Two months passed, and it was the afternoon of another festival, this time to welcome in the autumn season. The leaves on the trees of Rivendell were turning a golden color before falling and littering the practice field Kari and Legolas were fighting on. With each spin, dodge, and tumble, they would kick up numerous leaves from the ground, practically creating a wall of gold around them. It served as a distraction for the fighters that they had to work through in order to effectively attack their opponent. But for the few bystanders watching, it was as though the two fighters were surrounded in their own world, protected by a swirl of golden leaves around them and only them.
"Good guard of your back," Legolas commented as he continually tried to attack Kari from behind, but failing each time.
"You see, I do listen once in a while," Kari replied and she lunged at Legolas. He parried her attack and then sidestepped her, pushing her hip gently away as her body passed by him, keeping Kari off balance momentarily.
He had doing that a lot lately - touching her. Not that Kari would ever complain, but it seemed odd to her. They weren't touches she could pass off as harmless. No longer did Legolas pat her head or muss her hair with his hand after practice, but instead tucked stray strands of her hair behind her ears. No longer did he carelessly drape his arm affectionately around her shoulders, but placed his hand on the small of her back as they went to dinner. He would still spin her around in circles after chasing her, but Kari could have sworn he held her tighter and longer after the spinning ended and her breathing became regular.
Then again, this could all be in her imagination. It had seemed that two months ago he had been close to kissing her, but then Virania arrived and…well obviously he did not love Kari. Yet he also said he did not love Virania.
"I wish you would listen to me more," Legolas said as he attacked her.
"We've already had this conversation numerous times. In fact, I believe we have had conversations about having this conversation numerous times," Kari retorted.
She swung her blades quickly, trying to get Legolas off balance. It finally worked after a long onslaught and she spun behind him to kick his knees forward. Legolas fell to the ground and Kari smiled smugly with satisfaction. Usually she was the first to fall down. But before she could bask in her own glory, Legolas kicked her legs from under her and she fell with an ungraceful thud onto the leaf-littered ground. Legolas was suddenly on top of her with a short sword to her throat. Kari gasped with surprise.
"Arrogance will get you killed," he said sternly.
Kari was silent. This always reminded her of her favorite dream. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, trying to calm her nerves. All she could think about was how Legolas was on top of her and how she wished it wasn't because he as talking about her arrogance.
"Kari!" Legolas said sternly.
Her eyes snapped open to see Legolas' face above hers. How would it be to wake up like this every morning? Without the blade at her neck, of course. She shook those thoughts away from her head.
"I understand," she said.
Legolas' face softened now that he had gotten Kari to understand this point. He tossed the short sword aside. Realizing the position they were in, he remembered another time in the recent past where they had landed in the same position but because of largely different reasons.
Legolas' action of sleeping with Virania had caused Kari to believe he was sleeping with any and all of the females of Rivendell. Though irrational and quite unlike Legolas, she still thought this. Soon after their reconciliation in the Healer's Hall, Legolas had questioned her sullen mood after he had finished talking with one of the females who stayed after practice. She had told him her thoughts, and he had yelled at her, asking how she could think something like that. She had defended that she did not know what to think. Only then did Legolas see how deep his actions had hurt Kari's view of him. He had told her that he hadn't bedded any of the women of Rivendell since his arrival and that the last person he had slept with before Virania had been, in fact, Virania. Kari had quieted and apologized for doubting him, and he had told her not to apologize because it was his indiscretion that had caused her to doubt him in the first place. They had subsequently made up by having a game of chase around the practice field, which ended in much the same position they were in now.
He reluctantly got up from the ground and extended his arm to help Kari up.
She did not take it, as she was perfectly capable of getting up herself. She did enjoy Legolas' touch, but she did not want to rely on him when it could be avoided.
Legolas chuckled.
"What is funny?" Kari asked.
"You have become quite independent," Legolas commented as they stood there, the bystanders dispersing as they realized practice was over for the day.
"Recently I feel like I always need to assert myself. I do not want people to think I rely on anyone," Kari said.
She enjoyed being her own person, having her own identity. Finally she was gaining respect as a Healer in her own right. Initially some people had been skeptical if a nineteen year old girl was capable of being a true Healer of Rivendell. But now, after eight months of experience and continually proving her abilities, some elves even requested her care. And the same thing applied for every other part of her life. If she needed help, she had to admit that she was a bit reluctant to get it because she did not want to be viewed as weak.
"I know," Legolas replied.
His eyes wandered to her hair where a few small, golden leaf fragments had gotten caught in her sun-streaked dark brown hair. He absently picked out some of the leaves. For the last one, he combed his fingers in her hair above the leaf fragment and dragged his fingers down, pushing the piece of leaf down as his fingers felt the softness of her hair. He watched his fingers do this, wondering how many times he had wanted to feel her hair and never did. He was a fool not to.
