Part Four

Chapter 31

I've decided to continue instead of just writing an epilogue. I hope that's okay.

Adette's POV

The first thing I laid eyes on when my eyes fluttered open from sleep was Legolas's face. He was facing forward, a look of concentration welded to his perfect features as he led Herenvardo through the forest. The hoof beats were muffled a bit by the grass emitting a soft, thumping sound.

Legolas, who must have felt my stare, suddenly looked down at me. Without wavering Herenvardo's path in the slightest, he brushed his lips against my forehead with a smile on his face. If he was tired he masked it well. It was the second day of our journey back to Mirkwood, and by the looks of it we would soon be home. We had not stopped once, but I had taken the reigns from Legolas during the day so that he could rest. He demanded that I sleep during the night hours using the guilt that I was no longer making decisions for just myself.

He returned his face forward, one arm holding me against him as my head lolled against his shoulder. I felt as though I were slipping from the saddle although I was sure it was just the tiredness in my thighs.

"We will be home soon. You should go back to sleep." He said in a soft tone, although he spoke loud enough for me to hear over the wind and the sound of Herenvardo's hooves against the ground.

My gaze wandered to the trees on either side of me as we flew past. I had never realized until that moment just how much I had missed the sight of the green earth. I had been surrounded by the decaying fields of Rohan and the rocky terrain of Edoras for far too long. I knew Legolas felt the same way about returning home although he hadn't shown it.

"Legolas," I sat up and moved forward, "stop."

He did as I asked instantly, dropping the reigns. Before he could ask me what was wrong, for I knew that was what he intended on doing, I slipped down off of the saddle. When my feet touched the ground I felt a tiredness in my legs but it felt good to actually feel them.

I could hear Legolas following me as I moved deeper into the trees. Although most would have been lost, I knew every single tree and rock by heart. For instance, I knew that if you kept walking forward you would come to a boulder almost shaped like a man's head. From there if you turned right you would come to a slope which led down to the lake.

The lake was where Legolas and I would go whenever we wanted to be alone. The castle was too hard a place to be completely alone. There were guards, healers, and chambermaids every corner you turned, all waiting to be ordered around. Although I had been used to this my whole life I still found it quite uncomfortable.

"Adette what are you doing?" I heard Legolas whisper.

"Refreshing myself."

When I finally reached the foot of the slope I waited a moment to look around. The moonlight poured through the tops of the trees and reflected off of the lake water as if it were a piece of glass. When I looked down into the water I could see the bottom lined with moss and brightly colored pebbles. Trees twisted with vines sprung up all around and even from some of the small pieces of land in the middle of the water.

Before Legolas could protest, I waded into the water still wearing my clothes. When I was in the water waist deep I heard him wading into the water too. I turned and watched as he came forward quickly, pushing waves towards me, and swung my legs up so that I could lie on my back on the top of the water. I closed my eyes as I spread my arms out.

I listed to the quiet around me. The crickets quietly chirped. The leaves rustled with the gentle blow of the wind. It was as if nature was singing us a song.

A sudden splash beside me startled me from my trance, and I snapped my eyes open to see that Legolas had climbed atop one of the little islands and had jumped in. As he submerged he grinned at me while I scowled.

"You'd better run prince." I snarled, lunging for him. He moved around me quickly, pushing through the water towards the opposite bank. He had nearly made it when I caught him and climbed atop his shoulders. He laughed, reaching his arms up to hold my knees.

"If this is your idea of punishment then I will have to get into trouble more often." He told me, looking up to smile.

I was about to answer him when a branch snapped somewhere in the distance. Almost instantly after it had, I saw bows ready with arrows pointed at Legolas and I through the bushes. I felt him tense, and I fell backwards off of his shoulders as he let go. I landed in the water with a splash.

"Lower your bows at once!" I heard him shout when I surfaced. At the sound of his voice, the bows disappeared and I recognized the faces as the guards of Mirkwood at once as I pushed back the curtain of wet hair in front of my face. "Did you not know it was us?"

