Chapter 3
That'd been the night before his death.
Ayah swallowed and quickly wiped the tears from her eyes.
Arwen leaned sideways discreetly. "Father's about to adjurn." she whispered out of the corner of her mouth.
Ayah nodded slightly and lifted her eyes to the Elven crowd again.
Elrond turned towards the Journiers. "Peace be with you." He said and gave a small bow. He smiled, and gestured that everyone was free to go. The Elven crowd applauded loud and long, then slowly began to disperse.
The painful memories of Shaomer stung Ayah's heart and all she felt like doing was going home. She glanced at Arwen, who said, "Aren't you coming?"
Ayah sort of shook her head, and went to get her horse. Tarén headed her off.
"Not even gonna make an appearance?" He shook his finger at her. "Not very polite."
"I just wanna go home." Ayah said quietly.
Tarén gently grabbed her elbow and steered her back to the way she'd just come. "And you will, once you talk to a few people."
Ayah knew Tarén was being a good brother, but she wished he'd just let her go.
"You ok?" Arwen asked when Tarén had steered Ayah back inside the dome.
Ayah sighed, and immediately Arwen knew. She said nothing, but walked with Tarén and Ayah to a small group of friends gathered together and chatting merrily.
"Nope! Sorry! I'm taken." Caliwyn held up her hand to show a shining unique Elven ring. She'd also fallen in love on the Journey, but she to an Elven man.
Salé goggled at the ring and whined, "I wish Radir would propose!'
Tarye laughed. "I'll tell him!"
"You wouldn't!" Salé protested.
"Oh, wouldn't I?" Tarye said, a mischevious grin spreading across his face.
"Oh no! Tarye! Please - "Salé began to beg.
"I wouldn't! I wouldn't. I was just kidding!" Tarye laughed again.
Beladriel turned to Arwen as she, Ayah and Tarén were about to walk past. "What about your man?"
Arwen smiled. "He's off with the Fellowship."
Ayah wasn't sure whether Arwen just didn't want to talk about it, or whether she was a little irritated by Beladriel's question. Ayah could've sworn that the Fellowship had returned...
Some young Elven men eyed Ayah and Arwen as they walked by. Tarén clenched his jaw and moved between Arwen, Ayah and the men, and they abruptly broke their gaze.
The three approached a group of "old friends" and got a whole bunch of "Welcome Back, what was it like, how are you doing now" type of questions and comments.
Tarén and Arwen answered most of the questions, so Ayah merely had to smile and nod. That way, she didn't have to talk and feel uncomfortable, and she was still being polite.
Among the small group of friends were Elmmire, Meréwen, Anié, Alatatriel, Celár, and two people she didn't recognize but thought looked extremely familiar.
One of the two people was a strikingly handsome Elven man - more handsome than "usual". He had long fair hair, brilliant blue eyes, and a wonderful physique. He was listening intently to a story that Arwen was telling, and Ayah found herself inadvertenly staring. He was so handsome!
Tarén noticed her stare and cleared his throat quietly and gave Ayah a tiny nudge.
Just then, the very handsome Elven man's eyes looked right at Ayah. She started and looked away quickly. What was his name? She wondered.
"So, Ayah," Anié began, bringing Ayah to the conversation. "Did you meet any good men on your Journey?"
At the same time, both Tarén and Arwen shot Anié a 'Don't-say-another-word' look and Ayah swallowed, forcing herself not to tear up.
"I..." Ayah wanted to say 'Yes, and we were deeply in love, and he gave me a ring, and then he died...' but she couldn't. Her throat closed up - a feeling all too familiar and all the more unwanted.
Arwen shook her head slightly at Anié, who had the 'What'd I say?' look on her face. Tarén squeezed Ayah's hand and said, "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."
Ayah wished she could answer. Shaomer's face flashed in her mind, and her eyes filled with tears. "Excuse me for a moment." She whispered and let go of Tarén's hand. He didn't go after her this time.
Ayah walked fast with her head down to her horse. Why? Why did she have to close up every time someone mentioned him? She was supposed to be over her grief by now! He died almost a year ago. And here she was crying because Anié asked her if she'd met a good man.
Ayah wiped her eyes frustratedly and took a few deep breaths. Maybe she should go home now.
Just as she had mounted her horse, the strikingly handsome Elf walked up to her and her horse. As he walked up to her, she took a moment to study him some more. Judging by his apparel, she guessed he must be royalty or very wealthy.
"Ayah?" he began timidly. "Are you alright?"
Ayah nodded. "I'm alright." She felt guilty not knowing his name, and even more guilty that he knew hers. She couldn't ask him his name if he knew hers.. How foolish would she look?
The man looked up at her with concern on his face. But as he looked at her, the emotion on his face shifted and changed.
"You don't remember me, do you?" he said, and he looked really hurt.
"I...um...I..." Ayah couldn't lie. But she didn't want to answer him either.
He glanced at the ground uncomfortably and took a step away from her.
