Ok, heres where the books and the movie are starting to merge... I'm kind of winging it here, as most of you have probably already noticed! I'm taking my favourite parts of both medias so if anything seems a bit squiffy I'm sorry! Anyway this chapters a bit more fun andless angsty, plus the hints of the long awaited romance! (it's all downhill from here on!) Enjoy!
Elanor stood in front of a large mirror carefully fixing neat braids in the hair. It had been a long time since she had put such effort into her appearance. She smoothed down the pale lilac dress she had been lent by another Lady of court, making her realise how little women's clothing she actually owned. She glanced back at her reflection one more time, feeling strangely uncomfortable without a sword about her waist. Elanor left her room and headed towards the Hall. Voices and music roared down the corridor as men laughed and drank themselves dry. Elanor peered around the corner under one of the many wooden archways into the Hall. She glanced around trying to spot someone she knew. She felt nervous, staring around the huge room full of loud and rather large men. Elanor chided herself; she had lived with men for years. What was so different about them?
Slowly she made her way into the room, moving between tables and sliding past people. Most of the men politely stepped aside to allow her room; others merely glanced admiringly at her. Elanor smiled when she spotted Edain and the rest of her group across the room. She made her way over to them, ignoring the wolf whistles and jesting comments from her fellow rangers.
"Oy, mind your manners." Edain chided after Raef let slip a particularly choice remark. Elanor merely smiled a pleasant smile and quickly knocked Raef around the head with a mug she pretended to drink from. The others laughed and carried on with their various conversations. Elanor sat down next to Edain and smiled. The older man caught her expression,
"Why are you so happy?" he asked her curiously. Elanor turned to him and shrugged.
"It has been a long time since we have all been together and able to relax."
Edain nodded and took a long drink from his cup. "This may be the last time we are all together."
"Do not talk like that."
"Do not deceive yourself that everything will be fine. Not all of us will be returning."
"Do you think I am not aware that?" Elanor snapped, her good mood rapidly disappearing.
"Forgive me. I did not intend to cause an argument." Edain said with a small sigh. Elanor smiled and grasped his hand. "It will be alright. We must have faith."
Shouts and cheers drew her attention and Elanor looked over to see Merry and Pippin dancing and singing on top of one of the tables. The men around them were clapping and encouraging the hobbits. From somewhere in the room music played. Elanor laughed as the pair danced around each other.
"Go on." Edain said, nudging her gently. "Go and enjoy yourself."
A feeling of excitement bubbled up inside her. It had been a long time since she'd left like this. For one night they could forget the worries of the impending war and just enjoy the evening. Elanor caught sight of Gandalf and Aragorn stood together beside one of the wooden arches and headed over to them. The pair was deep in conversation will watching the hobbits dance and sing. As Elanor approached them, they smiled in greeting.
"It is good to see such a smile on your face, my dear." Gandalf said warmly.
"That is because I am in such good company."
"My Lady." The wizard said, bowing and holding out his hand with a smile. "Will you make an old man happy?"
Elanor looked at his hand and then up at the wizards smiling face and laughed. She reached up and took the older mans hand and allowed him to lead her out to where some tables had been cleared and couples were dancing to a fast paced flute and drums.
The other rangers at their table cheered and clapped as they began to dance. As they moved around Elanor caught a glimpse of Legolas and Gimli sat at another table with Éomer and some of the other Rohirim. The dwarf was shouting loudly something that Elanor could not make out, so slurred was his speech. Legolas stood beside him, laughing when the dwarf promptly fell from his chair. The elf looked up and caught her eye. Elanor found herself blushing and hastily looked away. Gandalf caught her reaction and raised an eyebrow, chuckling to himself. Elanor stared at him and hit him gently on the arm, as if daring him to comment. Elanor laughed happily as Gandalf swung her around. She danced gracefully, her feet moving in time with each beat. At the end of the song the crowd cheered and Elanor collapsed into a chair exhausted, Gandalf sitting gracefully down beside her. Smiling warmly she turned to the wizard.
