Chapter 9
When Legolas awoke early the next morning, he remembered his relief. His heart felt light and unburdened, a welcome change from the prior days. He turned to face Narinya in bed, who was an arm's length away from him, still sleeping soundly.
He thought of the strength and comfort she had offered him over those past days, how thankful he was for her presence then and now. She lay on her side, her dark hair framing her face. She looked unchanged from the day he had married her; she was beautiful then, but she had grown ever more so to his eyes in the time since.
He noticed that her night dress had slipped down the slope of her right arm, exposing her shoulder and the start of the curve of one of her breasts. His eyes lingered there. Here she was, his wife in bed beside him, and yet not his wife in full. He thought of reaching out to her, pulling her close, coming to know her in a new way, and he felt his body begin to respond.
He looked away when she stirred, willing his body to calm.
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Once they had risen and dressed, Legolas escorted Narinya to the morning meal. Lindethiel took her meals in her healing chamber while she was still recovering. Elves healed quickly; she would likely be free to move about again in a few more days.
Legolas, Narinya, and Thranduil took their breakfast mostly in comfortable silence, the heaviness of the prior days having lifted. Narinya ate her meal ravenously, hardly noticing them watching her until she had finished. When she met Legolas' eyes, she suddenly felt embarrassed. Thranduil looked at her curiously but said nothing.
"Narinya, Lathron and I had been planning on traveling along the river today, to clear some of the pathway that will be used for the shipments arriving from Lake-town before the winter. He was called away to other duties, but you would be most welcome to join me, if you'd like."
Narinya had not been back in that direction since her arrival to Greenwood, "I would like that."
Thranduil looked on approvingly. Though he'd never say it aloud, Narinya had impressed him with her clear-headedness during the royal family's recent ordeal and she had seemed to be a support system for Legolas in a time of great turmoil.
When they had finished eating, Narinya went to change into clothing more befitting of a walk in the woods. When she arrived back to the main hall, Legolas extended an arm to her and they walked out into the forest together.
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Narinya walked a few steps behind Legolas on a narrow and overgrown path. She eyed the set of long knives he now wore on his back.
Feeling her eyes on him, Legolas drew one of his knives. In one quick movement, he flipped it in his hand, deftly catching the knife by its blade and turning to hand it back to her. Her eyes widened, imagining what they might come across that she would need this weapon. With mirth on his voice, he reassured her, "Don't fret, it's only for cutting back the new growth. It's grown quite a bit over these months since you arrived. The spiders don't make it this near to my father's halls." She relaxed, her hand wrapping around the ornate hilt of the knife.
It did not take long for the narrow path to reach the river bank, where the rushing water surfaced above the elvenking's halls. Narinya smiled at the sight of it, imagining it to be a link to her home. They could now walk side by side on the wider path, though were kept in close proximity by the increasingly dense vegetation on the edges of the trail. Legolas began cutting away the branches that were now infringing on the path.
"Do you often take on path clearing duties?" She grinned. "I know that you and Lathron like to help with controlling the spider population, but I did not know you did this, too."
"My father would say that there's no need for it. When I was much younger he would balk at these types of adventures, preferring for me to be training for my guard duties. But he has since seen the merit in it. It's good for the realm to see us so engaged in the day to day, even rather mundane tasks like this."
"And it is quite nice to go walking along the river on a day like today," Narinya added.
"Precisely."
They walked in companionable silence for some time, both cutting away branches as needed. The path they were on eventually emptied into a small clearing, now ablaze with rich autumn colors. Legolas sheathed his blade, "That should be enough for today."
Narinya handed his second blade back to him while admiring the radiance of the forest around them, "I remember passing by this clearing on my journey from Lake-town, though it is quite changed and beautiful with the shift in seasons." After surveying the clearing, her eyes came to rest on Legolas. He looked every bit at home out here in the forest and she was again struck by his beauty.
He smiled warmly, "It is remarkable how much things change in such a short time." He looked around at the surrounding forest, but he thought of himself and Narinya as he said the words.
"Shall we sit for awhile?" Narinya said, looking back toward the pathway, but hoping he might want to linger here awhile. The sun was now directly overhead, its rays finding their way through the opening in the forest canopy above them and bathing them in warm light.
Legolas nodded and Narinya felt her heart jump when he took her hand in his and led her to a place to sit in the tall golden grass. They spent the early afternoon there together, often engaged in conversation and sometimes in comfortable silence, enjoying the tapestry of sound and color surrounding them.
