Seas: Chapter 5

Ok, well, this wasn't really much of a wait after the cliffy, but it's 11 o'clock at night and I have nothing else to do, and I'm excited to do this chapter anyway! I hope you enjoy!

I was hardly in my room for a few moments, only enough time to write a note in my notebook, rip it out and fling it onto my bed before running back out of my door and down the hallway. Silent sobs shook my body as I kept my hand cupped over my mouth. I hardly paid attention to where I was going, but found myself in front of the secret door from just the past night. It felt so long ago...

Then I was outside, but the cool, calm air of the forest hardly calmed me. I shoved my way through the forest, not comprehending that the outer layer of my dress was hooking and tearing on branches and thorns. I hardly cared. I burst into the clearing and fell onto my hands and knees, crouching in the soft grass. My hand's grasped at clumps of grass.

I ruined everything. The tiny shred of hope that Legolas could possibly love me is gone. Why would a Prince love anyone who made such a foolish mistake? He probably is having a wonderful time at the feast with his father, not giving a single thought about me. The thought brought a whole new series of shaking sobs. I fell onto the grass and covered my face with my hands.

What if Legolas had lied?

Maybe he does not truly love me. Why would he? There is no reason why he should. I am not good enough for him. I do not deserve him. He belongs with some royal maiden that is far more beautiful and powerful than I. I could no longer keep my sobs silent. What if all of this had been a lie? The night in the clearing? The "I love you"? Him braiding my hair? The glances in the months before? The staring tonight? I felt like a piece of my heart had fallen off. "Olórëdes?!" I could hear his voice echoing my name, just like it had so many times last night and today. "Olórëdes!"

Suddenly his voice felt near, and I opened my eyes. The trees rustled as a figure emerged from them, clearly stopping from a run. My eyes were too blurred with tears to see, but I could tell it was him. He came swiftly over to me and crouched, but I backed away, trying to wipe the liquid out of my eyes so that I could see. "Come to me," Legolas said softly, moving forward again, and I backed away. I could see his eyebrows crumple with concern. "Why do you back away?" he asked, and I could hear the anxiety in his voice. "I-I do not w-want you t-to lie to m-me again..," I managed to stumble out, tripping over my trembling lips. His face became even more scared. "Lie? When have I lied?" he questioned. I shut my eyes.

"Always," I whispered.

I heard movement in the grass and then strong arms wrap around me, lifting me into a warm lap. I did not open my eyes. "About what?" I heard Legolas's hurt voice say.

"Our love. Y-you never truly loved me, did you? All that we did, all of our moments: a lie," I said shakily. I felt more tears escape my closed eyes. "Nay, Olórëdes. Every moment that we have spent together I have cherished. I cannot imagine my life without you in it. I seek you out wherever I can. Nay, I did not lie. I do love you, and nothing will ever change that," was his response.

"Then why?" I asked, my voice growing stronger. "Why I? I am not beautiful, nor powerful, nor important. What can you possibly see in me?" I asked, becoming partially angry with him. Was he a fool?

"Because you are different. You may not have beauty apparent to any of the Eldar that you have met, or even to yourself, but you do to me. You are humble, kind, shy, intriguing, mysterious, quiet, subtle, and caring. You do not blatantly stroll about, insisting on this and that, attempting to ensnare me with your obvious beauty. You hide. You must be sought out, and shown that you are beautiful, inside and out. That is what love is. It must be trained and trusted. Trusted with the hearts of two, both of whose only have one chance to try to love each other. And I trust love. I believe that whatever path Ilúvatar has set for us to go on will only make me trust love more. But you must learn to give your heart to love as well. You must see yourself as beautiful, and strong, and caring, and every other thing that your are. Because it is true. And I know that only you and make yourself see that, but I shall at least try to help you. Becuase that is what a lover does," he said, finally finishing his speech.

Every word brought new tears to my eyes, until they were again streaming down my cheeks. I felt him place a finger under my chin and turn my head to face him, and I opened my eyes. Blue met blue, and he gave a small smile.

"I. Love. You," he said solidly, letting each word ring out before saying the next.

I felt overwhelmed, and I moved quickly and wrapped my arms around his neck, crushing myself to him in an embrace. Tears dripped off of my chin and onto his shirt. He had changed out of his tunic. We stayed lockig in each other's arms for the longest moment, silently expressing our love to each other. Finally, I pulled back and stared into his face. "Will you trust your heart to love, and to me?" Legolas asked.

I smiled. "As long as you stay to help me, yes. Truly, I will," I answered, and his face burst into a smile of happiness. He continued smiling as he took the pad of his thumb and wiped the tears and tears streaks off of my face and chin. Then he stood and offered me his hand, assisting me in standing. His eyes travelled down my dressed, and they widened. "Olórëdes, your beautiful dress..," he said quietly. I looked down to see my torn and wine-stained gown. My most beloved dress. I bit my lip. Legolas must have seen my face, for he said, "I will tell a seamstress to make you one just like it. I promise. She will not even know who it is for," he said gently, then took my hand and began leading us back to the kingdom as he had done last night.

Alright, did anyone else get teary reading Legolas's speech? I did when I was writing it! If not, go back and read it out loud, using Legolas's voice and pausing occasionaly. It's amazing! This chapter doesn't seem as long as chapter 4, but eh. It's midnight now, and can't figure out how to continue after the stopping point with out adding another chapter. :P I hope you enjoyed it! (I had hope that you all would see that the fact Olórëdes thinks she is not good enough for Legolas was sort of haunting her, but that's all cleared up now...maybe. Muahahha). Thanks for reading! Please give me review candy!