Disclaimer: Hmmkay then, this was an interesting chapter, and the small bit I acctually wrote TODAY was hard to write. L Sucks really, but oh well. I'm just kind of losing interest in Legolas, and Haldir has completely taken over my heart for the time. Buuuuuut I do have quite a bite more of this written, and I will try to continue this story, and stare at the elf when I do. I still like the elf, it's really Orlando I've lost interest in. Anywho, I don't own anyone but Laura, understood?! Right, here we go, chapter 18!
Chapter 18 – Haldir is merely a nuisance.
When they returned, Arwen, and Aragorn were greeted by a surprise they would not soon forget. The king had asked for a large field in the path they would return on to be set up for the party. Long tables were set up, and lanterns hung about the field. Lanterns of many colors, and brightness. So many they appears to be insects from afar, and Arwen wondered at it's beauty.
"What is this?" Aragorn asked suspiciously at the lights. Arwen only elbowed him, and told him that it was merely a field ablaze with firebugs. Seemingly satisfied with her answer, or merely knowing when not to question his wife, Aragorn said no more until they came upon to field to have a loud 'surprise' called to them by many smiling elves.
Arwen beamed at everyone, and fawned over the King who came up to her with a smile on his face, taking her hands in his. Laura stood off to the side, and watched as the elves who were in the field greeted the king, queen and even their own prince. Laura noted with a hint of jealousy that the women seemed to be entirely too comfortable with him. He however did not seem to mind, or even reject their advances upon him.
This angered Laura, but she just shrugged it off as customary of his nobility, and place in the kingdom. However Laura felt suddenly ill at ease, and looked around her for a reason, and with a groan she found the cause. Haldir stood not far off smiling a smile that held a hint of danger to it. She shuddered as he moved closer to her, but sighed as an elleth stepped before him, a smile on her face.
However her relief was short lived, as she noticed the elleth trudged off, seemingly angry. Frowning, she couldn't help but wonder why her eyes never left him. He seemed to sense her question, and his grin widened, as his eyes twinkled in delight. Nodding slightly, Haldir took Laura's hand kissing the knuckles in a rather intimate way. She didn't like this elf one bit, but she found herself growing very attracted to him.
"My lady, how fare you this fine evening?" He asked, as his eyes roamed over Laura's body, her dress still clinging to her in places from her swim in the lake. "Very well thank you, and yourself Haldir?" Laura replied, not wishing to cause a scene, or be rude to the elf who was merely annoying her for the time being. She would sic Legolas on him if things went any further.
"Very well considering the one female I wish for company appears to be attached to another." Laura perked up, at the mention of females. So he did have an interest, and was only being friendly with her she thought. "Female? You have an interest in Mirkwood then? Who may that be if it is not too bold?" She asked genuinely interested.
"I should think you would know that well by now my lady." He said, taking her hand in his, turning it over, and kissing her palm. Her hopes were all dashed in a short moment, and she pulled her hand free in anger. "She is indeed attached to another Haldir, and does not appreciate your advances." Haldir smirked, and gave a small chuckle. "She would if she only knew to what extent, and pleasure they would take her."
Scowling at him, she moved to another place in the field where she could watch Legolas, the queen, and Aragorn mingling in the crowds. When Aragorn, and Arwen finished the greetings, and small talk, all in attendance moved to the nearby tables, and took a seat to prepare for the meal that would be served in their honor. Laura found where Legolas had taken a seat, and made her way over to him.
Laura was shocked, when he pulled an elleth down to sit beside him in the chair she was headed for. "Legolas." She gasped, causing him to turn to face her. He held up a finger, as if telling her to wait a moment, so she stood while he blatantly flirted with this female. When they finished whatever they were discussing, she stood, and nodded to Laura before going to find her own seat.
Laura sat in the seat she vacated, and looked to Legolas with a frown. He only smiled, and nodded to his father who began to speak.
"Welcome all, this evening is a sad evening but it is also an evening to rejoice for we still have in our company two wonderful people. Elf friend King Elessar, and his lovely wife Arwen. I can say that the time they have spent here among my people has been one of the most joyous times I can recall. So tonight we bid them farewell, and we thank them for their stay."
The king raised a goblet of wine, and the entire company toasted to the King and Queen. Chatter began, and did not cease for some time. Chatter among the King and Queen, among even the lowliest elves, and their King, but Legolas did not speak once to Laura unless she asked something of him. Feeling the affects of the wine, Laura began to grow bold, and thought perhaps now was the time to find out what had gone wrong in the forest, and caused him to ignore her now.
"Legolas, tell me, something is wrong, what is it?" Legolas turned to look at her, and her face held confusion, and sadness. This struck him hard, and he averted his eyes, his gaze sat firmly upon the elf in front of him. Her heart called out to him, her eyes begged for his attention, hungered for his gaze. He said nothing, he did not even blink. "Legolas? Is everything okay?" Legolas quickly got to his feet, excusing himself from the table, then turning to Laura, did the same. "Good evening Milady." Laura sat there confused, and shocked, what had gone wrong? Did he somehow know about the kiss? She stared in disbelief as he quickly fled the field. Something was wrong, he was obviously upset with her about something.
She shook her head, bringing her out of the shock of it, then stood herself, and took off after the elf in a run, without even excusing herself. None but Aragorn had noticed something was amiss. He stood to follow the two, to find out what was amiss, when Arwen took his arm, and shot him a look that told him to stay put. Laura made her way out of the field quickly. Scanning the area, she spotted a figure standing alone on a bridge, looking down at the water. "Legolas" She breathed, then stepped upon the path he had taken.
