A/N: Boy, this is a long chapter! I was planning on cutting it down into two but I thought what the heck, go for it!
Chapter 23
Of war and marriage
Tigerlily walked in quietly when she realised she was late. Gandalf was already talking to Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Eomer. She guessed it had been about Frodo. "If Sauron had the Ring, we would know it," said Aragorn, whilst raising an eyebrow at Tigerlily to show his annoyance at her lateness. "It's only a matter of time," said Gandalf, as Tigerlily stood next to Gimli, "He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor, our enemy is regrouping."
"Let him stay there," said Gimli, "Let him rot! Why should we care?"
"Because ten thousand orcs now stand between Frodo and Mt. Doom," said Gandalf, "I've sent him to his death."
"No," said Aragorn softly, "There is still hope for Frodo. He needs time and safe passage across the Plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."
"How?" asked Gimli.
"Draw out Sauron's armies," said Tigerlily, "Empty his lands." Aragorn smiled at her as she said exactly what he was thinking.
"Then we gather our full strength and march on the black gate!" he said. Gimli began to cough. "Now that I didn't see coming," said Tigerlily.
"You, Aragorn, have lost your mind!" said Gimli.
"Gimli's right," said Eomer, "We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms alone."
"Not for ourselves," said Aragorn, "But we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's Eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves."
"A diversion." Legolas' calm voice sounded, sending chills down Tigerlily's spine. Her thoughts to the bond they had, the bond that had formed right when Tigerlily needed him the most. Had it survived this fight? Was it still there? Gimli's voice brought her from her thoughts. "Certainty of death, small chance of success," he said, "What are we waiting for?"
"Sauron will suspect a trap," said Gandalf, instantly dissipating what little confidence Tigerlily had gained from Gimli's comment, "He will not take the bait."
"Oh, I think he will," said Aragorn. He made a little sign with his hand. It was a Ranger's sign language. The wizard knew Aragorn wanted to talk to him in private. Gandalf was about to step forward when he saw Legolas rush past. The elf disappeared out the door without so much as looking at Tigerlily. Tigerlily followed him with Eomer and Gimli. The bandage on her hand was hidden under her shirt but Gandalf knew it was there. Gandalf thought maybe Aragorn wanted to discuss how they were going to discourage her from going to battle. "What is it, Aragorn?" he asked.
"Legolas and Tigerlily, the only reason I allowed Tigerlily to come with us is because you said she and Legolas were destined for each other," said Aragorn, "But this war is driving them apart not together. They had a fight yesterday."
"I know, I think half of Gondor heard Tigerlily shouting at him," said Gandalf, "But it is not the war that is doing this to them, it is Legolas' past."
"Gandalf, we have to do something," said Aragorn, "Legolas can't have his heart broken again, it'll kill him. As for Tigerlily…things have happened that cannot be undone. No matter how many threads are pulled, this tapestry they have created won't unravel. They must stay together. You know of what I speak." Gandalf nodded.
"I know," he said, "They must renew their bond quickly before Legolas stays with her for duty or casts her to the wolves of society."
"Legolas couldn't do that," said Aragorn, "Not after what happened last time. He wants this greatly. And his sense of duty is too great. If he discovers this before they sort this out, he will stay for duty not love. Can you do nothing Gandalf?"
"Why should I?" asked Gandalf, "Tigerlily is forming her own little plan to reconcile with Legolas. Her plan is probably better than any I could make. She knows Legolas well now, if they can survive this, they can survive anything."
It had begun to rain outside and that's where Legolas was heading. He needed something more natural than stone. This was almost as bad as Moria. As soon as the first drops made contact with his skin, he felt more at ease but not completely. Something was missing: Tigerlily. His mind sort her out but couldn't find her. Tigerlily had in fact lost him and was in the city right now. She was lost. She huddled into a doorway to avoid the rain, wondering where Legolas was? She hadn't been that far behind him. She heard his voice and looked around. But he wasn't there. No, of course, he was calling for her in his mind. 'Legolas!" she thought 'Help me, I'm sorry I shouted at you, I wasn't thinking…'
Tigerlily, be quiet! Where are you?
'I don't know,' she thought, 'I'm lost. Legolas, I …'
Shh, we'll talk when I find you, now can you see anything which might help me?
'Yes, there's a inn,' she thought, 'The Watch Tower.'
That's not too far, I shan't be long. Then we'll talk.
