AUTHOR'S NOTE: First of all, thank you for all the wonderful reviews!! This
chapter is proof that I work faster when I get more reviews, is it not? I
really do not have anything else to say, so I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Accusations:
Although the outcome of the first dance I had attended was not quite the expected, I slowly began attending more social events, due to Aldeon's prompting. I even became more accustomed to wearing dresses and did not complain as much, much to Aldeon and Legolas's relief. Thranduil was so pleased that I had finally 'come out of my shell', as he put it that he gave me several new dresses.
I had been sitting at a table, talking with Legolas at one such event, with Aldeon glancing over from time to time, as he had taken to doing, when Thranduil approached and asked if I wanted to dance. This was not unusual; Thranduil, Legolas, and Aldeon were usually the only elves I danced with, if at all. I accepted, and as we swirled among the other couples, blending in with the mirage of bright colors, he spoke.
"Maranwe, I was very worried about you after both your parents died. Many elves would have succumbed to such circumstances, but you endured, and have grown into a very clever, beautiful maiden." We had somehow danced to the edge of the dance floor, and now we slowed to a stop as he looked at me earnestly. "I am as proud of you as any father could be of his daughter," he said sincerely. "I know I can never replace your father, but I am always here for you." I could do nothing but throw my arms around his neck with tears streaming down my face. His fatherly embrace only added to his words.
"For years you have been as a father to my brother and I," I said through my tears. "Nothing can ever make me happier than knowing that you are proud of me." He smiled and chuckled.
"No, my dear, I know of one thing that someday can, and will, make you happier."
"I must doubt such a thing," I said as we walked along the perimeter of the room back around to the table, "But what is it that you believe could do this?"
"You will know when the time comes," he replied, which only reminded me of his son's mysterious secret. At every dance, important dinner, or any other social event after the first one, I would ask Legolas, usually as he walked me back to my room, if he could tell me the secret yet. The answer was always no, but he still promised to keep to his word that he someday would. Tonight was no different.
"Can you tell me the secret yet?" I asked as Legolas and I walked down the corridor, arms linked casually. I looked up and saw a shadow of a sad look pass over his face before he replied.
"No, I am afraid the answer is once again no, not tonight. But someday, perhaps soon." This was the first time that he had actually said that it may be soon, and it only caused my never-ending curiosity to escalate.
"Is there something you are waiting to happen so that you can tell me?" I asked. He wagged his finger in my face and tsk-tsk-tsked playfully.
"No questions allowed." When we reached my room, he followed me in. this was not strange, it was kind of part of our nightly 'routine': sitting in my room and talk for a bit before he returned to his own room, often with Aldeon dropping in while he was still there. Things with Aldeon had become strange since. what had happened at the first dance I had attended. He was still every bit as close with Legolas and I, but usually only individually. If all three of us were ever together, things seemed off. He would never talk about anything important then, only commenting on the weather and such things, but he often happened to just 'drop by' when he knew Legolas was with me. It was strange, but I never mentioned it.
"Did my father say something to upset you tonight?" Legolas asked as we sat on the bed. I smiled at the very memory of Thranduil's words.
"No, it was the exact opposite." Legolas looked at me expectantly. I crossed my arms in mock indignation and leaned back against the headboard. "Why should I tell you anything?"
"Because you really, really want to," he said. "And you know I will convince you anyway." I only raised my eyebrows in challenge, one which he readily accepted. Grinning impishly, he clamped a hand around my ankle and gave a quick pull, enough to send me sliding. I squealed just before he stopped me so that my legs were hanging off the end of the bed and my midsection was even with where he was sitting. He held me down and said very seriously, though his eyes were dancing, "I will only resort to tickling if you make me."
"If you think I will give in that easily." I began, squirming, trying to get away.
"I did not think that you would, but I thought I should give you the option anyway," he said as he jumped on the bed over me, scaring me, but making sure his legs landed on either side of me, so he did not hurt me.
"Get off of me, you great fool," I laughed as he began tickling. I tried to push against him, but as I already knew, it was useless. All those years of his constant archery training had developed his strength significantly, much to my disadvantage. I howled with laughter before I finally surrendered. "Oh, alright, I was going to tell you anyway," I said as there was a quick knock at the door and it opened.
