Chapter 5
Legolas found Arri not hard to trace this time when he heard her laughter and sighed to tell her about his father as he moved in princely robes now. He frowned at the uncomfortable and ceremonial garments and wondered what she would make of them on him. After all they made his title more pronounced and quite hard to miss.
He looked at the water to see Arri in the water completely soaked and her hair totally wet diminishing it of her curls. With her hair straight from the water she looked very elven and just as lovely. She was laughing with Eosin who Legolas noticed was bare chest and equally as wet. While Arri and Eosin were in the water it was clear that Eosin must have challenged her to knock him over because she would try to push him over using her weight and playful measures. Eosin and Arri did not notice they had an audience but continued to try to dunk the other. He watched them for a moment because they were amusing and he could take in how she reacted and responded to another male but at the same time he was jealous as well.
Finally Eosin cleared his throat as he noticed Legolas in his richly robes and manor of dress and pointed him out to Arri, who was taken back at her own attire. She began to blush wildly feeling she had been caught at a disadvantage again. They both made way to the knoll where they left their poles as Eosin recovered his tunic and tugged it on fast.
Arri had a hard time meeting Legolas's eye and continued to drip in front of him while Eosin rang the water from his hair. Eosin met them both quickly with a cautious stretch as he offered Arri his tunic seeing her all her clothing was soaked through.
Arri held a hand up and shook her head, "I will get dressed soon."
Eosin nodded and made his way past them feeling a little intimidated by Legolas's attire. He quickly disappeared in through the brush feeling his presence was unwanted now.
"What were you doing?" Legolas stifled a laugh as she still dripped from the water.
"Fishing," she shrugged as Legolas reached forward for her now flat hair.
He covered his mouth with his hand and sighed as he removed his large cloak and wrapped it around Arri, "You are a sight, Arri."
She felt she might embarrass him and began to wring her hair, "I'm sorry." She looked at the ground not wanting to see the beautiful attire he was wearing now that spoke his title for him. "You father is here?"
He nodded solemnly thinking of the encounter with his father as he did his cloak around her, "What was that you left for me?" He smiled thinking of the pastry and the lovely box it was in.
She was taken back for a minute as if she tried to remember, "something my mother would make."
"Like your bow, you seem part Elven and part human," he teased.
"My bow is not human," she watched him in concentration and almost wondered if he thought to insult her.
"Gandalf recognized a marking as a man's," he shrugged.
"I suppose" she murmured thinking of when mother had cooked it, " I was taught it when I was young," she was brought back to the present when she felt him take her hand.
"What was that?" He nodded to the water she and Eosin had been laughing in.
"Arwen was not available and he needed to talk too," she saw a shadow of doubt cross his handsome features. "He is the brother I was never given."
He relaxed a little and stepped closer to her, "I care for you, Arri." He said as he pulled her into a hug.
She pulled away to see his eyes, the window to his soul and knew it was true, "you are afraid of your father." She pulled away from him and held the cloak up so she could see her feet. She bite the inside of her lip worried of so many things but his father was the foremost worry.
He grabbed her wrist gently and locked her gaze so she would know he meant it, "only that he may offend you."
She turned hearing the sadness in his voice, "no more than I have been before, I am sure." She gave him a little smile with a tease in her voice.
He chuckled as she hugged him back this time and he kissed her head. "You should dress." He did not want her to stay in her wet clothing and realized he cared for her more than he realized.
"I will," she pulled away knowing that his father's presence meant many things and one was that her father would be buried along with the other elves soon. He must have known she was upset because he touched her arm with a squeeze.
"Arri you need not suffer this alone," he told her quickly and she turned to meet his eye sadly.
"Thank you, Legolas," she felt a little overwhelmed with how her heart pounded for him and the idea of her father's ceremony for his death. Now she looked to his cloak and touched it lightly, "I will return this immediately."
He nodded but found his place next to her again not ready to part yet, "Thank you for the delicacy and the box." He bent his head down and brushed his lips to hers sweetly and to his surprise she smiled as they broke the embrace.
Legolas watched her move away slowly being cautious of his cloak and he sighed feeling happy for them but worried for the formalities of their dead.
He turned to find Aragorn standing there with a smile playing at his lips. He jumped slightly not having realized his presence because he has been with Arri.
"I caught you off guard?" Aragorn smiled. "You are in love."
Legolas shook his head, "You have been here long?" He knew he had seen what had unfolded between Arri and him self but he wanted Aragorn to admit it.
"I did not want to disturb you with bad tidings," he sighed. "You both seemed to enjoy one another's company."
"Has it happened?" Legolas looked at his friend with worried eyes, "It is no longer a shadow but a threat?"
"Yes and I must help correct it once the ceremonies are complete,"
Aragorn took a deep breath not sure how bad it would be, "The battle for a Kingdom has begun."
