Disclaimer: I only own the plot and the unknown characters.
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Special thanks: to everyone who reads this story.
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Important note: sorry for taking so long to post, but I've been very busy with College lately. Hope you like the chapter!
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Chapter 14 - Secret decisions
"Good morning, swallow", a male voice greeted.
Raising her blue eyes, a red-haired elleth saw a tall elf leaning against her room door. "Good morning, Legolas. Wanna play with me?" the elleth asked.
Legolas walked a few steps and answered: "Well, it wouldn't seem proper for an elf to play with dolls, but since no one is seeing…" He walked a little further and finally sat beside Léssien.
After a few moments in silence, Léssien stated: "I know you want to tell me something important, and I also know that whatever it is, it's going to make me feel sad." The elleth paused, waiting for him to reply, but when he failed to do so, she added in a thoughtful voice: "Come on Legolas, just say it; I promise I won't cry."
Legolas smiled and motioned her to sit on his lap. "Léssi… sometimes, grown up people have to make difficult decisions. The one I had to make was particularly painful, but was the right one. The King of Gondor needs me, so I'm to leave, and I don't know yet when I'm to return."
These words created a slight tension between the two elves, and for a moment Léssien seemed on the verge of crying, but she controlled herself in the last minute. She mumbled in a sad voice: "I knew this was going to happen sooner or later… what about Eowáthiel, what will she do about this?"
The blond-haired elf widened his eyes, and even before he had the time to open his mouth, a female voice said: "I'll go with Legolas, Onóre." Eowáthiel entered the room, and soon she was kneeling in front of them.
Léssien shook her head violently, but not a single tear escaped her eyes: "You can't go! You're my sister, Eowá; you're not supposed to leave me. Please, don't go!" At this point, she threw her arms around her sister's torso, hiding her face on her shoulder.
"Sweetheart, I won't be leaving you forever! I'll just be away for some time, to accompany Legolas, but then we'll return." The blonde elleth replied in a comforting voice. "Look at me, Léssi. You won't be alone; Inwë and Milanil will stay with you."
The younger elleth raised her head and stared deeply at her sister's brown eyes: "Promise you'll be back, Eowá."
Eowáthiel nodded, and after kissing the little elleth on the forehead, she said: "I promise." Legolas observed as the two siblings hugged each other, and deep down he couldn't help but feel guilty for breaking them apart.
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Two elegant figures were walking slowly though a path hedged with trees. Even though no words were escaping their lips, the silence surrounding them was not a sign of discomfort or incomprehension.
When the sun breached through the clouds, a pair of brown eyes stared dreamily at the sky. "What's in your mind?" Legolas inquired, glancing sideways to the blonde elleth beside him.
"I was just wondering how it'll be to see the world outside this forest… I mean, I spent my entire life here, and only left to accompany my parents to the Grey Havens; that wasn't exactly a happy trip", Eowáthiel replied softly.
Legolas sighed and stopped abruptly. "Eowá… I still think you should stay. Don't get me wrong, I wish nothing more than having you by my side, but I also know how much you love your family. Don't you-"
"No Legolas, I am not going to stay! It's my turn to follow my dreams, just like Inwë did once; please, I need you to support me on this…"
"I do, Eowá! I just don't want you to regret your decision afterwards..." the blue-eyed elf replied immediately, grabbing the elleth's hands.
"I won't…" Eowáthiel stated firmly, wrapping her arms around Legolas, and lacing her head over his shoulder.
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"Oh sorry, I didn't know someone was here", a black-haired elleth apologized, staring at a tall brown-haired elf, who was cuddling a light-brown horse.
Turning around, the elf smiled shyly and said: "I guess I needed to be on my own for a while".
The elleth nodded and replied: "I see…" She walked back and forth, entwining her fingers in a rather nervous way. "Milanil… what do you think of Eowáthiel's decision?" she asked at last, a concerned frown visible on her face.
Milanil took a while to respond, apparently absorbed in his thoughts. "Well, it really isn't my place to judge her decision, but if you want my opinion, I think that Eowáthiel has made this decision with her heart, and not with her mind."
