~Snapped~
It was Legolas. Elladan shook his head laughing as he rode up to Elrohir who looked at him strangely.
"What, dear brother, finds you so amused?" He asked.
"I will tell you later when we are alone." Elladan grinned and received a nod from his twin although his eyes gleamed with curiosity.
They halted outside pine fenced yards and dismounted and Elladan busied himself untacking his mare and brushing the dried sweat from her coat. Men were filling large troughs in the yards and as he let the mare loose in the yards along with Elrohir's mare, they both trotted straight to the water and sank their noses into it.
Aragorn set Brego in the paddock and the horse sauntered up to Elrohir's mare only to be shown a threatening, cocked hind leg. The stallion walked away looking a little crestfallen and Elladan chuckled. He watched as the groups of horses slowly grew in the yards, observing their interactions as he thought about Legolas's revelation.
He was unsure how to deal with the confirmation of what he had suspected. If it were not for Aerlaer's made up song she had been singing, he would not have put two and two together.
Everything made sense now. The way Legolas and Aerlaer acted around each other, the intensity of their knife fight, the way they had danced so perfectly. And they didn't know. They had absolutely no idea.
Why did Falas forbid Aerlaer from seeing him again? That part made entirely no sense at all. They were both of equal status. It certainly was not a problem of kin for Aerlaer carried Sindar already in her own blood as he did. And what of Legolas's side to the story? Elladan knew Thranduil had kept him under lock and key, maybe that played some part in it.
The mystery of the Mirkwood Elf's identity had been solved but now it seemed the mystery ran deeper. He had never heard Legolas speak of an Elf he did not know. In fact, Legolas never really commented on elleths in general. Elrohir would make a point of pointing out elleths in Imladris but it seemed none of the Elves interested him.
Elladan wondered if he could get Legolas alone between now and Minas Tirith and see if he could get him to talk. First, he needed to talk to Elrohir. He needed a second opinion.
"Elladan!" He jumped and spun around to Aerlaer.
"Eru, you scared me!" He gasped.
"Whatever were you thinking about, I called to you twice." Aerlaer teased.
"Oh, nothing much, just watching the horses." He replied smoothly. In his head he was shouting to her that it was Legolas but something held him back from speaking those words. It didn't feel like it was his place.
"Come, the camp is set up now and there is food." He looked up and realised there were now tents dotting their way up the mountainside. "Although…" She lowered her voice. "Don't eat anything made by Éowyn." She gave him a grin and he smirked.
"That good, is it?"
"Estel will tell you, he is having stew forced down his throat for the second time in so many days." She snickered.
"Poor Estel, he needs to inform her he grew up with Elves and is not partial to meat." Elladan chuckled. He linked his arm through his little cousin's. "Come fair Lady, lead me to food and drink." He said regally and she laughed.
"Of course, oh dashing Lord." She replied with a grin as they made their way from the horse yards and up through the tents dotted up the slope of the mountain.
...
The company had eaten and Aerlaer had taken her leave of the group and climbed up onto a high rocky ledge, escaping the growing tensions of the Rohirrim as they comprehended the battle they were soon to face.
Peacefully she observed the camp below her. Legolas and Gimli were sitting together with Taurorn and the twins around a fire talking while Merry played his cithara. The King was attending to matters elsewhere. She glanced around for Aragorn and found him speaking with Éowyn. She did not look happy.
Aerlaer watched as the Ranger took the young woman's face in his hands and then let her go, turning and walking away. Éowyn watched after him and then spun on her heel and fled. Oh Manwë, I never told her about Arwen! Aerlaer realised. She rose slowly and made her way down towards the camp to seek Éowyn out.
...
How foolish could I have been? To think he cared for me. Éowyn stood by the yards the horses were resting in, watching them sadly.
"Éowyn?" Aerlaer's soft, kind tone spoke beside her. The grey horse Legolas rode emerged from the herd and trotted up to them and then her own mare, Windfola, came too. Absentmindedly she stroked her horse's neck while Aerlaer blew a greeting into Arod's nostrils and fondly scratched under his forelock.
"Who is she? The Elf who has Aragorn's heart?" Éowyn asked quietly. She did not know why she asked, it would make no difference.
"Her name is Arwen. She is the younger sister to Elladan and Elrohir." Aerlaer replied and she turned to the she-Elf, surprised.
"Then she is your cousin." Éowyn realised. Perhaps Aerlaer is not the one to speak of such matters with but here I have no one else whom to turn to.
"She is." Aerlaer confirmed. "Aragorn lived with the Elves for a time. You could say he was raised by them. He is unlike other men and unlike other Rangers, although Taurorn does remind me of a younger version of him for he has mingled with us Elves also." Aerlaer's gaze left the horses, turning to hold her own and Éowyn suddenly felt like all her feelings were bare for the she-Elf to see.
