Chapter 27- Love, the Great Equalizer

"So Haldir has arrived?" Legolas asked his father as he stopped before the door to his chambers.

"He arrived early this morn. They will be at the feast as planned." Thranduil nodded, "I do hope you have prepared what you are going to say when Haldir takes you aside."

"Why do you say that, Ada?" Legolas asked, though he knew he would have to be on his toes this eve if he wished to gain Haldir's approval.

Thranduil chuckled and looked down at him, "I do not have any experience in giving away a daughter to marriage, so I do not know exactly what he feels, but I know how hard it was to give away a son to do his duties elsewhere than in his home."

Legolas sighed and shook his head, looking forlornly at the ground, "I worry about what will transpire tonight. I know very well that I am in love, and that Emlin is in love with me, but I am not so convinced that Haldir is in love with the idea of me speaking, much less paying any amount of attention, to his young daughter."

"Do not worry, ion. Such things have been in every ellon's mind since Cuiviénen." Thranduil smiled and placed a fatherly hand on Legolas' shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze. "Haldir will see the love you and Emlin share, just as I have only upon meeting her."

"I do hope so." Legolas smiled. He was glad that he had a chance to speak with his father before continuing with his plans.

The King sighed and reached to his belt where a small pouch hung. Legolas watched as Thranduil removed it and then extracted the trinket from inside the velvet. "You asked me to have this done, and this is the best that our craftsmen could make of it."

Legolas looked at it, and took it quickly to inspect the object covered in gold and laden with precious jewels. "Ada, it is perfect. Emlin will love it."

"Good." Thranduil nodded, "Now, you should go rest. This is an important evening."

He laughed and entered his chambers, closing the door behind him. Legolas took in a long sigh and walked over to the nearest chair. He sat within the ante chamber of his room, in front of the large ornate fireplace while looking over the second gift he planned to give Emlin this night after the feast. When he sent this little trinket to his father to be made into something, he had never thought his father would take such care in making sure that it was taken care of for their arrival to Mirkwood. Thranduil was always so busy with the running of the city, and Legolas understood why, but it seemed that with this little ornament, he had never imagined such a fine idea being thought up by his father. Legolas heard the creak come from back in his room, and he knew almost instantly that it would be Emlin.

Being the stealthy elf and fighter he was, Legolas remained perfectly quiet as he listened to the ever soft sounds coming from the back. He moved from the chaise he was on and walked to a side wall where he could hide and watch her carefully, but once he got to the perfect viewing spot, he regretted it tenfold. There, slowly creeping into his chambers, was Emlin only wrapped in a flimsy drying cloth that barely covered her body. This had been one of the many visions he had been dreaming of since he realized that he was in love with her, and it annoyed him to no end that he could not act on his primal urges right at this moment. He had made a promise to her to be a teacher and lover, not some lustful elf, wishing to sate his need as quickly as he could. Emlin deserved more than that rushed encounter he so wished he could have, though she did not think so much of that from he many times trying to get him to break his resolution.

Oh, how it would have been so easy to throw her upon his bed, take what he wished at this moment and by complete and utter surprise no less, but he wished her to make it to their wedding. The last thing he needed to do was scare her so badly that she never spoke to him again. Legolas chuckled to himself as Emlin began to trace the smooth stone with his fingers, and he knew exactly what she was looking for. He had to give her praise for remembering that detail so finely, especially when he told her of such a door when she was half listening to him. Had she just come into his chambers to look for the door? No, she could not have, not in that particular lack of covering. She would have been too embarrassed.

He sighed as she continued to move slowly along the wall. Since he had arrived back to his room, he had toyed with the idea of interrupting her bathing, and had been close to doing so until he again thought about her embarrassment. It seemed odd to him that an elleth so willing and wanting to share intimately would be so embarrassed about being garmentless around him when not in the context of love making. If there was one thing that made Emlin still appear young, it was this irrational fear of being seen without clothes on. Surely she knew that he would worship her body no matter how it was formed.

Her eyes began to search the room again as she ended the length of the wall. Legolas had to laugh at her forlorn face in not finding what she wished, but laughed even harder when he saw her face light up again, spying the new room. She pursed her lips together, determined to find the door, and walked into the next room after looking around again, it seemed also checking for him. Quietly, he followed her into this room, and watched her move around the perimeter, completely missing the door as it was blocked by a large tapestry. He walked over to the tapestry and pushed it out of the way, pushing open the door soundlessly enough that Emlin did not hear him until he leaned against the opening and cleared his throat to get her attention.

"I believe that this is what you were looking for." She froze in her spot, and he could see the deep blush running down her soft, white skin as she turned around slowly to meet his eyes. Legolas smiled and appraised her slowly. Emlin opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out and she blushed deeper, walking towards him. He could not let her get by so easily, though, and reached out to grab her arm. She paused and looked back at him questioningly, pure mortification visible in her murky eyes.

