THE FORGOTTEN
To These Memories I Will Hold
Author's note: The chapter in which – Lothril gets her one and only peredhel family vacation. Oh, and just so we're clear – I did not bother to look up Michigan fishing licenses or limits or anything like that. I just ignored it. I mean, you try explaining to a bunch of elves that you have to have a license to fish.
Originally, the plan had been for the Ericksons to spend a week spanning the Fourth of July weekend on vacation to somewhere. Then after Lothril came back and then up north plans were revealed, they decided it would be there. Then after Lothril chose a departure date of July fifth, her dad put in for extra time off making the new plan that they would head up after Ed got off work on Friday, June twenty-fifth and that they would stay up north until Sunday, July eleventh. They decided they would rather have a few days to basically grieve before having to deal with whatever happened next. That and, Elrohir had made mention that they would not be leaving until the twelfth, though no one seemed sure why that was, but this was all beyond the lot of them anyway. Somehow though, knowing her adopted brothers would be around a little while longer was…oddly comforting. They had only seen them the last three weekends but in that space of time they almost had come to feel like family in a way. And knowing not only Legolas but they and their father Elrond, who sounded like a very wonderful soul, would all be 'over there' watching out for her along with a number of friends and Legolas' extended family… It made the prospect of watching their daughter and sister leave just that much more bearable.
She would be safe, she would be loved, she would be happy until the end of the time. With a far more certain guarantee of it all than they could ever hope to see in this world. What more could anyone want?
Like the last two weekends, when the Ericksons arrived at Grandma Sue's house it was around evening twilight and there were five elves sitting on the side porch playing instruments and singing while Sue was fussing in the kitchen making food for everyone and humming along to their songs as they wafted in through the open windows. As soon as the minivan was put in park, the song switched to something borderline ridiculous to welcome them. This week's offering was:
How far you have traveled, this time you should stay!
Summer is high and the moon on his way
The stars are soon shining to end here the day
So tra-la-lolly the woods here are jolly!
Tra-la-lolly! Ha-ha!
"Is that like the song you sang when Bilbo and the dwarves showed up?" Julie asked as she came up onto the porch.
"Very like it," Elladan answered with a smile. "Come join us and sing a chorus or two!"
"No," Julie said, turning the lightest shade of pink.
"And why ever not? I heard you singing along last week – you have a very fair voice!" Elladan replied.
For once Julie looked rather flustered and turned quite pink, but was saved by Lothril who said, "But before anymore singing, let's help them carry everything inside. It's late and I'm sure they're all tired and hungry. It's a long drive. Jules, I'm sure Grandma Sue could use a little help in the kitchen."
"Good idea," Julie said quickly and hastily retreated inside as everyone else filed off the porch and began helping her family unpack the vehicle.
Per usual, her parents took the guest room with the large bed and Jules took one room and Eddie another and Lothril and Legolas stayed put. It only took a minute to get everything upstairs and settled, or settled enough, before everyone came back downstairs and congregated in the kitchen where Sue had a variety of snacks laid out for them.
"So, you're up here about two weeks – any plans?" Sue asked as she picked up a black cherry and popped it into her mouth.
"Not really," Ed replied.
"How far is the Mackinac Bridge from here?" Legolas asked. "You people seem nearly infatuated with it and I would like to see it."
"Oh, hour an half, hour-forty-five," Sue answered.
"Why does everyone measure distance in time here?" Elrohir asked.
"Well, because twenty miles doesn't mean much compared to traffic," Ed answered. "Take my drive to work – it's twenty some odd miles from our house to my job and it's forty some miles from our house to Donna's ma's house, but it takes me the same amount of time most days for me to go from home to work as it does for Donna to go to her ma's house which is nearly twice as many miles away. And if I head out to my job early before morning rush hour traffic, I can get there in about twenty-thirty minutes. If I leave a little later and hit rush hour traffic, it takes me forty-five minutes to an hour or more," Ed answered. "Same drive, same distance, different time. That and speed limits vary too. So on the freeway we can go seventy miles an hour, so if I only needed to go say, five miles, it's gonna take me a lot less time on the freeway than if I go five miles on back roads where the speed limit is thirty."
"Ah, I see. I suppose that makes sense. We had not considered it that way though, as we have only ridden in a car a handful of times. We mostly travel by horse or on foot," Elrohir said.
"Why don't we go up to the bridge tomorrow? I do want to see it again," Lothril said. "Maybe go over to St. Ignace or up to Sault Ste. Marie (pronounced: Soo Saint Marie) and see the locks. Show him what those freighters look like up close."
"Could we come also?" Elladan asked.
"I'd say yes, but the minivan only seats seven so we could only take one of you," Lothril answered.
"Not if I tag along. It's been a while since I've been to the Soo and I could definitely go for some smoked White Fish," Sue said. "The twins could ride with me."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Donna said.
"When should we leave?" Sue asked.
"I think first thing in the morning. And let's stay a couple days. I'm sure Legolas wouldn't mind doing a little fishing while we are up there," Lothril suggested. "Unless you guys object," she added, looking at her family.
"Morning sounds good. Big breakfast then head out," her dad said.
"Alright, then that's what we'll do," Sue said.
"And so you two are aware, it is unlikely we shall leave before eleven in the morning," Lothril said in elvish.
"Just so you know Eddie come Lately, I'll have breakfast on the table at 8am and I plan on rolling out by nine-thirty. Because Legolas isn't the only one who wants to do a bit of fishing," Sue said.
"Speaking of which," Legolas said, "I did not bring my fishing gear with me, so I shall need to borrow some."
"I gotcha covered, dear. Richard and I used to go fishing all the time," Sue said.
"Umm, guys, one problem. We didn't bring any camping gear," Jules said.
"How much gear could you possibly need?" Legolas teased. "Just find a soft patch of ground, start a fire and you are all set."
"Um, no," Julie replied.
"We'll just stay in a hotel or something," Donna said.