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That evening, Narinya went out to walk in the gardens, alone. She had much to think about and little time to do so. She could feel her dresses growing taut against her abdomen, despite Melda's best efforts. Every day she felt her child growing and getting stronger. She found a bench that was now bathed in moonlight to sit upon and think. So far, she had been paralyzed with fear and indecision, but she knew her procrastination would need to end soon.
She knew it wasn't fair to resent the child like this and she was aware that the feelings she had could affect her baby, but she could not stop them. She was terrified of what would happen when anyone found out. She was angry at herself, especially because she had come to like her husband, enough that she did not wish to put this burden upon him. But it was too late for regrets now. She held her face in her hands and rubbed her temples, trying to decide how she would go about revealing it to him.
She stood up and walked determinedly to Melda's small chambers, knowing that she needed another dress adjustment.
"Milady, you're not going to be able to hide this much longer," the maid said while busily taking apart the stitching on the dress.
"I know… I'm going to tell him. Soon."
Melda quietly nodded, sensing the uneasiness in Narinya's tone.
Narinya pulled the newly adjusted dress over her body. It was looser now and she drew a deep breath, thankful for the give of the fabric.
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After she had spent a few days healing, Narinya decided to pay a visit to Lindethiel.
"Narinya, it is very good to see you!"
"And you! How are you faring?"
"I am well, much better than I was a few days ago. I think my father plans to hold his celebratory feast soon. I cannot say I am feeling entirely ready for such things, but I'm sure Feredir won't be too disappointed if we cannot dance very much."
Narinya smiled as Lindethiel continued, "I need to thank you. I may owe my life to you. Legolas tells me you were the one that sent the riders after me. It sounds like you were quite capable of handling things while my father and brother were… indisposed."
"Thank you, that means a great deal, Lindethiel. I am sure all of your instruction has played quite a part in my successes as princess."
Lindethiel studied Narinya and noticed that her dress hung a bit loosely around her middle, appearing to have fresh alterations. She chose not to say anything, although her heart jumped at the possibility of what it might mean.
Narinya noticed Lindethiel's eyes on her abdomen and shifted uncomfortably, searching for a way to distract with conversation, "Legolas and the king are quite busy today with making preparations for the incoming winter."
"Legolas told me that you negotiated a deal for some of the additional food stores from Lake-town."
Narinya smiled, "It's the least I can do. In Lake-town, I only had to look after myself and my family, but you all do so much to make sure things run smoothly here, for all the residents of Greenwood."
"And we are grateful for your help with that, Narinya."
Narinya began to respond but was cut off by a gentle knock. Lindethiel looked to the door, "Come in."
Feredir strode into the room, sitting down in the open chair next to them with a polite greeting, "Good afternoon, Narinya."
"I'll leave you two be." Narinya stood up and nodded to both of them in farewell.
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That evening, as he had promised, Legolas came to check in on his sister. Feredir had stayed the remainder of the day and only took his leave when the prince arrived.
"How was your day? Narinya stopped by earlier, she said you were busy with father. Is there anything I can help with from here?" Lindethiel looked hopeful, eager for something to distract her from convalescing.
"All went well. There is nothing you need worry about, save healing." He sat down next to the bed, "How are you feeling tonight?"
"Certainly much better. I am tired, but grateful for the skill of our healers. When is father planning to have the feast?"
"The day after tomorrow. He is going to announce it tomorrow morning, as long as you are feeling well enough."
Lindethiel remembered her passing thought when Narinya had stopped in earlier and decided to broach the topic. "And are you and Narinya going to be announcing something soon as well?"
Legolas' brows furrowed in confusion, "What would we be announcing?"
"Legolas, you did not think you could hide this from me!" Lindethiel looked at him expectantly.
"I know not of what you speak."
"Is Narinya not with child?"
"With child?!" Legolas coughed, "Nay, that is impossible."
"Impossible?"
"We have not… consummated our marriage." He nearly tripped over the words.
It was Lindethiel's turn to be puzzled, "Oh." The room became heavy with awkward silence.
"Why did you think such a thing?"
"I don't know. It was just a thought, I suppose. I would have thought you had… by now." Lindethiel considered his words. Maybe she had been imagining things, in her state.
Legolas shook his head, "She is certainly not pregnant."