She made her way closer, and tried to be as quiet as her mortal step would allow. Staring at the elf, she noticed he was leaning over the edge, seemingly deep in thought. She stopped just short of the bridge, and stood folding her arms in front of her. She coughed lightly to announce her presence, and called his name. "Legolas?" She stood silently awaiting a reply that would not come. She snapped her fingers this time, then mockingly said. "Helloooo? Legolas? Anyone in there?" Legolas turned then to face her, his face completely devoid of all emotion. "What? What do you want?" He spat at her. Laura instinctively took a step away from the bridge, and the angry elf.
"I..I..uh" She stumbled over her words, and taking a moment to collect herself, stepped forward again, closing the space between she and the elf. This time she spoke softly, not wanting to anger the elf further. "Legolas, I came to see if something was wrong, to check up on you, you left so quickly, and you seemed upset." Legolas gave a short sarcastic laugh. "Thank you for your concern, but it is neither needed, nor desired." Laura stood for the second time that evening, in complete shock at the normally polite, respectful, loving elf's actions towards her.
She turned to retreat, then thinking better of it, their relationship was after all worth more than that to her, well worth the trouble of a little argument, she spoke to the elf again. "Look, I don't know what's going on here Elf, but you had better start talking if you know what's good for you." She joked, hoping to lighten the mood. Legolas stood before her, completely enraged, his face no longer a stoic mask devoid of any emotion. "If I know what's good for me? How may you presume to know what is good for me? Was that a threat mortal?" Laura stood her ground, and shook her head.
"Maybe." Legolas let out another of those sarcastic half laughs, and turned to walk away. "Look! Legolas, if you don't tell me what's going on, if you can't trust me, fine. But, if you don't, I'm going to leave, because friendship and love is also trust, and you obviously don't trust me. I only remained in Mirkwood for you Legolas, but I obviously stayed for no reason, I have no friend here obviously." At that Legolas stopped in his tracks, and sighed. "Go where you wish to go Lady Laura, I will not ask you to stay here." Laura gasped, did he really care that little for her? For their relationship? Not waiting around to find out, Laura let out a sob, then turned, and ran to the palace to pack her few belongings.
Laura riffled around with belongings packing them into a small pack she had been given by the elves. She sighed to herself, then stepped into the bathroom for a quick bath. "Who knows how long it will be before I can bathe again, better do it now I guess." She relaxed completely in the steaming hot water, her worries seemed to melt away. Slinking deeper and deeper into the water, Laura had fallen asleep.
Insert doodily doo sound from Waynes World here to indicate beginning of dream sequence
"Look Laura, I'm sorry, but I have to go. My work requires I travel, you know this." "I know daddy, but I never see you." Her father sighed and bent down to pick Laura up. "Oof, you're getting so big, soon I wont be able to pick you up anymore." Laura giggled, and hugged her father. "I'll miss you daddy." "I'll miss you too." Then Laura was handed off to her mother. "Noooo" She cried out, and struggled against her. Her mother slapped her, and then a very tall, heavy set, man walked up, and grabbed Laura by the hair. "You'll shut up, or I'll make you, you hear kid?" Laura stiffiled her sobs, and watched in despair as her fathers face faded from her vision.
Insert doodily doo sound from Waynes World here to indicate end of dream sequence
Laura sat up with a start, splashing water out of the tub. Someone was knocking on the door. Groaning she got herself out of the now cold water, wrapped a towel around herself, then a robe that had been given to her, and answered the door. "Aragorn, what can I do for you?" The man shook his head. "Nothing, I have only come to check on you. Is everything alright? You left so quickly earlier, I worried all throughout the meal." Laura smiled, she did have a friend in Mirkwood, at least until he returned home to Gondor. She pondered that a moment, Gondor.
"Aragorn?" "Yes Milady?" "May I come with you to Gondor when you leave tomorrow?" Aragorn stared, observing her a moment, then nodded. "You wish to leave Mirkwood, and Legolas then?" "Yes, I do, as soon as possible." "You are more than welcome then Milady." Laura smiled, and hugged him. He looked a bit uncomfortable a moment, then returned the hug, she smiled as he was obviously becoming used to her hugs. "Wonderful, thank you Aragorn." He nodded again. "It'll be my pleasure. Be up before dawn Milady. I shall come for you, then we will find you a horse to ride." Laura nodded her understanding. "Thank you Aragorn. I have Buckley though, he was given to me. "
Laura lay in bed, silently contemplating the morning. She would be traveling with the King of Gondor come morning, and she would be leaving the elf behind. Of course he obviously didn't care, yet it still broke her heart to think of it. Sighing she rolled over. "Sleep Laura, you need to sleep, your journey will be long and tiring tomorrow. Sleep!"
The elf stood outside her door, considering his choices. He could tell her what was wrong, and beg an explanation, and for her to stay, or he could just let her go. He had been there, around the corner. He heard the conversation between she and Aragorn, he knew she was leaving Mirkwood in the morning. Could he just let her go? Sighing to himself, he walked away. "Maybe a walk will clear my thoughts." He mumbled to himself.
Morning came slowly for each, Legolas spent his night, and early morning walking the woods of his home, silently, painstakingly considering his choices, and the consequences they each would bring. Emerging from the woods, he noticed the sun rising in the west, looking to his home, he noticed the men and women of Gondor gathered at the gate to the city. He stood in complete silence, before turning, and making his way deep into the woods again to come to grips with his decisions. He would let her go.