"I am sorry Éowyn, there is no way I can really comfort you but you will find someone who will love you in return." The Elf said kindly and Éowyn shook her head.
"I believe such things are too late for we ride to war. A war we probably won't survive." She added sadly.
"No one can say who will win but we have something our enemy does not." Aerlaer replied mysteriously and Éowyn raised a questioning brow.
"We have a Hobbit with a ring." She said. "And for that we have hope." She smiled and Éowyn allowed a tiny smile herself.
"I'm not going back to Edoras. I'm going to war too." Éowyn said quietly and Aerlaer nodded.
"I thought you would." She grinned.
"What is Arwen like?" She asked and Aerlaer chuckled.
"Arwen is the sensible one. She can fight, she has a sense of humor but she is the one who keeps her brothers in line and she is not only my cousin but my dearest friend. Although she calls me reckless." Aerlaer added humorously and Éowyn nodded, a small smile forming unbidden on her lips.
"She does sound like a nice Elf." Éowyn mused.
"She is and she loves Aragorn with all her heart. He thinks she sailed but I am very certain she did not. She would not leave him." Éowyn's smile grew although it was wistful.
"Will you be alright?" Aerlaer asked gently and Éowyn nodded.
"He said what I loved was a shadow of an idea." She explained. "His words are wise, I do love the idea of him. He is kingly and wise and kind and fearless, but I do not know him for who he is." Just saying those words to another helped her realize they were true.
"Well said, I am glad you are not too sad." Aerlaer smiled and they both lapsed into silence.
Aerlaer looked back up the mountain, her eyes searching and Éowyn turned to see where the Elf's gaze fell and smiled.
"Perhaps one day if we should win this war, someone will look at me at least half the way Legolas looks at you." Éowyn said and was amused to see Aerlaer's shoulders stiffen.
"I think you mistake his gaze, for it is only one of friendship." Aerlaer replied and Éowyn laughed aloud.
"Oh, I might be many centuries younger than you, but I am quite sure I'm not mistaken." She replied, lightly teasing. "Thank you for listening to me Aerlaer, I do appreciate it. I think I will head back to now rest for the eve." She said quietly and the Elf nodded although she now seemed to be deep in thought.
"That is what friends do." Aerlaer replied and smiling and gladder of heart, Éowyn returned up the mountainside.
…
Aerlaer had also left the yards and sought out the comfort of a tree and now lay in a tall pine by the stream in the valley watching the sun set. The sky was beautiful in its coloured splendor, the air warm, peaceful.
Movement caught her eye and she tipped her head, hair tumbling over branch as she spied Legolas through the needled branches, walking along beneath the tree line, along the streams grassy bank. Does he really look at me as Éowyn thinks? No, she thought Aragorn had feelings for her so there is no possible way she could know such things. Still, Legolas did sometimes look so intensely at her she'd forget how to breathe.
Aerlaer watched him approach with the powerful grace he seemed to possess, eyes almost a shade of indigo mixed with gold for how the sunset reflected within them. They were full of curiosity as he looked at his surroundings. He only wore his soft, light silvery tunic and his hair was loose, falling back behind his shoulders, the light breeze slightly moving the pale strands, causing them to catch the colours of the sky. If only she knew where she stood with him. She detested this waiting game Rodwen had insisted upon. She let out a sigh.
"Aerlaer I know you're in one of these trees" Legolas suddenly called out, his voice warm, cheerful and instantly lightening her confused heart. A wicked grin formed upon her lips as a plan formed in her mind. Silently she pulled herself up into a crouch and waited for him to pass under her branch. Flooring him twice in one day, he couldn't possibly live that down.
He moved into position, seeming oblivious to her location, and she leapt down at him, hands grabbing onto his shoulders and tackling him to the ground but quickly found herself the one who was flat on the bank of the stream, Legolas grinning roguishly down at her. Forcefully she pushed all thoughts of how distracting he looked from her mind.
"Nice try, imp." He said playfully and she smirked and went to get up but he stopped her.
"Watch this." He said excitedly and taking her arm, made quick work of healing her bruises from their earlier game, and then rested his hand on her collar bone and healed the large bruise there too. His touch was gentle and cool and warm at once and she nearly wished she had let the arrow hit her more times. No that would have meant losing and giving up some dark secret surely.
"Thank you. You are such a fast learner, did one of the twins teach you?" She asked, thoroughly impressed and he nodded with a grin, clearly proud of his work.
"Elladan. He showed me how to heal my own." He explained and she tilted her head, smiling.
"You missed one." She sat up and brought her hand up to rest on his cheek and concentrated on healing the bruise he had sustained. She noticed she had messed his hair a little when she had ambushed him and carefully brushed it back into place with her fingers,
"Aerlaer." He breathed softly and she felt his hand come to caress her face as he searched her eyes, his own molten ones full of questions.
