~ Hyped ~
Legolas sat a little way from Aerlaer, as she rummaged through her pack, deciding what she would need for their journey to Mordor. She sat cross-legged, her emerald dress flowing out around her. Legolas held in a chuckle, watching her chew her lip, contemplating what she should march to Mordor in. She held one up and turned it in her hands scrutinizing a dress before dropping the material in her lap. He smirked at her indecision.
Legolas had taken but a moment to decide. He would wear his hunting garments for they were elven made, and by far the most comfortable to fight in. Although he would not admit it out loud, he considered the soft, light, silvery tunic he wore underneath to be lucky. The colour was also a fitting contrast to the darkness which was Sauron and his army. He wondered if it was Aerlaer's current predicament? He never took her to be so fussy over choosing her garments. It was a similar trait to his father's… No. I will not think about him right now. He shut down where his thoughts were leading down, focusing once more on the elleth who was now holding up a dress of white and pale gold.
"That one." He said within a heartbeat of beholding the garment in her hands. Aerlaer turned to look at him with a curious raise of her brows.
"Why?"
Why? The dress appeared soft and flowing in its lightness, starting with pale golden shoulder ties of entwined thread which met the top of the bodice of the dress; trailing out and down almost like branches. Small, embroidered golden leaves of the same thread sprung from the trailing golden branches, near rendering the top half of the bodice gold. They feathered down, and then only the branch like lengths trailed on down the bodice, ending at various lengths of the dress's petal like skirts. Aerlaer turned the dress, revealing the back, or lack of! Two tendrils of the leaf-laden branches came to the base of the skirt and then like the front, trailed down into it, ending at different lengths. It was glorious.
"It is undeniably you, for it too is golden light; a contrast to the darkness we march toward." He found himself explaining.
"Good, I thought so too." She said, sending a wistful gaze in the far away direction of Rohan. "I do miss Rodwen, but I am glad to have these dresses to remember her by." He nodded.
"I liked Edoras, and the people there." The Rohirrim were quite different to the people in this city, although he'd started to adjust to them. Still, Legolas did not like how the guards watched Aerlaer, especially that Bregon. Although, he enjoyed seeing the man's annoyance to how Aerlaer greeted him. Legolas fought a grin at the memory.
They had barely spoken as they'd prepared for their departure with Elrohir, Elladan and Taurorn, each lost in their own thoughts. Legolas had asked Aerlaer how Aragorn's little chat with Sauron had played out. With a devious grin, she gave him the barest details, but it was enough to ease his earlier worry. The communication played out better than Aragorn planned.
Earlier, Elrohir had dragged him aside while Aerlaer had been pre-occupied checking over Arod's tack and checked Legolas's lifeforce. Elrohir had snapped at him that once they had packed, he was not to leave the tent until he had rested. Now as he sat nearby Aerlaer in the spacious tent which had been supplied along with provisions from the city, he realised just how weary he was. A yawn escaped him. Aerlaer whipped her head in his direction, gaze narrowing.
"Why did you yawn? Elves do not yawn, yet you just yawned. Why?" She asked, suddenly before him. A hand was placed over his heart and her face, which had been calm but moments before was now filled with shock, with worry.
"You only have half of a lifeforce." She muttered more to herself. "My lifeforce at that, yours is not even there." She added. "Why is yours not there?" She searched his eyes. "Why is there only half of it left? Where is the rest? I gave you more than half." She raced out her words with growing worry. Legolas did not realise she was in the dark over what had happened and rushed to explain.
"Elrohir does not know if mine will return." Her eyes widened. "There is only half because I gave some back to you or you would not have survived. Your cousins did not have enough left to give, and I wanted to be the one to do it." He held her gaze, watching a range of emotions swirl within the blue of her eyes. They dropped, a frown forming as she seemed to calculate something, then flicked back up to gaze hard at him.
"When did you last rest, Legolas?" She asked with suspicion. Legolas swallowed; aware he might feel her wrath by his answer.
"I slept a couple short hours on the corsair ships." He muttered.
