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Path of Honor-Part II: Far From Home	By : IdrilsSecret Category: +Third Age > Slash - Male/Male Views: 4869 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of its characters. I make no money in the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 11
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- 13
Chapter Twelve

I’d just managed to survive a most awkward moment, as Legolas and Túron met each other. Now I was walking around Caras Galadhon with Legolas, showing him the parts of the city that made me most proud. He was being very gracious, but the tension between us could not be ignored much longer. Whenever silence crept in between us, I pointed out something new to him. He would look and listen, but I knew he was only half paying attention.
“And that way leads to my office, and those of the other Captains, as well as Haldir’s,” I said, finishing my tour.
“Truly, Lothlórien is stunning. I really am glad to have finally been allowed to see it for myself,” he said.
The quiet came back, but this time I had nothing left to show him. And as his eyes settled upon me, I could see it was time to hash out this matter involving me, him and my past lover, who Legolas thought was long gone from Lórien.
“He has been living here for the past few months?” Legolas said, starting the conversation that I’d been avoiding all night.
“I can explain,” I blurted out before he started accusing me of things I hadn’t done.
“Explain what?” He was acting like he didn’t already know, the bastard.
“The reason why Túron is here. Honestly, I didn’t know he had returned until I came back from one of my campaigns. I was completely surprised and unguarded. Anyways, we had a very good talk. A talk and nothing more, and we have decided that we should not let our past stand in the way of our friendship, and … why are you letting me ramble on like this?” My words came out in a jumble.
“I will not interrupt you while you try to convince yourself that you are on the right side of this complication.”
“Convince myself? I need no convincing. I am sure of what has transpired. Túron and I might have … been together at one time, but we have moved past that. I told him straight away that I’d met someone else.”
“Oh, you did, did you?” Legolas said in an accusatory tone.
“Of course I did. I told him that . . . Why am I explaining this to you in the first place? Either you believe me, and you trust me, or you don’t, in which case you might want to–” My words were cut off by his lips crushing against mine. Any other time I would easily give in to this, but this was not the place to display affection, and I pushed him away. “Are you mad?” I complained.
“If you mean upset, then yes, I’m a little perturbed to find you living so close to your former lover, but I’m willing to listen to what you have to say. If you mean insane, well, I’ve been crazy for you ever since we met, and I find it very difficult to behave properly, or whatever is considered acceptable for Lothlórien behavior.”
“Kissing me out in the open is definitely not proper behavior. As a matter of fact, that kind of display could have me thrown out of here altogether,” I warned. “From now on, you’ll not touch me affectionately, you’ll speak to me as an acquaintance, and you’ll control your tongue.”
“Understood, Captain,” he said, immediately switching his attitude to one of professionalism. “And just so you know, yes, I do trust you. I do believe you … to a degree, and, before I turn into a boring stick in the mud, I’ll warn you that I will not be responsible for my behavior once we are behind locked doors, and my tongue shall do whatever it wants.”
I just stared at him and shook my head. “You are the most complicated, difficult to read ellon I have ever met.”
“Thank you,” he smiled and we were on our way again.
I didn’t see any harm in bringing Legolas back to my home. If anyone asked, he was my guest, and I was entertaining him. Of course, entertaining could be taken more ways than one. The fact was, I didn’t care what anyone thought. I hadn’t seen Legolas in so long, and all I wanted to do was get reacquainted again. Despite his playful banter a few moments ago, there was still enough tension between us that I knew we needed to seriously discuss matters before any form or reacquainting would happen. I readied myself for whoever I was about to address once Legolas and I were alone. I wasn’t sure what to expect once I closed my door. Legolas was a very mercurial kind of elf. We might start arguing right away, or we might find ourselves fervently rolling around on the floor. I could tell by the obstinacy on his countenance that the matter of Túron would need to be discussed before we went any further. I didn’t have to wait. As soon as we were in my home, Legolas began the conversation.
“I guess I don’t need to relay to you my concern about your friendship with your former lover,” he started.
“No more than I need to speak of my disappointment of your absence at Dol Guldur,” I countered.
“That is a completely different matter,” he argued.
“Is it though?” I said, crossing my arms over my chest to show my indignation.
“Well, for one, there is not the slightest chance that I would have relations with any of my fellow company,” he accused.