"I'm sorry, I just..." Ayah was feeling more guilty by the second. "Good day." She kicked her horse and rode off towards home.
All the way home, she couldn't get the Elven man out of her mind. His radiant smile at seeing her, the concern when she'd left in tears, the hurt when she didn't know who he was...
When she arrived, she let her horse graze on the spot of shaded grass beside her home. She went up the steps quickly and into the coolness of her room.
Ayah looked around at her belongings. Had she kept a diary of some sort? Would it mention this man's name? Did she have a photo album of some sort? Ayah couldn't remember.
"It was only three years." Ayah mumbled to herself aloud. "You can't forget that much in three years."
She began rummaging through her drawers looking for a clue as to who the man was.
A knock on her open door caused her to jump.
"You ok?" Tarén asked.
Ayah stopped rummaging, sighed and sat on her bed. "No."
Tarén sat down beside her and rubbed her back. "Shaomer?"
Ayah shook her head and could tell her brother looked a little surprised. "What's his name?" she asked.
"Who?"
"The...he was..."Ayah wasn't sure how to describe him. "The one I was staring at."
Tarén smiled. "Ah, yes. You don't remember him?"
Ayah shook her head. "No. And if someone doesn't tell why and what his name is soon, I'm going to explode."
Tarén chuckled. "Okay, okay. I was just a little surprised. After you were fairly close..."
"Tarén! Please!"
"Okay! What do you want to know about him?"
"His name!" Ayah said, getting frustrated.
"Other than that."
Ayah shrugged.
"Okay then, what do you already know about him?"
"Obviously he knows me - "
"Oh quite well, I'd say."
"He's...very attractive - "
"Seems to be the case with the ladies."
Ayah sighed again. "Really, that's it. Now will you tell me his name?"
"Yes. His name is..." Tarén paused dramatically.
Ayah leaned forward.
"Legolas Greenleaf."
For a second, the name meant nothing and Ayah wondered if her thinking he was familiar was wrong. The next second, however, let go a flood of memories that had been locked away in her mind...
"Blow bubbles with me, Ayah?"
"No Legolas. Not today."
"Why not?"
"Arwen and I are going for a ride."
"How about later?"
"Maybe."
They were young, just Elven children, with hardly a care in the world.
"Ayah, would you like to go to the Grand Willow with me?"
"Sorry Legolas. I'm going to the Forest with my friends."
He just swallowed and nodded - like he always did.
Ayah hadn't felt guilty for brushing him off all the time then, but she did now. Why had she been so cold?
All those years ago, Legolas had merely been her neighbour, the boy next door, the one who tagged after her, who came to visit every weekend, who lived in Rivendell more than he did his real home, Mirkwood. Legolas was the Prince of Mirkwood. Now that meant something. But when Ayah was young, it had meant nothing to her.
"He's a Prince. So what?" She'd said to Arwen.
"He really cares for you, Ayah!"
"He doesn't what 'caring for someone' is."
They were "teen" Elves...
"Ayah, Elmmire and I are taking Alatatriel down to the River. Would you like to come?"
"No." And she walked away.
She never caught the hurt on his face. Never realized the damage her words did.
"Do you hate me, Ayah?"
"Of course not, Legolas."
"Then why do you avoid me? Why do never speak to me unless it is absolutely necessary?"
"I just would rather be with my friends. And I don't mean to."
"Aren't I your friend, Ayah?"
"You're my neighbour, Legolas."
"I...understand."
How could she have been so cruel? The memories were hurting.
They were adults...Ayah was to leave for the Journey in one month...
"Ayah, when you are ready to leave for the Journey, please wait for me. I have something I need to give you."
"Of course I'll wait for you, Legolas."
Ayah was slightly relieved that she was kind to him.
It hit her right then. He was the one on the white horse. The one who was late. The one who she had to leave behind without saying good-bye.
Another memory...
"What is this place, Legolas?"
"This is my special place. I go here to think. I only bring people who are special to me up here."
"Thank you."
"You were pretty hard on him." Tarén said quietly, jarring Ayah slightly and bringing her back to the present.
Ayah nodded. "I was horrible."
Tarén half-smiled. "You weren't that bad!"
This time Ayah shook her head. "You're wrong. I was mean."
Tarén sighed. "Look, Ayah. You weren't that bad!"
"I - "Ayah started to argue again, but Tarén stopped her.
"Don't bother. I'm twice as persistent as you are." he said.
Ayah sighed, knowing it was true. "So now what do I do?" she asked. "I mean, I've treated him bad, I left when I told him I'd wait, I forgot his name - is there anything else I ca do to him?"
Tarén shrugged. "Break his heart?"
Ayah shot him a 'what's-that-supposed-to-mean' look.
But Tarén didn't answer. He just stood up and left the room, leaving Ayah thinking more than she wanted to about the very handsome Legolas Greenleaf.
A/n: Again, thank you to my faithful reviewer, CountryChick928.
