AUTHOR'S NOTE: Wow, I have tomorrow out of school, too! I LOVE snow! That
means I'll probably update then, too! Yay! But then again, I may not if I
don't get any reviews! Actually, I was absolutely AMAZED at how many
reviews I got for the last chapter, I was running around telling my sisters
how happy I was about it. . . except they were barely awake and I had a few
random objects thrown at my head. Anyways, those reviews made my day!
Please review just as much for this one, lol! I try to respond to all my
reviews, so if you usually review anonymously, could you possibly leave an
email address? Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter. . . hopefully nobody
will want to kill me. . .
Fearing the Worst:
A couple of hours later, I sat in Legolas's room, staring out the window. I had gone into his room because my window did not face the western border as his did, and I wanted to be the first to know when they returned. The three elves I loved more than anything were out there fighting, and I was sitting there watching out the window helplessly, and it frustrated me to the point that I began clenching my fists - before I realized that I still held Legolas's letter. I looked down at the small, as of yet unopened, and slightly crumpled envelope. I had known as soon as he had handed it to me that I would not open it; opening it would be like acknowledging that he would not come back, which I refused to do. Legolas, Aldeon, and Thranduil would all come back safe and well.
I was abruptly brought out of my thoughts by a knock at the door. I started before calling, "Come in," wondering who would be knocking on Legolas's door, knowing that he was out fighting. I was surprised to see Firine, the elf my brother had been courting for what seemed like forever, enter.
"Mara," she said, with a relieved smile. "When you were not in your room I was afraid for a moment that you had ridden out with the troops." I laughed weakly.
"No, not yet, anyway. I feel so useless," I said, dropping the letter in my lap and running my hands through my hair.
"We all do," Firine admitted. "No matter how many times Aldeon rides out to the border, I never worry any less. Especially when I *know* that there is an attack as I do now." I nodded.
"Yes, I am worrying myself sick about all three of them," I said, knowing that she would know of whom I spoke.
"What is that?" she said, gesturing to the letter in my lap.
"Oh. . . something Legolas gave me before he left. Something he wanted to tell me. I am not going to open it, though, I am going to wait for him to tell me in person." Firine grinned mischievously, her eyes glittering through the worry that clouded them.
"Any idea what it is?" she asked.
"No," I replied. "It is some big secret that he always promised to tell me." When I replied to the negative, Firine's mischievous look turned to one of shock.
"You really do not know?" she said, almost to herself. "I would have thought. . ."
"What?" I said, immediately intrigued. "Do you know what it is?" Firine recovered quickly.
"I may have a theory, but I will keep it to myself. . . you have the letter, and if you do not read it you said yourself that you would rather hear it from Legolas." I sighed, turning my face back to the window.
"What is taking them so long?" I said quietly. "It has been nearly three hours. . . they should be back-" I stopped abruptly as I saw a group of elves returning to the palace. "Finally," I breathed, before taking off downstairs, with Firine close behind. I rushed to the front gate, arriving just as the first of the elves were appearing through the trees. Thranduil was in front, looking strangely pale and upset, with Aldeon behind him. . . helping another elf carry Legolas in what appeared to be a makeshift stretcher. I gasped when I saw two black arrows protruding from his side. I fought my instinct that told me to run to his side, and instead ran to the palace to call for healers.
"We need healers, quickly!" I cried when I reached the doors. A servant poked her head out of a door to see what all the noise was about. "Prince Legolas has been injured, he needs healers; have them go to his room!" I yelled. As soon as she nodded and headed off to find said healers, I turned back to where Thranduil, Aldeon, Legolas, and the other elf who was helping to carry him had just entered the door. "The healers are going to his room," I said, and Thranduil nodded, leading the way.
By the time we arrive at his room, the healers had already arrived and were ready and waiting. They immediately shooed everyone out of the room, even the king, saying that they would let us in as soon as they could. As soon as the door shut behind us, Thranduil waved the other elves who had gathered away, leaving only me, him, and Aldeon. We all sat up against the wall opposite his door.
"How bad is it?" I asked quietly. I had not had the chance to take a good look at him. . . and I was not sure if I wanted to.
"It is bad enough," Thranduil replied grimly. He was silent for a few moments before continuing. "I called for everyone to fall back so that we could regroup and attack again. Legolas was fighting at he very forefront and, being the stubborn elf he is, was the last to fall back. He ended up drawing all the enemy's fire, and even he cannot deflect twenty arrows at once." Thranduil put a hand to his forehead. "Even after he was injured, he would not stop fighting, even when I ordered him to! Why must he be so willful?!" When I remained silent, he looked up. "I am sorry; I do not mean to upset you."