"Actually, my friend Beverly has a cottage up around there and she's told me a few times I could borrow it. It's a little past the Soo, but it's on the big lake and there's a couple great fishing streams around there too. Let me call her and ask if she's using it," Sue said as she glanced up at the clock. "Yeah, she'll still be up. She's called me this late before."
She went over to the phone, dialed her friend's number and said, "Hey Bev, it's Sue. Sorry for calling so late. I didn't wake you did I? … I didn't think so. You and Jerry are usually up pretty late. Anyway, I've got Ed and his crew up here this week and they wanna spend a couple days up near the Soo, and I remembered you've offered to let me borrow your cottage so I thought I'd give you a ring and see if you'd mind. If you do, that's fine. I understand. … Are you sure? … Of course not! I'm sure it's immaculate anyway. … On Friday? Not a problem. And as a thank you, we'll leave you a bunch of fish in your freezer so you can have a fish fry over the holiday weekend. … Not at all! We're going up there to do some fishing, do a little boat watching, and whatnot. … Oh, that's so kind of you! … Yeah, it's up to date, and we'll leave it with a full tank. … Thank you, Bev! You're such a sweetheart! Tell Jerry thanks and that I say hi. … Yeah, I'll tell them. Thanks again, dear! … Uh huh, you too. Bye!"
"I take we can," Lothril asked.
"Yep! She said it probably needs cleaned as they haven't been up there since Memorial Day weekend, but knowing her, that means it needs some light dusting and a quick vacuum, but we can do that. She also said they're heading up Friday for the Fourth weekend, so we need to be gone by then. And we can borrow their boat if we want. They've got a gorgeous boat they take out on the big lake for fishing, and my boating license is up to date, so I can take us out if we want," Sue answered.
"Wow! That's really nice of her," Donna said.
"Bev and Jerry are generous souls, but I'll definitely be leaving some fish in their freezer, the boat full of gas, and a couple bottles of wine for 'em," Sue replied. "I'd leave her cash, but she'd sneak it back into my purse at church."
"Glorfindel, do you want to join us?" Lothril asked.
"This is a family trip and I would hate to impose," Glorfindel said graciously.
"You are practically an uncle or something. You should come along and see the bridge and da UP. Unless of course you'd rather stay home alone," Lothril said.
"Yeah, come up with us!" Eddie said. "Then you can tell me that story you promised to tell me last weekend."
"Very well, I shall come up also," Glorfindel yielded with a smile.
The next morning, to Lothril's surprise, everyone in her family woke up in time for breakfast. They ate, Sue threw everything in the dishwasher and as soon as she turned it on, they began hauling their luggage to the respective vehicles. The twins and Glorfindel, who had shown up around half past eight and with claims they had already eaten breakfast, helped everyone pack and by 9:15am they were all hitting the road.
There wasn't any traffic to speak of when they reached Mackinaw City, where they had agreed they would get out and look around a little. They parked near the Old Mackinac Point lighthouse and got out and began wandering around the park.
"That is the biggest single structure I have ever seen," Legolas said, staring wide eyed at the bridge. "I reckon it nearly five miles long!"
"And you'd be right," Ed said. "It's just a few feet shy."
"No wonder everyone in this state loves this bridge," Elrohir said.
"I certainly would not wish to sail across that," Elladan said, observing the water. "And there is a certain fairness to the lines."
"But the design of it is foreign to me," Legolas said. "I have never seen a bridge with harp strings."
Ed laughed, "I guess it does look a bit like harp strings at that. It's a called a suspension bridge." He then launched into a fifteen minute lecture about suspension bridges, which the elves found interesting, but as Lothril had heard this a few times before, she wandered down to the shore with her mom, her siblings, and Grandma Sue. They wandered around a little until the others caught up, then Donna the History Teacher began regaling them with the history of the lighthouse, the fort, and the straits in brief. After poking around, they decided to eat lunch across the bridge at a favorite little place of Sue's.
Though a quiet and short drive across, Legolas still marveled at how large the bridge was up close, how it looked as they went past both towers, and the scenery as they drove across. It was beautiful! Donna had let Legolas sit up in the front with Ed so he could get a good view. With his eyes he could easily see Mackinac Island and the horse drawn carriages and bicyclists and all the other small islands and further shores around the straits.
They left the bridge behind, had lunch at a restaurant, and then headed towards the Soo. It took all of five minutes from leaving the restaurant to leave St. Ignace behind and the last hints of civilization.
This seemed like an even wilder country than where Grandma Sue lived, and Legolas thought it felt a lot more familiar to him than anywhere else he had been in this world. Yes, he could almost be happy here. The uncomfortable feeling he had noticed since their arrival here was faded to just barely noticeable.
As Sue had explained at lunch, the cottage was a little north and west of Sault Ste. Marie and they decided to go straight to the cottage and then back to the city tomorrow. Sue was ahead of them and led the way all the way to the very tiny township in which Beverly's cottage resided.
"Was that the town, do you suppose?" Legolas asked Ed as they left the single stop light and small handful of businesses behind.
"Probably has a few houses and another business or two down a side street," Ed replied. "There are some really dinky towns up here."
"So I have gathered. Did we drive past Sault Ste. Marie already?" Legolas asked.
"We're past it, but we didn't drive past it," Ed answered. "It's a bit north east of here and we're heading north west. If we were going to go to the Soo, we would have stayed on I-75 instead of turning off like we did."
"Have you spent much time up here?"
"I've been up here a few times. We've gone to Tahquamenon Falls and White Fish Bay a couple times and then further west to Munising, Ishpeming, Houghton Hancock, and all the way up to Copper Harbor which is up here," Ed said, holding his left hand sideways, thumb pointing straight up, and briefly pointing to the tip of his thumb.
"It must be useful to be able to use ones hands as a map," Legolas said with a smile.
"We've always found it handy."
Legolas gave a quiet chuckle at the pun.