"We apologize Legolas, we did not even stop to look." One of them said. But Legolas's face did not soften. His eyebrows continued to furrow angrily over his eyes.

"You could have killed your princess or-"

"Do not fret Legolas." I said before he could reveal the secret. He glanced sideways at me before registering my words. He nodded, his jaw set, and proceeded to march out of the water. I followed behind him quickly.

Legolas and I made our way, dripping wet, to the throne room. He had insisted on stopping first, saying that it wasn't healthy for me or for the baby to be walking around in wet clothes but we were summoned the moment we stepped through the doors.

When King Thranduil spotted us as we entered the throne room he got up off of his throne and headed towards us, grinning. When I had first encountered Thranduil he had frightened me, striking me as the cold type of man. However once we had gotten to talking we had become very good friends. But I had been right – when the time was appropriate he could be a very frightening man. He embraced without hesitation although we were wet.

"How do you fare Adette? Are you well?" He asked me as he pulled away, still holding my arms. He was just as strong as Legolas, his grip firm yet gentle. His blue eyes danced with more questions and with joy. I smiled.

"I am well father." He had insisted that I call him father after Legolas and I were wed. After awhile it grew on me, for he really had become a father to me.

"And Legolas, my son," he placed a hand on Legolas's shoulder, "I trust you are well?"

"I am very well father." He nodded and Thranduil took his hand from his shoulder. "I know that you would like very much to visit with us but I'd feel better if Adette was in dry clothes."

"Ah yes of course. Don't let me keep you two, I'm sure you are both weary from your journey. I will send someone in with hot water for a bath." Thranduil excused us and we left the throne room for the main hall. Legolas took my hand as we walked up the stairs which looked as though they had been cleaned recently.

When we reached our bedroom at the end of the west wing, I sighed heavily at the sight. The familiar, pale green walls that surrounded the cozy space we called our own. My eyes laid upon the bed and I wished to climb beneath the blankets and revel in the comfort. I refrained from doing so and instead headed to the bathroom.

Inside I stripped out of my sopping tunic and leggings. My skin was cold and clammy without the garments and I shuddered. When I heard the door behind me open I turned – but came face to face with a man carrying a basin. Before I could stop myself I let out an ear piercing scream followed by Legolas grabbing the poor man by the scruff of the neck and jerking him from the room.

Moments later he reappeared carrying the basin himself. Without a word he poured the water into the empty tub and I watched as steam drifted upward. He smiled when I let out another sigh as one foot entered the water. He watched as I lowered myself into the tub and leaned my head back against the edge.

"Get in." I urged him, eyeing his wet clothes. He then undressed himself and got into the water carefully, sliding beneath it on the opposite side. I slowly moved towards him so as not to splash and laid against him, my head up by his. He wrapped one arm around the small of my back and used his other hand to move my hair back from my face and shoulders.

He looked down at me while he pressed his cheek against my temple. I put my arm around his neck and moved my mouth against his shoulder. When I spoke he shuddered.

"I'm glad to be home."

"As am I." He agreed.

We spent awhile just lying in the hot water until we both could hardly keep from yawning. He drained the water while I fetched us towels. I pulled on a white singlet as Legolas, already dressed, pulled back the covers.

I climbed into bed and realized how different the sheets felt after being gone for so long. Nonetheless I laid down as Legolas snuggled up to me, his arms going around me.

Almost instantaneously, our daughter jumped from inside of me. It was still such an odd feeling and startled me. I jolted, flying up into a sitting position. Legolas came up along with me, a worried look on his face.

"I'm sorry dúlinn, I forgot." He said, stroking my cheek as he eased me back onto the pillows. He carefully wrapped his arms around me a bit higher, waiting to see if there was a reaction. When all remained still he kissed my neck. "Goodnight Adette."