Chapter 24- Fearless
She woke late the following morning. The sun was already high in the blue sky as she made her way from her chambers and out of the palace to head for her duties. At least she could blame her tardiness on Legolas, even though she knew she would not. After the kiss and their speaking last eve, she was not even sure that anybody would know of such a thing going on between them for a long while. She wished to keep it as private as she possibly could, even though she knew that someone like Arwen would sense the difference. And truthfully, she was content with that fact, especially after so much happening between Legolas and her in such a short day. They had started at each others throats, and ended up in each other's arms on his bed.
They had embraced each other and shared a most sweetly passionate kiss, that never went beyond gentle. The way he had caressed the skin of her face and neck so reverently, gazed longingly into her eyes, and ran his fingers along her lips had made her feel so cherished... so revered. It was a complete opposite than what she had felt for so long now. What had changed his mind? Was he just acting delusional? It seemed not to matter to her any more, though. She did not care what it was that had made him different. All she cared about was that he was once again speaking to her and also had a great deal of emotions visible on his brow and in his eyes. That was all she had initially been worried about, but then he kissed her. And kissed her. And he was no longer sorry for it.
Emlin did not even know how she let that happen, but it had, and somehow she had made it out of the situation without acting like a bumbling idiot. Elbereth, she was surprised she even made it through laying against his bare chest while reading without acting like a fool.
But that was not the point, it was still Legolas' fault for making her stay with him late into the night, or early morning, even when she was exhausted from a day of studies and healing.
She smiled to herself as she made her daily journey to the Houses of Healing to see what could be done before her lessons with Arwen, but she found that all of the Elves that had been wounded in battle were completely recovered and now at their appropriate stations within the city of Minas Tirith. All of the Men except one were healing at quick paces even for the lack of Elven blood within their bodies, and some of them had even gone with the healed elves to the soldier encampments. She sat down to help Ioreth with the binding of the gaping wounds on the worst injured man.
"Can you use a sleeping spell, Emlin?" Ioreth questioned, "He has not slept the entire night."
She nodded her head and placed a hand over his eyes, whispering the short spell to place him into a deep, relaxing sleep. Ioreth made short work of removing the sodden bandages on his arms and torso, and placed them in a pail beside her full of water and other bandages. Emlin looked at the horrible wounds, wondering why Ioreth had not asked her to help this man the previous day and instead told her to treat Legolas. Truthfully, Legolas had been fine and really did not need any healing spells.
"Ioreth, why did you not tell me about him?" Emlin questioned, looking over the bright red gashes. "He is ten times worse than Legolas probably was even at his worst point."
Ioreth looked up at her, "He is of a higher station than this soldier, Emlin. It is our duty to save those who govern us before the others."
Emlin found this the most preposterous thing, and after last eve, she was sure that Legolas probably would have thought the same thing. "But if we do not have these soldiers to carry out the rules and laws set by those who govern us, then where would we be?"
The healer paused for a moment and looked over Emlin, "That is true, and I was only testing you. Your skills would have been no use to him yesterday. You are not yet that advanced. While you were still tending to Lord Legolas, the Queen stopped to say a small spell."
"Oh." Emlin replied, surprised that Arwen would do that when there was such a risk to her child. "Should I fetch her this morn?"
"Nay, I think you will be able to help me." Ioreth said, "But you will feel more physically exhausted than you have before as you have not yet built your strength enough."
Emlin nodded her head and placed her hands over the worst of the wounds and whispered the most involved spell she had learned, feeling the gathering of heat and power in her body escaping through her fingertips into the man's sleeping body. The whole process lasted a great while longer than the other healings she had done in the past, and indeed, she felt very odd after pulling her hands away and helping Ioreth with the new bandages. Emlin stood from her seat and walked over to pick up the pail of water and dirty clothes.
"Set that down, child." She commanded, "I will take care of it. You are relieved of your duties for the day."
"Ioreth, I will take this to the washing basin." Emlin said, turning away before Ioreth could stop her again. She loved that about Ioreth; even though her years on Middle-earth were quickly waning, and she was close to not being able to go about her daily occupations, Ioreth would never let another do her work for her.
"Only if you will go back to the palace afterwards." Ioreth responded, "The Queen will not be pleased that I kept you so late."
