Author's Note:
A popular suggestion by many, including Just A Reviewer and Jessie Rae Baby.
Enjoy!
The Last Homely House,
Imladris,
"You have the signed agreements related to military?" Thranduil asked Legolas.
"Yes, but I can't find the ones related to trade-"
"I have them right here." Thranduil said. He gestured at the papers in his lap.
"We have to speak on the breeding of horses-"
"I spoke to Elrond about it. We will discuss it tomorrow morning. Anything else?"
"No, I think we are done."
Thranduil gave Legolas a tired smile.
"What would I do without you?"
"Thorontur will have your hide and I will be left to clean up the mess." Legolas said briskly. Thranduil laughed.
"That is partially the truth," Thranduil said.
"Partially?" Legolas repeated. "Father, you hardly do us justice."
Their light banter was interrupted with the sharp knock on the door. It opened to give way to Lord Elrond's youngest, a daughter by the name of Arwen.
"Father sent this as refreshments," Arwen said. She set down the ornate metal tray with two crystal goblets. She gave a light dip of the head when they thanked her and she left. Legolas took one of the goblets and raised it to his lips. The water was cool and he could taste the sourness of the lemon mixed with the sweetness of honey.
"This is wonderful," Legolas commented. He could feel some alertness coming to him. The room was steadily growing darker by the coming evening. Soon the servants would enter the room and light the lanterns. He looked at his father to see that he had no yet reached for his goblet. Instead, Thranduil sat in his chair, his long fingers stroking his chin thoughtfully as he stared after the youngling.
"Is something wrong?" Legolas asked.
"Hm? No." Thranduil said, sounding startled. "I was only thinking that she reminded me of an Elleth I once knew."
Thranduil did not elaborate, but Legolas hazarded a guess Thranduil thought of Lúthien Tinúviel.
At nighttime, the dinner Lord Elrond held was a private one, consisting only of Lord Elrond and his family, King Thranduil and Legolas. It was a quiet, companionable affair.
"I hope you are enjoying your stay," Elrond said once dinner was finished and the table cleared. "Our agreements have gone well and I hope your leisure time does you credit."
"The waterfalls of Imladris are famous for lending this city its beauty," Thranduil said. "One would be a fool not to enjoy them in his spare time."
"I would imagine your home is equal in its beauty." Lady Celebrían said. She had a soft voice, with words clearly spoken but low enough for one to strain what she spoke.
"It is indeed, in its own way," Thranduil said. He turned to where Arwen sat beside her brothers with a kind smile. "And I have tales to take back to my kingdom, as my company is sure to do. Lady Arwen is growing into a fine, able Elleth, and she reminds me of an Elleth, her kin, of an Age long past."
The small, polite smile from Arwen's face faded and Thranduil wondered how her eyes resembled Galadriel's when they became cold.
"Perhaps, the people would do well to remember that no matter how much they sing of our past heroes and their deeds of valor, they will never return even if they see them in the faces of their youth." Arwen said. Her voice was chilled.
"Arwen," Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrían cried out, chastising their youngest. But Arwen rose from her chair, dipped into a curtsy and left without asking to be excused.
Thranduil stared after her in surprise. Then he burst out laughing in merriment.
"She is Lady Artanis' grandchild indeed," Thranduil said when his laughter died down into chuckles. There was genuine amusement in his voice. He had taken no offense. "She tilts her head as imperiously as her grandmother does when she speaks to me." Then he looked at Legolas. "Go to her. I think I have offended her, though I did not mean to. See to her and comfort her. I doubt she will welcome it from me."
Legolas only nodded and excused himself.
He found her in one of the circular chambers belong to the art gallery. Paintings hung about them, but some were murals, directly painted on the slabs of stone. Some were mosaics, depicting scenes of war, of merriment and others. He found Arwen standing in front of a painting which Legolas guessed was frequented popularly, judging from the lines of candles lit in front of it to give the air of a shrine. He walked silently to her, though his shadow fell over her and alerted her already of his presence. But Arwen did not say anything and Legolas took her silence as consent to stay.