"Why did you not rest after the battle?" She asked. He let out a dry laugh.
"Because I was watching over you."
"The entire time?"
"Entirely. Day and night. Until Aragorn kicked me out, but if he hadn't, I would have been there when you awoke." He had forgiven Aragorn for sending him away once he'd figured out who Aerlaer was; something else they had yet to speak of.
"Have you eaten at least?" She asked, and he shook his head. Her eyes narrowed, and he held his hands up in defence.
"Eating was the last thing on my mind, Aerlaer. I thought I was going to lose you." He whispered the last bit, a small feeling of anguish rippling through him along with the unwelcome vision of the moment she had collapsed on the fields. Her face softened, her gaze dropping in guilt, before once again shifting to his, this timer filled with resolve.
"Will you rest now?" He nodded. Satisfied she shifted, so she was beside him on the sleep roll he'd been sitting upon. Arms encircled his shoulders, and Legolas let her lower him to the inviting roll. The familiar scent of violets encompassed him, the steady beat of her heart where his head rested just below her collarbone lulled him. He sighed, finally he could rest. Wait no, he couldn't rest.
"We still have not spoken of anything." He worried aloud, and her lithe body vibrated with silent laughter.
"And we shall after." She replied, entwining her hand in his where it rested over his own heart. "Sleep Legolas." She whispered and he let his eyes close.
...
When Aerlaer awoke, hours had passed by the dimming light within the tent. She'd dreamt of being in a sunlit woodland. By the deep, steady rise and fall of the body held against hers, she realised Legolas still slept. By what she'd seen of his heart, she was glad. He needed all the rest he could get.
Looking about as not to disturb him, Aerlaer noticed Taurorn lounging back on his bedroll. By the earthy tang in the air and strewn pieces of leather strewn across his lap, she surmised he was tending to Timber's bridal.
"Someone looks comfortable." He nodded to Legolas, and she smiled.
"I am glad he rests, I did not realise how long he had gone without doing so." She said quietly as not to wake him. Taurorn smiled.
"Elrohir is most unimpressed with him, but he does understand why he did it. I am glad he was with you; he is viciously protective of you." He smirked and Aerlaer shot him a questioning look, shifting so she was sitting up before holding the other elf close, his head resting against her stomach. She ran her fingers through his loose, silvery blonde hair.
"How do you mean?" She asked, brief flashes of Legolas's attitude towards the raiders came to mind. He possessed a dark and terrifying, feral rage when called upon, such a stark contrast to the sweet blissfulness which slept in her arms now. She supposed she was no different.
"According to Gimli, he and the Healing Warden ended up in an argument. The Warden demanded he left, and when he refused, the Warden called the guards to remove Legolas from your side." Taurorn said and Aerlaer knew her eyes widened. Taurorn merely grinned. He did love story telling. "When Aragorn and I arrived, he had two arrows knocked and aimed at the head guard, threatening to shoot them if they dared take him from you." He chuckled, but Aerlaer was floored. Legolas could have ended up thrown in a cell for such behaviour here. Boromir's own brother, the acting Steward of Gondor, Faramir, was wary of their elven ways. It would not have boded well for him if he had harmed one of them.
"Aragorn diffused the situation, as only Aragorn can." Taurorn said. "And then Legolas could remain with you, which I was gladdened for. If it were not so, I'd have tried to stay or at least lingered in the passageway. None of us wished to leave you in that large chamber alone."
"Why not?" She asked, receiving a wane smile.
"Word passed like a fuelled fire there was a female elf within the Houses of Healing. You were getting enough attention even with Legolas watching over you. The guards are-"
"Pathetic." She seethed, and he looked at her, concerned.
"There is one who knows you…" He hedged, and she nodded.
"Bregon." She said the name dispassionately, as if it were poison on her tongue and Legolas's body stiffened against her. He muttered something unintelligible even in their own tongue.
"Prestad. Aerlaer." She managed to understand her own name and trouble in his unconscious state, yet his peaceful face now vexed.
