They sat together in the secluded corner of the garden for a time, enjoying each other's company. The sky was a clear azure blue, stretching on forever and beyond, and the birds sang in pure joy of the beautiful day. The multitude of flowers nearby cast a sweet scent to the air, and the leaves of the trees rustled pleasantly in the soft breeze. Elizabette kissed Legolas and he slipped an arm around her, holding her close and feeling the warmth of her body. --- After dinner, he held out a hand and she took it.
"Shall we go for a walk?" she suggested.
Legolas nodded. "To the shores."
The walk to the shores of Valinor was fairly short; for the elves dwelt near the sea. They had crossed a large part of the island when arriving, and were at the side furthest from Middle- Earth.
The soft moonlight shone down, illuminating the white-capped crests of the gently lapping waves and making Legolas' light hair shine. The stars above pierced the blackness like diamonds scattered on ebony velvet. They paused on the wide white sands, and looked into each other's eyes.
Elizabette's eyes were frightened. She was afraid of him, for him, because of him.
"What is wrong, Elizabette?" he asked softly.
She shook her head and looked away. "I doubt myself," she replied. "Not for the first time, yet for a different reason." She looked into his eyes and saw that he did not understand. She tried to explain her reservations. "Who am I to be doing this?" she asked him. "You are a prince, a noble. I should have kept my distance long ago."
Legolas did not move but he waited for her to elaborate.
"If I had stayed away, this would never have happened."
Legolas' voice was so soft that she nearly missed his words. "Do you wish it had been otherwise?"
Elizabette sighed. "I do not know," she said. "Before today I desired to be near you and relished the time we spent alone together. But since this morning I have been thinking, and I do not know if I have done right."
Legolas said nothing for a time. He looked up at the stars. Then he stepped back. "I will leave then," he said.
Elizabette's eyes widened, filled with a pain Legolas could not endure. She caught his arm. "No," she whispered. "Please, Legolas."
He paused. His eyes had darkened to steel gray instead of the usual clear blue, a sign, she knew, that he was upset. Slowly, he turned to face her.
"I do not know what to think," she whispered, still clutching his sleeve. "I fear I have done wrong, but I cannot tear you from my heart. Never before have I felt so confused."
Legolas paused, wondering what the results would be if he did as his heart bid him, but as tears began to fall from Elizabette's eyes, he submitted to his instinct and stepped forward. He drew his arms around her and she pressed her face into his chest, inhaling the soft scent that lingered around him. Her tears dampened his tunic. He could feel the tension in her body, and he knew that she was still nervous. After a time she yielded to him, and began to relax under his gentle fingertips. Hesitantly she brushed her lips against his. He returned her kiss and she closed her eyes. A soft sigh escaped her lips and she rested her head on his shoulder. He smiled slightly, looking up at the clear sky. It was the first time that they had been alone together since the turmoil of events of the morning.
"Do you trust me, Elizabette?" As soon as the question left his lips he wished he could pull it back. He was afraid to know her answer.
She looked up again. Her gray eyes, now empty of fear, mirrored the starlight.
Do you trust me, Elizabette?
Did she? Truly? Did she trust him with her life and her fears and her joys?
Had he ever tried to hurt her? Yes, but only in anger.
Had she forgiven him for that?
Do you trust me, Elizabette?
Did she trust anyone else? Entirely? Elrond.
Do you trust me, Elizabette?
"Yes," she whispered softly at last, "Yes, Legolas, I trust you."
Legolas had not anticipated that as her answer. She had a complex soul, sometimes present, sometimes remote, unique and intangible. Yet other times she relied on him, or on Elrond. Her eyes told the truth.
What had he anticipated? He did not know. It seemed a great burden, to have the complete trust of someone so elusive and sensitive, so free and so alone. Sometimes her emotions were beyond his grasp, but other times they understood each other perfectly. Sometimes she seemed to not be present at all, and he wondered if she were merely a dream.
Still, he knew that he could break her trust with a single word, and he was careful, as he always was.
"Legolas?" She was looking at him with a worried cast to her eyes.
He smiled reassuringly. "It's all right. I was simply surprised."
"Why? Have you ever given me a reason not to trust you?"
Legolas considered. "I don't know. I hope not."
She pressed her soft lips against his, cutting off the rest of his reply.
Legolas tightened his hold on her, rubbing her back softly with gentle fingers. She rested her head on his shoulder. Neither knew how long they stood there but they were wrapped in a time of which only they mattered.
Legolas felt her tremble and she buried her face into his shoulder, clinging to him. He held her tightly as they stood silently.
After a time she again relaxed in his arms. She pressed her lips against his, and they both savored the contact. Elizabette's long hair blew lightly in a soft breath from the sea.
They were at peace that night, despite the earlier happenings. Legolas could feel Elizabette's soft breath on his neck as they stood in each other's embrace. She pressed herself against his chest, drinking in his warmth and the soft smell of his body, like needles in a deep pine forest that was untouched by the passing years. Legolas gently stroked her hair, soft as corn silk. He kissed her lips softly.
"I love you, Elizabette Elénwen," he whispered into her hair.
They began to walk along the silent deserted shore. The white sands glittered with the chill silver light of the moon. The wild emptiness, stretching forever across the wide sea, was unnerving, yet amazing and imperceptible. For the first time she truly understood the call of the sea. As she had not come from Middle- Earth, and had not lived there long, she had not had time to feel the desire that the sea awoke in the elves. Now, seeing it calmly, she saw the majesty and power of it. She felt that she could almost sense Ulmo, the Vala of the Water. She felt a sudden desire for the shelter of Legolas' embrace, and turned back to him.
Legolas sensed her feelings and drew his arms around her, pulling her close. Her hair flowed over her back and glimmered in the moonlight. He bowed his head and she pressed her cheek against his shoulder. The moonlight lay over everything, illuminating white and receding into the shadows.
Legolas gently tilted her face and kissed her, feeling her warmth. His kiss was sensitive and tender yet fiercely passionate, both soothing and invigorating her. Such as the elves were. Elizabette's blood thrilled at his touch and she slipped her arms around him, keeping him there.
Legolas stared into her eyes, trying to read her expression. Her gray eyes were bottomless, holding myriads of emotions, some of which he could not comprehend. The sparkling stars in the fathomless abyss invited him to surrender himself into the infinite depths of her mind.
Legolas pulled back with regret. Elizabette's long eyelashes fluttered as she looked up at the moon. The stars shone bright down to the sands and her heart rejoiced.
Legolas' hands were warm on her back and she looked up at his face. She gently smoothed a strand of blond hair from his face and closed her eyes, feeling safe in his arms. Everything was silent, and above, the stars twinkled with iridescent light.
Legolas sensed that she desired to tell him something but was holding back. He could feel it in her manner and see it in her eyes.
"What is wrong?" he whispered.
She shook her head and avoided his eyes. "Nothing is... wrong..."
"What is it?"
She lifted her eyes slowly. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"For what?" he asked, his blue gaze intense and questioning.
"For everything..." She dropped her eyes and bowed her head.
Legolas slipped his arms around her waist, drawing her close. She dropped her face onto his shoulder, taking comfort from him. The smooth texture of his green silken tunic was soft against her cheek, and the fabric was warm with the heat of his body.
"It's all right," he whispered gently. "Relax. You have all of the endless circles of the world to achieve your wishes."
Elizabette looked up suddenly. "Eternity, Legolas. It is a long time."
-
And here we have it, part one of the epilogue. No, this is not the end... although it could be.