AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yes, I know it's been a while since I've updated, but I came
to a pivotal point in my other fic and took some time to do it. . . and now
I am going to devote some time to this one! This is a rather short chapter,
but I felt it an appropriate way to end the chapter. I hope you like it!
Love and Death:
"Leave? So you called me in here only to remember that you have something better to do?" I said, slightly irritated. Legolas had come to tell me that Aragorn had asked to talk to me, and then I got here and he said he had to leave. Men!
"No, Mara, I mean I have to leave. . . as in leaving Mirkwood." My eyes widened.
"What? Why? What did you do?" I said, wondering what he had done to get himself banished from Mirkwood. " I *told* you to go easy on the wine last night-" I was cut off by his unenthusiastic laughter.
"Leave it to you to think that I have been exiled. No, I am leaving of my own free will." He picked up his sword and began polishing it. "I never meant to stay here so long; I looked for no more than a bed to sleep in and a nice meal, if even that, before I set back out. I have been here over two months, I must be leaving."
"You *want* to leave?" I asked. "Is it so unpleasant here?"
"No!" he said, seeming surprised to see tears in my eyes. He set down his sword and took my hands. "If it were so unpleasant, I would not have stayed this long. Surely you did not expect me to stay forever?"
"Well, I never really thought about it," I admitted. "You just came in and fit in so easily and I suppose I just never thought. . ." Aragorn smiled a bit.
"I am mortal, Mara. While two months may be nothing to you, to me it is a great deal of time. If I had eternity, I would love to stay longer, but I do not, and there are things I must do."
"Things?" He sighed.
"There are things going on in the outside world, Mara, and they are not good. I hope you never have to learn of them. You must have noticed it, even safe within the borders of this realm; can you say that you have not noticed that Legolas has had to make more frequent trips to the border to look into reports from the elves there? There is evil stirring, and I must go do what I can to help."
"But. . ." I could not put my worries into words, but Aragorn knew what I was thinking.
"Yes, it is possible that I could be killed in helping, and even if I am not, I am mortal and there is the chance that we could never see each other again." He squeezed my hands gently as a tear rolled down my cheek. "This pains my heart, you must know that, for I have come to love you like the sister I never had, but I cannot forget those who need my help." I nodded and wiped my eyes.
"Yes, I know; I am being selfish, thinking only of myself while you are preparing to ride out into Eru knows what. Can I do anything to help?" He smiled.
"Sure, you can help polish this." He handed me his sword and a cloth. I polished in silence as he packed a small bag for a few moments before he spoke again. "If it will ease your mind any, it is not all bad things that call me away." I paused in my rubbing and looked up at him.
"It will only ease my mind if it is true and not something you are making up to make me eel better." He laughed now, a big, hearty laugh that for a moment reminded me of my father's.
"No, I speak the truth, I assure you." He got a faraway look in his eyes and did not continue until I cleared my throat. "I have found love," he said simply, causing my mouth to quite literally fall open.
"What? Who? Tell me!" I insisted when he chuckled.
"I was planning on it, don't worry. Arwen Undomiel," he said, saying the name as if it were a prayer.
"Arwen. . . Arwen," I repeated, racking my brain for where I heard that name before, gasping when I remembered. "Arwen, as in Lord Elrond's daughter? But she is an elf. . . and your adoptive sister!"
"Yes, she is an elf, that is the only problem. . . as for her being my adoptive sister, yes, she is, but there is no blood relation." He paused for a moment, looking at me strangely. "Some people think that it is wrong to wed one's adoptive sister, but like I said, there is no blood relation, and what our hearts tell us goes beyond anything that others may say. It may do you good to remember that." His last statement completely baffled me, but I put it down to being distracted by the thought of his love.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning at dawn, I watched tearfully by Legolas's side as Aragorn rode away with two elves who would escort him to the border.
"Next time we take in a wandering traveler, remind me not to grow attached," I said, turning away to go back to the palace. Legolas and Aldeon followed.
"Do not worry, we will see him again," Aldeon assured me. I smiled a bit.
"Yes, perhaps at his wedding."
"Wedding?" Legolas said, confused.
"Yes, he is planning on wedding Arwen Undomiel. . . if he can get through Lord Elrond, that is." The two elves looked at me as if I had two heads.
"Arwen? Legolas finally said. "But she is an elf. . . and he a man. . . and. . ." I tried not to laugh at his stuttering, nearly failing.
"Yes, I know, but he is quite determined. He is in love with her." They still looked shocked, but said nothing. We went to the dining hall to eat breakfast, then Legolas and Aldeon went to archery practice and I headed for the library. Thranduil had asked me to bring him some texts. After I had delivered them, unsuccessfully trying to pry out of him what they were for, I returned to my room until luncheon, when Legolas and my brother both appeared to take me. I smiled as I closed the door behind me.
"I require bodyguards, now? I am not going to fall apart because Aragorn left, I can assure you. I will miss him, but I am fine." I acted like I didn't catch the look they sent over my head.
