Short summary: Two Elves' lives are intertwined. They've overcome a jealous fiance, bitter, vengeful fiance's father, and everything in between.
To reiterate…I own Lianna…that's it.
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Chapter 5 - Just Go
"Certainty and Doubt"
Legolas dug a grave in a patch of dirt outside the cave for Belegorn's body. Though Lianna was exhausted, she insisted on helping. They said a few words of passing over his last resting place just as the sun was coming up.
Lianna refused to stay in that stinking cave any longer, so Legolas sought out a place to rest and sleep their fears and weariness away.
They finally rested on an outcropping of the cliff on which they now stood. There was grass and moss growing in the cracks on the floor, and Lianna lay her cheek against the greens. Legolas stood on a nearby rock, scouting their position, a silent sentinel. Lianna smiled as she saw him. 'Never weary when there are things to do.' She thought fondly.
The sun shone on her back and warmed her, lulling her into sleep. But the horrors of the days previous were not gone from her. Images of the evil Elf haunted her. In the depths of the universe Lianna would never have thought it possible for an Elf, supposedly the most gracious and kind species in Middle Earth, to be so evil.
While Lianna slept in silent torment, Legolas looked out over the land. Beautiful country, it was, but he could not fully appreciate it yet. He longed for his home. They were so close when they were taken. Now, he had no idea where they were, and it troubled him greatly. He had always been the provider, always had the answers. And now, he had none.
The land below was a flat plain, with tall flowing grasses. To the North he saw mountaintops, and to the South, he saw mountaintops. His best guess would be that they were on the Misty Mountains. But where along it, he could not guess. Their next move should be to descend into the East, back toward Mirkwood.
Legolas's musings were interrupted as he felt small hands snake under his arms and around his chest. His first instinct was to spin around and fight them, but he realized it was only Lianna.
"I thought you were sleeping." He said.
"He haunts my dreams." Lianna replied sadly.
"In time, all things will heal." Legolas reassured her.
Lianna ran her hand across his chest, and surprisingly, Legolas took a sharp breath of pain. Lianna quickly pulled away and walked around in front of him. The slash on his tunic was stiff with dried blood, and Lianna's touch had re-opened it, and now blood ran from it again. She gasped.
"Why did you not tell me you were hurt?" She questioned, as she led him toward where she was sitting and sat him down.
"There were more important things to do. And it was not that bad."
"It looks pretty bad to me."
Lianna removed his cloak and tunic. He grimaced with pain as he moved his arms to allow his tunic to be pulled over his head. Lianna sighed sadly at the sight of his bare chest. Once so flawless, it was now bruised and dirty, with an long, ugly slash in the middle.
Lianna tore a strip of her own tunic and wiped the new blood away.
"Sorry." She apologized, upon seeing the look on his face. After gathering a few grasses from the crevices that she thought would help, she had to continue her ministrations. Legolas studied her face as she toiled intently.
"Thank you. For coming back." He said slowly, and Lianna looked up at him.
She smiled. "As if I wouldn't. I couldn't leave you, not when I could help."
Legolas took a hold of her wrists, stopping her work. He leaned down and kissed her lips softly.
"I love you so much." He mumbled, and Lianna was startled by what she saw in his eyes. It was passion in the purest, rawest form.
"You risked your life for me." He whispered, their faces so close that Lianna felt his breath on her lips. She smiled.
"You'd have done the same for me." Legolas released her wrists and placed his hands behind her head to draw her into another kiss. It was then that Lianna knew her own eyes reflected the simplest form of desire as well.
"I'll always be there, no matter what. Even if my life is in danger, I'll never leave you." Lianna whispered back when she finally brought herself to draw away from his lips. Legolas took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead lightly. Lianna placed her hands on his, and looked into his face. The deepest feeling of contentment washed over her, and she found it hard to hold in the tears of joy she felt burning behind her eyes.
"We will stay here for the night, and start down the mountains in the morning." Legolas informed her, as he struggled to his feet. Lianna jumped up to help him.
"You should lie and rest. Heal as much as you can before the morning." As much as Legolas wanted to protest, he knew she was right. So, he sat again at the foot of a large boulder and watched as Lianna made a small fire. She then sat next to him, and they stared into the fire in silence until dropping off to sleep.
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Lianna came to the next morning and saw her small fire, left untended, had long since burned out. She sat up and looked around for Legolas, but did not see him. She stood and stretched languorously before walking to the edge of the shelf.
'Where in Middle Earth is that Elf?' She wondered. Looking around once more, she saw him, his back resting against a large boulder, facing away from her. Lianna smiled upon seeing him lost in thought, looking over the land and to the horizon. She began walking to him, but her smile faded as she noted the forlorn look on his face.
"Legolas?" She questioned, when she had stood next to him, and he had not recognized her presence. He slowly turned his head to her and managed a weak smile.
"What is wrong, mellamin?" She asked as she sat next to him. He sighed before beginning.
"I've been thinking. I can't help but ask why all these things keep happening to us. Maybe fate is trying to tell us something. That this isn't meant to be." Legolas stared at his feet, as if ashamed for thinking such things.
Lianna was a bit shocked at what he'd just said. A hint of anger was behind her words as she said, "If it was not meant to be, you would have married Katarina. Elrond would not have let me go, and Belegorn would have killed you."
