AN: Fast new chapter to make up for the weeks of scarcity. Thanks to your
feedback. For the Clark inquiry, that will be answered in the next chapter.
Arwen's vision will still play out for some time.
Part 8
It would have been the loveliest of days, Chloe thought, had Legolas not have been missing. Chloe stood in front of the mirror and smiled at her reflection. Had she been in her own world, everyone would think she was wearing a wedding dress. The flowing white dress was so reminiscent of a bridal gown that Chloe entertained the excitement of treating a barely awake Legolas to this sight. He had been brave for the length of time they had been together. Chloe wondered if this was the sight that would finally send the Elven prince running.
God, she sincerely hoped not.
Chloe allowed herself to be swept by the possibility. She closed her eyes and twirled around, allowing the silk to fly around her knees. Chloe sighed and smiled brilliantly at her reflection in the mirror. She envisioned herself carrying a bouquet of flowers, then shrouded by the thinnest lace veil imaginable.
And then she narrowed on the image of Legolas at the very end of a wide aisle of varied petals lined with flowers in bloom. The picture sent her brain reeling. Chloe let her imaginary bouquet fall and clasped her red cheeks with her hands.
"Your beauty astounds me."
Chloe's eyes shifted from her image to the smaller reflection of the Elf at the door. "Prince Tolfer," Chloe said, "I thought I was supposed to go to the meal. You didn't need to pick me up."
"But that would truly be a shame," he responded fluidly. "A lady should not be allowed to walk alone, especially when she is as lovely as you are." Tolfer walked towards her and touched her elbow.
Chloe stiffened, then politely asked, "Do you have any idea where Legolas is? Really, we should go together."
Tolfer nodded. "But he has sent his message that tonight, he would stay undisturbed in his chambers, to give thanks to the Valar for a safe journey home."
"We're not yet in his home."
"My realm is as much a part of the great Greenwood as Mirkwood."
She did not know the culture of the Elves, so Chloe could not argue with him on that. However, Chloe felt that if he was going to decide that he would be incommunicado for an entire day, then Legolas would have told her.
"It is a warrior's age old ritual. He must remain focused and true to his real destiny of worshipping the Valar. Communication with the outside world will spoil his heart."
The old Chloe would have scoffed at that. Still, she probably would have scoffed at the thought that she would fall in love with a perfect specimen of a creature who the stance and acuity of a professional archer. Lana would probably kill for this dream. Of course, Lana would prefer a prince. Chloe was in touch with reality enough not to wonder about that. If Tolfer was a prince, then Legolas must be a poor relation.
Chloe shrugged and eyes Tolfer. She supposed he would pass for gorgeous to people who had not seen Legolas yet. For Chloe though, Tolfer was nothing special. She walked ahead of him, pretending that she did not see his proffered arm.
At the entrance of the dining hall, Chloe could no longer escape because Tolfer touched her hand and slipped it into his arm. "We must observe decorum, my lady. Let it not be said that Tolfer Prince did not properly lead his bride."
Chloe looked up at him in panic. "What are you talking about?" She started to pull her hand away, but he held fast and continued walking, almost dragging her along with him.
Chloe then found herself inside a very dark room. Although she could not see the ceiling, she was certain that there was one. Even this deep into the forest, some starlight should still penetrate. Yet there was nothing but utter darkness in the chamber he had brought her to. With all the strength she possessed, Chloe ripped her hand away from his. She was able to escape the Nazgul. Certainly it was just as easy to escape an Elven prince.
She wanted to scream Legolas' name. If there was ever one who could save her, it was Legolas. She could not even attempt to do it as she staggered away from Tolfer in the darkness. She would not call him to her. She would not clue Tolfer regarding her whereabouts.
The air was impossibly warm at such an early time. Legolas never woke later than the sun. Most often he was up and about even before the first rays peered through the mountains. There was one conclusion then to draw. It was far later than his usual awakening.
He did not even remember going to bed the night before. Certainly he would not have gone to bed in another room, when he had vowed to himself, after watching his cousin welcome Chloe, that he would not leave her alone. It was oddly unsettling, how warm Tolfer had been. He remembered his cousin as an Elven warrior who hated Men above all else. While his father Thranduil entertained Rangers, and only stopped short of allowing the Men to reside in his kingdom and intermarry with his race, Tolfer found the Eru's Younger Children abhorrent.
