Their time at Lothlorien was nearing it's end, and Leanna felt conflicted about it. The others seemed restless as well. After her talk with Aragorn she had made herself the purpose of spending more time with her companions, her ghosts where still there, and always would be, but until the time came she would try to push them to the back of her mind, at least until sleep came over her.
A night in particular, she came back from taking a long bath, she was wearing a very simple elven dress, it was a very pale blue, and her hair was braided with small white flowers. Elves in Lothlorien were specially welcoming to her, in some there was an almost nostalgic look at times, prove was that ever since she woke up in the forest she hadn't had to braid her own hair, there was always a new dress ready for her, and they had already fitted her for new trousers, blouse and any other clothing she would need for the journey.
As she was having such thoughts, around a small fire and drinking some liquor were the other members of the Fellowship, chatting.
"Behold who decides to grace us with her presence" Gimli snorted "It was right about time for you to return lass"
"Oh, did you missed me maese Gimli" she teased.
"Leanna" Merry and Pippin took each one of her hands and led her to sit between them.
"So what are you guys up to?" the woman's smile was there but did not reach her eyes.
Legolas stared at her, he wanted to do something, had been for days but was unsure what to say. So he just observed as she accepted a cup of wine and continued talking with the others. The hobbits told stories about the Shire, laughing, and even speaking of a certain hobbit lady named Rosie who worked at a tavern and was apparently the most beautiful one in all the Shire; especially to Sam.
Boromir spoke of his home, his brother and father, Leanna was watching him tenderly, with relief.
"What about you, Leanna?" Frodo stared at her.
"What about me?"
"Do you have family back home?" Legolas tensed immediately, he knew; and was worried for her reaction, she however, just smiled.
"Home... There's probably a fuming old redhead waiting to give me an earful as soon as I go back. My old man you see" she raised her hands like a boxer and threw a straight punch forward, quite fast "he taught me how to swing my fists and how to take care of myself"
"After all this time my lady, believe me I'm not doubting your prowess in combat but still wish to ask how was your life before our travels, why did your father taught you to fight" Boromir's tone was full of curiosity.
"Discipline" she smiled mischievously "I was quite the trouble maker during my teen years, used to ran from home, get into stupid fights, so pops decided that if I was gonna come home with a purple eye and bloody knuckles he might as well teach me to fight properly and, while at it engrave some discipline in me. Truly I don't think my body would have endured all our walking if not for that man's training, it's definitely something that your regular city person would find hard to endure"
Gimli snorted.
"Ha, I knew it!"
"Truly!?"
The contrast between the hobbit's and Gimli's reaction was obvious.
"But you are such a sweet person" Pippin was obviously flabbergasted.
"Aww thank you Pippin"
"Somehow I do believe I can see you as an unruly young one" Aragorn said.
"I can drink to that" Boromir smiled and lifted his cup.
"And how many lad's noses did those knuckles of yours smashed?"
"Enough" she took a sip of her own cup "however at some point I decided to use my hands in more passive ways"
"Drawing" Legolas offered.
"Exactly, less messy and pays way better"
"So only your old man, no broken hearted man back there?" Boromir's tone was slightly teasing.
"No broken hearts" it was a statement, there had been men, yes, not that they needed to know of, and even if there was attraction and some degree of desire, there was no love, no deeper feelings involved, she had always been able to part from them without looking back; sex was another way of releasing steam, just like fighting, it was a way to feel she had some degree of control. But she remembered the vision on the mirror, two bodies entangled under the firelight, she felt the blush rise up to her ears and drank a long gulp of wine.
"That you say and yet your face tells a different story, lass" and there was Gimli again "There must have been at least one especial someone".
"It's the wine" she replied "and I'll go for a walk"
She stood up and left still with a soft smile, Aragorn exchanged a worried look with Legolas but the elf said nothing, it was only after the hobbits and Gimli had fallen asleep that the blond stood up and followed her steps.
