Chapter 13
Author: Arwen
The riders rode on silently for miles, going much further than desired this night. Imlain had started to become hungry. The meeting fell during the afternoon meal, but with the business conducted no one thought to eat. Supper had long past. He rode his horse beside Legolas and glanced over, watching his friend's troubled face, chin resting on the sleeping girl he held. Slowly she stirred and yawned, arching her back, arms stretched to her sides. Legolas adjusted himself to allow her space to move without dropping her. She yawned again and rubbed her eyes hard with the backs of her hands. Sleepy eyes stared at Imlain as she smiled, seemingly content for the time being. "When are we going to eat?"
"It is late, and the Elves are tired, This has been an unexpectedly long day for all of us. We should stop here for the night. It is safe. Set up camp, hunt," came Imlain's uncertain reply. He was sure Legolas would not listen to him.
But Legolas instead agreed. "Yes. Round up the riders, send some to hunt. We'll save the Lembas for the days we can not hunt safely. Send others to start some fires." Then he smiled at the intimidated Elf. "You can do it. They have no choice but to listen."
Imlain fell back to assign the tasks, Elves one by one dismounting from their steeds. Legolas continued to ride around, observing the authority Imlain showed. "As shy as he seems, he can control a group better than he appears able."
"Yes, he does," came a small voice under him, followed by a laugh at his startled jump. "You spoke your thoughts aloud. May I get down and walk a bit?" Legolas tightened his grip on her, reluctant to let her go now that he had her-at least temporarily-in his possession. "Legolas?"
He sighed before stopping his horse. He jumped from the horse behind her before reaching up to her waist to slip her off. She put her weight on his shoulders through her hands and leapt to the ground. The two stood a moment, not a full arm's length apart. Araréiel took a tentative step forward before throwing her arms around his neck to hug him tight. Just as quickly she pulled away, eyes cast embarrassed to the ground. She could feel her cheeks flush as she ran off to assist Imlain.
After a meal of coney and a small deer with some to spare, the group broke up into smaller parties to talk about the day. Araréiel sat alone on a log and looked to the stars. She let her mind wander. It kept going back to how she had felt, so safe and protected in Legolas' arms, held against him, and why her father had asked her to accompany him on this mission. Was he playing matchmaker? A playful voice behind her broke her thoughts.
"Have I been seeing what I think I have? My Araréiel finally openly showing affection for our Prince?" Imlain came to her and sat beside her. He was greeted with her laughter.
"Finally? What does that mean? Don't tell me it means--"
"Everyone knows you fancy each other. It's been crystal clear for many years now." He tugged her ear in a show of friendly love. Araréiel dropped her head to the shoulder of the one she loved as a brother.
Legolas observed this, jealousy tearing through him. She wasn't his just yet, but she felt so right with him. He wanted her slender figure next to him again. Why would her father request that so delicate a creature go on this dangerous quest? Truly he did not mean for Legolas to actually send her on certain tasks, tasks so dangerous an experienced warrior would tremble. No. Could he have been trying to push them together? Legolas doubted her father would do such thing, using possible death for a marriage. Then what?
One of the twins stood and loudly proclaimed that they should all go to sleep, that dawn would break before they knew it. Legolas could not remember his name, red cloak-Cenred?, but he agreed. No one protested resting. Legolas would take first watch, waking Imlain sometime during the night. They congregated around the fires to keep warm. Araréiel barely looked his way as she claimed a spot, head near a fire. But he thought he saw a hint of crimson on her. In no time, all but Legolas were asleep.
Sometime during the night Araréiel gasped and bolted straight up to find Legolas crouched near her feet, eyeing her with concern. He reached out to touch her shoed foot. "What is it? What is wrong?" His hushed voice was tender toward her.
"Oh, I-I-I just had a-a bad dream, that's all. I'm fine. Really, I am." She put her hand to her pounding heart. "It was, well, I do not quite recall now. Some place dark." Her eyes told him a different story, that something in her dream had terrified her.
Stepping quietly over to Imlain, he shook the young Elf's shoulder to wake him to watch guard the rest of the night. Legolas took Imlain's place beside Araréiel, first poking the dying embers for the last bit of their heat, then lying down next to her, looking up to see Imlain kissing the top of Araréiel's head, telling her to be a good Elf and go back to sleep, assuring her he would watch out for her. Rather than feel jealousy, Legolas was grateful to have another Elf he could trust to protect the delicate creature as much as he himself would. Lying on his side a respectable, yet short, distance from Araréiel, also lying on her side facing him back, he whispered reassuringly, "Go back to sleep. Imlain is guarding us and I am right here for you."
Araréiel smiled back at him and drowsily nodded her head. She pulled her knees up to try to warm herself, glad when Imlain brought over one of the few blankets the party brought and covered her, and mouthed two words to one who held her heart. "Thank you."
Lorin was embarrassed to have screamed, and even more so that the Elf she had so recently learned was her grandfather had to comfort her like a child. But the dream had been so vivid. Darkness, screaming, flickering until not more than a distance memory. Yet the fear lingered. Something happening to the fair Elf she had admired that day, only to learn was her kin. What could it mean? She rose again from her bed in her now quiet bedchamber and walked slowly to the balcony, feeling every bit a princess in her flowing sleeping gown given to her by her Elven family. She opened the curtains and stood by the railing, looking into the night. "Oh, my dear, I hope it was a only dream an nothing more."