"Legolas, iston. Baw trass." She brushed his cheek and sighing he once again became peaceful. His reaction worried her, did he know something? She had not found the right moment to speak of her encounter with the uncouth man. She looked up to Taurorn whose eyes were now dark and wary.
"What happened." He asked.
"Not here, I do not wish to disturb him again with my own emotions." She replied. "Pass me those." She pointed to hers and Legolas's cloaks, resting beside their packs. Taurorn rose, retrieving them. Aerlaer carefully lifted the other elf's weight off her and moved, replacing where her stomach had propped up his head with both cloaks. She leant down and whispered into his ear; "I am with Taurorn, I will find you something to eat for when you awaken. Keep sleeping." Her only answer was a sigh. He seemed peaceful enough. Leaping to her feet, the only sound the whisper of her dress's fabric, she left the tent with her brother.
…
"Bregon proposed he wished to court me, live in the city with him." Aerlaer said, and Taurorn let out a snort. I informed him my heart did not belong to him as kindly as I could, but he did not take it so well." She added. They roamed without purpose around the encampment. The sun was setting, and the light breeze was cool and refreshing as it caressed her face, hair and bare arms.
"How exactly did he not take it so well?" Taurorn asked, and Aerlaer laughed as she recalled the absurdness of the Gondor guard's behaviour.
"He attempted to convince me he'd be a much better kisser than Legolas. I told him nothing would come close."
"That good is it." He teased and Aerlaer grinned, tilting her head to look up at the stars beginning to peak out from the swiftly darkening sky.
"You have no idea how good." She sighed, and he scoffed, the action bringing a pang to her heart, her thoughts going to Aerthor. He would have reacted just the same.
"I don't think I need to know." He muttered, feigning utter disgust and she snickered. "He did not bother you any more though did he, Bregon, that is?" Taurorn said, wearing a serious frown once more.
"No, no I made myself clear. Now let us talk about something else, say a certain pretty healer I've heard about." She tilted her head slyly in his direction.
"How do you know about that?" Taurorn gaped. "Surely Legolas had better things to talk about other than me?"
"Oh, it was not Legolas, it was Elrohir. He misses nothing." Aerlaer laughed. "So, what is she like, does she like you? She should like you; her head would be empty otherwise." Aerlaer declared, and Taurorn looked at her almost offended.
"You care for her." She grinned and after a moment, he nodded with a shy smile.
"Taurorn! Are you blushing!" she giggled as his face coloured. "Goodness you are!" She draped an arm across his shoulders. "We can't have the brave and devastatingly good-looking ranger blushing, what would people think?" She teased playfully. Regaining his composure, he grinned at her.
"I am glad you are well again." He said but shoved her with brotherly affection.
"I am too. I am sure even though I slept deeply, I could detect the scent of orc, and it was rather worrying in my conscience." Taurorn roared with laughter.
"What did I say?" A smile danced on her lips as he shook his head trying to regain control of his mirth.
"That was Legolas! He reeked of orc! It is why Aragorn sent him to clean himself up!"
"Oh." Aerlaer said and then burst into laughter. Laughing with Taurorn again felt good.
…
Legolas woke up alone in the tent, feeling famished. He sat up and grinned as a red apple toppled off his chest. Picking it up, he then stood and walked to the entrance, peering out into the twilight, munching on the fruit thoughtfully. Where were his companions and where was Aerlaer? Not bothering to pull his boots back on, Legolas stepped out to begin searching for someone, and more food.
He followed the pine scent of a fire, weaving through the tents and caught laughter carrying in the cool but pleasant night air. Soon the flicker of flames reflected off the pale-coloured tents, his skin warming under the glow, as he walked into the open space where Rohirrim and rangers mingled around a roaring campfire.
"Finally decided to wake up and join us, Captain Obvious!" Elrohir called out. Legolas turned, gritting his teeth at the other elf's new name for him. Of course, Elrohir would not forget his blunder in the council earlier. A short and robust figure came towards him.