"What is it?" She whispered, hardly daring to breathe as he brushed his thumb gently across her cheek. Oh Silaear, what is he doing? Don't glow, don't glow! Suddenly his face became like that of a closed book and he dropped his hand from her.
"Night is falling, we should head back to camp." He said quietly and stood up, giving her a hand up before turning and walking quietly back. She walked beside him, mind reeling. What had he been going to ask me?
"The horses seem settled for the night." He commented quietly.
"Yes, they like being together." She replied. Why do you confuse me so?
They walked through the tents and came to their belongings and Aerlaer picked up her bedroll and cloak and cast her eyes to the sky. The stars which were coming out were bright and the dark blue expanse was devoid of clouds.
"It will be a bright night." Legolas murmured, also looking up to the sky. I hope he stays near me.
"Warm too." She mused and he nodded. Glancing around she noticed the twins had settled on the soft grass a little way from the campfire and she placed her own bedroll down some feet down the slope from Elladan and Elrohir, where the ground was flat once more.
Sinking down onto the roll, she began folding her cloak to form a pillow when she realised Legolas watched her. She looked up, meeting his hesitant gaze.
"Do you, ah mind? I've become used to sleeping next to you." He asked quietly, not meeting her eyes as he picked at a loose thread at the corner of his bedroll and she had the sudden urge to embrace him in her arms and never let go. No matter how much he was still confusing her, she was glad he wanted to stay beside her.
A smile crept onto her face and she patted the ground next to her and a brief flash of relief crossed his, followed by a grin and he placed his roll down next to hers and kicking his boots off, settled down, scrunching his cloak up to rest his head on. They both lay quietly watching the stars.
There was a loud snore from the nearby tent where Aragorn and Gimli slept and Aerlaer snickered quietly.
"It's much more peaceful out here." Legolas sighed.
"Mmm, it is a beautiful night." Aerlaer murmured.
"Aerlaer?"
"Yes?"
"Did you ever figure out Galadriel's words for you?" He asked quietly and she bit back a bemused laugh.
"Yes. Rodwen was the wise lady." She replied smiling up to the stars.
"What about the other one, the one you would not tell me?" He asked teasingly as he rolled onto his side to face her and this time she did laugh.
"Yes, I figured out that one too with a little help from Rodwen."
"And what did you work out?" He asked and she rolled over to face him, contemplating if she should say anything. She sighed.
"The truth and that has turned out to be more puzzling than the riddle ever was." She searched his eyes, not even sure what she was looking for. It was words she needed to hear from him. He gazed back at her, a curious look in his dark eyes and then something more as if he were trying to read her thoughts.
"Have you puzzled out yours?" She asked and he shook his head.
"I think mine are a matter of waiting. The one about the sea though, that one scares me I will admit." He whispered and she reached her hand across the gap between them and found his.
"Whatever it is, I'll face it with you." She whispered back and felt his fingers thread warmly through hers. "Sleep now. Dream of the woods or whatever you woodland Elves dream about." He gave a quiet chuckle as she rolled onto her back again, keeping his hand safe in hers.
"Ollo vae." He murmured and Aerlaer fell asleep with a smile.
...
Elrohir bided his time, resting beside his brother until he was sure Legolas and Aerlaer were asleep. He silently rose from his roll and snuck over to them. Legolas lay fast asleep on his side facing Aerlaer, his arm stretched out towards her and Elrohir smirked gleefully realizing both their hands were joined between them.
Aerlaer lay on her back sleeping peacefully. He walked around her and crouching down silently, gently placed his hand on her shoulder. Thankyou Galadriel. He thought deviously as he gently willed Aerlaer to roll over towards Legolas. The elleth stirred and shifted over and Elrohir jumped back realizing Legolas was stirring too.
Damn I woke him up! Elrohir worried but the Sinda Elf seemed to remain asleep as his arms reached out to Aerlaer and pulled her to him. Elrohir bit down on the inside of his cheek trying not to chortle in glee as Aerlaer moved to settle comfortably against the blonde Elf's chest, strands of her hair faintly beginning to glow a light gold. Ha would you look at that!
"Elrohir!" He nearly jumped out of his skin in fright at Elladan's quiet whisper in his ear.
"What have you done?" His brother said warily and Elrohir turned to him gleefully.
"Nothing really, I just gave them a little nudge." He whispered deviously.
"We need to talk." Elladan hissed and grabbing his arm, pulled him a distance away.
"Do you not like my revenge for the apple incident?" Elrohir asked, unsure why Elladan was acting so strangely.
"No, it's very clever but really how much did you have to manipulate them?" Elladan asked curiously and Elrohir smirked.
