Hello Everyone! I am sooo sorry it's been forever since I updated this story. I promise you I will try to get one or two more updates in before the New Year. School has been really work oriented this semester. What was I thinking taking 21 credits?!
Without further delay, here is the next chapter of Forever Yours!
Chapter 6: Mirkwood Bound
We spared the rest of the day until I was too exhausted to go on. Legolas was so good to allow me this stress relief. My emotions slowly fell back into check. The memory the Lady passed to me slowly faded since it was not my memory to hold. But the sting of watching my mother die was too hard to watch without warning.
Legolas and I walked back to our talan as the sun set under the trees. He held my hand tight until we came to the ladder. As we ascended to the top, he went towards his own talan, but I grabbed his wrist.
"Please Legolas, just tonight. I don't want to be alone." I asked with pleading eyes.
"Mae, you know I want to but…"
"You always rise before anyone comes, you have in the past." He looked to be at battle with himself. I knew he wanted to stay with me; he loves to hold me at night. He didn't say anything just pulled me into my talan and sat on my bed. He pulled off his boots and outer tunic. I smiled as I pulled off my own outer clothes.
"Let me braid you hair." He asked. I nodded and sat between his knees as he ran my brush through my hair. This was something he had taken to since he proposed, especially nights he decided to stay. I don't complain at all. I sighed in pure bliss as his hands worked through my long locks. I couldn't hold back a moan as I felt his fingers brush the tip of my right ear. As he finished, I slide up next to him and pulled him to lay down behind me. I felt feather like kisses along my shoulder and up to my ear. I turned to face him and his lips were on mine the second he could manage it.
"I love you Mae. Soon we will be in my home and we can get married."
"I cannot wait for that day." I said kissing his lips quickly on last time.
"Good night my star; sleep well." He said kissing my forehead before pulling me close. I rested my head in the crook of his neck enjoying his scent and warmth.
"Thank you for staying." I said before falling into a surprisingly dreamless sleep.
It seemed our last few days in the wood passed in a blur. I sat down on the bench as Legolas met with Celeborn to discuss our final path to his homeland since the war changed paths and others are now safer than others. We are to leave within the hour and I may not see these woods ever again. I sat looking at the ring on my finger. Legolas' promise behind it made me smile and forget my previous thoughts. I would get to meet his father in a few days and be introduced to the realm I will call home in the decades to come. I can only hope for the best.
"Maethriel, one last word before you start your journey." I looked up to see Lady Galadriel before me smiling. She extended a hand to help me up.
"Of course my lady."
"I know not for sure if I will be attending your wedding. Thranduil has not met you thus a date cannot be foretold and my time on these shores draws shorter by each dawn. However, I know you two will wed, perhaps not when tradition predicts, but you will spend eternity together." I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Prince Legolas, perfect timing. This gift is for both of you from Celeborn and myself." She held out a small leather patch. Legolas took it and poured the contents onto his palm. My hand went to my mouth as I saw the shining silver bands lying there.
"Mithril wedding bands for a marriage I know will last eternity and beyond." Galadriel said smiling. I looked at Legolas and his face was as shocked as I was.
"I...we…" I stuttered.
"Thank you, my Lady." Legolas said bowing his head.
"No need to thank me, young prince. Is it not tradition for the parents of the bride to provide the bands of union? We may not hold the same blood as Maethriel, but her mother and father entrusted her to us should they no longer be able to. We see her as our daughter and it is a minor gift and the least we can provide."
"It is also tradition for us to provide individual gifts to the couple." Celeborn turned to hand Legolas a larger package wrapped. The Lady then turned to hand me one slightly smaller.
"Open these on the eve of your wedding. As we said before, our time here is short and your wedding date has yet to be set. As much as we wish to see your souls bound, I know we will see it in the undying lands when you join us there."
"Thank you my Lady and Lord." I said smiling but sorrow crept into my mind as I realized I may not see these two beings I considered parent figures until Legolas and I sail to the undying lands.
"Sorrow fills us at this parting young one, but remember our reunion will be even sweeter." Galadriel said kissing my forehead.
"Be well and enjoy the peace of this fourth age of Middle Earth." Galadriel said smiling.
"Go, the sun is about to rise. Ride only until the sun starts to set. The forests still hold dangers in the shadows. Be wary of new paths, though they may be faster, they are not safe." Celeborn warned looking at my betrothed.
"Farwell, Maethriel, Legolas, and Gimli, may the path to the Greenwood and beyond be safe." Galadriel's final goodbye rang in my ears as we mounted our horses.
Soon, we were on our way to the Mirkwood Forests. I felt my stomach clench as the golden tree line grew smaller and we passed into the open plain. We reached the Audin and followed it until the sun started to set.
"I'll get some firewood, lass, you are in charge of food." Gimli ordered.
"Since when do I take orders from a dwarf?" I asked putting my hands on my hips to glare at the dwarf.
