Disclaimer: I don't own em! I don't own Legolas, I don't own Arwen, I don't own Aragorn, Thranduil, or uh whoever else was from the movie. Sadly, I also don't own Haldir. heavy sigh He's become my new obsession, which explains for the loooong time in updating. Truly I meant to sooner, but Haldir took over my brain, and when I've got a blond elf with pointy ears in my brain, nothing else comes out, or goes in. Forgive me ever faithful readers. giggles Riiight! Anyway, here we go, chapter 16, and the next chapter should hopefully be written tomorrow, I promise to try and update more. I wrote this in about 30-40 minutes, so I should be getting my muse back. Even though it may not be the best chapter yet. I think I did fairly well with detail though, I'm normally not great at detail. K Hey cool, Word inserts smileys! Please excuse me if Haldir pops up more often than he should, I'm truly lusting far too much for the elf.
Chapter 16 – She's going to pay
The following morning Legolas was awoken from a deep sleep by a knocking at his door. Stretching and resembling a cat in his smooth flowing motions. When the knocking became more insistent he sprang from his bed to open the door. Laura stood on the other side with a rather embarrassed smile.
"Good morning Legolas." She said, and lowered her head to stare at the floor.
"Good morning Laura, Would you like to enter?" He asked trying to suppress a yawn.
She looked up, and nodded almost imperceptibly. Legolas blinked and stood aside, hoping he had indeed seen her nod. She entered his room, and stood in the center waiting for him to shut the door, and sit down or offer her a seat.
Legolas stood at the door, and watched Laura standing in the room, staring at him, suddenly conscious of every movement, ever particle of dust that floated past him, every chirp of the birds outside. Uncomfortable, he folded his arms over his chest, and nodded hoping she would take his meaning that she could say what she wished.
Frowning Laura walked to the twin doors, both with intricate carvings of beautiful leaves and fines tangled together. She thought of her own room, with it's plain doors. Pushing the doors aside, she walked out to his balcony hoping he would follow. Taking in the warm air, she breathed deeply reveling in the natural feel of Mirkwood, of the air. It was clean, and pure. Everything was perfect here, and she knew she could never return to her old home.
Legolas stared after her back, and after a moment decided she wished him to join her on the balcony. Crossing the room in strong purposeful strides, he soon was standing beside her, looking out over the beautiful woods. Long had the darkness that haunted it for so long dissipated, and he knew she would never sense it had ever tainted the beauty of his home. Even the spiders had been dealt with swiftly, and their webs long cleaned from the beautiful dark trees. Though admittedly some still lay in hiding, striking only when need demanded it.
Sensing Legolas behind her, she breathed deeply to steady her nerves, so she could say what she had come to say. Turning she found Legolas wore a confused look, but she couldn't blame him. She'd as of yet not explained why she'd come to his room so early. But they did after all have a picnic to plan, and food to get today.
"Legolas," Laura barely got out as a whisper, her voice suddenly betraying her, her throat dry. He turned at the sound of her speaking and his clear blue eyes bore into her. She blinked feeling that he could read what was in her heart, nay see everything she possessed, down to her very soul. "Yes?" He questioned, taking her hand from her side, and holding it gently with one hand.
"I've come to apologize Legolas. Last night, it was wrong. I should never have started what I did, it was started out of anger, and that is not how I wish things to begin for us. I also behaved horribly, the laughing. Trust me when I say it was not about anything to do with what we were doing. It was my evil friends doing, and if I ever see her again, which I hope I do not. She will pay. Forgive me."
Finishing the long winded rant, Laura's gaze shifted to the ground below. Spotting a single elf, standing along in the courtyard below, she squinted. Anger flushed through her again, and she felt as though she could take on a whole army of orc's herself on the energy the anger provided alone. Haldir of Lothlorien stared up at the two, and amused look on his face.
Feeling her hand being squeezed, her gaze shifted again, to Legolas' face, soft and gentle with love, and understanding. "Aye mellamin, you are right. I would not wish our love to be tainted by hate, most importantly not our first time as lovers. I trust as well that your friend will pay, though I also wish for you to never see her again, if that means you are parted from me. The time will come for us mellamin."
