Chapter 3
The fellowship was almost ready to leave and Elenwen had not yet said goodbye to Legolas.
"Gather the gifts, we shall present them now." Galadriel told the maids. Elenwen folded the cloak she had made and followed Galadriel. At her command the maids and Elenwen stepped forward towards one of the eight members and placed upon him an Elven cloak.
Elenwen stood before Legolas and she saw him smile, causing her heart to pound. During his short time here Elenwen knew that a great emotion was forming for the elf. She loved him already. Elenwen placed the cloak around him and clasped the neck together with a Lothlorien leaf pin. As she finished Legolas drew his arm up to hold her hand in his. Elenwen looked surprised at him and saw his eyes reflected care and compassion. The other maids withdrew and Elenwen went to Galadriel's side.
Then each member was presented with another gift. Legolas received a Lothlorien bow and quiver of arrows, Merry and Pippin got daggers, Frodo had the light of Elendil, Sam Elven rope and Aragorn a westerness dagger.
As Galadriel drew Gimli away the fellowship bade Celeborn and Elenwen goodbye.
"I will return home soon sister." Callnen promised. He was to be one of the escorts.
"Be brave brother." Elenwen hugged him.
"We will have to meet again on lighter terms." Aragorn told Elenwen. Hugging him Elenwen said,
"You have the power to make it so." Elenwen then turned to Legolas.
"I shall pray daily that we may meet again." Legolas told and kissed the knuckles of her white hand. Elenwen smiled and kissed his cheek.
"What is and what will be is fate, yet destiny can be chosen by our own acts."
The fellowship turned to the boats and Elenwen hurried into the forest. Under her dress she wore Elven male garb. Her plan was to hop on the boat with the fellowship. After all she wasn't about to let adventure slip away before her very eyes. Shedding her dress and drawing her own cloak tight about her face she shouldered a bag before heading to the docks.
"Good our second escort is here." Callnen said. Elenwen flinched as her brother's gaze swept over her. With a tight corset to hold her chest flat Elenwen was surprised she could even breathe.
"Good luck Elenwen." Galadriel spoke mind to mind.
"Thanks my lady." Elenwen whispered and looked to Legolas. He scanned the banks as if looking for someone. After looking about the area Legolas hug his head and Elenwen's heart went out to him.
'Does he look for me?' she thought. Legolas stepped into one of the boats and set his pack at his feet. Elenwen stepped forward and got into the white boat with Legolas.
"Room for another?" Gimli asked. Legolas looked to Elenwen who shrunk back further into her hood.
"These boats will hold three people. Lothlorien boats do not sink or tip." Elenwen said gruffly. Gimli snorted as Legolas nodded to him and climbed in.
"We are ready then." Callnen said. Merry sat in Callnen's boat and much to the hobbits delight the boat was also the one carrying most of the food. The boats began to paddle away and Aragorn and Callnen took the lead.
Elenwen said nothing, but Legolas and Gimli talked in the tongue of men. Every time Legolas smiled Elenwen felt her pulse quicken. She looked around her and soaked up all the sights and sounds of the world outside Lothlorien. The water was quick paced and the forest on either side of the river was dark.
"What is your name?" Legolas asked.
Elenwen froze. 'What is my name?' she thought quickly.
"Celfalassi." Elenwen said naming her father.
Legolas nodded. "I am Legolas son of Thrandril, and this is Gimli son of Gloin. We welcome you." Legolas introduced.
Gimli nodded as Elenwen looked at him.
Elenwen nodded back. After that no one spoke. Each person was deep in thought.
The sun began to sink and Aragorn called for a halt. The boats were pulled far ashore and the hobbits eagerly found packs of food. Elenwen's ankle started to hurt so she settled away from the group to lean against a rock. Boromir had started a small fire and Merry and Pippin decided to try roasting Lembas over the small red flames. Elenwen glanced at Legolas. He seemed deep in thought. Aragorn noticed this too and pulled Legolas aside. Elenwen could just barely made out their words as the two friends stood below a large tree.
"Legolas, you are not yourself. I know what it is you miss. I feel the same about Arwen." Told Aragorn quietly.
'If this is love they discuss than who does Legolas love?' Elenwen thought as she bit back a pang of jealously. Legolas sighed,
"I know her very little, how was I to express my feelings for her? How can I be sure of this love? It's just that when I first saw her I knew somehow that we were meant to be together."
"Trust your heart, what does your heart tell you?" asked Aragorn. Legolas looked at his friend thoughtfully.
"That I love her." Legolas said passionately.
"Then hope for your hearts sake; you will help us to the end and come that time you may see her again." Told Aragorn and he patted Legolas on the back.