Looking back, I can see how Aldeon took the situation the wrong way, but at the time it seemed absolutely absurd. Although Legolas and I were completely innocent in our intentions, he walked in and saw Legolas on top of me, and automatically jumped to conclusions.
"What are you doing?" he raged, crossing the room as he spoke. He grabbed Legolas's shirt and yanked him off of me, surprising both of us with his intensity. "How dare you," he began, speaking to Legolas
"Aldeon, what are you talking about?" I said as I leapt off the bed and moved in front of Aldeon, attempting to keep him away from Legolas. I had no clue what was going on, but he seemed ready to try to hurt Legolas, so I figured better safe than sorry.
"What do you mean by such an ignorant question? I come by to say goodnight and find him with." As he continued ranting and raving, I suddenly realized the seemingly awkward situation he had found us in, and despite his obvious fury, I could not help but laugh. Aldeon stopped his tirade and looked at me in disbelief. "I really do not find this funny," he stated crossly.
"Aldeon, we were only playing! He was tickling me, that is all!" I looked back at Legolas, who seemed to be uncomfortable instead of finding it funny as I was, but he nodded to confirm what I was saying. "I cannot believe you thought Legolas.and I were." I finally calmed my laughter, and there was a rather uncomfortable silence. "Well do you not believe us?" I asked Aldeon, as he had not spoken since his outrageous accusations.
"Yes, I believe you," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I apologize for accusing you," he began, but I shook my head.
"Do not apologize to me," I said. "Apologize to him," I said, jerking my thumb in the direction of the rather uncomfortable looking elf behind me.
Aldeon looked at him hard a moment before mumbling, "Sorry." I smiled.
"Now," I said as I reached up to hug Aldeon, "Go to bed. And I swear that Legolas and I will not do anything like you suspected while you are gone," I teased. He glared a moment before rolling his eyes and hugging me back.
"Goodnight, Mara, I love you; please forgive me for my over protectiveness."
"I love you too, Brother," I said as he turned to leave. He gave Legolas another look before he shut the door behind him. I let out a long breath and turned to see Legolas with a humorless countenance. "Oh, come now," I prodded, sitting back down on the bed, "It was kind of funny."
"Maybe for you," Legolas muttered, sinking down onto the bed. "You were not the one being accused of such a thing."
"Alright, so it was not funny at first, but he ended up looking quite the fool. You should not take offense from that; you know how he presumes things without thinking first." Legolas looked at me seriously and took one of my hands in both of his.
"You know that I would never attempt to do anything like that to you, do you not?" I stared at him wide-eyed, shocked that he would even think that I would consider such a thought.
"Yes, of course I know that, the thought has never entered my mind! Aldeon knows that, too; he only acted without thinking. You should not take such things so seriously!" Legolas sighed and rubbed his hands over his face, falling backwards onto the bed so he was lying on his back.
"I know, but when something like that happens, it can sometimes make you think things that you normally would not."
"I would never think something like that," I assured him. There was silence for a few moments before I spoke again. "About what your father said earlier." Legolas waved his hand,
"You do not have to tell me if you do not want to," he said.
"Nonsense," I said. "I was going to tell you anyway, and even if I was not, you certainly put up with enough tonight to deserve to know. Anyway, he really took me by surprise. He did nothing more than tell me that he was as proud of me as any father could be of his daughter, but it just moved me. He has been like a father to Aldeon and I since we have lived here, and you have always been like a brother to us," I thought I felt him move beside me as I said that last part but chose to ignore it, "But for him to say something like that. you are very lucky to have him as a father," I said suddenly. "And I am lucky beyond anything I ever expected to be here with you and him."
"We are every bit as lucky, if not more so, to have you here," Legolas replied as he traced small circles on my hand. "And I know that Father feels the same way. Me, Father, Mastien. everybody here, we all love you."
"And I love you," I choked out through my second set of tears that night. 'I cannot imagine where I would be without you. You have always been there for me whenever I needed anything, be it a hug or a home." He sat up and kissed my cheek where a tear had fallen free from the pools in my eyes.
"And I always will be."
