Chapter 5: Rivendell
That night, they had fallen asleep in each other's embrace. Early in the morning, Luna had started awake at a noise, but laid her head back down and went to sleep. It was mid-morning when they awoke.
The sun was shining brightly when Legolas awoke. "Luna, wake up, we were supposed to be there by now!"
Luna woke up with a start. She found her saddlebags and the blanket and began adding on to it, fingers moving swift and sure. Good thing I'm almost finished, she thought. She quickly gathered more grass, wove it, then knotted it.
"You owe me one!" she said triumphantly to Legolas. "I just saved your hide." Luna held up the blanket. "Do you think they'll like it?" she asked.
"They'll love it! I guess I do owe you one, but does it have to be a blanket?"
"No, just something you think I'll like."
They both swung up onto their horses and started cantering toward Rivendell. "At this rate, we'll be there in late afternoon!" Legolas said to Luna.
"Great! At least we won't be too late, I think."
They rode fairly fast and made good time. They got to Rivendell in time for the midday meal.
"Tend to your horses, my lady, my lord?" asked a stableboy as they arrived.
"Please. Where is my Lord Aragorn and my Lady Arwen?" Legolas asked.
"They are just inside. They have been expecting your arrival."
Luna grabbed the blanket from the saddlebags. She and Legolas each held one side of it, walked inside, and presented it to Arwen and Aragorn.
"Aragorn," Legolas said. "It makes my heart soar to see you so happy."
"You look less melancholy, also, Legolas. Who have you found since our... journey?" Aragorn asked.
Legolas pulled him aside. "I should very much like to wed her, Aragorn. I just fear she won't have me."
"I have seen her only a few minutes, if that. My friend, she is smitten with you. She will not say no."
"Thank you for your council. You have eased a great burden on my heart."
Meanwhile, Arwen was speaking with Luna.
"My lady, I love him and I know he loves me. I just don't know what to do," Luna said. "Give me your council, my lady, please!"
"Just Arwen, please, Lunari. If you just wait for perhaps a day, possibly two, he will come around then. I am sure of it."
"I'm not sure if my mother will approve. A prince marrying commonfolk? It's unheard of!"
"She will, if she sees that it is a love match, and not one made for convenience."
Luna threw her arms around Arwen. "Thank you, thank you so much!"
Legolas and Aragorn walked over to Luna and Arwen.
"How long do you think we should stay, Luna?" Legolas asked.
"A day, maybe two," Luna replied. "If that's all right with you of course." She looked at Aragorn and Arwen. They exchanged a knowing look and smiled.
"Of course it is," Arwen replied. "I'll show you to a room you can stay in."
She led them up a flight of nearby stairs and turned right. There was an open door leading to a room filled with light. There weren't any glass windows, there was only finely wrought metal intertwined with delicately formed tree branches.
"It's beautiful!" Luna breathed. "We'll be in paradise! It's wonderful!"
"We'll leave you here to unpack. Would you join us for dinner?" Aragorn asked. "When the sun is a handspan above the horizon."
Legolas nodded. "We would be honored."
Arwen and Aragorn smiled and left.
"How much time do we have?" Luna asked.
Legolas looked out of a west-facing window. "About an hour, maybe two."
"I don't have that much to unpack. I want to talk instead."
"I also wanted to talk with you. I have to say this. Luna, I love you." Legolas walked away from the window and sat on the bed. Luna sat next to him.
"You know," she said. "I love you too."
There was a moment of awkward silence.
"That story you told me... Are you really that old? You don't look it," Legolas commented.
"No. I think my mother was somewhat confused when she told me. That's my brother's story."
"Where is your brother?"
"He died with the Rohirrim, in the Defeat of Sauron."
"I'm sorry..."
Another silence ensued.
"My brother loved me so much. I cried myself to sleep for weeks when he fought with the Rohirrim." Luna looked down, a curtain of hair over her face. She started to cry quietly. Legolas wrapped his arms around her. She nestled her head onto his shoulder.
They sat for a few minutes like that, she crying, he comforting. Finally, she stopped crying and looked up at him. "Legolas, do you really, truly love me?" she asked.
"Yes. I really, truly do," he answered.
"Good," Luna said and nuzzled his shoulder. "Because I do, too."
Meanwhile, Aragorn and Arwen were also talking.
"I'm glad he found little Lunari. He always seemed almost melancholy before," Arwen commented.
"It is also good that they love each other, and that it isn't one-sided," added Aragorn. "That is the worst kind."
"They must be careful. It might be frowned upon, young as she is."
"There can't be that much difference in age."
"Only about eight hundred years. 'Only' being a relative term, of course."
"Of course. We ought to get ready for supper, seeing how near the hour is."