Legolas remembered the night only so far as the moment that Tolfer toasted to the wonderful woman that Legolas had found for Mirkwood.
"And perhaps my kingdom would benefit from having the same blessings as those that steadily come to you," Tolfer has pronounced. Legolas had been overwhelmed by gratitude that Chloe would at least be treated well here without his demanding it, unlike what he knew would happen in Mirkwood.
Legolas gritted his teeth. "No, you don't!" he exclaimed. He threw back the coverlet haphazardly thrown over him. When he jumped up, his eyesight swam. "What foul potion has my cousin deceived me with?" he murmured. Legolas knew he was not at his best fighting condition. However, he quickly threw on his quiver and grabbed his arrow.
Legolas swallowed the nausea that assailed him. It was not too late. He had to fight off the weakness. That he woke before the night ended was fortunate and it showed him that the Valar smiled at his union with one who was not of the Eldar. He would not allow such gift to be wasted.
The Kinslaying of the First Age had left the Elves with the curse of the ages, and since then no Elf ever wielded a weapon against his kin. Legolas tightened his grip on his arrow and decided that he would not hesitate to pierce Tolfer's flesh if he ever laid a hand on Chloe.
Chloe was running around in circles, she had no doubt of that. Even so, she could not stop. If she did, she would not rest for fear that together with the next shadow Tolfer would spring up.
There was a flash of light that quickly vanished. It was the door. It was the way out, she knew. If only she could creep towards it she would be free.
"Tolfer!"
Chloe gasped at the sound. Belatedly, she realized her fault. She felt the hard arm as it wrapped around her waist. Since she had been captured anyway, Chloe finally let herself call out, "Legolas!"
Then a dim light showed her the silhouettes. Legolas stood straight, weapon primed towards them. Despite seeing the arrow trained towards her, Chloe knew with complete confidence that should he let go, the arrow would not even brush her hair, but would shoot through Tolfer's jugular.
She felt the sharp, cold point of a knife settle on the side of her stomach. Arwen's words flooded back in her mind. She had pushed them aside. Legolas had been so eager to be home and she did not believe in visions. Now, she was in real danger of being killed. More than that, Legolas could see everything. It may still be dark to her, but for these two, Chloe was sure that everything was still as clear as it was in high noon.
Confirming her suspicion was Legolas sudden move forward. "Nan Belain, Tolfer! Free her."
"I will not," Tolfer answered. "The Valar have given you too much. 'Til time I take your gift as mine. Perhaps then I can build my own empire, rather than suffer beneath Thranduil."
"My father king has never caused suffering for you and your people!" Legolas protested.
Had she not been in such dangerous position, Chloe would have dropped her jaw. A prince? He never mentioned that. Arwen knew she loved this Elf and she never even told Chloe that Legolas was the freaking prince of the grand place they all referred to.
"She will be my bride!"
"How does a lesser prince, Tolfer, of our illustrious race fall under the Shadows?" Legolas asked grimly, not waiting for an answer. He did not need Tolfer's response to know that his cousin would die by his hand tonight. Legolas raised his bow and loosened his grip.
The arrow flew through the air.
Tolfer dug the knife deep into Chloe's flesh.
"Or I take her away and spell chaos in the Prince's mind," he gasped into Chloe's ear. The arrow pierced his neck, and he collapsed onto his knees, bringing Chloe down with him.
For endless moments, Chloe lay, pressed facedown on the ground under his body, Tolfer's blood staining her lips and her cheek. Under the Elf's body where she should have been warm, Chloe slowly felt the cold creep up from her fingertips.
Then, the body was being lifted from hers. Legolas turned her over in his arms and stared in horror at the red stain on the pristine gown. He lifted her and Chloe laid her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and tried to breathe. She saw faint images of a familiar forest, and she fought for air as if she were drowning. Chloe shook her head madly. She would not go back to that stream. She would not go back to Smallville. She had to tell him everything. Perhaps knowing would help him fetter her to his world.
"Arwen," she rasped.
"Too far, hiril nin," he told her. She heard his strained voice. "We must continue to Mirkwood."
"Arwen saw. One of your blood will be my death."
