A/N…
Thanks to Michelleb102 for this story's first review. Yes, there are so many ways I could pull this story, and I've pondered long and hard on what direction their relationship should go. I hope you approve!
LunarianPrincess - Aw. Thanks a bundle! I really hope this sequel lives up to its predecessor. And you know, I just realized that you are the author of Horizon's Song. I love that story! P.S, you design clothes, too?? OMG we'd get along soooo good. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 2 - Mirkwood
"The Peril Between"
They had gotten off to an early start the next morning, and immediately upon entering the forest, Lianna felt a palpable heaviness in the air. Foreboding, and almost evil. It was such a beautiful morning, Lianna thought it a shame to waste it under the shadows of the trees' boughs. But, Legolas did not seem to mind. He seemed rather happy, as a matter of fact.
Just the feel of the trees around him and the promise that they held hidden deep in them made him cheerful. Lianna wished the same could be said for her.
Legolas was chatting away that evening, and Lianna was doing her best to listen. But she could not help her thoughts from drifting to the woods on either side of them. She asked herself questions like, 'What lies past that tree?' and 'I wonder if anything is watching us.' Of course, none of these questions were answered, and to Lianna, the wondering was almost as bad as if an army of orcs suddenly jumped out to meet them.
They stopped to make camp at twilight. Tying their horses reins loosely to a nearby tree, Legolas chanced making a fire. Part of what he had told her was true. There were evils in this forest, and depending on their depth in the woods, a fire could either attract troubles or repel them. Thankfully, this night, they were near enough to the border that a fire would not invite problems.
They had eaten and were sitting closely together around the fire in a comfortable silence. Every now and then, Lianna might ask a question, and Legolas would answer it, but say no more. One of Lianna's innocent inquiries sparked something much larger in Legolas's mind. It went like this.
"How do you know?" She asked, forgetting he hadn't heard the debate she held in her own thoughts.
"Know what?" He asked detachedly, staring into the fire.
"When you have found the right one."
"I don't know. I guess you just know. You just feel it."
"Have you ever felt it?" She asked after a pause, as if deciding whether the question was a good idea.
"I am." He replied simply, and looked down, deep into her eyes. Her heart fluttered, and she reached up to touch his face.
But suddenly, the horses whinnied loudly. Lianna and Legolas jerked their heads simultaneously, only to see their horses pull the reins from the tree branch and go galloping off into the forest.
Legolas sprung up and was about to go after them when Lianna cried out.
"No! Don't leave me here alone!" Legolas looked to her, then to the direction their horses ran, then to her again. He didn't want her to go with him, she knew that. But she could not stay alone in the dreadfully silent forest.
"Fine!" He reached down and pulled her up, sprinting off around the trees with a bewildered looking Lianna in tow.
Lianna did not move quite as well in the forest as Legolas did, and unfortunately, stumbled on some tree roots. Her groan as she fell face first onto the forest floor made Legolas stop and rush back to her.
"Are you alright, love?"
With a frustrated sigh, she replied, "Yes, yes I'm fine. Damn trees."
"Hush! Don't say such things!" Lianna was about to ask why, when Legolas pulled her up beside him.
"Maethoren. (My champion.)" She said wryly. Through the darkness, she saw him smile.
"Come now, a bit slower, we must find our horses." He said, and gently guided her through the trees.
"How far have they gone off?" Lianna asked, when they had walked some time.
"Apparently something frightened them terribly." Legolas replied, causing a rise of dread in Lianna's stomach. He felt her tense under his hold, and Legolas chuckled, "Don't worry, I'll protect you." Lianna was about to say something witty when they heard the unmistakable sound of twigs snapping behind them.
They whirled around, in the darkness throwing off Lianna's balance, and nearly sent her tumbling face first to the forest floor again. But thankfully, Legolas's hold on her was strong, and he held her up.
When Legolas deemed the sound must have been made by a deer or other wood creature, they resumed their search. They had only walked a few wary steps when the sound was heard again, this time much closer, and to their right.
Lianna drew a shaky breath, as she and Legolas stood there, watching. Waiting.
"Legolas." Lianna whimpered, fear evident in her quaking voice.
"Shh. Don't be such an elfling." He whispered back, though at the same time pulling her closer to his side.
Once again, he reassured her that it must be a deer, though he himself was not too sure anymore. Thankfully, he masked his uncertainty well, and Lianna was comforted in his seeming confidence.
As they turned around to resume their search once again, they saw a dark figure pass before them. Lianna gasped and jumped back, but Legolas darted out, quick as lightning and seized the thing.
"It's okay, Lianna. It's your horse." She breathed a sigh of relief, but jumped again as she saw Legolas's horse trot up to her left.
"There you are." Lianna whispered in the horse's ear, gently stroking its neck.
Legolas led the horse back to their camp, and Lianna followed behind him, leading a horse as well. But, as the red glow of their fire came into view, Legolas's eyes were mysteriously drawn to the ground in front of him. There, was a footprint.
