Thank you for the reviews, they encourage me very much to continue and
adapt the story for your reading pleasure!
As you well know now, I don't owe anything related to Tolkien work's or LOTR.
The Unspoken Truth
It was said that on this night thousands of years ago that the virgin Mary gave birth to her child Jesus, and if Serena was anything to go by, Mary would have blushed at the things Serena got up to with Mr Fuckabilty, who could well....generally fuck very well. Very, very well if you could get the hang of what she meant by that, but on with the actual story. Christmas day came and went without so much as a by-leave as Legolas and Serena remained shut away in the bedroom, doing....what they do best.
It's a great thing lust, it eradicates all traces of time, destroys all sense of reason, all sensibilities, where only flesh holds the answer, the enigma solved in the sighs of pleasure, the whimpers of desire.
Where the pace of life is replaced with throes of ecstasy.
It no longer mattered if it was light or dark, just that you're not alone, if there was no air to breath, you had that kiss, if you were cold, you had the caresses that left your nerves tingling with fire.
Serena's apartment remained unchecked, from the dripping of the tap, the ringing of her telephone, the Christmas presents unopened. It wasn't until Boxing day did someone stir from the bedroom and that someone was Legolas, naked with the bed sheet wrapped round his waist, hair askew (!), and smiling at some comment made by Serena trying to entice him back to bed.
Searching for his mobile phone, its strange how the most innocent of things we look for often leads us further than we have thought was possible.
"I left my mobile downstairs, I'll be back in a moment. Keep that bed warm." Legolas smiled as he passed the door and opened her apartment door, he carefully thread down the stairs, avoiding tripping over the sheet which was tucked round his waist and wrapped itself round his long legs.
He was vaguely aware of the chill in the café as its radiators been turned off for the Christmas season. Snow had piled up over the window and he could see it was snowing outside. He looked on the counter to see his jacket he had thrown there several days prior and grabbed it. Flipping it open he saw he had three missed phone calls, all from different numbers and a few text messages. Looking up, he realised that where the painting of him should be, was empty. The bare wall smiling back at him as he blinked.
"Serena?" he yelled, his eyes fixated to the spot where the missing painting should be. Maybe Serena taken it down over the holidays to not entice burglars to break in.
"Yeah?" was her faint reply.
"Where's my painting?" he yelled back.
"Which one?" Serena's voice grew louder as she came down the stairs, wrapped in a nightgown, she too was in no better state than he was, especially with smudge make-up adding to the effect.
"Gabriel." He gestured helplessly at the wall. Serena looked to see the empty space then replied, "Sue taken the paintings into the museum for valuation and dating."
"Shit!" Legolas hissed as he pushed his way past her and rushed up the stairs, nearly landing on his backside when he slid on the sheet. Throwing it aside, he hurriedly got dress, aware of Serena watching him with surprise and worry.
"What's wrong?"
"That painting! We need to get it back!" He snapped, no longer in a good mood.
Fool!
He should have paid more attention to Sue!
"Why? Everything is closed. Can't it wait?" Serena flopped on the bed exasperated at Legolas sudden change in behaviour.
"No! I reported that painting stolen, if they find out, you will get arrested and they'll close your business down." Legolas snapped, for a moment she stared at him, words registering in her mind then she gasped. Flying across the room she threw on some clothes and turned to Legolas.
"Shit! Why didn't you say?"
"I didn't think the painting will be leaving to the museum!" Legolas pulled his boots on, panic invading all his senses and for once, he was helpless.
"I'll ring them though I don't think anyone will be in Boxing day, we'll think of some thing." Serena grabbed the phone and dialled in the number to the arts office within the Museum, to a man called Tam Chapman, a curator who knew her father.
She nearly dropped the phone when his voice answered after the third ring.
"Serena! Recognised your number. What can I do for you?" his voice breathless and excited, Serena swallowed the lump of fear that suddenly formed in her throat, she looked at Legolas who mouthed 'well?'.
"Hey Tam, about my paintings, have you started on them?"
"Yes, yes I have! I made a great discovery Serena, you must come down and see this!" Serena's eyes widened and Legolas groaned, hearing his voice on the phone.
"Meet me at the backdoor and I'll show you. It's a great discovery!" the man babbled on, Serena felt her stomach spiral floor wards as she slumped against the wall.
"See you in ten." Tam said then he hung up, Serena limply drop the phone in its cradle, watching Legolas massage his brows which were furrowed with worry.
