Help Me Get Back
Chapter 8: The Question
By Elerrina
Rachel and her friends made a point to sit near the front of the room so that they would have a good seat for Legolas's speech. The supper was exceptional; it wasn't as great as the meals at the banquets were and it was better than most of the regular meals that they served for lunch. Once most of the elves had finished eating Legolas stood up to speak to everyone.
"My friends, my family," he added, glancing back at his mother, father, and younger sister, "I feel that I must make this speech explaining to you what happened the night two weeks ago when fifteen of my comrades died. Five of us were lucky enough to survive; Aragorn, Gimli, Amras, Gildor and I.
"That night, we were out patrolling. The five that I mentioned were training the newer recruits. It was their first time out on patrol without being paired up with more experience. Near morning spiders attacked. We were outnumbered about three to one. The five of us tried our best to help the others but we could not make our way to them in time. If only they had had a few more weeks of practice...
"Unfortunately they did not and we cannot dwell on that now... If we could have a moment of silence to honor Lolindir, Lenwe, Mablung, Celebrimbor, Valandil, Finrod, Huor, Orodreth, Feanaro, Maeglin, Findecano, Golrandir, Aerandir, Turgon, and Feanor..."
Everyone in the dining hall bowed their heads and thought a silent prayer to Mandos to take care of their souls.
"Thank you. You may continue eating now." Legolas sat back down, his face as unreadable as all of the others.
Dinner was very quiet that night. No one spoke much in respect for the dead.
Rachel glanced up at Legolas once and caught him staring at her. He granted her a slight smile then returned to speaking with his father.
Over the next few weeks Rachel continued her elvish lessons, working on her archery whenever Legolas had time. She learned so much about the prince during her lessons.
He is so dedicated to his position. It's almost like he is Mirkwood's father and the people here his children. He tells me his problems while we're out there all alone. He worries about Thranduil. He knows that his father longs to be free and wishes to see his wife and the endless sea. The king has spoken to him of marriage but Legolas isn't sure about anything yet. I feel so sorry for him. He has so many responsibilities that no one else does. It is almost as though the weight of the world is resting on his shoulders. Every day he seems to droop a little more under the pressure he receives from everyone else.
He has brought up the subject of me visiting his father only once and has said nothing of the subject after I declined. We have spoken of the leaving of Middle Earth. He seems... disquieted by the subject so I do not mention it often. I believe that he wishes to be here for his friends. The elves leaving, I heard Aragorn say once, would mean the loss of the wisest, most beautiful beings. A light would be gone from the world that could never return.
I believe that that is Legolas now; it is time for my lesson. ... I guess I won't be having my lesson today. He has been called to his father's study to discuss something. I believe that I'll go to the gardens now, they're so calming...
Legolas knocked tentatively on his father's door wondering, as always, why he had been called.
"My son, you need not knock every time you come. I am able to hear you," Thranduil informed Legolas as he swung open the door to admit him.
"It is proper to knock. I would hate to barge in on an important conversation."
"Yes, I suppose... We have spoken of this before, but the time is becoming more pressing. Have you thought any more about marriage?" the King questioned.
"Well, in a way. I do not know if I am ready and I have not found anyone. Father, why do you wish to discuss this with me now?"
"Legolas, the sea calls for me. It is stronger than it has ever been. Mirkwood needs a king. It needs you, my son. A king does not have time to court. I wish for you to be happy and it seems to me that you are not. I believe that you wish to be married."
"Adar, Naneth... told me before she left that... that she wished that I marry my love. I think that I may have found her. She is not what you would expect, Father. I wish for your approval. How long do I have to decide?"
"I leave in three months. I have made the arrangements with Cirdan. It is the latest that I will be able to leave before the snow starts to fall. If you have not chosen in two months I have met a princess that I believe will do quite nicely with you."
"Father, I—"
"I am not saying that you must marry her, only give her a chance. Go back to what you were doing before you came here. Keep what I said in mind though. I do not have much time."
Legolas turned and walked sullenly out of the room.
I must do this now. I know whom I wish to ask; yet I am not sure that she will accept it. I do not have time to, beat around the bush, as they say, Legolas thought.
Rachel was sitting on a bench in one of the gardens when Legolas found her.
"Rachel, would you come for a walk with me?" Legolas asked seriously. "I have something important that I must ask you."
"Alright, I guess," she replied nervously. I don't belong here, don't ask me. I don't want to have to tell you, she thought, guessing his motive.
Legolas led her outside a little way into the forest to a clearing.
It was a beautiful day in spring, the leaves were a brilliant shade of green, the flowers were in full bloom, everything was perfect, that is, it would have been perfect had she not known what was about to happen. She had no idea how she knew, but she did. This was what she had been dreading for a long time. Ever since she first met Legolas she had felt drawn to him, not knowing why, but now she did, but she would not accept the fact. She wouldn't even allow herself to think it.
Legolas came to a stop in the middle of the clearing, and knelt. Rachel dropped to her knees next to him and waited for him to start.
"I know that we have not known each other for even a year, but I think I know enough about you to ask you this."
"No," she muttered, so quietly that Legolas didn't hear her. Not now, I'm not ready to tell him yet.
"Will you be my betrothed?" he popped the question.
"You don't know me. You don't know where I came from, you don't know my parents. You don't know what I did before I came here," she tried to put it off.
"I love you, Rachel. I would love you if you if you were naught but one hundred years of age and a thief," he told her.
Rachel felt tears running down her cheeks. She didn't want to tell him. She wanted to just agree and never tell him any of it, but she knew that it wouldn't be fair to Legolas if she did that.
"What if I was only seventeen years of age and as good as a liar?" she asked.
A/n: It's been a little over a month since I updated. I've been having major computer troubles plus I've been extremely busy. First my computer refused to access the Internet so when my dad fixed it, he began deleting things, and deleted the sound file. While trying to get it back he accidentally made the screen tiny! He finally got it back to normal. I have work, school, tons of homework, and the play, but the play is over now! I have part of the next part written, actually, a lot of it.
Emiliana: I feel sorry for Rachel too. Especially now, after what just happened... Thanks for reviewing!
Faerlain: October is easily my busiest month. Too much to do. It'll be the same thing once tennis starts in the spring. Then I have the play, tennis, work, and school. The chapter is kind of short again, but hopefully the next one will be longer. Thanx for the review!
Rayame: Hi! Yep. She's doing archery. I wish I was doing that, but now, we'll have 30 days longer to do some things in that class. Darn. Review again please!
Heather: I'd love to learn elvish too! I use a few phrases in my stories but I have to look most of them up. I know the one word things like Naneth (mother) and Adar (father). I know Amin Hireatha (I'm sorry) and a few others that I can't think of right now. Thanks for the review!
Ilenya: Thanks for reviewing! I wish I could do archery! We'll learn it in P.E. sometime... Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
So, what did you think? Was this expected? Hope not. I hate for my writing to be predictable.