Chapter two:
As the years passed, both Legolas and Aragorn had reason to return to Imladris. The darkness that was growing in the land caused concern for all. Aragorn spent all the time he could with Arwen, and Athelas' sense of foreboding grew as Arwen gave no signs of her feelings for the Ranger abating.
Athelas was brooding over this one winter day as Legolas came upon her in the gardens. She had not expected him, and surprise overcame her normal tranquility. Instead of the cheerful aspect she had grown accustomed to, Legolas looked almost beyond anger. Fury was written in the prince's face.
"My lord?" Athelas exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "What is it? What has happened?"
"My lady, I did not mean to disturb you. Forgive me, it is nothing." She could tell he was fighting to keep his voice under control.
"My lord, would you share a cup of tea with me? The snow is starting to fall, and I feel somewhat out of sorts today. I hope that tea will help me to find my balance." She held out her hand.
He looked at her with something almost like suspicion, and then his face relaxed slightly. "Yes, Athelas, we've had many a cup together, haven't we."
She smiled at him, and began to walk back to her rooms. "That we have, my lord. And I have always found pleasure in it."
In her sitting room, she waved him to a chair while she prepared the tea things. The small brazier in her room soon had the kettle boiling, and she moved silently, knowing that sooner or later Legolas would calm down enough to not upset the other elves. As she brought the tray to the small side table beside his chair, she felt his eyes on her. He accepted the small cup she handed him, and she sat down on the divan beside the table and picked up the embroidery she'd left there.
"What are you working on?" he asked her. She noticed that he was still angry, but not ready to speak about it.
"I may not say." she replied with a twinkle in her dark eyes. "My Lady has developed a penchant for secrets as of late."
He snorted. "Your lady." She nearly dropped her work in surprise. He had never used that tone to speak of anyone, especially Arwen.
"My lord, is there something amiss with Lady Arwen? I would have you tell me if there is."
He looked at her with concern in his eyes. "You see it, Athelas, I know you do. She is in love with Aragorn." Legolas put all the scorn he could into the last word.
"My Lord Estel? My lord, I wish you would tell me what it is that has made you so angry. We have been friends for many years, and I would help you if I could. But the Lady Arwen is my dearest friend in the world, and you grieve me to speak of her so."
Legolas put down the teacup with such force he broke the handle. While she wiped up the spill, he leaned forward and began speaking in a low and earnest voice.
"Forgive me, Athelas. It is not Arwen that I am angry with, though I think her foolish for her love of Aragorn. It is he who has frustrated me. He could do so much good in the world if he would but take up the crown of Gondor. A time is coming when all the men of the west must unite, and if he will not live up to his responsibilities he is not worthy of Arwen. What is the man thinking of?"
Athelas wondered how long this had been building up. Normally the prince was in better control of his emotions. Whatever had happened between he and Aragorn, it must be mended. But she was of the opinion that Aragorn should take up the kingship. He was king, and his people needed him.
"My lord," she began, but he interrupted her.
"The fault is mine, Athelas. I've known him for years, and he is a good and decent man. He would be an excellent king. Why he will not do what he was meant to do is beyond me. I have been trying to convince him for the past two days on the road, and he will not listen to me. When I saw him today with Arwen, it suddenly became too much. But that gave me no right to speak disparagingly of Lady Arwen."
She looked at him, her dark eyes meeting his shadowed ones. "My lord, I share your concerns. But it is not given to us to change the destiny of another. My heart breaks at the thought of the grief my Lady Arwen must know, and I must be there to give any comfort I can for her. If there had been some way to stop this madness before it began, but it is not for me to judge. That is all I can do."
"Surely she must listen to you." he began, but she gave a short laugh that startled him.
"My lord, she will not listen to her father! Anything I might say is swept away in dreams of sunshine and rainbows. She is young and she is in love. Nothing else matters."
She picked up her embroidery again, but he stretched out his hand and took it from her. "I have a better idea." he said, with a sardonic smile, "let's go out for a ride."
She looked at him quizzically. "In the snow?" she asked.
"What is snow to an elf?"
"I was thinking more of the horses, my lord. But if you wish to ride, certainly."
The ride helped them both to regain their tranquility. By the time they returned, snowy and happy to Athelas' rooms, Arwen was waiting there.
"I will take my leave of you," Legolas said with a smile. He gave a small bow to Arwen, and left the friends to talk.
"Did you have a good ride?" Arwen asked.
"Yes, it was lovely." Athelas removed her velvet cloak and laid it on the chair by the brazier to dry. She then sat down to remove her wet footwear. "And how was your afternoon?"
"Wonderful. And yet not wonderful. Athelas, do you know if Legolas has upset Estel? He seems very preoccupied. It is almost as though he carries the weight of the world on him. I asked him about it, but he would not speak of it. I know that he and Legolas have been traveling together. Did something happen?" Arwen looked uneasily at her friend and sat down.
Athelas looked at Arwen and closed her eyes. "I cannot help you with this, Arwen. If anything has happened between them, they must mend it. My Lord Legolas was in fine humor during our ride."
Arwen tilted her head and searched her friend's face. "What of before?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Athelas regarded her friend with surprise. "Before?" she asked.
"I noticed a broken tea cup when I came in. You are not usually so clumsy, my friend."
Athelas sat down beside Arwen on the divan, and hugged her. Arwen stiffened in her friend's embrace, and then laughed. "How ridiculous this is! To suspect you, of all people! I just don't understand why Estel would not tell me his trouble. He always has before."
"Perhaps he is growing up." Athelas thought. "He may not wish to worry you, Arwen. He has many cares upon him, and the world is growing dark. It may be he wishes to spare you pain."
"You have never been in love, have you, Athelas? No, you couldn't have. I would have known. But I want Estel to tell me his worries. I want to help him, even if the only help I can give is to listen."
Athelas smiled at Arwen. "I understand love, although not, perhaps as you do. Arwen, I must speak what my heart tells me, and I am afraid for you. I know you love Estel but think of what consequences it will have. Is there any way, even now, that you could distance yourself from him?"
"I cannot. We have been over this before, Athelas. You cannot know what I feel for him, or him for me. It is the most wonderful thing in my life. I would rather die than live without him!"
"As you say, m'lady." Athleas looked at the floor. Arwen impulsively grabbed her hand.
"It will be well, Athelas. Trust me."
Athelas smiled at her friend. "Every time you said that to me as a child, we ended up in front of your father, begging pardon for some foolhardy trick or another."
Arwen laughed, and the breach between the girls was healed. Athelas determined to keep any misgivings to herself for the time being. As the girls went into the dining area for the evening meal, they were glad to see Estel and Legolas laughing together. They seemed to have mended their quarrel as well.