Hi guys. I am for the entire month of July assigned in another city, and I
don't have internet connection in my condominium. I have though so much
time to work on my story. Anyway, please be assured that I am working, and
have several parts. I will post whenever I have the chance. I will
definitely post those that I have finished in August.
Part 12
He brought this upon himself, Legolas thought. He had not even tried to argue with his father. So caught up was he in the roles of the ideal prince that he did not give himself a moment to be selfish. He deserved to think about himself. Just because he lived in an ideal Elven realm, it did not mean that he had to be flawless as well.
Yet it was an irrevocable urge inside him. He needed to think of Middle- earth, his adopted home. His heart was too full of Chloe, yet it was inherent in his eternal flame of life to be a guardian. It was a warrior's lot, Aragorn shared, one night as they lay on moist grass, underneath the star-speckled sky. The ranger had himself left his heart's desire a thousand times because he was called to missions beyond Rivendell.
"Just remember," the Man who should be King had advised, as if he were not ages younger than Legolas, "that no mission shall ever be greater than that of returning alive to your woman."
And truth be told, in that Aragorn was wiser and older, for Legolas had not then loved in any particular way. Now, having left Chloe behind, Legolas understood all that the ranger had related.
He sighed deeply as he rode into majestic Rivendell. As much as his heart then ached, he had to smile at the sight. Memories of his stay here last were enough to give him the needed vigor to jump from his horse.
"Legolas!" called a female voice from afar.
He trained his keen eyes of the slight figure of the dark-haired Elf who stood on the steps leading to the airy edifice that was her home. "Good day, my lady Arwen!" he called back.
Within moments, Arwen had run to his side and taken his hand in both of hers. "I had not expected you so soon after we met last."
Legolas nodded. "I had been sent to report of Gollum's disappearance. But on the way here have learned of new things. The council has been called?"
"A hobbit named Frodo is here with what Gandalf believes is the One Ring," she said. Arwen's eyes searched his, and Legolas readily met her scrutiny. "You are happy," she pronounced, "yet so sad. How fares the lady Chloe?"
Legolas swallowed deeply. He had not wished to speak of Chloe now, for it will only waken his desire to fly home. There was nothing he could hide from Arwen though.
"Pray to the Valar, she is safe. She is in Mirkwood. No harm shall pierce through Greenwood's potent fences," he admitted.
"Except for the Shadows," Arwen declared. "You left her in your home then?" Legolas nodded. Then, as if remembering a long-forgotten dream, she started. An Elven promise must remain unbroken or else the whole world around her would collapse. She dared not breathe a word.
"No servant of Sauron shall enter the forest to hurt her. This I am certain."
Arwen unclasped her hands around hers. "As am I," she said. "When can you return?"
Legolas took a far-off look of longing. "For more than one moon I've been without her. I wish to see her soon." He turned to Arwen. "Can you see, Arwen, when I shall hold her again?"
The Elven princess seemed fearful of her sight, and did not want to close her eyes. She had seen a glimpse of the next moment when Legolas would be with Chloe. His arms were awash in blood; in his eyes, panic. Chloe she did not even try to see. The prospect chilled her.
"You must join father inside," Arwen quickly said. "There are matters to discuss. Join the host of Elves."
Confusion marred his brow as he studied her. Instead of questioning her, Legolas nodded and bowed his head. "I shall."
Chloe sat on the cold stone, just looking into the clear water. More than two months he had been gone. Soon, the moon would run another course around the earth. Legolas would have been gone for three. His promise of the mirrored pond had long since run dry for Clark. She had been stubborn in her insistence to return to Legolas' pond.
Clark stood behind her, she knew. From a distance, by the trees, he watched and stood guard. Since he found out about the prince, he had been skeptical. Since he heard Thranduil's voice directed at her, he had been stalwart. Since he found out what she had planned to hide, he had been vigilant.
She looked up at the waxing moon and smiled. She had changed since the accident that sent her here. She no longer recognized herself in the spunky reporter who ran through the halls of Smallville High snooping around and searching for news. Chloe had no idea that a person can change so much. She only wanted one thing now, needed one thing.
Carefully maneuvering herself to lay on her side, she looked down at the water. "Please," she pleaded, "just a second."
Her eyes fluttered closed and she saw him full and bright, leaning down towards her, feeling his lips capturing hers in a sweet, utterly long kiss. His hands were on her cheeks, her hair, making a teasing path to her neck, her arms, then her breasts. In her mind, he smiled. She released a long- held breath and felt his hands move from her breasts to the belly.
She sucked in her breath then opened her eyes. She sat up and touched where he did in her dream. Her sight was hazy now when he looked down. Through the cloud that covered her sight, she saw colors move in the water. A faint figure of Legolas walked through familiar grounds and settle on a seat in a long table.
