Admittance

Legolas POV

I awoke from my waking dreams to the memory of cry of gulls. I lay in the bed for several moments, enjoying the calm for a few moments. The room was still dark, the silence only being broken by Gimli and another man's quiet snores. I briefly wondered if I had been snoring before deciding it mattered not and swinging myself onto the edge of the cot. I put on my belt and strapped on my quiver, out of pure habit and for comfort. It was one of those things one could hardly bear to have away from them. Briefly I pondered if I should wake Gimli, before deciding against it. He would need all the rest he could get if what I predicted Aragorn was to do was correct; I guessed that he would gather all the forces we could muster, then set us off for a direct attack on the black gate. A diversion, so Frodo would have a chance of getting to Mount Doom while Mordor was empty. It's what I would do if I had an elven force at my back; unfortunately my people were still fighting the darkness within our forest, and there was no help coming from them. The thought of my homeland sent a light pang of homesickness through me, but I dismissed it. It held no place in this war.

Silently I rose and padded out of the communal sleeping chamber- a good idea if one wanted to house as many people as possible in a certain amount of space, however not ideal for privacy. I made my way out of the castle like building and into the courtyard that contained the white tree of Gondor. It stood statuesque and barren in its prideful place, like a pale ghost in the dark morn. I turned my head to the east, seeing a watery strip, the width of a single hair, of sunlight seeping out into the world from beneath the stars. As my vision zoomed in though, I could also see the red fires of Mordor and the evil mountains that surrounded it. I could even see a tower sticking out from the ground, though it was no higher than a pin. I shuddered, drawing my cloak around me and turning away.

I ghosted through the city, the only being on the dusky streets in the morning silence. I could faintly hear some yawns of other exceptionally early wakers, but the majority seemed to still be at rest. I was aimless in my wanderings letting my feet take me where they willed. I soon found myself in a street I had not been on before, deciding to sit down and enjoy the cool air and silence that enveloped Minas Tirith. However, I soon found myself becoming bored and restless; well not restless to be precise, but I was not sure how to phrase it. A need to go somewhere perhaps. So I thought of what to do, deciding upon a conclusion; I would find Darke.

A small affection went through me at the very thought of her name. A while ago now I had decided I was enraptured by her. After the night of the Rohirrim party, I sort through my emotions and found it was not the drink. I remembered every second of our talk- a trade of troubles if you wished to call it that- in perfection. It made a warm fuzzy feeling expand in my heart, ready to consume me; in a good way of course. I was still not quite sure what made me love her so, but our bond, of friendship at least, ran strong and deep. I doubted it could be broken. The feeling of being in close proximity to her, the way she could reassure me, the look in her eyes when she was sad or happy. I remembered the way she seemed to pour her sold into her violin when she played, and the sheer horror that had flitted across her face when she learned she could no longer fly; and I had felt terrible too, as if it were somehow my fault and I needed to make it better- as if I had let it happen to her. I knew that thought was stupid, and yet I still felt that way. All of this I felt as I made my way to the Gardens of Healing in the dark of the morning. Dark like Darke herself- not evil and horrible, but soft and beautiful, letting the light of her stars shine through; her stars of course being her positive attributes, which in my opinion were many. Or it may just be the infatuated elf in me talking. I had come so close to telling her yesterday eve, and yet my courage failed me- so I broke into a coughing fit and blamed it on the pollen. I doubted she would return my feelings.

I cracked open the garden door and slipped in. I knew she would hear me coming, but the quieter I was the more prolonged the time would be that I could clear my mind of all unneeded thoughts, that may decide to slip off my tongue at an inopportune moment; as a prince I had given quite a few speeches before, but it always helped to be prepared. I once called a Captain of the Guard 'Ada' by mistake; I hadn't live it down for months.

And as I emerged from behind one of the many rows of bushes, I finally could see a view of her. And in my opinion she was beautiful. She had not budged from her position on the wall, and must have sat there throughout the whole night. Now though she had her violin out, head to the side and playing a slow sad song quietly. Notes drifted over to me. I recognised it, and unintentionally began to hum along.

On winds and water you may cross,
see mountains white and blue.
But on your road, let's not forget,
The lov…

I realised what I was doing and dared not sing the last line, in case it set me acting disorderly. She would not return my sentiments. Yet her short hair blew in the breeze and her cloak flapped, occasionally revealing a glimpse of feathers, and it struck me how beautiful the sight of her was to me. Yet I shook the thoughts out of my head. It would never be. She would not return sentiment.


