Chapter 8
The riders set off at dawn the next day, including Princess Lindethiel's promised, Feredir.
Legolas stood at the gates of the elvenking's hall, watching the party depart. Once they had passed out of the reach of his keen eyesight, he turned to his father, who was standing nearby.
"My son, do not trust to hope. I would not have you believing she is alive only to be plunged deeper into despair when you look upon her, especially with how the beasts may have left her."
Legolas glared at his father for a moment, but then softened his gaze, understanding well the pain that he felt, "Father, we must overcome this, come what may."
"I know, my son. I find it difficult to do so, though, having already come so close to fading when your mother passed."
The king made a statement to his people, relating to them the details of the party that was sent to retrieve the fallen elves. Legolas spent the remainder of the day with Thranduil, any differences they had of late set aside.
After the king's announcement, Narinya stole away to her and Legolas' chambers.
Her stomach was growing and so was the connection with her child. She could feel his spirit, and soon, he would also be able to feel hers. She would have to start making an effort to love the child if she wanted him to be born healthy and strong.
She sighed, resting her hands on her stomach, the fabric of her dress still forgiving enough to allow her to wear it a bit longer.
She knew that by now Melda might very well be aware of her predicament. The experienced handmaiden was perceptive. She recalled the day she overhead Melda refuse to engage in gossip about her and Legolas; perhaps Melda could be trusted with this secret.
Melda had been kept from the room for the past two days while the prince accepted the news of his sister's passing. Narinya decided to call for her and use the opportunity to confess her secret. She knew it carried some risk, but it would be such a relief to have someone to confide in.
Narinya's stomach tightened with worry when she heard the familiar knock. "Come in, Melda."
The handmaiden surveyed the room, which was in need of tidying after the past days of mourning. She nodded toward Narinya, "My lady," and then began her work.
Narinya spoke, "Melda, there is something I'd like to discuss with you."
"Of course," she said expectantly, focusing on folding a tunic she'd recovered from the floor of the bathing chamber.
Narinya steeled herself. "By now, I think you know of my condition."
Melda glanced at her but did not speak.
"Melda?"
"I think I may."
"I am pregnant." Narinya sighed, glad to finally have said the words aloud to something other than the walls of an empty room.
Melda wore a stoic expression as she returned to folding the tunic in her arms, "That is wonderful news. Lord Legolas will be pleased, it is rare to beget an elfling so quickly."
Narinya steeled herself to deliver the rest of the confession, knowing there was no going back once she spoke the truth. "I do not think so. It is not his. I conceived before we were wed."
Melda remained quite composed, considering this news. "What do you plan to do, milady?"
"I… I don't know." She faltered, struggling to hold back tears, "I have not yet reached a decision. But, if I may ask this of you, I would like your help and your discretion."
"Of course, milady, I will not betray you."
Narinya nodded, "I'm going to need some adjustments to my dresses."
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Legolas waited nearly every day and night at the gates for some sign of the search party's return. Finally, after much convincing from Thranduil and Narinya, he went back inside the elvenking's hall.
"Legolas, we will know soon enough," Thranduil assured him, "Take some rest this eve."
After taking a meal, Legolas returned to his chambers. His mind was still consumed by the fact that his sister was gone, and not being able to say goodbye made it harder for him to even try to move forward.
Legolas went to bathe while Narinya was reading. She put her book down and placed her hands over her stomach.
Melda had done a fine job with her dresses, releasing the stitching to let them out and allow for the growth of Narinya's abdomen. But she wouldn't be able to keep it a secret for much longer. She was now into her fourth month.
Elves had a gestation period of roughly a year, and if Narinya was lucky, she could likely hide her pregnancy into her fifth month. She could not as easily hide her mood changes or her appetite, but with the Woodland Realm and the royal family understandably preoccupied with Lindethiel, she was able to continue keeping her secret for now.
Legolas emerged from the bathing chamber, his blonde hair a few shades darker than normal with water still dripping from the ends. She noticed how the light shirt he wore to bed now clung to the planes of his chest and torso. Narinya quickly pulled her hands away from her midsection, not wishing to draw his attention there.
"My lady, the bath is yours."
She smiled, "Thank you, you should get some rest. We will know soon."
He nodded, knowing it was true, and lay down on his side of their bed, falling quickly to sleep.