"Truthfully brother all I did was to persuade Aerlaer to roll from her back to her side. The rest was all them." Elladan shook his head and chuckled quietly. "Why what is it? Is this to do with what you had to tell me earlier?" He asked eagerly and Elladan nodded.
"It's Legolas." He grinned happily towards the sleeping Elves.
"I do not understand." Elrohir replied, baffled.
"Think brother. Use that walnut of a brain." Elladan suggested with a smirk.
"Walnut?" Who, what?" Elladan nodded, willing him to keep working it out. Walnut, why did walnut ring a bell. Aerlaer and Aerthor once used black walnut to change the colour of their hair when they had snuck into Mirkwood to… "The masked dance!" Elrohir cried out excitedly.
"Shush! You'll wake Mordor with your carrying on!" Elladan hissed and Elrohir quickly glanced to see if he had woken the sleeping Elves. They had not even stirred. His face felt like it was going to split in joy.
"It's Legolas! I can't believe it! Well I can believe it! Elladan this is brilliant! So brilliant! Oh, we must tell them! They'll be so happy! They've been together without even knowing!"
"Will you calm down and stop jumping about!" Elladan whispered and Elrohir tried to keep still.
"And no, I don't think we should outright tell them. I think they need to work it out for themselves. It seems fate has brought them back together again and fate will decide when they realize it." Elladan said philosophically.
"Whatever, Galadriel." Elrohir quipped to his brother. "Can we give them hints at least?" He pressed and after a moment Elladan nodded.
"Yes, I suppose we can." Elladan grinned. "I wanted to shout it to her once I found out." He admitted as they watched the two sleeping Elves. "Remember how sad she was and all that poison Falas fed her. It makes no sense why he kept her from Legolas." Elladan shook his head.
"You're right, it makes no sense at all. On a diplomatic level it would have strengthened realms and they might have even joined into one realm." Elrohir murmured.
"Who knows for what intention they were kept apart but it does not matter now for they are together again." Elladan whispered happily. "Come brother let us rest now, I'll warrant you'll want to be awake to see the result of your trick." Elrohir smirked, he wanted to witness that awkward spectacle!
...
Elrond followed the Rohirrim guards between the tents, heading up the mountainside. They stopped only when they reached the highest tent on a grassy platue, and one guard entered while the other waited beside him. A light was lit and the soldier stepped back out of the tent.
"King Théoden will see you now, my Lord." The guard said with a curt bow of his head and Elrond entered the tent.
"My Lord Elrond, late meetings these are indeed." The King greeted him tiredly and Elrond gave him a respectful nod.
"I apologize for the hour, for I rode here as swiftly as I could. I seek Aragorn. He must arrive in Gondor by another route." Elrond said calmly and the King looked at him expectantly for more information but Elrond gave no more. He was here to see Estel.
The King nodded and walked to the entrance of the tent and addressed one of the guards.
"Fetch Lord Aragorn please." He turned and busied himself at pouring two chalices of wine from a skin.
"Are all elves as mischievous as the four I have been hosting these past days?" Elrond couldn't hold a smirk back as Théoden handed him a chalice.
"No, you are the lucky one to host the worst four." He replied and received a warm smile from the King as he took a deep drink.
"Their presence has been refreshing and joyful. My people are quite fond of the four of them." He said and Elrond nodded, gladdened the four youngsters had been received well by the Rohirrim.
"It has been quiet in Rivendell without the twins." He admitted. "But they are where they wish to be." He smiled. He would seek them out once he had spoken to Estel.
The entrance to the tent opened and Aragorn stepped in.
"My Lord Elrond?" He greeted him but it was a question too. He was worried, worried for Arwen.
"I will take my leave." Théoden said and stepped from the tent, giving them privacy.
"I come on behalf of one who I love." He said to the Ranger. "Arwen is dying. She will not long survive the evil that now spreads from Mordor. The light of the Evenstar is failing. As Sauron's power grows, her strength wanes. Arwen's life is now tied to the fate of the Ring. The shadow is upon us, Aragorn. The end has come." He explained. He tried keeping his voice calm but it sounded sad to his own ears. Defeated.
He watched as Aragorn processed all he had told him. His eyes showed pain and worry but there was determination in them too and in the grim set of his weary face.
"It will not be our end but his." The Ranger replied stubbornly.
"You ride to war but not to victory." Elrond sighed. "Sauron's armies march on Minas Tirith, as you know, but in secret He sends another force, which will attack from the river. A fleet of Corsair ships sails from the South. They will arrive at the mouth of the Anduin at dusk in two days." Aragorn looked alarmed at this new information and ran his hands through his hair.
"You are outnumbered. You need more men than what King Théoden can muster."
"There is no more." Aragorn said in exasperation and Elrond lowered his voice.
"There are those that dwell in the mountains. You know of which I speak."
"Murderers! Traitors! You would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing! They answer to no one." Aragorn answered and Elrond shook his head.