"He wants us down there." She mumbled, grabbing a coat and pulling it on.
"No! let see him tomorrow." He grabbed her arm, almost pleading, his eyes now were worried as she shrugged him off, "You wanted to get that painting! No, he's expecting us. Come, we'll go in my car." She open the door and lead Legolas out into the cold, blustery streets where the wind assaulted them with its snow.
She lead him to her red ford Fiesta, and scraped the snow off the windscreen, ignoring Legolas's mutterings and cursing. For some reason he was taking this worst than she was, its not as if he'll be crushed and destroyed.
Its her business on the line not his and for a moment she saw Legolas in a new light. He looked at her, seeing the set determination in her face and realised, no way could he talk her out of this.
He had to ride this out with her, despite what the consequences are.
The car ride was silent, interrupted by the squeak of the window wipers as they protested loudly to scraping the snow which gathered on their window as she pulled up outside the museum. She lead Legolas round the back and saw Tam with a cigarette dropping from the corner of his mouth, he waved them in excitedly and didn't waste time leading them to his office filled with various equipments and paintings.
"I wouldn't normally come in on Boxing day but this painting is so amazing I had to come in and double check it all over again." He lead them to a table where he showed them the painting of Legolas dismantled out of its frame.
"Read the back." He turned it over and pointed excitedly to some writing scrawled on the back of the canvas.
Serena took the magnifying glass from Tam and leant over and held it up to her eye, slowly reading the italic writing.
"It's in Italian." She shook her head.
"Here's the translation, though I don't know what Legolas means, I assume it's the name of the subject he painted." Tam explained, pointing to the one word which stuck out clearly.
"Legolas, my humble thanks for being my patron and my source of inspiration. May my works be immortalised inspired by your muse and grace. your servant, Michelangelo." Serena read. She turned to Tam, "Michelangelo?"
"The one and only. Carbon dating tells us that this painting is not even nineteenth century which is what Sue suspected, it was painted in 1560, eight year before his death. I know this cos he even dated it."
You're telling me this is a painting by Michelangelo David?" Serena gasped, not taking a word in.
"Yep, I even found a thumb print where he smudged some paints, I cross- referenced these in the computer to find a match and Michelangelo came up. Everything is telling me this is a piece of work by the legend himself. Do you know, this is a fine specimen of his work, nothing to this extent and beauty exist due to corrosion and age. This is a priceless piece of work!" Tam smiled, "And that's not just it. I found something's out regarding the subject himself." He turned the painting over and pointed to the collar of the subject, "There, around his neck."
Serena looked closer and saw he was wearing a chain with a small ring suspended from it.
"What is it?" she asked, still taking all this in.
"This ring here, I've seen this before. Here's the twist. A writer by the name Tolkien writes stories concerning elves, hobbits and the one ring. You might know it...."
"The Lord of The Rings." Serena breathed.
"Correct, in some of his research for the story and indeed many others, he did drawings with annotations on the objects and its meanings. This ring apparently belonged to the King Aragon of Gondor, it was the only evidence of his heritance according to the story. I even got a copy of Tolkien's drawing here as we got them on display." Tam laid the photocopy of the drawing of the ring and Serena saw even in the painting, the similarities were the same. The ring was fashioned in the form of twin serpents , with some form of jewel in their eyes, their heads meeting beneath golden flowers which one devours and the other upholds.
"The ring of Barahir, according to Tolkien." Tam smiled, "But how can an artist who was alive in the sixteenth century paint a subject from the works of Tolkien who died not so long ago?" the silent question hung heavy, Serena stared at the man who so resembled Legolas and noticed another fact, although the painting is face on, she could see the ears partly.
"He got pointed ears." Serena pointed to the painted, Tam leant closer and nodded, "You're right, a trademark sign that the subject is elven. This painting is getting weirder. Good thing I've read Tolkien's stories huh?"
Gabriel stared back at her, the faint smile on his lips seem to taunt her, of those silent questions. She heard something stir behind her and realised that Legolas was with her, being unusually quiet.
Turning she look at the man who seem to shrink against the wall, trying to disappear, his face was contorted with worry and his eyes stared at Serena, afraid of what'll happen next.
"Legolas?" Serena whispered, "What's going on?"
Tam turned as well and smiled, "Bloody heck mate! You look just like that fella in that painting!"
Legolas said nothing, he didn't even seem to acknowledge hearing him, his eyes fixed on Serena who leant against the table, sick with confusion.