Whispers filled her head. The voices were faint but understandable.
"Take the Ring to the fires of Mount Doom."
"...vow to escort Frodo..."
"...You have my sword."
She heard his voice, spoken through layers of dream, and realized that she was hearing his thoughts instead. 'I've done my part for Middle-earth. I wish only to return. Chloe...'
"And you have my bow."
'It may take me a day, a week, an age. But I will return to you.'
A teardrop fell into the water and with the ripples, the image vanished.
Legolas stood at the center of the Council. Elrond nodded to him, his distinct expression of approval at his decision. He had stepped up to his role in the Elven kingdoms. Legolas knew Elrond thought that this was the way it should be. He was here to represent all Quendi. In songs Legolas of Mirkwood would be remembered.
As he stayed there with Aragorn, Boromir, the dwarf Gimli, the hobbits and Gandalf, praised by the rest of the Council for their courage and principles, Legolas felt the urge to flee. In his younger days he relished these missions. Now...
And then his eyes fell on the four hobbits that came up to his waist. They seemed jolly, excited, eager for adventure. Once he had been so enthusiastic. Could his spirit take that one or two, if not all, of these children (for that was what they were at less than a hundred) fall in a battle that Elves, Men and Dwarves began.
"There is no way," he murmured to himself.
As the rest celebrated, Legolas walked away from the crowd and started for the lodgings. A warm hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned his head and beheld the gray wizard.
"Always, Legolas. Always there are ways. You only need to choose which path to take. What are you born for?"
His furrowed brow announced his concern. Legolas guessed this must be a too often expression in him since first he met Chloe. "There are things you do not yet see."
"Ah." Gandalf arched his eyebrows in glee. "But I do not have your keen sight, nor Elrond's sharp eyes into the future. I only see what is before me."
"You see me."
The wizard nodded sagely. "I see a Prince, born under the brilliant stars that pierced through Greenwood. I see an Archer whose arrows find their mark even through the mists and shadows of Mirkwood. I see a Walker, who will take this quest for the good of all he loves."
Legolas looked down at the stone walkway. Again he turned away. "I shall see you when Elrond calls for us."
"Go on, prince. You have a missive to write," Gandalf called after him. In a hushed murmur, he added, "You shall not be home for far too long,"
"Why are you hiding it?" Clark said into her ear. They were walking to the stream when they saw the king from afar. Immediately, Chloe turned to the opposite direction.
Chloe set her jaw. Her pace picked up. "Just go faster, Clark."
"So what if he finds out? He should be nicer to you."
Chloe whirled around to face Clark. Thranduil was now out of sight. Still, she kept her voice low. "I need you to do something for me."
Clark saw her impassioned eyes and found himself unconsciously nodding. "Anything."
He was concerned about the way she kept glancing around her, wary of eyes and ears hidden in the trees. This was no good for her. He was sure it wasn't. It was making him jumpy, and he was a lot bigger, a lot stronger, with none of the problems that had since plagued her.
"I want you to go to the pond," she said somberly. "I need you to see if Legolas..."
"He won't be there," he interrupted. "If he's back, don't you think he'd run back here for you?"
Chloe rolled her eyes. "I know he won't be there. But... can you please go?"
"You want me to leave you here?"
Chloe sighed. "You won't be gone for two seconds." Clark went gray for a second and opened his mouth. Before he could talk though, Chloe raised her hand to silence him. "I'm not even asking questions. Just please go."
With the barest breeze on her face, Chloe blinked once and saw Clark in front of her with a rolled parchment. She took it eagerly and noted briefly the talon marks on the paper. She unrolled it and breathed in sharply. "It's a letter!" She grinned brightly at her friend.
"How you knew to look is beyond me," Clark admitted.
As her eyes ate the words, the smile that temporarily visited her face evaporated. She walked slowly away clutching the letter, reading line per excruciating line.
Clark watched every motion that Chloe took, until she leaned against one of Mirkwood's ancient trees and rolled the parchment up again. She held the letter in her hands and hung her head. He saw her take a deep breath, then turn to him, her cheeks wet, her eyes desolate.
Dec 18, 3018
It seems futile, this quest. In my ideal world I would no longer be called upon to serve Middle-earth. In that ideal world I could lie with you in our bed, whispering your name. Even now I cannot write it, for fear of this falling into fell hands. My desire they shall never know for if they do, I tremble in the knowledge that I shall cause harm to hunt you.
I now am to embark on a journey for the land. Our mission is one I shall not put on paper for others to see. I have no way to foretell when I will walk back into the forests of my home to see you. Know that with every breath I shall think of you.
In a week's time we leave the safety of Rivendell to begin our quest. We shall face down the evils of the Eye. All these I can fight. I have confidence in my skill. The harsh sun and ice I can stand. I only weaken at the thought that I will spend such time away.
