A.N Thank you to everyone that reviewed. So here is the next chapter I hope everyone will enjoy it. I do not own any other the "Lords" characters, you know who they are, I own my own; you'll see who they are.
Chapter 6
You're the One
Legolas's footsteps fell silently on the dusty ground, as he swiftly moved closer to the pond. He used his elvish stealth to quietly hide behind a tree and watch the stranger without being noticed. The illumination from the bright crescent moon and its reflection on the mirror that was the surface of the water, made the pond enchantingly surreal. Peering out from behind the tree he could only see the back of the person in the water before she dove back in. The water rippled softly as the stranger's body disappeared into the cool depths. When the person resurfaced, he almost lost his footing as his body quivered at the realization of who was in front of him. "It is her," he breathed to himself. He could swear that his eyes had never seen such beauty in all his life. Quickly he moved back undercover behind the tree when she turned and looked in his direction. Holding his breath and trying to be perfectly still, he waited, his heart racing in his chest. He could not believe his luck! Surely it must have been fate that kept bringing them together like this. This time he was not going to walk away from her. If she truly was his destiny, then this time he had to do something about it. After a few minutes he again boldly peered out from behind the safety of the tree. She was now floating on her back; her body was covered with glistening droplets of water. She seemed so at ease and oblivious to her surroundings. He slowly and quietly moved closer to the water's edge, never taking his eyes off her. Noticing her cloths on a nearby rock, he devilishly decided that this would be the best place to reside. He sat down on the rock beside her garments and then suddenly curiosity got the better of him and he leaned down and picked up her nightgown. The material felt so soft and silky in his grasp, as he slowly brought it closer to his face so he could take in the scent of it. Breathing in deeply he smelled the calming sent of lavender. The perfume brought back the events of earlier, as her remembered her wearing it. He closed his eyes and smiled as he relived their first meeting. Hearing the water quietly swishing, his gaze returned to the girl floating there.
As Gwenneth floated on her back, in the cool water, her mind finally cleared of all thoughts concerning Legolas. Feeling the cool fluid wash around her naked body, she once again felt at peace. She moaned softly to herself as she opened her eyes and stared up into the brilliant night sky. There it was again, that feeling of being watched! She slowly turned, searching the banks for signs of life, until her eyes fell upon him. Her breathing ceased in the shock of seeing him sitting there watching her. "It is you! You are the one I ran into and I saw you during the fireworks!" she spoke softly, unaware of her own state.
Her wet black hair hung heavily around her pale white face, as her blue eyes sparkled from the reflecting light of the moon. When Legolas heard her voice he stood up, and a shy smiled stretched across his face. " Yes…it is I," he nodded slightly, as he clasped his hands behind him and pulled himself up into a confident stance.
Time again escaped them as they stood locked in each other's gaze. He was gorgeous, standing tall and proud, his blonde hair shimmering in the moonlight as it cascaded over his shoulders. He was dressed all in black, save for a pattern stitched in white thread on his loose fitting shirt. 'Black is definitely his color', she admitted to herself. A small breeze made Gwenneth's skin chill, when she suddenly realized that she was standing there naked in front of elf she hardly even knew. She quickly wrapped her arms around her chest and sunk her body into the warm water to hide her body from his piercing stare. "Wha…what are you doing here?" she asked sharply. "No… wait… how long have you been watching me?"
Laughing out loud, he realized that he had to think quickly of what to say, because in all truthfulness, he didn't know what he was doing. "Well I… I …was just sitting here admiring the moonlight…on the water, that is," he stammered, as they were the first words to come to his mind. Here he was, an elf that was usually so confident and so full of grace that he could obtain anything or anyone that he wanted. But when it came to her, his confidence and grace suddenly left him. He felt like a drunken fool when he was near her!
"Hmm," she groaned, raising her eyebrow to his obviously made-up response. "You were looking at the moon, and you didn't even notice a naked girl floating in the water?"
For the first time in his life he was actually at a loss for words and on top of it, he was fidgeting! 'Speak you idiot! Say something and stop fidgeting! Elves do no fidget,' he cursed to himself. "Well…seeing you…was just…luck…I guess," he said and shrugged his shoulder. He rolled his eyes when he realized what a foolish answer he had given.
