~ Fire and Ice ~

Aerlaer cast a sidelong glance towards Legolas as she cantered steadily beside Arod. They both travelled at the forefront of the Lorien Army with Glorfindel, Lindir, the twins and, of course, her grandparents.

Just behind them travelled Haldir, on foot, running steadily leading an army of two hundred Lorien elves armed and prepared for battle. The Lorien contingent would meet the Mirkwood contingent of just two-hundred odd on the fringes of the Woodland Realm. United, they would journey to Dol Guldur and rid the original fortress of Greenwood the Great of the evil which still lurked there.

Legolas seemed to finally catch her gaze and smiled briefly. She knew there was much on his mind. There was nearly just as much on her own. She was still trying to come to terms that she was or had been Laurelin; the tree of daylight and cherished by the Valar. How could she have not known this? Why had she never felt as if she had previously led another life? A life which spanned for thousands of years?

Her strange dreams now made sense, the very reason her hair glowed like the pale light of the sun. It seemed however Legolas had never glowed in such a way until quite recently. Her grandmother's explanation on their behavior also made sense, and she was glad for the slight bending of elven lore to save them the torment of being parted. Unfortunately, Thranduil could very well stand in their way. A thought suddenly struck her, and she bade Arod to follow her, causing Legolas to start from his thoughts as they both moved up to canter beside her grandmother.

"Tithinriel, you look quite determined to ask me something?" She sounded slightly amused. Even her pale grey stallion, Galaben, chuckled mentally at her.

"Why were we separated? If you knew what we were, why didn't you say something?" She asked more flatly than she intended. Her grandmother turned to assess both her and Legolas, her gaze filled with sadness.

"Ride with me as we speak." Legolas murmured to her, holding a hand out. His jaw was set, and she knew he was now as annoyed as her over this sudden revelation. Deftly she joined him, settling comfortably in the saddle, Arod barely breaking stride at the intrusion.

"I was not aware of your true identity until you had lived as you are now for thirteen years." Her grandmother admitted. "Legolas, I had suspected, but I was not convinced until you both passed through Lorien." Aerlaer mulled over this quickly before asking her next question.

"Did my father know?"

"He did not. Nor did your own, Legolas. I have kept such knowledge solely for your own safety. If Sauron had discovered your existence; it would not have only been the ring he would have hunted."

"Why?" Legolas asked in confusion. "Why did he want us? Why did he try to capture us at the gates?" He glanced sideways at her. "I know you saw this outcome if the strength of man failed." Galadriel inclined her head.

"Indeed, I foresaw such a thing, hence why such careful precautions were taken with both Elrond, Radagast, and Mithrandir's aid in forming both poison and elixir." Aerlaer found her grandmother now looking away, almost uncomfortably. "Your light was needed to vanquish the wraiths but, the cost was revealing your identity to Sauron."

"He already knew." Aerlaer murmured. "I remember now when he spoke with Aragorn through the palantir; he saw me too. He seemed surprised and dare I say fearful. He called me Laurelin. I did not think too much on it for Aragorn was distressed. How would he have known of Legolas? He only saw me?"

"The Nazgul. They would have figured it out." Legolas spoke thoughtfully.

"I believe so." Her grandmother nodded. "As for why Sauron wanted you both; you were cherished and sacred to the Valar. Morgoth destroyed the trees with Ungoliant. Sauron wished to hold your very soul's captive in darkness. For bargaining power or to draw from your light; I cannot say. Possibly both." This sent an involuntary shiver through Aerlaer at the thought of such darkness. An arm gently circled around her.

"Well, if my own father and Thranduil knew nothing of this, why did they deem to separate us?" Aerlaer only felt more confused. "Why was Ada so cruel?" She was in utter turmoil over why he had done such a thing, what had driven him to do so?

"His actions were not light of heart, nor were they easy to go through with."

"Then why? He lied to me!" She implored, feeling a sting of the pain from the memories.

"He was abiding by Thranduil's wishes, his hands were tied on the matter." She immediately felt Legolas stiffen.

...

"What exactly were my father's wishes?" Legolas bit out cautiously, feeling anger riling up within him.

"His motives were only ever vaguely clear and the full truth only he knows." Galadriel replied almost cryptically. He slowly let out his breath, trying to remain calm. He had already intended on asking his father just why he and Aerlaer had been kept from each other; to learn it was solely his father's wishes invoked an anger he had not felt in a long time.

Without his notice, Arod dropped back and towards the outside of the small group of riders and a hand cautiously touched his cheek, pulling him out of the roiling dark clouds in his mind.

"Why? Why would he do that to me?" He asked quietly to no one in particular.

"I do not know but, we will find out together." Aerlaer's words comforted him and he settled his arms a little more securely around her, letting Arod pick his own way.

"I'd just convinced myself I could go back; I could face him. I don't know now." He let out a sigh.

