Disclaimer: I own the new characters and the plot, nothing else.
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Special thanks to: All of you that read this story and that review me.
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Chapter 11- Secrets…
Eowáthiel's night was not a quiet one; nightmares flooded her head during her sleep, each and every single one of them invariably culminating on Legolas' death. When the blonde elleth woke up, her first thought was to find the Prince of Mirkwood.
She got up and dressed into a red gown with black strings, and as soon as she was ready, she exited her room. The brown eyed elleth didn't feel Legolas' presence in the house, so she crossed the living-room on tiptoe, careful not to wake up the hobbits. However, as she was already drawing out her hand to grab the doorknob, a male voice called her: "Lady Eowáthiel?"
The blonde elleth spun around to face a hobbit with light brown hair, staring at her from the middle of some blankets. "Yes, Merry?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow. The hobbit rose and motioned her to follow him into the kitchen Eowáthiel did so, and frowned when she saw him closing the door behind them. "Is something wrong?"
"Well… I just want to tell you that you must prepare yourself for what is coming. Legolas told me how difficult it was when he had to left you to help Frodo and the Fellowship; I can't imagine how it would be-"
"What do you mean? Do you know something?" Eowáthiel interrupted him, eagerness clear in her voice.
The hobbit didn't answer, and grabbed the elleth's hand before kissing her knuckles. "My lady, take my words as a friend advice", Merry said at last, letting go of her hand.
Eowáthiel nodded and decided it was time to go and find Legolas. She only took a few seconds to reach the exterior; her heart was telling her the place where she could find Legolas, and so the blonde elleth walked along a familiar path. She was recalling Merry's words: what was Legolas hiding from her?
There was only a way to know what it was, and Eowáthiel gasped when a beautiful waterfall appeared in sight. The brown eyed elleth stopped in her tracks when she spotted a blond head some meters away. "I knew you must be here", the elleth said above a whisper.
At her words, a blond elf looked over his shoulder to see her; he seemed to be exhausted and his blue eyes were veiled by some strange light. "Come Eowá, it is time for us to speak."
Eowáthiel nodded and walked reluctantly in the direction of Legolas. She was finally going to know the truth, yet strangely that wasn't a reassuring thought.
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"Where are Legolas and Eowá, Onóre?" a red haired elleth inquired in a curious voice, staring at a black haired elleth sitting in front of her.
"I don't know Léssi", Inwë answered, entitling her head to the side. "You don't have to worry, alright? I'm sure it is nothing that serious!" she added in a soft voice, caressing Léssien's hand. "Now drink your milk."
The little elleth obeyed, though she kept eyeing Inwë suspiciously. Some minutes later, Milanil joined them and his expression was rather gloomy. "Good morning!" he greeted as he sat on a chair beside the green eyed elleth.
"Good morning, Milanil! Have you seen Legolas and Eowá?" Léssien asked, despite her sister's glare.
"Well, I haven't seen them. But I have seen two hobbits outside waiting for a certain young lady to join them and play hide and seek", the grey eyed elf replied immediately, pointing through the kitchen's window. "Will you let your friends wait the whole morning?"
The answer was pretty obvious; the blue eyed elleth took one last sip of her milk before departing hurriedly. "Bye!" she exclaimed as she crossed the kitchen door.
"I don't know who's more childish, if Léssien or Merry and Pippin", the dark haired elleth commented in an amused tone. "I just hope she doesn't spend all of her energies running; the last thing we need is for her to fall ill again."
"Don't you have a life of your own, Inwë?" Milanil questioned, crossing his arms over his chest. "I mean… you are always thinking about your sisters. Sometimes, I get the impression that you have sacrificed your life for them", he continued, ignoring the elleth's shocked expression.
"They are my life! I love them more than anything in this life, Milanil, and you know it. I'm the oldest, so it is my duty to protec-"she started, only to be swiftly interrupted by the brown haired elf.
"Can't you hear yourself? Duty; you said it was your duty. Is that what you really feel, Inwë? That taking care of your sisters is just a duty?"
"How can you say such things? I take care of them because they mean the world to me! And of course I did not sacrificed my life!" the dark haired elleth retorted, clearly nervous.
Milanil measured her words, before replying: "I'm sorry but I have to disagree! You surely left behind other things in order to stay with Eowáthiel and Léssien. Don't you miss those times when you helped to def-"
"Stop! Don't say another word, Milanil, or I would never forgive you! Past is past, and I don't want to recall those times, you understand? I don't regret any of the choices I've made in my life", the green eyed elleth hissed. Then, she stormed out of the kitchen, leaving Milanil alone with his thoughts.