"They will answer to the King of Gondor. They will answer to you." Elrond revealed a sword in its scabbard from within the folds of his cloak.
"She believes in you." He said as he handed it to Aragorn. "Andúril… Flame of the West. Forged from the shards of Narsil." He watched as Aragorn slowly drew the sword from its scabbard and held it up. Firelight played on Andúril's sharp edges.
"Sauron will not have forgotten the Sword of Elendil." Aragorn murmured as he swung it expertly in his hand. "The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith."
"The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army deadlier than any that walks this earth. Put aside the Ranger. Become who you were born to be. Take the Dimholt road." Elrond urged and Aragorn considered him in silence.
"Ónen i-Estel Edain." Elrond said softly to him.
"Ú-chebin Estel anim." The Ranger replied and Elrond shook his head, a small smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.
"Will you take me to my son's and niece?" He asked and Aragorn nodded and together they left the tent and made their way down from the platue to the one below it.
Silently they approached his sleeping son's.
"How peaceful they look." Elrond murmured as he brushed a loving hand over each twin's face. He then let his gaze fall a few feet away to his young niece wrapped securely in the arms of Thranduil's son, her hair glowing a pale, soft gold. A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"That I am gladdened to witness." He smiled and Aragorn looked at him in exasperation.
"It might look wonderful now but I'll warrant unless Legolas has finally confessed his feelings, which I highly doubt, come the light of dawn I'll have two awkward and frustrating Elves to contend with." Aragorn said dryly and Elrond chuckled again.
"I have no idea what you mean but fate has a funny way of working out." Aragorn made to ask more but Elrond shook his head. "You will see." He promised the Ranger and turned back to his two sons.
"Do I even want to know why Elrohir has a bruise on his head?" He shook his head and Aragorn chuckled now.
"Arrow Catch." He explained and Elrond nodded. Naturally.
"I would dearly like to speak with them but I will not disturb these four youngsters from the peaceful realms of sleep." He murmured and cast one last gaze fondly over the four Elves. This is how I would wish to remember them, in the peacefulness of sleep, not death.
"I must leave now. Remember you were named Estel for a reason." He said and Aragorn nodded. He pulled the Ranger into a brief hug and then let go and turned around, pulling the hood of his cloak over his head and made his way back down the mountain. He hated goodbyes.
…
Legolas awoke to a soft glow which was not the slowly lightening sky of a new day approaching. His head rested on waves of soft hair which was where the light golden glow was coming from. His hands were tangled in it and in the cool morning air he felt warm and at peace. He could remain like this forever. Unfortunately, he had to somehow extract himself from the beautiful elleth in his arms without waking her up. How in Arda had this happened!
He gently tried untangling his fingers out of her hair, fighting the urge to just tangle them up even more in its glorious lengths. The softly glowing and sparkling strands did not help matters either, sending little ticklish zaps to his fingers. Eru, of all the times, why must her hair choose now to spark? He thought in exasperation. Oh, Manwë don't awaken! Don't wake up! He began panicking as she started to move in his arms. She mumbled something incoherent in Elvish and then a surprised "Oh!" Sounded from her and he felt her shifting to look up at him.
"Manwe! Goheno nin, Aerlaer." He hastily said as he finally untangled his hands from her hair and pulled away from her, feeling extremely embarrassed. Her hair was still sparking softly and her look of wonder turned to one of confusion, hurt and annoyance, her eyes darkening.
"Goheno, Legolas? Am man theled?" She asked flatly and he looked at her confused.
"What do you mean? I'm sorry for this." He exclaimed as he gestured between them and her hair began to spark copper.
"Truly Legolas, if that were so you would not have been holding me in the first place." She said dryly with a hint of accusation as she sat up and so too did he, noting he was still completely on his bed roll.
"Perhaps if you hadn't rolled off your bed toward me I would not have!" He retorted indignantly and her eyes flashed with dark annoyance as she leapt up to her feet, glaring down at him.
"You wanted to sleep next to me remember." She growled furiously as he too stood up to his full height and narrowed his eyes now down to hers.
"Well you hardly objected." He growled back, scared and angry.
"Well I did not expect to awaken with your hands tangled in my hair!" She snapped. She met his eyes, her own dark and blazing menacingly at him. He had the insane urge to grab her and kiss her hard as he stared at her practically blazing before him, the breeze tousling her sparking hair.
"Well?" She asked him imperiously and he snapped.
"Maybe I chose to knowing you'd be afraid if the moon should pass behind a mere cloud." He hissed as he fell back on the desperate excuse to protect his dignity, to protect his heart.
He instantly regretted his words as shock and then deep hurt flickered across her features. She took a step back, away from him.
"Aerlaer, I didn't mean that. Aerlaer I'm sorry." He took a step towards her but she shook her head and took two more steps away from him. What have I done?
