It wasn't until she returned home that night that Naliah realized the full impact of her actions. To anyone else, it would have seemed like innocent questioning of an elder; a teen aged girl learning the history of the Ring War from an older elf of the community. But what it had felt like… Naliah was guilty of this.
The elf was beautiful. She didn't know why she had never noticed it before… probably because she was distracted by the fairly equal, yet strikingly different handsomeness of Mithrennon. He was the king after all, so who would pay attention to one of his advisors instead?
"Naliah!" Her mother's stern voice broke into her thoughts. "You said you were going up to the castle for a little while, and it's nearly sundown! Explain yourself!"
Having been brought up never to lie to her parents, Naliah did explain. She told her mother of Mithrennon's duties, and how she had been about to leave when the kind elf offered to tell her some stories.
"I simply lost track of time, Mother," Naliah said, shifting her weight from one foot to the other in the open doorway of her bedroom. "I promise it will not happen again."
"Well, you be sure that it does not," her mother answered. "Are you hungry? You've missed your dinner, but there is bread here, and some soup I can heat up over the fire, if you'd like."
Naliah was starving, but she knew her stomach wouldn't be able to take food. "No thank you, Mother. I'm quite tired. I think I may lie down."
"As you wish," her mother said, with a slight eye roll. "But do not come crawling back here in half an hour asking for nourishment."
Naliah closed the door to her room and flopped down on her bed. Her stomach was far too jumpy to handle anything, even bread, and it felt wonderful. Legolas had been so kind and so patient. She knew she should not be attracted to him but… she was, very much so. He was so different looking than a man: always polished and clean with no rough beard or tangled hair, delicate pointed ears, and eyes bluer than the oceans she would never see. He spoke quietly but proudly, and his Elvish language almost immediately drew her in.
I must see him again, she thought. But what about Mithrennon? He is just as wonderful, in different ways than Legolas. He is closer to my age after all… It had not occurred to Naliah that although he resembled a being no older than his twenties, Legolas was in fact over three thousand years old. An immortal being. The thought made Naliah shiver.
She drifted into a hazy sleep, still in her dress, murmuring to herself that she would try to visit Legolas again the next day.
***
Gimli roused from sleep around the same time that Naliah left, and was surprised to find that Legolas was not in the bed opposite his own. He looked around the room and, seeing it empty, hopped out of bed and out the door. He knew Elves didn't need much sleep, but Legolas had said he was going to have a nap…
He stalked the castle, his boots making click-clack sounds on the marble floor, and found Legolas by the front door, staring into space.
"Legolas?" he asked.
The boy seemed in a trance. He walked up to him and flicked him in the ear. Legolas jerked to life and glared at Gimli.
"What was that for?" he asked angrily, rubbing his ear.
"For waking y'up!" Gimli shouted. "What were ya doin', leaning there like that?"
"Thinking, something I'm sure you're not accustomed to," Legolas replied cooly.
Gimli shook his head. "Ye be actin' strange, lad. What's on your mind?" He leaned against the wall next to Legolas, the torchlight sending a glow across his pink blush.
Legolas was torn. Could he tell Gimli? He was a loyal friend, and had been for many years… even though they got off on the wrong foot at the start. But Gimli was also a loyal friend to Aragorn, and would probably side with the tradition that Mithrennon was to marry the Councilman's daughter. He sighed.
"It is nothing Gimli. I apologize. I'm not feeling very well tonight." Legolas started to walk down the dimly hit hallway, and Gimli trotted after him, trying to keep up with the elf's long strides.
"Ayeeeee," he said, dragging his syllables, "t'aint nothing, I know you better than that." He nudged Legolas. "Come on, tell me what's troublin' you."
"I do not wish to speak of it," Legolas insisted. "Please, Gimli, it is nothing. Even if I had your input, I would still need to make the decision on my own, and I am nowhere near making it."
Gimli sighed. He was stubborn, a common trait of Dwarves, but he did not know that Elves could also be this way. He knew Legolas was not one to show his feelings openly, unless they were very deep. "As you wish, my boy. Shall we check on the king?"
Legolas had to laugh. "Gimli, it is nightfall. The king is asleep by now, as are those he was meeting with." This time he nudged Gimli. "You slept a lot longer than you think you did."
Gimli shrugged. "As long as Mithrennon has been taken care of, we're doin' alright, I'd say."
Without knowing it, Gimli had confirmed Legolas's decision. He couldn't pursue Naliah. It was disrespectful to Aragorn and Arwen, to the king himself, to the Councilman, and even to his daughter. He knew Naliah was attracted to him, but she was very young. It was probably just her wild emotions that had not yet caught up to her. When she realized that her true destiny was the king, she would forget all about him and focus on her happy marriage. Legolas was a lust object, nothing more.
Inwardly he was grieving. Would he ever find a girl that he could share his entire life with? Or at least her entire life… he knew there were not many Elven girls left, and all of the ones he knew of were either living far away, or betrothed to others… so he'd probably have to marry a mortal girl. It was not forbidden anymore, nor was it frowned upon, but some mortals were still uneasy about growing old while their Elven counterpart stayed young and beautiful. Legolas wondered if Naliah had even thought that far ahead, or if she simply dismissed it as a petty detail.
"Yes Gimli," he found himself saying. "We are doing just fine."