Too large for Lianna's. Too large for his, even. It was also very deep, indicating the immensity of the maker. He paused a moment, and heard Lianna ask from behind him,
"As man? (What is it?)"
"Nothing." Legolas said shortly and continued into camp. He had agreed with himself that Lianna had stepped in his track, therefore widening and deepening it. Yes, that seemed like a reasonable enough explanation. But still, in the back of his mind, a nagging doubt lingered.
It was forgotten for the moment, however, when they reached camp. Legolas tied their horses more tightly this time, and rested his back against a near tree, hands held behind his head. He watched intently as Lianna stoked the fire, placing pieces of felled trees they gathered gingerly on the blaze.
He had been watching her for quite some time. As she bustled about, laying out her blankets, gathering nearby brush, his gaze never left her. It amazed him how he could have been so close to her for all those years and missed out on this feeling.
He had loved her since he knew her, and it had only grown. But a different kind of love, since he had long accepted their friendship was all that would be. That love and bond of friendship, like a mask, hid the deep rested the feelings he had always harbored for her, even if he did not realize it.
When their ordeal came about, he and Katarina's engagement, and Lianna's revelation of her true feelings, he could not help but feel a bit triumphant. He had won the love of the only elleth he'd ever wanted to be with. The mask did not have to be kept any longer. He could realize his feelings for her again, and this time, they would be returned.
Those thoughts were what was behind the strange look he held in his blue eyes that night, as he watched his lover go about her business. Taking in her grace, elegance, and beauty. How could he ever want more? He never wanted it to end. And so, he broke the silence. Out of nowhere it seemed, he asked,
"Gevedithal nin anuir? (Will you marry me?)"
Lianna straightened up, her head snapped to him, as she dropped her current chore. She seemed shocked at first, as her jaw had hung open, but she closed it, and cast her gaze to the ground. Kneeling beside him, she asked
"You're sure?" As if he'd say he wasn't.
"Of course, mellamin. I love you more than an immortal lifetime of words or actions could possibly express. I never want to be without you." The thought of life without her brought tears to his crystal eyes, and Lianna placed her hands on his face, kissing his lips softly.
"Then you will never have to be."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N awww… It took me forever to update. Well, six days. To me, who usually updates every day, that is forever. But, I'm afraid that will be the trend for this story. I'm writing it as I go along, whereas my other stories I was a few chapters ahead of my updates.
Am I taking this in the right direction? I'm always open to suggestions of any kind.
Til next time, I'm Austin B.
Thanks to Michelleb102 for this story's first review. Yes, there are so many ways I could pull this story, and I've pondered long and hard on what direction their relationship should go. I hope you approve!
LunarianPrincess - Aw. Thanks a bundle! I really hope this sequel lives up to its predecessor. And you know, I just realized that you are the author of Horizon's Song. I love that story! P.S, you design clothes, too?? OMG we'd get along soooo good. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 2 - Mirkwood
"The Peril Between"
They had gotten off to an early start the next morning, and immediately upon entering the forest, Lianna felt a palpable heaviness in the air. Foreboding, and almost evil. It was such a beautiful morning, Lianna thought it a shame to waste it under the shadows of the trees' boughs. But, Legolas did not seem to mind. He seemed rather happy, as a matter of fact.
Just the feel of the trees around him and the promise that they held hidden deep in them made him cheerful. Lianna wished the same could be said for her.
Legolas was chatting away that evening, and Lianna was doing her best to listen. But she could not help her thoughts from drifting to the woods on either side of them. She asked herself questions like, 'What lies past that tree?' and 'I wonder if anything is watching us.' Of course, none of these questions were answered, and to Lianna, the wondering was almost as bad as if an army of orcs suddenly jumped out to meet them.
They stopped to make camp at twilight. Tying their horses reins loosely to a nearby tree, Legolas chanced making a fire. Part of what he had told her was true. There were evils in this forest, and depending on their depth in the woods, a fire could either attract troubles or repel them. Thankfully, this night, they were near enough to the border that a fire would not invite problems.
They had eaten and were sitting closely together around the fire in a comfortable silence. Every now and then, Lianna might ask a question, and Legolas would answer it, but say no more. One of Lianna's innocent inquiries sparked something much larger in Legolas's mind. It went like this.
"How do you know?" She asked, forgetting he hadn't heard the debate she held in her own thoughts.
"Know what?" He asked detachedly, staring into the fire.
"When you have found the right one."
"I don't know. I guess you just know. You just feel it."
"Have you ever felt it?" She asked after a pause, as if deciding whether the question was a good idea.
"I am." He replied simply, and looked down, deep into her eyes. Her heart fluttered, and she reached up to touch his face.
But suddenly, the horses whinnied loudly. Lianna and Legolas jerked their heads simultaneously, only to see their horses pull the reins from the tree branch and go galloping off into the forest.
Legolas sprung up and was about to go after them when Lianna cried out.
