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Chapter 5 – The Pain of Love
Anfalas
(Legolas's POV)

With most of Ariedel's belongings packed into a wagon, and after we all bid King Alexor Draconir farewell, we mounted up and rode out of the castle grounds. Our procession consisted of over a hundred. In one day more than half of the company would continue east to Gondor with Aragorn and Arwen. Gimli planned to head north to Eryn Lasgalen with us where he would remain for several days before heading to his homeland.

I was however curious about Gandalf. He chose to also go to my home. The old wizard seemed preoccupied of late and I planned to speak to him when the opportunity presented itself.

As we rode on, I tried to play the loving husband, riding along side Ariedel, occasionally reaching for her hand to kiss it. I tried to make it look like it was a natural thing…but I could see that it affected her. In a good or bad way, she gave me no clue.

In the afternoon we stopped to rest at the foot of some hills and to allow the horses to feed on the sweet grass. To take my mind off of things, I practiced with my bow further down the field. A short while later Ariedel approached with a goblet of water.

"Thank you," I said as I took it and drank.

Ariedel took the bow from my hand and inspected the intricate carvings on it. "It's a beautiful bow."

"The Elves of Lothlorien made it. It has served me well."

She started to hand it back to me.

"Would you like to try it?" I asked.

She looked into my eyes. "Sure, why not." She retrieved an arrow from my quiver. After setting the arrow she aimed and released. I had been using a tree stump as a target. She missed it by three feet. "That didn't go off very well," she said in embarrassment.

"Here, let me help you." I took another arrow. The moment I came up behind her, I could sense her heart beating faster. I moved her hands to the correct position and helped her stretch the bowstring. My cheek was pressed close to hers and as her scent invaded my nostrils it nearly took my breath away. I tried to ignore the sudden rush of heat to my chest and concentrated on the arrow. "Look directly down the arrow at exactly the spot you want to hit. Do not close your right eye. Focus both of them." She appeared distracted as well. I rested my left hand low on her back. "Now release."

Ariedel let the arrow go and it struck the tree directly beside one of my arrows. She became so excited, she yelped and turned around to hug me. Out of pure reflex, I laughed and lifted her off the ground, twirling her around. When I finally set her down we were almost nose to nose and I saw the heated blush come to her cheeks.

"Thanks for the lesson," she said as she looked down and quickly pulled away. Ariedel almost made it away with her dignity, if her feet had not suddenly gotten caught up in the hem of her skirt and she nearly pitched forward. She glanced back to see if I had noticed.

I would have pretended I had not, but I could not help the smile on my face. It was apparent that I flustered her greatly. As I recalled the dream she had when I first brought her back to her home, it left me thinking that she desired me. Yet she denied her feelings right to my face, pretended they did not exist. I watched her retreating back and she glanced over her shoulder at me one more time before disappearing in the midst of our camp's chaos. What could she be feeling? Did she not understand that I was obsessed with her? Perhaps she did not.

Rohan
(Ariedel's POV)

When night came, some tents were pitched up. One of them was for Legolas and I. During the evening meal, which was prepared by some of Aragorn's people, some of us sat around the fire and drank wine. I didn't want any but Legolas kept offering me some from his goblet.

"Are you trying to get me drunk or something?" I asked him with a smile.

He laughed. "Or something?"

"I know what you're trying to do, Legolas and it won't work."

"What am I trying to do?"

"You're trying to convince me to give up my quest."

"I have said nothing to convince you."

"It's not what you've said, it's what you're doing to me. You're making me fall in love with you." There, I said it. It was out in the open.

He smiled and glanced around to make sure no one was within hearing distance. "You are my wife. You are supposed to be in love with me."

Gimli approached at that moment so we couldn't say anything further. "Ah, there you are, Legolas, princess." He was carrying a large jug. "Have some of this." He sloshed the contents of the jug into Legolas's goblet, spilling some of it on my gown.

"Gimli, watch it!" yelled Legolas.

And then Gimli fell all over himself trying to brush it from my skirt and apologize. "Forgive me, princess. I am a drunken fool with four left thumbs."