'Legolas?' But Legolas was gone. The rain was now dripping through the roof of the doorway, soaking her. A few minutes later, as thunder sounded and lightning flashed across the sky, a shadowy figure appeared in the rain. "Tigerlily," it shouted. Tigerlily looked up. It was Legolas, his clear voice just audible over the wind and rain. He beckoned to her and she ran over to him. "Legolas, I…" she started. But she couldn't continue as Legolas' lips had claimed her own. The rain soaked their clothes as they stood there, engaging in a passionate kiss. "Not here," said Legolas, "Follow me." He led her over to the inn she had mentioned earlier. He pushed the door open. Many of the soldiers who weren't on duty were there having a laugh with their friends. The man behind the bar took one look at Legolas and Tigerlily. He muttered something to the young boy also behind the bar. He left the bar and walked over to Legolas. "Hello, master elf," he said, "Milady. I have prepared what you asked, Lord Legolas, it's right this way."
"Thank you, Ciryon," said Legolas. Tigerlily looked up at Legolas, very confused. But he put his hand on the small of her back and guided her up the stairs at the back of the bar. When they got to the top of the stairs, Legolas guided her down the corridor and into one of the rooms. In this room, Ciryon was lighting a fire. He stood up when Legolas and Tigerlily entered. He made to leave the room but Legolas pushed a few gold coins into the man's hand. Ciryon looked down at them and smiled, showing he was missing a few teeth. "Thank you, my lord," he said. He left and closed the door behind him.
"Legolas, what is going on?" asked Tigerlily. Legolas took off his cloak and laid it on the floor next to the fire to dry it. "You said you wanted to talk, so lets talk," he said.
"Oh," said Tigerlily. She took off her cloak as Legolas sat down in one of the armchairs by the fire. She laid it down next to Legolas' and sat down opposite him. "Legolas," she said, "About what you told me yesterday, I'm sorry about the way I reacted. I was wrong. I…I just wasn't thinking straight. You had just told me about Milo's death and it wasn't the best time."
"I know," replied Legolas, "But I had to tell you, you were asking questions that I should answer not gossip from people who know the situation in Mirkwood. I knew we were strong enough to deal with this, that our bond would remain intact no matter how you reacted. I love you Tigerlily, far more than I ever loved Alya! When I met her, I guess I wasn't much more mature than your niece Clover. I was still in an adolescent stage. I thought I was in love. I thought I was ready to be married, to have a child. But I wasn't, in fact, I don't know why I even wanted a child so young. But one thing I do know is that you are the only person I have loved in the last thousand years. Alya's betrayal made me freeze my heart; none of my relationships with other women went beyond lust, until you. The way you stood up for yourself and your people, it inspired me." Tigerlily smiled.
"I love you too, Legolas," she said, "I just wish you had confided in me, told me about what had happened, before this whole battle."
"I couldn't tell you," said Legolas, "Not until I had made my decision. Alya's allegiance is one of the most closely guarded state secrets in Mirkwood, only the highest-ranking soldiers, officials and members of the royal family know it. Not all my father's court knows this one." Tigerlily stood up. For one brief moment, Legolas thought she was going to walk out on him. But she didn't. She walked over to him and sat on his lap. She moved his arms so they encircled her waist. "I love you," he whispered before Tigerlily's face came down and met his in a tender kiss. "Your clothes are all wet," he said, "I had Ciryon arrange some dry clothes for us. We can stay here tonight." Tigerlily smiled but a single tear rolled down her cheek. She felt Legolas' rough hand press against her cheek and his thumb wipe it away. "Is this tear for Milo?" asked Legolas softly. Tigerlily's barriers broke down. For the past day she had been in denial, determined that Milo would walk through the door, unscathed but now reality had sunk in. He wasn't coming back. The brother who had come and hidden under the bed with her as a child when storms such as this one hit their homeland. The brother who had allowed her to stand by his side as he married the woman he loved. The brother who had allowed her to name his first child. He was never coming back, he was gone and it was all because of her. If she hadn't been solar-blessed than Sauron would never have heard of Enedwaith, the Wildmen never would have attacked and she and her family would have lived their lives oblivious to the War and the Ring. But she never would have met Legolas, she never would have felt loved in his arms and she never would have loved someone the way she loved him. She buried her face in Legolas' shoulder and cried. "I miss him so much," she sobbed, "I never got a chance to say goodbye! He had two children and a wife who loved him, why was he taken away?"
"They say Eru takes the best ones first," whispered Legolas, hoping to comfort her.
"I wish I had been taken in his place," sobbed Tigerlily.
"No!" said Legolas angrily. Tigerlily looked at him. "Don't ever say that!" said Legolas, "Look at what Milo achieved in life, he helped raise his sister, he married a woman he loved and had a family and he defended his home. You have much more to live for." He kissed her. "What about our family?" he said, "What about the family you saw in Galadriel's mirror? Our son? And the unborn baby? Tigerlily, if you had died, I don't know what would have happened to me. I…I'd have thrown myself from the tower of Ecthelion if you had been in Milo's place. I would have lost my reason for living if I had lost you."
