I was in the middle of learning Sindarin phrases from Arwen when father strode up to me. "Naerwen, may I have a word with you?"
I could feel dread build in me. Legolas had warned that he might bring 'that' up soon. His own father had spoken to him on the matter, a few days ago, before his departure.
"Of course, adar." I nodded in acquiescence. I watched him startle slightly. His eyes warmed.
"Come." He turned, and glided toward his study. I followed, feeling a weight settle in the pit of my stomach. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my brothers and Legolas look up at us. I knew they would be shadowing us to eavesdrop.
Upon arriving in his study, we stared at one another, awkwardly. I noted how similar our eyes were in color.
"What do you think about Legolas?" He spoke suddenly, I blinked rapidly to recover from my startle.
"He is a skilled warrior. I almost pity any enemy that finds themselves at the receiving end of his arrow." I answered carefully.
"Aside from his skills with a bow, what do you think of him?" He pressed.
"He is friendly, when he is not being cautious. His manners are impeccable." I surmised. He sighed.
"Yes, but... How do you feel about him?" His voice was strained.
"I hardy know him to have much of an opinion of him." I answered.
"I must be truthful. King Thranduil has voiced his interest in you." Father blew out a breath.
"I was under the impression that Elves did not remarry." I answered cautiously.
"As a daughter."
"But you have already adopted me. It seems pointless to-"
"Through marriage."
We stared at each other. He could see my determination to be obtuse because before I could even open my smart mouth he intercepted me by continuing on. "Your marriage to Legolas."
"I do not understand." I finally murmured. "How could he be sure that I would be good for his son? He and I have hardly spoken."
"He does not need to speak to you for long to see that you are a kind soul." Father smiled.
"I see." I looked at the ground in distress.
"I will not force you into this. But please consider getting to know him while you are with him." I could see he was fighting the urge to cover his face with his hands.
"I hardly see how I can avoid that. I will be learning a lot about everyone in the Fellowship while on the road." I answered with a smile. "But I will consider it." I added, seeing his pained expression.
"Please understand, this is no ruse to be rid of you. If you do not wish for such a thing, you will always be at home here." He looked at me imploringly.
"I know, ada. I know." My voice was gentle. He watched my face for any hint of disguise, and found none. He stood, and enveloped me in a hug. I returned it somewhat hesitantly.
"Thank you for understanding." I could feel all the stress melting from him. When I looked up at him, it was as if he was younger. I had not realized just how much he had stressed about speaking to me over this.
"Think nothing of it." You don't need to know that that was exactly the reason I thought you had agreed to this whole thing for the past two weeks up until a few days ago.
"Now. Arwen tells me, she is teaching you Elven tongue." He said as he let go of me and offered his arm.
"Yes. Right now, she means to teach me Sindarin, but she intends to teach me Tengwar after I have mastered the first." I grinned.
We made our way back to the Hall of Fire to see Arwen in deep conversation with the twins. "I shall leave you here." Father smiled down at me.
"There is no such thing as privacy with you two around, is there?" I said as I sauntered up to them. They turned to me, not repentant in the slightest.
"We weren't the only ones there." Elrohir said with raised eyebrows.
"Yes, we followed Legolas. He seemed very keen to hear what you would say." Elladen added.
"Is what these two say true? Have you been asked to consider Legolas as a potential suitor?" Arwen asked.
"I see no reason to deny it. Adar is not going to force me into it, but he has asked that I consider it." I answered. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Do you think you might agree to such terms?" Arwen barely whispered. I heard footfalls behind me.
"I hardly know. I have barely spoken to him. He is friendly, but so is Gimli, once you speak to him for a while. And I would not consider Gimli as a husband for many reasons." I watched my siblings holding back laughter as they stared at something behind me."
"So I am to be compared to a Dwarf?" I could hear the smile in his voice.
"Would you prefer being compared to a Hobbit?" I asked innocently. Elrohir and Elladen were chuckling quietly, and Arwen was giggling almost silently.
"You wound me." He faked hurt.
"You know what they say about eavesdroppers." I retort.
"Yes, but I was coming to see if you would accompany me to lunch." He offered his arm.
"I suppose I should eat something today." I answered as I slipped my hand into the crook of his arm. I turned to my siblings. "Are you coming as well?"
"No, no. We have already eaten. And we have things to complete." Arwen waved us off. I shrugged and turned back to my escort.
"Lead the way then.' I sighed. He smiled and led me into the dining hall.
Upon the table were breads, cheeses, fruits and vegetables. Upon seeing a garlic soup, I grinned. I had not had it since my mother passed. I pulled a bowl full of the delicious soup, while selecting a tasty roll and a few slices of different cheeses.
He built his own plate while watching me very intently.
"If you stare at me so, you may burn a whole through me." I joked.