Legolas's eyes did not move from the ground, and Lianna sighed. She continued softly.
"Fate does not miss. If it wanted to tell us something, it would have gotten through, and things would not have gone this far. Your skepticism is not unexpected, but still it hurts me to think you second guess our love. If you do not wish to be with me, make your decision now, and I will return to Rivendell and accept a quick death. Because without you, I would die of slow grief anyway."
Legolas looked up at her in surprise and said quickly, "No, no! I could not stand to be without you. That is not what I meant at all. I am sorry, please do not be angry with me. I am just scared what my father will think."
"If you really love me, it should not matter." Lianna stared deep into his eyes, driving the point straight to his heart. She smiled then, and continued lightly, with mock smugness in her voice.
"But don't fret, I'm charming enough, I'm sure I will win him over anyway." Legolas laughed.
"Oh, I'm sure. Like how you won over Silcawen the night you tried to get into the palace?"
Lianna laughed a vigorous and hearty laugh, "I can't believe you remember that! True, she saw right through me, but in the end I did get in!"
"Yeah, after you snuck through my window!"
The Elves laughed at their old memories for a while, before deciding it was time to get started. Lianna inspected Legolas's wound again, and found with delight that it was healing wonderfully.
They plucked some roots that were safe to eat, though not very tasty or filling, before beginning their long descent.
Lianna looked pessimistically over the edge of the shelf. "What do we do? Where do we start?"
Legolas joined her and said, looking down the mountain to the small trees below, "Just go."
With that, he began climbing down the rocky mountainside. It was slow going, as Lianna was not as graceful with the angle of the mountain and the large, sometimes unsteady rocks.
They had climbed all day and well into the night when Lianna finally spoke up.
"Excuse me, Sire I-Never-Tire-Expert-Rock-Climber, but I am getting terribly exhausted."
"Oh, forgive me. I guess I'm just a bit eager to get home."
"Well, we can't make it all the way to Mirkwood tonight, so I suggest we stop to rest."
"Right, of course. We haven't eaten anything but these dreadful roots all day, either."
They stopped at a shelf similar to the one on their first night, only much smaller. There were no mosses or any sort of green living thing. Just rock. Grey rock. As they'd seen all day.
It disheartened Lianna, and she attempted to see the bottom of the mountain, but the dark hindered even her Elven eyes.
"How much longer, do you think?" She asked Legolas, as she lay down next to him on the cold stone. He wrapped his arms around her, both seeking and giving comfort as he replied.
"A few more days at the pace we went today. But I don't believe you're up for such a climb, so it may take longer."
"I can take it. I just want to get off this mountain. The rock is so cold and unforgiving. I would prefer the dark forest of Mirkwood to this…" She was about to find something horrible to say about the mountain, but she realized her mistake. She had insulted his home. He was silent, and that was even worse than if he would have reprimanded her for it.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean-" She was cut off.
"No, it's fine." He said shortly.
His arms around her, which had been so reassuring and warm were now distant and unfeeling. Guilt swept over her, followed by anger. She sat up.
"Why should I apologize if I do not find that forest as lovely as you? I just grew up somewhere different, I am not used to it."
She heard him sigh. "You do not have to apologize. I just miss and I love it so much, I get defensive when someone does not feel the same way. Everything I have ever known and loved - before you - is in that forest. And I think once you see the city, and the safe woods around it, you may think otherwise. Mirkwood is a big place; it's not all like the dark, scary borders."
Lianna lay back into his arms, and nuzzled into his warm body.
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Their journey down the mountain lasted another few days, their pace exceeding even that of the first day. Lianna lived up to her statement that she could handle it.
On the day they stepped once again onto green grass, their spirits lifted considerably. Legolas's wound was healed, and they saw the dark of Mirkwood forest on the horizon. They were almost home…again.
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A/N so they're off the misty mountains and going across the plains to Mirkwood Forest's borders again. Lianna is reeeeally hesitant to go through that again. She is terrified of that forest.
And doesn't Legolas seem a bit wishy-washy? Like, he loves her, but he's not sure if they are meant to be. Maybe he didn't get enough sleep, maybe he lost too much blood, but he was thinking too much. And all it took was a few words from Lianna to reassure him.
Michelle - WHAT? Sorry for Belegorn? The guy killed his wife! Actually, I do see your point. You're a very compassionate person, you know that?
LunarianPrincess, TPfan333, Vampire Feuer, childofgod-4ever
L.Terranova - Wow! Love, love, love, right back atcha!! Thanks oodles for the suggestion and I really do like it! Continue to review, pleeease! ;)
When I read something good, or see a good movie, I write extra little paragraphs of my own about the story line. (My literary mind works absolutely ALL the time. Non-stop 24/7.) So, if you are like me and you have any ideas, any extra paragraphs for my story, please send them! Email me at austy(underscore)lou(at)hotmail.com
Your ideas are much appreciated!
Even if you just wanna say Hi, please review!
One last note, about this flaming thing. I'm none too fond of it as a rule, but I just can't help but laugh when I get one. Because it's just so out of place. Here I have all these people (as I've mentioned above) praising my work and saying how much they like it, and then there's this crude insult. I find it rather comical, but that's just me.
-Austin B. ; )