A/N: Aw! *sniffle* He is so sweet! Anybody who wants to read some more about our extremely sweet and sensitive(not to mention extremely good- looking) elf, please review!
Accusations:
Although the outcome of the first dance I had attended was not quite the expected, I slowly began attending more social events, due to Aldeon's prompting. I even became more accustomed to wearing dresses and did not complain as much, much to Aldeon and Legolas's relief. Thranduil was so pleased that I had finally 'come out of my shell', as he put it that he gave me several new dresses.
I had been sitting at a table, talking with Legolas at one such event, with Aldeon glancing over from time to time, as he had taken to doing, when Thranduil approached and asked if I wanted to dance. This was not unusual; Thranduil, Legolas, and Aldeon were usually the only elves I danced with, if at all. I accepted, and as we swirled among the other couples, blending in with the mirage of bright colors, he spoke.
"Maranwe, I was very worried about you after both your parents died. Many elves would have succumbed to such circumstances, but you endured, and have grown into a very clever, beautiful maiden." We had somehow danced to the edge of the dance floor, and now we slowed to a stop as he looked at me earnestly. "I am as proud of you as any father could be of his daughter," he said sincerely. "I know I can never replace your father, but I am always here for you." I could do nothing but throw my arms around his neck with tears streaming down my face. His fatherly embrace only added to his words.
"For years you have been as a father to my brother and I," I said through my tears. "Nothing can ever make me happier than knowing that you are proud of me." He smiled and chuckled.
"No, my dear, I know of one thing that someday can, and will, make you happier."
"I must doubt such a thing," I said as we walked along the perimeter of the room back around to the table, "But what is it that you believe could do this?"
"You will know when the time comes," he replied, which only reminded me of his son's mysterious secret. At every dance, important dinner, or any other social event after the first one, I would ask Legolas, usually as he walked me back to my room, if he could tell me the secret yet. The answer was always no, but he still promised to keep to his word that he someday would. Tonight was no different.
"Can you tell me the secret yet?" I asked as Legolas and I walked down the corridor, arms linked casually. I looked up and saw a shadow of a sad look pass over his face before he replied.
"No, I am afraid the answer is once again no, not tonight. But someday, perhaps soon." This was the first time that he had actually said that it may be soon, and it only caused my never-ending curiosity to escalate.
"Is there something you are waiting to happen so that you can tell me?" I asked. He wagged his finger in my face and tsk-tsk-tsked playfully.
"No questions allowed." When we reached my room, he followed me in. this was not strange, it was kind of part of our nightly 'routine': sitting in my room and talk for a bit before he returned to his own room, often with Aldeon dropping in while he was still there. Things with Aldeon had become strange since. what had happened at the first dance I had attended. He was still every bit as close with Legolas and I, but usually only individually. If all three of us were ever together, things seemed off. He would never talk about anything important then, only commenting on the weather and such things, but he often happened to just 'drop by' when he knew Legolas was with me. It was strange, but I never mentioned it.
"Did my father say something to upset you tonight?" Legolas asked as we sat on the bed. I smiled at the very memory of Thranduil's words.
"No, it was the exact opposite." Legolas looked at me expectantly. I crossed my arms in mock indignation and leaned back against the headboard. "Why should I tell you anything?"
"Because you really, really want to," he said. "And you know I will convince you anyway." I only raised my eyebrows in challenge, one which he readily accepted. Grinning impishly, he clamped a hand around my ankle and gave a quick pull, enough to send me sliding. I squealed just before he stopped me so that my legs were hanging off the end of the bed and my midsection was even with where he was sitting. He held me down and said very seriously, though his eyes were dancing, "I will only resort to tickling if you make me."
"If you think I will give in that easily." I began, squirming, trying to get away.
"I did not think that you would, but I thought I should give you the option anyway," he said as he jumped on the bed over me, scaring me, but making sure his legs landed on either side of me, so he did not hurt me.
"Get off of me, you great fool," I laughed as he began tickling. I tried to push against him, but as I already knew, it was useless. All those years of his constant archery training had developed his strength significantly, much to my disadvantage. I howled with laughter before I finally surrendered. "Oh, alright, I was going to tell you anyway," I said as there was a quick knock at the door and it opened.