'Is it me he loves?' Elenwen prayed. 'I do like him alas I believe I require a little more time to decide whether it is that I love him.'
As she took the first shift she watched Legolas carefully as she tried to decide what her feelings were for him.
'If he was hurt, I would help him. If he was upset, comfort him. If he was dead…' "Follow him." Elenwen whispered silently as she tested the sound of the idea on her tongue."My shift." Gimli grumbled and pointed at her and made the motion for her to sleep by resting his head on his hands. Elenwen chuckled and clasped the dwarf's shoulder.
"Elves..phhhf!" Gimli snorted.
Elenwen woke to a clear sky. As she looked around she saw only the elves and Aragorn were awake. A wind had picked up and blew in the direction the travelers wished to go.
"We will be at Amon Hen tomorrow if they continue to sleep like this." Callnen chuckled to Aragorn.
"Have you ever woken a dwarf? You do not want to waken sleeping dwarves unless you want your head missing." Legolas laughed. Aragorn chuckled and grabbed a stick and slowly reached over to poke Gimli.
"AARH!" Gimli yelled and jumped to his feet. "Lemme at 'em! Gimme a row of Orc necks!" Gimli yelled.
The elves laughed heartily while Aragorn calmed the angry dwarf.
"Time to leave Gimli." Aragorn told the sleeping dwarf.
"Good plan to wake me up first. Ever waken a hobbit? You do not wake sleeping hobbits unless you want your head missing." Gimli warned. The elves and Aragorn laughed again.
"Look there is bacon and tomatoes over here." Callnen said close to the hobbits ears. The four hobbits almost instantly jumped up and tripped over Boromir.
"Now that we are all awake, into the boats." Aragorn chuckled.
"What about our bacon and tomatoes?" Pippin asked rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"We ate it all." Gimli snorted and climbed into the nearest boat. Merry and Pippin groaned loudly and Elenwen looked at Legolas who raised his brows and rolled his eyes giving her a small smile.
With great luck the boats went quickly down the river. Elenwen said nothing while Legolas and Gimli conversed with Pippin who had exchanges spots with Merry in Callnen's boat.
"The Argonath." Callnen pointed. There on either side of the river stood the pillars of Argonath. Isildur and his father, left arms extended with palms facing forward in heeding or warning. As the group gazed at the two statues Pippin stood up in awe. Elenwen watched the hobbit. At first Pippin's balance was steady, but then a breeze caught the boat causing it to shake the hobbit into the water. At once Elenwen jumped into the river heedless of the danger and cold that bit at her exposed skin. Once underwater she opened her eyes to see Pippin floundering about. She kicked her legs and was at the hobbits side in seconds. Wrapping her arms about the hobbit she surged upward kicking furiously at the great mass of dark water. Her head broke surface and a strong arm grabbed hers. Her hood still on her head she glanced up to see Legolas heaving her aboard. Callnen grabbed the hobbit and wrapped him tightly in a blanket as Elenwen too was thrown aboard and wrapped up.
Aragorn quickly led the boats to the rivers edge. Elenwen shivered and her hands were numb with cold. It began to get dark when the Fellowship finally found a place to camp. Legolas jumped out of the boat and carried Elenwen ashore to set her down against a tree.
"Celfalassi, are you well?" Legolas asked.
Elenwen's teeth chattered and Legolas barely saw that her lips were blue from within her cloak.
"Legolas, you look after him and I will look after Pippin." Aragorn yelled from across the way. Callnen and Boromir led the remaining fellowship further into the woods to find firewood.
Legolas picked up Elenwen once again and set her behind a boulder to deflect the wind. Then he quickly ran to grab their bags. He returned with Gimli who held an armful of firewood and a piece of flint. Gimli set down the wood then left to join the others while Legolas started the fire. As soon as the wood started to burn he turned to Elenwen.
"We have to get those wet clothes off you." Legolas said opening Elenwen's pack.
Elenwen shook her head.
"You will freeze to death then. Already your fingers are numb. I can help you. You have nothing that I haven't seen before." Legolas told.
Uncertain whether to doubt this Elenwen decided death to be the least favorable among her options. She lifted her hands to undo the clasps on her jerkin but her fingers did not move. Legolas sat cross-legged in front of her and undid the clasps.
Elenwen felt her breath tighten as Legolas's gaze looked to her face, which was still hidden behind the shadow of her cloak. With the last clasp Elenwen's jerkin fell to the ground in a soggy pile. Callnen's white under tunic clung to her body and Elenwen could feel its clammy touch slicked against her skin.
"What is this?" Legolas asked curiously.
