Megara: cake! I like cake! thanks much for the review!
beautystar: hehe, I wish it snowed here. too warm! well, actually it's 28 right now. hmm…thanks!
sammy: aw, kick ass? really? thanks! yeah, gotta have conflict!
PinkAphid: well, your first review did kinda throw me, cuz one, that's not my name, and two, there are only three people that have stories that have a similar plot line that I've read. but I do appreciate the fact that you added that it was well written. I do try. I realize this is very mary-sue-ish, and that's okie. and I really am glad that you continued to read and that you like it so far. thank you!
Myris78: French fries…I will somehow work that in there again, I swear it! hmm, a mini-leggy…adorable!
Leah's Lovely: well, you were really close with one of your guesses, but I'm not telling which! hehehe! thanks!
xSilverShadowsx: well, you'll see in the sequel won't you? there's a little more left in this story, but we'll get there eventually. thanks!
Alora: I love babies! especially if they resemble little Legolas! hehehe. thanks! and maybe I'll send you a Legolas to talk to your hubby!
GreenEyedElfGoddess: hehee, girlish figure. good one. thanks for the review!
Disclaimer: you know, this gets really redundant after a while. I don't feel like writing one, but you know what it's supposed to say.
Chapter 26
It was truly a beautiful day. The sun was burning merrily in the cloudless sky and the air was crisp and cool. Pines and various conifers lined the path leading into the valley, and the pungent smell was omnipresent. The distant sound of water thundering down the falls could be heard roaring from some invisible source hidden by the trees. On one side of the path, there was a sharp drop off, where the trees somehow grew out of the seemingly solid rock. Elenayave drew Patrosh away from the cliff face, not overly enthusiastic to take a tumble and never make it home.
As she moved over, her leg softly brushed against Legolas's, and she immediately pulled to the side, over-correcting Patrosh's gait. The horse landed her back hooves on loose rocks and stumbled. Her hind legs crumpled beneath her as she began to slide precariously over the bank of rock. Elenayave gripped the reins tightly, attempting to steady her quickly panicking mount, but the steed would not be calmed, and a deepening sense of dread set in. Patrosh's nostrils flared and she whinnied frantically, struggling to regain her footing.
The Elven prince watched in horror as his wife's steed began to drop down the embankment, as if the event was occurring in slow motion. Elenayave's desperate cry brought him immediately out of his stupor and he urged Isilad into a quick stride. Reaching over, he grabbed the twisted reins out of her hands and pulled sharply toward the path, as he set Isilad to straining backward. The wide-eyed mare endeavored to follow the direction of the reins, and finally managed to set her feet on solid ground. Patrosh pulled herself up the rest of the way and started prancing nervously along the path as close to the tree line as she could get.
Legolas glanced worriedly at Elenayave. The elleth was trembling quite visibly in her saddle. Her face was white and fraught with trepidation, and her hands shook as she tried to soothe her mount in the fluid Elvish tongue.
"Elenayave?" he asked, riding briskly to her side.
"I need to rest for a moment," was all she said as she began to dismount.
He nodded and leaped off his own horse, signaling Nilfalath to do the same. The younger ellyn's face was drained of color, and he seemed just as terrified as Elenayave was. Nilfalath started toward his sister, but Legolas reached her first.
The flaxen haired prince carefully offered his hand to help her down. She gripped it tightly and slid off her saddle. As soon as her feet had reached the ground, she threw her arms around his neck and clung to him, as if he were her lifeline. Legolas felt a thrill run through his body at the sudden physical contact. She had refused to even embrace him and only spoke coolly to him since their argument days before, and her touch was a welcome change. The trip to Rivendell had been quiet and tense, but everything now seemed to be forgotten.
Legolas did nothing but hold her close against him and gently stroke her back. He soon felt her tears soaking through the thick material of his tunic onto his shoulder, and he began to softly pacify her in their own tongue.
Nilfalath watched on quietly from beside his steed. Despite the seriousness and gravity of the situation, he found himself smiling. It seemed strange to him that one minute, the two were torn apart over some trivial little dispute, and the next, they were clinging to each other for dear life. Funny, how things seemed to just work themselves out. Nilfalath shook his head, resigning himself to never knowing how two people could go through such incredible mood swings in a matter of seconds and blame it all on a silly emotion called love.
It was truly difficult to tell where one of the two ended and the other began. Legolas and Elenayave seemed to have melded together, and one could hardly separate them. The strands of their hair mingled together, rich red with pale blond, even as he towered above her. Legolas pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead in further consolation and he ran his slender fingers through her locks.
"Lena…shhh, it'll be all right, mela. Please, don't cry," he beseeched her.
She nodded after a moment and sniffed, pulling back and straightening. She quickly wiped her eyes with her shirt sleeve and smiled weakly up at him.
"I'm sorry, Legolas," she whispered, her voice quivering. "For everything. Forgive me."
"There is nothing to forgive, Lena," he replied as he cradled her face in his large hands and smiled. He slowly lowered his lips over her own and kissed her. It was soft and gentle, and he found her lips pliant and ready, responding completely to his touch. Pulling back leisurely, he nuzzled his nose against her cheek, wiping away the few tears that still traveled down her creamy skin.
"I love you," she stated. "I hope you know that."
He nodded solemnly and pulled her into another embrace. He wrapped her in his arms completely and securely this time, wishing he would never have to let her go. But eventually, he broke from her, and aided her onto the now calm horse's backside. He caught Nilfalath's gaze and nodded, giving him a slightly forced, faint smile. Nilfalath remounted silently, deciding not to interrupt the couple's reunion, and followed behind his sister.
Legolas gracefully climbed into his saddle on Isilad's back and hesitantly caught up with Nilfalath. It was a moment before they actually acknowledged each other as the let the comfortable silence rest between them.
"I could have lost her," Legolas finally whispered. "Again."
"Legolas…" Nilfalath started, but wasn't quick enough.
"I vowed to never let anything happen to her again, and here I let this silly dispute come between us enough to distract her from her own safety."
"It wasn't your fault, mellon," Nilfalath stated firmly. "And no one will hold you accountable for it."
"I will," Legolas intoned. "I shouldn't have brought it up in the first place. I know she doesn't like to talk about it, but…"
"And she shouldn't have been so childish as to pull away, either, Legolas. Do not blame yourself."
Legolas let another moment of quiet pass. "My heart could not handle the pain if I lost her again."
Nilfalath gaped at the Elven prince riding next to him. Here was not the proud warrior he was used to seeing on the battlefield. Legolas was being completely honest and open with him, and the Elf's emotions were written clearly on his face. His jaw was set, but his eyes were sad and distant, and had lost their usual mischievous sparkle. Legolas had almost passed when Elena had been found in such horrible condition last time. If she had died, he would have followed her to Mandos's halls not long after. It was true, Nilfalath knew, that if anything happened to Elena, Legolas would share the same fate. It was not so for all Elves, but the couple's bond was so incredibly strong that it did not allow for any error of that kind, and it would not hesitate to take them both from Arda if something should happen.
"She is not lost to you yet, my friend," Nilfalath said softly, looking ahead to set eyes on his sister. "Her heart is yours."
"As mine is hers, and that is what I so desperately fear," Legolas replied with a small frown as they came in sight of the gates to Rivendell.
a little short, but i promise i'll have the next update tomorrow. i've been really busy with school and softball tryouts this week. i made the cuts for varsity! yea! go me! first base, here i come!