She smiled as his warmth and sincerity, forgetting completely Haldir watched. "And I trust then you will not be laughing." Legolas then added as an afterthought. She giggled, and threw her arms around him, in a crushing hug, full of love and relief.
Laura waited what she thought humorously to be a long time, while Legolas bathed, and dressed himself. The pair were then off for breakfast in the dining hall. They both sat in comfortable silence, their hands always connected below the table. When they finished, Legolas stood, pulling her chair out, and they started to leave the banquet hall. "Darro!" Legolas said abruptly forgetting Laura didn't speak elvish.
"Sorry?" She said turning to him in confusion. "Stop, wait. I have forgotten, I asked the cooks to prepare a basket for our picnic today. I will go and fetch it, please wait here." He said, bowing slightly, her hand in his. Pressing a kiss to her knuckles, he strolled off in the other direction back to what she guessed were the kitchens.
Laura sighed, a smile spreading over her lips, and leaned against the wall. She'd never been so happy, never been so content, and in love. It was a feeling she'd missed out on in her own time, her own world. She thought to frown, but her spirits were too high for anything to pull them down. Loss of family, loss of her life, her friends, it all seemed vague, and unimportant to her now.
Her smile very nearly faded into a frown as she heard a familiar voice behind her. Gritting her teeth she turned to find the Marchwarden standing behind her, his stance confidant, and cocky as was she observed usual. "Good day Haldir." She replied to what she guessed was a greeting, though she heard not what he said. "You look well today, rest well milady?" He questioned, slowly she noticed moving closer to her.
"Indeed, it's hard not to rest well when in such a wonderful place, and when surrounded by such wonderful elves." She replied, more cheerfully than she felt. She could play nice. "Ahh, but you have yet to see the wonders of the Golden Wood milady. These dark woods pale in comparison to my home. Perhaps I shall show you them one day." Laura only smiled in reply, not wishing to take what she knew to only be bait.
Legolas chose then, what Laura considered the perfect moment, to save her from this elf. "Haldir!" He cried happily, taking his friend by the arms in what she imagined a customary greeting between elves. "Legolas, my old friend. How good it is to see you again. I'd about given up hope of finding you in these massive halls. Your lady friend however, I've i>bumped /i> into on several occasions." She didn't like the way he said bumped, but only turned to Legolas when he gave her a questioning glance, and smiled.
"Have you? Then you'll be already introduced I trust, and there would be no need then." Haldir turned and gave Laura a grin that told her of the trouble to come, if he stayed any longer. "Aye, we have indeed been introduced friend. Though, forgive me if my memory does not serve me well, I do not believe the lady has told me her name as of yet."
Legolas smiled, and nodded to Laura. She only stared saying nothing. Frowning Legolas continued. "Haldir, my friend, this is Laura. She is a wonderful friend of mine, and is staying in Mirkwood for a time." Haldir smiled, only Laura knew there was plotting, scheming behind that smile, and he took her hand, kissing it in a way she learned was also a customary greeting for elves.
Seething Laura only nodded her head in thanks. "Forgive me friends, I must go. I have things that need attending to, and I believe your father has asked me to meet with him." Without awaiting a reply, Haldir was off in a flash, that Laura could not follow.
Legolas shook his head, in what seemed confusion, and took her hand, slipping the basket of food to his other arm before. Beginning to walk away, he questioned her in a way that felt rather uncomfortable to her. "You have met Haldir before, though he did not know your name?" She frowned, and looked up into his eyes. "I'm afraid he did not bother to ask my name of me Legolas."
He smiled, and nodded. "He did however only a moment ago ask it of you, or I did. Why did you not answer?" Sighing Laura withdrew her hand from his, and frowned. "I just wasn't listening I guess. I'm sorry." Curse Haldir, and his ruining her moods. Legolas shook his head no, and took her hand back into his own. "Nay, do not be sorry. It matters not to me that you had not told him your name." Legolas seemed to shrug it off, questioning her no more, and they continued their walk.