“Why don’t you just come out and say it, Legolas. You think I’ve slept with Túron, don’t you? And you claim to trust me? How dare you insult my intelligence.”
“Keeping cordiality between acquaintances is one thing, but remaining close friends with someone you’ve slept with is something altogether different.”
“You slept with Corweth, yet you have a very close and platonic bond with her now. And I never once questioned where your loyalty lay,” I implicated.
“It was just one time, and a very long time ago. What you had with Túron was something deep that cannot be ignored.”
“You are the one who taught me not to sever ties, no matter what or who they are with, to always leave a way back because you never know whether–”
“A way back?” he interrupted. “Is that what he is? How much longer would you have waited before you decided to go back to him?”
“I was never going to ‘go back to him’,” I said with a raised voice. “Don’t try to turn this around. What about you? You go off to Rivendell just to deliver a message, and you never return. Do you know the kinds of things that ran through my mind? How was I to know that you weren’t patching things up with a past lover? You want to talk about Túron and I remaining friends? What about you and that musician you told me about. Mending any severed ties while you were gallivanting around Imladris?”
“The musi–” He stopped, eyes dark and dangerous. “Is that what you think? Ha,” he said, throwing his head back in an exaggerated way. He turned his back towards me and shifted from one foot to the other. I could see him charging up with his response to my accusations. “For months, I’ve been traveling through forests and plains, around an icy mountain and through the deepest darkest mines. I’ve seen things that will always haunt me in dreams, and some that terrorize me with my eyes wide open.”
“And I’ve seen your people die fighting a cause that you convinced them to participate in, while you skipped over mountains and crawled through caves,” I said angrily. “I held a dying friend in my arms while you befriended complete strangers and ran off on some adventure.”
Legolas didn’t say a word, but the look in his eyes spoke for him. I was reminded of his father, when I tricked him into a bargain. Never again, that look said. He peeled his eyes from me and went to my door, slamming it behind him as he left, and my heart sank to the floor. I had accused him of choosing a side, of picking strangers over his people. And I had defended Túron, someone who Legolas thought of as a threat, instead of assuring him that he was all that mattered most. Why did I do that? I regretted it now.
I don’t know how long I stood there looking at my door, but it felt like forever. I should go after him, I thought, but my feet would not leave the place where they were planted. I was letting him go, just as I let Fandir go, and Túron. I didn’t fight for them. I just accepted that this was the way things would always be for me. But this was different, wasn’t it? This was Legolas, the flame to my soul, my sanctuary. Now he was gone, and here I stood like some mindless arse, rooted, unmoving. Once again, I would end up alone and . . .
Suddenly the door flew open, and Legolas came marching in, throwing the door shut behind him. I braced myself for something, a punch, a scolding … I just didn’t know. He didn’t stop until he was upon me, and then he grabbed me roughly and assaulted me with his mouth. I was so shocked, I didn’t respond at first. He pushed his hips against mine and I felt his desire hard as iron. My arms found their way around his neck, and I drew him into me. By the gods, his kisses heated me, and I rose to the occasion.
“Has he ever kissed you this way?” he whispered fervently between kisses. “Has he ever ignited your passion the way I do? I know you love me. If you will not fight for us, then I will. You’re mine, Rúmil. He had his chance. He cannot have another.”
“He has no chance, Legolas. You are all that I need.” I tore at the laces of his leggings as he finished undoing my shirt, pushing it from my shoulders. Before I could finish, Legolas was on his knees, tearing at my belt, and pushing my pants open. He took me in his mouth. It was so sudden, the sensitivity was euphoric. My hands went to the back of his head, and I looked down to watch him. I thought I would lose myself right then, but I held back, not wanting to waste the moment.
He came back up, standing, eyes smoldering, lips red and parted. I abandoned any form of control and kissed him, hard and urgent. “It’s been too long. It’s been far too long. I’ve missed you, Legolas. The not knowing was the worst though. But here you are in my arms again.” I said all the things I had wanted to say to him when I first saw him in the forest, but had to refrain from saying. These are the things I should have said moments ago instead of accusing him of abandonment.
“I don’t want to fight,” he admitted, nipping at the skin of my neck, my ear, sending shock waves of pleasure along my spine. “I just need to feel you, to know you are real … that I’m not just dreaming of you by my side.”