"Gondor?" Legolas jumped ready to help ready to fight by his friend's side, "There should be NO dispute."
"No," Aragorn chuckled thinking of the fated day and he felt pride, "Not yet."
"This is something that could find Rivendell as well," Aragorn pressed his lips together in a tight line of concentration, "Loredell had a dispute over the crown and Gandalf said they will involve the Elves."
"Of Rivendell?" Legolas worried for his fellow kin and watched Aragorn's face intently.
"And Mirkwood," Aragorn admitted, "Perhaps Galadriel and Balidir may be involved in this."
Legolas tightened his fists in worry wishing he had his bow right about now. "When do we leave?" Legolas asked quickly.
"Ah, we do not this time my friend."
"I shall help." He looked at Aragorn and meant to help his friend. Aragorn had a great destiny ahead and Legolas would see it done but there was nothing he would not do for him.
"Gandalf spoke of his concern for Arri and her passage to Mirkwood," Aragorn worried for many futures.
Legolas listened intensely and felt impotent to help his friend. "We must travel through Mirkwood to get there." He wondered if Arri would stay in Mirkwood or eventually travel back to Rivendell. "What of Arwen?"
"I have not told her yet," Aragorn sighed. "I am sure she will want to be there. I would like to leave her with you and Arri in Mirkwood."
"You mean not to let me help?"
"Arri would appreciate your company more," Aragorn smiled, "These people would not welcome and elf, my friend."
Legolas nodded with a sigh, "As some Elves do not welcome humans."
"Things shall change, Legolas," Aragorn said with a meaningful look as he found Arwen and Gandalf coming to them.
"I thought Arri was here," Arwen smiled at Legolas and gaged he reaction to her name.
He shook his head with Aragorn's words still filling his thoughts, "she she went to change." He waited patiently for Gandalf to explain keeping his eyes trained on him.
"I was telling Legolas about Loredell," Aragorn told Gandalf.
"Father spoke of it as well," Arwen looked at them. "They say that the lineage to the crown has died off and Giles is the successor but some think that King Loreth's heirs remain."
"Indeed," Gandalf said looking at Aragorn, "It is not unheard of, is it." He smiled thinking of Gondor,
"I must go for Gandalf," Aragorn sighed looking at Arwen, "I would take you but the people…." His voice trailed off not wanting to admit they were not friendly to elves.
"I have heard of Loredell's people," Arwen smiled. She also knew they were very close minded to other races, the last of the humans to be like it or the first.
"Sometimes," Aragorn sighed, "I am embarrassed to be a man."
"You seem more Elven than man," Legolas raised an eyebrow. He had never thought of Aragorn as anything more than a friend.
"Aragorn has learned a great deal from your culture and he does indeed show promise to help solve this dilemma. They heard the chiming on bells and gave another a grave expression. The bells for the burials and time to say good bye to many friends.
Arri changed into her formal clothing and robes and clutched Legolas's cloak gently. It smelled like him, musky and elegant with forest smell. She ran her fingers over the material thinking about how close it was on his body not long ago. She sighed hearing the bells chiming and hurried to say good bye but the tears for her father made it hard to see.
She found the slain elves young and old dressed in their richly robes and she stood by her father as families stood by the other elves She sighed trying to control her emotions wondering if her father would sit up and speak or stir as if he slept. He certainly did not look like somebody who had even been in battle now, the others had done a good job to clean him up.
She began to move her lips in prayer just above a whisper not to interrupt the other elves and their family as they too said good bye. She thought of being the only one to send her father on and thought of what would happened if she perished, nobody would mourn. She felt alone.
Gandalf stood in the back with Aragorn to allow the elves grieve as Legolas and Arwen made their way to the ceremony. Arwen found her father aside an old friend and joined him as he the said verses together. She looked over to see Arri with her mouth moving slowly and head bowed next to her father. Her heart went to her and she would join her as soon as she could.
Legolas found King Thranduil and took his place by his father's side and his father nodded. He saw friends he had said good bye to at Helm's Deep and thought of venturing to say so again but left their families to their grief.
He noticed Arri's lone figure and sighed lightly and his father must had heard because he gave him a stern look. Legolas ignored it and made his way to Arri past the other elves. He could tell she was speaking to him once more and did not want to interrupt but the tears playing at her eyes touched him and he marched forward taking her hand in his.
She looked up slowly but couldn't muster a smile for him instead she slowly placed his cloak in his hands.
Legolas wasn't fooled as he put his cloak on. "you are not alone unless you want to be." He whispered to her and squeezed her hand.
Arri could take no more and threw herself into his arms, "Surely my heart is breaking." She had never known such grief but when she did she had her father to help her through it.