"This painting is of you, you admitted that but...." Serena shook her head.
"What?" Tam interrupted, looking from Serena and Legolas repeatedly that it must have gave the man motion sickness.
"What's going on?" Serena voice shook, she wanted to scream, she wanted to hit Legolas till he told her what was going on.
The standoff continued for a few minutes, with only Tam moving as he shifted uneasily. Little was he aware of the great outcome of this event. Its at that moment that even immortals have mortal moments and judging from Legolas's next actions, this made him almost human. Forgetting the blood of the elven warrior, forgetting the pride and arrogance to deter almost every situation away from him, he wanted to run.
And run he did.
Not before grabbing Serena by her arm and the painting.
Legolas the immortal elf who dared not even compared himself with the frail race of men, was human. And he didn't like it.
"Legolas let go of me!" Serena tried to jerk her arm out of his grasp but she almost fell over instead when he shoved her into her car. "What's fucking going on?!" she screamed, anger brewing dangerously as she started beeping the car horn in hope of someone walking past. But it was Boxing day and the British nation was at home with the family, watching television. And she was stuck in the car with a lunatic, not a clue of what's going on and what'll happen now.
Legolas got in the driver's seat and fumbled with the car keys before finding the one which roared the engine into life. He pulled away with a screech and dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out his mobile. Flipping it open he dialled a number.
Looking at Serena who had her body fixed to the door, ready in the act of jumping out he almost jumped when a voice abruptly answered.
"Hello?"
"Elrond, its me. Our cover been blown. I'm on my way. I'll need you to escort me and Serena." Legolas panted, Serena's voice suddenly cut in as she started screaming and banging the door.
"Valar! You got the painting?" Elrond exclaimed.
"Yes, affirmative. I'm near Paddington station. Hurry." He switched his mobile off as Serena turned her attention to kicking the window screen with her feet.
"Serena stop it!" he yelled, trying to grab her feet as well as drive but his steering was momentarily swayed and they both realised to their sick horror they were heading towards a lamp post.
"Noooo!" Serena's screams were the last sounds that Legolas heard as he tried to avoid the collision but the sickly crunch of the bonnet wrapping itself round the slender post's column told him it was too late. Darkness came over him swiftly, thick and heavy like he was in those dark caves of Moria all over again.
As you well know now, I don't owe anything related to Tolkien work's or LOTR.
The Unspoken Truth
It was said that on this night thousands of years ago that the virgin Mary gave birth to her child Jesus, and if Serena was anything to go by, Mary would have blushed at the things Serena got up to with Mr Fuckabilty, who could well....generally fuck very well. Very, very well if you could get the hang of what she meant by that, but on with the actual story. Christmas day came and went without so much as a by-leave as Legolas and Serena remained shut away in the bedroom, doing....what they do best.
It's a great thing lust, it eradicates all traces of time, destroys all sense of reason, all sensibilities, where only flesh holds the answer, the enigma solved in the sighs of pleasure, the whimpers of desire.
Where the pace of life is replaced with throes of ecstasy.
It no longer mattered if it was light or dark, just that you're not alone, if there was no air to breath, you had that kiss, if you were cold, you had the caresses that left your nerves tingling with fire.
Serena's apartment remained unchecked, from the dripping of the tap, the ringing of her telephone, the Christmas presents unopened. It wasn't until Boxing day did someone stir from the bedroom and that someone was Legolas, naked with the bed sheet wrapped round his waist, hair askew (!), and smiling at some comment made by Serena trying to entice him back to bed.
Searching for his mobile phone, its strange how the most innocent of things we look for often leads us further than we have thought was possible.
"I left my mobile downstairs, I'll be back in a moment. Keep that bed warm." Legolas smiled as he passed the door and opened her apartment door, he carefully thread down the stairs, avoiding tripping over the sheet which was tucked round his waist and wrapped itself round his long legs.
He was vaguely aware of the chill in the café as its radiators been turned off for the Christmas season. Snow had piled up over the window and he could see it was snowing outside. He looked on the counter to see his jacket he had thrown there several days prior and grabbed it. Flipping it open he saw he had three missed phone calls, all from different numbers and a few text messages. Looking up, he realised that where the painting of him should be, was empty. The bare wall smiling back at him as he blinked.
"Serena?" he yelled, his eyes fixated to the spot where the missing painting should be. Maybe Serena taken it down over the holidays to not entice burglars to break in.
"Yeah?" was her faint reply.