Not ten minutes later they were driving down a little dirt road that had but a handful of cottages deeply buried in the trees, and with each glance of the houses on the right, they caught a glimpse of the lake. Legolas saw Sue pull in at a wood cabin that looked about the same size as the Erickson's house. The yard was covered in scant grass as the thick trees wouldn't allow much more than that, and admirably, the garden boxes up by the porch seemed to be boasting a variety of hearty flowers that like the shade. The minivan came to a stop and Ed turned off the engine and Legolas got out to survey the property. Behind them, the thick woods reminded him of his father's realm, in front of them though… he wondered if perhaps he could find a little place in the Blessed Realm with this sort of view… He wandered down through the trees towards the lake. There was naught but empty beach to be seen. He could see land across the water, but as Ed had explained it, this was a narrower part of the lake and they would have to go up to the north shore if he wanted to see nothing but water. He went down to the water and took off his shoes and waded in about knee deep. The water was distinctly colder than Lake Michigan had been. He didn't think even he could endure swimming in it for long.
He turned back to the shore though, as there was a minivan to unpack and a house to explore. He grabbed his shoes as he walked past and enjoyed the feeling of soft earth and thin grass beneath his feet. Everyone was out of the vehicles, bags set on the grass, and Legolas quickly grabbed his pack and a bag covered in horses (must be Julie's) and another bag and headed into the house. The interior was wood. Wood floors, wood walls, wood ceiling and decorated with antlers, old boat paddles, wooden snow shoes, and various other knick-knacks. Everything seemed very nice and the floor plan very open. The living room area on the right had a large L shaped couch and a couple of very soft looking arm chairs. There was a large dining table with kitchen behind on the left with large wooden beams holding up wooden rafters and the ceiling above. The staircase that led upstairs was almost directly in front of him, but he wondered if that's where all the bedrooms were or not.
Just then Sue came half down the stairs and saw Legolas and said, "You look a little lost, dear. Follow me, I'll show you what room Julie and Jenny picked and then your room."
"Thank you," Legolas said as he quickly made his way up the stairs. The hallway only had four doors and Legolas briefly wondered how many were going to sleep on the floor.
"Here's the girls' room," Sue said, leading them to the last door on the left, which was open. Inside were two small beds and Julie was arranging her pillow and stuffed toy horse on her bed from a smaller bag and Lothril was staring out the window at the lake, her pack sitting against the wall.
"Here is your other bag, Julie," Legolas said.
"Thanks, Your Majesty," she said as she hopped off the bed and fetched it from him.
"You are welcome, gwaun-gwain nethel," Legolas replied.
"What does that mean, anyway?" Julie asked.
"Ask your sister," Legolas answered with a grin and left the room.
"Jenny, what does gwaun-gwain nethel mean?" Julie asked.
Lothril turned around and looked at her sister with a smile and said, "Sister young goose, or sister silly goose, as it were."
Outside the bedroom, Sue looked at Legolas and said, "Now you have a decision to make. I'm in the room next to the girls as it's only got a full sized bed. The other two rooms though both have a bunk bed and a twin bed so you get to decide if you want to bunk with Elladan and Elrohir or Glorfindel and Eddie." She paused a second then said, "You know, the last couple of weeks I've said some of the weirdest sentences of my life."
"If it is any consolation – so have I," Legolas said.
Sue stared at him a moment. "I suppose you have at that. I'm gonna go back downstairs."
Legolas nodded. Both doors were open and it was obvious who was in each room. It wasn't a terribly hard decision. Legolas went into the room and saw Eddie pushing his pack under the bunk bed while Glorfindel was neatly hanging his things in the closet.
"Why are you hanging up everything?" Eddie asked.
"Why do you leave everything in your bag?" Glorfindel asked in reply.
"Cuz it's easier," Eddie replied.
"And I find this easier. If I hang everything now, then as I wear it I can return it to my pack and by the end of the trip, I am already packed," Glorfindel replied.
"Oh," Eddie said thoughtfully.
"Would you like me to make room your things?" Glorfindel offered.
"Nah, I'm good."
Glorfindel chuckled and noticed Legolas standing in the door. "Ah, Legolas! Shall you be joining us?"
"I shall," Legolas said as he came into the room. "I see the lower bunk and the bed are taken."
"I can take the top bunk," Eddie said. "You're probably too tall for it anyway."
Legolas eyed the space between the top bunk and the ceiling. "I certainly would not be able to sit up."
"No worries, I'll take the top," Eddie said as grabbed his pillow and tossed it onto the top bunk.
"Thank you, Eddie," Legolas said as he set down his pack and began taking out his clothes and putting them in the dresser.
"So you don't hang your clothes?" Eddie asked, observing Legolas.
"It is not that half so much as it is easier to keep our things separate this way," Legolas answered.
Eddie having nothing to unpack and everything of his being set left the room and thudded down the stairs to get the lay of the house.
"Does he always stomp around like that?" Glorfindel asked.
Legolas laughed, "Always, unless he happens to be sword fighting. Then he is very light on his feet."
"Truly? Well, he would not be the first mortal to lumber when he walks but fly when he fights or dances," Glorfindel replied with a smile.
"I am a bit surprised you did not choose the room with Elladan and Elrohir," Legolas commented as he put in the last of clothes and shut the dresser drawer.
"I would have, but he invited me to join him," Glorfindel replied. "I am unpacked and I think I shall go down to the shore. Would you care to join me?"
"I think I shall look over the house," Legolas replied.
Glorfindel nodded and left. Legolas looked out the window and saw that their view was largely out into the trees that grew between the cottages. It was still a lovely view and a vague day dream of this being the view out of his own house one day to see neighbors… maybe Elrond, maybe the twins, maybe his father… He had already heard his father and Elrond quietly plotting behind their backs to be neighbors for Lothril's sake and he honestly rather enjoyed the thought.
"Are you settled?"
"I am settled," Legolas replied as he turned around with a smile.
"Want to go explore the house and see what's what?" Lothril asked.
"Yes, I do," Legolas said as he came up to her and gave her a soft little kiss. "What would you say if we built a small houses like this in Ithilien and the Blessed Realm?"
"I would say 'heck yes!' Really, all I've ever wanted is a nice little cabin in the woods," Lothril smiled.