"You will face him. Remember, you've slain wraiths, he'll be elfling's play." He snorted derisively at that and she laughed. The joyful sound did cheer him but still, he worried.

If his father had been the one so adamant, he could not be with Aerlaer; he surely would not agree to their intended union. The thought sickened him. Although he would not abide if his father had not changed his opinion, deep down, he wanted his support, his approval. He wanted his father to know he was happy. He remembered, however, exactly how unyielding he had been all those years ago that Legolas forgot Aerlaer and ceased looking for her. He could not see his mind being so easily changed, tree spirit or no tree spirit.

"If he isn't happy, we'll run off. No horse or elk in his stable will catch me!"

"No, they would not." He murmured, trying to sound cheerier, more optimistic than he felt. The fringes of Mirkwood were only a couple hours away, they were only now just coming out of the lower foothills of the Wilderlands. The Lorien army travelled swiftly and soon, too soon for his liking, he would have to face his father and, his past.

...

As the Lorien contingent halted forty meters from the meticulous army of woodland elves standing warily in the fringes of the trees, Aerlaer shifted back to elf form. Her Lorien cloak she still fondly wore, and she raised the hood so as to blend in with the other warriors who wore the same cloaks, more like banners as they rippled softly in the breeze. She glanced up to Legolas where he sat poised and regal upon Arod and gave him an encouraging smile. He briefly returned it, brown eyes warming before they were once again cool and indifferent. She knew he was anxious.

"You are your own Elf." She murmured and received the slightest of nods. His resolve seemed to strengthen for he minutely relaxed and seemed surer of himself. She too was nervous, last time she had seen the Elven King; she had been fleeing his own celebration and Legolas had then spent much time searching for her. Surely Thranduil would not still be so forbidding after so much time had passed?

Beside them, Elladan and Elrohir nodded their encouragement as Legolas dismounted and walked forward to Glorfindel and her grandparents. Aerlaer followed by his side, the twins flanking them. Behind them, two-hundred Lorien warriors and Haldir and his brothers stood to attention. She watched silently yet curiously as the army of wood elves separated and, four figures strode forward from their midst. It was the tall figure leading, however, who commanded the most attention.

He moved with a calculated grace, pale, silvery blonde, long hair flowing straight and loose behind him. Over his long charcoal tunic, he adorned armour of pewter, intricately patterned and the armour which covered his shoulders like that of a dragon's scales, gave way to a dark, silvery cloak which caught both light and darkness as it billowed in his purposeful wake. Upon his brow he wore a circlet of silver, wrought like a fine wreath of twigs, a small white gem adorning where the fine crown met between his two brows. Two brows which were slightly furrowed as he cast his ice blue eyes over the Lothlórien contingent and then settled coolly on Galadriel and Celeborn, seeming to be in wait for them to acknowledge him as he stood regally, not twenty meters before them. With a slight motion from Celeborn, Legolas, cloaked and hooded just as all the Lorien elves were, stepped forward and walked silently towards his father, King Thranduil.

...

The three lightly armored elves which stood just behind their King swiftly drew arrows to the bows they held, pointing them straight at him; causing his already nervously pounding heart to quicken. Simultaneously, Aerlaer, Elladan and Elrohir had arrows pointed at the three woodland guards.

Legolas paused at the sound of their drawn weapons, exactly between the Lord and Lady of Lorien and, his own father. Without taking his eyes off his own kin standing warily before him, he called back a gentle reassurance. "Aer." He addressed as he indicated with the hand by his side to lower her bow, knowing the twins would follow her lead.

The King, his father, was now looking at him with an indifferent expression. Well goodbye the freedom of no titles and such. Legolas internally laughed to himself as he reached up and pulled back the hood of his cloak, revealing his identity.

...

Legolas. Thranduil dared not breathe as he beheld the sight of his son. He knew surprise was plain upon his face. He did not care to hide it as he took in his appearance. He was not the same elf who had left brokenly all those years ago.

This elf held himself with a self-pride. He was leaner, his hair longer as it flowed loosely beneath his own circlet of linked silver leaves. He wore a light chain of mithril which glinted beneath a silvery grey tunic-shirt and over that a pewter hunting tunic. Against his back rested a full quiver of shea-oak and an elegant longbow of the silvery wood of a mallorn tree. At his hip, a scabbard concealing a broadsword.

There was a lightness to him that had not been there in far too many centuries. Thranduil slowly looked into the eyes which he knew were seeking his out. He fought the pain, the fear of seeing those eyes after going for so long, for too long without looking upon them. Those eyes that had made his heart ache all these years. Brown eyes met his and he was taken aback by what he saw, for these eyes were learned of the world, wiser yet somehow younger as if years of worry had fallen away. These eyes had danced often with mirth, seen wonderful places and felt deep love and sorrow, danger and untold anger. However, the one difference Thranduil noticed instantly; these eyes were not lost. They were not the eyes which had haunted his mind for near on several hundred years.