I couldn't help but laugh. "It's okay, Gimli. It's time I tossed this old gown away and you gave me the perfect reason."

Legolas took a sip from the goblet and raised his eyebrows. "What is this?"

Gimli beamed. "You like it? It is made from the passionfruit that grows on the trees around Lake Evendin."

"It is quite good. Ariedel, you must try it." He held the goblet out to me.

I took a sip. It burned my throat all the way down and I gasped. Legolas guzzled the rest of it down and asked Gimli for a refill. How could these guys stand it? They drank it like it was water.

"Gimli, you have outdone yourself," said Legolas. "Upon your next visit to my realm, you must bring more of this passionfruit wine."

"Aye, a splendid idea, my friend. I will bring wagons full."

Legolas clanked his goblet against Gimli's jug and they drank. I watched as Legolas got tanked. He was laughing with Gimli and it was heartwarming to see him so happy. But I knew he was starting to feel the affects. The look on his face as it suddenly hit him was priceless.

"Are you all right, dear?" I asked him.

Legolas leaned toward me with a crooked smile. "I am fine, dear." He reeked of the wine and I had to lean away from him.

Gimli was watching us and he giggled. "Legolas, I think your bride is trying to tell you something."

Without taking his eyes off me, he asked, "And what do you suppose she is trying to tell me?"

"I do not think you need me to spell it out, you damned fool."

"You are right. I do not need you to spell it out for me. Good-night, Gimli." With that Legolas stood up and proceeded to pick me up, throwing me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

I wanted to scream but I noticed people were watching us and laughing in a knowing manner.

"Good-night," yelled Gimli behind us.

Legolas staggered toward our tent and I was afraid he was going to drop me in the process. Once inside the tent, I detached myself from him and fell backward on the bed roll. He accidentally came down with me. But when he looked at me with his piercing blue eyes, I knew that it had been no accident.

"Legolas, you're drunk."

"I am not drunk. Elves do not get drunk."

I might have laughed if I didn't think this was a very dangerous position to be in. I didn't want this to happen…even though my heart was telling me to let it happen. Legolas lowered his lips to mine and kissed me slowly, testing my response. I was frozen, unsure of what to do. He kissed me again, this time tugging on my lower lip with his teeth. My lips parted and he dipped his tongue into my mouth. I could taste the passionfruit wine on his tongue as it brushed against mine. He kissed me slowly and I savored the taste of him. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop myself or stop him. A moan escaped my throat as he kissed me deeper, his tongue exploring my mouth intimately. He urged me into his mouth and as I went he surprised me by sucking on my tongue.

A surge of chills shot up my spine and I moaned again. And then suddenly he stopped moving and his weight was crushing me. What the hell? I gave him a hard shove and he slid off me, landing somewhat on his back.

I smiled and shook my head when I realized he had passed out cold. "I can't believe this. I finally get the courage to let him kiss me and he passes out."

He groaned and slowly rolled further onto his back, his eyes still closed.

I edged closer to him and snuggled up to his body heat. There was nothing wrong with snuggling, right? I squeezed my eyes shut as the desire to touch him nearly overwhelmed me. I couldn't touch him. I just couldn't. But I continued to torture myself until I finally fell asleep.

§

When I woke up in the morning, Legolas wasn't in the tent. I jumped up and rushed out, afraid that they had left me behind. But the camp was still there and people were walking around, some preparing breakfast. I looked around the camp and finally found Legolas a few feet from the back of the tent. He was on Arod's bare back, pitched forward on the white gelding's neck. His eyes were closed and he literally looked green.

I walked up and Arod knickered softly as I caressed his neck. "Legolas?" I gently shook his shoulder.

Legolas stirred and opened his eyes. "Huh?" His tired eyes darted around and then fell on me.

"Are you all right?" I asked.

He slid off Arod's back in a very undignified manner and leaned against the horse for support. "Do not ever allow me to drink passionfruit wine again."