He stood beside her and with his hands clasped behind his back; he looked up at the painting. It was a painting of an Elleth, with glowing white skin and long flowing hair the color of pitch black. Her lips were red and her cheeks were flushed pink and she cradled a single, five-petal flower in her clasped hands. She was dressed in blue and white dress, with flowing wide sleeves and a fitted bodice. Legolas knew who was depicted in the painting. And he knew why his father started every time he looked upon Arwen. The resemblance was unmistakable.
"I am not Lúthien," there was fierceness in Arwen's voice.
"The people think otherwise," Legolas said evenly.
"If the people wish for the Lady of Twilight then let her rise from the dead and take place in her own body and not seek her in mine," Arwen retorted. Legolas' lips twitched. Lady Celebrían too, was blunt in speech. Arwen was encouraged thus. But her words could not be truer.
"Sometimes, it is easier to cope with a loss when they feel they have not fully lost," Legolas said gently.
"But why me?" Arwen asked, whirling to him. There was genuine distress and frustration in her voice. "I did not ask for this."
"Seldom have we asked for the things we are given," Legolas said. "And your position is not as ill as it seems to you. You are not only an Elleth who bears the resemblance to the lady nightingale but you are the symbol of all the Elves. You bring our entire history at a standing point, Arwen, and that is for more than just your looks. Your appearance is only a fraction of it. Your bloodlines, your position in the Elven Realms as wells your position in the hearts of all of us is the rest. Think not that we only hold you dear for who you look like. There are many other things about you that draw the mind and the eye."
Arwen had remained silent throughout Legolas' small speech. Then she suddenly looked guilty.
"I offended your father."
Legolas gave a snort fit for a youth.
"Father is hardly offended. He does not care for such trivial disagreements. Do not worry about him."
Arwen looked older than she truly was. Her uncertainty lent her body the true age of her mind. She grew like her brothers had grown; all in sudden spurts. However, the gangly arms and legs with her awkward height of a full-grown Elleth somehow became her and Legolas could already see the little pieces of the Elleth she would become. And he had to admit she would become beautiful, a jewel that left all the gems in the king's treasury jaded and antique. But Arwen wished not for such a fate. She was wise, for one so young. Legolas did not remember the twins possessing this form of wisdom. Then again, Ellyth matured faster than Ellyn. It will take time for her body to follow and Arwen will truly grow in mind, body and spirit with time.
"I still not wish for Lúthien's fate."
Legolas laughed.
"Little one," he said, resting his hand over her slim shoulder. "If you intended to choose the path of a warrior maiden with the intentions to shake the stars, none of the lore or ballads on Arda would jar your from your path."
Arwen suddenly looked thoughtful.
"And if I do choose the path of Lúthien?" Arwen asked. Legolas looked at her and imagined Lord Elrond in his place. He doubted the father would react normally to Arwen's question.
"Then that's your choice," Legolas said.
"Thank you," Arwen said. This time when she turned to the painting, she did with a smile and not a frown. "Finally there is someone who understands me for who I am. Do you really think I could shake the stars if I set my mind to it?"
"I think anything is possible for you, Undómiel."
Author's Note:
Some things I would like to point out here:
-I do not believe that Legolas was younger than the children of Elrond, and the reason is explained earlier.
-Since all of my stories are interconnected, I did not really consider writing Legolas as the elfling and Arwen as the elder, since it does not really sit with me and I feel it is too cliché.
-Legolas famously in my stories is rather awkward around children but in 'Brothers At War' I explained that it is only around the children of Men, given their slow aging.
-In this story, I would consider that Arwen is facing the hormones and thoughts similar to that of a teens in the Race of Men. This would make her face a lot of insecurities and considering her as half-Elven, I would say the poor girl is going through a lot.
-Regarding Arwen's readiness and warmth to Legolas- I have not yet explored their relationship but I have assumed it to be based on the fact that since Legolas has trained the twins in the arts of war that Legolas knows, Arwen knew him through her brothers' praise of him and her own experience of watching him on the training field.
-Also, I wanted to give this purpose to my one-shots. I want to capture all forms of moments. And for me I feel as if this, for Arwen was a struggle to live with the image of Luthien in the beginning. She must have become used to it over time. And I wanted to capture the time when she wasn't.
-The painting of Luthien is partially inspired by the painting Gold-Seven did on Luthien. You can find her on deviantArt.
Replies to Guest:
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