"That's just it, isn't it?" She cried viciously, hurt evident in her voice. "I don't know what you mean!" She clenched her fists, glaring at him. "Eru, I don't even think you know what you mean! She hissed. "You certainly didn't the other night wh-"
"Aerlaer, avo ped!" Aragorn roared over her, startling and silencing them both. A look of pure horror crossed the elleth's face and then she swiftly searched his eyes and he felt his heart constrict to see sadness in her own. Sadness I have caused. She turned and walked away from him. What did she mean by that? Oh, what have I done!
"Aerlaer don't go." He said softly and made to follow her but suddenly a hand grabbed his arm roughly and spun him around. It was Aragorn and he looked furious.
"Man agoreg?" The Ranger growled, eyes flashing.
"I didn't mean it, Aragorn. I was asleep. It just happened." He replied miserably. It was the truth. What more could he say.
"Why in Arda did you have to sleep next to her?" He asked in exasperation. "Of all the mornings I must deal with you two, it had to be this one!" He dropped Legolas's arm and walked in a small circle running his hands back through his air in frustration. "Why, oh why can't you just tell her?"
"You know why!" Legolas replied desolately.
"Yet you do this?" Aragorn growled. "Every eve you end up sleeping together!"
"It is not like that! You know it's not!" Legolas retorted furiously.
"Well it's certainly what it looks like!" Aragorn snapped back and Legolas felt uneasy as he recalled that maid's assumptions in Edoras.
"I'll stay away from her. I promise." Legolas vowed and Aragorn laughed dryly.
"I'm not holding you to any promise Legolas, your attempts at staying away are terrible." The Ranger conceded with frustration. "And it is undoubtedly going to prove difficult if you both wish to go with me and Gimli." He said flatly. "Although I've a mind to separate the both of you and have you continue to Minas Tirith with Elrohir and Elladan." Legolas knew not where he meant but he felt panic rise in him at the thought of being separated from the elleth.
"No! Don't do that to me!" He gasped in horror at the stern Ranger.
"Then you better be on your best damn behavior, Thranduilion." He said in a low and warning tone and Legolas flinched at how Aragorn addressed him. "You brought all of this upon yourself, Legolas" He said in a quieter, regretful voice and then strode away in the direction Aerlaer had gone.
"Wait, what did you stop her from saying to me?" He called to the Ranger's retreating back.
"I was simply silencing you both." He replied flatly. "We leave for The Paths of the Dead and then onward to the sea. Pack very lightly, we travel by foot and we leave very shortly." The Ranger called back to him before disappearing behind a tent.
Beware of the sea. Galadriel's words echoed in his mind and he felt a wave of nausea in the pit of his stomach. He would go with them, even if it meant he ran to his doom.
...
"Aerlaer!" She stopped her angry descent and turned to Aragorn as he ran up to her.
"Estel, goheno nin." She said sadly, wearily, and he pulled her into an embrace.
"Iston Aerlaer, iston." He said softly to her.
"I make for the paths of the dead and then the sea. Will you accompany me?" He asked her quietly.
"Of course I will." She replied without hesitation and he felt his heart warm by her friendship and loyalty. Traipsing around the continent with him was not exactly what she had agreed to back in Imladris but then, they had travelled and fought by one another's side before. As had Legolas.
Begrudgingly he knew he needed both of them. Civil or not, they would not let him down he was certain. Trained Elven warriors were good like that.
"Are Gimli and the Sinda Idiot also coming?" She asked flatly and Aragorn could not help but chuckle. Sinda Idiot indeed.
He stepped back from their embrace, holding her at arm's length and studied her intently. She now wore a mask of indifference.
"Yes, they come to." He said quietly and he caught the slight motion of her shoulders relax. Already she forgives him. "We travel light and by foot and we leave shortly. Meet me at my tent when you are ready." She nodded and he turned to head back to speak with the Rangers but realised he should say more.
"Aerlaer?" She stopped waiting for him to speak, not facing him.
"He truly did not mean those last words." He said gently but she didn't answer. He knew, intended or not, Legolas's words had hurt her. He had seen and heard most of their disagreement and he knew Legolas would be hurting too for his words and the words she inflicted.
No one trifled with Aerlaer without consequently getting burnt and she was wickedly slow to forgive. He imagined Legolas had never had an elleth challenge him so, due to his rank. He realised he would have to speed up the process for the sake of their journeying together. "I know you Tithinriel, do not be too harsh on him. He is remorseful for his words."
"And his actions?" She asked stiffly.
"I am sorry Aerlaer that is a truth you will only learn from him." He replied carefully. He may be disappointed in Legolas but he would not spill his heart." She remained silent, possibly contemplating his words. A few strands of her hair sparked copper and he recalled the perfect image of two peaceful, sleeping Elves only hours earlier. A smile played on his lips.