"My kin will heal you," he promised.
Chloe closed her eyes and unwillingly dreamed of the Kansas skies.
Part 8
It would have been the loveliest of days, Chloe thought, had Legolas not have been missing. Chloe stood in front of the mirror and smiled at her reflection. Had she been in her own world, everyone would think she was wearing a wedding dress. The flowing white dress was so reminiscent of a bridal gown that Chloe entertained the excitement of treating a barely awake Legolas to this sight. He had been brave for the length of time they had been together. Chloe wondered if this was the sight that would finally send the Elven prince running.
God, she sincerely hoped not.
Chloe allowed herself to be swept by the possibility. She closed her eyes and twirled around, allowing the silk to fly around her knees. Chloe sighed and smiled brilliantly at her reflection in the mirror. She envisioned herself carrying a bouquet of flowers, then shrouded by the thinnest lace veil imaginable.
And then she narrowed on the image of Legolas at the very end of a wide aisle of varied petals lined with flowers in bloom. The picture sent her brain reeling. Chloe let her imaginary bouquet fall and clasped her red cheeks with her hands.
"Your beauty astounds me."
Chloe's eyes shifted from her image to the smaller reflection of the Elf at the door. "Prince Tolfer," Chloe said, "I thought I was supposed to go to the meal. You didn't need to pick me up."
"But that would truly be a shame," he responded fluidly. "A lady should not be allowed to walk alone, especially when she is as lovely as you are." Tolfer walked towards her and touched her elbow.
Chloe stiffened, then politely asked, "Do you have any idea where Legolas is? Really, we should go together."
Tolfer nodded. "But he has sent his message that tonight, he would stay undisturbed in his chambers, to give thanks to the Valar for a safe journey home."
"We're not yet in his home."
"My realm is as much a part of the great Greenwood as Mirkwood."
She did not know the culture of the Elves, so Chloe could not argue with him on that. However, Chloe felt that if he was going to decide that he would be incommunicado for an entire day, then Legolas would have told her.
"It is a warrior's age old ritual. He must remain focused and true to his real destiny of worshipping the Valar. Communication with the outside world will spoil his heart."
The old Chloe would have scoffed at that. Still, she probably would have scoffed at the thought that she would fall in love with a perfect specimen of a creature who the stance and acuity of a professional archer. Lana would probably kill for this dream. Of course, Lana would prefer a prince. Chloe was in touch with reality enough not to wonder about that. If Tolfer was a prince, then Legolas must be a poor relation.
Chloe shrugged and eyes Tolfer. She supposed he would pass for gorgeous to people who had not seen Legolas yet. For Chloe though, Tolfer was nothing special. She walked ahead of him, pretending that she did not see his proffered arm.
At the entrance of the dining hall, Chloe could no longer escape because Tolfer touched her hand and slipped it into his arm. "We must observe decorum, my lady. Let it not be said that Tolfer Prince did not properly lead his bride."
Chloe looked up at him in panic. "What are you talking about?" She started to pull her hand away, but he held fast and continued walking, almost dragging her along with him.
Chloe then found herself inside a very dark room. Although she could not see the ceiling, she was certain that there was one. Even this deep into the forest, some starlight should still penetrate. Yet there was nothing but utter darkness in the chamber he had brought her to. With all the strength she possessed, Chloe ripped her hand away from his. She was able to escape the Nazgul. Certainly it was just as easy to escape an Elven prince.
She wanted to scream Legolas' name. If there was ever one who could save her, it was Legolas. She could not even attempt to do it as she staggered away from Tolfer in the darkness. She would not call him to her. She would not clue Tolfer regarding her whereabouts.
The air was impossibly warm at such an early time. Legolas never woke later than the sun. Most often he was up and about even before the first rays peered through the mountains. There was one conclusion then to draw. It was far later than his usual awakening.
He did not even remember going to bed the night before. Certainly he would not have gone to bed in another room, when he had vowed to himself, after watching his cousin welcome Chloe, that he would not leave her alone. It was oddly unsettling, how warm Tolfer had been. He remembered his cousin as an Elven warrior who hated Men above all else. While his father Thranduil entertained Rangers, and only stopped short of allowing the Men to reside in his kingdom and intermarry with his race, Tolfer found the Eru's Younger Children abhorrent.