“I’m real,” I said and we finished undressing. I led him to my bed, and his eyes washed over me.
“So many times, so many nights during my travels, I’d see you like this. I would wish so hard that you were real. I could feel your warm flesh under my fingers, as though you were right there beside me. My body would come to life, and just as we were about to kiss, your apparition would disappear. Don’t leave me now.” He sounded desperate, as if he was still out there, somewhere, and not in my room, in my bed.
A strand of his hair had come loose and I tucked it behind his ear, caressing the pointed tip as I looked deep into his beautiful blue eyes. “I’m here, iaun nín, and you are here. There’s only us in this moment, in our secret world, and we will be one again.”
He eased me onto the bed, and we forgot about all of our troubles. The world outside my home ceased to exist. My inhabitations melted away. My mind, my energy, every fiber of my being was focused on Legolas. Here I found immunity within his arms, free to be the elf I’d always known I was. So long it had been since I granted myself this kind of freedom, and every time I tasted it, I craved it even more. To know I could ever afford such great pleasure with someone was something I never thought would happen to me, but to bear that experience without fear of serious consequences was something I could only dream of at this point in my life. I knew what I would have to give up in order to live freely, and that meant leaving family, home, and a military life that I’d worked so hard to build. It was easy to say yes when in the arms of my lover, and by the gods, how I wanted to do that, but I knew the severity of my actions would ripple out to my brothers, and put their own careers in harm. Now was not the time for these kinds of thoughts, though, and I pushed them aside as Legolas carried me to the precipice of our joy. I no longer had any fear of falling over the edge. I knew Legolas would always catch me.
Hours later, I lay next to him, my chest contoured against his back, teetering on the verge of the conscious mind and the dream world. We had been quite … enthusiastic … earlier, and if anyone had passed by my home, they might have heard a chorus of amatory moans coming from behind my door. Now I laid in my bed, languid and pleasantly sore.
Legolas, however, was deep in his dreams. I could tell by the way his chest moved slow and steadily with every breath. He needed his rest, as much as he could get. His journey so far had been full of danger. I had to think that this was the first real sleep he’d had since departing from Rivendell. He still hadn’t told me what all had happened, or how he came to be part of this company of strangers. He seemed very dedicated to them, though, especially Aragorn and the dwarf.
I could see his eyes moving rapidly behind the closed lids. He was dreaming. His breathing sped up and became irregular. His head moved back and forth, lips parting in a silent cry. This wasn’t just a dream. He was remembering. Legolas started mumbling something, but the urgency in his voice was unmistakable. I laid my hand on his shoulder and whispered to him, telling him he was safe, and that it was just a dream. I didn’t think he heard me though. He was too far into the dream world. Suddenly, he sat up, eyes wide open, sweat beading on his forehead, breathing erratically. He looked around the room, trying to get his bearings. Finally, they settled on me, but they looked frightened, as though he didn’t know me.
“Legolas, it’s alright. You were dreaming. You’re here with me. You’re safe,” I said to ease his mind.
He came back fully to the conscious world, wiped his brow, and looked at his hands. “He fell … again. Every night in my dreams, I see him fall.”
“Who?” I asked.
“Mithrandir. I couldn’t save him. I knew I should have tried, but he demanded that we go on without him,” Legolas said, reliving some horrible moment. I shushed him and pulled him to me, cradling him in my arms. He nestled his face into my neck and calmed. “It was all I could do not to go back for him,” he continued. “But he told us to take the Hobbits and get out. I paused, unable to make myself go without him, but he commanded it of me. I knew he was right. We had to protect the halflings, especially Frodo. And so I left, taking my place at the end of the line, making sure that everyone got out alive. But before I escaped through the doorway, I stopped and looked back. My mind told me to go back. Aragorn, Boromir and Gimli had the Hobbits. They were all watching out for them. Gandalf was hanging from the edge of the stone bridge. And then he slipped into the abyss.”
“Where were you when this happened?” I asked.
“The Mines of Moria.” Legolas paused, and his eyes turned frightful as he saw something that I could not. They shifted and looked at me. “It was a Balrog that Mithrandir fought and saved us from.”
I was stunned. “A Balrog? But I thought they were all gone, left to myth and legend.”