"Yes, I know, and that is what concerns me. Eowáthiel can't stand the thought of loosing Legolas again; I honestly can't imagine her away from us for such a long time. And Léssien will miss-"
"Leave Léssien aside from this, Inwë; tell me, what is it that you really fear?" Milanil inquired sharply.
"I – well- we both know how impulsive my sister can be, Milanil. I'm afraid she has decided this only because she doesn't want to be away from the one she love again, and later she may regret it, when she realizes she's far from home. Wait, let me finish", Inwë asked, for the elf showed every sign of interrupting her. "Eowá likes to look stronger than she actually is, Milanil. I've made a promise to my parents: that I would take care of my sisters, and that I wouldn't let any harm reach them… If she goes away, I won't be able to protect her…"
Milanil sighed and walked a few steps closer to her; he stopped right beside her. "You know, Inwë that was a foolish promise to make. Besides, you seem to forget a little detail: Eowá won't be alone; Legolas will protect her at all costs, even if that means risking his own life. It's time for you to understand you can't control everything."
With these words, he strolled away from the stables, but not before patting Inwë gently on the shoulder.
"We'll see about that", Inwë whispered in a dreary voice.
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"Three, two, one… here I go!" Léssien exclaimed enthusiastically, turning around and placing her hands over her hips. As the sound of voices reached her ears, she warned: "If you two keep talking, it'll be too easy to find- oh, it's you!"
"Disappointed to see us?" Eowáthiel inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"I thought it was Merry and Pippin; we are playing hide and seek", the red-haired elleth explained, at the same time she tried to locate the hobbits. Lowering her voice, she asked, "Have you seen them?"
Legolas laughed, and replied in an amused tone: "Trying to cheat, are we? Obviously, it is not fair for me to tell you where they are." However, when he saw the saddened look on Léssien's face, he added above a whisper: "Well, I suppose I can always point." Winking, he indicated a tree on the opposite direction, and then walked away with Eowáthiel.
A few steps ahead, they heard giggles, soon followed by Pippin's stern voice: "Legolas!"
The elves laughed, truly delighted, but did not turn around. "I don't know who's more childish, and that includes you", the blonde-elleth commented.
"Me? I'm not childish; I was just helping a lady, alright?" Legolas replied in a fake outraged tone. "Léssi was in clear disadvantage, so I thought it would be nice to help her."
"But of course; so, if I understood properly, you were helping the damsel in distress", Eowáthiel retorted, smirking widely.
"Wait a minute; you're making fun of me! Come here, Eowáthiel Leagallow!" Legolas demanded, for the elleth had started to run. "You'll have to make better than that to escape from me", he warned, but Eowáthiel didn't glance back.
The blonde elleth ran until she reached the house, and as she was almost entering the kitchen, she heard a fiery discussion. "I can't believe you actually want to do that, Inwë! You must think prop-"
"Stop, Milanil. There is no other way! Can't you understand? Every decision I made so farm, it's only for my sisters' sake. Honestly, don't you think-"Inwë tried to reply, but Milanil interrupted her heatedly.
"By making that decision, you're endangering a life, and you know who I'm talking about. Don't expect my support, because you're not going to have it!" the grey-eyed elf snapped, storming out of the kitchen and almost knocking Eowáthiel down. "Sorry!" he apologized distractedly.
However, the elleth barely noticed him, her mind working frantically in order to understand the meaning of the conversation she had eavesdropped. She walked inside the kitchen, close followed by Legolas, who had just arrived, so he hadn't witnessed any of the previous events. "Inwë, you better start explaining yourself."
Inwë raised her emerald-green eyes, and replied in a tired voice: "I'm afraid I can't do that." She walked hesitantly towards the door, and then added: "I'm sorry, but one day you'll understand."
Eowáthiel clenched her fists, but allowed her sister to leave without pressing the matter. She knew her sister too well; she could almost guess what was on her mind.
"Hum… Eowá… did I miss something?" Legolas asked, clearly confused.
""She won't tell me, but he will…" the blonde elleth muttered, apparently unaware of Legolas' presence.
To be continued…