Chapter Sixteen

While they were in Lothlorien, Lady Galadriel summoned Legolas to speak with him privately. Legolas went to see her after asking Aragorn to watch over Haehithien; he still didn't trust Boromir where she was concerned. When he met her, Legolas and Galadriel walked through the woods a while before either of them spoke. "I came to see you at your call, my Lady. What is it you wish of me?" Legolas asked finally.

"Please tell me about your female companion. We were under the impression that there would be only nine leaving Rivendell, with her, there were ten," Galadriel said.

"I would tell you if I could, my Lady," he said. "However, at this time, all I can tell you is that I found her unconscious in the Gladden Fields when I crossed on my way to Rivendell for the council meeting. She's become friends with Arwen, who has come to call her Elena after her friend here."

"Did she not have a name of her own?" Galadriel asked. "Where did she come from, and what is she doing on the quest?"

"I'm sure she has a name of her own," Legolas answered. "It's just that she doesn't remember it. In fact, she doesn't remember anything about her life before I found her."

"Humph!" Galadriel said snidely. "She could be lying. She could be a spy, and you brought her with you!"

Legolas backed up putting his hands up defensively. "No, my Lady, I didn't. Arwen and I have both spoken with her. She has no evil within her," he said.

"And just how do you know that?" Galadriel asked, her eyes glittering dangerously.

"Because," said Legolas quietly, as he thought back to Moria. "She saved my life. All our lives really, while we were in Moria. It was after that, while we were crossing the bridge heading here, that Gandalf fell." He paused, not knowing how Galadriel would take this news.

Lady Galadriel backed down slowly. "Is there anything else?" she asked dangerously.

Legolas knew he had to tell her everything, though he didn't know what her reaction would be. "Yes, my Lady," he began, and then swallowed dryly. "She knew about the quest…" he paused and saw her dangerous look return. "It wasn't just that it was going to happen, but who would be going, as well as what would happen to them. We thought she was a spy as well, and then, we thought she was a seer," he finished quickly.

"But," Galadriel debated. "Seers are known to be Elves, she is mortal."

"I know," Legolas said. "But, Gandalf thought she had been sent by Ilúvatar, to guide us. So far, it seems that way."

"Gandalf thought this?" Galadriel asked in astonishment.

Legolas nodded. "There's more. Lord Elrond blocked the events she knew of from her memory, yet she gets troubled when we've strayed from the path and warns us to go another way."

"Are you sure that what she does?" Galadriel asked suspiciously.

"She steered us clear of the Gap of Rohan, our original route, while Saruman was watching it," Legolas said, trying to make his point.

"Did she?" Galadriel asked curiously.

"Yes," he said. "In truth, when we were camped before heading for the pass, a flock of Crebain flew over us. I didn't sense their approach first…she did," he finished the end of his statement dreamily.

Galadriel arched her eyebrow at him. "Are you sure that's all?" I sense there's something you're not telling me…" she said in an interrogative voice.

Legolas gulped. "To be honest with you, my Lady, there is something else, but at this moment," he paused and sighed. "I fear the wrath of my father if I were to make it known at this time."

"So it's something you don't wish him to know?" Galadriel asked curiously, her voice suddenly dripping with innocence. She looked up and Legolas nodded. "There's one thing at least, which you can trust to me," she said, and Legolas looked at her curiously. "If you don't wish him to know, and you tell me, I will keep your secret."

They walked for a while in silence as he contemplated what she had said, all the while she watched him carefully. Finally, he sighed and said quietly, "I know she's mortal, my Lady, and I know my father will be angry if he found out I'm not being faithful to Eletharanna. I trust that you'll keep this secret, at least until I can speak with him myself." At this, she quirked an eyebrow at him curiously, but nodded.

"The truth is, my Lady, I've fallen in love with her. Arwen brought to my attention that it's possible Ilúvatar sent her here for another purpose than just helping us on our quest. That maybe, he didn't intend for me to be joined to Eletharanna," he finished quietly.

Galadriel thought over everything Legolas had told her and said, "That's true, it is a possibility." She spoke the truth, for since they had left her presence the night before, she had been watching Legolas and the girl, and all sadness he felt at the loss of Gandalf aside, she had never seen him so happy. He'd bore the burden of purity his entire life because of his father's desire for powerful blood ties.

"I see how my granddaughter saw it," she said with a smile, and he looked at her in surprise. "I've seen you often, Legolas, and I've never seen you with such joy in your heart as you have this time. I'll keep your secret as you've requested, but I warn you," she said cautiously. "You must decide when the time comes. That is all," and with that, she gave him leave to depart.

They stayed in Lothlorien several days, mainly so that the Hobbit and Haehithien could rest. Tonight was their last night among the Lothlorien Elves; Aragorn had told them earlier that he wished to leave early in the morning. Legolas was thinking about Galadriel's statement as he headed back to camp where Haehithien was waiting for him. He must decide? Did she mean that he must decide between Eletharanna and Haehithien? If that was it than the choice was already made. He chose Haehithien. On the other hand, did she mean between leaving Haehithien behind and going to Valinor or remaining in Middle Earth with her as a mortal man? If the second possibility was what she meant than that made the decision harder, he thought as he walked through the trees.

