Chapter 15

Choose Love

Jupiter's POV

I woke up next to Legolas and smiled. He was still asleep but everyone else was awake. I sat up and stretched out before putting my hand on Legolas' arm.

"Legolas. Legolas vous avez besoin de se lever." (you need to get up.)

I called his name gently a few more times and he woke up. I smiled at him and he smiled back.

"You have to get up. We still have a long way to go." I said.

He sat up and kissed my cheek. Gloradir winked at me and I smiled. We got on the horses and rode towards the forest. I stopped my horse before going in.

"Jupiter?"

I looked down.

"Jupiter we will not see my father-"

"That's the opposite of what I want."

I looked up at them.

"I want to see your father, Legolas. I need to see him."

"I do no think that is a good idea." said Haldir.

"Believe me it is. Please, take me there Legolas."

I knew he didn't want to but he nodded. I could feel the tension as we arrived at the gate. We walked in and I went straight to Thranduil. He was there on his throne, I could see him before I was close enough. I walked right up to him and he looked confused and a but surprised.

"Legolas told me that you wanted to apologize to me." I said.

He sighed, got up, and walked down to me. He was much taller than I so I had to look up.

"Yes. I want to apologize for everything I have said to you. I was wrong, I was wrong about you. I know there is a chance you will not forgive me-"

"I already did."

His eyes widened and I looked at him seriously.

"My grandmother once told me, choisissez l'espoir sur la colère, choisir l'amour. Pick hope over anger, choose love. And she was right. So I forgive you, Thranduil. Just make sure we don't have to do this again, hm?"

For the first time since I'd known him, he smiled.

"I do not plan on it. Please take care of my son. He is all I have left."

I smiled at him and nodded.

"You have my word."

He nodded and I turned to go.

"Jupiter?"

I turned and looked at him.

"How do you know if my wife is still with me?"

"Because my grandmother is still with me. I hear her, she whispers and I can feel her near me. If you listen, I'm sure you'll hear your wife too. The ones that love us never really leave us. Remember that, and she'll be there."

He smiled a bit and I winked. I went back to Legolas and my friends with a smile.

"Was everything alright?" Gloradir asked.

I nodded.

"I understand him better than you guys might think. All is forgiven." I said.

Legolas smiled at me and I winked. He kissed my cheek and we once more headed to Lothlorien. As we left the borders of Thranduil's land the forest grew dark. It made me sad to see it and Legolas was constantly on alert. We rode through the first night because Legolas insisted. When we finally did stop to rest I put my hand on his arm.

"Are you alright? You've been on edge for the past two days."

He did not look at me as he answered.

"This forest is dangerous now. Outside my father's land it is very dangerous."

I understood then.

"You're worried about us."

He looked at me.

"Yes, but you most of all. My mother was killed by orcs. I cannot lose you like that."

I touched his cheek and brought his forehead to mine.

"I'm not going to leave you. I promise, as long as I have you I will fight and defeat anything that attacks us. You don't have to worry about me, I can take care of myself." I whispered.

He ran his fingers through my hair and sighed.

"I will always worry about you. You are far too hotheaded for your own good."

I smiled and pushed him onto his back. He looked up at me with a smile.

"My element is fire. You never know what could make me ignite." I whispered.

He pulled my lips to his and I closed my eyes. Slowly his tongue slipped into my mouth and I moaned softly. He pulled me down so I was practically on top of him and I pulled back slightly with a smile. He stared me for a minute before kissing me again. His hands roamed my back and ran through my hair. My hair fell over us like a curtain. He moved his lips down my jaw hungrily and he softly kissed my neck. I bit back my moan with our friends sleeping nearby. He reached the base of my throat and I bit my lower lip. I was hot and my heart was pounding. I threw my hair over my shoulder and pulled away. He raised his brow and I smiled seductively.

"When we get back to Lothlorien, I'm going to show you what I can really do."

"I like the sound of that." he whispered.

I laughed softly but then something made me stop. I sat up and looked around.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I have a terrible feeling….I'm sensing a threat nearby."