Darke POV

I had not heard him coming over my violin by my ear, but I did hear him singing along as he approached me. His voice was clear and inspiring, as it was with the voices of all elves; yet his gave me comfort. It felt like a warm blanket falling over me. However, so surprised I was that someone was up this early in the morning I abruptly stopped playing and sheathed the bow in my quiver. "Legolas!" I said surprised. "Good morning." My tone evened out.

"Good morning. Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all."

He jumped up and swung his legs over the wall, sitting next to me. "You're up rather early." I stated, needing something to start a conversation. But indeed the morning was early; I could hardly feel the sun, the cool night breeze still blew and the city was silent aside from sleep sounds.

"I retired early last evening." He replied as an explanation. It made sense.

"And Gimli?"

"Still snoring loud enough to wake the dead."

I stopped a shudder and listened to the sleep sounds of Minas Tirith. Gimli should be on the top level up a bit… I cocked my head and could very slightly recognise the dwarfs snoring over the snoring of men. "Yes," I replied. "I can hear him." I smirked although butterflies rose in my stomach. Was it normal to sit this close? Did I dare shuffle away from him to suppress my emotions, and risk seeming rude?

Thankfully Legolas's speech cut off my thoughts. "According to you though, I snore worse?" He chuckled. I felt myself rest into ease and comfort although my emotions still needed suppressing.

"You do," I decided to answer honestly and jokingly "but it's quite rare."

"That's a relief, or I would end up bringing back the dead army!" He chortled, and I smirked alongside him before mention of that army made me crestfallen. We fell silent, though it was not uncomfortable.

"That army really scared you didn't it?" Legolas asked gently, breaking the icy stillness that had washed over.

"Yes. It did." There was no point in wasting words over obviously terrifying things. I shivered, though from a cool gust of wind or the resurfacing memories I didn't know.

"Is there any reason to that?"

"I met the ghosts of my family once…it was…a very unpleasant memory. I don't wish to speak of it." Even now the memory was being held down, and my fingers unknowingly touched the scar on my cheek.

"That's alright. And they gave you that?" Kran it, stupid hand. My love and wish to be truthful got the better of me though. I nodded.

I was surprised when his finger met face, almost drawing back and ruining the moment. His finger traced the scar, before to my surprise he sharply withdrew. His heat signature rose- was he blushing? I could see no other option.

"Sorry," he muttered, obviously embarrassed "I'm not quite sure what came over me."

"It's alright." We fell into another of our common yet comfortable silences. Now I realised I still hadn't put away my violin yet. I picked it up and set it on my lap, sweeping my hand over the base until I found the knob that made it fold up. Pressing it, it sprung into a cube in my palm and I put it in my pouch. "It's a lovely instrument," I said absentmindedly "but often misinterpreted. When someone says violin you think folksongs; but it is very different to that."

Legolas hummed in reply, then "Yes. I didn't really think of the violin as an instrument of beauty before I heard you play it; but you changed my mind."

My ear-tips heated up at the compliment, making me wish I could retreat into my hood. Why did he have to do this to me? "Thank-you." I replied. "When played correctly and with practice it is a very different instrument to the ones you find Hobbits playing. It's beautiful." I loved my instrument. Fangorn had given it to me, and I had taken to it immediately. Long story short, I spent almost three weeks non-stop playing it, teaching myself all that I could, before venturing out to listen to others play. It was one of my most prized possessions.

"It is," Legolas replied.
"as are you."

I snapped my head to the side, making sure what I heard was correct. Did he just say… what? No, the likelihood of that was basically impossible. It must have just been a friendly compliment… my brain raced at a supernatural pace while I tried to figure what had just happened.

However, the hear signature next to me had risen through the roof, figuratively speaking. It wasn't heat making him flush or anything external. He was…blushing. A lot. If I had the ability to see I would've seen him redder than a tomato, but I was already envisaging the redness anyway. Embarrassment? Indeed; though it was just a whisper of air, I could hear him mouthing, stupid, stupid, stupid to himself over and over. What was going on? This defied everything I knew, or thought I knew.

"Err… are you alright?" I asked awkwardly, not sure what to say or do.

"Yes, yes," he replied normally, although talking slightly faster than normal. "an awkward memory decided to pop up on me, that's all."

"Alright."

We drifted off into a somewhat awkward silence, neither of us quite knowing what to say. Or possibly it was just me, because Legolas seemed to handle any situation brilliantly. Kranos de durith, I needed to do or say something.

No. I needed to tell him. The urge was building up inside me, I felt as if I were about to explode. Here, now and why, I wasn't sure; most likely because a far corner of my brain had rationalised that from what he had just said that there may be a chance- if just a slim one- that he may love me in return.

"Legolas," I blurted out like an awkward teenager. Seriously self? This was a bad start. I was not a tween, I was a grown woman who could cope with almost anything life threw at me. Get. It. Together.