"No! Don't leave me here alone!" Legolas looked to her, then to the direction their horses ran, then to her again. He didn't want her to go with him, she knew that. But she could not stay alone in the dreadfully silent forest.
"Fine!" He reached down and pulled her up, sprinting off around the trees with a bewildered looking Lianna in tow.
Lianna did not move quite as well in the forest as Legolas did, and unfortunately, stumbled on some tree roots. Her groan as she fell face first onto the forest floor made Legolas stop and rush back to her.
"Are you alright, love?"
With a frustrated sigh, she replied, "Yes, yes I'm fine. Damn trees."
"Hush! Don't say such things!" Lianna was about to ask why, when Legolas pulled her up beside him.
"Maethoren. (My champion.)" She said wryly. Through the darkness, she saw him smile.
"Come now, a bit slower, we must find our horses." He said, and gently guided her through the trees.
"How far have they gone off?" Lianna asked, when they had walked some time.
"Apparently something frightened them terribly." Legolas replied, causing a rise of dread in Lianna's stomach. He felt her tense under his hold, and Legolas chuckled, "Don't worry, I'll protect you." Lianna was about to say something witty when they heard the unmistakable sound of twigs snapping behind them.
They whirled around, in the darkness throwing off Lianna's balance, and nearly sent her tumbling face first to the forest floor again. But thankfully, Legolas's hold on her was strong, and he held her up.
When Legolas deemed the sound must have been made by a deer or other wood creature, they resumed their search. They had only walked a few wary steps when the sound was heard again, this time much closer, and to their right.
Lianna drew a shaky breath, as she and Legolas stood there, watching. Waiting.
"Legolas." Lianna whimpered, fear evident in her quaking voice.
"Shh. Don't be such an elfling." He whispered back, though at the same time pulling her closer to his side.
Once again, he reassured her that it must be a deer, though he himself was not too sure anymore. Thankfully, he masked his uncertainty well, and Lianna was comforted in his seeming confidence.
As they turned around to resume their search once again, they saw a dark figure pass before them. Lianna gasped and jumped back, but Legolas darted out, quick as lightning and seized the thing.
"It's okay, Lianna. It's your horse." She breathed a sigh of relief, but jumped again as she saw Legolas's horse trot up to her left.
"There you are." Lianna whispered in the horse's ear, gently stroking its neck.
Legolas led the horse back to their camp, and Lianna followed behind him, leading a horse as well. But, as the red glow of their fire came into view, Legolas's eyes were mysteriously drawn to the ground in front of him. There, was a footprint.
Too large for Lianna's. Too large for his, even. It was also very deep, indicating the immensity of the maker. He paused a moment, and heard Lianna ask from behind him,
"As man? (What is it?)"
"Nothing." Legolas said shortly and continued into camp. He had agreed with himself that Lianna had stepped in his track, therefore widening and deepening it. Yes, that seemed like a reasonable enough explanation. But still, in the back of his mind, a nagging doubt lingered.
It was forgotten for the moment, however, when they reached camp. Legolas tied their horses more tightly this time, and rested his back against a near tree, hands held behind his head. He watched intently as Lianna stoked the fire, placing pieces of felled trees they gathered gingerly on the blaze.
He had been watching her for quite some time. As she bustled about, laying out her blankets, gathering nearby brush, his gaze never left her. It amazed him how he could have been so close to her for all those years and missed out on this feeling.
He had loved her since he knew her, and it had only grown. But a different kind of love, since he had long accepted their friendship was all that would be. That love and bond of friendship, like a mask, hid the deep rested the feelings he had always harbored for her, even if he did not realize it.
When their ordeal came about, he and Katarina's engagement, and Lianna's revelation of her true feelings, he could not help but feel a bit triumphant. He had won the love of the only elleth he'd ever wanted to be with. The mask did not have to be kept any longer. He could realize his feelings for her again, and this time, they would be returned.
Those thoughts were what was behind the strange look he held in his blue eyes that night, as he watched his lover go about her business. Taking in her grace, elegance, and beauty. How could he ever want more? He never wanted it to end. And so, he broke the silence. Out of nowhere it seemed, he asked,
"Gevedithal nin anuir? (Will you marry me?)"
Lianna straightened up, her head snapped to him, as she dropped her current chore. She seemed shocked at first, as her jaw had hung open, but she closed it, and cast her gaze to the ground. Kneeling beside him, she asked
"You're sure?" As if he'd say he wasn't.
"Of course, mellamin. I love you more than an immortal lifetime of words or actions could possibly express. I never want to be without you." The thought of life without her brought tears to his crystal eyes, and Lianna placed her hands on his face, kissing his lips softly.
"Then you will never have to be."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N awww… It took me forever to update. Well, six days. To me, who usually updates every day, that is forever. But, I'm afraid that will be the trend for this story. I'm writing it as I go along, whereas my other stories I was a few chapters ahead of my updates.
Am I taking this in the right direction? I'm always open to suggestions of any kind.
Til next time, I'm Austin B.