Legolas knew very well where every step would take him, ever since Leanna had woken up in Lothlorien something around her had changed. The elves could feel it, she was connected to something greater, something almost otherworldly however comforting, at least for others. Legolas felt as if the woman would be taken away at any moment, claimed by this ancient presence. An unknown emotion seemed to gnaw at his heart the moment such idea crossed his mind.
He eventually found her, sitting on a giant root, her back resting against the ancient tree, eyes closed, he had to look up to her, the silver halo was surrounding the endearing feminine figure. Before Legolas could finish the thought he had already climbed.
"Wish to join me, your highness?" her question had some friendly mockery and her eyelids remained down.
"Shall you allow so, my Lady, yes"
"Come here" her hand patted the wood next to her.
Legolas obeyed in a daze, more than ever before the elf engraved that face in his memories, the curvature of her lips, her nose, the length of her eyelashes, just as Leanna did on paper, in his soul he was drawing a picture, the image of the most endearing human he had ever met, the brave woman, the companion.
Finally her eyelashes fluttered, showing eyes slightly fogged as if just awoken from a light slumber, and time stopped for them.
"I fear at times, Leanna, I fear that you will be taken from me" the woman was surprised even more so when the prince held her hand interlacing their fingers, the blue eyes observed this union with utter fascination, his expression made Leanna felt the air leave her lungs.
Legolas took their hands to his lips, kissing the back of hers lightly, his irises not leaving hers, lips curving into a soft smile while seen her blush.
"Leanna, child, we must speak"
"Lady Galadriel is calling for you"
"You also heard her"
"Yes, I shall escort you there"
A while later on the way back to their tents Leanna was silent, Lady Galadriel had summoned her in private once more, and this time gave her a gift, a sword, an elven sword. It was identical to the one she had gotten in Imladris. She remembered the scene, once again next to the strange mirror.
"A long time have the blades been apart, now they have returned to your hands"
"You knew the me from back then, personally"
"Yes" Galadriel answered with a soft smile "you traveled with your siblings, many times our paths crossed as you were growing up, yet your fate was unexpected."
"What happened? How did I die? Why was I left behind"
"It is not something you shall learn from me, for only the memories engraved in your soul hold the whole truth, I was but merely an observer and as such, fear that my word would be affected by my opinions"
"Then what about this... magic, you know more than what you have told me, about this wandering people" Leanna lifted her hands, soft silver flames danced on her palms.
"I can only assure you, that it will protect you, this magic carries the warm feeling of a caretaker"
Deep in her thoughts Leanna went back into the improvised tent the elves had set for her, offering a little extra privacy. Every opportunity taken to speak with Galadriel seemed to be a repeat, going in circles with cryptic answers for the same questions over and over again. It was frustrating, terribly so.
On the other hand, Legolas went back to the rest of their companions. Only Aragorn was still awake, smoking.
"Did you spoke to her, friend?"
"I did, I believe you saw the sword"
"Is almost a reflection of her blade"
"It is a gift, given by Lady Galadriel"
"If you two are speaking of Leanna better do it in common tongue" Gimli's protest came as a surprise, especially for Legolas "What, princeling? Failed to see I was awake for being so deep in thoughts of the lass?"
"I am indeed distraught since I failed to notice the absence of your snoring" Legolas acknowledged to Aragorn's amusement.
"You ungrateful arrow head, and here I was waiting to hear how the talk went" the dwarf ranted "this is why you will stand no opportunity in earning the lass's heart, I say you. Did you at least follow my advice?"
"Advice you say?" Aragorn was holding back a grin "Are you a counselor in affairs of the heart, friend?"
"For an elf so swift with the bow, this princeling here, is an infant when it comes to a certain lady. And also, his contender is a Men, who does not ail of that damned patience of the elves! You have already seen how much time they spent together, Aragorn"
"Indeed, they share a certain bond, I however doubt that it is of the nature you presume, as far as Leanna concerns, of course"
"That might change"
"There has been change, yes" Legolas finally spoke "something is changing in Leanna, I can almost feel the forest recognize her as an old friend, if my fears turn to be true, her heart may not remain neither with him or I"
