Chapter 6
Thranduil had found his son by the horses waiting to leave as the loyal son he had always been. He did love his son dearly and it was why he was so hard on his only son. He now wished he was traveling with them to spend some time with him and to keep him safe.
Legolas looked at him curiously and his attire because his father was not ready to travel. He had things packed and had been waiting but not his father.
"You shall stay behind?" He inquired of his father but his father's reaction was telltale and he cocked his head wondering why.
"I have some matters to attend to with Elrond," Thranduil dropped his hand heavily on his son's shoulder, "Legolas, I do not want you to misunderstand me."
He felt his father lead him away from the others as his son watched him, "Arri has a good heart." He sighed seeing Legolas's precautious look, "I would not deny you to be with the one you choose but Arri has her own path."
"You know more than you will tell me?" He was agitated with his father's lack of information. "She and I are in the dark."
"For good reason, my son," He met Legolas's eyes. "Her path is not chosen yet and it may lead her from you. You are bound by blood to Mirkwood and your responsibilities lie there as well and your destiny."
Legolas knew this and wondered what he was getting at, "As it always has."
"Things can always change," He urged his son cryptically.
Aragorn and Arwen approached ready for the voyage. Legolas nodded as he made his way from his father. "We shall meet in Mirkwood," Thranduil said but it sounded like a promise to a son.
Elrond joined Thranduil with a solemn expression watching Arri and Eosin joining the group. Silent prayers were quickly given when he noticed the frightened look they carried.
Legolas cocked and eyebrow at Eosin's attire and his packed horse but Aragorn only shrugged, it seemed they had another riding companion.
Elrond made his way cordially, "Eosin is sharp with a bow and sword and will provide help for the journey."
Arwen hugged her father and spoke her goodbye to him as Elrond gave her reluctantly to Aragorn. She gave a whimsical smile and quickly kissed her father's cheek. She knew how much she would miss him.
Legolas looked at Arri and the distance she kept between them but he wondered why they would send Eosin, he and Aragorn were enough protection. He also knew that Arri and Arwen were skilled with a sword and a bow and he wondered what perils would lie ahead that remained unspoken.
As they passed the gates from Rivendell Arri turned around wondering when she would see Rivendell again or if she would find family in Mirkwood, if that was where her fate was to be.
Eosin noticed the look as Aragorn and Legolas spoke on their horses gesturing to the woods and the paths that lie ahead. He gave her a reassuringly smile, "We all have moments of doubt."
Arri watched the woods and it's inhabitants with a smile on her face. One had to wonder when so many creatures lived in such harmony how could anything be wrong. Certainly not her search for family or her father's death, for none of that mattered to the peace of the forest. She found her heart and mind wandering to the peace she felt with Legolas. She shook her head to clear it. Legolas would need a refined, and elegant female not somebody whose thoughts were wrought with doubts and odd thoughts.
She was far from perfect with ideas that seemed to come from men and humans and to unknowingly add it into herself and gestures. She was sure that his father didn't approve of her and had told Legolas so. She looked at the sky feeling fatigued. She looked at the rest of her friends to see Aragorn was the only other who seemed to look tired or worn. Arwen, Eosin and Legolas stayed alert and continued their journey.
Legolas gave Arri a worried look, "Are you ill?" He moved her hair from her face to look at her eyes.
"She is tired." Eosin said knowingly. "We should camp so she and Aragorn may rest."
They all stopped their horses and Legolas made his way to Arri quickly as he narrowed his eyes, "you require rest?" He wasn't sure why she would need something other elves didn't. She didn't speak to him but looked to him with tired eyes as he helped her from her horse.
Arwen and Aragorn had began to kindle a fire as Eosin set out Arri's and Aragorn's sleeping things. She seemed to have it down to method and she moved with quick, deft gestures. He held Arri to him not sure what to do for but watched Arwen for instruction
Legolas was still curious, "we have only been on the road but two days." He remembered that Aragorn needed much more sleep than that but he could tend to stay awake longer if necessary. He wanted to understand why Arri needed to rest. She didn't meet his eyes embarrassed about her flaw and knew it meant it was also a weakness. She silently worried he would begin to rethink his feelings for a anyone who needed so much. She stood as straight as she could but Legolas understood rest and pulled her to him off of her feet. She couldn't deny her sore eyes and achy body any longer. She loved the feel of being in his arms and against his chest and couldn't resist snuggling closer.