"Ah good to see you up lad, Aerlaer's just… Well I don't know now, she was there a moment ago…" Gimli muttered with confusion, peering about. "Ah well, come sit with us, I've not seen you since this morning." He grinned toothily behind his beard, gesturing, and Legolas followed him around the fire to where Merry and Pippin were busy stuffing roast vegetables and sausages into there already rotund bellies. He sat cross-legged beside them, along with Gimli, his mouth watering at the sight of the fresh and crisp looking vegetables.
"Where did you get tha-" He gasped in surprise as a hand came from behind to cover his eyes and something warm and sweet was pressed into his mouth. The sweet but tangy flavour awoke his senses as he bit down. Whatever the delightful morsel was, it was filled with stewed apricot. The fine hand slipped from his eyes and he turned his head around but the imp who had fed him had vanished. He shook his head in slight wonder as he swallowed the pastry, hoping she'd return with more food. Beside him, Merry chuckled.
"Aerlaer is in a wonderful mood." He said and Elladan sighed in exasperation from where he sat beside Elrohir on a makeshift log bench nearby.
"She has indulged in too much sweet foods, and it has gone to her blood! She will not keep still!"
"Come now brother, it is hilarious when this happens." Elrohir said to Elladan and then gave Legolas a very cheeky grin. "You will get no rest tonight!" He said with a wink and Legolas felt his heart jump in his chest at the other elf's teasing. He had not even contemplated him and Aerlaer would likely be revising their sleeping arrangements. His imagination began to run away with him as he watched the flickering flames and he did not even realise Aerlaer had returned until she was crouching right before him.
"You look as if you are in a dream." Her voice snapped him from his thoughts, and he gazed into dancing, dark blue eyes which entranced him by the added light of the flames which flickered within their depths.
"Perhaps I am." he answered sagely, and she quirked her head to the side studying him. Just what calculating thoughts were going through her pretty head?
"I have more food." She said and crossed her legs to sit in front of him, placing a large plate on the ground between them. He gazed at the heaped plate; a mixture of steamed vegetables on one side and an assortment of pastries on the other.
"Thank you." He said as he made to pick up one of the pastries. She batted his hand away.
"Vegetables first." She smirked, taking a pastry for herself and bit into it. Gimli chuckled beside him.
"Coming from the elf who has had naught but pastries all eve!" He exclaimed and Legolas looked pointedly at her.
"That is entirely unfair." Legolas declared and shot his hand out to grab a pastry again, but she was quicker, and snatched him up by the wrist, holding his hand up and away from them, her tongue darting out to lick what he assumed was honey from her smirking lips.
"My lifeforce has returned therefore I can afford to indulge. You on the other hand will consume a range of things to build your strength back up." She said, and he narrowed his eyes at her.
"My strength is fine." He muttered, and Gimli chuckled along with Pippin.
"I meant your lifeforce." She said. "I thought even Captain Obvious would have worked that out." She quipped with a snigger, her eyes gleaming mischievously under long lashes.
"Not you too." He muttered as he picked up a piece of sweet potato and ate it. Aerlaer made to pick up another pastry, and another's hand shot out and stopped her.
"No more." Elladan chastised. "There is more sugar flowing in your blood than blood!"
"But-"
"No." Elladan laughed. "Let Legolas eat and come for a run, wear some of this energy off."
"Can he not come too?" Aerlaer whined and Legolas held in a laugh lest he choke on his food.
"No, it would be counterproductive, you know that. Now stop being difficult."
"I'm not."
"You are, this is Elrohir's fault." He glared at his brother who grinned back innocently.
"Fine let's run then." Legolas barely registered her lips had brushed his cheek before she leapt up and in the blink of an eye, was gone.
"Well, go on Elrohir, catch her!" Elladan commanded his brother who with a light chuckle of mirth, dashed away in the direction Aerlaer must have gone.
"If we can get any peace to sleep tonight it will be a miracle of the valar." Elladan sighed.
"Why does it affect her so?" Legolas asked. "I have never seen her so hyper." He laughed.
"It's the meara heritage. Edhelroch's have notoriously bad sweet tooths and if they indulge too much which is a certainty if they are not kept an eye on, it hits their bloodstream and they end up with altogether too much energy."