"Legolas, you forget what I saw in the palantir," she said, "What if that became our life? Running with our son, fearing everyday would be our last. What if you died trying to protect me?"
"I would die for you," said Legolas, "I would die for you, our son whenever he arrives. You can always be sure of that." He kissed her, gently coaxing her lips open. Tigerlily's hands gently slipped to Legolas' tunic and began to undo the fastenings. She gently slipped it off her shoulders as he copied with hers. Their motions became more frantic as their lust began to build. Soon they had declothed each other.
Legolas didn't get to make love to Tigerlily that night. She broke down and cried herself to sleep in his arms. As she slept, Legolas looked down on her sleeping form. "Tigerlily," he whispered, "I will always love you, no matter where we go, no matter how long, no other will own my heart. I love you and I will protect you even if it kills me. And one day, when this is all over, you shall be my wife, my friend, my lover and my soul mate." He bent down and kissed her eyes, thanking every one of the valar for bringing her into his life and asking them to watch over Milo's family, unaware that Tigerlily was feigning sleep and had heard every word he said.
Tigerlily opened her eyes when she heard Pippin's voice crying, "The eagles are coming! The eagles are coming!" The great eagles from the Misty Mountains were attacking the Nazgul. The ground beneath the orcs was crumbling and they were disappearing with it. "We've won!" sounded Legolas' voice, "We've won!" Tigerlily turned to see him smiling at her. She felt him take her in his arms and kiss her. She laughed as he spun her around and kissed her again. Then she heard a faint voice calling her name, "Tigerlily? Tigerlily? Tigerlily!"
Tigerlily opened her eyes to find Legolas looking down at her. "Are you alright?" he asked. Tigerlily sat up and looked around. They were still in the inn, sunlight streaming through the windows. "I'm fine," she said.
"You kept whispering, 'The eagles are coming'," said Legolas.
"I was dreaming," she said.
"What about?" asked Legolas.
"I can't remember," lied Tigerlily, "Legolas, I have to go speak with Gandalf about something." She climbed out of the bed and started putting on her now dry clothes. Legolas got up and got dressed too. "What do you have to talk to him about?" asked Legolas. "It's nothing," said Tigerlily, tucking her hair behind her ears, "I just have to ask him something. Don't worry." She placed a kiss on his lips.
"Thank you for staying with me last night," she said, "And for doing what I asked." Legolas smiled. "Just don't tell the dwarf I was following your orders," said Legolas, "I'd never hear the end of it." Tigerlily smiled and kissed him again. She left the room and made her way downstairs. She was very surprised to see some of the men who had been there last night. She blushed when they started muttering to each other. She knew it was kind of obvious what she and Legolas had been doing. Her clothes were crumpled from where they had been dropped on the floor. She hurried out into the city. She looked around. She saw white robes disappearing round the corner. "Gandalf!" she called. The wizards bearded face appeared back round the corner. "There you are!" he said, "Now, where have you been? I've been up all night looking for you." Tigerlily ran up to him.
"It's probably a good thing you didn't find me," she said. Gandalf raised one eyebrow.
"If you're not careful, you are going to end up…" he started.
"Pregnant, I know," said Tigerlily, "But I need to talk to you about something. I keep having these strange dreams. The first one was about the Ghost King and then my dream became real. And last night I had one, we were victorious against Sauron." Gandalf pulled her to one side. "Now listen to me Tigerlily, you cannot tell anyone about these dreams," said Gandalf, "They are not dreams. They are premonitions, visions of the future."
"So what I saw will come true?" said Tigerlily.
"It's likely," said Gandalf.
"Why can't I tell anyone?" asked Tigerlily.
"Because if they find out it's a premonition, they will get too confident and then it won't come true," warned Gandalf, "It's very surprising you're having these. Most solar-blessed women did not start their premonitions until they had conceived their first child but there are cases where they hadn't." Tigerlily smiled.
"Thank you, Gandalf," she said.
"Care to help an old man back to the tower," said Gandalf. Tigerlily offered her arm to Gandalf and led the way back.
Tigerlily spent the rest of the day in the Gondorian library with Gandalf. She discovered that her family was descended from a long line of solar-blessed people. Unfortunately all of them had met their ends in the last war against Sauron. There was one story that fascinated her, a tale of a distant aunt on her father's side. Her name was Lily. Tigerlily noticed a lot of similarities between them. They had both gone to Rivendell in their mid-twenties and had both acquired elven lovers from Mirkwood but there was one sorrowing part to Lily's tale. Lily had been slaughtered whilst watching the final alliance march on Mordor. Her lover had found her then discovered that she had been carrying his child when she died. Her lover who's name was not mentioned, killed himself after he discovered this. Tigerlily thought back to what Legolas had said 'I'd have thrown myself from the tower of Ecthelion'. This elf had done something similar. On his next visit to Rivendell he had thrown himself over a waterfall and has been crushed to death on the rocks. 'Good thing I'm not pregnant,' she thought.