"Then I shall endeavor to see you get one. Though, our opinions on how small is small may differ," Legolas replied.
"Let's worry about that later," Lothril said as she took his hand and pulled him out of the room.
They were arm in arm coming down the stairs and Elladan saw them and said, "Alae! Ernil Legolas a Hiril Lothril! You two look so majestic in ponytails, t-shirts, and jean shorts."
"Said the elf wearing the 'I'd rather be fishing' t-shirt and cargo shorts," Lothril replied with a smirk.
"I would have worn my elvish clothes, but I am on vacation and trying to blend in with the locals," he replied.
"Too bad you look like a fudgie," Sue said as she walked in from outside and went past the couch.
"A fudgie?" Elladan repeated with knit brows.
"A tourist," Sue clarified from the kitchen.
Legolas sat down on the couch and looked around and asked, "Where are Donna and Ed sleeping?"
"In the master bedroom just through there," Donna answered as she walked through with her last bag.
Legolas nodded. "Where are the others?"
"Elrohir is outdoors with Julie and Eddie, Glorfindel said he was heading down to the lake, and Ed said something about taking a look around the yard," Elladan answered. "Are you going to sit, Lothril? Or shall you stand all afternoon?"
"Actually, I think I am going to see if Sue needs any help in the kitchen," Lothril answered and strolled off in that direction.
Elladan watched her walk away then turned to Legolas and said very quietly, "Are you ready to return home?"
"Very ready for my own part. My only regret is that her kin will not be coming with us," Legolas answered.
"They are dear and good people," Elladan smiled as he shifted his position on the couch and moved one of the throw pillows out from behind himself. "Is Lothril ready to return?"
Legolas reflexively glanced her direction. "I am not sure. She keeps saying she is looking forward to being back, but I am not sure she is ready to leave just yet. The last few days she has been wanting to spend all her time with Sue and looking at old portraits and hearing stories. She has also been working on her portrait book since her mother brought it up last weekend. Her mother and father did much of it for her, but she has been adding the images Sue has taken and looking over it much. This parting shall be very hard for her."
"It was hard for Arwen also, but she had sixty some years to make her final decision and make peace with everything. Lothril has had how long?"
"Nine months."
Elladan nearly winced. "That is a very short amount of time to make such a decision."
"I am painfully aware of that," Legolas frowned. More than once over the last few weeks Legolas had almost regretted not following through with his original plan to wait until everything was all said and done to say anything to her. Perhaps if they had not had months of a relationship and a betrothal prior to her return her, she would make a different choice. He knew that ring on her finger was added pressure for her to return to Middle-earth. Did she regret her decision now that the time was drawing nigh? He told her once in Gondor and once more upon the road to Edoras that if she returned and decided that was the world that would make her happiest she could stay with her family. Perhaps he should offer it again… he resolved in his heart to speak to her again that night about it. If for no other reason, he needed reassurance she wasn't about to enter into a life of unending regret with him. "I am going to go outside."
He left the cabin and headed down towards the beach and began walking along it. He needed to think and somehow with the wood on one side and the water on the other, that seemed like the best place for it. When he reached the sand he headed left which was roughly west-north-west, for no other reason than it seemed like the beach was emptier in that direction. To the south there was an elderly fellow fishing on the shore and Legolas really couldn't stand the thought of even a brief conversation with a stranger at the moment. He was perhaps a mile from the cabin when he bumped into Glorfindel heading back towards it.
"You look troubled, mellon nin," Glorfindel said as he laid a hand on Legolas' shoulder.
"I do not wish to speak about it," he said quietly as his gaze drifted towards the water.
"You are worried Lothril may regret returning with you, are you not?"
"How do you know?" Legolas asked, snapping his eyes back to Glorfindel.
"I am not blind, Legolas; and Elrond, Arwen, and Aragorn all confided in me about her decision to marry Aragorn. Despite what the minstrels may sing, it was a decision all three of them wrestled with even after all of them agreed she could and should," Glorfindel answered and gave Legolas' shoulder a friendly squeeze before letting his hand drop.
"Then you understand my plight."
"Only somewhat. Has she spoken to you of her thoughts and feelings about returning?" Glorfindel asked.
"She has not, but she is slow to speak of our return and I know she is grieving the loss of her kith and kin already," Legolas answered with a frown and turned his gaze from the shore to the water to find no solace in either for his aching heart.
"That is understandable," Glorfindel said.
Legolas looked back at Glorfindel and said, "I know, but it does not change my desire to comfort her and make certain of her resolve to return with me."
"Have you reason to doubt it?" Glorfindel asked, brows raised.
"She has said nothing, but I do not want her living till the end of time with regret," Legolas answered.
"Legolas, she has chosen you. Before she knew of her return here she chose you and after she learned of it she still chose you. Mere weeks before she knew she would be returning here she pledged herself to you and gave you that ring. Do you think that meant naught to her?"
Legolas looked down at the silver ring upon his right hand; the ring she had gone to such pains to have made for him. He looked up at Glorfindel and was going to speak but Glorfindel spoke first.
"Aragorn had the same doubtful thoughts. This evening after the others are asleep, draw her away from the sleepers and speak with her. Put your mind at rest and offer her comfort and solace also."
"Thank you, Glorfindel," Legolas said with a bow.
"You are welcome, Legolas."
Glorfindel continued on back to the house and Legolas sat down on the shore and looked out across the water. There were two freighters that were going to pass each other sometime soon, and much closer was a fishing boat on which were three men who were fishing and chatting back and a forth a little. Behind him he heard the squeaky storm door of another cottage creak open and bounce shut with a couple metallic crashes as a small party of men and women chatted happily and noisily as they came out of the house. Legolas got up and brushed himself off and headed back towards the cabin so these people could have their stretch of beach to themselves.
