Ivy moved her head restlessly on the pillow. Legolas watched her as she whimpered in her sleep. Legolas cast a worried glance at Galadriel, who was seated nearby.
"She is dreaming" said Galadriel quietly.
Ivy was running through a forest. The trees were so dense, that there was no light filtering in through the trees. She couldn't see where she was going. Suddenly there was a blinding light and Ivy stopped dead. She was standing on the edge of a tower high up. A large fiery eye was in front of her.
Ivy tried fruitlessly to run away. But a voice rooted her to the spot.
Legolas watched as Ivy became increasingly distressed.
"Should we wake her?" Legolas asked, a frown creasing his forehead.
Galadriel looked thoughtful for a moment as she studied Ivy's sleeping form.
"No", she said after a moment, "Although she is distressed, dreams are often the gateway to our subconscious. When she wakes, her dreams may hold some valuable information"
Ivy stirred on the bed again, a frown creasing her forehead. After a moment, she relaxed and stopped stirring. Legolas breathed a sigh of relief. Galadriel glanced worriedly at Legolas.
"Legolas. You need some rest. Go and sleep. I will watch her" she said.
"I will not leave her" Legolas said passionately.
"Very well" Galadriel said, "I shall take my leave then. If she should wake, Legolas, please send for me"
"Of course" Legolas said, standing as she left.
Legolas scooted his chair closer to the bed and held Ivy's hand. He rested his forehead against the back of her hand and drifted off to sleep.
Ivy awoke to the sound of birds twittering. For once the plants were silent. She silently thanked them and turned over. Legolas lay slumped across a chair beside her bed. His eyes were open as was the custom of elves but she knew that he was asleep. Ivy lay there in silence, thinking over what had happened and what she could remember. Her entire body seemed to ache and she felt as though she could sleep a little while longer. Legolas stirred and fully focused his eyes. He saw that Ivy was awake and sat up properly.
"Ivy! How are you feeling?" he asked, taking her hand in his.
"I feel as though I have gone a few rounds with a cave troll" she joked, as she tried to sit up.
"I shall send for some food and drink. You must be famished" he said as he went to the door to send a footman for the food and also for Galadriel.
Legolas returned to her bed and settled himself next to her pulling her into his arms, holding her close. She instinctively curled into him and he smiled softly. The feel of her body against his was enough to relax him. She turned to faced him and smiled softly, the colour flowing back to her cheeks. He raised his hand and caressed her cheek lightly. She moved closer kissing his lips tenderly. Legolas slid his hand to the nape of her neck holding her into the kiss. Ivy opened her mouth and snaked her tongue out tracing his lips till he let her in. Legolas felt his body starting to respond. Ivy ran her hands down his back feeling his muscles under his tunic. Legolas rolled over her kissing her gently and Ivy shifted her legs slightly so he could rest between them. Legolas kissed her harder grinding his arousal against her causing her to moan in pleasure. He pulled back from the kiss shaking slightly.
"We should stop Melamin,"
Ivy smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear accidentally brushing the tip and causing Legolas to shudder in pleasure.
"Did I do something wrong? It's just I…I have never been so close to death and all I thought of was you. I woke and saw you there and ….."
Ivy looked around nervously, blushing immensely. She slid out from under Legolas and crossed the room, looking out of the large open window. Fidgeting, Legolas shook his head to regain his composure and crossed the room to her wrapping his arms around her from behind. He kissed the back of her head.
"Its not you this is not the right time or place, you are not fully recovered,"
Ivy smiled and let herself relax into his arms. There was a knock at the door and Legolas went to answer it. Ivy sat on the chaise that was conveniently placed under the window. She could hear Galadriel's melodic voice from her seat beside the window. Legolas led the lady of the wood to Ivy's seat, bowed his head slightly and left.
"Ivy, my child, you had us all in a bother!" said Galadriel, taking her hand.
"It was merely a bump on the head" said Ivy, glancing down. Interestingly, the plants had now begun their endless stream of chatter.
Galadriel stroked her thumb across Ivy's palm. Ivy did not know it but the lady seated before her was actually reading her memory, her thoughts. Suddenly Galadriel dropped her hand.