"Do not worry about me," I said firmly. "You two must be hungry, or thirsty, or tired, or. . . something. Tell me what you need." Thranduil smiled a little.
"I believe I would greatly appreciate some water."
"Aldeon," I said to my brother, who had not said anything since his return. He did not reply. "Aldeon, are you alright?" He seemed to hear me that time.
"Oh, yes, yes, I am fine. . . water sounds wonderful, thank you." I looked at him hard.
"Aldeon, what is wrong?" I asked. He sighed.
"On the way to the battle, Legolas told me about something he had done that I was. . . well, less than pleased about. I ended up saying some things that I should nto have said, and now-"
"Now you will have the chance to apologize once he wakes up," I said determinedly. Aldeon smiled weakly.
"Yes, you are right. Some water really would be good."
I nodded and headed for the kitchen. Mastien met me in the doorway. "Is it true, what they say?" she asked worriedly. "Is Legolas injured. . . badly?" I nodded as we walked into the kitchen.
"Yes, he was struck by two arrows. The healers are tending to him now, though. . . they will not give us any word on how he is doing." I took a deep breath as I filled two large glasses with ice chips, then water from the basin, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening. I pressed my lips together as I turned around to where Mastien was standing, not bothering to hold back her tears. "I will let you know whenever we are told anything," I promised before hurrying past her into the hallway beyond.
When I arrived at Legolas's room, Thranduil and Aldeon were gone. I stood for a second staring at the floor where they had been sitting, then jumped sky-high when they came out through Legolas's door. I barely had time to be shocked before what this meant occurred to me.
"Is he. . . all right?" I asked worriedly.
"Yes," Thranduil confirmed, with a relieved look on his face. "The arrows missed everything important, the healers say, but he is still in a great deal of pain, understandably. They are going to give him something to help him sleep, but he insists on seeing you first."
"Thank Eru. . ." I whispered when Thranduil said he was fine. I turned to go into his room before I realized I was still holding the two glasses of water. "Oh, here," I said, handing them to Thranduil and Aldeon.
I entered the room quietly, poking my head in first before the rest of me followed. "Just a few moments," a healer instructed sternly. "I am going to go get some herbs I need; when I return you will have to leave." I nodded mutely as she closed the door behind her. I moved to the bedside and smiled down at Legolas.
"How are you feeling?" I asked timidly. He smiled a little.
"I just had two arrows pulled out of my side. . . I am great, how about you?" I sighed and sank to the floor beside his bed.
"If you can still make corny jokes, you must be alright." I paused before looking back up at him and continuing. "When I saw them carrying you in on a stretcher, I could not help but think the worst, especially after what you said before you left. . ."
"Do not worry about me, I am fine," he assured me, "But speaking of what I said before I left. . . you have not yet told me what you think of my secret." I was surprised to see an hint of fear in his eyes as he spoke. Fear? This elf, who had just gotten shot by orcs and played it off with a corny joke was afraid of what I would think of this secret?
I smiled guiltily and pulled the envelope out of a pocket in my dress, showing him the unbroken seal. "I did not want to read it," I admitted, "I was afraid that it was bad luck, because of the reason you wrote it and all."
"You. . . did not. . . read it?" he stammered, looking something between relieved and dismayed. I shook my head.
"No, I would rather you tell me yourself. So, what is it?" He sighed.
"I cannot tell you now," he said.
"Why ever not?" I protested. "Why could you tell me in the letter but now that you are here you cannot?"
"Because it just is not the right time," he said. "Keep the letter; open it if you will, whenever you would like, but I would rather tell you myself, when the time is right." I frowned.
"I swear, if you were not already hurt-"
"Then I would stay that way, no matter how frustrated you are," he said, laughing for a second before wincing. "Remind me not to laugh anymore."
"She will not be here to remind you," the healer commented as she reentered. "I'm sorry, Maranwe, Legolas must rest now."
"Why must she leave?" Legolas questioned, sounding a bit irritated. "Sleeping is not going to make my side hurt any less."
"Perhaps not," she countered, "But you will not be awake to feel it, now, will you? Goodbye, Maranwe," she said firmly. I stood and squeezed one of Legolas's hands.
"Do what she says," I said. "Or you will have to answer to me." I grinned. "You need to get better, or else I may send Marilla here to comfort you in your pain." I laughed as Legolas's groan echoed behind me as I exited.