"Then who on earth watches them in their own herd?" Legolas asked, utterly baffled.
"No one." Legolas laughed at that. "Any celebration they had turned into madness for they always had sweet things to eat and then of course, wine!" The other elf chortled before sombering.
"You eat Legolas, I shall find Elrohir and Aerlaer, make sure they are not killing one another. I would not put it past her challenging him to a fight in her condition." He stood up and dashed away leaving Legolas to his remaining foods, and Gimli and Merry and Pippin's company.
…
Aerlaer had shifted, sprinting off swiftly across the Pelennor Fields. She had left Elrohir far behind and where Elladan was, she had no clue.
The freedom she felt racing at such breakneck speed was exhilarating. She threw in a few bucks and twists before arcing around in a smooth gallop to return back to Elrohir. Ears pricked and eyes keen, she searched in the dim light for him, figuring he would likely come to her.
Sure enough, she could just make out his silent figure running. She wheeled, slowing to a canter to meet him, playfully feigning to bite him before shifting back to elf.
"Feel better now?" He asked.
"Much better." I needed that run, with or without the effects of sweetblood." She laughed happily.
"So, we need to talk."
"I guess we do."
"What did you do?"
"I do not know."
"How do you not know? You brought him back from the dead. From the dead, Aerlaer."
"I know. I do not know how though." She tugged at a strand of her hair. "Grandmother brought Mithrandir back from the near brink of death." Aerlaer added.
"Yes, but he was not dead, dead. Legolas was dead, dead."
"I know! I was there you know! One might even say I brought him back!"
"Yes, and I want to know exactly what you did."
"I told him I loved him."
"It cannot be as simple as that."
"When was love simple?"
"True."
"Exactly."
"Will you two stop this incessant banter! It is going nowhere!" Aerlaer turned to see Elladan running up to them.
"I learnt it was to do with love." Elrohir said indignantly to his brother.
"We already know that. We need to try understand how she did it, not why." He said in exasperation.
"Maybe she has some necromancer blood on her father's side?"
"For the sake of Eru! I do not have the blood of a necromancer!" Aerlaer seethed. "And I am right here you know."
"Sorry Tithinriel, but you are an enigma. Just when we think we've got you all worked out, you pull a prank like this." Elrohir chuckled.
"It's hardly a prank."
"Legolas!" Aerlaer said in surprise as the blonde elf appeared and fell into stride on her left.
"You're meant to be resting." Elrohir said with slight exasperation and Legolas shrugged.
"I can rest later."
"What, when you are dead. Again."
"Oh, let it go, if he needs more lifeforce in the morning, I will just give him more." Aerlaer said.
"And will you know when to stop?" Elrohir asked pointedly and Aerlaer sighed in annoyance.
"Of course I will, idiot." She growled. "Provided he does not decide to breathe in the sea again or do something else as equally stupid."
"You know I didn't mean it!" Legolas cried out and Aerlaer linked her arm through his and sighed.
"I know."
"She's right though, it was a stupid thing to do, I thought Captain Obvious would have even known that!" Elrohir quipped with a snicker.
"Will you cease with that ridiculous name!" Legolas said darkly and Elrohir trilled.
"Oh, it is hilarious when the two of you get wound up." Both Aerlaer and Legolas narrowed their eyes at the other elf.
"Can we get back to the subject of what Aerlaer did now?" Elladan asked with a hint of annoyance.
"Yes." Aerlaer said and glanced at Legolas. It was awkward having this discussion now he was present, but she could not ask him to leave. In fact, she didn't want him to leave; she would end the topic. "Actually no, shouldn't we be heading back. It is late, and it is a long journey tomorrow." She said nonchalantly and Elladan watched her with amusement.
"No, you are not worming your way out of this conversation and for Eru's sake Aerlaer, have you been hanging around with rangers and hobbits and dwarves for so long you have forgotten you are an elf! The journey will hardly affect us, and you know it." She glared at him fully aware Legolas was watching her curiously. Damn Elladan.