"Come child. There is much to be done. There is a feast this evening to celebrate your arrival. And I am sure Legolas wishes to speak with you himself. There are suitable gowns in the cupboard behind me and the bathroom facilities are downstairs. I shall see you shortly. Legolas will know where to go" Galadriel rose and left the room.
Ivy went to the closet and selected a gown of shimmering silver along with some glass-like slippers and descended the stairs to the bathing rooms. She bathed and dressed, letting her hair flow free for once. When she was finished, she returned to her room to find Legolas already waiting for her. When he saw her he took her into his arms and kissed her. He handed her a long silver chain with a small pendant on it in the shape of a leaf.
"This is from Galadriel" Legolas said, motioning for Ivy to turn so he could put it on, "she said it was your mothers,"
Ivy opened her mouth but Legolas cut her off.
"There is much you will learn of yourself Ivy, but I am not the one to give you these answers. Do not seek them from me"
"You look beautiful Melamin" he said, as she turned to face him once more.
"Let us go. I wish to speak with Gandalf. There is much I need to tell him"
Legolas' face fell.
"What is it?" Ivy asked, looking into Legolas' eyes, "What's wrong?"
"Gandalf will not be joining us..." Legolas said, leading her to sit on the bed, "He has fallen into shadow."
Ivy swallowed, tears gathering in her eyes.
"In Moria," Legolas continued, "The Balrog..."
Slowly, Ivy shook her head.
"It cannot be"
Legolas reached for her hand and stroked it.
"You must not grieve for him, He is at peace now. Come. Aragorn wishes to speak with you and I have never seen a hobbit in such a state as Frodo is at the moment!"
Ivy allowed herself to be lead down the majestic stairwell. Absently she fingered the necklace that rested lightly on her breast, under her gown. The plants still spoke to her but they were easier to understand now, almost soothing, since she had put it on. Their voices flowed through her in a soft melody.
Frodo was the first to spot them and as they descended Legolas hung back letting the reunion take place. Suddenly he felt the weight of Ivy's destiny upon him. Much of her task would be without him and he feared when she had completed it and grown into her full capablities she would forget him in the shadows of the past.
Frodo ran to Ivy and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her close and rambling with delight. The other hobbits quickly joined almost knocking Ivy off her feet in a bundle of hugging frenzy. Aragorn stepped out form the shadows and Ivy's gaze fell upon him. The smile slipped from her face and she felt the loss of her father rest upon her heart. Aragorn stood beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Ivy..." he said.
Ivy turned to look at him, her eyes glistening with tears. Aragorn opened his arms and Ivy fell into his embrace.
Legolas watched her, his heart yearning to take her in his own arms and comfort her.
After a moment, Aragorn pulled away, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"One day we shall meet him again Ivy. He is not gone from our lives"
Ivy nodded choking back tears. Legolas moved forward and grasped her elbow.
"We shall be along in a moment Aragorn. I think Ivy needs a moment"
Legolas led her outside to a stone bench in a small garden. Ivy sat down and sucked in her breath. Legolas rested his hand on her leg. Ivy pushed it away waving her hand at Legolas in dismissal.
"Stop fussing!"
Hurt and confusion flashed across the prince's face.
"Ivy…What's wrong…."
Ivy sighed "Nothing, please just give me a little space. This is too much! I left my home, I found my father and lost him, and this with you, whatever it is, I…..just give me some space."
Ivy stood and walked down the path leaving Legolas feeling a little bewildered on the bench. She hurried away touching her forehead, briefly hesitating. She stopped suddenly and kicked the nearest tree. She began beating it with her small pale fists.
"Get out of my head. Get out. Get out. GET OUT!" She screamed.
Ivy started sobbing, the beating becoming weaker now "Get out…." She sobbed. She ripped off the necklace and threw it away.
"I want some peace!" She screamed.
Ivy sat on the bed in the healing houses with her head in her hands. Night was falling around her and she could hear distant sounds of the elves merrymaking coming from the party. The plants seemed to have backed off from her outburst; they were unusually absent from her mind.
She knew she should not have reacted to Legolas the way she had, but all of a sudden it had just got too much and she could not bear it anymore. She knew she had hurt Legolas, for elves did not take things such as this lightly. Legolas had fallen for her, she knew that much, and elves do not fall in and out of love. Once they meet there destined sprit', there is no other.