Narinya lowered herself into the warm water, easing the fatigue she felt through her body. She hoped that Legolas did not suddenly decide to claim his nuptial rights anytime soon, for if he did now, she was certain he might suspect her. She lay in the large tub, her tears mixing with the hot water as she grappled with what to do.
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The next morning, there was hurried knocking at the door of their chambers. The sun was barely rising. Narinya awoke and then reached over the space between her body and her husband's, shaking him awake. He had been sleeping more deeply of late in his despair.
They both rose from the warm bed and Narinya went into the bathing chamber to change into a proper dress. Legolas pulled on a tunic and went to the main door of their chambers to address the visitor.
"My lord, my lady, come quickly. The party passed into the realm some time ago, and will arrive soon."
Legolas suddenly realized what the rush was. He pulled on his second boot and then ran out of the room. Narinya followed behind, still combing her fingers through her hair as she ran barefoot toward the courtyard.
Thranduil was standing on the steps and greeted his son and Narinya, "They will be here any moment." He wore an uncharacteristically anxious expression. A small crowd had gathered.
Legolas' eyes remained fixed on the gate and it wasn't long before he saw the nose of the first horse. On its back rode Feredir, and behind him, her arms around his waist, rode a gravely injured Lindethiel.
Thranduil's eyes widened in surprise but he remained silent. Legolas, however, took off at a sprint to the group as they approached.
Feredir dismounted and then reached up to help Lindethiel, but Legolas had beat him to the motion. She smiled weakly when she saw him, and he helped her down and into his arms, pulling her into an embrace.
"Ow."
He quickly released her, assessing her injuries.
"It's my ribs… I think at least two are broken."
He pulled her to him gently then, "My sister, thank you for returning to us."
Feredir wrapped one arm around her to support her and the rest of the party dismounted, walking up to greet the elvenking, who stood wearing the broadest smile ever before seen on his face. Thranduil stepped forward to carefully embrace his daughter and then held her at arm's length, taking in the sight of her and making sure she was real.
She looked pallid, her hair was matted, her dress tattered, and she had blood caked to her arms, but she was very much alive. She wore a smile at seeing her family again, despite the pain in her body.
Legolas had stepped back to let his father greet Lindethiel. The group of onlookers that had gathered started clapping, the courtyard swelling with jubilation at the return of their princess. All the grief and worry that had been so heavily weighing on Legolas' heart and mind lifted.
Narinya was suddenly pulled into her husband's arms, "Thank you for having hope," he said softly to her.
She nodded, the joy of the morning filling her as well.
It was then that the prince did something unexpected. He drew her in closer and leaned in, bringing his lips to hers. She was startled for a moment, but soon relaxed into his embrace. She felt a surprising pang of excitement when he deepened the affection, kissing her harder than before. She smiled against his lips and returned the kiss.
Remembering himself, he released her and looked into her eyes. Joy had lit up his face, his eyes assuming their stunning cerulean color again. "Forgive me, Narinya," he whispered, not wanting anyone near to hear his apology. It was the first time Greenwood's people had seen any type of affection between their prince and princess.
Lindethiel had seen the exchange and smiled, but her condition called for treatment and rest immediately, Feredir supporting her as she tried to walk into the halls.
Thranduil took a moment to invite the gathered elves to a celebration of Lindethiel's safe return, which would be held only after she had fully recovered enough to attend. The crowd began to disperse and Thranduil, Legolas, and Narinya followed Lindethiel and Feredir inside.
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Lindethiel was helped into a bath in her healing chamber by two handmaidens, and once she had been cleaned up, she was moved to the bed where her injuries were tended to by a skilled healer, "You must remain here all of the morrow, my lady, and let your body heal."
She nodded, letting sleep claim her after the painful ordeal of having her bones set.
Later that evening, her brother came into the room and sat down next to the bed. He waited patiently until she stirred from sleep. "Lindethiel, how are you feeling?"
"I suppose I could be better." She smiled weakly at him.
He leaned forward and embraced her gently, "We thought that we had lost you."
"I thought so, too."
Legolas looked at her with a question in his eyes, "We were told you had fallen victim to a warg."
"I almost did, but thankfully, I had not forgotten the training you gave me all those years ago. I drove my dagger up into his chest, and he died upon me. I lay still there and it was not until I was sure that the surviving wargs had moved on that I even attempted to push him off of me."