He shook his head slowly back and forth. “I’ve seen many evil things. I’ve fought wargs, spiders, orcs and Uruk hai, and I’ve fought them fiercely and without fear, but the sight of that Balrog struck at something primal and deep within me, and I was never so scared. It’s skin was cracked, fire and brimstone glowing between the crevasses. When it roared, it sounded like mountains moving. It breathed fire, sweeping its foul breath over anything in its way. I knew it was the one creature that I could not defeat. I’ve never felt helpless before, not until I saw that thing. I thought it was our end. I thought of you, then, and my hope died. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. But it was Gandalf that saved us. He was the only one of all of us who held any power against the Balrog. With his staff, he broke the bridge, and the Balrog fell, but it latched onto the wizard’s leg as it did, and that’s how he ended up hanging from the edge. Mithrandir looked me straight in the eyes, seeing my decision to go back for him, and he told me to run.”
“He saved you. He saved all of your lives by sacrificing his own. You shouldn’t feel guilty. You did as you were told,” I comforted.
“I’ve never run away from battle, or from someone who needed aid. That sight will haunt me for the rest of my days.” By telling me this, I could see some slight relief. Obviously, Legolas hadn’t discussed this with anyone.
“Take your rest now, iaun nín, and perhaps later we will both go and sing a lament for Mithrandir,” I said.
Legolas closed his eyes and slept lightly. I think he was afraid to dream again, and I couldn’t say that I blamed him. I stayed by his side, hoping my presence would help him relax. After a while, I felt stiffness in my back and legs, and I carefully got out of bed, slipping into my robe. I lit my small stove and put water on to make some tea. By the time it was ready, Legolas was up, and the sun was just starting to illuminate the forest.
“It’s never completely daytime here, is it?” he said from the bed.
“No, the canopy is so thick, not much light filters in. The city is always in a state of serenity because of it. They say that’s why some feel like time stops or slows in Caras Galadhon,” I explained.
“Elves have always lived in the twilight of time. It seems appropriate,” he smiled. Legolas became quiet again while I prepared our tea. I started to put a tray together, but I was never one for proper hosting. Instead, I carried in two cups, guessing he liked his tea strong and handed it to him. He was sitting on the edge of the bed now, the sheet draped across his lap.
“I have an extra robe,” I offered, but he shook his head while taking a sip of tea.
“Do you have to be somewhere today?” he asked.
“No, I’m afraid you’re stuck with me,” I jested as I took a seat next to him.
He leaned in and kissed my temple. “Good. I need your company.”
We settled into silence, our shoulders resting upon each other. I felt like we needed that constant physical contact right now. Neither one of us wanted to be out of reach for the moment. It just felt good to have him back.
“When I left for Rivendell, I had it set in my mind that I wasn’t going back to Mirkwood, and that I was going to join you in Dol Guldur,” he said after a while.
“That was what we talked about,” I said.
“And I need you to know that it was ever my goal to get back to you … somehow … some way.”
I smiled at his confession. “And here you are.”
“Yes, but … you must know that this mission is not over, and when it is time, I have to go with the company. I swore an oath to them, on behalf of the elvish race that I would do what I must to see that … certain goals are accomplished.”
“Will you not tell me what is so important that my lover would choose this mission over our happiness?” I asked as gently as possible.
He looked at me then, face set in somber disposition. “I chose this mission to insure our happiness.”
“What is going on, Legolas?”
“You must swear to keep this to yourself,” he said in a hushed tone.
“I promise,” I agreed.