"You know you are a little peculiar for an elf," she said, crinkling her nose as she gave him a strange look. "I mean I was always told that elves are graceful, but you are far from that," she said. Then shock set in when she became fully aware of what she had just said. "I am sorry, I just do not know when to keep my thoughts to myself!" she added hastily, in fear of offending him.
"No…No need for apologies," he replied laughing, as he finally started to relax and realize how moronic he was being. 'She is just a girl, stop acting so foolish!' he commanded to himself.
After looking around again to make sure there was no one else spying on her, she turned back to him. "It is late, and I should really get back before someone starts to worry. If you would kindly please leave, so I may put on my clothes and return to my family…."
"Well do not let me stop you from leaving," he stated with a wave of his hand towards her clothes. "Though I wish for you to stay, so that I could enjoy a sharp, witty conversation," he added, referring to the comment about his grace. He then sat down on a rock and started to take off his boots.
Her eyes squinted in confusion as she watched him remove one boot and then the other. Then he stood up and started to unfasten his shirt. "Wait! Stop!" she yelled. "What in the Valar's name do you think you are doing!?"
Legolas stopped at her command, looked up at her, and then chuckled evilly. "I was planning to cool off in the water. That is why I came in the first place. And just because you are in the water, does not mean that I can not go in, myself." He looked around the pond and waved his hand, "This pond it big enough for the both of us, is it not?" Then he proceeded in undoing his shirt.
Gwenneth's face felt warm, as her pulse rate quickened at the thought of seeing him naked. He never left her sight as he started to wiggle out of his top. Her mouth gapped wide open at the sight of his muscular bare chest. She could imagine herself running her hands over it, feeling the smoothness of his skin and tautness of his muscles under her fingertips. Suddenly a thought raced through her mind and she new what she had to do. "Stop! Or I shall yell for my brother, Aragorn!" He suddenly stopped and smirked at her remark. "I know that you do not want to see him, and he would be most angry to see you standing there half naked in front of his only sister. So…put your garments back on, and I will not call for him."
Legolas studied the girl for a moment, and then started to shake his head from side to side, his blonde hair gently rustling as he did so. "Nay…I do not think that you will call your brother," he said, rather sure of himself. "For you do not really want him to come." He studied her expressions as she took in what he was saying. "No. I think you really want me to stay. I can see that you are curious and you want to find out all you can about me," he said with a tinge of wickedness in his voice. The whole truth of the matter was that actually it was HE that wanted to learn all he could about her.
His intense blue eyes just peered into her soul. How did he know that she would not call for Aragorn and that she really wanted him to stay? She shuddered at the thought that he knew what she was thinking. Finally realizing that he would not relent, she agreed. "Very well, you may stay. But I warn you…you do anything, and I mean anything that frightens me, and I will call for my brother. And I promise that when he comes, he will not be alone," she warned, shaking her finger at him.
A smiled stretched across his lips, and he bowed. "Well, thank you my lady, for allowing to me stay with you. Even though I do not think that you could have stopped me, seeing that this pond was not made for just you." Legolas then began to undo his pants.
Her eyes widen again. "WAIT! STOP RIGHT THERE!"
"What now?" he asked with exasperation. "Did you not just allow me to come into the water? Or did I not hear you right?" he added, putting his hand up to his ear in a mock gesture. "And you have the nerve to call me peculiar. I think it is the other way around, my lady."
"No, you may come in. But let me turn around first so you can undress and get into the water," she replied coyly. The blood again rushed to her face at the thought that she had never before seen a fully naked man and was in no wish to see one now. Though see was rather curious. But she turned around anyway, despite her curiosity.
He again laughed at her comment. "Very well," he said as she turned away form him. He then continued take his pants off, and stepped lightly into the warm water. He dove under the water and came up a couple of feet behind her. "Ok…you may turn around. It is safe, for I am in the water," he commented.
She turned around and jumped back trying to keep her shoulders under the water, when she saw how close he had come to her. She did not know why but she was a little afraid of him now that she knew who he was. She moved back a couple of steps to ease her fear. Her eyes darted back and forth in search of someone, in case she should need help.