"It is not your fault that I was late to my duties this morn, Ioreth." She said and felt herself blush slightly. Emlin quickly turned her face away from Ioreth so that she could not see the embarrassment on her face.
Ioreth joined her side, "How is Lord Legolas? I was none too happy about releasing him to the palace so soon."
Emlin sighed, "He is well. As of the setting of the sun yester eve, he was nearly healed. I have not checked yet today."
"Then you should go do that." Ioreth replied with a soft smile, "And tend to any other needs that he should require."
"Ioreth? I understand not what you are saying." Emlin said.
"Yes, you do." Ioreth chuckled, "You only say that because you find the situation uncomfortable... but I care not. Go back to the palace, Emlin. You have things to tend to up there."
"Aye, Ioreth." Emlin said and bowed her head slightly, leaving the House as quickly as possible. She walked quickly up to the Citadel, towards the palace and finally along the halls towards Legolas' chamber. Unfortunately, though, she was not watching where she was going, and bumped into Nindë who was standing vigil outside his room.
"Fancy to see you entering rather than leaving his chambers this morn." Nindë mumbled under her breath.
Emlin sighed and slumped her shoulders as she gazed into the elleth's cold grey eyes. "Unlike yourself, Nindë, I do not cheapen myself to sleep with anyone who is more powerful than I just to gain a level of status."
Nindë narrowed her eyes, "Keep your hands off of my prince. I have been trying to turn his head in my direction for much longer than you have probably even been alive, and I have almost succeeded."
"He would never give into the likes of you," Emlin replied. "He is more clever than that."
"And you think he would give into the likes of you?" Nindë questioned.
Emlin stepped back from Nindë, "He does not have to give into me for I do not seek a relationship based on falsehoods and unattainable dreams, created by an overactive imagination. I seek a relationship of love."
She scoffed, "You and everyone else. Listen to me now, Cabor. If you so much as step into my territory, I will do something about it. I have in the past and I will do it again."
"And if he steps into my territory?" Emlin questioned, raising a critical eyebrow, knowing that this was angering Nindë to a great extent.
"Is every ellon I try to persuade linked to despicable elleths like you?" Nindë asked.
Emlin chuckled slightly, "I am despicable? Have you heard yourself lately?"
"You are just like Indilisse and Eruanne!" Nindë exclaimed. "Dim-witted, fanciful elleths who think love is the most important thing between ellon and elleth."
At the mention of her mother's name, Emlin froze in her spot, and her mouth dropped open slightly. Even Eruanne's name... "What do you speak of Indilisse?"
In a moment of complete disregard for what could happen with her admittance of this, Nindë grumbled, "I was to trick Haldir of Lórien, the March Warden, into falling in love and binding with me. I was close to succeeding too, until Indilisse came to Lórien with her father. Then she bewitched Haldir in some way to take him from my clutches."
"Are you sure you are not a minion of Melkor?" Emlin questioned, feeling her blood starting to bubble and her hands twitching at her sides. How she ached to hurt Nindë for the way she talked about her mother and father. If there was one thing Emlin knew, it was that her father would have never given into anything so diabolical as this, unless he had been severely incapacitated, but Nindë still had believed she could overtake the March Warden.
"Nay, I believe you are his minion." Nindë accused, within her eyes was a growing aggravation with Emlin. She heard a laugh behind her and turn to find that Legolas stood outside his door, looking over them.
"I have never heard two elves generate so much noise while speaking." Legolas replied, "But for this occasion, I can understand why Emlin would raise her voice."
How long had he been standing there?
"My lord..." Nindë said, her tone sounding shocked, though Emlin new it was an act.
"I am sorry, Legolas." Emlin said quietly, casting her eyes towards the ground. She did not know why, but she felt completely ashamed that he had caught her arguing with the handmaid.
He sighed and walked to her. She felt his fingers under her chin, raising her eyes to look at him. "Aiwamin, you have every right to do and say what you are."
Emlin felt herself melt slightly upon finding a gleam of caring and possibly even love in his intense blue eyes, though he looked towards Nindë again after the long moment they shared gazing at each other. "But if I was being loud, then that is wrong."
Legolas chuckled lightly and moved her head so that she too looked at Nindë. He stood closer to her, "Now Nindë, I too believe you are Melkor's minion. Especially what you almost did to my friends. Maybe you would care to lay bare what you did and what you were planning to do to Indilisse because you could not have Haldir?"