"I am glad to have you back." She said breathlessly. "But there is something I have wanted to ask."
"If it is about what happened to me then I do not think now is the time."
"Actually I was wondering what happened to your hat."
Gandalf burst into laughter so loud that others turned to look in surprise.
"No, really," she laughed, "Do White Wizards not wear hats?"
"I often wondered that myself. I was rather fond of that hat."
"I was too. I remember when you let me wear it once. I half expected a small animal to pop out."
Gandalf chuckled beside her and pulled out his pipe and weed pouch. The two sat in companionable silence as Gandalf puffed away. Elanor sat back and smiled as she watched the others continue to dance, clapping along to the music. The pair spent a good part of the evening like this, talking and laughing. Elanor even managed to get the old Wizard to teach her how to form such wonderful smoke dragons.
As Elanor was about to take another puff of Gandalfs pipe the Wizard gave a small cough and inclined his head slightly to her left. Elanor turned around in her chair and a jolt ran through her as she saw Legolas heading towards them. The elf came up to them and extended his hand to Elanor.
"If I may?" Legolas asked softly, a smile spreading across his handsome face. Elanor looked from him to Gandalf and the wizard smiled.
"In that case I shall relinquish you for the night." he said, chuckling and taking the pipe from her hands. Elanor smiled and, feeling strangely nervous, took Legolas' hand in hers and let him lead her out to the floor as the tuneful flute music started up again. The pair stood against each other, Elanor fumbling with her hands, unsure of where to place them. Legolas smiled down at her, making her suddenly realise how much taller he was. Elanor could not stop the quickening of her pulse as his hand slide around her waist. Legolas lead her gracefully around the floor as the music played. The flutter of excitement lifted her spirits and she laughed happily.
"Thank you." Elanor said as they danced.
"For what?"
"For asking me to dance." Elanor smiled "I have not had a chance to speak with you properly since we arrived. I have missed our enlightening conversations."
Legolas let out a soft laugh and gently moved his hand a little further up her back.
"I noticed you arrived with your father." He said softly. "Are things between you well?"
Elanor thought about this. "As well as they could be." She answered
"You do not seem as angry anymore."
"You mean I am not acting like a spoilt child anymore." Elanor remarked with a smile.
"I meant you seem happier."
"I am."
"And things with Aragorn?"
Elanor looked up but not surprised. It was foolish to think he would not have noticed.
"They are as they always have been." She said somewhat sadly. "Aragorn is, and always will be, an important part of my life. Just not in the way I might have once wanted."
She sighed exasperatedly. "I am giving up on older men. They are too much trouble."
"Then I am in luck." Legolas smiled. "For I am not a man and am much less complicated than such."
"Yes but even older elves can bring complications." Elanor said audaciously. "Exactly how old are you Wood-elf?"
Legolas lent in close. "Very."
Elanor breathe caught in her throat as Legolas' voice ghosted over her cheek. A blush rose to her face and she stumbled over her reply.
"Such a cryptic answer. Anyone would think you had something to hide!"
Legolas chuckled and shook his head. "I am still young by elvish standards."
"And still avoiding the question." Elanor frowned, "Come, now. Tell me, are you over a hundred?"
Legolas smiled and nodded.
"Two hundred?"
He nodded again.
"Five Hundred?"
Another nod. Elanor raised her eyebrows.
"Surely you are not over a thousand?"
Legolas said nothing but smiled at her disbelief.
"And I thought Aragorn was old!"
Legolas yet out a melodic laugh, which Elanor couldn't help but smile at. Soon after the music ended and people began to cheer and clap once more. Elanor looked around and noticed the room was emptier than before.
"It seems that my friends have all deserted me." She said, somewhat annoyed.
"It has grown late."
"Then I think I will retire for the night."