"You're hung over," I said with a smirk as I helped him back to the tent

Ithilien

Three farmers were busy tending to their newly grown crops.

One of them stopped to wipe sweat from his face and he glanced up at the clouds forming above. "A storm approaches."

The other two farmers stopped and looked as well. Then in unison they returned to their work.

A short distance away, the alpha drone peered out from behind a tree. His jaws leaked saliva as he surveyed the land before him. It teamed with living hosts. They moved about the village performing their routine tasks. Men, women and children. The alpha drone parted his jaws in delight. Then he spun around to retrace his steps and regroup with the queen.

Rohan
(Legolas's POV)

My insides were no longer heaving their contents at last, thanks to Gimli's potion to counteract the effects of the dreaded passionfruit wine. The mere thought of the wine forced me to close my eyes and think of something less sickening, like the face of an Orc about to attack me.

Ariedel rode further ahead of me. I nudged Arod along faster until I was riding side by side with her. "You are quiet this morning," I said.

She avoided my gaze, trying to hide her feelings from me.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

She shook her head silently, still avoiding my eyes.

I reached for her arm. "What is it? Tell me."

She pulled her arm away from me with force. "It's nothing."

A wave of guilt suddenly washed over me. Something had happened during the night and I could not for the life of me remember. "Did I force myself on you last night?" When she did not respond, I reached for her reins and dragged Blade to a stop. "Ariedel, tell me."

"No, Legolas." She lowered her voice so no one else could hear. "You didn't force yourself on me." But she looked at me with anger.

"Then why are you angry with me?"

"I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at myself for allowing you to kiss me."

I released her reins and she kicked her horse forward again. I nudged Arod and he fell back into step with Blade. Again she avoided looking at me. "I am puzzled by your behavior, Ariedel. Do you or do you not want to be with me?"

Ariedel finally turned to me and I was surprised to see that her eyes were filled with tears. "I do. Can't you see that? It's just…" Her words hung in the air as she wiped at the tears on her cheeks, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. "I don't think I'll be here much longer."

I frowned at her statement. "What do you mean?"

She sighed heavily and continued to wipe at her eyes as she looked up at the sky in exasperation. "Can't you just let things go? Why do I have to explain everything to you?"

"I only wish to understand your pain."

"My pain?" She laughed, but not for long as her lips trembled. "It hurts too much to love you, Legolas. It just hurts too much."

It hurt too much to love me? I could not understand what she meant by it. Why did it hurt? What kind of pain could I possibly be causing her? I felt a set of eyes on us and as I glanced behind me, I found Gandalf watching. When I faced forward again, Ariedel had galloped ahead.

Gandalf drew Shadowfax beside me and our horses matched steps. "There is trouble afoot so soon, my friend?"

"Nothing I cannot handle," I replied, unable to mask the uncertainty in my voice.

"You asked me earlier why I chose to ride with you to Eryn Lasgalen."

I turned to him. "And you said you have not been to my father's caverns in ages."

He smiled briefly. "But you know that's not the real reason."

Gandalf always seemed to maintain a mystery about himself that I never questioned. Of all those I had met in my lifetime, I trusted him the most. His wisdom and foresight were crucial on many occasions. "Why not speak of it now and spare me the guessing and obscurity of things to come?"

"How well do you know Ariedel, Legolas?"

"I must know her well enough if I have chosen her as my wife."

"She has spoken to you of a quest in Mordor."

I turned to him again. "Did Ariedel speak to you of it?"

"Not exactly."

The old wizard coerced her. I knew it. No wonder he decided to remain in my company. He wanted to know more about this quest. "What did she say to you?"

"Only that she must go there."

"Then you know as much as I do, which is nothing."

"I do know this. She will fail and so will you."

"Such confidence from my dear friend?" I asked with a smile. "How do you know this when neither of us even know the nature of this quest?"

"Only Ariedel holds the answers."

"I will force her to tell me."

"Nay, Legolas. You can't force the girl. There are things we wouldn't understand and that is why she has not told us anything more."

"You cannot expect me to sit idly by. I must know her purpose if it is not to be by my side."