"Forgive me. I just wondered if, perhaps, you intend to ignore me through the whole quest." He murmured.
"Do you wish me to?" I asked.
"It would be easier to focus on the task at hand." He looked down at his plate.
"That is not was I asked." I murmured.
"I do not wish it. Nor do I wish for just one of us to become emotionally engaged, while the other is not." He answered.
"Then I will not ignore you, nor will I actively pursue you. We will let things fall into place if they may." I answered. He looked up at me through fair lashes, his gaze unreadable.
"Truly?" He sounded so suspicious of me.
"Truly." I smiled reassuringly at me.
The time came for us to set out on our quest, and I had 'learned' everyones names. I was given new, supple yet sturdy boots, and gloves to stave off the winter chill. I had hugged Arwen when she presented me with my new gifts. She had also packed another corset, mostly of a silver color, and a few Elven dresses befitting a Lady of the house of Elrond. This was for when we went by Lothlorien, like she predicted we would. I was also given a bedroll to sleep on when we were no longer among the trees. As the others were given their gifts of clothes, I waited by the little pony.
I sighed as I noticed my company's gloom mirrored the weather.
We set out at dusk, headed south, across the plains. I could see just by the terrain, that we would be out on the moors for at least a fortnight.
I was right, of course, and chose to be vigilant about crossing the same amount of distance as the others, though, we moved slowly with Hobbits in our company. I hardly rested, with the overcast skies, and Gimli's snores. It was on the sixth day since our departure that Legolas began unrolling his bedroll by mine. This often gave me little comfort, as he still made me nervous. Even more so with the pressure of having to consider him as a potential suitor. I continued to stay on friendly terms with him, but did not actively seek out conversations with him. On the tenth day, It was particularly hard to rest. I did not feel tired, and I suspected that if I had, I would be kept up by the noisy snores of Gimli.
"Are you unable to rest?" Legolas' soft voice carried to me. The others were well and truly asleep, save for us, as Legolas was on watch tonight.
"The Dwarf snores." I grumbled and sat up. "And I have not tired from the night."
"Then will you speak with me?" Le glanced briefly at me, before looking about for threats.
"I suppose it couldn't hurt." I scooted close to him. "What do you wish to speak of?"
"Where are you from?" Was the simple question.
"Originally? I was born in a Dwarf village in the Blue Mountains. I had a half brother and sister. They were kind to me. They worried I would be killed when mother passed, and so Stern taught me all about surviving in the wild. What was edible, what wasn't. Ways to set traps to ensure I got warning of attackers. How to start a fire without flint, and how to make evidence of a campfire disappear. Stierne, my sister, taught me how to cook, so that I wouldn't get sick. She taught me how to prepare healing herbs, and remedies for many maladies. When I left that village, I went searching for a place to call home. I settled in a little forest called the Old Forest. I later learned that it was surrounded by The Shire, and tried to stay out of sight. I made my home in the trees, a small little platform in the innermost tree is where I slept. Sometimes I would go to Human villages to trade, or buy wares. Sometimes I would go for the company. Here lately though, I had kept to my little forest. That is until I finally noticed the disrepair of my clothing. That is the only reason I came to Imladris. When I had been in Bree, a sinister being came into the village. And the villages have already been wary of travelers. I wanted to know what was going on in these lands that would affect such a sleepy little area." I told him my tale, and he listened, though never stopping me to interject or ask questions.
"Did you not know who your father was?" He finally asked.
"No. My mother always said that he was some inconsequential Elf whenever I asked. She only told me he died, defeating a host of Orcs." I answered.
"You did not think to go where Elves resided?" He pressed.
"For a short time, I hated anything to do with Elves. I blamed the whole race for how the village treated me. For how my mother treated me. By the time I had let go of such feelings, I had let it in my head that I would not be welcome to any Elves as a half-breed." I stared up at the sky.
"Do not ever call yourself that." I could hear a stern undertone in his voice.
"Why not? It is what I am. I was called that from my earliest days." I shrugged.
"You are Half-Elven. You should never call yourself what others have cursed at you. You are as beautiful and swift as an Elf, with the hardiness, and I suspect, stubbornness of a Dwarf." He stared at me with such an intensity, that I could not meet his eyes.
"In any case, that was why I never sought out Elves." I murmured.
"T'is a shame." He sighed.
"Enough of me. I wish to hear of your home." I changed the subject.
He was happy to tell me all about his home. To tell me of the spiders that had once resided there, and how green everything was. He told me of the tall trees, of the homes that were in them, of the feasts they had in honor of the stars and other celebrations. As he spoke in such soothing tones, I began to doze. And when I finally slept, I dreamed of vivid green trees, so dense you couldn't see the sun but still bright with wonder. I was unaware that Legolas moved me back to my bedroll, called Aragorn to take the next watch, and settled by me, barely an arms length away.