Legolas folded her into his arms and kissed her head, "Arwen and I would not allow it."
Elrond watched Legolas with Arri and the attention they gathered from Thranduil as he moved to the other King's side. "Your son seems taken with our Arri," Elrond said not taking his attention off the two as he spoke.
"He should not Elrond reasons are plain to the elder elves," Thranduil sounded very angry and upset watching them. His eyes had not left the couple as if he studied his son's behavior with the maiden. The fact that Elrond claimed her was surprising but he would not let the lord know it.
"Surely, things may change," Elrond sighed wanting to bring him hope.
"When dealing with men?" Thranduil challenged, "you of all know the constitution of men."
"Yes, my friend and I know how it changes," Elrond gestured to Aragorn who made their wholly gesture and reassured the elve's families he had known.
"I am not quick to judge," Thranduil admitted but he looked at Arri with such anger that it frightened Elrond. He folded arms and kept his eye on her, "I know Arri and her kin quite well. Verily, they have earned my respect time and time over but the truth," he turned to Elrond as if to challenge him, "is she has a human heritage that will come to pass." He looked to Legolas as if he wanted to split them apart and seem to ease as Arri's motion broke their hold. He seethed now knowing she broke the touch not Legolas which meant he was the one enthralled.
"Alas Aragorn succeeded where his kin failed and did other men," Elrond watched Arri and Legolas as she broke the gentle embrace but Legolas kept his arm around her waist.
"Perhaps," Thranduil said lowly, "But this shall not be and for reasons you are all too aware, my friend."
Elrond could feel Gandalf's eyes on them and they were worried but not just for their dead. Elrond gave Mirkwood's king a bow of his head then moved off slowly excusing himself to move to Arwen then she pulled him to joined Arri and Legolas.
Arri moved to her room with Legolas hand in hand still. She sighed thinking how he stayed by her and kept her hand as long as he could. She wasn't sure he used to displaying public affection as she wasn't but he had still kept close proximity, as well as her hand in his. She liked the feel of his hand with hers and the feeling he was there but she knew King Thranduil had taken a keen notice in them. "You father was watchful of you today," she noticed he looked upset at the mention.
He nodded as they started up the stairs, "we have different views."
"About me?"
He chuckled thinking of how little he and his father usually agreed on and shook his head. He stopped at her door and opened it for her but held her hand. When she turned to face him she found his eyes were full of many emotions. He bent down to kiss her head lightly and let their lips mingle for a moment, "sure you would like to be alone?" He seemed reluctant to leave her to her sadness and because she had returned his kiss. He longed for more but dared not show it knowing it may be too much in grief.
They both jumped apart hearing somebody clearing their throat. Legolas noticed Aragorn and shook his head with a small scoff. "This is becoming a habit," he raised an eyebrow at his friend.
"I could say the same," Aragorn leaned against the wall and smiled roguishly at Arri who blushed slightly but then he sighed deeply.
"I am departing for Loredell soon," he traded a look with Legolas whose eyes told him he hadn't discussed it with Arri yet.
Legolas met her curious gaze, "Would you like to go to Mirkwood with me?"
Arri's eyes grew wider, "What is it?" She was no fool and knew something was going on."
"Relations you might have are in Mirkwood," Aragorn said quickly.
Legolas squeezed her hand as she looked a bit overwhelmed and she nodded slowly. "I will prepare now," she kept a steady gaze on Aragorn.
Legolas felt her let go of his hand as she disappeared into the room and he sighed feeling the loss of her already.
"This is a lot on her so soon after her father but Gandalf says it must be done," Aragorn assured him. He nodded knowing Gandalf was wise to many things and they would follow him. Aragorn cleared his throat uncomfortably, "Your father might venture with us."
Legolas rolled his eyes at the thought of Arri with his father, "It shall make for an interesting trip."
Aragorn laughed lightly thinking of the dynamics of the trip with Elven attitudes.
Arri packed quickly and lightly and with a heavy heart. She had changed from her pretty gown and into traveling clothing. Under her warm cloak she had sensible clothing for riding. She thought of the urgency in Aragorn's voice and looked for her bow but remembered she had left it with Legolas. She moved from the room and into the sunlight and found Eosin making his way towards her. She noticed he was also dressed for traveling with a determined look on his face.
"Are you ready?" He asked her quietly. She narrowed her eyes at him in silent wonder at him. "You meant to leave with out me?" He teased lightly. She looked at him wordlessly and he gave her a grin, "We have not grown up together but we did grow together, did we not?"
She hugged him impulsively and nodded, "Thank you but you do not have to do this." In her heart she was touched he would do all this for her. He snapped her bags from her and carried them for her, every bit the gentleman.
He hugged her back tightly and led her towards where they would depart. He stopped short seeing Legolas and his father speaking and redirected her to take the long way.