"Put aside your anger, my friend. It won't do you any good in this situation. Besides, I sense that we will know soon enough."

I stared ahead at Ariedel. She was riding beside the supply wagon being driven by Gimli and the two were talking to one another. I sensed Gandalf's eyes on me again so I turned. "Is there more?"

"I know why you chose to wed her?"

I turned away with a frown.

"She was promised to Yardell of Forlindon. I know, as well as you do, what a foul man he is. You did the right thing, Legolas. She would have perished with him."

"Tis not the only reason, Gandalf. My heart has grown fond of her."

"I am aware of your love for her."

"She does not share it."

"There, I'm afraid, is where you're wrong."

"But she says it hurts to love me. I do not understand the meaning."

"Aye, love is one of those mysteries in life that we must endure. And the fairer sex is just as complicated, my friend."

During a rest, Ariedel and I stood together, sharing a goblet of water.

She touched my arm, drawing my attention to her hand. "Don't look now, but your father is watching us. I think he suspects something."

I did not look to confirm her findings. "What will you have me do?"

"I don't know. What are we allowed to do in front of everyone?"

"Allowed to do? I do what I please."

"Well, then do something."

There was much I wanted to do, but I hid my thoughts with a smile. "As you wish." I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her hard against me. She seemed a bit surprised when I kissed her intimately, dipping my tongue into her mouth to taste her.

At first she hesitated, but her resistance did not last long and she melted in my arms. When her arms circled around my neck, it was all I could do to control the intensity of my desire for her. After a few minutes, I broke the kiss but lingered near her lips. "Is he still there?"

Ariedel was out of breath as she glanced over my shoulder. "He's gone."

I turned my head and looked around. Then turned back to Ariedel.

She lowered her arms from around my neck and let her hands slide down the front of my tunic, sending shivers through me. "I…uh…I better go see what's cooking for dinner." She pulled away and walked off, her cheeks flushed bright red.

Ithilien

One man hid behind a wall, heavy sword in hand, his breath coming out in gasps. He peered around the corner. One of the creatures was right there. He lunged out and swung his sword with a triumphant yell. The alien's head rolled to the ground. The man dropped the melting sword and grabbed another. With a battle cry, he ran toward the burning town hall and slashed at another creature lurking in the doorway. It's arm came off at the elbow. The creature screeched and rolled on the ground. The man's eyes blazed in hatred. A sound from above made him look up in time to see an alien leap at him from the burning rooftop. He saw nothing more.

Bone-chilling screams filled the darkness in the Ithilien village. Fires burned within some of the homes, a result of reckless attempts to kill the creatures that had invaded at sunset. The attack had been swift and the villagers had been unprepared as they were dragged away kicking and screaming into the night. They were clueless to what fate awaited them in the caverns of the Mountains of Shadow, just east of Ithilien.

Rohan
(Ariedel's POV)

Later that night, as we sat around the fire, some of the Elves entertained us with some songs. I noticed that the Elf couples in our company always tended to sit closely together. Even though Legolas was sitting beside me, I didn't think it was close enough for a newly married couple. I scooted closer to him, sitting between his legs and as I leaned back into his chest, he wrapped his arms around me from behind. "What're they singing?" I asked.

Legolas brought his lips to my ear and translated the words to the song. "You have been the light in my days. When I feel lost, you are there to guide me. When I forget to breathe, you are there to watch over me. As I search for the brightest star in the sky, I find it in your eyes."

I had always been a sucker for love songs. The melody was haunting. The Elven words rhymed and they sounded so beautiful. I completely lost myself in the melody and in the feel of Legolas's lips and his warm breath on my ear. When I shivered, he brought his arms tighter around me. I closed my eyes and pressed my face against the side of his. Nothing mattered to me at that moment, nothing but him.

When we were alone in our tent, lying beside each other, I moved close to him like I did every night. He always obliged me by wrapping his arms around me.

On this night, I tilted my face up to him and his pale blue eyes regarded me with wonder. I reached up and brushed my fingers over his cheek and then slid them over to his lips. "Kiss me."