A/N: *winces at the glares she is getting for hurting Legolas* Hey, don't be mad at me! He's the stubborn one who wouldn't fall back when Thranduil said to! Please review! I may stick another batch of Legolas cookies in the oven if I get enough reviews. . .
Fearing the Worst:
A couple of hours later, I sat in Legolas's room, staring out the window. I had gone into his room because my window did not face the western border as his did, and I wanted to be the first to know when they returned. The three elves I loved more than anything were out there fighting, and I was sitting there watching out the window helplessly, and it frustrated me to the point that I began clenching my fists - before I realized that I still held Legolas's letter. I looked down at the small, as of yet unopened, and slightly crumpled envelope. I had known as soon as he had handed it to me that I would not open it; opening it would be like acknowledging that he would not come back, which I refused to do. Legolas, Aldeon, and Thranduil would all come back safe and well.
I was abruptly brought out of my thoughts by a knock at the door. I started before calling, "Come in," wondering who would be knocking on Legolas's door, knowing that he was out fighting. I was surprised to see Firine, the elf my brother had been courting for what seemed like forever, enter.
"Mara," she said, with a relieved smile. "When you were not in your room I was afraid for a moment that you had ridden out with the troops." I laughed weakly.
"No, not yet, anyway. I feel so useless," I said, dropping the letter in my lap and running my hands through my hair.
"We all do," Firine admitted. "No matter how many times Aldeon rides out to the border, I never worry any less. Especially when I *know* that there is an attack as I do now." I nodded.
"Yes, I am worrying myself sick about all three of them," I said, knowing that she would know of whom I spoke.
"What is that?" she said, gesturing to the letter in my lap.
"Oh. . . something Legolas gave me before he left. Something he wanted to tell me. I am not going to open it, though, I am going to wait for him to tell me in person." Firine grinned mischievously, her eyes glittering through the worry that clouded them.
"Any idea what it is?" she asked.
"No," I replied. "It is some big secret that he always promised to tell me." When I replied to the negative, Firine's mischievous look turned to one of shock.
"You really do not know?" she said, almost to herself. "I would have thought. . ."
"What?" I said, immediately intrigued. "Do you know what it is?" Firine recovered quickly.
"I may have a theory, but I will keep it to myself. . . you have the letter, and if you do not read it you said yourself that you would rather hear it from Legolas." I sighed, turning my face back to the window.
"What is taking them so long?" I said quietly. "It has been nearly three hours. . . they should be back-" I stopped abruptly as I saw a group of elves returning to the palace. "Finally," I breathed, before taking off downstairs, with Firine close behind. I rushed to the front gate, arriving just as the first of the elves were appearing through the trees. Thranduil was in front, looking strangely pale and upset, with Aldeon behind him. . . helping another elf carry Legolas in what appeared to be a makeshift stretcher. I gasped when I saw two black arrows protruding from his side. I fought my instinct that told me to run to his side, and instead ran to the palace to call for healers.
"We need healers, quickly!" I cried when I reached the doors. A servant poked her head out of a door to see what all the noise was about. "Prince Legolas has been injured, he needs healers; have them go to his room!" I yelled. As soon as she nodded and headed off to find said healers, I turned back to where Thranduil, Aldeon, Legolas, and the other elf who was helping to carry him had just entered the door. "The healers are going to his room," I said, and Thranduil nodded, leading the way.
By the time we arrive at his room, the healers had already arrived and were ready and waiting. They immediately shooed everyone out of the room, even the king, saying that they would let us in as soon as they could. As soon as the door shut behind us, Thranduil waved the other elves who had gathered away, leaving only me, him, and Aldeon. We all sat up against the wall opposite his door.
"How bad is it?" I asked quietly. I had not had the chance to take a good look at him. . . and I was not sure if I wanted to.
"It is bad enough," Thranduil replied grimly. He was silent for a few moments before continuing. "I called for everyone to fall back so that we could regroup and attack again. Legolas was fighting at he very forefront and, being the stubborn elf he is, was the last to fall back. He ended up drawing all the enemy's fire, and even he cannot deflect twenty arrows at once." Thranduil put a hand to his forehead. "Even after he was injured, he would not stop fighting, even when I ordered him to! Why must he be so willful?!" When I remained silent, he looked up. "I am sorry; I do not mean to upset you."
"Do not worry about me," I said firmly. "You two must be hungry, or thirsty, or tired, or. . . something. Tell me what you need." Thranduil smiled a little.