"But things seem much improved between the two of you?"
"Indeed, I dare say we even like one another," the corners of his mouth pulled upwards as he spoke.
"And that kiss?"
"You were right, she was not offended," he stated matter-of-factly. The awkwardness had now lifted, but Legolas did not offer any further information.
"Then... why not?"
Legolas sighed, "You know that Narinya had some reservations about this marriage. But you likely do not know the true extent to which she did not want to enter this union. She only agreed to it to spare her father from fading."
Lindethiel silently processed this information. Narinya had shared many things with her, but apparently not all, perhaps not wanting to offend any of the royal family.
"In light of that, I hardly think it is fair to put that expectation on her, too."
Lindethiel nodded and then yawned. Legolas seized the opportunity to end the conversation.
"I really should be going, you need to rest if you hope to attend a feast in two days." He rose to leave, "And, if you could not mention any of this to father..."
"Not a word. That is between you and Narinya. But, for what it's worth, the way she seems to look at you now, perhaps she isn't as opposed to being married to you as she once was," she smiled, "Thank you for the visit, Legolas."
Legolas walked slowly back toward his chambers, thinking over his sister's words.
The thought of Narinya being pregnant was laughable, but he did wonder when and if she might be ready to truly couple with him. He thought back to the recent morning and how much his body had craved to join with her. He had seldom entertained these thoughts before, assuming it best to keep things platonic, in case an annulment might one day be possible.
But things had been going quite well between them of late, and he could not deny how much he had enjoyed the spontaneous kiss in the courtyard and how she had willingly returned it. As he thought more on the curves of her body, remembering when he once caught a fleeting glimpse of her wearing only a nearly translucent slip through the slightly ajar bathing room door, he felt heat and a deep want start to grow within him. Perhaps it would soon be time, if she would have him.
When he arrived to their chambers, he found Narinya already asleep, the book that she had been reading lying haphazardly on the floor next to the bed. He smiled to himself, happy to be patient a bit longer. He was not sure what she would say or do if he broached this topic with her or made an advance, and he did not want to set back the friendship they had built.
Consummating the union would make it official in a way they had thus far avoided, so both of them would need to be sure. And he was well aware that she might think it impossible to deny him even if it was not what she desired. He made a mental note to make that quite clear to her, as he picked up the book and placed it on the side table.
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She was riding a horse, one she did not know, at a gallop out of the wood. Her bare legs clung to the stallion's sides, his coarse black coat rubbing against her calves.
His footfalls were rapid and his breathing was heavy. She could feel every muscle in his back hard at work as he ran. Her hands clung to his mane desperately as she tried to hold on, her fingers lost in the long dark hair.
Soon she did not recognize her surroundings. She looked about wildly and her grip faltered. She was slipping and then she fell. She clutched her abdomen as she descended, wanting to protect the life inside of her.
But, just before she hit the ground, she opened her eyes and sat up. She sighed loudly in relief and leaned against the headboard, holding her stomach.
It was nearly dawn and she did not want to go back to sleep and risk anymore nightmares. She wondered what it would be like to do what she had done in her dream; to simply run from it all. To take the river pathway back toward Lake-town. But she could not do such a thing. She had made a promise not only to her father and to Legolas, but to the people of Greenwood. A promise she now did not intend to break.
Her eyes wandered over the sleeping form of her husband. He had moved closer to her in his slumber that night, but there was still a gap between their bodies. A gap both were always aware of.
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The next day, Narinya had gone for a walk on the near paths of Northern Greenwood, eager to be outside again. She did not dare ride her beloved horse after the dream she'd had.
She was into her fifth month of pregnancy now and hiding it would soon be impossible. She would tell Legolas and she would tell him soon. She had no other choice. She tried to anticipate his reaction, but could not determine what it would be. She had never seen him very angry before, usually he was stoic and kept his emotions well under control. It was sometimes impossible to tell what he was feeling just from looking upon his fair face.
She sighed. Whatever reaction he had, she would have to face it. A pit of anxiety settled in her stomach. Her heart raced as she practiced her confession in her mind, scripting what she might say and more importantly, what might happen as a result.
She thought about Legolas and how much she had come to care for him over the past months. The marriage was not at all the suffocating confinement she had so feared; instead, being in Greenwood and with Legolas had opened her up to new experiences, and she had grown and learned. Now, all of that might soon be lost.
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