Following their meeting with Haldir, and the breakfast together, Laura found herself in a fowl mood, and silently contemplating whether or not to tell Legolas what Haldir had done to earn her scorn. She was truly looking forward to spending the entire day away from the castle, away from everyone but Legolas, and the king and queen, an entire day outdoors.
Peace and quiet awaited her, so she decided rather than spoil it in any way, she would hold onto that secret for a while longer. After all it meant nothing to her right? She'd been angry, and rightly so, but why didn't she fight it? She'd felt weak, as if he held the answer to all life's questions, as if she would always be safe in his arms. But she loved Legolas, and she would not hurt him by telling him.
No, she would be strong, and she would take whatever Haldir was planning with a smile. She after all did not wish to harm Legolas' obvious friendship with Haldir, and she wanted nothing to come between she and Legolas as well.
Finally the two found themselves standing outside the king and queens door, knocking at first lightly, so as not to disturb them too greatly if they were busy or asleep, then harder as the time wore on. Soon Legolas opened the door, and stepped in, turning to Laura first, inviting her to follow. Hesitating at first, Laura followed soon after. "They are not here, we shall await their return." He answered to her questioning look.
"Where do you suppose they are?" Laura asked, taking a seat next to where Legolas stood by the windows. He smiled and shrugged his shoulders slightly, an action that oddly caused a tingle to run through her body, and down her arms. "To eat breakfast as we have already done perhaps. I am not sure." Laura frowned. "How can you be sure they will return?"
Legolas turned to her, and stooped down, taking her hand, and giving her a light kiss on the cheek. "They know to expect us this day." He answered reassuringly. She rolled her eyes at his sweetness, though inwardly swooned, and stood, walking to stand beside him and look out the windows. Frowning she went over to the balcony doors, and opened them. A warm swift breeze drifted in the room, warming her body, and her heart. Yes, she loved this place.
Legolas was without warning at her side, and wrapping his arms around her. Sighing Laura leaned back into him, feeling his hear thudding rhythmically beneath his tunic. He reached his hand out, and his knuckles glided softly down her cheek. She leaned into it, turning her head so she faced him more. He then leaned down, and placed a soft, gentle kiss upon her lips. "Are you always so wonderful?" She asked with a shudder.
He laughed at that, and Laura found his laugh to surely be the sweetest sound she'd ever heard, and it caused a shiver to wrack her body. Legolas noticing the shiver, wrapped his arms around her tighter, trying to warm her, but in truth he could not bring her close enough to his satisfaction. "Are you cold mellamin?" He asked smiling that devastatingly warm, yet enticing smile.
Smiling at his concern Laura shook her head no, and turned in his arms. "I'm not cold Legolas, though if I only need be cold to be this close to you, I think it a small price to pay." She tucked her arms under his, wrapping them around his back. Breathing in his scent, she pulled back slightly and giggled. "You smell like trees."
The two stood, silently, lovingly embracing one another, when the door creaked open slowly, disturbing the pair. Legolas looked suddenly distraught, and pulled back from Laura, and stood by her side. Turning his back on her, he strolled closer to the now entering King and Queen. He greeted the pair with a smile, and Laura did the same, but with a confused frown.
Aragorn and Arwen both surprised at finding the two in their room returned Legolas' smile with a smile of their own. Aragorn came forward and embraced Legolas, greeting him in elvish, and Arwen came forward to embrace Laura. "I had forgotten dear friend that you prefer to wait within a room, rather than return later." Aragorn said with a laugh. He then smiled and nodded at Laura.
"So we have prepared, are you ready to go?" Laura asked, when the four of them had stood in silence for a time. Arwen turned and nodded with a happy smile. "We are." Legolas turned and took up the picnic basket before Laura had a chance to bend down and pick it up herself. "Then let us be off." He said with a smile.
Laura came up, and stood beside him, and when Aragorn opened the door, the four set off for what would be a wonderful day in the woods, and a double date as Laura mused silently to herself, with a laugh.