Nindë glared at Legolas, but gave Emlin one glance that was much more evil. She clenched her jaw and her nostrils flared, "I will not."
With that, Nindë disappeared down the hall in a flurry of blue gown and silvery hair. Emlin turned to Legolas, "And you knew of this matter? You did not tell me?"
"You said you were reading your mother's journals." Legolas replied, "And from what I read last night... the small bit of it anyway, since I was mainly concerned with you, you were getting close to your mother's arrival in Lórien."
"What did that vile elleth do?" Emlin questioned, looking back down the corridor. A shiver ran up her spine and she turned to gaze at him.
"You will read the particulars later, but she did everything in her power to keep your mother and father apart." He explained. "Indilisse and Haldir do not know this, but I heard Nindë and her friend plotting some type of horrible scheme on your mother."
Emlin felt her blood bubble a little more. If that elleth so much as even spoke to her again...
"It would either be by poison for your mother or by the blade for your father." Legolas said and let out a long sigh.
"She did this because she could not have my father?" Emlin questioned, flabbergasted. Elves never acted liked this, what was different about Nindë. She had to be a minion of a dark lord or something. "Has she done it before?"
Legolas shook his head, and gazed absently down the hallway before pulling her into his chambers. Emlin stopped in front of him and looked up into his eyes. He sighed, "She did not do it before. I was her next intended victim."
Emlin pulled away from him and shook her head, walking to the edge of the bed and sitting down. "She is horrible and vile and dissolute... she is everything the Dark Lord was."
"Aye, I agree with you Emlin." He replied quietly and stood still near the door.
She sighed, "Nindë cannot find out who I am. She already hates me enough because of you. I cannot imagine what she would do if she knew who my parents were."
He hung his head and walked over to the side table where papers were strewn about with a quill sitting in an open inkwell. "She will know soon enough, Emlin, if we continue to spend our 'time' together."
"When we come to that point, then we should deal with it, Legolas. Not now." Emlin sighed, "You may be able to cast her away from your sight, but I have not the power to do the same, and only Arwen's fondness of me to give me the title I have. I would not be able to protect myself."
Legolas turned to her, watching her for long moment. So many things passed before his eyes at that moment, but his expression remained soft and slightly saddened. "You think I would not protect you, my dear Emlin?"
She felt her stomach flutter slightly as she looked deep into his eyes. "I did not say that, Legolas."
"Nay, you did not, but it was meant as that." Legolas replied, walking to her. What he did next surprised her more than anything else he could have done. In a swift motion, bereft of all injuries he had the previous day, he knelt before her and took her hands in his. He was quiet again as he moved his hands to her cheeks, caressing slightly down to her neck and then down her arms to her hands again.
"Legolas..." Emlin said, slightly uncomfortable with the situation, but only because she was not used to such things from a male elf.
He sighed and placed something in her hand. It was light and felt like wood, though it was very soft to the touch, but he would not let her open her hand to see what it was. Legolas smiled slightly, "Know that I would protect you until my last breath, Emlin. I would do anything for you if it could make you happy. I would fight the entire war over again, by myself, for you."
"I do not understand Legolas. I know that I am not slow minded, but I truly do not know how this can be. Just a month ago you called me friend and then did not talk to me." Emlin said, finding that he was so close to her that she could feel his warm breath on her lips.
"I have tried my hardest, for the better part of eleven years, to remain a friend, but in my dreams, it never ended that way. I knew if I was around you for any length of time, would have no restraint." Legolas said. "I know this may seem like too much to handle and understand now, Emlin, but I have to tell you, especially after last eve."
She breathed in a shallow breath, feeling her throat constricting from nervousness. "I am young, Legolas."
He chuckled bemusedly and sighed, "I know you are young, meleth. For eleven years I told myself that, to make me stop thinking about you. It did not work.. For eleven years I tried to remind myself of my loyalty to your father and mother, but that did not stop me thinking of you. I told myself I was in love with a dream, not you, but with your journey to Minas Tirith, I realize I was only fooling myself. The truth is, Emlin, I have been intrigued by you since you tripped over my quiver in Lórien. And I have been in love with you ever since that moment you gazed in my eyes."
"But..." Emlin spoke quietly. This was so confusing. Why was he so caught up in all of these things? Why could he not just say that he loved her from the beginning and have been done with it? It was that way for her. But then again, she figured it had something to do with knowing more about the world than she. But wait... did he just say he loved her?