Legolas was worried but as she moved against him seeming so fragile and defenseless with sleep falling upon her he found his heart pounding wildly. He already felt for her but he watched her for the enigma she was as he placed her on the cold ground by the fire.
Eosin knelt by them seeing Arri was already asleep, "She has always slept." He sighed watching her shut eyes and trying to ignore his own feelings for her. "She seems somewhere between meditation and the limbo of human sleep."
"Why?" Legolas wondered as he covered her to keep her warm.
Eosin Shrugged, "you grew up with her but never knew this?"
"No," He was taken aback that Eosin seemed to think it was shared information.
Arwen moved to them as they stood, "I did not know this either."
Eosin found his bow, "Loving is not the same as knowing them is it?" He asked them.
Arwen sat by the fire and Aragorn, "Not always but love makes them clear." She looked at her sleeping beloved and back to Legolas.
"I feel I hardly know her," Legolas sighed sitting next to Arwen.
"You do in your heart and this what matters," She touched his hand reassuringly, "I still have much to learn of Aragorn."
He nodded but he knew Arwen knew much more of Aragorn than he knew of Arri. They both watched Eosin make off with his bow to hunt as they kept watch. "How is it Eosin knows?"
"Time together," Arwen sighed, "he has pursued her as long as I can remember but it is only time." She watched the orange glow of the fire, "time does not create fire or passion."
He nodded keeping his gaze on Arri and stood to find his own bow to keep guard. He wrinkled his brow watching Arri shake in her sleep, "she's cold." He muttered and searched for something more to cover her with.
Arwen felt a smile creep to her gentle features as her friend realized they had not packed enough for two sleeping beings and Legolas sat by Arri touching her hair in wonder. He wrapped his fingers in her hair while his other hand entwined with her fingers. She could see how taken he was with her. Arwen felt Aragorn's familiar sighing as she found her own sword and placed it by his head as she made way next to him under the warm covers.
Legolas was taken back by Arwen's gestures, "shall I leave you alone?" He only had seen an elf do something like this when it came to procreation or sex. Lying around was something they did when they wanted another or to meditate and he could not see Arwen's want to relax.
She smiled amused, "I just want to keep him warmer." She touched Aragorn beard and face lightly enjoying the sensation of somebody so different from herself. "Humans keep another warm each night once they are bound or married." She put her head down next to him.
Legolas knelt beside her not wanting to perpetrate human traditions but he had to admit to keep her warmer would be wise or just to hold her without her self doubts would be nice as well. He did not wish to analyze his feelings for her but he could not understand a lot about her.
He mimicked Arwen's movement placing his bow by Arri's head and climbed beneath the cover with Arri and held her from behind. He felt her relax and stop shaking after a few moments and she pushed her body closer to him and he let a small groan realizing if humans slept this closely every night it was no wonder their procreation was so great. He felt her turn to him and she opened her eyes slightly as she moved. A little smile graced her face as she molded her body to his. He wasn't sure if she was entirely awake. He touched her face as the night's sounds touched them lightly and he began to realize how deep his feelings were for her. "Arri," he whispered but her eyes were already shut again. He kissed her half hoping she would wake and kiss him back. She had her knee against his groin and seemed so powerless in his arms. He would not move without her consent but he did let her continue to move against her. He wondered if she was fully asleep or in the state of limbo that Eosin had mentioned. He propped himself on an elbow to watch her as he did. He was in awe at her and the power she had over him.
Eosin made his way back slowly looking at Legolas next to Arri and groaned inwardly."Surely you do not intend to stay there."
Legolas met his jealous eye, "If I please."
"If she was cold you could offer her your tunic or your cloak," he challenged hoping to move him from Arri.
Arwen sighed fearful they would wake Aragorn and made her way to them, "Would you be happier if Legolas binds himself to her so you would leave them?"
"You hardly know her," Eosin insisted to Legolas. "I do not think she would be happy to be deflowered by you."
If Arri hadn't been so comfortable against him, Legolas may have gotten more upset but she stirred slightly and curled her fingers around his shirt pushing her head where she could her his heart. "It would be between us," he placed an arm protectively around her as if to shoo Eosin.
Eosin stood reluctantly and began to clean his kills on the other side of the fire as Arwen moved to him. "She chose him too," she whispered. "I know this is hard for you but they do as they choose."
