Chapter 13 – A Diversion
Time passed for Legolas like the passage of time slowly erodes a mountain into a small pebble. Laura did not wake the next day, or the day after. Legolas thought he may go mad from the waiting, and worrying, when finally mid-morning on the third day she began to stir from her healing sleep. The healer had come on the second day and told Legolas that Laura was healing very well. When Legolas asked why she had not awoke yet, he suggested that perhaps she had more healing to do.
On the third day, the third day that which she stirred on Legolas woke from his place of watch for the long days she had been unconscious. Sighing because she had not yet woken, Legolas stood, and stretching his long lean body walked towards the door to leave. Taking one last longing look back he announced. "I shall return my lady." With only silence for a reply, he left.
That of course is when Laura began to stir in the soft bed. Yawning she turned over onto her side, and painlessly she noted. She frowned upon finding that Legolas no longer was by her side, and wondered if perhaps the talk with him, and the injury had been but a dream. Curious she pulled up her tunic, and found a wrap covered what was obviously the wound.
Replacing the tunic, she pulled herself slowly into a sitting position, and finding she could do this as well without her wound paining her, she decided she would try and stand. Slowly edging her way to the side of the bed, she placed her feet upon the ground, and stood. Upon standing Laura found her legs weak, and her head swam with the movement, as she hadn't left the bed for days. She stumbled her way over to the balcony doors, and stepped out for some air.
She gazed out over the small village, with tents, and huts standing along a long path leading to the palace. Many elves went about their daily business, walking, talking, trading, selling, and buying, life went on without her. Laura smiled when her eyes fell on a familiar back. Legolas walked slowly among the other elves, staring up at the sky, lost in his thoughts. "Legolas!" She shouted down to him, drawing the attention of several other elves, and of Legolas.
He spun around at the sound of his name being called, and scanned the faces of the many elves that stood near, and far around him. None however appeared to be paying any attention to him, though some gazed up at the palace walls. Slowly his own gaze was drawn up over the palace walls. His heart seemed to leap for joy within his chest as his eyes set themselves upon a figure standing on a balcony, Laura's balcony. A delighted smile formed on his face, and changing his intended course, he ran now bound for the palace, for Laura's room.
Laura laughed, seeing Legolas running back to the palace. Quickly as her state would allow she made her way back to the bed. Lying down upon it she shut her eyes, and lay there motionless, and stifling a giggle, she awaited his arrival.
Soon Legolas burst into the room, the smile still plastered on his face. Finding Laura motionless, and quiet on the bed, he felt as if his heart had just stopped it's steady thrumming in his chest. He immediately rushed to the balcony doors to find it empty, sighing heavily he walked over to the bed she rest upon. "My lady?" He whispered close to her face, while putting a hand over her heart to be sure it still beat within.
He shut his eyes in relief, and walked back towards the door once more. "Where are you off to elfyboy?" He heard said behind him. Stopping in his tracks, he silently wondered if he was going mad. "Legolas" She asked after he stood silent, and stiff. "Are you truly awake Lady Mel?" He asked in an unsteady voice. He heard a giggled 'yes' muttered behind him, and turned to find her standing on the bed smiling. A smile again formed on his own face, and he walked back over towards the bed, shutting the door behind him. Before he could react though, she had jumped from the bed, knocking him off balance, and sending them both crashing to the bedroom floor.
Once Legolas had gotten past the shock of the impact, he found himself laughing. "I see that you are indeed very much awake my lady." "Yes sir!" She managed to get out between fits of laughter. "The balcony, you called my name. You were out there, were you not?" Laura rolled herself off of Legolas. "Yeah, that was me." Legolas' brow furrowed in thought. "Then you meant to fool me when I rushed up to your room." Laura laughed. "Nothing gets past you does it?" He just smiled. "Why? Why fool me like that?" Laura sat up and shrugged her shoulders. "I guess to get you back, ya know for the whole kiss, fight, get attacked thing. Plus, I'm a drama queen, deal with it elfy."
Legolas chuckled, and standing, he offered her his hand saying. "So I have learned my lady. How do you feel?" Laura took the hand he offered, and stood as well. "Oh just fine and dandy, you? I don't imagine you get tackled like that often." His eyes narrowed, and he nodded. "I am fine, thank you. Tackle, I do not know this word I'm afraid." Laura just rolled her eyes, and flopped down on the bed. "Doesn't matter elfy, so what's up? How's it going?"