Slowly, curiously, he dragged his gaze away from his returned son and towards the lithe, hooded archer who he had been close by Legolas's side before he had left the Lórien contingent. Dark sapphire eyes suddenly held his own over the distance, and he was thrown back to a moment far back in time when those same eyes had locked onto his. She lived. How? He heard movement from behind, followed by a joyful cry and horror swept through him.

...

Aerlaer watched as Thranduil observed Legolas silently. She knew he was quite safe, but still, her muscles were tensed, ready to protect him if needed. She felt eyes fall on her and looked away from the two archers she could see just behind on either side of the King to hold his gaze.

Had Legolas perhaps said something quietly to his father, for he now looked at her curiously and she knew she returned that same look as she gazed back, he looked disbelieving at her and then suddenly his eyes were engulfed in horror as he began to turn as the archer, who had stood behind him, obscured from easy sight, suddenly raced past him, long, fiery red hair streaming behind her.

Aerlaer stayed her hand from re-drawing her arrow as Legolas's face broke into a huge smile of joy. The flame haired elleth ran to him and he opened his arms in embrace and she shot into them like an arrow loosed from its string and kissed him.

...

The wrongness of the pressing touch upon his lips flooded through his body and he jolted back in shock, letting his arms fall to his sides. Tauriel did not seem to notice as she grinned widely up at him. Why did she just do that? Why did she kiss me? Before Adar, also? Trying to comprehend just what happened, he glanced towards his father; surprised to see a mixture of sorrow and regret but the King was not looking at him.

Slowly, Legolas turned to the elf he was looking at and dark blue tumultuous eyes met his; shock, anger and a hurt which tore viciously at his own heart and, and betrayal. No. No, this can't be happening!

"Aer." He called out to her and her eyes narrowed and then suddenly darkened dangerously. The flame red of Tauriel's hair, shifting in the breeze behind him was no comparison to how Aerlaer's now sparked in copper contempt as her hood fell back and she spun in a swirl of blue dress and cloak to stalk away through the Lorien guard. He felt fingers on his left hand as it was taken to be held and numbly, he turned back to face Tauriel.

...

"I don't understand." Tauriel heard herself say, gaze fixed upon the intricate gold and silver ring of leaves which caught the light. Legolas, her Legolas, she had known all her life stared at her in numb shock. "The King has allowed us to be together, no more will he command your heart." She said softly, her own heart struggling to comprehend the ring upon his finger, the distance now in his eyes; mixed with pain, mixed with confusion, mixed with anger by her words. He turned his darkening brown eyes coldly to King Thranduil.

"I should not have returned." He said quietly and she felt as if a blade had twisted deeply into her chest, as he turned and stalked away back to the elves he had arrived with. She watched on in shock as he made to go after the Lorien elleth, and one of the ellon warriors, who sat upon a grey horse, leapt down and grabbed his arm stopping him. They spoke quietly for she could not hear their exchange, but she knew it was an unhappy conversation and the other elf looked furious as Legolas gestured his intention to find the elleth, and the other strongly advised against it, going so far as to feign a knife slicing across his neck. Who was this elleth, Legolas cared so for? What kind of elf was she for this strange ellon to warn Legolas from following her so?

She'd been a fool to kiss him. Such a fool.

"Tauriel come." A voice called from behind her and she turned to her King. There was thinly veiled sadness in his eyes and deep regret. Obediently she returned to her position within the ranks. When she looked back to the Lorien elves, Legolas was gone.

...

Aerlaer, wild and unruly princess of the edhelroch lived, and Legolas had found her, and now she had vanished, her heart breaking, and his son regretted returning. What have I done? Thranduil sighed. He watched Celeborn and Galadriel dismount and make their way towards him and he let a mask of indifference settle upon his face.

"Ma govanen King Thranduil." Celeborn greeted him formally as Galadriel watched him intently with a mixture of smugness and annoyance.

"I believe you brought your son's wrath upon yourself Oropherion." Galadriel spoke in his mind, and he fought to keep his indifferent composure. This talent of hers had always greatly annoyed him.

"We believed she had passed to Mandos with the rest of her kin." He thought back at her as he outwardly returned pleasantries with them both. "I believed my son's feelings had long ago faded. He grew fond of another."

"Fond yes, but no more." She replied and her eyes gazed past him to Tauriel a moment before shifting back to his. He was well aware of that now and his decision to allow Legolas to be with Tauriel if and when he returned, Thranduil now knew had been a terrible mistake. "You should have known better than to keep them apart, Thranduil, they were always going to find one another." Thranduil grit his teeth, ignoring Galadriel's scorn.

"Once your army is settled, we will hold a meeting at fall of dusk to discuss the best plan of attack. Ensure my son is in attendance." With a nod of dismissal, Thranduil spun on his heel, and strode back into the woods.