"Also, I didn't know your hair glowed when you slept." He added nonchalantly, waiting for her reaction to his light teasing. She seemed to freeze at his words, her back straightening stiffly and then shook her head in annoyance.
"Stupid, accursed hair." She muttered darkly and proceeded to stalk downwards and he laughed lightly as he proceeded back up through the camp which was just beginning to awaken. Gimli appeared and came to walk beside him.
"Where is Legolas? He asked the Dwarf who chuckled.
"Sulkily preparing to leave." Gimli replied. "He really is sorry for what he said." He added and Aragorn nodded.
"I know." He sighed. "I just wish he would stop being so reckless, I've warned him enough times already." Aragorn added. "Hopefully now he's been burned a little he will learn." Gimli chuckled.
"Gold and Silver those two are. Both hard but not entirely unforgiving and no matter how hot they so easily get, they always cool down. And together, they are scintillating." He said and Aragorn nodded with a grin. The Dwarf had described them perfectly.
...
"Legolas had run down to the horse yards and said goodbye to Arod and then found Merry and Éowyn and said farewell to them too. He wore his light hunting tunic, the one he had brought with him from Rivendell and his Lothlórien cloak clasped around his shoulders. He sat beside his quiver a little way from Aragorn's tent, feeling miserable for what he had said to Aerlaer. He'd ruined everything. Aragorn had warned him against exactly what he had done.
"Wow you really annoyed Aerlaer." Elrohir said in way of greeting as he came to kneel next to him.
"I don't exactly need reminding." Legolas sighed. He didn't feel like a war of words with the twin.
"She might be fired up now but she'll cool down." Elrohir said kindly.
"If I should be so lucky." He answered and Elrohir leant conspiringly towards him.
"I'll give you some advice which I think you will find enlightening."
"I'm listening." Legolas sighed.
"Grey-blue is content. Sapphire is happy and or curious. Blue-indigo is affectionate. Dark blue is mischief. "Very, very dark blue is anger.
Sparks of copper are anger or annoyance. Sparks of gold are happy or mischievous sparks, and the soft light golden glow you awoke to my friend, well you can work that one out yourself." Elrohir said with a smirk and stood up. "Look after them and don't go getting yourself killed, Sinda." He chuckled. "I'll see you in Gondor." He said and then quirked his head to the side.
"By the way, the way you dance is strange, no one in Lórien or Imladris dances like that you know. It's rather intriguing Aerlaer matched you so well." He added thoughtfully before grinning mischievously and dashing away.
"Well is that just not great, now I am being told even my dancing is not right." Legolas muttered darkly to himself. What relevance did that even have to their earlier conversation? Aerlaer was quick on her feet. Besides I know I am a brilliant dancer, if there is one thing Sinda do well it is dance. He thought before his mind went to the task of pondering the many colours of Aerlaer.
Well if copper is anger she certainly was angry with me earlier. Her eyes he had already figured most of their varying colours out himself, there were some that still baffled him though. Like the dark, wild warm look they sometimes showed. Her hair glowing as she slept though had him wondering. If the darker it sparked, the madder she was did that mean the lighter gold glow meant she was happy? Had she slept truly happily in my arms last night?
"Oww!" He gasped, startled from his thoughts. He looked down to see an apple drop into his lap from where it had hit him ironically right over his heart. He looked up to see Aerlaer stalking off in the direction Elrohir had gone. She may not have exactly cooled down but it was surely a step in the right direction.
...
"Wow Aerlaer, did you wake up on the wrong side of your bedroll?" Taurorn asked and Aerlaer glared at him, annoyed.
"It was more a case of she didn't wake up on her own bedroll at all!" Elrohir snickered and Aerlaer growled.
"Do I even want to know?" Taurorn laughed playfully and Elrohir shook his head.
"Probably not, she's in quite the temper this morning although before she woke up she looked to be in a delightful mood. It was quite telling really." Elrohir mused as he made a show of playing with the length of his own dark hair. Taurorn held in a snort of laughter.
"Do not tempt me Elrohir." Aerlaer bit out menacingly and the other Elf chuckled.
"You be safe my dear little cousin, and look after the others and that enchanting, Sinda Prince." He trilled and Aerlaer growled.
"That's it!" She stalked towards him and laughing, he swiftly dashed away through the tents and out of sight. "He's lucky I have not the time to strangle him." Aerlaer seethed, turning back to Taurorn.
"Are you okay?" Taurorn asked her carefully as he gently held her by the shoulders, searching her face. She only seemed annoyed.
"Well enough in all things that do not involve idiot Sinda." She replied in exasperation and he chuckled.
"Yes, I did hear about that." He tilted his head at her bemused. "You really do need to learn how to control your hair."