"Just tell us Tithinriel." Elrohir grinned. Brilliant, just brilliant. They have backed me into a verbal corner. Damn healers and their need to know everything!
"Fine!" She said, unable to contain her stirring annoyance. Legolas stiffened from where their arms were still linked. She unlinked hers from his as the four of them stopped walking, and strode forward a few paces, gazing up at the half-veiled stars. The moon was not yet full, and a cloud had passed over it, reminding her of the eve in Rohan when the Nazgul had flown over and startled her. That very next morning she had awoken wrapped up in a certain blonde elf's embrace. It is how I will probably be waking up tomorrow morning. Goodness, everything changes now. She sighed.
"I do not truly know how it happened. There was absolutely no way I was going to just Legolas die. Especially from something so stupid as falling into the sea. I decided his life was worth everything, and so I decided to give my own up to save his." She shrugged. "I guess I am lucky it did not take all of my own lifeforce to bring him back, although I would have given up all of it, my soul was breaking anyway." She added quietly. The other three elves remained silent behind her, perhaps thinking over her words. She didn't want to turn around; she did not want to face Legolas. What she had just admitted, it was bigger than…
Wait, Legolas had admitted the very same during the battle. Then why did she feel so uncomfortable admitting it. It's because I do not like feeling weak. It is because Ada taught me, I was stronger than letting my emotions rule me when it came to matters of the heart. Another lie? No, advice to be wise with who I did give my heart to, for he gave the same advice to Aerthor. Her heart ached, and she swallowed, fighting to compose her thoughts once more.
"I truly had no idea what I was doing." She said after a moment. "It must have something to do with the powers passed down from Galadriel, but I did not think mine were very strong. Not like hers." She said. "I cannot tell you more than that for I do not know."
"That is a well enough answer little cousin." Elladan said. Aerlaer felt his reassuring hand come to rest on her shoulder. She nodded silently and then his hand slipped away, his presence leaving. She stood there a few moments longer and then turned around to face the three elves but found it was only Legolas standing there, watching her in his own silence.
She could not discern the emotion on his face or in his eyes for the stars were becoming more veiled by the clouds, but she knew he was in deep contemplation as he watched her. She felt like a deer caught within the sight of a hunter, frozen in place by the line of their deadly arrow. He walked towards her as if he were afraid she would vanish before his very eyes. He stopped when only a foot separated them. Slowly he lifted his hands up to cup her face before leaning forward and brushing her lips feather light with his own. She stood, frozen in place as he pulled away, dark eyes searching hers.
"I didn't dream up the last eighteen hours, did I?" He whispered.
"No." She breathed out, and he kissed her again, this time firmer than the first time before pulling away again to watch her.
"Good." He replied and kissed her again, his hands dropping to her shoulders and she brought hers to rest against his back. He broke the kiss, leaving her breathy, a frown creased his straight brows.
"Six-hundred-and-eighty years." He mused, and she looked at him curiously. "That is how many years of this that must be made up for." He grinned before pulling her close and kissing her again causing her knees to nearly buckle like that of a newborn foal. No elf is causing such a reaction from me without me going one better!
Aerlaer trailed her hand to his neck, pulling him down and kissing him deeper. Countering her action, he pulled her even closer against his warm body and laid assault to her lips, causing her to sigh against his. She felt him smirk. Challenge accepted.
She lightly nipped his bottom lip, holding it lightly between her teeth a moment before letting go. A rough growl rumbled from his chest and this time she smirked, and he pulled back from her breathing as quickly as she was, his eyes were dark but a warm, silvery fire had been lit in them; smouldering away. There was mischief dancing there too, and she knew he was trying to best her. She momentarily wondered where exactly this mad game would end when he moved, his lips trailing feather light along her neck. Aerlaer inhaled sharply, closing her eyes to the tingling sensations. Eru how am I going to beat this? Heat and coolness danced where his teeth grazed softly over her collar bone, eliciting a shiver from her. Oh no, he is not winning this!