Kari watched Legolas' fingers drag down her hair, feeling the gently tug at her scalp. This was another instant. Kari knew he could have simply picked the leaf out of her hair, but instead she was watching her hair flow through his strong fingers. Too soon did Legolas' fingers reach the end of her hair and she mentally curse herself for not having her hair longer. It was to the small of her back, but she would grow it to her ankles if Legolas would run his fingers through it again. She castigated herself. Were they not talking about her independence? And now she was willing to do something absurd for Legolas? Logic escaped her when it came to him.
"But it is not a bad thing to depend on people. Eventually when you marry someone, you will depend on each other," Legolas said quietly, his fingers playing with the tips of her hair.
Kari scoffed. "Marry? Unlikely Legolas," she mumbled.
"Why?" he asked, looking at her curiously.
Kari stayed silent. She did not want to tell him. She was already so confused with his recent actions towards her. When he touched her so gently, hope built within her that he may harbor deeper feelings for her.
"Many people would be honored to share a life with you," Legolas said encouragingly. He had interpreted her silence as fear of inferiority to the she-elves who were immortal.
Kari scoffed, "Right Legolas."
"I am serious."
"Would you?" she whispered.
Instantly her eyes went wide with what she just said. She hadn't meant to say that aloud! She had been thinking it, and it just came out of her mouth! No! She had spent five years suppressing her feelings and now with one slip, it was all for naught! No!
"Would I?" Legolas said, shocked, her hair dropping from his fingers. His instinct was to pull her into a tight embrace and whisper 'yes.' Wait, that was his initial response? Quickly he realized the inappropriateness of the situation.
Kari tried to look up at his face, but she could not. She did not have the courage.
"That is an improper question, Kari. I…I am your teacher," Legolas replied quickly, regretting his words as soon as they left his mouth.
Her face showed no emotion, as though all of her emotions had been blown away with the leaves that no longer encircled them. She felt stupid and cold. The tingling feelings generated from Legolas' proximity died.
"Of course, Master Legolas, please forgive my rudeness," she replied distantly, bowing her head slightly and walking away. Legolas wanted to run after her and tell her what he truly wanted, but he was scared for what that would mean. Instead he watched her walk away.
Legolas saw her enter the room and go immediately to Aragorn and Arwen. He did not understand how she could look so breathtaking and not realize it. The top half of her long hair was twisted up and tied securely while the rest fell down her back. A few fresh flowers, jasmines, adorned her hair. She wore a light blue dress with short sleeves since it was a mid-September evening and the nights were still warm though breezy. The dress was not revealing except for the low-cut back that hinted at tanned flesh beneath the straight hair that covered it.
Legolas looked at her, feeling the pain of his too-quick reply to a delicate question that probably sent their friendship back years. He was not her teacher anymore, they had discussed that. His role had become one of a practice partner in these recent months because she had become quite proficient in the short swords. She never beat Legolas when they sparred, but she could match him for long periods of time.
Match him. What an idea. He never imagined a twenty-year-old girl, no, woman, would match him – in anything. He was not one of those elves who thought females were inferior to males, but he had been biased in the beginning of his relationship with Kari. She was mortal. She was alone. And she was young. But she had proved to be strong, resilient, and compassionate. In the court of Mirkwood, these qualities were few when many elves wanted favors because of his crown. But Kari had not been raised to act that way. She had had a motherly figure in Arwen and a fatherly figure in Lord Elrond and Aragorn in her younger years. And what had Legolas been? At first, perhaps the reluctant mentor. Then the friend. And now?
He watched her laugh heartily at something Aragorn said, her whole face livening. He doubted he would ever become tired with looking at her laugh. He wanted to be the instigator of her laughter – for eternity.
What had he become? He had arrived in Rivendell to appease his father, to get away from the memories of Virania. He had known Lord Elrond was asked to watch over him to ensure he did not fade from a broken heart. He was supposed to stay for a few years. It had been fourteen so far. And he had no intention of leaving. He had no intention of leaving her – ever.
He loved Kari.
No, he was in love with Kari.
Now that he thought about it, it was indeed the simplest and most complex realization he had ever made. He could not imagine his life without her presence. He could not bear the thought of her sharing her life with someone other than himself. Somewhere, somehow she had unintentionally snuck into his heart and had been imbedded so deep that he had not even realized it until now.
What had he become? He became whole with her presence.
Author's Note: Well, now we know Legolas knows…next step is for Kari to know. Thanks for all the reviews and support. They mean so much to me. I just wanted to make it clear that Legolas is NOT a male whore. That wasn't the intention of the entrance of Virania. He fell to temptation, once, but I don't think that makes him a whore. Kari, with her overactive imagination, thought he was a male whore upon knowing that he slept with Virania. But no, he's not. Okay, hope you liked this long awaited chapter.
And I just wanted to let you guys know that my "hits" went back to zero and now it at 350. I think the amount of interest in my story broke/reset the "hits" counter. That just amazes me. And I just saw that my story is in a C2, "The MOST Marvelously Brilliant Stories," and I am beyond flattered. I am honored. That's a hefty title and I hope I can live up to it. Thank you all so much.