“While in Rivendell, Lord Elrond announced that a weapon of the enemy had been found. Representatives of all the realms had been gathered to discuss what to do with this weapon. After much debate, it was decided that the weapon must be destroyed, but then we had to choose who would carry out this deed. My first thought was that it didn’t pertain to me. I was here as a messenger for my father. I’d accomplished my task and told them about Gollum and his kidnapping. All I wanted to do was meet you in the south to carry out our plan, and get back at my father for all his meddling. Somehow, I was drawn into the argument. The dwarves started accusing elves of things that weren’t true, which, of course, I could not ignore.” He stopped and smiled at his own comment. “And in the midst of all the yelling and accusations, Frodo, the smallest and quietest of us all stepped forward, and claimed the task as his own. It was the bravest and most unselfish act that I’d ever witnessed. And here I was thinking that I was better than those irritating dwarves, and plotting against my father and imagining the look on his face when he learned that I had disobeyed him. Everything came into perspective for me. And as Lord Elrond agreed to allow Frodo to carry out this mission, Mithrandir stepped forward and said he would be the Hobbit’s guide. Then, Aragorn and Boromir volunteered as soldiers, to lend their strength and their swords to the cause. And it occurred to me, what was most important, and it was you … that one day we might know happiness with each other without worry. And I knew that as long as there was a threat to all people of Middle-earth, we could never reach that kind of bliss. So I stepped up alongside Aragorn and swore the protection of my stealth and my bow. Then it was Gimli who came forward with his courage and his ax. Lastly, the rest of the Hobbits came out, and they swore upon their devoutness as friends to do whatever was asked of them in order to see the weapon destroyed. A fellowship was formed, each of us lending our different strengths, and each of us doing this for the greater good. So you see, Rúmil, I may not have come to you as I said I would, but you were never far from my thoughts. It was with you in mind that I made my decision to swear an oath to this fellowship, and if I must leave here tomorrow, I go with you at the forefront of my thoughts.”
“You have changed so much since I saw you last,” I said.
“How so?” he asked worriedly.
I smiled and cupped his cheek. “You’ve matured. You’re responsible … not that you weren’t before, but it is very clear to see it now. You’re father cannot be disappointed in you, or he would be called a fool. Send him word. Tell him what you have done. He will be so proud to know this.”
“And what about you?” he said.
“You’ve made me love you even more.”
* * * * *
We took our time that morning, and eventually dressed and went out to find the rest of Legolas’ company. I was happy to escort him around the city, and I was anxious to meet this fellowship in the light of the new day. Yesterday had been a whirlwind of emotions for everyone, and our greetings were short. As we made our way to their camp, I asked him about everyone.
“And how is it that you ended up befriending Gimli after your exchange of words in Imladris?” I wondered.
“It all started when he accused me of falsely imprisoning his father.”
“And did you?”
Legolas laughed. “Actually, yes, I did, but he and other dwarves were trespassing, and with the rise of the darkness in the Rhovanion, we imprisoned anyone who we found suspicious. We learned that our fathers despised one another, and that their influence was what led us to our own judgments. But as we’ve been forced to travel together, to share the same food and sometimes the same bed–”
“You better not have,” I interrupted jokingly.
Legolas bumped my shoulder and I stumbled. We were both caught up in the moment, laughing, when Túron appeared on our path. Legolas and I were slow to collect ourselves. It was so easy to lose myself when I was with him.
“Good morning, Rúmil … Legolas,” Túron said with a bow, and suspicion in his eyes.
“Good morning … Túron, is it?” Legolas responded with a bit of a jealous edge.
I stepped between them quickly and cleared my throat. “Good morning to you, Túron. Are you coming from our visitor’s camp?”
“Yes, I brought them something to break their fast, and to speak with the Hobbits. They were very happy to talk to someone who has been to the Shire before. I promised to send for word of their families and their home while they are in Lothlórien. They have also agreed to accompany me on a tour of the city, so long as we do not travel too high in the mallorns. Perhaps you would care to join me later?” The question was directed at me and not Legolas. I started to answer, but Legolas spoke first.
“I’m afraid the Captain will be busy,” he said with deliberate arrogance, not knowing whether I was busy or not.
By now, I knew that Túron must have sensed the tension, and that he had to have known something existed between me and Legolas. This was not how I wanted things to go, but it was too late now. “Actually, Haldir has called for a meeting later.”
“He has?” Legolas said, surprised.
“Yes, a message came early this morning before you … uh, before you … arrived … to be escorted … back to camp.” Damn it. I was never good at these kinds of spur of the moment situations.
Túron’s eyes narrowed as he looked from me to Legolas, sizing things up. “You know, I wasn’t going to say anything, but I can’t help mention that I find it a bit curious that you’ve chosen to stay within the city instead of with the rest of your company.”
Legolas gently moved me to the side, and stepped up to Túron. “And the way I see things, it really is none of your business. Now, if you’ll excuse us . . .” Ai, this was bad.
“Is everything alright, Rúmil?” Túron asked, ignoring Legolas.
I forced a smile. “Yes, it’s–”
“Everything is fine,” Legolas interrupted.