Somehow he had to break her of that mortification, but right at the moment his rational thought was not working, not with the sight of her in nothing but a drying cloth. He pushed her against the frame of the door, kissing her deeply and thoroughly, his hands starting around her tiny waist and slowly moving back to splay across her soft back end. She was frigid and unwilling to give into the kiss until he ever so slightly ground his hips into her. Emlin gasped against his mouth, and hastily entwined her fingers in his hair. Never before, in all of their playfulness towards each other in the past few months, had he felt such a deep-seeded need in her kiss. As for him, he had wanted to let her know how much more intense he wished things to be, but he only gave what would equal her level of involvement, which usually stayed on the very playful side. But now, out of nowhere, he was stunned, though he quickly reciprocated what she was giving to him.

His self-control became a rather large problem for him as his hands moved of their own volition and found the bare skin of her legs, his fingers slowly pushing up on the cloth to slip his hands beneath it. Slowly, he found her hips, running his fingers along the bone as they then moved around to cup her bottom. She gasped against his mouth again, but let out a small whimper following it. That normally would have urged him on, that slight voicing of her approval of what he was doing, but on this occasion he found his control back and in place. He pulled away from her lips, resting his forehead against hers. "Why did you come in here?"

"I did not know it was wrong for me to do so." Emlin snapped at him, but smiled. "The door to my chamber would not open."

He chuckled, "That is because it has not been used since, well, I think when my father was still prince."

"It has never been used? Not even for important guests?" She asked incredulously.

"You are an important guest, are you not?" Legolas questioned and sighed, his breathing finally under control. "And no, I have never had guests who I deemed lovely and special enough to use the baths."

Emlin laughed at him, "At least I am special."

He kissed her again, bracing her head with his hand. Again, he pulled away and smiled. "You should start preparing for this evening, my lady. There will be many people begging your attention."

Emlin smiled brightly and shut the door in his face. Legolas sighed and shook his head. Now onto his bath and the feast to be held in their honor.

She fell down onto her bed with an exaggerated sigh, collecting her mind after what had just incurred between her and Legolas. Mortification of being caught was one thing, but the way he had kissed her and touched her just a few seconds ago was another. Really, she did not care so much that she had been found now that the only feeling running through her body was that of the intense heat he had caused to stir within her. What must he be going through now? How could he harness such control over things like they had just shared, when she definitely could not? It was probably age that had brought the ability to do such a thing, but she still wished she could possess it. Maybe then she would not feel so ungratified after such encounters with him.

Emlin sat up on the bed and gazed around her chamber for the first time. It was much like Legolas', but was distinctly female in the fact that the fabrics used to covers the pillows, bedding and other things were all of light purples, pinks and peaches. Even the gauzy fabric slung from post to post on her bed was sign that this room was inherently meant for females. Had Tuilindë stayed in here when she and Thranduil were still young and not yet bound? Emlin smiled to herself, thinking of the Queen and how much she could not wait to sit for long whiles and speak to her. Arwen was right. Emlin would indeed learn a great deal from the Queen of Mirkwood.

There was a robe of velvet laying out for her upon the bed, and Emlin quickly removed her drying cloth to replace it with the robe. While she had been in the bath, her things had been brought and set up within her wardrobe. She walked over to the partially open doors and peered within, just to make sure everything had made a safe transfer, but found that there was an addition to her wardrobe. It certainly could not have been from Tuilindë as there had been no chance for taking measurements or even having a seamstress sew a dress, but no matter the fact it was a particularly beautiful gown of a very pale yellow, made of a flowing gauzy fabric that had been layered to make it so that it was not revealing to anyone who wore it. This was a color that was not normally seen among the Eldar, as it caused rather pale skin to be washed out, but Emlin did not care. The neckline was decidedly low, but still tasteful. It was beautiful nonetheless, and she would try to figure out who had gifted her with such a dress.

Emlin took the dress from the wardrobe and held it to her body, but a small piece of parchment feel out of the bottom of the skirt. She bent down and retrieved the parchment to examine. She read the parchment aloud, "Someone special bid me the task of getting this to you for the evening festivities. Tuilindë." Setting the parchment aside, Emlin smiled to herself. Someone special? Had Legolas had this made for her? Emlin giggled to herself, and sat back down upon the bed. There was no doubt about it, the nervousness she had felt earlier was gone, and now she was completely and utterly excited for whatever was to happen this eve.

Again, she found herself sprawled across the soft bed, looking up at the stone ceiling and playing out all the different possibilities of the night. That was until she heard an odd scratching coming from further back in the chambers. Emlin sat up quickly and looked around, finding that it was coming from the wood door down a short hallway in the back of her chambers. She figured that this was the door that led to the bathing chamber, and had left it at that... until now. With a small laugh thinking of all the things Legolas could be doing, Emlin removed herself from the bed and walked to the door, standing in front of it in time to have the room grow quiet. Then the knob jiggled slightly, and it sounded like he was pushing against the wood, probably with his shoulder as he turned the handle.

This was of no avail and she heard him huff angrily, "By the Valar!"

Emlin laughed again and stood back, listening to him curse some more in Sindarin, and then heard him change to another language she did not know. Finally, with one more violent shove, the door gave way and Legolas came stumbling into the room, though he was quick to catch his balance and the falling drying cloth. "I am glad to see that you can win battles against wooden doors, my lord."

He huffed again, "It is possessed by some evil being."