Legolas also found himself thinking of Haehithien, he'd already broken his word to his father, and although he hadn't forced himself on her, he'd already given her his heart and body. She wasn't only beautiful, but kind and friendly, too. He realized then that it was her kindness and the sense of delicacy that surrounded her that drew him to her, made him want to protect her at all costs.

When he realized this, he found it made it even harder to let her go and return to Valinor with his people, and the choice to sty grew stronger in his heart. Yet, something pulled at him, Gandalf's fall had been the first time he'd ever witnessed death so close to him, and it scared him.

Legolas didn't return to camp immediately after leaving Galadriel. Instead, he walked through the woods of Lothlorien, trying to escape his feelings of grief and indecision. He was haunted by something Gandalf had mentioned in Moria before the Goblins first attacked, but never fully explained. Something he said was concerning Haehithien. As he walked through the trees, he wondered what it could have been. He hoped that by some miraculous act of Ilúvatar, Gandalf survived, and wouldn't be among the four Haehithien had spoken of.

It was late by the time Legolas returned to camp. The Hobbits were asleep, Boromir had gone for a walk, and Legolas found that Gimli had gone to speak with Galadriel. Aragorn was sitting on a log in front of the fire, his face half in shadow. "How is Haehithien?" Legolas asked as he approached the fire.

"She's sleeping," Aragorn answered. "Travel has been hard on her." He glanced up at a hollow in one of the near by mellryn that's entrance was covered by a golden drape.

Legolas followed his gaze and nodded. "Thank you, my friend," he said, and Aragorn jumped when he put his hand on his shoulder, startling him from his thoughts of Arwen. Aragorn nodded as he gazed into the fire, his thoughts returning to Arwen, and he began to sing the Lay of Lúthien under his breath while Legolas walked up to the hollow, pulled back the drape and entered.

As he entered the hollow, Legolas' gaze fell on Haehithien and desire swelled within him. Someone must have given her something to sleep in and a place to change because she was clothed in an extremely short, alluring, light, shimmering, ivory dress. Though the dress didn't appear too heavily made, she must have been quite warm, for she had fallen asleep on top of the blankets.

She stretched and sighed in her sleep as he watched her. His heart started to race, and he began to sweat. He was finding it hard to control himself now that they were alone again. After her stretch, she lay in a very provocative position. By Ilúvatar, he thought as he inhaled sharply, and found that he was fighting to keep himself from touching and waking her. Quietly, he removed his boots, and though he knew it would be agony, he lay with her on the bed.

In the early morning hours, while it was still dark, Haehithien rolled over and wrapped her arms around him as she continued to sleep. Legolas was taken by surprise, but enjoyed the contact. She jerked her arm and whimpered in her sleep as he looked down and took her in his arms, and was surprised to find he was drifting off to sleep himself.

In his sleep, Legolas was granted a vision by Ilúvatar. Something was wrong; a white ship was docking at the Grey Havens. Once a ship left for Valinor, it didn't return. Looking closer, he saw that an Elf maiden with dark hair was aboard. It was Eletharanna he realized and jerked awake. Eletharanna's coming here, he thought in a panic. When he came to his sense and realized where he was, he saw the sky was beginning to brighten through the drape over the hollow's entryway. He turned and saw Haehithien sitting in the corner watching him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I couldn't sleep anymore, and I didn't want to disturb you." He couldn't take his eyes from her. She had changed from her nightdress into something more suitable for traveling. She had her flame red hair braided, and tied back with a leather band, and she was now wearing another leather tunic and breeches outfit that was black and dark green, which he'd borrowed from Arwen.

"It's alright," he said quietly and smiled. "You didn't." She stood and went to him when she saw that his smile didn't reach his eyes as it usually did when he looked at her. "I had a dream," he whispered when she looked at him curiously. "Well, my people don't dream actually, we are given visions from Ilúvatar. I didn't like what I saw," he said as he took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly.

"Will you tell me?" she asked, and when she saw his face cloud, she said quickly, "You don't have to."

"No," he said firmly. "You need to know," he trailed off and swallowed hard before continuing. "Eletharanna is coming," he finished in a hollow tone, and Haehithien looked at him with a hurt expression. He didn't know why Eletharanna would be coming here, unless she had seen that the quest would end soon, and was here to take him to Valinor. He looked at Haehithien, and saw a tear roll down her cheek. He lifted his hands up to cradle her face and looked into her eyes. "I don't know why she's here, but I'll not allow her to separate us," he said in earnest. She looked at him, daring to hope. "Haehithien, there was a time when I thought I could give you up, now I realize that I'm well beyond that point. I fear that now, I cannot let you go, not now. Not when I've had a taste of your kindness, beauty and love, I couldn't stand to live without you." He rubbed his thumbs across her cheeks, wiping away her tears, and then he bent his head, kissing her gently. When he pulled back, he whispered, "The time to decide draws near."

She looked at him in confusion. "Decide?" she asked, searching his eyes. "Decide what?"

He turned then, and rose to his feet. Walking to the entryway, he pulled the drape back slightly and looked out over the river. "Decide my fate," he said simply, then let the drape fall back into place, and went to put on his boots. Haehithien got up from the bed and crossed to the entryway to head outside. "Where are you going?" Legolas asked curiously, wondering if he upset her further.

She paused, and turning to him, she said, "Aragorn came while you were sleeping. He had a message for me; Haldir was sent to take me to see Lady Galadriel. He's waiting outside now, I'll return soon." With that, she turned and exited the hollow.