Sensing her fear, he smiled softly to her. He did not want to scare her away. "Do not be afraid. I will not hurt you, or do anything to cause you harm." He tried to ease her fears by looking into her eyes
Her fear suddenly subsided when she saw in his eyes that he was speaking the truth. "I know you would not harm me. I feel that you are telling me the truth. It is just…"
"Ah… let me guess," he interrupted. "It is your brother. He has put the fear of elves in you. He has told you that we are wicked creatures and we cannot be trusted. Am I not correct?"
Gwenneth dropped her head with shame. "It is true," she sighed, "I should come to my own conclusions instead of relying on what was told to me. I am ashamed to say that you are the first elf that I have ever had that chance to make an acquaintance with."
"Surely you do not tell me the truth," was his shocked reply. "How can it be that I am the first?"
Gwenneth started to slowly wade through the water, still trying to keep her shoulders under the surface, as Legolas matched her every move, always staying a couple feet away from her. Their eyes never strayed from one another. "Well you see, this is my first time away from Gondor. I was never allowed to travel outside of its borders until now," she stated, unsure of his reaction.
Outrage washed over his face. He could not believe that anyone could keep her captive in her own land! "That is preposterous! Why on earth were you not permitted to leave its borders?"
"I wish I knew. My family is just a little overprotective of me, I guess. I do not blame them though, they only do what they think is right for me and what will keep me safe," she said, and she had to remind herself of that, too.
He shook his head in disagreement. "Well, there are other ways of keeping you safe than not letting you leave your home. There is so much out there, it is a shame not to enjoy it!"
"Please, let us not dwell on that. I would much rather talk about something else," she urged, as she tilted her head back to let the water flow through her hair. "Tell me about you instead."
"Very well then. Since I am the first elf you have ever met, I think we should be properly introduced," he said as he brought his right arm up over his heart and bowed his head slightly to her. "I am Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil, King of Mirkwood."
"Oh, you too are a prince," she said, shocked to hear of his royalty.
"Yes, but I do not think of myself as a prince, and right now I reside in Rivendell with my friends, not in Mirkwood. I would much rather travel around Middle Earth, then to be tied down by all the titles and duties that would be required of me if I were there. My father is allowing this for now, but I know in the future I will have to go back to Mirkwood and take my place with my kin." Then he too put his head in the water. But only for a brief second as he quickly looked at her again, afraid that this was a dream and that she would disappear. "And who, may I ask do, I share my company with?" he asked. He already knew, but he wanted to hear her voice.
She brought her head back up and looked into his eyes. She felt her insides melt and her knees going weak when he smiled warmly to her. "I think by now you already know…since I just told you that Aragorn is my brother. I am Gwenneth, Princess of Gondor.
Legolas always hated hearing that name, and now he hated it even more, knowing that he himself was enchanted with his sister. Surely Aragorn would have to be dealt with if he wanted this affair to go any further. But that would most definitely come later, and for now he just wanted to concentrate on the vision standing before him. He turned his full attention back to the girl. "Gwenneth," he said almost in a whisper, "That is a beautiful name and may I say it fits you very well."
"What do you mean?" she inquired.
"Gwenneth…it means pure," he softly replied as he slowly inched his way closer to her. He knew that he should stop, but something kept drawing him closer to her.
Her heart fluttered as his words rang in her ear. Noticing his advance, she shook her head in rejection and suddenly diving into the water, swam away. When she came up for air, her feet could not touch the bottom of the pool, so she had to tread. "So…tell me…why do you and Aragorn dislike each other so much?" she asked as she tried to keep the water out of her mouth.
He quickly turned to face her when he heard her resurface. And there it was - the age-old question that neither he, nor Aragorn could answer for certain. "To be perfectly honest with you, I cannot tell you why. Our races have been fighting for so long now, no one really knows the real reason anymore," he explained, as he waded towards her.
"Well, I think it is childish! If you do not know why you do it, then why do you continue? I think you both are fools just trying to prove something! To whom do you think you have to prove yourself?" she spat in anger. "I'll tell you…Yourselves! Because no one else really cares anymore." She wished Aragorn were here so she could scold him, too. She inhaled deeply and continued, " I did not mean to get angry, but this whole thing is just so…senseless. We are not so different from you elves."