He took his time walking back and when he got in view of the cabin he saw everyone was outside. Julie and Eddie had seen fit to bring their knives he had carved for them and were showing off their skills for the other elves. Glorfindel was standing and looking like he was seriously appraising their performance while the twins were standing beside him and just looked impressed that they weren't just bashing into each other with them. It did seem like they had been practicing in the month since he left. Sue, Ed, and Donna were all watching from some Adirondack chairs with cold drinks in their hands and Lothril sat quietly next to her mom with a small smile fixed on her face but with an air of melancholy. Both present and far away… Then she looked up and saw Legolas coming towards her and her face lit up and his last concerns about her regretting her decision to be with him disappeared like vapor. He would talk with her that night… but mostly so he didn't distract from time with her family.
The afternoon was leisurely. Sue had packed up a bunch of groceries so there was no need to head into town to the little IGA grocery store, so the whole afternoon was spent with everyone talking or playing games until dinner preparations needed to start, which were minimal as Sue said that night was just going to be burgers and potato salad. Legolas still wasn't sure what he thought about potato salad and largely because he wasn't sure what he thought about mayonnaise. He almost liked it but then it was just weird. The younger children didn't seem to like potato salad and Julie didn't like burgers at all, but Sue seemed to realize this and be quite okay with it as she had also packed some smoked salmon (which Julie loved) and French fries.
After dinner there was talk of a bonfire but then Lothril looked up and said, "Best not. It's going to rain soon."
Sue looked up between the branches and saw the grey and gathering clouds and said, "Oh, it could be hours off yet."
And as if on cue, they saw a wall of rain out on the lake start heading towards the shore.
"Uh-oh!" Eddie said, pointing out towards the lake.
"Everybody grab something!" Donna exclaimed as she grabbed the nearest couple of plates and cups. Everyone swept up everything they could find that looked like it shouldn't get wet and quickly dashed into the cabin with only seconds to spare before the rain rolled in.
"I suppose this means no s'mores," Julie said with a frown as she flopped down on the couch.
"I suppose we could always put a log or two in the fireplace," her dad said. "There's a big stack of wood out on the porch there."
"Worry not, Jules, I will get the wood for you and we will have s'mores," Legolas said with a smile as he got up and went out onto the deep front porch where the wood was stacked. He brought in an armful of wood and set about to starting a fire.
After a few hours of s'mores, talking, and story swapping, everyone began drifting off to bed as the morrow had plans of visiting Sault Ste. Marie and Sue promised everyone she was going to make bacon and blueberry pancakes for breakfast. As everyone drifted off to bed, Legolas mentally bade Lothril tarry and once they were alone, he threw another log on the fire and came beside her and put an arm around her.
"How are you?" Legolas asked.
"I am well, but I should ask you. You looked so sad when you left the house earlier. What troubles you?" Lothril asked, looking up at him.
"I confess, Lothril – I was being a fool and not thinking clearly, but Glorfindel found me and showed me folly," he answered, looking a little sheepish.
"What was your folly?" Lothril asked in a soft voice that was more than halfway to a purr.
Sometimes the things she did with her voice… and he was not always sure if it was on purpose. Like now… "Doubting your love. I was worried you may regret your choice to return with me, but Glorfindel reminded me that you chose to betroth me knowing in several weeks you were returning here. That I wear a symbol of your love and your choice and still doubted makes me a very great fool and I apologize for doubting you."
She didn't say anything but she did turn towards him and gave him a very big hug at a very weird angle. "I will never regret choosing you." She gave him a kiss and Legolas practically hummed with happiness.
How did he ever doubt her even for a moment? He gently pulled her closer and she shifted onto his lap while managing to keep her lips pressed to his. She gingerly pulled out his ponytail and then buried her fingers in his hair, eliciting a quiet moan from him that was muffled by her mouth against his. He could feel her smile against his lips. How much more perfect could this moment get? Rainy night, sounds of waves crashing on the shore not far from the window, the odd peal of thunder, her on his lap giving him a string of sweet heady kisses… the first rainy day they were together he was taking her to a private room, throwing open a window, and doing this all day.
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Is this what you two were doing when you'd sneak away all day?"
"More or less," Lothril answered quietly.
"And how long have you been engaged or whatever?" Sue asked.
"Four months, give or take," Lothril answered again, sounding less timid but plenty cautious.
"Good for you. By four months engaged Richard and I would have been caught with his shirt wide open and him giving me a hickey. No wonder Glorfindel said there's nothing to worry about with you two. Well, don't mind me! Carry on," Sue said as she continued shuffling into the kitchen to get herself a glass of water.
To Legolas' disappointment, Lothril got off his lap and didn't really say anything until Sue headed back upstairs with a smile and friendly wave and goodnight.
"What is a hickey?" Legolas asked.
Lothril blinked and after a moment asked, "As a young elfling, did you ever suck on your arm until a red mark appeared?"
"No, why would I do that?" Legolas asked. What a strange thing to do…
Lothril shrugged. "It was one of those weird kid things. Anyway, if melethyr do it to each other it's called a hickey."
Legolas grinned and leaned in and whispered in her ear, "In elvish we call it a love mark."
"And I thank you not to leave such marks unless it is somewhere that cannot be seen," Lothril said.
He raised a brow and said, "Truly, oh peredhel permaia (half-elf, half-maia)? Even I can cover such things easily. You ought to be able to turn yourself into a sea bird if you wished it."
For a moment she stared at him knit browed and looked horribly confused but then her eyes lit up and her face relaxed into a sheepish grin and she said, "I completely forgot I knew how to do that. I am still not sure I much like the idea."
"You need not worry on that account," Legolas replied. "I cannot say I am particularly interested in doing so. Though, if I should get carried away in the moment… you can easily cover them," he added with a mischievous grin.
"You get carried away?" she asked skeptically. "You who have been perfect in not letting so much as a finger stray? I can hardly imagine you getting so carried away."
Legolas gave a quiet laugh and drew her back onto his lap and said quietly in her ear, "You have no idea what five thousand years of will and discipline is keeping in check."
She turned to look at him, eyes narrowed and said, "What are you hiding from me?"
"It is not what I am hiding. It is what I am not permitting. What I am not permitting is my desire for you to run away with my will. When we are married I will not hold it in check any longer."