"Allow me to walk you to your room?"
Elanor smiled and nodded, accepting Legolas' arm. The pair walked out of the Golden Hall and out into the main corridor. Legolas spoke quietly to her, giving her all the details of their journey that he could not write in his letters but despite the newfound comfort Elanor felt with him, she could not bring herself to ask him why he had written to her. In truth she was afraid. Afraid those letters had not meant as much to him as they had to her.
They continued down the hall, heading to where the many bedrooms had been prepared for them when Elanor spotted a couple standing down one of the corridors, running off to their right. Her eyes narrowed as they passed Éowyn and Aragorn standing together. She watched Éowyn speak with him and Aragorn smiled at what she had said. She heard Éowyn laugh at Aragorns reply before moving away from the ranger and down the passageway.
Beside her, Legolas stopped when he realised her attention was elsewhere.
"Will you wait for me a moment? There is something I have to do."
Legolas nodded and watched as she slipped her arm from him and walked over to Aragorn, trying to ignore the sharp stab of jealously.
"You should be more careful." Elanor said aloud as she approached Aragorn. "Less your intention is to have every young maid fall in love with you."
Aragorn turned to her and frowned. "Éowyn has no such intent for me."
"I did not think you so blind." Elanor sighed, shaking her head. "I have seen that look before, Aragorn. It is the same one I used to wear."
"I have done nothing to encourage her."
"Nor to dismiss her." She chided angrily. "Some women need no encouragement. Heavens knows you gave me none, but that did not stop the way I felt."
Elanor sighed gently and walked up to him, taking her hand in his. "If your heart truly lies with Arwen, as you would have be believe then refuse her now Aragorn, before it is too late."
Aragorn looked at her and exhaled softly. He nodded slowly, keeping his eyes downcast. Elanors heart ached for the torment she knew he must feel and lent forward to place a chaste kiss on his cheek. She smiled warmly and said goodnight. She walked back to Legolas who remained standing at the end of the hallway.
"I suppose you heard that?" Elanor asked.
"I did not intend to eavesdrop, but it is sometimes unavoidable." Legolas said.
Elanor smiled sadly. "I know I should not involve myself, but I cannot seem to help myself."
"You do not want to see your friends hurt. It is a natural feeling."
"Perhaps I am just nosey."
"That also."
Elanor gave him an appalled look but quickly laughed. They walked to the end of the corridor and stopped outside a dark wooden door.
"This is my room." Elanor said, indicating to the door.
"Then I shall bid you goodnight." Legolas said softly. Elanor swallowed as that fluttering in her chest returned. She took a sharp intake of breath as Legolas drew closer so that their faces were inches apart.
Suddenly a painful cry was heard, someone was screaming. Someway behind her the main door swung open and Aragorn dashed past her. Legolas glanced at her and followed after him, Elanor quick on his heels. They chased after him as Aragorn burst through a door and Elanor gasped as she saw Pippin writhing on the ground, his face twisted in agony, clutching a glowing stone sphere between his hands. Merry was shouting franticly at Gandalf who was woken by the screams.
Aragorn shot forward and grabbed the round stone from Pippins hands. His face contorted in pain as the sphere fizzled and cracked the air around it. Aragorn fell to his knees, his body shaking; Legolas catching him before he hit the ground. Aragorns hands hit the floor and broke contact with the ball. Immediately the stone dulled; the glow and fire gone. It rolled across the wooden surface towards Elanor. Frightened, she stepped backwards away from the orb. Gandalf moved suddenly, throwing a cloak over the sphere as Pippins screams died away and his body lay lifeless on the ground.
I know I'm mean for not letting them have their kiss, but I promise it's coming! hehehe...
And the part about Gandalfs hat came from a real conversation with one of my friends, oh and I can't remember how old Legolas is exactly so I kind of skimmed around that part, if anyone out there knows I'd appreciate their knowledge!