Elenwen looked down to see her light grey corset fully visible through her brother's tunic. Before she could do anything Legolas had undone her tunic to gaze curiously at the cloth underneath.
"Unless I am mistaken males do not wear corsets." He said softly and looked to the hooded figures face.
Legolas looked up carefully and drew the hood from Elenwen's head.
Elenwen gazed in Legolas's eyes sheepishly. She opened her mouth to speak but his lips met hers in a short passionate kiss. Elenwen could just imagine fireworks going off above their heads. Within seconds Legolas pulled away and the fireworks disappeared.
"I am sorry, I have just wanted to do that since I met you." He whispered truthfully, and then he frowned and made a face of unhappiness and confusion. "You should go home, its home it is dangerous." Legolas told her.
"There is danger everywhere I go." Elenwen chattered her teeth. Legolas sighed,
"There is no use arguing while you freeze to death." He stood and walked to the other side of the fire where he put his back to Elenwen. Elenwen sighed and quickly changed then drew on a dry cloak.
"Lady Galadriel wished me good luck on my journey. She knew that I would be going." Elenwen said and she went to sit beside Legolas.
"Do not mistake me, I am happy to see you. I have never stopped thinking about you. I think I am falling in love with you." Legolas said and took one of Elenwen's chilled hands.
"I may know little of you but I believe there may be a future for us." Elenwen whispered. Legolas gave her a loving smile and sighed,
"Your brother should know you are here." He said quickly.
"Lady Galadriel does not send one of her kin into death." Callnen said. Legolas and Elenwen turned around to see Callnen watching from across the fire.
"How did you know it was me?" Elenwen asked suspiciously. Callnen shrugged.
"Galadriel told me in a way. Once I got past the riddles of course. And she gave me a few things to give you." Elenwen went to sit beside her brother.
"A Lothlorien sword made especially for you," Callnen said handing his sister a sword in a long jeweled, leather scabbard. Elenwen drew her sword. Its handle had silver leaves with green emeralds. Then Callnen whispered,
"This necklace was given to Galadriel by our mother. It is meant to be given to you so you may give it to the one you love." Callnen placed a silver necklace into Elenwen's palm.
Callnen motioned Legolas to the side and went over to talk to him privately.
"If you break her heart or lay one finger on her with ill intent I will show you no mercy next I see you." Callnen warned. Legolas nodded,
"My heart knows no ill intent and if her heart is broken so would be mine." Legolas promised. Callnen nodded to his sister and took his leave.
Elenwen went to her bag and pulled out some Lembas bread. Legolas went to sit beside her.
"A load left my mind when I told you that I love you." Legolas smiled and accepted a piece of Lembas.
"I do not think that first kiss counted. My lips were numb with cold." Elenwen spoke evenly as she finished her half of the Elven bread. Legolas swallowed his mouthful and tenderly lifted Elenwen's chin and turned her face towards him. He kissed her quickly but gently on the lips as Elenwen put her arms around his neck. Legolas broke the kiss with a quick almost devilishly loving smile before placing his lips once again on hers. Split seconds later Legolas drew away and nibbled again at his half of the Lembas bread.
"How was that?" he asked turning his head to look at her quickly. Elenwen smiled,
"My lips may have been numb alas they were numb with pleasure." She told and pressed the silver necklace into his palm. Legolas drew open his fingers and gazed at the silver with sparkling eyes.
"What is this?" he asked for the second time that night.
"Only two necklaces remain like that. Passed from generation to generation from mother to daughter. A symbol of love for whomever the daughter chooses to give it to. Arwen has one. An Evenstar." She said and clasped it around his neck.
"I want to give this to you to show how much I care about you as long as you promise that we may get to know each other better. There is a bond between us and I know it is capable of becoming very strong." Elenwen told.
"I fear I have not to give you but my heart." Legolas said with a grin.
"It is a worthy gift." Elenwen whispered.
Legolas reached over to kiss her on the cheek when that moment Aragorn and Gimli appeared.
"I knew the Princling was a bit queer!" Gimli said shocked. Legolas laughed and Elenwen turned to look at the dwarf and the man.
"I see you have found your hearts desire." Aragorn told Legolas.
Elenwen hugged Aragorn tightly. "Look who is talking! It seemed a shame that only one member of the fellowship had a female in mind." Said Elenwen.
"I'm glad you aint a lad. And I would like to say sorry for bumping into you." Gimli said to Elenwen. Legolas translated for her.
"I am glad you are a stout male dwarf otherwise you might have never knocked me into Legolas. I might have never come to realize my attraction for him. But if you bump into me again I will have to give you a few bruises to match my own." Elenwen said and bowed to the dwarf.
Aragorn and Legolas chuckled.