My heart is yours, melethen.
Legolas
Part 12
He brought this upon himself, Legolas thought. He had not even tried to argue with his father. So caught up was he in the roles of the ideal prince that he did not give himself a moment to be selfish. He deserved to think about himself. Just because he lived in an ideal Elven realm, it did not mean that he had to be flawless as well.
Yet it was an irrevocable urge inside him. He needed to think of Middle- earth, his adopted home. His heart was too full of Chloe, yet it was inherent in his eternal flame of life to be a guardian. It was a warrior's lot, Aragorn shared, one night as they lay on moist grass, underneath the star-speckled sky. The ranger had himself left his heart's desire a thousand times because he was called to missions beyond Rivendell.
"Just remember," the Man who should be King had advised, as if he were not ages younger than Legolas, "that no mission shall ever be greater than that of returning alive to your woman."
And truth be told, in that Aragorn was wiser and older, for Legolas had not then loved in any particular way. Now, having left Chloe behind, Legolas understood all that the ranger had related.
He sighed deeply as he rode into majestic Rivendell. As much as his heart then ached, he had to smile at the sight. Memories of his stay here last were enough to give him the needed vigor to jump from his horse.
"Legolas!" called a female voice from afar.
He trained his keen eyes of the slight figure of the dark-haired Elf who stood on the steps leading to the airy edifice that was her home. "Good day, my lady Arwen!" he called back.
Within moments, Arwen had run to his side and taken his hand in both of hers. "I had not expected you so soon after we met last."
Legolas nodded. "I had been sent to report of Gollum's disappearance. But on the way here have learned of new things. The council has been called?"
"A hobbit named Frodo is here with what Gandalf believes is the One Ring," she said. Arwen's eyes searched his, and Legolas readily met her scrutiny. "You are happy," she pronounced, "yet so sad. How fares the lady Chloe?"
Legolas swallowed deeply. He had not wished to speak of Chloe now, for it will only waken his desire to fly home. There was nothing he could hide from Arwen though.
"Pray to the Valar, she is safe. She is in Mirkwood. No harm shall pierce through Greenwood's potent fences," he admitted.
"Except for the Shadows," Arwen declared. "You left her in your home then?" Legolas nodded. Then, as if remembering a long-forgotten dream, she started. An Elven promise must remain unbroken or else the whole world around her would collapse. She dared not breathe a word.
"No servant of Sauron shall enter the forest to hurt her. This I am certain."
Arwen unclasped her hands around hers. "As am I," she said. "When can you return?"
Legolas took a far-off look of longing. "For more than one moon I've been without her. I wish to see her soon." He turned to Arwen. "Can you see, Arwen, when I shall hold her again?"
The Elven princess seemed fearful of her sight, and did not want to close her eyes. She had seen a glimpse of the next moment when Legolas would be with Chloe. His arms were awash in blood; in his eyes, panic. Chloe she did not even try to see. The prospect chilled her.
"You must join father inside," Arwen quickly said. "There are matters to discuss. Join the host of Elves."
Confusion marred his brow as he studied her. Instead of questioning her, Legolas nodded and bowed his head. "I shall."
Chloe sat on the cold stone, just looking into the clear water. More than two months he had been gone. Soon, the moon would run another course around the earth. Legolas would have been gone for three. His promise of the mirrored pond had long since run dry for Clark. She had been stubborn in her insistence to return to Legolas' pond.
Clark stood behind her, she knew. From a distance, by the trees, he watched and stood guard. Since he found out about the prince, he had been skeptical. Since he heard Thranduil's voice directed at her, he had been stalwart. Since he found out what she had planned to hide, he had been vigilant.
She looked up at the waxing moon and smiled. She had changed since the accident that sent her here. She no longer recognized herself in the spunky reporter who ran through the halls of Smallville High snooping around and searching for news. Chloe had no idea that a person can change so much. She only wanted one thing now, needed one thing.
Carefully maneuvering herself to lay on her side, she looked down at the water. "Please," she pleaded, "just a second."
Her eyes fluttered closed and she saw him full and bright, leaning down towards her, feeling his lips capturing hers in a sweet, utterly long kiss. His hands were on her cheeks, her hair, making a teasing path to her neck, her arms, then her breasts. In her mind, he smiled. She released a long- held breath and felt his hands move from her breasts to the belly.
She sucked in her breath then opened her eyes. She sat up and touched where he did in her dream. Her sight was hazy now when he looked down. Through the cloud that covered her sight, she saw colors move in the water. A faint figure of Legolas walked through familiar grounds and settle on a seat in a long table.
Whispers filled her head. The voices were faint but understandable.
"Take the Ring to the fires of Mount Doom."