Conversation at luncheon seemed strained; it was amazing how we had come to depend on Aragorn's banter to fill the silence. Halfway through the meal, an elf burst through the door.
"King Thranduil, Aragorn and one of his escorts is riding towards the palace at high speed!" We all rushed out to the front gate, where Aragorn and the elf was just dismounting, his horse panting and sweaty, telling of their hard ride.
"Orcs on the border," he said, "Many of them. Nuure was killed before we managed to get away." Thranduil, Legolas, and Aldeon immediately sprang into action, Thranduil ordering for troops to be readied as they all three sprinted inside to change and retrieve their weapons. Feeling like a fish out of water, I asked Aragorn if he or the elf were injured, and when he replied that they were not, I really felt useless.
"Go inside, Mara, he said sternly. When I looked up at him, obviously not understanding why, he continued. "There are many orcs, and only the border patrol to keep them at bay. . . if they should break through you would be safer inside." He pressed a dagger into my hand. "This may not do you much good against many, but use it as you may if it comes to that." Realizing that he really thought that there were enough orcs to get through the border scared me terribly, but I pushed the dagger away.
"No, you will have more need of this than I. I have protection inside." He nodded before turning and mounting his horse. I went back inside, heading for my room as I had nowhere else to go. I was nearly there when I saw Legolas.
"Mara!" he called, sounding relieved. "You were not in your room," he explained. He handed me an envelope, looking troubled as he spoke. "Mara, you know that there is always the chance that I may not return-"
"Legolas, do not say such things!" I gasped. He shook his head and, grabbing my hands, continued.
"No, listen. I promised I would tell you the secret, and I intend to keep my word, even if the worst should happen. It is here in this letter. . . it may be hard to read, I wrote it hastily just now," he apologized with a small smile. He suddenly hugged me tightly, holding me close for a few moments before pulling back and kissing me on the cheek. His actions were making me more and more worried. . . he really thought he may not return, I thought.
"Please be careful," I pleaded. He smiled.
"I always am. And," he added before I could speak, "I will my father and Aldeon that you say the same to them, since they are most likely outside by now, which is where I should be. Stay inside, it is safer here!" he called as he ran off, not even giving me a chance to say anything. As his retreating form disappeared around a corner, I looked down at the envelope I held in my hands. What could be so important that he took time before a battle to write it down, in case of his own death?
A/N: Hmm, a cliffie! I know, I know, you probably hate me right now, but I couldn't resist! It was too tempting! Please review! *holds up a tray of Legolas-shaped cookies just out of readers' reaches* One of these for everyone who does!
Love and Death:
"Leave? So you called me in here only to remember that you have something better to do?" I said, slightly irritated. Legolas had come to tell me that Aragorn had asked to talk to me, and then I got here and he said he had to leave. Men!
"No, Mara, I mean I have to leave. . . as in leaving Mirkwood." My eyes widened.
"What? Why? What did you do?" I said, wondering what he had done to get himself banished from Mirkwood. " I *told* you to go easy on the wine last night-" I was cut off by his unenthusiastic laughter.
"Leave it to you to think that I have been exiled. No, I am leaving of my own free will." He picked up his sword and began polishing it. "I never meant to stay here so long; I looked for no more than a bed to sleep in and a nice meal, if even that, before I set back out. I have been here over two months, I must be leaving."
"You *want* to leave?" I asked. "Is it so unpleasant here?"
"No!" he said, seeming surprised to see tears in my eyes. He set down his sword and took my hands. "If it were so unpleasant, I would not have stayed this long. Surely you did not expect me to stay forever?"
"Well, I never really thought about it," I admitted. "You just came in and fit in so easily and I suppose I just never thought. . ." Aragorn smiled a bit.
"I am mortal, Mara. While two months may be nothing to you, to me it is a great deal of time. If I had eternity, I would love to stay longer, but I do not, and there are things I must do."
"Things?" He sighed.
"There are things going on in the outside world, Mara, and they are not good. I hope you never have to learn of them. You must have noticed it, even safe within the borders of this realm; can you say that you have not noticed that Legolas has had to make more frequent trips to the border to look into reports from the elves there? There is evil stirring, and I must go do what I can to help."
"But. . ." I could not put my worries into words, but Aragorn knew what I was thinking.
"Yes, it is possible that I could be killed in helping, and even if I am not, I am mortal and there is the chance that we could never see each other again." He squeezed my hands gently as a tear rolled down my cheek. "This pains my heart, you must know that, for I have come to love you like the sister I never had, but I cannot forget those who need my help." I nodded and wiped my eyes.
"Yes, I know; I am being selfish, thinking only of myself while you are preparing to ride out into Eru knows what. Can I do anything to help?" He smiled.
"Sure, you can help polish this." He handed me his sword and a cloth. I polished in silence as he packed a small bag for a few moments before he spoke again. "If it will ease your mind any, it is not all bad things that call me away." I paused in my rubbing and looked up at him.