"I'll dye my damn hair. That will fix it." She muttered darkly
"Would you really?" He asked surprised. She loves her hair.
"No, that has caused me a world of trouble in the past. I'll keep my hair, sparks and all." She grumbled and unsure what she meant, he pulled her into a hug.
"Everything will be alright just don't go getting yourself hurt or killed or anything stupid." He murmured.
"Same to you." She replied and he felt her arms hug him tightly back before she pulled out of his embrace and reached into the deep inside pocket of her cloak and withdrew the satchel containing her tiara and pressed it into his hands. "Keep it safe for me." She said quietly and he nodded and then looked to her throat, for the Seastone.
"You're wearing it." He smiled and she nodded.
"Had to eventually." She replied and he was glad to hear there was no trace of guilt in her words.
"See you in Gondor. Maybe I'll find myself a nice Gondor lass?" He joked and she laughed.
"They'll be falling all over you, being a mysterious Ranger and all!" She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and returned back towards Aragorn's camp. Taurorn watched her until he lost her in the sea of tents.
…
Elladan appeared from a row of tents and fell into step with her. Please don't tease me as Elrohir has.
"Be safe little cousin. By the way did I tell you about my research project?"
"Your what?" Aerlaer spluttered, this was the last thing she expected him to say. Since when did Elladan do research, let alone entire projects?
"My dedicated research project on the percentages of eye colours per Elven realm?"
"She shook her head, humoring him. I guess it's better than getting teased.
"It's all very fascinating. Did you know that there is only a five percent population of brown eyed Elves in Mirkwood? Not many at all. Twenty-five percent are green and the rest are blues or greys. More so interesting is blue is the predominant eye colour for the nobles of Mirkwood with brown just scraping in a mention." Elladan stated the figures nonchalantly and then pulled her into a quick embrace. "See you in Minas Tirith, Tithinriel!" and dashed away. The strangest things amused her cousin. Does it really matter how many have blue or brown or green eyes?
She looked ahead towards Aragorn's tent. The Ranger wasn't yet there. Only Legolas and she was not in the mood for speaking to him although she had been carrying around a spare apple out of habit. She took it out of her pocket and aimed and pelted it at him and smirked as it startled him before turning and stalking away to find Éowyn and Merry. Stupid brown eyed elves.
...
"Legolas!" Called out Elladan as he ran up to where he sat, throwing the apple thoughtfully in the air.
"Ah so you are ever so slightly forgiven." The dark-haired Elf grinned.
"Her method of delivery would suggest otherwise." Legolas muttered as he rubbed at his chest which was a little tender and Elladan laughed. She's forgiving him rather quickly, if it were I or Elrohir, we'd be fleeing for our lives. If she works out what Elrohir did, he will be fleeing for his life!
"She's all fire that one, of varying degrees. Fire and gold." He said philosophically to the downhearted Elf next to him. He felt bad for him, although it was rather amusing watching them argue so heatedly as they defended their actions.
"I've noticed." Legolas sighed and Elladan was delighted the Elf's sigh had a note of longing in it.
"All passion." He added casually and noted the Elf beside him looked even more brooding.
"Say Legolas, do you know much about walnuts?" Elladan asked and the blonde Elf turned to him surprised.
"Walnuts?"
"Black walnuts to be precise. They have some pretty mysterious uses." Elladan commented and Legolas looked at him completely baffled. Elladan couldn't help but smirk mischievously.
"Anyway, must go find my brother. Don't forget about those walnuts. See you in Gondor." Elladan gave him a friendly elbow in the ribs and shaking his head feeling giddy with the knowledge he knew, he leapt up and dashed away.
…
Legolas did not have time to ponder what Elladan had said for Aragorn and Gimli approached him followed by Aerlaer walking a few paces reluctantly behind them. Thankfully her hair was spark free.
"Ready?" Aragorn asked calmly and he nodded.
"You're meant to eat that." Aerlaer said dryly, looking pointedly at his apple.
"Oh, I thought it was an apple for throwing?" He asked innocently and a couple strands of hair began to spark copper again. Still annoyed.
"Not a word from either of you two until you can speak kindly to one another again." Aragorn warned them and Aerlaer narrowed her eyes at him before resuming a mask of indifference which slightly bemused Legolas as her hair still sparked a little.
"Then it shall be a silent path we take." She huffed.
"Aerlaer." Aragorn said warningly and she shrugged carelessly.
"I'll behave." She muttered darkly under her breath. What had Aragorn said to her? How was this her behaving? Eru what have I done!
"Let's go. We'll walk until we reach the valley and then we run. We must reach the Hill of Erech by midnight tonight and it is a long way." Aragorn said and they made their way in silence down the side of the mountain and into the valley below.
This is one of my favorite chapters to this story, hope all you new readers enjoyed it. A xx