Legolas silenced her with finger over her lips. "You are different now. You are wiser than you were, but still the same Emlin I encountered in Lórien, with the same independence. I have been distant because I thought I would never find another elleth equal to you. Then you came back into my life. I tried to deny my feelings for your parents' sake and because of many other reasons that I will explain to you later."
"But I am so y-..." He silenced her again. She sighed and looked at him.
"I know you are young, Emlin, and I have thought long on this." Legolas said, "If you would allow me, I could be a guide... a teacher perhaps. I cannot guarantee that I would be a good teacher, but I would like a chance to prove my worth."
Emlin held her breath and felt her eyes start to sting with tears, but she held them back. "It is so much, Legolas, for me to fathom."
"I understand, and I will wait for years if I must to have your consent and to win your love." Legolas said disappointedly and stood up, walking away from her. "But who am I fooling. I have waited far too long to tell you this. You are probably in love with Valandir. He, at least, had enough decency to be nice to you when I was not."
She chuckled lowly to herself and shook her head as a tear spilled over and rolled down her cheek. "Aye, at least he did, and I do care for Valandir."
Legolas sucked in a sharp breath and turned away from her. "Then I would not hurt my friend."
Emlin smiled to herself and stood up, walking to him. "Legolas, I care for Valandir greatly, but I love you more."
He turned quickly to her, and stood amazingly still for a long while, gazing at her. She remembered that she carried something in her hand, and opened her fingers up to reveal a carved wooden bird. Valandir had told her about a small carved bird that Legolas carried around with him in a small velvet pouch, and how Legolas would take it out when he thought no one was around, only to gaze at it and sigh pensively. She had said it was only wishful thinking then, that Legolas would have carved a bird to remind him of her, but at this moment, and with all of her emotions at their highest levels, she was completely and utterly lost. A few more tears spilled onto her cheeks. Emlin placed her hand to her cheek in an effort to brush away the salty tear, but it did not work as another quickly replaced it.
Before she could even comprehend what was going on, Emlin felt strong arms encircle her and pull her close to a warm body. Then she felt his lips on her hair line as she cried into his chest. "I thought for the longest time that you did not even care about me. You did not come back to Lórien to visit. I thought you had married that princess. And then when I arrive here, you definitely were not the nicest elf to be around. Why did you wait so long, Legolas? I understand your turmoil with my age and my parents and what not, but what made you choose to stay away indefinitely?"
"Do you wish the true reason?" He questioned quietly. She nodded her head and he whispered, "I was scared."
Emlin pulled back from him, "How could you be scared?"
Legolas smiled slightly. "I have never been in love before, Emlin. No single bit of love have I encountered in my many years. I did not understand what was happening when I thought of you. I thought that I was just being a horribly tainted ellon lusting after someone so young as you."
"I have never been in love before, either, and I was not scared." Emlin replied.
"That is because you are fearless, meleth." He chuckled, "If I do remember correctly the time you left Lórien without your parent's permission. Any normal elf would have some amount of fear. But I suppose that is what I need in a mate, because I am not very fearless, and am easily frightened by things."
Emlin laughed and pulled away from him, "You are not easily frightened, Legolas. I am not that easily fooled."
"You may be correct, Emlin, but I am frightened on many issues." He sighed and leaned over her, placing his lips to hers in a soft kiss. Legolas pulled back, "But of elleths and love, I will perpetually be terrified."
"I doubt that greatly," she giggled, "but if I must, I will rid you of your terror."
Legolas kissed her deeply, but removed his lips to hold her close. They stood in this quiet surrender for sometime, enjoying the feeling of having nothing hidden between them... of the emotions that had previously been bottled up, now out into the air. Emlin knew that as of the previous night, there was something different in the way he acted, but she needed this verbal admittance of love. However, she had never suspected such a powerful one to come from Legolas. Oh Elbereth, why had he waited so long?
Emlin pushed back slightly to peer into his eyes and smiled slightly, "Melin le, hír nín."
"Nay, Aiwamin." He smiled, "Melin le."
She chuckled at him and stood on her toes to reach his lips. This was how it was meant to be. Now if only she could keep this perfect moment.