"I believe I would greatly appreciate some water."
"Aldeon," I said to my brother, who had not said anything since his return. He did not reply. "Aldeon, are you alright?" He seemed to hear me that time.
"Oh, yes, yes, I am fine. . . water sounds wonderful, thank you." I looked at him hard.
"Aldeon, what is wrong?" I asked. He sighed.
"On the way to the battle, Legolas told me about something he had done that I was. . . well, less than pleased about. I ended up saying some things that I should nto have said, and now-"
"Now you will have the chance to apologize once he wakes up," I said determinedly. Aldeon smiled weakly.
"Yes, you are right. Some water really would be good."
I nodded and headed for the kitchen. Mastien met me in the doorway. "Is it true, what they say?" she asked worriedly. "Is Legolas injured. . . badly?" I nodded as we walked into the kitchen.
"Yes, he was struck by two arrows. The healers are tending to him now, though. . . they will not give us any word on how he is doing." I took a deep breath as I filled two large glasses with ice chips, then water from the basin, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening. I pressed my lips together as I turned around to where Mastien was standing, not bothering to hold back her tears. "I will let you know whenever we are told anything," I promised before hurrying past her into the hallway beyond.
When I arrived at Legolas's room, Thranduil and Aldeon were gone. I stood for a second staring at the floor where they had been sitting, then jumped sky-high when they came out through Legolas's door. I barely had time to be shocked before what this meant occurred to me.
"Is he. . . all right?" I asked worriedly.
"Yes," Thranduil confirmed, with a relieved look on his face. "The arrows missed everything important, the healers say, but he is still in a great deal of pain, understandably. They are going to give him something to help him sleep, but he insists on seeing you first."
"Thank Eru. . ." I whispered when Thranduil said he was fine. I turned to go into his room before I realized I was still holding the two glasses of water. "Oh, here," I said, handing them to Thranduil and Aldeon.
I entered the room quietly, poking my head in first before the rest of me followed. "Just a few moments," a healer instructed sternly. "I am going to go get some herbs I need; when I return you will have to leave." I nodded mutely as she closed the door behind her. I moved to the bedside and smiled down at Legolas.
"How are you feeling?" I asked timidly. He smiled a little.
"I just had two arrows pulled out of my side. . . I am great, how about you?" I sighed and sank to the floor beside his bed.
"If you can still make corny jokes, you must be alright." I paused before looking back up at him and continuing. "When I saw them carrying you in on a stretcher, I could not help but think the worst, especially after what you said before you left. . ."
"Do not worry about me, I am fine," he assured me, "But speaking of what I said before I left. . . you have not yet told me what you think of my secret." I was surprised to see an hint of fear in his eyes as he spoke. Fear? This elf, who had just gotten shot by orcs and played it off with a corny joke was afraid of what I would think of this secret?
I smiled guiltily and pulled the envelope out of a pocket in my dress, showing him the unbroken seal. "I did not want to read it," I admitted, "I was afraid that it was bad luck, because of the reason you wrote it and all."
"You. . . did not. . . read it?" he stammered, looking something between relieved and dismayed. I shook my head.
"No, I would rather you tell me yourself. So, what is it?" He sighed.
"I cannot tell you now," he said.
"Why ever not?" I protested. "Why could you tell me in the letter but now that you are here you cannot?"
"Because it just is not the right time," he said. "Keep the letter; open it if you will, whenever you would like, but I would rather tell you myself, when the time is right." I frowned.
"I swear, if you were not already hurt-"
"Then I would stay that way, no matter how frustrated you are," he said, laughing for a second before wincing. "Remind me not to laugh anymore."
"She will not be here to remind you," the healer commented as she reentered. "I'm sorry, Maranwe, Legolas must rest now."
"Why must she leave?" Legolas questioned, sounding a bit irritated. "Sleeping is not going to make my side hurt any less."
"Perhaps not," she countered, "But you will not be awake to feel it, now, will you? Goodbye, Maranwe," she said firmly. I stood and squeezed one of Legolas's hands.
"Do what she says," I said. "Or you will have to answer to me." I grinned. "You need to get better, or else I may send Marilla here to comfort you in your pain." I laughed as Legolas's groan echoed behind me as I exited.
A/N: *winces at the glares she is getting for hurting Legolas* Hey, don't be mad at me! He's the stubborn one who wouldn't fall back when Thranduil said to! Please review! I may stick another batch of Legolas cookies in the oven if I get enough reviews. . .