“You’ll excuse me if I seem concerned,” Túron said, addressing Legolas. “But Rúmil is a friend, and I–”
“Oh yes, a friend. So I’ve heard. Well, let me just put this out there so there is no confusion. Rúmil and I are much more than friends, and it was at his home where I spend the evening.”
I didn’t know what had gotten into Legolas, behaving with such jealously and possession. “That was unnecessary,” I scowled.
“What? I put it as nice as possible. I could have told him that we fucked through half the night, but I didn’t think that was appropriate.”
“Legolas!” I scolded.
“Only half the night?” Túron responded quickly and with conceit.
“Alright!” I interjected. “That will be enough. Legolas, will you give me a moment with Túron … alone … please.” When he didn’t answer, I asked again pleadingly. “Please?”
“Don’t be long,” he finally said. He glared at Túron, and I could tell he’d been wanting a confrontation ever since he found out that Túron was back in Lórien. Finally, he was on his way, but not before touching my shoulder acquisitively.
When he was out of earshot, Túron spoke. “Rúmil, what are you doing with him?”
“Why do you feel it is your duty to come to my aid?” I replied with my own question. “I need no rescuing from him.”
“Did you not notice how he was trying to seduce you?”
“What?” I almost shouted.
“I am just trying to save you from the scheming mind of this Wood elf. They are tricky in that way, praying on those suffering from longing and loneliness,” Túron went on to say.
I shook my head in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“He’s from Mirkwood. That much I can see. And their kind is strange even to other elves. They are barbaric. They’re a heathen race, wild and dangerous.” He paused and leaned into my ear. “Sexual deviants, too.” Túron stood straight again and glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was around to hear. “It is obvious that you have been in a somber mood lately. I think this Wood elf detects that about you, and he’s playing on your forlornness. And what about your new love? I know you cannot be together right now, but seeking satisfaction from someone like this … well … surely you can see what a mistake it is.”
I was flabbergasted. I didn’t know how to respond to him. I just stood there looking completely dumbfounded, which is why I could see the realization begin to form on Túron’s face, not to mention the multiple shades of scarlet. “Oh … I’m … well, this is … awkward. That’s him, isn’t it? That’s the one you told me about.”
I nodded in agreement. He looked backwards again. I thought he was about to apologize, but instead he chose to continue to try and convince me that I’d made a poor choice. “He’s from Mirkwood,” he whispered with a bit of disgust.
“Of course,” I answered.
“Well, when you said you met someone, I thought he was from Rivendell or … somewhere … I don’t know. But Mirkwood? That is the last place I would have thought he’d be from. You once told me you despised that simple race of elves for their uneducated backwards way of thinking.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “What can I say? I was wrong. My stay in Mirkwood helped me to see many misconceptions I had about them.”
“But he’s a Wood elf,” Túron said again, as though he meant to convince himself. “So this is who you’ve given your heart to? Some … some heathen with no manners?”
“That heathen just happens to be the Prince of Mirkwood, if you must know.” I was becoming tired of this interrogation. “And I am deeply in love with him, so I’ll ask that you watch what you say.”
“I apologize, Rúmil. I meant no disrespect, but at the same time, and I say this as a true friend, I’m leery of him. He seems rash, and his choice of words is offensive.”
“You should have seen him when we first met in Mirkwood,” I said more to myself than to Túron. “I would ask that you not mention this to anyone … at all,” I said.
“No, I would never, but … well, just watch yourself around him. You are lucky it was me who happened upon the two of you. If it had been Raenor … I don’t need to finish that sentence,” he warned.
I laughed. “Oh, come now. We were only walking together.”
“Rúmil,” he corrected. “You had your hands on his chest, smiling into his eyes. Just be careful. I have to go.”

We bid each other a temporary farewell, and I went up the path to try and find Legolas. I thought about what Túron said. I had no idea I was touching Legolas as we walked and laughed. As I said before, it was much too easy to fall back into the ways of the Wood elves, where I had nothing to hide from anyone. I realized that having Legolas in Lothlórien would take some concentration, which I had very little of when he was around.
* * * * *
Officially meeting the rest of the company Legolas traveled with was quite pleasurable. He behaved much in the same manner as he was in Mirkwood around these people. He didn’t pretend to be something he was not, and that included numerous salacious smiles towards me as the others were telling stories of their adventures. No one seemed to care either. Aragorn, who had caught Legolas reaching for my hand, smiled briefly and turned his head, as if to give us privacy. The Hobbits were more wrapped up in storytelling than watching our behavior, but I did see Frodo give Legolas a quick wink at one point. I wondered if Legolas had told them about us. He hadn’t mentioned it.