"Where's my painting?" he yelled back.
"Which one?" Serena's voice grew louder as she came down the stairs, wrapped in a nightgown, she too was in no better state than he was, especially with smudge make-up adding to the effect.
"Gabriel." He gestured helplessly at the wall. Serena looked to see the empty space then replied, "Sue taken the paintings into the museum for valuation and dating."
"Shit!" Legolas hissed as he pushed his way past her and rushed up the stairs, nearly landing on his backside when he slid on the sheet. Throwing it aside, he hurriedly got dress, aware of Serena watching him with surprise and worry.
"What's wrong?"
"That painting! We need to get it back!" He snapped, no longer in a good mood.
Fool!
He should have paid more attention to Sue!
"Why? Everything is closed. Can't it wait?" Serena flopped on the bed exasperated at Legolas sudden change in behaviour.
"No! I reported that painting stolen, if they find out, you will get arrested and they'll close your business down." Legolas snapped, for a moment she stared at him, words registering in her mind then she gasped. Flying across the room she threw on some clothes and turned to Legolas.
"Shit! Why didn't you say?"
"I didn't think the painting will be leaving to the museum!" Legolas pulled his boots on, panic invading all his senses and for once, he was helpless.
"I'll ring them though I don't think anyone will be in Boxing day, we'll think of some thing." Serena grabbed the phone and dialled in the number to the arts office within the Museum, to a man called Tam Chapman, a curator who knew her father.
She nearly dropped the phone when his voice answered after the third ring.
"Serena! Recognised your number. What can I do for you?" his voice breathless and excited, Serena swallowed the lump of fear that suddenly formed in her throat, she looked at Legolas who mouthed 'well?'.
"Hey Tam, about my paintings, have you started on them?"
"Yes, yes I have! I made a great discovery Serena, you must come down and see this!" Serena's eyes widened and Legolas groaned, hearing his voice on the phone.
"Meet me at the backdoor and I'll show you. It's a great discovery!" the man babbled on, Serena felt her stomach spiral floor wards as she slumped against the wall.
"See you in ten." Tam said then he hung up, Serena limply drop the phone in its cradle, watching Legolas massage his brows which were furrowed with worry.
"He wants us down there." She mumbled, grabbing a coat and pulling it on.
"No! let see him tomorrow." He grabbed her arm, almost pleading, his eyes now were worried as she shrugged him off, "You wanted to get that painting! No, he's expecting us. Come, we'll go in my car." She open the door and lead Legolas out into the cold, blustery streets where the wind assaulted them with its snow.
She lead him to her red ford Fiesta, and scraped the snow off the windscreen, ignoring Legolas's mutterings and cursing. For some reason he was taking this worst than she was, its not as if he'll be crushed and destroyed.
Its her business on the line not his and for a moment she saw Legolas in a new light. He looked at her, seeing the set determination in her face and realised, no way could he talk her out of this.
He had to ride this out with her, despite what the consequences are.
The car ride was silent, interrupted by the squeak of the window wipers as they protested loudly to scraping the snow which gathered on their window as she pulled up outside the museum. She lead Legolas round the back and saw Tam with a cigarette dropping from the corner of his mouth, he waved them in excitedly and didn't waste time leading them to his office filled with various equipments and paintings.
"I wouldn't normally come in on Boxing day but this painting is so amazing I had to come in and double check it all over again." He lead them to a table where he showed them the painting of Legolas dismantled out of its frame.
"Read the back." He turned it over and pointed excitedly to some writing scrawled on the back of the canvas.
Serena took the magnifying glass from Tam and leant over and held it up to her eye, slowly reading the italic writing.
"It's in Italian." She shook her head.
"Here's the translation, though I don't know what Legolas means, I assume it's the name of the subject he painted." Tam explained, pointing to the one word which stuck out clearly.
"Legolas, my humble thanks for being my patron and my source of inspiration. May my works be immortalised inspired by your muse and grace. your servant, Michelangelo." Serena read. She turned to Tam, "Michelangelo?"
"The one and only. Carbon dating tells us that this painting is not even nineteenth century which is what Sue suspected, it was painted in 1560, eight year before his death. I know this cos he even dated it."
You're telling me this is a painting by Michelangelo David?" Serena gasped, not taking a word in.