Legolas' POV

I stood up and then I heard them.

"Wake up! Everyone wake up!"

Haldir jumped up and grabbed his sword. Estelwen took his bow and Jupiter continually looked around. The first one came running forward and straight for Jupiter. She took him down easily and then the rest came forward. Gloradir took Jupiter and lifted her up. She jumped and spun around taking down three orcs at once. Haldir was keeping all orcs away from Estelwen. We thought we had killed them all, but there was one hiding in the trees. It went running towards Jupiter and my eyes went wide.

"NO!"

I ran and pushed her away. The orc hit me instead.

Jupiter's POV

Legolas fell to the ground, grabbing his side. I didn't remember ever being so angry in my life. I screamed in anger and the ground started to shake. I ran forward, not caring that it had a weapon and I did not. I grabbed it's throat and squeezed.

"You will NEVER touch him again!" I snarled.

I squeezed so hard my nails dug into it's skin. I was shaking I was so angry. I waited until it stopped breathing before I let it drop to the ground, dead. I looked at Legolas. His eyes were squeezed shut in pain. I ran and dropped down beside him.

"You idiot! Why did you do that, why!?" I cried.

He didn't answer and I took off his shirt and the shirt he wore underneath. The sword hadn't hit anything vital, but he was still at risk of dying. He was bleeding badly and he was in a lot of pain.

"Son of a bitch!" I hissed.

Estelwen was a sort of healer, but she didn't have everything she needed to close the wound. I took the ties to the front of my shirt. I cut it before it got too low and gave it to her.

"Use this! Use anything but please help him." I begged.

"I will do everything I can. I promise."

I held onto Legolas' hand as she did her work. I was breathing hard and rapidly. I had to calm him somehow.

Si perdue dans le ciel

Ne me restait qu'une aile

Tu serais celle-la

Si trainant dans mes ruines

Ne brillait rien qu'un fil

Tu serais celui-la

(Lara Fabian Immortelle)

He slowed his breathing down and I kissed his forehead. Estelwen finished and looked at me.

"This is all I can do. We have to get him to Lothlorien as fast as we can. If it opens up again, I do not know if I will be help to help."

I nodded and we mounted the horses. I led Legolas' horse and made sure he didn't fall off. We were still eight days from Lothlorien.

"Jupiter….Jupiter."

I stopped and helped Legolas down. I laid him gently on the ground and held him close.

"It's alright, I'm here."

"I cannot move anymore. The pain…it is too much."

I was starting to panic. I held back my tears and looked at my friends. Gloradir stepped forward.

"I will go for help. I can get to Lorien in five days by myself. I will come back as fast as I can."

I looked at him with gratitude.

"Thank you mon amie. Please be careful."

He nodded and mounted his horse. He galloped away and Haldir looked at me.

"He will be alright, I promise you we will save him." he said.

I just nodded and made up a bed for Legolas. As it got dark we made a fire and I covered him. It was getting cold and he needed to stay warm. He had a fever and I had no idea what to do. Estelwen fell asleep on Haldir's lap and he was looking at me with concern.

"I do not believe I have ever seen as terrifying as you when they get angry. How did you make your voice so…."

"Loud?"

He nodded slowly.

"I don't know. I've never been so angry in my entire life. I never ever want to see him get hurt. And I will kill anyone who does hurt him, and seriously injure anyone who attempts to." I said.

"I understand that. Believe me I do. I am honored to have you as a friend, Jupiter. And I will be there for you whenever you need me."

I smiled at him with tears of joy in my eyes.

"You're my best friend Haldir, like a brother I never had. Thank you."

He smiled lightly. Legolas woke up coughing and I sat him up a bit.

"Shhh! Shh-hh, you're alright. I'm right here."

Haldir threw me some water and I had him drink it.

"Gloradir went to get help so you wouldn't have to move anymore. He'll be back soon. You'll be alright."

He nodded slowly and he took my hand.

"Tu iras bien. You'll be alright." I whispered.

I refused to sleep. If orcs crept up on us again I would annihilate them.