Legolas was taken back by her sudden anger. She was not afraid to show her passion, and his admiration for her grew because of it. He chuckled softly in an attempt to ease the tension. "Ah perhaps you are right," he said as he stared intensely into her eyes. "Maybe you could show me how much we really are alike?" He reached for her hand and gently pulled her to where her feet could reach the bottom. Not letting go of her hand he brought it to his mouth and placed his warm lips to her cool, wet skin.
Fire rushed through her being when his soft lips touched her skin again. She closed her eyes and breathed in sharply. "Maybe that could be arranged, since we seem to keep running into each other," she whispered as he moved his lips from her skin, and his eyes again returned to hers.
Moving in closer to her, he gently placed his hand on her waist and pulled her closer. Feeling her quiver at his touch, he dared not pull her all the way against him, for fear of her swimming away, or worse yet, calling for Aragorn. His other hand reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear. He carefully studied her face, burning it into his mind. The back of his hand grazed her soft cheek as she closed her eyes to his touch. "You are the most incredibly beautiful creature I ever laid my eyes on," he uttered quietly. He was pleased that she did not pull away. Feeling brave, he pulled her all the way to him. Waves of heat rushed though him when he felt the contact of her body against his. Gwenneth brought her hand up to his chest and moved herself a few inches away from his body, but his grip was firm and he would not let her go far. He then placed his hands under her chin and lifted it so her eyes could meet his gaze once more. His hand then entangled itself in her long wet hair. "Do you not see that it is fate that keeps bringing us together?" he whispered as he lowered his head, to lightly brush his lips against hers.
Gwenneth closed her eyes when his lips touched hers. She slipped into a dream, and she was once again paralyzed, as her lips melted with his. 'This is just a fantasy,' she kept telling herself, as his lips pressed harder against hers. Somehow she felt he was right. After all, fate DID keep bringing them together, as if the Valar wanted this. And right at that moment she wanted it, too. His kiss was so overwhelming that slowly fear of the unknown crept into her thoughts. She pulled away suddenly, but his grip was firm and she couldn't go too far.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, searching her eyes for answers. "I am sorry. I should have not done that."
"No, nothing is wrong," she lied. Then, for some strange reason, she felt uncomfortable lying to him and continued in an attempt to make amends: "It is just that…I mean…I hardly even know you, and it is a little intimidating."
"I want to change that. What do you know about me? I will tell you whatever will make you feel at ease," he said as a concerned look washed over his face. "I am willing to do anything, I just want to be near you," he pleaded with a needful gaze.
Her heart melted at his comment, and her fear slowly subsided. For some reason, he seemed to know how to make her feel at ease, by just the looking into her eyes. "It is to fast, we must really slow down. This should be savored and enjoyed if it is truly fate brining us together," she explained.
He was taken back when he heard her words. They were exactly the same thoughts that he had had after their first meeting. The Heavens were definitely shinning down on them. Legolas again pulled her to himself, for he could not help to do anything else. Slowly he traced her cheekbone, satisfying his thirst for the feel of her soft skin, as his hand came to rest on the curve of her neck. Gently bringing his forehead down to rest on hers, he closed his eyes and slowly drew in a deep breath. "I will do any thing you wish. And you are right - this should be enjoyed. I am willing to take my time." He then pulled away and kissed her forehead and bringing his lips to her ear, whispered: "I feel you are my destiny and I am yours." With that, he released his grasp and swam away, leaving her breathless.
She felt as though her arms and legs were made of lead, as she tried to move but could not. "Were are you going?" she asked when she saw that he had reached the water's edge.
He turned to face her without getting out of the water. "It is late and we should really be getting back. Now if you would turn around, I will get dressed. And then when I am done, you can get dressed and I will walk you back."
"Oh of course." Gwenneth laughed and turned around. Her cheeks felt hot when the thought of turning around and watching him suddenly crossed her mind. "You know, I do not think it is wise for you to walk me back to my camp," she said as she turned her profile to him, straining to maybe get a glimpse of his naked body.