***
"Do you suppose that once you are married to Mithrennon, you can get him to introduce us to his friends? I heard the king and queen of Rohan are visiting," Thalassa was saying, as she and Koume accompanied Naliah to the castle the next day. It was sunny and bright, and there was not a cloud in the blue sky. The cerulean shine reminded Naliah of Legolas's eyes, and she filled with happiness inside. She could not wait to see him again.
Absently she replied to her friend. "Yes Thalasssa, the king and queen are here. That means that he is already married. Besides, he is almost as old as Aragorn was. How appealing."
Thalassa laughed. "I mean others… he must know many other kings. Or even lords? Princes? Princes would make more sense, since that is what Mithrennon would be, had his father not passed."
Koume nodded. "Perhaps he knows twin princes… once for each of us, Thalassa."
The two girls giggled while Naliah rolled her eyes. She hadn't even wanted her friends to go with her, but she had found them lounging about in the courtyard when she went to her aunt's house to borrow a clean dress. Katake was her cousin and the same size as her, and since she was doing a job that day, her clothing had been available. The soft pink dress complimented Naliah's features, and she was grateful for it.
The three reached the courtyard of the White Tree. "You two are welcome to any princes I find… and maybe even Mithrennon."
"I thought you liked him," Koume said slowly. "Did you not say that?"
"No, no, I do." Looking up, Naliah could see Legolas in one of the palace windows, chatting with one of the guards. He was every kind of striking. "You never know though, ladies." She turned to her friends and smiled. "Well, I'll be off."
"Goodbye, Naliah," Thalassa and Koume said together. The ran off down the alleyway, holding hands and giggling. Naliah rolled her eyes again, and faced the doorway.
This third day, she was recognized by the same guard who had shown her out the night before. Her plan was to immediately find Legolas before Mithrennon even knew that she was on the grounds. That way, it would not seem suspicious that she was spending time with his advisor instead.
She wandered the castle for a few minutes before she heard the magical voice and walked in that direction. Legolas was standing with one of the guards, laughing. Naliah had to take a breath. His smile was gorgeous.
"Hello," she said softly. Both turned towards her. The guard spoke first.
"Hello, m'lady," he said. "Are you seeking the king?"
Naliah thought fast. "Um, yes. Yes I am. Would you be so kind as to fetch him for me? I would like to speak with him."
"Very well, I will see if he is free," the guard answered. He walked around the corner.
As soon as he was out of sight, Naliah motioned to Legolas to floow her. To her surprise, he did, and they went through the maze of stairs and hallways until Naliah found an empty room.
"I'm sorry," she said, breathlessly. She noticed Legolas was not even panting, probably because Elves had so much energy all the time. "I was just wondering…" She suddenly drew a blank. Why was she here? She wanted to see him, but… she couldn't very well confess her feelings, if she even had feelings yet…
Legolas couldn't help but smile at her confusion. "Perhaps you came to see the king, as you told that guard?"
Naliah laughed. "I just wanted him to leave."
Legolas leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his green clothing. "Mani uma lle merna, Naliah?"
"Your language is so charming," Naliah said softly. She leaned slightly closer to the elf. "Will you teach me?"
"I… I cannot," Legolas replied, shifting his position and backing away.
Naliah furrowed her brow. "But why not? Just yesterday…"
"Yesterday I should not have been so forward with you," he interrupted. "Forgive me Naliah, for I was wrong."
"I am confused," she said, not moving. "What did we do wrong? What did I do wrong? I hardly know you Legolas… I would just like to get to know you better…"
Legolas sighed. "It just does not seem right to me that you spend more time with I, the advisor to the king, than the king himself. He desires your company often, Naliah, and is sorry he is occupied at times when you wish to see him."
"I met him just two days ago…"
"And I, only one." Legolas stared at her with his piercing eyes. He couldn't let her know that he had been thinking the same way that she had… it would make a tryst seem all the more accessible. As much as he desired to know her better as well, he knew it could not be. Fate had tied her to Mithrennon, at least for now, and he needed the chance to discover her before Legolas even tried to step in. "I'm sorry, Naliah. Once you are closer with the king, it might be alright for us to resume our historical talks, and also for me to teach you Elvish." He walked out of the room, expecting Naliah to follow. She did. "But until then, I believe you should be seeing the king, and only the king."
Naliah was crushed. Why was he doing this? It wasn't like they were sneaking around or anything… besides, she didn't even know if the elf liked her. She hadn't really expected him to… she just liked being in his prescence. "But Legolas…"
"Please, Naliah, go see Mithrennon. I have business to attend to." He rushed down an opposite hallway, leaving Naliah lost once again.
What is wrong with him? Was I too forward? I don't think so… She walked slowly through the castle halls, touching the smooth walls as she went. I suppose he is right… I should be getting to know Mithrennon… but what is the harm in also learning a few lessons from Legolas while I am being courted by the king?
She was determined not to give up on the elf. He was stubborn, but so was she… and eventually she would make him warm up to her… no matter what it took.
Elvish:
Mani uma lle merna : What do you want?
Sarahjean: haha, I agree! Thank you for your review!
impatience: thank you, I'm always glad to have new readers!
somethingtobelivein: oh thanks you ! I completely agree, I love a guy I can talk to very easily. I hope this chapter twisted things up for you, and thank you for your constrcutive criticism, it helps a lot!