The other man, Boromir, still seemed very distant and a bit disturbed by something, though it was not Legolas and me. His mind was elsewhere, as though he was plotting. I still did not trust him, and when I confronted Legolas about it later on, he said he experienced the same skepticism about the Gondorian. It was the reason that Legolas always traveled at the end of the line, so as to keep a wary eye on him without being obvious.
Gimli, the dwarf, was the only one of the group that seemed to outwardly show his disgust. Whenever he saw Legolas and I sitting close or Legolas’ hand upon my knee or arm, he made a grunt and turned away, muttering something unintelligible. I was getting a bit annoyed by this, but I ignored it as best I could. And when it was Gimli’s turn to tell tales of their adventures, I listened with an attentive ear.
Eventually, it was Legolas’ turn to add to the story. He stood and looked around at the group. “Well, since I am last to go, and since almost all of you were there for our adventures, I will tell you about the time that Rúmil and I fought off an army of orcs in Mirkwood.”
Immediately, they had questions, especially the Hobbits. They were very inquisitive creatures, to say the least. They wanted to know about the spiders, and the Elven King. They wanted to know about the underground palace and if I had seen the King’s collection of jewels. I was surprised because they had been with Legolas all this time. “Surely he has told you about all this and more,” I said.
“Legolas is quite terse a lot of the time,” complained the Hobbit called Pippin. “I asked him to describe the nasty spiders that dwell in his forest, and he only said that they were big.”
I laughed to myself and glanced at Legolas. He shrugged his shoulders. “Are they not big, Rúmil?” he asked.
“They are very big, but they are also hairy and ugly with multiple eyes on their head. And they make hissing and clicking sounds as they communicate with each other,” I explained.
“They sound disgusting, and I hope to never meet one,” said Sam, another of the Hobbits.
“Well, unless you plan on going to Mirkwood, I doubt you ever will,” I said.
“Are they difficult to kill?” Frodo asked.
“They can be quite tricky. As big as they are, they move with quiet stealth, and if you aren’t looking in all directions, especially up, they could sneak up on you. They do have a vulnerable spot, just under their belly, but it is not a place you want to be, because they have a wicked spike at their end. If they stick you with it, chances are you’ll not live to see tomorrow.” Sam listened carefully as I spoke, absorbing every bit of information in case it might be useful one day.
I was surprised that once I got started telling stories, I couldn’t stop. I told them about the first Wood elves that I met, Corweth and Messel. “Identical, they were, but after I got to know them better, it was easy to tell them apart. They braided their hair differently.” Then, I told them about meeting the King, though I exaggerated a bit, making him sound much stingier than he was when it came to his treasures. Legolas watched me, with one brow cocked, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“So what happened with the orc army?” asked the Hobbit, Merry.
Legolas took over the story to give me a break from speaking. It was a good thing, too. My throat was parched. Aragorn offered me his canteen and I accepted it most graciously. As I drank, I heard Legolas explain to the others how I was determined to navigate the trees in my armor, but when he started to mimic me stumbling around the campsite, I barged into the middle of his story. “Watch your tongue. It was not that difficult to convince me to leave my armor behind.”
“Alright, so you adapted quickly, but we had to go back for your things, remember?” Legolas said. “He wouldn’t leave his precious Lórien armor behind,” he continued.
I listened to him tell the story, but my mind drifted to the parts Legolas did not speak of because they were private moments between us. We did indeed go back for my armor, but we made a detour to the ruins, the place where court was held in Mirkwood in the days of King Oropher’s rule. It was there that I gave Legolas my name for him, iaun nín. It wasn’t long after that I first told him I loved him. It seemed like ages ago but my love for him was still just as strong as that day. It made me wonder what was in store for our future. Could we ever truly be together, or would we always be distant lovers who met in between our duties? I didn’t want to think about it now. I had him back, at least for a short while. They couldn’t stay in Lothlórien forever. I would enjoy this time with Legolas, as much as I could, for when the fellowship was on their way once more, there was no telling how long it would be before we were together again.
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Path of Honor-Part II: Far From Home