Looking back, I can see how Aldeon took the situation the wrong way, but at the time it seemed absolutely absurd. Although Legolas and I were completely innocent in our intentions, he walked in and saw Legolas on top of me, and automatically jumped to conclusions.
"What are you doing?" he raged, crossing the room as he spoke. He grabbed Legolas's shirt and yanked him off of me, surprising both of us with his intensity. "How dare you," he began, speaking to Legolas
"Aldeon, what are you talking about?" I said as I leapt off the bed and moved in front of Aldeon, attempting to keep him away from Legolas. I had no clue what was going on, but he seemed ready to try to hurt Legolas, so I figured better safe than sorry.
"What do you mean by such an ignorant question? I come by to say goodnight and find him with." As he continued ranting and raving, I suddenly realized the seemingly awkward situation he had found us in, and despite his obvious fury, I could not help but laugh. Aldeon stopped his tirade and looked at me in disbelief. "I really do not find this funny," he stated crossly.
"Aldeon, we were only playing! He was tickling me, that is all!" I looked back at Legolas, who seemed to be uncomfortable instead of finding it funny as I was, but he nodded to confirm what I was saying. "I cannot believe you thought Legolas.and I were." I finally calmed my laughter, and there was a rather uncomfortable silence. "Well do you not believe us?" I asked Aldeon, as he had not spoken since his outrageous accusations.
"Yes, I believe you," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I apologize for accusing you," he began, but I shook my head.
"Do not apologize to me," I said. "Apologize to him," I said, jerking my thumb in the direction of the rather uncomfortable looking elf behind me.
Aldeon looked at him hard a moment before mumbling, "Sorry." I smiled.
"Now," I said as I reached up to hug Aldeon, "Go to bed. And I swear that Legolas and I will not do anything like you suspected while you are gone," I teased. He glared a moment before rolling his eyes and hugging me back.
"Goodnight, Mara, I love you; please forgive me for my over protectiveness."
"I love you too, Brother," I said as he turned to leave. He gave Legolas another look before he shut the door behind him. I let out a long breath and turned to see Legolas with a humorless countenance. "Oh, come now," I prodded, sitting back down on the bed, "It was kind of funny."
"Maybe for you," Legolas muttered, sinking down onto the bed. "You were not the one being accused of such a thing."
"Alright, so it was not funny at first, but he ended up looking quite the fool. You should not take offense from that; you know how he presumes things without thinking first." Legolas looked at me seriously and took one of my hands in both of his.
"You know that I would never attempt to do anything like that to you, do you not?" I stared at him wide-eyed, shocked that he would even think that I would consider such a thought.
"Yes, of course I know that, the thought has never entered my mind! Aldeon knows that, too; he only acted without thinking. You should not take such things so seriously!" Legolas sighed and rubbed his hands over his face, falling backwards onto the bed so he was lying on his back.
"I know, but when something like that happens, it can sometimes make you think things that you normally would not."
"I would never think something like that," I assured him. There was silence for a few moments before I spoke again. "About what your father said earlier." Legolas waved his hand,
"You do not have to tell me if you do not want to," he said.
"Nonsense," I said. "I was going to tell you anyway, and even if I was not, you certainly put up with enough tonight to deserve to know. Anyway, he really took me by surprise. He did nothing more than tell me that he was as proud of me as any father could be of his daughter, but it just moved me. He has been like a father to Aldeon and I since we have lived here, and you have always been like a brother to us," I thought I felt him move beside me as I said that last part but chose to ignore it, "But for him to say something like that. you are very lucky to have him as a father," I said suddenly. "And I am lucky beyond anything I ever expected to be here with you and him."
"We are every bit as lucky, if not more so, to have you here," Legolas replied as he traced small circles on my hand. "And I know that Father feels the same way. Me, Father, Mastien. everybody here, we all love you."
"And I love you," I choked out through my second set of tears that night. 'I cannot imagine where I would be without you. You have always been there for me whenever I needed anything, be it a hug or a home." He sat up and kissed my cheek where a tear had fallen free from the pools in my eyes.
"And I always will be."
A/N: Aw! *sniffle* He is so sweet! Anybody who wants to read some more about our extremely sweet and sensitive(not to mention extremely good- looking) elf, please review!