Legolas remembered the night only so far as the moment that Tolfer toasted to the wonderful woman that Legolas had found for Mirkwood.
"And perhaps my kingdom would benefit from having the same blessings as those that steadily come to you," Tolfer has pronounced. Legolas had been overwhelmed by gratitude that Chloe would at least be treated well here without his demanding it, unlike what he knew would happen in Mirkwood.
Legolas gritted his teeth. "No, you don't!" he exclaimed. He threw back the coverlet haphazardly thrown over him. When he jumped up, his eyesight swam. "What foul potion has my cousin deceived me with?" he murmured. Legolas knew he was not at his best fighting condition. However, he quickly threw on his quiver and grabbed his arrow.
Legolas swallowed the nausea that assailed him. It was not too late. He had to fight off the weakness. That he woke before the night ended was fortunate and it showed him that the Valar smiled at his union with one who was not of the Eldar. He would not allow such gift to be wasted.
The Kinslaying of the First Age had left the Elves with the curse of the ages, and since then no Elf ever wielded a weapon against his kin. Legolas tightened his grip on his arrow and decided that he would not hesitate to pierce Tolfer's flesh if he ever laid a hand on Chloe.
Chloe was running around in circles, she had no doubt of that. Even so, she could not stop. If she did, she would not rest for fear that together with the next shadow Tolfer would spring up.
There was a flash of light that quickly vanished. It was the door. It was the way out, she knew. If only she could creep towards it she would be free.
"Tolfer!"
Chloe gasped at the sound. Belatedly, she realized her fault. She felt the hard arm as it wrapped around her waist. Since she had been captured anyway, Chloe finally let herself call out, "Legolas!"
Then a dim light showed her the silhouettes. Legolas stood straight, weapon primed towards them. Despite seeing the arrow trained towards her, Chloe knew with complete confidence that should he let go, the arrow would not even brush her hair, but would shoot through Tolfer's jugular.
She felt the sharp, cold point of a knife settle on the side of her stomach. Arwen's words flooded back in her mind. She had pushed them aside. Legolas had been so eager to be home and she did not believe in visions. Now, she was in real danger of being killed. More than that, Legolas could see everything. It may still be dark to her, but for these two, Chloe was sure that everything was still as clear as it was in high noon.
Confirming her suspicion was Legolas sudden move forward. "Nan Belain, Tolfer! Free her."
"I will not," Tolfer answered. "The Valar have given you too much. 'Til time I take your gift as mine. Perhaps then I can build my own empire, rather than suffer beneath Thranduil."
"My father king has never caused suffering for you and your people!" Legolas protested.
Had she not been in such dangerous position, Chloe would have dropped her jaw. A prince? He never mentioned that. Arwen knew she loved this Elf and she never even told Chloe that Legolas was the freaking prince of the grand place they all referred to.
"She will be my bride!"
"How does a lesser prince, Tolfer, of our illustrious race fall under the Shadows?" Legolas asked grimly, not waiting for an answer. He did not need Tolfer's response to know that his cousin would die by his hand tonight. Legolas raised his bow and loosened his grip.
The arrow flew through the air.
Tolfer dug the knife deep into Chloe's flesh.
"Or I take her away and spell chaos in the Prince's mind," he gasped into Chloe's ear. The arrow pierced his neck, and he collapsed onto his knees, bringing Chloe down with him.
For endless moments, Chloe lay, pressed facedown on the ground under his body, Tolfer's blood staining her lips and her cheek. Under the Elf's body where she should have been warm, Chloe slowly felt the cold creep up from her fingertips.
Then, the body was being lifted from hers. Legolas turned her over in his arms and stared in horror at the red stain on the pristine gown. He lifted her and Chloe laid her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and tried to breathe. She saw faint images of a familiar forest, and she fought for air as if she were drowning. Chloe shook her head madly. She would not go back to that stream. She would not go back to Smallville. She had to tell him everything. Perhaps knowing would help him fetter her to his world.
"Arwen," she rasped.
"Too far, hiril nin," he told her. She heard his strained voice. "We must continue to Mirkwood."
"Arwen saw. One of your blood will be my death."
"My kin will heal you," he promised.
Chloe closed her eyes and unwillingly dreamed of the Kansas skies.