--- cabor- frog
meleth- love
Melin le- I love you
Hir nin- my lord
She woke late the following morning. The sun was already high in the blue sky as she made her way from her chambers and out of the palace to head for her duties. At least she could blame her tardiness on Legolas, even though she knew she would not. After the kiss and their speaking last eve, she was not even sure that anybody would know of such a thing going on between them for a long while. She wished to keep it as private as she possibly could, even though she knew that someone like Arwen would sense the difference. And truthfully, she was content with that fact, especially after so much happening between Legolas and her in such a short day. They had started at each others throats, and ended up in each other's arms on his bed.
They had embraced each other and shared a most sweetly passionate kiss, that never went beyond gentle. The way he had caressed the skin of her face and neck so reverently, gazed longingly into her eyes, and ran his fingers along her lips had made her feel so cherished... so revered. It was a complete opposite than what she had felt for so long now. What had changed his mind? Was he just acting delusional? It seemed not to matter to her any more, though. She did not care what it was that had made him different. All she cared about was that he was once again speaking to her and also had a great deal of emotions visible on his brow and in his eyes. That was all she had initially been worried about, but then he kissed her. And kissed her. And he was no longer sorry for it.
Emlin did not even know how she let that happen, but it had, and somehow she had made it out of the situation without acting like a bumbling idiot. Elbereth, she was surprised she even made it through laying against his bare chest while reading without acting like a fool.
But that was not the point, it was still Legolas' fault for making her stay with him late into the night, or early morning, even when she was exhausted from a day of studies and healing.
She smiled to herself as she made her daily journey to the Houses of Healing to see what could be done before her lessons with Arwen, but she found that all of the Elves that had been wounded in battle were completely recovered and now at their appropriate stations within the city of Minas Tirith. All of the Men except one were healing at quick paces even for the lack of Elven blood within their bodies, and some of them had even gone with the healed elves to the soldier encampments. She sat down to help Ioreth with the binding of the gaping wounds on the worst injured man.
"Can you use a sleeping spell, Emlin?" Ioreth questioned, "He has not slept the entire night."
She nodded her head and placed a hand over his eyes, whispering the short spell to place him into a deep, relaxing sleep. Ioreth made short work of removing the sodden bandages on his arms and torso, and placed them in a pail beside her full of water and other bandages. Emlin looked at the horrible wounds, wondering why Ioreth had not asked her to help this man the previous day and instead told her to treat Legolas. Truthfully, Legolas had been fine and really did not need any healing spells.
"Ioreth, why did you not tell me about him?" Emlin questioned, looking over the bright red gashes. "He is ten times worse than Legolas probably was even at his worst point."
Ioreth looked up at her, "He is of a higher station than this soldier, Emlin. It is our duty to save those who govern us before the others."
Emlin found this the most preposterous thing, and after last eve, she was sure that Legolas probably would have thought the same thing. "But if we do not have these soldiers to carry out the rules and laws set by those who govern us, then where would we be?"
The healer paused for a moment and looked over Emlin, "That is true, and I was only testing you. Your skills would have been no use to him yesterday. You are not yet that advanced. While you were still tending to Lord Legolas, the Queen stopped to say a small spell."
"Oh." Emlin replied, surprised that Arwen would do that when there was such a risk to her child. "Should I fetch her this morn?"
"Nay, I think you will be able to help me." Ioreth said, "But you will feel more physically exhausted than you have before as you have not yet built your strength enough."
Emlin nodded her head and placed her hands over the worst of the wounds and whispered the most involved spell she had learned, feeling the gathering of heat and power in her body escaping through her fingertips into the man's sleeping body. The whole process lasted a great while longer than the other healings she had done in the past, and indeed, she felt very odd after pulling her hands away and helping Ioreth with the new bandages. Emlin stood from her seat and walked over to pick up the pail of water and dirty clothes.
"Set that down, child." She commanded, "I will take care of it. You are relieved of your duties for the day."
"Ioreth, I will take this to the washing basin." Emlin said, turning away before Ioreth could stop her again. She loved that about Ioreth; even though her years on Middle-earth were quickly waning, and she was close to not being able to go about her daily occupations, Ioreth would never let another do her work for her.
"Only if you will go back to the palace afterwards." Ioreth responded, "The Queen will not be pleased that I kept you so late."
