it? Or will she be unable to tell him herself? Thanks for reading everyone! C-ya!