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Two motionless elves were sitting opposite each other, holding hands, their fingers completely entwined. A pair of blue eyes was locked with a pair of brown ones, and it was hard to tell which of them showed more sadness.
The elves remained silent for what seemed an eternity, until a blue eyed elf spoke in a soft voice: "You understand now why I acted so strangely? I needed some time to think what to do; forgive me, Eowá!"
The elleth took a while to respond, and when she spoke her voice was above a whisper: "I feared something like this, you know? Deep down I always knew this could happen, but I didn't hope for it to be so soon."
"I thought your reaction would be worse…" Legolas commented, running a hand down Eowáthiel's face.
"I thought that to, but it wouldn't change anything. One day someone told me I was selfish and childish, and I decided it was time for me to change. Go ahead and do what you must do, but never forget that I'll always be with you!" the blonde elleth replied, wrapping her arms around Legolas' neck.
"I love you Eowá!" the blue eyed elf whispered, before holding Eowáthiel's waist and pull her to a passionate kiss.
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"1, 2, 3… here I come! Where are you hiding, Léssien? I'm going to find you!" a male voice said loud enough so those who were hiding could hear him. He did not take much time to find the little elleth, because her giggles indicated the place she had chosen to hide: behind a large oak tree.
"Not fair!" the red haired elleth whined when Pippin discovered her. "Why is it that everyone always finds the place where I'm hiding?"
But before Pippin could retort, footsteps were heard and two elves appeared from behind a curve on the path, holding hands and talking quietly. Léssien screamed with joy and ran in their direction, not slowing down until she had finally reached them. "There you are! I've been looking for you all morning!" she said in a resentful tone.
Legolas picked her up and placed her on his back, and Eowáthiel kissed her cheek before saying: "We are here now, baby! And we're both starving; do you think you could go inside and ask Inwë to prepare us something to eat?"
Léssien nodded and waited for the blond elf to put her down; then, she strolled into the house. Pippin and Merry motioned to follow her, but Eowáthiel called as they did so. The hobbits shrugged and turned around to face her.
The brown eyed elleth took a while to speak, and Legolas embraced her tightly, as if he was encouraging her to talk. "I juts want to apologize my friends, for shouting to you yesterday. You were right when you said Legolas should be the one telling me what the message was about."
"Don't worry my lady, apologies accepted. You were just nervous, that is completely understandable!" Merry replied cheerfully, waving a hand in dismissal.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me 'my lady'? Really, it is unnecessary; it makes feel weird", the elleth said, her lips curling into a small smile.
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm feeling quite hungry too. What about going inside?" Pippin suggested, rubbing his stomach. The others nodded and started to make their way towards the house entrance, Pippin being the one not so surprisingly leading the way.
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"So, are they coming or what?" Inwë inquired suddenly, and Léssien shrugged. "What is going on Léssi? You seem to be upset", she continued as she stared into the younger elleth's face.
"Eowá tried to fool me with a happy face, but I could see sadness reflected in her eyes. And Legolas was sad too, I could see it and feel it; they are hiding something from me", the red haired elleth said more to herself than to her sibling.
Inwë did not reply at once and walked over to her sibling. When she was standing in front of her, she kneeled and raised Léssien's chin with a pale hand, so that the blue eyed elleth could look right into the dark haired elleth's green eyes. "Princess, I do not know what Legolas and Eowá are keeping for themselves, but I'm sure that we'll know it when they think it's the right time. Meanwhile, I don't want you to be troubled by what is not your concern, alright?"
Léssien shook her head and smiled before hugging her oldest sister. "I love you, Onóre!" she whispered at Inwë's ear.
They remained like that for a split second, until at last the others arrived. Inwë raised an eyebrow and rested her hands on her hips: "I thought the meal was only for two! I never imagined those two would transform in four", the black haired elleth said half-amusedly, half-worriedly.
"Better make that five!" a male voice exclaimed from the kitchen's entrance, and everybody spun around to become face to face with Milanil. "Actually, I think it would be better if we just prepare lunch, don't you agree, Inwë?"
"Yes, I suppose so…" the green eyed elleth eventually managed to say.
And without further conversation, all of them started to do something to help prepare the meal, even though the hobbits were more concentrated in eating and easily forget they were supposed to be helping.
Despite the cheery atmosphere inside the division, two elves were exchanging understanding looks, occasionally entwining her fingers when no one was seeing.
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To be continued…