Arwen shook her head as she saw the dejected slump to Legolas's shoulders as he looked out over the city. "You have not lost your way."
"The journey has not yet begun," he countered. His eyes followed Lunian as she walked in the gardens below.
"You may be surprised," she murmured.
He shook his head. "No."
Arwen sighed softly and watched Lunian's path as the young woman stopped from time to time, studying the flowers. A man entered the gardens, going directly to Lunian, though he paused for a moment, walking more slowly, as if he hadn't come just to see her. It was clear to both observers that he had, however.
She laid a hand on Legolas's arm when he began to turn. "Don't."
"He is not—"
"She can take care of herself in this matter, Legolas. Worry only if he becomes violent. In a battle of words and feelings, no man in Gondor can stand against Lunian. There is probably not one in all of Middle-Earth who is capable of such, for that matter." Of men. Of elves, she wasn't so sure, but only because elves were not only wise on average, but fast learners when it came to dealing with other races, as long as their sense of pride wasn't ruffled in the process, as too often happened with dwarves.
"And if he does become violent?"
"Then it is a short jump to reach her."
He snorted softly as he looked down the thirty feet to the ground. "Short indeed."
"It would pass by quickly."
"I imagine so," he agreed, a slight smile glinting in his eyes.
Arwen smiled and watched the girl below. Though she could have followed the conversation if she wished, she didn't. Legolas, though, was listening intently. Not willing to let someone else take over. At least not someone like Calmacil.
A small gust of wind blew the clouds away, letting the sun light the two below. For an instant, the walls around her melted away, the man's hair became longer, a bit darker and straight. Lunian was Lunian no longer, but Lenaith. The man became Elrohir.
Then the man moved, and the instant was gone, but the memory remained.
Lenaith turned from her study of the new flowers on the climbing plant that was slowly twining its way up one of the sturdiest trees in the gardens of Imladris. Elrohir paused as he saw her, and he slowly bowed his head deeply to her. Lenaith knelt before him, but he drew her to her feet at once, kissing her hand. He had said something, and she, still blushing, agreed. The pair walked off, deeper into the gardens, towards the little glen next to the stream and waterfall that had always been Elrohir's favorite place in Imladris. They walked hand in hand, both with their heads slightly bowed, moving together as one, each aware the other would become very important in their lives.
They had been right about that, but then, people usually were right about that sort of thing. Elven people, anyway. Men were too rash to know it when it hit them, and too often threw it away before they knew what they had.
"Has Elrohir spoken to you?"
"About what?" he asked softly.
"Then he hasn't," she murmured back. If he had, there was no way Legolas wouldn't know to what she was referring.
"About what?" Legolas insisted, turning to face her, though by the tilt of his head she could tell he was still listening to the conversation below them. The fact that he took his eyes off the two in the gardens assured her their speech had been very innocuous.
"Lunian."
"I gathered that much. She seems to be the only topic anyone brings up around me."
"It's obvious why that is, Legolas."
"Not really. It would make more sense for them to try and ignore it, hoping it blows over."
"It's not going to. They went through it with me. They're trying a new approach."
He laughed softly, without humor. "It won't work."
She nodded, laying a hand on his arm. "I know."
He looked at her hand, then back at her. "Will she?"
Arwen nodded. "If you've admitted it to yourself, it won't take her long to pick up on it. She may not understand for a while, since it is something she's never been faced with before, but she'll figure it out."
"Eventually."
"Since when have elves been in a hurry about such things?"
"Since when do elves find themselves in love with a mortal?" he snapped back. Then he closed his eyes and drew in a long breath which he released as a troubled sigh. "I'm sorry, Arwen."
"Don't apologize, get used to it." Emotions were hard enough to control for someone just beginning on the path of love without knowing that the path would be cut short by the death of their beloved. Besides, humans were very emotional creatures, not having the years of experience to help them calm their feelings to a reasonable and manageable level, such as the elves usually managed to maintain. Usually. Being around humans could alter that after a while.
He closed his eyes for a long moment. "I'm beginning to think I'm too old for this."
She shook her head at once. "The heart knows no age, Legolas. You are young by the standards of our people."
"And by those standards, she is but a child."
Arwen shrugged. "This is still new territory, which no elf after you will probably ever travel. You have to make up your own rules and standards."
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Hey guys. I should be able to get two more chapters up before things become either completely stopped or very sporadic for the summer. Let me know what you think (about the story. I think no internet access for about three months sucks, too.)