When they took their first steps into Lothlorien, Gimli began talking of the elf witch that lived there. Soriel and Leila looked at each other and rolled their eyes in amusement. Both of them knew the lady Galadriel was no witch. She was actually very kind and gracious. Within minutes, they were surrounded by arrows. The leader of the band of elves spoke.
"The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark."
Leila heard Soriel gasp with excitement and call out, "Haldir!"
The man was clearly surprised to see her, but they embraced. As they discussed possible refuge, Leila looked over to see a very unhappy Boromir, and Leila felt as if she had just figured out a particularly difficult riddle. Soriel and Boromir must be married. Why else would they so publically engage in their affection?
It sounded as if this man, Haldir, was not going to permit them to enter Lothlorien. From what Leila could overhear, the company was bringing some sort of evil weapon with them, and Haldir feared for his people. With much pleading from Aragorn and Soriel, Haldir agreed to guide them forward.
Even though Leila had been to Lothlorien before, it never ceased to amaze her just how beautiful it was. Everything felt peaceful in this forest. Here, you would never know that orcs even existed, it seemed. Leila felt her body relaxing as she walked through the trees. She took a deep breath, as she looked around at her kin, and she felt safe for the first time in a long time.
"You enjoy Lothlorien?" asked Haldir, as he slowed down to walk beside her.
"Yes, my lord," she replied politely. "It always strikes me so beautifully."
This made him smile. "You seem to blend right in then," he said, taking her off guard.
She blushed. "Thank you," she muttered, and would not meet his gaze. Compliments always made Leila feel uncomfortable. For a long time now, she did not desire the gaze of a man, elf or human. Haldir was the first to comment on her physical appearance since before the mountain. She did not know how to react. Haldir seemed to find this charming, but they did not speak again until after they met with Celeborn and Galadriel.
The king and queen mourned for Gandalf with the company, but allowed them refuge in the forest so they could rest and recover. Leila agreed to stay with Soriel, since she had an extra room. When they arrived, Soriel told her to sit down. Now that she had permission, she was going to tell her everything about their quest now that Leila had proved herself loyal. Soriel explained everything about the Ring and how they were going to Mordor to destroy it.
"To get to Mordor, will we go through Gondor?" Leila asked, surprising Soriel with her willingness to still accompany them.
"No," Soriel said, shaking her head. "We must be more discreet. I believe we will go into Mordor through its northern border."
Leila sighed. She was so relieved. She hoped never to return to Gondor after what happened to her. "Good," she said. After a quizzical look from Soriel, Leila quickly tried to cover up. "It's just that Gondor is not safe. I have been there as of late, and have seen first-hand the power of the enemy in those lands," she finished, hoping Soriel would not question her further.
"Yes," agreed Soriel. "Boromir has often spoken to me of how much Gondor endures from the lands of Sauron."
Leila nodded. "Well, it is natural for a husband to express his concerns to his wife," she said matter-of-factly.
"What on earth gave you that idea?" Soriel responded quickly.
"Well, my father often tells my mother the things weighing on him-"
"No, Leila," Soriel interrupted. "I mean, what gave you the idea that Boromir is my husband?"
"Is he not?" Leila asked, clueless.
"No!" Soriel cried.
"Do you want him to be?" Leila continued.
"I-" Soriel seemed stuck. "Even if I did want it, it could not be." She paused. "But what made you think so?"
Leila thought for a moment. "You rely on him so much," she answered. "He often holds your hand. You exchange many knowing smiles and glances, as if you've known one another for years. You just seemed quite happily married to each other."
"You got that from knowing us hardly a fortnight?!" Soriel asked, stunned.
"Yes," Leila responded, shrugging. "Why is it so impossible?"
"Leila, Boromir is the steward of Gondor. Until the rightful king returns to the throne, that means Boromir is next in line to be in charge. I am an elf with no status. His marriage must be to a lordly lady," explained Soriel.
Leila scrunched her nose at her friend. "I do not believe your reasoning. It sounds to me like an excuse to keep your feelings inside," she said.
"Leila, I am only saying what he would say. It's the truth," Soriel protested.
"I think he loves you. What can it hurt to be honest with one another?" Leila asked.
"There are so many other things at stake," Soriel argued. "The quest is more important, and who knows what will happen after that?"
Leila liked Soriel very much, but she was exasperated with this conversation. "I am only thinking of your happiness," she said, shrugging. "The quest is important, but so are you." She rose from her seat on the bed. "Anyway, Merry and Pippin have promised to teach me a game from the Shire. Would you like to join us?"
"No, thank you," Soriel declined. "I wish to relax and recover." With that, Leila took her leave.
On her way to find Merry and Pippin, she found Haldir. "Oh, hello again," she greeted him, smiling shyly.
"Hello," he returned, also returning the smile. "Are you coming from Soriel's?"
"Yes," she told him. "She's still there if you wish to visit her."
Haldir paused a moment. "Actually, it was you I was hoping to see, my lady," he said.
"Me?" Leila asked, shocked. "What can I do for you, my lord?"
"Nothing," Haldir answered, stepping closer to her. "I merely wish to talk with you. Perhaps know you better."
It was then that Leila noticed Boromir headed towards Soriel's flet. With every step he took closer, Leila stepped closer to Haldir. Boromir looked at Leila, who was now clutching Haldir's shirt sleeve. Haldir looked between them, concerned. He did not know what had happened on this journey so far, but Leila seemed very afraid of this man from Gondor.
When he was out of earshot, Haldir asked, "Has that man done something to you?"
Leila shook her head, realizing where she was, and jumped away from Haldir. "No, not him," she said. Haldir gave her a questioning look. "My lord, might you escort me to my friends? I wish to see them, and we may get to know one another on the way," she finished, giving him a smile, and he agreed.