Ivy got up and paced around the bed, coming to a stop at the window seat. Sighing, she flopped down on the pillows and rested her chin on the window ledge. She needed to go and find Legolas and apologize for her tantrum but she didn't much feel like going to the party and have them all stare and judge. Her hand strayed to her throat, forgetting momentarily that she had ripped the necklace off in a fit of rage. Ivy's eyes swam with tears. She regretted doing that. Her one link to her mother and she had thrown it away.
Ivy sprang up and climbed down the stairs. She re-traced her steps and came back to the garden where she had yelled at Legolas earlier. She searched through the soft grass around the tree that she had let her rage fly at but to no avail. Ivy slumped against the tree, an old oak, and brought her knees to her chest. She began to cry softly, the tears in her eyes making tracks down her cheeks. Ivy started when she heard a soft voice.
"What is it child?"
Ivy looked up. Galadriel was standing a few feet away from her looking as graceful as ever. She came over and knelt in front of Ivy, taking her hands in her own.
"Do not despair. I understand at times that your gift may seem like a burden, but a gift it is. One day, it will save you and the ones you care about the most. Do not throw it away so hastily" Galadriel said as she reached into the folds of her gown.
Ivy gasped as Galadriel pulled out her necklace. It twinkled in the pale moonlight.
"This is your one link to your mother and your protection from evil." Galadriel fastened it around her neck, "There is no greater gift she could have given you. One day, dear child. You will find her" Galadriel kissed the top of her head, stood and left.
Ivy stood and brushed herself off, her composure regained. She ran back to her rooms and kicked the door shut. She ripped off her plain gown and washed quickly. She went to the closet and pulled out a sliver dress with trimmings of the deepest royal blue on the sleeves, hem and collar. She brushed her hair until it shone and then shimmied into the dress. Briefly she touched the necklace that sat on her bosom, which was now slightly exposed by the cut of her dress, making her breasts look big and ripe.
She made for the hall where the other companions would be meeting and celebrating the departure tomorrow and Gandalf's life. When she arrived she saw it was not a hall at all but almost a clearing with a border of trees and a canopy roof. Archways made a border around the clearing and tiny lights danced in the trees.
Music played and the elves danced as merrily as could be expected. They celebrated Gandalf's life as he would have wanted, not mourned his passing. For this Ivy was grateful. She did not want to cry anymore. As she surveyed the room, she spotted Legolas across the clearing, but not before many male eyes spotted her attractive figure and exposed bosoms, including Boromir. Lifting her chin, she made her way across the room to Legolas.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?" she said, looking at Boromir, who was standing next to Legolas, "Alone?"
Legolas turned slightly and gestured for Ivy to lead the way. Ivy walked out into the same clearing that she had been in before, where she had momentarily lost all thought and was consumed by rage. She went and sat on the stone bench. Legolas followed and sat beside her, but as close to the edge as he could get. He was nervous around her, she could tell. She could also tell that he had suffered greatly. In only the space of a few hours, he had acquired dark circles under his eyes. Ivy turned to face him.
"I am sorry, Legolas, for the way I treated you this afternoon" she said, looking at her hands, "I was frustrated and I took it out on you. I am sorry."
"Melamin, I could not stay mad at you. You are so beautiful and my heart longs for you so,"
Ivy moved closer to him kissing his neck gently, hugging him. Aragorn stepped into view.
"Legolas, Frodo wants a word."
Legolas looked at Aragorn in curiosity he was friendly with Frodo in his own way but had never had a deep conversation with him. Strange now he would request his company Legolas stood and nodded to Ivy who remained on the bench. Aragorn led Legolas away. Ivy sighed, her bosom heaving in her dress.
Boromir had been watching the revealed chest of his lust. He stepped into the clearing and sat next to her.
Boromir stared down into the grass.
"You look lovely tonight,"
Ivy shifted uncomfortably.
"My lord flatters me,"
Boromir ran his finger tip along her arm. She shivered in fear.
"You smell so wonderful, like the white flowers of Gondor in their most glorious bloom,"
Boromir snaked his hand over her breast and squeezed it gently. Ivy jumped up.
"You forget yourself sir!"
Ivy ran back to the gathering searching for Legolas in the sea of tall blond heads. When she could not locate him, she fled from the hall towards the healing houses, tears streaming down her face. She could not tell Legolas of this incident, but she did not know how she could hide it from him.