"It is not your fault that I was late to my duties this morn, Ioreth." She said and felt herself blush slightly. Emlin quickly turned her face away from Ioreth so that she could not see the embarrassment on her face.
Ioreth joined her side, "How is Lord Legolas? I was none too happy about releasing him to the palace so soon."
Emlin sighed, "He is well. As of the setting of the sun yester eve, he was nearly healed. I have not checked yet today."
"Then you should go do that." Ioreth replied with a soft smile, "And tend to any other needs that he should require."
"Ioreth? I understand not what you are saying." Emlin said.
"Yes, you do." Ioreth chuckled, "You only say that because you find the situation uncomfortable... but I care not. Go back to the palace, Emlin. You have things to tend to up there."
"Aye, Ioreth." Emlin said and bowed her head slightly, leaving the House as quickly as possible. She walked quickly up to the Citadel, towards the palace and finally along the halls towards Legolas' chamber. Unfortunately, though, she was not watching where she was going, and bumped into Nindë who was standing vigil outside his room.
"Fancy to see you entering rather than leaving his chambers this morn." Nindë mumbled under her breath.
Emlin sighed and slumped her shoulders as she gazed into the elleth's cold grey eyes. "Unlike yourself, Nindë, I do not cheapen myself to sleep with anyone who is more powerful than I just to gain a level of status."
Nindë narrowed her eyes, "Keep your hands off of my prince. I have been trying to turn his head in my direction for much longer than you have probably even been alive, and I have almost succeeded."
"He would never give into the likes of you," Emlin replied. "He is more clever than that."
"And you think he would give into the likes of you?" Nindë questioned.
Emlin stepped back from Nindë, "He does not have to give into me for I do not seek a relationship based on falsehoods and unattainable dreams, created by an overactive imagination. I seek a relationship of love."
She scoffed, "You and everyone else. Listen to me now, Cabor. If you so much as step into my territory, I will do something about it. I have in the past and I will do it again."
"And if he steps into my territory?" Emlin questioned, raising a critical eyebrow, knowing that this was angering Nindë to a great extent.
"Is every ellon I try to persuade linked to despicable elleths like you?" Nindë asked.
Emlin chuckled slightly, "I am despicable? Have you heard yourself lately?"
"You are just like Indilisse and Eruanne!" Nindë exclaimed. "Dim-witted, fanciful elleths who think love is the most important thing between ellon and elleth."
At the mention of her mother's name, Emlin froze in her spot, and her mouth dropped open slightly. Even Eruanne's name... "What do you speak of Indilisse?"
In a moment of complete disregard for what could happen with her admittance of this, Nindë grumbled, "I was to trick Haldir of Lórien, the March Warden, into falling in love and binding with me. I was close to succeeding too, until Indilisse came to Lórien with her father. Then she bewitched Haldir in some way to take him from my clutches."
"Are you sure you are not a minion of Melkor?" Emlin questioned, feeling her blood starting to bubble and her hands twitching at her sides. How she ached to hurt Nindë for the way she talked about her mother and father. If there was one thing Emlin knew, it was that her father would have never given into anything so diabolical as this, unless he had been severely incapacitated, but Nindë still had believed she could overtake the March Warden.
"Nay, I believe you are his minion." Nindë accused, within her eyes was a growing aggravation with Emlin. She heard a laugh behind her and turn to find that Legolas stood outside his door, looking over them.
"I have never heard two elves generate so much noise while speaking." Legolas replied, "But for this occasion, I can understand why Emlin would raise her voice."
How long had he been standing there?
"My lord..." Nindë said, her tone sounding shocked, though Emlin new it was an act.
"I am sorry, Legolas." Emlin said quietly, casting her eyes towards the ground. She did not know why, but she felt completely ashamed that he had caught her arguing with the handmaid.
He sighed and walked to her. She felt his fingers under her chin, raising her eyes to look at him. "Aiwamin, you have every right to do and say what you are."
Emlin felt herself melt slightly upon finding a gleam of caring and possibly even love in his intense blue eyes, though he looked towards Nindë again after the long moment they shared gazing at each other. "But if I was being loud, then that is wrong."
Legolas chuckled lightly and moved her head so that she too looked at Nindë. He stood closer to her, "Now Nindë, I too believe you are Melkor's minion. Especially what you almost did to my friends. Maybe you would care to lay bare what you did and what you were planning to do to Indilisse because you could not have Haldir?"