She adjusted her position, wincing with the pain of movement, "With difficulty, I managed to crawl to a nearby tree. My arms were still quite useable, so I pulled myself up onto a low branch, hoping I would not meet any more of those foul creatures."
"You have Narinya to thank for your rescue." Legolas took one of his sister's hands in his.
"Narinya?"
"Yes, she arranged to send riders for you with haste; I must admit that father and I were too distraught to make many wise decisions at that time, and we left her to take care of things."
Lindethiel nodded, making a mental note to thank her friend for it.
"Speaking of Narinya, that was quite a kiss today." Lindethiel smiled.
Legolas thought back on the moment from that morning. He was normally quite confident in his interactions with maidens, but he had never had one marry him under duress before. "I hope she was not offended."
"She was not, I could see it in her eyes when you let her go."
Legolas pondered his sister's words, "What expression in her eyes did you see that I did not?"
She laughed lightly, wincing again from the pain it caused her, "Just a look an elleth wears after being kissed the way she wants to be."
He smiled and then held her hand in companionable silence as she drifted back to sleep.
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Legolas made his way to his chambers, his step lighter with the relief of his sister's return. When he walked in, he found Narinya on her side of their large bed, reading.
She looked up as he entered. Upon seeing him, she recalled the kiss they had shared much earlier that day, feeling her lips tingle at the memory.
As if reading her mind, he sat down near her on their bed and spoke, "Narinya, I should apologize for being so forward earlier today."
"Legolas, you did nothing wrong," she stated matter-of-factly. She was not ready to admit to him how much she had enjoyed it.
She continued, "And perhaps that will help put some of those rumors to rest." She smiled warmly at him.
"Perhaps so." Legolas smiled back at her and took her hand in his, "I cannot thank you enough for sending riders for Lindethiel. I truly have not the words to express my happiness at her return."
"I know, I feel it too. I missed her, and I missed you." She looked down.
"I was here all along."
"You were but a shell of yourself – the former self I was just starting to really get to know."
Legolas nodded his understanding and then pulled her into an embrace. She leaned her head on his shoulder, her cheek resting against the soft fabric of his green tunic.
"Thank you, Narinya, for being there. Through my grief and heartache."
She nodded against him and then sat upright again, breaking their embrace. She was glad for the safe return of Lindethiel, but her pregnancy still tugged at her mind and tore at her heart, preventing her from being fully unburdened.
Legolas sensed that something else was amiss, despite her obvious joy at Lindethiel's return. "What troubles you, Narinya? I know I've been quite distracted these past days waiting for news."
"I am just… experiencing a lot of emotions." This was safe, for she wasn't lying.
He nodded but pressed on, "I want to know what you're thinking, Narinya."
She thought of a diversion, something she could tell him other than her secret that would explain some of her emotions, "I was and am truly so happy to see your family reunited today, and it just made me think of my own."
"I would be glad to escort you to visit your sister in Lake-town any time you wish. And, I know our situation may not be... typical, but, I do not want you to feel like an outsider in this family, you are a part of it now."
"Thank you. I mostly speak of my father, though. He was my only parent, and when I told you before that I felt useless being sent here and not attending to the household, I was only half truthful."
Legolas gazed at her, waiting for her to continue. She almost trembled under his stare.
"I have never really been able to release my guilt over my mother's death. I have spent the years trying to make it up to my family. At first, when my father told me about this arrangement, I felt that if I came here, I would never finish that task."
"Narinya, I am certain no one blames you for your mother's death. There is no one at fault but fate; you cannot hold yourself accountable for such things."
"You are right, of course. And I am trying to believe it myself, as I have been. And my guilt was why I eventually surrendered to coming here to marry you. With my father already fading, my last duty to him was to come here so that he could save himself."
"And do you feel you have re-paid the debt you believed you carried?"
"I did what he asked of me up until the last day I saw him. I do feel better knowing that. I just miss him."
Legolas moved his hand to the small of her back, offering a supportive touch. He knew there was much he had yet to discover about his wife, but he was thankful she had opened up to him further. He could feel their friendship growing stronger and he found himself wanting to help her resolve whatever was clearly tugging at her heart and mind. And he certainly had not minded kissing her that day.
She leaned against his side and soaked in the warmth his body offered. He smelled good and he was looking much healthier with the grief having lifted. She was glad to let him hold her then, for she needed it more than he knew.
Thank you for reading!