"I will hold you to that," she grinned.
Legolas grinned and leaned in and gave her a kiss then said, "I do like it when you show your desires for love making. Am I right to think that your feelings of guilt about it are gone?"
She hesitated a moment then said, "Guilt is gone."
Legolas studied her face in the flickering firelight. "Something still troubles you though. Speak and let me give you succor."
She chewed on her lip a little and Legolas waited patiently for her to speak. "I do not have guilt over enjoying ourselves but I am not convinced of the rightness of it. Of desiring you before we are wed, or rather love making before we are wed."
"Go fetch your sacred book."
"What?" she looked at him like he was crazy.
"You will never believe me if you do not see it yourself. Go fetch it," he said with the barest little hint of a smile teasing his mouth.
"Never thought I'd see the day I was getting Bible lessons from an Elf," she grumbled as she crawled off his lap and headed upstairs.
Legolas chuckled quietly and got up and stirred up the fire so it was a little brighter and then sat back down just a moment before he heard Lothril descend the stairs, shaking her head and carrying the same Bible she had leant to him and sat down beside him and thwapped the Bible down on his lap and said, "Okay preacher elf, what's our passage for today's message?"
Legolas smiled and asked, "Have you ever read Song of Solomon?"
"In bits and pieces, not all the way through in one sitting. It's not exactly encouraged reading, but honestly, besides the fact he likes going on about her looks, I can't make heads or tails of it," she answered.
"That is what I thought," Legolas said. "I know you have not read volumes of elvish poetry but you have read enough I think, and this is not very different from it. In fact, this is not very different from the verses we have been making together. Try reading it again and try reading it like it is elven poetry."
She cocked a brow at him but flipped open to the middle, which was Psalms, then flipped forward until she hit Ecclesiastes and then carefully turned the pages one at a time so she didn't skip over Song of Solomon. "Do you want me to read it aloud?"
"I would rather you read it and open your mind to me," he answered. She did so and right around the beginning of chapter three he used ósanwe to point out, "Do you understand that all that part was their courtship?"
She scanned over the first two chapters again then replied in same, "That would make some sense, but are they saying what I think they are saying?"
"They are. Truly, you ought not doubt your understanding of poetry. You are very good at it and whatever that strange notion is that you have been told and are trying to read into the passage is absurd. You can see for yourself it makes no sense to think of this as allegory and it makes much better sense to think of it as love poetry," he encouraged. "Keep reading." She did and at the end of the book he said, "I take it by your thoughts you understand they spoke of their wedding night and love after."
"I did figure that much out."
"And this was clearly the continuation and fruition of their desires and things they did and said earlier?"
She nodded.
"And that this was clearly ordained and blessed?"
She nodded again.
"And that no one condemned their desires?"
She nodded again.
"And?"
"And clearly those ideas I had been taught were absurd."
"That is true also, but that is not what I am shooting at," he said aloud.
"And it is not wrong to so desire you."
"Ah! There it is! It is not wrong to desire me; in fact, it is right and good. You are supposed to be looking forward to our marriage."
It was clear she was mulling things over still but her face kept lightening until she was smiling. "This is such a freeing thing to know! I feel so much lighter!"
Legolas smiled. "I am sure it is. You have carried so many burdens for so long that were not yours to carry and were needless to carry. Shall we rid you of another tonight, or was that the last of them?"
"I cannot say if it was the last or not, but I am certainly content for tonight," she answered before closing her Bible and gently tossing it onto the coffee table. "I take it back, I am only mostly content. I need a little more of you before I go to sleep."
"Have as much as you need! I give myself to you freely."
The next day was bright and clear and true to form, the elves were up with the sun and the humans got up a couple hours later around eight. Sue made breakfast and Ed made percolated coffee, which was a method that intrigued Legolas as it seemed like something that would be far easier to replicate back home… assuming he had coffee beans of course… Anyway, everyone was up, fed, and by ten-thirty they decided to head to Sault Ste. Marie. The city was clearly not as touristy as Traverse City or Mackinac City, but the elves didn't particularly care as they were all keen to see boats. After the conversation the night before and Ed telling them how big they could get and how much they could haul, they were eager to see one of these massive freighters.
Just across the street from the locks there was a coffee shop and as the elves had little interest in going to a women's clothing boutique or a toy shop, they said they would stay there for a while. The coffee shop crowd included Lothril, though she had been tempted to go shopping, but then it struck her as particularly useless as she was leaving in… well… she was trying not to think about it. She was trying to just do things or not do things as she wanted and not because she felt like she had to or not. She didn't want her last days with her family colored by feelings of obligation. She wanted it to be fun and relaxing for everyone and figured acting like this was just another vacation would be better than trying to force a bunch of artificial memories. Besides, she reckoned they wouldn't be shopping more than an hour, if that long.
A black coffee for Legolas, a blackberry Italian soda for Glorfindel, an Earl Grey tea for Elladan, a vanilla café au lait for Lothril, and a medium hazelnut latte, whole milk, with a dusting of cinnamon and a whisper of nutmeg for Elrohir later, they were all sitting at a table by the window and watching pedestrians and cars go by, waiting for a freighter.
"What do you suppose the odds are of no huge freighters going by today?" Elrohir asked after a few minutes of watching and seeing nothing.
"The girl at the counter said they go by constantly this time of year. I am sure one will float by in a minute or two," Lothril replied.
And just like that a giant red hulled freighter came floating into view.
"Ai! We could fit everyone and everything in Imladris in that!" Elladan cried.
"It is not a passenger ship. Unless of course you wanted to just throw everyone and everything into the hull," Lothril replied.
"Let us go across the street and get a good look at it," Legolas said as he stood.
The other followed suit and a little jay-walking later, they were across the street and standing just beyond the fence that kept people out of the locks and staring down the length of the massive ship.
"This is a marvel of engineering," Glorfindel said as he watched the lock slowly drain.