What was that, my love?
'Legolas!' thought Tigerlily, 'How long have you been listening in on my thoughts'
Not long, look, can you meet me on the wall near the gate?
'When?' asked Tigerlily
Now, please?
'Alright, I'll be there in a minute,' she thought. Suddenly it felt like she was alone, Legolas had gone. She stood up and excused herself from Gandalf. He smiled up at her as he blew another smoke ring.
Tigerlily ran out into the city and down to wall. She saw Legolas stood at the top, his cloak blowing in the wind. She smiled and ran up the stairs nearby that led up to the top. When she reached the top, she ran into Legolas' arms. He kissed her face and she returned it. He pulled away. He faced westwards and looked at the sunset. He knelt down in front of Tigerlily. Her heart leapt into her throat. 'Oh Gods,' she thought, 'He's proposing!' Legolas was looking up at her with his ice blue eyes and he took hold of her hands. "Tigerlily," he said, his voice showed how nervous he was, "Please will you honour me by consenting to be my wife? Will you be the last thing I see at night and the first thing I see in the morning? Will you be the one I hold in my arms?" Tigerlily was close to crying from happiness now, "Will you be the mother of my children? Will you spend your immortal days with me?" Tigerlily began to cry. She wiped her eyes and pulled Legolas up. "Stand, you silly elf," she said, "Yes, I will marry you!" Legolas pulled her forward into a kiss. "There is no one happier than I anywhere in Middle-Earth," he said. Tigerlily rested her forehead against his chest.
"You leave for Mordor tomorrow," she said, "What if you don't return?"
"I shall," said Legolas, "I shall return for you." He lifted Tigerlily's chin so he could look into her hazel eyes but they were now marred from sadness. "Do not worry, A'mealamin," he said, "I will come back!"
"You better," said Tigerlily. Legolas kissed her, his tongue gently slipping into her mouth. Tigerlily's tongue began to dance over his. He pulled her close. She could feel his arousal, pressing against her. She knew that she had spoilt his plans last night and was determined to make amends.
Neither of them quite knew how but they found themselves back in the room they had been given the night after the Battle of Pelenor Fields. Tigerlily vaguely heard Legolas shutting the door and sliding the bolt across. She didn't fully acknowledge anything until she felt Legolas sheath himself in her and he moaned loudly. Then she opened her eyes. She could see Legolas panting above her, she could hear his labored breathing and she could feel the soft fabric of the sheets beneath her. She felt Legolas' lips touch her skin, followed by his tongue and teeth. 'Oh, not another love bite,' she thought. The last one had just faded and now he was giving her another one. But as he gently bit her skin, her breath caught in her throat. She rocked her hips against him, begging him for the release only he could offer. Legolas' hands slipped under her legs and wrapped them round his waist. He began to thrust deeper into her as his mouth continued to kiss, lick and bite her shoulder. Tigerlily turned her head and saw the pointed tip of his ear. She remembered what he had said the day she had finally admitted how she felt and had stroked his ears, 'Stop it or that son of ours will be conceived right here.' She gently moved her head and bit the tip of his ear. His hips bucked against her as she isolated his most erogenous zone, the zone that was intimately sensitive to all male elves. The part of the body that would cause even the hardest of elves to melt in a woman's hands. His pace got faster and faster. Tigerlily felt completely overwhelmed as Legolas yelled her name so loud that she was sure half of Minas Tirith could hear them. She felt him release into her. Spent, he collapsed onto her. His weight didn't bother her. She simply cradled him in her arms and stroked his hair. "You seem lost in thought, A'mealamin," Legolas' calm voice sounded. Tigerlily looked down at him. His chin was resting innocently on her chest. She smiled. He smiled back and crawled up so they were face to face. "What are you thinking about?" he asked.
"What life will be like after the war," she said.
"Shall I tell you what will happen when I come back?" asked Legolas. Tigerlily nodded.
"I will grab you in the street and bring you back here," he whispered into her ear, "And then I shall take you again and again and again and I shan't stop until I am sure that our son has been conceived, that my heir is growing in your belly and that nothing could ever take you from me. I love you." Tigerlily smiled at his naughty promises.
"I love you too," she said. A yawn escaped her. Legolas lay down and pulled her down with him. Tigerlily fell asleep to the sound of Legolas' heartbeat.
When she awoke late the next morning, Legolas was gone. All that was left was a note saying, I couldn't bring myself to wake you. I think we said any goodbye's that were necessary last night. Don't ever forget my promises, all my love, Legolas.