"Since you learned that this dwarf gets rather cranky when you deny him food." Legolas added as he handed me a bag I assumed had our food rations. I reached in to see some lembas. There would be no game to hunt until we reached the forest edge tomorrow, so this and perhaps some fish from the river would have to do. I grabbed my bow and went to the edge. I saw no fish, not even small ones.
"Legolas?"
"Yes Mae."
"There is not a single fish, no life at all."
"Go upstream a little bit and see if it is any different. If not, do not drink the water, there may be a reason there is no fish."
I nodded and went about a hundred paces up stream ever on guard away from my two companions. I gazed into the water but saw no life either.
"How strange?" I walked back empty handed to meet a disappointed dwarf.
"I would not drink the water here until we know why there is no life in the water." Legolas said.
"I'll take first watch, you two get some sleep." Gimli offered as we finished our jerky and berries. It was already past sunset and Legolas had laid out our bedrolls for the night before we ate. He laid on his back sleeping soundly but his hand not far from his twin blades.
"Mae, you elves will be on watch once we reach that forest of his, try to get some sleep." Gimli said noticing I was still awake. I had no urge to sleep despite Gimli's encouragement. Once we pass into the forest tomorrow afternoon, there will be very little sleep until we pass Dol Guldur. Although we know the evil was all but destroyed, we know not what lies in the forests shadows.
"Lass, if you're not going to sleep, I will." Gimli said coming to stand next to me, a couple hours later.
"Rest Gimli, for I will not sleep. My mind is troubled by much."
The dwarf laid down and soon his rhythmic snores filled the air. I let my senses take in the environment around us. I heard the wind stir the grass and the small trickle of the nearby Audin. I heard Legolas stir in his sleep behind me and I turned to see his eyes still glazed over in sleep. I stood quietly and walked towards the river's edge. The moon was full lighting up the world around us. I heard a branch snap behind me and turned quickly, pulling out my dagger at the sound. I was more than relieved to see Legolas' form standing near the fire.
"You should rest Mae."
"I cannot. The river worries me. We are not even to your boarders and I can feel the darkness in the air."
"We will be within the walls of my home by afternoon the day after tomorrow."
"It is the time between that worries me Legolas. I am excited to see your home. But we do not know what darkness lingers in the area. We see the rains have washed away the blood of battles but yet you can see the earth is stained by the darkness that once dwelled here."
"I know safe paths, my star. We will make it to my home untouched I promise you." He said wrapping his arms around me and hugging me tight.
"I hope so." We stayed like that for some time just watching the stars. Eventually he coaxed me into lying down with my head in his lap, as he stroked my hair. The next thing I know, the sun was shining bright and the smell of rabbit filled my nostrils. I sat up to see Legolas' cloak draped over me and him by the fire cooking his catch.
"You slept well, I hope, you didn't toss in your sleep."
"Dreamless sleep is the best sleep for me." He smiled and handed me a plate before going to wake our dwarf companion.
"Gimli, eat so we may make it as far as possible before nightfall." The dwarf grumbled but made quick work of the meat given him. I ate some as well before rising to brush Moonlight.
I mounted her as my friends did after me and soon after we were on our way towards the tree line that would soon become my home. Legolas' homeland: Mirkwood, or Greenwood before the darkness came. Home of Thranduil and the wood elves.
By noon, we had reached the boarders; Legolas has us stop so he could find the path he planned. As we entered the forest my blood turned cold. Webs, fallen dead trees, and mushrooms were more plentiful than living trees and underbrush. I didn't say anything but kept close to Legolas and my hand never left my blade. The canopy was so thick that we had no indication of day or night.
"We are less than two leagues from Dol Guldur. It will take decades if not centuries for this land to heal from the darkness." Legolas said solemnly.
"Come, the quicker we leave these parts the better off we are. Mae is right we know not what still dwells in the shadows." We stopped once to rest the horses. I grabbed Legolas' arm when I heard several branches snap around us.
He didn't look thrilled either. His hand gripped his bow tightly as he reached back for an arrow. I followed suit.
"If it's a spider, aim for the eyes or underbelly." He whispered. His brow furrowed as he stressed his hearing. I heard the snaps again but from my right this time. He turned swiftly and fired an arrow. It landed square in the forehead of an Orc.
"Orcs!" He about shouted as I now heard the creatures around us; we were surrounded.
I fired arrow after arrow but it seemed the orcs never disappeared. Where one fell, two or three replaced it.
Sorry for a little bit of a cliffee…
I hope you liked this chapter, it's more of a filler, but this chapter takes us even closer to the Woodland Realm! Next chapter we meet some familiar elves from the Second Heir and will hopefully make it to the palace! I'm so excited for the appearance of Thranduil! I have several depictions of him pictured mentally but I am not 100% sure on how I want to portray him in my fic. I'm open to suggestions, feel free to leave them in a review or PM me!
Please follow me on Tumblr, user name bntjammer! I have some stuff posted on there that goes along with this story and my other fics, plus tons of LotR/Hobbit stuff
P.S. Guys Hobbit Desolation of Smaug comes out in one WEEK! So excited! I got my MIDNIGHT PREMIER TICKETS AND CAN NOT WAIT!
Until next time,
-B