Legolas made to lean back, and she kept his head pulled down lightly kissing the corner of his smirking lips before slowly trailing a line of light kisses up along his jaw line, towards his ear. She gently brushed her mouth across his ear, hovering there a moment, letting the very edge of her top teeth graze the point. He emitted a rough growl, and she felt the wild tremble through his body. Legolas pulled back, breathing ragged.
"Aerlaer stop." He gasped; voice uneven. "By Eru, you're going to be my undoing." She grinned at him. I win.
"Didn't like that?" She asked nonchalantly, and he laughed, the noise vibrating through her ribs which were pressed up against his in their embrace.
"No, it was awful." He deadpanned, and she laughed deviously. "As much as I really, really, want to continue this, we probably should head back now." He said as his breathing started to calm. She wanted to stay too but when would this get out of hand? Aerlaer's mind was now racing quicker than her heart. What were they were doing? Something Legolas was… well, he was entirely addictive. It was a scary realization. Did all elves act like this? She could not imagine Arwen acting like this with Aragorn and yet he was basically a human, and it was the race of man who usually acted like this. Or did they? Did it matter? Legolas had also fuelled this fire. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts away.
"Yes, we should return, and we still have not spoken of anything." She replied.
"Manwe we haven't! And yet we've just been-"
"Shh. Don't think, don't ruin it. Who cares?" She said with a grin. Besides, I am glad we did that before having to share a tent with my cousins and with Taurorn!" She added with a laugh. He nodded in definite agreement.
"But we do need to talk about everything."
"And we shall back in the tent, that's if you are happy to sleep close to me?" She tilted her head, hoping. Surely, he wouldn't suddenly go all strict and elven lore on her?
"I wouldn't wish to sleep anywhere else tonight." He pressed a smile to her forehead before loosening his embrace. She smiled brilliantly up at him, hair sparking, conveying just how happy she was. Aerlaer glanced over his shoulder back towards the encampment. They were a quarter of a mile away from it. A smirk formed on her lips and she kissed him on his and leapt back.
"Tag, you're it." She laughed and then dashed away towards the camp, the sound of Legolas's laughter not far behind her.
I'm going to start with the obvious. I'm not dead!
So, where the flying freaking hell have you been? You demand! Welp, its been crazy, and I could use all number of being busy excuses to say I have not been writing, but the truth is, I have been writing, and world building and all sorts. Just not on any of my fanfics. I 've missed them. So why the hell didn't you work on them if you missed them? I hear you asking! Two reasons, apart from the busy cause all round, I have not got anywhere near enough writing done this year! Reason One: I have started two original works, and I'll share how to check those out below. Reason Two: My writing has improved and looking back on my fanfics and seeing all these glaring grammar and structural issues is bloody overwhelming! I want to re-edit everything, including this again, haha, but then I'm not getting new chapters out to you guys, but I am mortified by the poor quality of early chapters I've subjected to you all, and I'm just aghhhh! So, I guess you can say I buried my head in the sand fanfic-wise. I do however promise I have not abandoned There Were Ten, Fated, or Letters to Raven. The others will be put on the backburner for a while. Letters to Raven will have a new chapter up shortly for my HP fans, and Fated's next chapter is halfway through, but I feel it needs a bit more oomph to it. So next question, who wants to come run my business for me and cook me food so I can just write all day every day? Haha!
Okay, exciting news: I am working on two books in the draft stages. WIPs most definitely. One is a YA Scifi, the other is a YA fantasy which is sort of a growing on idea from Sea Salt, but significantly different. I'm also in the middle of posting up a short story fantasy about Faeries which if anyone has read The Nameless Ones, will see it is a nod to that Legolas/Aerlaer fic, but also entirely different.
Without further ado, I give you my pen name, and budding author website:
All the fun though is entirely on Instagram, so if you are bored and want to check out just what my fantasy wip, Curse of Salt is about, it is: jessapearl_writes and then check out the peeps I'm following, because holy hell, we are going to be seeing some amazing fantasy lit hitting shelves and amazon soon!
You guys are all amazing, and I'm so sorry its been so long! Missed you all!
xx A