Legolas didn't hesitate. He lowered his lips to mine. He kissed me slowly but with so much passion that it took my breath away. I clung to him as if my life depended on it. I wasn't sure how long we had been kissing. All I know was that my lips felt swollen from him biting and sucking on them. I nuzzled my face against his neck, right below his chin and promptly fell asleep.

Minas Tirith and Ithilien

"My lord, my lord!"

Aragorn turned from his book at the urgency in the voice. He stood up to face Galion, the captain of his guards.

There was desperation in the man's face. "My lord, you must come quick. Our scouts have returned from the Crossings of Poros."

Aragorn didn't hesitate. He followed Galion out of the library.

He rode hard for three hours with a squadron of heavily armed guards. When they approached one of the southern most villages of Ithilien just beyond the bridge over the River Poros, Aragorn saw faint smoke rising from more than a dozen burned homes. The fires had long since died down.

They moved their horses at a walk as they made their way through the central roadway.

Aragorn looked on in dismay, halting his horse and dismounting. When he turned to Galion, the guard dismounted as well. "Any survivors?"

"None, my lord," replied Galion. "There were no bodies either."

Aragorn frowned. "No bodies? Nothing in the ashes?"

"Nothing."

The king of Gondor circled in place, looking for some sort of clue as to what could have happened. Then he found it. A stone archway belonging to the town hall remained standing. He walked toward it and curiously inspected several deep scratches in the dark brick. He placed his fingers in the grooves. Whatever made these marks had a large hand…three clawed fingers. It couldn't be an Orc, nor was it Uruk-hai. He glanced up and around the arch.

Something on the ground drew his attention. He crouched and rubbed his bearded chin briefly before reaching down to touch it. His fingers came in contact with the clear substance. It clung to his skin as he raised his hand. The thick, gooey gel dropped from his fingers with a plop. Its foul stench reeked and made his nose wrinkle.

Then something further away made his eyes widen. He scrambled over to it. It was a clawed hand, severed at the elbow by the sword lying beside it. The blade appeared melted. Aragorn inspected the severed end of the arm, noting the colorless blood. He reached down to touch it…

…And then someone screamed. Aragorn jumped to his feet and rushed over toward his men. They were trying to hold down Galion who struggled beneath them in agonizing pain.

"What has happened?" asked Aragorn.

One of the guards pointed to Galion's hand. His flesh and bone had partially melted away and continued to melt before everyone's eyes. "There is something behind that wall, my lord. Galion made to pick it up and it ate away at his flesh."

Aragorn stared at the mangled stump that used to be Galion's hand. "Bind it quickly." He made for the wall and several of the others followed behind him.

There, lying on the ground was an oblong object, looking like black metal in the light. Aragorn crouched and picked up a stick, nudging the object around with it. His eyes widened when he saw the object had a mouth full of teeth. It was the head of some creature head and its metallic blood oozed from where it was decapitated at the neck.

Evidently the villagers had fought against these creatures in vain. None were left alive. No bodies. What had they done with the bodies?

Aragorn unsheathed a knife from his belt and made to cut the skull. The tip of the knife burned and melted away.

"Look, its blood melts metal," said one of the guards.

Aragorn stared at the melting knife tip in disbelief. A creature whose blood melted metal and human flesh. He poked the head with the wood stick again and realized that the wood was unaffected by the blood. "But it does nothing to wood." He stood up and turned to one of the guards. "Build me a wooden box to carry this back in. If there are any other pieces, I want them all." Then he turned to another. "I want messengers sent to the leaders of all realms. We need as many as can possibly come. It appears we have a new threat to deal with."

As Aragorn headed back toward his horse, the guard followed behind him. "My lord, the Elves of the woodland realm might still be traveling. My guess is they have probably reached Lothlorien by now."

Aragorn mounted his horse and looked down at the guard. "Then you will reach them sooner. Gandalf is with them. I need him here." He kicked Breggo into a gallop, heading back to Minas Tirith.