"...vow to escort Frodo..."
"...You have my sword."
She heard his voice, spoken through layers of dream, and realized that she was hearing his thoughts instead. 'I've done my part for Middle-earth. I wish only to return. Chloe...'
"And you have my bow."
'It may take me a day, a week, an age. But I will return to you.'
A teardrop fell into the water and with the ripples, the image vanished.
Legolas stood at the center of the Council. Elrond nodded to him, his distinct expression of approval at his decision. He had stepped up to his role in the Elven kingdoms. Legolas knew Elrond thought that this was the way it should be. He was here to represent all Quendi. In songs Legolas of Mirkwood would be remembered.
As he stayed there with Aragorn, Boromir, the dwarf Gimli, the hobbits and Gandalf, praised by the rest of the Council for their courage and principles, Legolas felt the urge to flee. In his younger days he relished these missions. Now...
And then his eyes fell on the four hobbits that came up to his waist. They seemed jolly, excited, eager for adventure. Once he had been so enthusiastic. Could his spirit take that one or two, if not all, of these children (for that was what they were at less than a hundred) fall in a battle that Elves, Men and Dwarves began.
"There is no way," he murmured to himself.
As the rest celebrated, Legolas walked away from the crowd and started for the lodgings. A warm hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned his head and beheld the gray wizard.
"Always, Legolas. Always there are ways. You only need to choose which path to take. What are you born for?"
His furrowed brow announced his concern. Legolas guessed this must be a too often expression in him since first he met Chloe. "There are things you do not yet see."
"Ah." Gandalf arched his eyebrows in glee. "But I do not have your keen sight, nor Elrond's sharp eyes into the future. I only see what is before me."
"You see me."
The wizard nodded sagely. "I see a Prince, born under the brilliant stars that pierced through Greenwood. I see an Archer whose arrows find their mark even through the mists and shadows of Mirkwood. I see a Walker, who will take this quest for the good of all he loves."
Legolas looked down at the stone walkway. Again he turned away. "I shall see you when Elrond calls for us."
"Go on, prince. You have a missive to write," Gandalf called after him. In a hushed murmur, he added, "You shall not be home for far too long,"
"Why are you hiding it?" Clark said into her ear. They were walking to the stream when they saw the king from afar. Immediately, Chloe turned to the opposite direction.
Chloe set her jaw. Her pace picked up. "Just go faster, Clark."
"So what if he finds out? He should be nicer to you."
Chloe whirled around to face Clark. Thranduil was now out of sight. Still, she kept her voice low. "I need you to do something for me."
Clark saw her impassioned eyes and found himself unconsciously nodding. "Anything."
He was concerned about the way she kept glancing around her, wary of eyes and ears hidden in the trees. This was no good for her. He was sure it wasn't. It was making him jumpy, and he was a lot bigger, a lot stronger, with none of the problems that had since plagued her.
"I want you to go to the pond," she said somberly. "I need you to see if Legolas..."
"He won't be there," he interrupted. "If he's back, don't you think he'd run back here for you?"
Chloe rolled her eyes. "I know he won't be there. But... can you please go?"
"You want me to leave you here?"
Chloe sighed. "You won't be gone for two seconds." Clark went gray for a second and opened his mouth. Before he could talk though, Chloe raised her hand to silence him. "I'm not even asking questions. Just please go."
With the barest breeze on her face, Chloe blinked once and saw Clark in front of her with a rolled parchment. She took it eagerly and noted briefly the talon marks on the paper. She unrolled it and breathed in sharply. "It's a letter!" She grinned brightly at her friend.
"How you knew to look is beyond me," Clark admitted.
As her eyes ate the words, the smile that temporarily visited her face evaporated. She walked slowly away clutching the letter, reading line per excruciating line.
Clark watched every motion that Chloe took, until she leaned against one of Mirkwood's ancient trees and rolled the parchment up again. She held the letter in her hands and hung her head. He saw her take a deep breath, then turn to him, her cheeks wet, her eyes desolate.
Dec 18, 3018
It seems futile, this quest. In my ideal world I would no longer be called upon to serve Middle-earth. In that ideal world I could lie with you in our bed, whispering your name. Even now I cannot write it, for fear of this falling into fell hands. My desire they shall never know for if they do, I tremble in the knowledge that I shall cause harm to hunt you.
I now am to embark on a journey for the land. Our mission is one I shall not put on paper for others to see. I have no way to foretell when I will walk back into the forests of my home to see you. Know that with every breath I shall think of you.
In a week's time we leave the safety of Rivendell to begin our quest. We shall face down the evils of the Eye. All these I can fight. I have confidence in my skill. The harsh sun and ice I can stand. I only weaken at the thought that I will spend such time away.
My heart is yours, melethen.
Legolas