When they arrived at the other's camp, Legolas saw Leila enter with Haldir, and she was holding his arm. She greeted Merry and Pippin warmly and they began to teach her the game from the Shire. Whatever the game was, it was making Leila shriek with laughter. From what Legolas could hear, both Merry and Pippin always cheat and neither were teaching her properly. Haldir stayed and watched, but did not participate. He watched Leila a little too closely for Legolas's liking.
"What're you gonna do about that, laddie?" asked Gimli.
"About what?" Legolas replied, feigning ignorance.
Gimli chuckled. "That elf is making moves on your woman. You can't tell me you're just going to sit there and let it happen."
"She is not mine," argued Legolas, turning away from the scene to look at Gimli. He hesitated before continuing. "Is there something I should be doing?"
Gimli grinned madly at him. "Tomorrow night, you get there before he does, and take her for a long, romantic walk through this god forsaken forest," he told him. "Try to run into him just to be sure."
"That's childish and you know it," Legolas said, scolding his friend.
"Your loss," Gimli said. "Now I'm off to find some real food."
The next night, at the start of the evening, Leila heard a knock at the door of Soriel's flet. She opened it cautiously, expecting Boromir, who spent the last night with Soriel, but it was Legolas. She was pleasantly surprised.
"Hello, your grace," she greeted. "Is there something you needed?"
Legolas seemed slightly nervous. "No, nothing I needed," he started. "I was just wondering if you would accompany me on my evening walk."
"Of course," Leila agreed happily, and they headed out.
"Also, Leila," Legolas began. "Please call me Legolas. No one has called me your grace in years, and here we are equals."
"Okay, Legolas," she agreed. "How was your night last night?" she asked casually.
"It was good. Aragorn and I agreed on a timeline to stay here before we move on," Legolas told her.
"Oh? And how long will we be here?" asked Leila.
"A month," Legolas answered. "And the Lord and Lady Celeborn have agreed to lend us boats so we may leave by the river. We feel as if this will conceal our tracks better from the enemy."
"A month here sounds wonderful," Leila said.
"Tell me, my lady, do you prefer here or Mirkwood?" Legolas asked, a sly smile on his lips.
"Oh here definitely," Leila replied sarcastically. "You know as well as I do what a horrible place Mirkwood is."
Legolas laughed. "You have a sharp wit, my friend."
Leila smiled in return. It was at this moment, they ran into Haldir. "Hello," he greeted. "Are you two enjoying a walk?"
"Yes," Leila answered, despite Haldir and Legolas not breaking eye contact. "You can join us if you like."
That comment made both of them look at her. Haldir chuckled. "No I shall think not," he said. "Another time, perhaps."
"Another time indeed," Legolas added as Haldir strode away from them.
"He is a nice man," Leila began.
"Oh?" Legolas inquired.
"But he speaks in clichés and riddles," she continued. "I wish he would be more forthcoming sometimes."
Legolas seemed relieved by her comment, so she cheekily added, "But yesterday I told him how much I couldn't stand your bluntness, so maybe I just do not know what it is I like."
She laughed as Legolas stopped in his tracks. "You are too clever for your own good, I expect," he said, and they spent the evening together.
The month they spend in Lothlorien was like heaven to Leila. She spent nearly every night with Legolas. He tried to teach her how to shoot, but that did not go so well. She put an official stop to it when Gimli nearly lost an eye. There were several nights when she would walk with Haldir, but he did not excite her the way Legolas did. She knew he thought her fair, and was attempting to woo her, but she found he did not have much of a sense of humor, and fair was about the only thing he knew of her. She did not hold any ill will towards him, but she much preferred her friends over him. A few days before they were set to leave, Leila was packing her things when she turned around to find Soriel standing in her room.
"Oh! I was not expecting this, but hello anyway," Leila greeted her friend. Soriel, however, looked forlorn.
"I have some news," she said sadly, not looking at Leila.
"What is it?" Leila asked. Soriel looked so sad, Leila was beginning to think someone she knew might have died.
"It is difficult to say," Soriel continued.
"I find difficult news is best spoken plainly," Leila advised, and this made Soriel blurt it out.
"I'm going to have a baby. Boromir is the father."
Leila felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. How was this bad news? "Well, I cannot say I'm surprised," she finally said. "He has spent almost every night with you."
"Yes," Soriel agreed. "But I have no idea what to do."
"Have you told Boromir?" Leila asked.
"Not yet," Soriel answered, shaking her head. "I wanted to ask you what to do first."
"Tell him," Leila replied almost immediately. "And soon. Before we leave."
Soriel sighed. "But when? It is not good news."
Leila thought Soriel was being a bit dramatic, but she remembered the emotions that come along with pregnancy. "Why not?" she asked.
Soriel whined. "Because! He is to be the Steward of Gondor one day! Now he will have an illegitimate child! This is a disgrace."
Leila put her hand on her friend's shoulder in comfort. "There are more disgraceful ways to bring a child, believe me," she said, thinking of her own pregnancy. "But you and Boromir have love between you, and it was that love that brought this child. Trust in that." With Leila's advice, Soriel left to find her lover.
Leila left the flet as well, but to find Haldir to say goodbye. She found him only after a few minutes of searching. "Hello, love," he greeted, kissing her on the cheek.
"Hello," she returned. "We leave in a few days time," she said bluntly.
"I know this," he replied.
"I wanted to tell you a proper goodbye," she said.
"Is there really such a thing?" he asked.
Leila nearly rolled her eyes, but stopped herself. "Well, maybe. I just wanted you to know that I have enjoyed my time here very much, including the time I spent with you."
"I have also enjoyed your company, Leila," Haldir said, taking her hand. "I hope we will meet again soon."
Leila smiled at him, gave his hand a squeeze, and left him.