Eosin nodded numbly and looked over to the two snuggled together. He continued to stare at them as he worked. Arwen found her place next to Aragorn again and watched him sleep.
Arri opened her eyes slowly to see Legolas's shirt before her and she moved slowly inhaling his scent. She tilted her head up to see him staring at her with curiously and happily, "you sleep?" He smiled as he said it.
She nodded a little embarrassed of her weakness. "Not as long as humans do," she sighed noticing it was still night and how close he was too her. She stretched and felt her legs wrapped with his, "sorry," was all she could mumble.
He chuckled watching her go through the movements of awakening, "sleeping is nice."
She looked at him surprised, "you slept?"
He shook his head no and took her hands in his continuing to keep her warm until her body brought itself back to temperature. His eyes stayed on her and she shuddered lightly as he pulled her closer.
"Cold?" He said placing little kisses on her slowly. He was astounded to find Arri wrapped a leg over his hips and pulled him to her into a deep kiss. She felt her fire ignited and it did not make things easy for him as he remembered Eosin's watchful eye. Surely Eosin was watching them from the tree he had taken perch in to keep watch.
The thoughts were easily dismissed until he felt her deepen the kiss and their mouths seemed to become one. Their kiss mingled and he felt a spark that flew between them and he could not deny how addicted he felt to her. He had longed for this, to know she wanted the same closeness he did. He broke the kiss before they both took leave of their senses. She gave him a confused stare and looked almost hurt but kept quiet.
The sound of Eosin landing by their heads caught their attention. "Let her alone," he demanded of Legolas.
Arri made her intentions clear by moving to Legolas and pushing her body to his gently
She rested her head on his chest. "Eosin," she said softly and rolled her eyes.
Legolas waited until Eosin had stepped away but pulled her from him, "Let us keep our heads." He mumbled not wanting to keep his word.
She sighed getting up from the small place on the ground they had shared. She found Eosin's hand there for her to take.
"Aragorn still sleeps," he informed the now awake she-elf.
Legolas made his way to his feet, "Eosin had prepared a meal."
She shook her head and looked to Arwen who stayed by Aragorn. She smiled to both men as she found her own change of clothing.
She made her way quickly and quietly as they heard Aragorn stir. Arwen sat up watching Arri leave. "None should be alone." She looked to see that Arri had only gotten a start on them because they had both began retrieving their weapons.
Legolas cut Eosin off, "I will find her." He assured him.
Eosin stopped a bit upset because he knew Legolas didn't want him following Arri because she wanted to wash up.
"This is not a time for pride." He muttered as Legolas disappeared on him quickly tracking Arri.
Aragorn sat up looking about the encampment and looked sleepily at Arwen. "Where are the rest?"
"Arri went to wash up and Legolas is in pursuit," She stood from their little hearth.
"Washing up sounds good," he noticed the cooking smells and wandered to the food Eosin sat by finishing. Eosin did not stare up in his usual greetings or smile and Aragorn frowned, "What troubles you?"
Eosin brushed it off with a shake of his head, "I gathered some vegetation and fruit as well." He pointed to the small basket awaiting to be eaten.
Aragorn made his way to get an apple and when he returned he sat next to Eosin who stood slowly, "I will gather some wood for the fire." He quickly made his way through the forest away from both sets of friends.
Arwen sat near Aragorn and sighed, "Eosin knows more about Arri than she does."
"Something more than meets the eye?" He asked Arwen.
She nodded, "Arri has much to learn of herself." Arwen knew she (herself) had a hard road with great responsibility but at least Arwen knew her past and future. "Why is so much kept from her?" She wrinkled her brow in wonder.
"She certainly is more passionate than more elven maidens," he sighed taking a bite of his apple. "She also knows quite a bit of humans, even some of her behaviors."
Arwen shook her head, "she has some human lineage but she is elven." She sighed voicing things she had always wondered about Arri, "her father was completely Elven."
Aragorn laughed, "Aside from her hair she looks Elven too, my love." He sighed, "Aren't there Elves with hair like hers?"
"Yes, but it is very rare," she reached for an apple and put it in his hand to replace the one he had hungrily eaten. "None that I nor my father have known have had it."
Aragorn raised an eyebrow and placed the apple aside wrapping his arm around her pulling her into gentle hug. She smiled lightly and gave in easily to him as their faces touched lightly. She was glad all were gone for the moment as he found her lips and she deepened the kiss.