Of Heartbreak and Friendship
Legolas' eyes held the reflections of the twinkling stars above. Fiondra looked away from him and instead stared into the creek. His voice seemed to be leagues away as he started to speak.
"Many years after my mother's death, I was bold and cocky. Mayhap I still am. But back then, I was even more so. One day..."
X X X X X
(Legolas' memory)
"Ah, come on Legolas! Not again," Aglarsîr complained to the Prince of Mirkwood. "Every time we have an archery contest, you win!"
Legolas laughed. To his best friend he said pompously, "I know; that's why I like archery so much. If you don't want to shoot, what would you rather do?"
The other elf thought for a moment and then replied slyly. "Do you know what today is?"
Puzzled, Legolas said, "Wednesday?"
Aglarsîr said slowly, "Ye-es. And what happens on this Wednesday, along with every other day of the week?"
Legolas caught on and he smiled mischievously. "The ellith have their bathing time."
Aglarsîr smiled. "Exactly. Shall we?"
The two male elves quickly sprinted to a stream that was reserved for the cleansing of bodies. There, they silently watched as many young females splashed happily in the water.
Tired of listening to the ellith's gossip, Aglarsîr whispered, "We can't see anything. We have to somehow make them get out of the water."
Under his breath, Legolas said, "I'll shoot an arrow across the stream. If that doesn't send them running, then I don't know what will." Aglarsîr chuckled quietly and motioned for Legolas to shoot.
The elf reached for an arrow and fitted it to his bow. He let it loose, watching it soar across the water and plant itself in a tree.
Startled, the ellith shrieked and made to get out of the stream, but one elleth held up her hand to stop them. She called, "Surely the Prince wouldn't be watching us from the bushes. I know that to be his arrow by the shafts upon it." The elleth took her blond hair in her hands and wringed the water out of it. The maiden stepped out of the creek onto the grassy bank and pulled the arrow out of the tree.
Legolas and Aglarsîr gaped at her in astonishment. Neither one had seen an elleth naked before, and this one did not seem ashamed of her immodesty. Rather embarrassed now, Legolas looked at the ground. Aglarsîr continued to stare at her, apparently fascinated.
The maiden picked a cloth off of the ground and wrapped herself in it. "Why hello, highness. How good to see you. I believe this is yours." She dropped the arrow at Legolas' feet and smiled enticingly as he fumbled to replace it to his quiver. She spoke again. "I am Alqua, highness."
Legolas murmured, "Lady Alqua. This is my friend Aglarsîr."
At his name, the brown-haired elf bowed and smiled. "My pleasure, Lady Alqua," he said and she graced him with a smile as well.
She then turned back to Legolas and said, "If your highness will allow us to dress, we would be most obliged."
Legolas realized that the other ellith were still staring at him and Aglarsîr, their faces red. Flushing, he bowed. "I apologize for our actions. It won't happen again." He grabbed Aglarsîr by the arm and half dragged him away from the stream.
X X X X X
(Present day)
Legolas flushed at Fiondra's raised eyebrows. "That was a long time ago and it never did happen again," he said indignantly.
Fiondra hid a smile and murmured, "I believe you. But why are you telling me this?"
Legolas looked straight into her questioning eyes and said, "I overheard you telling Gimli that I had cried out for Alqua in my delirium. I felt that I owed you an explanation for my...relationship with Alqua."
Fiondra nodded slowly. "But you haven't exactly told me of your relationship."
Legolas sighed. "She is the reason for my vow."
Fiondra whispered, "What vow?"
He saw fear shining in her eyes and smiled sadly. "My vow never to fall in love or marry." Legolas heard her barely audible gasp and warmed to know that she cared. "I thought I loved Alqua. I had had it in my mind to ask her to become my wife, when one day I overheard a conversation she was having with another elleth..."
X X X X X
(Legolas' memory)
"Legolas? Oh, I don't love him. It's just that he's the Prince and I would dearly love to be Queen one day. He's obviously infatuated with me. I have him right where I want him. He'll propose any day now. Now, he's very handsome, so you can imagine I wish for him to really show me his love. That would speed up the wedding. But he's too pure, too innocent." She sneered. "I get my pleasure elsewhere, his best friend Aglarsîr for one. As soon as we're wed – Legolas!"
Legolas watched her pale and squirm under his cold gaze. Her friend backed away warily, leaving the two of them alone.
"Legolas, please...what I said. I swear it's not true. I was just..."
He didn't let her finish. In a dead, harsh tone he said, "As of now, you are not to come near me again. Our courtship is over." Legolas walked away, concealing his heartbreak.
Alqua called after him haughtily, "At least Aglarsîr will take me as you would not. You will regret this one day, Legolas, mark my words!"
X X X X X
(Present day)
Legolas turned away from Fiondra's sympathetic look. "I told Aglarsîr that our friendship was over as well. I did not turn them in to be wed, as our laws dictate they would have to be, giving up their virginity to each other. I did not want the people to see what a fool I had been to let her toy with my feelings. Later, I heard gossip that Aglarsîr had asked Alqua to marry him, but that she had refused. I suppose she found another lover." Legolas' voice hardened over this last statement and he continued. "My father noticed that I became more serious and contemplative, less bold and cocky. He questioned me, and I told him only of my vow, not of the reasoning behind it. Thankfully, he didn't question me further. I also told him that I wanted to leave Mirkwood for a while and when the creature Gollum escaped not long after that, he sent me to Imladris as a messenger to Lord Elrond. From there, I went as part of the Fellowship and when our task was complete, came across you, and you know the rest."
Fiondra moved over to the elf and put her arms around him. Legolas looked at her and started to speak. She hushed him and put a slender finger to his lips. "I wish you could take back your vow."
Legolas saw longing in her eyes and he whispered, "I do too. But I think I've already broken it."
Fiondra pulled back, her eyes wide. "Pardon me...What do you mean by that?"
Legolas tilted her chin so that she was looking at him. He said softly, "I mean that I'm falling in love with you and I've only just now realized it." He kissed her then and she did not protest.
They continued embracing that way until both found that they needed to breathe. Fiondra gasped, "I think I love you too."
Legolas replied, "I'm glad. But I must ask: can we just be friends until the midsummer festival? I don't want to make the same mistake twice."
A bit hurt, Fiondra quietly said, "I understand. We'll be friends till then. Now will you take my inside I'd like to retire."
"You aren't upset then?" Legolas asked, taking her by the arm and leading her through the moonlit gardens.
Fiondra smiled up at him and said, "Not much. I'm more humiliated that I ran out in front of the entire kingdom!"
Legolas laughed. "They'll forget about it soon enough. But they won't forget your beautiful voice. You sang wonderfully."
Fiondra blushed and thanked him. She now led the way to her room and Legolas blinked twice. "What is it?" she asked him.
He sputtered, "That father of mine! Your room is directly across the hall from my own! I'm going to have a word with him about this."
Giggling, Fiondra bid him goodnight and shut the curtain. Things would be just fine after all.
X X X X X
Aglarsîr – aglar meaning glory or brilliance and sîr meaning river
Imladris – Rivendell
Please review. I thought this chapter summed up pretty well poor Legolas' mixed emotions. Let me know if you have any ideas as usual. To etheraldragon: did you notice about their rooms? They're across the hall, but not adjoining. I figured that was close enough though. ;)