She sighed and looked at him for a few moments. It did not matter that she had seen nearly every part of him already, she still felt light headed looking a this finely shaped, lean, athletic Elven body. "You did not believe me that I could not get in through my door?"

"That was not it, Emlin. I just thought it would be better for you if it were opened, for later dates." He replied, though she could see in his eyes there was a slight bit of shame because he had checked the door just to be sure.

"Oh, I see." Emlin smiled and sighed, glancing at his shoulder where his hand was now rubbing. "And now you have a rather large splinter of wood in your shoulder. Too bad I will not be able to aide you in removing it."

He scoffed, "And why not? I just defeated that son of a Balrog for you."

She laughed and pouted, "Remind me to quiet my palpitating heart. I did not realize that defeating a door was a great feat for a warrior who has battled far fouler things in this world than wood."

"You, obviously, have never met an Ent." Legolas smiled wickedly. "They can be pretty ruthless."

"Fine, you win this argument." Emlin replied, "Sit on the bed and I will find something to take the splinter out with."

"Aye, my lady." He replied quietly and walked towards the bed as she went around looking for something to use. Emlin found a straight pin in a pin cushion at the bottom of her wardrobe and went back over to him. She stood over him carefully, straddling one of his bent legs to get closer and have a better angle at which to remove the splinter, even though her mind was barely on the splinter. His arms went around her back as she tried pick the splinter from under his skin, looking up at her he let out a long sigh. He took a hold of her hand with the needle in it, and also the other, and placed them around his neck before replacing his hands. Legolas smiled slyly, "I love you, my lady."

She giggled, and bent down over him to give him a soft kiss. Emlin, however, pulled away before he could do anything to deepen it. "And I love you too, Legolas Thranduilion."

Legolas licked his lips and sighed, "Sometimes I have to ask myself why you would even pay me a second glance."

Emlin paused and looked down at him again, thinking what he was saying was rather odd. "There are too many reasons to even say, Legolas."

"Tell me one?" He asked.

She sighed. He was definitely acting strange. "You were the first person who treated me like a grown elleth, not some elfling."

Legolas laughed, "And that led to me getting into trouble."

"True." Emlin nodded, and set the needle aside for the moment, cupping his face with her hands. She met his eyes and smiled softly. "I love to listen to you speak of all things you have done in your life. I love the way I can tell whatever it is you are thinking just by looking into your eyes. You are honorable, loyal, noble, quick-tempered, unpredictable and absolutely perfect. But most of all, Legolas, I love the way that you make me feel. It is almost as if I could take on Melkor himself so long as you loved me and cherished me like you do now. That is why I love you, gave you a second glance, and allowed you to make up to me in Minas Tirith for being unbearable."

He chuckled and nodded his head, turning his eyes away from her. "You have an awfully forgiving heart, my lady."

She sighed and leaned down to kiss him again. For the first time ever, she did not feel so young anymore. She felt that by standing here, and telling Legolas what she was, that she was his equal. They both shared the same feelings, the same wants, the same needs, the same fears... she was exactly like him, even if there were a few millennia between their ages. And for the first time, she really felt like she belonged with him... really and truly completed him as he completed her. "There was no forgiving. It was only always loving."

Legolas glanced up at her, "Emlin, you are truly and entirely perfect in every single way."

"That is a good thing." Emlin chuckled, "Now, may I please continue with this splinter? I do not think your parents will be so happy if we do not make a timely appearance."

"Please, finish." Legolas chuckled.

Emlin turned to working on the splinter and had almost finished when there was a knock at her door. "Yes?"

"Emlin, it is Tuilindë." Came the pleasant call, "I came to see if you needed any help preparing for the evening?"

"No, I do not think I do, but you may come in." Emlin called out.

Legolas looked up at her. "You are not embarrassed that she will see us like this?"

"Are you?" She asked.

"Nay, I am not, but I just..." Legolas said but trailed off. "Never mind."

The door opened and they listened as Tuilindë made her entrance to the room. When she entered, the Queen let out a slight chuckle. "What in the Valar happened to you, Legolas?"

Emlin glanced up at the Queen and smiled, "I believe the official reason is that he was attacked by a possessed wood door, and received a splinter as a remembrance of the fight."

Legolas sighed, "You make is sound so bad, Emlin. Really, Naneth, it was not so horrible."

Tuilindë laughed. "I believe it is very bad, ion, when one of the most celebrated warriors of our kind is relegated to fighting doors."

Emlin continued working and finally finished with removing the splinter, even under the intense examination of Tuilindë's eyes. She whispered a small spell to help heal the wound quickly. "You are finished, now would you please leave me be?"

"Aye, my lady." He bowed slightly, a hand on his drying cloth as he exited through the secret door.

Tuilindë turned to Emlin and smiled. "He is exactly like is father... and I must say that I am impressed with your healing skills. Arwen wrote to me and told me you had only been practicing a month."

"Thank you, Tuilindë." Emlin smiled humbly and turned to glance toward her dress hanging over the back of a chair. "But I must prepare."

"Aye." Tuilindë smiled. "Let me help you..."

---

ion- son

Ada- Dad.

Naneth- mother