"It is at that," Lothril agreed. For as much as she 'knew' how big those freighters were, seeing one that close was absolutely breathtaking. It seemed to stretch on and on and eventually, once the water level was lower and the ship could proceed she marveled at how long it took for it to move forward and how the captain could pilot it in such a narrow space without scraping the sides up.
"I am glad we saw this up close, but let us go back across the street to watch it further. I think we are too close to appreciate the view properly," Elrohir said.
"I think you are right, brother," Elladan agreed.
They headed back across the street and that is where they were found by the others when they were finished with the toy shop and the boutique. All told, they spent three or four hours in the city, visited an antique shop or two, had lunch, and after a quick stop at a bait and tackle shop, they headed back to the cottage where Sue said they could try their hand at a little fishing if they wanted.
Legolas was very interested in this and Julie and Eddie were also, but Lothril said she'd go fishing with Legolas when they got back and instead opted to go down to the beach with her mom and sit around on the shore and read and work on their tans. After a while they were joined by the twins and Glorfindel who were all quite willing to keep to themselves except that Donna wished to talk to them, and so conversation was had.
A couple hours later the others returned with a very decent catch of fish, a good portion of which went immediately into the freezer and the rest were immediately cleaned, cooked, and eaten for dinner with a side of grilled corn on the cob and grilled potatoes.
The next four days were spent very amiably with fishing, the twins teaching Julie and Eddie a little bit about foraging and what plants are medicinal and which are poisonous, lots of time down by the water either swimming or sunning or a mix of both, and plenty of time around a bonfire talking and swapping stories or playing lawn games. All in all, Lothril thought it almost like a dream vacation. Nothing to do but whatever you wanted, everyone relaxed, everyone having a good time, everyone getting along. And of course, no trip to the eastern UP would be complete without a trip to Tahquamenon Falls and Whitefish Point and a thorough history of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
It was also during one of these days that afternoon conversation was being had and Sue said, "You know, I'm a little jealous of everyone in Middle-earth. When you talk about us, you'll be able to show them pictures of us but here we've all been hearing about Elrond and Thranduil and the Fellowship and all and we have no idea what they look like! It'd be nice if we had a picture too. Understandably impossible, but nice."
"Well, Jenny showed us some memories of hers and Legolas' so we've seen them, but it would be nice to have a picture," Donna said.
"Then pictures you shall have," Legolas said with a grin and darted into the cabin.
"What is he talking about?" came the question from nearly everyone.
Lothril smiled and said, "You'll see in a second."
Legolas came back but a few seconds later with the green sketchbook in hand.
"Aha! The return of the mysterious green book!" Elrohir cried. "Perhaps now we shall learn the truth of it!"
"Indeed you shall," Legolas said as he resumed his seat. He opened it up and turned to the first page with a sketch of a person. "What say you Elladan and Elrohir? Is this is a good likeness of your father?" He held the sketchbook out so they could see.
"Indeed, that is a very good likeness," Elrohir said.
"Let us see!" Julie said, craning her neck to see over the edge of the book.
Legolas flipped it around so everyone could see and immediately everyone drew their seats in closer so they could get a good look. Lothril grinned though as suddenly it looked like picture book story time at the library. "This is Elrond, father of Elladan, Elrohir, and Arwen. And this," Legolas said as he flipped the page, "Is Arwen." It was a beautiful face portrait and the next page was a drawing of her and Elrond walking together. "These are the twins," Legolas said as he flipped to the next page and there was a sketch of them sitting together on what looked like a couch, from what little of it there was in the picture, and they both seemed to be enjoying some joke between them."
As everyone else was gushing about how very much the drawing looked like the twins before them, Julie teased, "I don't see it."
Legolas laughed and thumbed through the pictures to a much later page and flipped to that and said, "Then I suppose I have failed to capture you also."
"Completely. Doesn't look a thing like me," Julie said, making the exact same half mischievous, half dead panned face she was in the drawing.
Everyone got a good laugh out of that and Legolas flipped back to where he had been and then flipped to the next page which was a portrait of Aragorn followed by a sketch of the hobbits all sitting on a bench smoking their pipes, then Gimli without helm but with braided beard and a smile mostly buried by his beard, then Gandalf smoking his pipe and clearly amused by something, a drawing of Boromir looking proud and staring off into the distance. After that there was a drawing of a whole group of elves some sitting, some standing, all of them singing and some with instruments they were playing. This was a group drawing of Legolas' family that had been in Minas Tirith for their betrothal. Then came a drawing of Thranduil with a slight but caring smile on his face, his eyes bright and glittering, then a drawing of Galadriel and Celeborn, and then a drawing of Glorfindel. At popular demand, everyone wanted to see the rest of the pictures, so he continued on with sketches of themselves, most of them portrait like with a couple here and there of them talking or Julie and Eddie practicing fighting, and so forth. There was even a couple sketches of the Honey and Muffin and Sue's cat Delilah.
"Alright, but you didn't start at the beginning. What's in the front?" Julie asked.
Legolas hesitated for a moment then decided to show them. "The first couple of pages are just little sketches working on technique and are objects like a vase or a bowl. So I shall skip those. This is the first proper drawing," he said and turned to a picture he had drawn of Lothril sitting curled up on the armchair in her room in Rivendell reading, hair tucked behind one pointed ear and cascading over her shoulder on the other side. The next one was her sword fighting with Glorfindel. It was his memory of the first practice they had where she looked like she had some true level of mastery of the technique Glorfindel was teaching her. Her face was set and determined and her eyes confident as she was bringing her sword swinging down and Glorfindel was getting ready to parry. The next drawing was of Lothril and Elrond sitting in his study at the table by the window with stacks of books and tea. After that came the loveliest sketch yet of Lothril dancing beneath a tree, hair and dress floating in the breeze as the autumn leaves swirled around her. He intentionally flipped ahead two pages and showed them next a drawing of his mother with the most kind and loving smile on her face, and then a drawing of the gate to his father's palace. He intentionally skipped another couple of pages and showed them a drawing he did of his horse Galion, which Julie particularly liked, and then the next page was Elrond again.