"Yes?" Oh Valar, his heat signature was still up a little. Was this really the right time? I calmed myself. All would be fine. He was Legolas, practically your best friend and prince of Mirkwood. He would understand.

"I-I need to tell you something."

"You can tell me anything. Umm.. as it so happens, I need to tell you something as well."

Let him go first, if you go first it could prove to be very awkward. Also, if it does prove to be that way it will give you time to formulate a lie, and all will be fine, I thought to myself. I did not want to lie- I hated the practise. But I believed it would be for the best. "Care to go first? It's no doubt more pressing than mine." Probably, yes.

"Um, alright." He sighed. "Um, how to put this, how to put this.." He turned to face me, even though there was no point. It must be quite important. A pang went through me. No doubt more important than my own affections. "Um.." He muttered something in Sindrian about Illuvatar, which I didn't translate to myself due to nerves. "Darke, you're an.. amazing person. I like you; I like you a lot." He paused for a moment. What was he saying? Of course he liked me, at least he should. We wouldn't be friends otherwise. "Forgive me if I'm being too forward;" he said a little awkwardly.

"What are you asking me?" I whispered softly. I was now certain that he really wanted to tell me something and that it was important; and it obviously was. If Legolas of all people, the prince of Mirkwood was finding it difficult to say something it was serious.

"Please forgive me," He repeated. "but.. I think I love you. I've thought it for a while now." He said clasping my hands in his. "And I want to court you. I'm sorry, this is very awkward.. but.. I needed to let you know. I'm sorry." He repeated and took his hands off mine. I'm quite sure he turned away and face-palmed.

I was speechless. All my doubts and thoughts had been proven wrong- he loved me in return. Or at least he thought he did. He was just as nervous and awkward about saying it as I was. In all likelihood now I thought of it, he thought I wouldn't love him back. Which explained all the apologies.

At last I got myself together. Sitting there like a dead fish was not helping matters. "Don't be." I eventually said. "Er.. I needed to tell you something too. I think I love you. And.. I would like to be courted by you. I've had a feeling about it for a while as well.. that's it really."

And the ice that had coated us, the complete utter awkwardness fled. "So you would not mind if I courted you- formally?" We were back to our normal selves- somewhat different yes, but back to ourselves. It was a metaphorical dream come true.

"I would like that." I answered.

He leant in close and clasped my hands in his again, but this time it stayed that way. It was just a lovely comforting presence; now that we both knew the others emotions it was not something out of fear nor was it awkward- we were two people in love, and no matter how strange we were for each other it worked and seemed natural. His lips brushed my forehead. A slight thrill went through me. "Thank-you." He stated simply.

"There is no need for thanks." I replied.

It was warmer now. The sun must be above the horizon now, and I could faintly hear the sounds of the general population waking up. I ignored them, turning my face to the east and feeling the sun on my flickering eyelids. I had still not put my eye ribbon on- most likely the longest period of time I'd had it off since I first began wearing it. But it did not matter. A breeze still blew although the stars would be beginning to fade now, and although the sun was rising there was still the comforting cool and quiet of the night. And I felt happy. Truly happy, happier than I remembered feeling before.

"Legolas," I asked him "could you describe the sunrise for me?"

"It's dazzling." He said. "The sun is golden, just beginning to peak over the horizon and the land is being painted orange and gold. The sky's fading into blue and the stars are still out."

"It sounds striking."

"It is."

I felt his eyes on my face for a moment before the presence disappeared, yet I could still tell he was looking at me. I realised he must be looking into my eyes, but strangely enough it didn't bother me like it usually would. His finger ran along the scar on my cheek, before he cupped my chin and our lips brushed. Nothing more. Yet a bubble of happiness lifted me up to the heavens.

We turned forward and sat facing the view. I could hear the Anduin meandering its way over land and the sun was even higher now. There were no gulls to be heard. We sat there hand upon hand, mutually joyous in this time of war.

But of course, this was a time of war. Legolas and I must have sat there for at least an hour, and we probably could've sat there forevermore, when I heard the gate creak open and a boy run in. Within moments he found us. "My lord, my lady." He said. "Lord Aragorn wishes to see you both immediately in the throne room. He ran back out. Legolas and I wordlessly agreed to leave, the spell broken. I decided to tie my ribbon around my eyes for safety and comfort, but left the hood down. The time for that was over; well and truly now. The two of us strode through the city, afraid of the impending news.


A/N- YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! FFR, and most importantly this time round VOTE! Info was posted last time.
The song being played/sung at the beginning is the Ioreth song from the LOTR game Shadow of Mordor. Look it up if you wish, it's nice.