Having already pulled on his pants, he stretched his arm into the sleeve of his shirt and smiled when he looked up to see efforts of peeking. "Why…?" He stopped as he answered his own question: "Ah…Aragorn! You are right; we cannot let him see us together. Very well, I will walk you part of the way, for it would be very wrong of me to let you walk around in the middle of the night unattended." He finished putting on his shirt and started to pull up his boots. "Ok…you may turn around now."
To her disappointment he was fully clothed when she turned around. She let out a sigh and started to swim to the shore. When she got to the shallows Legolas had not moved yet and she looked upon him with annoyance on her face. "What?" he questioned when he saw the look in her eyes.
"Are you going to turn around so I can get out?"
He sheepishly grinned to her. "Do not let me stop you."
"Legolas, that is not very gentlemanly of you!" she spat.
"Ah but I am an elf, not a gentleman. However, I will do as you wish," he said as he bowed to her, sweeping his hand in a wide arc and adding "Lady Gwenneth."
When he finally had his back to her, she proceeded to climb out of the water. She glanced over to him to make sure that he wasn't trying to peek, like she had done earlier. She smiled to herself when she saw that he indeed was being a perfect gentleman. She slid on her silken gown and then pulled her robe around her and tied the belt in the front. Taking one last look at the enchanting pond, she then turned to Legolas. "Ok, I am ready."
Turning to her he suddenly stopped and took her in. No matter what she wore, she still seemed to take his breath away. He wondered if it would always feel like that whenever he saw her. He held out his hand and she placed her hand in his. He slowly closed his fingers around hers, and began to guide her up to the path. Hand in hand they slowly walked back towards the camps. Each of them was lost in their dreams. Every now and then one would look at the other just to reassure that it was not a fantasy. Just as they neared Gwenneth's camp, Legolas pulled her into a thicket of trees just off the path, so no eyes could see them. He pulled her close to his tall lean body and encircled one arm around her waist. Fixing his gaze lovingly down into her brilliant pools of blue, he saddened at the thought of letting her go. "I guess this is farewell then," he said reluctantly. A breeze rustled though the trees, her coal black hair blowing into her face. He instinctively reached out and brushed it aside. "I know I must, but I just can not seem to let you go. Please reassure me that we will meet again, for I will not be a peace until I know that we can be together once more!"
Still unable to believe that this was really happening to her, she started to laugh. "But if this is fate, then surely we shall meet again," she said, trying to play a little hard to get.
Legolas turned away for a brief moment, sighed deeply and then returned his attention to her. "It is fate," he stated firmly, "but now that we know what it is, I am not going to let it decide when we shall meet again." He glanced around to make sure that they were not seen. "Do you think you can sneak away tomorrow?"
"It will be hard, with Aragorn and Eomer watching my every move, but I will try," she explained.
Ah yes, Eomer! He had to remind himself to ask her what her relationship was with him, since he had seen them so close earlier that night. "Go to the stables at high noon and there you will find me waiting for you," he said in a demanding tone.
"I will be there," she laughed quietly. "Surely we can help fate along a little?"
Legolas smiled and his brilliant white teeth shone brightly. "I must let you go now, but please allow me one last kiss to remember you by," he pleaded with a boyish charm.
Gwenneth looked around, and then gave him a bashful smile. "I do not know. Someone might…." That was all she could say before his lips were one hers. Her body stiffened at the initial shock and then melted into his arms. The silkiness and taste of his kiss excited her beyond words and made her whole body tingle. She then felt his warm hand against her cheek as he slowly pulled his lips form hers, to let them just lightly brush hers for a brief moment.
Breathing as though he could not get enough air, he smiled tenderly as he looked down at her heavenly face. He once again caressed the soft skin of her face. Her eyes were still closed, and she looked so peaceful. Oh how he did not want to leave her! But he knew that he had to. "Goodnight my fair Gwenneth," he whispered in her ear, as he eased her out of his arms. "May the Valar give you the sweetest of dreams." With that he turned and quickly disappeared before she could return to reality.
When she finally opened her eyes, her heart plummeted at his absence. Sighing deeply, she slowly grazed her fingertips across her lips, remembering the feel of his, just moments ago. She chuckled to herself and then hopped out of the clump of trees onto the dirt path and skipped, like a child, to her camp. A smile was plastered on her face, for all she could think about was seeing him tomorrow. Surely her dreams would be sweet tonight.