"Those are gorgeous! You're very talented," Sue said as he carefully shut the sketch book.
"Thank you," Legolas replied with a smile.
"I would love to have copies of some of those pictures," Donna said.
"Which ones?" Legolas asked.
"Well, Elrond and your mother and father," Donna answered.
"I will gladly give them to you," Legolas said. She wanted family portraits. This also explained why she had Ed take a picture of the twins earlier while they were out by the beach.
"Thank you," Donna said.
"You are very welcome. When we return to Sue's I will cut those out and give them to you," Legolas said. With that he got up to return the book to the house.
Lothril quietly got up and slipped away from the others to follow him and when they got inside she tapped him on the shoulder and said, "I saw you hide a few of those pictures."
"I did."
"Can I see them? I haven't actually had a chance to look at this yet since I gave it to you in Minas Tirith," she asked.
He smiled, "Of course you can. He turned and sat down at the kitchen table and sat the book down and turned to the first page he skipped. It was a drawn from his perspective of the first evening after she awoke in Lothlórien. She was sitting curled up on the couch, eyes shut, breathing in the steam from the tea with the slightest little contented smile on her face. The next was her laying in the grass on Cerin Amroth surrounded by elanor and nimphredil looking up with such love in her eyes and the most happy and trusting smile on her face...
"I remember that moment. You had just thanked me for trusting you with my secrets and then kissed me," Lothril said.
"That is the very moment. And that is a smile I do not wish to share with the others," he said.
"What of the other couple of drawings?" she asked.
He gingerly turned to those drawings and the first one she was greeted with was one of her sleeping.
"Is this a memory of yours?" she asked.
"From the time Elrohir slept with us because of your nightmares. When I awoke I looked over and that is how you looked and I thought you looked so lovely. I was very jealous of Elrohir in that moment. I would have loved nothing more than to be the one with you sleeping on my shoulder," Legolas said.
Lothril smiled and turned the page to find a drawing of her laying out on her balcony in Minas Tirith getting a tan, skirt hiked up and all. She gave Legolas a disapproving look and an arched brow.
"I told you I love your shapely legs," Legolas said with a flirtatious smile.
"The next page isn't going to be me laying on the beach in my swimsuit, is it?" Lothril asked, trying for all she was worth to look disapproving, all the while absolutely loving the fact he had drawn that moment.
"No. I shall save that drawing for my private sketch book I keep locked up in my study," he answered.
"Any particular reason you keep it locked up?"
"It is the notebook I use for drawing unflattering pictures of various lords and courtiers who annoy me. I sketch them making faces during council meetings then pin them to my dartboard," he answered with a half grin.
"And you keep it locked up?"
"For as much as I am certain one or two of them know they are not my favorite people in the kingdom, it truly would not do if word got around that the prince was drawing unflattering pictures of lords and using them to play darts. Besides that, I also use it for practicing drawing things or practicing different techniques. However, if after this a sketch or two of my betrothed at the beach or sketches of my wife appear in it, I would not be surprised," he grinned roguishly.
"As long as you let me see them and do not use me as dart practice, I'll allow it," she said with a smile.
"What is mine is yours. As soon as we return you will have my full permission to avail yourself of anything of mine that you wish," he said.
"Not even going to wait until we're married?"
"No, for I see little point. You already have my heart and I have pledged to you my body. There is little sense in me withholding anything else," he answered.
"You're the best, sweetest thing, you know that?" Lothril said as she leaned in and kissed him.
"So you have said, and I love hearing it," he grinned before kissing her again. He then turned the page and showed her the last picture. It was the two of them kissing against the backdrop of the open window showing their friends and family celebrating their betrothal.
She looked at the drawing for a good long while with the smallest little smile on her face. Most of those other pictures had been his memories and his moments, but this was theirs and theirs alone. A private moment between them against the backdrop of a shared celebration with those they cared about. Vividly did the memories of what came before and after that brief little kiss played through her mind and her smile widened. And something about how he placed them and included the scene of the others dancing through the window just seemed so perfect to her.
"I am glad you did not show this one. This was our little moment," she said quietly.
"It was," Legolas agreed with a smile of his own. "It was the first time you kissed my neck."
Lothril turned a little pink around the tips of her ears and gave a nervous chuckle, "Yeah well, I didn't exactly mean to, but you felt so tense and upset about me being overwhelmed and I very much wanted to kiss you but you were holding me so tight that all I could reach was your neck so…"
"If that is all it takes, I shall hold you to myself that tightly every time we kiss," Legolas teased. "No, not every time - every other. I get too drunk on your mouth to ever think about giving it up."
After the rain that first night the next few nights were clear, which meant her and Legolas sneaking down to the beach to watch the moon above the water and kiss and… well, lots of kissing… and writing poems back and forth… In fact, it seemed Legolas began a very slow cataloguing of her looks and what he loved and adored about them. The first night it started with her dark hair and how it caught the light of the moon in its tresses and how it flowed down from the crown of her head in cascading waterfalls of moonlight and shadow and was a veil of loveliness that framed her fair face and shoulders and yet concealed some of her fair form. The next night was dedicated to her eyes of glittering brown topaz that flashed with fire and shone with warmth like the sun whenever she beheld him, and so it went. The next night though he embarked on her mouth which occupied the rest of their moonlight encounters because he seemed intent on detailing not only the look of her lips and the set of her mouth, but also the feel of her lips, the taste of them, the pleasure he found in her tongue, the taste of her mouth, and then the rapturous joys and pleasures her mouth had bestowed upon his own (to say nothing of the hours he spent praising the ways she kissed his neck and ears). In a way, Lothril began to wonder if he hadn't been waiting for that little Song of Solomon conversation just so he could start lavishing her with praises about her hröa and how it reflected the beauty of her fëa.
In the end though, Thursday came and Thursday noon found them packing up and heading back to Sue's house. It had been an absolutely lovely UP vacation and the best part was that the vacation wasn't over yet. They were going to have four more days at Sue's house before…
…before good-bye.
