Another rather short chapter, but it's all about Legolas, so I hope you all like it. Btw, with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey being released this weekend, I read all my favorite fanfictions, so I'm looking for more. I like LegolasXOC stories that don't alter the plot line of the original story (such as in 10th walker stories). If you know of any good ones, please message me. Enjoy chapter 23!
When Legolas woke up, he knew instantly that something was wrong. There was no reason he should feel like that, as the early morning sun was just starting to appear over the horizon, illuminating a beautiful day in late winter. A dusting of snow was on the ground, and it shone brightly in the early light. Despite all of this, Legolas knew that something was very, very wrong.
"Tinwe?" he said, realizing that she was no longer lying next to him. When he didn't hear a reply, his anxiety rose. He quickly got off the bed and walked into his study.
He didn't find Tinwe, but his eyes instead fell upon the small box on his desk. He knew immediately what was wrong.
Swearing under his breath, Legolas changed quickly and bolted out the door, hoping that he was wrong. But when he reached the stables, Alagos was nowhere to be found.
"Tirnon!" he called, seeing the stablehand carrying a bucket nearby. "Did you see Tinwe this morning?"
"She left in a hurry about three hours ago, heading into the forest. Is something wrong?"
Legolas didn't respond. He ran as fast as he could to Arod's stall, and a short while later was galloping into the forest, following the tracks in the snow heading west into Mirkwood.
Legolas rode hard until mid afternoon, when he reached a fork in the path. It had been fairly easy to determine which way Tinwe had traveled at other points along the way, as she had apparently been galloping and the new tracks from Alagos's hooves were clearly seen in the loose earth. Here, however, Alagos had apparently slowed down, and it took Legolas several minutes to determine which tracks belonged to the mare. He wished the canopy was not so thick and snow could reach the forest floor. It would make tracking far easier.
When Legolas continued, he traveled at a slower pace. Arod was breathing hard, and could not sustain the rapid pace they had been riding at for many hours now. Frustrating though it was, Legolas knew Alagos could not maintain such a pace either.
At this slower pace, Legolas could devote his thoughts to Tinwe and why she had fled. He knew she was wary about the prospect of marriage, which is one of the reasons he had waited so long. It hurt that she had chosen to flee instead of talking to him about it, but he had a feeling this was the main reason she had been on edge lately. What triggered this reaction now, however, was beyond him. She had obviously gone looking for evidence that he was going to propose, or she would not have found the rings in the first place. But what about this made her feel like running away was the best option bothered him. Why would she choose to run? It wasn't like it came as a surprise; they had been together for almost two years now. Marriage was a logical next step. Perhaps it was because they had been together for so long. Maybe she knew that he was waiting for the anniversary of the Battle of Pelennor Fields, and the fact that it was looming so close that she panicked.
As he thought this, another idea drifted into his mind. He had told his father recently about his plan to propose on that date. His father hadn't demonstrated an obvious objection to the idea, but now that Legolas thought about it, his words were not all that supportive either.
"I suspected as much," Thranduil had said, only glancing briefly up from his work. "I'm sure she will make a good wife and mother someday."
The more Legolas thought about it, the more convinced he was that the "someday" at the end of this comment was his father hinting that he didn't think Tinwe was fit to be either of those things yet. Considering Tinwe's strange behavior had begun when she returned from patrolling the borders or the kingdom, and how he had explained his plan to Thranduil while she had been on duty, Legolas was convinced his father had spoken to her upon her return. Whatever he had said had obviously had a profound effect on Tinwe. She could face Orcs and Goblins without flinching, but his father had reduced her to a shell of her former self.
"I'm sorry Tinwe," Legolas said quietly, wishing she was close enough to hear his words. "I will fix this."
As the days wore on, Legolas got more and more frustrated. He knew he was losing ground, having to stop and track Alagos frequently once he reached the western end of Mirkwood. His passage was made even more difficult when he crossed the Misty Mountains, as he had to pass through a snowstorm that erased all evidence of Tinwe's passing. By that time, however, he was fairly certain she was heading for Imladris. He gave up trying to follow her tracks and took the most direct route, hoping he could catch up to her that way. She probably would take the same route, having frequented Rivendell before. He only hoped she would stay there instead of continuing on to some unknown destination.
"You can rest soon, my friend," Legolas said, patting Arod as he walked beside the horse. Arod had dutifully accepted the aggressive pace, but he was starting to slow involuntarily. Legolas feared he would go lame if pushed much harder.
As Legolas reached the borders of Imladris, he was greeted by a small band of elves, one of which was Elladan.
"Mae govannen, Legolas," Elladan said, smiling as he dismounted and approached the other elf. "We've been expecting you."
"Have you?" Legolas said, mildly surprised. "I'm assuming that Tinwe is here then?"
"She arrived last night. She refused to tell us why she was here, but she appeared rather moody. We assumed the two of you had a fight."