"Yep, I even found a thumb print where he smudged some paints, I cross- referenced these in the computer to find a match and Michelangelo came up. Everything is telling me this is a piece of work by the legend himself. Do you know, this is a fine specimen of his work, nothing to this extent and beauty exist due to corrosion and age. This is a priceless piece of work!" Tam smiled, "And that's not just it. I found something's out regarding the subject himself." He turned the painting over and pointed to the collar of the subject, "There, around his neck."
Serena looked closer and saw he was wearing a chain with a small ring suspended from it.
"What is it?" she asked, still taking all this in.
"This ring here, I've seen this before. Here's the twist. A writer by the name Tolkien writes stories concerning elves, hobbits and the one ring. You might know it...."
"The Lord of The Rings." Serena breathed.
"Correct, in some of his research for the story and indeed many others, he did drawings with annotations on the objects and its meanings. This ring apparently belonged to the King Aragon of Gondor, it was the only evidence of his heritance according to the story. I even got a copy of Tolkien's drawing here as we got them on display." Tam laid the photocopy of the drawing of the ring and Serena saw even in the painting, the similarities were the same. The ring was fashioned in the form of twin serpents , with some form of jewel in their eyes, their heads meeting beneath golden flowers which one devours and the other upholds.
"The ring of Barahir, according to Tolkien." Tam smiled, "But how can an artist who was alive in the sixteenth century paint a subject from the works of Tolkien who died not so long ago?" the silent question hung heavy, Serena stared at the man who so resembled Legolas and noticed another fact, although the painting is face on, she could see the ears partly.
"He got pointed ears." Serena pointed to the painted, Tam leant closer and nodded, "You're right, a trademark sign that the subject is elven. This painting is getting weirder. Good thing I've read Tolkien's stories huh?"
Gabriel stared back at her, the faint smile on his lips seem to taunt her, of those silent questions. She heard something stir behind her and realised that Legolas was with her, being unusually quiet.
Turning she look at the man who seem to shrink against the wall, trying to disappear, his face was contorted with worry and his eyes stared at Serena, afraid of what'll happen next.
"Legolas?" Serena whispered, "What's going on?"
Tam turned as well and smiled, "Bloody heck mate! You look just like that fella in that painting!"
Legolas said nothing, he didn't even seem to acknowledge hearing him, his eyes fixed on Serena who leant against the table, sick with confusion.
"This painting is of you, you admitted that but...." Serena shook her head.
"What?" Tam interrupted, looking from Serena and Legolas repeatedly that it must have gave the man motion sickness.
"What's going on?" Serena voice shook, she wanted to scream, she wanted to hit Legolas till he told her what was going on.
The standoff continued for a few minutes, with only Tam moving as he shifted uneasily. Little was he aware of the great outcome of this event. Its at that moment that even immortals have mortal moments and judging from Legolas's next actions, this made him almost human. Forgetting the blood of the elven warrior, forgetting the pride and arrogance to deter almost every situation away from him, he wanted to run.
And run he did.
Not before grabbing Serena by her arm and the painting.
Legolas the immortal elf who dared not even compared himself with the frail race of men, was human. And he didn't like it.
"Legolas let go of me!" Serena tried to jerk her arm out of his grasp but she almost fell over instead when he shoved her into her car. "What's fucking going on?!" she screamed, anger brewing dangerously as she started beeping the car horn in hope of someone walking past. But it was Boxing day and the British nation was at home with the family, watching television. And she was stuck in the car with a lunatic, not a clue of what's going on and what'll happen now.
Legolas got in the driver's seat and fumbled with the car keys before finding the one which roared the engine into life. He pulled away with a screech and dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out his mobile. Flipping it open he dialled a number.
Looking at Serena who had her body fixed to the door, ready in the act of jumping out he almost jumped when a voice abruptly answered.
"Hello?"
"Elrond, its me. Our cover been blown. I'm on my way. I'll need you to escort me and Serena." Legolas panted, Serena's voice suddenly cut in as she started screaming and banging the door.
"Valar! You got the painting?" Elrond exclaimed.
"Yes, affirmative. I'm near Paddington station. Hurry." He switched his mobile off as Serena turned her attention to kicking the window screen with her feet.
"Serena stop it!" he yelled, trying to grab her feet as well as drive but his steering was momentarily swayed and they both realised to their sick horror they were heading towards a lamp post.
"Noooo!" Serena's screams were the last sounds that Legolas heard as he tried to avoid the collision but the sickly crunch of the bonnet wrapping itself round the slender post's column told him it was too late. Darkness came over him swiftly, thick and heavy like he was in those dark caves of Moria all over again.