When she reached the healing houses, Legolas was already waiting for her. When he noticed her tears, he strode forward and took her in his arms.
"What is it Melamin? What is wrong?"
Ivy buried her head in his shoulder and sobbed. Legolas lifted her lightly into his arms and carried her inside, where he deposited her on bench. Ivy looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears. Legolas wiped a few stray tears off her cheek and waited for Ivy to speak.
"B..B..Boromir..." Ivy choked out.
Legolas searched her face.
"He...he..."
In an instant, Legolas knew. Ivy watched as Legolas' eyes went from a clear blue to a stormy grey in a few seconds. He knew. She saw the rage cloud over his face. Legolas stood and made for the door.
"Legolas please!"
He turned.
"Do not confront him; I do not want a scene. Please, he did not hurt me, not physically anyway. Just let it be"
"I do not think I can let such a thing go Melamin" Legolas said, surprisingly calmly. He turned and left, despite Ivy's pleas.
Outside, Legolas made for the clearing where they had gathered earlier. The elves were still dancing and laughing, enjoying their celebrations. Legolas did not know what he intended to do or say to Boromir when he found him, but Legolas never did find out, for he was stopped by Galadriel on his way to find Boromir.
"Legolas do not let your anger cloud your vision" she said.
Legolas looked at her.
"I must at least say something..."
"Boromir of Gondor has already been dealt with. He knows the consequences of his actions and he is deeply regretting them. I do realize that this will put a strain on the rest of your travels. Come" she said, leading him down a path that led to a large stone basin.
Galadriel filled a jug with water from the running stream behind her and poured it into the basin.
Legolas stared deep into the pool, feeling a feeling of calm wash over him.
"Legolas of the woodland realm, I shall show you many things this eve, Things that have been and things that could be,"
Legolas clamped his hands over his ears and stumbled back slightly. A million voices came rushing into his head asking questions. Giving him information whispering of a thousand things, of all manner of things. He looked at Galadriel in confusion. She touched his shoulder softly and the voices stopped.
"That, Legolas was the voices of the plants of this clearing alone. Ivy hears voices from near on a league away from herself."
Legolas frowned. How did she live with such din! Galadriel drew him back to the bowl.
"Legolas look into the water. I have yet more to show you,"
Legolas stared into it and saw Ivy running through a dark forest, with Merry slung over her back. Pippin running close behind A dark flash and he saw her dancing with Frodo, running through the Shire, talking to Farmer Maggots corn. He saw her struggling through fields of stone. He saw her parents parting and felt the evil that over-shadowed her soul. He knew just as Gandalf knew all those years ago that his Ivy's mother was tied to the earth and could not long survive the evil spreading from Mordor.
Legolas looked at Galadriel in confusion as the pictures faded away.
"What I have shown you Legolas, will help you on your journey. Use this information wisely" Galadriel turned and left, leaving Legolas alone with his thoughts.
Ivy awoke with a start. How long had she been asleep? Morning had broken so she assumed she had been asleep for a while. When she had fallen asleep, she could still faintly hear the elves in the distance. Ivy sat bolt upright in bed. Elves. Legolas. What had he done?
Hurriedly she dressed in a simple green dress and rushed down the stairs. She flew along the path that led to the hall where they all ate. She arrived at the entrance flushed and breathing heavily. Seated at a table near the door, was the fellowship. She breathed a sigh of relief to see Legolas laughing with Aragorn, and Boromir's face still intact. Ivy sat at the table, on a stool next to Gimli.
"'Bout time you showed up lass. We were going to send a search party!" exclaimed Gimli.
Ivy smiled and reached for a piece of fruit.
"Ivy," called Aragorn from the far end of the table, "we make our way down the river tomorrow"
Ivy nodded, and took a bite of her fruit. The rest of the meal passed much this way. She could feel Legolas' gaze burning into the side of her face. Finally, when she could take it no longer, she stood, excused herself and left the hall. Ivy made for the clearing where she had been the day before. It was fast becoming her favorite place to sit and think. She took her time, talking to the plants as she went. Healing one here, soothing another there. She walked over to a tree and sat cross legged beneath it and closed her eyes. For once she was grateful that Legolas had not followed her. She sensed that he knew she wanted time to herself. She leaned back into the tree and let the soothing voices of the old elm rush over her, letting her worries slip away.