"It will only ease my mind if it is true and not something you are making up to make me eel better." He laughed now, a big, hearty laugh that for a moment reminded me of my father's.
"No, I speak the truth, I assure you." He got a faraway look in his eyes and did not continue until I cleared my throat. "I have found love," he said simply, causing my mouth to quite literally fall open.
"What? Who? Tell me!" I insisted when he chuckled.
"I was planning on it, don't worry. Arwen Undomiel," he said, saying the name as if it were a prayer.
"Arwen. . . Arwen," I repeated, racking my brain for where I heard that name before, gasping when I remembered. "Arwen, as in Lord Elrond's daughter? But she is an elf. . . and your adoptive sister!"
"Yes, she is an elf, that is the only problem. . . as for her being my adoptive sister, yes, she is, but there is no blood relation." He paused for a moment, looking at me strangely. "Some people think that it is wrong to wed one's adoptive sister, but like I said, there is no blood relation, and what our hearts tell us goes beyond anything that others may say. It may do you good to remember that." His last statement completely baffled me, but I put it down to being distracted by the thought of his love.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning at dawn, I watched tearfully by Legolas's side as Aragorn rode away with two elves who would escort him to the border.
"Next time we take in a wandering traveler, remind me not to grow attached," I said, turning away to go back to the palace. Legolas and Aldeon followed.
"Do not worry, we will see him again," Aldeon assured me. I smiled a bit.
"Yes, perhaps at his wedding."
"Wedding?" Legolas said, confused.
"Yes, he is planning on wedding Arwen Undomiel. . . if he can get through Lord Elrond, that is." The two elves looked at me as if I had two heads.
"Arwen? Legolas finally said. "But she is an elf. . . and he a man. . . and. . ." I tried not to laugh at his stuttering, nearly failing.
"Yes, I know, but he is quite determined. He is in love with her." They still looked shocked, but said nothing. We went to the dining hall to eat breakfast, then Legolas and Aldeon went to archery practice and I headed for the library. Thranduil had asked me to bring him some texts. After I had delivered them, unsuccessfully trying to pry out of him what they were for, I returned to my room until luncheon, when Legolas and my brother both appeared to take me. I smiled as I closed the door behind me.
"I require bodyguards, now? I am not going to fall apart because Aragorn left, I can assure you. I will miss him, but I am fine." I acted like I didn't catch the look they sent over my head.
Conversation at luncheon seemed strained; it was amazing how we had come to depend on Aragorn's banter to fill the silence. Halfway through the meal, an elf burst through the door.
"King Thranduil, Aragorn and one of his escorts is riding towards the palace at high speed!" We all rushed out to the front gate, where Aragorn and the elf was just dismounting, his horse panting and sweaty, telling of their hard ride.
"Orcs on the border," he said, "Many of them. Nuure was killed before we managed to get away." Thranduil, Legolas, and Aldeon immediately sprang into action, Thranduil ordering for troops to be readied as they all three sprinted inside to change and retrieve their weapons. Feeling like a fish out of water, I asked Aragorn if he or the elf were injured, and when he replied that they were not, I really felt useless.
"Go inside, Mara, he said sternly. When I looked up at him, obviously not understanding why, he continued. "There are many orcs, and only the border patrol to keep them at bay. . . if they should break through you would be safer inside." He pressed a dagger into my hand. "This may not do you much good against many, but use it as you may if it comes to that." Realizing that he really thought that there were enough orcs to get through the border scared me terribly, but I pushed the dagger away.
"No, you will have more need of this than I. I have protection inside." He nodded before turning and mounting his horse. I went back inside, heading for my room as I had nowhere else to go. I was nearly there when I saw Legolas.
"Mara!" he called, sounding relieved. "You were not in your room," he explained. He handed me an envelope, looking troubled as he spoke. "Mara, you know that there is always the chance that I may not return-"
"Legolas, do not say such things!" I gasped. He shook his head and, grabbing my hands, continued.
"No, listen. I promised I would tell you the secret, and I intend to keep my word, even if the worst should happen. It is here in this letter. . . it may be hard to read, I wrote it hastily just now," he apologized with a small smile. He suddenly hugged me tightly, holding me close for a few moments before pulling back and kissing me on the cheek. His actions were making me more and more worried. . . he really thought he may not return, I thought.
"Please be careful," I pleaded. He smiled.
"I always am. And," he added before I could speak, "I will my father and Aldeon that you say the same to them, since they are most likely outside by now, which is where I should be. Stay inside, it is safer here!" he called as he ran off, not even giving me a chance to say anything. As his retreating form disappeared around a corner, I looked down at the envelope I held in my hands. What could be so important that he took time before a battle to write it down, in case of his own death?
A/N: Hmm, a cliffie! I know, I know, you probably hate me right now, but I couldn't resist! It was too tempting! Please review! *holds up a tray of Legolas-shaped cookies just out of readers' reaches* One of these for everyone who does!