Legolas took a seat as well, but feeling bold, he took a seat next to her on the bed. "I have been greatly worried for you my lady." Laura sighed, and put her palm to her forehead in exasperation. "Laura." Legolas turned confused. "I'm sorry?" She shook her head. "My name, it's Laura Legolas. You can call me Laura." Legolas smiled, and took her hand in his. "I am eternally grateful you have told me. Now I have something I wish to tell you." Legolas paused to take a deep breath, and Laura squeezed his hand in encouragement. "Laura," He began with a warm smile. "I believe my feelings for you are growing into something more than I expected, something more than friendship. If you would allow it, I would court you as I would an elf, as I would one of my own kind."
He had neglected to mention he thought the feelings within him were that of love, for fear of scaring her away. Laura just stared for a long moment which made Legolas tense, and fidgety. "Legolas," She began, then ended it with another long pause. "Laura?" She smiled then. "Legolas, I would like nothing more, but how about before courting me, you kiss me?" She leaned in, closer and with a grin, she reached a hand out and caressed the soft flesh around his ear. Her action caused his body to shudder with pleasure.
Reaching a shaky hand out, and placing it at the back of her neck, he pulled her face closer to him. Their lips came together in a soft, gentle kiss, not rushed by either party. One of Laura's hands was supporting her weight, while the other found it's way from his ear, and tangled itself into his long silken tresses. When his mouth pulled away from her own, Laura found herself whimpering at the separation. Legolas smiled sweetly at her, and his hand snaked around from her neck to caress her cheek. "There will come another time for that, and more Laura." He opened his arms to her, and she soon found herself willingly enveloped within them.
She sighed contentedly, and twisting around in his arms, she gazed up into his eyes. "Okay, this will do for now." She whispered. The pair sat like that for the remainder of the morning just gazing into one another's eyes, until Laura's stomach interrupted the peace, complaining for lack of nourishment. Legolas laughed. "Why did you not tell me you were hungry?" She smiled. "I wasn't hungry, I was completely content here. Nothing could bother me at all, I am not hungry. Though I do suppose I should feed this growling creature." She laughed, patting her stomach for emphasis.
Laura rolled over, and out onto the floor. Legolas gasped, and he immediately knelt down beside her. "Valar, Laura! Are you injured?" She just giggled, and stood up, brushing dust and dirt from her clothes. "Yea, yea! I meant to do that. Really! I did, now lets go shall we?" She finished, and taking his hand led him out the door.
The pair ate lunch quickly, and then it was decided that they would take a ride together in the woods.
"So, you're like ancient compared to me then!?"
"If you would consider nearly three thousand years ancient, then yes!" Legolas laughed. Laura made him feel, and act younger than he was. Laura shook her head and grinned. "It must be nice, seeing the world changing, and knowing you'll be on it forever. I wish I was immortal." Legolas chuckled. "Immortality if not always a blessing, and you forget I can die." Laura just shook her head in disbelief. "Yea, I know, and elf can be slain in battle, but not you Legolas. You're too good." She added with a wink. Legolas just shook his head with a smile.
Legolas suddenly pulled Arod to a halt, and Laura followed his action a moment later. She looked back questioningly, and noticed he was staring off to his right with a sweet smile on his face. "Legolas?" She asked. He turned his face to her, smile still present. "Look" He said. She did as he had requested, and found they had again come to their place of meeting. She found herself squealing loudly with joy, and jumping from Buckley's back, and running for the small lake.
She giggled madly when she turned at the lake, and searching for Legolas found him still atop Arod, and his hands clutching his ears. She rolled her eyes, and muttered 'elves' under her breath while motioning for him to join her. Legolas jumped down from his horses back, and set the two off to graze before joining her by the lake.
"So Legolas," She began. "I guess it was an accident, us ending up here of all places in this big forest." Legolas just grinned, nodded, and taking her hand in his kissed her palm. "Of course my lady, pure coincidence." She laughed, and swatted at him with her free hand. "I'm suuure." She replied her tone dripping with sarcasm.
The two sat by the water, Legolas with his arm wrapped around Laura's shoulders. "I wish to discuss a plan of my fathers with you Laura." He began breaking the comfortable silence. "As you know, King Ellesar, and the Queen Arwen reside within Mirkwood for the time, they however will depart in a little over two weeks time. My father wishes to hold a celebration in their honor, though he does not wish for them to learn of it before the day. He has requested I keep them elsewhere, away from the preparations…" Laura suddenly stood from the ground, and shouted loudly, arms spread. "A diversion!!!" And crumpled again to the ground in a fit of laughter.