"What? What did she say?" Gimli asked.
"Elenwen is a stubborn, spirited lady like her mother." Aragorn said quietly in the tongue of men. "Gimli sleep here tonight. I want these two to behave themselves." Aragorn pointed to Gimli.
"Callnen had said similar word." Legolas frowned, deterred that his friend thought that he would misbehave himself.
"I will be watching you." Aragorn told Legolas. The elf shot Aragorn a look. Legolas grumbled under his breath. As if he'd ever be so rude. Kissing Elenwen was not a show, one had to find just the right moments. Gimli unrolled a sleeping met and lay down beside the fire. Elenwen wrapped her cloak more closely about herself.
"Are you cold?" Legolas asked concerned.
Elenwen nodded.
Legolas inched closer to Elenwen to sit beside her, and wrapped an arm around her waist. Elenwen smiled and held onto his free hand.
"Why do I have to watch the elf-princeling get all mushy?" Gimli snorted. Elenwen looked to Gimli and then to Legolas for a translation.
"Gimli, if you think she will distract me from what I should be doing you are wrong." Legolas told the dwarf.
"Really? Because usually you would be foreboding some sort of evil about now." Gimli groaned. Legolas translated this for Elenwen.
"Gimli is right. I will be distracting you. But I can fight, so at least you need not worry that I will get hurt." Told Elenwen.
Legolas smiled, "But I like watching you."
"Alright! I can't speak elvish but I know that you two are up to no good! I'm sitting right between you two and will stay up as long as I need." Gimli said staggering over to sit between the two elves.
Within the hour Gimli was asleep and the elven couple laughed at his determined watch.
"He reeks of dwarf." Elenwen chuckled.
"I will take first watch. You need you sleep." Legolas told warily as he scanned the forest.
"Thank you. May the power of the elves be with you my love." Elenwen yawned.
"And you my beauty." Legolas said, blowing her a kiss then with a serious gaze looked out into the forest.
The next day the company settled before the falls at Amon Hen.
"We cross the lake at nightfall, hide the boats, and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the north." Aragorn said as he unpacked his most necessary items. The hobbits lay down with a huff to rest.
"Oh yes? Just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil? An impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks? And after that, it gets even better! Festering, stinking marshlands, as far as the eye can see!" Gimli spat in obvious distaste.
"Emyn Muil probably smells better than wet dwarf." Elenwen whispered to herself.
Aragorn looked slightly cross. "That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf."
"Recover my….phfwahh!" Gimli scoffed.
Elenwen came up behind Legolas. He appeared worried. Grasping Elenwen's hand they went over to Aragorn.
"We should leave now." Legolas told Aragorn.
"No. Orcs patrol the eastern shorn. We must wait for the cover of darkness." Replied Aragorn as he too looked uneasily into the forest.
Elenwen keened her senses and focused her mind on the forest around her. Orcs it sounded like, yet heavier. The ground heaved under the filth of every step the orcs took. Then a light footstep, small, yet with big feet.
"It is not the eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near. I can feel it." Legolas said suspiciously.
"Heavy Orcs…Hobbit…" Elenwen murmured. Aragorn was about to open his mouth to speak when Merry cried out:
"Where's Frodo?"
It was then that the fellowship noticed the absence of Frodo, and Boromir. Sam sprung to his feet and ran into the forest followed by everyone else.
Legolas led Elenwen into the forest and split up from the rest of the group to find the missing hobbit.
"Why did I not notice?" Legolas cursed under his breath.
"I am sorry, I most likely distracted you." Elenwen said sadly. Legolas stopped running and gripped both Elenwen's hands.
"It is not your fault. I simply should have paid more attention. I love you, you are never a distraction. Anything that keeps me away from you is a distraction, but you understand the importance of what we all must do! I should have kept the quest more closely in mind." Legolas told.
"We must find Frodo now. Our feelings should be settled later." Elenwen said keeping a straight and determined face. Legolas glanced at her, his eyes betraying a little sadness and confusion at the emotions and turmoil welling up inside him. Elenwen stood on her toes and gave Legolas a quick kiss on the lips.
"Go, I am right behind you." She smiled slightly. Legolas put on a determined face and headed up the hill that sloped downwards towards the boats.
The forest was less dense than Lothlorien and the ground was covered in orange and yellow leaves. Elenwen could see old stone stairs and statues that had crumbled or fallen. Wondering what this place once was she almost missed the small ring bearer as he flew down the hill.
"Orcs!" he yelled! Legolas quickly drew his bow and Elenwen her swords. Charging up the hill they met the orcs yells and snarls with some of their own. The brush broke quickly as they reached an elevated stone platform with four matching statues.