Nindë glared at Legolas, but gave Emlin one glance that was much more evil. She clenched her jaw and her nostrils flared, "I will not."
With that, Nindë disappeared down the hall in a flurry of blue gown and silvery hair. Emlin turned to Legolas, "And you knew of this matter? You did not tell me?"
"You said you were reading your mother's journals." Legolas replied, "And from what I read last night... the small bit of it anyway, since I was mainly concerned with you, you were getting close to your mother's arrival in Lórien."
"What did that vile elleth do?" Emlin questioned, looking back down the corridor. A shiver ran up her spine and she turned to gaze at him.
"You will read the particulars later, but she did everything in her power to keep your mother and father apart." He explained. "Indilisse and Haldir do not know this, but I heard Nindë and her friend plotting some type of horrible scheme on your mother."
Emlin felt her blood bubble a little more. If that elleth so much as even spoke to her again...
"It would either be by poison for your mother or by the blade for your father." Legolas said and let out a long sigh.
"She did this because she could not have my father?" Emlin questioned, flabbergasted. Elves never acted liked this, what was different about Nindë. She had to be a minion of a dark lord or something. "Has she done it before?"
Legolas shook his head, and gazed absently down the hallway before pulling her into his chambers. Emlin stopped in front of him and looked up into his eyes. He sighed, "She did not do it before. I was her next intended victim."
Emlin pulled away from him and shook her head, walking to the edge of the bed and sitting down. "She is horrible and vile and dissolute... she is everything the Dark Lord was."
"Aye, I agree with you Emlin." He replied quietly and stood still near the door.
She sighed, "Nindë cannot find out who I am. She already hates me enough because of you. I cannot imagine what she would do if she knew who my parents were."
He hung his head and walked over to the side table where papers were strewn about with a quill sitting in an open inkwell. "She will know soon enough, Emlin, if we continue to spend our 'time' together."
"When we come to that point, then we should deal with it, Legolas. Not now." Emlin sighed, "You may be able to cast her away from your sight, but I have not the power to do the same, and only Arwen's fondness of me to give me the title I have. I would not be able to protect myself."
Legolas turned to her, watching her for long moment. So many things passed before his eyes at that moment, but his expression remained soft and slightly saddened. "You think I would not protect you, my dear Emlin?"
She felt her stomach flutter slightly as she looked deep into his eyes. "I did not say that, Legolas."
"Nay, you did not, but it was meant as that." Legolas replied, walking to her. What he did next surprised her more than anything else he could have done. In a swift motion, bereft of all injuries he had the previous day, he knelt before her and took her hands in his. He was quiet again as he moved his hands to her cheeks, caressing slightly down to her neck and then down her arms to her hands again.
"Legolas..." Emlin said, slightly uncomfortable with the situation, but only because she was not used to such things from a male elf.
He sighed and placed something in her hand. It was light and felt like wood, though it was very soft to the touch, but he would not let her open her hand to see what it was. Legolas smiled slightly, "Know that I would protect you until my last breath, Emlin. I would do anything for you if it could make you happy. I would fight the entire war over again, by myself, for you."
"I do not understand Legolas. I know that I am not slow minded, but I truly do not know how this can be. Just a month ago you called me friend and then did not talk to me." Emlin said, finding that he was so close to her that she could feel his warm breath on her lips.
"I have tried my hardest, for the better part of eleven years, to remain a friend, but in my dreams, it never ended that way. I knew if I was around you for any length of time, would have no restraint." Legolas said. "I know this may seem like too much to handle and understand now, Emlin, but I have to tell you, especially after last eve."
She breathed in a shallow breath, feeling her throat constricting from nervousness. "I am young, Legolas."
He chuckled bemusedly and sighed, "I know you are young, meleth. For eleven years I told myself that, to make me stop thinking about you. It did not work.. For eleven years I tried to remind myself of my loyalty to your father and mother, but that did not stop me thinking of you. I told myself I was in love with a dream, not you, but with your journey to Minas Tirith, I realize I was only fooling myself. The truth is, Emlin, I have been intrigued by you since you tripped over my quiver in Lórien. And I have been in love with you ever since that moment you gazed in my eyes."
"But..." Emlin spoke quietly. This was so confusing. Why was he so caught up in all of these things? Why could he not just say that he loved her from the beginning and have been done with it? It was that way for her. But then again, she figured it had something to do with knowing more about the world than she. But wait... did he just say he loved her?