"Not exactly," Legolas said, following Elladan as they walked down into the valley. "She disappeared a few days ago after finding the ring I had intended to give her on the anniversary of Pelennor Fields. I am not sure, but I think my father spoke to her beforehand and put ideas into her head about what he expects of her if we are to wed."
"The king is unhappy about the two of you then?" Elladan said, frowning. "Why?"
"He thinks Tinwe is going to go gallivanting around Middle Earth again and get herself killed," Legolas said with a sigh. "He doesn't like the fact that she is so independent and has a warrior spirit."
"Well good luck changing that about her," Elladan said with a smile. "She'll never change, and that is not a bad thing."
"I need to convince her of that," Legolas said, looking up as Elrond walked towards him, smiling.
"Legolas. So good to see you," he said warmly.
"And you, Lord Elrond," Legolas said, bowing respectfully. "Do you know where I can find Tinwe?"
"She was in the garden the last time I saw her," he said. "Is she alright? She appears very distant and distracted."
"It is a long story," Legolas said, not wanted to go through it all again. "If you'll excuse me, I need to talk to her."
"If you're looking for Tinwe, you won't find her here," Elohir said, riding up on his white horse. "She rode west about half an hour ago."
Legolas resisted the urge to swear again, since he was in Lord Elrond's presence.
"Do you have a fresh horse I can borrow? Arod is weary and I need to catch up to her quickly."
"Of course. Come with me," Elladan led Legolas towards the stables, where he brought out a brown gelding. "This is Ranthrond. He should be able to catch up to Alagos if you hurry."
"Thank you," Legolas said, mounting Ranthrond quickly. "If I catch her, we will be back soon."
He rode quickly west in the direction Elohir had indicated. He dearly hoped Alagos wasn't rested enough to outrun his new mount.
Legolas did not catch up to Tinwe that day, or the day after. He followed her all the way into the Shire, where he had to slow down in order to ensure he stayed on her trail. There were too many horses that traveled the paths now for him to easily be able to determine her course. He was frequently forced to ask people he passed if they had seen another elf pass through. Sometimes the Men and Hobbits he spoke to had seen her, others said they hadn't seen elves for over a year, and still others had never seen an elf, and stared at him in awe.
After several weeks of traveling, he was getting anxious he would not catch her. He feared she was traveling to the Grey Havens and would try to take a ship into the west.
Legolas was nearly to the west edge of the Shire when a fierce storm came upon him suddenly. He was forced to take shelter under a cluster of pines near the road's edge. The weather did not improve his mood. He had managed to find tracks he was sure belonged to Alagos just an hour ago, and now with this rain and wind, they would certainly be erased.
"I don't know about you, Ranthrond," Legolas said after a few hours without a change in the weather. "But I am rather tired of this. Ready to go keep going? Maybe we can find an inn or something in the next town. I believe it is Michel Delving if I read the sign correctly. Come on, let's go."
Ranthrond followed him out into the storm. Legolas pulled his cloak closer around him to keep out the rain and started trudging through the mud, hoping that Tinwe wasn't caught out in the weather.
It took several hours before the rain finally let up. Legolas was soaked to the skin, and wanted nothing more than to sit beside a fire with a hot meal. Luckily, the town of Michel Delving came into view not long after the rain ended.
He walked through town, feeling out of place among the few Hobbits that braved the muddy streets. They all stared at him as he passed, giving him and his horse a wide berth. Eventually he found an Inn, which to his surprise was not Hobbit sized. Since they were now on the border of the Shire, there must be more Men and Elves that passed this way, especially so close to the Grey Havens. With relief, Legolas left Ranthrond out front and made his way inside.
"Greetings sir!" said a portly old hobbit from behind the counter. "Are you looking for a room, or perhaps just a hot meal?" Legolas saw the halfling's eyes looking him up and down with some measure of pity. He was sure he looked worn after his morning in the rain.
"Both would be very much appreciate," Legolas said with a smile. "But perhaps a room first."
"Very well, follow me." The hobbit led Legolas past the few hobbits enjoying their midafternoon meal and up the stairs. Legolas was only half listening he was brought to a room on the second floor while innkeeper rattled on about the weather. He was just about to excuse himself when something the innkeeper said made him start.
"Sorry, what was that?"
"I was just saying that you weren't the only one caught out in the storm. Another elf came in here early this morning just after the rain started. She didn't look nearly as bad as you though, no offense."
"Wait, is the other elf still here?" he said quickly, not quite believing his good fortune.
"Sure, she's just down the hall there," he said pointing. Legolas walked rapidly toward the door he indicated, and put his ear to the door. Not hearing anything from within, he knocked softly.
"Tinwe? Are you in there?" Still there was no sound from within. Despite the innkeeper's protests, Legolas tried the door. It was unlocked.
"Tinwe?" he repeated, looking around the room. He noticed the bed sheets where in a heap, and muddy footprints were on the floor. Then he noticed the open window.
Walking over to it, he looked out just in time to see a cloaked figure on a black mare gallop out of the stables and around the corner, heading out of town.