Legolas silenced her with finger over her lips. "You are different now. You are wiser than you were, but still the same Emlin I encountered in Lórien, with the same independence. I have been distant because I thought I would never find another elleth equal to you. Then you came back into my life. I tried to deny my feelings for your parents' sake and because of many other reasons that I will explain to you later."
"But I am so y-..." He silenced her again. She sighed and looked at him.
"I know you are young, Emlin, and I have thought long on this." Legolas said, "If you would allow me, I could be a guide... a teacher perhaps. I cannot guarantee that I would be a good teacher, but I would like a chance to prove my worth."
Emlin held her breath and felt her eyes start to sting with tears, but she held them back. "It is so much, Legolas, for me to fathom."
"I understand, and I will wait for years if I must to have your consent and to win your love." Legolas said disappointedly and stood up, walking away from her. "But who am I fooling. I have waited far too long to tell you this. You are probably in love with Valandir. He, at least, had enough decency to be nice to you when I was not."
She chuckled lowly to herself and shook her head as a tear spilled over and rolled down her cheek. "Aye, at least he did, and I do care for Valandir."
Legolas sucked in a sharp breath and turned away from her. "Then I would not hurt my friend."
Emlin smiled to herself and stood up, walking to him. "Legolas, I care for Valandir greatly, but I love you more."
He turned quickly to her, and stood amazingly still for a long while, gazing at her. She remembered that she carried something in her hand, and opened her fingers up to reveal a carved wooden bird. Valandir had told her about a small carved bird that Legolas carried around with him in a small velvet pouch, and how Legolas would take it out when he thought no one was around, only to gaze at it and sigh pensively. She had said it was only wishful thinking then, that Legolas would have carved a bird to remind him of her, but at this moment, and with all of her emotions at their highest levels, she was completely and utterly lost. A few more tears spilled onto her cheeks. Emlin placed her hand to her cheek in an effort to brush away the salty tear, but it did not work as another quickly replaced it.
Before she could even comprehend what was going on, Emlin felt strong arms encircle her and pull her close to a warm body. Then she felt his lips on her hair line as she cried into his chest. "I thought for the longest time that you did not even care about me. You did not come back to Lórien to visit. I thought you had married that princess. And then when I arrive here, you definitely were not the nicest elf to be around. Why did you wait so long, Legolas? I understand your turmoil with my age and my parents and what not, but what made you choose to stay away indefinitely?"
"Do you wish the true reason?" He questioned quietly. She nodded her head and he whispered, "I was scared."
Emlin pulled back from him, "How could you be scared?"
Legolas smiled slightly. "I have never been in love before, Emlin. No single bit of love have I encountered in my many years. I did not understand what was happening when I thought of you. I thought that I was just being a horribly tainted ellon lusting after someone so young as you."
"I have never been in love before, either, and I was not scared." Emlin replied.
"That is because you are fearless, meleth." He chuckled, "If I do remember correctly the time you left Lórien without your parent's permission. Any normal elf would have some amount of fear. But I suppose that is what I need in a mate, because I am not very fearless, and am easily frightened by things."
Emlin laughed and pulled away from him, "You are not easily frightened, Legolas. I am not that easily fooled."
"You may be correct, Emlin, but I am frightened on many issues." He sighed and leaned over her, placing his lips to hers in a soft kiss. Legolas pulled back, "But of elleths and love, I will perpetually be terrified."
"I doubt that greatly," she giggled, "but if I must, I will rid you of your terror."
Legolas kissed her deeply, but removed his lips to hold her close. They stood in this quiet surrender for sometime, enjoying the feeling of having nothing hidden between them... of the emotions that had previously been bottled up, now out into the air. Emlin knew that as of the previous night, there was something different in the way he acted, but she needed this verbal admittance of love. However, she had never suspected such a powerful one to come from Legolas. Oh Elbereth, why had he waited so long?
Emlin pushed back slightly to peer into his eyes and smiled slightly, "Melin le, hír nín."
"Nay, Aiwamin." He smiled, "Melin le."
She chuckled at him and stood on her toes to reach his lips. This was how it was meant to be. Now if only she could keep this perfect moment.
--- cabor- frog
meleth- love
Melin le- I love you
Hir nin- my lord